[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5451 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5451

 To demonstrate a commitment to our Nation's scientists by increasing 
      opportunities for the development of our next generation of 
                              researchers.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 11, 2014

 Mr. Pocan (for himself, Ms. Schakowsky, and Mr. Welch) introduced the 
   following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and 
                                Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To demonstrate a commitment to our Nation's scientists by increasing 
      opportunities for the development of our next generation of 
                              researchers.

    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 ``Next Generation Research Act''.

SEC. 2. INVESTING IN THE NEXT GENERATION OF RESEARCHERS.

    Part A of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 281 
et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 404M. NEXT GENERATION OF RESEARCH.

    ``(a) Next Generation of Research Initiative.--There shall be 
established within the Office of the Director of the National 
Institutes of Health, the Next Generation of Research Initiative 
(referred to in this section as the `Initiative'), through which the 
Director shall coordinate all policies and programs within the National 
Institutes of Health aimed at promoting and providing opportunities for 
new researchers.
    ``(b) Activities.--The Director of NIH through the Initiative 
shall--
            ``(1) promote policies and programs within the National 
        Institutes of Health that are aimed at improving opportunities 
        for new researchers, including existing policies and programs 
        such as the Pathway to Independence Award, the NIH Director's 
        New Innovator Award, the Early Independence Award, and Early-
        Stage Investigator grant review procedures;
            ``(2) develop or modify policies, as needed, within the 
        National Institutes of Health to promote opportunities for new 
        researchers, including policies to strengthen mentorship 
        programs between new and veteran researchers, enhance workforce 
        diversity efforts, and help to improve new researchers' success 
        in obtaining renewal funding; and
            ``(3) carry out other activities, as appropriate, to 
        promote the development of the next generation of researchers.
    ``(c) Study and Report.--
            ``(1) Study.--The Director of NIH shall request the 
        National Academy of Sciences, as part of the studies conducted 
        under section 489, to conduct a comprehensive study on policies 
        affecting the next generation of researchers in the United 
        States. Such study shall include an evaluation of the 
        legislative, administrative, educational, and cultural barriers 
        to providing for a successful next generation of researchers.
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 5 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the National Academy of Sciences shall 
        submit to the Director, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of 
        the House of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations 
        of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the Committee 
        on Appropriations of the Senate, a report concerning the 
        results of the study conducted under paragraph (1). Such report 
        shall include--
                    ``(A) an evaluation of the legislative, 
                administrative, educational, and cultural barriers 
                faced by the next generation of researchers;
                    ``(B) an evaluation of the impact of sequestration 
                resulting from the Budget Control Act of 2011 (Public 
                Law 112-25) and Federal budget constraints on the next 
                generation of researchers; and
                    ``(C) recommendations for the implementation of 
                policies to incentivize, improve entry into, and 
                sustain careers in research for the next generation of 
                researchers, including proposed policies for agencies 
                and academic institutions.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated, such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
section.''.
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