[Senate Report 116-332]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


						      Calendar No. 639
116th Congress 	     }				 {              Report
                                 SENATE                          
 2d Session          }                           {             116-332
_______________________________________________________________________

                                     

                                                       
 
          RESEARCH INVESTMENT TO SPARK THE ECONOMY ACT OF 2020

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 of the

           COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION

                                   on

                                S. 4286



		[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]




               December 15, 2020.--Ordered to be printed



                                __________


		       U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
			
19-010 			    WASHINGTON : 2020			


       SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
       
                     one hundred sixteenth congress
                     
                             second session

                 ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi, Chairman
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota             MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
ROY BLUNT, Missouri                  AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
TED CRUZ, Texas                      RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska                BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
JERRY MORAN, Kansas                  EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska                 TOM UDALL, New Mexico
CORY GARDNER, Colorado               GARY C. PETERS, Michigan
MARSHA BLACKBURN, Tennessee          TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia  TAMMY DUCKWORTH, Illinois
MIKE LEE, Utah                       JON TESTER, Montana
RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin               KYRSTEN SINEMA, Arizona
TODD C. YOUNG, Indiana               JACKY ROSEN, Nevada
RICK SCOTT, Florida
                       John Keast, Staff Director
               David Strickland, Minority Staff Director



                                                       Calendar No. 639
116th Congress      }                               {          Report
                                 SENATE
 2d Session         }                               {          116-332

======================================================================




          RESEARCH INVESTMENT TO SPARK THE ECONOMY ACT OF 2020

                                _______
                                

               December 15, 2020.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

       Mr. Wicker, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 4286]

    The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to 
which was referred the bill (S. 4286) to authorize 
appropriations for offsetting the costs related to reductions 
in research productivity resulting from the coronavirus 
pandemic, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon 
with an amendment (in the nature of a substitute) and 
recommends that the bill (as amended) do pass.

                          PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    This bill would authorize the Departments of Agriculture, 
Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Interior, Health and 
Human Services, and Transportation and the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration, National Science Foundation, and 
Environmental Protection Agency to provide support for research 
regarding or disrupted by the 2019 coronavirus (COVID-19) 
pandemic.

                          BACKGROUND AND NEEDS

Research and the U.S. Economy

    U.S. investment in research and innovation has enabled the 
United States to become the strongest economy in the world.\1\ 
More than half of the economic growth in the United States 
during the first half of the 20th century was due to 
technological advancements.\2\ A primary driver of future 
economies and job creation will be innovation that is made 
possible through advances in science and engineering.\3\ In the 
20th century, basic research funded by the Federal Government 
in areas from genomics to engineering have enabled entirely new 
industries. From the Manhattan Project during World War II to 
today's advances in the global positioning system (GPS), 
scientific discovery has allowed the United States to maintain 
a strategic advantage in times of war. While the United States 
has long retained its competitive advantage in research and 
development (R&D) spending, experts believe that China 
surpassed the United States in terms of R&D investment in 
2019.\4\ China's annual R&D growth rate is three times higher 
than that of the United States.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\Walter Isaacson, ``How America Risks Losing Its Innovation 
Edge,'' Time, Jan. 3, 2019 (https://time.com/longform/america-
innovation/) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
    \2\Robert M. Solow, ``Technical Change and the Aggregate Production 
Function,'' The Review of Economics and Statistics, 39: No. 3, 312-320, 
Aug. 1957.
    \3\Dr. Charles M. Vest, Rising Above the Gathering Storm Revisited: 
Rapidly Approaching Category 5, National Academy of Sciences, 2010.
    \4\Andrea Widener, ``China May Have Pulled Ahead of US in Race for 
Top Spot in Global Science R&D,'' C&EN, Jan. 15, 2020 (https://
cen.acs.org/policy/research-funding/China-pulled-ahead-US-race/98/i3) 
(accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
    \5\Ibid.
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Federal Research and Development Enterprise

    The Federal R&D enterprise includes Government facilities 
and employees and federally funded work in the private, 
nonprofit, and academic sectors. In fiscal year (FY) 2019, 
$141.5 billion of Federal funds were obligated for R&D, $39.6 
billion for intramural and $101.9 billion for extramural 
R&D.\6\ The United States' R&D enterprise has helped America 
become the global leader in innovation, while simultaneously 
strengthening the health of its citizens, national security, 
and economy. The Institute for Research on Innovation and 
Science (IRIS) estimates that American university research 
spending alone contributed to nearly $14 billion in direct cost 
research dollars towards goods and services in all 435 
congressional districts from FY 2018 to FY 2019.\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\National Science Foundation, ``Survey of Federal Funds for 
Research and Development: Fiscal Years 2018-19,'' Table 2, Feb. 2021 
(https://ncsesdata.nsf.gov/fedfunds/2018/) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
    \7\Institute for Research on Innovation and Science, ``The Impact 
of American University Research Spending,'' Apr. 2020 (https://
iris.isr.umich.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/
IRISresearchspendingfactsheet4-20_final.pdf) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
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Impacts of COVID-19 on Federal R&D

    Throughout 2020, the United States implemented a number of 
measures to stop the spread of a contagious and deadly 
coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). One of those measures was 
the implementation of social distancing requirements, limiting 
close contact between individuals to reduce the risk of 
spreading the virus. Because of social distancing requirements, 
many Federal and non-Federal institutions closed their 
facilities. While many of these institutions transitioned to a 
telework environment, not all R&D operations have been able to 
make this transition, as some R&D activities require physical 
access to facilities and equipment. This has led many federally 
funded R&D organizations to stop or significantly reduce 
operations.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \8\Daniel Morgan and John Sargent Jr, Effects of COVID-19 on the 
Federal Research and Development Enterprise, CRS Report R46309 (https:/
/crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46309) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
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    For the R&D operations that have not stopped, researchers 
and associated staff may be confronted with other challenges: 
reduced efficiency and quality of work, additional cost for 
materials, and shifts in the focus of R&D.\9\ Social distancing 
requirements have required some research teams to implement 
staggered shift schedules, reducing the ability of teams to 
collaborate, and may require additional time to clean down 
stations between shifts.\10\ Projects may also be stalled by 
disruptions to the supply of materials and equipment or by 
closures at collaborating research institutions. Continuing 
operations may also come with extra costs, requiring 
institutions to purchase additional computing and networking 
equipment and services to accommodate researchers working 
remotely.\11\ Institutions have had to purchase additional 
personal protective equipment at higher costs to replenish 
supplies that were donated to hospitals and first responders or 
to meet new lab safety requirements.\11\ Institutions have also 
faced increased prices for materials and equipment that are in 
short supply due to disturbances in supply chains or heightened 
demand.\12\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \9\Ibid.
    \10\Ibid; Kelly Servick et al., ``Labs Go Quiet as Researchers 
Brace for Long Term Coronavirus Disruptions,'' Science, Mar. 16, 2020 
(https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/03/updated-labs-go-quiet-
researchers-brace-long-term-coronavirus-disruptions) (accessed Nov. 6, 
2020); Justin Chen, ``COVID-19 Has Shuttered Scientific Labs. It Could 
Put a Generation of Researchers at Risk,'' STAT, May 4, 2020 (https://
www.statnews.com/2020/05/04/coronavirus-lab-shutdowns-impact-on-
scientists-research-delays/) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
    \11\Council on Governmental Relations, Research Impact Under COVID-
19: Financial Crisis and the ``Pandemic Normal,'' Aug. 2020 (https://
www.cogr.edu/sites/default/files/
Research_COVID_August2020_COGR_FINAL.pdf) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020); 
prepared statement of Dr. Joseph Walsh, Interim Vice President for 
Economic Development and Innovation, submitted to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Research and Technology 
of the House of Representatives, for hearing on ``Time Change: The 
Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on University Research,'' 116th Cong., 
2nd sess., Sep. 9, 2020 (https://science.house.gov/imo/media/doc/
Walsh%20Testimony.pdf) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
    \12\Ibid.
    \13\Daniella Diaz et al., ``Protective Equipment Costs Increase 
Over 1,000% Amid Competition and Surge in Demand,'' Cable News Network, 
Apr. 16, 2020 (https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/16/politics/ppe-price-costs-
rising-economy-personal-protective-equipment/index.html) (accessed Nov. 
6, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Because impacts of COVID-19 on federally funded R&D have 
varied across institutions, geographic locations, and 
scientific disciplines, it is difficult to estimate research 
output losses nationwide. Closures and social distancing 
requirements are at the discretion of individual agencies and 
research institutions and State and local policies, not based 
on national policies. Additionally, depending on the nature or 
stage of a project, some researchers have been able to continue 
to make progress remotely.\14\ For example, researchers may be 
able to perform scientific computations or modeling and 
simulations while teleworking, or shift to analyzing data and 
preparing results for submission to scientific journals.\15\ In 
contrast, some research requiring the handling of samples, 
operation of specialized equipment, or field work has not 
progressed. This situation is unlikely to change until social 
distancing requirements are lifted.\16\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \14\Prepared statement of Dr. David Stone, Vice President for 
Research, submitted to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 
Subcommittee on Research and Technology, of the House of 
Representatives, for hearing on ``Time Change: The Impact of the COVID-
19 Crisis on University Research,'' 116th Cong., 2nd sess., Sep. 9, 
2020 (https://science.house.gov/imo/media/doc/Stone%20Testimony.pdf) 
(accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
    \15\Prepared statement of Dr. Joseph Walsh, Interim Vice President 
for Economic Development and Innovation, submitted to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Research and 
Technology, of the House of Representatives, for hearing on ``Time 
Change: The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on University Research,'' 
116th Cong., 2nd sess., Sep. 9, 2020 (https://science.house.gov/imo/
media/doc/Walsh%20Testimony.pdf) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
    \16\Prepared statement of Dr. David Stone, Vice President for 
Research, submitted to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 
Subcommittee on Research and Technology, of the House of 
Representatives, for hearing on ``Time Change: The Impact of the COVID-
19 Crisis on University Research,'' 116th Cong., 2nd sess., Sep. 9, 
2020 (https://science.house.gov/imo/media/doc/Stone%20Testimony.pdf) 
(accessed Nov. 6, 2020); prepared statement of Dr. Joseph Walsh, 
Interim Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation, 
submitted to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 
Subcommittee on Research and Technology, of the House of 
Representatives, for hearing on ``Time Change: The Impact of the COVID-
19 Crisis on University Research,'' 116th Cong., 2nd sess., Sep. 9, 
2020 (https://science.house.gov/imo/media/doc/Walsh%20Testimony.pdf) 
(accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The Council on Governmental Relations (CGR) has designed a 
model to estimate the impacts of COVID-19 on the U.S. research 
enterprise.\17\ From five case studies, the model showed that 
projected research output losses from March 2020 to February 
2021 are between 20 and 40 percent.\18\ These results suggest 
that financial disinvestment impact may be in the hundreds of 
millions of dollars at individual institutions, and tens of 
billions of dollars across the research enterprise.\19\ These 
results are consistent with the testimony provided by the 
Director of the National Institute of Health (NIH) during a 
Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee hearing, 
where he estimated that $10 billion of NIH funded-research (a 
quarter of its annual budget) is at risk of being eliminated 
because of the virus and its impacts on operations.\20\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \17\Council on Governmental Relations, Research Impact Under COVID-
19: Financial Crisis and the ``Pandemic Normal,'' Aug. 2020 (https://
www.cogr.edu/sites/default/files/
Research_COVID_August2020_COGR_FINAL.pdf) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
    \18\Ibid.
    \19\Ibid.
    \20\Jeannie Baumann, ``Virus Will Cost NIH $10 Billion in Lost 
Research, Director Warns,'' Bloomberg Law (https://
www.researchamerica.org/news-events/virus-will-cost-nih-10-billion-
lost-research-director-warns) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
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    As highlighted by the CGR's report, a reduction of this 
magnitude in research output could have severe implications for 
the Nation's R&D enterprise. It could prevent institutions from 
achieving research goals and may even result in the loss of 
entire research programs. It could significantly slow down 
discoveries and technology development, subsequently decreasing 
the quantity and quality of U.S. research. It could also result 
in the loss of a generation of trained scientists and 
engineers. University research typically involves postdoctoral 
researchers and graduate and undergraduate students. Although 
some research projects have been allowed to continue despite 
COVID-19, many universities are limiting the participation of 
post-doctoral researchers and students. Failing to complete a 
project on time or participate in the research may delay the 
completion of a degree or make it difficult to find 
employment.\21\ The loss of early career professionals and 
students could have a severe impact on future workforce needs 
of the Federal, private, nonprofit, and academic R&D 
sectors.\22\
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    \21\Prepared statement of Dr. Joseph Walsh, Interim Vice President 
for Economic Development and Innovation, submitted to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology, Subcommittee on Research and 
Technology, of the House of Representatives, for hearing on ``Time 
Change: The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on University Research,'' 
116th Cong., 2nd sess., Sep. 9, 2020 (https://science.house.gov/imo/
media/doc/Walsh%20Testimony.pdf) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
    \22\Council on Governmental Relations, Research Impact Under COVID-
19: Financial Crisis and the ``Pandemic Normal,'' Aug. 2020 (https://
www.cogr.edu/sites/default/files/
Research_COVID_August2020_COGR_FINAL.pdf) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020); 
Justin Chen, ``COVID-19 has Shuttered Scientific Labs. It Could Put a 
Generation of Researchers at Risk,'' STAT, May 4, 2020 (https://
www.statnews.com/2020/05/04/coronavirus-lab-shutdowns-impact-on-
scientists-research-delays/) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
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Federal Action Taken and Proposed

    Since March, the Federal Government has taken legislative 
and administrative action to support the Federal R&D 
enterprise. On March 6, 2020, the Coronavirus Preparedness and 
Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020\23\ was enacted, 
appropriating $836 million in supplemental funding for NIH, 
with additional transferable amounts from other accounts. On 
March 9, 2020, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
authorized Federal agencies to provide various short-term 
relief from administrative, financial management, and auditing 
requirements for grantees involved in research related to 
COVID-19.\24\ Following a request from four research and 
university organizations,\25\ OMB expanded the scope of these 
provisions to apply to Federal grantee recipients affected by 
COVID-19.\26\ This has allowed Federal science agencies to 
provide existing awardees no-cost extensions of awards, 
extensions of financial and reporting deadlines, changes to 
cancellation fees and costs associated with pausing and 
restarting research, and continued payment of salaries and 
benefits out of grant funds.\27\ These flexibilities have since 
expired, with the exception of a few provisions set to expire 
on December 31, 2020.\28\ On March 27, 2020, the Coronavirus 
Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act\29\ appropriated 
more than $1 billion in supplemental funding for R&D, $945 
million of which went to NIH.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \23\Public Law 116-123.
    \24\Office of Management and Budget, ``Administrative Relief for 
Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly 
Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19),'' Memorandum M-20-11, 
Mar. 9, 2020 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/M-
20-11.pdf) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
    \25\Letter from Association of American Universities, Council on 
Government Relations, Association of Public and Land-Grant 
Universities, and Association of American Medical Colleges, to OMB, 
Mar. 18, 2020 (https://www.cogr.edu/sites/default/files/
Joint%20Association%20
Letter%20to%20OMB%20On%20M-20-11%20Expansion.pdf) (accessed Nov. 6, 
2020).
    \26\Office of Management and Budget, Administrative Relief for 
Recipients and Applicants of Federal Financial Assistance Directly 
Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Due to Loss of Operations, 
Memorandum M-20-17, Mar. 19, 2020 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-
content/uploads/2020/03/M-20-17.pdf) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
    \27\Ibid.
    \28\Office of Management and Budget, Extension of Administrative 
Relief for Recipients and applicants of Federal Financial Assistance 
Directly Impacted by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Due to Loss of 
Operations, Memorandum M-20-26, Jun. 18, 2020 (https://
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/M-20-26.pdf) (accessed 
Nov. 6, 2020).
    \29\Public Law 116-136.
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    Given the severity of the impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. 
research enterprise, on April 7, 2020, a coalition of four 
major U.S. university associations sent a letter to Congress 
advocating for an additional $26 billion across major Federal 
science agencies for extramural research.\30\ The coalition 
highlights that while COVID-19 related-research is ``in 
overdrive, most other research has been slowed down or stopped 
due to pandemic-induced closures of campuses and 
laboratories.''\31\ The funding proposed by the coalition would 
be used to extend the duration, and if necessary, expand the 
purpose of existing grants.\32\ Additionally, the funds would 
be used to offset costs associated with delays and increased 
costs of goods and services incurred by grant recipients as a 
result of the pandemic. The coalition petitions that without 
additional support to non-pandemic research, ``the future 
health and strength of the U.S. research enterprise, are at 
risk.''\33\
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    \30\Letter from Association of American Universities, Association 
of Public and Land-Grant Universities, and Association of American 
Medical Colleges, American Council on Education, to Hon. Nancy Pelosi, 
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives; Hon. Kevin McCarthy, 
Minority Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives; Hon. Mitch 
McConnell, U.S. Senate Majority Leader; and Hon. Charles Schumer, U.S. 
Senate Minority Leader, Apr. 7, 2020 (https://www.aplu.org/members/
councils/governmental-affairs/CGA-library/higher-ed-community-phase-iv-
research-priorities/file) (accessed Nov. 6, 2020).
    \31\Ibid.
    \32\Ibid.
    \33\Ibid.
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                         SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS

    If enacted, S. 4286, the Research Investment to Spark the 
Economy Act, would do the following:
   Provide supplemental funding to extend the duration 
        or expand the purposes of an award to a research 
        institution, research laboratory, or individual that 
        was disrupted because of the COVID-19 public health 
        emergency and was awarded prior to the enactment of 
        this bill.
   Provide flexibility on the use of funds for an award 
        disrupted because of the COVID-19 public health 
        emergency, by any prior or subsequent Act, including 
        provision of supplemental funding to extend the 
        duration of the award concerned or flexibility on the 
        allowable expenses under such award.
   Permit issuance of additional awards to research 
        institutions, research laboratories, or other 
        individuals to conduct research on the effects of 
        COVID-19 and future potential pandemics.

                          LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

    S. 4286 was introduced on July 22, 2020, by Senator Markey 
(for himself and Senators Tillis, Peters, and Gardner) and was 
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. Senators Warren and Collins are 
additional cosponsors. On September 16, 2020, the Committee met 
in open Executive Session and, by voice vote, ordered that S. 
4286 be reported favorably with an amendment (in the nature of 
a substitute).
    A related bill, H.R. 7308, the Research Investment to Spark 
the Economy Act or RISE Act, was introduced on June 24, 2020, 
by Representative DeGette (for herself and Representatives 
Upton, Johnson [D-TX-30], Lucas, Eshoo, and Gonzalez [R-OH-16]) 
and was referred to the Committees on Science, Space, and 
Technology, Agriculture, Armed Services, Education and Labor, 
Energy and Commerce, and Natural Resources in the House of 
Representatives. There are an additional 136 cosponsors. On 
July 14, 2020, H.R. 7308 was referred to the Subcommittee on 
Water, Oceans, and Wildlife of the Committee on Natural 
Resources of the House of Representatives.

                            ESTIMATED COSTS

    In compliance with subsection (a)(3) of paragraph 11 of 
rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee 
states that, in its opinion, it is necessary to dispense with 
the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of that subsection 
in order to expedite the business of the Senate.

                      REGULATORY IMPACT STATEMENT

    In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the 
following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the 
legislation, as reported:

Number of Persons Covered

    S. 4286 would not impose any new significant regulatory 
requirements, and, therefore, would not subject any individuals 
or businesses to new significant regulations.

Economic Impact

    S. 4286 is not expected to have any significant adverse 
impacts on the Nation's economy. It will likely have a positive 
impact by supplementing R&D activities that stimulate the 
economy.

Privacy

    S. 4286 would not have any adverse impact on the privacy of 
individuals.

Paperwork

    S. 4286 would not impose a substantial paperwork burden on 
individuals or businesses.

                   CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING

    In compliance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides that no 
provisions contained in the bill, as reported, meet the 
definition of congressionally directed spending items under the 
rule.

                      SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section. 1. Short title.

    This section would provide that the bill may be cited as 
the ``Research Investment to Spark the Economy Act of 2020'' or 
the ``RISE Act of 2020''.

Section 2. Findings.

    This section would provide congressional findings regarding 
the impact of COVID-19 on Federal research awardees and the 
need for further congressional action.

Section 3. Award and modification of grants, cooperative agreements and 
        other financial assistance for institutions of higher 
        education, research laboratories, and other research 
        institutions to address matters relating to disruption caused 
        by COVID-19.

    This section would define the terms ``award'', ``COVID-19 
public health emergency'', ``research institution'', and 
``research laboratory'' referenced in this section. This 
section would designate agencies that may exercise authorities 
listed in this section for awards issued to research 
institutions, research laboratories, or other individuals 
disrupted by the COVID-19 public health emergency. These 
authorities include providing supplemental funding to extend 
the duration or expand the purpose of an award and providing 
various flexibilities on allowable expenses under such an 
award. Additionally, agency officers would be allowed to issue 
awards to eligible entities to conduct research on the effects 
of COVID-19 and future potential pandemics. This section would 
mandate that each eligible Federal science agency that receives 
funds must develop procedures to award supplemental funds as 
expeditiously as possible. This section would provide 
authorizations of appropriations to Federal science agencies to 
carry out the purposes of this Act. This section would also 
provide rules on the availability of appropriated funds for 
administration of applicable awards and allow funds to be 
available for use though fiscal year 2021.

                        CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee states that the 
bill as reported would make no change to existing law.

                                  [all]