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CIVIC HERALD
HR 881 · 119th Congress · HouseIn committee

DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act

Provisional: our plain-language summary, pending review.

In plain language: American colleges and universities will be barred from receiving Department of Homeland Security grants and funding if they maintain partnerships, contracts, or accept donations from Chinese state-run Confucius Institutes, the Thousand Talents Program, or Chinese universities linked to China's military. To remain eligible for Homeland Security funds, schools must end these agreements and refuse gifts from the designated entities. A college can only keep its funding while maintaining such a relationship if federal officials grant a case-by-case waiver confirming the school has strict safeguards to protect sensitive research from foreign access.

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Provisionalunreviewed: impact, issue tags, provisions, stakeholders, summary
People affected—not determinable from the text provided; the operative text applies to institutions of higher education rather than a specified population of individuals
Fiscal magnitude—not determinable from the text provided; restricts eligibility for DHS funding to certain higher education institutions without specifying appropriation or rescission amounts
Reach
provisional · pending review32rigor: heuristic llm
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Issues

What this bill touches.

Aid & alliances−28Public R&D−10Regulation (cross-sector)+30

The sign shows the bill's direction on each issue (+ toward, − away); the number is its magnitude. Color never encodes good or bad, and never party.

Who it affects

Who it helps · who it burdens.

Provisional: our reading of who it affects, pending review.

Who it helps

  • Institutions of higher educationAre entitled to outreach and, upon request, technical assistance from the Department of Homeland Security to assist with compliance (Sec. 2(d)).provisional

Who it burdens

  • Institutions of higher education with covered Chinese tiesColleges and universities that have contracts, agreements, or financial ties with Confucius Institutes, the Thousand Talents Program, or designated Chinese entities of concern become ineligible for Department of Homeland Security funding unless they terminate those relationships or obtain a waiver (Sec. 2(b), Sec. 2(c)).provisional
  • Department of Homeland SecurityMust monitor and enforce funding restrictions, review and notify Congress about waiver determinations in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, provide technical assistance to schools, and submit annual compliance reports to Congress (Sec. 2(b)-(e)).provisional

Who opposes it

  • Confucius Institutes, the Thousand Talents Program, and Chinese entities of concernAgreements, contracts, and financial relationships with U.S. colleges and universities are targeted for termination as a condition for those schools to receive Department of Homeland Security funding (Sec. 2(b)).provisional

Dollar-level funding (FEC sector totals) is coming in a later phase.

What it does

The provisions, in plain language.

Provisional: our reading of what the bill does, pending review.

Show all 4 provisions

  1. Bars colleges and universities from receiving Department of Homeland Security funds if they have contracts, agreements, or financial ties with Confucius Institutes, the Thousand Talents Program, or designated Chinese entities of concern, unless those relationships are ended.

    Sec. 2(b)provisional

  2. Permits the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant renewable one-year waivers to schools that demonstrate strong safeguards against unauthorized access to sensitive research, provided the foreign ties benefit U.S. national security or pose no security risks.

    Sec. 2(c)provisional

  3. Requires the Department of Homeland Security to offer outreach and technical assistance to help higher education institutions comply with the funding restrictions.

    Sec. 2(d)provisional

  4. Directs the Department of Homeland Security to submit annual reports to Congress regarding enforcement of the funding restrictions, approved waivers, compliance assistance, and any funded institutions with covered ties.

    Sec. 2(e)provisional

  1. Bars colleges and universities from receiving Department of Homeland Security funds if they have contracts, agreements, or financial ties with Confucius Institutes, the Thousand Talents Program, or designated Chinese entities of concern, unless those relationships are ended.

    Sec. 2(b)provisional

  2. Permits the Secretary of Homeland Security to grant renewable one-year waivers to schools that demonstrate strong safeguards against unauthorized access to sensitive research, provided the foreign ties benefit U.S. national security or pose no security risks.

    Sec. 2(c)provisional

  3. Requires the Department of Homeland Security to offer outreach and technical assistance to help higher education institutions comply with the funding restrictions.

    Sec. 2(d)provisional

How your members of Congress line up

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The record

How members voted on DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act.

Recorded roll calls on this bill, most recent first. Open one to see each member's position.

  • House · May 7, 2025 · YEA-AND-NAY

    On Passage · Passed

    Source →

Timeline

How it moved.

Show all 20 actions
  1. May 8, 2025Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  2. May 7, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  3. May 7, 2025On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 266 - 153 (Roll no. 120). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1891)
  4. May 7, 2025Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 266 - 153 (Roll no. 120). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1891)
  5. May 7, 2025Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1895-1896)
  6. May 7, 2025POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate of H.R. 881, the Chair put the question on passage of the bill and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Pfluger demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
  7. May 7, 2025The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
  8. May 7, 2025DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 881.
  9. May 7, 2025Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 276 and H.R. 881. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 276 and H.R. 881 under a closed rule with one hour of debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
  10. May 7, 2025Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 377. (consideration: CR H1891-1894)
  11. May 6, 2025Rule H. Res. 377 passed House.
  12. May 5, 2025Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 377 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 276 and H.R. 881. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 276 and H.R. 881 under a closed rule with one hour of debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
  13. May 5, 2025Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 62.
  14. May 5, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 119-87.
  15. Apr 9, 2025Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended).
  16. Apr 9, 2025Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
  17. Apr 9, 2025Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence Discharged
  18. Jan 31, 2025Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
  19. Jan 31, 2025Referred to the House Committee on Homeland Security.
  20. Jan 31, 2025Introduced in House
  1. May 8, 2025Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
  2. May 7, 2025Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  3. May 7, 2025On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 266 - 153 (Roll no. 120). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1891)
  4. May 7, 2025Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 266 - 153 (Roll no. 120). (text of amendment in the nature of a substitute: CR H1891)
  5. May 6, 2025Rule H. Res. 377 passed House.
  6. May 5, 2025Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 377 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 276 and H.R. 881. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 276 and H.R. 881 under a closed rule with one hour of debate and one motion to recommit on each bill.
  7. May 5, 2025Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Homeland Security. H. Rept. 119-87.
  8. Apr 9, 2025Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended).
  9. Jan 31, 2025Introduced in House

The original text

Read it for yourself.

Read the original text →

Sources & provenance

Congress.govrefreshed 3 months ago

Cite this page

Civic Herald. “DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act (H.R. 881, 119th Congress).” https://civicherald.app/bills/119-hr-881. Congress.gov record as of Jul 19, 2026.

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