Cotton, Barr Introduce Bill to Stop Foreign Adversaries from Exploiting American Universities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353
September 11, 2025

Cotton, Barr Introduce Bill to Stop Foreign Adversaries from Exploiting American Universities

Washington, DC - Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today introduced legislation to combat the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and foreign adversaries from exploiting American colleges and universities. The Protecting American Research and Talent Act prohibits higher education institutions from receiving federal funding for the purposes of conducting fundamental research in collaboration with our foreign adversaries. This legislation is cosponsored by Senator Rick Scott (R-Florida) and Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma).

Congressman Andy Barr (Kentucky-6) introduced companion legislation in the House.

"For far too long, our adversaries have exploited American colleges and universities to advance their interests, while risking our national security and innovation. This bill seeks to protect American research and talent and ensure our adversaries are not benefiting from American institutions," said Senator Cotton.

"The CCP and other foreign adversaries repeatedly use sophisticated schemes to steal American research and advance their interests in the expense of American national security and innovation. This legislation seeks to stop that effort by increasing transparency and limiting federal flexibility to approve exemptions," said Congressman Barr.

Text of the bill can be found here.

The Protecting American Research and Talent Act would:

• Prohibit federal funds from going to higher education institutions for the purposes of collaboration with covered entities in fundamental research.
• Ensure that the definition of a covered entity would include foreign persons that have graduated from adversary institutions and U.S. persons that receive funding from adversary entities.
• Condition eligibility for a waiver on meeting a strict foreign enrollment cap.

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