US Codex
Bill
Notes

H.R. 144 — what changed

Supporting Early-Career Researchers Act

From Introduced in House to Reported in House. 2 sections amended between Introduced in House and Reported in House.

Sec. 2 Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)
The Nation’s universities and industrial research labs are facing unprecedented budget pressure as part of the COVID–19 health crisis, resulting in considerably fewer openings for research and teaching positions.
(2)
Emergency funding is needed to forestall the loss of research talent likely to occur if early-career researchers are forced to seek employment outside of research due to the sharp economic decline caused by the COVID–19 health crisis.
(3)
added The future of America's defense will rely on advanced technologies to maintain its military superiority over its rivals, including China. These technologies will require new levels of scientific and engineering aptitude and understanding. Early career researchers will play a critical role in the development of these technologies, and the loss of an entire generation of researchers due to the COVID–19 pandemic will be detrimental to the United States national security.

Sec. 3 Early-career research fellowship program

(a)
changed In general— The Director of the National Science Foundation may establish a 2-year pilot program to award grants to highly qualified early-career investigators to carry out an independent research program at the qualified institution of higher education chosen by such investigator, to last for a period not greater than 2 years.
(b)
changed Institution of higher education defined—Selection process— The term institution Director of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 National Science Foundation shall select grantees under subsection (a) from among citizens, nationals, and lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).United States.
(c)
added Outreach— The Director shall conduct program outreach to recruit fellowship applicants—
(1)
added from all regions of the country;
(2)
added from historically underrepresented populations in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and
(3)
added who graduate from or intend to carry out research at a variety of types of institutions of higher education, including—
(A)
added Historically Black Colleges and Universities;
(B)
added Hispanic-Serving Institutions;
(C)
added Tribal Colleges and Universities; and
(D)
added institutions of higher education that are not among the top 50 institutions in annual Federal funding for research.
(d)
added Special consideration— The Director shall give special consideration to an application from an individual who graduated from or is intending to carry out research at an institution of the type listed in subsection (c)(3).
(e)
added Report— Not later than 90 days after the conclusion of the second year of the pilot program, the Director shall submit a report to Congress that includes—
(1)
added statistical summary data on fellowship awardees disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, age, years since completion of doctoral degree, and institution type;
(2)
added an assessment, drawing on feedback from the research community and other sources of information, of the effectiveness of the pilot program for mitigating the loss of research talent due to the pandemic; and
(3)
added if determined effective, a plan for permanent implementation of the pilot program.
(f)
added Qualified institution of higher education defined— The term “qualified institution of higher education” means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) that is inside the United States or a territory of the United States.