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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9103 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 9103
To prohibit Federal research agencies and recipients of Federal
research grants from using a prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion
practice with respect to Federal research grants, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 2, 2026
Mr. Norman (for himself and Mr. Steube) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To prohibit Federal research agencies and recipients of Federal
research grants from using a prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion
practice with respect to Federal research grants, 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 ``Merit Restoration Act''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITIONS ON PROHIBITED DIVERSITY, EQUITY, OR INCLUSION
PRACTICES BY FEDERAL RESEARCH AGENCIES AND RECIPIENTS IN
FEDERAL RESEARCH GRANTS.
(a) Prohibitions.--
(1) Federal research agencies.--A Federal research agency
may not use any prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion
practice in awarding, evaluating, or continuing a Federal
research grant.
(2) Recipients.--A recipient of a Federal research grant
may not use any prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion
practice in carrying out the Federal research grant.
(b) Enforcement.--If a recipient of a Federal research grant
engages in a prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion practice in a
manner alleged to be in violation of the prohibition described in
subsection (a)(2) with respect to such Federal research grant, the
Federal research agency that awarded the Federal research grant--
(1) shall freeze the receipt of Federal funds with respect
to the Federal research grant; and
(2) if the Federal research agency determines that the
recipient committed such a violation, shall require the
recipient to repay any Federal funds used pursuant to the
violation with respect to the Federal research grant.
(c) Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to an
agreement for a Federal research grant entered into on or after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(d) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Federal research agency.--The term ``Federal research
agency'' means any Executive agency (as defined in section 105
of title 5, United States Code) that awards, administers,
conducts, or supports scientific, medical, technological,
engineering, or other research activities through Federal
funds, Federal research grants, contracts, cooperative
agreements, or direct operations.
(2) Federal research grant.--The term ``Federal research
grant''--
(A) means a grant awarded by a Federal research
agency to support a systematic study directed toward
fuller scientific knowledge or understanding of the
subject studied;
(B) includes--
(i) an activity involving the training of
an individual in a research technique, if such
activity--
(I) uses the same facilities as
other research and development
activities; and
(II) is not included in the
instruction function; and
(ii) a subgrant awarded by an entity that
is not part of the Federal Government to carry
out a grant program; and
(C) does not include--
(i) direct cash assistance provided by the
Federal Government to an individual;
(ii) a subsidy;
(iii) a loan;
(iv) a loan guarantee; or
(v) insurance.
(3) Prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion practice.--
The term ``prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion
practice'' means--
(A) discriminating for or against any person on the
basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, biological
sex, or national origin;
(B) requiring as a condition of employment, as a
condition for promotion or advancement, or as a
condition for speaking, making a presentation, or
submitting written materials that an employee undergo
training, education, coursework, or other pedagogy that
asserts that a particular race, color, ethnicity,
religion, biological sex, or national origin is
inherently or systemically superior or inferior,
oppressive or oppressed, or privileged or unprivileged;
or
(C) requiring as a condition of employment, as a
condition for promotion or advancement, or as a
condition for speaking, making a presentation, or
submitting written materials the signing of or assent
to a statement, code of conduct, work program, plan, or
other similar device that requires assent by an
employee that a particular race, color, ethnicity,
religion, biological sex, or national origin is
inherently or systemically superior or inferior,
oppressive or oppressed, or privileged or unprivileged.
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