Supporting Early-Career Researchers Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8044 To forestall the loss of research talent by establishing a temporary early career research fellowship program. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AUGUST 14, 2020 Ms. JOHNSON of Texas (for herself, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. BEYER, Mr. GARCIA of California, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. GON- ZALEZ of Ohio, Mr. TONKO, and Mr. COHEN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech- nology 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 00:25 Sep 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8044.IH H8044 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8044 IH 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 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 20 There is authorized to be appropriated to the Direc- 21 tor of the National Science Foundation $250,000,000 for 22 each of fiscal years 2021 through 2022 to carry out the 23 activities in this Act. 24 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Sep 02, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H8044.IH H8044 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS