Overview
Title
To prohibit Federal spending on funding research in China, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 1032 is a rule that says the US won't spend money on studies or inventions in China if those are done by the Chinese government or groups they control, to make sure they're not helping China instead of the US.
Summary AI
H.R. 1032 is a bill aimed at stopping the use of Federal money from being spent on research conducted in China. The bill specifically prohibits any federal agency, including the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Energy, and others, from funding research that is done by the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party, or any entities controlled by them. The bill is titled the “Stop Funding Our Adversaries Act of 2023” and was introduced in the House of Representatives.
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Keywords AI
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
House of Representatives Bill 1032 proposes to restrict federal spending on research activities that involve China. More specifically, it introduces a ban on U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, from funding research that is conducted by or affiliated with the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party, or any entities they control. The bill aims to prevent resources from indirectly or directly supporting projects linked to these organizations. It is known as the "Stop Funding Our Adversaries Act of 2023."
Significant Issues
One core issue with the bill is the broad nature of its prohibitions. The bill does not allow for exceptions or adjustments depending on specific circumstances or partnerships. This all-encompassing restriction can potentially hinder scientific collaborations that could be mutually beneficial for the United States and international research communities. Furthermore, the bill’s language includes ambiguous terms like "indirectly conduct or support," which could lead to different interpretations and confusion about the extent of its application.
Another issue is found in how the bill describes "any entity owned by or controlled by" the Chinese government or the Communist Party. Determining such ownership and control can be intricate and opaque and may differ case-by-case, presenting significant challenges for implementation.
Impact on the Public
For the American public, this bill could have several broad implications. On one side, by curbing financial cooperation with certain Chinese entities, the U.S. aims to protect its research and development ecosystem from undue foreign influence, potentially enhancing national security. However, the potential downside involves the restriction of academic freedom and innovation, as collaborations with other countries, including China, often bring new perspectives and advancements that can benefit society as a whole.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Key stakeholders like researchers and academic institutions could face negative impacts due to the restrictive nature of the bill. They might lose chances for collaborative international projects that would leverage a diversity of expertise and resources. Academic institutions that depend on global cooperation for cutting-edge research could find their opportunities curtailed.
On the other hand, proponents argue that the bill is necessary to protect U.S. interests against rising strategic competitors. This segment believes that disengaging financially from Chinese-controlled entities would ensure that American taxpayer money is not contributing to activities aligned with geopolitical adversaries.
Conclusion
In essence, while the "Stop Funding Our Adversaries Act of 2023" seeks to safeguard national interests by restricting federal spending on research in China, it does so at the risk of limiting potentially beneficial global scientific collaborations. Its broad remit and ambiguous phrases might present further challenges in interpretation and enforcement, prompting calls for more nuanced legislation that can balance security concerns with academic and scientific openness.
Issues
The prohibition on funding research in China as stated in Section 2 may be overly broad, as it restricts funding for research conducted by any entity related to the Chinese government or the Chinese Communist Party without specifying exceptions or considering potential beneficial collaborations. This could limit scientific progress and collaboration that might benefit the United States.
The ambiguous language in Section 2, particularly the term 'indirectly conduct or support,' could lead to confusion and misinterpretation regarding how far the restriction extends, potentially affecting a wide range of research activities.
The phrase 'any entity owned by or controlled by' in Section 2 hinges on determining the ownership and control structures of organizations, which may be complex and opaque, leading to potential implementation challenges.
There is no clear process outlined in Section 2 for determining what constitutes being 'controlled by' the People's Republic of China or the Chinese Communist Party, opening the door to varied interpretations and inconsistent applications of the law.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of this Act states its official name, which is the “Stop Funding Our Adversaries Act of 2023”.
2. Prohibition on funding research in China Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The bill section prohibits any U.S. federal agency from funding research conducted by the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party, or any entities they own or control. This includes direct or indirect support through grants, contracts, or other funding methods.