118 S2894 IS: Science and Technology Agreement Enhanced Congressional Notification Act of 2023 U.S. Senate 2023-09-21 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.

II118th CONGRESS1st SessionS. 2894IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESSeptember 21, 2023Mr. Ricketts (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Young, Mrs. Britt, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Daines, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Budd, and Mr. Romney) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign RelationsA BILLTo amend the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to require certain congressional notification prior to entering into, renewing, or extending a science and technology agreement with the People’s Republic of China, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Science and Technology Agreement Enhanced Congressional Notification Act of 2023.

2.

Enhanced congressional notification regarding science and technology agreements with the People’s Republic of China

(a)

Notification required

Title I of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22 U.S.C. 2651a et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

64.

Congressional notification regarding science and technology agreements with the People’s Republic of China

(a)

Notification required

The Secretary of State may not enter into, renew, or extend any science and technology agreement with the People’s Republic of China until—(1)the Secretary submits to the appropriate congressional committees a notification containing each of the matters described in subsection (b); and(2)a period of not less than 30 days has elapsed following such submission.(b)

Matters described

The matters described in this subsection are, with respect to the science and technology agreement for which the notification is submitted, the following:(1)A written notice of such agreement, including the full text of such agreement.(2)A detailed justification for such agreement, including an explanation as to why such agreement is in the national security interests of the United States.(3)An assessment of the risks and potential effects of such agreement, including any potential for the transfer under such agreement of technology or intellectual property capable of harming the national security interests of the United States.(4)A detailed justification for how the Secretary intends to address human rights concerns in any scientific and technology collaboration proposed to be conducted under such agreement.(5)An assessment of the extent to which the Secretary will be able to continuously monitor the commitments made by the People’s Republic of China under such agreement.(6)Such other information relating to such agreement as may be determined appropriate.(c)

Definitions

In this section:(1)

Appropriate congressional committees

The term appropriate congressional committees means—(A)the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate; and(B)the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives.(2)

Science and technology agreement

The term science and technology agreement means any treaty, memorandum of understanding, or other contract or agreement between the United States and one or more foreign countries for the purpose of collaborating on or otherwise engaging in joint activities relating to scientific research, technological development, or the sharing of scientific or technical knowledge or resources between such countries.

.(b)

Applicability

(1)

In general

The requirements under section 64 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as added by subsection (a), shall apply with respect to science and technology agreements entered into, renewed, or extended on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.(2)

Existing agreements

Any science and technology agreement between the Secretary of State and the People’s Republic of China in effect as of the date of the enactment of this Act shall be revoked unless, not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State submits to the appropriate congressional committees a notification of such agreement containing each of the matters described in subsection (b) of such section 64.(3)

Definitions

In this subsection, the terms appropriate congressional committees and science and technology agreement have the meanings given such terms in subsection (c) of such section 64.