Next Generation Researchers Act

Bill: 114-s-2014
Sponsor: Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI]
Introduced: 2015-09-09 in the Senate
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Congressional oversight
Department of Health and Human Services
Executive agency funding and structure
Government studies and investigations
Health personnel
Medical research
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Research administration and funding

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-09
text: 

Next Generation Researchers Act

 
This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the Next Generation of Researchers Initiative in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to coordinate NIH policies and programs aimed at promoting and providing opportunities for new researchers and earlier research independence.
 
The NIH must: (1) promote policies and programs to improve opportunities for new researchers and promote earlier research independence; (2) develop, modify, or accelerate policies, as needed, to promote opportunities for new researchers and earlier research independence, including policies to enhance training opportunities for research-related career options, strengthen mentorship programs, enhance diversity efforts, and help new researchers obtain renewal funding; (3) coordinate with agencies and academic institutions to improve tracking of career progress of biomedical postdoctoral researchers and students; and (4) request the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study and report on policies affecting the next generation of researchers as part of a study on biomedical and behavioral research personnel.

action_date: 2016-04-04
text: 

Next Generation Researchers Act

 
(Sec. 2) This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to establish the Next Generation of Researchers Initiative in the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to promote, provide, and improve opportunities for new researchers and earlier research independence. The initiative must: (1) coordinate with agencies, academic institutions, and others to improve and update existing information on the biomedical research workforce, and (2) take into consideration the recommendations of the National Academies of Sciences regarding the next generation of researchers and report on actions taken based on those recommendations.
 
(Sec. 3) The bill revises loan repayment programs for health professionals conducting research to increase the maximum repayment amount and to give the NIH the authority to expand eligibility for the programs based on workforce and scientific priorities. 
 
The Government Accountability Office must report on NIH efforts to attract, retain, and develop emerging scientists.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-04-04
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 410.
action_date: 2016-04-04
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Alexander with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2016-04-04
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Alexander with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2016-02-09
text: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2015-09-09
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
action_date: 2015-09-09
text: Introduced in Senate