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S1010119th CongressWALLET

CAMPUS Act

Sponsored By: Senator Lankford, James [R-OK]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would block U.S. funding and partnerships with Chinese universities that support China’s military‑civil fusion while promoting educational ties with Taiwan.

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It creates a Director of National Intelligence (DNI) list of People’s Republic of China (PRC)‑domiciled higher education institutions linked to the People’s Liberation Army and then limits federal research, visas, and K‑12 and higher education relationships with those entities.

  • Families and students: The Secretary of State could be authorized to deny F and J visas to students and employees of DNI‑identified PRC institutions. K‑12 schools that contract with PRC‑domiciled entities would be ineligible for Department of Education K‑12 funds.
  • Higher education institutions: Colleges must report foreign gifts at a lower threshold, dropping from $250,000 to $50,000, and they would need to certify no active research ties with DNI‑listed PRC institutions to host or store classified information.
  • Defense and research recipients: Department of Defense research, development, testing, and evaluation funds could not go to entities that contract with PRC institutions on the DNI list, and federal RDT&E grants cannot fund PRC entities on that list or on certain Commerce Department entity lists.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 3 costs, 1 mixed.

K-12 funds barred for PRC-contracted schools

If enacted, the Department of Education could not give K-12 education funds to any elementary or secondary school that has a contract with an entity domiciled in the People's Republic of China. The change would take effect upon enactment. Parents and students at affected schools could see reduced federal support for programs and services.

New limits on defense research partners

If enacted, Department of Defense research, development, testing, and evaluation funds could not go to any entity that has a contract with a Chinese university on the DNI list or with entities on the Commerce Department's Entity List. The bill would also bar DCSA from certifying a facility to hold classified information unless the entity certifies it has no active research partnership with a listed Chinese institution. These rules would take effect upon enactment.

Grants for Mandarin and Taiwan programs

If enacted, the Education Department could make grants to K-12 schools and colleges for Mandarin language classes and Chinese cultural programs. Grants must be done in partnership with the American Institute in Taiwan and TECO and may include programs under the United States–Taiwan Education Initiative. The bill does not specify how much money would be available.

List and definitions for Chinese universities

If enacted, the Director of National Intelligence would identify Chinese universities that support the People's Liberation Army. The DNI must give a list to Congress within 180 days and update it every year. The bill would also define which Chinese institutions and which congressional committees the list covers.

Visa denials for some students

If enacted, the Secretary of State would be authorized to deny F (student) and J (exchange visitor) visas to applicants who are students or employees of institutions on the DNI-submitted list. The rule would take effect upon enactment. It applies to nonimmigrants in F or J classifications affiliated with those listed institutions.

More foreign gift reporting for colleges

If enacted, colleges and universities subject to Section 117(a) would have to report foreign gifts and contracts of $50,000 or more instead of the current $250,000 threshold. The change would take effect upon enactment. The rule increases public transparency but raises reporting burdens for institutions.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Lankford, James [R-OK]

OK • R

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]

    TN • R

    Sponsored 3/13/2025

  • Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]

    FL • R

    Sponsored 7/28/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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