Press Releases

Yesterday, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI); Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX); Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairman Brian Babin (R-TX); and Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) wrote to the State University of New York (SUNY) and the University of California (UC) to assess their risk management in response to efforts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to acquire sensitive technology through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs.The lawmakers urged the university systems to work to ensure that innovation developed by American small businesses stays out of the hands of our foreign adversaries.

“The CCP is using higher education to undermine our national security,” said Chairman Walberg. “The UC and SUNY systems are more examples of colleges and universities being on the front lines of this fight. As we investigate these schools further, the country needs to take strong legislative action to shed light on schools’ ties to America’s adversaries. The Senate should enact the bipartisan, House-passed DETERRENT Act. I also look forward to supporting my fellow committee chairmen in other key reforms to bolster transparency and accountability.”

“Small businesses are the driving force of our economy, fueling innovation, creating jobs, and advancing our leadership in critical technologies,” said Chairman Williams. “The SBIR and STTR programs are essential to helping Main Street develop next-generation solutions. However, without proper oversight, we risk losing our competitive edge to foreign adversaries like the PRC. Addressing these vulnerabilities requires a clear understanding of how university systems, such as the SUNY and UC systems, are managing risks within their research programs. We must ensure that the groundbreaking innovations of our small businesses remain in American hands, not in those who seek to undermine us.”

“Protecting America’s research enterprise from foreign influence and exploitation is a core responsibility of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee,” said Chairman Babin. “Our innovation ecosystem is a cornerstone of U.S. scientific and economic leadership, and we must ensure that taxpayer-funded research is not vulnerable to theft or misuse by adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party. As Congress considers reauthorization of the SBIR and STTR programs, strengthening protections and closing vulnerabilities will ensure these programs continue advancing innovation while protecting U.S. research.”

“The Chinese Communist Party continues to exploit U.S. taxpayer-funded research to fuel its military and economic ambitions,” said Chairman Moolenaar. “American universities must be vigilant against foreign influence and infiltration—especially when partnered with small businesses developing cutting-edge technology. This investigation is about safeguarding national security and making sure U.S. innovation benefits America, not the CCP.”

Read the story here.

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