Orange County’s Congressional Delegation and the DETERRENT Act

News Summary

The recent passage of the DETERRENT Act by Congress has polarized Orange County’s delegation, mandating universities to report foreign gifts over $50,000. While some representatives support the act, citing national security, others oppose it due to concerns over bureaucracy and potential discrimination. The bill now moves to the Senate amid ongoing discussions about foreign influence on U.S. academia.

Orange County’s Congressional Delegation Faces Off Over New DETERRENT Act

In a move that’s making waves in Orange County, Congress has just passed the DETERRENT Act, a piece of legislation aimed at limiting foreign influence in U.S. universities. This bill, passed on March 27, mandates that universities report any foreign gifts and contracts that exceed $50,000 to the U.S. Department of Education. While supporters argue this is a necessary step to safeguard academic institutions from foreign adversaries, especially the Chinese Communist Party, not everyone in Orange County is on the same page.

What’s the DETERRENT Act About?

The DETERRENT Act is all about transparency and accountability. By lowering the reporting threshold for foreign gifts and contracts from $250,000 to $50,000, the act seeks to compel universities to keep an eye on who is funding their operations. With penalties in place for non-compliance—including the potential loss of federal funding—there’s a lot at stake here. By pushing for these regulations, lawmakers aim to protect American innovations from the reach of foreign influence.

Support from Some, Opposition from Others

Among the Orange County representatives, there was a clear divide. Only one Orange County Democrat, Rep. Derek Tran, threw his weight behind the DETERRENT Act, siding with the Republicans. He believes that the legislation is critical for national security, particularly in shielding American creativity and innovation from hostile actors. This perspective rings especially true for Tran, who represents California’s 45th Congressional District, home to a vibrant Vietnamese American community that has historically held strong anti-communist views.

On the flip side, other local Democratic representatives, such as Rep. Mike Levin, Rep. Linda Sánchez, Rep. Lou Correa, and Rep. Dave Min, voiced their strong opposition to the bill. Their concerns revolve around the potential for creating unnecessary bureaucracy and privacy issues, which could make it difficult for universities to engage in essential research partnerships. Rep. Min went a step further, warning that the act might inadvertently fuel discrimination against Asian Americans and lead to a rise in anti-Asian sentiments.

The Bigger Picture: A Divided Landscape

Despite the contention surrounding the DETERRENT Act, it has attracted a considerable amount of support, with 21 co-sponsors, mostly from the Republican Party. Only two of those co-sponsors are Democrats, highlighting the partisan nature of this discussion. Now that the bill has passed through the House, it’s headed to the Senate for further deliberation, where its future remains uncertain.

This isn’t the first time Congress has attempted to tackle the issue of foreign influence on academia. Back in 2023, a similar bill put forth by Michelle Steel found success in the House but ultimately stumbled in the Senate. This pattern of passing, then stalling in the Senate, raises questions about whether these legislative efforts will lead to any real change in protecting educational institutions.

Recent Local Legislative Tensions

It’s worth mentioning that the division among Orange County representatives isn’t just limited to the DETERRENT Act. The recent rejection of Proposition 33, which aimed to expand local rent control powers, further illustrates the growing rift on key legislative matters in the region. Clearly, voters and representatives alike are grappling with complex issues that don’t always align neatly along party lines.

With the DETERRENT Act now in the Senate’s hands, all eyes will be on how this debate develops. As the nation seeks to escape the shadows of foreign influence, Orange County’s representatives will certainly remain at the forefront of the discussion. Stay tuned as this story unfolds and we learn more about what this means for the future of U.S. universities and their relationships with international partners.

Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic

HERE Resources

Additional Resources

• Orange County Register: Orange County Democrat’s Split
• ABC7: California Sea Lion Fatally Shot
• CBS News: California Proposition 33
• Orange County Register: President Ignores the Law
• Maven’s Notebook: Daily Digest on Reservoir Project
• Wikipedia: Foreign Influence in Education
• Google Search: Foreign Influence in Higher Education
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Foreign Aid
• Google Scholar: Foreign Influence in Education
• Google News: Foreign Influence on Universities