Merit Restoration Act

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9103 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9103

    To prohibit Federal research agencies and recipients of Federal
research grants from using a prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion
    practice with respect to Federal research grants, and for other
                               purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              June 2, 2026

Mr. Norman (for himself and Mr. Steube) introduced the following bill;
 which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

    To prohibit Federal research agencies and recipients of Federal
research grants from using a prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion
    practice with respect to Federal research grants, 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 ``Merit Restoration Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITIONS ON PROHIBITED DIVERSITY, EQUITY, OR INCLUSION
              PRACTICES BY FEDERAL RESEARCH AGENCIES AND RECIPIENTS IN
              FEDERAL RESEARCH GRANTS.

    (a) Prohibitions.--
            (1) Federal research agencies.--A Federal research agency
        may not use any prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion
        practice in awarding, evaluating, or continuing a Federal
        research grant.
            (2) Recipients.--A recipient of a Federal research grant
        may not use any prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion
        practice in carrying out the Federal research grant.
    (b) Enforcement.--If a recipient of a Federal research grant
engages in a prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion practice in a
manner alleged to be in violation of the prohibition described in
subsection (a)(2) with respect to such Federal research grant, the
Federal research agency that awarded the Federal research grant--
            (1) shall freeze the receipt of Federal funds with respect
        to the Federal research grant; and
            (2) if the Federal research agency determines that the
        recipient committed such a violation, shall require the
        recipient to repay any Federal funds used pursuant to the
        violation with respect to the Federal research grant.
    (c) Applicability.--Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to an
agreement for a Federal research grant entered into on or after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Federal research agency.--The term ``Federal research
        agency'' means any Executive agency (as defined in section 105
        of title 5, United States Code) that awards, administers,
        conducts, or supports scientific, medical, technological,
        engineering, or other research activities through Federal
        funds, Federal research grants, contracts, cooperative
        agreements, or direct operations.
            (2) Federal research grant.--The term ``Federal research
        grant''--
                    (A) means a grant awarded by a Federal research
                agency to support a systematic study directed toward
                fuller scientific knowledge or understanding of the
                subject studied;
                    (B) includes--
                            (i) an activity involving the training of
                        an individual in a research technique, if such
                        activity--
                                    (I) uses the same facilities as
                                other research and development
                                activities; and
                                    (II) is not included in the
                                instruction function; and
                            (ii) a subgrant awarded by an entity that
                        is not part of the Federal Government to carry
                        out a grant program; and
                    (C) does not include--
                            (i) direct cash assistance provided by the
                        Federal Government to an individual;
                            (ii) a subsidy;
                            (iii) a loan;
                            (iv) a loan guarantee; or
                            (v) insurance.
            (3) Prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion practice.--
        The term ``prohibited diversity, equity, or inclusion
        practice'' means--
                    (A) discriminating for or against any person on the
                basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, biological
                sex, or national origin;
                    (B) requiring as a condition of employment, as a
                condition for promotion or advancement, or as a
                condition for speaking, making a presentation, or
                submitting written materials that an employee undergo
                training, education, coursework, or other pedagogy that
                asserts that a particular race, color, ethnicity,
                religion, biological sex, or national origin is
                inherently or systemically superior or inferior,
                oppressive or oppressed, or privileged or unprivileged;
                or
                    (C) requiring as a condition of employment, as a
                condition for promotion or advancement, or as a
                condition for speaking, making a presentation, or
                submitting written materials the signing of or assent
                to a statement, code of conduct, work program, plan, or
                other similar device that requires assent by an
                employee that a particular race, color, ethnicity,
                religion, biological sex, or national origin is
                inherently or systemically superior or inferior,
                oppressive or oppressed, or privileged or unprivileged.
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