H.R. 881 — DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act

This section establishes restrictions on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding for institutions of higher education (IHEs) with relationships (i.e., contracts, agreements, in-kind donations, or gifts) to Confucius Institutes funded by the People's Republic of China government, the Thousand Talents Program administered by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, or Chinese entities of concern (e.g., Chinese universities involved in military-civil fusion, the defense industrial base, or Uyghur persecution). Specifically, beginning in the first fiscal year after 12 months from enactment, DHS must deem such IHEs ineligible for DHS funds unless they terminate the relationship, after which eligibility is restored. It authorizes the DHS Secretary, after consulting the Director of National Intelligence, to waive ineligibility on a case-by-case basis for up to one year (renewable annually) if the IHE maintains safeguards against unauthorized access to sensitive research or data by affiliated Chinese nationals and the relationship serves U.S. national security interests or poses no risk to the United States or allies; waivers take effect 30 days after issuance, with congressional homeland security committees notified at least 30 days prior including justification. This section further directs the DHS Secretary to provide IHEs with compliance outreach and technical assistance upon request and to submit implementation reports to congressional homeland security committees 18 months after enactment and annually thereafter, detailing affected IHEs receiving DHS funds and execution of the restrictions, waivers, and assistance.