'Protect Our Nation's Students From Foreign Manipulation': Messmer Calls For DETERRENT Act's Passage

3/25/2025

During debate on the House floor, Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN) called for the passage of HR 1048, the DETERRENT Act.

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Transcript

00:00Thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm now pleased to yield two minutes to the gentleman from Indiana,

00:06upstanding, proud member of this committee, Mr. Messmer.

00:10Gentleman is recognized.

00:12Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Deterrent Act.

00:16This important legislation will bring vital transparency and accountability

00:20to gift reporting requirements for colleges and universities.

00:24For decades, the Chinese Communist Party, Iran, and Russia

00:27have targeted American college systems by pushing dangerous propaganda aimed at influencing

00:32impressionable students. As my colleagues have pointed out,

00:36many American universities have been far too cozy with their international adversaries.

00:40They accept generous investments masked as research projects and infrastructure opportunities,

00:46which turn out to be funded by regimes that wish to do us harm.

00:50Not only do these corrupt arrangements create dangerous environments for our students and

00:53faculty, they also put America's national security at risk.

00:58I'm also pleased that my bill, the INSTRUCT Act, is included as one of the Deterrent Act's main

01:02provisions. My legislation requires that colleges and universities disclose to American intelligence

01:09agencies any and all financial transactional data so we can ensure they remain free of exploitation

01:15of hostile foreign influences. I urge my colleagues to pass this bill,

01:20not just because it makes sense, but because it will put our adversaries on notice that

01:24we're watching them. And most importantly, it will protect our nation's students

01:29from foreign manipulation and provide them with a transparent and safe learning environment that

01:33they deserve. Again, I wish to thank Chairman Wohlberg for his leadership on this issue,

01:38and I yield back the remainder of my time.

'Protect Our Nation's Students From Foreign Manipulation': Messmer Calls For DETERRENT Act's Passage

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