# 119-s-5165: POLAR Act

119-s-5165, POLAR Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-10).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5165
- As of: 2026-09-10
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-5165
- Congress: 119
- Title: POLAR Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-07-29
- Sponsor: Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK] (R-AK)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-10

## Summary

**Creates a new Directorate for Polar Programs at the National Science Foundation** to centralize Arctic and Antarctic science, build and maintain research infrastructure, and coordinate logistics, workforce development, and international engagement. It would prioritize Indigenous engagement, strengthen Alaska as a research hub, and align federal agencies and partners around polar priorities. - Researchers and institutions would compete for grants, fellowships, and infrastructure awards to support polar science, year-round stations, field camps, and research vessels. Eligible recipients include universities, nonprofits, private sector entities, consortia, and Indian Tribes. - Indigenous peoples and local Arctic communities would get formal roles in research co-production, education, and workforce programs aimed at building regional capacity and expanding opportunities in Alaska and other states and territories. - Federal agencies, the military, and commercial partners would have a clearer logistics and safety framework for polar operations as the directorate coordinates the U.S. Antarctic Program, represents U.S. interests in treaties, and chairs interagency Arctic bodies.

## Cosponsors (2)

- Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK] (R-AK), 2026-07-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO] (D-CO), 2026-07-29T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Stronger safety for polar workers: benefit, low. This bill would direct the Directorate to improve industrial hygiene, occupational health, and medical oversight for polar programs. It would support streamlining of safety initiatives and medical systems for people who live and work in polar regions. These safety improvements would take effect upo…
- Grants and scholarships for polar work: benefit, low. This bill would let the new Directorate award competitive grants, cooperative agreements, fellowships, scholarships, and infrastructure awards for polar research and training. Eligible recipients would include colleges, research institutions, nonprofits, tribes, and private companies. Awards must i…
- New Polar Directorate at NSF: benefit, low. This bill would create a new Polar Programs Directorate inside the National Science Foundation. The Directorate would coordinate U.S. science in the Arctic and Antarctica and engage Indigenous peoples. It would also support research, education, workforce training, and infrastructure, starting upon…
- Logistics contracts for polar operations: benefit, low. This bill would let the Directorate coordinate and run logistics for U.S. polar science. It could work with federal, military, and commercial partners and enter cost-reimbursable agreements to get air, maritime, land, and supply services. These operations would only proceed if Congress appropriates…
- Annual polar budget reporting to Congress: mixed, low. This bill would require the Directorate Director to send Congress an annual report on polar focus areas and possible future investments. The Director would include separate, detailed budget lines for Arctic research, Arctic infrastructure, other Arctic research categories, Antarctica research, and…

## Related bills

- 119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025
- 119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026
- 119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025
- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-3257: John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act
- 119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-s-5165 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/5165)

## Related
- [119-s-524: Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-524)
- [119-s-3923: Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Reauthorization Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3923)
- [119-s-1541: SHIPS for America Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1541)
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-3257: John A. Hauser Mental Health in Aviation Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-3257)
- [119-s-5025: Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5025)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-5165 (as of 2026-09-10).