Mobile Courant

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) has joined Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) in supporting the Safeguarding American Education From Foreign Control Act. This legislation mandates that universities disclose any gifts they receive from foreign adversaries, with no minimum amount for disclosure. The aim is to prevent foreign money and influence, particularly from countries like China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea, from infiltrating U.S. higher education institutions.

This bill is part of an alignment with President Trump's America First agenda. Sen. Tuberville stated, “The Chinese Communist Party wants to brainwash our kids and destroy our country — not on my watch,” emphasizing the importance of transparency in how foreign entities like China are funding U.S. schools.

Senators Tuberville and Banks are joined by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) in support of the bill. Representative Erin Houchin (R-IN-09) is also advancing this effort in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Among the key points in the legislation are the findings from Americans for Public Trust, which revealed that China donated more than $175 million to American universities last year. Also in a letter sent to the Biden Administration’s Department of Education in August 2023, Sen. Tuberville, along with 19 other senators, expressed concerns over the presence of Confucius programming in American schools, which are affiliated with the Chinese government.

The report also highlighted that 143 schools across 34 states and the District of Columbia received CCP-related funding and that there are connections between the CCP and school districts near U.S. military bases.

Additionally, Sen. Tuberville successfully urged Troy University to terminate their Confucius Institute program by linking future funding opportunities to its closure.

Since joining the U.S. Senate in 2021, Sen. Tuberville has been actively involved in initiatives aimed at safeguarding American resources and national security from the perceived threats posed by Communist China.