Supporting Early-Career Researchers Act
Bill: H.R.144 | Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice (D-TX)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Supporting Early-Career Researchers Act
This bill authorizes the National Science Foundation to establish a two-year pilot program to award grants to highly qualified early-career investigators to carry out an independent research program at the institution of higher education chosen by such investigator, to last for a period not greater than two years.
The NSF shall select grantees from among citizens, nationals, and lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens of the United States.
The NSF shall conduct program outreach to recruit fellowship applicants (1) from all regions of the country; (2) from historically underrepresented populations in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); and (3) who graduate from or intend to carry out research at a variety of types of institutions of higher education, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Early-Career Researchers 
Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The Nation's universities and industrial research labs 
        are facing unprecedented budget pressure as part of the COVID-
        19 health crisis, resulting in considerably fewer openings for 
        research and teaching positions.
            (2) Emergency funding is needed to forestall the loss of 
        research talent likely to occur if early-career researchers are 
        forced to seek employment outside of research due to the sharp 
        economic decline caused by the COVID-19 health crisis.
            (3) The future of America's defense will rely on advanced 
        technologies to maintain its military superiority over its 
        rivals, including China. These technologies will require new 
        levels of scientific and engineering aptitude and 
        understanding. Early career researchers will play a critical 
        role in the development of these technologies, and the loss of 
        an entire generation of researchers due to the COVID-19 
        pandemic will be detrimental to the United States national 
        security.

SEC. 3. EARLY-CAREER RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
may establish a 2-year pilot program to award grants to highly 
qualified early-career investigators to carry out an independent 
research program at the qualified institution of higher education 
chosen by such investigator, to last for a period not greater than 2 
years.
    (b) Selection Process.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall select grantees under subsection (a) from among 
citizens, nationals, and lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens of 
the United States.
    (c) Outreach.--The Director shall conduct program outreach to 
recruit fellowship applicants--
            (1) from all regions of the country;
            (2) from historically underrepresented populations in the 
        fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; 
        and
            (3) who graduate from or intend to carry out research at a 
        variety of types of institutions of higher education, 
        including--
                    (A) Historically Black Colleges and Universities;
                    (B) Hispanic-Serving Institutions;
                    (C) Tribal Colleges and Universities; and
                    (D) institutions of higher education that are not 
                among the top 50 institutions in annual Federal funding 
                for research.
    (d) Special Consideration.--The Director shall give special 
consideration to an application from an individual who graduated from 
or is intending to carry out research at an institution of the type 
listed in subsection (c)(3).
    (e) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the conclusion of the 
second year of the pilot program, the Director shall submit a report to 
Congress that includes--
            (1) statistical summary data on fellowship awardees 
        disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, age, years since 
        completion of doctoral degree, and institution type;
            (2) an assessment, drawing on feedback from the research 
        community and other sources of information, of the 
        effectiveness of the pilot program for mitigating the loss of 
        research talent due to the pandemic; and
            (3) if determined effective, a plan for permanent 
        implementation of the pilot program.
    (f) Qualified Institution of Higher Education Defined.--The term 
``qualified institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
term in section 102 of the Higher Education of Act of 1965, except that 
such term does not include an institution described in subsection 
(a)(1)(C) of such section.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the 
National Science Foundation $250,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 
through 2022 to carry out the activities in this Act.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 18, 2021.

            Attest:

                                             CHERYL L. JOHNSON,

                                                                 Clerk.