American Science First Act This bill prohibits the National Science Foundation (NSF) from providing grants or other forms of assistance to certain foreign individuals and entities. Specifically, the NSF may not support any individual or entity that is affiliated or otherwise has a relationship, including but not limited to a research partnership, joint venture, or contract, with an entity included on the entity list under the Export Administration Regulations, which identifies foreign entities subject to license requirements for the export, reexport, or transfer of certain items; a Chinese military company operating in the United States or any of its territories or possessions on the list required under the Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999, or required under the Mac Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, or any successor list; or any parent, subsidiary, affiliate of, or entity owned by or controlled by any such entity.
If enacted, HB 401 would significantly alter the landscape of federal funding for research and development, particularly in contexts involving foreign collaboration. By restricting NSF grants and assistance, it would limit research partnerships and projects that involve Chinese military entities. This could potentially hinder advancements in various scientific fields where international cooperation is vital. Proponents argue this is a necessary safeguard against espionage and other security risks posed by foreign military affiliations.
House Bill 401, titled the 'American Science First Act', seeks to prohibit the National Science Foundation (NSF) from awarding grants and other forms of assistance to individuals or entities associated with certain Chinese military companies. The bill specifically targets affiliations with organizations that are on a designated entity list under the Export Administration Regulations, as well as those tied to major defense legislation covering Chinese entities. The motivation behind this bill is rooted in national security concerns surrounding collaboration with foreign military companies.
The bill has prompted discussions on the balance between national security and scientific collaboration. Critics may argue that overly stringent regulations on foreign affiliations could stifle innovation and isolate American researchers from potential beneficial collaborations. Additionally, there could be concerns about the broadness of the definitions involved, which may inadvertently affect legitimate research partnerships that do not pose security threats. The bill illustrates the ongoing tension between economic interests and security considerations in an increasingly globalized research environment.