U.S. Congressman Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.) today sponsored legislation that would open publicly-funded research for free-market application without additional costs to the public.
The Federal Research Public Access Act would help bio-science businesses launch new services and products faster by giving them more complete access to important government research. The bill would not apply to classified research or proprietary, private-sector research.
"We want government research to be used by the private sector for commercial applications," said Tiahrt. "Every year federal agencies conduct valuable research that should be made available to entrepreneurs and small businesses. If that research just sits on a shelf and collects dust, it doesn’t do much good. Instead, we need to find ways to get cutting-edge research out of the lab and into the marketplace quickly. This will allow new products and services to be made available to the public and spur economic growth.
"Given the growing prominence of bio-science businesses in Kansas, we should continue finding ways to encourage their success. This legislation is one tool that would encourage more competition in the marketplace and help Kansas’ bio-science businesses launch new services and products faster."
Tiahrt’s proposal would provide for the long-term preservation of, and no-fee public access to, government-sponsored published research findings within six months of publication in a peer-reviewed journal. By moving information into the private sector without fees, information can be shared and will help advance science. Doing so will improve the lives and welfare of Americans everywhere.
Under the Federal Research Public Access Act, federally-funded research that has been published in a peer-reviewed journal would be made available online without cost to the public no later than six months after the article has been published.
