[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4424 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4424

To amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 to 
   prohibit certain institutions of higher education from receiving 
        research and development awards, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 28, 2026

  Mr. Scott of Florida introduced the following bill; which was read 
     twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                             Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 to 
   prohibit certain institutions of higher education from receiving 
        research and development awards, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. PROHIBITION ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AWARDS FOR CERTAIN 
              INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--Subtitle B of title II of division A of the 
William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283) is amended by inserting after 
section 223 (42 U.S.C. 6605) the following new section:

``SEC. 223A. PROHIBITION ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AWARDS FOR CERTAIN 
              INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

    ``(a) In General.--If an institution of higher education receives 
from a foreign source funds to carry out a specified task, such 
institution may not, for a period of 5 years after such receipt, be 
awarded a research and development award.
    ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Artificial intelligence.--The term `artificial 
        intelligence' has the meaning given such term in section 5002.
            ``(2) Biotechnology.--The term `biotechnology' means the 
        application of science and engineering in the direct or 
        indirect utilization of living organisms or parts or products 
        of such organisms, including modified forms of such organisms, 
        parts, or products, as the case may be.
            ``(3) Foreign source.--The term `foreign source' means any 
        of the following entities:
                    ``(A) A specified foreign government.
                    ``(B) An entity established under the laws of such 
                government.
                    ``(C) An entity in which such government holds 
                ownership interest of not less than 25 percent.
                    ``(D) An agent of any of the entities described in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (C), including any of the 
                following:
                            ``(i) A subsidiary of such an entity.
                            ``(ii) A person that operates primarily for 
                        the benefit of, or under the auspices of, such 
                        an entity, such as a foundation of such entity, 
                        or an educational, cultural, or language 
                        entity.
            ``(4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        `institution of higher education' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            ``(5) Quantum information science.--The term `quantum 
        information science' has the meaning given such term in section 
        2 of the National Quantum Initiative Act (15 U.S.C. 8801).
            ``(6) Research and development award.--The term `research 
        and development award' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 223.
            ``(7) Specified foreign government.--The term `specified 
        foreign government' means the government of any of the 
        following countries:
                    ``(A) The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
                    ``(B) The Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
                    ``(C) The Islamic Republic of Iran.
                    ``(D) The People's Republic of China.
                    ``(E) The Republic of Cuba.
                    ``(F) The Republic of Turkey.
                    ``(G) The Russian Federation.
                    ``(H) The State of Qatar.
                    ``(I) Any other country the Secretary of State 
                determines appropriate.
            ``(8) Specified task.--The term `specified task' means 
        research and development relating to a national security or 
        military application, including relating to any of the 
        following:
                    ``(A) Artificial intelligence.
                    ``(B) Biotechnology.
                    ``(C) Quantum information science.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendments.--The William M. (Mac) Thornberry National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283) is 
amended in the table of contents in section 2(b) and in title II of 
division A by inserting after the items relating to section 223 the 
following new items:

``Sec. 223A. Prohibition on research and development awards for certain 
                            institutions of higher education.''.
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