Cooperative Institute Act of 2026

This bill requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to keep running its Cooperative Institute program, which funds research partnerships with non-federal universities and nonprofit research institutions. NOAA could create new institutes through cooperative agreements, generally chosen by open competition and peer review, with 5-year funding awards that may be renewed once for up to 5 more years after an outside review. NOAA would have to assess every 2 years whether new institutes are needed. Before ending or not renewing an institute, NOAA would have to send Congress a timeline and detailed report at least 60 days in advance, and existing institutes must be kept unless ended this way.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Maria Cantwell Democrat sponsor
• 3 cosponsors