Congressman Christian Menefee (TX-18), Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. (LA-02), Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) and Dr. Raul Ruiz (CA-25) have reintroduced the Equity in Research Act, legislation that would establish a targeted National Science Foundation grant program to increase research capacity at under-resourced institutions of higher education.

The legislation would create a new NSF grant program for institutions of higher education that have historically faced barriers to accessing federal research resources.

The bill would authorize NSF grants ranging from $1 million to $5 million for eligible institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Predominantly Black Institutions, Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, and 1890 and 1994 land-grant universities.

Grant funding could be used for upgrades to existing buildings, essential research equipment, infrastructure maintenance and personnel costs directly tied to research activity.

The legislation would provide $50 million in annual authorization beginning in fiscal year 2027.

Many minority-serving and land-grant institutions operate with outdated facilities and limited research infrastructure. The legislation is intended to expand the ability of eligible institutions to compete for federal research grants and participate in scientific research.

The bill also targets institutions that serve historically underserved communities to expand research participation and STEM pathways.

The legislation is designed to support long-term improvements in research capacity rather than short-term or one-time investments. The proposed program would provide resources for research infrastructure and related personnel while expanding participation in federally supported research.

Menefee, Carter, McIver and Ruiz are sponsoring the legislation.

The Equity in Research Act is H.R. 10424. It was reintroduced September 18, 2026.

Full bill text: Read the full Equity in Research Act