110 HR 3955 IH: Science Museum and National Laboratory U.S. House of Representatives 2007-10-24 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.

I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3955 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES October 24, 2007 Mr. Lipinski (for himself, Mrs. Biggert, Mr. Jackson of Illinois, Mr. Kirk, Mr. Costello, and Mr. Hastert) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology A BILL To provide for educational partnerships between science museums and National Laboratories.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Science Museum and National Laboratory Partnership Demonstration Act.

2.

Science education partnerships

(a)

Authority

The Secretary of Energy is authorized to award on a competitive basis up to 5 grants to partnerships for the purposes of— (1)increasing public understanding of the scientific work occurring at the National Laboratories; (2)developing exhibits and informal education programs featuring advances in physical sciences; and (3)increasing public understanding of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines. (b)

Qualifications

Grants shall be awarded under this section only to partnerships that include science museums, or consortia thereof— (1)serving no fewer than 1,000,000 visitors annually; and (2)with an existing partnership with one or more National Laboratories. (c)

Grant allocation

Science museums or consortia thereof may not receive more than 60 percent of a grant award for any fiscal year, with the remaining funds allocated to National Laboratory partners. (d)

Definitions

In this Act— (1)the term National Laboratory has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801); (2)the term partnership means as an agreement among a science museum (or consortia thereof) and one or more Department of Energy National Laboratories; and (3)the term science museum means an accredited nonprofit museum with a mission to educate and inspire the public about science, scientific advancement, and careers in science. (e)

Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for carrying out this Act $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.