Higher Education Research Security Certification

Summary#

This bill would add a new section (10634A) to the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act. It would require the head of each federal research agency, within two years after this section becomes law, to make institutions of higher education include a certification on applications for research and development awards. The certification must state that the institution does not operate a branch campus in any of these places: the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; the Islamic Republic of Iran; the People's Republic of China; the Republic of Cuba; the Republic of Turkey; the Russian Federation; the State of Qatar; or any other country the Secretary of State decides is appropriate.

The bill defines "branch campus" as a unit of a college or university that is geographically separate from the main campus, is permanent, offers courses that lead to a degree or certificate, and has its own faculty and administration plus budgetary and hiring authority. The bill also makes a clerical change to the law's table of contents to add the new section.

What it means for you#

• Colleges and universities that apply for federal research and development awards will need to include the required certification on their applications once agencies add the requirement. Agencies must add the requirement within two years of the section becoming law.
• If you are a student, researcher, or staff member, the bill text itself does not describe direct effects on individuals.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on costs, budgetary effects, or how much it would cost agencies or institutions to implement this change.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata about proponents' stated reasons or arguments for the bill.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information in the bill text or provided metadata about opponents' stated reasons or objections to the bill.