To amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 to prohibit certain institutions of higher education from receiving research and development awards, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8559
- 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
- 2026-05-14T15:33:51Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill (H.R. 8559) aims to protect U.S. national security by barring certain universities from receiving federal research and development (R&D) awards if they accept funds from adversarial foreign governments for sensitive R&D projects. It amends the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition Rule: Universities (institutions of higher education, as defined under the Higher Education Act of 1965) that receive funds from a "foreign source" for a "specified task" are ineligible for federal R&D awards for 5 years after receipt.
- Specified Task: R&D with national security or military applications, specifically in:
- Artificial intelligence (AI; defined per section 5002 of existing law).
- Biotechnology (application of science/engineering to living organisms or their products).
- Quantum information science (defined per the National Quantum Initiative Act).
- Foreign Source: Entities tied to "specified foreign governments," including:
- The government itself.
- Entities established under its laws.
- Entities where it owns ≥25%.
- Agents, subsidiaries, or related foundations/organizations.
- Specified Foreign Governments: Venezuela, North Korea, Iran, China, Cuba, Turkey, Russia, Qatar, or others designated by the Secretary of State.
- R&D Award: Defined per existing section 223 of the NDAA 2021 (federal grants/contracts for R&D).
- Technical Updates: Adds section 223A to the NDAA 2021 and updates the table of contents.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Inserts a new section (223A) into Subtitle B of Title II, Division A of the NDAA 2021, creating the first explicit 5-year ban on R&D awards for universities based on foreign funding in critical tech areas.
- Builds on prior transparency requirements (e.g., section 223) by adding a punitive measure.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Department of Defense and other R&D funders (e.g., via NDAA) must screen universities, potentially redirecting funds and slowing research timelines.
- Citizens/Universities: U.S. colleges lose access to federal R&D grants (billions annually), affecting research in AI, biotech, and quantum fields; may force choices between foreign and U.S. funding.
- International Relations: Strains ties with listed countries by deterring academic collaborations; signals U.S. prioritization of security over open research.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Institutions of Higher Education: Primarily research universities engaged in AI, biotech, or quantum R&D.
- Federal Agencies: DoD, funding offices (e.g., DARPA, NSF equivalents under NDAA).
- Foreign Entities: Governments/entities from listed countries and their U.S.-linked partners.
- Researchers/Students: Faculty and students at affected universities facing funding gaps.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on existing definitions; enforceable via award eligibility checks, but may face challenges over "foreign source" breadth or Secretary of State discretion.
- Constitutional: Potential free speech/academic freedom concerns (universities accepting foreign funds), though tied to federal funding conditions.
- Political: Advances national security hawks' agenda amid U.S.-China/Russia tensions; could spark debate on balancing openness in science with espionage risks.
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 (2)
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
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 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 to prohibit certain institutions of higher education from receiving research and development awards, and for other purposes. — issued 2026-04-28 — PDF (5 pages)