H.R. 7616: Transatlantic Academic Security and Risk Mitigation Act

The Transatlantic Academic Security and Risk Mitigation Act aims to address concerns about relationships between European academic and research institutions and certain entities from the People’s Republic of China that are deemed to pose risks to U.S. foreign policy interests. Here’s a breakdown of what the bill entails:

Strategy Development

Within 180 days of the bill's enactment, the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs is required to develop and submit a strategy to Congress. This strategy should focus on:

• Identifying and assessing relationships that could be harmful to U.S. foreign policy interests.
• Providing details about the activities, scale, and scope of these concerning entities in Europe, categorized by country.
• Evaluating threats posed by these entities to the United States and allied nations.
• Offering recommendations for U.S. diplomatic engagement with European governments and institutions.
• Including any other relevant information the Under Secretary sees fit.

Data Sharing and Assessment

The strategy must include a thorough assessment of risks related to the influence or activities of these entities on European soil, specifically focusing on:

• The ways these relationships impact national security.
• The vulnerabilities introduced by these entities in academic and research collaborations.

Definitions of Key Terms

Key terms are defined as follows:

• Covered Entity of Concern: This includes any organization from China that is involved in military-civil fusion, participates in the defense sector, is funded by certain Chinese military organizations, or engages in activities that undermine the U.S.-Taiwan relationship or discriminate against groups such as Uyghur Muslims.
• Covered European Institution: This refers to any higher education or research institution located in Europe.

Implementation and Reporting

The strategy will be presented in an unclassified format but may include a classified annex for sensitive information. A briefing is also required to accompany the strategy submission to provide Congress with detailed insights into the findings and proposed actions.

Goal

The overall goal of this legislation is to create a more secure academic and research environment that safeguards U.S. interests while fostering appropriate collaborations across the Atlantic.

Relevant Companies

• None found