S. 108 · Where this bill is now
In committee
Introduced in the Senate, Jan 16, 2025
What this bill does
In plain words · AI-written from the official summaryRestricts visas for Chinese Communist Party members
This bill would prevent certain members of the Chinese Communist Party and their close relatives from getting student or exchange visitor visas to come to the United States. The restriction applies to any CCP member who has held a position in the party since the bill becomes law, plus their spouses, children, parents, siblings, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. The President can waive these restrictions if needed to meet international agreements or obligations.
How it affects you
If you're a Chinese student or exchange visitor, this could affect your ability to get a visa depending on your family's CCP membership. Universities and exchange programs may see changes in their international student enrollment from China. Most Americans wouldn't experience direct effects, though this reflects a shift in U.S. policy toward academic exchanges with China.
Read the official summary (Introduced in Senate, Jan 16, 2025)
Protecting Higher Education from the Chinese Communist Party Act of 2025
This bill prohibits certain members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and their families from receiving an F (academic student) or J (exchange visitor) visa.
Specifically, this prohibition shall apply to any CCP member who has served in any position in the CCP since this bill's enactment. The prohibition shall also apply to a spouse, child, parent, sibling, grandchild, niece, or nephew of such an individual.
These prohibitions do not apply if an individual must be admitted for compliance with the United Nations headquarters agreement or other international obligations.
The President may waive these prohibitions by certifying to Congress that the waiver is in the U.S. national interest.
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 SessionS. 108
A BILL
Protecting Higher Education from the Chinese Communist Party Act of 2025
Sponsor: Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO) · Introduced Jan 16, 2025 · Immigration · 1 version of the text
Sources: Congress.gov actions and votes · bill text from GovInfo · latest official action Jan 16, 2025: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.”