Congressman Pat Harrigan Introduces the SECURE STEM Act to Block Foreign Adversaries from U.S. Research System

Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) introduced the SECURE STEM Act, legislation designed to shut down the visa pathways that adversarial regimes have used to infiltrate American universities, national laboratories, and taxpayer-funded STEM programs.

"For years, adversarial regimes have used our visa system to place their people inside U.S. labs, harvest our research, and move America's breakthroughs straight into the hands of foreign intelligence services. It should never have been allowed," said Congressman Harrigan. "My SECURE STEM Act closes those gaps and restores basic national-security standards. If you're tied to a hostile government, you don't get access to America's innovation ecosystem. That era is over."

The SECURE STEM Act strengthens U.S. research security by:

• Blocking research, student, and employment visas for nationals from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and Cuba seeking access to sensitive STEM roles in the United States.
• Prohibiting employment at national research laboratories for these nationals, protecting federal research from foreign penetration.
• Requiring biannual public reporting from DHS and State detailing every waiver granted, the recipient's background, any foreign-state affiliations, and the justification for approval.
• Addressing documented cases of CCP-linked theft of lab data, covert technology transfer, and attempts to smuggle biological agents intended to disrupt the U.S. food supply.

Congressman Harrigan is urging his colleagues to support the SECURE STEM Act and reinforce America's leadership in innovation, security, and strategic competitiveness.