Higher Education Research Protection Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.3012 | Sponsor: Rep. Barr, Andy (R-KY)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
Higher Education Research Protection Act of 2021
This bill establishes within the Federal Bureau of Investigation an initiative to investigate suspected incidents of Chinese agents participating in federally funded research at institutions of higher education and the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine.

To establish a Higher Education Initiative in the Office of Private 
 Sector of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Higher Education Research Protection 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION INITIATIVE.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 33 of title 28, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
``Sec. 540D. Higher Education Initiative
    ``(a) In General.--There is established within the Office of 
Private Sector of the Intelligence Branch of the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation a Higher Education Initiative, which shall be headed by 
the Assistant Director of the Office of Private Sector (in this Act 
referred to as `the Assistant Director').
    ``(b) Duties.--
            ``(1) Assistant director duties.--The Assistant Director 
        shall investigate and report to the Director of the Federal 
        Bureau of Investigation any suspected incidents of individuals 
        participating in federally funded research as agents of a 
        foreign government in institutions of higher education and 
        National Academies.
            ``(2) Director duties.--The Director of the Federal Bureau 
        of Investigation shall instruct Federal Bureau of Investigation 
        field offices to conduct proactive outreach to institutions of 
        higher education and National Academies within the office's 
        area of responsibility.
    ``(c) Hiring.--The Attorney General, acting through the Director of 
the Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall hire 56 investigative agents 
to carry out this section.
    ``(d) Sunset Provision.--The Higher Education Initiative 
established under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 
ten years after the date of the enactment of the `Higher Education 
Research Protection Act of 2021'.
    ``(e) Definition.--In this section:
            ``(1) Foreign government.--The term `foreign government' 
        includes the People's Republic of China or any component 
        thereof, including the Chinese Communist Party, the Central 
        Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Central Military 
        Commission of China, the Chinese People's Political 
        Consultative Conference, the National People's Congress of 
        China, or the State Council of China.
            ``(2) Higher education.--The term `institution of higher 
        education' has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of 
        the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            ``(3) National academies.--The term `National Academies' 
        means the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and 
        Medicine.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 33 of 
title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``540D. Higher Education Initiative.''.
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