US bill pushes OA agenda

A new bill in the USA aims to require federal agencies to mandate access to publicly-funded research within six months of publication in a peer-reviewed journal.

The Federal Research Public Access Act of 2012 (FRPAA) has been introduced in both the US Senate and the House of Representatives. Its introduction follows a recent White House Office of Science and Technology Policy request for public comment on mechanisms that would leverage federal investments in scientific research and to stimulate scientific progress and spur technological innovation and competitiveness.

'Advancing research that enriches and improves lives is at the heart of the mission of higher education institutions in this country,' commented R. Michael Tanner, vice president for academic affairs at the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities, 'Communication of the results of this research is a central component of our Universities’ public purpose. The current NIH policy has successfully balanced interests while expanding public access to research results, and other federal funding agencies should do likewise.'