In the 117^th Congress, Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO), Fred Upton (R-MI), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) and Senators Edward Markey (D-MA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Susan Collins (R-ME) have re-introduced the bipartisan Research Investment to Spark the Economy Act (RISE Act), H.R. 869 and S. 289. The bill addresses the unprecedented disruptions to federally supported research and the research workforce at universities and other laboratories across the country. It authorizes approximately $25 billion in emergency relief appropriations for federal research agencies to support the nation’s research workforce and offset costs related to laboratory closures and lost research productivity resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. The bill also provides temporary flexibilities to agencies to modify terms and conditions of federal awards due to the pandemic. The cosponsors are seeking additional organizational endorsements of the legislation (see below).

Bill Summary: The RISE Act [see here for introduced text] authorizes approximately $25 billion in emergency relief appropriations for federal science agencies during FY21 as follows:

• Department of Agriculture – $380 million
• Department of Commerce – $450 million
• Department of Defense – $3 billion
• Department of Education – $200 million
• Department of Energy – $5 billion
• Department of the Interior – $300 million
• Department of Health and Human Services – $10 billion
• National Aeronautics and Space Administration – $2 billion
• National Science Foundation – $3 billion
• Environmental Protection Agency – $200 million
• Department of Transportation - $300 million

The RISE Act is consistent with the AAU-APLU-AAMC-ACE recommendations (May 27, April 7 and January 26) for federal research relief and that over 200 Members of the House and Senate have registered their support in recent letters to House and Senate leaders.

Organizational Endorsements: The bill’s cosponsors are seeking organizational endorsements of the legislation. Organizations can endorse the bill by completing the form below. A list of endorsing organizations can be found here (list is updated each day).