,i #aagth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #hdi ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #d1 #bjba,mr4 ,tonko 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,johnson of ,texas1 ,ms4 ,stevens1 ,mr4 ,lowenthal1 ,ms4 ,bonamici1 ,mr4 ,beyer1 ,mr4 ,foster1 ,mr4 ,casten1 ,mr4 ,fitzpatrick1 ,mr4 ,perlmutter1 ,mr4 ,garamendi1 ,mrs4 ,hayes1 ,mr4 ,pascrell1 ,mr4 ,michael ,f4 ,doyle of ,pennsylvania1 ,mr4 ,kilmer1 ,ms4 ,sewell1 ,ms4 ,houlahan1 ,mr4 ,cooper1 ,mr4 ,horsford1 ,mr4 ,quigley1 ,mr4 ,panetta1 ,mr4 ,smith of ,washington1 ,mr4 ,david ,scott of ,georgia1 ,mr4 ,takano1 ,ms4 ,brownley1 ,ms4 ,matsui1 ,mr4 ,morelle1 ,ms4 ,lee of ,california1 ,ms4 ,velzquez1 ,ms4 ,clarke of ,new ,york1 ,mrs4 ,kirkpatrick1 ,mr4 ,malinowski1 ,mr4 ,lieu1 ,mr4 ,sarbanes1 ,ms4 ,del,bene1 ,mr4 ,mc,govern1 ,miss ,rice of ,new ,york1 ,ms4 ,mc,collum1 ,mr4 ,carbajal1 ,mr4 ,gallego1 ,mr4 ,garca of ,illinois1 ,mr4 ,butterfield1 ,ms4 ,kuster1 ,mr4 ,huffman1 ,mr4 ,thompson of ,california1 ,mr4 ,sherman1 ,mrs4 ,beatty1 ,mr4 ,veasey1 ,mr4 ,kim of ,new ,jersey1 ,ms4 ,barragn1 ,mr4 ,bera1 ,mr4 ,crist1 ,mr4 ,swalwell1 ,mr4 ,hastings1 ,mr4 ,higgins of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,cleaver1 ,mrs4 ,dingell1 ,mr4 ,lynch1 ,mr4 ,stanton1 ,mr4 ,lamb1 ,ms4 ,scanlon1 ,mr4 ,mc,eachin1 ,mr4 ,nadler1 ,ms4 ,jackson ,lee1 ,mr4 ,khanna1 ,mr4 ,mc,nerney1 ,mr4 ,case1 ,mr4 ,kahele1 ,mr4 ,pallone1 ,mr4 ,rush1 ,mrs4 ,napolitano1 ,mr4 ,brendan ,f4 ,boyle of ,pennsylvania1 ,mr4 ,connolly1 ,ms4 ,eshoo1 ,mr4 ,pocan1 ,ms4 ,spanberger1 ,ms4 ,wexton1 ,mr4 ,ruppersberger1 ,ms4 ,ross1 ,mr4 ,sires1 ,mrs4 ,carolyn ,b4 ,maloney of ,new ,york1 ,mr4 ,langevin1 ,ms4 ,norton1 ,ms4 ,blunt ,rochester1 ,mr4 ,larsen of ,washington1 ,mr4 ,suozzi1 ,mr4 ,de,fazio1 ,ms4 ,de,gette1 ,mr4 ,crow1 ,ms4 ,wasserman ,schultz1 ,mr4 ,johnson of ,georgia1 ,ms4 ,speier1 ,mrs4 ,luria1 ,mr4 ,price of ,north ,carolina1 ,mr4 ,levin of ,california1 ,mr4 ,cohen1 ,ms4 ,chu1 ,mr4 ,delgado1 ,mr4 ,espaillat1 ,mr4 ,raskin1 ,mr4 ,auchincloss1 ,mr4 ,pappas1 ,ms4 ,underwood1 ,mr4 ,welch1 ,ms4 ,manning1 ,mr4 ,himes1 ,mrs4 ,fletcher1 ,mr4 ,jones1 ,mrs4 ,watson ,coleman1 ,mr4 ,evans1 ,ms4 ,davids of ,kansas1 ,mr4 ,grijalva1 ,ms4 ,castor of ,florida1 ,ms4 ,dean1 ,mr4 ,neguse1 ,ms4 ,lois ,frankel of ,florida1 ,mr4 ,blumenauer1 ,ms4 ,strickland1 ,mrs4 ,trahan1 ,mr4 ,yarmuth1 ,ms4 ,leger ,fernandez1 ,mr4 ,de,saulnier1 ,ms4 ,kelly of ,illinois1 ,mr4 ,vela1 ,mrs4 ,lawrence1 ,ms4 ,schakowsky1 ,mr4 ,cicilline1 ,mr4 ,sablan1 ,mr4 ,scott of ,virginia1 ,mr4 ,meeks1 ,ms4 ,snchez1 ,mr4 ,crdenas1 ,mrs4 ,bustos1 ,mr4 ,danny ,k4 ,davis of ,illinois1 ,ms4 ,garcia of ,texas1 ,mrs4 ,demings1 ,ms4 ,tlaib1 ,ms4 ,jayapal1 ,ms4 ,adams1 ,mr4 ,o',halleran1 ,mr4 ,kildee1 ,ms4 ,roybal-,allard1 ,ms4 ,titus1 ,ms4 ,newman1 ,mr4 ,ryan1 ,ms4 ,clark of ,massachusetts1 ,ms4 ,lofgren1 ,mr4 ,keating1 ,mr4 ,levin of ,michigan1 ,ms4 ,escobar1 ,ms4 ,pingree1 ,ms4 ,moore of ,wisconsin1 ,mr4 ,correa1 ,mr4 ,trone1 ,ms4 ,meng1 ,mrs4 ,murphy of ,florida1 ,mrs4 ,mc,bath1 ,mr4 ,cuellar1 ,mrs4 ,axne1 ,mr4 ,green of ,texas1 ,ms4 ,porter1 ,ms4 ,kaptur1 and ,mr4 ,thompson of ,mississippi7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology ,a ,,bill ,to amend the ,america ,,competes ,act to establish certain scientific integrity policies for ,federal agencies that fund1 conduct1 or oversee scientific research1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,scientific ,integrity ,act4 #b4 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 science and the scientific process should help inform and guide public policy decisions on a wide range of issues1 including improvement of public health1 protection of the environment1 and protection of national security2 7#b7 the public must be able to trust the science and scientific process informing public policy decisions2 7#c7 science1 the scientific process1 and the communication of science should be free from politics1 ideology1 and financial conflicts of interest2 7#d7 policies and procedures that ensure the integrity of the conduct and communication of publicly funded science are critical to ensuring public trust2 7#e7 a ,federal agency that funds1 conducts1 or oversees research should not suppress1 alter1 interfere with1 or otherwise impede the timely communication and open exchange of data and findings to other agencies1 policymakers1 and the public of research conducted by a scientist or engineer employed or contracted by a ,federal agency that funds1 conducts1 or oversees scientific research2 7#f7 ,federal agencies that fund1 conduct1 or oversee research should work to prevent the suppression or distortion of the data and findings2 7#g7 under the ,first ,amendment to the ,constitution1 citizens of the ,united ,states have the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances2 and 7#h7 ,congress has further protected those rights under section #gbaa of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 which states1 the right of employees1 individually or collectively1 to petition ,congress or a member of ,congress 4 4 4 may not be interfered with or denied4 #c4 ,amendment to ,america ,,competes ,act ,section #ajji of the ,america ,,competes ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ffbj7 is amended by striking subsections 7a7 and 7b7 and inserting the following3 7a7 ,scientific integrity policies 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of the ,scientific ,integrity ,act1 the head of each covered agency shall-- 7,a7 adopt and enforce a scientific integrity policy in accordance with subsections 7b7 and 7c72 and 7,b7 submit such policy to the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy for approval4 7#b7 ,publication ,not later than #cj days after the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy approves the scientific integrity policy under paragraph 7#a71 the head of each covered agency shall-- 7,a7 make such policy available to the public on the website of the agency2 and 7,b7 submit such policy to the relevant ,committees of ,congress4 7b7 ,requirements ,a scientific integrity policy under subsection 7a7-- 7#a7 shall prohibit any covered individual from-- 7,a7 engaging in dishonesty1 fraud1 deceit1 misrepresentation1 coercive manipulation1 or other scientific or research misconduct2 7,b7 suppressing1 altering1 interfering with1 delaying without scientific merit1 or otherwise impeding the release and communication of1 scientific or technical findings2 7,c7 intimidating or coercing an individual to alter or censor1 attempting to intimidate or coerce an individual to alter or censor1 or retaliating against an individual for failure to alter or censor1 scientific or technical findings2 or 7,d7 implementing an institutional barrier to cooperation with scientists outside the covered agency and the timely communication of scientific or technical findings2 7#b7 shall allow a covered individual to-- 7,a7 disseminate scientific or technical findings1 subject to existing law1 by-- 7i7 participating in scientific conferences2 and 7ii7 seeking publication in online and print publications through peer-reviewed1 professional1 or scholarly journals2 7,b7 sit on scientific advisory or governing boards2 7,c7 join or hold leadership positions on scientific councils1 societies1 unions1 and other professional organizations2 7,d7 contribute to the academic peer-review process as reviewers or editors2 and 7,e7 participate and engage with the scientific community2 7#c7 may require a covered individual to1 before disseminating scientific or technical findings as described in paragraph 7#b77;,a71 submit such findings to the agency for the purpose of review by the agency of the data and findings for technical accuracy if the scientific integrity policy outlines a clear and consistent process for such review2 and 7#d7 shall require that-- 7,a7 scientific conclusions are not made based on political considerations2 7,b7 the selection and retention of candidates for science and technology positions in the covered agency are based primarily on the candidate's expertise1 scientific credentials1 experience1 and integrity2 7,c7 personnel actions regarding covered individuals1 except for political appointees1 are not taken on the basis of political consideration or ideology2 7,d7 covered individuals adhere to the highest ethical and professional standards in conducting their research and disseminating their findings2 7,e7 the appropriate rules1 procedures1 and safeguards are in place to ensure the integrity of the scientific process within the covered agency2 7,f7 scientific or technological information considered in policy decisions is subject to well-established scientific processes1 including peer review where appropriate2 7,g7 procedures1 including procedures with respect to applicable whistleblower protections1 are in place as are necessary to ensure the integrity of scientific and technological information and processes on which the covered agency relies in its decision making or otherwise uses2 and 7,h7 enforcement of such policy is consistent with the processes for an administrative hearing and an administrative appeal4 7c7 ,implementation ,in carrying out subsection 7a71 the head of each covered agency shall-- 7#a7 design the scientific integrity policy to apply with respect to the covered agency2 7#b7 ensure that such policy is clear with respect to what activities are permitted and what activities are not permitted2 7#c7 ensure that there is a process for individuals not employed or contracted by the agency1 including grantees1 collaborators1 partners1 and volunteers1 to report violations of the scientific integrity policy2 7#d7 enforce such policy uniformly throughout the covered agency2 and 7#e7 make such policy available to the public1 employees1 private contractors1 and grantees of the covered agency4 7d7 ,scientific ,integrity ,officer ,not later than #ij days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 each covered agency shall appoint a ,scientific ,integrity ,officer1 who shall-- 7#a7 be a career employee at the covered agency in a professional position2 7#b7 have technical knowledge and expertise in conducting and overseeing scientific research2 7#c7 direct the activities and duties described in subsections 7e71 7f71 and 7g72 and 7#d7 work closely with the inspector general of the covered agency1 as appropriate4 7e7 ,administrative process and training ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the head of each covered agency shall establish-- 7#a7 an administrative process and administrative appeal process for dispute resolution consistent with the scientific integrity policy of the covered agency adopted under subsection 7a72 and 7#b7 a training program to provide-- 7,a7 regular scientific integrity and ethics training to employees and contractors of the covered agency2 7,b7 new covered employees with training within one month of commencing employment2 7,c7 information to ensure that covered individuals are fully aware of their rights and responsibilities regarding the conduct of scientific research1 publication of scientific research1 and communication with the media and the public regarding scientific research2 and 7,d7 information to ensure that covered individuals are fully aware of their rights and responsibilities for administrative hearings and appeals established in the covered agency's scientific integrity policy4 7f7 ,reporting 7#a7 ,annual report ,each year1 each ,scientific ,integrity ,officer appointed by a covered agency under subsection 7d7 shall post an annual report on the public website of the covered agency that includes1 for the year covered by the report-- 7,a7 the number of complaints of misconduct with respect to the scientific integrity policy adopted under subsection 7a7-- 7i7 filed for administrative redress2 7ii7 petitioned for administrative appeal2 and 7iii7 still pending from years prior to the year covered by the report1 if any2 7,b7 an anonymized summary of each such complaint and the results of each such complaint2 and 7,c7 any changes made to the scientific integrity policy4 7#b7 ,incident report 7,a7 ,in general ,not later than #cj days after the date on which an incident described in subparagraph 7,b7 occurs1 the head of a covered agency shall submit a report describing the incident to the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy and the relevant ,committees of ,congress4 7,b7 ,incident ,an incident described under this paragraph is an incident in which an individual1 acting outside the channels established under subsection 7e71 overrules the decision of the ,scientific ,integrity ,officer with respect to a dispute regarding a violation of the scientific integrity policy4 7g7 ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy ,the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy shall-- 7#a7 collate1 organize1 and publicly share all information it receives under subsection 7g7 in one place on its own website2 and 7#b7 on an annual basis1 convene the ,scientific ,integrity ,officer of each covered agency appointed under subsection 7d7 to discuss best practices for implementing the requirements of this section4 7h7 ,periodic review and approval 7#a7 ,internal review ,the head of each covered agency shall periodically conduct a review of the scientific integrity policy and change such policy as appropriate4 7#b7 ,review by the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy 7,a7 ,review of substantial updates ,the head of each covered agency shall submit to the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy for approval any substantial changes to the scientific integrity policy4 7,b7 ,quinquennial review ,not later than #e years after the date of the enactment of the ,scientific ,integrity ,act1 and quinquennially thereafter1 the head of each covered agency shall submit the scientific integrity policy to the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy for review and approval4 7i7 ,comptroller ,general review ,not later than #b years after the date of the enactment of the ,scientific ,integrity ,act1 the ,comptroller ,general shall conduct a review of the implementation of the scientific integrity policy by each covered agency4 7j7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,agency ,the term agency has the meaning given the term in section #eea of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code4 7#b7 ,covered agency ,the term covered agency means an agency that funds1 conducts1 or oversees scientific research4 7#c7 ,covered individual ,the term covered individual means a ,federal employee or contractor who-- 7,a7 is engaged in1 supervises1 or manages scientific activities2 7,b7 analyzes or publicly communicates information resulting from scientific activities2 or 7,c7 uses scientific information or analyses in making bureau1 office1 or agency policy1 management1 or regulatory decisions4 7#d7 ,relevant committees of ,congress ,the term relevant ,committees of ,congress means-- 7,a7 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation of the ,senate2 and 7,b7 the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology of the ,house of ,representatives4 4 #d4 ,existing policies2 clarification 7a7 ,existing scientific integrity policies ,notwithstanding the amendments made by this ,act1 a covered agency's scientific integrity policy that was in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this ,act may satisfy the requirements under the amendments made by this ,act if the head of the covered agency-- 7#a7 makes a written determination that the policy satisfies such requirements2 and 7#b7 submits the written determination and the policy to the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy for review and approval4 7b7 ,clarification ,nothing in this ,act shall affect the application of ,united ,states copyright law4 7c7 ,covered agency defined ,the term covered agency has the meaning given the term in section #ajji of the ,america ,,competes ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ffbj74