American Science First Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 254
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-01-09: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2025-02-11T21:14:20Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 254: American Science First Act
Purpose
This bill aims to restrict U.S. taxpayer-funded scientific research from supporting entities linked to China's military-industrial complex. It prevents the National Science Foundation (NSF), a federal agency that funds scientific research, from providing grants or other aid to companies or affiliates identified as part of Chinese communist military efforts.
Key Provisions
- Short Title (Section 1): The legislation is titled the "American Science First Act."
- Funding Restrictions (Section 2):
- The NSF Director is prohibited from awarding grants or other forms of assistance to any individual or entity that has ties—such as research partnerships, joint ventures, or contracts—with specified Chinese military-related organizations.
- Prohibited ties include affiliations with:
- Entities listed in Supplement No. 4 to Part 744 of the Export Administration Regulations (EAR), which identifies foreign entities posing national security risks for export controls.
- Companies on lists mandated by the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Section 1237) or the Mac Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Section 1260H), or any successor lists; these track entities involved in Chinese military activities.
- Parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, or entities owned or controlled by those listed above.
- This restriction applies regardless of other laws ("notwithstanding any other provision of law").
- Definition: The EAR refers to regulations in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations that control the export of sensitive technologies to protect national security.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces a blanket prohibition on NSF funding for affiliated entities, overriding any prior laws or policies that might allow such support.
- Expands existing export control lists (like those in the EAR and NDAA) into the realm of domestic research funding, creating a new barrier not explicitly present before for NSF grants.
- No waivers or exceptions are outlined, making the ban more absolute than some current restrictions on federal funding.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The NSF will need to implement screening processes for grant applicants, potentially increasing administrative costs and delaying funding decisions. Other agencies funding science may face indirect pressure to adopt similar rules.
- On Citizens: U.S. researchers, universities, and scientists could lose access to collaborations or funding if they have any links to prohibited entities, limiting opportunities in international research.
- On International Relations: Could heighten tensions with China by signaling a U.S. policy to isolate its military-linked tech sector from global science, potentially prompting retaliatory measures in bilateral scientific exchanges.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- National Science Foundation (NSF): Directly responsible for enforcing the ban on grants and assistance.
- U.S. Researchers and Institutions: Universities, scientists, and private entities that receive NSF funding and may have international partnerships.
- Chinese Military-Affiliated Companies and Affiliates: Entities on the specified lists, including their U.S.-based partners or subsidiaries, which will be cut off from NSF support.
- U.S. Taxpayers and Broader Scientific Community: Indirectly affected through redirected funding priorities toward "American-first" research.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens integration of export control laws into federal funding decisions, potentially leading to challenges over enforcement (e.g., defining "affiliations"). It may require new regulations or guidance from the NSF and Commerce Department (which oversees EAR).
- Constitutional: Could raise questions about First Amendment rights to free association in research, though national security justifications (common in export controls) would likely support its validity in court.
- Political: Reflects a bipartisan emphasis on countering China's technological and military advancements, but may fuel debates on balancing innovation with security in U.S. science policy. As an introduced bill (not yet law), its passage could influence broader U.S.-China relations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (2)
Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-01-09: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2025-01-09: Introduced in House
- 2025-01-09: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- American Science First Act — issued 2025-01-09 — PDF (3 pages)