[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 363 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 363

      To authorize appropriations for basic research and research 
infrastructure in science and engineering, and for support of graduate 
                  fellowships, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 10, 2007

   Mr. Gordon of Tennessee introduced the following bill; which was 
          referred to the Committee on Science and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
      To authorize appropriations for basic research and research 
infrastructure in science and engineering, and for support of graduate 
                  fellowships, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sowing the Seeds Through Science and 
Engineering Research Act''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR BASIC RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.

    (a) National Science Foundation.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for support of basic 
research activities in the physical sciences, mathematics and computer 
sciences, and engineering, $2,114,100,000 for fiscal year 2008, 
$2,325,510,000 for fiscal year 2009, $2,558,060,000 for fiscal year 
2010, $2,813,870,000 for fiscal year 2011, and $3,095,260,000 for 
fiscal year 2012.
    (b) Department of Energy.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary of Energy for the Office of Science for support of 
basic research activities in the physical sciences, mathematics and 
computer sciences, and engineering, $2,205,400,000 for fiscal year 
2008, $2,425,940,000 for fiscal year 2009, $2,668,530,000 for fiscal 
year 2010, $2,935,380,000 for fiscal year 2011, and $3,228,920,000 for 
fiscal year 2012.
    (c) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration for support of basic research activities in the physical 
sciences, mathematics and computer sciences, and engineering, 
$1,669,700,000 for fiscal year 2008, $1,836,670,000 for fiscal year 
2009, $2,020,340,000 for fiscal year 2010, $2,222,370,000 for fiscal 
year 2011, and $2,444,610,000 for fiscal year 2012.
    (d) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology for support of basic research activities in the physical 
sciences, mathematics and computer sciences, and engineering, 
$86,240,000 for fiscal year 2008, $94,860,000 for fiscal year 2009, 
$104,350,000 for fiscal year 2010, $114,780,000 for fiscal year 2011, 
and $126,260,000 for fiscal year 2012.
    (e) Department of Defense.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
to the Secretary of Defense for support of basic research activities 
under budget category 6.1, $1,784,750,000 for fiscal year 2008, 
$1,963,220,000 for fiscal year 2009, $2,159,540,000 for fiscal year 
2010, $2,375,490,000 for fiscal year 2011, and $2,613,000,000 for 
fiscal year 2012.
    (f) High-Risk Research.--Of the amounts appropriated in each of 
subsections (a) through (e), not less than 8 percent shall be available 
for high-risk, potentially high-payoff research as determined by 
technical program managers at the respective agencies.

SEC. 3. 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))).
    (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.
    (h) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Director shall transmit to the Committee on Science 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 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. 4. 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.
    (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 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. 5. 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. 6. 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; and
            (3) 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. 7. NATIONAL COORDINATION OFFICE FOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) In General.--The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
establish a National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure, 
which shall identify and prioritize deficiencies in research facilities 
and instrumentation in academic institutions and in national 
laboratories and shall make recommendations for the allocation of 
resources provided under subsection (e).
    (b) Staffing.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall appoint individuals to serve in the office established 
under subsection (a) from among the principal Federal agencies that 
support research in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering, and 
shall at a minimum include individuals from the National Science 
Foundation and the Department of Energy.
    (c) Use of Funds.--The amounts authorized by subsection (e) shall 
be available on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis for construction 
and maintenance of research facilities at institutions of higher 
education or national laboratories, including instrumentation, 
computing and networking equipment, and other physical resources 
necessary for performing leading-edge research.
    (d) Report.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall provide annually a report to Congress at the time of the 
President's budget proposal describing the research infrastructure 
needs identified in accordance with subsection (a) and a list of 
infrastructure projects proposed for funding using the resources 
authorized by subsection (e).
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            (1) National science foundation.--There are authorized to 
        be appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the 
        purposes of this section, $333,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
        2008 through 2012.
            (2) Department of energy.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for the purposes of 
        this section, $167,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 
        through 2012.

SEC. 8. 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.
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