Merit Restoration Act
Sponsored By: Representative Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would ban certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices from being used in connection with federal research grants. It would let Federal research agencies freeze grant funds and require recipients to repay funds when a recipient is found to have used a prohibited DEI practice.
Show full summary
- Research institutions and grant recipients would be barred from requiring employees to take trainings or sign statements that claim a race, ethnicity, religion, biological sex, color, or national origin is inherently superior or inferior as a condition of employment, promotion, speaking, or submitting materials.
- The definition of a Federal research grant would cover systematic research projects, training that uses the same facilities as research, and subgrants. It would not cover direct cash assistance to individuals, subsidies, loans, loan guarantees, or insurance.
- Federal research agencies would be required to freeze grant payments when a prohibited DEI practice is alleged and to recover funds if they determine a violation occurred. The ban would apply to grant agreements entered into on or after the date of enactment of the Act.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this bill affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this bill and every other piece of legislation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
New DEI limits for research grants
This bill would bar certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in federal research grants. Federal research agencies would not be able to use those DEI practices when they award, review, or continue research grants. Grant recipients would also be barred from using those DEI practices while carrying out grant work. The bill would define which agencies and grants count, including some research training and subgrants, and would exclude direct cash aid, loans, loan guarantees, subsidies, and insurance. The rule would apply to grant agreements entered into on or after the date of enactment. If a recipient is accused of a banned practice, the awarding agency would freeze payments, and if the agency finds a violation it would require repayment of federal funds used in the violation.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Norman, Ralph [R-SC-5]
SC • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
FL • R
Sponsored 6/2/2026
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
GA • R
Sponsored 6/3/2026
Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3]
SC • R
Sponsored 6/3/2026
Rep. Self, Keith [R-TX-3]
TX • R
Sponsored 6/4/2026
Rep. Burchett, Tim [R-TN-2]
TN • R
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Gosar, Paul A. [R-AZ-9]
AZ • R
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Fine, Randy [R-FL-6]
FL • R
Sponsored 6/8/2026
Rep. Clyde, Andrew S. [R-GA-9]
GA • R
Sponsored 6/10/2026
Rep. Fulcher, Russ [R-ID-1]
ID • R
Sponsored 6/18/2026
Rep. Harrigan, Pat [R-NC-10]
NC • R
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov