H.R.4010 - Turning Untrusted Tutoring Origins Away from Resources Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
H.R.4010, the "Turning Untrusted Tutoring Origins Away from Resources Act of 2025" (TUTOR Act), aims to prohibit the Department of Defense (DoD) from contracting with foreign-owned online tutoring services from countries of concern. The bill amends Section 854 of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. It broadens the restriction from solely targeting entities associated with the People's Republic of China to include any "country of concern," specifically defining this term to encompass China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
Expected Effects
The immediate effect of this bill, if enacted, would be to prevent the DoD from entering into or renewing contracts with online tutoring services owned or controlled by entities in China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea. This could lead to a shift in DoD contracts towards domestic or allied-nation tutoring providers. It may also prompt the DoD to re-evaluate its vetting processes for contractors to ensure compliance with the Act.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced National Security: Reduces the risk of foreign intelligence agencies accessing sensitive information through online tutoring platforms used by military personnel and their families.
- Protection of Intellectual Property: Safeguards against the potential theft of U.S. educational materials and technologies by foreign entities.
- Support for Domestic Businesses: Creates opportunities for U.S.-based online tutoring companies to secure DoD contracts.
- Improved Data Privacy: Minimizes the risk of personal data of military families being compromised by foreign governments.
- Strengthened Supply Chain Security: Ensures that critical services provided to the military are not dependent on potentially adversarial nations.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased Costs: Domestic or allied-nation tutoring services may be more expensive than those from countries of concern, potentially increasing DoD expenditures.
- Reduced Choice: Limiting the pool of eligible tutoring providers could reduce the availability of specialized or niche educational services.
- Potential for Retaliation: The targeted countries could potentially retaliate with similar restrictions on U.S. companies operating within their borders.
- Administrative Burden: The DoD will need to establish and maintain processes for identifying and vetting foreign-owned tutoring services.
- Limited Impact: If the DoD already has robust vetting processes, the practical impact of the bill may be minimal.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the US Constitution, particularly Article I, Section 8, which grants Congress the power to provide for the common defense and to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out that power. By restricting contracts with entities from countries of concern, the bill aims to protect national security interests. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any individual liberties or rights protected by the Bill of Rights.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).