119th Congress · House bill · Last action Jan 21, 2026
H.R. 7173In CommitteeHealth
Follow the Science Act
Sponsor: Rep. DeGette, Diana (D-CO)46 cosponsorsIntroduced Jan 21, 2026
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In plain English
H.R. 7173 blocks political appointees and political employees from participating in National Institutes of Health grant decisions, contract awards, and cooperative agreements. The bill defines what counts as a political appointee and political employee for these purposes and establishes how NIH must implement these restrictions across its grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements. Rep. Diana DeGette [D-CO] introduced the bill, which has 45 Democratic cosponsors and no Republican support.
What’s in the bill (4 sections)
- Sec. 2. Political appointee defined
- Sec. 3. Prohibition on participation by political appointees in nih
- Sec. 4. Prohibition on participation by political employees in nih
- Sec. 5. Implementation of nih grants, contracts, cooperative
Generated by ThePolitibase from the bill text and CRS summary. Read the official text →
Where it is in the process
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Introduced
Jan 21
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House committee
Jan 21
3
House floor
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4
Senate
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5
Signed
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What happens next: Sits in committee. Needs a markup or favorable report to advance to the House floor.
Community vote
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Sponsor
DR
Cosponsors (46)
ED
JR
DR
DR
TR
HR
RR
+39
All Democratic.
Activity timeline
Jan 21
Jan 21
Jan 21
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jan 21
Jan 21
Jan 21
Introduced in House
Jan 21
Jan 21
Jan 21
Introduced in House
Read the bill text
Official text via Congress.gov. Opens in a new tab.
Full action log
All 3 recorded actions since introduction · Source: Congress.gov
Jan 21
HOUSEReferred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jan 21
Introduced in House
Jan 21
Introduced in House
All 46 cosponsors
46 Democrats · 0 Republicans
Democrats (46)
Dingell, DebbieMI-06
Davis, Danny K.IL-07
Carter, Troy A.LA-02
Tlaib, RashidaMI-12
Johnson, JulieTX-32
Mullin, KevinCA-15
Amo, GabeRI-01
Castor, KathyFL-14
Carson, AndréIN-07
Kelly, Robin L.IL-02
Velázquez, Nydia M.NY-07
Landsman, GregOH-01
Morrison, KellyMN-03
Lee, Summer L.PA-12
Elfreth, SarahMD-03
Harder, JoshCA-09
Cohen, SteveTN-09
McCollum, BettyMN-04
DelBene, Suzan K.WA-01
Matsui, Doris O.CA-07
Thanedar, ShriMI-13
Dexter, MaxineOR-03
Trahan, LoriMA-03
Schrier, KimWA-08
Clarke, Yvette D.NY-09
Casten, SeanIL-06
Pettersen, BrittanyCO-07
Simon, LateefahCA-12
Garamendi, JohnCA-08
Scholten, Hillary J.MI-03
Salinas, AndreaOR-06
Frankel, LoisFL-22
Huffman, JaredCA-02
Lieu, TedCA-36
Fletcher, LizzieTX-07
Pingree, ChellieME-01
Walkinshaw, James R.VA-11
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