To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to strengthen disclosure requirements relating to foreign gifts and contracts, to prohibit contracts between institutions of higher education and certain foreign entities and countries of concern, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · February 6, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Baumgartner · Committee: Committee on Education and Workforce
Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 () is amended to read as follows: 20 U.S.C. 1011f
(a) Disclosure reports
(1) Aggregate gifts and contract disclosures
An institution shall file with the Secretary, in accordance with subsection (b)(1), a disclosure report on July 31 of the calendar year immediately following any calendar year in which—
the institution receives a gift from, or enters into a contract with, a foreign source (other than a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern)—
(i) the value of which is $50,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other gifts from, or contracts with, that foreign source within the calendar year; or
(ii) the value of which is undetermined; or
the institution—
(i) receives a gift from a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern; or
(ii) upon receiving a waiver under section 117A to enter into a contract with such a country or entity, enters into such contract, without regard to the value of such gift or contract.
(2) Foreign source ownership or control disclosures
Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in the case of an institution that is substantially controlled (as described in section 668.174(c)(3) of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations) (or successor regulations)) by a foreign source, the institution shall file with the Secretary, in accordance with subsection (b)(2), a disclosure report on July 31 of each year.
(3) Treatment of affiliated entities
For purposes of this section, any gift to, or contract with, an affiliated entity of an institution shall be considered a gift to, or contract with, respectively, such institution.
(b) Contents of report
(1) Gifts and contracts
Each report to the Secretary required under subsection (a)(1) shall contain the following:
With respect to a gift received from, or a contract entered into with, any foreign source—
(i) the terms of such gift or contract, including—
the name of the individual, department, or other entity at the institution receiving the gift or carrying out the contract on behalf of the institution;
the foreign source’s intended purpose of such gift or contract, or, in the absence of such a purpose, the manner in which the institution intends to use such gift or contract; and
in the case of a restricted or conditional gift or contract, a description of the restrictions or conditions of such gift or contract;
(ii) with respect to a gift—
the total fair market dollar amount or dollar value of the gift, as of the date of submission of such report; and
the date on which the institution received such gift;
(iii) with respect to a contract—
the total fair market dollar amount or dollar value of the contract, as of the date of submission of such report;
the date on which the institution enters into such contract;
the date on which such contract first takes effect;
if the contract has a termination date, such termination date; and
an assurance that the institution will—
maintain an unredacted copy of the contract until the latest of—
the date that is 5 years after the date on which such contract first takes effect;
the date on which the contract terminates; or
the last day of any period that applicable State law requires a copy of such contract to be maintained; and
upon request of the Secretary during an investigation under section 117D(a)(1), produce such an unredacted copy of the contract; and
(iv) an assurance that in a case in which information is required to be disclosed under this section with respect to a gift or contract that is not in English, such information is translated into English in accordance with subsection (c).
With respect to a gift received from, or a contract entered into with, a foreign source that is a foreign government (other than the government of a foreign country of concern)—
(i) the name of such foreign government;
(ii) the department, agency, office, or division of such foreign government that approved such gift or contract, as applicable; and
(iii) the physical mailing address of such department, agency, office, or division.
With respect to a gift received from, or contract entered into with, a foreign source (other than a foreign government subject to the requirements of subparagraph (B))—
(i) the legal name of the foreign source, or, if such name is not available, a statement certified by a compliance officer in accordance with section 117D(c) that the institution has reasonably attempted to obtain such name;
(c) Translation requirements
Any information required to be disclosed under this section with respect to a gift or contract that is not in English shall be translated, for purposes of such disclosure, by a person that is not an affiliated entity or agent of the foreign source involved with such gift or contract.
(d) Public inspection
(1) Database requirement
Beginning not later than May 31 of the calendar year following the date of enactment of the , the Secretary shall—
establish and maintain a searchable database on a website of the Department, under which all reports submitted under this section (including any report submitted under this section before the date of enactment of the )—
(i) are made publicly available (in electronic and downloadable format), including any information provided in such reports (other than the information prohibited from being publicly disclosed pursuant to paragraph (2));
(ii) can be individually identified and compared; and
(iii) are searchable and sortable—
by the institution that filed such report;
by the date on which the institution filed such report;
by the date on which the institution received the gift which is the subject of the report;
by the date on which the institution enters into the contract which is the subject of the report;
by the date on which such contract first takes effect;
by the attributable country of such gift or contract;
by the name of the foreign source (other than a foreign source that is a natural person);
by the information described in subparagraph (C)(i); and
by the information described in subparagraph (C)(ii);
not later than 30 days after receipt of a disclosure report under this section, include such report in such database;
indicate, as part of the public record of a report included in such database, whether the report is with respect to a gift received from, or a contract entered into with—
(i) a foreign source that is a foreign government; or
(ii) a foreign source that is not a foreign government; and
with respect to a disclosure report that does not include the name or address of a foreign source, indicate, as part of the public record of such report included in such database, that such report did not include such information.
(2) Name and address of foreign source
The Secretary shall not disclose the name or address of a foreign source that is a natural person (other than the attributable country of such foreign source) included in a disclosure report—
as part of the public record of such disclosure report described in paragraph (1); or
in response to a request under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ), pursuant to subsection (b)(3) of such section. Freedom of Information Act
(e) Interagency information sharing
Not later than 30 days after receiving a disclosure report from an institution in compliance with this section, the Secretary shall transmit an unredacted copy of such report (that includes the name and address of a foreign source disclosed in such report) to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Director of National Intelligence, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of Energy, the Director of the National Science Foundation, and the Director of the National Institutes of Health.
(f) Definitions
In this section:
The term , when used with respect to an institution, means an entity or organization that operates primarily for the benefit of, or under the auspices of, such institution, including a foundation of the institution or a related entity (such as any educational, cultural, or language entity). affiliated entity
The term attributable country means—
The term — contract
The term foreign source means—
The term — gift
The term restricted or conditional gift or contract means any endowment, gift, grant, contract, award, present, or property of any kind which includes provisions regarding—
(b) Prohibition on contracts with certain foreign entities and countries
Part B of title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 () is amended by inserting after section 117 the following: 20 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.
(a) In general
An institution shall not enter into a contract with a foreign country of concern or a foreign entity of concern.
(b) Waivers
(1) In general
A waiver issued under this section to an institution with respect to a contract shall only—
waive the prohibition under subsection (a) for a 1-year period; and
apply to the terms and conditions of the proposed contract submitted as part of the request for such waiver.
(2) Submission
(A) First waiver requests
(i) An institution that desires to enter into a contract with a foreign entity of concern or a foreign country of concern may submit to the Secretary, not later than 120 days before the institution enters into such a contract, a request to waive the prohibition under subsection (a) with respect to such contract.
(ii) A waiver request submitted by an institution under clause (i) shall include—
the complete and unredacted text of the proposed contract for which the waiver is being requested, and if such original contract is not in English, a translated copy of the text into English (in a manner that complies with section 117(c)); and
a statement that—
is certified by a compliance officer of the institution designated in accordance with section 117D(c); and
includes information that demonstrates that such contract—
is for the benefit of the institution’s mission and students; and
will promote the security, stability, and economic vitality of the United States.
(B) Renewal waiver requests
(i) An institution that, pursuant to a waiver issued under this section, has entered into a contract, the term of which is longer than the 1-year waiver period and the terms and conditions of which remain the same as the proposed contract submitted as part of the request for such waiver may submit, not later than 120 days before the expiration of such waiver period, a request for a renewal of such waiver for an additional 1-year period (which shall include any information requested by the Secretary).
(ii) If the institution fails to submit a request under clause (i) or is not granted a renewal under such clause, such institution shall terminate such contract on the last day of the original 1-year waiver period.
(3) Waiver issuance
The Secretary—
not later than 60 days before an institution enters into a contract pursuant to a waiver request under paragraph (2)(A), or before a contract described in paragraph (2)(B)(i) is renewed pursuant to a renewal request under such paragraph, shall notify the institution—
(c) Interagency information sharing
Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall transmit to each individual listed in section 117(e) of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended by this Act—
any report received by the Department of Education under section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 () prior to the date of enactment of this Act; and 20 U.S.C. 1011f
any report, document, or other record generated by the Department of Education in the course of an investigation—
of an institution with respect to the compliance of such institution with such section; and
initiated prior to the date of enactment of this Act.
The Higher Education Act of 1965 (), as amended by the preceding section, is further amended by inserting after section 117A the following: 20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.
(a) Requirement to maintain policy and database
Beginning not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the , each institution described in subsection (b) shall maintain—
a policy requiring covered individuals employed at the institution to disclose in a report to such institution on July 31 of each calendar year that begins after the year in which such enactment date occurs—
any gift received from a foreign source in the previous calendar year, the value of which is greater than the minimal value (as such term is defined in section 7342(a) of title 5, United States Code) or is of undetermined value, and including the date on which the gift was received;
any contract with a foreign source (other than a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern) entered into or in effect during the previous calendar year, the value of which is $5,000 or more, considered alone or in combination with all other contracts with that foreign source within the calendar year, and including the date on which such contract is entered into, the date on which the contract first takes effect, and, as applicable, the date on which such contract terminates;
any contract with a foreign source (other than a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern) entered into or in effect during the previous calendar year that has an undetermined monetary value, and including the date on which such contract is entered into, the date on which the contract first takes effect, and, as applicable, the date on which such contract terminates; and
any contract entered into or in effect with a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern during the previous calendar year, the value of which is $0 or more or which has an undetermined monetary value, and including—
(i) the date on which such contract is entered into;
(ii) the date on which the contract first takes effect;
(iii) if the contract has a termination date, such termination date; and
(iv) the full text of such contract and any addenda;
a publicly available and searchable database (in electronic and downloadable format), on a website of the institution, of the information required to be disclosed under paragraph (1) (other than the name or any other personally identifiable information of a covered individual) that—
makes available the information disclosed under paragraph (1) (other than the name or any other personally identifiable information of a covered individual) beginning on the date that is 30 days after receipt of the report under such paragraph containing such information and until the latest of—
(i) the date that is 5 years after the date on which—
The Higher Education Act of 1965 (), as amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting after section 117B the following: 20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.
(a) Investment disclosure report
A specified institution shall file a disclosure report in accordance with subsection (b) with the Secretary on each July 31 immediately following any calendar year in which the specified institution purchases, sells, or holds (directly or indirectly through any chain of ownership) one or more investments of concern.
(b) Contents of report
Each report to the Secretary required by subsection (a) shall contain, with respect to the calendar year preceding the calendar year in which such report is filed, the following information:
A list of the investments of concern purchased, sold, or held during such calendar year.
The aggregate fair market value of all investments of concern held as of the close of such calendar year.
The combined value of all investments of concern sold over the course of such calendar year, as measured by the fair market value of such investments at the time of the sale.
The combined value of all capital gains from such sales of investments of concern.
(c) Treatment of certain pooled investments
(1) Pooled investment classification
(A) In general
For purposes of this section, except as provided in subparagraph (B), a specified interest acquired by a specified institution in a regulated investment company, exchange traded fund, or any other pooled investment that holds an investment of concern shall be treated as an investment of concern and shall be reported pursuant to paragraph (2)(A).
(B) Certification of pooled investment
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), such specified interest shall not be subject to subparagraph (A) if the Secretary certifies, pursuant to paragraph (2)(B), that such pooled investment is not holding an investment of concern.
(2) Procedures
The Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Securities and Exchange Commission, shall establish procedures under which a pooled investment described in paragraph (1)—
shall be reported in accordance with the requirements of subsection (b); and
may be certified under paragraph (1)(B) as not holding an investment of concern.
(d) Treatment of related organizations
For purposes of this section, assets held by any related organization (as defined in of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) with respect to a specified institution shall be treated as held by such specified institution, except that— section 4968(d)(2)
such assets shall not be taken into account with respect to more than 1 specified institution; and
The Higher Education Act of 1965 (), as amended by this Act, is further amended by inserting after section 117C the following: 20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.
(a) Enforcement
(1) Investigation
The Secretary (acting through the General Counsel of the Department) shall conduct investigations of possible violations of sections 117, 117A, 117B, 117C, and subsection (c) of this section by institutions and, whenever it appears that an institution has knowingly or willfully failed to comply with a requirement of any of such provisions (including any rule or regulation promulgated under any such provision), shall request that the Attorney General bring a civil action in accordance with paragraph (2).
(2) Civil action
Whenever it appears that an institution has knowingly or willfully failed to comply with a requirement of any of the provisions listed in paragraph (1) (including any rule or regulation promulgated under any such provision) based on an investigation under such paragraph, a civil action shall be brought by the Attorney General, at the request of the Secretary, in an appropriate district court of the United States, or the appropriate United States court of any territory or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, to request such court to compel compliance with the requirement of the provision that has been violated.
(3) Costs and other fines
An institution that is compelled to comply with a requirement of a provision listed in paragraph (1) pursuant to paragraph (2) shall—
pay to the Treasury of the United States the full costs to the United States of obtaining compliance with the requirement of such provision, including all associated costs of investigation and enforcement; and
if applicable, be subject to the applicable fines described in paragraph (4).
(4) Fines for violations
The Secretary shall impose a fine on an institution that is compelled to comply with a requirement of a section listed in paragraph (1) pursuant to paragraph (2) as follows:
(A) Section 117
(i) In the case of an institution that is compelled to comply with a requirement of section 117 pursuant to a civil action described in paragraph (2), and that has not previously been compelled to comply with any such requirement pursuant to such a civil action, the Secretary shall impose a fine on the institution for such violation as follows:
In the case of an institution that knowingly or willfully fails to comply with a reporting requirement under subsection (a)(1) of section 117, such fine shall be in an amount that is—
for each gift or contract with determinable value that is the subject of such a failure to comply, the greater of—
$50,000; or
(ii) in the case of a foreign source that is a natural person, the country of citizenship of such person, or, if such country is not known, the principal country of residence of such person;
(iii) in the case of a foreign source that is a legal entity, the country in which such entity is incorporated, or, if such information is not available, the principal place of business of such entity;
(iv) the physical mailing address of such foreign source, or, if such address is not available, a statement certified by a compliance officer in accordance with section 117D(c) that the institution has reasonably attempted to obtain such address; and
(v) any affiliation of the foreign source to an organization that is designated as a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (). 8 U.S.C. 1189
With respect to a contract entered into with a foreign source that is a foreign country of concern or a foreign entity of concern—
(i) a complete and unredacted text of the original contract, and if such original contract is not in English, a translated copy in accordance with subsection (c);
(ii) a copy of the waiver received under section 117A for such contract; and
(iii) the statement submitted by the institution for purposes of receiving such a waiver under section 117A(b)(2).
(2) Foreign source ownership or control
Each report to the Secretary required under subsection (a)(2) shall contain—
the legal name and address of the foreign source that owns or controls the institution;
the date on which the foreign source assumed ownership or control; and
any changes in program or structure resulting from the change in ownership or control.
(i) if the waiver or renewal will be issued by the Secretary; and
(ii) in a case in which the waiver or renewal will be issued, the date on which the 1-year waiver period starts; and
may only issue a waiver under this section to an institution if the Secretary determines, in consultation with each individual listed in section 117(e), that the contract for which the waiver is being requested—
(i) is for the benefit of the institution’s mission and students; and
(ii) will promote the security, stability, and economic vitality of the United States.
(4) Disclosure
Not less than 2 weeks prior to issuing a waiver under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall notify the authorizing committees of the intent to issue the waiver, including a justification for the waiver.
(c) Designation during contract term
In the case of an institution that enters into a contract with a foreign source that is not a foreign country of concern or a foreign entity of concern but which, during the term of such contract, is designated as a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern, such institution shall terminate such contract not later than 60 days after the Secretary notifies the institution of such designation.
(d) Contracts prior to date of enactment
(1) In general
In the case of an institution that has entered into a contract with a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern prior to the date of enactment of the —
the institution shall as soon as practicable, but not later than 30 days after such date of enactment, submit to the Secretary a waiver request in accordance with clause (ii) of subsection (b)(2)(A); and
the Secretary shall, upon receipt of the request submitted under such clause, issue a waiver to the institution for a period beginning on the date on which the waiver is issued and ending on the sooner of—
(i) the date that is 1 year after the date of enactment of the ; or
(ii) the date on which the contract terminates.
(2) Renewal
An institution that has entered into a contract described in paragraph (1), the term of which is longer than the waiver period described in subparagraph (B) of such paragraph and the terms and conditions of which remain the same as the contract submitted as part of the request required under subparagraph (A) of such paragraph, may submit a request for renewal of the waiver issued under such paragraph in accordance with subsection (b)(2)(B).
(e) Contract defined
The term contract has the meaning given such term in section 117(f).
a gift referred to in paragraph (1)(A) is received; or
a contract referred to in subparagraph (B), (C) or (D) of paragraph (1) first takes effect; or
(ii) the date on which a contract referred to in subparagraph (B), (C) or (D) of paragraph (1) terminates; and
is searchable and sortable—
(i) if the subject of the disclosure is a gift, by the date on which the gift is received;
(ii) if the subject of the disclosure is a contract—
by the date on which such contract is entered into; and
by the date on which such contract first takes effect;
(iii) by the attributable country with respect to which information is being disclosed;
(iv) by the narrowest of the department, school, or college of the institution, as applicable, for which the individual making the disclosure works; and
(v) by the name of the foreign source (other than a foreign source who is a natural person); and
an effective plan to identify and manage potential information gathering by foreign sources through espionage targeting covered individuals that may arise from gifts received from, or contracts entered into with, a foreign source, including through the use of—
periodic communications;
accurate reporting under paragraph (2) of the information required to be disclosed under paragraph (1); and
enforcement of the policy described in paragraph (1); and
for purposes of investigations under section 117D(a)(1) or responses to requests under section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly known as the ), a record of the names of the individuals making disclosures under paragraph (1). Freedom of Information Act
(b) Institutions
An institution shall be subject to the requirements of this section if such institution—
is an eligible institution for the purposes of any program authorized under title IV; and
(2)
received more than $50,000,000 in Federal funds in any of the previous five calendar years to support (in whole or in part) research and development (as determined by the institution and measured by the Higher Education Research and Development Survey of the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics); or
receives funds under title VI.
(c) Definitions
In this section—
the terms , , and have the meanings given such terms in section 117(f); attributable country,foreign source,gift
the term contract means—
the term — covered individual
unless such organization is controlled by such institution or is described in of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 with respect to such institution, assets which are not intended or available for the use or benefit of such specified institution shall not be taken into account. section 509(a)(3)
(e) Valuation of debt
For purposes of this section, the fair market value of any debt shall be the principal amount of such debt.
(f) Regulations
The Secretary, after consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Securities and Exchange Commission, may issue such regulations or other guidance as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section, including regulations or other guidance providing for the proper application of this section with respect to certain regulated investment companies, exchange traded funds, and pooled investments.
(g) Database requirement
Beginning not later than May 31 of the calendar year following the date of enactment of the , the Secretary shall—
establish and maintain a searchable database on a website of the Department, under which all reports submitted under this section—
are made publicly available (in electronic and downloadable format), including any information provided in such reports;
can be individually identified and compared; and
are searchable and sortable; and
not later than 30 days after receipt of a disclosure report under this section, include such report in such database.
(h) Definitions
In this section:
the monetary value of such gift or contract; or
for each gift or contract of no value or of indeterminable value, not less than 1 percent and not more than 10 percent of the total amount of Federal funds received by the institution under this Act for the most recent fiscal year.
In the case of an institution that knowingly or willfully fails to comply with the reporting requirement under subsection (a)(2) of section 117, such fine shall be in an amount that is not less than 10 percent of the total amount of Federal funds received by the institution under this Act for the most recent fiscal year.
(ii) In the case of an institution that has previously been compelled to comply with a requirement of section 117 pursuant to a civil action described in paragraph (2), and is subsequently compelled to comply with such a requirement pursuant to a subsequent civil action described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall impose a fine on the institution as follows:
In the case of an institution that knowingly or willfully fails to comply with a reporting requirement under subsection (a)(1) of section 117, such fine shall be in an amount that is—
for each gift or contract with determinable value that is the subject of such a failure to comply, the greater of—
$100,000; or
twice the monetary value of such gift or contract; or
for each gift or contract of no value or of indeterminable value, not less than 5 percent and not more than 10 percent of the total amount of Federal funds received by the institution under this Act for the most recent fiscal year.
In the case of an institution that knowingly or willfully fails to comply with a reporting requirement under subsection (a)(2) of section 117, such fine shall be in an amount that is not less than 20 percent of the total amount of Federal funds received by the institution under this Act for the most recent fiscal year.
(B) Section 117A
(i) In the case of an institution that is compelled to comply with a requirement of section 117A pursuant to a civil action described in paragraph (2), and that has not previously been compelled to comply with any such requirement pursuant to such a civil action, the Secretary shall impose a fine on the institution in an amount that is not less than 5 percent and not more than 10 percent of the total amount of Federal funds received by the institution under this Act for the most recent fiscal year.
(ii) In the case of an institution that has previously been compelled to comply with a requirement of section 117A pursuant to a civil action described in paragraph (2), and is subsequently compelled to comply with such a requirement pursuant to a subsequent civil action described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall impose a fine on the institution in an amount that is not less than 20 percent of the total amount of Federal funds received by the institution under this Act for the most recent fiscal year.
(C) Section 117B
(i) In the case of an institution that is compelled to comply with a requirement of section 117B pursuant to a civil action described in paragraph (2), and that has not previously been compelled to comply with any such requirement pursuant to such a civil action, the Secretary shall impose a fine on the institution for such violation in an amount that is the greater of—
$250,000; or
the total amount of gifts or contracts that the institution is compelled to report pursuant to such civil action.
(ii) In the case of an institution that has previously been compelled to comply with a requirement of section 117B pursuant to a civil action described in paragraph (2), and is subsequently compelled to comply with such a requirement pursuant to a subsequent civil action described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall impose a fine on the institution in an amount that is the greater of—
$500,000; or
twice the total amount of gifts or contracts that the institution is compelled to report pursuant to such civil action.
(D) Section 117C
(i) In the case of an institution that is compelled to comply with a requirement of section 117C pursuant to a civil action described in paragraph (2), and that has not previously been compelled to comply with any such requirement pursuant to such a civil action, the Secretary shall impose a fine on the institution in an amount that is not less than 50 percent and not more than 100 percent of the sum of—
the aggregate fair market value of all investments of concern held by such institution as of the close of the final calendar year for which the institution is compelled to comply with such requirement pursuant to such civil action; and
the combined value of all investments of concern sold over the course of all the calendar years for which the institution is compelled to comply with such requirement pursuant to such civil action, as measured by the fair market value of such investments at the time of the sale.
(ii) In the case of an institution that has previously been compelled to comply with a requirement of section 117C pursuant to a civil action described in paragraph (2), and is subsequently compelled to comply with such a requirement pursuant to a subsequent civil action described in paragraph (2), the Secretary shall impose a fine on the institution in an amount that is not less than 100 percent and not more than 200 percent of the sum of—
the aggregate fair market value of all investments of concern held by such institution as of the close of the final calendar year for which the institution is compelled to comply with such requirement pursuant to such subsequent civil action; and
the combined value of all investments of concern over the course of all the calendar years for which the institution is compelled to comply with such requirement pursuant to such subsequent civil action, as measured by the fair market value of such investments at the time of the sale.
(E) Ineligibilty for waiver
In the case of an institution that is fined pursuant to subparagraph (A)(ii), (B)(ii), (C)(ii), or (D)(ii), the Secretary shall prohibit the institution from obtaining a waiver, or a renewal of a waiver, under section 117A.
(b) Single point-of-contact at the Department
The Secretary shall maintain a single point-of-contact at the Department to—
receive and respond to inquiries and requests for technical assistance from institutions regarding compliance with the requirements of sections 117, 117A, 117B, 117C, and subsection (c) of this section;
coordinate and implement technical improvements to the database described in section 117(d)(1), including—
improving upload functionality by allowing for batch reporting, including by allowing institutions to upload one file with all required information into the database;
publishing and maintaining a database users guide annually, including information on how to edit an entry and how to report errors;
creating a standing user group (to which of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply) to discuss possible database improvements, which group shall— chapter 10
(i) include at least—
3 members representing public institutions with high or very high levels of research activity (as defined by the National Center for Education Statistics);
2 members representing private, nonprofit institutions with high or very high levels of research activity (as so defined);
2 members representing proprietary institutions of higher education (as defined in section 102(b)); and
2 members representing area career and technical education schools (as defined in subparagraph (C) or (D) of section 3(3) of the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 ()); and 20 U.S.C. 2302(3)
(ii) meet at least twice a year with officials from the Department to discuss possible database improvements;
publishing, on a publicly available website, recommended database improvements following each meeting described in subparagraph (C)(ii); and
responding, on a publicly available website, to each recommendation published under subparagraph (D) as to whether or not the Department will implement the recommendation, including the rationale for either approving or rejecting the recommendation;
provide, every 90 days after the date of enactment of the , status updates on any pending or completed investigations and civil actions under subsection (a)(1) to—
the authorizing committees; and
any institution that is the subject of such investigation or action;
maintain, on a publicly accessible website—
a full comprehensive list of all foreign countries of concern and foreign entities of concern; and
the date on which the last update was made to such list; and
not later than 7 days after making an update to the list maintained under paragraph (4)(A), notify each institution required to comply with the sections listed in paragraph (1) of such update.
(c) Institutional requirements for compliance officers and institutional policy requirements
(1) In general
An institution that is required to file a report under section 117 or 117C, that is seeking a waiver under section 117A, or that is subject to the requirements of section 117B, shall, not later than the earlier of the date on which the institution files the first report under such a section, requests the institution’s first waiver under section 117A, or first fulfills the requirements of section 117C—
establish an institutional policy that the institution shall follow in meeting the requirements of sections 117, 117A, 117B, and 117C; and
designate and maintain at least one, but not more than three, current employees or legally authorized agents of such institution to serve as compliance officers to carry out the requirements listed in paragraph (2).
(2) Duties of compliance officers
A compliance officer designated by an institution under paragraph (1)(B) shall certify—
whenever the institution is required to file a report under section 117 or 117C—
(i) the institution’s accurate compliance with the reporting requirements under such section;
(ii) that the institution, in filing such report under section 117 or 117C—
followed the institutional policy established under paragraph (1)(A) applicable to such section; and
conducted good faith efforts and reasonable due diligence to ensure that accurate information is provided in such report, including with respect to the valuations of any assets that are disclosed in a report submitted under section 117C; and
(iii) in the case of a report under section 117, any statements by the institution required to be certified by such an officer under clause (i) or (iv) of section 117(b)(1)(C); and
whenever the institution requests a waiver under section 117A—
(i) that the institution—
is in compliance with the requirements of such section; and
followed the institutional policy established under paragraph (1)(A) applicable to such section; and
(ii) the statement by the institution required to be certified by such an officer under section 117A(b)(2)(A)(ii)(II); and
whenever the institution is subject to the requirements of section 117B, that the institution—
(i) is in compliance with the requirements of such section; and
(ii) followed the institutional policy established under paragraph (1)(A) applicable to such section.
(d) Definitions
For purposes of sections 117, 117A, 117B, 117C, and this section:
The term foreign country of concern means the following:
The term foreign entity of concern has the meaning given such term in section 10612(a) of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act () and includes a foreign entity that is identified on the list published under section 1286(c)(8)(A) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (10 U.S.C. 22 4001 note; ). 42 U.S.C. 19221(a); Public Law 115–232
The term institution means an institution of higher education (as such term is defined in section 102, other than an institution described in subsection (a)(1)(C) of such section).
(b) Program participation agreement
Section 487(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 () is amended by adding at the end the following: 20 U.S.C. 1094
(30)
An institution will comply with the requirements of sections 117, 117A, 117B, 117C, and 117D(c).
In the case of an institution described in subparagraph (C), the institution will—
(i) be ineligible to participate in the programs authorized by this title for a period of not less than 2 institutional fiscal years; and
(ii) in order to regain eligibility to participate in such programs, demonstrate compliance with all requirements of each such section for not less than 2 institutional fiscal years after the institutional fiscal year in which such institution became ineligible.
An institution described in this subparagraph is an institution that—
(i) has been subject to 3 separate civil actions described in section 117D(a)(2) that have each resulted in the institution being compelled to comply with one or more requirements of section 117, 117A, 117B, 117C, or 117D(c); and
(ii) pursuant to section 117D(a)(4)(E), is prohibited from obtaining a waiver, or a renewal of a waiver, under section 117A.
(c) GAO Study and Report
(1) Study
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall initiate a study to identify ways to improve intergovernmental agency coordination regarding implementation and enforcement of sections 117, 117A, 117B, 117C, and 117D(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (), as amended or added by this Act, including increasing information sharing, increasing compliance rates, and establishing processes for enforcement. 20 U.S.C. 1011f
(2) Report
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress, and make public, a report containing the results of the study described in .