Sponsor
Daniel A. Webster
Representative · R-FL
Representative · R-FL
The bill strengthens national-security protections and oversight by restricting NASA/OSTP/NSpC engagements with PRC entities and requiring FBI review, at the cost of slowing scientific collaboration, adding bureaucracy and delays, and creating potential uncertainty or politicization in approvals.
US national security and taxpayers are better protected because the bill bars bilateral NASA/OSTP/NSpC engagements with PRC entities absent Congressional approval and certification and requires FBI review, reducing the risk of sensitive technology or data transfers.
Congress and the public gain greater oversight and transparency of sensitive space interactions through required advance notice and FBI consultation, improving visibility into potentially risky engagements.
Federal agencies and partners get a clearer certification/review process that defines when interactions with PRC entities are permissible, reducing legal and operational ambiguity for programs and contractors.
Scientists and researchers will face restrictions on collaboration with PRC counterparts, which can slow scientific progress, limit joint space-science projects, and reduce knowledge exchange.
NASA/OSTP/NSpC programs, staff, and contractors will incur added administrative burdens and potential delays (e.g., 30-day review/certification), slowing program timelines and contract execution.
Commercial space companies and government contractors may lose economic and partnership opportunities because official visits and collaborations that yield commercial benefits could be restricted.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Stops NASA, OSTP, and the National Space Council from using federal funds for bilateral space activities with the PRC or Chinese-owned companies unless Congress authorizes them or an FBI-reviewed certification allows it.
Official title: To restrict the obligation or expenditure of Federal funds relating to certain Chinese space and scientific activities, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 10, 2025 by Daniel A. Webster · Last progress July 10, 2025
Prohibits federal funds from being used by NASA, the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), or the National Space Council to develop, plan, implement, or execute bilateral activities with the People’s Republic of China or Chinese-owned companies unless Congress later enacts a law authorizing that specific activity. It also bars hosting official Chinese visitors at federal facilities used by NASA, but allows narrow exceptions if the agencies certify — after consulting the FBI — that the activity poses no national- or economic-security risk and will not knowingly involve officials responsible for human-rights abuses; those certifications must be submitted to specified congressional committees and the FBI at least 30 days before the activity.