S. 637Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Supporting Early-Career Researchers Act

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Updated February 7, 2026 at 11:57 PM UTC

The Supporting Early‑Career Researchers Act creates a two‑year pilot fellowship program at the National Science Foundation to give early‑career investigators funding to conduct independent research at a university of their choice. The goal is to keep talented researchers in academia and labs during the COVID‑19‑related economic downturn. The program targets researchers from underrepresented groups and those who work at minority‑serving institutions. It also requires reporting to NSF and Congress.

Key Provisions

NSF may launch a 2‑year pilot fellowship granting funds to highly qualified early‑career investigators for independent research at a chosen higher‑education institution.
Preference in award decisions is given to investigators from groups underrepresented in science and to those conducting research at minority‑serving institutions.
Fellows must submit a detailed expenditure report within 180 days after the program ends.
NSF must compile a summary of grant use and program impact and report it to the relevant Senate and House committees within 180 days of receiving the fellows’ reports.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action

SenateIntro Referral Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

March 9, 2021

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

March 9, 2021

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

March 9, 2021

Bill Text

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Introduced in SenateIssued March 9, 2021

117th CONGRESS

1st Session

S. 637

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 9, 2021

Mr. Blumenthal (for himself, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Coons, Mr. Brown, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Klobuchar, and Ms. Hirono) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

A BILL

To forestall the loss of research talent by establishing a temporary early career research fellowship program.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Supporting Early-Career Researchers Act.

Findings

Congress finds the following:

(1)

The Nation’s universities and industrial research labs are facing unprecedented budget pressure as part of the COVID–19 health crisis, resulting in considerably fewer openings for research and teaching positions.

(2)

Emergency funding is needed to forestall the loss of research talent likely to occur if early-career researchers are forced to seek employment outside of research due to the sharp economic decline caused by the COVID–19 health crisis.

Early-career research fellowship program

(a)

In general

The Director of the National Science Foundation may establish a 2-year pilot program to award grants to highly qualified early-career investigators to carry out an independent research program at the institution of higher education chosen by such investigator, to last for a period not greater than 2 years.

(b)

Institution of higher education defined

The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).

(c)

Priority for broadening participation

In awarding grants under this section, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall give priority to—

(1)

early-career investigators who are from groups that are underrepresented in scientific research; and

(2)

early-career investigators who choose to carry out independent research at a minority-serving institution.

Reports

(a)

Reports from grantees

Not later than 180 days after the end of the pilot program under section 3, each early-career investigator who receives a grant under this Act shall submit a report to the Director of the National Science Foundation that describes how the early-career investigator used the grant funds under this Act.

(b)

Report to Congress

Not later than 180 days after the deadline for the submission of the reports described in subsection (a), the Director of the National Science Foundation shall submit a report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives that contains a summary of the uses of grant funds and the impact of the grant program under this Act.