Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8901
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-27T22:39:39Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose This legislation aims to prevent the use of federal funds for research collaborations involving certain foreign entities deemed to pose national security risks, thereby protecting U.S. innovation and research integrity.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition: Federal funds from grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, or other transaction authority cannot support research collaborations with entities on U.S. government restricted lists or individuals linked to them. This applies to any recipient of such funds.
- Scope of "Research Collaboration": Covers joint projects, co-authorship of publications, data sharing, material transfers, joint labs or centers, personnel exchanges, and other arrangements as determined by funding agencies.
- Implementation Guidance: The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy must issue government-wide rules for compliance, definitions, and enforcement in consultation with federal research agencies.
- Waiver Process: Agency heads may grant case-by-case waivers if needed for national security or essential scientific, public health, or security purposes. Waivers require a report to Congress within 30 days detailing the recipient, justification, and any mitigation steps.
- Restricted Entity Lists: Incorporates 15 existing lists, including the Commerce Department Entity List, Treasury OFAC Specially Designated Nationals List, Defense Department Chinese Military Companies List, and others tied to China, forced labor, semiconductors, and telecommunications risks.
Significant Changes to Existing Law The bill establishes a new, uniform prohibition on federally funded research ties to listed foreign entities, consolidating references to multiple prior restricted lists (such as those from the Export Administration Regulations, NDAA provisions, and executive orders) into a single research-specific framework. It adds standardized waiver and reporting requirements not previously mandated across all federal research funding.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Requires federal research funders (e.g., NSF, NIH, DOE) to update compliance systems, issue guidance, and handle waiver reviews, potentially increasing administrative workload.
- Citizens and Institutions: Limits U.S. researchers, universities, and National Laboratories from engaging in defined collaborations with listed foreign partners, affecting international scientific exchanges.
- International Relations: Restricts partnerships primarily with entities linked to the People's Republic of China and other designated countries, which may strain academic and research ties while prioritizing U.S. security interests.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal research agencies and the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
- U.S. universities, researchers, and National Laboratories receiving federal awards.
- Foreign entities and individuals on the specified restricted lists.
- Congress, through waiver notifications.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications The measure expands executive branch authority over research funding based on national security determinations while requiring congressional notification for waivers. It raises questions about balancing open scientific inquiry with security restrictions but operates within Congress's power to condition federal spending. No direct constitutional challenges are addressed in the text.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Moolenaar, John R. [R-MI-2]
Recent Actions
- 2026-05-19: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
- 2026-05-19: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act — issued 2026-05-19 — PDF (7 pages)