May 12, 2025

Dear Georgian,

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is our enemy. They have executed a sophisticated global influence campaign, allowing the CCP to conduct espionage in our country and steal our intellectual property and trade secrets. Part of their espionage was through Confucius Institutes, which were originally established in America in 2004 and marketed as a way to promote Chinese language and culture, support local Chinese teaching internationally, and facilitate cultural exchanges.

We now know the true intent of these universities, and the Department of Education has shown that over $3 billion has been collected by U.S. universities from entities connected to the People’s Republic of China and the CCP.

Last week, the House passed H.R.881, the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act. This legislation eliminates CCP influence in our education system by prohibiting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from providing funds to any higher education institution that hosts Confucius Institutes.

I supported this legislation, which passed by a bipartisan vote of 266-153.

As always, my staff and I are here to help. If you need assistance with a federal agency or have comments or concerns to share with me, please do not hesitate to call my Warner Robins, Tifton, or Washington, D.C. offices. I encourage you to visit my website, like my Facebook page, follow me on YouTube, and follow me on X.

Keep reading for the full update.

Sincerely,

Congressman Austin Scott

Recognizing the 2025 Congressional Art Competition Winners

My office hosted a reception at the Syd Blackmarr Arts Center in Tifton, and my wife, Vivien, had the honor of celebrating participants in this year's Congressional Art Competition and recognizing the grand prize winner, Kaylee Moore from Cook County High School, for her painting "Mirror Mirror."

Kaylee's painting will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year alongside the winning artwork from every other Congressional district. The second-place winner was Claire Reeves from Tiftarea Academy for her painting "Serenity in Blue."

Lowndes High School student Emerson Shiver came in third place for her piece "Silent Drum" and also won the People's Choice Award competition on my Facebook page. This artwork will also go to Washington, D.C., and hang in my office for a year.

Congratulations to these talented students, and thank you to everyone who participated!

Read more here.

Meeting with Georgia Bankers Association

The Georgia Bankers Association represents most financial institutions in our state, and some of their representatives came by my office in D.C. last week to share their legislative priorities and discuss their efforts to limit financial fraud.

Congratulating EPA Award Recipient James Thomas

James Thomas, the founder and CEO of Atigun Energy in Macon, received the EPA Administrator’s Award for Outstanding Accomplishments by a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Contractor.

I congratulated him on this wonderful achievement and thanked him for his service to our country during his time in the U.S. Army and for being a national example of an accomplished business owner in Georgia's Eighth District.

Announcing the 2025 Congressional App Challenge

I'm excited to announce the start of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge! This annual, nationwide competition engages students' creativity and encourages their participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

The Congressional App Challenge allows students to compete with peers throughout their congressional district by creating and exhibiting an original software application, or "app," for web, PC, tablet, mobile, or other platforms of their choice.

The Congressional App Challenge is open to all middle and high school students in Georgia's Eighth District. Students can form teams, and those entering the competition must submit their app by October 30, 2025.

The winner will be chosen by a panel of expert judges, featured on the Congressional App Challenge website, and displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building.

I encourage everyone to participate in the Congressional App Challenge and look forward to seeing what participants submit this year.

Find more information here.

The Epoch Times | House Passes Bill Restricting CCP Influence in Higher Education

"The House of Representatives on May 7 passed a bill that would ban the Department of Homeland Security from providing grants to colleges and universities that partner with the entities of China’s ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

By a vote of 266–153, the chamber passed HR 881, 'DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern.' Every Republican present voted for the bipartisan legislation, along with 55 Democrats.

Confucius Institutes are Beijing-backed Chinese language centers that run in universities in the United States and other countries. Critics warn that the programs serve as a vehicle to spread the CCP’s propaganda and censorship on American college campuses...

Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.) said additional Congressional actions like this bill are needed to protect the United States from espionage and stop China from stealing U.S. trade secrets and intellectual property.

'The Chinese Communist Party does not share our interests or our values,' he said during a May 6 discussion on the measure.

'The Chinese Communist Party is no longer an economic adversary. They are an enemy.'"