In a groundbreaking move, Oklahoma GOP Senator James Lankford has introduced a bill aimed at preventing universities affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) from receiving funds from the Department of Education’s K-12 program. Named the Countering Adversarial and Malicious Partnerships at Universities and Schools (CAMPUS) Act, Lankford’s legislation seeks to prohibit the allocation of funds to universities that support the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Lankford voiced his concerns about the CCP’s influence within the U.S., stating, “The Communist Chinese Party is working to undermine and challenge the U.S. – not just internationally, but on our own soil.” He emphasized their infiltration of the education system, from K-12 schools to universities, with the intention of destabilizing, spreading disinformation, hacking, stealing valuable information, and propagandizing.
Confucius Institutes have been identified as problematic connections between U.S. universities and Beijing, enabling the CCP to exploit these relationships to their advantage. Lankford believes that this has allowed the CCP to steal American innovation and exert political influence over students, faculty, and families.
Lankford’s bill aims to remove the CCP from American classrooms and safeguard sensitive national security information. It mandates that the director of national intelligence, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, identifies institutions of higher education in the People’s Republic of China that support the PLA and participate in the Military-Civil Fusion strategy led by the CCP.
Moreover, the bill requires the director of national intelligence and secretary of defense to submit a list of identified entities to Congress within 180 days of the bill’s enactment. It also prohibits Department of Education funds from being allocated to elementary and secondary schools that have contracts with entities in the People’s Republic of China. Similarly, Department of Defense funds cannot go to entities associated with the listed institutions.
In order to host or store classified information, an entity must not have an active research partnership with any institution listed in the bill, according to the legislation. Additionally, the bill empowers the secretary of state to deny visas to nonimmigrants involved in the CCP’s Military-Civil Fusion agenda.
Lankford’s bill is part of a broader effort in Congress to combat the CCP’s influence in American education. House China Committee Chairman Mike Gallagher is introducing a bill, known as the “DITCH Act,” that requires non-profits, university endowments, public pension plans, and other tax-exempt entities to divest from Chinese companies or risk losing their tax-exempt status.
The landscape of education is being reshaped as lawmakers recognize the importance of protecting national security and preserving academic freedom. By taking decisive action, these bills aim to ensure that universities and schools remain free from undue influence and maintain their dedication to truth and scholarship.
Disclaimer: This is a creative rewrite of the original content provided.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
