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HR7173119th CongressWALLET

Follow the Science Act

Sponsored By: Representative DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]

Introduced

Summary

Shields NIH funding decisions from political influence. The Follow the Science Act defines who counts as a "political employee" and limits their role in NIH activities to strengthen scientific integrity and guard funding processes.

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  • Scientists and research institutions: Bars political employees from participating in NIH activities such as solicitation, review, scoring, selection, and awarding of funding at the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.
  • Political appointees and senior officials: Creates a new "political employee" category covering Executive Schedule positions, noncareer Senior Executive Service appointments, Schedule C and Schedule G roles, and other exempted policy-making positions, and prohibits their involvement in NIH grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, and other funding arrangements while requiring reporting to Congress.
  • Grant recipients and covered agreements: Limits cancellations or suspensions of covered agreements to cases with findings of financial mismanagement, fraud, debarment, or malfeasance, and requires agencies to notify specified congressional committees within 30 days after a suspension or cancellation.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Bar political appointees from NIH awards

If enacted, the bill would require the Secretary, through the NIH Director, to keep political employees out of grant and contract decisions at NIH and ARPA-H. This would cover solicitation, review, scoring, selection, and awarding of grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, other transactions, and other funding arrangements. The rule would take effect upon enactment and would not change award amounts. It would be construed so as not to affect existing requirements in sections 406 and 492 of the Public Health Service Act.

Protect NIH grants from sudden cancellation

If enacted, the bill would define a “covered agreement” as any NIH grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other transaction and require that NIH implement it for the full period and according to its terms. The Secretary would not be allowed to cancel, delay, or suspend a covered agreement unless the Secretary issues written findings of financial mismanagement, research fraud, debarment, or malfeasance. If an action occurs, NIH must notify the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and provide the written findings within 30 days. The rule would take effect upon enactment and would apply notwithstanding certain federal regulations.

Ban political employees at NIH

If enacted, the bill would bar political employees from being employed by NIH and from taking part in setting or implementing general NIH policies and operations. The rule would still allow the NIH Director, the National Cancer Institute Director, and the ARPA-H Director to serve and participate. It would not stop political employees who work at other agencies from participating when this title specifically requires it. The restriction would take effect upon enactment and would not be construed to affect sections 406 or 492 of the Public Health Service Act.

Define who is a political employee

If enacted, the bill would define “political employee” to include people in Executive Schedule positions (5 U.S.C. 5312–5316), noncareer Senior Executive Service appointees, Schedule C confidential or policy-determining positions, Schedule G excepted-service positions (per Executive Order 14317), other excepted positions with a confidential or policy-making character, and anyone acting on their behalf. The definition would take effect upon enactment and would determine who is covered by the bill’s participation and employment prohibitions.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]

CO • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/19/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/21/2026

  • Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/27/2026

  • Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 1/27/2026

  • Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 1/27/2026

  • Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 2/2/2026

  • Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 2/2/2026

  • Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/18/2026

  • Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 6/2/2026

  • Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 8/3/2026

  • Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 9/1/2026

  • Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/1/2026

  • Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]

    ME • D

    Sponsored 10/13/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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