CONGRESS INTRODUCES NEW BILLS ON SCIENCE & SECURITY
Congress has recently introduced several new bills to address science and security issues related to the U.S. research environment.
Sens. Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tom Carper (D-DE) introduced legislation that would create a Federal Research Security Council led by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), add criminal penalties for failing to disclose outside compensation on grant applications, expand the State Department's ability to deny visas and lower the threshold on foreign gifts and contracts that universities are required to report, among other provisions.
House Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Devin Nunes (D-CA) and 22 Republican cosponsors introduced legislation that would prohibit any Chinese citizens from receiving visas to study, work or attend a meeting in the U.S. in any area that is related to STEM.
Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Elise Stefanik (R-NY) introduced a bill titled the National Security Innovation Pathway Act, which would create a special immigrant visa for talented foreign scientists and other technical experts interested in working in areas that support U.S. national security. The legislation would provide visas for up to 100 people in 2021 and would increase to 500 in 2025 and thereafter.
