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The Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) was among the coalition of 26 organizations that signed a joint letter on Monday calling on Congress to pass the DETERRENT Act, a legislative measure aimed at bolstering transparency of foreign funding of American higher education institutions.
The DETERRENT Act, approved with bipartisan support in the House of Representatives last year and now up for Senate consideration, strengthens Section 117 reporting requirements for foreign donations and contracts to U.S. colleges and universities. The legislation is designed to close longstanding gaps in oversight and ensure that foreign influence in American academia is fully disclosed and subject to accountability.
Monday’s letter — addressed Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer — said:
On behalf of the 26 undersigned organizations, we urge Congress to adopt The DETERRENT Act (H.R. 1048 and S. 1296) and ensure its passage into law during this, the 119th Congress.
Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 requires institutions of higher education (IHE) that receive federal funding to disclose donations from and contracts with a foreign source to the U.S. Department of Education. This allows full transparency and disclosure to the public of foreign funding in our institutions and programs of higher education.
As you know, there have been billions in funding from undemocratic nations to universities that have gone unreported to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) as mandated by Section 117 of the Higher Education Act, potentially exposing the United States to national security threats and depriving the American public of foreign funding transparency in our educational institutions. DOE’s newly-released foreign funding portal goes a long way in making compliance easier for the universities and DOE’s new partnership with the State Department allows the data gathered to be reviewed to ensure potential threats are addressed decisively and proactively to protect America’s most vital interests.
The DETERRENT Act in the House had bipartisan sponsors and was passed with bipartisan votes in March of 2025. It amends Section 117 and provides that additional information in the disclosure of foreign gifts and contracts be provided; restricts contracts with certain foreign entities and foreign countries of concern; requires certain staff and faculty to report foreign gifts and contracts; requires disclosure once a year at a lower threshold amount as opposed to current law that requires reporting by IHE’s twice a year; and imposes fines on institutions that fail to meet the new requirements.
The Senate version follows the House version and made a few revisions, including clauses protecting staff/student identity and removing Section 117 c, which had required expanded reporting of foreign investments by private university endowments.
Section 117 does not prohibit institutions from taking foreign money; instead, it mandates accurate and transparent disclosures of sources and amounts to the federal government for public view. The time is now to pass the updated DETERRENT Act. We look forward to assisting you in this important effort.
In addition to CAM, other organizations endorsing the letter included:
The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy
Transparency International
B’nai B’rith International
The Rabbinical Council
Jewish Federations of North America
The American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council
Endowment for Middle East Truth
The American Islamic Forum for Democracy
Chinese American Citizens Alliance of Greater New York
The Hindu American Foundation
CUFI Action Fund
StandWithUs
Israel Economic Forum
Foundation for Defense of Democracies Action
NORPAC
CLARITy Coalition
The Orthodox Union
Scholars for Peace in the Middle East
Jewish Students for America
Louis D. Brandies Center for Human Rights Under Law
HinduACTion
National Jewish Advocacy Center
North American Values Institute
The Republican Jewish Coalition
Parents Defending Education Action
