Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Chairman, the DETERRENT Act is an important bill. It seeks to hold colleges, universities, and foreign actors accountable while providing the transparency necessary into any influence foreign countries are attempting to exert onto our Nation's students and academic institutions through new disclosure requirements. This bill could not be more timely.

My amendment will clarify that ties to a designated terrorist organizations, such as Hamas, must be disclosed when receiving funds from a foreign group or individual.

In light of the disgustingly callous and vile pro-Hamas demonstration seen on college campuses across the country, including, sadly, even in my own district, this amendment is more important than ever.

Mr. Chair, I will remark that after comments made by college and university presidents in my colleague, Dr. Foxx from North Carolina's, committee hearing, those comments were so horribly dishonest, disturbing, and, quite frankly, dangerous.

This amendment and the necessary exclamation point it sends is necessary.

The public deserves to know the source of foreign money being poured into our universities, especially if these sources have any ties to terrorist groups and organizations like Hamas.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to adopt the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Chairman, there is adequate capacity for colleges and universities across this country to identify the source of funds such as this.

In fact, we know all too often that there are individuals even working within the Federal Government who have ties and have associated themselves with actions of Hamas. We have the technology to do so. And simply expecting that universities do their due diligence and then disclose to the American people, students, and supporters of those universities is certainly not a bar too great for them to meet.

Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to support the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

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Mr. MOLINARO. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

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