National Security Innovation Pathway Act

To establish a process for admitting essential scientists and technical experts into the United States to promote and protect the National Security Innovation Base. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Security Innovation Pathway Act 2. Admission of essential scientists and technical experts to promote and protect the National Security Innovation Base (a) Special immigrant status In accordance with the procedures established under subsection (f)(1), and subject to subsection (c)(1), the Secretary of Homeland Security may provide an alien described in subsection (b) (and the spouse and children of the alien if accompanying or following to join the alien) with the status of a special immigrant under section 101(a)(27) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27) (1) submits a classification petition under section 204(a)(1)(G)(i) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1154(a)(1)(G)(i) (2) is otherwise eligible to receive an immigrant visa and is otherwise admissible to the United States for permanent residence. (b) Aliens described An alien is described in this subsection if— (1) the alien— (A) is employed by a United States employer and engaged in work to promote and protect the National Security Innovation Base; (B) is engaged in basic or applied research, funded by the Department of Defense, through a United States institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001 (C) possesses scientific or technical expertise that will advance the development of critical technologies identified in the National Defense Strategy or the National Defense Science and Technology Strategy, required by section 218 of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 ( Public Law 115–232 (2) the Secretary of Defense issues a written statement to the Secretary of Homeland Security confirming that the admission of the alien is essential to advancing the research, development, testing, or evaluation of critical technologies described in paragraph (1)(C) or otherwise serves national security interests. (c) Numerical limitations (1) In general The total number of principal aliens who may be provided special immigrant status under this section may not exceed— (A) 100 in fiscal year 2021; (B) 200 in fiscal year 2022; (C) 300 in fiscal year 2023; (D) 400 in fiscal year 2024; and (E) 500 in fiscal year 2025 and each fiscal year thereafter. (2) Exclusion from numerical limitations Aliens provided special immigrant status under this section shall not be counted against the numerical limitations under sections 201(d), 202(a), and 203(b)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1151(d) (d) Defense competition for scientists and technical experts Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall develop and implement a process to select, on a competitive basis from among individuals described in section (b), individuals for recommendation to the Secretary of Homeland Security for special immigrant status described in subsection (a). (e) Authorities In carrying out this section, the Secretary of Defense shall authorize appropriate personnel of the Department of Defense to use all personnel and management authorities available to the Department, including the personnel and management authorities provided to the science and technology reinvention laboratories, the Major Range and Test Facility Base (as defined in 196(i) of title 10, United States Code), and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. (f) Procedures and fees (1) In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of Defense shall jointly establish policies and procedures implementing the provisions in this section, which shall include procedures for— (A) processing of petitions for classification submitted under subsection (a)(1) and applications for an immigrant visa or adjustment of status, as applicable; and (B) thorough processing of any required security clearances. (2) Fees (A) National security innovation fee account There is established in the general fund of the Treasury, a separate account which shall be known as the National Security Innovation Fee Account (B) Fee amount For each petition for classification submitted under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary of Homeland Security shall collect, in addition to any required processing fee, a fee of $2,000. (C) Use of fees Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of each fee collected under subparagraph (B)— (i) 75 percent shall be deposited into the general fund of the Treasury; and (ii) 25 percent shall be deposited as offsetting receipts into the National Security Innovation Fee Account for scholarships under the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Education Program described in section 2192a of title 10, United States Code. (g) Implementation report required Not later than 360 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of Defense shall jointly submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report that includes— (1) a plan for implementing the authorities provided under this section; and (2) identification of any additional authorities that may be required to assist the Secretaries in fully implementing section. (h) Program evaluation and report (1) Evaluation The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct an evaluation of the competitive program and special immigrant program described in subsections (a) through (f). (2) Report Not later than October 1, 2025, the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the results of the evaluation conducted under paragraph (1). (i) Definitions In this section: (1) The term appropriate congressional committees (A) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and (B) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate. (2) The term National Security Innovation Base

Summary: National Security Innovation Pathway Act This bill authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide special immigrant status to a qualified alien involved with research critical to U.S. national security. Generally, a qualified alien is one who (1) is employed by a U.S. employer to work and protect the National Security Innovation Base, (2) is engaged in Department of Defense-funded research at a U.S. institution of higher education, or (3) possesses scientific or technical expertise that will advance the development of certain technologies critical to national security. In addition, the Department of Defense (DOD) must confirm to DHS that the alien's admission is essential to developing critical technologies or otherwise serves national security interests. The spouse and children of a qualified alien may also be admitted. (The National Security Innovation Base is a network of persons and organizations engaged in research and production of technologies that support U.S. national security.) DHS may admit up to 100 principal aliens for FY2021 as special immigrants under this bill. This number shall gradually increase until FY2025. For FY2025 and each subsequent fiscal year, DHS may admit 500 principal aliens. Aliens admitted under this bill shall not count against various annual numerical limits. The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on an evaluation of the program by October 1, 2025.