Sponsor
Richard Lynn Scott
Senator · R-FL
Senator · R-FL
The bill aims to protect federal research funds and national security by defining and limiting support tied to foreign branch campuses, but it risks reducing international collaboration, imposing compliance burdens on universities, and harming students and faculty who rely on overseas programs.
Domestic colleges and universities that do not operate foreign branch campuses will retain eligibility for federal R&D awards, preserving their access to research funding.
Taxpayers and the federal research portfolio may face reduced risk that federal research funds indirectly support activities linked to adversary states, strengthening national security safeguards.
Colleges and universities will have a clear statutory definition of 'branch campus,' reducing ambiguity when completing grant applications and compliance paperwork.
U.S. universities with legitimate overseas programs or collaborations could lose eligibility for federal R&D awards if those activities are judged to constitute a qualifying 'branch campus,' jeopardizing research funding.
Universities will likely face increased administrative burden and legal risk to verify and certify complex foreign activities, which could lead institutions to curtail international research partnerships.
The Secretary of State's discretionary designations could be applied broadly, creating uncertainty and chilling effects on international engagement by U.S. institutions.
Based on analysis of 1 section of legislative text.
Requires colleges/universities seeking federal R&D awards to certify they do not operate qualifying branch campuses in listed foreign countries within two years.
Official title: Amend the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act to require each institution of higher education to certify as part of an application for a research and development award that such institution does not operate certain branch campuses, and for other purposes.
Introduced April 28, 2026 by Richard Lynn Scott · Last progress April 28, 2026
Requires colleges and universities seeking federal research and development awards to certify they do not operate permanent branch campuses in a specified list of foreign countries (including China, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba, Turkey, Qatar, and others the Secretary of State may name). Federal research agencies must adopt this certification requirement within two years of enactment and the bill defines what counts as a "branch campus."