H.R. 1318 Passed the House Science, Technology, Communications

United States Research Protection Act

To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to clarify the definition of foreign country for purposes of malign foreign talent recruitment restriction, and for other purposes.

  1. Introduced
  2. Committee
  3. Passed House
  4. Passed Senate
  5. To President
  6. Became law
Sponsor Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3] Introduced February 13, 2025 Cosponsors 1 (1 D) Latest action March 25, 2025

Summary

United States Research Protection Act
This bill clarifies the definition of a malign foreign talent recruitment program under the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act. 
The Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act, which was included in the CHIPS and Science Act, prohibits researchers who receive federal funds from participating in malign foreign talent recruitment programs, in which foreign countries incentivize or compensate researchers for activities that present a conflict of interest for the researcher or that are otherwise unauthorized (e.g., sharing proprietary information without proper authorization).
The bill clarifies that these restrictions apply to programs that are sponsored by a foreign country of concern, including China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The bill also clarifies that malign foreign talent recruitment programs may involve direct or indirect compensation or incentives from such countries.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress.

Congress.gov

Actions

  1. Mar 25, 2025 Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
  2. Mar 24, 2025 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  3. Mar 24, 2025 On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H1201)
  4. Mar 24, 2025 DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1318.
  5. Mar 24, 2025 Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1201-1202)
  6. Mar 24, 2025 Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
  7. Feb 13, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
  8. Feb 13, 2025 Introduced in House

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