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United States Research Protection Act of 2025
S. 769 To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to clarify the definition of foreign country for purposes of malign foreign talent recruitment restriction, and for other purposes.
Summary
- Clarifies the definition of "foreign country of concern" in federal restrictions on malign foreign talent recruitment programs
- Expands the scope of the restriction to cover both direct and indirect funding, compensation, or other support provided by foreign countries of concern
- Simplifies the structural organization of the definition in the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
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![Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/C001056.thumb.jpg)
Sen. Cornyn, John (R-TX)
4 cosponsors
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![Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/C001114.thumb.jpg)
Sen. Curtis, John R. (R-UT) -
![Sen. McCormick, David [R-PA]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/M001243.thumb.jpg)
Sen. McCormick, David (R-PA) -
![Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/P000145.thumb.jpg)
Sen. Padilla, Alex (D-CA) -
![Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL]](https://media.civicgate.org/people/d/politicians/S001217.thumb.jpg)
Sen. Scott, Rick (R-FL)
Actions (5)
- Jul 22, 2025 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 123. · senate
- Jul 22, 2025 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-45. · senate
- Apr 30, 2025 Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably. · senate
- Feb 27, 2025 Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. · senate
- Feb 27, 2025 Introduced in Senate
More bills on these subjects (8)
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Similar bills (6)
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Text versions (2)
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Full text
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 27, 2025
Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Curtis) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
July 22, 2025
Reported by Mr. Cruz, without amendment
A BILL
To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to clarify the definition of foreign country for purposes of malign foreign talent recruitment restriction, 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. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “United States Research Protection Act of 2025”.
SEC. 2. CLARIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF FOREIGN COUNTRY FOR PURPOSES OF MALIGN FOREIGN TALENT RECRUITMENT RESTRICTION.
Paragraph (4) of section 10638 of title VI of division B of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 19237) is amended—
(1) by inserting “of concern” after “foreign country” each place such term appears;
(2) by striking “means—” and all that follows through “any program, position, or activity” and inserting “means any program, position, or activity”;
(3) by striking subparagraph (B);
(4) by redesignating clauses (i) through (ix) as subparagraphs (A) through (I), respectively, and moving such subparagraphs, as so redesignated, two ems to the left;
(5) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), as so redesignated, by striking “directly provided” and inserting “whether directly or indirectly provided”; and
(6) in subparagraph (I), as so redesignated, by striking “; and” and inserting a period. Calendar No. 123
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 769
[Report No. 119-45]
A BILL
To amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to clarify the definition of foreign country for purposes of malign foreign talent recruitment restriction, and for other purposes.
July 22, 2025
Reported without amendment
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