[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2802 Introduced in Senate (IS)]


109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2802

   To improve American innovation and competitiveness in the global 
                                economy.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 15, 2006

 Mr. Ensign (for himself, Mr. Stevens, and Mrs. Hutchison) introduced 
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 
                on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To improve American innovation and competitiveness in the global 
                                economy.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``American 
Innovation and Competitiveness Act of 2006''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
   TITLE I--OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY; GOVERNMENT-WIDE 
                                SCIENCE

Sec. 101. National science and technology summit.
Sec. 102. Study on barriers to innovation.
Sec. 103. National innovation medal.
                     TITLE II--INNOVATION PROMOTION

Sec. 201. President's Council on Innovation and Competitiveness.
Sec. 202. Innovation acceleration grants.
Sec. 203. Regional economic development.
                 TITLE III--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Sec. 301. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 302. Innovation-based experiential learning.
Sec. 303. Graduate fellowships and graduate traineeships.
Sec. 304. Professional science masters degree programs.
Sec. 305. Increased support for science education through the National 
                            Science Foundation.
Sec. 306. Study of service science.
Sec. 307. Meeting critical national science needs.
Sec. 308. Experimental program to stimulate competitive research.
        TITLE IV--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 401. NASA's contribution to innovation.
Sec. 402. Aeronautics Institute for Research.
Sec. 403. Basic research enhancement.
        TITLE V--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

Sec. 501. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 502. Amendments to the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
                            of 1980.
Sec. 503. Innovation acceleration.
Sec. 504. Development of advanced manufacturing systems.
Sec. 505. Collaborative manufacturing research pilot grants.
Sec. 506. Manufacturing extension.
Sec. 507. Experimental program to stimulate competitive technology.
Sec. 508. Technical amendments to the National Institute of Standards 
                            and Technology Act and other technical 
                            amendments.

   TITLE I--OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY; GOVERNMENT-WIDE 
                                SCIENCE

SEC. 101. NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT.

    (a) In General.--Within 180 days after the date of enactment of 
this act, the President shall convene a National Science and Technology 
Summit. The Summit shall include representatives of industry, small 
business, academia, State government, and Federal research and 
development agencies. The summit shall examine the health and direction 
of the United States' science and technology enterprise.
    (b) Report.--Within 90 days after the end of the Summit, the 
President shall issue a report on the results of the Summit. The report 
shall identify key research and technology challenges and 
recommendations for areas of investment for Federal research and 
technology programs over the next 5 years beginning after the report is 
issued.
    (c) Annual Evaluation.--Beginning with the first year ending after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall publish an annual report containing 
recommendations for areas of investment for Federal research and 
technology programs, together with a justification for each area 
identified in the report. For the first 5 years after the Summit, the 
report shall take into account recommendations of the Summit.

SEC. 102. STUDY ON BARRIERS TO INNOVATION.

    (a) In General.--The National Academy of Sciences shall conduct and 
complete a study to identify, and to review methods to mitigate, new 
forms of risk for businesses beyond conventional operational and 
financial risk that affect the ability to innovate, including studying 
and reviewing--
            (1) incentive and compensation structures that could 
        effectively encourage long-term value creation and innovation;
            (2) methods of voluntary and supplemental disclosure by 
        industry of intellectual capital, innovation performance, and 
        indicators of future valuation;
            (3) means by which government could work with industry to 
        enhance the legal and regulatory framework to encourage the 
        disclosures described in paragraph (2);
            (4) practices that may be significant deterrents to United 
        States businesses engaging in innovation risk-taking compared 
        to foreign competitors, including tort litigation, the nature 
        and extent of any resulting defensive management practices, and 
        recommendations on practices to restore innovation risk-taking 
        and to overcome defensive practices;
            (5) means by which industry, trade associations, and 
        universities could collaborate to support research on 
        management practices and methodologies for assessing the value 
        and risks of longer term innovation strategies; and
            (6) means to encourage new, open, and collaborative 
        dialogue between industry associations, regulatory authorities, 
        management, shareholders, and other concerned interests to 
        encourage appropriate approaches to innovation risk-taking.
    (b) Report Required.--The National Academy of Sciences shall, not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and every 4 
years thereafter, submit to Congress a report on the study conducted 
under subsection (a).
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Academy of Sciences $1,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2007 for the purpose of carrying out the study required under this 
section.

SEC. 103. NATIONAL INNOVATION MEDAL.

    Section 16 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711) is amended--
            (1) by striking the section heading and inserting ``SEC. 
        16. NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY MEDAL; NATIONAL INNOVATION MEDAL.'';
            (2) by striking ``is'' in subsection (a) and inserting 
        ``are'';
            (3) by striking ``Medal,'' in subsection (a) and inserting 
        ``Medal and a National Innovation Medal'';
            (4) by striking ``medal,'' in subsection (b) and inserting 
        ``medals,'';
            (5) by striking ``States.'' in subsection (b) and inserting 
        ``States or by reason of their unique scientific and 
        engineering innovations in the National interest at the time 
        such innovation occurs.''; and
            (6) by striking ``presentation of the award'' in subsection 
        (c) and inserting ``presentations of the awards''.

                     TITLE II--INNOVATION PROMOTION

SEC. 201. PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON INNOVATION AND COMPETITIVENESS.

    (a) In General.--The President shall establish a President's 
Council on Innovation and Competitiveness.
    (b) Duties.--The Council's duties shall include--
            (1) monitoring implementation of public laws and 
        initiatives for promoting innovation, including policies 
        related to research funding, taxation, immigration, trade, and 
        education that are proposed in this and other Acts;
            (2) in consultation with the Director of the Office of 
        Management and Budget, developing a process for using metrics 
        to assess the impact of existing and proposed policies and 
        rules that affect innovation capabilities in the United States;
            (3) identifying opportunities and making recommendations 
        for the heads of executive agencies to improve innovation, 
        monitoring, and reporting on the implementation of such 
        recommendations;
            (4) developing metrics for measuring the progress of the 
        Federal Government with respect to improving conditions for 
        innovation, including through talent development, investment, 
        and infrastructure improvements; and
            (5) submitting an annual report to the President and 
        Congress on such progress.
    (c) Membership and Coordination.--
            (1) Membership.--The Council shall be composed of the 
        Secretary or head of each of the following:
                    (A) The Department of Commerce.
                    (B) The Department of Defense.
                    (C) The Department of Education.
                    (D) The Department of Energy.
                    (E) The Department of Health and Human Services.
                    (F) The Department of Homeland Security.
                    (G) The Department of Labor.
                    (H) The Department of the Treasury.
                    (I) The National Aeronautics and Space 
                Administration.
                    (J) The Securities and Exchange Commission.
                    (K) The National Science Foundation.
                    (L) The Office of the United States Trade 
                Representative.
                    (M) The Office of Management and Budget.
                    (N) The Office of Science and Technology Policy.
                    (O) Any other department or agency designated by 
                the President.
            (2) Chairperson.--The Secretary of Commerce shall serve as 
        chairperson of the Council.
            (3) Coordination.--The chairperson of the Council shall 
        ensure appropriate coordination between the Council and the 
        National Economic Council, the National Security Council, and 
        the National Science and Technology Council.
    (d) Development of Innovation Agenda.--
            (1) In general.--The Council shall develop a comprehensive 
        agenda for strengthening the innovation and competitiveness 
        capabilities of the Federal Government and State governments, 
        academia, and the private sector in the United States.
            (2) Consultation.--The comprehensive agenda required by 
        paragraph (1) shall be developed in consultation with 
        appropriate representatives of the private sector, scientific 
        organizations, and academic organizations.
    (e) Technical Amendment.--Section 101(b) of the High-Performance 
Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511(b)) is amended by striking ``an'' 
in the first sentence and inserting ``a distinct''.

SEC. 202. INNOVATION ACCELERATION GRANTS.

    (a) Grant Program.--The President, through the head of each Federal 
research agency, shall establish a grant program, to be known as the 
``Innovation Acceleration Grants Program'', to support and promote 
innovation in the United States. Priority in the awarding of grants 
shall be given to projects that--
            (1) meet fundamental technology challenges;
            (2) involve multidisciplinary work and a high degree of 
        novelty;
            (3) have the potential for yielding results with far-
        ranging or wide-ranging implications but are considered too 
        novel or span too diverse a range of disciplines to fare well 
        in the traditional peer review process.
    (b) Awarding of Grants Through Departments and Agencies.--
            (1) Funding goals.--The President shall ensure that it is 
        the goal of each Executive agency (as defined in section 105 of 
        title 5, United States Code) that finances research in science, 
        mathematics, engineering, and technology to allocate 
        approximately 8 percent of the agency's total annual research 
        and development budget to funding grants under the Innovation 
        Acceleration Grants Program.
            (2) Administration.--
                    (A) In general.--Each head of an Executive agency 
                awarding grants under paragraph (1) shall submit a plan 
                for implementing the grant program within such 
                Executive agency to the Director of the Office of 
                Science and Technology Policy and the Director of the 
                Office of Management and Budget. The implementation 
                plan shall be submitted not later than 90 days after 
                the date of enactment of this Act. The implementation 
                plan may incorporate existing initiatives of the 
                Executive agencies that promote research in innovation 
                as described in subsection (a).
                    (B) Required metrics.--The head of each Executive 
                agency submitting an implementation plan pursuant to 
                this section shall include metrics upon which grant 
                funding decisions will be made and metrics for 
                assessing the success of the grants awarded.
                    (C) Grant duration and renewals.--
                            (i) In general.--Any grants issued by an 
                        Executive agency under this section shall be 
                        for a period not to exceed 3 years.
                            (ii) Evaluation.--Not later than 90 days 
                        prior to the expiration of a grant issued under 
                        this section, the Executive agency that 
                        approved the grant shall complete an evaluation 
                        of the effectiveness of the grant based on the 
                        metrics established pursuant to subparagraph 
                        (B). In its evaluation, the Executive agency 
                        shall consider the extent to which the program 
                        funded by the grant met the goals of quality 
                        improvement and job creation.
                            (iii) Publication of review.--The Executive 
                        agency shall publish and make available to the 
                        public the review of each grant approved 
                        pursuant to this section.
                            (iv) Failure to meet metrics.--Any grant 
                        that the Executive agency awarding the grant 
                        determines has failed to satisfy any of the 
                        metrics developed pursuant to subparagraph (B), 
                        shall not be eligible for a renewal.
                            (v) Renewal.--A grant issued under this 
                        section that satisfies all of the metrics 
                        developed pursuant to subparagraph (B), may be 
                        renewed once for a period not to exceed 3 
                        years. Additional renewals may be considered 
                        only if the head of the Executive agency makes 
                        a specific finding that the program being 
                        funded involves a significant technology 
                        advance that requires a longer timeframe to 
                        complete critical research, and the research 
                        satisfies all the metrics developed pursuant to 
                        subparagraph (B).
    (c) Definitions.--
            (1) Federal research agency defined.--In this section, the 
        term ``Federal research agency'' means a major organizational 
        component of a department or agency of the Federal Government, 
        or other establishment of the Federal Government operating with 
        appropriated funds, that has as its primary purpose the 
        performance of scientific research.
            (2) Major organizational component.--The term ``major 
        organizational component'', with respect to a department, 
        agency, or other establishment of the Federal Government, means 
        a component of the department, agency, or other establishment 
        that is administered by an individual whose rate of basic pay 
        is not less than the rate of basic pay payable under level V of 
        the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of title 5, United 
        States Code.

SEC. 203. REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Development of Funding Strategy.--
            (1) In general.--The Assistant Secretary for Economic 
        Development of the Department of Commerce shall review Federal 
        programs that support local economic development and prepare 
        and implement a strategy to focus greater funding on 
        initiatives that improve the ability of communities to 
        participate successfully in the modern economy through 
        innovation. In preparing the strategy, priority should be given 
        to projects that--
                    (A) emphasize private sector cooperation with State 
                and local governments and nonprofit organizations 
                focused on regional economic development as the means 
                of achieving specific objectives related to the support 
                and promotion of innovation; and
                    (B) are the most successful in meeting the metrics 
                established under subsection (b).
            (2) Coordination.--The Assistant Secretary shall coordinate 
        the development and implementation of the strategy with the 
        activities carried out by the Secretary of Commerce under 
        subsection (d).
    (b) Evaluation of Programs.--The Assistant Secretary for Economic 
Development of the Department of Commerce shall develop metrics to 
measure the success of Federal programs in supporting and promoting 
innovation at the local community level while minimizing bureaucracy 
and overhead expenses.
    (c) Promotion of Economic Development Opportunities.--The Assistant 
Secretary for Economic Development of the Department of Commerce should 
work with organizations focused on economic development to highlight 
opportunities for such organizations to serve local communities through 
grants focused on economic development and investment in companies 
pursuing innovation.
    (d) Regional Innovation Hot Spots.--
            (1) Promotion of regional innovation hot spots.--The 
        Secretary of Commerce shall coordinate activities focused on 
        promoting innovation through the development of regional 
        innovation hot spots.
            (2) Guide to developing successful regional innovation hot 
        spots.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
                Commerce, in consultation with representatives of 
                regional innovation hot spots, shall publish a report, 
                to be titled the ``Guide to Developing Successful 
                Regional Innovation Hot Spots'', that examines 
                successful regional innovation hot spots and includes 
                recommendations for establishing and fostering regional 
                innovation hot spots.
                    (B) Content.--The report required under 
                subparagraph (A) shall--
                            (i) include information on the evaluation 
                        of human capital;
                            (ii) include information on the role of 
                        sponsoring institutions, such as universities, 
                        nonprofit organizations, and laboratories, in 
                        establishing and fostering regional innovation 
                        hot spots;
                            (iii) include information on the role of 
                        State and local government leaders, leaders in 
                        the research and business communities, and 
                        community organizations in establishing and 
                        fostering regional innovation hot spots;
                            (iv) discuss the importance of 
                        collaboration by public and private sector 
                        leaders;
                            (v) identify sources of funding for these 
                        activities within Federal, State, and local 
                        governments and the private sector; and
                            (vi) include recommendations for developing 
                        strategic plans to stimulate innovation, 
                        including recommendations relating to knowledge 
                        transfer and commercialization, the support of 
                        regional entrepreneurship and increased 
                        innovation within existing regional firms, and 
                        the linking of primary institutions engaged in 
                        the innovation process.
            (3) Regional innovation hot spot metrics.--
                    (A) Development of metrics.--In conjunction with 
                publishing the report required under paragraph (2), the 
                Secretary of Commerce shall develop the following sets 
                of metrics:
                            (i) Metrics to be considered for 
                        identifying potential regional innovation hot 
                        spots (in this subsection referred to as 
                        ``identifying metrics'').
                            (ii) Metrics to be considered for 
                        evaluating the impact and effectiveness of 
                        established regional innovation hot spots (in 
                        this subsection referred to as ``evaluation 
                        metrics'').
                    (B) Use of metrics.--The Secretary of Commerce 
                shall use the identifying metrics to conduct biannual 
                assessments of potential regional clusters and shall 
                use the evaluation metrics to assess the impact and 
                effectiveness of established regional innovation hot 
                spots in improving the regional economy and regional 
                job market. The Secretary shall also assess the cost 
                effectiveness of operating within each regional hot 
                spot. The Secretary shall report the biannual 
                assessments to Congress.
    (e) Regional Innovation Hot Spots.--In this section, the term 
``regional innovation hot spots'' means regions that are defined by a 
high degree of innovation and the availability of talent, investment, 
and infrastructure necessary to create and sustain such innovation.

                 TITLE III--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
National Science Foundation--
            (1) $6,440,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
            (2) $7,433,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (3) $8,577,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (4) $9,898,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
            (5) $11,422,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
    (b) Plan for Increased Research.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall submit a comprehensive, multiyear plan that 
        describes how the funds authorized in subsection (a) would be 
        used, if appropriated, to the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation, the Senate Committee on Health, 
        Education, Labor, and Pensions and the House of Representatives 
        Committee on Science.
            (2) Plan requirements.--The Director shall--
                    (A) develop the plan with a focus on strengthening 
                the Nation's lead in physical science and technology, 
                increasing overall workforce skills in physical 
                science, technology, engineering, and mathematics at 
                all levels, and strengthening innovation by expanding 
                the focus of competitiveness and innovation policy at 
                the regional and local level; and
                    (B) emphasize spending increased research funds 
                appropriated pursuant to subsection (a) in areas of 
                investment for Federal research and technology programs 
                identified under section 101(c) of this Act.

SEC. 302. INNOVATION-BASED EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall establish a grant program under which grants are provided to 
local educational agencies to enable the local educational agencies to 
implement innovation-based experiential learning in a total of up to 
500 secondary schools and up to 500 elementary or middle schools in the 
United States.
    (b) Applications.--A local educational agency desiring a grant 
under this section shall submit an application at such time, in such 
manner, and accompanied by such information as the Director of the 
National Science Foundation may require.
    (c) Experiential Learning Defined.--In this section, the term 
``experiential learning'' means a teaching model that--
            (1) begins with a relevant, real-world problem;
            (2) requires a student to research and plan a solution to 
        the problem, and experiment with that solution; and
            (3) follows the experiment with analysis, reflection, 
        discussion, and a redesign of the solution.

SEC. 303. GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS AND GRADUATE TRAINEESHIPS.

    (a) Graduate Research Fellowship Program.--
            (1) In general.--During the 5-year period beginning on the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall expand the Graduate Research 
        Fellowship Program of the Foundation so that an additional 
        1,250 fellowships are awarded to United States citizens under 
        the Program during that period.
            (2) Extension of fellowship period.--The Director is 
        authorized to award fellowships under the Graduate Research 
        Fellowship Program for a period of up to 5 years.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--Within the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated by section 301, there are 
        authorized to be appropriated $34,000,000 for each of the 
        fiscal years 2007 through 2011 to provide an additional 250 
        fellowships under the Graduate Research Fellowship Program 
        during each such fiscal year.
    (b) Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship 
Program.--
            (1) In general.--During the 5-year period beginning on the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall expand 
        the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship 
        program of the Foundation so that an additional 1,250 United 
        States citizens are awarded grants under the program during 
        that period.
            (2) Authorization of appropriations.--Within the amounts 
        authorized to be appropriated by section 301, there are 
        authorized to be appropriated $57,000,000 for each of the 
        fiscal years 2007 through 2011 to provide grants to an 
        additional 250 individuals under the Integrative Graduate 
        Education and Research Traineeship program during each such 
        fiscal year.

SEC. 304. PROFESSIONAL SCIENCE MASTERS DEGREE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Clearinghouse.--
            (1) Development.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall establish a clearinghouse, in collaboration 
        with 4-year institutions of higher education, including 
        applicable graduate schools and academic departments, 
        industries, and Federal agencies that employ science-trained 
        personnel, to share program elements used in successful 
        professional science masters degree programs.
            (2) Availability.--The Director shall make the 
        clearinghouse of program elements developed under paragraph (1) 
        available to institutions of higher education that are 
        developing professional science masters degree programs.
    (b) Pilot Programs.--
            (1) Program authorized.--The Director shall award grants 
        for pilot programs to 4-year institutions of higher education 
        to facilitate the institutions' creation or improvement of 
        professional science master's degree programs.
            (2) Application.--A 4-year institution of higher education 
        desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application 
        at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
        information as the Director may require. The application shall 
        include--
                    (A) a description of the professional science 
                masters degree program that the institution of higher 
                education will implement;
                    (B) the amount of funding from non-Federal sources, 
                including from private industries, that the institution 
                of higher education shall use to support the 
                professional masters degree program; and
                    (C) an assurance that the institution of higher 
                education shall encourage students in the professional 
                science master's degree program to apply for all forms 
                of Federal assistance available to such students, 
                including applicable graduate fellowships and student 
                financial assistance under title IV of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).
            (3) Preference for alternative funding sources.--The 
        Director shall give preference in making awards to 4-year 
        institutions of higher education seeking Federal funding to 
        support pilot professional science master's degree programs, to 
        those applicants that secure more than \2/3\ of the funding for 
        such professional science masters degree programs from sources 
        other than the Federal Government.
            (4) Number of grants; time period of grants.--
                    (A) Number of grants.--Subject to the availability 
                of appropriated funds, the Director shall award grants 
                under paragraph (1) to a maximum of 200 4-year 
                institutions of higher education.
                    (B) Time period of grants.--Grants awarded under 
                this section shall be for one 3-year term. Grants may 
                be renewed only once for a maximum of 2 additional 
                years.
            (5) Evaluation and reports.--
                    (A) Development of performance benchmarks.--Prior 
                to the start of the grant program, the National Science 
                Foundation, in collaboration with 4-year institutions 
                of higher education, shall develop performance 
                benchmarks to evaluate the pilot programs assisted by 
                grants under this section.
                    (B) Evaluation.--For each year of the grant period, 
                the Director, in consultation with 4-year institutions 
                of higher education, and Federal agencies that employ 
                science-trained personnel, shall complete an evaluation 
                of each pilot program assisted by grants under this 
                section. Any pilot program that fails to satisfy the 
                performance benchmarks developed under subparagraph (A) 
                shall not be eligible for further funding.
                    (C) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the 
                completion of an evaluation described in subparagraph 
                (A), the Director, in consultation with industries and 
                Federal agencies that employ science-trained personnel, 
                shall submit a report to Congress that includes--
                            (i) the results of the evaluation described 
                        in subparagraph (A); and
                            (ii) recommendations for administrative and 
                        legislative action that could optimize the 
                        effectiveness of the pilot programs, as the 
                        Director determines to be appropriate.
    (c) Institution of Higher Education Defined.--In this section, the 
term ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that 
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--Within the amounts authorized 
by be appropriate by section 301, there are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 
and such sums as may be necessary for each succeeding fiscal year.

SEC. 305. INCREASED SUPPORT FOR SCIENCE EDUCATION THROUGH THE NATIONAL 
              SCIENCE FOUNDATION.

    Within the amounts authorized to be appropriated by section 301, 
there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the physical 
science, mathematics, engineering, and technology talent expansion 
program under section 8(7) of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-368, 116 Stat. 3042)--
            (1) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
            (2) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (3) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
            (4) $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.

SEC. 306. STUDY OF SERVICE SCIENCE.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, in order 
to strengthen the competitiveness of United States enterprises and 
institutions and to prepare the people of the United States for high-
wage, high-skill employment, the Federal Government should better 
understand and respond strategically to the emerging vocation and 
learning discipline known as service science.
    (b) Study.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation, through 
the National Academy of Sciences, shall conduct a study and report to 
Congress regarding how the Federal Government should support, through 
research, education, and training, the new discipline of service 
science.
    (c) Outside Resources.--In conducting the study under subsection 
(b), the Director of the National Science Foundation shall consult with 
leaders from 2- and 4-year institutions of higher education, as defined 
in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001), 
leaders from corporations, and other relevant parties.
    (d) Service Science Defined.--In this section:
            (1) In general.--The term ``service science'' means 
        curricula, research programs, and training regimens, including 
        service sciences, management, and engineering programs, to 
        teach individuals to apply technology, organizational process 
        management, and industry-specific knowledge to solve complex 
        problems.
            (2) Service sciences, management, and engineering 
        programs.--The term ``service sciences, management, and 
        engineering programs'' means the discipline known as service 
        sciences, management, and engineering that--
                    (A) applies scientific, engineering, and management 
                disciplines to tasks that one organization performs 
                beneficially for others, generally as part of the 
                services sector of the economy; and
                    (B) integrates computer science, operations 
                research, industrial engineering, business strategy, 
                management sciences, and social and legal sciences, in 
                order to encourage innovation in how organizations 
                create value for customers and shareholders that could 
                not be achieved through such disciplines working in 
                isolation.

SEC. 307. MEETING CRITICAL NATIONAL SCIENCE NEEDS.

    (a) In General.--In addition to assessing the degree to which 
research award and grant proposals submitted to the Foundation, and 
research activities initiated by the Foundation, sustain and strengthen 
the nation's traditional commitment to long-term basic research that 
have the potential to be transformational to maintain the flow of new 
ideas that fuel the economy, provide security, and enhance the quality 
of life, to developing and sustaining a world class scientific 
workforce. and to fostering the scientific literacy of its citizens, 
the Director of the National Science Foundation shall include 
consideration of the degree to which such awards and such research 
activities may assist in meeting critical national needs in the 
physical sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
    (b) Priority Treatment.--Proposed research activities, and grants 
funded under the Foundation's Research and Related Activities Account, 
which can be expected to make contributions in physical and natural 
sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and other research 
that underpins these areas, shall be given priority in the selection of 
awards and in the allocation of Foundation resources.
    (c) Application of Priority Treatment to Other Programs.--This 
requirement shall be applied to other fellowship, grant or award 
programs authorized in this title.

SEC. 308. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH.

    Within the amounts authorized to be appropriated by section 301, 
there are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 
Foundation for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive 
Research authorized under section 113 of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g)--
            (1) $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (2) for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011, an amount 
        equal to $125,000,000 increased for each such year by an amount 
        equal to the percentage increase of the National Science 
        Foundation's budget request above the total amount appropriated 
        to the Foundation for fiscal year 2007.

        TITLE IV--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 401. NASA'S CONTRIBUTION TO INNOVATION.

    (a) Sense of the Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) since its establishment the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration has played an important role in 
        stimulating excellence in the advancement of physical science 
        and engineering disciplines and in providing opportunities and 
        incentives for the pursuit of academinc studies in science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics;
            (2) a balanced science program as authorized by section 
        101(d) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Act 
        2005 (Public Law 109-155) contributes significantly to 
        innovation in and the economic competitiveness of the United 
        States; and
            (3) a robust National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
        funded at the levels authorized under sections 202 and 203 of 
        that Act would offer a fair balance among science, aeronautics, 
        exploration, and human space flight programs, all of which can 
        attract and employ scientists, engineers, and technicians 
        across a broad range of fields in science, technology, 
        mathematics, and engineering.
    (b) Participation in Innovation and Competitiveness Programs.--The 
Administrator shall fully participate in any interagency efforts to 
promote innovation and economic competitiveness through scientific 
research and development.

SEC. 402. AERONAUTICS INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator of the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration shall establish within the Administration an 
Aeronautics Institute for Research to manage the Aeronautics research 
of the Administration. The Institute shall be headed by a director with 
appropriate experience in aeronautics research and development.
    (b) Duties.--The Institute shall implement the programs authorized 
under Title IV of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-155).
    (c) Cooperation With Other Agencies.--The Institute shall operate 
in conjunction with relevant programs in the Department of 
Transportation, the Department of Defense, the Department of Commerce, 
and the Department of Homeland Security, including the activities of 
the Joint Planning and Development Office established under the VISION 
100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108-176). The 
Director of the Institute may accept assistance, staff, and funding 
from those Departments and other Federal agencies. Such funding shall 
be in addition to funds authorized for aeronautics under the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (Public 
Law 109-155). The Director of the Institute may utilize the Next 
Generation Air Transportation Senior Policy Committee established under 
section 710 of under the VISION 100--Century of Aviation 
Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108-176) to coordinate its programs 
with other Departments and agencies.
    (d) Partnerships.--In developing and carrying out its plans, the 
Institute shall consult with the public and ensure the participation of 
experts from the private sector including representatives of commercial 
aviation, general aviation, aviation labor groups, aviation research 
and development entities, aircraft and air traffic control suppliers, 
and the space industry.

SEC. 403. BASIC RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, the Director of the National Science Foundation, 
the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of 
Commerce shall, to the extent practicable, coordinate basic and 
fundamental research activities related to physical sciences, 
technology, engineering and mathematics.
    (b) Establishment of Basic Research Executive Council.--In order to 
ensure effective application of resources to basic science activity and 
to facilitate cooperative basic and fundamental research activities 
with other governmental organizations, the Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall establish within 
the Administration a Basic Research Executive Council to oversee the 
distribution and management of programs and resources engaged in 
support of basic research activity.
    (c) Membership.--The membership of the Basic Research Executive 
Council shall consist of the most senior agency official representing 
each of the following areas of research:
            (1) Space Science.
            (2) Earth Science.
            (3) Life and Microgravity Sciences.
            (4) Aeronautical Research.
    (d) Leadership.--The Council shall be chaired by an individual 
appointed for that purpose who shall have, as a minimum, a appropriate 
graduate degree in a recognizable discipline in the physical sciences, 
and appropriate experience in the conduct and management of basic 
research activity. The Chairman of the Council shall report directly to 
the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
    (e) Supporting Resources and Personnel.--The Chairman of the 
Council shall be provided with adequate administrative staff support to 
conduct the activity and functions of the Council.
    (f) Duties.--The Basic Research Executive Council shall have, at 
minimum, the following duties:
            (1) To establish criteria for the identification of 
        research activity as basic in nature.
            (2) To establish, in consultation with the Office of 
        Science and Technology Policy, the National Science Foundation, 
        the National Academy of Sciences, the National Institutes of 
        Health, and other appropriate external organizations, a 
        prioritization of fundamental research activity to be conducted 
        by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, to be 
        reviewed and updated on an annual basis, taking into 
        consideration evolving national research priorities.
            (3) To monitor, review, and evaluate all basic research 
        activity of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
        for compliance with basic research priorities established under 
        paragraph (2).
            (4) To make recommendations to the Administrator regarding 
        adjustments in the basic research activities of the 
        Administration to ensure consistency with the research 
        priorities established under this section.
            (5) To provide an annual report to the Senate Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of 
        Representatives Committee on Science outlining the activities 
        of the Council during the preceding year and the status of 
        basic research activity within the Administration. The initial 
        such report, to serve as a baseline document, shall be provided 
        within 90 days after the establishment and initial operations 
        of the Council.

        TITLE V--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

SEC. 501. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Commerce for the use of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology--
            (1) for fiscal year 2007, $639,646,000, of which 
        $106,000,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership Program;
            (2) for fiscal year 2008, $703,611,000, of which 
        $106,000,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership Program;
            (3) for fiscal year 2009, $773,972,000, of which 
        $106,000,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership Program;
            (4) for fiscal year 2010, $851,369,000, of which 
        $106,000,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership Program; and
            (5) for fiscal year 2011, $936,506,000, of which 
        $106,000,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership Program.

SEC. 502. AMENDMENTS TO THE STEVENSON-WYDLER TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ACT 
              OF 1980.

    (a) In General.--Section 5 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3704) is repealed.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
        by striking ``Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology''.
            (2) Section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation 
        Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703) is amended--
                    (A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (3); and
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (13) as 
                paragraphs (1) through (11), respectively.
            (3) Section 21(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
        Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3713(a)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking out ``sections 5, 11(g), and 16'' 
                in paragraph (1) and inserting ``sections 11(g) and 
                16'';
                    (B) by striking ``$500,000 is authorized only for 
                the purpose of carrying out the requirements of the 
                Japanese technical literature program established under 
                section 5(d) of this Act;''.
            (4) Section 208 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 
        1991 (15 U.S.C. 5528 is amended by striking subsection (c) and 
        redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c).
            (5) Section 6(b)(4)(B)(v) of the Assistive Technology Act 
        of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 3005(b)(4)(B)(v)) is amended by striking 
        ``the Technology Administration of the Department of 
        Commerce,'' and inserting ``the National Institute of Standards 
        and Technology,''.

SEC. 503. INNOVATION ACCELERATION.

    (a) Grant Program.--In order to implement section 202 of this Act, 
the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
shall--
            (1) establish a program linked to the measurement 
        laboratories, to be known as the ``Standards and Technology 
        Acceleration Research Program'', to support and promote 
        innovation in the United States through high-risk, high-reward 
        research; and
            (2) set aside not less than 8 percent of the funds 
        available to the Institute each fiscal year for the program.
    (b) External Funding.--The Director shall ensure that at least 80 
percent of the funds available for the program shall be used to award 
competitive, merit-reviewed grants, cooperative agreements or contracts 
to public or private entities, including businesses and universities. 
In selecting these projects, the Director shall ensure that all 
projects have scientific and technical merit and that any resulting 
intellectual property shall vest in a company or companies incorporated 
in the United States. Each external project shall involve at least one 
small or medium-sized business and the Director shall give priority to 
joint ventures between small or medium-sized businesses and educational 
institutions. Any grant shall be for a period not to exceed 3 years.
    (c) Competitions.--The Director shall solicit proposals annually to 
address areas of national need for high-risk, high-reward research, as 
identified by the Director.
    (d) Annual Report.--Each year the Director shall issue an annual 
report describing the program's activities, including include a 
description of the metrics upon which grant funding decisions were made 
in the previous fiscal year, any proposed changes to those metrics, 
metrics for evaluating the success of ongoing and completed grants, and 
an evaluation of ongoing and completed grants. The first annual report 
shall include best practices for management of programs to stimulate 
high-risk, high-reward research.
    (e) Administrative Expenses.--No more than 5 percent of the finding 
available to the program may be used for administrative expenses.
    (f) High-Risk, High-Reward Research Defined.--In this section, the 
term ``high-risk, high-reward research'' means research that--
            (1) has the potential for yielding results with far-ranging 
        or wide-ranging implications; and
            (2) addresses critical national needs related to 
        measurement standards and technology; but
            (3) is too novel or spans too diverse a range of 
        disciplines to fare well in the traditional peer review 
        process.

SEC. 504. DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS.

    (a) Research and Development.--The Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology shall support research and 
development in collaboration with entities and organizations from the 
industrial sector to supplement and support work in the private sector 
on advanced manufacturing systems designed to increase productivity and 
efficiency and to create competitive advantages for United States 
businesses. These research and development activities should focus on 
the following activities:
            (1) Supporting industry efforts to develop innovative, 
        state-of-the-art manufacturing processes, advanced technologies 
        through interoperable standards, and related concepts, 
        including--
                    (A) advanced distributed and desktop manufacturing 
                linked to and made compatible with the extended 
                production enterprise system described in paragraph 
                (2);
                    (B) non-contact quality inspection processes linked 
                to and made compatible with the extended production 
                enterprise system;
                    (C) small lot manufacturing processes that are--
                            (i) as cost-effective as mass production 
                        processes; and
                            (ii) linked to and compatible with the 
                        extended production enterprise system; and
                    (D) the use of state-of-the-art materials and 
                processes at the nanotechnological level.
            (2) Supporting industry efforts to develop an extended 
        production enterprise system that integrates key entities, 
        including entities engaged in product design and development, 
        manufacturing, sourcing, distribution, and user entities, 
        including through the development of--
                    (A) interoperable software and standards designed 
                to maximize the compatibility of the design, modeling, 
                and manufacturing stages of the manufacturing process; 
                and
                    (B) supply chain software.
    (b) Coordination of Activities.--The Director shall coordinate 
activities under subsection (a) with activities under--
            (1) the Small Business Innovation Research Program (as 
        defined in section 2500(11) of title 10, United States Code);
            (2) the Small Business Technology Transfer Program (as 
        defined in section 2500(12) of title 10, United States Code); 
        and
            (3) the Manufacturing Technology Program established under 
        section 2521 of title 10, United States Code.
    (c) Testing.--The Director shall support the work of entities and 
organizations from the industrial sector in developing prototypes and 
testing areas for testing and refining, in actual production 
conditions, the processes, technologies, and extended production 
enterprise system described in subsection (a)(2) in order to maximize 
productivity gains and cost efficiencies.
    (d) Development of Standards.--The Director, in coordination with 
entities and organizations from the industrial sector and the 
Manufacturing Technology Program, shall support standards to be used as 
manufacturing performance criteria to accelerate the adoption of 
improvements and innovative processes and protocols developed under 
subsection (a).
    (e) Pilot Test Beds of Excellence.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Director shall, in collaboration 
        with entities and organizations from the industrial sector, 
        support not more than 3 pilot testbeds of excellence in 
        manufacturing fields important to advanced technologies 
        developed under subsection (a), such as nanotechnology or fuel 
        cell technology, to be used by the public and private sector. 
        The testbeds of excellence shall focus on production 
        development, particularly the invention, prototyping, and 
        engineering development stages of the manufacturing process.
            (2) Competition.--The Director shall conduct a competition 
        to select the pilot testbeds of excellence based on criteria 
        and metrics established by the Secretary prior to the 
        competition.
            (3) Funding.--The Director may provide the pilot testbeds 
        of excellence selected pursuant to the competition set forth in 
        paragraph (2) with an appropriate level of funding if and only 
        if the following conditions are satisfied:
                    (A) No more than \1/3\ of the funding of each 
                testbed of excellence is provided by the Federal 
                Government.
                    (B) At least \1/3\ of the cost of each testbed of 
                excellence is provided by participants from the private 
                sector.
                    (C) At least \1/3\ of the cost of each testbed of 
                excellence is provided by State or local governments.
            (4) Review of funded testbeds.--Within 3 years of the start 
        of Federal funding for any testbed of excellence pursuant to 
        this section, the Director shall use the metrics established 
        pursuant to paragraph (2) and any additional review metrics 
        that the Director determines appropriate to assess the 
        performance of the federally funded testbeds of excellence. Any 
        testbed of excellence that fails to satisfy any of the 
        performance metrics will be ineligible for additional Federal 
        funding.
            (5) Sunset provision.--Federal funding of any testbed of 
        excellence shall cease 5 years after the date of enactment of 
        this Act.
    (f) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Focus on 
Innovation.--The Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology shall ensure that the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership program develops a focus on innovation, including through 
technology diffusion, supply and distribution chain integration, and 
the dissemination of the processes, technologies, and extended 
production enterprise systems developed under this section.
    (g) Extended Production Enterprise.--In this section the term 
``extended production enterprise'' means a system in which key entities 
in the manufacturing chain, including entities engaged in product 
design and development, manufacturing, sourcing, distribution, and user 
entities, are linked together through information technology and other 
means to promote efficiency and productivity.

SEC. 505. COLLABORATIVE MANUFACTURING RESEARCH PILOT GRANTS.

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act is amended--
            (1) by redesignating the first section 32 (15 U.S.C. 271 
        note) as section 34 and moving it to the end of the Act; and
            (2) by inserting before the section moved by paragraph (1) 
        the following new section:

``SEC. 33. COLLABORATIVE MANUFACTURING RESEARCH PILOT GRANTS.

    ``(a) Authority.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish a pilot 
        program of awards to partnerships among participants described 
        in paragraph (2) for the purposes described in paragraph (3). 
        Awards shall be made on a peer-reviewed, competitive basis.
            ``(2) Participants.--Such partnerships shall include at 
        least--
                    ``(A) 1 manufacturing industry partner; and
                    ``(B) 1 nonindustry partner.
            ``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the program under this 
        section is to foster cost-shared collaborations among firms, 
        educational institutions, research institutions, State 
        agencies, and nonprofit organizations to encourage the 
        development of innovative, multidisciplinary manufacturing 
        technologies. Partnerships receiving awards under this section 
        shall conduct applied research to develop new manufacturing 
        processes, techniques, or materials that would contribute to 
        improved performance, productivity, and competitiveness of 
        United States manufacturing, and build lasting alliances among 
        collaborators.
    ``(b) Program Contribution.--Awards under this section shall 
provide for not more than one-third of the costs of a partnership.
    ``(c) Applications.--Applications for awards under this section 
shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, and containing such 
information as the Director shall require. Such applications shall 
describe at a minimum--
            ``(1) how each partner will participate in developing and 
        carrying out the research agenda of the partnership;
            ``(2) the research that the grant would fund; and
            ``(3) how the research to be funded with the award would 
        contribute to improved performance, productivity, and 
        competitiveness of the United States manufacturing industry.
    ``(d) Selection Criteria.--In selecting applications for awards 
under this section, the Director shall consider at a minimum--
            ``(1) the degree to which projects will have a broad impact 
        on manufacturing;
            ``(2) the novelty and scientific and technical merit of the 
        proposed projects; and
            ``(3) the demonstrated capabilities of the applicants to 
        successfully carry out the proposed research.
    ``(e) Distribution.--In selecting applications under this section 
the Director shall ensure, to the extent practicable, a distribution of 
overall awards among a variety of manufacturing industry sectors and a 
range of firm sizes.
    ``(f) Duration.--In carrying out this section, the Director shall 
run a single pilot competition to solicit and make awards. Each award 
shall be for a 3-year period.''.

SEC. 506. MANUFACTURING EXTENSION.

    (a) Manufacturing Center Evaluation.--Section 25(c)(5) of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
278k(c)(5)) is amended by inserting ``A Center that has not received a 
positive evaluation by the evaluation panel shall be notified by the 
panel of the deficiencies in its performance and shall be placed on 
probation for one year, after which time the panel shall reevaluate the 
Center. If the Center has not addressed the deficiencies identified by 
the panel, or shown a significant improvement in its performance, the 
Director shall conduct a new competition to select an operator for the 
Center or may close the Center.'' after ``at declining levels.''.
    (b) Federal Share.--Strike section 25(d) of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(d)) and insert the 
following:
    ``(d) Acceptance of Funds.--In addition to such sums as may be 
appropriated to the Secretary and Director to operate the Centers 
program, the Secretary and Director also may accept funds from other 
Federal departments and agencies and under section 2(c)(7) from the 
private sector for the purpose of strengthening United States 
manufacturing. Such funds from the private sector, if allocated to a 
Center or Centers, shall not be considered in the calculation of the 
Federal share of capital and annual operating and maintenance costs 
under subsection (c).''.
    (c) Hollings Manufacturing Extension Center Competitive Grant 
Program.--Section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsections:
    ``(e) Competitive Grant Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish, within 
        the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program under 
        this section and section 26 of this Act, a program of 
        competitive awards among participants described in paragraph 
        (2) for the purposes described in paragraph (3).
            ``(2) Participants.--Participants receiving awards under 
        this subsection shall be the Centers, or a consortium of such 
        Centers.
            ``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the program under this 
        subsection is to develop projects to solve new or emerging 
        manufacturing problems as determined by the Director, in 
        consultation with the Director of the Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership program, the Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership National Advisory Board, and small and 
        medium-sized manufacturers. One or more themes for the 
        competition may be identified, which may vary from year to 
        year, depending on the needs of manufacturers and the success 
        of previous competitions. These themes shall be related to 
        projects associated with manufacturing extension activities, 
        including supply chain integration and quality management, or 
        extend beyond these traditional areas.
            ``(4) Applications.--Applications for awards under this 
        subsection shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, and 
        containing such information as the Director shall require, in 
        consultation with the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
        Partnership National Advisory Board.
            ``(5) Selection.--Awards under this subsection shall be 
        peer reviewed and competitively awarded. The Director shall 
        select proposals to receive awards--
                    ``(A) that utilize innovative or collaborative 
                approaches to solving the problem described in the 
                competition;
                    ``(B) that will improve the competitiveness of 
                industries in the region in which the Center or Centers 
                are located; and
                    ``(C) that will contribute to the long-term 
                economic stability of that region.
            ``(6) Program contribution.--Recipients of awards under 
        this subsection may be required to provide a matching 
        contribution.
    ``(f) Audits.--A center that receives assistance under this section 
shall submit annual audits to the Secretary in accordance with Office 
of Management and Budget Circular A-133 and shall make such audits 
available to the public on request.''.
    (d) Programmatic and Operational Plan.--Not later than 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology shall transmit to the Committee 
on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 3-year 
programmatic and operational plan for the Hollings Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership program under sections 25 and 26 of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l). 
The plan shall include comments on the plan from the Hollings 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership State partners and the Hollings 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership National Advisory Board.

SEC. 507. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE TECHNOLOGY.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Institutes of 
Standards and Technology shall re-establish the Experimental Program to 
Stimulate Competitive Technology. The purpose of the program shall be 
to strengthen the technological competitiveness of those States that 
have historically received less Federal research and development funds 
than a majority of the States have received.
    (b) Arrangements.--In carrying out the program, the Director shall 
cooperate with State, regional, or local science and technology-based 
economic development organization and with representatives of small 
business firms and other appropriate technology-based businesses.
    (c) Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--In carrying out the 
program, the Director may make grants or enter into cooperative 
agreements to provide for--
            (1) technology research and development;
            (2) technology transfer from university research;
            (3) technology deployment and diffusion; and
            (4) the strengthening of technological and innovation 
        capabilities through consortia comprised of--
                    (A) technology-based small business firms;
                    (B) industries and emerging companies;
                    (C) institutions of higher education including 
                community colleges; and
                    (D) State and local development agencies and 
                entities.
    (d) Requirements for Making Awards.--
            (1) In general.--In making awards under this section, the 
        Director shall ensure that the awards are awarded on a 
        competitive basis that includes a review of the merits of the 
        activities that are the subject of the award, giving special 
        emphasis to those projects which will increase the 
        participation of women and underrepresented groups in science 
        and technology.
            (2) Matching requirement.--The non-Federal share of the 
        activities (other than planning activities) carried out under 
        an award under this subsection shall be not less than 50 
        percent of the cost of those activities.
    (e) Criteria for States.--The Director shall establish criteria for 
achievement by each State that participates in the program. Upon the 
achievement of all such criteria, a State shall cease to be eligible to 
participate in the program.
    (f) Coordination.--To the extent practicable, in carrying out this 
subsection, the Director shall coordinate the program with other 
programs of the Department of Commerce.
    (g) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the enactment 
        of this act, the Director shall prepare and submit a report 
        that meets the requirements of this paragraph to the Senate 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 
        House of Representatives Committee on Science.
            (2) Requirements for report.--The report prepared under 
        this paragraph shall contain--
                    (A) a description of the structure and procedures 
                of the program;
                    (B) a management plan for the program;
                    (C) a description of the merit-based review process 
                to be used in the program;
                    (D) milestones for the evaluation of activities to 
                be assisted under the program in fiscal year 2008;
                    (E) an assessment of the eligibility of each State 
                that participates in the Experimental Program to 
                Stimulate Competitive Research of the National Science 
                Foundation to participate in the program under this 
                subsection; and
                    (F) the evaluation criteria with respect to which 
                the overall management and effectiveness of the program 
                will be evaluated.

SEC. 508. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS 
              AND TECHNOLOGY ACT AND OTHER TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Research Fellowships.--Section 18 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-1) is amended by striking 
``up to 1 per centum of the'' in the first sentence.
    (b) Financial Agreements.--
            (1) Clarification.--Section 2(b)(4) of the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(b)(4)) 
        is amended by inserting ``and grants and cooperative 
        agreements,'' after ``arrangements,''.
            (2) Memberships.--Section 2(c) of the National Institute of 
        Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(c)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon in 
                paragraph (21);
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (22) as paragraph 
                (23); and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (21) the 
                following:
            ``(22) notwithstanding subsection (b)(4) of this section, 
        the Grants and Cooperative Agreements Act (31 U.S.C. 6301-
        6308), the Competition in Contracting Act (31 U.S.C. 3551-
        3556), and the Federal Acquisition Regulations set forth in 
        title 48, Code of Federal Regulations, to expend appropriated 
        funds for National Institute of Standards and Technology 
        memberships in scientific organizations, registration fees for 
        attendance at conferences, and sponsorship of conferences in 
        furtherance of technology transfer; and''.
    (c) Working Capital Fund.--Section 12 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 278b) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
    ``(g) Amount and Source of Transfers.--Not to exceed one-quarter 
per centum of the amounts appropriated to the Institute for any fiscal 
year may be transferred to the fund, in addition to any other transfer 
authority. In addition, funds provided to the Institute from other 
Federal agencies for the purpose of production of Standard Reference 
Materials may be transferred to the fund.''.
    (d) Outdated Specifications.--
            (1) Redefinition of metric system.--The Metric System Act 
        of 1866 (15 U.S.C. 205; 14 Stat. 339, 340) is amended by 
        striking the text of section 2 and inserting the following:
    ``The metric system of measurement shall be defined as the 
International System of Units as established in 1960, and subsequently 
maintained, by the General Conference of Weights and Measures, and as 
interpreted or modified for the United States by the Secretary of 
Commerce.''.
            (2) Repeal of redundant and obsolete authority.--The Act of 
        July 21, 1950, entitled, ``An Act To redefine the units and 
        establish the standards of electrical and photometric 
        measurements of 1950'' (15 U.S.C. 223, 224) is hereby repealed.
            (3) Standard time.--The first section of the Act of March 
        19, 1918, (15 U.S.C 261; commonly known as the Calder Act) is 
        amended--
                    (A) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``For 
                the purpose'';
                    (B) by striking the second sentence and the extra 
                period after it and inserting ``Except as provided in 
                section 3(a) of the Uniform Time Act of 1966, the 
                standard time of the first zone shall be Coordinated 
                Universal Time retarded by 4 hours; that of the second 
                zone retarded by 5 hours; that of the third zone 
                retarded by 6 hours; that of the fourth zone retarded 
                by 7 hours; that of the fifth zone retarded 8 hours; 
                that of the sixth zone retarded by 9 hours; that of the 
                seventh zone retarded by 10 hours; that of the eighth 
                zone retarded by 11 hours; and that of the ninth zone 
                shall be Coordinated Universal Time advanced by 10 
                hours.''; and
                    (C) adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Coordinated Universal Time Defined.--In this section, the 
term `Coordinated Universal Time' means the time scale maintained 
through the General Conference of Weights and Measures and interpreted 
or modified for the United States by the Secretary of Commerce.'.
    (e) Retention of Depreciation Surcharge.--Section 14 of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278d) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``Within''; 
        and
            (2) adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Retention of Fees.--The Director is authorized to retain all 
building use and depreciation surcharge fees collected pursuant to OMB 
Circular A-25. Such fees shall be collected and credited to the 
Construction of Research Facilities Appropriation Account for use in 
maintenance and repair of National Institute of Standards and 
Technology's existing facilities.''.
    (f) Non-Energy Inventions Program.--Section 28 of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Act, as redesignated by section 
202 of this Act (formerly 15 U.S.C. 278m), is repealed.D23/
                                 <all>