[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2197 Introduced in Senate (IS)]








109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2197

 To improve the global competitiveness of the United States in science 
  and energy technology, to strengthen basic research programs at the 
   Department of Energy, and to provide support for mathematics and 
science education at all levels through the resources available through 
   the Department of Energy, including at the National Laboratories.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 26, 2006

 Mr. Domenici (for himself, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Alexander, Ms. Mikulski, 
 Mr. Lugar, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Obama, Mr. Warner, Mr. Lieberman, 
 Mr. Bond, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Burns, Mr. Bayh, Mr. Craig, Ms. Cantwell, 
  Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Menendez, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Thomas, Mr. 
Kerry, Mr. Smith, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Leahy, Mr. 
    Allen, Mr. Akaka, Mr. Talent, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Chambliss, Ms. 
    Stabenow, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Salazar, Mr. 
 Martinez, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Biden, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Hagel, 
 Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Pryor, Ms. Collins, Mr. Vitter, and Ms. Landrieu) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
               Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To improve the global competitiveness of the United States in science 
  and energy technology, to strengthen basic research programs at the 
   Department of Energy, and to provide support for mathematics and 
science education at all levels through the resources available through 
   the Department of Energy, including at the National Laboratories.

    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 ``Protecting America's Competitive 
Edge Through Energy Act of 2006'' or the ``PACE-Energy Act''.

SEC. 2. MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND ENGINEERING EDUCATION AT THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

    (a) Science Education Programs.--Section 3164 of the Department of 
Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381a) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) as 
        subsections (c) through (e), respectively;
            (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b) Organization of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering 
Education Programs.--
            ``(1) Director of mathematics, science and engineering 
        education.--The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary 
        for Science (referred to in this subsection as the `Under 
        Secretary'), shall appoint a Director of Mathematics, Science, 
        and Engineering Education (referred to in this subsection as 
        the `Director') with the principal responsibility for 
        administering mathematics, science, and engineering education 
        programs of the Department.
            ``(2) Qualifications.--The Director shall be an individual, 
        who by reason of professional background and experience, is 
        specially qualified to advise the Under Secretary on all 
        matters pertaining to mathematics, science, and engineering 
        education at the Department.
            ``(3) Duties.--The Director shall--
                    ``(A) oversee all mathematics, science, and 
                engineering education programs of the Department;
                    ``(B) represent the Department as the principal 
                interagency liaison for all mathematics, science, and 
                engineering education programs, unless otherwise 
                represented by the Secretary or the Under Secretary;
                    ``(C) prepare the annual budget and advise the 
                Under Secretary on all budgetary issues for 
                mathematics, science, and engineering education 
                programs of the Department; and
                    ``(D) perform other such matters related to 
                mathematics, science, and engineering education as are 
                required by the Secretary or the Under Secretary.
            ``(4) Staff and other resources.--The Secretary shall 
        assign to the Director such personnel and other resources as 
        the Secretary considers necessary to permit the Director to 
        carry out the duties of the Director.
            ``(5) Assessment.--The Secretary shall offer to enter into 
        a contract with the National Academy of Sciences under which 
        the National Academy, not later than 5 years after, and not 
        later than 10 years after, the date of enactment of this 
        paragraph, shall assess the performance of the mathematics, 
        science, and engineering education programs of the Department.
            ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to 
        carry out this subsection.''; and
            (3) by striking subsection (d) (as redesignated by 
        paragraph (1)) and inserting the following:
    ``(d) Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Fund.--The 
Secretary shall establish a Mathematics, Science, and Engineering 
Education Fund, using not less than 0.3 percent of the amount made 
available to the Department for research, development, demonstration, 
and commercial application for each fiscal year, to carry out sections 
3165, 3166, and 3167.''.
    (b) Definition.--Section 3168 of the Department of Energy Science 
Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381d) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
            ``(5) National laboratory.--The term `National Laboratory' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).''.
    (c) Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Programs.--The 
Department of Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381 
et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by inserting after section 3162 the following:

             ``Subpart A--Science Education Enhancement'';

            (2) in section 3169, by striking ``part'' and inserting 
        ``subpart''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:

 ``Subpart B--Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Programs

``SEC. 3170. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this subpart:
            ``(1) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
        Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education.
            ``(2) National laboratory.--The term `National Laboratory' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).

   ``CHAPTER 1--ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY SCHOOLS FOR MATHEMATICS AND 
                                SCIENCE

``SEC. 3171. ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY SCHOOLS FOR MATHEMATICS AND 
              SCIENCE.

    ``(a) In General.--Consistent with sections 3165 and 3166, the 
Director shall make available necessary funds for a program using 
scientific and engineering staff of the National Laboratories, in which 
the staff--
            ``(1) assists teaching courses at statewide specialty 
        secondary schools that provide comprehensive mathematics and 
        science (including engineering) education; and
            ``(2) uses National Laboratory scientific equipment in the 
        teaching of the courses.
    ``(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of the Protecting America's Competitive Edge Through Energy 
Act of 2006, the Director shall submit a report to the appropriate 
committees of Congress detailing the impact of the activities assisted 
with funds made available under this section.

         ``CHAPTER 2--EXPERIENTIAL-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

``SEC. 3175. EXPERIENTIAL-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

    ``(a) Internships Authorized.--From the amounts authorized under 
subsection (d), the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall 
establish a summer internship program for middle school and secondary 
school students that shall--
            ``(1) provide the students with internships at the National 
        Laboratories; and
            ``(2) promote experiential, hands-on learning in 
        mathematics or science.
    ``(b) Eligibility Criteria.--The Director shall establish criteria 
to determine the sufficient level of academic preparedness necessary 
for a student to be eligible for an internship under this section.
    ``(c) Priority.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall give priority for an 
        internship under this section to a student who meets the 
        eligibility criteria described in subsection (b) and who 
        attends a school--
                    ``(A)(i) in which not less than 40 percent of the 
                children enrolled in the school are from low-income 
                families; or
                    ``(ii) that is designated with a school locale code 
                of 7 or 8, as determined by the Secretary of Education; 
                and
                    ``(B) for which there is--
                            ``(i) a high percentage of teachers who are 
                        not teaching in the academic subject areas or 
                        grade levels in which the teachers were trained 
                        to teach;
                            ``(ii) a high teacher turnover rate; or
                            ``(iii) a high percentage of teachers with 
                        emergency, provisional, or temporary 
                        certification or licenses.
            ``(2) Coordination.--The Director shall consult with the 
        Secretary of Education in order to determine whether a student 
        meets the priority requirements of this subsection.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2007 through 2013.

``CHAPTER 3--NATIONAL LABORATORIES CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS 
                         AND SCIENCE EDUCATION

``SEC. 3181. NATIONAL LABORATORIES CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS 
              AND SCIENCE EDUCATION.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish at each of the 
National Laboratories a program to support a Center of Excellence in 
Mathematics and Science at 1 public secondary school located in the 
region of the National Laboratory to provide assistance in accordance 
with subsection (c).
    ``(b) Goals.--The Secretary shall establish goals and performance 
assessments for each Center of Excellence authorized under subsection 
(a).
    ``(c) Assistance.--Consistent with sections 3165 and 3166, the 
Director shall make available necessary funds for a program using 
scientific and engineering staff of the National Laboratories, during 
which the staff--
            ``(1) assists teaching courses at the Centers of Excellence 
        in Mathematics and Science; and
            ``(2) uses National Laboratory scientific equipment in the 
        teaching of the courses.
    ``(d) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall consider the results of the 
performance assessments required under subsection (b) in any 
performance review of a National Laboratories management and operations 
contractor.

                     ``CHAPTER 4--SUMMER INSTITUTES

``SEC. 3185. SUMMER INSTITUTES.

    ``(a) Definition of Summer Institute.--In this section, the term 
`summer institute' means an institute at a National Laboratory, 
conducted during the summer, that--
            ``(1) is conducted for a period of not less than 2 weeks;
            ``(2) includes, as a component, a program that provides 
        direct interaction between students and faculty; and
            ``(3) provides for follow-up training during the academic 
        year.
    ``(b) Summer Institute Programs Authorized.--The Secretary, acting 
through the Director, shall establish or expand program of summer 
institutes at each of the National Laboratories to provide additional 
training to strengthen the mathematics and science teaching skills of 
teachers employed at public schools in kindergarten through grade 12 
education, with a particular focus on teachers of kindergarten through 
grade 8.

              ``CHAPTER 5--DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST PROGRAM

``SEC. 3191. DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to promote 
scientific and academic excellence at National Laboratories.
    ``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the Director 
and in consultation with the Director of the Office of Science, shall 
establish a program to support the appointment of distinguished 
scientists by National Laboratories.
    ``(c) Qualifications.--Successful candidates under this section 
shall be persons who, by reason of professional background and 
experience, are able to bring international recognition to the 
appointing National Laboratory in their field of scientific endeavor.
    ``(d) Selection.--A distinguished scientist appointed under this 
section shall be selected through an open peer review process.
    ``(e) Appointment.--An appointment by a National Laboratory under 
this section shall be at the rank of the highest grade of distinguished 
scientist or technical staff of the National Laboratory.
    ``(f) Duration.--An appointment under this section shall be for 6 
years, consisting of 2 3-year funding allotments.
    ``(g) Use of Funds.--Funds made available under this section may be 
used for--
            ``(1) the salary of the distinguished scientist and support 
        staff;
            ``(2) undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral 
        appointments;
            ``(3) research-related equipment;
            ``(4) professional travel; and
            ``(5) such other requirements as the Director determines 
        are necessary to carry out the purpose of the program.
    ``(h) Review.--
            ``(1) In general.--The appointment of a distinguished 
        scientist under this section shall be reviewed at the end of 
        the first 3-year allotment for the distinguished scientist 
        through an open peer review process to determine if the 
        appointment is meeting the purpose of this section under 
        subsection (a).
            ``(2) Funding.--Funding of the appointment of the 
        distinguished scientist for the second 3-year allotment shall 
        be determined based on the review conducted under paragraph 
        (1).''.

SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY EARLY-CAREER RESEARCH GRANTS.

    (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to authorize 
research grants in the Department of Energy for early-career scientists 
and engineers for purposes of pursuing independent research.
    (b) Definition of Eligible Early-Career Researcher.--In this 
section, the term ``eligible early-career researcher'' means an 
individual who--
            (1) completed a doctorate or other terminal degree not more 
        than 10 years before the date of enactment of this Act and has 
        demonstrated promise in the field of science, technology, 
        engineering, or mathematics; or
            (2) has an equivalent professional qualification in the 
        field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
    (c) Grant Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Energy, through the 
        Director of the Office of Science of the Department of Energy, 
        shall award not less than 65 grants per year to outstanding 
        eligible early-career researchers to support the work of such 
        researchers in the Department, particularly the National 
        Laboratories, or other federally-funded research and 
        development centers.
            (2) Application.--An eligible early-career researcher who 
        desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit to 
        the Secretary of Energy an application at such time, in such 
        manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary 
        may require.
            (3) Special consideration.--In awarding grants under this 
        section, the Secretary of Energy shall give special 
        consideration to eligible early-career researchers who have 
        followed alternative career paths such as working part-time or 
        in non-academic settings, or who have taken a significant 
        career break or other leave of absence.
            (4) Duration and amount.--A grant under this section shall 
        be 5 years in duration. An eligible early career-researcher who 
        receives a grant under this section shall receive $100,000 for 
        each year of the grant period.
            (5) Use of funds.--An eligible early career-researcher who 
        receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds 
        for basic research in natural sciences, engineering, 
        mathematics, or computer sciences at the Department of Energy, 
        particularly the National Laboratories, or other federally-
        funded research and development center.
            (6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to carry out this section--
                    (A) $6,500,000 for fiscal year 2007;
                    (B) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
                    (C) $19,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
                    (D) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
                    (E) $32,500,000 for fiscal year 2011.

SEC. 4. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AUTHORITY-ENERGY.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) ARPA-E.--The term ``ARPA-E'' means the Advanced 
        Research Projects Authority--Energy established under 
        subsection (b).
            (2) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Acceleration Fund 
        for Research and Development of Energy Technologies established 
        under subsection (c).
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
            (4) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means 
        the position of Under Secretary for Science established under 
        section 202(b) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 
        U.S.C. 7132(b)).
    (b) ARPA-E.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established the Advanced 
        Research Projects Authority--Energy.
            (2) Director.--ARPA-E shall be headed by a Director, who 
        shall be appointed by the Secretary and report to the Under 
        Secretary.
            (3) Responsibilities.--The Director shall use the Fund to 
        award competitive, merit-based grants, cooperative agreements, 
        and contracts to public or private entities (including 
        businesses, federally funded research and development centers, 
        and institutions of higher education) to--
                    (A) support basic and applied energy research to 
                promote revolutionary changes in technologies that 
                would promote the missions of the Department of Energy;
                    (B) advance the development, testing, evaluation, 
                and deployment of critical energy technologies; and
                    (C) accelerate prototyping and development of 
                technologies that would address national energy 
                priorities.
            (4) Targeted competitions.--The Director may solicit 
        proposals to address areas of national need in science and 
        energy technology, as identified by the Director.
            (5) Coordination.--The Director--
                    (A) shall ensure that the activities of ARPA-E are 
                coordinated with activities of other appropriate 
                research agencies; and
                    (B) may carry out projects under this section 
                jointly with other agencies.
            (6) Personnel.--
                    (A) In general.--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 (Public Law 105-261; 5 U.S.C. 3104 note).
                    (B) Term.--The term of appointments for an employee 
                under subparagraph (A) may not exceed 5 years, except 
                that the Secretary may renew the term of appointment of 
                the employee for an additional term of 5 years.
            (7) Demonstrations.--The Director shall periodically hold 
        energy technology demonstrations to improve contact among 
        technology developers, vendors, and acquisition personnel.
    (c) Fund.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of 
        the United States a revolving fund, to be known as the 
        ``Acceleration Fund for Research and Development of Energy 
        Technologies'', consisting of--
                    (A) such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund 
                under paragraph (5); and
                    (B) any interest earned on investment of amounts in 
                the Fund under paragraph (3).
            (2) Expenditures from fund.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), on 
                request by the Director, the Secretary of the Treasury 
                shall transfer from the Fund to the Director such 
                amounts as the Director determines are necessary to 
                carry out this section.
                    (B) Administrative expenses.--An amount not 
                exceeding 5 percent of the amounts in the Fund shall be 
                available for each fiscal year to pay the 
                administrative expenses necessary to carry out this 
                section.
            (3) Investment of amounts.--
                    (A) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury 
                shall invest such portion of the Fund as is not, in the 
                judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury, required to 
                meet current withdrawals.
                    (B) Interest-bearing obligations.--Investments may 
                be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the 
                United States.
                    (C) Acquisition of obligations.--For the purpose of 
                investments under subparagraph (A), obligations may be 
                acquired--
                            (i) on original issue at the issue price; 
                        or
                            (ii) by purchase of outstanding obligations 
                        at the market price.
                    (D) Sale of obligations.--Any obligation acquired 
                by the Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the 
                Treasury at the market price.
                    (E) Credits to fund.--The interest on, and the 
                proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any 
                obligations held in the Fund shall be credited to, and 
                form a part of, the Fund.
            (4) Transfers of amounts.--
                    (A) In general.--The amounts required to be 
                transferred to the Fund under this subsection shall be 
                transferred at least monthly from the general fund of 
                the Treasury to the Fund on the basis of estimates made 
                by the Secretary of the Treasury.
                    (B) Adjustments.--Proper adjustment shall be made 
                in amounts subsequently transferred to the extent prior 
                estimates were in excess of or less than the amounts 
                required to be transferred.
            (5) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to the Fund--
                    (A) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
                    (B) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
                    (C) $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
                    (D) $900,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
                    (E) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.

SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 
              FOR BASIC RESEARCH.

    Section 971(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16311(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) $5,320,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            ``(5) $5,851,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
            ``(6) $6,436,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
            ``(7) $7,080,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.''.
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