Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Cooperative Institute Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with 2 Republican cosponsors · See all 3 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
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 Cooperative Institute Act of 2026 directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to maintain its Cooperative Institute program. This program involves academic or research partnerships between the Administration and eligible research institutions. These institutes are intended to promote research, education, training, and outreach related to the Administration's mission. The Under Secretary is tasked with maintaining these institutes and assessing the need for new ones every two years. The Act also outlines how these institutes are established, funded through financial assistance awards, and potentially terminated.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +6
Does this put more money into scientific research?
The bill maintains and potentially expands research capacity through the Cooperative Institute program.
- Scored +5
Would students be better off under this?
The act specifically promotes the involvement of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students in research.
- Scored +5
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?
The bill supports NOAA's mission through research and education which benefits environmental understanding and protection.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Educational and Career Opportunities: The program supports the participation of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral scientists, in research studies related to the Administration (Section 2(b)(2)(C)).
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Research Advancement: The program aims to promote basic and applied research, as well as expand research capacity in sciences related to the Administration's work (Section 2(b)(1)).
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Institutional Support: The program provides funding to strengthen or expand research capacity within research institutions by supporting administrative and scientific research activities (Section 2(b)(2)(D)).
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Collaborative Workforce: The Administration is authorized to collocate Federal employees and staff from eligible research institutions to foster collaboration (Section 2(c)(4)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limited Competition: While the Under Secretary is generally required to use open competition, they have the authority to use a limited competition if it is deemed in the best interest of the Federal Government (Section 2(c)(2)(B)).
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Potential for Termination: The Under Secretary has the authority to terminate or decide not to renew a Cooperative Institute, which could impact the established research and staff (Section 2(e)).
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? — The act specifically promotes the involvement of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students in research. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The program explicitly supports the participation of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral scientists.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more money into scientific research? — The bill maintains and potentially expands research capacity through the Cooperative Institute program.
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Does this better protect air, water and wildlife? — The bill supports NOAA's mission through research and education which benefits environmental understanding and protection.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill maintains a federal program for scientific research partnerships. Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires reports to congressional committees for the termination of institutes.
- 8/6/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi