Sponsors (5)
The bill creates a dedicated NIH institute to strengthen and coordinate biomedical research with clearer governance and legal protections, but it raises federal costs and risks diverting funds from other research priorities.
Scientists and biomedical researchers gain a dedicated NIH institute that provides new research funding, coordination, and institutional support.
Federal employees and institute leadership benefit from clarified governance because the new institute is covered by existing appointment and leadership rules, reducing administrative uncertainty.
Hospitals, health systems, and institute operations gain stronger legal protections because extension of 18 U.S.C. §216 allows DOJ enforcement against interference or obstruction.
Scientists, researchers, and hospitals risk reduced funding for other research areas if the new institute duplicates existing NIH programs or shifts funding priorities.
Taxpayers will likely face higher federal spending and ongoing administrative costs from creating and operating a new federal institute.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates and names the National Institute for Biomedical Research and Development in NIH law and updates statutory cross‑references and penalty provisions to include it.
Official title: To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a National Institute for Biomedical Research and Development, and for other purposes.
Introduced March 5, 2026 by Rashida Tlaib · Last progress March 5, 2026
Creates a new National Institute for Biomedical Research and Development as an official NIH institute by inserting it into the list of national research institutes and centers in the Public Health Service Act and updates cross-references in federal law so appointment, term, penalty, and injunction rules that apply to other NIH institutes also apply to the new institute. The bill makes conforming edits to related statutory citations so the new institute is included in existing director appointment provisions and criminal penalty/injunction provisions. The measure is strictly organizational and statutory: it names and adds an institute to existing NIH law and updates cross-references in 42 U.S.C. and 18 U.S.C. to include the new entity. It does not itself appropriate funds, change program authorities beyond inclusion in existing provisions, or establish specific programs or budgets for the institute.