What This Bill Does
This bill says colleges and universities cannot receive federal money unless they ban the app TikTok on devices they own or provide. The ban takes effect 90 days after the law passes. There is an exception for certain types of research related to national security, law enforcement, telecommunications, or cybersecurity.
Who It Affects
Colleges and universities that receive federal funds. Faculty members conducting approved research. Students and staff who use school-owned electronic devices.
Key Provisions
* Colleges and universities must create rules that prevent TikTok from being used on any electronic devices the school owns or gives out (Sec. 2(a)(1))
* Schools must remove TikTok from all devices they own or provide (Sec. 2(a)(2))
* Research projects can use TikTok if faculty members conduct, supervise or approve the research and it relates to national security, law enforcement, telecommunications, or cybersecurity (Sec. 2(b))
* These rules must be in place within 90 days after the law passes (Sec. 2(a))
What Changes
Schools that currently receive federal money must develop and enforce TikTok bans on their devices. Schools that do not comply lose federal funding.
Important Definitions
* Electronic device: any device that can connect to the internet, including computers, tablets, streaming devices, smartphones, smartwatches and other smart devices (Sec. 2(c)(2))
* TikTok: the social networking service TikTok and any future app or service made by ByteDance Limited or companies it owns (Sec. 2(c)(3))
Effective Date
90 days after the law is enacted (Sec. 2(a))
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 231
To prohibit Federal funds from being provided to an institution of higher
education unless the institution has banned use of TikTok on electronic
devices, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 10, 2023
Mr. BABIN (for himself, Ms. TENNEY, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. WALTZ, Mr. JACK-
SON of Texas, and Mr. SANTOS) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce
A BILL
To prohibit Federal funds from being provided to an institu-
tion of higher education unless the institution has banned
use of TikTok on electronic devices, and for other pur-
poses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Terminate TikTok on
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Campus Act of 2023’’.
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•HR 231 IH
SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL FUNDS FOR ANY INSTI-
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TUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION NOT BAN-
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NING USE OF TIKTOK ON ELECTRONIC DE-
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VICES.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—Following the 90-day period be-
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ginning on the date of enactment of this Act, no Federal
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funds may be provided to an institution of higher edu-
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cation unless the institution of higher education has devel-
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oped and implemented standards and guidelines—
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(1) prohibiting the use of TikTok on electronic
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devices owned or issued by the institution; and
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(2) requiring the removal of TikTok from elec-
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tronic devices owned or issued by the institution.
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(b) RESEARCH EXCEPTION.—The requirements in
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subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to research
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that—
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(1) is conducted by, supervised by, or author-
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ized by faculty of an institution of higher education;
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and
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(2) pertains to national security, law enforce-
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ment, telecommunications, or cybersecurity.
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(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
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(1) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The
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term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the
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meaning given that term in section 102 of the High-
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er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002).
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•HR 231 IH
(2) ELECTRONIC
DEVICE.—The term ‘‘elec-
1
tronic device’’—
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(A) means a device capable of accessing
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the internet (either directly or by connecting to
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another device or system); and
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(B) includes a computer, a tablet, a
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streaming device, a smartphone, a smartwatch,
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and any other smart device.
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(3) TIKTOK.—The term ‘‘TikTok’’—
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(A) means the social networking service
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TikTok; and
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(B) includes any successor application or
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service developed or provided by ByteDance
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Limited or an entity owned by ByteDance Lim-
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ited.
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Æ
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