I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5772 
To authorize the Director of the National Science Foundation to award 
grants to support research on neurological and psychiatric illnesses asso-
ciated with COVID–19 infection, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 28, 2021 
Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio (for himself, Mr. KINZINGER, Ms. WILD, Mr. 
CA´RDENAS, Mr. MEIJER, Mr. PETERS, and Mr. JOYCE of Ohio) intro-
duced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To authorize the Director of the National Science Founda-
tion to award grants to support research on neurological 
and psychiatric illnesses associated with COVID–19 in-
fection, 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 Neurological Impact Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Historical epidemiological perspectives sug-
gest an association between exposure to general res-
piratory viruses and subsequent neurological and 
psychiatric illnesses. 
(2) Early research suggests that one in three 
patients diagnosed with a COVID–19 infection expe-
riences a neurological or psychiatric illness within six 
months of such diagnosis. 
(3) Research is urgently needed to better un-
derstand why neurological and psychiatric illnesses 
occur in patients following a COVID–19 infection, so 
that treatments and therapeutic strategies can be 
developed. 
(4) The National Science Foundation and the 
National Institutes of Health have a deep history of 
supporting collaborative research that spans the bio-
logical sciences and paves the way for health-related 
advancements. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RESEARCH. 
The Director of the National Science Foundation, in 
consultation with the Director of the National Institutes 
of Health and the Director of the National Institute of 
Mental Health, is authorized to award grants on a com-
petitive basis to support multidisciplinary research on neu-
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rological and psychiatric illnesses associated with COVID– 
19 infection, including with respect to children and adoles-
cents. Such research may include research into any of the 
following: 
(1) The incidence of neurological and psy-
chiatric illness associated with COVID–19 infection. 
(2) Brain function following a COVID–19 infec-
tion and the potential relevance of such infection to 
neurological and psychiatric illnesses. 
(3) The relevance of psychological and psycho-
social factors associated with the COVID–19 pan-
demic to neurological and psychiatric illnesses, in-
cluding an identification and evaluation of such fac-
tors. 
(4) Other science with potential relevance to the 
causes, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of neu-
rological and psychiatric illnesses associated with 
COVID–19 infection. 
SEC. 4. COVID–19 MENTAL HEALTH INTERAGENCY WORK-
ING GROUP. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with the 
National Science and Technology Council, shall establish 
an interagency working group— 
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(1) to coordinate Federal programs and activi-
ties with roles in addressing— 
(A) neurological and psychiatric illnesses 
associated with COVID–19 infection; and 
(B) psychological and psychosocial factors 
associated with the COVID–19 pandemic that 
may be relevant to such illnesses; 
(2) to coordinate Federal research and data col-
lection, including with respect to children and ado-
lescents— 
(A) to identify neurological and psychiatric 
illnesses associated with COVID–19 infection; 
and 
(B) to improve understanding of psycho-
logical and psychosocial factors associated with 
the COVID–19 pandemic that may be relevant 
to such illnesses; and 
(3) to coordinate engagement with researchers 
and stakeholders from universities, industry, public 
health organizations, health care providers, State 
and local governments, elementary and secondary 
educational organizations, and non-profit organiza-
tions to ensure that research, information, and best 
practices relating to neurological and psychiatric ill-
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nesses associated with COVID–19 infection are 
shared among such entities. 
(b) CO-CHAIRS.—The interagency working group 
shall be co-chaired by— 
(1) the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy; and 
(2) a member of the interagency working group 
selected by the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy. 
(c) TERMINATION.—The interagency working group 
shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date 
of the enactment of this Act. 
Æ 
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