House Bill Seeks Oversight Over US-China Science, Tech Deal
A new House bill with Republican support could establish more congressional oversight on any scientific partnership agreements between the U.S. and China, including the Science and Technology Agreement (STA) that was due to expire Aug. 27 (see 2308070055). The Science and Technology Agreement Enhanced Congressional Notification Act, introduced by Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., last week, would require the State Department to “provide comprehensive details to Congress about any new agreement” and wait at least 30 days “post-submission before proceeding.”
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Barr said his new bill “ensures that Congress has a significant say in any science and technology agreements with the Chinese Communist Party.” Rep. Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin, the top Republican on the House Select Committee on China, said the country has “abused the openness of the American scientific community to steal American research” for years.
“Amid rumors that the Biden admin will try to quietly extend the Science and Technology Agreement between the US and China, this bill would require any administration to notify Congress if it plans to further jeopardize our research and intellectual property by entering, renewing, or extending this deal,” Gallagher said.
The bill comes as the U.S. and China discuss a potential six-month extension to the current STA, a State Department spokesperson said Aug. 29. The extension "would keep the agreement in force while we consider and prepare to undertake negotiations to amend and strengthen the terms of the STA," the spokesperson said, adding that any "existing cooperation under the STA would be unaffected, providing an extension is eventually signed." The person said the U.S. "desire" is for "any extension [to] be effective from August 27."