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H.R. 1106: Scientific Integrity Act

This bill is titled the Scientific Integrity Act, and its main purpose is to establish and enforce policies that ensure scientific integrity within federal agencies involved in research. Here is a summary of what the bill aims to achieve:

Key Provisions

  1. Policy Adoption: Each federal agency that funds, conducts, or oversees scientific research must adopt their own scientific integrity policy within 90 days of the bill's enactment. This policy must be submitted for approval to the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP).
  2. Public Availability: Once approved, agencies are required to make their scientific integrity policies publicly available on their websites within 30 days.
  3. Content Requirements: The scientific integrity policies must prohibit various forms of misconduct, including dishonesty, fraud, coercion, and suppression of scientific findings. They must also ensure that individuals can share their research at conferences and in peer-reviewed publications without facing retaliation.
  4. Scientific Integrity Officer: Each agency must appoint a Scientific Integrity Officer within 90 days of enactment. This officer will have expertise in scientific research and will oversee the implementation of the integrity policies.
  5. Training and Reporting: Agencies must establish training programs for their employees regarding scientific integrity and ethics. They are also required to create an annual report detailing any complaints of misconduct and how they were addressed.
  6. Incident Reporting: If an individual overrides a decision made by the Scientific Integrity Officer concerning scientific integrity, the agency must report this incident to the OSTP and relevant congressional committees within 30 days.
  7. Periodic Review: Each agency’s scientific integrity policy must be reviewed periodically to ensure it remains effective and compliant with legal standards.
  8. Protection of Whistleblowers: The bill emphasizes the importance of protections for whistleblowers who report violations of scientific integrity policies.

Intent of the Bill

The intent behind the Scientific Integrity Act is to reinforce the credibility of science and research carried out by federal agencies, ensuring that their findings inform public policy without bias from political or financial interests. The act sets the expectation that federally funded scientific research should be communicated transparently and without obstruction.

Impact on Federal Scientific Research

If enacted, the bill seeks to enhance the integrity of federal scientific research by:
  • Ensuring that scientific conclusions are made without political interference.
  • Requiring transparency in the methods of conducting research and sharing findings.
  • Holding agencies accountable for maintaining ethical standards in research practices.
  • Promoting a collaborative environment where scientists can communicate freely with each other and the public.

Relevant Companies

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This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.

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Sponsors

117 bill sponsors

Actions

3 actions

Date Action
Feb. 06, 2025 Introduced in House
Feb. 06, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Feb. 06, 2025 Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H543-544)

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