What’s new with the Federal Research Public Access Act (FRPAA) since our last post:

• The text of the bill is now online.
• At first blush, I only spot two changes in the bill, both fairly minor:
  • The new bill adds a specific exception for “research progress reports presented at professional meetings or conferences”
  • The new bill specifies additional committees to receive oversight reports
• See the Alliance for Taxpayer Access’s call to action to support the bill.
• Sen. Cornyn’s statement at the bill’s introduction is now available in the Congressional Record:
  

  … I am proud to report that the NIH’s public access policy has been a
  success over the past few years. By the NIH implementing a
  groundbreaking public access policy, there has been strong progress in
  making the NIH’s federally funded research available to the public, and
  has helped to energize this debate.

  Although this has surely been an encouraging and important step
  forward, Senator Lieberman and I believe there is more that can and
  must be done, as this is just a small part of the research funded by
  the Federal Government.

  With that in mind, Senator Lieberman and I find it necessary to
  reintroduce the Federal Research Public Access Act that will build on
  and refine the work done by the NIH and require that the Federal
  Government’s leading underwriters of research adopt meaningful public
  access policies. …

  This simple legislation will provide our government with an
  opportunity to better leverage our investment in research and in turn
  ensure a greater return on that investment. All Americans stand to
  benefit from this bill, including patients diagnosed with a disease who
  will have the ability to use the Internet to read the latest articles
  in their entirety concerning their prognosis, students who will be able
  to find full abundant research as they further their education, or
  researchers who will have their findings more broadly evaluated which
  will lead to further discovery and innovation. …

Things to watch:

• In the 2006 incarnation of FRPAA, an additional co-sponsor, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), joined a few days after the bill was introduced. Which senators will join as co-sponsors this time, and when?
• In 2006, FRPAA’s committee of jurisdiction, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, further referred the bill to its Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security. Will FRPAA take the same route in this Congress?