Bill > HR1999

This bill seeks to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require staff and faculty at certain higher education institutions to report foreign gifts and contracts, creating a comprehensive transparency mechanism for academic interactions with foreign sources. Specifically, the bill mandates that eligible institutions (primarily large research universities receiving significant federal funding) establish a policy requiring covered individuals to disclose any gifts from foreign sources valued over a minimal threshold and any contracts with foreign sources valued at $5,000 or more. Institutions must create a publicly searchable database displaying these disclosures, excluding personally identifiable information, and maintain the records for at least five years. The bill introduces strict enforcement mechanisms, including potential investigations by the Secretary of Education and civil actions by the Attorney General, with escalating financial penalties for non-compliance: first-time violations could result in fines of $250,000 or the total value of unreported gifts/contracts, while subsequent violations could incur fines of $500,000 or double the value of unreported gifts/contracts. Institutions repeatedly found in violation could lose federal program participation eligibility for at least two fiscal years. The legislation defines detailed terms like "foreign source" and "contract" and requires institutions to develop plans to manage potential espionage risks associated with foreign gifts and contracts. Additionally, the bill mandates the creation of compliance officers and directs the Government Accountability Office to study and report on implementation strategies.

Education

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1999/all-info