Bill · H.R. 1018· House(119-HR-1018)
INSTRUCT Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 2/5/2025
- Last activity
- 2/5/2025 — Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Sponsored by
- Mark Messmer
- Cosponsors
- None
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, titled the "INSTRUCT Act of 2025," seeks to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965. It focuses on increasing requirements for disclosures regarding foreign gifts and contracts from foreign sources. The Act mandates that all disclosure reports be treated as public records available for inspection and copying. It also requires the Secretary of Education to share unredacted disclosure reports with several high-level government officials and agencies. Additionally, the bill directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study on improving agency coordination and enforcement.
Yes· 3 of 4
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+7
The act mandates that disclosure reports regarding foreign gifts be made available as public records for inspection and copying.
Would students be better off under this?+1
The bill increases transparency regarding how higher education institutions are funded by foreign entities.
Does this change how police departments operate?+1
The bill enhances interagency information sharing between the Department of Education and law enforcement agencies like the FBI and DOJ.
The opposite
Does this put more money into scientific research?-1
Increased disclosure requirements may create administrative burdens or deter foreign funding for scientific research institutions.
Does this strengthen ties with allied countries?-1
The mandatory public disclosure of foreign source names and addresses may create friction in international educational partnerships.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency: All disclosure reports regarding foreign gifts and contracts will be public records that can be inspected and copied during business hours (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Enhanced Interagency Information Sharing: The Secretary of Education must transmit unredacted copies of disclosure reports, including the names and addresses of foreign sources, to various agencies such as the FBI, CIA, and Department of State (Section 2(a)(2)).
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Proactive Information Exchange: The Secretary of Education is required to transmit previously received reports and records from ongoing investigations to the listed agencies within 90 days of the Act's enactment (Section 2(b)).
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Improved Coordination and Enforcement: The Comptroller General will initiate a study to find better ways for government agencies to coordinate, increase compliance, and establish enforcement processes (Section 2(c)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No specific negative impacts or burdens are explicitly mentioned in the text of the bill provided.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+7
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Students+1
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding-1
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Policing Reform+1
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Improves Cybersecurity Defense+1Improves International Alliances-1
- 2/5/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.