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[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 5165 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 5165
To authorize the Office of Polar Programs of the National Science
Foundation, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 29, 2026
Mr. Sullivan (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. Hickenlooper)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize the Office of Polar Programs of 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 ``Promoting Operational Leadership in
Arctic and Antarctic Research Act'' or the ``POLAR Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Antarctica.--The term ``Antarctica'' has the meaning
given the term in section 3 of the Antarctic Conservation Act
of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2402).
(2) Antarctic treaty.--The term ``Antarctic Treaty'' means
the Antarctic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on December 1,
1959 (12 UST 794).
(3) Arctic.--The term ``Arctic'' has the meaning given the
term in section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of
1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).
(4) Assistant director.--The term ``Assistant Director''
means the Assistant Director responsible for the management of
the Directorate appointed under section 6(a).
(5) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the National Science
Board.
(6) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the Foundation.
(7) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National
Science Foundation.
(8) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian Tribe'' has the
meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-
Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(9) Polar regions.--The term ``polar regions'' means the
Arctic and Antarctica.
(10) Polar research and development.--The term ``polar
research and development'' means basic and applied research,
science, engineering, development, or experimentation conducted
in, near, or related to, the polar regions.
(11) Workforce development.--The term ``workforce
development'' means science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics education, training, and capacity-building to meet
workforce demands in the polar regions.
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT.
There is established within the Foundation the Directorate for
Polar Programs (referred to in this Act as the ``Directorate'') to
advance polar research and development, education, workforce
development, and research infrastructure to--
(1) expand fundamental knowledge of polar systems and
processes;
(2) advance innovative solutions relating to the polar
regions;
(3) improve understanding of the interactions between the
polar regions and global systems; and
(4) use the unique characteristics of the polar regions as
a science-observing platform.
SEC. 4. PURPOSES.
The purposes of the Directorate are to--
(1) promote scientific polar research and development;
(2) advance engineering, education, and workforce
development in and about the polar regions;
(3) facilitate access to the polar regions and work with
the United States military and other Federal agencies to
provide the necessary logistical support for research;
(4) support research infrastructure, including permanent
year-round research stations, numerous field camps across the
polar regions, and research vessels operating around the polar
regions;
(5)(A) manage and maintain the United States Antarctic
Program at a level providing an active and influential presence
in Antarctica designed to support the range of United States
Antarctic interests, as determined by Presidential Memorandum
6646 (relating to United States Antarctic policy and programs),
issued February 5, 1982; and
(B) support the commitment of the United States to the
Antarctic Treaty;
(6) coordinate all United States science in Antarctica;
(7) manage and maintain an active and influential presence
in the Arctic to support the range of United States Arctic
interests, as determined by appropriate national and
international bodies, agreements, and policies;
(8) facilitate engagement with local and indigenous peoples
in Arctic research, education, and outreach activities;
(9) chair, or designate a representative to chair, the
Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee, in accordance
with section 107 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984
(15 U.S.C. 4107); and
(10) facilitate research and infrastructure development in
Greenland in accordance with the Agreement between the United
States and Denmark Amending and Supplementing the Agreement of
April 27, 1951, signed at Igaliku on August 6, 2004 (commonly
known as the ``Igaliku Agreement''), and the Agreement on
Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation for work
in the Arctic and Greenland, signed at Fairbanks, Alaska on May
11, 2017.
SEC. 5. ACTIVITIES.
Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Director,
acting through the Directorate, shall achieve the purposes described in
section 4 through the use of awards or authorities described in section
9 that--
(1) support creative and innovative polar research and
development, education, and workforce development in the
Arctic, including incorporating indigenous knowledge and co-
production of knowledge with Indian Tribes, to--
(A) gain a better understanding of the Arctic's
biological, geophysical, chemical, and sociocultural
processes and the interactions of ocean, land,
atmosphere, biological, and human systems; and
(B) build capacity in the United States workforce
for polar research and development;
(2)(A) support infrastructure in the Arctic through
coordination of logistics and facilities, including at field
locations throughout the Arctic (including at least 1 location
in Alaska) and an appropriate number of vessels capable of
supporting and conducting Arctic research;
(B) promote the development and sustainment of
infrastructure, long-term observational systems, and research
capabilities in the Arctic to advance polar research and
development, education, environmental prediction, national
strategic interests, and workforce development in the Arctic;
and
(C) support long-term Arctic observing, monitoring, and
data collection systems, including atmospheric, oceanic,
terrestrial, cryospheric, and permafrost observing networks,
necessary to improve forecasting, infrastructure resilience,
navigation safety, national security awareness, and the
understanding of Earth system processes;
(3) advance cutting-edge polar research and development,
education, and workforce development that--
(A) improves understanding of interactions among
the polar regions and global systems;
(B) expands fundamental knowledge of the systems,
biota, and processes of the polar regions;
(C) utilizes the unique characteristics of the
polar regions as a science-observing platform;
(D) builds capacity in the United States workforce
for polar research and development; and
(E) improves collaborations among research
institutions;
(4)(A) provide the operational and logistical platform for
the United States to conduct world-class science in Antarctica
and maintain an active and influential presence on the
continent; and
(B) coordinate with, and, as needed and on a cost-
reimbursable basis, draw upon the logistical support
capabilities of, Federal, military, and commercial partners
working together to execute a supply chain to provide personnel
with everything needed to live, work, and conduct science in
the polar regions, including air operations, maritime support,
and land capabilities;
(5)(A) advance polar region safety and health through
activities such as industrial hygiene and safety activities and
oversight of the occupational health and medical system for
programs in polar regions to ensure public health and
improvement; and
(B) support a streamlining of safety initiatives in polar
regions; and
(6) support the interest of the United States in the Arctic
and Antarctica through representation, active engagement, and
performing other duties in accordance with relevant national
and international bodies, treaties, and agreements.
SEC. 6. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.
(a) In General.--The Director shall appoint an Assistant Director
responsible for the management of the Directorate in the same manner as
other assistant directors of the Foundation are appointed.
(b) Qualifications.--The Assistant Director shall be an individual
who, by reason of professional background and experience, is specially
qualified to--
(1) advise the Director on all matters pertaining to polar
research and development; and
(2) develop and implement the necessary policies and
procedures to promote polar research and development across the
Foundation and carry out the responsibilities under subsection
(c).
(c) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the Assistant
Director shall include--
(1) advising the Director on all matters pertaining to
polar research and development;
(2) approving all new programs within the Directorate;
(3) coordinating polar research and development,
infrastructure planning, observational systems, logistics, and
operational support across Federal agencies, including the
Department of Defense, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, the Department of Energy, the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Coast Guard, and
other relevant agencies;
(4) coordinating polar research and development with
partner countries;
(5) developing and implementing merit-review models and
mechanisms for selecting and providing awards for polar
research and development at different scales, from individual
investigator awards to large multi-institution collaborations;
(6) assessing the success of the programs of the
Directorate;
(7) administering awards to achieve the purposes described
in section 4;
(8) providing regular briefings to the Board on the status
of polar regions infrastructure and the alignment of awards
under section 9 with the focus areas identified under section
8; and
(9) performing other such duties pertaining to such
purposes as are required by the Director.
(d) Relationship.--The Assistant Director shall report to the
Director.
(e) Relationship to Other Programs.--No other directorate within
the Foundation shall report to the Assistant Director.
SEC. 7. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) In General.--In accordance with chapter 10 of title 5, United
States Code, the Director shall establish an advisory committee
(referred to in this section as the ``advisory committee'') to assess,
and make recommendations regarding, the activities carried out under
this Act.
(b) Membership.--The members of the advisory committee shall--
(1) be individuals with relevant experience or expertise,
including educators, academic subject matter experts,
individuals from industry and national labs, members of Indian
Tribes, representatives of civil society, and representatives
of other nongovernmental organizations; and
(2) consist of not less than 10 members broadly
representative of stakeholders.
(c) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the advisory
committee shall include--
(1) reviewing and advising on activities carried out under
this Act;
(2) proposing strategies for fulfilling the purposes
described in section 4;
(3) proposing potential areas of research relevant to polar
challenges; and
(4) other relevant duties, as determined by the Director.
SEC. 8. FOCUS AREAS.
(a) In General.--In consultation with the Assistant Director, the
Board, and the advisory committee established under section 7, the
Director shall identify, and annually review and update as appropriate,
a list of--
(1) polar research and development, education, and
workforce development investment priorities under this Act; and
(2) necessary infrastructure and logistical support needed
to appropriately carry out polar research and development,
education, and workforce development under this Act.
(b) Initial Focus of Polar Regions Research and Infrastructure
Investments.--The initial focus of polar regions research and
infrastructure investments shall be--
(1) research and associated research infrastructure
investments that maintain, strengthen, and enhance the ability
of the United States to observe, understand, and predict the
physical, biological, geologic, and socioeconomic processes and
interacting systems of the Arctic to--
(A) protect and advance the interests of the United
States and ensure prosperity of the United States
Arctic residents;
(B) strengthen Alaska's role as the primary Arctic
research, logistics, operations, and workforce
development hub for the United States; and
(C) strengthen existing associated research,
research infrastructure, and workforce development in
other States and territories;
(2) research and associated research infrastructure
investments that maintain, strengthen, and enhance the ability
of the United States to observe, understand, and predict the
physical, biological, geologic, and socioeconomic processes and
interacting systems of Antarctica to protect and advance the
interests of the United States under the Antarctic Treaty;
(3) polar research and development that ensures the
uncontested navigation and strategic utilization by the United
States of the Arctic; and
(4) polar research and development that ensures the United
States dominance in Antarctica under the Antarctic Treaty.
SEC. 9. AWARDS AND AUTHORITIES.
(a) In General.--The Director may carry out the activities
described in section 5--
(1) by awarding or entering into grants, cooperative
agreements, fellowships, scholarships, or infrastructure awards
under subsection (b); or
(2) by exercising, for purposes of this Act, any of the
authorities provided to the Foundation under the National
Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.) for the
purposes of that Act.
(b) Awards.--
(1) In general.--From amounts made available for the
Directorate and on a competitive basis, the Director shall make
awards described in subsection (a)(1) for polar research and
development, education and workforce development,
infrastructure, and logistical support that carry out the
activities described in section 5 by advancing polar research
and development, education and workforce development,
infrastructure, and logistical investments that are aligned
with the focus areas identified under section 8.
(2) Recipients.--Recipients of awards under this subsection
may include, as determined appropriate by the Director--
(A) institutions of higher education (as such term
is defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002));
(B) research institutions;
(C) nonprofit organizations;
(D) private sector entities;
(E) Indian Tribes;
(F) consortia; and
(G) other entities that the Director determines
further the purposes of this Act.
(3) Metrics.--The Director may--
(A) set metrics, including goals and deadlines, for
awards made under this subsection; and
(B) use such metrics to determine whether an award
recipient shall be eligible for continued or additional
funding.
SEC. 10. REPORTING.
(a) In General.--The Director, in consultation with other Federal
agencies, as appropriate, shall prepare and submit an annual report to
Congress describing--
(1)(A) the focus areas identified under section 8, for the
period covered by the report, for polar research and
development, education, workforce development, infrastructure
investments, and logistical support in the polar regions; and
(B) the rationale for their identification;
(2) potential future investments needed to advance polar
research and development, education, workforce development,
infrastructure, and logistical support in the polar regions;
and
(3) the role of the Foundation in advancing the interests
of the United States in polar regions.
(b) Detailed Description.--For each fiscal year, the Director, in
coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget,
shall--
(1) submit, as part of the annual budget requests to
Congress, a detailed description of the activities to be funded
under this Act; and
(2) include, at a minimum, separate budget lines for--
(A) Arctic research as described in section 5(1);
(B) Arctic infrastructure as described in section
5(2);
(C) Arctic research as described in section 5(3);
(D) Antarctica research as described in section
5(3); and
(E) Antarctica infrastructure as described in
section 5(4).
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