Federal

American Science First Act

Source: Congress.gov · 458 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill stops the National Science Foundation Director from giving grants or other assistance to people or organizations connected to Chinese military companies. The bill targets individuals and entities that have relationships with specific listed companies, including research partnerships, joint ventures or contracts.

Who It Affects

The National Science Foundation Director, individuals seeking NSF grants or assistance, entities seeking NSF grants or assistance, Chinese military companies listed in federal regulations, and any parent companies, subsidiaries or affiliates of those listed entities.

Key Provisions

• The National Science Foundation Director cannot provide grants or other forms of assistance to any individual or entity affiliated with or having a relationship to entities on the list in Supplement No. 4 to part 744 of the Export Administration Regulations (Sec. 2(a)(1)) • The National Science Foundation Director cannot provide grants or other forms of assistance to any individual or entity affiliated with or having a relationship to companies on specific lists required by the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 or the Mac Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, or any successor list (Sec. 2(a)(2)) • The National Science Foundation Director cannot provide grants or other forms of assistance to parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates or entities owned or controlled by the listed entities (Sec. 2(a)(3))

What Changes

The National Science Foundation will be prohibited from awarding grants and assistance to individuals and entities with connections to specified Chinese military companies and their related organizations.

Important Definitions

Export Administration Regulations means the regulations in subchapter C of chapter VII of title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulations.

Effective Date

Not specified in bill text

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 401 To prohibit the Director of the National Science Foundation from awarding grants and other forms of assistance to Chinese communist military companies and their affiliates, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 20, 2023 Mr. ALLEN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology A BILL To prohibit the Director of the National Science Foundation from awarding grants and other forms of assistance to Chinese communist military companies and their affili- ates, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘American Science First 4 Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:43 Jan 28, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H401.IH H401 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 401 IH SEC. 2. RESTRICTION ON NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 1 GRANTS AND OTHER FORMS OF ASSISTANCE 2 TO CHINESE COMMUNIST MILITARY COMPA- 3 NIES AND THEIR AFFILIATES. 4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi- 5 sion of law, the Director of the National Science Founda- 6 tion may not provide grants or other forms of assistance 7 to any individual or entity that is affiliated or otherwise 8 has a relationship, including but not limited to a research 9 partnership, joint venture, or contract with— 10 (1) an entity included on the list maintained 11 and set forth in Supplement No. 4 to part 744 of 12 the Export Administration Regulations; 13 (2) a company on the list required by section 14 1237 of the Strom Thurmond National Defense Au- 15 thorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 16 105–261; 50 U.S.C. 1701 note), or required by sec- 17 tion 1260H of the Mac Thornberry National De- 18 fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Pub- 19 lic Law 116–283), or any successor list; or 20 (3) any parent, subsidiary, affiliate of, or entity 21 owned by or controlled by, an entity described in 22 paragraph (1) or (2). 23 (b) EXPORT ADMINISTRATION REGULATIONS DE- 24 FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘Export Administration 25 Regulations’’ means the regulations set forth in sub- 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:43 Jan 28, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H401.IH H401 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 401 IH chapter C of chapter VII of title 15, Code of Federal Reg- 1 ulations, or successor regulations. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:43 Jan 28, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H401.IH H401 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.