To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to require each institution of higher education to certify as part of an application for a research and development award that such institution does not operate certain branch campuses, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8558
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-14T15:35:41Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill aims to strengthen research security by preventing U.S. federal research funding from going to institutions of higher education (universities and colleges) that operate branch campuses in countries considered security risks.
Key Provisions
- Certification Requirement: Starting no later than 2 years after enactment, heads of federal research agencies (e.g., National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health) must require universities applying for research and development (R&D) awards to certify they do not operate a branch campus in:
- Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
- Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
- Islamic Republic of Iran
- People's Republic of China
- Republic of Cuba
- Republic of Turkey
- Russian Federation
- State of Qatar
- Any other country designated by the U.S. Secretary of State
- Definition of Branch Campus: A permanent, geographically separate unit from the main campus that:
- Offers degrees, certificates, or other credentials
- Has its own faculty, administration, budget, and hiring authority
- Implementation: Adds a new section (10634A) to the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (part of Public Law 117-167) and updates the law's table of contents.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Inserts a new mandatory certification process into the existing R&D funding application rules under Subtitle D of Title VI.
- No prior certification for branch campuses in these countries was required for federal R&D awards.
Potential Impacts
- On Universities: May discourage or prevent expansion of branch campuses in listed countries to remain eligible for federal R&D funding (which totals billions annually).
- On Government Agencies: Increases administrative burden to review certifications but enhances oversight of research security.
- On Citizens and Researchers: Could limit international educational opportunities but protect U.S. research from potential foreign influence or espionage.
- On International Relations: Signals U.S. concerns about specific countries, potentially straining academic ties.
Main Stakeholders
- Institutions of Higher Education: Primary targets; must comply to access federal R&D grants.
- Federal Research Agencies: Responsible for enforcing the certification.
- Researchers and Students: Affected indirectly through funding availability and campus operations.
- U.S. Government (State Department): Gains authority to add countries to the list.
- Governments of Listed Countries: May face reduced U.S. academic presence.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Conditions federal funding on certifications, a common practice (similar to other grant requirements); enforceable via standard grant compliance rules.
- Constitutional: Raises questions about free association or speech if seen as restricting international operations, but likely upheld as a funding condition (not a ban).
- Political: Bipartisan sponsorship (Reps. Stefanik and Gottheimer); aligns with broader U.S. efforts to counter foreign influence in research amid national security debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Stefanik, Elise M. [R-NY-21]
Cosponsors (1)
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2026-04-28: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-28: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to require each institution of higher education to certify as part of an application for a research and development award that such institution does not operate certain branch campuses, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-04-28 — PDF (3 pages)