I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION H. R. 10374 
To require the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
to develop a consistent set of policy guidelines for Federal research 
agencies to address mental health and mentoring of graduate researchers 
and postdoctoral researchers, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 11, 2024 
Mr. TONKO (for himself and Ms. MCCLELLAN) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To require the Director of the Office of Science and Tech-
nology Policy to develop a consistent set of policy guide-
lines for Federal research agencies to address mental 
health and mentoring of graduate researchers and 
postdoctoral researchers, 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 ‘‘Mental health En-
hancement, Navigation, and Treatment for Our Research-
ers Act of 2024’’ or the ‘‘MENTOR Act of 2024’’. 
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SEC. 2. POLICY GUIDELINES FOR FEDERAL RESEARCH 
AGENCIES TO ADDRESS MENTAL HEALTH 
CRISIS AMONG GRADUATE RESEARCHERS 
AND POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS. 
(a) DEFINITION.—In this section: 
(1) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(2) 
GRADUATE
RESEARCHERS.—The 
term 
‘‘graduate researchers’’ means individuals enrolled in 
a degree program leading to an advanced degree who 
conduct research or teach in any discipline at an in-
stitution of higher education that is a recipient of 
Federal funding. 
(3) POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHERS.—The term 
‘‘postdoctoral researchers’’ means individuals in 
training-focused positions who have received a doc-
toral degree or equivalent and receive stipends or 
other compensation to conduct research in any dis-
cipline at an institution of higher education that is 
a recipient of Federal funding. 
(4) 
PRINCIPAL
INVESTIGATOR.—The 
term 
‘‘principal investigator’’ means an individual who is 
a project or proposal leader with respect to a re-
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search grant at an institution of higher education 
that is a recipient of Federal funding. 
(5) FEDERAL RESEARCH AGENCY.—The term 
‘‘Federal research agency’’ has the meaning given 
such term in section 223(d)(4) of the William M. 
(Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (42 U.S.C. 6605(d)(4)). 
(b) OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY 
GUIDELINES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than six months 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Di-
rector of the Office of Science and Technology Pol-
icy, in consultation with the National Science and 
Technology Council, the Committee on STEM, the 
President’s Council of Advisors on Science and 
Technology (PCAST), institutions of higher edu-
cation, graduate researchers and postdoctoral re-
searchers, principal investigators from across career 
stages, labor representatives, mental health experts, 
and other relevant stakeholders, shall develop a con-
sistent set of policy guidelines for Federal research 
agencies to address mentoring and mental wellness 
of graduate researchers and postdoctoral research-
ers, including by providing Federal research agencies 
with additional reports to inform grant awards. 
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(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the policy 
guidelines under paragraph (1), the Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy shall include 
guidelines that— 
(A) define what behaviors constitute bul-
lying and harassment at institutions of higher 
education to build consistency among Federal 
research agencies’ definitions relating thereto; 
(B) develop an operational definition of 
mentorship for use at institutions of higher 
education; 
(C) address opportunities to discourage 
and mitigate problematic behavior and negative 
mentorship experiences, including through— 
(i) requiring institutions of higher 
education to submit to Federal research 
agencies annual reports on incidents of 
bullying and harassment; 
(ii) requiring Federal research agen-
cies to implement standardized mecha-
nisms 
for 
graduate 
researchers 
and 
postdoctoral researchers to safely and con-
fidentially report to such agencies incidents 
of bullying or harassment or negative 
mentorship experiences; and 
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