July 29, 2026
Mr. Sullivan (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, and Mr. Hickenlooper) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
To authorize the Office of Polar Programs of the National Science Foundation, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Promoting Operational Leadership in Arctic and Antarctic Research Act
or the POLAR Act
.
Sec. 2. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Antarctica
The term Antarctica has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the Antarctic Conservation Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2402).
(2) Antarctic Treaty
The term Antarctic Treaty means the Antarctic Treaty signed in Washington, DC, on December 1, 1959 (12 UST 794).
(3) Arctic
The term Arctic has the meaning given the term in section 112 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4111).
(4) Assistant Director
The term Assistant Director means the Assistant Director responsible for the management of the Directorate appointed under section 6(a).
(5) Board
The term Board means the National Science Board.
(6) Director
The term Director means the Director of the Foundation.
(7) Foundation
The term Foundation means the National Science Foundation.
(8) Indian Tribe
The term Indian Tribe has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
(9) Polar regions
The term polar regions means the Arctic and Antarctica.
(10) Polar research and development
The term polar research and development means basic and applied research, science, engineering, development, or experimentation conducted in, near, or related to, the polar regions.
(11) Workforce development
The term workforce development means science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, training, and capacity-building to meet workforce demands in the polar regions.
Sec. 3. Establishment
There is established within the Foundation the Directorate for Polar Programs (referred to in this Act as the Directorate
) to advance polar research and development, education, workforce development, and research infrastructure to—
(1)
expand fundamental knowledge of polar systems and processes;
(2)
advance innovative solutions relating to the polar regions;
(3)
improve understanding of the interactions between the polar regions and global systems; and
(4)
use the unique characteristics of the polar regions as a science-observing platform.
Sec. 4. Purposes
The purposes of the Directorate are to—
(1)
promote scientific polar research and development;
(2)
advance engineering, education, and workforce development in and about the polar regions;
(3)
facilitate access to the polar regions and work with the United States military and other Federal agencies to provide the necessary logistical support for research;
(4)
support research infrastructure, including permanent year-round research stations, numerous field camps across the polar regions, and research vessels operating around the polar regions;
(5)
(A)
manage and maintain the United States Antarctic Program at a level providing an active and influential presence in Antarctica designed to support the range of United States Antarctic interests, as determined by Presidential Memorandum 6646 (relating to United States Antarctic policy and programs), issued February 5, 1982; and
(B)
support the commitment of the United States to the Antarctic Treaty;
(6)
coordinate all United States science in Antarctica;
(7)
manage and maintain an active and influential presence in the Arctic to support the range of United States Arctic interests, as determined by appropriate national and international bodies, agreements, and policies;
(8)
facilitate engagement with local and indigenous peoples in Arctic research, education, and outreach activities;
(9)
chair, or designate a representative to chair, the Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee, in accordance with section 107 of the Arctic Research and Policy Act of 1984 (15 U.S.C. 4107); and
(10)
facilitate research and infrastructure development in Greenland in accordance with the Agreement between the United States and Denmark Amending and Supplementing the Agreement of April 27, 1951, signed at Igaliku on August 6, 2004 (commonly known as the Igaliku Agreement
), and the Agreement on Enhancing International Arctic Scientific Cooperation for work in the Arctic and Greenland, signed at Fairbanks, Alaska on May 11, 2017.
Sec. 5. Activities
Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Director, acting through the Directorate, shall achieve the purposes described in section 4 through the use of awards or authorities described in section 9 that—
(1)
support creative and innovative polar research and development, education, and workforce development in the Arctic, including incorporating indigenous knowledge and co-production of knowledge with Indian Tribes, to—
(A)
gain a better understanding of the Arctic’s biological, geophysical, chemical, and sociocultural processes and the interactions of ocean, land, atmosphere, biological, and human systems; and
(B)
build capacity in the United States workforce for polar research and development;
(2)
(A)
support infrastructure in the Arctic through coordination of logistics and facilities, including at field locations throughout the Arctic (including at least 1 location in Alaska) and an appropriate number of vessels capable of supporting and conducting Arctic research;
(B)
promote the development and sustainment of infrastructure, long-term observational systems, and research capabilities in the Arctic to advance polar research and development, education, environmental prediction, national strategic interests, and workforce development in the Arctic; and
(C)
support long-term Arctic observing, monitoring, and data collection systems, including atmospheric, oceanic, terrestrial, cryospheric, and permafrost observing networks, necessary to improve forecasting, infrastructure resilience, navigation safety, national security awareness, and the understanding of Earth system processes;
(3)
advance cutting-edge polar research and development, education, and workforce development that—
(A)
improves understanding of interactions among the polar regions and global systems;
(B)
expands fundamental knowledge of the systems, biota, and processes of the polar regions;
(C)
utilizes the unique characteristics of the polar regions as a science-observing platform;
(D)
builds capacity in the United States workforce for polar research and development; and
(E)
improves collaborations among research institutions;
(4)
(A)
provide the operational and logistical platform for the United States to conduct world-class science in Antarctica and maintain an active and influential presence on the continent; and
(B)
coordinate with, and, as needed and on a cost-reimbursable basis, draw upon the logistical support capabilities of, Federal, military, and commercial partners working together to execute a supply chain to provide personnel with everything needed to live, work, and conduct science in the polar regions, including air operations, maritime support, and land capabilities;
(5)
(A)
advance polar region safety and health through activities such as industrial hygiene and safety activities and oversight of the occupational health and medical system for programs in polar regions to ensure public health and improvement; and
(B)
support a streamlining of safety initiatives in polar regions; and
(6)
support the interest of the United States in the Arctic and Antarctica through representation, active engagement, and performing other duties in accordance with relevant national and international bodies, treaties, and agreements.
Sec. 6. Assistant Director
(a) In general
The Director shall appoint an Assistant Director responsible for the management of the Directorate in the same manner as other assistant directors of the Foundation are appointed.
(b) Qualifications
The Assistant Director shall be an individual who, by reason of professional background and experience, is specially qualified to—
(1)
advise the Director on all matters pertaining to polar research and development; and
(2)
develop and implement the necessary policies and procedures to promote polar research and development across the Foundation and carry out the responsibilities under subsection (c).
(c) Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the Assistant Director shall include—
(1)
advising the Director on all matters pertaining to polar research and development;
(2)
approving all new programs within the Directorate;
(3)
coordinating polar research and development, infrastructure planning, observational systems, logistics, and operational support across Federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Coast Guard, and other relevant agencies;
(4)
coordinating polar research and development with partner countries;
(5)
developing and implementing merit-review models and mechanisms for selecting and providing awards for polar research and development at different scales, from individual investigator awards to large multi-institution collaborations;
(6)
assessing the success of the programs of the Directorate;
(7)
administering awards to achieve the purposes described in section 4;
(8)
providing regular briefings to the Board on the status of polar regions infrastructure and the alignment of awards under section 9 with the focus areas identified under section 8; and
(9)
performing other such duties pertaining to such purposes as are required by the Director.
(d) Relationship
The Assistant Director shall report to the Director.
(e) Relationship to other programs
No other directorate within the Foundation shall report to the Assistant Director.
Sec. 7. Advisory committee
(a) In general
In accordance with chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code, the Director shall establish an advisory committee (referred to in this section as the advisory committee
) to assess, and make recommendations regarding, the activities carried out under this Act.
(b) Membership
The members of the advisory committee shall—
(1)
be individuals with relevant experience or expertise, including educators, academic subject matter experts, individuals from industry and national labs, members of Indian Tribes, representatives of civil society, and representatives of other nongovernmental organizations; and
(2)
consist of not less than 10 members broadly representative of stakeholders.
(c) Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the advisory committee shall include—
(1)
reviewing and advising on activities carried out under this Act;
(2)
proposing strategies for fulfilling the purposes described in section 4;
(3)
proposing potential areas of research relevant to polar challenges; and
(4)
other relevant duties, as determined by the Director.
Sec. 8. Focus areas
(a) In general
In consultation with the Assistant Director, the Board, and the advisory committee established under section 7, the Director shall identify, and annually review and update as appropriate, a list of—
(1)
polar research and development, education, and workforce development investment priorities under this Act; and
(2)
necessary infrastructure and logistical support needed to appropriately carry out polar research and development, education, and workforce development under this Act.
(b) Initial focus of polar regions research and infrastructure investments
The initial focus of polar regions research and infrastructure investments shall be—
(1)
research and associated research infrastructure investments that maintain, strengthen, and enhance the ability of the United States to observe, understand, and predict the physical, biological, geologic, and socioeconomic processes and interacting systems of the Arctic to—
(A)
protect and advance the interests of the United States and ensure prosperity of the United States Arctic residents;
(B)
strengthen Alaska's role as the primary Arctic research, logistics, operations, and workforce development hub for the United States; and
(C)
strengthen existing associated research, research infrastructure, and workforce development in other States and territories;
(2)
research and associated research infrastructure investments that maintain, strengthen, and enhance the ability of the United States to observe, understand, and predict the physical, biological, geologic, and socioeconomic processes and interacting systems of Antarctica to protect and advance the interests of the United States under the Antarctic Treaty;
(3)
polar research and development that ensures the uncontested navigation and strategic utilization by the United States of the Arctic; and
(4)
polar research and development that ensures the United States dominance in Antarctica under the Antarctic Treaty.
Sec. 9. Awards and authorities
(a) In general
The Director may carry out the activities described in section 5—
(1)
by awarding or entering into grants, cooperative agreements, fellowships, scholarships, or infrastructure awards under subsection (b); or
(2)
by exercising, for purposes of this Act, any of the authorities provided to the Foundation under the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.) for the purposes of that Act.
(b) Awards
(1) In general
From amounts made available for the Directorate and on a competitive basis, the Director shall make awards described in subsection (a)(1) for polar research and development, education and workforce development, infrastructure, and logistical support that carry out the activities described in section 5 by advancing polar research and development, education and workforce development, infrastructure, and logistical investments that are aligned with the focus areas identified under section 8.
(2) Recipients
Recipients of awards under this subsection may include, as determined appropriate by the Director—
(A)
institutions of higher education (as such term is defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002));
(B)
research institutions;
(C)
nonprofit organizations;
(D)
private sector entities;
(E)
Indian Tribes;
(F)
consortia; and
(G)
other entities that the Director determines further the purposes of this Act.
(3) Metrics
The Director may—
(A)
set metrics, including goals and deadlines, for awards made under this subsection; and
(B)
use such metrics to determine whether an award recipient shall be eligible for continued or additional funding.
Sec. 10. Reporting
(a) In general
The Director, in consultation with other Federal agencies, as appropriate, shall prepare and submit an annual report to Congress describing—
(1)
(A)
the focus areas identified under section 8, for the period covered by the report, for polar research and development, education, workforce development, infrastructure investments, and logistical support in the polar regions; and
(B)
the rationale for their identification;
(2)
potential future investments needed to advance polar research and development, education, workforce development, infrastructure, and logistical support in the polar regions; and
(3)
the role of the Foundation in advancing the interests of the United States in polar regions.
(b) Detailed description
For each fiscal year, the Director, in coordination with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall—
(1)
submit, as part of the annual budget requests to Congress, a detailed description of the activities to be funded under this Act; and
(2)
include, at a minimum, separate budget lines for—
(A)
Arctic research as described in section 5(1);
(B)
Arctic infrastructure as described in section 5(2);
(C)
Arctic research as described in section 5(3);
(D)
Antarctica research as described in section 5(3); and
(E)
Antarctica infrastructure as described in section 5(4).