# Plain Language Summary: Science and Technology Agreement Enhanced Congressional Notification Act of 2024

This bill requires the State Department to give Congress advance notice before making any science and technology deals with China. Right now, the Secretary of State can negotiate and sign these agreements without telling Congress first. This bill changes that by requiring the State Department to notify the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee at least 30 days before entering into, renewing, or extending any science and technology agreement with China. During those 30 days, Congress gets a chance to review the deal and potentially object to it.

When the State Department notifies Congress, they have to provide detailed information about the agreement, including the full text, why they think it's in America's national security interests, and what risks it might pose. They also need to explain how they'll protect against technology or intellectual property being transferred to China in ways that could harm U.S. security, how they'll address human rights concerns in any scientific collaboration, and how they'll monitor whether China actually follows through on its commitments. Basically, Congress wants to make sure the State Department has thoroughly vetted these agreements and considered potential downsides before moving forward.

The bill also affects agreements that already exist. Any science and technology agreements with China that are currently in effect must be reviewed and resubmitted to Congress within 60 days of this law passing. If the State Department doesn't submit the required information within that timeframe, those existing agreements automatically get canceled. This means the State Department will need to go back and justify every current science and technology partnership with China or lose it.

Science and Technology Agreement Enhanced Congressional Notification Act of 2024

Barr, Andy

Science and Technology Agreement Enhanced Congressional Notification Act of 2023This bill requires the Department of State to notify Congress regarding science and technology agreements with China. Any existing agreement is revoked unless the State Department notifies Congress regarding the agreement no later than 60 days after enactment of this bill. The State Department must notify Congress 30 days prior to entering, renewing, or extending any science and technology agreement with China. A notification shall contain (1) the full text of the agreement, (2) a written justification for the agreement, (3) an assessment of the risks and potential effects of the agreement, and (4) a detailed justification for how the State Department intends to address human rights concerns arising from the agreement's scientific and technology collaboration.