Congressman Pat Harrigan Votes to Block Chinese Influence in American Universities

Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) voted to pass H.R. 881, the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act, a bill that cuts off Department of Homeland Security funding to American universities that maintain ties with Chinese Communist Party-backed institutions.

"Communist China has no place in America's classrooms," said Congressman Harrigan. "The CCP uses our universities to steal data, spread propaganda, and undermine our national security. We're shutting the door and making it clear-American research is not for sale."

The bill targets Confucius Institutes, the Thousand Talents Program, and Chinese entities tied to the Communist Party's military and intelligence arms. It forces schools to sever those relationships or lose access to DHS dollars. Institutions can only keep these ties if they receive a strict national security waiver after review by the Department and the Director of National Intelligence.

Congressman Harrigan remains focused on protecting America's national security from foreign interference. This legislation is a critical step toward closing off CCP access to taxpayer-funded research and preserving the integrity of U.S. higher education.