The House Science Committee has advanced the Supporting Early-Career Researchers Act (H.R. 144), which would authorize $250 million for the National Science Foundation over fiscal years 2021 and 2022 “to prevent the loss of research talent due to job market disruptions caused by any economic decline during and after the pandemic.”
The bipartisan legislation would create a new postdoctoral fellowship program at NSF to help keep early career researchers whose employment opportunities have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in the STEM pipeline.
The committee approved amendments requiring NSF to collect demographic data about fellowship awardees and conduct program outreach to recruit fellowship applicants from all regions of the U.S., historically underrepresented populations in STEM, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and tribal colleges and universities. The measure now requires approval from the full House before moving to the Senate.
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