July 13, 2026
Ms. Tenney introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
To prohibit the use of funds by the intelligence community for research, development, or technical support performed by any National Laboratory that lacks certain security measures.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the No Hostile Operatives in our National Labs Obtaining Our Knowledge which Establishes Risks to our Security Act
or the No Hostile ONLOOKERS Act
.
Sec. 2. Prohibition on intelligence community research, development, or technical support for National Laboratories lacking certain security measures
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Country of risk
The term country of risk has the meaning given such term in section 6432 of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 118–159).
(2) Covered assignee; covered visitor
The terms covered assignee and covered visitor have the meanings given such terms in section 6432 of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 119–60).
(3) National Intelligence Program
The term National Intelligence Program has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3003).
(4) National Laboratory
The term National Laboratory has the meaning given such term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
(5) Nontraditional intelligence collection
The term nontraditional intelligence collection has the meaning given such term in section 6432 of the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (Public Law 119–60).
(b) Prohibition
Except as provided in subsection (c), the head of an element of the intelligence community may not obligate or expend any amount for research, development, or technical support performed by any National Laboratory when such National Laboratory permits covered assignees or covered visitors from countries of risk to access any of the premises, information, or technology of the National Laboratory.
(c) Waiver
The head of an element of the intelligence community may waive the prohibition in subsection (b) for research, development, or technical support as part of a program, project, or activity of the element that is within the National Intelligence Program if the head submits to the congressional intelligence committees—
(1)
a certification that the research, development, or technical support for which funds are to be expended are not at risk of collection from a foreign intelligence agency or nontraditional intelligence collection; and
(2)
the justification for the waiver.