Protecting Academic Integrity Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9074
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Education
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-29: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-23T22:01:34Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation, titled the Protecting Academic Integrity Act of 2026, aims to increase transparency regarding foreign funding received by U.S. colleges and universities by requiring more detailed public disclosures of gifts and contracts from foreign sources.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 117 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 to lower the reporting threshold for foreign gifts and contracts from $250,000 to $50,000.
- Requires disclosure reports to include, when available, the specific foreign government department, agency, office, or division responsible for the gift or contract.
- Mandates reporting of the purpose or intention of the gift or contract; if unavailable, the institution must state the intended use and the receiving account or department.
- Directs the Comptroller General (GAO) to study institutional compliance with existing disclosure rules, reasons for noncompliance, corrective efforts, and federal enforcement activities, with a report due to Congress within one year of enactment.
- The changes take effect one year after the bill becomes law.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Reduces the monetary threshold for mandatory reporting under the Higher Education Act, expanding the number of transactions that must be disclosed.
- Adds new required details about the foreign government entity involved and the purpose or use of funds, which were not previously mandated.
- Introduces a formal GAO compliance review process not present in the current statute.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: The Department of Education would receive more frequent and detailed reports, while the GAO would conduct a new nationwide study.
- Citizens and institutions: Colleges and universities face expanded administrative reporting requirements, potentially affecting how they manage and document foreign funding.
- International relations: Foreign governments and entities providing gifts or contracts to U.S. higher education institutions would face greater scrutiny through required disclosures.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Institutions of higher education (colleges and universities).
- The Secretary of Education and Department of Education.
- The Comptroller General and GAO.
- Foreign governments, agencies, and sources providing gifts or contracts.
- Congress (as recipient of the GAO report).
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- The bill strengthens federal oversight of foreign financial influence in academia through expanded disclosure rules without creating new penalties in the text.
- It applies uniformly to all covered institutions one year after enactment, with no exemptions noted.
- The GAO study could inform future legislative or regulatory actions on compliance.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-29: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-29: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Protecting Academic Integrity Act of 2026 — issued 2026-05-29 — PDF (4 pages)