Arctic Security and Diplomacy Act
Sponsored By: Senator Lee, Mike [R-UT]
In Committee
Summary
Limit foreign espionage and influence in the Arctic is the bill's core aim. It would set a consent regime for foreign marine research, require a State Department strategy, and boost reporting and oversight.
Show full summary
- Foreign scientists and vessels: Foreign researchers would need prior consent to do marine scientific research in U.S. waters. Applications for "covered vessels" tied to foreign adversaries would generally be denied unless the Secretary of State grants a National Interest Waiver and gives a 5-day notice to the appropriate congressional committees.
- U.S. agencies and security coordination: The Secretary of State would be required to prepare a strategy within 180 days in coordination with the intelligence community and the Department of Homeland Security. The bill would create an interagency review process and mandate information sharing to vet research applications.
- Congressional oversight and allied coordination: The measure would require a 180-day assessment comparing the consent rules to multilateral regimes and staffing needs, a comprehensive report to Congress within one year, and annual unclassified reports with a possible classified annex. The Secretary must notify Congress within 15 days of any violation of the research prohibition.
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
New definitions for Arctic marine activities
This bill would set clear new definitions for a U.S. Arctic consent system. It would define "covered activities" to include natural resource exploration, seabed mapping, hydrographic and oceanographic surveys, data collection on subsea assets, and unmanned maritime systems. It would define "covered vessel" as foreign vessels tied to a foreign adversary and define "foreign adversary" by long-term or serious acts against U.S. security, listing examples like North Korea, Iran, the People’s Republic of China, and Russia. These definitions would take effect upon enactment.
Federal support conditioned on counterespionage
This bill would make federal help for Arctic and U.S. waters marine surveys conditional on cooperation with counterespionage steps. That policy would limit sharing of data from covered activities and apply to contractors, grantees, research partners, public‑private partnerships, and states that get federal support. The policy statement would take effect upon enactment.
New consent rule for foreign Arctic research
This bill would require foreign scientists and foreign vessels to get U.S. permission before doing marine scientific research in U.S. waters. The Secretary of State, working with intelligence leaders and Homeland Security, would run the review process and agencies would share information to support reviews. The bill would bar approval for any covered vessel except by an individual national interest waiver. The Secretary would have to tell Congress within 5 days after any waiver and within 15 days after any violation of the consent rule.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Lee, Mike [R-UT]
UT • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH]
NH • D
Sponsored 6/9/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov