Austin News

U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Alex Padilla have introduced the U.S. Research Protection Act, aimed at enhancing the security of American research against foreign adversaries. This legislative proposal seeks to amend the existing CHIPS and Science Act by incorporating additional restrictions on academic programs sponsored by nations considered a concern.

Senator Cornyn emphasized the importance of safeguarding American innovation from hostile nations: “In a world where competition turns into hostility all too often, we must do everything in our power to safeguard American ingenuity against bad actor nations.” He further stated that this legislation would impose stricter controls on academic collaborations with countries deemed as threats to ensure the protection of U.S. scientific research.

Senator Padilla highlighted the need for clarity in protecting national security while maintaining international research partnerships: “The bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act included important provisions to bolster our research security,” he said. “This legislation will provide much needed clarity for federal agencies and academic institutions to better safeguard national security, while preserving research collaboration and international partnerships crucial to the strength of America’s innovation economy.”

The proposed act addresses concerns about Malign Foreign Talent Programs sponsored by countries such as Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. These programs are designed to acquire American scientific knowledge through various means including incentivizing or coercing researchers. The current law only targets programs that offer direct incentives; however, this new bill aims to expand the definition to cover "indirect benefits," thereby closing potential loopholes that could be exploited by foreign entities.