Florida Congressman Daniel Webster has announced that the House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1048, known as the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act. This legislation is aimed at safeguarding the integrity of higher education in the United States from foreign influence.
Commenting on the passage of the bill, Rep. Webster stated, “Foreign influence in our nation’s colleges and universities poses a serious risk to our national security. America’s higher education institutions should be free from foreign coercion and put the education of our students first.”
The DETERRENT Act mandates transparency regarding foreign donations, contracts, and ownership stakes in higher education institutions. It also restricts these institutions from entering contracts with foreign entities of concern unless they obtain a national security waiver, ensuring the partnership benefits American students and aligns with U.S. economic and security interests.
Emphasizing his contribution, Webster added, “I’m pleased that this bill includes an amendment with language I introduced to restrict Hong Kong, Macau, and any other special administrative region within the People’s Republic of China. This closes a critical loophole that the Chinese Communist Party has exploited to obscure its influence.”
