Bill · H.R. 1048· House(119-HR-1048)
DETERRENT Act
- Introduced
- 2/6/2025
- Last activity
- 3/31/2025 — Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Sponsored by
- Michael Baumgartner
- Cosponsors
- - 18 - 2
- Introduced
- Passed House
- In Senate committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the DETERRENT Act, aims to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase transparency regarding foreign financial ties to educational institutions. It strengthens disclosure requirements for foreign gifts and contracts received by these institutions. Additionally, it prohibits institutions from entering into contracts with certain foreign countries and entities of concern unless a waiver is granted. The act also mandates that institutions maintain policies and databases for disclosing gifts and contracts received by faculty and staff. Furthermore, it requires specified institutions to disclose investments of concern. Finally, it establishes enforcement mechanisms, including civil actions and significant fines for non-compliance.
Yes
Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see?+7
The act mandates the creation of a searchable public database for foreign gifts and contracts.
Does this give the federal government more power?+5
The bill expands federal oversight and enforcement capabilities regarding higher education financial disclosures.
Would students be better off under this?+3
The bill potentially protects students by increasing transparency regarding foreign influence on their educational institutions.
The opposite
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?-3
The bill contains provisions that reduce privacy protections for disclosure reports.
Does this put more money into scientific research?-2
The bill imposes new disclosure requirements and potential financial penalties that may burden research institutions.
What Congress actually voted on
One recorded vote has been taken on this bill.
- The House: the vote on whether to pass the billPassed 241–169
This is the real decision in this chamber. Passing here sends the bill to the other chamber, which must pass it too before it can go to the President.
03/27/2025 · Roll call 83 · recorded as “On Passage”
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency for Institutions: The bill requires institutions to file detailed disclosure reports regarding gifts and contracts from foreign sources, which includes the intended purpose and the value of the gift or contract (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Public Access to Information: The Secretary of Education must establish a searchable, public database where reports on foreign gifts and contracts can be viewed and compared (Section 2(d)(1)).
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Enhanced Security through Information Sharing: The Secretary is required to transmit unredacted disclosure reports to various intelligence and law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI and CIA, to facilitate interagency information sharing (Section 2(e)).
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Faculty and Staff Oversight: Institutions are required to implement policies to identify and manage potential information gathering or espionage targeting covered individuals (Section 3(a)(3)).
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Investment Accountability: Specified institutions must file reports regarding the purchase, sale, or holding of "investments of concern," providing a clearer picture of their financial holdings (Section 4(a)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Prohibition on Contracts: Institutions are generally prohibited from entering into contracts with foreign countries or entities of concern, which could limit the scope of available partnerships (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Burdensome Disclosure Requirements: Institutions must maintain detailed records and report specific information regarding gifts and contracts, including requirements for maintaining unredacted copies of contracts for specific timeframes (Section 2(b)(1)(A)(v)).
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Significant Financial Penalties: Institutions that fail to comply with the new requirements may face heavy fines, some of which are calculated as a percentage of the total Federal funds received by the institution (Section 5(a)(4)).
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Loss of Federal Funding Eligibility: Institutions that are subject to multiple civil actions and fail to comply with these requirements may become ineligible to participate in certain federal programs for at least two fiscal years (Section 5(b)(2)).
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Strict Waiver Processes: To enter into a contract with a restricted entity, institutions must go through a rigorous waiver process that includes demonstrating the contract's benefit to the institution's mission and the security of the United States (Section 2(b)(2)).
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+7Increases Federal Power+5Improves Privacy Rights-3
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Students+3
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding-2
| Updated | Bill | Title | Policy Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year ago | On agreeing to the Ogles amendment (A001) Agreed to by voice vote. | ||
| 1 year ago | On agreeing to the Ogles amendment (A002) Agreed to by voice vote. | ||
| 1 year ago | Amendment sought to amend section 117 to streamline foreign gift and contract reporting, align reporting with other federal research security compliance requirements, establish sanctions for noncompliance and require the Secretary of Education to conduct negotiated rulemaking to receive stakeholder feedback. | ||
| 1 year ago | Amendment sought to amend the threshold value at which gifts must be reported from $50,000 to $1. | ||
| 1 year ago | Amendment sought to amend the definition of "Foreign Country Of Concern". | ||
| 1 year ago | Amendment sought to amend the definition of "Investment of Concern" to include any entity that the Secretary of State determines consistently, knowingly, and directly facilitates and enables state violence and repression, war and occupation, or severe violations of international law and human rights. |
- 3/31/2025
- Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- 3/27/2025
- Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 241 - 169 (Roll no. 83).
- On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 241 - 169 (Roll no. 83).
- The House adopted the amendments en gros as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
- The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
- The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1048.
- The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
- Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1312-1316)
- 3/25/2025
- Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1048 as unfinished business.
- On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
- Mr. Walberg moved that the committee rise.
- POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Tlaib amendment No. 6, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Tlaib demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 242, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tlaib amendment No. 6.
- POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Tlaib amendment No. 5, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Tlaib demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 242, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Tlaib amendment No. 5.
- POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Self amendment No. 4, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Scott (VA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 242, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Self amendment No. 4.
- POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment No. 3, the Chair put the question on agreeing to the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Scott (VA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
- DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 242, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment No. 3.
- DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 242, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ogles amendment No. 2.
- DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 242, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ogles amendment No. 1.
- GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1048.
- The Speaker designated the Honorable Pat Harrigan to act as Chairman of the Committee.
- House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 242 and Rule XVIII.
- Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 24, H.J. Res. 75 and H.R. 1048. The resolution provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 24 and H.J. Res. 75 under a closed rule, and provides for consideration of H.R. 1048 under a structured rule. Also, the resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each measure.
- Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 242. (consideration: CR H1241-1260)
- Rule H. Res. 242 passed House.
- 3/24/2025
- Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 242 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 24, H.J. Res. 75 and H.R. 1048. The resolution provides for consideration of H.J. Res. 24 and H.J. Res. 75 under a closed rule, and provides for consideration of H.R. 1048 under a structured rule. Also, the resolution provides for one hour of general debate and one motion to recommit on each measure.
- 3/14/2025
- Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-16.
- Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 9.
- 3/10/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/5/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 3/3/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/24/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/12/2025
- Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 14.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/11/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/10/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/7/2025
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 2/6/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
6 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
- 119-HR-938: No Contracts with Foreign Adversaries Act
- 119-HR-1018: INSTRUCT Act of 2025
- 119-HR-1023: RIFA Act
- 119-HR-1999: Disclose GIFT Act
- 119-S-1296: DETERRENT Act
- 119-HRES-242: Providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 24) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Walk-In Coolers and Walk-In Freezers"; providing for consideration of the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 75) providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy relating to "Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Commercial Refrigerators, Freezers, and Refrigerator-Freezers"; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1048) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to strengthen disclosure requirements relating to foreign gifts and contracts, to prohibit contracts between institutions of higher education and certain foreign entities and countries of concern, and for other purposes.
Rick AllenRepublican · Georgia
Andy BarrRepublican · Kentucky
Aaron BeanRepublican · Florida
Donald DavisDemocrat · North Carolina
Virginia FoxxRepublican · North Carolina
Brad FinstadRepublican · Minnesota
Glenn GrothmanRepublican · Wisconsin
Marie PerezDemocrat · Washington
Erin HouchinRepublican · Indiana
John JamesRepublican · Michigan
Kevin KileyIndependent · California
John MoolenaarRepublican · Michigan
Mark MessmerRepublican · Indiana
Burgess OwensRepublican · Utah
Robert OnderRepublican · Missouri
Michael RulliRepublican · Ohio
Glenn ThompsonRepublican · Pennsylvania
Claudia TenneyRepublican · New York
Joe WilsonRepublican · South Carolina
Tim WalbergRepublican · Michigan
Randy WeberRepublican · Texas