# Plain Language Summary: Transparency in College Foreign Payments Act

Right now, colleges and universities that receive money or gifts from foreign sources have to report this to the federal government, but the current rules don't require them to say who exactly is giving the money. This bill changes that by requiring colleges to disclose the specific identity of every foreign donor or organization providing funds, not just the total amount. So instead of a college simply reporting "we received $500,000 from foreign sources," they'd have to say "we received $500,000 from the government of Country X" or "we received $200,000 from Company Y based in Country Z." The bill also requires colleges to identify which specific government agencies are involved if a foreign government is the donor.

The practical effect is that students, parents, taxpayers, and the public will have much clearer information about where colleges' foreign money is coming from. Currently, a college could hide the identity of a donor behind vague reporting, but this bill pulls back that curtain. Additionally, colleges will need to specify which department or project within the college received the foreign funding and explain what the money is intended for. This means if a foreign entity is funding a specific research lab or academic program, that information becomes public record rather than staying hidden in aggregate numbers.

The bill is aimed at addressing concerns that colleges might be receiving funding from foreign governments or entities with interests that could conflict with American interests, or that could influence research and academic freedom. By requiring transparency about who is paying for what, the bill gives Congress, regulators, and the public better visibility into foreign influence on American higher education institutions. For most students and families, this means more information will be available if you want to know about your college's foreign funding sources.

Transparency in College Foreign Payments Act

Bice, Stephanie I.

Transparency in College Foreign Payments Act This bill revises certain disclosure requirements for institutions of higher education (IHEs). Specifically, the bill requires an IHE to disclose to the Department of Education (ED) any gift from or contract with a foreign source, regardless of the amount of the gift or contract. Under current law, an IHE must disclose to ED a gift or contract from a foreign source that is valued at $250,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts from or contracts with that foreign source within a calendar year. An IHE must also report the identity of each foreign source and the name of each foreign government. Further, an IHE must report additional information when it receives a restricted or conditional gift or contract from a foreign source. Such additional information includes (1) the identity of the foreign source; (2) the identity of the specific department, college, project, or other division of the IHE that is the recipient of the gift or contract, if applicable; and (3) the intended purpose of the gift or contract.