Contact Congress about H.R. 1999: Disclose GIFT Act
Some colleges would have to track foreign gifts and contracts involving staff and faculty. They would post key details online without naming the people involved. Repeated violations could bring large fines and loss of federal student aid eligibility.
Modern Action explains legislation in plain English, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.
Disclose GIFT Act is a House bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Latest action on H.R. 1999: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects large research colleges and schools that get federal money for international and foreign language programs. It also affects their staff and faculty, who would have new yearly reporting duties for certain foreign gifts and contracts. Students could be affected if a school repeatedly breaks the rules and loses access to federal student aid programs.
Why this matters: Foreign money and contracts at colleges can be hard for the public to track. This bill would make some of those ties easier to see, especially at schools with major federal research funding. It could help spot conflicts of interest and research security risks. It could also create new costs, privacy questions, and pressure on international academic work.
Key provisions in H.R. 1999
- The bill applies only to schools that can take part in federal student aid programs. A school must also have received more than $50 million in federal research and development money in any of the last five calendar years, or receive Title VI funds for international and foreign language programs.
- Covered staff and faculty would have to report certain foreign gifts and contracts to their school each year. They must file by July 31 and cover the previous calendar year.
- Most foreign-source contracts must be reported when they are worth $5,000 or more in a calendar year. Contracts with unknown value also count. Contracts with foreign countries or entities of concern must be reported at any dollar amount.
- Schools must post reported details in a public online database that people can search and download. They must leave out personal identifiers. Records must stay online for at least five years or until the contract ends, whichever is later.
- Schools must keep internal records showing which people filed disclosures. Those records can be used in investigations and in Freedom of Information Act responses, which are public-records requests.
How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 1999
You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.
Questions people ask about H.R. 1999
- What is H.R. 1999?
- Some colleges would have to track foreign gifts and contracts involving staff and faculty. They would post key details online without naming the people involved. Repeated violations could bring large fines and loss of federal student aid eligibility.
- How do I support or oppose H.R. 1999?
- Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.
- Who should I contact about H.R. 1999?
- Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.
- Can Modern Action explain H.R. 1999 before I act?
- Yes. Modern Action gives you a plain-English summary, current status, and action context before you send anything.
