Supporting Early-Career Researchers Act

II 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 637 To forestall the loss of research talent by establishing a temporary early career research fellowship program. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 9, 2021 Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. COONS, Mr. BROWN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, and Ms. HIRONO) introduced the fol- lowing bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Com- merce, Science, and Transportation A BILL To forestall the loss of research talent by establishing a temporary early career research fellowship program. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Supporting Early-Ca- 4 reer Researchers Act’’. 5 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 6 Congress finds the following: 7 (1) The Nation’s universities and industrial re- 8 search labs are facing unprecedented budget pres- 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:47 Apr 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S637.IS S637 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 637 IS sure as part of the COVID–19 health crisis, result- 1 ing in considerably fewer openings for research and 2 teaching positions. 3 (2) Emergency funding is needed to forestall 4 the loss of research talent likely to occur if early-ca- 5 reer researchers are forced to seek employment out- 6 side of research due to the sharp economic decline 7 caused by the COVID–19 health crisis. 8 SEC. 3. EARLY-CAREER RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. 9 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 10 Science Foundation may establish a 2-year pilot program 11 to award grants to highly qualified early-career investiga- 12 tors to carry out an independent research program at the 13 institution of higher education chosen by such investi- 14 gator, to last for a period not greater than 2 years. 15 (b) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION DE- 16 FINED.—The term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has 17 the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher 18 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 19 (c) PRIORITY FOR BROADENING PARTICIPATION.—In 20 awarding grants under this section, the Director of the 21 National Science Foundation shall give priority to— 22 (1) early-career investigators who are from 23 groups that are underrepresented in scientific re- 24 search; and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:47 Apr 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S637.IS S637 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 637 IS (2) early-career investigators who choose to 1 carry out independent research at a minority-serving 2 institution. 3 SEC. 4. REPORTS. 4 (a) REPORTS FROM GRANTEES.—Not later than 180 5 days after the end of the pilot program under section 3, 6 each early-career investigator who receives a grant under 7 this Act shall submit a report to the Director of the Na- 8 tional Science Foundation that describes how the early- 9 career investigator used the grant funds under this Act. 10 (b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 180 days 11 after the deadline for the submission of the reports de- 12 scribed in subsection (a), the Director of the National 13 Science Foundation shall submit a report to the Com- 14 mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 15 Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech- 16 nology of the House of Representatives that contains a 17 summary of the uses of grant funds and the impact of 18 the grant program under this Act. 19 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:47 Apr 02, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S637.IS S637 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS