42 U.S.C. § 19153 — Policies for review of Federal research awards

(a) Assessment of policies: Federal research agencies must regularly assess, and update as necessary, policies and practices^* — including those relevant to unbiased review of federal research applications — to remove or reduce cultural and institutional barriers limiting the recruitment, retention, and success of groups historically underrepresented in STEM research careers.

(b) Considerations and activities: To carry out (a), federal research agencies must: (1) review current levels of participation by historically underrepresented groups in peer-review panels, and consider approaches for expanding that participation; (2) analyze the data collected under section 19152, including funding rates of proposals from all groups, including those historically underrepresented in STEM; (3) collect and share best practices for removing or reducing cultural and institutional barriers to recruitment, retention, and success of these groups in STEM research careers; and (4) implement evidence-based policies and practices to achieve this section's goals.