Stephen Bates

Honorable Committee Members, I am writing in strong support of HB 1776, which requires higher educational institutions to report foreign grants, donations, and contracts to the Department of Education and General Court. This important legislation will: • Increase transparency in higher education funding • Help identify potential foreign influence on New Hampshire campuses • Ensure taxpayers and families know where institutional funding originates • Protect academic freedom from inappropriate foreign interference • Strengthen oversight of our state's educational institutions New Hampshire families invest heavily in higher education and deserve to know if foreign governments or entities are influencing the institutions where their children learn. This reasonable reporting requirement will provide essential transparency without burdening legitimate educational partnerships. I urge you to support HB 1776 and vote "Ought to Pass." Respectfully, Stephen Bates Hampstead, NH