CORNYN BILL WOULD IMPROVE TAXPAYER ACCESS TO FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH

[Ray English <Ray.English@oberlin.edu>]

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator - Texas

CONTACT: Don Stewart
(202) 224-0704 office, (202) 365-6702 cell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2006

CORNYN BILL WOULD IMPROVE TAXPAYER ACCESS TO FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH

Bipartisan bill would expand access to research, greater return on
taxpayer investment

For more information about the bill, visit:
<http://cornyn.senate.gov/index.asp?f=record&lid=1&rid=237171>

WASHINGTON - In an effort to increase taxpayers' access to 
federally funded research, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) on 
Tuesday introduced the bipartisan Federal Research Public Access 
Act of 2006. The legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Sen. Joe 
Lieberman (D-Conn.).

The bill requires every federal agency with an annual research 
budget of more than $100 million to implement a public access 
policy. The policy must ensure that articles generated through 
research funded by that agency are made available online within 
six months of publication.

Cornyn said: "This legislation is a common-sense approach to 
expand the public's access to research it funds. And it will help 
accelerate scientific innovation and discovery."

Lieberman said: "Tax payer-funded research should be accessible 
to tax payers. Our bill will give researchers, medical 
professionals and patients in Connecticut and throughout the 
nation access to scientific discoveries and advancements that can 
help bring new treatments and cures to the public."

The legislation requires these federal agencies to:

    * Require each researcher funded totally or partially by the 
agency to submit an electronic copy of the final manuscript that 
has been accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal;
    * Ensure the manuscript is preserved in a stable, digital repository
maintained by that agency or in another suitable repository that
permits free public access, interoperability, and long-term
preservation; and
    * Require that free, online access to each taxpayer-funded
manuscript be available as soon as possible, and no later than six
months after its publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

"Making this information available to the public will lead to 
faster discoveries, innovations and cures," Cornyn said. "This 
bill will give the American taxpayer a greater return on its 
research investment."

Sen. Cornyn has been a leading proponent of increasing the 
public's access to information. The Senate passed Cornyn 
legislation in June to bring increased sunshine to the federal 
legislative process. In addition, Cornyn has introduced the 
Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act 
(OPEN Government Act, S. 394) and a bill to establish an advisory 
Commission on Freedom of Information Act Processing Delays.

Sen. Cornyn is a member of the following Senate Committees: Armed 
Services; Judiciary; Budget; Small Business and Entrepreneurship; 
and Joint Economic. He is also the chairman of the subcommittees 
on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship and Emerging 
Threats and Capabilities.

  <http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/>