This week, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., introduced the “No Federal Funding for CCP Spying and Persuasion In Education Settings (SPIES) Act” to stop U.S. Defense Department (DoD) funds from going to a Confucius Institute Waiver Program (CIWP).
Rubio’s proposal “closes the CIWP loophole and prohibits any DoD funding for colleges that host Confucius Institutes” and “prohibits DoD funding for international institutions of higher education that host Confucius Institutes.”
The Florida Republican’s office offered some of the reasons behind why he introduced the bill.
“Confucius Institutes continue to pose a threat to the American people as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) uses colleges and universities to influence higher education in our nation. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) announced the creation of a Confucius Institute Waiver Program (CIWP) that will be responsible for approving or denying waiver applications from any U.S. college that hosts a Confucius Institute,” Rubio’s office noted.
“U.S. taxpayer dollars should not be benefiting the CCP and its murderous regime. Confucius Institutes, which are directed by Beijing, have plagued college campuses in our nation with the CCP’s propaganda. There is no reason why the DoD should support these institutes,” said Rubio.
Rubio’s bill was sent to the U.S. Senate Armed Service Committee. So far, there are no co-sponsors in the Senate.
U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., is championing the bill in the U.S. House.
“There is no situation where we should make it easier for the Chinese Communist Party to spy on our universities. Safeguarding American research by ensuring no DOD funds go to universities with Confucius Institutes is common sense and vital to our national security,” said Banks.
Four House Republicans, including U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz, R-Fla., are co-sponsoring the bill. Banks’ bill was sent to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee.
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