S. 769 · 119th Congress · Senate

United States Research Protection Act of 2025

Active· Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-45.
Introduced
Feb 27, 25
Passed Senate
Pending
Passed House
Pending
Sent to President
Pending
Signed into Law
Pending

Executive Summary

United States Research Protection Act of 2025

This bill clarifies the definition of a malign foreign talent recruitment program under the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act. 

The Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act, which was included in the CHIPS and Science Act, prohibits researchers who receive federal funds from participating in malign foreign talent recruitment programs, in which foreign countries incentivize or compensate researchers for activities that present a conflict of interest for the researcher or that are otherwise unauthorized (e.g., sharing proprietary information without proper authorization).

The bill clarifies that these restrictions apply to programs that are sponsored by a foreign country of concern, including China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The bill also clarifies that malign foreign talent recruitment programs may involve direct or indirect compensation or incentives from such countries.

Action Timeline

5
  1. JUL 22, 2025Senate

    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 123.

  2. JUL 22, 2025Library of Congress

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

    Reported by Senator Cruz without amendment. With written report No. 119-45.

    119Yea
    45Nay
    0NV
  3. APR 30, 2025Senate

    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

    Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.

  4. FEB 27, 2025Senate

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

  5. FEB 27, 2025Library of Congress

    Introduced in Senate

Committees

1

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

sscm00

Referred: Jul 22, 2025

Active