(Radio Iowa) – The Iowa House has passed a bill that would forbid ALL Iowa colleges, universities and community colleges from hiring students from China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Venezuela or Syria who are in the U.S. on a temporary H-one-B Visa. Those countries are considered foreign adversaries of the United States. Republican Representative Skyler Wheeler of Hull says it’s about national security, preventing espionage, and protecting sensitive research. “Aligning with broader U.S. concerns over foreign influence in academia,” Wheeler said, “while prioritizing American or allied talent.” The policy would take effect July 1st.

Representative Timi Brown-Powers, a Democrat from Waterloo, says it will affect hundreds of students, teachers, professors and researchers in Iowa’s public and private colleges, including 300 at the University of Iowa, over 100 at Iowa State University and 16 at U-N-I. “This has, really, the potential to make it very difficult to hire research professors and graduate students that do teaching at all three of our Regent (universities),” Brown-Powers said. Wheeler says U.S. universities are for Americans first.  “Do you really believe we should have members of the Chinese Communist Party teaching economics or political science or government in our Regents universities? Do you really believe that we should individuals from Russia or Iran influencing future voters in this country?” Wheeler asked. “I do not.”

The bill passed on a 68-to-27 vote and now goes to the Senate.