A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See all 5 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2800-2801)
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The RESEARCHER Act requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to create policy guidelines to address the financial instability of graduate and postdoctoral researchers. These guidelines will help Federal research agencies handle issues like stipend increases, healthcare access, and housing. The bill also mandates the collection of data on researcher stipends and financial instability. Additionally, it requires a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and a review by the GAO to ensure the guidelines are being implemented effectively.
Yes· 3 of 24
- Scored +7
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
Graduate and postdoctoral researchers are typically young adults who would benefit from increased stipends.
- Scored +7
Would students be better off under this?
Graduate researchers (students) are primary beneficiaries of potential stipend increases.
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
Addresses food insecurity and affordable housing for low-stipend researchers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Income: The bill directs guidelines to address opportunities to increase stipends for graduate and postdoctoral researchers, including indexing them based on location (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Support for Underserved Areas: There is a specific consideration for increasing stipends for postdoctoral researchers working in rural or underserved areas, or in certain eligible States, to help recruit and keep researchers in those regions (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
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Better Access to Basic Needs: The guidelines will address opportunities to increase access to affordable housing, transportation, quality medical, dental, and vision care, and efforts to reduce food insecurity (Section 2(b)(2)(C), (D), and (E)).
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Family Support: The bill includes guidelines to address the costs associated with caring for family members, including child care (Section 2(b)(2)(F)).
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Data-Driven Improvements: By requiring the collection of demographic data on stipends and financial instability, the government can better understand and address the specific needs of researchers (Section 2(c) and 2(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No Guaranteed Funding: The bill requires the development of "guidelines" and "opportunities" to increase stipends and access to services, but it does not explicitly mandate or provide the actual funding to guarantee these increases occur (Section 2(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would students be better off under this? — Graduate researchers (students) are primary beneficiaries of potential stipend increases. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Graduate and postdoctoral researchers are typically young adults who would benefit from increased stipends. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Addresses food insecurity and affordable housing for low-stipend researchers. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — Specifically mentions increasing stipends to recruit and retain researchers in rural areas. Would people in cities be better off under this? — Indexing stipends to location helps those in high-cost urban areas. Would women be better off under this? — Guidelines specifically address child care costs, which disproportionately affect women in research. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Demographic data collection may lead to targeted support for underrepresented minority researchers. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Demographic data collection may lead to targeted support for underrepresented minority researchers. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Demographic data collection may lead to targeted support for underrepresented minority researchers. Would men be better off under this? — Researchers of all genders benefit from the proposed stability guidelines. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Demographic data collection may lead to targeted support for underrepresented minority researchers. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Researchers of all ethnicities benefit from the proposed stability guidelines.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill aims to reduce food insecurity and financial instability for graduate and postdoctoral researchers. Does this make housing cost less? — The bill specifically targets opportunities to increase access to affordable housing for researchers. Does this make child care cost less? — Guidelines will address the costs of caring for family members, including child care. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill requires demographic disaggregation of financial data to better understand disparities. Is this likely to reduce homelessness? — By addressing affordable housing and financial instability, it may prevent homelessness among researchers.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill mandates guidelines to increase access to affordable medical, dental, and vision care for researchers. Does this put more money into medical research? — The bill funds data collection and studies regarding the researcher workforce, though not direct scientific research.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires public reporting on the implementation of financial instability guidelines. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill mandates the federal OSTP to set guidelines for federal agencies.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this invest in rural communities? — The bill provides additional considerations for increasing stipends for researchers in rural areas.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — By improving researcher stability, it supports the long-term sustainability of the scientific workforce.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — Improving the financial stability of researchers can enhance national competitiveness and research output.
- 5/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/7/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/7/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2800-2801)
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Jerry MoranRepublican · Kansas
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire