May 7, 2025
Mr. Padilla (for himself and Mr. Moran) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
To require the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to develop a consistent set of policy guidelines for Federal research agencies to address financial instability of graduate researchers and postdoctoral researchers, 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 Relieving Economic Strain to Enhance American Resilience and Competitiveness in Higher Education and Research Act
or the RESEARCHER Act
.
Sec. 2. Policy guidelines for Federal research agencies to address financial instability of graduate researchers and postdoctoral researchers
(a) Definition
In this section:
(1) Institution of higher education
The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(2) Graduate researchers
The term graduate researchers means individuals enrolled in a degree program leading to an advanced degree who receive stipends or other compensation to conduct research in any discipline at an institution of higher education that is a recipient of Federal funding.
(3) Postdoctoral researchers
The term postdoctoral researchers means individuals in training-focused positions who have received a doctoral degree or equivalent and receive stipends or other compensation to conduct research in any discipline at an institution of higher education that is a recipient of Federal funding.
(b) OSTP guidelines
(1) In general
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with the National Science and Technology Council, the Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education of the National Science and Technology Council, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, institutions of higher education, graduate and postdoctoral organizations, and other relevant stakeholders, shall develop a consistent set of policy guidelines for Federal research agencies to address financial instability of graduate researchers and postdoctoral researchers.
(2) Requirements
In developing the policy guidelines under paragraph (1), the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall include guidelines that address, to the extent practicable, the following:
(A)
Opportunities to increase stipends for graduate researchers and postdoctoral researchers, including indexing based on location.
(B)
An additional consideration for increasing stipends for postdoctoral researchers conducting research in rural or underserved areas, or in States eligible to receive funding from the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research under section 113 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g), to support the recruitment and retention of researchers in such regions.
(C)
Opportunities to increase access to quality, affordable medical, dental, and vision care.
(D)
Opportunities to increase access to affordable housing and transportation.
(E)
Opportunities to reduce food insecurity.
(F)
Opportunities to address costs of caring for family members, including child care.
(3) Application
(A) In general
The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall encourage and monitor efforts of Federal research agencies to develop and implement policies based on the policy guidelines under paragraph (1).
(B) Federal research agency implementation
Not later than 6 months after receiving the policy guidelines under paragraph (1), the head of each Federal research agency shall—
(i)
develop and implement policies with respect to financial instability of graduate researchers and postdoctoral researchers that are consistent with such policy guidelines; and
(ii)
broadly disseminate such policies to current and potential recipients of research and development awards made by such agency.
(4) Updates
The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall update the policy guidelines under paragraph (1) as the Director determines necessary.
(5) Report
Not later than 1 year after the date after the guidelines are submitted and every 5 years thereafter, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Education and Workforce, and Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a report containing information relating to the following:
(A)
The policy guidelines under paragraph (1).
(B)
Progress on the implementation of such guidelines by Federal research agencies.
(c) Data collection
The Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18901 et seq.) is amended—
(1)
in section 10314(b)—
(A)
in paragraph (2)—
(i)
in subparagraph (D), by striking and
after the semicolon;
(ii)
by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F); and
(iii)
by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new subparagraph:
(E)
graduate researcher and postdoctoral researcher stipend amounts and financial instability (disaggregated, to the extent practicable, by demographics); and; and
(B)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
(5) Definitions
In this subsection:
(A) Institution of higher education
The term institution of higher education has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(B) Graduate researchers
The term graduate researchers means individuals enrolled in a degree program leading to an advanced degree who receive stipends or other compensation to conduct research in any discipline at an institution of higher education that is a recipient of Federal funding.
(C) Postdoctoral researchers
The term postdoctoral researchers means individuals in training-focused positions who have received a doctoral degree or equivalent and receive stipends or other compensation to conduct research in any discipline at an institution of higher education that is a recipient of Federal funding.; and
(2)
in paragraph (1) of section 10502(a), by inserting graduate and postdoctoral research stipend amounts (disaggregated, to the extent practicable, by demographics),
before and awarded budget
.
(d) Data on financial instability of graduate researchers and postdoctoral researchers
The Director of the National Science Foundation shall make awards, on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education or nonprofit organizations (or consortia of such institutions or organizations) to collect and analyze data on financial instability of graduate researchers and postdoctoral researchers (disaggregated, to the extent practicable, by demographics).
(e) National Academies assessment
(1) In general
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to undertake a study and issue a report on the status of financial instability of graduate researchers and postdoctoral researchers. To the extent feasible, the study shall include an assessment (disaggregated, to the extent practicable, by demographics) at a minimum of the immediately preceding 5 years of the following:
(A)
Stipends relative to average local medical, dental, and vision expenses.
(B)
Stipends relative to average local housing and transportation costs.
(C)
Stipends relative to average local food costs.
(D)
Stipends relative to average local costs of caring for family members, including child care costs.
(2) Report
Not later than 2 years after the date on which the agreement between the Director of the National Science Foundation and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine is entered into pursuant to paragraph (1), the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Education and Workforce, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report containing the results of the assessment under such paragraph and recommendations relating thereto regarding how Federal agencies, Congress, institutions of higher education, and other relevant entities may address financial instability of graduate researchers and postdoctoral researchers.
(f) GAO study
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Education and Workforce, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that—
(1)
assesses the degree to which Federal research agencies have implemented the policy guidelines under subsection (b) and the effectiveness of such implementation;
(2)
includes recommendations on potential changes to practices and policies to improve such guidelines and such implementation; and
(3)
includes recommendations on additional data collection and research needed to monitor progress on reducing financial instability of graduate researchers and postdoctoral researchers.