Reschenthaler’s
bill provides security protections for U.S.-funded academic research
U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) on Sept. 22
proposed bipartisan legislation to protect federally funded academic research
from undue foreign influences and threats.
Rep. Reschenthaler sponsored the Academic
Research Protection Act, H.R. 8346, with lead cosponsor U.S. Rep. David Trone
(D-MD), which would designate an official serving within the U.S. Department of
Defense (DOD) to work with the academic research community to protect
DOD-funded research from foreign influences and threats.
“As a member of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, I am proud to introduce the Academic Research Protection Act to
strengthen our nation’s ability to counter threats posed by malicious state
actors like China, Russia, and Iran,” Rep. REschenthaler said. “This bipartisan
legislation will empower research institutions in southwestern Pennsylvania and
throughout the nation by providing the tools needed to protect their ingenuity
and improving our information sharing with the academic community.”
If enacted, H.R. 8346 also would establish an
independent commission to address concerns related to undue foreign influence
at institutions of higher education conducting federally funded research and
development, according to a bill summary provided by the congressman’s office.
An unclassified, open source intelligence
clearinghouse relating to foreign threats to institutions of higher education,
academic researchers, and academic scholars also would be established under
H.R. 8346. A Federal Bureau of Investigation outreach strategy would be
developed to inform higher education institutions about the availability of
information on threats to the academic community, according to the summary.
H.R. 8346 has been endorsed by the Association
of American Universities, the Association of Public and Land-grant
Universities, and the American Council on Education.
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