Colleges would have to report more foreign gifts and contracts. Most deals with high-risk foreign countries or groups would be banned unless the school gets a one-year waiver. Schools that ignore the rules could face fines or lose access to federal student aid.
Modern Action explains what the legislation does, 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.
DETERRENT Act is a Senate bill in committee. The latest recorded action: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Latest action on S. 1296: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Who this affects: This bill mainly affects colleges and universities that receive foreign money, run international partnerships, or do major research. It also affects faculty and staff at covered schools if they have foreign gifts or contracts of their own. Students, families, donors, and the public would get more information about foreign funding on campus. Federal security, law enforcement, and science agencies would get fuller reports to review possible risks.
Why this matters: Foreign money on campus can be hard for the public to see, and this bill would make much more of it visible. It could help agencies spot risky funding or contracts. It could also make schools more cautious about foreign partnerships, even when a project is low risk or useful. The final impact would depend on which countries and groups appear on the concern list, how often waivers are approved, and how strongly the Department of Education enforces the law.
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.
Keep acting on Modern Action
Compare the broader issue and related bills without leaving Modern Action.
Officially: DETERRENT Act
Colleges would have to report more foreign gifts and contracts. Most deals with high-risk foreign countries or groups would be banned unless the school gets a one-year waiver. Schools that ignore the rules could face fines or lose access to federal student aid.
Use this page to support, oppose, or ask Congress to amend S1296. Modern Action explains what the bill does, helps identify the right senators or representative, and drafts a bill-specific message you can edit and send.
Where it stands
Sitting in Health
No vote scheduled. Constituent contact is what moves bills out of committee.
↓ Why your message matters here
This bill is sitting in committee with no scheduled vote — which means a small number of constituent messages can decide whether it moves forward or quietly dies.
Enter your ZIP to see how your senators and member of Congress have voted, sponsored, or spoken on this bill.
Where this bill is in the process
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
Senate Committee
Under Senate committee consideration
Latest: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (4/3/2025)
Senate Floor Vote
Voted on by Senate
Passed Senate
Approved by Senate
House Review
Sent to House for consideration
Passed Both Chambers
Approved by both House and Senate
Signed into Law
Signed by the President
For more detail
Choose one clear position: support, oppose, or amend. Then pick any reasons or personal context you want included. Modern Action uses that input and the bill context to draft a message you can edit and send.
Congressional offices prioritize messages from their own constituents. Modern Action uses your address to route the drafted message to your senators when that is the most relevant target for this bill.
The draft includes the bill number, your position, the reasons you selected, any personal context you added, and a direct ask such as voting yes, voting no, cosponsoring, opposing, or seeking changes. You stay in control because you can edit the message before sending.
This page gives you an opportunity to support, oppose, or ask for changes to DETERRENT Act, then contact the elected officials who can act. Modern Action drafts the message from your position and the reasons you select.
Modern Action keeps the action tied to the bill itself: what it does, where it is in the process (committee), which office can still act, and what ask belongs in the message.
You are not starting from a blank form. Modern Action drafts the message around S1296, your stance, and the reasons you choose, then lets you edit and send when ready.
