The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation intended to reduce the influence of foreign governments at American universities and colleges.

Congressman Tim Walberg, chair of the House Education and Workforce Committee, says the DETERRENT Act is needed to protect national security.

“Foreign adversaries have given millions of dollars to expand their influence at American colleges and universities and steal important research,” Walberg said. “The House is taking action to protect students from foreign influence by passing the Deterrent Act.”

Specifically, the bill requires an institution of higher learning to annually disclose to the Department of Education anytime it receives a gift from a foreign country of concern, receives a gift or contract from a foreign source valued at $50,000 or more, or enters into a contract with a foreign country of concern or foreign entity of concern. Walberg says this at least creates transparency.

“The Deterrent Act will bring light to malignant foreign entities lurking in our schools by providing clarity to foreign gift reporting requirements for colleges and universities.”

How the colleges and universities will report this information to a federal department that’s being dismantled has not been stated.

The House approved the “Defending Education Transparency and Ending Rogue Regimes Engaging in Nefarious Transactions” Act Thursday.