Chairwoman Foxx Opening Remarks on H.R. 1048, H.J. Res. 24, and H.J. Res. 75

As prepared for delivery:

Good afternoon. The Committee will come to order. 

Without objection, the Chair is authorized to declare a recess at any time. 

Today, the Rules Committee is convening to consider H.R. 1048, H.J. Res. 24, and H.J. Res. 75.

First, we’ll turn to H.R. 1048, the DETERRENT Act. This legislation will bring much needed transparency, accountability, and clarity to foreign gift reporting requirements for colleges and universities across the nation.

It strengthens section 117 of the Higher Education Act, which was intended to protect American colleges and universities from nefarious foreign donations.

Foreign influence within higher education is not something to be taken lightly. It poses a seismic threat, and one that must be addressed without delay.

Without meaningful measures to increase transparency and accountability, we will never fully understand the true amount of foreign funds being funneled into colleges and universities.

Under current law, institutions of higher education must adhere to these reporting requirements – though many fail to do so because of how weak current law actually is.

A 2019 Senate report found that up to 70% of colleges and universities fail to comply with the law – that’s unacceptable and must be changed.

Next, we turn to H.J. Res. 24, a Congressional Review Act resolution that overturns another wrongheaded midnight rule from the Department of Energy relating to conservation standards for walk-in coolers and walk-in freezers.

The Department of Energy issued this final rule a mere two days before Christmas last year – yet another gift from the Biden administration that nobody asked for.

This midnight rule piles on additional costs to the shoulders of Main Street businesses while, at the very same time, takes a hatchet to consumer choice.

Today, we’re breaking out the shovels and burying this midnight rule in the grave where it belongs. Good riddance. 

Consumer choice is here to stay.

Lastly, we turn to H.J. Res. 75, a Congressional Review Act resolution that overturns yet anotherwrongheaded rule by the Department of Energy relating to conservation standards for commercial refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers.

Like the previous rule from the Department of Energy that was just discussed, this rule is yet another example of the regulatory barrage that the Biden administration launched against Main Street as well as consumers.

Regulating this country into the ground benefits absolutely no one – that’s an indisputable fact. Like the last rule, we’ll bury this one in the grave also – nobody will miss it.

With that, I look forward to today’s discussion, and I now yield to the Ranking Member, Mr. McGovern, for any comments he wishes to make. 

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