A bill 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
- S. 4424
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-14T20:37:12Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This bill amends the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 to bar certain universities (institutions of higher education) from receiving U.S. government research and development (R&D) awards if they accept funds from specified foreign governments or related entities for sensitive R&D work tied to national security.
Key Provisions
- New Prohibition (Section 223A): Universities that receive funds from a "foreign source" for a "specified task" are ineligible for U.S. R&D awards for 5 years after receipt.
- Specified Task: R&D with national security or military applications, specifically in:
- Artificial intelligence (as defined in existing law).
- Biotechnology (use of science/engineering on living organisms or their products).
- Quantum information science (as defined in the National Quantum Initiative Act).
- Foreign Source: Includes:
- "Specified foreign governments": Venezuela, North Korea, Iran, China, Cuba, Turkey, Russia, Qatar, or others designated by the Secretary of State.
- Entities established under those governments' laws.
- Entities with 25%+ ownership by those governments.
- Agents, subsidiaries, or related foundations/organizations.
- Definitions: Aligns with existing laws (e.g., "institution of higher education" from the Higher Education Act; "R&D award" from NDAA Section 223).
- Clerical Updates: Adds the new section to the NDAA's table of contents.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Inserts Section 223A into Subtitle B of Title II, Division A of the NDAA for FY2021 (Public Law 116-283).
- Introduces a 5-year funding ban triggered by foreign funding, expanding prior restrictions on foreign influence in U.S.-funded R&D.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Agencies like the Department of Defense must screen universities and withhold R&D awards, potentially redirecting funds to compliant institutions.
- Citizens and Universities: U.S. universities lose access to federal R&D grants (critical for research funding), affecting students, faculty, and innovation in key tech areas.
- International Relations: Increases scrutiny on ties with adversarial nations (e.g., China, Russia), aiming to safeguard U.S. technology but risking diplomatic tensions.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Institutions of Higher Education: Primarily research universities receiving federal R&D funds.
- U.S. Government Agencies: Those administering R&D awards (e.g., DoD, NSF).
- Foreign Governments and Entities: Listed countries and their affiliates, whose funding to U.S. universities triggers penalties.
- Researchers and Students: Impacted by reduced funding opportunities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Builds on existing NDAA disclosure rules for foreign gifts/contracts; enforceable via award ineligibility without new enforcement mechanisms specified.
- Constitutional: May face challenges on academic freedom or First Amendment grounds if seen as restricting university funding choices, though tied to national security.
- Political: Targets nations viewed as security threats, signaling U.S. policy to counter foreign tech influence in sensitive fields.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-28: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 2026-04-28: Introduced in Senate
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)