Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
North Pacific Research Board Enhancement Act
A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 189.
Cleared committee, waiting for its first floor vote
A committee approved it and it is on the calendar of the chamber it started in.
This is further than most bills get, and still no promise of a vote: the calendar is a queue, and the majority leadership decides what is called. A bill can sit here until the Congress ends.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the North Pacific Research Board Enhancement Act. It makes changes to how the North Pacific Research Board operates and manages its funding. The text requires funds to be made available no later than 14 days after the start of each fiscal year. It adds a new member to represent Alaska Natives with personal knowledge and direct experience in subsistence uses. The bill also allows for changes to the cap on administrative expenses under certain conditions and provides a waiver for that cap.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +6
Would Native Americans be better off under this?
The bill provides Alaska Natives with direct representation on the North Pacific Research Board.
- Scored +5
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?
The bill mandates the inclusion of an Alaska Native representative with expertise in subsistence uses on the Board.
- Scored +3
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?
The inclusion of a member with subsistence expertise directly benefits rural Alaskan communities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Representation for Alaska Natives: Section 2(a)(2)(D) adds a new member to the Board who will represent Alaska Natives and have personal knowledge and direct experience with subsistence uses. This is positive because it gives a specific group a direct voice on the Board.
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Timely Release of Funds: Section 2(a)(1) requires funds to be made available no later than 14 days after the start of each fiscal year. This ensures that money is processed quickly at the beginning of the year.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Changes to Administrative Expense Caps: Section 2(a)(5) and Section 2(b) allow the 15 percent cap on administrative expenses to be increased or waived under certain conditions, such as when available funding decreases or during a 4-year period after enactment. This could be viewed as a burden because it allows more money to potentially be spent on administration rather than directly on research.
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 Native Americans be better off under this? — The bill provides Alaska Natives with direct representation on the North Pacific Research Board. Would people in rural areas be better off under this? — The inclusion of a member with subsistence expertise directly benefits rural Alaskan communities.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The bill mandates the inclusion of an Alaska Native representative with expertise in subsistence uses on the Board.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill enhances the North Pacific Research Board's operational capacity to conduct environmental research.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill facilitates more reliable and timely access to funds for research initiatives.
- Economy And Finance
- Is this likely to grow the economy? — The bill ensures more timely fund availability to support ongoing research operations.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill introduces structured representation for specific community interests within a federal board.
- 10/14/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-80.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 189.
- 5/21/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 1/22/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 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.
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska