,,ii ,calendar ,no4 #daj #aadth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #bjad ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,september #i1 #bjae,ms4 ,baldwin 7for herself1 ,ms4 ,collins1 and ,mr4 ,alexander7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,april #d1 #bjaf,reported by ,mr4 ,alexander1 with an amendment,strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic ,a ,,bill ,to demonstrate a commitment to our ,nation's scientists by increasing opportunities for the development of our next generation of researchers4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,next ,generation ,researchers ,act4 #b4 ,investing in the next generation of researchers ,part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bha et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #djd,m4 ,next generation of researchers 7a7 ,next ,generation of ,researchers ,initiative ,there shall be established within the ,office of the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health1 the ,next ,generation of ,researchers ,initiative 7referred to in this section as the ,initiative71 through which the ,director shall coordinate all policies and programs within the ,national ,institutes of ,health aimed at promoting and providing opportunities for new researchers and earlier research independence4 7b7 ,activities ,the ,director of ,,nih1 through the ,initiative shall-- 7#a7 promote policies and programs within the ,national ,institutes of ,health that are aimed at improving opportunities for new researchers and promoting earlier research independence1 including existing policies and programs such as the ,pathway to ,independence ,award1 the ,,nih ,director's ,new ,innovator ,award1 the ,early ,independence ,award1 and ,early-,stage ,investigator grant review procedures2 7#b7 develop1 modify1 or accelerate policies1 as needed1 within the ,national ,institutes of ,health to promote opportunities for new researchers and earlier research independence1 including policies to enhance training opportunities for research-related career options1 strengthen mentorship programs between new and veteran researchers1 enhance workforce diversity efforts1 and help to improve new researchers' success in obtaining renewal funding2 7#c7 coordinate with appropriate agencies and academic institutions to develop systems to enhance workforce data for biomedical postdoctoral researchers and students to help improve tracking of trainees and career progress2 and 7#d7 carry out other activities1 as appropriate1 to promote the development of the next generation of researchers and earlier research independence4 7c7 ,study and report 7#a7 ,study ,the ,director of ,,nih shall request the ,national ,academy of ,sciences1 as part of the studies conducted under section #dhi1 to conduct a comprehensive study on policies affecting the next generation of researchers in the ,united ,states4 ,such study shall include an evaluation of1 and strategies to address1 the legislative1 administrative1 educational1 and cultural barriers to providing for a successful next generation of researchers and to promote earlier research independence4 7#b7 ,report ,not later than #e years after the date of enactment of the ,next ,generation ,researchers ,act1 the ,national ,academy of ,sciences shall submit to the ,director1 the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate1 and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives1 a report concerning the results of the study conducted under paragraph 7#a74 ,such report shall include-- 7,a7 an evaluation of the legislative1 administrative1 educational1 and cultural barriers faced by the next generation of researchers2 7,b7 an evaluation of the impact of sequestration resulting from the ,budget ,control ,act of #bjaa 7,public ,law #aab-be7 and ,federal budget constraints on the next generation of researchers2 and 7,c7 recommendations for the implementation of policies to incentivize1 improve entry into1 and sustain careers in research for the next generation of researchers and to promote earlier research independence1 including proposed policies for agencies and academic institutions4 4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,next ,generation ,researchers ,act4 #b4 ,investing in the next generation of researchers 7a7 ,in general ,part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bha et seq47 is amended by adding at the end the following3 #djd,m4 ,next generation of researchers 7a7 ,next generation of researchers initiative ,there shall be established within the ,office of the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health1 the ,next ,generation of ,researchers ,initiative 7referred to in this section as the ,initiative71 through which the ,director shall coordinate all policies and programs within the ,national ,institutes of ,health that are focused on promoting and providing opportunities for new researchers and earlier research independence4 7b7 ,activities ,the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health1 through the ,initiative shall-- 7#a7 promote policies and programs within the ,national ,institutes of ,health that are focused on improving opportunities for new researchers and promoting earlier research independence1 including existing policies and programs1 as appropriate2 7#b7 develop1 modify1 or prioritize policies1 as needed1 within the ,national ,institutes of ,health to promote opportunities for new researchers and earlier research independence1 such as policies to increase opportunities for new researchers to receive funding1 enhance training and mentorship programs for researchers1 and enhance workforce diversity2 7#c7 coordinate1 as appropriate1 with relevant agencies1 professional and academic associations1 academic institutions1 and others1 to improve and update existing information on the biomedical research workforce in order to inform programs related to the training1 recruitment1 and retention of biomedical researchers2 and 7#d7 carry out other activities1 including evaluation and oversight of existing programs1 as appropriate1 to promote the development of the next generation of researchers and earlier research independence4 4 7b7 ,national ,academy of ,sciences recommendations ,in carrying out activities under section #djd,m7b7 of the ,public ,health ,service ,act1 the ,director of the ,national ,institutes of ,health shall take into consideration the recommendations made by the ,national ,academies of ,sciences as part of the comprehensive study on policies affecting the next generation of researchers under the ,department of ,health and ,human ,services ,appropriations ,act1 #bjaf 7,public ,law ,no4 #aad-aac71 and submit a report to ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate1 and the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives1 with respect to any actions taken by the ,national ,institutes of ,health based on the recommendations not later than #b years after the completion of the study required pursuant to such ,public ,law ,no4 #aad-aac4 #c4 ,intramural and extramural loan repayment programs 7a7 ,intramural loan repayment program ,section #dhg;,a of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bhh-a7 is amended-- 7#a7 in the section heading1 by striking ,,for ,,research ,,with ,,respect ,,to ,,acquired ,,immune ,,deficiency ,,syndrome2 7#b7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by striking ,the ,secretary shall carry out a program and inserting ,the ,director of ,,nih shall1 as appropriate and based on workforce and scientific priorities1 carry out a program through the subcategories listed in subsection 7b77#a7 7or modified subcategories as provided for in subsection 7b77#b772 7,b7 by striking conduct and inserting conduct research2 7,c7 by striking research with respect to acquired immune deficiency syndrome2 and 7,d7 by striking #ce1jjj and inserting #ej1jjj2 7#c7 by redesignating subsection 7b7 as subsection 7d72 7#d7 by inserting after subsection 7a71 the following3 7b7 ,subcategories of research 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out the program under subsection 7a71 the ,director of ,,nih-- 7,a7 shall continue to focus on-- 7i7 general research2 7ii7 research on acquired immune deficiency syndrome2 and 7iii7 clinical research conducted by appropriately qualified health professional who are from disadvantaged backgrounds2 and 7,b7 may focus on an area of emerging scientific or workforce need4 7#b7 ,elimination or establishment of subcategories ,the ,director of ,,nih may eliminate one or more subcategories provided for in paragraph 7#a7 due to changes in workforce or scientific needs related to biomedical research4 ,the ,director may establish other subcategory areas based on workforce and scientific priorities if the total number of subcategories does not exceed the number of subcategories listed in paragraph 7#a74 7c7 ,limitation ,the ,director of ,,nih may not enter into contract with a health professional pursuant to subsection 7a7 unless such professional has a substantial amount of education loans relative to income 7as determined pursuant to guidelines issued by the ,director74 2 and 7#e7 by adding at the end the following3 7e7 ,availability of appropriations ,amounts available for carrying out this section shall remain available until the expiration of the second fiscal year beginning after the fiscal year for which such amounts are made available4 4 7b7 ,extramural loan repayment program ,section #dhg;,b of the ,public ,health ,service ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bhh-b7 is amended-- 7#a7 in the section heading1 by striking ,,for ,,research ,,with ,,respect ,,to ,,contraception ,,and ,,infertility2 7#b7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by striking ,the ,secretary1 in consultation with the ,director of the ,eunice ,kennedy ,shriver ,national ,institute of ,child ,health and ,human ,development1 shall establish a program and inserting ,in general4--,the ,director of the ,,nih shall1 as appropriate and based on workforce and scientific priorities1 carry out a program through the subcategories listed in subsection 7b77#a7 7or modified subcategories as provided for in subsection 7b77#b7712 7,b7 by striking 7including graduate students72 7,c7 by striking with respect to contraception1 or with respect to infertility12 and 7,d7 by striking service1 not more than #ce1jjj and inserting research1 not more than #ej1jjj2 7#c7 by redesignating subsections 7b7 and 7c7 as subsections 7d7 and 7e71 respectively2 7#d7 by inserting after subsection 7a71 the following3 7b7 ,subcategories of research 7#a7 ,in general ,in carrying out the program under subsection 7a71 the ,director of ,,nih-- 7,a7 shall continue to focus on-- 7i7 contraception or infertility research2 7ii7 pediatric research2 7iii7 minority health disparities research2 7iv7 clinical research2 and 7v7 clinical research conducted by appropriately qualified health professional who are from disadvantaged backgrounds2 and 7,b7 may focus on an area of emerging scientific or workforce need4 7#b7 ,elimination or establishment of subcategories ,the ,director of ,,nih may eliminate one or more subcategories provided for in paragraph 7#a7 due to changes in workforce or scientific needs related to biomedical research4 ,the ,director may establish other subcategory areas based on workforce and scientific priorities if the total number of subcategories does not exceed the number of subcategories listed in paragraph 7#a74 7c7 ,limitation ,the ,director of ,,nih may not enter into contract with a health professional pursuant to subsection 7a7 unless such professional has a substantial amount of education loans relative to income 7as determined pursuant to guidelines issued by the ,director74 2 7#e7 in subsection 7d7 7as so redesignated71 by striking ,the provisions and inserting ,applicability of certain provisions regarding obligated service4--,the provisions2 and 7#f7 in subsection 7e7 7as so redesignated71 by striking ,amounts and inserting ,availability of appropriations4--,amounts4 7c7 ,technical and conforming amendments ,title ,,iv of the ,public ,health ,service ,act is amended-- 7#a7 by striking section #dfdz-#e 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bhet-#b72 7#b7 by striking section #dhg;,c 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bhh-c72 7#c7 by striking section #dhg;,e 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bhh-e72 and 7#d7 by striking section #dhg;,f 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bhh-e;a74 7d7 ,,gao report ,not later than #ah months after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall submit to ,congress a report on the efforts of the ,national ,institutes of ,health to attract1 retain1 and develop emerging scientists1 including underrepresented individuals in the sciences1 such as women and other groups4 ,such report shall include an analysis of the impact of the additional authority provided to the ,secretary of ,health and ,human ,services under this ,act to address workforce shortages and gaps in priority research areas1 including which centers and research areas offered loan repayment program participants the increased award amount4 ,april #d1 #bjaf,reported with an amendment