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HR 7708 116th Congress House International Affairs Civil actions and liability Computer security and identity theft Congressional oversight Economic performance and conditions Emergency medical services and trauma care Foreign property Fraud offenses and financial crimes Intellectual property Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents Right of privacy Sanctions Subversive activities Trade secrets and economic espionage Visas and passports War and emergency powers

Defend COVID Research from Hackers Act

Introduced: September 4, 2020 See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 21, 2020
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Jul 21, 2020
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Defend COVID Research from Hackers Act

This bill authorizes the President to impose visa-blocking, property-blocking, or economic sanctions on a foreign person that is involved in activities that are reasonably likely to result in a significant threat to U.S. national security, foreign policy, public health, economic health, or financial stability.

The Department of State must submit a report detailing the extent of known or attempted cyber-enabled activities by foreign persons related to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) and assessing whether those activities qualify for the imposition of sanctions.

Further, the bill provides penalties for a person who knowingly traffics in access to a protected computer if the trafficker knows the protected computer has been damaged in a prohibited manner. The bill also authorizes an injunction against a person who causes damage through accessing a protected computer or transmitting a program, information, code, or command to a protected computer.

What's happening now July 21, 2020

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 4793 Related bill Defend COVID Research from Hackers Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 28
All 28 Republican 20
R
Joyce, David P.
Ohio · Sep 4, 2020
Rice, Tom
· Sep 4, 2020
 R
Williams, Roger
Texas · Sep 4, 2020
Davis, Rodney
· Jul 31, 2020
 R
Johnson, Mike
Louisiana · Jul 31, 2020
Kinzinger, Adam
· Jul 31, 2020
Pence, Greg
· Jul 31, 2020
 R
Reschenthaler, Guy
Pennsylvania · Jul 31, 2020
 R
Schweikert, David
Arizona · Jul 31, 2020
 R
Calvert, Ken
California · Jul 27, 2020
 R
Babin, Brian
Texas · Jul 24, 2020
 R
Balderson, Troy
Ohio · Jul 24, 2020
Collins, Doug
· Jul 24, 2020
 R
Crawford, Eric A. "Rick"
Arkansas · Jul 24, 2020
 R
Fulcher, Russ
Idaho · Jul 24, 2020
 R
Hern, Kevin
Oklahoma · Jul 24, 2020
 R
Kelly, Mike
Pennsylvania · Jul 24, 2020
KING, PETER
· Jul 24, 2020
 R
Latta, Robert E.
Ohio · Jul 24, 2020
Roe, David
· Jul 24, 2020
 R
Smith, Christopher H.
New Jersey · Jul 24, 2020
 R
Smith, Jason
Missouri · Jul 24, 2020
 R
Stefanik, Elise M.
New York · Jul 24, 2020
 R
Steube, W. Gregory
Florida · Jul 24, 2020
 R
Thompson, Glenn
Pennsylvania · Jul 24, 2020
 R
Timmons, William R.
South Carolina · Jul 24, 2020
 R
Wagner, Ann
Missouri · Jul 24, 2020
Yoho, Ted
· Jul 24, 2020
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 7708: Defend COVID Research from Hackers Act. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7708/
MLA
"H.R. 7708: Defend COVID Research from Hackers Act." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7708/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 7708, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7708/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 7708: Defend COVID Research from Hackers Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-7708/)
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