Bill > S4525

This bill, titled the Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act, prohibits individuals or entities receiving federal research funding from engaging in research collaborations with entities listed on specific U.S. government restricted lists, which include various lists maintained by the Department of Commerce, Treasury, State, and other agencies, often targeting companies or institutions from countries deemed adversarial or involved in concerning activities. A "federally funded research award" is broadly defined to include grants, contracts, and other forms of federal financial assistance, and "research collaboration" encompasses a wide range of joint activities like co-authored publications, data sharing, and personnel exchanges. The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy is tasked with issuing guidance to ensure consistent implementation across federal agencies. Importantly, the head of a federal agency can grant a waiver to this prohibition on a case-by-case basis if it's deemed necessary for U.S. national security interests or if the collaboration is essential for a scientific, public health, or national security purpose that cannot be met otherwise, with any granted waiver requiring a report to Congress detailing the justification and any mitigation measures.