I 

113TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5451 

To demonstrate a commitment to our Nation’s scientists by increasing 

opportunities for the development of our next generation of researchers. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2014 

Mr. POCAN (for himself, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, and Mr. WELCH) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To demonstrate a commitment to our Nation’s scientists 

by increasing opportunities for the development of our 

next generation of researchers. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Next Generation Re5 search Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF RE7 SEARCHERS. 

8 Part A of title IV of the Public Health Service Act 

9 (42 U.S.C. 281 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 

10 the following: 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 404M. NEXT GENERATION OF RESEARCH. 

2 ‘‘(a) NEXT GENERATION OF RESEARCH INITIA3 TIVE.—There shall be established within the Office of the 

4 Director of the National Institutes of Health, the Next 

5 Generation of Research Initiative (referred to in this sec6 tion as the ‘Initiative’), through which the Director shall 

7 coordinate all policies and programs within the National 

8 Institutes of Health aimed at promoting and providing op9 portunities for new researchers. 

10 ‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES.—The Director of NIH through the 

11 Initiative shall— 

12 ‘‘(1) promote policies and programs within the 

13 National Institutes of Health that are aimed at im14 proving opportunities for new researchers, including 

15 existing policies and programs such as the Pathway 

16 to Independence Award, the NIH Director’s New In17 novator Award, the Early Independence Award, and 

18 Early-Stage Investigator grant review procedures; 

19 ‘‘(2) develop or modify policies, as needed, with20 in the National Institutes of Health to promote op21 portunities for new researchers, including policies to 

22 strengthen mentorship programs between new and 

23 veteran researchers, enhance workforce diversity ef24 forts, and help to improve new researchers’ success 

25 in obtaining renewal funding; and 


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1 ‘‘(3) carry out other activities, as appropriate, 

2 to promote the development of the next generation 

3 of researchers. 

4 ‘‘(c) STUDY AND REPORT.— 

5 ‘‘(1) STUDY.—The Director of NIH shall re6 quest the National Academy of Sciences, as part of 

7 the studies conducted under section 489, to conduct 

8 a comprehensive study on policies affecting the next 

9 generation of researchers in the United States. Such 

10 study shall include an evaluation of the legislative, 

11 administrative, educational, and cultural barriers to 

12 providing for a successful next generation of re13 searchers. 

14 ‘‘(2) REPORT.—Not later than 5 years after the 

15 date of enactment of this Act, the National Academy 

16 of Sciences shall submit to the Director, the Com17 mittee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 

18 Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations of 

19 the House of Representatives, the Committee on 

20 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Sen21 ate, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 

22 Senate, a report concerning the results of the study 

23 conducted under paragraph (1). Such report shall 

24 include— 


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1 ‘‘(A) an evaluation of the legislative, ad2 ministrative, educational, and cultural barriers 

3 faced by the next generation of researchers; 

4 ‘‘(B) an evaluation of the impact of se5 questration resulting from the Budget Control 

6 Act of 2011 (Public Law 112–25) and Federal 

7 budget constraints on the next generation of re8 searchers; and 

9 ‘‘(C) recommendations for the implementa10 tion of policies to incentivize, improve entry 

11 into, and sustain careers in research for the 

12 next generation of researchers, including pro13 posed policies for agencies and academic insti14 tutions. 

15 ‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

16 is authorized to be appropriated, such sums as may be 

17 necessary to carry out this section.’’. 

Æ 


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