H.R. 881 · Where this bill is now
In the Senate
Passed the House May 7, 2025. Received May 8, 2025; no Senate vote yet
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryRestricts funding to colleges with Chinese government ties
This bill says that colleges and universities can't receive funding from the Department of Homeland Security if they have relationships with certain Chinese organizations. These organizations include Confucius Institutes (cultural centers funded by the Chinese government), the Thousand Talents Program (a Chinese educational initiative), and Chinese universities involved in military, police, or intelligence work. Colleges can regain their eligibility for DHS funding if they end these relationships.
How it affects you
If you attend or work at a college that has one of these relationships, your school could lose DHS funding unless it severs ties with the Chinese organization. This could affect research programs, campus security initiatives, or other activities funded by DHS at your institution. Schools would need to choose between maintaining these relationships or keeping their DHS funding.
Read the official summary (Introduced in House, Jan 31, 2025)
DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act
This bill restricts funding to an institution of higher education (IHE) that has a relationship with a Confucius Institute, Thousand Talents Program, or Chinese entity of concern. The bill defines (1) Confucius Institute as a cultural institute funded by the Chinese government; (2) Thousand Talents Program as any technological or educational program funded or administered by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; and (3) Chinese entity of concern as generally any university or college in China that is involved in China's military, police, or intelligence activities.
Specifically, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) must ensure that an IHE that has awarded a contract to, entered into an agreement with, or received an in-kind donation or gift from a Confucius Institute, Thousand Talents Program, or Chinese entity of concern is ineligible to receive any funds from DHS, unless the IHE terminates the relationship. The IHE may regain eligibility for these funds upon termination of the relationship.
Written by AI (Claude) using only the official summary by the Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress’s nonpartisan research staff. It can miss nuance, so check the official summary and the bill text for details.
1st SessionH. R. 881
AN ACT
DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act
Sponsor: Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX-11) · Introduced Jan 31, 2025 · Education · 4 versions of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action May 8, 2025: “Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.”
How Congress voted
Official roll callsHouse · On Passage · May 7, 2025
Passage Passed 266–153
| Party | Yes | No | Didn’t vote |
|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 55 | 153 | 5 |
| Republicans | 211 | 0 | 9 |
55 members voted against most of their party: 55 Democrats voted Yes.
Congress votes on whole bills and amendments, not on single sections.