Press Releases
The Republican Recap: Week of March 24, 2025
Washington,
March 27, 2025
Here’s a recap of what Republicans achieved on the House Floor this week:
Keeping Foreign Adversaries Out of American Educational Institutions ✅ Due to their considerable impact on the future leaders of our country, American universities and colleges have been the target of foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party, which seek to exert their influence on students, faculty, and research and subvert U.S. interests. To infiltrate our campuses, foreign nations provide expensive gifts, donations, and investments to schools – with strings attached. Although American universities are required by law (section 117 of the Higher Education Act) to report these gifts, they often refuse to adhere to the reporting requirements, bolstering foreign influence in our education and slashing necessary transparency. A report found that around 350 universities, including Harvard and Yale, received nearly $18 million combined from foreign nations between 2014 and 2019. Over 60 percent of foreign money given to American universities comes from China, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. The first Trump Administration unearthed $6.5 billion in gifts and contributions to elite universities from countries that pose serious national security threats that hadn’t been previously disclosed. Additionally, a 2019 Senate report found that around 70 percent of all institutions failed to comply with reporting requirements in the law. We cannot allow foreign adversaries like the CCP, whose mission is to undermine American interests, infect our political discourse, and shape young minds to their design, to continue to infiltrate our campuses and influence American higher education. House Republicans passed legislation to demand American education institutions stop hiding their dealings with foreign regimes to allow for transparency and oversight. H.R. 1048, the Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions (DETERRENT) Act, sponsored by Rep. Michael Baumgartner, protects our institutions of higher education from foreign interference by strengthening disclosure requirements for foreign gifts and contracts, and in some cases, banning contracts between these schools and certain foreign entities of concern. “The passage of the DETERRENT Act with bipartisan support marks a major and hard-earned victory in the effort to protect academic integrity from foreign interference,” said Rep. Michael Baumgartner. “This bill reflects the growing consensus that transparency and accountability are crucial in shielding American universities from the influence of foreign adversaries, especially the Chinese Communist Party. While this is an important step forward, it's vital to remember that universities don't need to wait for federal action to take these necessary measures. Implementing the DETERRENT framework now—by disclosing foreign funding, establishing strong oversight, and ensuring no external force undermines the pursuit of knowledge—will help preserve the free exchange of ideas and innovations that lie at the heart of our academic institutions.” What Members Said: “While students learn about democracy and liberty, their tuition dollars may be funding governments that stand against these very ideals. This isn't hypothetical – it’s happening. Since 2013, U.S. colleges and universities have received over $1 billion from Chinese Communist Party affiliated sources. In return, we've seen professors silenced, students’ groups threatened, and our intellectual property stolen. At the same time, these institutions, many which probably divest from fossil fuels and boycott Israel, are more than willing to accept foreign funding from adversaries who seek to undermine our nation. The DETERRENT Act is our line in the sand. It demands transparency and accountability from higher education,” said Rep. Burgess Owens. “I must make clear, profit over patriotism, profit over American values, and profit over American culture is traitorous betrayal. The DETERRENT Act takes critical steps to safeguard our institutions, protect our students, and preserve American values. We must not allow profit to overshadow patriotism. It's time to reclaim our universities and secure our future.”
Rep. Mark Harris highlighted that H.R. 1048 prevents our colleges and universities from being used as a gateway for foreign enermies to influence future generations.  Overturning Burdensome Biden Rules to Protect Consumer Choice ✅ In 1975, Congress established the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to increase American energy production, encourage efficient energy use, and bolster national energy security. Under the EPCA, the Department of Energy (DOE) sets and enforces efficiency standards for 60 product categories – but these standards must be cost-effective, significantly save energy, and be technologically feasible. Unfortunately, Biden’s DOE consistently abused their authority to push a radical energy agenda on American consumers, attempting to implement conservation standards that are neither economically justifiable nor significantly more energy efficient for several household appliances, taking away consumer choice, burdening American families, and forcing Americans to use expensive appliances that do not perform as well. By raising production and equipment costs for manufacturers, these rules ultimately raise costs for small businesses and consumers. This puts smaller businesses and manufacturers at a competitive disadvantage, forcing some out of business, resulting in job losses, and potentially causing supply chain disruptions. While the Biden Administration fought until the last minute to unleash burdensome regulations for a multitude of vital home appliances like coolers, freezers, refrigerators, air conditioners, and dryers, House Republicans are working to protect consumer choice and keep government agencies out of your home. H.J. Res. 24, introduced by Rep. Stephanie Bice, overturns the Biden Administration’s rule imposing new or amended energy efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers that are not technologically feasible and economically justified. “This week, House Republicans acted to overturn more last-minute environmental regulations from the Biden Administration. Walk-in coolers and freezers are essential for pharmacies, convenience stores, food processing facilities, food banks, restaurants, and many other establishments nationwide. This regulation, which had an estimated cost of a billion dollars, would have been crippling for businesses throughout the country, especially in rural areas. We must continue to push back against federal overreach, and I appreciate the support of my colleagues on this critical measure,” said Rep. Stephanie Bice. H.J. Res. 75, introduced by Rep. Craig Goldman, overturns the Biden Administration’s rule imposing new or amended energy efficiency standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers that are not technologically feasible and economically justified. “This week, House Republicans advanced my resolution, H.J. Res. 75, to prevent burdensome costs on small businesses and consumers. I am thankful to my colleagues for their support of this resolution, which rolls back the Biden administration’s costly regulations on commercial refrigerators and freezers. This is necessary to prevent the implementation of rules that would cost Americans $8 billion,” said Rep. Craig Goldman. What Members Said: Majority Leader Steve Scalise celebrated that House Republicans passed legislation to roll back Biden-era radical green energy regulations, including on appliances in your own home.
 “On December the 23rd, 2024, as American households and businesses are in the process of preparing for the holidays, the Biden-Harris Department of Energy finalized burdensome and unnecessary energy efficiency standards for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers. These products are staples, they're necessary, in businesses and restaurants across the country, and they play an essential role in providing consumers with safe and fresh food, as well as drinks. Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, the Biden-Harris Administration's final rule jeopardizes those very same small and independent retailers’ ability to serve the communities that rely on them. This final rule will force stores like small grocers and convenience stores to incur significant, major upfront cost for new equipment,” said Rep. Randy Weber. “The result will be significant costs being passed down to consumers, and in the worst case scenario, the shuttering of businesses, those mom and pop businesses that we all like, they may be shuttered, prevented from providing essential services to their very communities that they grew up in. Well, thankfully, Mr. Speaker, the House is considering H.J. Res. 24, introduced by Representative Bice of Oklahoma, to repeal this disastrous final rule.” Rep. Josh Brecheen underscored that H.J. Res. 24 overturns the Biden Administration's rule imposing impractical green energy standards on coolers and freezers, reins in out-of-control government overreach, and protects Americans' freedom to make their own choices.
 “Once again, I join my House colleagues in working to overturn another last minute so-called energy efficiency standard from the previous administration. In reality, the Biden Administration imposed standards that are nearly impossible for commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturers to meet. So according to estimates from the Biden Department of Energy, the final rule will cost approximately $8 billion. This will be borne by those purchasing equipment, many of whom are small businesses, and the payback period for certain commercial refrigeration equipment under these standards is up to 93.9 years,” said Rep. Jim Baird. “The Biden Department of Energy implemented a policy that threatens small businesses, harms consumers, and drives up costs, even as many Americans continue to struggle under the long term effects of the Biden Administration's inflationary economic policies. That ends now.” Rep. Bob Latta emphasized that the Biden-Harris Administration's regulations on commercial refrigeration units are a clear example of overreaching rules that drive up costs for businesses and families, and that H.J. Res. 75 eliminates these burdensome regulations.
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