DETERRENT Act

Bill: 119-hr-1048
Sponsor: Rep. Baumgartner, Michael [R-WA-5]
Introduced: 2025-02-06 in the House
Policy area: Education
Subjects: Civil actions and liability
Congressional oversight
Contracts and agency
Education programs funding
Financial services and investments
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Subversive activities
Teaching, teachers, curricula

Summary:
action_date: 2025-02-06
text: 

Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act or the DETERRENT Act

This bill expands oversight and disclosure requirements related to foreign sources and institutions of higher education (IHEs).

Specifically, the bill requires an IHE to annually disclose to the Department of Education (ED) any year in which the IHE

receives a gift from a foreign country of concern (e.g., China or Russia) or foreign entity of concern of any dollar amount;

receives a gift or contract from a foreign source (other than a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern) that is valued at $50,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts or contracts within a calendar year (current disclosure threshold is $250,000 or more), or which has an undetermined monetary value;

enters into a contract with a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern after receiving a waiver for such contract; or

is substantially controlled by a foreign source.

Additionally, the bill

prohibits IHEs from entering into contracts with a foreign country of concern or with a foreign entity of concern without obtaining a waiver,

requires certain IHEs to disclose gifts or contracts between covered individuals (e.g., researchers) and foreign sources, and

requires private IHEs with specified assets or investments to file annual investment disclosure reports.

The bill requires ED to investigate possible violations of this bill and outlines the various penalties for each violation. Penalties may include losing eligibility for federal student financial aid.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2025-03-31
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2025-03-27
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2025-03-27
text: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 241 - 169 (Roll no. 83).
action_date: 2025-03-27
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 241 - 169 (Roll no. 83).
action_date: 2025-03-27
text: The House adopted the amendments en gros as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
action_date: 2025-03-27
text: The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
action_date: 2025-03-27
text: The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1048.
action_date: 2025-03-27
text: The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.
action_date: 2025-03-27
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1312-1316)
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1048 as unfinished business.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: Mr. Walberg moved that the committee rise.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: 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.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: 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.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: 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.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: 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.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: 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.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: 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.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: 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.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: 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.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: 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.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: 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.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1048.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: The Speaker designated the Honorable Pat Harrigan to act as Chairman of the Committee.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 242 and Rule XVIII.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: 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.
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 242. (consideration: CR H1241-1260)
action_date: 2025-03-25
text: Rule H. Res. 242 passed House.
action_date: 2025-03-24
text: 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.
action_date: 2025-03-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 9.
action_date: 2025-03-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-16.
action_date: 2025-03-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Workforce. H. Rept. 119-16.
action_date: 2025-02-12
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 14.
action_date: 2025-02-12
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
action_date: 2025-02-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
action_date: 2025-02-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2025-02-06
text: Introduced in House