Sec. 106. Coordinated Federal science agency policy for family caregivers
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Congress makes the following findings: Family responsibilities have been identified as a driver in reducing the number of students, including minorities, who complete postsecondary degrees. In particular, starting a family has been identified as a prominent factor in reducing the number of women advancing in academic careers in the sciences. According to the Council of Economic Advisors, workplace policies that permit greater flexibility, including for activities related to family care, can improve worker retention and increase productivity.
To support family caregivers, several Federal agencies have adopted family-responsive policies, including through programs such as the National Science Foundation’s Career-Life Balance Initiative. Improved coordination among Federal science agencies and those entities that receive Federal funding can ensure the consistency of family-responsive policies. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall evaluate ongoing Federal science agency programs and policies regarding career-life balance, workplace flexibility, and family-responsive initiatives.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall provide guidance to Federal science agencies to establish policies that— as appropriate, consider the needs of scientific, engineering, and technical personnel, including postdoctoral fellows, who— receive Federal funding through intramural or extramural research awards; and have family caregiving responsibilities; and based on the evaluation in subsection (b), build on proven best practices, taking into consideration— flexibility in the initiation of approved research awards; no-cost extensions or suspensions of research grants to permit for family caregiving activities; grant supplements to sustain research activities during absences related to family caregiving; communications and training efforts related to family-responsive initiatives; and evaluating programs and policies with respect to the recruitment and retention of STEM professionals.
The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in developing guidance under this section, shall consider input from entities receiving Federal research and development funding as well as from professional societies and other organizations involved in supporting women and underrepresented groups in the sciences, as appropriate. The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in developing guidance under this section, shall encourage the Federal science agencies and entities receiving Federal research and development funding to adopt proven, consistent, and complementary policies, programs, and best practices regarding career-life balance, workplace flexibility, and family-responsive initiatives.