Scientific R&D

Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Reauthorization Act of 2026

Mike Quigley (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would reauthorize the Accelerating Access to Critical Therapies for ALS Act through fiscal year 2031, extending federal grants for research on ALS therapies that would otherwise expire after 2026. It would also require grant applicants seeking renewals to submit enrollment, safety, and efficacy data for review, obligate grant recipients to promptly report new serious adverse events from their trials, count combined phase 2/3 trials as eligible if they begin enrollment within a timeframe the Secretary sets, and direct the FDA to publish a rare neurodegenerative disease action plan within 18 months plus a follow-up report within 5 years. This bill reauthorizes federal ALS research grants through fiscal year 2031, funding research institutions and contract labs, while requiring grant recipients to meet stricter safety reporting and data review rules.

Where it stands

HR8205 has cleared Congress: the House passed it by voice vote under suspension of the rules on July 22, 2026, and the Senate passed the House text without amendment by voice vote on September 28, 2026, so both chambers have agreed to identical text. It is no longer pending before any committee or either chamber, and the record shows no presentment yet.

Saving the OOI Act of 2026

Lisa Murkowski (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act prohibits the National Science Foundation from using federal funds to decommission or reduce the scope of specific Ocean Observatories Initiative instruments until a thorough review is completed. It requires the agency to maintain full operations of these instruments, including monitoring in all affected states, until that review concludes. This bill requires the National Science Foundation to keep the Ocean Observatories Initiative fully operational and blocks decommissioning or cutbacks until a review is done, preserving oceanographic research labs' access to critical monitoring instruments and data.

Where it stands

S. 4822 passed the Senate on June 17, 2026, and was held at the desk in the House on June 18, 2026.

Workforce for AI Trust Act

Zoe Lofgren (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 to have the National Science Foundation support new graduate and postdoctoral fellowships for research on trustworthy artificial intelligence, skills-based AI training and workshops across STEM fields, and to require that merit review panels for AI research proposals draw on multiple disciplines including social science, ethics, law, and linguistics. It would also have the National Institute of Standards and Technology develop and publish an artificial intelligence workforce framework, in consultation with the Labor Department, the National Science Foundation, and other agencies, and use it to provide technical assistance for federal AI workforce and scholarship programs. This bill lets private AI research labs and institutes host NSF-funded fellows in temporary AI positions and benefits from a NIST workforce framework expanding the pool of trustworthy AI talent, though hiring that talent could get harder.

Where it stands

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on June 18, 2026, and at a markup on June 25, 2026, the committee ordered it to be reported in the nature of a substitute (amended) by a vote of 35 to 0. The committee vote to report is itself the report-out event, though no written report or calendar placement appears on the record yet, and the disposition of some committee amendments is unresolved, so the text as reported may still differ.

SCALE Biology Act

April McClain Delaney (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology to set up a biometrology laboratory program that carries out measurement research, develops voluntary technical standards and best practices for engineering biology, biomanufacturing, and biotechnology, gives industry, universities, nonprofits, and government agencies access to advanced user facilities, supports engineering biology foundries and graduate research training, and reports an implementation plan to Congress within the first fiscal year and an implementation report within three years. It would also add definitions for terms like bioeconomy, biological data, and engineering biology to existing research law and repeal one existing section of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act. This bill directs NIST to fund biometrology research, develop technical standards, open advanced user facilities to outside researchers, and support graduate training, giving scientific R&D labs, contract researchers, and research institutes new funding, partnerships, and facility access.

Where it stands

At its July 21, 2026 markup, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology ordered HR8981, the SCALE Biology Act, to be reported in the nature of a substitute by voice vote. No written report has been filed and the bill has not been placed on a calendar.

National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act

Randy K. Weber, Sr. (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would reauthorize and amend the National Quantum Initiative Act, extending federal quantum research, development, and workforce programs through December 30, 2032, and adding new activities at NIST, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, and NASA, including up to five NSF-funded quantum testbeds, a workforce coordination hub, NIST quantum acceleration centers, a DOE instrumentation and foundry program, and a voluntary post-quantum cryptography grant program subject to future appropriations. It would also require an international quantum cooperation strategy, bar quantum funds under the NIST and NSF provisions from going to institutions that maintain Confucius Institute agreements and bar NIST funds from financing quantum research activities with foreign countries of concern or foreign entities of concern, and direct agencies to promote commercialization, domestic supply chain development, and participation by small and medium-sized businesses and startups. This bill funds quantum research centers, testbeds, foundry access, and cooperative research programs that contract labs, research institutes, nonprofits, and private R&D firms can compete for, while barring NIST quantum funding for work with foreign countries of concern.

Where it stands

H.R. 8462 was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on April 23, 2026, and at a markup on April 29, 2026 the committee ordered the bill to be reported as amended by voice vote. The amended text is still pending, and no written report or calendar placement appears on the record.

Beagle Liberation Act of 2026

Gus M. Bilirakis (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would condition federal funding on covered research facilities making reasonable efforts to transfer no-longer-needed dogs and cats to qualified adoption groups, allowing euthanasia or killing only when a licensed veterinarian certifies the animal cannot be safely or suitably placed, and it would not require transfer of animals with terminal conditions or those barred from transfer by other federal law. The Health and Human Services Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, must issue implementing regulations within one year of enactment. This bill conditions federal funding for research facilities that use dogs and cats on making reasonable efforts to transfer them to adoption groups and obtaining veterinary certification before euthanasia.

Where it stands

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on September 24, 2026 and has had no further action since, so its posture now depends on whether the committee chair notices a hearing or a markup.

American Leadership in Fusion Act

Zoe Lofgren (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct roughly $10 billion in new fiscal year 2027 appropriations plus added multiyear funding into fusion energy, including a $3 billion milestone-based program that pays private companies up to half their milestone costs for fusion pilot plants, $3.8 billion for new Department of Energy research facilities, and supply chain research for fusion manufacturing equipment, and it would reestablish a Department of Energy Office of Fusion led by an Assistant Secretary for Fusion Energy. It would also let award recipients keep their intellectual property, block domestic content requirements unless the needed supplies are actually available in the United States, create a faster graded review for private companies partnering with National Laboratories, and fund fusion education and workforce programs through the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. This bill directs over $10 billion in fusion energy funding to private research and development firms, letting private fusion companies and their contractors win milestone payments, keep their intellectual property, avoid domestic content rules, host federally funded researchers, and get faster security reviews with National Laboratories.

Where it stands

HR10574, the American Leadership in Fusion Act, was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on September 24, 2026. It is at the earliest committee posture, where the committee's chair decides whether the bill ever gets a hearing or a markup, and no such meeting is scheduled in our calendar data.

SCALE Biology Act

Ted Budd (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would direct the Commerce Secretary, through NIST, to create a biometrology laboratory program of measurement research for engineering biology, biomanufacturing, and biotechnology, covering measurement science research, voluntary consensus technical standards, access to user facilities, industry and university partnerships, workforce training, and support for engineering biology foundries. NIST would also have to submit an implementation plan within one year and a public report within three years of enactment, and coordinate with other federal agencies, Manufacturing USA institutes, and schools including minority-serving institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, and Tribal colleges. This bill would have NIST fund extramural biometrology research and open user facilities, giving scientific R&D firms and contract labs new funding, partnerships, and access to advanced measurement equipment for engineering biology work.

Where it stands

S5557, the SCALE Biology Act, was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on September 24, 2026 and now sits there with no committee action taken and no meetings listed in the calendar data.

Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026

This is an omnibus proposal impacting several different industries, including Scientific R&D.

Ted Cruz (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill would reauthorize and expand federal weather, tsunami, landslide, and water observing programs, directing NOAA to improve forecasts and warnings for tornadoes, hurricanes, flash floods, heat, drought, and wildfires through new research programs, a replacement radar network, AI weather models, cloud computing, and new satellites. It would fund these efforts with hundreds of millions of dollars per year in authorizations, generally through 2030 but reaching 2031 for the weather radio network and 2033 for streamgages, including grants to universities, purchases of private weather data, a modernized NOAA Weather Radio network, and dedicated funding for state mesonets, regional coastal observing systems, and streamgages. This bill funds and contracts scientific research organizations, offering weather research grants to non-Federal entities, pilot contracts and multiyear deals for commercial weather data, mesonet financial assistance, and required data-source reporting.

Where it stands

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation voted at its March 4, 2026 markup to report the bill, and the bill was reported with a written report and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 685 on September 28, 2026. It now sits on the calendar awaiting floor consideration, which does not follow automatically.

Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act of 2026

Bernard Sanders · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would create a new Department of Artificial Intelligence headed by a Senate-confirmed Secretary, freeze training and modification of advanced AI systems trained on computing power at or above 10^25 operations and bar deployment of unreleased ones until the Department is fully staffed and writes safety rules, and permanently ban anyone from developing, deploying, funding, importing, or transferring artificial superintelligence or systems showing superintelligence precursor traits. Advanced AI developers would need a federal charter and government pre-deployment approval to keep operating, with violations punishable by up to 20 years in prison, revoked charters, forfeiture of intellectual property and assets, 10-year industry employment bans for lower-level staff, and a 24-hour duty to report any system showing dangerous capabilities. This bill halts training of advanced AI models, requires AI research and development laboratories to report pre-development plans, obtain a federal charter and pre-deployment approval, and risk forfeiture of their intellectual property and assets for violations.

Where it stands

S5493, the Ban Artificial Superintelligence Act of 2026, was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on September 23, 2026. It is now at the committee stage, the choke point where most Senate bills stall, and no committee meetings appear in the calendar data.

Companion Animal Protection Against Cruel Testing Act

Nicholas A. Langworthy (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would bar the Department of Health and Human Services and its agencies, such as NIH and FDA, from spending any federal funds on biomedical research that uses live dogs or live cats, including buying, breeding, transporting, housing, or conducting experiments on such animals, with narrow waivers of up to 180 days only during public health or national emergencies, or national security emergencies, when no scientifically valid alternative method is reasonably available. It would also require recipients of that funding to certify compliance each year, keep compliance records for six years, make reasonable efforts to retire and adopt out dogs and cats no longer needed for research, and face funding withholding, recovery of misspent funds, or debarment for violations, with annual reports to Congress and an independent Government Accountability Office review whose report is due within three years. This bill bars HHS agencies including NIH and FDA from funding biomedical research using live dogs or cats, cutting off federal money for R&D performers using those animals while adding yearly certification, six-year recordkeeping, and adoption-out duties backed by funding withholding, recovery, or debarment.

Where it stands

HR10522 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on September 21, 2026, and no hearings or markups are scheduled; the bill sits at the earliest committee stage, where the committee chair decides whether a hearing or markup is ever noticed.

PUPPS Act

Nancy Mace (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would make it unlawful, under the Animal Welfare Act, for anyone to breed a dog for research purposes, to sell or otherwise commercially distribute a dog for research, or to knowingly acquire or use a dog that was bred for research, with civil penalties of up to $10,000 per dog ($40,000 for repeat violations, capped at $500,000 per inspection) and suspension or revocation of federal licenses or registrations. It would take effect 180 days after enactment, would bar the Secretary of Agriculture from issuing or renewing licenses authorizing these activities, and would require anyone holding dogs bred for research when the law passes to offer each dog for adoption rather than euthanize it. This bill directly restricts research facilities and contract labs by making it unlawful to knowingly acquire, receive, or use dogs bred for research, with civil penalties up to $10,000 per dog and mandatory adoption of dogs they hold.

Where it stands

The bill was referred to the House Committee on Agriculture on September 21, 2026 and sits at the start of the committee stage, with no hearings or markups scheduled. Committee action is the ordinary route in the House, but it is not an absolute prerequisite, since leadership tools can provide another path.

CLEAR Feedback Act

Analilia Mejia (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require federal agencies to set up an enhanced debriefing process for small businesses denied a Phase I, II, or III award under the SBIR or STTR programs (except denials based on certain specified grounds), giving them on request an evaluation of their proposal's significant deficiencies, an overall ranking against all other proposals, a summary of the denial rationale, and a chance to submit follow-up questions that the agency must answer within 14 business days. Requests would have to be made within 14 business days of the denial, follow-up questions within 7 business days of receiving the debriefing, and the debriefing would end once the agency answers those questions. This bill gives small scientific R&D firms denied SBIR or STTR awards the right to request debriefings explaining their proposal's deficiencies, ranking, and denial rationale, plus follow-up questions answered within 14 business days.

Where it stands

HR10343 was referred on September 10, 2026 to two committees, the House Committee on Small Business and, in addition, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker. The source does not establish one as the primary panel, so each committee's chair is a gatekeeper, and no hearing or markup is scheduled in either panel.

To extend the SBIR and STTR programs, and for other purposes.

Roger Williams (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill extends the authorization for the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs through fiscal year 2026. It also prolongs the expiration dates for various pilot initiatives and administrative provisions associated with these federal research funding programs. This bill extends SBIR and STTR program funding authority through fiscal year 2026, allowing small R&D firms, contract labs, and research institutes to keep competing for federal innovation grants and pilot program awards without a lapse.

Where it stands

The House passed the bill on September 15, 2025, under suspension of the rules, and it was received in the Senate on September 16, 2025. The measure is now pending in the Senate, where it has been referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

TRANS Government Research Act

Nancy Mace (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would ban the use of federal funds to conduct, support, or fund any research that studies the effects of gender-related medical treatments or other methods of altering a person's body or appearance to differ from their biological sex. The bill defines gender-related medical treatment to include specific surgical procedures, hormone therapies, and puberty blockers for individuals of both sexes. This bill bars scientific R&D performers, including contract labs and research institutes, from using any federal funds to conduct, support, or fund research on gender-related medical treatments such as surgeries, hormone therapies, and puberty blockers.

Where it stands

HR 10127 was referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on August 20, 2026 and remains in the committee stage where the chair controls hearing and markup scheduling.

GATE Act of 2026

Pat Harrigan (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act prohibits US National Laboratories from admitting foreign nationals from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, or Cuba as visitors or assignees unless the Secretary of Energy grants a specific waiver. Any such waiver must be reported to designated congressional committees within 30 days. This bill restricts scientific R&D performers by barring National Laboratories from admitting visitors or assignees from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, or Cuba without a Secretary of Energy waiver, limiting collaborative research expertise.

Where it stands

HR 10092, the GATE Act of 2026, was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on August 13, 2026. The bill is currently at the committee stage with no scheduled meetings in the calendar data.

NIH Mentorship Modernization Act

David McCormick (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to set minimum mentorship standards for institutions receiving certain National Institutes of Health research training awards. These standards would mandate regular mentor engagement, professional development support, progress assessments, and qualified mentors for awards issued at least two years after the law is signed. This bill requires scientific research and development performers, including contract labs and research institutes that receive NIH training awards, to meet new mentorship standards for regular mentor engagement, progress assessments, and professional development support, while the Secretary may provide supplemental funding to help implement them.

Where it stands

S5295 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on August 6, 2026. The bill currently awaits committee action, with no upcoming meetings scheduled in the available data.

Cooperative Institute Act of 2026

Maria Cantwell (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to maintain a Cooperative Institute program that funds long-term research partnerships with academic and nonprofit institutions. It establishes procedures for competitive selection, five-year funding awards, and performance reviews while requiring congressional notification before terminating any existing institute. This bill directly benefits nonprofit and academic scientific research institutions by providing five-year federal funding awards from NOAA's Cooperative Institute program to support their administrative and scientific research activities.

Where it stands

As of August 6, 2026, the bill was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. It currently sits in committee, where the chair controls the scheduling of a markup.

POLAR Act

Dan Sullivan (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill establishes a new Directorate for Polar Programs within the National Science Foundation to manage research, infrastructure, and logistics in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. It authorizes competitive grants for universities, research institutions, nonprofits, private companies, and tribal organizations to support scientific studies, workforce development, and logistical operations. This bill funds research institutions, contract labs, and private R&D companies through new competitive National Science Foundation grants for polar research, workforce development, and logistics in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Where it stands

The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on July 29, 2026. It currently resides in that committee, where the chair controls the scheduling of a markup.

AG2PI Act of 2026

David McCormick (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal extends the authorization for the Genome to Phenome Initiative research program through the year 2031. It achieves this by updating the expiration date in existing agricultural law from 2023 to 2031. This bill keeps the Genome to Phenome Initiative grant program running through 2031, letting scientific research labs and institutes continue applying for USDA funding for agricultural genome and phenome research.

Where it stands

S5079 was read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry on July 22, 2026. The bill is currently in the committee stage where the chair controls the scheduling of a markup.

FDA Modernization Act 3.0

Cory A. Booker (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This measure requires the Food and Drug Administration to publish a rule within one year that replaces references to animal testing with references to nonclinical testing in existing federal regulations. The bill also corrects a numbering error in the Federal Food and Drug Cosmetic Act by reassigning a duplicate subsection label. This bill directly affects scientific R&D labs that run drug safety testing by requiring the FDA to rewrite its rules so nonclinical methods like in vitro assays and computer models can substitute for animal testing, opening new demand for alternative-testing firms and reducing work for animal-testing labs.

Where it stands

The Senate passed the bill with an amendment on December 16, 2025, and the measure is currently held at the desk in the House as of December 17, 2025.

Saving Lives and Reducing Health Care Waste by Improving Diagnosis in Medicine Act

Chris Van Hollen (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill authorizes approximately $66.5 million annually through fiscal year 2031 to establish research centers, training grants, and an interagency council aimed at reducing diagnostic errors and improving patient safety. It also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to develop a strategic plan for modernizing patient safety reporting and to standardize data elements to support diagnostic quality research. This bill funds scientific R&D organizations, including academic medical centers, biomedical research institutions, and provider-based research networks, with grants to plan, establish, and operate diagnostic excellence research centers and conduct diagnostic safety research.

Where it stands

S4989 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on July 15, 2026, where it currently awaits action.

National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network Act of 2025

John Fetterman (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would establish a National Programmable Cloud Laboratories Network consisting of up to six nodes that receive grants of up to $5 million annually for five years to support automated, remote scientific experimentation. It allocates $30 million per year from fiscal year 2026 through 2030 to the National Science Foundation to fund these awards, which require evidence of non-Federal cost share and plans for long-term financial sustainability. This bill gives private research labs and institutes that become network nodes federal grants of up to $5 million per year for five years and access to shared automated cloud laboratory infrastructure.

Where it stands

S. 3468 was reported by the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on July 13, 2026, and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 451.

Methane Removal Research and Innovation Act of 2026

Kevin Mullin (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill requires the Secretary of Energy to establish a research initiative to develop technologies for removing methane from the atmosphere using multidisciplinary teams. It authorizes $25 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 to fund these research, development, and demonstration activities. This bill creates a Department of Energy methane removal research initiative funded at $25 million per year through 2031, directing grants and contracts to contract labs, research institutes, and other private sector R&D firms working on such technologies.

Where it stands

HR 9478 was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on June 25, 2026, and no upcoming meetings are scheduled in the calendar data.

Web of Biological Data Act of 2026

Matt Van Epps (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would have the Department of Energy award a grant to a National Laboratory within 180 days to build a centralized Web of Biological Data, a single point of entry where researchers access federally funded biological data formatted for artificial intelligence training, backed by a data science research and development program, an advisory board, and phased testing within 2 years and full expansion within 5 years. It would authorize $30 million for the research program and $310 million for the initial phase, each over the first 3 years, plus $80 million a year for 2 subsequent years after the initial phase and its report are completed, roughly $500 million in total, while restricting data sharing with adversarial or nonreciprocal countries as determined by the Energy Secretary. This bill funds a new data science research and development program for biological data and gives contract labs and research institutes direct eligibility to fund projects and access the centralized Web of Biological Data.

Where it stands

HR9307 was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on June 11, 2026 and has had no further action since; no hearing or markup meeting is scheduled in our calendar data.

Web of Biological Data Act of 2026

Todd Young (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require the Energy Department, within 180 days of enactment, to award a competitive grant to a National Laboratory to build a centralized Web of Biological Data, a single point of entry where researchers could access federally funded biological datasets formatted for training artificial intelligence models, and would authorize $500 million in appropriations for the project, including $30 million for a data science research and development program, $310 million for an initial testing phase, and $80 million for each of two later years. It would also create an advisory board including industry and academic members, require biannual independent cybersecurity assessments, restrict data sharing with adversarial countries and with countries that do not participate in reciprocal data sharing, and set deadlines for an implementation plan and for expanding the platform to all United States researchers within five years. This bill funds a $500 million program for a National Laboratory to build a centralized biological data platform and directs $30 million to data science research projects, giving scientific R&D firms funded access to curated biological datasets and testing roles.

Where it stands

S4770, the Web of Biological Data Act of 2026, was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on June 11, 2026. The bill is now in committee, where under Senate practice the committee is not required to act and most bills go no further.

American White-Collar Worker Jobs Act of 2026

Chip Roy (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would sharply restrict the H-1B skilled-visa program by capping stays at 2 calendar years, keeping the annual cap at 65,000 visas, giving visa priority to petitions with the highest salaries, limiting any single country to 7 percent of the visas, and requiring employers to first post and offer each job to equally or better qualified United States workers, pay the higher of the actual wage or the 75th percentile wage for the occupation and location, keep nonimmigrants at no more than 5 percent of their United States workforce, and forgo hiring whenever local unemployment in the occupation exceeds 2 percent. It would back these rules with Labor Department enforcement including fines of up to $100,000 per violation, H-1B employment bans of up to 10 years, and a new federal court claim for United States workers who are displaced by visa holders.

Where it stands

HR 9157 was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary on June 4, 2026 and has had no further action since. It sits at the earliest committee stage, where the chair decides whether a hearing or a markup is ever noticed.

Merit Restoration Act

Ralph Norman (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would bar federal research agencies from using certain diversity, equity, or inclusion practices, such as discriminating based on race, sex, ethnicity, religion, or national origin, when awarding, evaluating, or continuing federal research grants, and would bar grant recipients from using those practices in carrying out their grants. It would enforce this by requiring the awarding agency to freeze funds on a grant when a violation is alleged and to make the recipient repay any federal money spent in violation once the agency finds a violation occurred. This bill bars scientific R&D firms that receive federal research grants from using specified DEI practices in carrying out those grants, and requires recipients found in violation to repay the federal funds involved.

Where it stands

HR 9103, the Merit Restoration Act, was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on June 2, 2026, and no further action is recorded. The bill sits with that committee, and nothing in the record shows a hearing, a markup, or a committee report.

Small Business Innovation Voucher Act of 2026

Jason Crow (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require the Small Business Administration to set up an Innovation Voucher Grant Program within 180 days of enactment, awarding competitive grants of $15,000 to $75,000 to small businesses to buy technical assistance and research services from colleges, universities, and nonprofit research organizations, with the federal government covering at most 75 percent of costs for grants under $50,000 and at most 50 percent for grants of $50,000 or more. It would authorize $10 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, cap administrative spending at 5 percent, and require grant recipients and the Administrator to file reports on project results and program impact. This bill creates a federal grant program that pays small businesses to buy research, development, and technical services from universities and nonprofit research labs, giving scientific R&D performers a new subsidized revenue stream from 2026 through 2030.

Where it stands

HR9050 was referred to the House Committee on Small Business on May 29, 2026, and no hearing or markup is currently scheduled in our calendar data. Under House practice, a referred bill goes nowhere unless the committee chair notices a hearing or markup, while leadership channels or discharge remain alternative paths.

DOD and USDA Interagency Research Act

Jim Banks (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require the Defense and Agriculture Departments to carry out joint research and development on agriculture and food defense topics such as supply chain security, precision agriculture, drones, artificial intelligence, and biosecurity, coordinated through a memorandum of understanding with annual reports to Congress and audits every five years. It would fund that work through a competitive, merit-reviewed process offering grants and public-private partnerships, with the secretaries authorized to spend appropriated sums plus unobligated funds from the Agriculture Advanced Research and Development Authority and Defense research accounts. This bill makes contract labs, research institutes, national labs, universities, and nonprofits eligible to compete for merit-reviewed federal grants and public-private partnerships for joint DOD-USDA agri-food defense research, if they provide matching funds equal to the grant.

Where it stands

S4607 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Armed Services on May 20, 2026, and no committee meetings are scheduled in our calendar data. The bill now sits at the committee stage, where the chair decides whether anything happens at all.

Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act

John R. Moolenaar (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would bar anyone receiving a federally funded research award from using that funding to enter into or carry out research collaborations with entities on US government restricted entity lists or with individuals tied to them, covering activities like joint projects, coauthored publications, data sharing, joint labs, and personnel exchanges. It would let the head of a federal agency waive the ban case by case for national security or essential scientific, public health, or national security purposes, with a written report to Congress within 30 days, while the Office of Science and Technology Policy Director issues government-wide compliance guidance. This bill bars contract labs, research institutes, and other R&D performers from using federal research funds to collaborate with restricted foreign entities, tightening eligibility for federal grants and contracts and requiring compliance with new restrictions.

Where it stands

HR8901 was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on May 19, 2026 and sits at the committee stage. No hearing or markup is scheduled in our calendar data, and the companion S4525 has not passed a chamber, having been read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on May 14, 2026.

Securing Innovation and Research from Adversaries Act

Jim Banks (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would bar recipients of federally funded research awards, such as universities, hospitals, and contractors, from using those federal funds for any research collaboration with entities on US government restricted lists or individuals tied to them, covering joint projects, data sharing, coauthorship, personnel exchanges, and joint labs. Agency heads could grant case-by-case waivers for national security or essential scientific, public health, or national security purposes with written notice to Congress within 30 days, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy would issue government-wide guidance to standardize compliance. This bill bars research labs, contract labs, and research institutes that receive federal research awards from using those federal funds to enter into, support, or carry out research collaborations with foreign entities on restricted government lists.

Where it stands

S4525 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on May 14, 2026, and no further action has been taken since. The bill is at the earliest committee stage, where the committee is under no obligation to act, and nothing is scheduled in our calendar data.

CREATE AI Act

Todd Young (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill directs the National Science Foundation to establish a national resource that connects researchers and educators to computational, data, and software tools for artificial intelligence work. It creates a management office to coordinate these resources from government and private sources and sets eligibility rules that exclude personnel from certain foreign nations. This bill makes small businesses and federally funded research and development centers eligible to use a new National Science Foundation resource offering shared artificial intelligence computing, data, and software tools, lowering research costs for scientific R&D performers.

Where it stands

S4441 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on April 29, 2026. The measure is currently stalled with no upcoming meetings scheduled.

American Leadership in AI Act

Ted Lieu (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill establishes federal AI research centers, prize programs, and educational scholarships while requiring government agencies to create coordination strategies and fraud protections. It also authorizes substantial funding for AI development, standards, and workforce training across multiple federal departments. This bill funds AI research and development directly, giving contract labs, research institutes, and nonprofit researchers grants, prize competitions, expanded AI research programs, and access to federal research resources.

Where it stands

HR8516 was referred on April 27, 2026, to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and six other committees for consideration of provisions within their jurisdictions. The bill remains in the initial referral stage, where the chairs of these seven committees control whether any hearings or markups occur.

Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act

Andrea Salinas (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The NSF would award grants to universities and nonprofits to upgrade quantum research facilities and improve access to specialized equipment. These funds would also support staff operations and training programs to accelerate the development of quantum technologies. This bill funds NSF grants that research and development firms, as eligible industry partners, can apply for alongside universities to upgrade quantum research facilities, equipment, and training programs.

Where it stands

HR8237 was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on April 9, 2026, and no future meetings are currently scheduled. The prior version HR5950 was not reported and did not pass a chamber.

Preventing Illegal Laboratories and Protecting Public Health Act of 2026

Catherine Cortez Masto (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal requires distributors of highly pathogenic agents to maintain detailed electronic logbooks of all sales, leases, and transfers, including purchaser identity and intended use. It also directs the National Security Advisor to designate a federal entity to oversee strategic evaluations of high-containment laboratories and establish a single point of contact for state and local officials regarding biosafety issues. This bill requires publicly funded repositories, biobanks, and other distributors of highly pathogenic agents to keep detailed electronic logbooks of every sale, lease, or transfer, and subjects high-containment research laboratories to federal strategic evaluations and a possible national database.

Where it stands

S. 4227 is in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, where it was read twice and referred on March 26, 2026. The committee chair controls whether the measure receives a hearing or markup, though the committee is not required to act on referred bills.

Advancing Regional Quantum Hubs Act of 2026

Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill would require federal agencies to facilitate interagency partnerships and support regional innovation initiatives in quantum information science and technology. It directs these agencies to collaborate with industry, universities, and small businesses to address regional and national challenges through these quantum-focused programs. This bill directs federal agencies to fund and support regional quantum innovation initiatives in collaboration with Commerce, Energy, and NSF, giving scientific R&D performers such as quantum startups, contract labs, small businesses, and research universities access to new federal partnerships and funding.

Where it stands

S4163 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on March 23, 2026, and no upcoming meetings are scheduled. The companion measure HR6351 remains referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology with no further action.

NSF Plant Biology Act

Josh Riley (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill authorizes the National Science Foundation to award competitive grants for fundamental plant and microbial biology research relevant to agriculture, food, or biotechnology. It authorizes $150,000,000 in annual appropriations for these grants for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2031. This bill gives contract labs, research institutes, private R&D firms, and nonprofits a new funding stream by making them eligible for competitive NSF grants, with $150 million appropriated annually through 2031 for fundamental plant and microbial biology research.

Where it stands

HR 7949 was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on March 16, 2026, and is currently blocked with no upcoming meetings scheduled. The committee chair controls whether a hearing or markup occurs, and the bill faces the risk of quiet death if the chair does not schedule action.

United States Research Protection Act of 2025

John Cornyn (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill clarifies the definition of foreign country of concern for malign foreign talent recruitment restrictions to include programs, positions, or activities whether directly or indirectly provided by such countries. It broadens the scope of prohibited engagements in research institutions by removing previous limitations on how foreign support is provided. This bill directly restricts scientific research and development firms, including contract labs and research institutes, by broadening bans on participating in foreign talent recruitment programs to cover any program, position, or activity indirectly supported by countries of concern.

Where it stands

S. 769 was reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on July 22, 2025, and placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 123. The bill has completed the markup stage and now awaits floor scheduling by the majority leader.

United States Research Protection Act

Mike Kennedy (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would broaden the definition of malign foreign talent recruitment by changing the term 'foreign country' to 'foreign country of concern' and expanding the scope to include activities that are indirectly provided by such nations. It would also remove a specific exclusion from the statute, thereby subjecting a wider range of academic and research programs to federal restrictions. This bill restricts scientific research and development performers, including contract labs, by expanding restricted foreign talent recruitment programs to any activity indirectly provided by countries of concern, threatening their federal funding eligibility and adding compliance burdens.

Where it stands

The bill passed the House on March 24, 2025, and was received in the Senate on March 25, 2025, where it is now pending in the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The House has completed its action, and the bill's future depends entirely on the Senate's procedural handling.

NOAA Global Ocean Monitoring and Observing Research Act

Gabe Amo (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill establishes a research program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration dedicated to global ocean monitoring and observing to improve data on climate, weather, and ocean health. The program authorizes competitive financial assistance for research projects and mandates the development of a framework and annual review process to assess data quality and operational efficiency. This bill creates a NOAA ocean monitoring research program that provides competitive grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements to private research firms, contract labs, and research institutes conducting ocean observing research and developing autonomous systems and AI tools.

Where it stands

HR 7896 was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology on March 12, 2026. No committee meetings are currently scheduled.

H–1B and L–1 Visa Reform Act of 2025

Chuck Grassley (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill reforms H-1B and L-1 visa programs by establishing higher wage floors, prohibiting the displacement of U.S. workers, and prioritizing visa allocations for applicants with advanced STEM degrees or high wages. It also imposes stricter compliance measures, including mandatory job postings, increased penalties for violations, and restrictions on outsourcing visa workers to third-party companies.

Where it stands

S2928 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on September 29, 2025. No committee meetings are currently scheduled, leaving the measure in a stalled posture awaiting potential chair action.

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2027

Mike Rogers (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would authorize roughly $1.07 trillion in fiscal year 2027 funding for military procurement, research, personnel, operations, military construction, and Department of Energy national security programs, while setting weapon system inventory requirements, personnel policies, and supply chain rules favoring domestic and non-Chinese sources. It would also create major maritime industrial base programs, including competitive shipyard grants, a $20 billion Maritime Security Trust Fund, phased requirements that imported containerized and vehicle cargo move on U.S.-flag vessels, and expanded cargo preference rules, and would end by requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration and photo identification to vote. This bill funds and redirects defense-related scientific R&D by authorizing research spending, prize competitions for biotechnology and prototype development, and lab contracts, while barring DoD funds from firms doing gain-of-function research or animal research with foreign countries of concern and imposing funding-disclosure reporting on R&D contractors.

Where it stands

The House passed this bill on July 22, 2026 by a 216 to 212 vote, and the Senate received it on September 14, 2026, so it now sits pending in the Senate. Under House process, the Senate must pass identical text before anything can go to the President, and the House is no longer in control of the bill's fate.

GRANT Reform Act of 2026

Tom McClintock (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill requires the Government Accountability Office to publish annual reports listing the names, purposes, amounts, and recipients of all federal grants. It also mandates that grant recipients submit detailed financial reports on salaries, subcontractors, and administrative costs within three months of completing their projects to remain eligible for future funding. This bill requires scientific research and development firms that receive federal grants, including contract labs and research institutes, to file detailed reports on salaries, subcontractors, and administrative costs within three months of completing projects or lose future funding eligibility.

Where it stands

HR 10192 was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on August 31, 2026. The committee chair controls whether any hearings or markups are scheduled for the measure.

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

Roger F. Wicker (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would authorize fiscal year 2026 appropriations for military activities, construction, and nuclear security while reforming defense acquisition rules and personnel policies. It would also establish new housing supply frameworks, disaster recovery funds, and Coast Guard programs, alongside restrictions on foreign investments and specific industrial base activities. This bill funds defense and national security research performed by labs and contract research institutes, authorizes defense research science and threat reduction programs, and benefits domestic biotech R&D suppliers while barring contracts with certain Chinese biotechnology providers.

Where it stands

The Senate passed S. 2296 on October 9, 2025, and the measure is currently held at the desk in the House as of November 12, 2025.

End H–1B Visa Abuse Act of 2026

Tim Sheehy (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would suspend the issuance of H-1B visas for three years and, upon resumption, impose a $100,000 fee per petition, raise the minimum wage to $200,000, and limit annual visas to 25,000. It would also eliminate the H-1B lottery in favor of a wage-based ranking, ban third-party staffing sponsors, prohibit federal employment of nonimmigrants, and end employment authorization for foreign students and adjustment of status for most nonimmigrants.

Where it stands

The bill was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary on July 23, 2026, placing it in the committee stage where the chair controls scheduling for a markup.

Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026

Mike Rogers (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This proposal would authorize fiscal year 2026 defense spending across Pentagon procurement, research, operations, military pay and personnel, military construction, Department of Energy national security programs, and the Coast Guard, while setting troop levels and health, housing, and family benefits for service members. It would also overhaul Pentagon purchasing through new acquisition organizations and thresholds, contractor reporting and disclosure rules, restrictions on foreign-sourced components and foreign-controlled retailers, pilot programs for AI, drones, nuclear energy, and biotechnology, and a ban on issuing central bank digital currencies.

Where it stands

The House passed this bill by recorded vote of 231 to 196 (Roll no. 262) on September 10, 2025, and the Senate received it on September 30, 2025. It is now pending in the Senate, which must pass identical text before anything can go to the President.

Fair Pay Act of 2026

Eleanor Holmes Norton (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to bar employers from paying workers in jobs dominated by one sex, race, or national origin less than what is paid for equivalent jobs dominated by other groups, with carve-outs for seniority, merit, production-based pay, and job-related factors the employer can prove are legitimate. It would also let workers recover compensatory and punitive damages and expert fees, protect employees who discuss their wages from retaliation, require covered employers with 25 or more employees (and 15 or more in later years) to file wage reports with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by race, sex, and national origin, extend the same rules to congressional and executive branch employees, and take effect one year after enactment.

Where it stands

HR8663 was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on May 4, 2026 and has had no further action. In the House, the referral stage is where most bills stall, since whether the bill ever gets a hearing or a markup is the committee chair's call, and no committee meetings appear in available calendar data.

High-skilled Immigration Reform for Employment Act

Raja Krishnamoorthi (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill would raise the annual H-1B visa cap from 65,000 to 130,000 and remove the 20,000 annual limit on visas for applicants with advanced degrees. It also authorizes $25 million per year for five years in competitive grants to states for STEM education and teacher retention.

Where it stands

HR6305 was referred on November 25, 2025, to the Committee on Education and Workforce and the Committee on the Judiciary. This multiple referral leaves both chairs as gatekeepers because the source does not designate a primary committee.

STEM RESTART Act

Chrissy Houlahan (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill authorizes $50 million annually from 2026 through 2030 for competitive grants to small and medium-sized STEM businesses to fund paid returnship programs for mid-career workers. These grants support training and above-entry-level compensation for unemployed or underemployed individuals, with priority given to programs serving workers from rural areas.

Where it stands

HR 4452 was referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce on July 16, 2025, where the committee chair controls whether a hearing or markup occurs. No upcoming meetings are scheduled in the available data, and the companion bill S 2306 remains in the Senate committee without having passed a chamber.

National Institutes of Clean Energy Act of 2026

Elizabeth Warren (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would create a new federal agency, the National Institutes of Clean Energy, within the Department of Energy by January 1, 2030, to fund clean energy and climate research, demonstration projects, and workforce studies, with priority for advanced energy technologies and research done at public universities, land-grant colleges, and minority-serving institutions. It would authorize $400,000,000,000 in federal spending over fiscal years 2027 through 2036 to establish and run the new agency. This bill creates a $400 billion Department of Energy agency that funds clean energy and climate research, giving scientific R&D firms and contract labs a major new funding stream for energy research and demonstration projects.

Where it stands

S5651 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on September 30, 2026, so it is at the committee stage, the first of the chamber's three major choke points. No hearing or markup is currently scheduled, so its immediate posture rests with that committee, though committee action is the ordinary route rather than the only one.

Scientific Integrity Act

Brian Schatz (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would require every federal agency that funds, conducts, or oversees scientific research to adopt and enforce a scientific integrity policy, approved by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, that bans research misconduct, suppression or politically driven alteration of findings, and retaliation, while guaranteeing covered federal scientists and contractors the right to publish findings, speak at conferences, and engage with the scientific community. It would also require each such agency to appoint a Scientific Integrity Officer, set up training, dispute-resolution, reporting, and periodic review processes, and allow agencies to keep existing policies that the agency head determines already meet the new requirements. This bill directly affects scientific R&D providers that contract with, receive grants from, or collaborate with federal agencies, requiring them to follow agency scientific integrity policies, gaining protected rights to publish findings, and getting channels to report violations.

Where it stands

S4545, the Scientific Integrity Act, was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on May 14, 2026. It now sits in committee, the stage where most bills end without a hearing or markup ever being scheduled.

American Cures Act

Richard J. Durbin (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would appropriate roughly $66 billion in fiscal year 2027, rising each year through fiscal year 2036 to about $129 billion and then growing with inflation, for the National Institutes of Health, the CDC, the Defense Department health research program, and the Veterans Affairs medical and prosthetics research program, with the money remaining available until spent. It would also exempt these appropriations from automatic sequestration cuts and from PAYGO budget scorecards, and the funding would begin only if the measure is enacted. This bill appropriates tens of billions of dollars to NIH and other biomedical research agencies, meaning contract labs and research institutes in scientific R&D gain new grants and contracts funded by these rising, sequestration-protected budgets through 2036.

Where it stands

S4494 was read twice and referred to the Senate Committee on Appropriations on May 12, 2026. The bill now sits in committee, where the chair decides whether anything happens and committees need not act on referred bills.

SBIR Administrative Funding Act

George Latimer (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This act extends the period for federal agencies to use up to 3.3 percent of their SBIR and STTR funds for administrative costs until September 30, 2030, and requires them to transfer at least 10 percent of these administrative funds to the Small Business Administration. It also permits agencies to use administrative funds for outreach to increase participation in states that have historically received few awards. This bill extends agency SBIR and STTR administrative funding through 2030 and directs outreach to states with historically few awards, giving scientific research and development small businesses more chances to compete for federal research grants.

Where it stands

HR7217 was referred on January 22, 2026, to the House Committee on Small Business and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for consideration of provisions within their respective jurisdictions. No specific primary committee is designated, meaning the chairs of both panels currently control whether the measure advances.

SBIR/STTR Oversight Act

Morgan McGarvey (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill requires federal agencies to publish SBIR and STTR program reports on their websites and extends the timeline for reporting on award decision times. It also establishes a pilot program at the National Institutes of Health to simplify procedures and reduce the time between award notification and funding release to as close to 90 days as possible. This bill benefits small scientific research and development businesses, especially NIH SBIR and STTR awardees, by requiring agencies to publish program reports online and running an NIH pilot program to release award funding within about 90 days.

Where it stands

HR 5001 was referred on August 19, 2025, to the House Committee on Small Business and the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. The record does not designate a primary committee, so both chairs serve as gatekeepers for potential hearings or markups.

RESEARCHER Act

Jennifer L. McClellan (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

This bill requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy to create guidelines for federal research agencies to address financial instability among graduate and postdoctoral researchers by improving stipends and access to benefits. It also mandates data collection, a National Academies study, and a government audit to assess the effectiveness of these new policies. This bill directs federal research agencies to follow guidelines that raise stipends and improve benefits for graduate and postdoctoral researchers, which would increase personnel costs and improve retention for contract labs, research institutes, and other federally funded R&D performers.

Where it stands

HR3054 was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on April 29, 2025, and remains in committee with no scheduled meetings or subsequent actions recorded. The companion Senate bill S1664 is also pending in its respective committee.

American Innovation Act

Bill Foster (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill appropriates approximately $61 billion in fiscal year 2026 for basic science research across five federal agencies, with funding amounts increasing annually through fiscal year 2035. It also exempts these specific appropriations from future budget sequestration cuts and removes them from PAYGO scorecard calculations. This bill appropriates growing federal science funding through fiscal year 2035 to five agencies while shielding it from budget cuts, meaning contract labs and research institutes performing basic research for these agencies gain larger, more stable grants and contracts.

Where it stands

The American Innovation Act was referred on April 3, 2025 to the House Committees on Science, Space, and Technology, Armed Services, and the Budget, with the Speaker to determine the consideration period for each panel. No meetings are currently scheduled for this measure, and the bill remains in the committee stage.

Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

John W. Hickenlooper (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would reauthorize the federal Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program for fiscal years 2027 through 2031 at $3,000,000 per year, or $15,000,000 in total, and broaden its mission beyond snowpack measurement to include developing and deploying more accurate, timely, and cost-effective water supply forecasting using tools such as imaging spectroscopy, machine learning, and snowpack and hydrologic modeling. It would also require the program to focus on forecasting that informs multi-state and interstate water management and reservoir operations, to build the capacity of program partners to use the new capabilities, and to report on which technologies best improve forecasts compared with existing benchmarks from the Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. This bill renews a federal program at $6.5 million per year through 2031, directing funding toward integrated snowpack and hydrologic modeling, machine learning, and imaging spectroscopy, so scientific research and development firms can compete for contracts to build these tools.

Where it stands

S. 2437 passed the Senate by unanimous consent with an amendment on September 30, 2026, and was held at the desk in the House on October 5, 2026. The bill is no longer before the Senate, and enactment now depends entirely on the House passing identical text.

Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Reauthorization Act of 2026

Jeff Hurd (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would rewrite the federal Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program to emphasize technologies that integrate snowpack measurement with physics-based modeling, name the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Natural Resources Conservation Service as participating agencies, drop certain reporting steps, and direct program work toward forecasting that supports real-time and interstate water management decisions. It would also change the program's funding from $15 million in total for fiscal years 2022 through 2026 to $3 million for each of fiscal years 2027 through 2031, the same total amount over a new five-year window. This bill renews a $3 million per year snow forecasting program through 2031, funding scientific R&D firms that develop integrated snowpack measurement and modeling technologies for NOAA and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Where it stands

HR3857 passed the House on December 10, 2025 by voice vote on a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, and it is now pending in the Senate. The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources received the referral on December 11, 2025, held a hearing on March 17, 2026, held a markup on June 10, 2026 where it voted to report the bill, reported it on September 17, 2026, and the bill was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 661 that same day.

Regional Ocean Partnerships Reauthorization Act

Mike Ezell (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would extend federal authorization of the existing Regional Ocean Partnerships through fiscal year 2031 and set new annual federal funding levels for those partnerships, including about $10.6 million for fiscal 2028 rising to roughly $11 million for fiscal 2031, about $43 million in new appropriations across those four years. It would also bar the partnerships from using any of those federal funds to develop regulatory proposals, model regulations, or compliance programs, and would make modest fixes such as correcting geographic references in the definition of covered coastal states and requiring partnership reports within five years of enactment and for each subsequent period. This bill renews federal grants to Regional Ocean Partnerships through fiscal 2031, funding contract labs and research institutes that perform partnership-funded ocean and coastal monitoring and research, while barring those funds from regulatory drafting work.

Where it stands

HR10756 was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources on October 6, 2026, placing it at the committee stage, and no further committee action is scheduled in the record. The committee chair decides whether a hearing or a markup is ever noticed.

Regional Ocean Partnerships Reauthorization Act

Roger F. Wicker (Republican) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would extend the existing Regional Ocean Partnerships program, which supports cooperative ocean and Great Lakes management, through fiscal year 2031 with federal funding of about 43.2 million dollars total, ranging from roughly 10.6 million in fiscal 2028 to about 11 million in fiscal 2031, and would require periodic reports on the program. It would also bar partnerships, including regional coastal and Great Lakes partnerships, from spending any of that federal money on developing regulatory proposals, model regulations, or compliance programs. This bill renews federal funding of about $47 million for Regional Ocean Partnerships through 2031, which contracts scientific research and development firms and marine research organizations to support regional ocean and coastal observing work.

Where it stands

S. 3791 was reported by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, whose markup vote to order it reported came on April 14, 2026 and whose written report was filed on September 14, 2026. The same day, it was placed on the Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders as Calendar No. 563, which is the Senate's waiting position for floor consideration.

National Institutes of Clean Energy Act of 2026

Jared Huffman (Democrat) · Sponsor of record · Official record ↗

What it does

The bill would create a new federal agency within the Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Clean Energy, by no later than January 1, 2030, to fund clean energy and climate research, demonstration projects (such as microgrids, energy storage, electric vehicles, and technologies for hard-to-decarbonize sectors like aviation and shipping), and studies of energy production impacts on frontline communities and workers. It authorizes $400,000,000,000 in appropriations for fiscal years 2027 through 2036 to establish and run the new agency, with priority given to research done at public universities, land-grant colleges, and minority-serving institutions and in areas hit hardest by job losses. This bill creates a new Department of Energy agency with $400 billion to fund clean energy and climate research and demonstration projects, giving scientific R&D firms, including contract labs, a new funding stream, though work at public, land-grant, and minority-serving universities is prioritized.

Where it stands

HR 10674 was referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on October 1, 2026. It has not been noticed for a hearing or a markup, and no meetings appear in the calendar data.