Chairmen Cassidy, Walberg, Moolenaar, Banks Sound Alarm on Chinese Communist Party Infiltrating American Universities, Threatening National Security

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, U.S. Representative Tim Walberg (R-MI), Chairman of the U.S. House Education and Workforce Committee, U.S. Representative John Moolenaar (R-MI), Chairman of the U.S. House Select Committee on China, and U.S. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) raised serious concerns following a new U.S. Department of Education (DeptEd) report showing attempts by foreign entities aligned with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and other adversaries to influence American universities.

"As you know, American universities conduct highly sensitive, critical research with direct military applications," wrote the lawmakers. "Therefore, it is very alarming that countries of concern could be gaining access to research with national security implications at your institution by way of gifts and donations."

"To ensure the safety of the American people and uphold U.S. national security interests, sensitive research and technology must stay out of the hands of our adversaries," continued the lawmakers.

According to DeptEd's new foreign funding portal, 34 institutions have received over $183 million from foreign entities with ties to American adversaries, including the CCP. Previous reports outline how CCP partnerships have exposed American universities to theft of sensitive military research and intellectual property. In one example, the Chinese Academy of Engineering credited a collaboration between a U.S. professor and a Chinese institution with "leading China to develop new materials and technologies for cutting-edge defense weapons and equipment."

As Chairman of the HELP Committee, Cassidy is leading the DETERRENT Act to strengthen transparency and accountability to foreign gift reporting requirements for U.S. colleges and universities. He also led a hearing on how authoritarian regimes like the CCP use financial contributions to influence America's schools and advance an anti-America agenda.

The lawmakers are requesting information from Bryant University, University of Texas at Arlington, University of Arizona, Georgia Institute of Technology, University of California - Berkeley, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Portland State University, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, and University of California - Irvine.

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