Skip to main content
H.R. 420 119th Congress House

Federal Grant Accountability Act

Official title: To impose limitations on the amount of indirect costs allowable under Federal research awards to institutions of higher education, and for other purposes.

Introduced: January 15, 2025 Introduced by: Ben Cline Republican · Virginia See on congress.gov
Education Congressional oversightGovernment studies and investigationsHigher educationResearch administration and fundingSchool administration
Sign in to write a letter Sign in to watch
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jan 15, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Jan 15, 2025
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

What's happening now January 15, 2025

Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Federal Grant Accountability Act

This bill limits the indirect costs that are allowable under federal research awards to institutions of higher education (IHEs). (Generally, indirect costs represent expenses that are not specific to a research project but are needed to maintain the infrastructure and administrative support for federally funded research.)

Specifically, the total amount of indirect costs allowable under a federal research award may not exceed the total amount of indirect costs allowable under private research awards. The Office of Management and Budget must determine the average indirect cost rate applicable to private research awards.

Additionally, the Government Accountability Office must study and report on (1) the indirect cost rates allowable under federal research awards to IHEs, including awards made by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and other such organizations; and (2) the indirect cost rates allowable under private research awards to IHEs.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 420: Federal Grant Accountability Act. 119th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-420/
MLA
"H.R. 420: Federal Grant Accountability Act." 119th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-420/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 420, 119th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-420/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 420: Federal Grant Accountability Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/119-HR-420/)
Report a problem