119 HR 7949 IH: Plant Biological Research at the National Science Foundation Act U.S. House of Representatives 2026-03-16 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I119th CONGRESS2d SessionH. R. 7949IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVESMarch 16, 2026Mr. Riley of New York (for himself and Mr. Baird) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and TechnologyA BILLTo amend the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 to provide for grants to support plant and microbial biology research with potential relevance to agriculture, food, or biotechnology, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Plant Biological Research at the National Science Foundation Act or the NSF Plant Biology Act.

2.

Fundamental plant biology research

(a)

In general

The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

27.

Fundamental plant biology research

(a)

In general

The Director may award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, private sector entities, and Federal, State, local, or Tribal governments, or a consortia of such institutions, entities, or governments, to support plant and microbial biology research with potential relevance to agriculture, food, or biotechnology, including relating to the following:(1)Fundamental research regarding plant biology.(2)Tools, resources, and technology that further enable plant biology.(b)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to carry out this section.

.(b)

Definition amendment

Section 4 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 is amended by—(1)redesignating paragraphs (13) through (16) as paragraphs (14) through (17), respectively; and(2)by inserting after paragraph (12) the following new paragraph:(13)

Nonprofit organization

The term nonprofit organization means an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from tax under section 15 501(a) of such Code. .