Sponsors (6)
The bill increases NCSES flexibility to produce more timely, relevant R&D data but does so at the cost of statutory guarantees, which may reduce transparency and undermine long-term data continuity for researchers and policymakers.
Researchers, federal and state policymakers, and planners gain more relevant, timely R&D and innovation data because NCSES can design and update surveys flexibly to respond to emerging information needs.
Scientists and researchers benefit from a sustained NCSES capability to collect and analyze R&D and innovation data, improving national research statistics and long-term planning.
Researchers, state governments, and policymakers may face reduced transparency and fewer guaranteed data series because reducing statutory specificity allows NCSES to change or drop mandated topics.
Researchers and state data users may experience uneven survey coverage and disrupted trend comparisons if greater Director discretion leads to shifting priorities and inconsistent data continuity over time.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Replaces mandated assessment results and enumerated surveys with a requirement for the NCSES Director to produce a plan to create and maintain a data collection and analytics capability and allows Director discretion over survey content.
Introduced January 14, 2026 by Hillary Scholten · Last progress January 14, 2026
Replaces a statutory requirement to deliver a specific assessment and enumerated surveys with a directive for the Director of the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) to produce a plan to initiate and maintain a data collection and analytics capability. The change gives the Director discretion over whether to carry out previously specified survey items and shifts the emphasis from producing mandated survey results to planning and sustaining NCSES data capabilities.