117 HR 3012 IH: Higher Education Research Protection Act of 2021 U.S. House of Representatives 2021-05-07 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I117th CONGRESS1st SessionH. R. 3012IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMay 7, 2021Mr. Barr introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the JudiciaryA BILLTo establish a Higher Education Initiative in the Office of Private Sector of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Higher Education Research Protection Act of 2021.

2.

Establishment of Higher Education Initiative

(a)

In general

Chapter 33 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

540D.

Higher Education Initiative

(a)

In general

There is established within the Office of Private Sector of the Intelligence Branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation a Higher Education Initiative, which shall be headed by the Assistant Director of the Office of Private Sector (in this Act referred to as the Assistant Director).(b)

Duties

(1)

Assistant Director duties

The Assistant Director shall investigate and report to the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation any suspected incidents of individuals participating in federally funded research as agents of a foreign government in institutions of higher education and National Academies.(2)

Director duties

The Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall instruct Federal Bureau of Investigation field offices to conduct proactive outreach to institutions of higher education and National Academies within the office’s area of responsibility.(c)

Hiring

The Attorney General, acting through the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall hire 56 investigative agents to carry out this section.(d)

Sunset provision

The Higher Education Initiative established under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is ten years after the date of the enactment of the Higher Education Research Protection Act of 2021. (e)

Definition

In this section:(1)

Foreign government

The term foreign government includes the People’s Republic of China or any component thereof, including the Chinese Communist Party, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Central Military Commission of China, the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, the National People’s Congress of China, or the State Council of China.(2)

Higher Education

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).(3)

National Academies

The term National Academies means the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.

.(b)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections for chapter 33 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:540D. Higher Education Initiative..