The bill — sponsored by  Sen. Cotton [R-AR] — prohibits Federal funding for research centers and laboratories in which nationals of countries of concern conduct agricultural research. The term “country of concern” means—(1) the Republic of Cuba; (2) the Islamic Republic of Iran; (3) the Russian Federation; (4) the People's Republic of China, including the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong and the Special Administrative Region of Macau; (5) the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela; and (6) the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. It was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.