CCTARI Act
Latest action · Sep 17, 2020 Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedSep 17, 2020
- Passed HouseNot reached
- Passed SenateNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
Countering China's Theft of American Research and Innovation Act or the CCTARI Act
This bill modifies provisions related to reviewing visa applications for risks, including the illicit transfer of sensitive research from U.S. research institutions, and contains other related provisions.
A previously established interagency working group to coordinate the protection of federally-funded research from foreign interference shall report to Congress on a review of current Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State policies for preventing the illicit transfer of sensitive research from U.S. higher education and research institutions, including visa issuance procedures and national security reviews of certain nonimmigrant students.
The bill also modifies provisions authorizing DHS to assign its employees to diplomatic and consular posts to conduct visa application reviews and related tasks. When making such an assignment, DHS shall do so in a risk-based manner based on certain criteria, such as the number of nationals in a country identified as known or suspected terrorists and the number of cases involving illicit technology transfer. Such employees shall review visa applications to improve detection of cases that pose a substantial risk of illicit technology transfers.
DHS shall also prioritize establishing new overseas assignments with the goal of countering the exploitation or illicit transfer of sensitive technologies by student and exchange visitor visa holders.
DHS and the State Department shall jointly carry out a pilot program to evaluate the use of machine-readable technology to improve visa application and security vetting processes.
Cosponsors 4
Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on Sep 17, 2020.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| R-LA | Clay Higgins | Original | Sep 17, 2020 |
| R-PA | Guy Reschenthaler | Original | Sep 17, 2020 |
| R-PA | John Joyce | Original | Sep 17, 2020 |
| R-MO | Vicky Hartzler | Original | Sep 17, 2020 |
Committees 3
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| House | Judiciary Committee | Referred Sep 17, 2020 |
| House | Homeland Security Committee | Referred Sep 17, 2020 |
| House | Foreign Affairs Committee | Referred Sep 17, 2020 |
Actions 2
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Sep 17, 2020Introduced in House
- Sep 17, 2020Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, and Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Constitutional authority
The sponsor’s statement, as printed in the Congressional Record, vol. 166, no. 161, September 17, 2020, page H4543.
Related bills 1
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR 8309 | Keep America Secure Act | Related bill | Sep 18, 2020 |
Titles 3
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for enhanced visa security, and for other purposes.
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- CCTARI Act
- Countering China’s Theft of American Research and Innovation Act
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Immigration.
- Administrative law and regulatory procedures
- Congressional oversight
- Crime prevention
- Criminal justice information and records
- Department of Homeland Security
- Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
- Government information and archives
- Higher education
- Immigration
- Immigration status and procedures
- Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
- International exchange and broadcasting
- Research administration and funding
- Technology transfer and commercialization
- Terrorism
- Trade secrets and economic espionage
- Visas and passports
Text 1
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Sep 17, 2020Introduced in House
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
