Bill · S. 1664· Senate(119-S-1664)
RESEARCHER Act
- Introduced
- 5/7/2025
- Last activity
- 5/7/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2800-2801)
- Sponsored by
- Alex Padilla
- Cosponsors
- - 4 - 1
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The RESEARCHER Act requires the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy to create policy guidelines to address the financial instability of graduate and postdoctoral researchers. These guidelines will help Federal research agencies handle issues like stipend increases, healthcare access, and housing. The bill also mandates the collection of data on researcher stipends and financial instability. Additionally, it requires a study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and a review by the GAO to ensure the guidelines are being implemented effectively.
Yes· 3 of 24
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?+7
Graduate and postdoctoral researchers are typically young adults who would benefit from increased stipends.
Would students be better off under this?+7
Graduate researchers (students) are primary beneficiaries of potential stipend increases.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+5
Addresses food insecurity and affordable housing for low-stipend researchers.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Increased Income: The bill directs guidelines to address opportunities to increase stipends for graduate and postdoctoral researchers, including indexing them based on location (Section 2(b)(2)(A)).
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Support for Underserved Areas: There is a specific consideration for increasing stipends for postdoctoral researchers working in rural or underserved areas, or in certain eligible States, to help recruit and keep researchers in those regions (Section 2(b)(2)(B)).
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Better Access to Basic Needs: The guidelines will address opportunities to increase access to affordable housing, transportation, quality medical, dental, and vision care, and efforts to reduce food insecurity (Section 2(b)(2)(C), (D), and (E)).
-
Family Support: The bill includes guidelines to address the costs associated with caring for family members, including child care (Section 2(b)(2)(F)).
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Data-Driven Improvements: By requiring the collection of demographic data on stipends and financial instability, the government can better understand and address the specific needs of researchers (Section 2(c) and 2(d)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- No Guaranteed Funding: The bill requires the development of "guidelines" and "opportunities" to increase stipends and access to services, but it does not explicitly mandate or provide the actual funding to guarantee these increases occur (Section 2(b)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Students+7Good For Young Adults+7Good For Low Income Households+5Good For Rural Residents+5Good For Urban Residents+3Good For Women+3Good For African Americans+2Good For Asian Americans+2Good For Hispanic Americans+2Good For Men+2Good For Native Americans+2Good For White Americans+2
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+5Improves Affordable Housing+4Improves Childcare Affordability+4Improves Racial Equity+2Reduces Homelessness+2
- Healthcare
- Improves Healthcare Access+4Increases Research Funding+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+3Increases Federal Power+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+4
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+3
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+2
- 5/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 10/7/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/7/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (Sponsor introductory remarks on measure: CR S2800-2801)
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Jerry MoranRepublican · Kansas
Jon OssoffDemocrat · Georgia
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire