Preventing Research Ownership Transfer to External Competitive Threats (PROTECT) Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 7510 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7510 To prohibit certain foreign governments from acquiring intellectual property rights of research conducted by United States universities, faculty, staff, or students, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 11, 2026 Mr. Nehls (for himself and Mr. Gill of Texas) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To prohibit certain foreign governments from acquiring intellectual property rights of research conducted by United States universities, faculty, staff, or students, 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 ``Preventing Research Ownership Transfer to External Competitive Threats (PROTECT) Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Covered foreign government.--The term ``covered foreign government'' means the government of any prohibited nation, including any agency, instrumentality, or entity controlled by such government. (2) Covered research.--The term ``covered research'' means any research, invention, discovery, or intellectual property developed or conducted, in whole or in part, by a United States university, or by any faculty member, staff member, or student affiliated with such university. (3) Designated foreign terrorist organization.--The term ``designated foreign terrorist organization'' has the meaning given such term in section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1189). (4) Intellectual property rights.--The term ``intellectual property rights'' includes patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets,