[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4906 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 4906

To improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 8, 2006

   Mr. Ford introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Education 
   and the Workforce and Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently 
   determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 
 provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education, 
                        and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``21st Century Innovation Act of 
2006''.

SEC. 2. TEACHER RECRUITING.

    (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to encourage 
individuals educated in science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics to enter and continue in the teaching profession, with the 
goal of attracting 10,000 of America's brightest students to the 
teaching profession over the next 5 years.
    (b) Scholarships.--Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1021 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new 
part:

                  ``PART C--STEM TEACHER SCHOLARSHIPS

``SEC. 231. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.

    ``The Secretary shall award scholarships, on a competitive basis 
and in accordance with this part, to students who are enrolled in 
studies leading to bachelor's degrees, with concurrent certification as 
kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school teachers, in science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics, and who have agreed to 
perform qualified service.

``SEC. 232. SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS.

    ``(a) Selection Criteria.--The Secretary shall develop selection 
criteria that the Secretary will use to award scholarships, and to 
renew those awards, based on established measurements of merit 
available to secondary students who wish to pursue degrees in science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics.
    ``(b) Applications.--Any student desiring to receive a scholarship 
under this part shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require.
    ``(c) Duration of Scholarships; Renewal.--Scholarships shall be 
awarded for only one academic year of study at a time, and shall be 
renewable on an annual basis for the established length of the 
recipient's academic program, not to exceed 6 academic years. The 
Secretary shall condition the renewal of scholarships on measures of 
academic progress and achievement.

``SEC. 233. QUALIFIED SERVICE REQUIREMENT.

    ``(a) Qualified Service Agreement.--Any student who receives a 
scholarship under this part shall enter into an agreement with the 
Secretary to complete no less than 5 academic years of qualified 
service during a 7-year period, to begin no later than 12 months 
following the completion of a bachelor's degree in science, technology, 
engineering, or mathematics.
    ``(b) Requirement Enforced.--The Secretary shall establish such 
requirements as the Secretary finds necessary to ensure that recipients 
of scholarships under this subsection who complete bachelor's degrees 
in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with teacher 
certification, subsequently perform 5 academic years of qualified 
service during a 7-year period, or repay the portion of the scholarship 
received for which the recipient did not perform the required qualified 
service, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary shall use any 
such repayments to carry out additional activities under this part.
    ``(c) Definition.--For the purpose of this section, the term 
`qualified service' means full-time employment at a public or private 
kindergarten, elementary school, or secondary school as a teacher of a 
course in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field.

``SEC. 234. AWARDS.

    ``(a) Scholarship Award.--The Secretary shall provide each 
recipient with a scholarship in the amount of up to $20,000 to pay for 
the cost of attendance of the student for each academic year the 
student is eligible to receive the scholarship. The Secretary shall 
transfer such funds to the institution of higher education at which the 
recipient is enrolled.
    ``(b) Bonus Award.--
            ``(1) Option for bonus award.--Any student who receives a 
        scholarship under this part may elect to enter into a bonus 
        agreement with the Secretary, in accordance with this 
        subsection, for any academic year during which the student 
        receives a scholarship under this part.
            ``(2) Bonus agreement.--A bonus agreement under paragraph 
        (1) shall provide that--
                    ``(A) the student shall perform one academic year 
                of the qualified service agreed to under section 233(a) 
                in a high-need local educational agency, as defined in 
                section 201(b); and
                    ``(B) the Secretary shall provide $10,000, in 
                addition to the amount the student receives under 
                subsection (a), for each academic year in which the 
                student enters into such bonus agreement.
            ``(3) Service requirement enforced.--The Secretary shall 
        establish such requirements as the Secretary finds necessary to 
        ensure that recipients of bonuses under this subsection fulfill 
        the qualified service requirement in a high-need local 
        educational agency, as defined in section 201(b), for a period 
        of time equivalent to the period for which the recipient 
        receives the bonus, or repays the portion of the bonus received 
        for which the recipient did not perform the required qualified 
        service in a high-need local educational agency, as determined 
        by the Secretary. The Secretary shall use any such repayments 
        to carry out additional activities under this subsection.
    ``(c) Maximum Award.--The maximum award any student may receive 
under this section for an academic year shall be the student's cost of 
attendance minus any grant aid such student receives from sources other 
than this section.

``SEC. 235. REGULATIONS.

    ``The Secretary is authorized to issue such regulations as may be 
necessary to carry out the provisions of this part.''.
    (c) Institutional Grants for Integrated Degree Programs.--Title II 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021 et seq.) is further 
amended by adding after Part C, as added by subsection (b) of this 
section, the following new part:

                  ``PART D--INTEGRATED DEGREE PROGRAMS

``SEC. 241. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants to 
institutions of higher education, on a competitive basis, in order to 
pay for the Federal share of the cost of projects to establish, 
strengthen, and operate 4-year undergraduate degree programs through 
which students may concurrently--
            ``(1) earn a bachelor's degree in science, technology, 
        engineering, or mathematics; and
            ``(2) be certified to teach kindergarten, elementary, or 
        secondary school.
    ``(b) Grant Amount; Award Period.--The Secretary may award grants 
to no more than 50 institutions of higher education each fiscal year, 
and a grant to an institution for a fiscal year shall not exceed 
$1,000,000. Grants shall be awarded for only one fiscal year at a time, 
and shall be renewable on an annual basis for up to 5 years.

``SEC. 242. SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENTS.

    ``(a) Criteria.--The Secretary shall set criteria to evaluate the 
applications for grants under this part and the projects proposed to 
establish, strengthen, and operate 4-year integrated undergraduate 
degree programs.
    ``(b) Equitable Distribution of Grants.--To the extent practicable 
and consistent with the criteria under subsection (a), the Secretary 
shall make grants under this part in such manner as to achieve an 
equitable distribution of the grant funds throughout the United States, 
considering geographic distribution, rural and urban areas, and range 
and type of institutions.

``SEC. 243. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.

    ``In order to receive a grant under this part, an institution of 
higher education shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
may require. Such application shall include the following:
            ``(1) A description of the proposed project.
            ``(2) A demonstration of--
                    ``(A) the commitment, including the financial 
                commitment, of the institution for the proposed 
                project; and
                    ``(B) the active support of the leadership of the 
                institution for the proposed project.
            ``(3) A description of how the proposed project will be 
        continued after Federal funds are no longer awarded under this 
        part for the project.
            ``(4) A plan for the evaluation of the project, which shall 
        include benchmarks to monitor progress toward specific project 
        objectives.

``SEC. 244. MATCHING REQUIREMENT.

    ``Each institution of higher education receiving a grant under this 
part shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to the 
amount of the grant (in cash or in kind) to carry out the project 
supported by the grant.

``SEC. 245. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    ``The are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part 
$50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2012.''.

SEC. 3. TEACHER TRAINING.

    (a) Summer Institutes.--
            (1) Grants.--The Secretary of Education may make grants to 
        State educational agencies and local educational agencies to 
        develop and operate summer institutes described in paragraph 
        (2) to enable science, technology, engineering, and mathematic 
        teachers in elementary schools and secondary schools to upgrade 
        their skills.
            (2) Requirements.--A summer institute funded under this 
        section--
                    (A) shall be up to 4 weeks in duration; and
                    (B) shall be designed to enable science, 
                technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers in 
                elementary schools and secondary schools to upgrade 
                their skills, including by keeping informed of recent 
                developments in their respective fields and by 
                exchanging best practices.
    (b) Advanced Technical Degrees.--
            (1) Grants authorized.--The Secretary is authorized to make 
        grants, on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher 
        education that offer part-time master's degree programs with 
        rigorous science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
        content to individuals employed full-time as middle school and 
        secondary school science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics teachers.
            (2) Uses of funds.--Each recipient of a grant under this 
        subsection shall use--
                    (A) 50 percent of the grant funds to award 
                scholarships to individuals employed full-time as 
                middle school and secondary school science, technology, 
                engineering, and mathematics teachers who are enrolled 
                in a part-time master's degree program with rigorous 
                science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 
                content, to pay the cost of attendance related to such 
                program; and
                    (B) 50 percent of the grant funds to establish, 
                strengthen, and operate part-time master's degree 
                programs with rigorous science, technology, 
                engineering, and mathematics content.
            (3) Duration; renewal.--Grants under this subsection shall 
        be awarded for a period of 5 years, and shall be renewable for 
        one 5-year period.
            (4) Matching requirement.--Each institution of higher 
        education receiving a grant under this subsection shall 
        provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to the 
        amount of the grant (in cash or in kind) to carry out the 
        activities supported by the grant.
            (5) Priority.--In making grants under this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall give priority to institutions of higher 
        education that--
                    (A) include in the application for the grant a 
                description of how the activities supported by the 
                grant will be continued after Federal funds are no 
                longer awarded under this subsection; or
                    (B) demonstrate prior experience in, or exceptional 
                programs for, operating part-time master's degree 
                programs with rigorous science, technology, 
                engineering, and mathematics content that target full-
                time middle school and secondary school science, 
                technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers as 
                students.
    (c) Advanced Courses.--The Secretary may make grants to State 
educational agencies and local educational agencies to provide training 
to elementary school and secondary school teachers on the provision of 
advanced courses, including advanced placement courses, in science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics.
    (d) Application.--To seek a grant under this section, an entity 
shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The term ``elementary school'' has the meaning given to 
        that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (2) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
        meaning given to that term in section 101 of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
            (3) The term ``local educational agency'' has the meaning 
        given to that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (4) The term ``secondary school'' has the meaning given to 
        that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (5) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
        Education.
            (6) The term ``State educational agency'' has the meaning 
        given to that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
        Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2007 through 2011.

SEC. 4. EARLY CAREER SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEER AWARDS.

    In addition to amounts otherwise available for support of the 
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers program, 
the following amounts are authorized to be appropriated for the 
designated agencies:
            (1) For the National Science Foundation, $8,200,000 for 
        fiscal year 2007, $16,400,000 for fiscal year 2008, $24,600,000 
        for fiscal year 2009, $32,800,000 for fiscal year 2010, and 
        $41,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
            (2) For the National Institutes of Health, $4,800,000 for 
        fiscal year 2007, $9,600,000 for fiscal year 2008, $14,400,000 
        for fiscal year 2009, $19,200,000 for fiscal year 2010, and 
        $24,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
            (3) For the Department of Energy, $3,600,000 for fiscal 
        year 2007, $7,200,000 for fiscal year 2008, $10,800,000 for 
        fiscal year 2009, $14,400,000 for fiscal year 2010, and 
        $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
            (4) For the Department of Defense, $2,400,000 for fiscal 
        year 2007, $4,800,000 for fiscal year 2008, $7,200,000 for 
        fiscal year 2009, $9,600,000 for fiscal year 2010, and 
        $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
            (5) For the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
        $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $2,000,000 for fiscal year 
        2008, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $4,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 2010, and $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.

SEC. 5. UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLAR AWARDS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, 
              ENGINEERING, OR MATHEMATICS.

    (a) In General.--The National Science Foundation shall institute a 
program, to be known as the Undergraduate Scholar Awards in Science, 
Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics program, or the USA-STEM 
program, to award undergraduate scholarships in science, technology, 
engineering, or mathematics to individuals following criteria and 
procedures to be established by the Secretary of Education in 
consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation, 
except as provided in subsection (b).
    (b) Special Requirements.--
            (1) Scholarship amount.--Scholarships awarded under the 
        USA-STEM program shall provide up to $20,000 a year (as 
        determined by the Secretary of Education) for four years for 
        qualified educational expenses, including tuition and fees.
            (2) Advisory board.--(A) The Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall establish a board of advisors for the 
        program. The board shall identify areas of national need for 
        which shortages of science, technology, engineering, or 
        mathematics personnel with undergraduate academic degrees are 
        anticipated.
            (B) The members of the advisory board established under 
        subparagraph (A) shall be selected from among the principal 
        Federal agencies that support research and development 
        activities in science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics.
            (3) Selection criteria.--Selection criteria for scholarship 
        awards established under subsection (a) shall include whether 
        an applicant proposes to pursue an advanced degree in an area 
        of national need, identified by the advisory board under 
        paragraph (2)(A).
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the purposes of 
this section, $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $300,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2008, and $450,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 
through 2011.

SEC. 6. GRADUATE SCHOLAR AWARDS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, OR 
              MATHEMATICS.

    (a) In General.--The National Science Foundation shall institute a 
program, to be known as the Graduate Scholar Awards in Science, 
Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics program, or the GSA-STEM 
program, to award graduate fellowships in science, technology, 
engineering, or mathematics to individuals following the criteria and 
procedures of the Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship program, 
except as provided in subsection (b).
    (b) Special Requirements.--
            (1) Fellowship amount.--Fellowships awarded under the GSA-
        STEM program shall provide an annual stipend of $30,000 to the 
        recipient and $15,000, in lieu of tuition, to the institution 
        of higher education at which the recipient is enrolled.
            (2) Advisory board.--(A) The Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall establish a board of advisors for the 
        program. The board shall identify areas of national need for 
        which shortages of science, technology, engineering, or 
        mathematics personnel with advanced academic degrees are 
        anticipated.
            (B) The members of the advisory board established under 
        subparagraph (A) shall be selected from among the principal 
        Federal agencies that support research and development 
        activities in science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics.
            (3) Selection criteria.--Selection criteria for fellowship 
        awards used in the Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship 
        program shall be applied to the GSA-STEM program. An additional 
        criterion for awards under the GSA-STEM program shall be 
        whether an applicant proposes to pursue an advanced degree in 
        an area of national need, identified by the advisory board 
        under paragraph (2)(A).
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the purposes of 
this section, $225,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $450,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2008, and $675,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009 
through 2011.

SEC. 7. PRESIDENTIAL INNOVATION AWARD.

    (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a Presidential 
Innovation Award, signified by a medal which shall be of such design 
and materials and bear such inscriptions as the President, on the basis 
of recommendations submitted by the Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy, may prescribe.
    (b) Award.--The President shall periodically award the medal, on 
the basis of recommendations received from the Director of the Office 
of Science and Technology Policy or on the basis of such other 
information as the President considers appropriate, to individuals who 
develop one or more unique scientific or engineering ideas in the 
national interest at the time the innovation occurs.
    (c) Purpose.--The awards under this section shall be made to--
            (1) stimulate scientific and engineering advances in the 
        national interest;
            (2) illustrate the linkage between science and engineering 
        and national needs; and
            (3) provide an example to students of the contribution they 
        could make to society by entering the science and engineering 
        profession.
    (d) Citizenship.--An individual may not be awarded a medal under 
this section unless at the time such award is made the individual--
            (1) is a citizen or other national of the United States; or
            (2) is an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for 
        permanent residence who--
                    (A) has filed an application for petition for 
                naturalization in the manner prescribed by section 334 
                of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1445); 
                and
                    (B) is not permanently ineligible to become a 
                citizen of the United States.
    (e) Presentation.--The presentation of the award shall be made by 
the President with such ceremonies as he may deem proper, including 
attendance by appropriate Members of Congress.

SEC. 8. NATIONAL COORDINATION OFFICE FOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) In General.--The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
establish a National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure, 
which shall identify and prioritize deficiencies in research facilities 
and instrumentation in academic institutions and in national 
laboratories and shall make recommendations for the allocation of 
resources provided under subsection (e).
    (b) Staffing.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall appoint individuals to serve in the office established 
under subsection (a) from among the principal Federal agencies that 
support research in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering, and 
shall at a minimum include individuals from the National Science 
Foundation and the Department of Energy.
    (c) Use of Funds.--The amounts authorized by subsection (e) shall 
be available on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis for construction 
and maintenance of research facilities at institutions of higher 
education or national laboratories, including instrumentation, 
computing and networking equipment, and other physical resources 
necessary for performing leading-edge research.
    (d) Report.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall provide annually a report to Congress at the time of the 
President's budget proposal describing the research infrastructure 
needs identified in accordance with subsection (a) and a list of 
infrastructure projects proposed for funding using the resources 
authorized by subsection (e).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) National science foundation.--There are authorized to 
        be appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the 
        purposes of this section, $333,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
        2007 through 2011.
            (2) Department of energy.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Department of Energy for the purposes of 
        this section, $167,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 
        through 2011.

SEC. 9. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZED STAY IN THE UNITED STATES FOR FOREIGN 
              STUDENTS AND EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS 
              STUDYING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, OR MATHEMATICS 
              TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT.

    Section 214 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(r)(1) In the case of an alien described in paragraph (2), upon 
application by the alien and the satisfactory completion of such 
security screening as the Secretary of Homeland Security may specify, 
the Secretary may extend the alien's period of authorized admission as 
a principal nonimmigrant described in such paragraph for 12 months for 
the purpose of permitting the alien to secure employment in the United 
States in the alien's field described in such paragraph.
    ``(2) An alien referred to in paragraph (1) is a principal 
nonimmigrant described in subparagraph (F) or (J) of section 101(a)(15) 
who obtains a doctorate degree or its equivalent in the United States 
in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or other similar 
field determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation 
with the Secretary of State, to be important to the national interest 
of the United States during the period of stay as such a nonimmigrant.
    ``(3) An alien granted an extended period of authorized admission 
under paragraph (1) shall be granted authorization to engage in 
employment in the United States in any field described in paragraph 2 
and be provided an `employment authorized' endorsement or other 
appropriate work permit for such employment during such period of 
extended admission.
    ``(4) If, during an alien's period of extended admission described 
in paragraph (1)--
            ``(A) the alien obtains employment referred to in such 
        paragraph, and
            ``(B) an application is filed on behalf of such alien for a 
        change of classification under section 248 to that of a 
        nonimmigrant described in subparagraph (H) of section 
        101(a)(15) on the basis of such employment,
then the period of extended admission under paragraph (1) and the 
employment authorization described in paragraph (3) shall be further 
extended during the pendency of such application.
    ``(5) The spouse and minor children of an alien granted a period of 
extended admission under paragraph (1), and if applicable, under 
paragraph (4), if accompanying or following to join such alien, are 
eligible to be provided nonimmigrant status in the same classification 
during such period of authorized stay as the spouse or children would 
have with respect to the alien immediately before the alien was granted 
such a period of extended admission.''.

SEC. 10. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-ENERGY.

    (a) Agency.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established the Advanced 
        Research Projects Agency-Energy (in this section referred to as 
        ``ARPA-E'') within the Department of Energy.
            (2) Goal.--The goal of ARPA-E is to reduce the amount of 
        energy the United States imports from foreign sources by 50 
        percent over the next 10 years by--
                    (A) promoting revolutionary changes in the critical 
                technologies that would promote energy independence;
                    (B) turning cutting-edge science and engineering 
                into technologies for energy and environmental 
                application; and
                    (C) accelerating innovation in energy and the 
                environment for both traditional and alternative energy 
                sources and in energy efficiency mechanisms to decrease 
                the Nation's reliance on foreign energy sources.
            (3) Director.--ARPA-E shall be headed by a Director who 
        shall be appointed by the Secretary of Energy. The Director 
        shall report to the Secretary.
            (4) Responsibilities.--The Director of ARPA-E shall 
        administer the Fund established under subsection (b) to award 
        competitive grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to 
        institutions of higher education, companies, or consortia of 
        such entities which may include federally funded research and 
        development centers, to achieve the goals stated in paragraph 
        (2) through targeted acceleration of--
                    (A) energy-related research;
                    (B) development of resultant techniques, processes, 
                and technologies, and related testing and evaluation; 
                and
                    (C) demonstration and commercial application of the 
                most promising technologies and research applications.
            (5) Personnel.--
                    (A) Program managers.--The Director of ARPA-E shall 
                designate employees to serve as program managers for 
                each of the programs established pursuant to the 
                responsibilities established for ARPA-E under paragraph 
                (4). Program managers shall be responsible for--
                            (i) establishing research and development 
                        goals for the program, including through the 
                        convening of workshops and conferring with 
                        outside experts, as well as publicizing its 
                        goals to the public and private sectors;
                            (ii) soliciting applications for specific 
                        areas of particular promise, especially those 
                        which the private sector cannot or will not 
                        provide funding;
                            (iii) selecting research projects for 
                        support under the program from among 
                        application submitted to ARPA-E, following 
                        consideration of--
                                    (I) the novelty and scientific and 
                                technical merit of the proposed 
                                projects;
                                    (II) the demonstrated capabilities 
                                of the applicants to successfully carry 
                                out the proposed research project; and
                                    (III) such other criteria as are 
                                established by the Director; and
                            (iv) monitoring the progress of projects 
                        supported under the program.
                    (B) Hiring and management.--In hiring personnel for 
                ARPA-E, the Secretary shall have the hiring and 
                management authorities described in section 1101 of the 
                Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for 
                Fiscal Year 1999 (5 U.S.C. 3104 note). For purposes of 
                subsection (c)(1) of that section, the term of 
                appointments for employees may not exceed 5 years 
                before the granting of any extension.
            (6) Coordination.--The Director of ARPA-E shall ensure that 
        the activities of ARPA-E are coordinated with those of other 
        relevant research agencies, and may carry out projects jointly 
        with other agencies.
    (b) Fund.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury 
        the Energy Independence Acceleration Fund (in this section 
        referred to as the ``Fund''), which shall be administered by 
        the Director of ARPA-E for the purposes of carrying out this 
        section.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Director of ARPA-E for deposit in the 
        Fund $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $375,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 2008, $468,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $585,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2010, $732,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, and 
        $915,000,000 for fiscal year 2012, to remain available until 
        expended.
    (c) Recoupment.--
            (1) Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish procedures 
        and criteria for the recoupment of the Federal share of each 
        project supported under this section. Such recoupment shall 
        occur within a reasonable period of time following the date of 
        the completion of such project, but not later than 20 years 
        following such date, taking into account the effect of 
        recoupment on--
                    (A) the commercial competitiveness of the entity 
                carrying out the project;
                    (B) the profitability of the project; and
                    (C) the commercial viability of the technology 
                utilized.
            (2) Waiver.--The Secretary may at any time waive or defer 
        all or some portion of the recoupment requirement as necessary 
        for the commercial viability of the project.
            (3) Availability of funds.--Revenue received by the Federal 
        Government pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited into 
        the Fund and shall be available with further appropriation to 
        fund future grants, contracts, and cooperative agreement as 
        authorized by the Director of ARPA-E.
    (d) Advice.--
            (1) Advisory committees.--The Director of ARPA-E may seek 
        advice on any aspect of ARPA-E from--
                    (A) existing Department of Energy advisory 
                committees; and
                    (B) new advisory committees organized to support 
                the programs of ARPA-E and to provide advice and 
                assistance on--
                            (i) specific program tasks; or
                            (ii) overall direction of ARPA-E.
            (2) Applicability.--Section 14 of the Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act shall not apply to advisory committees organized 
        under paragraph (1)(B).
            (3) Additional sources of advice.--The Director of ARPA-E 
        may seek advice and review from the National Academy of 
        Sciences, the National Academy for Engineering, and any other 
        professional or scientific organization with expertise in 
        specific processes or technologies under development by ARPA-E.
    (e) ARPA-E Evaluation.--After ARPA-E has been in operation for 54 
months, the President's Committee on Science and Technology shall begin 
an evaluation (to be completed within 12 months) of how well ARPA-E is 
achieving its goals and mission. The evaluation shall include the 
recommendation of such Committee on whether ARPA-E should be continued 
or terminated, as well as lessons-learned from its operation. The 
evaluation shall be made available to Congress and to the public upon 
completion.
                                 <all>