Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) has introduced new legislation aimed at preventing foreign adversaries, including the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), from leveraging American colleges and universities for their own benefit. The proposed Protecting American Research and Talent Act would prohibit higher education institutions from receiving federal funding if they engage in fundamental research collaborations with foreign adversaries. Senators Rick Scott (R-Florida) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma) are cosponsors of the bill.
A companion version of the legislation was introduced in the House by Congressman Andy Barr (Kentucky-6).
“For far too long, our adversaries have exploited American colleges and universities to advance their interests, while risking our national security and innovation. This bill seeks to protect American research and talent and ensure our adversaries are not benefiting from American institutions,” said Senator Cotton.
Congressman Barr added, “The CCP and other foreign adversaries repeatedly use sophisticated schemes to steal American research and advance their interests in the expense of American national security and innovation. This legislation seeks to stop that effort by increasing transparency and limiting federal flexibility to approve exemptions.”
The bill would block federal funds from going to higher education institutions involved in certain collaborations with entities linked to foreign adversaries. It expands the definition of covered entities to include both foreign individuals who graduated from institutions in adversary countries as well as U.S. persons who receive funding from those entities. The legislation also sets a strict cap on foreign enrollment as a condition for eligibility for waivers.
Further details about the text of the bill can be found here.
