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119-hr-5253119th CongressWALLET

Protecting American Research and Talent Act

Sponsored By: Representative Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]

Introduced

Summary

Would limit federal funding for certain foreign-linked university research collaborations. It would prohibit federal grants or contracts for fundamental research done in collaboration with specified "covered entities" unless an agency grants a narrow, case-by-case waiver and institutions meet strict eligibility rules.

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  • Colleges and universities would face new eligibility hurdles. To qualify for a waiver an institution would need less than 15% international enrollment and less than 5% of its international students from a foreign country of concern.
  • International students from State-declared persecuted groups would not count toward those caps. The Secretary of State would create country-by-country lists of persecuted groups for that exclusion.
  • Federal agencies would gain a narrow waiver power but also new transparency duties. Agencies would have to notify Congress within 30 days of any waiver and send annual compliance reports listing applicants, waivers, the types of collaborations allowed, and intellectual property terms.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.

Ban on foreign-linked college collaborations

If enacted, federal agencies would be barred from funding college grants or contracts for fundamental research done with a covered entity. Covered entities would include some Chinese military‑linked firms and certain Chinese universities, and people tied to them. Collaboration would be defined broadly, like sharing labs, data, money, visas, joint projects, or advisory roles. The rules would cover all departments and branches of a college, inside or outside the United States. Agencies and schools would use an existing federal policy to define fundamental research and another law to define which countries are of concern.

Narrow waivers with enrollment caps

If enacted, an agency head could waive the ban for a single award only if it serves U.S. national security. A college would qualify only if under 15% of all students are international and under 5% of its international students are from countries of concern. Students from persecuted groups in those countries would not count toward the 5% cap; the State Department would set those lists. Agencies would have to notify Congress within 30 days after any award using a waiver. Each year, agencies would send Congress a report that lists schools seeking waivers, shows enrollment stats, and explains each approved collaboration, including technology, duration, and intellectual property terms.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Barr, Andy [R-KY-6]

KY • R

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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