Press Releases

WASHINGTON — House Republican Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.) and Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) issued the following statements after the U.S. House passed H.R. 881—the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act— aiming at preventing the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from influencing U.S. college campuses.

“There’s no place for Chinese propaganda in America. House Republicans are ending CCP influence on college campuses and ensuring taxpayer dollars are not funding foreign agendas,” Chairwoman McClain said. “My colleague Rep. Pfluger has done a great job getting this bill to the finish line, and I’m proud to have voted YES to pass this bill and defend our students from harmful CCP influence.”

“The CCP has proven to be an untrustworthy, adversarial actor by continually undermining American interests at every turn – in no world should they have a front-row seat in our classrooms funded by our own taxpayer dollars,” Rep. Pfluger said.“The passage of my legislation today sends a clear message: America’s universities and research labs will no longer be used to steal critical research, recruit talent for Military-Civil fusion enterprises, conduct espionage, commit transnational repression, and influence academic institutions to the benefit of the CCP. This is a victory for our national security and for the future generations of Americans.”

H.R. 881 prohibits the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from providing funds to any higher education institution that hosts Confucius Institutes, which are nonprofit cultural and educational centers funded by the Chinese government used to spread influence and propaganda.