I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7041 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 27, 2020 Mr. Welch (for himself, Mr. Connolly , and Mr. Lynch ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To provide that any termination of a director of a national research institute or national center of the National Institutes of Health be on the basis of malfeasance, neglect of office, or incapacity only.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Institutes of Health Director Protection Act . 2. Removal of Directors of the national research institute or national center of the NIH Section 405(a)(2)(E) of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 284(a)(2)(E) ) is amended— (1) in the heading of subparagraph (E), by striking Rule of construction and inserting Termination for cause ; and (2) by inserting , except that any such termination may be made only on the basis of malfeasance by, neglect of office by, or incapacity of the director before the period.