The Scholarly Publishing and Academic Research Coalition's (SPARC) Executive Director Heather Joseph has released a statement on Science, Space, and Technology markup of H.R. 4186, the Frontiers in Innovation, Research, Science and Technology (FIRST) Act.
Representative Lofgren (D-CA) offered an amendment to Section 303 on behalf of herself and Representative Sensenbrenner (R-WI) to replace the current language with the text similar to that of the Public Access to Public Science Act (H.R. 3157). The amendment was passed by voice vote.
Specifically, the Sensenbrenner/Lofgren amendment creates an embargo period of 12 months, rather than the 24 month embargo period in the original bill; allows for modification of the embargo period by a maximum of six months if the stakeholders can prove "substantial and unique harm;" and requires agencies to submit a report to the Congress in 90 days that details their public access policy and implementation of the policy within one year.
The full committee is expected to vote on moving the FIRST Act to the House floor soon.
