Sponsors (5)
The bill tightens national-security protections for U.S. research by restricting certain foreign nationals and adding transparency and waiver rules, but does so at the cost of nationality-based exclusions, disruption to research and education, added administrative burdens, and privacy risks for individuals.
Broadly protects U.S. research and intellectual property by restricting entry and employment of covered foreign nationals at sensitive research sites, reducing risks of espionage or IP theft.
Allows the Executive (State and DHS) to grant case-by-case waivers when an individual is critical to U.S. interests, preventing automatic exclusion of people whose presence is important.
Requires regular biannual reporting and disclosure of recipients' prior affiliations to Congressional oversight committees, improving transparency and enabling legislative review of national security trade-offs.
People from the named countries on H, O, J, F, and M visas can be barred or face new restrictions solely because of nationality, excluding prospective immigrants, students, and workers.
Scientists, researchers, and clinical staff on affected visas may lose employment or be ineligible to work at national research labs and hospitals, causing staffing shortages, project delays, and lost careers.
Preparing biannual reports and meeting new compliance rules will impose administrative and compliance costs on State, DHS, employers, and research institutions, diverting resources from other activities.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Bars certain H-1B, O-1, J-1, and F/J/M visas and federal lab employment for nationals of five countries, allows case-by-case waivers, and requires biannual waiver reporting.
Prohibits issuance of certain nonimmigrant visas and admission to the United States for nationals of five named countries when applying under specified STEM-related visa categories, and bars national research laboratories from employing such individuals who are already present in the U.S. under those visas as of enactment. A joint waiver by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security can be granted for individual cases determined to be in the national interest; agencies must report biannually on any waivers and issue implementing rules within 90 days.
Introduced December 5, 2025 by Pat Harrigan · Last progress December 5, 2025