---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 19153"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "19153"
heading: "Policies for review of Federal research awards"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/19153"
units:
  - "Chapter 163 — Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation"
  - "Subchapter V — Broadening Participation in Science"
  - "Part A — STEM Opportunities"
---

# §19153. Policies for review of Federal research awards

- (a) **Assessment of policies—** [Federal research agencies](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10) shall regularly assess, and update as necessary, policies, and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) to remove or reduce cultural and institutional barriers limiting the recruitment, retention, and success of groups historically underrepresented in [STEM](/usc/42/18901.md?p=27) research careers, including policies and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) relevant to the unbiased review of Federal research applications.
- (b) **Considerations and activities—** In carrying out the requirements under [subsection (a)](#a), [Federal research agencies](/usc/42/18901.md?p=10) shall—
  - (1) review current levels of participation of groups historically underrepresented in [STEM](/usc/42/18901.md?p=27) in peer-review panels and consider approaches for expanding their participation;
  - (2) analyze the data collected under [section 19152 of this title](/usc/42/19152.md), including funding rates of proposals from all groups, including those historically underrepresented in [STEM](/usc/42/18901.md?p=27);
  - (3) collect and disseminate best [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) to remove or reduce cultural and institutional barriers limiting the recruitment, retention, and success of groups historically underrepresented in [STEM](/usc/42/18901.md?p=27) research careers; and
  - (4) implement evidence-based policies and [practices](/usc/42/17061.md?p=19) to achieve the goals of this section.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title V, § 10503, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1610.)