Foreign funding could be significantly swaying public debate in the U.S. in a way that favors America’s enemies on topics like domestic energy production. 

From The Center Square. U.S. Rep. Lance Gooden, R-Texas, introduced the “Think Tank and Nonprofit Foreign Influence Disclosure Act” Thursday, which would require nonprofits and think tanks to disclose foreign donations over $50,000. The bill would require the U.S. Treasury Department to create a “publicly available in a searchable database information relating to such gifts and contributions received from foreign governments and political parties…”

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“Foreign governments and foreign political parties attempt to influence the government and political system of the United States through donations to nonprofit charitable organizations especially think tanks and cultural organizations,” the bill reads. “While institutions of higher learning are required to disclose foreign gifts to the Department of Education pursuant to the Higher Education Act, no such requirement exists for think tanks.”

Gooden sent a letter to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen earlier this month alleging that Russian-funded environmental groups are advocating against U.S. oil production in the name of climate change with the real motive of strengthening their own economy, which relies heavily on exporting oil….

The new legislation points to a 2019 report from the Center for a New American Security, which said: “A number of U.S. universities, academic departments, individual scholars, think tanks, and other civil society organizations receive substantial funding from Beijing that is often targeted at shaping views and discourse on China.”

Funding for those academic institutions suggests it could be more widespread….

China has been notorious for influencing American intellectual spheres through funding. Several leading universities, including Harvard, the University of Southern California, the University of Pennsylvania, Stanford University, and New York University, have received tens of millions of dollars from Chinese donors….

Critics of Gooden’s plan have rebuffed the accusation of foreign funding tainting their mission. Gooden, though, has pushed for transparency, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine has brought attention to the issue.

“President Biden is beholden to a cabal of radical environmentalists who are actively working to undermine our national security,” Gooden said. “Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden must put our national security ahead of their Green New Deal agenda and investigate these organizations and their ties to Russia.”

How are you praying for our country, its interests, and national security?

(Excerpt from The Center Square. Photo Credit: Benjamin Child on Unsplash)