[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2272 Engrossed in House (EH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2272
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To invest in innovation through research and development, and to
improve the competitiveness of the United States.
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 ``21st Century
Competitiveness Act of 2007''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS SCHOLARSHIPS AND EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT
Sec. 101. Findings.
Sec. 102. Definitions.
Subtitle A--Science Scholarships
Sec. 111. Short title.
Sec. 112. Findings.
Sec. 113. Policy objective.
Sec. 114. Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.
Subtitle B--Mathematics and Science Education Improvement
Sec. 121. Mathematics and science education partnerships amendments.
Sec. 122. Teacher institutes.
Sec. 123. Graduate degree program.
Sec. 124. Curricula.
Sec. 125. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent
Expansion Program.
Sec. 126. High-need local educational agency definition.
Sec. 127. Teacher leaders.
Sec. 128. Laboratory science pilot program.
Sec. 129. Study on laboratory equipment donations for schools.
TITLE II--SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH
Sec. 201. Short title.
Sec. 202. National Science Foundation early career awards for science
and engineering researchers.
Sec. 203. Department of Energy early career awards for science and
engineering researchers.
Sec. 204. Integrative graduate education and research traineeship
program.
Sec. 205. Presidential innovation award.
Sec. 206. National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure.
Sec. 207. Research on innovation and inventiveness.
Sec. 208. Report on National Institute of Standards and Technology
efforts to recruit and retain early CAREER
science and engineering researchers.
Sec. 209. NASA's contribution to innovation.
Sec. 210. Undergraduate scholarships for science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics.
TITLE III--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Definitions.
Sec. 303. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 304. Centers for research on learning and education improvement.
Sec. 305. Interdisciplinary research.
Sec. 306. Pilot program of grants for new investigators.
Sec. 307. Broader impacts merit review criterion.
Sec. 308. Postdoctoral research fellows.
Sec. 309. Responsible conduct of research.
Sec. 310. Reporting of research results.
Sec. 311. Sharing research results.
Sec. 312. Funding for successful stem education programs.
Sec. 313. Cost sharing.
Sec. 314. Donations.
Sec. 315. Additional reports.
Sec. 316. Administrative amendments.
Sec. 317. National Science Board reports.
Sec. 318. National Academy of Science Report on Diversity in STEM
fields.
Sec. 319. Sense of the Congress regarding the mathematics and science
partnership programs of the Department of
Education and the National Science
Foundation.
Sec. 320. Hispanic-serving institutions undergraduate program.
Sec. 321. Communications training for scientists.
TITLE IV--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
Sec. 401. Short title.
Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations
Sec. 411. Scientific and technical research and services.
Sec. 412. Industrial technology services.
Subtitle B--Innovation and Technology Policy Reforms
Sec. 421. Institute-wide planning report.
Sec. 422. Report by Visiting Committee.
Sec. 423. Manufacturing extension partnership.
Sec. 424. Technology Innovation Program.
Sec. 425. Research fellowships.
Sec. 426. Collaborative manufacturing research pilot grants.
Sec. 427. Manufacturing fellowship program.
Sec. 428. Meetings of Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology.
Sec. 429. Manufacturing research database.
Subtitle C--Miscellaneous
Sec. 441. Post-doctoral fellows.
Sec. 442. Financial agreements clarification.
Sec. 443. Working capital fund transfers.
Sec. 444. Retention of depreciation surcharge.
Sec. 445. Non-Energy Inventions Program.
Sec. 446. Redefinition of the metric system.
Sec. 447. Repeal of redundant and obsolete authority.
Sec. 448. Clarification of standard time and time zones.
Sec. 449. Procurement of temporary and intermittent services.
Sec. 450. Malcolm Baldrige awards.
TITLE V--HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING
Sec. 501. High-performance computing research and development program.
Sec. 502. Definitions.
TITLE I--SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS SCHOLARSHIPS AND EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT
SEC. 101. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The National Science Foundation has made significant
and valuable contributions to the improvement of K-12 and
undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
education throughout its 56 year history.
(2) Under section 3 of the National Science Foundation Act
of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1862), the National Science Foundation is
explicitly required to strengthen science, mathematics, and
engineering research potential and education programs at all
levels.
SEC. 102. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) The term ``cost of attendance'' has the meaning given
that term in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1087ll).
(2) The term ``Director'' means the Director of the
National Science Foundation.
(3) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the
meaning given that term in section 101(a) of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(4) The term ``mathematics and science teacher'' means a
mathematics, science, or technology teacher at the elementary
school or secondary school level.
Subtitle A--Science Scholarships
SEC. 111. SHORT TITLE.
This subtitle may be cited as the ``10,000 Teachers, 10 Million
Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act''.
SEC. 112. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The prosperity the United States enjoys today is due in
no small part to investments the Nation has made in research
and development over the past 50 years.
(2) Corporate, government, and national scientific and
technical leaders have raised concerns that current trends
affecting the science and technology enterprise of the Nation
could result in erosion of this past success and jeopardize
future prosperity.
(3) The National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy
of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine were tasked in a
congressional request to recommend actions that the Federal
Government could take to enhance the science and technology
enterprise so that the United States can successfully compete,
prosper, and be secure in the global community of the 21st
century.
(4) The Academies' highest priority recommendation in its
report, ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and
Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future'', is to
improve K-12 mathematics and science education, and the
Academies' first recommended action item is to institute a
major scholarship program to recruit and educate annually
10,000 mathematics and science teachers.
SEC. 113. POLICY OBJECTIVE.
In carrying out the program under section 10 of the National
Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002, the National Science
Foundation shall seek to increase by up to 10,000 per year the number
of elementary and secondary mathematics and science teachers in the
Nation's schools having both exemplary subject knowledge and
pedagogical skills.
SEC. 114. ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
(a) Program Amendments.--Section 10 of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``teacher'' after ``noyce'' in the section
heading;
(2) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) by striking ``to provide scholarships,
stipends, and programming designed'';
(B) by inserting ``and to provide scholarships and
stipends to students participating in the program''
after ``science teachers''; and
(C) by inserting ``Teacher'' after ``Noyce'';
(3) in subsection (a)(3)(A)--
(A) by striking ``encourage top college juniors and
seniors'' and inserting ``recruit and prepare
undergraduate students''; and
(B) by inserting ``qualified as'' after ``to
become'';
(4) in subsection (a)(3)(A)(ii)--
(A) by striking ``programs to help scholarship
recipients'' and inserting ``academic courses and early
field teaching experiences designed to prepare students
participating in the program'';
(B) by striking ``programs that will result in''
and inserting ``such preparation as is necessary to
meet requirements for''; and
(C) by striking ``licensing; and'' and inserting
``licensing;'';
(5) in subsection (a)(3)(A)(iii)--
(A) by striking ``scholarship recipients'' and
inserting ``students participating in the program'';
(B) by striking ``enable the recipients'' and
inserting ``enable the students''; and
(C) by striking ``; or'' and inserting ``; and'';
(6) in subsection (a)(3)(A) by inserting at the end the
following new clause:
``(iv) providing summer internships for
freshman students participating in the program;
or'';
(7) in subsection (a)(3)(B)--
(A) by striking ``encourage'' and inserting
``recruit and prepare''; and
(B) by inserting ``qualified as'' after ``to
become'';
(8) by amending clause (ii) of subsection (a)(3)(B) to read
as follows:
``(ii) offering academic courses and field
teaching experiences designed to prepare
stipend recipients to teach in elementary
schools and secondary schools, including such
preparation as is necessary to meet
requirements for teacher certification or
licensing; and'';
(9) in subsection (a) by inserting at the end the following
new paragraph:
``(4) Eligibility requirement.--To be eligible for an award
under this section, an institution of higher education (or
consortia of such institutions) shall ensure that specific
faculty members and staff from the institution's mathematics,
science, or engineering departments and specific education
faculty are designated to carry out the development and
implementation of the program. An institution of higher
education may also include teacher leaders to participate in
developing the pedagogical content of the program and to
supervise students participating in the program in their field
teaching experiences. No institution of higher education shall
be eligible for an award unless faculty from the institution's
mathematics, science, or engineering departments are active
participants in the program.
``(5) Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Director shall endeavor to ensure that the recipients are from
a variety of types of institutions of higher education. In
support of this goal, the Director shall broadly disseminate
information about when and how to apply for grants under this
section, including by conducting outreach to Historically Black
Colleges and Universities that are part B institutions as
defined in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1061(2)) and minority institutions (as defined in
section 365(3) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3))).'';
(10) in subsection (b)(1)(A)--
(A) by striking ``scholarship or stipend'';
(B) by inserting ``and summer internships'' after
``number of scholarships''; and
(C) by inserting ``the type of activities proposed
for the recruitment of students to the program,'' after
``intends to award,'';
(11) in subsection (b)(1)(B)--
(A) by striking ``scholarship or stipend''; and
(B) by striking ``; and'' and inserting ``, which
may include a description of any existing programs at
the applicant's institution that are targeted to the
education of mathematics and science teachers and the
number of teachers graduated annually from such
programs;'';
(12) in subsection (b)(1), by striking subparagraph (C) and
inserting the following:
``(C) a description of the academic courses and
field teaching experiences required under subsection
(a)(3)(A)(ii) and (B)(ii), including--
``(i) a description of the undergraduate
program that will enable a student to graduate
within 5 years with a major in mathematics,
science, or engineering and to obtain teacher
certification or licensing;
``(ii) a description of the field teaching
experiences proposed; and
``(iii) evidence of agreements between the
applicant and the schools or school districts
that are identified as the locations at which
field teaching experiences will occur;
``(D) a description of the programs required under
subsection (a)(3)(A)(iii) and (B)(iii), including
activities to assist new teachers in fulfilling their
service requirements under this section; and
``(E) an identification of the applicant's
mathematics, science, or engineering faculty and its
education faculty who will carry out the development
and implementation of the program as required under
subsection (a)(4).'';
(13) in subsection (b)(2)--
(A) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D),
and (E) as subparagraphs (C), (D), (E) and (F),
respectively;
(B) by inserting after subparagraph (A) a new
subparagraph as follows:
``(B) the extent to which the applicant's
mathematics, science, or engineering faculty and its
education faculty have worked or will work
collaboratively to design new or revised curricula that
recognizes the specialized pedagogy required to teach
mathematics, science, and technology effectively in
elementary and secondary schools;''; and
(C) by amending subparagraph (F), as so
redesignated by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, to
read as follows:
``(F) the ability of the applicant to recruit
students who are individuals identified in section 33
or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).'';
(14) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking ``2 years'' and
inserting ``3 years'';
(15) in subsection (c)(3)--
(A) by striking ``$7,500'' and inserting
``$10,000''; and
(B) by striking ``2 years of scholarship support''
and inserting ``3 years of scholarship support, unless
the Director establishes a policy by which part-time
students may receive additional years of support'';
(16) in subsection (c)(4)--
(A) by striking ``6 years'' and inserting ``8
years'';
(B) by inserting ``, with a maximum service
requirement of 6 years'' after ``was received''; and
(C) by striking ``Service required under this
paragraph shall be performed in a high-need local
educational agency.'';
(17) in subsection (c), by adding at the end a new
paragraph as follows:
``(5) Exception.--The period of service obligation under
paragraph (4) is reduced by 1 year for scholarship recipients
whose service is performed in a high-need local educational
agency. The Director shall establish and maintain a central
clearinghouse of information on teaching opportunities
available in high-need local educational agencies throughout
the United States, which shall be made available to individuals
having a service obligation under this section.'';
(18) in subsection (d)(1), by striking ``to receive
certification or licensing to teach'' and inserting
``established under subsection (a)(3)(B)'';
(19) in subsection (d)(2), by inserting ``and professional
achievement'' after ``academic merit'';
(20) in subsection (d)(3), by striking ``1 year'' and
inserting ``16 months'';
(21) in subsection (d)(4)--
(A) by striking ``6 years'' and inserting ``4
years''; and
(B) by striking ``for each year a stipend was
received'';
(22) in subsection (e)--
(A) by inserting ``or section 10A'' after ``under
this section''; and
(B) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``or section
10A'' after ``subsection (d)'';
(23) in subsection (f)(1), by inserting ``or section 10A''
after ``under this section'';
(24) in subsection (g)(2)(A)--
(A) by striking ``Treasurer of the United States,''
and inserting ``Treasurer of the United States.''; and
(B) by striking ``multiplied by 2.'';
(25) in subsection (h), by inserting ``or section 10A''
after ``under this section'';
(26) in subsection (i)(3), by inserting ``or had a career
in'' after ``is working in'';
(27) in subsection (i)--
(A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph
(4);
(B) in paragraph (5), by inserting ``or section
10A'' after ``subsection (d)'';
(C) by striking the period at the end of paragraph
(5) and inserting ``; and''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) the term `teacher leader' means a mathematics or
science teacher who works to improve the instruction of
mathematics or science in kindergarten through grade 12
through--
``(A) participating in the development or revision
of science, mathematics, engineering, or technology
curricula;
``(B) serving as a mentor to mathematics or science
teachers;
``(C) coordinating and assisting teachers in the
use of hands-on inquiry materials, equipment, and
supplies, and when appropriate, supervising acquisition
and repair of such materials;
``(D) providing in-classroom teaching assistance to
mathematics or science teachers; and
``(E) providing professional development, for the
purposes of training other teacher leaders, to
mathematics and science teachers.''; and
(28) by adding at the end the following:
``(j) Mathematics and Science Scholarship Gift Fund.--In accordance
with section 11(f) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, the
Director is authorized to accept donations from the private sector to
support scholarships, stipends, or internships associated with programs
under this section.
``(k) Assessment of Teacher Service and Retention.--Not later than
4 years after the date of enactment of this subsection, the Director
shall transmit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of the program
carried out under this section. The report shall include the proportion
of individuals receiving scholarships or stipends under the program
who--
``(1) fulfill their service obligation required under this
section in a high-need local educational agency;
``(2) elect to fulfill their service obligation in a high-
need local educational agency but fail to complete it, as
defined in subsection (g);
``(3) remain in the teaching profession beyond their
service obligation; and
``(4) remain in the teaching profession in a high-need
local educational agency beyond their service obligation.''.
(b) Special Partnership Program for Stipends.--The National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 is amended by inserting after
section 10 the following new section:
``SEC. 10A. SPECIAL PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM FOR STIPENDS.
``(a) In General.--As part of the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship
Program established under section 10, the Director shall establish a
separate type of award for eligible entities described in subsection
(b). Stipends under this section shall be available only to
mathematics, science, and engineering professionals who, while
receiving the stipend, are enrolled in a program to receive
certification or licensing to teach.
``(b) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible to receive a grant
under this section, an institution of higher education (or consortia of
such institutions) shall enter into a partnership with one or more
private sector nonprofit organizations, local or State government
organizations, and businesses. The members of the partnership shall
provide the teaching supplements described in subsection (f).
``(c) Use of Grants.--Grants provided under this section shall be
used by institutions of higher education or consortia to develop and
implement a program to encourage science, mathematics, or engineering
professionals to become qualified as mathematics and science teachers,
through--
``(1) administering stipends in accordance with this
section;
``(2) offering academic courses and field teaching
experiences designed to prepare stipend recipients to teach in
elementary and secondary schools, including such preparation as
is necessary to meet the requirements for certification or
licensing; and
``(3) offering programs to stipend recipients, both during
and after matriculation in the program for which the stipend is
received, to enable recipients to become better mathematics and
science teachers, to fulfill the service requirements of this
section, and to exchange ideas with others in their fields.
``(d) Selection Process.--
``(1) Merit review.--Grants shall be provided under this
section on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
``(2) Applications.--An eligible institution of higher
education or consortium seeking funding under this section
shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Director
may require. The application shall include, at a minimum--
``(A) a description of the program that the
applicant intends to operate, including the number of
stipends the applicant intends to award, the type of
activities proposed for the recruitment of students to
the program, and the amount of the teaching supplements
to be provided in accordance with subsection (f);
``(B) a description of the selection process that
will be used in awarding stipends, including a
description of the rigorous, nationally recognized test
that will be administered during the selection process
in order to determine whether individuals applying for
stipends have advanced content knowledge of science or
mathematics;
``(C) evidence that the applicant has the
capability to administer the program in accordance with
the provisions of this section, which may include a
description of any existing programs at the applicant's
institution that are targeted to the education of
mathematics and science teachers and the number of
teachers graduated annually from such programs;
``(D) a description of the academic courses and
field teaching experiences described in subsection
(c)(2), including--
``(i) a description of an educational
program that will enable a student to obtain
teacher certification or licensing within 16
months; and
``(ii) evidence of agreements between the
applicant and the schools or school districts
that are identified as the locations at which
field teaching experiences will occur;
``(E) a description of the programs described in
subsection (c)(3), including activities to assist new
teachers in fulfilling their service requirements under
this section; and
``(F) evidence that the partnership will provide
the teaching supplements required under subsection (f).
``(3) Criteria.--In evaluating the applications submitted
under paragraph (2), the Director shall consider, at a
minimum--
``(A) the ability of the applicant to effectively
carry out the program and to meet the requirement of
subsection (f);
``(B) the extent to which the applicant's
mathematics, science, or engineering faculty and its
education faculty have worked or will work
collaboratively to design new or revised curricula that
recognizes the specialized pedagogy required to teach
mathematics and science effectively in elementary and
secondary schools;
``(C) the extent to which the applicant is
committed to making the program a central
organizational focus;
``(D) the degree to which the proposed programming
will enable stipend recipients to become successful
mathematics and science teachers;
``(E) the number and quality of the students that
will be served by the program; and
``(F) the ability of the applicant to recruit
students who would otherwise not pursue a career in
teaching.
``(e) Stipends.--Individuals shall be selected to receive stipends
under this section primarily on the basis of their content knowledge of
science or mathematics as demonstrated by their performance on a test
designated in accordance with subsection (d)(2)(B). Among individuals
demonstrating equivalent content knowledge, consideration may be given
to financial need and to the goal of promoting the participation of
individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and
Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
``(f) Teaching Supplements.--The members of a partnership shall
identify a source of non-Federal funding to provide salary supplements
to individuals who participate in the program under this section during
the period of their service obligation under subsection (h).
``(g) Amount and Duration.--Stipends under this section shall be
not less than $10,000 per year, except that no individual shall receive
for any year more than the cost of attendance at that individual's
institution. Individuals may receive a maximum of 16 months of stipend
support.
``(h) Service Obligation.--If an individual receives a stipend
under this section, that individual shall be required to complete,
within 6 years after completion of the educational program for which
the stipend was awarded, 4 years of service as a mathematics or science
teacher in a public secondary school.''.
(c) Conforming Amendment.--Section 8(6) of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 is amended--
(1) in the paragraph heading by inserting ``Teacher'' after
``Noyce''; and
(2) by inserting ``Teacher'' after ``Noyce''.
Subtitle B--Mathematics and Science Education Improvement
SEC. 121. MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS AMENDMENTS.
Section 9 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of
2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2)--
(A) by striking ``(A)'';
(B) by striking subparagraph (B);
(C) by inserting ``, through 1 or more of its
departments in science, mathematics, or engineering,''
after ``institution of higher education''; and
(D) by striking ``a State educational agency'' and
inserting ``education faculty from the participating
institution or institutions of higher education, a
State educational agency,'';
(2) in subsection (a)(3)(B)--
(A) by inserting ``content-specific'' before
``professional development programs'';
(B) by inserting ``which are'' before ``designed'';
and
(C) by inserting ``and which may include teacher
training activities to prepare mathematics and science
teachers to teach challenging mathematics, science, and
technology college-preparatory courses, including
Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate
courses'' after ``and science teachers'';
(3) in subsection (a)(3)(C)--
(A) by inserting ``and laboratory experiences''
after ``technology''; and
(B) by inserting ``and laboratory'' after ``provide
technical'';
(4) in subsection (a)(3)(I) by inserting ``including model
induction programs for teachers in their first 2 years of
teaching,'' after ``and science,'';
(5) in subsection (a)(3)(K) by striking ``developing and
offering mathematics or science enrichment programs for
students, including after-school and summer programs;'' and
inserting ``developing educational programs and materials and
conducting mathematics, science, and technology enrichment
programs for students, including after-school programs and
summer camps for students described in subsection (b)(2)(G);'';
(6) in subsection (a) by inserting at the end the
following:
``(8) Master's degree programs.--Activities carried out in
accordance with paragraph (3)(B) shall include the development
and offering of master's degree programs for in-service
mathematics and science teachers that will strengthen their
subject area knowledge and pedagogical skills, as described in
section 123 of the Act enacting this paragraph. Grants provided
under this section may be used to develop and implement courses
of instruction for the master's degree programs, which may
involve online learning, and develop related educational
materials.
``(9) Mentors for teachers and students of challenging
courses.--Partnerships carrying out activities to prepare
mathematics and science teachers to teach challenging
mathematics, science, and technology college-preparatory
courses, including Advanced Placement and International
Baccalaureate courses, in accordance with paragraph (3)(B)
shall encourage companies employing scientists, mathematicians,
or engineers to provide mentors to teachers and students and
provide for the coordination of such mentoring activities.
``(10) Inventiveness.--Activities carried out in accordance
with paragraph (3)(H) may include the development and
dissemination of curriculum tools that will help foster
inventiveness and innovation.'';
(7) in subsection (b)(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (E)
and (F) as subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively, and
inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new
subparagraph:
``(E) the extent to which the evaluation described
in paragraph (1)(E) will be independent and based on
objective measures;'';
(8) in subsection (b) by inserting at the end the
following:
``(4) Minimum and maximum grant size.--A grant awarded
under this section shall be not less than $75,000 or greater
than $2,000,000 for any fiscal year.'';
(9) in subsection (c)--
(A) by striking paragraph (2);
(B) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), and (5)
as paragraphs (4), (5), and (6), respectively; and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following
new paragraphs:
``(2) Report on model projects.--The Director shall
determine which completed projects funded through the program
under this section should be seen as models to be replicated on
a more expansive basis at the State or national levels. Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
paragraph, the Director shall transmit a report describing the
results of this study to the Committee on Science and
Technology and the Committee on Education and Labor of the
House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
``(3) Report on evaluations.--Not later than 4 years after
the date of enactment of this paragraph, the Director shall
transmit a report summarizing the evaluations required under
subsection (b)(1)(E) of grants received under this program and
describing any changes to the program recommended as a result
of these evaluations to the Committee on Science and Technology
and the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of
Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate. Such report shall be made widely
available to the public.''; and
(10) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Definitions.--In this section--
``(1) the term `mathematics and science teacher' means a
mathematics, science, or technology teacher at the elementary
school or secondary school level; and
``(2) the term `science', in the context of elementary and
secondary education, includes technology and pre-
engineering.''.
SEC. 122. TEACHER INSTITUTES.
(a) National Science Foundation Institutes.--
(1) In general.--The Director shall establish a grant
program to provide for summer or academic year teacher
institutes or workshops authorized by section 9(a)(3)(B) of the
National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42
U.S.C. 1862n(a)(3)(B)) and shall allow grantees under the
Teacher Institutes for the 21st Century program to operate 1 to
2 week summer teacher institutes with the goal of reaching the
maximum number of in-service mathematics and science teachers,
particularly elementary and middle school teachers, to improve
their content knowledge and pedagogical skills.
(2) Preparation to teach challenging courses.--The Director
shall ensure that activities supported for awards under
paragraph (1) include the development and implementation of
teacher training activities to prepare mathematics and science
teachers to teach challenging mathematics, science, and
technology college-preparatory courses, including Advanced
Placement and International Baccalaureate courses.
(3) Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the
Director shall give priority to applications that propose
programs that will attract mathematics and science teachers
from local educational agencies that--
(A) are receiving grants under title I of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) as a result of having within their
jurisdictions concentrations of children from low
income families; and
(B) are experiencing a shortage of highly qualified
teachers, as defined in section 9101 of the Elementary
and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801),
in the fields of science, mathematics, or technology.
(b) Laboratory Science Teacher Professional Development.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for the
Laboratory Science Teacher Professional Development program, $3,000,000
for fiscal year 2008, $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $10,000,000 for
fiscal year 2010, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, and $10,000,000 for
fiscal year 2012.
SEC. 123. GRADUATE DEGREE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Director shall ensure that master's degree
programs for in-service mathematics and science teachers that will
strengthen their subject area knowledge and pedagogical skills are
instituted in accordance with section 9(a)(8) of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n(a)(8)). The
degree programs shall be designed for current teachers, who will enroll
as part-time students, and to allow participants to obtain master's
degrees within a period of 3 years.
(b) Distribution of Awards.--The Director shall, in awarding grants
to carry out subsection (a), consider the distribution of awards among
institutions of higher education of different sizes and geographic
locations.
(c) Program Activities.--Activities supported through master's
degree programs established under subsection (a) may include--
(1) development of courses of instruction and related
educational materials;
(2) stipends to defray the cost of attendance for students
in the degree program; and
(3) acquisition of computer and networking equipment needed
for online instruction under the degree program.
SEC. 124. CURRICULA.
Nothing in this title, or the amendments made by this title, shall
be construed to limit the authority of State governments or local
school boards to determine the curricula of their students.
SEC. 125. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS TALENT
EXPANSION PROGRAM.
(a) Amendments.--Section 8(7) of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``competitive, merit-
based'' and all that follows through ``in recent years.'' and
inserting ``competitive, merit-reviewed multiyear grants for
eligible applicants to improve undergraduate education in
science, mathematics, engineering, and technology through--
``(i) the creation of programs to increase the
number of students studying toward and completing
associate's or bachelor's degrees in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics, particularly
in fields that have faced declining enrollment in
recent years; and
``(ii) the creation of centers (in this paragraph
referred to as `Centers') to develop undergraduate
curriculum, teaching methods for undergraduate courses,
and methods to better train professors and teaching
assistants who teach undergraduate courses to increase
the number of students completing undergraduate courses
in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,
including the number of nonmajors, and to improve
student academic achievement in those courses.
Grants made under clause (ii) shall be awarded jointly through
the Education and Human Resources Directorate and at least 1
research directorate of the Foundation.'';
(2) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
``(B) In selecting projects under subparagraph (A)(i), the
Director shall strive to increase the number of students
studying toward and completing baccalaureate degrees,
concentrations, or certificates in science, mathematics,
engineering, or technology who are--
``(i) individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of
the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42
U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b); or
``(ii) graduates of a secondary school that is
administered by a local educational agency that is
receiving grants under title I of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et
seq.) as a result of having within its jurisdiction
concentrations of children from low income families.'';
(3) in subparagraph (C)--
(A) by inserting ``(i)'' before ``The types of'';
(B) by redesignating clauses (i) through (vi) as
subclauses (I) through (VI), respectively;
(C) by striking ``under this paragraph'' and
inserting ``under subparagraph (A)(i)''; and
(D) by adding at the end the following new clause:
``(ii) The types of activities the Foundation may support
under subparagraph (A)(ii) include--
``(I) creating model curricula and laboratory
programs;
``(II) developing and demonstrating research-based
instructional methods and technologies;
``(III) developing methods to train graduate
students and faculty to be more effective teachers of
undergraduates;
``(IV) conducting programs to disseminate
curricula, instructional methods, or training methods
to faculty at the grantee institutions and at other
institutions;
``(V) conducting assessments of the effectiveness
of the Center at accomplishing the goals described in
subparagraph (A)(ii); and
``(VI) conducting any other activities the Director
determines will accomplish the goals described in
subparagraph (A)(ii).'';
(4) in subparagraph (D)(i), by striking ``under this
paragraph'' and inserting ``under subparagraph (A)(i)'';
(5) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking ``under this
paragraph'' and inserting ``under subparagraph (A)(i)'';
(6) after subparagraph (D)(iii), by adding at the end the
following new clause:
``(iv) A grant under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be awarded
for 5 years, and the Director may extend such a grant for up to
2 additional 3 year periods.'';
(7) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``under this
paragraph'' both places it appears and inserting ``under
subparagraph (A)(i)'';
(8) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (J);
and
(9) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following new
subparagraphs:
``(F) Grants awarded under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be
carried out by a department or departments of science,
mathematics, or engineering at institutions of higher education
(or a consortia thereof), which may partner with education
faculty. Applications for awards under subparagraph (A)(ii)
shall be submitted to the Director at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Director may
require. At a minimum, the application shall include--
``(i) a description of the activities to be carried
out by the Center;
``(ii) a plan for disseminating programs related to
the activities carried out by the Center to faculty at
the grantee institution and at other institutions;
``(iii) an estimate of the number of faculty,
graduate students (if any), and undergraduate students
who will be affected by the activities carried out by
the Center; and
``(iv) a plan for assessing the effectiveness of
the Center at accomplishing the goals described in
subparagraph (A)(ii).
``(G) In evaluating the applications submitted under
subparagraph (F), the Director shall consider, at a minimum--
``(i) the ability of the applicant to effectively
carry out the proposed activities, including the
dissemination activities described in subparagraph
(C)(ii)(IV); and
``(ii) the extent to which the faculty, staff, and
administrators of the applicant institution are
committed to improving undergraduate science,
mathematics, and engineering education.
``(H) In awarding grants under subparagraph (A)(ii), the
Director shall endeavor to ensure that a wide variety of
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields and
types of institutions of higher education, including 2-year
colleges and minority-serving institutions, are covered, and
that--
``(i) at least 1 Center is housed at a Doctoral/
Research University as defined by the Carnegie
Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching; and
``(ii) at least 1 Center is focused on improving
undergraduate education in an interdisciplinary area.
``(I) The Director shall convene an annual meeting of the
awardees under this paragraph to foster collaboration and to
disseminate the results of the Centers and the other activities
funded under this paragraph.''.
(b) Report on Data Collection.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall transmit to Congress
a report on how the Director is determining whether current grant
recipients in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Talent Expansion Program are making satisfactory progress as required
by section 8(7)(D)(ii) of the National Science Foundation Authorization
Act of 2002 and what funding actions have been taken as a result of the
Director's determinations.
SEC. 126. HIGH-NEED LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGENCY DEFINITION.
Section 4(8) of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act
of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n note) is amended to read as follows:
``(8) High-need local educational agency.--The term `high-
need local educational agency' means a local educational agency
that--
``(A) is receiving grants under title I of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) as a result of having within its
jurisdiction concentrations of children from low income
families; and
``(B) is experiencing a shortage of highly
qualified teachers, as defined in section 9101 of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 7801), in the fields of science, mathematics, or
engineering.''.
SEC. 127. TEACHER LEADERS.
The National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 is
amended--
(1) in section 4(11)--
(A) by striking ``master teacher'' and inserting
``teacher leader'';
(B) by striking ``master teacher'' and inserting
``teacher leader''; and
(C) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``master
teachers'' and inserting ``teacher leaders''; and
(2) in section 9--
(A) in subsection (a)(3)(E), by striking ``master
teachers'' and inserting ``teacher leaders''; and
(B) in subsection (a)(4)--
(i) by striking ``master teachers'' and
inserting ``teacher leaders''; and
(ii) by striking ``master teachers'' each
place it appears and inserting ``teacher
leaders''.
SEC. 128. LABORATORY SCIENCE PILOT PROGRAM.
(a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
(1) To remain competitive in science and technology in the
global economy, the United States must increase the number of
students graduating from high school prepared to pursue
postsecondary education in science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics.
(2) There is broad agreement in the scientific community
that learning science requires direct involvement by students
in scientific inquiry and that laboratory experience is so
integral to the nature of science that it must be included in
every science program for every science student.
(3) In America's Lab Report, the National Research Council
concluded that the current quality of laboratory experiences is
poor for most students and that educators and researchers do
not agree on how to define high school science laboratories or
on their purpose, hampering the accumulation of research on how
to improve labs.
(4) The National Research Council found that schools with
higher concentrations of non-Asian minorities and schools with
higher concentrations of poor students are less likely to have
adequate laboratory facilities than other schools.
(5) The Government Accountability Office reported that 49.1
percent of schools where the minority student population is
greater than 50.5 percent reported not meeting functional
requirements for laboratory science well or at all.
(6) 40 percent of those college students who left the
science fields reported some problems related to high school
science preparation, including lack of laboratory experience
and no introduction to theoretical or to analytical modes of
thought.
(7) It is in the national interest for the Federal
Government to invest in research and demonstration projects to
improve the teaching of laboratory science in the Nation's high
schools.
(b) Grant Program.--Section 8(8) of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (F) as
clauses (i) through (vi), respectively;
(2) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``A program of
competitive''; and
(3) by inserting at the end the following new
subparagraphs:
``(B) In accordance with subparagraph (A)(v), the Director
shall establish a research pilot program designated as
`Partnerships for Access to Laboratory Science' to award grants
to partnerships to improve laboratories and provide
instrumentation as part of a comprehensive program to enhance
the quality of mathematics, science, engineering, and
technology instruction at the secondary school level. Grants
under this subparagraph may be used for--
``(i) purchase, rental, or leasing of equipment,
instrumentation, and other scientific educational
materials;
``(ii) maintenance, renovation, and improvement of
laboratory facilities;
``(iii) development of instructional programs
designed to integrate the laboratory experience with
classroom instruction and to be consistent with State
mathematics and science academic achievement standards;
``(iv) training in laboratory safety for school
personnel;
``(v) design and implementation of hands-on
laboratory experiences to encourage the interest of
individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the
Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42
U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in mathematics, science,
engineering, and technology and help prepare such
individuals to pursue postsecondary studies in these
fields; and
``(vi) assessment of the activities funded under
this subparagraph.
``(C) Grants may be made under subparagraph (B) only to a
partnership--
``(i) for a project that includes significant
teacher training and professional development
components; or
``(ii) that establishes that appropriate teacher
training and professional development is being
addressed, or has been addressed, through other means.
``(D) Grants awarded under subparagraph (B) shall be to a
partnership that--
``(i) includes an institution of higher education
or a community college;
``(ii) includes a high-need local educational
agency;
``(iii) includes a business or eligible nonprofit
organization; and
``(iv) may include a State educational agency,
other public agency, National Laboratory, or community-
based organization.
``(E) The Federal share of the cost of activities carried
out using amounts from a grant under subparagraph (B) shall not
exceed 50 percent.
``(F) The Director shall require grant recipients to submit
a report to the Director on the results of the project
supported by the grant.''.
(c) Report.--The Director shall evaluate the effectiveness of
activities carried out under the research pilot projects funded by the
grant program established pursuant to the amendment made by subsection
(b) in improving student performance in mathematics, science,
engineering, and technology. A report documenting the results of that
evaluation shall be submitted to the Committee on Science and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committees on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act. The report shall identify best practices and
materials developed and demonstrated by grant awardees.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--From the amount authorized in
section 303(a)(2)(B), (b)(2)(B), and (c)(2)(B) of this Act, there are
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section and the
amendments made by this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and
such sums as may be necessary for each of the 2 succeeding fiscal
years.
SEC. 129. STUDY ON LABORATORY EQUIPMENT DONATIONS FOR SCHOOLS.
Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Director shall transmit a report to the Congress examining the extent
to which institutions of higher education are donating used laboratory
equipment to elementary and secondary schools. The Director, in
consultation with the Secretary of Education, shall survey institutions
of higher education to determine--
(1) how often, how much, and what type of equipment is
donated;
(2) what criteria or guidelines the institutions are using
to determine what types of equipment can be donated, what
condition the equipment should be in, and which schools receive
the equipment;
(3) whether the institutions provide any support to, or
follow-up with the schools; and
(4) how appropriate donations can be encouraged.
TITLE II--SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Sowing the Seeds Through Science
and Engineering Research Act''.
SEC. 202. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION EARLY CAREER AWARDS FOR SCIENCE
AND ENGINEERING RESEARCHERS.
(a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation
shall carry out a program to award grants to scientists and engineers
at the early stage of their careers at institutions of higher education
and organizations described in subsection (c)(2) to conduct research in
fields relevant to the mission of the Foundation. The existing Faculty
Early Career Development (CAREER) Program may be designated as the
mechanism for awarding such grants.
(b) Size and Duration of Award.--The duration of awards under this
section shall be 5 years, and the amount per year shall be at least
$80,000.
(c) Eligibility.--Award recipients shall be individuals who are
employed in a tenure-track position as an assistant professor or
equivalent title, or who hold an equivalent position, at--
(1) an institution of higher education in the United
States; or
(2) an organization in the United States that is a
nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organization such as a
museum, observatory, or research laboratory.
(d) Selection.--Award recipients shall be selected on a
competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
(e) Selection Process and Criteria for Awards.--An applicant
seeking funding under this section shall submit a proposal to the
Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Director may require. In evaluating the proposals submitted
under this section, the Director shall consider, at a minimum--
(1) the intellectual merit of the proposed work;
(2) the innovative or transformative nature of the proposed
research;
(3) the extent to which the proposal integrates research
and education, including undergraduate education in science and
engineering disciplines; and
(4) the potential of the applicant for leadership at the
frontiers of knowledge.
(f) Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the Director
shall endeavor to ensure that the recipients are from a variety of
types of institutions of higher education and nonprofit, nondegree-
granting research organizations. In support of this goal, the Director
shall broadly disseminate information about when and how to apply for
grants under this section, including by conducting outreach to
Historically Black Colleges and Universities that are part B
institutions as defined in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)) and minority institutions (as defined in
section 365(3) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3))). In awarding grants
under this section, the Director shall give special consideration to
eligible early-career researchers who have followed alternative career
paths such as working part-time or in nonacademic settings, or who have
taken a significant career break or other leave of absence.
(g) Authorization of Appropriation.--For each of the fiscal years
2008 through 2012, the Director shall allocate at least 3.5 percent of
funds appropriated to the National Science Foundation for Research and
Related Activities to the grants program under this section, except to
the extent that a sufficient number of meritorious grant applications
have not been received for a fiscal year.
(h) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Director shall transmit to the Committee on Science and
Technology of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report describing
the distribution of the institutions from which individuals have
participated in the Faculty Early Career Development Program since
fiscal year 2001 among each of the categories of institutions of higher
education defined by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of
Teaching and the organizations in subsection (c)(2).
(i) Evaluation.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Director shall transmit to the Committee on Science
and Technology of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report evaluating
the impact of the program carried out under this section on the ability
of young faculty to compete for National Science Foundation research
grants.
SEC. 203. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY EARLY CAREER AWARDS FOR SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING RESEARCHERS.
(a) In General.--The Director of the Office of Science of the
Department of Energy shall carry out a program to award grants to
scientists and engineers at the early stage of their careers at
institutions of higher education and organizations described in
subsection (c)(2) to conduct research in fields relevant to the mission
of the Department, giving priority to grants to expand domestic energy
production and use through coal-to-liquids technology and advanced
nuclear reprocessing.
(b) Size and Duration of Award.--The duration of awards under this
section shall be up to 5 years, and the amount per year shall be at
least $80,000.
(c) Eligibility.--Award recipients shall be individuals who are
employed in a tenure-track position as an assistant professor or
equivalent title, or who hold an equivalent position, at--
(1) an institution of higher education in the United
States; or
(2) an organization in the United States that is a
nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organization such as a
museum, observatory, or research laboratory.
(d) Selection.--Award recipients shall be selected on a
competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
(e) Selection Process and Criteria for Awards.--An applicant
seeking funding under this section shall submit a proposal to the
Director of the Office of Science at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Director may require. In evaluating
the proposals submitted under this section, the Director shall
consider, at a minimum--
(1) the intellectual merit of the proposed work;
(2) the innovative or transformative nature of the proposed
research;
(3) the extent to which the proposal integrates research
and education, including undergraduate education in science and
engineering disciplines; and
(4) the potential of the applicant for leadership at the
frontiers of knowledge.
(f) Collaboration With National Laboratories.--In awarding grants
under this section, the Director shall give priority to proposals in
which the proposed work includes collaboration with the Department of
Energy National Laboratories.
(g) Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the Director
shall endeavor to ensure that the recipients are from a variety of
types of institutions of higher education and nonprofit, nondegree-
granting research organizations. In support of this goal, the Director
shall broadly disseminate information about when and how to apply for
grants under this section, including by conducting outreach to
Historically Black Colleges and Universities that are part B
institutions as defined in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)) and minority institutions (as defined in
section 365(3) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3))).
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out the Director's
responsibilities under this section $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal
years 2008 through 2012.
(i) Report on Recruiting and Retaining Early Career Science and
Engineering Researchers at the National Laboratories.--Not later than 3
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the
Office of Science shall transmit to the Committee on Science and
Technology of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on efforts to
recruit and retain young scientists and engineers at the early stages
of their careers at the Department of Energy National Laboratories. The
report shall include--
(1) a description of Department of Energy and National
Laboratory policies and procedures, including financial
incentives, awards, promotions, time set aside for independent
research, access to equipment or facilities, and other forms of
recognition, designed to attract and retain young scientists
and engineers;
(2) an evaluation of the impact of these incentives on the
careers of young scientists and engineers at Department of
Energy National Laboratories, and also on the quality of the
research at the National Laboratories and in Department of
Energy programs;
(3) a description of what barriers, if any, exist to
efforts to recruit and retain young scientists and engineers,
including limited availability of full time equivalent
positions, legal and procedural requirements, and pay grading
systems; and
(4) the amount of funding devoted to efforts to recruit and
retain young researchers and the source of such funds.
SEC. 204. INTEGRATIVE GRADUATE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH TRAINEESHIP
PROGRAM.
(a) Funding.--For each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012, the
Director of the National Science Foundation shall allocate at least 1.5
percent of funds appropriated for Research and Related Activities to
the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program.
(b) Coordination.--The Director shall coordinate with Federal
departments and agencies, as appropriate, to expand the
interdisciplinary nature of the Integrative Graduate Education and
Research Traineeship program.
(c) Authority To Accept Funds From Other Agencies.--The Director is
authorized to accept funds from other Federal departments and agencies
to carry out the Integrative Graduate Education and Research
Traineeship program.
SEC. 205. PRESIDENTIAL INNOVATION AWARD.
(a) Establishment.--The President shall periodically present the
Presidential Innovation Award, on the basis of recommendations received
from the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy or on
the basis of such other information as the President considers
appropriate, to individuals who develop one or more unique scientific
or engineering ideas in the national interest at the time the
innovation occurs.
(b) Purpose.--The awards under this section shall be made to--
(1) stimulate scientific and engineering advances in the
national interest;
(2) illustrate the linkage between science and engineering
and national needs;
(3) show the potential of such innovation to substantively
enhance the economic competitiveness of the United States
through development of commercializable intellectual property;
and
(4) provide an example to students of the contribution they
could make to society by entering the science and engineering
profession.
(c) Citizenship.--An individual is not eligible to receive the
award under this section unless at the time such award is made the
individual--
(1) is a citizen or other national of the United States; or
(2) is an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for
permanent residence who--
(A) has filed an application for naturalization in
the manner prescribed by section 334 of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1445); and
(B) is not permanently ineligible to become a
citizen of the United States.
(d) Presentation.--The presentation of the award shall be made by
the President with such ceremonies as he may deem proper, including
attendance by appropriate Members of Congress.
SEC. 206. NATIONAL COORDINATION OFFICE FOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE.
(a) In General.--The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall
establish a National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure.
Such Office shall--
(1) identify and prioritize the deficiencies in research
facilities and major instrumentation located at academic
institutions and at national laboratories that are available
for use by academic researchers; and
(2) institute and coordinate the planning by Federal
agencies for the acquisition, refurbishment, and maintenance of
research facilities and major instrumentation required to
address the deficiencies identified under paragraph (1).
In prioritizing the deficiencies identified under paragraph (1), the
Office shall consider research needs in areas relevant to the Nation's
economic competitiveness.
(b) Staffing.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy shall appoint individuals to serve in the Office established
under subsection (a) from among the principal Federal agencies that
support research in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering, and
shall at a minimum include individuals from the National Science
Foundation and the Department of Energy.
(c) Report.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy shall provide annually a report to Congress at the time of the
President's budget proposal--
(1) describing the research infrastructure needs identified
in accordance with subsection (a);
(2) listing research facilities projects and budget
proposals, by agency, for major instrumentation acquisitions
that are included in the President's budget proposal; and
(3) explaining how these facilities projects and
instrumentation acquisitions relate to the deficiencies and
priorities arrived at in accordance with subsection (a).
SEC. 207. RESEARCH ON INNOVATION AND INVENTIVENESS.
In carrying out its research programs on science policy and on the
science of learning, the National Science Foundation may support
research on the process of innovation and the teaching of
inventiveness.
SEC. 208. REPORT ON NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
EFFORTS TO RECRUIT AND RETAIN EARLY CAREER SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING RESEARCHERS.
Not later than 3 months 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 and Technology of the House
of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a report on efforts to recruit and retain
young scientists and engineers at the early stages of their careers at
the National Institute of Standards and Technology laboratories and
joint institutes. The report shall include--
(1) a description of National Institute of Standards and
Technology policies and procedures, including financial
incentives, awards, promotions, time set aside for independent
research, access to equipment or facilities, and other forms of
recognition, designed to attract and retain young scientists
and engineers;
(2) an evaluation of the impact of these incentives on the
careers of young scientists and engineers at the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, and also on the quality
of the research at the National Institute of Standards and
Technology's laboratories and in the National Institute of
Standards and Technology's programs;
(3) a description of what barriers, if any, exist to
efforts to recruit and retain young scientists and engineers,
including limited availability of full time equivalent
positions, legal and procedural requirements, and pay grading
systems; and
(4) the amount of funding devoted to efforts to recruit and
retain young researchers and the source of such funds.
SEC. 209. NASA'S CONTRIBUTION TO INNOVATION.
(a) Sense of the Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) a balanced science program as authorized by section
101(d) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Authorization Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-155) contributes
significantly to innovation in and the economic competitiveness
of the United States; and
(2) a robust National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
funded at the levels authorized under sections 202 and 203 of
that Act, would offer a 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 of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
shall fully participate in any interagency efforts to promote
innovation and economic competitiveness through scientific research and
development within the spending levels cited in subsection (a).
SEC. 210. UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS.
(a) Establishment.--The National Science Foundation shall establish
a program, to be known as the Undergraduate Scholarships for Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or US-STEM, program, for
awarding scholarships to undergraduate scholars in science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics.
(b) Eligibility.--A student is eligible for a scholarship under
this section only if the student--
(1) is enrolled at a public, 4-year college or university;
(2) will have completed at least one-half of the credit
requirements for an undergraduate degree before beginning
studies to be funded by the scholarship;
(3) has maintained a grade point average in undergraduate
studies of at least 3.0 on a scale of 4.0, or an equivalent
level as calculated by the National Science Foundation, except
that if the student's institution appeals this criterion on the
basis of undue hardship on the student, the National Science
Foundation may waive this paragraph;
(4) has a total family income of less than $75,000 per
year, with such amount to be adjusted annually by the National
Science Foundation for inflation;
(5) has not been convicted of a felony; and
(6) is a citizen or permanent resident alien of the United
States.
(c) Selection Criteria.--Scholarship recipients shall be selected
on the basis of merit and such other criteria as the National Science
Foundation shall establish.
(d) Awards.--The National Science Foundation shall announce awards
before April 1 for each upcoming academic year, and may make up to
2,500 awards per year. Awards may be made for a maximum of 2 academic
years for each student, and scholarship amounts shall be paid to the
institution.
(e) Advisory Board.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation shall establish an advisory board, which shall make
recommendations to the Director for selection criteria for scholarship
recipients, and provide guidance and oversight for the program.
TITLE III--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2007''.
SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the National Science
Board established under section 2 of the National Science
Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861).
(2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the Foundation.
(3) Elementary school.--The term ``elementary school'' has
the meaning given that term by section 9101(18) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801(18)).
(4) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National
Science Foundation.
(5) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(6) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has
the meaning given that term by section 9101(38) of the
Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
7801(38)).
SEC. 303. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Fiscal Year 2008.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Foundation $6,500,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
(2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under
paragraph (1)--
(A) $5,080,000,000 shall be made available for
research and related activities, of which $115,000,000
shall be made available for the Major Research
Instrumentation program;
(B) $873,000,000 shall be made available for
education and human resources, of which--
(i) $94,000,000 shall be for Mathematics
and Science Education Partnerships established
under section 9 of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C.
1862n), of which $32,000,000 shall be made
available for the purposes of section 122(a) of
this Act and $46,000,000 shall be made
available for the purposes of section 123 of
this Act;
(ii) $70,000,000 shall be for the Robert
Noyce Scholarship Program established under
section 10 of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1);
(iii) $44,000,000 shall be for the Science,
Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Talent
Expansion Program established under section
8(7) of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-368);
and
(iv) $51,620,000 shall be for the Advanced
Technological Education program established by
section 3(a) of the Scientific and Advanced-
Technology Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-476);
(C) $245,000,000 shall be made available for major
research equipment and facilities construction;
(D) $285,600,000 shall be made available for agency
operations and award management;
(E) $4,050,000 shall be made available for the
Office of the National Science Board; and
(F) $12,350,000 shall be made available for the
Office of Inspector General.
(b) Fiscal Year 2009.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Foundation $6,980,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under
paragraph (1)--
(A) $5,457,400,000 shall be made available for
research and related activities, of which $123,100,000
shall be made available for the Major Research
Instrumentation program;
(B) $934,000,000 shall be made available for
education and human resources, of which--
(i) $100,600,000 shall be for Mathematics
and Science Education Partnerships established
under section 9 of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C.
1862n), of which $35,200,000 shall be made
available for the purposes of section 122(a) of
this Act and $50,600,000 shall be made
available for the purposes of section 123 of
this Act;
(ii) $101,000,000 shall be for the Robert
Noyce Scholarship Program established under
section 10 of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1);
(iii) $55,000,000 shall be for the Science,
Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Talent
Expansion Program established under section
8(7) of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-368);
and
(iv) $55,200,000 shall be for the Advanced
Technological Education program as established
by section 3(a) of the Scientific and Advanced-
Technology Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-476);
(C) $262,000,000 shall be made available for major
research equipment and facilities construction;
(D) $309,760,000 shall be made available for agency
operations and award management;
(E) $4,120,000 shall be made available for the
Office of the National Science Board; and
(F) $12,720,000 shall be made available for the
Office of Inspector General.
(c) Fiscal Year 2010.--
(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Foundation $7,493,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under
paragraph (1)--
(A) $5,863,200,000 shall be made available for
research and related activities, of which $131,700,000
shall be made available for the Major Research
Instrumentation program;
(B) $1,003,000,000 shall be made available for
education and human resources, of which--
(i) $107,600,000 shall be for Mathematics
and Science Education Partnerships established
under section 9 of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C.
1862n), of which $38,700,000 shall be made
available for the purposes of section 122(a) of
this Act and $55,700,000 shall be made
available for the purposes of section 123 of
this Act;
(ii) $133,000,000 shall be for the Robert
Noyce Scholarship Program established under
section 10 of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1);
(iii) $60,000,000 shall be for the Science,
Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Talent
Expansion Program established under section
8(7) of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-368);
and
(iv) $59,100,000 shall be for the Advanced
Technological Education program as established
by section 3(a) of the Scientific and Advanced-
Technology Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-476);
(C) $280,000,000 shall be made available for major
research equipment and facilities construction;
(D) $329,450,000 shall be made available for agency
operations and award management;
(E) $4,250,000 shall be made available for the
Office of the National Science Board; and
(F) $13,100,000 shall be made available for the
Office of Inspector General.
(d) Major Research Instrumentation.--
(1) Award amount.--The minimum amount of an award under the
Major Research Instrumentation program shall be $100,000. The
maximum amount of an award under the program shall be
$4,000,000, except if the total amount appropriated for the
program for a fiscal year exceeds $125,000,000, in which case
the maximum amount of an award shall be $6,000,000.
(2) Use of funds.--In addition to the acquisition of
instrumentation and equipment, funds made available by awards
under the Major Research Instrumentation program may be used to
support the operations and maintenance of such instrumentation
and equipment.
(3) Cost sharing.--
(A) In general.--An institution of higher education
receiving an award shall provide at least 30 percent of
the cost from private or non-Federal sources.
(B) Exceptions.--Institutions of higher education
that are not Ph.D.-granting institutions are exempt
from the cost sharing requirement in subparagraph (A),
and the Director may reduce or waive the cost sharing
requirement for--
(i) institutions--
(I) which are not ranked among the
top 100 institutions receiving Federal
research and development funding, as
documented by the statistical data
published by the Foundation; and
(II) for which the proposed project
will make a substantial improvement in
the institution's capabilities to
conduct leading edge research, to
provide research experiences for
undergraduate students using leading
edge facilities, and to broaden the
participation in science and
engineering research by individuals
identified in section 33 or 34 of the
Science and Engineering Equal
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or
1885b); and
(ii) consortia of institutions of higher
education that include at least one institution
that is not a Ph.D-granting institution.
(e) Undergraduate Education Programs.--The Director shall continue
to carry out programs in support of undergraduate education, including
those authorized in section 17 of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-6). Funding for these
programs shall increase in proportion to the increase in the total
amount appropriated to the Foundation in any year for which
appropriations are authorized by this title.
(f) Limit on Proposals.--
(1) Policy.--For programs that require as part of the
selection process for awards the submission of preproposals and
that also limit the number of preproposals that may be
submitted by an institution, the Director shall allow the
subsequent submission of a full proposal based on each
preproposal that is determined to have merit following the
Foundation's merit review process.
(2) Review and assessment of policies.--The Board shall
review and assess the effects on institutions of higher
education of the policies of the Foundation regarding the
imposition of limitations on the number of proposals that may
be submitted by a single institution for programs supported by
the Foundation. The Board shall determine whether current
policies are well justified and appropriate for the types of
programs that limit the number of proposal submissions. Not
later that 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Board shall summarize its findings and any recommendations
regarding changes to the current policy on the restriction of
proposal submissions in a report to the Committee on Science
and Technology of the House of Representatives and to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the
Senate.
(g) Research Experiences for Undergraduates.--The Director shall
increase funding for the Research Experiences for Undergraduates
program in proportion to the increase in the total amount appropriated
to the Foundation for research and related activities in any year for
which appropriations are authorized by this title.
(h) Global Warming Education.--
(1) Informal education.--As part of Informal Science
Education activities, the Director shall support activities to
create informal educational materials, exhibits, and multimedia
presentations relevant to global warming, climate science, and
greenhouse gas reduction strategies.
(2) K-12 instructional materials.--As part of Discovery
Research K-12 activities, the Director shall support the
development of K-12 educational materials relevant to global
warming, climate science, and greenhouse gas reduction
strategies.
SEC. 304. CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON LEARNING AND EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT.
(a) Funding for Centers.--The Director shall continue to carry out
the program of Centers for Research on Learning and Education
Improvement as established in section 11 of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-2).
(b) Eligibility for Centers.--Section 11 of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-2) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``or eligible
nonprofit organizations'' after ``institutions of higher
education'';
(2) in subsection (b)(1) by inserting ``or an eligible
nonprofit organization'' after ``institution of higher
education''; and
(3) in subsection (b)(1) by striking ``of such
institutions'' and inserting ``thereof''.
SEC. 305. INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH.
(a) In General.--The Board shall evaluate the role of the
Foundation in supporting interdisciplinary research, including through
the Major Research Instrumentation program, the effectiveness of the
Foundation's efforts in providing information to the scientific
community about opportunities for funding of interdisciplinary research
proposals, and the process through which interdisciplinary proposals
are selected for support. The Board shall also evaluate the
effectiveness of the Foundation's efforts to engage undergraduate
students in research experiences in interdisciplinary settings,
including through the Research in Undergraduate Institutions program
and the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.
(b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Board shall provide the results of its evaluation under
subsection (a), including a recommendation for the proportion of the
Foundation's research and related activities funding that should be
allocated for interdisciplinary research, to the Committee on Science
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
SEC. 306. PILOT PROGRAM OF GRANTS FOR NEW INVESTIGATORS.
(a) In General.--The Director shall carry out a pilot program to
award one-year grants to individuals to assist them in improving
research proposals that were previously submitted to the Foundation but
not selected for funding.
(b) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section shall be used
to enable an individual to resubmit an updated research proposal for
review by the Foundation through the agency's competitive merit review
process. Uses of funds made available under this section may include
the generation of new data and the performance of additional analysis.
(c) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an individual shall--
(1) not have previously received funding as the principal
investigator of a research grant from the Foundation; and
(2) have submitted a proposal to the Foundation, which may
include a proposal submitted to the Research in Undergraduate
Institutions program, that was rated very good or excellent
under the Foundation's competitive merit review process.
(d) Selection Process.--The Director shall make awards under this
section based on the advice of the program officers of the Foundation.
(e) Program Administration.--The Director may carry out this
section through the Small Grants for Exploratory Research program.
(f) National Science Board Review.--The Board shall conduct a
review and assessment of the pilot program under this section,
including the number of new investigators funded, the distribution of
awards by type of institution of higher education, and the success rate
upon resubmittal of proposals by new investigators funded through this
pilot program. Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Board shall summarize its findings and any
recommendations regarding changes to or the continuation of the pilot
program in a report to the Committee on Science and Technology of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate.
SEC. 307. BROADER IMPACTS MERIT REVIEW CRITERION.
(a) In General.--In evaluating research proposals under the
Foundation's broader impacts criterion, the Director shall give special
consideration to proposals that involve partnerships between academic
researchers and industrial scientists and engineers that address
research areas that have been identified as having high importance for
future national economic competitiveness, such as nanotechnology.
(b) Partnerships With Industry.--The Director shall encourage
research proposals from institutions of higher education that involve
partnerships with businesses and organizations representing businesses
in fields that have been identified as having high importance for
future national economic competitiveness and that include input on the
research agenda from and cost-sharing by the industry partners.
(c) Report on Broader Impacts Criterion.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall transmit to
Congress a report on the impact of the broader impacts grant criterion
used by the Foundation. The report shall--
(1) identify the criteria that each division and
directorate of the Foundation uses to evaluate the broader
impacts aspects of research proposals;
(2) provide a breakdown of the types of activities by
division that awardees have proposed to carry out to meet the
broader impacts criterion;
(3) provide any evaluations performed by the Foundation to
assess the degree to which the broader impacts aspects of
research proposals were carried out and how effective they have
been at meeting the goals described in the research proposals;
(4) describe what national goals, such as improving
undergraduate science, mathematics, and engineering education,
improving K-12 science and mathematics education, promoting
university-industry collaboration and technology transfer, and
broadening participation of underrepresented groups, the
broader impacts criterion is best suited to promote; and
(5) describe what steps the Foundation is taking and should
take to use the broader impacts criterion to improve
undergraduate science, mathematics, and engineering education.
SEC. 308. POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWS.
(a) Mentoring.--The Director shall require that all grant
applications that include funding to support postdoctoral researchers
include a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided
for such individuals, and shall ensure that this part of the
application is evaluated under the Foundation's broader impacts merit
review criterion. Mentoring activities may include career counseling,
training in preparing grant applications, guidance on ways to improve
teaching skills, and training in research ethics.
(b) Reports.--The Director shall require that annual reports and
the final report for research grants that include funding to support
postdoctoral researchers include a description of the mentoring
activities provided to such researchers.
SEC. 309. RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH.
The Director shall require that each institution that applies for
financial assistance from the Foundation for science and engineering
research or education describe in its grant proposal a plan to provide
appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical
conduct of research to undergraduate students, graduate students, and
postdoctoral researchers participating in the proposed research
project.
SEC. 310. REPORTING OF RESEARCH RESULTS.
The Director shall ensure that all final project reports and
citations of published research documents resulting from research
funded, in whole or in part, by the Foundation, are made available to
the public in a timely manner and in electronic form through the
Foundation's Web site.
SEC. 311. SHARING RESEARCH RESULTS.
An investigator supported under a Foundation award, whom the
Director determines has failed to comply with the provisions of section
734 of the Foundation Grant Policy Manual, shall be ineligible for a
future award under any Foundation supported program or activity. The
Director may restore the eligibility of such an investigator on the
basis of the investigator's subsequent compliance with the provisions
of section 734 of the Foundation Grant Policy Manual and with such
other terms and conditions as the Director may impose.
SEC. 312. FUNDING FOR SUCCESSFUL STEM EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
(a) Evaluation of Programs.--The Director shall, on an annual
basis, evaluate all of the Foundation's grants that are scheduled to
expire within one year and--
(1) that have the primary purpose of meeting the objectives
of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunity Act (42 U.S.C.
1885 et seq.); or
(2) that have the primary purpose of providing teacher
professional development.
(b) Continuation of Funding.--For grants that are identified under
subsection (a) and that are deemed by the Director to be successful in
meeting the objectives of the initial grant solicitation, the Director
may extend the duration of those grants for up to 3 additional years
beyond their scheduled expiration without the requirement for a
recompetition. The Director may extend such grants for an additional 3
years following a second review within 1 year before the extended
completion date, in accordance with subsection (a), and the
determination by the Director that the objectives of the grant are
being achieved.
(c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit a report to the
Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate
that--
(1) lists the grants which have been extended in duration
by the authority provided under this section; and
(2) provides any recommendations the Director may have
regarding the extension of the authority provided under this
section to programs other than those specified in subsection
(a).
SEC. 313. COST SHARING.
(a) In General.--The Board shall evaluate the impact of its policy
to eliminate cost sharing for research grants and cooperative
agreements for existing programs that were developed around industry
partnerships and historically required industry cost sharing, such as
the Engineering Research Centers and Industry/University Cooperative
Research Centers. The Board shall also consider the impact that the
cost sharing policy has on initiating new programs for which industry
interest and participation are sought.
(b) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Board shall report to the Committee on Science and
Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, on the
results of the evaluation under subsection (a).
SEC. 314. DONATIONS.
Section 11(f) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42
U.S.C. 1870(f)) is amended by inserting at the end before the semicolon
``, except that funds may be donated for specific prize competitions''.
SEC. 315. ADDITIONAL REPORTS.
(a) Report on Funding for Major Facilities.--
(1) Preconstruction funding.--The Board shall evaluate the
appropriateness of the requirement that funding for detailed
design work and other preconstruction activities for major
research equipment and facilities come exclusively from the
sponsoring research division rather than being available, at
least in part, from the Major Research Equipment and Facilities
Construction account.
(2) Maintenance and operation costs.--The Board shall
evaluate the appropriateness of the Foundation's policies for
allocation of costs for, and oversight of, maintenance and
operation of major research equipment and facilities.
(3) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Board shall report on the results of
the evaluations under paragraphs (1) and (2) and on any
recommendations for modifying the current policies related to
allocation of funding for major research equipment and
facilities to the Committee on Science and Technology and the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives,
and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.
(b) Inclusion of Polar Facilities Upgrades in Major Research
Equipment and Facilities Construction Plan.--Section 201(a)(2)(D) of
the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C.
1862l(a)(2)(D)) is amended by inserting ``and for major upgrades of
facilities in support of Antarctic research programs'' after
``facilities construction account''.
(c) Report on Education Programs Within the Research
Directorates.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Director shall transmit to the Committee on Science and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report cataloging all
elementary and secondary school, informal, and undergraduate
educational programs and activities supported through appropriations
for Research and Related Activities. The report shall display the
programs and activities by directorate, along with estimated funding
levels for the fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008, and shall provide a
description of the goals of each program and activity. The report shall
also describe how the programs and activities relate to or are
coordinated with the programs supported by the Education and Human
Resources Directorate.
(d) Report on Research in Undergraduate Institutions Program.--The
Director shall transmit to Congress along with the fiscal year 2011
budget request a report listing the funding success rates and
distribution of awards for the Research in Undergraduate Institutions
program, by type of institution based on the highest academic degree
conferred by the institution, for fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010.
(e) Annual Plan for Allocation of Education and Human Resources
Funding.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of legislation providing for the annual appropriation
of funds for the Foundation, the Director shall submit to the
Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the
Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, a plan for the
allocation of education and human resources funds authorized by
this title for the corresponding fiscal year, including any
funds from within the research and related activities account
used to support activities that have the primary purpose of
improving education or broadening participation.
(2) Specific requirements.--The plan shall include a
description of how the allocation of funding--
(A) will affect the average size and duration of
education and human resources grants supported by the
Foundation;
(B) will affect trends in research support for the
effective instruction of mathematics, science,
engineering, and technology;
(C) will affect the K-20 pipeline for the study of
mathematics, science, engineering, and technology; and
(D) will encourage the interest of individuals
identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and
Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or
1885b) in mathematics, science, engineering, and
technology, and help prepare such individuals to pursue
postsecondary studies in these fields.
SEC. 316. ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS.
(a) Triannual Audit of the Office of the National Science Board.--
Section 15(a) of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of
2002 (42 U.S.C. 4862n-5) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``an annual audit'' and
inserting ``an audit every three years'';
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``each year'' and
inserting ``every third year''; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new
paragraph:
``(5) Materials relating to closed portions of meetings.--
To facilitate the audit required under paragraph (3) of this
subsection, the Office of the National Science Board shall
maintain the General Counsel's certificate, the presiding
officer's statement, and a transcript or recording of any
closed meeting, for at least 3 years after such meeting.''.
(b) Limited Term Personnel for the National Science Board.--
Subsection (g) of section 4 of the National Science Foundation Act of
1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(g)) is amended to read as follows:
``(g) The Board may, with the concurrence of a majority of its
members, permit the appointment of a staff consisting of not more than
5 professional staff members, technical and professional personnel on
leave of absence from academic, industrial, or research institutions
for a limited term and such operations and support staff members as may
be necessary. Such staff shall be appointed by the Chairman and
assigned at the direction of the Board. The professional members and
limited term technical and professional personnel of such staff may be
appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States
Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and the
provisions of chapter 51 of such title relating to classification, and
shall be compensated at a rate not exceeding the maximum rate payable
under section 5376 of such title, as may be necessary to provide for
the performance of such duties as may be prescribed by the Board in
connection with the exercise of its powers and functions under this
Act. Section 14(a)(3) shall apply to each limited term appointment of
technical and professional personnel under this subsection. Each
appointment under this subsection shall be subject to the same security
requirements as those required for personnel of the Foundation
appointed under section 14(a).''.
(c) Increase in Number of Waterman Awards to Three.--Section 6(c)
of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1975 (42 U.S.C.
1881a) is amended to read as follows:
``(c) Up to three awards may be made under this section in any one
fiscal year.''.
SEC. 317. NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD REPORTS.
Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 4(j) of the National Science
Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(j)(1) and (2)) are amended by
striking ``, for submission to'' and ``for submission to'',
respectively, and inserting ``and''.
SEC. 318. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCE REPORT ON DIVERSITY IN STEM
FIELDS.
(a) In General.--The Foundation shall enter into an arrangement
with the National Academy of Sciences for a report, to be transmitted
to the Congress not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, about barriers to increasing the number of underrepresented
minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields
and to identify strategies for bringing more underrepresented
minorities into the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
workforce.
(b) Specific Requirements.--The Director shall ensure that the
study described in subsection (a) addresses--
(1) social and institutional factors that shape the
decisions of minority students to commit to education and
careers in the science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics fields;
(2) specific barriers preventing greater minority student
participation in the science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics fields;
(3) primary focus points for policy intervention to
increase the recruitment and retention of underrepresented
minorities in America's future workforce;
(4) programs already underway to increase diversity in the
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, and
their level of effectiveness;
(5) factors that make such programs effective, and how to
expand and improve upon existing programs;
(6) the role of minority-serving institutions in the
diversification of America's workforce in these fields and how
that role can be supported and strengthened; and
(7) how the public and private sectors can better assist
minority students in their efforts to join America's workforce
in these fields.
SEC. 319. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING THE MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE
PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND
THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.
It is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) although the mathematics and science education
partnership program at the National Science Foundation and the
mathematics and science partnership program at the Department
of Education practically share the same name, the 2 programs
are intended to be complementary, not duplicative;
(2) the National Science Foundation partnership programs
are innovative, model reform initiatives that move promising
ideas in education from research into practice to improve
teacher quality, develop challenging curricula, and increase
student achievement in mathematics and science, and Congress
intends that the National Science Foundation peer-reviewed
partnership programs found to be effective should be put into
wider practice by dissemination through the Department of
Education partnership programs; and
(3) the Director of the National Science Foundation and the
Secretary of Education should have ongoing collaboration to
ensure that the 2 components of this priority effort for
mathematics and science education continue to work in concert
for the benefit of States and local practitioners nationwide.
SEC. 320. HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The Director is authorized to establish a new
program to award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to
Hispanic-serving institutions to enhance the quality of undergraduate
science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education at such
institutions and to increase the retention and graduation rates of
students pursuing associate's or baccalaureate degrees in science,
mathematics, engineering, or technology.
(b) Program Components.--Grants awarded under this section shall
support--
(1) activities to improve courses and curriculum in
science, mathematics, engineering, and technology;
(2) faculty development;
(3) stipends for undergraduate students participating in
research; and
(4) other activities consistent with subsection (a), as
determined by the Director.
(c) Instrumentation.--Funding for instrumentation is an allowed use
of grants awarded under this section.
SEC. 321. COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING FOR SCIENTISTS.
(a) Grant Supplements for Communications Training.--The Director
shall provide grant supplements, on a competitive, merit-reviewed
basis, to institutions receiving awards under the Integrative Graduate
Education and Research Traineeship program. The grant supplements
shall be used to train graduate students in the communication of the
substance and importance of their research to nonscientist audiences,
including policymakers.
(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director shall transmit a report to the
Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives,
and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate,
describing how the activities required under subsection (a) have been
implemented. The report shall include data on the number of graduate
students trained and the number and size of grant supplements awarded,
and a description of the types of activities funded through the grant
supplements.
TITLE IV--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Technology Innovation and
Manufacturing Stimulation Act of 2007''.
Subtitle A--Authorization of Appropriations
SEC. 411. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES.
(a) Laboratory Activities.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary of Commerce for the scientific and technical research
and services laboratory activities of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology--
(1) $470,879,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $497,750,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3) $537,569,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(b) Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Program.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for the
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program under section 17 of the
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711a)--
(1) $7,860,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $8,096,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3) $8,339,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(c) Construction and Maintenance.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for construction and
maintenance of facilities of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology--
(1) $93,865,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $86,371,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3) $49,719,000 for fiscal year 2010.
SEC. 412. INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY SERVICES.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Commerce for Industrial Technology Services activities of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology--
(1) $222,968,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which--
(A) $110,000,000 shall be for the Technology
Innovation Program under section 28 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
278n), of which at least $45,000,000 shall be for new
awards; and
(B) $112,968,000 shall be for the 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), of which not more than
$1,000,000 shall be for the competitive grant program
under section 25(f) of such Act;
(2) $263,505,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which--
(A) $141,500,000 shall be for the Technology
Innovation Program under section 28 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
278n), of which at least $45,000,000 shall be for new
awards; and
(B) $122,005,000 shall be for the 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), of which not more than
$4,000,000 shall be for the competitive grant program
under section 25(f) of such Act; and
(3) $282,266,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which--
(A) $150,500,000 shall be for the Technology
Innovation Program under section 28 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
278n), of which at least $45,000,000 shall be for new
awards; and
(B) $131,766,000 shall be for the 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), of which not more than
$4,000,000 shall be for the competitive grant program
under section 25(f) of such Act.
Subtitle B--Innovation and Technology Policy Reforms
SEC. 421. INSTITUTE-WIDE PLANNING REPORT.
Section 23 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278i) is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsections:
``(c) Concurrent with the submission to Congress of the President's
annual budget request in the first year after the date of enactment of
the Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act of 2007,
the Director shall transmit to the Congress a 3-year programmatic
planning document for the Institute, including programs under the
Scientific and Technical Research and Services, Industrial Technology
Services, and Construction of Research Facilities functions.
``(d) Concurrent with the submission to the Congress of the
President's annual budget request in each year after the date of
enactment of the Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation
Act of 2007, the Director shall transmit to the Congress an update to
the 3-year programmatic planning document transmitted under subsection
(c), revised to cover the first 3 fiscal years after the date of that
update.''.
SEC. 422. REPORT BY VISITING COMMITTEE.
Section 10(h)(1) of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278(h)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``on or before January 31 in each year''
and inserting ``within 30 days after the submission to Congress
of the President's annual budget request in each year''; and
(2) by adding to the end the following: ``Such report also
shall comment on the programmatic planning document and updates
thereto transmitted to the Congress by the Director under
section 23(c) and (d).''.
SEC. 423. MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP.
(a) MEP Advisory Board.--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 subsection:
``(e) MEP Advisory Board.--(1) There is established within the
Institute a Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board (in this
Act referred to as the `MEP Advisory Board'). The MEP Advisory Board
shall consist of 10 members broadly representative of stakeholders, to
be appointed by the Director. At least 2 members shall be employed by
or on an advisory board for the Centers, and at least 5 other members
shall be from United States small businesses in the manufacturing
sector. No member shall be an employee of the Federal Government.
``(2)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) or (C), the term of
office of each member of the MEP Advisory Board shall be 3 years.
``(B) The original members of the MEP Advisory Board shall be
appointed to 3 classes. One class of 3 members shall have an initial
term of 1 year, one class of 3 members shall have an initial term of 2
years, and one class of 4 members shall have an initial term of 3
years.
``(C) Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the
expiration of the term for which his predecessor was appointed shall be
appointed for the remainder of such term.
``(D) Any person who has completed two consecutive full terms of
service on the MEP Advisory Board shall thereafter be ineligible for
appointment during the one-year period following the expiration of the
second such term.
``(3) The MEP Advisory Board shall meet no less than 2 times
annually, and provide to the Director--
``(A) advice on Manufacturing Extension Partnership
programs, plans, and policies;
``(B) assessments of the soundness of Manufacturing
Extension Partnership plans and strategies; and
``(C) assessments of current performance against
Manufacturing Extension Partnership program plans.
``(4) In discharging its duties under this subsection, the MEP
Advisory Board shall function solely in an advisory capacity, in
accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
``(5) The MEP Advisory Board shall transmit an annual report to the
Secretary for transmittal to the Congress within 30 days after the
submission to the Congress of the President's annual budget request in
each year. Such report shall address the status of the Manufacturing
Extension Partnership program and comment on the relevant sections of
the programmatic planning document and updates thereto transmitted to
the Congress by the Director under section 23(c) and (d).''.
(b) Acceptance of Funds.--Section 25(d) of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(d)) is amended to read
as follows:
``(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, 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) Manufacturing Extension Center Competitive Grant Program.--
Section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act
(15 U.S.C. 278k), as amended by subsection (a) of this section, is
further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(f) Competitive Grant Program.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish, within
the 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 Manufacturing Extension
Partnership program, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership
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, and including the transfer of technology based on
the technological needs of manufacturers and available
technologies from institutions of higher education,
laboratories, and other technology producing entities, 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 Manufacturing Extension Partnership
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 shall not be required to provide a matching
contribution.''.
SEC. 424. TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION PROGRAM.
Section 28 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278n) is amended to read as follows:
``technology innovation program
``Sec. 28. (a) Establishment.--There is established in the
Institute a Technology Innovation Program for the purpose of assisting
United States businesses and institutions of higher education or other
organizations, such as national laboratories and nonprofit research
institutes, to accelerate the research and development and application
of challenging, high-risk, high-reward technologies in areas of
critical national need that promise widespread economic benefits for
the Nation.
``(b) Grants.--
``(1) In general.--The Director shall make grants under
this section for research and development on high-risk, high-
reward emerging and enabling technologies (including any
technological application that uses biological systems, living
organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products
or processes for specific use) that address critical national
needs and have a wide breadth of potential application, and
form an important technical basis for future innovations. Such
grants shall be made to--
``(A) eligible companies that are small- or medium-
sized businesses that are substantially involved in the
research and development, including having a leadership
role in programmatically steering the project and
defining the research agenda; or
``(B) joint ventures.
``(2) Single company grants.--No grant made under paragraph
(1)(A) shall exceed $3,000,000 over 3 years. The Federal share
of a project funded by such a grant shall not be more than 50
percent of total project costs. An award under paragraph (1)(A)
may be extended beyond 3 years only if the Director transmits
to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a full and complete explanation of
such award, including reasons for exceeding 3 years. Federal
funds granted under paragraph (1)(A) may be used only for
direct costs and not for indirect costs, profits, or management
fees of a contractor.
``(3) Joint venture grants.--No grant made under paragraph
(1)(B) shall exceed $9,000,000 over 5 years. The Federal share
of a project funded by such a grant shall not be more than 50
percent of total project costs.
``(c) Award Criteria.--The Director shall award grants under this
section only to an eligible company--
``(1) whose proposal has scientific and technological
merit;
``(2) whose application establishes that the proposed
technology has strong potential to generate substantial
benefits to the Nation that extend significantly beyond the
direct return to the applicant;
``(3) whose application establishes that the research has
strong potential for advancing the state-of-the-art and
contributing significantly to the United States scientific and
technical knowledge base;
``(4) whose application establishes that the research is
aimed at overcoming a scientific or technological barrier;
``(5) who has provided a technical plan that clearly
identifies the core innovation, the technical approach, major
technical hurdles, and the attendant risks, and that clearly
establishes the feasibility of the technology through
adequately detailed plans linked to major technical barriers;
``(6) whose application establishes that the team proposed
to carry out the work has a high level of scientific and
technical expertise to conduct research and development, has a
high level of commitment to the project, and has access to
appropriate research facilities;
``(7) whose proposal explains why Technology Innovation
Program support is necessary;
``(8) whose application includes a plan for advancing the
technology into commercial use; and
``(9) whose application assesses the project's
organizational structure and management plan.
``(d) External Review of Proposals.--In order to analyze the need
for or the value of any proposal made by a joint venture or company
requesting the Director's assistance under this section, or to monitor
the progress of any project which receives funds under this section,
the Director shall consult with industry or other expert sources that
do not have a proprietary or financial interest in the proposal or
project.
``(e) Intellectual Property Rights Ownership.--
``(1) In general.--Title to any intellectual property
developed by a joint venture from assistance provided under
this section may vest in any participant in the joint venture,
as agreed by the members of the joint venture, notwithstanding
section 202(a) and (b) of title 35, United States Code. The
United States may reserve a nonexclusive, nontransferable,
irrevocable paid-up license, to have practiced for or on behalf
of the United States in connection with any such intellectual
property, but shall not in the exercise of such license
publicly disclose proprietary information related to the
license. Title to any such intellectual property shall not be
transferred or passed, except to a participant in the joint
venture, until the expiration of the first patent obtained in
connection with such intellectual property.
``(2) Licensing.--Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to prohibit the licensing to any company of
intellectual property rights arising from assistance provided
under this section.
``(3) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the
term `intellectual property' means an invention patentable
under title 35, United States Code, or any patent on such an
invention, or any work for which copyright protection is
available under title 17, United States Code.
``(f) Program Operation.--Not later than 9 months after the date of
enactment of the Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation
Act of 2007, the Director shall issue regulations--
``(1) establishing criteria for the selection of recipients
of assistance under this section;
``(2) establishing procedures regarding financial reporting
and auditing to ensure that contracts and awards are used for
the purposes specified in this section, are in accordance with
sound accounting practices, and are not funding existing or
planned research programs that would be conducted in the same
time period in the absence of financial assistance under this
section; and
``(3) providing for appropriate dissemination of Technology
Innovation Program research results.
``(g) Continuation of ATP Grants.--The Director shall, through the
Technology Innovation Program, continue to provide support originally
awarded under the Advanced Technology Program, in accordance with the
terms of the original award.
``(h) Coordination With Other State and Federal Technology
Programs.--In carrying out this section, the Director shall, as
appropriate, coordinate with other senior State and Federal officials
to ensure cooperation and coordination in State and Federal technology
programs and to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts.
``(i) Acceptance of Funds From Other Federal Agencies.--In addition
to amounts appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary and
the Director may accept funds from other Federal agencies to support
awards under the Technology Innovation Program. Any award under this
section which is supported with funds from other Federal agencies shall
be selected and carried out according to the provisions of this
section.
``(j) TIP Advisory Board.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the
Institute a Technology Innovation Program Advisory Board. The
TIP Advisory Board shall consist of 10 members appointed by the
Director, at least 7 of which shall be from United States
industry, chosen to reflect the wide diversity of technical
disciplines and industrial sectors represented in Technology
Innovation Program projects. No member shall be an employee of
the Federal Government.
``(2) Terms of office.--(A) Except as provided in
subparagraph (B) or (C), the term of office of each member of
the TIP Advisory Board shall be 3 years.
``(B) The original members of the TIP Advisory Board shall
be appointed to 3 classes. One class of 3 members shall have an
initial term of 1 year, one class of 3 members shall have an
initial term of 2 years, and one class of 4 members shall have
an initial term of 3 years.
``(C) Any member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring
prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor
was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of such
term.
``(D) Any person who has completed two consecutive full
terms of service on the TIP Advisory Board shall thereafter be
ineligible for appointment during the one-year period following
the expiration of the second such term.
``(3) Purpose.--The TIP Advisory Board shall meet no less
than 2 times annually, and provide to the Director--
``(A) advice on programs, plans, and policies of
the Technology Innovation Program;
``(B) reviews of the Technology Innovation
Program's efforts to assess its economic impact;
``(C) reports on the general health of the program
and its effectiveness in achieving its legislatively
mandated mission;
``(D) guidance on areas of technology that are
appropriate for Technology Innovation Program funding;
and
``(E) recommendations as to whether, in order to
better assess whether specific innovations to be
pursued are being adequately supported by the private
sector, the Director could benefit from advice and
information from additional industry and other expert
sources without a proprietary or financial interest in
proposals being evaluated.
``(4) Advisory capacity.--In discharging its duties under
this subsection, the TIP Advisory Board shall function solely
in an advisory capacity, in accordance with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act.
``(5) Annual report.--The TIP Advisory Board shall transmit
an annual report to the Secretary for transmittal to the
Congress within 30 days after the submission to Congress of the
President's annual budget request in each year. Such report
shall address the status of the Technology Innovation Program
and comment on the relevant sections of the programmatic
planning document and updates thereto transmitted to the
Congress by the Director under section 23(c) and (d).
``(k) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
``(1) the term `eligible company' means a company that is
incorporated in the United States and does a majority of its
business in the United States, and that either--
``(A) is majority owned by citizens of the United
States; or
``(B) is owned by a parent company incorporated in
another country and the Director finds that--
``(i) the company's participation in the
Technology Innovation Program would be in the
economic interest of the United States, as
evidenced by--
``(I) investments in the United
States in research and manufacturing
(including the manufacture of major
components or subassemblies in the
United States);
``(II) significant contributions to
employment in the United States; and
``(III) agreement with respect to
any technology arising from assistance
provided under this section to promote
the manufacture within the United
States of products resulting from that
technology (taking into account the
goals of promoting the competitiveness
of United States industry); and
``(ii) the company is incorporated in a
country which--
``(I) affords to United States-
owned companies opportunities,
comparable to those afforded to any
other company, to participate in any
joint venture similar to those
receiving funding under this section;
``(II) affords to United States-
owned companies local investment
opportunities comparable to those
afforded any other company; and
``(III) affords adequate and
effective protection for the
intellectual property rights of United
States-owned companies;
``(2) the term `high-risk, high-reward research' means
research that--
``(A) has the potential for yielding results with
far-ranging or wide-ranging implications;
``(B) addresses critical national needs related to
technology and measurement standards; and
``(C) is too novel or spans too diverse a range of
disciplines to fare well in the traditional peer review
process.
``(3) the term `institution of higher education' has the
meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001);
``(4) the term `joint venture' means a joint venture that--
``(A) includes either--
``(i) at least 2 separately owned for-
profit companies that are both substantially
involved in the project and both of which are
contributing to the cost-sharing required under
this section, with the lead entity of the joint
venture being one of those companies that is a
small or medium-sized business; or
``(ii) at least one small or medium-sized
business and one institution of higher
education or other organization, such as a
national laboratory or nonprofit research
institute, that are both substantially involved
in the project and both of which are
contributing to the cost-sharing required under
this section, with the lead entity of the joint
venture being either that small or medium-sized
business or that institution of higher
education; and
``(B) may include additional for-profit companies,
institutions of higher education, and other
organizations, such as national laboratories and
nonprofit research institutes, that may or may not
contribute non-Federal funds to the project; and
``(5) the term `TIP Advisory Board' means the advisory
board established under subsection (j).''.
SEC. 425. RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS.
Section 18 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-l) is amended by striking ``up to 1 per centum of
the'' and inserting ``up to 1.5 percent of the''.
SEC. 426. 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. Not
more than an additional one-third of such costs may be obtained
directly or indirectly from other Federal sources.
``(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. 427. MANUFACTURING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
Section 18 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-1) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The
Director is authorized''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(b) Manufacturing Fellowship Program.--
``(1) Establishment.--To promote the development of a
robust research community working at the leading edge of
manufacturing sciences, the Director shall establish a program
to award--
``(A) postdoctoral research fellowships at the
Institute for research activities related to
manufacturing sciences; and
``(B) senior research fellowships to established
researchers in industry or at institutions of higher
education who wish to pursue studies related to the
manufacturing sciences at the Institute.
``(2) Applications.--To be eligible for an award under this
subsection, an individual shall submit an application to the
Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such
information as the Director may require.
``(3) Stipend levels.--Under this subsection, the Director
shall provide stipends for postdoctoral research fellowships at
a level consistent with the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program, and senior
research fellowships at levels consistent with support for a
faculty member in a sabbatical position.''.
SEC. 428. MEETINGS OF VISITING COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.
Section 10(d) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278(d)) is amended by striking ``quarterly'' and
inserting ``twice each year''.
SEC. 429. MANUFACTURING RESEARCH DATABASE.
(a) Establishment.--The National Institute of Standards and
Technology shall provide for the establishment of a manufacturing
research database to enable private sector individuals and Federal
officials to access a broad range of information on manufacturing
research carried out with funding support from the Federal Government.
(b) Contents.--The database established under subsection (a) shall
contain--
(1) all publicly available information maintained by a
Federal agency relating to manufacturing research projects
funded in whole or in part by the Federal Government; and
(2) information about all Federal programs that may be of
interest to manufacturers.
(c) Accessibility.--Information contained in the database shall be
accessible in a manner to enable users of the database to easily
retrieve information of specific interest to them.
(d) Fees.--The National Institute of Standards and Technology may
authorize charging a nominal fee for using the database to access
information described in subsection (b)(1) as necessary to recover the
costs of maintaining the database.
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the National Institute of Standards and Technology
$2,000,000 for carrying out this section.
Subtitle C--Miscellaneous
SEC. 441. POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS.
Section 19 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-2) is amended by striking ``nor more than 60 new
fellows'' and inserting ``nor more than 120 new fellows''.
SEC. 442. FINANCIAL AGREEMENTS 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,''.
SEC. 443. WORKING CAPITAL FUND TRANSFERS.
Section 12 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278b) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Amount and Source of Transfers.--Not more than one-quarter of
one percent 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.''.
SEC. 444. 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) by 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 the Institute's existing facilities.''.
SEC. 445. NON-ENERGY INVENTIONS PROGRAM.
Section 27 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278m) is repealed.
SEC. 446. REDEFINITION OF THE METRIC SYSTEM.
Section 3570 of the Revised Statues of the United States (derived
from section 2 of the Act of July 28, 1866, entitled ``An Act to
authorize the Use of the Metric System of Weights and Measures'' (15
U.S.C. 205; 14 Stat. 339)) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 3570. METRIC SYSTEM DEFINED.
``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.''.
SEC. 447. 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'' (15 U.S.C. 223 and 224) is repealed.
SEC. 448. CLARIFICATION OF STANDARD TIME AND TIME ZONES.
(a) Section 1 of the Act of March 19, 1918, (commonly known as the
``Calder Act'') (15 U.S.C. 261) is amended--
(1) 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 (15 U.S.C. 260a), 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
four zone retarded by 7 hours; that of the fifth zone retarded
by 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
(2) by adding at the end the following: ``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 in coordination with the Secretary of
the Navy.''.
(b) Section 3 of the Act of March 19, 1918, (commonly known as the
``Calder Act'') (15 U.S.C. 264) is amended by striking ``third zone''
and inserting ``fourth zone''.
SEC. 449. PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMITTENT SERVICES.
(a) In General.--The Director of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology may procure the temporary or intermittent
services of experts or consultants (or organizations thereof) in
accordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code to
assist on urgent or short-term research projects.
(b) Extent of Authority.--A procurement under this section may not
exceed 1 year in duration, and the Director shall procure no more than
200 experts and consultants per year.
(c) Sunset.--This section shall cease to be effective after
September 30, 2010.
(d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall report to the
Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on
whether additional safeguards would be needed with respect to the use
of authorities granted under this section if such authorities were to
be made permanent.
SEC. 450. MALCOLM BALDRIGE AWARDS.
Section 17(c)(3) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act
of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711a(c)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
``(3) In any year, not more than 18 awards may be made under this
section to recipients who have not previously received an award under
this section, and no award shall be made within any category described
in paragraph (1) if there are no qualifying enterprises in that
category.''.
TITLE V--HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING
SEC. 501. HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
Title I of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5511 et seq.) is amended--
(1) in the title heading, by striking ``AND THE NATIONAL
RESEARCH AND EDUCATION NETWORK'' and inserting ``RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT'';
(2) in section 101(a)--
(A) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) of
paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(A) provide for long-term basic and applied research on
high-performance computing;
``(B) provide for research and development on, and
demonstration of, technologies to advance the capacity and
capabilities of high-performance computing and networking
systems;
``(C) provide for sustained access by the research
community in the United States to high-performance computing
systems that are among the most advanced in the world in terms
of performance in solving scientific and engineering problems,
including provision for technical support for users of such
systems;
``(D) provide for efforts to increase software
availability, productivity, capability, security, portability,
and reliability;
``(E) provide for high-performance networks, including
experimental testbed networks, to enable research and
development on, and demonstration of, advanced applications
enabled by such networks;
``(F) provide for computational science and engineering
research on mathematical modeling and algorithms for
applications in all fields of science and engineering;
``(G) provide for the technical support of, and research
and development on, high-performance computing systems and
software required to address Grand Challenges;
``(H) provide for educating and training additional
undergraduate and graduate students in software engineering,
computer science, computer and network security, applied
mathematics, library and information science, and computational
science; and
``(I) provide for improving the security of computing and
networking systems, including Federal systems, including
research required to establish security standards and practices
for these systems.'';
(B) by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating
paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3),
respectively;
(C) in paragraph (2), as so redesignated by
subparagraph (B) of this paragraph--
(i) by striking subparagraph (B);
(ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and
(C) as subparagraphs (D) and (F), respectively;
(iii) by inserting before subparagraph (D),
as so redesignated by clause (ii) of this
subparagraph, the following new subparagraphs:
``(A) establish the goals and priorities for Federal high-
performance computing research, development, networking, and
other activities;
``(B) establish Program Component Areas that implement the
goals established under subparagraph (A), and identify the
Grand Challenges that the Program should address;
``(C) provide for interagency coordination of Federal high-
performance computing research, development, networking, and
other activities undertaken pursuant to the Program;''; and
(iv) by inserting after subparagraph (D),
as so redesignated by clause (ii) of this
subparagraph, the following new subparagraph:
``(E) develop and maintain a research, development, and
deployment roadmap for the provision of high-performance
computing systems under paragraph (1)(C); and''; and
(D) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated by
subparagraph (B) of this paragraph--
(i) by striking ``paragraph (3)(A)'' and
inserting ``paragraph (2)(D)'';
(ii) by amending subparagraph (A) to read
as follows:
``(A) provide a detailed description of the Program
Component Areas, including a description of any changes in the
definition of or activities under the Program Component Areas
from the preceding report, and the reasons for such changes,
and a description of Grand Challenges supported under the
Program;'';
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``specific activities'' and all that follows
through ``the Network'' and inserting ``each
Program Component Area'';
(iv) in subparagraph (D), by inserting
``and for each Program Component Area'' after
``participating in the Program'';
(v) in subparagraph (D), by striking
``applies;'' and inserting ``applies; and'';
(vi) by striking subparagraph (E) and
redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph
(E); and
(vii) in subparagraph (E), as so
redesignated by clause (vi) of this
subparagraph, by inserting ``and the extent to
which the Program incorporates the
recommendations of the advisory committee
established under subsection (b)'' after ``for
the Program'';
(3) by striking subsection (b) of section 101 and inserting
the following:
``(b) Advisory Committee.--(1) The President shall establish an
advisory committee on high-performance computing consisting of non-
Federal members, including representatives of the research, education,
and library communities, network providers, and industry, who are
specially qualified to provide the Director with advice and information
on high-performance computing. The recommendations of the advisory
committee shall be considered in reviewing and revising the Program.
The advisory committee shall provide the Director with an independent
assessment of--
``(A) progress made in implementing the Program;
``(B) the need to revise the Program;
``(C) the balance between the components of the Program,
including funding levels for the Program Component Areas;
``(D) whether the research and development undertaken
pursuant to the Program is helping to maintain United States
leadership in high-performance computing and networking
technology; and
``(E) other issues identified by the Director.
``(2) In addition to the duties outlined in paragraph (1), the
advisory committee shall conduct periodic evaluations of the funding,
management, coordination, implementation, and activities of the
Program, and shall report not less frequently than once every two
fiscal years to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate on its findings and recommendations. The
first report shall be due within one year after the date of enactment
of this paragraph.
``(3) Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not
apply to the advisory committee established by this subsection.''; and
(4) in section 101(c)(1)(A), by striking ``Program or'' and
inserting ``Program Component Areas or''.
SEC. 502. DEFINITIONS.
Section 4 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5503) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and multidisciplinary
teams of researchers'' after ``high-performance computing
resources'';
(2) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by striking ``scientific workstations,'';
(B) by striking ``(including vector supercomputers
and large scale parallel systems)'';
(C) by striking ``and applications'' and inserting
``applications''; and
(D) by inserting ``, and the management of large
data sets'' after ``systems software'';
(3) in paragraph (4), by striking ``packet switched'';
(4) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (5);
(5) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (6) and
inserting ``; and''; and
(6) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(7) `Program Component Areas' means the major subject
areas under which are grouped related individual projects and
activities carried out under the Program.''.
Passed the House of Representatives May 21, 2007.
Attest:
Clerk.
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2272
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To invest in innovation through research and development, and to
improve the competitiveness of the United States.