Stefanik, Scott, Gottheimer introduce bills protecting fed research funds from hostile foreign entities

WASHINGTON, D.C. | Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Chairwoman of House Republican Leadership, along Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) and Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) introduced two bipartisan bills to prevent federal research dollars from flowing to institutions that operate branch campuses in hostile foreign nations or receive foreign funding that supports national security-related research from those nations. These bills aim to secure research that is crucial to U.S. national security and prevent foreign adversaries from buying influence in American universities. "Hostile foreign nations like China and Qatar have funneled millions of dollars to some of America's most prestigious universities," said Stefanik. "This funding has allowed these nations to promote harmful anti-American ideologies on college campuses and gain access to sensitive research with national security applications. Our legislation will prevent federal research dollars from padding the pockets of universities that continue to knowingly operate branch campuses in these nations or accept funds for national security-related research. These concrete actions will help defend American universities and students from hostile foreign influence." "America has enemies and we need to start acting like it," said Scott. "Countries like Communist China and terror-supporting Qatar should not be able to use America's colleges and universities as outposts to spy on us, steal sensitive research, and spread anti-American propaganda, but we've been letting them do it for years. This legislation is critical to America's national security and the future of our higher education system - neither of which should be for sale." "We know adversaries like the CCP are exploiting our universities to access cutting-edge research and push their anti-American agendas," said Gottheimer. "This bipartisan legislation draws a clear line: if you're taking money tied to hostile nations, you shouldn't be getting U.S. taxpayer dollars, full stop. It's about protecting our national security and standing up for American innovation." These bills would: Require that institutions of higher education include on applications for federal research awards a certification that the institution does not operate a branch campus in certain foreign nations. Prevent institutions of higher education that receive funding from certain foreign nations for national security-related research, including research into AI, biotechnology, or quantum computing, from receiving federal research awards for five years and certify compliance. Ensure that foreign nations prohibited from buying influence under the legislation include China, Qatar, Venezuela, North Korea, Cuba, Turkey, and Russia. Read the bill text HERE and HERE.

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Stefanik, Scott, Gottheimer introduce bills protecting fed research funds from hostile foreign entities

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