Congressional Branch activities of interest
Floor Activity
The House and Senate are in Session this week.
FY27 Appropriations
On July 22, the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology held a hearing titled, “Unleashing the Golden Age of Science: Examining the Priorities of the FY27 Research and Technology Enterprise.” In the hearing, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Michael Kratsios discussed four primary issues the American research enterprise faces:
- The U.S. research system should prioritize individual scientists over legacy institutions
- The government should reform how research dollars are allocated, using more flexible grants
- The government should set clear scientific goals and bolster industry
- The government should be the leader in how to utilize AI in research
Indiana Representative Jim Baird (R) asked Director Kratsios about China's influence over biotechnology supply chains and ways to strengthen U.S. industrial capacity while expanding opportunities to reshore critical manufacturing. Director Kratsios responded that OSTP supports these efforts and is committed to advancing policies that bolster domestic biotechnology capabilities. Representative Baird also emphasized the importance of AI-research in agricultural efforts. Watch the hearing here.
On July 21, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Science, Manufacturing, and Competitiveness held a hearing titled, “Measuring What Matters: Science, Standards, and Strategic Competition.” Members and witnesses discussed the United States' declining investment in (R&D), emphasizing that the nation is at a critical juncture in maintaining its global leadership in innovation. Indiana Senator Todd Young (R) asked witnesses about how inconsistencies in scientific data limit AI’s ability to effectively analyze and utilize research. Witnesses stressed the importance of high-quality data and the adoption of uniform standards to maximize AI's potential. Watch the hearing here.
Markups
On July 21, the House Education and Workforce Committee held a markup and advanced several higher education-related bills on a party line vote, including the Parents Opt-in Protection Act (H.R. 4986), which increases parental and student consent requirements for surveys, analyses, and evaluations. Watch the markup here.
Bills Introduced
On July 16, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) introduced the Protecting Students from Worthless Degrees Act (H.R. 9748). The bill would establish new accountability requirements for institutions participating in federal student aid programs, require programs leading to licensed professions to satisfy applicable state licensure requirements, expand debt-to-earnings accountability measures for gainful employment and certain graduate programs, establish new certification and disclosure requirements for institutions, and modify state authorization requirements for distance education programs. Companion legislation will be introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR). Read the bill text here. Read the press release here.
On July 16, Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT) introduced the Clinics for Law students Investigating and Navigating Claims (CLINIC) Assistance Act (H.R. 9735). The bill would establish a Department of Labor grant program to support law school clinics that assist participants and beneficiaries in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) civil enforcement actions. The program would provide grants to accredited law schools to expand legal assistance, increase experiential learning opportunities for law students, and improve access to legal support for individuals seeking to enforce employee benefit rights. Read the bill text here . Read the press release here.
On July 21, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introduced the Accreditation Reform and Enhanced Accountability Act of 2026 (S. 5053). The bill would establish new requirements for institutional accreditors, including the use of standardized student outcome measures in accreditation reviews, enhanced oversight of institutions facing financial or legal concerns, expanded public disclosure of accreditation decisions, new conflict-of-interest standards for accreditors, and grant additional authority to the Department of Education oversee accrediting agencies. Read the bill text here. Read the press release here.
Executive Branch activities of interest
DHS Releases Duration of Status Final Rule
On July 17, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued the Final Rule on Duration of Status. The new rule would eliminate the current Duration of Status system, which allows F, J, and I visa holders to remain in the United States as long as they are making progress towards their academic/exchange objectives. Instead, a new system would be implemented, which admits F, J, and I visa holders in the United States for a fixed period of time, not to exceed 4 years. The rule also restricts international students’ ability to transfer or change their educational objective. The rule will go into effect on September 15, 2026. Read the final rule here.
OSTP Releases Recommendations for U.S. R&D Ecosystem and FY28 Priorities Memo
On July 21, OSTP released Science: A New Golden Age, a report outlining recommendations to reshape the U.S. research enterprise. Among its recommendations, the report calls for prioritizing individual scientists over legacy institutions, expanding alternative funding mechanisms, reducing administrative burdens, and preparing the research community for the widespread adoption of artificial intelligence. Read the report here.
Alongside the report, OSTP and the Office of Management and Budget released the White House Fiscal Year 2028 R&D Priorities Memorandum, directing federal agencies to rebalance R&D portfolios toward foundational research, the physical sciences and engineering, and away from the life sciences, and to integrate AI and emerging technologies into research.
DOE Announces Genesis Mission Project Awards
On July 22, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced the first projects selected as part of the Genesis Mission, which seeks to accelerate innovation and discovery through AI. DOE made 278 awards to 342 participating institutions with projects spanning nuclear energy, critical mineral extraction, intelligent chip design, and commercial fusion energy. The OSTP announced that Genesis commitments will add up to around $5 billion and that over 15 federal agencies “will contribute research awards, funding opportunities, specialized scientific datasets, and research facilities to the National Science and Technology Challenges,” which are a part of the Genesis Mission. Read the press release here. See the full list of selected projects here.