HR 1999119th CongressIn Committee

Disclose GIFT Act

Introduced: Mar 10, 2025

Standard Summary

Comprehensive overview in 1-2 paragraphs

The Disclose GIFT Act would expand oversight of foreign influence in higher education by requiring certain colleges and universities to adopt and publicize policies on foreign gifts and contracts, and to collect and disclose annual reports from covered individuals. Specifically, eligible institutions would must report gifts and contracts from foreign sources each year and publish a publicly searchable database (excluding personal identifiers) with details such as dates, values, and the foreign source. The bill also creates enforcement mechanisms, including potential civil actions, fines, and ineligibility from Title IV programs for institutions with repeated noncompliance. In addition, the act requires the Department of Education to maintain a central point of contact, share information about foreign concerns, and conduct a GAO study on implementation and enforcement. The policy targets institutions that receive substantial federal funding for research or Title VI programs and defines a broad set of terms (foreign source, gift, contract, etc.). It also imposes governance requirements (compliance officers and institutional policy) and ties compliance to program participation. The bill would significantly increase transparency around foreign influence in university research and activities, while creating new regulatory and administrative burdens for certain higher education institutions.

Key Points

1Annual disclosure requirement: Covered individuals at eligible institutions must report every July 31 on gifts from foreign sources exceeding a threshold or with undetermined value, and contracts with foreign sources (with specific thresholds or conditions), including dates and other contract details.
2Public, searchable database: Institutions must maintain a publicly available database (on their website) with non-personal information about disclosed gifts and contracts, searchable by date, country, department, and foreign source, and with contract text where applicable. Data retention runs for several years (minimum 5 years after an event).
3Institutional policy and compliance officers: Institutions must establish a formal policy and appoint 1–3 compliance officers who certify compliance with the program requirements each time disclosures are required.
4Enforcement and penalties: The Secretary may investigate and, if necessary, seek civil action via the Attorney General. Institutions could be fined (with higher penalties for subsequent violations) and may face ineligibility from Title IV programs after multiple civil actions.
5Scope and definitions: The policy applies to certain higher education institutions that receive substantial federal funds (over $50 million for R&D in the prior five years or funds under Title VI). The bill provides detailed definitions for foreign sources, gifts, contracts, covered individuals, and foreign countries/entities of concern.
6Departmental coordination and transparency: A single Department point-of-contact would handle inquiries, provide status updates, maintain a list of foreign countries/entities of concern, and notify institutions of updates.
7GAO study and reporting requirement: The Comptroller General must study implementation and coordination within 180 days and report to Congress within 3 years.

Impact Areas

Primary group/area affected- Eligible higher education institutions (Title IV-eligible, with large federal R&D funding or Title VI funds) and their staff and faculty. These institutions would undertake new reporting, build a public database, and designate compliance officers.Secondary group/area affected- Students, researchers, and university administrators who may be subject to disclosure requirements or affected by changes in research collaborations and international partnerships.- Foreign sources (governments, entities, or agents) that interact with the institutions, given expanded reporting and public exposure of such relationships.Additional impacts- Administrative and financial burden on affected institutions due to policy development, reporting, database maintenance, and compliance checks.- Potential effects on research collaboration and international partnerships stemming from heightened scrutiny of foreign gifts and contracts.- National security and foreign policy considerations, given the broad definition of “foreign source” and “foreign country of concern.”- Public accountability and transparency of university funding and collaborations, with data searchable by non-identifying factors but potentially influencing reputational perceptions.Gift: Any gift of money, property, resources, staff, or services from a foreign source. Some small, specific exemptions apply (e.g., certain student-cost-of-attendance payments for a limited number of students by a natural person and not tied to a contract).Contract: Any agreement for purchase/lease of property or services, any affiliation or transaction involving use of the university’s name or resources, or similar arrangements with a foreign source; special rules apply for “foreign country of concern” and “foreign entity of concern.”Foreign source: Broad category including foreign governments or their agencies, foreign entities owned or controlled by a foreign government, foreign individuals or their agents, and international organizations.Foreign country of concern / foreign entity of concern: Defined by federal law and specified lists; includes nations and entities identified as posing national security or policy concerns.Covered individual: Individuals identified under related security and research integrity guidance; the policy’s interpretation aligns with specific federal guidance on research security.

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