Brevard Sun

Washington, September 26, 2023 - Today, Congressman Bill Posey (FL-08) and Congressman Brandon Williams (NY-22) introduced the Stop Funding Our Adversaries’ Research Act, a bill aimed at protecting American innovation by denying federal research funds to countries of concern, including China.

Speaking about the bill, Congressman Posey stated, "The current system to protect American innovation has several loopholes that allow adversarial countries like China to participate in taxpayer-funded research initiatives and take the findings which may later be used against the United States and our interests. There is no transparency and accountability for how taxpayer dollars are spent, and it is because of this flawed system that Congressman Williams and I introduced this legislation to protect American innovation."

Congressman Williams emphasized the importance of preventing foreign infiltration of American science and technology from adversarial countries, stating, "Scientific research and development are the bedrock of American innovation and economic growth. It is crucial for our nation’s security and future that we prevent foreign infiltration of American science and technology from adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. The Stop Funding Our Adversaries’ Research Act comprehensively prohibits the federal government from supporting research and development activities in adversarial countries. In doing so, this bill ensures that the discoveries and innovation produced by American-taxpayer-supported R&D activities benefit Americans, not our geopolitical rivals and enemies. I am proud to co-lead this important legislation with Congressman Posey."

The need for this legislation is further supported by a report published by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) last year, which revealed that millions of federal research funds were directed to Chinese entities, with an undetermined amount indirectly going to China. The full extent of this funding is "not known" due to limitations in reporting requirements. The Stop Funding Our Adversaries’ Research Act would require agency heads to seek Congressional approval before funding or conducting research with China and other countries of concern.

To learn more about the Stop Funding Our Adversaries’ Research Act, please visit the official document.

Source: Congressman Bill Posey

Image Source: Congress.gov