RISE Act Introduced in Senate

On July 23, 2020, a companion measure to the House’s Research Investment to Spark the Economy (RISE) Act (H.R. 7308) was introduced in the Senate by Senators Edward Markey (D-MA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Gary Peters (D-MI), and Cory Gardner (R-CO). The bipartisan legislation would provide emergency relief funding for federal science agencies to support the research community during the ongoing pandemic. The measure, which was introduced in the House last month by Representatives Diana DeGette (D-CO), Fred Upton (R-MI), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Frank Lucas (R-OK), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), would authorize approximately $26 billion in supplemental funding for federal research agencies to be awarded to research universities, independent institutions, and national laboratories to address the COVID-19 related disruption to federally funded research. “The research enterprise and the researchers who contribute to it every day are vital to every states economy,” said Senator Markey. “We must act now to preserve our current scientific workforce and ensure that the U.S. is prepared to continue our global scientific leadership once this crisis ends.” The legislation has been endorsed by 181 Representatives, 33 Senators, as well as more than 300 higher education, research, industry groups, and associations, including AIBS.      
Source: Public Policy Reports - Category: Biology Authors: Source Type: news