I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7180 
To authorize the Director of the National Science Foundation to award 
grants to support research on the disruption of regular cognitive proc-
esses associated with COVID–19 infection, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 21, 2022 
Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio (for himself, Mr. KINZINGER, Ms. WILD, Mr. 
CA´RDENAS, Mr. MEIJER, Mr. PETERS, Mr. JOYCE of Ohio, and Mr. 
GIBBS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To authorize the Director of the National Science Founda-
tion to award grants to support research on the disrup-
tion of regular cognitive processes associated with 
COVID–19 infection, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Brycen Gray and Ben 
Price COVID–19 Cognitive Research Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act— 
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(1) the term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of 
the National Science Foundation; 
(2) the term ‘‘National Academies’’ means the 
National Academies of Science, Engineering, and 
Medicine; and 
(3) the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means an institu-
tion of higher education (as such term is defined in 
section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 1002)) or a consortium composed of non- 
profit organizations and institutions of higher edu-
cation. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The COVID–19 pandemic has disrupted 
nearly every aspect of life across the globe. Further-
more, it has produced major disruptions of individ-
ual’s physical and mental health, including with re-
spect of children and adolescents. 
(2) Historical epidemiological perspectives sug-
gest an association between exposure to general res-
piratory viruses and subsequent disruption of reg-
ular cognitive processes. 
(3) Early research suggests that one in three 
individuals diagnosed with a COVID–19 infection 
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experiences a disruption of regular cognitive proc-
esses within six months of such diagnosis. 
(4) Research is urgently needed to better un-
derstand why disruption in regular cognitive proc-
esses occur in patients as a consequence of a 
COVID–19 infection and how long such disruptions 
can continue after recovery. 
(5) The National Science Foundation has a 
deep history of supporting interdisciplinary, basic re-
search that spans the social, behavioral, and funda-
mental biological sciences and paves the way for sci-
entific advancements. 
SEC. 4. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RESEARCH. 
The Director shall award grants to eligible entities, 
including through the RAPID funding mechanism, on a 
competitive, merit-reviewed basis to support interdiscipli-
nary research on the disruption of regular cognitive proc-
esses associated with both short-term and long-term 
COVID–19 infections, including with respect to children 
and adolescents. Such research may include the following: 
(1) Foundational studies on the effects of cog-
nition, emotion, and neural structure and function 
relating to any disruption of regular cognitive proc-
esses associated with COVID-19 infection. 
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(2) Analysis of findings on the disruption of 
regular cognitive processes associated with COVID– 
19 infection, including the development of predictive 
theoretical frameworks to guide future research. 
(3) Development of physical and conceptual 
tools needed to evaluate cognition, emotion, and neu-
ral structure and function of the brain as a con-
sequence of a COVID–19 infection, and the potential 
relevance of such infection to the disruption of reg-
ular cognitive processes. 
(4) Studies on the relevance of psychological 
and psychosocial factors, including major disruptions 
of physical health, mental health, and economic sta-
bility associated with the COVID–19 pandemic, on 
the disruption of regular cognitive processes, includ-
ing an identification and evaluation of such factors. 
(5) Any other activities the Director determines 
will support interdisciplinary research and collabora-
tion on the disruption of regular cognitive processes 
associated with COVID–19 infection, including with 
respect to children and adolescents. 
SEC. 5. NATIONAL ACADEMIES STUDY ON THE DISRUPTION 
OF 
COGNITIVE 
PROCESSES 
ASSOCIATED 
WITH COVID–19 INFECTION. 
(a) STUDY.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 45 days after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director 
shall enter into an agreement with the National 
Academies to study and produce a report on the dis-
ruption of cognitive processes associated with 
COVID–19 infection. The study shall— 
(A) review the research literature and iden-
tify research gaps regarding Federal programs 
and activities with roles in addressing both 
short-term and long-term consequences associ-
ated with COVID–19 infection; 
(B) assess the necessity of establishing 
causal inference approaches into research on 
the impacts of COVID-19 infection on cognitive 
processes to determine reverse causation; 
(C) evaluate and make recommendations 
regarding the coordination of research and data 
collection, including with respect to children 
and adolescents, to identify the disruption of 
regular cognitive processes associated with 
COVID–19 
infection, 
including 
long-term 
COVID-19; 
(D) evaluate impacts of COVID-19 infec-
tion on populations under-represented in cog-
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nitive literature, such as poor, rural, and minor-
ity populations; and 
(E) make recommendations regarding ways 
to coordinate engagement with researchers and 
stakeholders from universities, industry, public 
health organizations, State and local govern-
ments, elementary and secondary educational 
organizations, and non-profit organizations to 
ensure that research, information, and best 
practices relating to the disruption of regular 
cognitive processes associated with COVID–19 
infection, including long-term COVID-19, are 
shared among such entities. 
(2) COMPLETION.—The study required under 
paragraph (1) shall be completed by not later than 
the date that is 16 months after the date of the en-
actment of this Act. 
(b) REPORTS.— 
(1) BY
THE
NATIONAL
ACADEMIES.—Upon 
completion of the study under subsection (a), the 
National Academies shall transmit to the Director 
and Congress a report on such study. 
(2) BY THE DIRECTOR.—Not later than three 
months after receipt of the report under paragraph 
(1), the Director shall transmit to Congress a sum-
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mary of the Director’s plans, if any, to implement 
the recommendations of the National Academies 
contained in such report. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Direc-
tor to carry out this Act $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2023, 
to remain available through fiscal year 2025, of which 
$1,000,000 is authorized to carry out the study and 
produce the reports under section 5. 
Æ 
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