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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10173 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10173
To amend the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 to
reauthorize the research experiences for undergraduates program at the
National Science Foundation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 27, 2026
Ms. Rivas (for herself, Mr. Lieu, Mr. Moulton, Mrs. McClain Delaney,
Ms. Ross, Mr. Tonko, and Mrs. Beatty) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 to
reauthorize the research experiences for undergraduates program at the
National Science Foundation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``NSF Research Experiences for
Undergraduates Act of 2026'' or the ``NSF REU Act of 2026''.
SEC. 2. NSF RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADUATES.
The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-
358) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2) of section 2 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note), by
striking ``The term'' and inserting ``Except as provided in
section 502, the term'';
(2) in section 502 (42 U.S.C. 1862p note)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), (4), (5),
and (6) as paragraphs (3), (6), (7), (12), and (14),
respectively;
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following
new paragraph:
``(2) Emerging research institution.--The term `emerging
research institution' has the meaning given such term in
section 10002 of the Research, Development, Competition, and
Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18901).'';
(C) by inserting after paragraph (3), as so
redesignated, the following new paragraphs:
``(4) EPSCoR institution.--The term `EPSCoR institution'
means an institution of higher education, nonprofit
organization, or other institution located in a jurisdiction
under section 113 of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g).
``(5) First-generation college student.--The term `first-
generation college student' has the meaning given such term in
section 402A of the Higher Education of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070a-
11).'';
(D) by inserting after paragraph (7), as so
redesignated, the following new paragraphs:
``(8) Junior or community college.--The term `junior or
community college' has the meaning given such term in section
312 of the Higher Education of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058).
``(9) Minority-serving institution.--The term `minority-
serving institution' means a Hispanic-serving institution (as
such term is defined in section 502 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a)), an Alaska Native-serving
institution or Native Hawaiian-serving institution (as such
term is defined in section 317 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d)),
a historically Black college or university (defined as a `part
B institution' in section 322 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1061)), a
Tribal College or University (as such term is defined in
section 316 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059c)), or a Predominantly
Black institution or an Asian American and Native American-
serving institution (as such terms are defined in section 317
of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1067q(c))).
``(10) Nonprofit organization.--The term `nonprofit
organization' means an organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from
tax under section 501(a) of such Code.
``(11) REU site.--The term `REU site' means a research
experience described in section 514 funded by the National
Science Foundation that engages cohorts of undergraduate
students in faculty-mentored, research centered around a
specific STEM theme.''; and
(E) by inserting after paragraph (12), as so
redesignated, the following new paragraph:
``(13) STEM.--The term `STEM' has the meaning given such
term in section 10002 of the Research and Development,
Competition, and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18901).''; and
(3) in section 514 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-6; relating to research
experiences for undergraduates), by amending subsection (a) to
read as follows:
``(a) NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates.--
``(1) In general.--The Director shall establish a program
(in this section referred to as the `program') to award grants,
on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis, to institutions of
higher education and nonprofit organizations, or consortia of
such institutions and organizations, to provide research
experiences across a wide range of STEM disciplines for
undergraduates students during the summer months, academic
year, or both, with consideration given to the goal of
promoting the participation of the following:
``(A) Individuals with limited or no prior
experience in STEM research.
``(B) Individuals identified in section 1885a or
1885b of the Science and Engineering Equal
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a and 1885b).
``(2) Requirements.--The Director shall ensure proposals
for awards under this section include a description of how the
applicant will satisfy the following requirements:
``(A) At least half of the students participating
at each summer-based REU site shall be recruited from
institutions of higher education at which research
opportunities in STEM are limited, including emerging
research institutions, minority-serving institutions,
junior or community colleges, primarily undergraduate
institutions, and institutions of higher education that
are located near or serve rural communities, including
EPSCoR institutions.
``(B) To the extent practicable and appropriate,
students participating in each funded program have
mentors, frameworks, or resources that connect the
research experiences of such students to the
professional goals of such students.
``(C) Mentors and students are supported with an
appropriate salary or stipend.
``(D) Student participants are tracked, for
employment and continued matriculation in STEM
disciplines, through receipt of the undergraduate
degree and for at least three years thereafter.
``(3) Additional considerations.--In making awards under
this subsection, the Director may also consider the following:
``(A) The extent to which the applicant will
support students from diverse backgrounds, including
first-generation college students.
``(B) The extent to which the applicant will
support students early in the college experiences of
such students to pursue degrees in STEM disciplines.
``(C) The extent to which the applicant uses
consortia or inter-institutional collaborations.
``(D) The representation of a wide range of STEM
disciplines across the program.
``(E) The geographic and institutional diversity of
applicants.
``(4) Uses of funds.--Awards made under this section shall
be used to support the research experiences referred to in
paragraph (1), including the following:
``(A) Support for REU site coordination and program
management.
``(B) Support for student travel, housing, and
accessibility accommodations to reduce barriers to
student participation.
``(C) Support for students to present at academic
conferences the research and findings gained from
participation at an REU site.
``(D) Engagement and activities with external
stakeholders to support student exposure to diverse
research environments, including stakeholders from the
academic sector, public sector, and private sector.
``(E) Support program evaluation and data
collection activities to assess the impact of funded
activities on student outcomes and career pathways.
``(F) Support student professional development
(including training in responsible and ethical conduct
of research), mentor selection and preparation,
graduate school preparation, and communication of
behavioral expectations to ensure a safe, inclusive,
and harassment-free environment.
``(5) Faculty supplements.--The Director may award
supplemental funds, as appropriate, for REU sites to enable the
participation of mentors or supervisors from institutions of
higher education and nonprofit organizations at which research
experiences in STEM are limited, including institutions of
higher education referred to in paragraph (2)(A). Supplements
under this paragraph may include additional funds for REU site
coordination, REU site program management, and faculty release
time from administrative or teaching duties.
``(6) Mentor training.--The Director may support symposia,
forums, conferences, workshops, or other activities to promote
the development of REU site mentors and faculty to share best
practices, research outcomes, and strategies for mentorship and
broadening participation in STEM.
``(7) REU site resources.--The Director, as practical and
appropriate, shall distribute resources for REU site
management, including a common application and shared
assessment criteria for students applying to REU sites in
pursuit of a research experience.
``(8) Alumni engagement.--The Director may support the
development of a web-based platform to engage with REU site
alumni to reinforce community building, identify long-term
impacts of the program, and strengthen long-term affiliations
between alumni and the Foundation.
``(9) Outreach.--To increase the diversity of participants
in undergraduate research experiences referred to in paragraph
(1), the Director shall support symposia, forums, conferences,
or other activities to expand or enhance outreach to the
following:
``(A) Junior or community colleges.
``(B) Minority-serving institutions.
``(C) Institutions of higher education that are
located near or serve rural communities, including
EPSCoR institutions.
``(D) Emerging research institutions.
``(E) Primarily undergraduate institutions.
``(F) Other institutions of higher education.
``(10) Interagency coordination.--The Director shall
coordinate with the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of
Defense, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, as
appropriate, in carrying out this subsection.
``(11) Gift authority.--The Director is authorized to
accept donations from the private sector and nonprofit
organizations to supplement, but not supplant, activities and
research experiences associated with awards under this
subsection.
``(12) Report.--Not later than four years after the date of
the enactment of this subsection, the Director shall submit to
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a report that includes the
following:
``(A) A recommendation, informed by research
community feedback, on the appropriate balance between
REU sites operating during the academic year compared
to the summer season.
``(B) An assessment of needed resources, including
data, infrastructure, and personnel, for the Foundation
to track long-term outcomes and impacts of REU site
participants.
``(C) A description of the efforts taken by the
Foundation to recruit student participants from
institutions of higher education and nonprofit
organizations at which research opportunities are
limited, including institutions referred to in
paragraph (2)(A), into existing REU sites.
``(D) Recommendations, informed by research
community feedback, on how to promote applications from
institutions of higher education and nonprofit
organizations at which research opportunities are
limited, including institutions referred to in
paragraph (2)(A).
``(E) A description of the efforts taken by the
Foundation to promote interagency coordination,
including the interagency coordination of funding
decisions, to reduce volatility and delays in the
process of REU site selections.
``(13) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the National
Science Foundation $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2027
through 2032 to carry out this subsection.''.
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