Stop Funding Our Adversaries Act of 2023
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1032
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2025-07-13T22:41:03Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to prevent U.S. federal agencies from using taxpayer money to fund or support research projects conducted by the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party, or any entities they own or control. It seeks to protect national interests by restricting financial support to adversarial entities.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition on Funding: The bill bans the Secretary of Defense, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of Energy, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Secretary of the Interior, Secretary of Transportation, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and any other federal agency from directly or indirectly funding research through mechanisms like grants, subgrants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other financial tools.
- Scope of Restriction: The ban applies specifically to research conducted by:
- The Government of the People's Republic of China, its agents, instrumentalities (e.g., government-linked organizations), or entities owned or controlled by it.
- The Chinese Communist Party, its agents, instrumentalities, or entities owned or controlled by it.
- Short Title: The act is titled the "Stop Funding Our Adversaries Act of 2023."
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- This introduces a new, explicit prohibition on federal funding for research tied to specified Chinese entities, which was not previously outlined in U.S. law. Prior to this, federal agencies could fund international research collaborations without such targeted restrictions on China, though general export controls and security reviews might apply in sensitive areas.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Agencies involved in research funding (e.g., Department of Defense, Department of Energy, HHS) will face administrative burdens to review and redirect grants, potentially slowing scientific projects and requiring new compliance processes to avoid violations.
- On Citizens: U.S. researchers, universities, and scientists who collaborate internationally may lose access to federal funding for China-related work, limiting opportunities in fields like health, energy, and environmental science.
- On International Relations: The bill could strain U.S.-China scientific cooperation, escalating tensions by signaling a broader decoupling in research partnerships, while possibly encouraging alliances with other nations for joint projects.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Agencies: Including defense, health, energy, environmental, and transportation departments, which must enforce the funding ban.
- U.S. Researchers and Institutions: Universities, labs, and scientists relying on federal grants for global collaborations.
- Chinese Entities: Government bodies, the Chinese Communist Party, and affiliated organizations or companies that previously received indirect U.S. funding through partnerships.
- Broader Scientific Community: International researchers and organizations involved in joint U.S.-China projects.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes clear enforcement mechanisms under Congress's spending authority (Article I, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution), allowing for potential audits or penalties for non-compliance, but may require agencies to define "owned or controlled" entities more precisely to avoid legal challenges.
- Constitutional: Relies on Congress's power of the purse to control federal expenditures, without directly infringing on executive foreign policy powers, though it could lead to disputes over implementation.
- Political: Reflects growing U.S. concerns over national security and intellectual property risks from China, potentially influencing bipartisan support for decoupling policies, but it might face criticism for hindering global scientific progress or being overly broad.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24]
Cosponsors (3)
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17], Rep. Haridopolos, Mike [R-FL-8]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-05: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2025-02-05: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-05: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Stop Funding Our Adversaries Act of 2023 — issued 2025-02-05 — PDF (2 pages)