50 U.S.C. § 3369b: Oversight of foreign…

Summary

The Director of National Intelligence must brief the congressional intelligence committees about risks from foreign entities to certain kinds of research done at colleges and universities. The first briefing was due within 180 days after December 20, 2019, and the Director must give a briefing at least once every year after that. The Director must work with parts of the intelligence community and must protect the privacy of U.S. persons while doing this. Covered institution of higher education: any college or university that gets any federal money. Sensitive research subject: research at such an institution paid for by the National Intelligence Program or by federal agencies the Director chooses. The briefings must list risky types of research, name foreign governments or organizations that pose threats, describe known or suspected attempts by foreign actors to pressure campuses or spread false information, and give recommendations for how schools and the intelligence community can work together. If the Director changes the lists of risky research or threatening foreign entities, the congressional intelligence committees must be told within 30 days.

Title 50, §3369b

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(a)Definitions

In this section: (1) Covered institution of higher education

(2)Sensitive research subject

The term “sensitive research subject” means a subject of research that is carried out at a covered institution of higher education that receives funds that were appropriated for— (A)

(B)any Federal agency the Director of National Intelligence deems appropriate.

(b)Report required

Not later than 180 days after December 20, 2019, and not less frequently than once each year thereafter, the Director of National Intelligence, in consultation with such elements of the intelligence community as the Director considers appropriate and consistent with the privacy protections afforded to United States persons, shall provide to congressional intelligence committees a briefing on risks to sensitive research subjects posed by foreign entities in order to provide Congress and covered institutions of higher education with more complete information on these risks and to help ensure academic freedom.

(c)Contents

The briefing required by subsection (b) shall include the following:

(1)A list of sensitive research subjects that could affect national security.

(2)A list of foreign entities, including governments, corporations, nonprofit organizations and for-profit organizations, and any subsidiary or affiliate of such an entity, that the Director determines pose a counterintelligence, espionage (including economic espionage), or other national security threat with respect to sensitive research subjects.

(3)A list of any known or suspected attempts by foreign entities to exert pressure on covered institutions of higher education, including attempts to limit freedom of speech, propagate misinformation or disinformation, or to influence professors, researchers, or students.

(4)Recommendations for collaboration between covered institutions of higher education and the intelligence community to mitigate threats to sensitive research subjects associated with foreign influence in academia, including any necessary legislative or administrative action.

(d)Congressional notifications required

Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Director identifies a change to either list described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (c), the Director shall notify the congressional intelligence committees of the change.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2024—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 118–159, § 6901(c)(1), substituted “shall provide” for “shall submit” and “briefing” for “report”. “Report” in subsec. heading was not amended. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 118–159, § 6901(c)(2), substituted “briefing” for “report” in introductory provisions.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Definitions For definitions of “intelligence community” and “congressional intelligence committees” as used in this section, see section 5003 of div. E of Pub. L. 116–92, set out as a note under section 3003 of this title.

§3369b Oversight of Foreign Influence in Academia