This bill amends the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act, introducing a new research security requirement for institutions of higher education. Federal research agencies will be mandated to require institutions applying for research and development awards to certify they do not operate branch campuses in specific foreign countries. These countries include China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, North Korea, Cuba, Turkey, and Qatar , with the Secretary of State having the authority to designate additional nations. A "branch campus" is defined as a permanent, geographically separate unit offering degrees or credentials, possessing its own faculty, administration, budget, and hiring authority. This measure aims to safeguard federal research investments by preventing funds from going to institutions with certain foreign affiliations.