[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7180 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7180
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 27, 2022
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To authorize the Director of the National Science Foundation to award
grants to support research on the disruption of regular cognitive
processes associated with COVID-19 infection, and for other purposes.
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 ``Brycen Gray and Ben Price COVID-19
Cognitive Research Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act--
(1) the term ``Director'' means the Director of the
National Science Foundation;
(2) the term ``National Academies'' means the National
Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine; and
(3) the term ``eligible entity'' means an institution of
higher education (as such term is defined in section 102 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002)) or a consortium
composed of non-profit organizations and institutions of higher
education.
SEC. 3. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted nearly every aspect
of life across the globe. Furthermore, it has produced major
disruptions of individual's physical and mental health,
including with respect of children and adolescents.
(2) Historical epidemiological perspectives suggest an
association between exposure to general respiratory viruses and
subsequent disruption of regular cognitive processes.
(3) Early research suggests that one in three individuals
diagnosed with a COVID-19 infection experiences a disruption of
regular cognitive processes within six months of such
diagnosis.
(4) Research is urgently needed to better understand why
disruption in regular cognitive processes occur in patients as
a consequence of a COVID-19 infection and how long such
disruptions can continue after recovery.
(5) The National Science Foundation has a deep history of
supporting interdisciplinary, basic research that spans the
social, behavioral, and fundamental biological sciences and
paves the way for scientific advancements.
SEC. 4. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RESEARCH.
The Director shall award grants to eligible entities, including
through the RAPID funding mechanism, on a competitive, merit-reviewed
basis to support interdisciplinary research on the disruption of
regular cognitive processes associated with both short-term and long-
term COVID-19 infections, including with respect to children and
adolescents. Such research may include the following:
(1) Foundational studies on the effects of cognition,
emotion, and neural structure and function relating to any
disruption of regular cognitive processes associated with
COVID-19 infection.
(2) Analysis of findings on the disruption of regular
cognitive processes associated with COVID-19 infection,
including the development of predictive theoretical frameworks
to guide future research.
(3) Development of physical and conceptual tools needed to
evaluate cognition, emotion, and neural structure and function
of the brain as a consequence of a COVID-19 infection, and the
potential relevance of such infection to the disruption of
regular cognitive processes.
(4) Studies on the relevance of psychological and
psychosocial factors, including major disruptions of physical
health, mental health, and economic stability associated with
the COVID-19 pandemic, on the disruption of regular cognitive
processes, including an identification and evaluation of such
factors.
(5) Any other activities the Director determines will
support interdisciplinary research and collaboration on the
disruption of regular cognitive processes associated with
COVID-19 infection, including with respect to children and
adolescents.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL ACADEMIES STUDY ON THE DISRUPTION OF COGNITIVE
PROCESSES ASSOCIATED WITH COVID-19 INFECTION.
(a) Study.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 45 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into an
agreement with the National Academies to study and produce a
report on the disruption of cognitive processes associated with
COVID-19 infection. The study shall--
(A) review the research literature and identify
research gaps regarding Federal programs and activities
with roles in addressing both short-term and long-term
consequences associated with COVID-19 infection;
(B) assess the necessity of establishing causal
inference approaches into research on the impacts of
COVID-19 infection on cognitive processes to determine
reverse causation;
(C) evaluate and make recommendations regarding the
coordination of research and data collection, including
with respect to children and adolescents, to identify
the disruption of regular cognitive processes
associated with COVID-19 infection, including long-term
COVID-19;
(D) evaluate impacts of COVID-19 infection on
populations under-represented in cognitive literature,
such as poor, rural, and minority populations; and
(E) make recommendations regarding ways to
coordinate engagement with researchers and stakeholders
from universities, industry, public health
organizations, State and local governments, elementary
and secondary educational organizations, and non-profit
organizations to ensure that research, information, and
best practices relating to the disruption of regular
cognitive processes associated with COVID-19 infection,
including long-term COVID-19, are shared among such
entities.
(2) Completion.--The study required under paragraph (1)
shall be completed by not later than the date that is 16 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Reports.--
(1) By the national academies.--Upon completion of the
study under subsection (a), the National Academies shall
transmit to the Director and Congress a report on such study.
(2) By the director.--Not later than three months after
receipt of the report under paragraph (1), the Director shall
transmit to Congress a summary of the Director's plans, if any,
to implement the recommendations of the National Academies
contained in such report.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry out
this Act $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2023, to remain available through
fiscal year 2025, of which $1,000,000 is authorized to carry out the
study and produce the reports under section 5.
Passed the House of Representatives July 26, 2022.
Attest:
CHERYL L. JOHNSON,
Clerk.