Bill · S. 190· Senate(119-S-190)
North Pacific Research Board Enhancement Act
- Introduced
- 1/22/2025
- Last activity
- 10/14/2025 — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 189.
- Sponsored by
- Dan Sullivan
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 0
- Introduced
- On Calendar
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the North Pacific Research Board Enhancement Act. It makes changes to how the North Pacific Research Board operates and manages its funding. The text requires funds to be made available no later than 14 days after the start of each fiscal year. It adds a new member to represent Alaska Natives with personal knowledge and direct experience in subsistence uses. The bill also allows for changes to the cap on administrative expenses under certain conditions and provides a waiver for that cap.
Yes· 3 of 7
Would Native Americans be better off under this?+6
The bill provides Alaska Natives with direct representation on the North Pacific Research Board.
Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated?+5
The bill mandates the inclusion of an Alaska Native representative with expertise in subsistence uses on the Board.
Would people in rural areas be better off under this?+3
The inclusion of a member with subsistence expertise directly benefits rural Alaskan communities.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Representation for Alaska Natives: Section 2(a)(2)(D) adds a new member to the Board who will represent Alaska Natives and have personal knowledge and direct experience with subsistence uses. This is positive because it gives a specific group a direct voice on the Board.
-
Timely Release of Funds: Section 2(a)(1) requires funds to be made available no later than 14 days after the start of each fiscal year. This ensures that money is processed quickly at the beginning of the year.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Changes to Administrative Expense Caps: Section 2(a)(5) and Section 2(b) allow the 15 percent cap on administrative expenses to be increased or waived under certain conditions, such as when available funding decreases or during a 4-year period after enactment. This could be viewed as a burden because it allows more money to potentially be spent on administration rather than directly on research.
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 Native Americans+6Good For Rural Residents+3
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+5
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Environmental Protections+3
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+2
- Economy And Finance
- Improves Economic Growth+1
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+1
- 10/14/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cruz with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 119-80.
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 189.
- 5/21/2025
- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
- 1/22/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 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.
Lisa MurkowskiRepublican · Alaska