The Leader’s Floor Lookout: Week of May 5, 2025

Keeping the CCP Out of U.S. Institutions of Higher Education

For years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has worked to spread propaganda and conduct sophisticated espionage around the world, particularly targeting the United States and seeking to infiltrate and exploit America’s classrooms and institutions of higher learning.

One way the Chinese government attempted to do this was to establish Confucius Institutes (CIs) in the U.S. under the guise of promoting Chinese language and culture and advancing cultural exchanges. In reality, these CIs were extensions of the CCP’s influence network meant to conduct espionage in the U.S., impact academic institutions’ decisions, push propaganda, and steal intellectual property and trade secrets.

Today, there are less than five active Confucius Institutes left in the United States; however, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that 43 out of 74 schools surveyed maintain a relationship with an entity that previously supported their CI program. 

Additionally, many institutions of higher learning are far from transparent in disclosing the assistance they receive from China or other foreign engagement, posing a significant risk to our national security and allowing our adversaries to influence the classrooms that shape the minds of America’s brightest.

Between June 22, 2020, to April 6, 2023, the Department of Education accumulated data revealing that U.S. universities collected over $3 billion from CCP and PRC linked entities. And because of China’s 2017 National Intelligence Law, any individual, organization, institution, or entity based in China is obligated to assist and comply with PRC intelligence work. 

H.R. 881, the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act, introduced by Rep. August Pfluger, restricts funding to American institutions of higher education (IHE) that maintain a relationship with a Chinese entity of concern or Confucius Institute, making them ineligible to receive any funds from the Department of Homeland Security.

We cannot allow foreign adversaries to influence U.S. education and participate in shaping the minds of America's future leaders, nor can we allow them access to steal intellectual property.

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Codifying President Trump’s Gulf of America Executive Order

On January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order officially declaring the Gulf of Mexico to be renamed to the Gulf of America in recognition of this bountiful economic resource and vital American asset. 

The Gulf of America has always played an integral part in shaping the United States and global economies, even serving as a crucial avenue for early American global trade and commerce. It is home to plentiful fisheries with blue crab, shrimp, grouper, etc., supporting much of America’s commercial fishing and contributing millions to our economy. The area is also an essential oil and gas region for America’s energy safety and independence. 

The Gulf has always been and always will be a part of America, and its name should reflect that. America is the greatest country in the world, and only getting greater under President Trump – this name change acknowledges and celebrates that greatness, showing the world that we are proud to be the United States of America. 

This week, House Republicans are bringing forward legislation to codify the President’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. By making President Trump’s executive order law, House Republicans can ensure that the change is permanent so no future administration can change it back with an executive order. 

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s legislation, H.R. 276, the Gulf of America Act of 2025, codifies President Trump’s executive order, permanently renames the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and instructs federal agencies to update their documents and maps to reflect the change. 

House Republicans will always celebrate American greatness and express our patriotism for the world to see.