1.This Act may be cited as the
Global Science Program for Security,
Competitiveness, and Diplomacy Act of 2010
.
2.Congress finds the following:
(1)International
scientific collaboration promotes the national security and economic
competitiveness of the United States. It is therefore a key foreign policy
priority of Congress to support such collaboration.
(2)During the Cold
War, scientific collaboration bolstered relationships with United States allies
and provided helpful engagement with adversaries.
(3)International
scientific collaboration today helps the United States find technical solutions
to key global challenges, promotes economic development at home and abroad,
improves bilateral relationships, leverages the capabilities of foreign
scientists and engineers, creates technology that improves quality of life,
promotes United States values, and enhances the reputation of the United States
in the world.
(4)The United States
faces competition from other countries in the field of international scientific
collaboration. Forging international networks with the best individuals and
institutions abroad is essential to advancing long-term United States economic
interests.
(5)Simultaneously, it
is of the highest priority for United States national security to ensure that
scientists who have been engaged in weapons of mass destruction (WMD)-related
research and engineering are encouraged and supported, in partnership with
foreign governments, to engage in productive civil initiatives. This
collaboration and other international scientific partnerships can be applied
directly to solving pressing problems of global security, including global
pandemics and climate change.
(6)Ensuring long-term
stability and prosperity in countries vulnerable to terrorist influence
requires promoting effective economic development and building the capacity of
foreign partners to address conditions that give rise to terrorism.
International scientific collaboration provides a means to advance these
objectives.
(7)In an era where international skepticism
about United States foreign policy abounds, civil society—including scientists
and engineers—plays a critical role in advancing the foreign policy interests
of the United States via engagement with scientists abroad. Among foreign
scientists and engineers, the United States remains the most attractive
destination in the world for graduate education and career-long collaboration.
(8)There are a range
of activities, such as collaborative research and exchange programs, best
suited to non-government organizations, where independence from the United
States Government provides greater flexibility, agility, and, in some cases,
credibility, with foreign scientists.
(9)United States
scientists, engineers, and innovators are an underutilized asset in efforts to
advance United States diplomatic objectives; facilitating contact between such
individuals and foreign populations of interest will advance overall United
States foreign policy objectives.
3.In this Act:
(1)The term eligible country means—
(A)a country
classified by the World Bank as either lower-middle-income or low-income
economies;
(B)a country located
in the Middle East;
(C)a country with a
majority population of Muslims; or
(D)any other country
as determined by the Secretary of State.
(2)The term Federal
science agency means any Federal agency that is responsible for at least
two percent of the total Federal obligation for research and development at
institutions of higher education, according to the most recent data available
from the National Science Foundation.
(3)The
term organization means an educational institution, corporation,
partnership, firm, or entity exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and described in section 501(c)(3) of such
Code.
4.Global Science
Program for Security, Competitiveness, and Diplomacy
(a)The
Secretary of State shall establish a program to be known as the Global
Science Program for Security, Competitiveness, and Diplomacy
(referred
to in this section and sections 5 and 6 as the Program
) in
accordance with this section and sections 5 and 6.
(b)The Program shall
carry out, through the provision of grants, the following activities:
(1)
(A)Establish global
research competitions that will undertake the following:
(i)Address the following global challenges:
ocean acidification, nonproliferation, multiple drug resistant diseases,
water-borne diseases, development of sustainable renewable energy resources,
sanitation, food shortage, and water resources.
(ii)Engage former WMD
scientists to assist in their transition to peaceful, civilian research.
(iii)Provide
incentives for United States businesses to undertake programs employing such
scientists for peaceful purposes.
(iv)Foster stronger
partnerships and relations between United States and foreign universities in
science and technology.
(B)Such
global research competitions shall include—
(i)grants for not
more than five years of collaborative research and development projects between
United States scientists and engineers and scientists and engineers from
eligible countries; and
(ii)grants to enhance
existing United States-based research programs by adding an international
partner from an eligible country.
(2)Institutional
capacity building
(A)The
goals of such grants shall be to—
(i)strengthen the
research infrastructure and science and engineering curricula of institutes of
higher learning in eligible countries;
(ii)engage foreign
students early in their careers with United States scientists and engineers in
order to bring such students into the global sphere of science and foster
critical thinking; and
(iii)expand existing
scholarship exchanges with students from eligible countries.
(B)The following restrictions shall apply to
the Program:
(i)Funds may not be
used for construction of facilities.
(ii)Not
more than 10 percent of each grant may be used for purchase of
equipment.
(iii)No
eligible country may receive more than 10 percent of the funds authorized to be
appropriated for the Program for any fiscal year.
(C)Such
grants may include—
(i)establishing
research and education centers at institutes of higher learning in eligible
countries to carry out the purposes of this Act; and
(ii)providing
equipment and training.
(3)
(A)Conduct research and
training programs that—
(i)engage scientists
and engineers who might otherwise be exploited to participate in illicit
nuclear or WMD weapons programs;
(ii)help prevent
nuclear and WMD proliferation; or
(iii)encourage
foreign scientists and engineers, in collaboration with United States partners,
to develop technologies and methods to combat WMD terrorism.
(B)Such
research and training programs may include—
(i)collaborative
research competitions that would provide research grants to foreign scientists
and engineers with WMD experience or who could be targeted to participate in a
WMD or nuclear weapons program, and United States scientists and engineers;
and
(ii)research and
training programs for personnel of eligible countries who will be implementing
nuclear cooperation agreements with the United States or otherwise
participating in nuclear programs.
(4)Global virtual
science libraryTo make grants to organizations that provide
online access at little or no cost for scientists and engineers in eligible
countries to worldwide science journals.
(c)Grants awarded pursuant to subsection (b) (except
for grants awarded pursuant to paragraph (3) of such subsection) shall be
competitive, peer-reviewed, and merit-based.
(d)In applying for a grant, an organization shall
demonstrate how it will seek, to the maximum extent possible, additional
funding from partner organizations, foreign governments, private businesses,
and other entities, ideally to the level of a full match.
5.
(a)
(1)The Secretary of
State, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy, shall promulgate guidelines for review of grant applications
to the Program.
(2)The
guidelines required under this subsection shall address, at a minimum, the
following:
(A)Criteria by which
grants shall be selected, including a description of diplomatic objectives of
the Program.
(B)Policies to ensure
that grants are in furtherance of United States diplomatic objectives.
(C)The countries and
regions to participate in the Program.
(b)
(1)The Secretary of
State shall coordinate with the Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy and the Director of the National Science Foundation to
administer and implement the Program, in accordance with the guidelines
promulgated pursuant to subsection (a).
(2)National Science
FoundationThe Director of the National Science Foundation shall
perform the following activities for the Program:
(A)Subject to the
guidelines promulgated pursuant to subsection (a), develop and issue
solicitations for projects described in section 4(b), or coordinate with other
Federal science agencies to develop and issue solicitations, as
appropriate.
(B)Establish peer
review panels comprised of individuals with demonstrated experience in relevant
fields to—
(i)review proposals
for grants; and
(ii)provide
recommendations regarding evaluation of such proposals.
(C)Award grants based
on the peer review recommendations.
(D)Administer grants
on behalf of the Program.
(c)Acceptance of
funds from outside sourcesThe Program may accept funds from
outside sources, including foreign governments, nongovernmental organizations,
and private business entities.
(d)Nothing in this Act may be construed to make any
grant recipient an agent or establishment of the United States
Government.
(e)
(1)Not later than
November 30 of each year, the President shall transmit to Congress a report
relating to the Program for the preceding fiscal year.
(2)The
report required under paragraph (1) shall include the following
information:
(A)A comprehensive and detailed report on all
operations, activities, and accomplishments under the Program.
(B)All expenditures of funds from the
Program.
(C)A report on metrics used to gauge success
of the Program.
6.
(a)There is authorized to be appropriated to the President
such sums as may be necessary to carry out sections 4 and 5.
(b)Amounts appropriated pursuant to the authorization
for appropriations under subsection (a)—
(1)may be referred to
as the Global Science Program for Security, Competitiveness, and
Diplomacy
; and
(2)may remain
available until expended.
(c)The Secretary of State may transfer funds authorized to
be appropriated pursuant to this section to other Federal agencies, including
the National Science Foundation, for the purposes of administering the Program.
The Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) may transfer funds
transferred to the NSF, as appropriate, to other Federal science agencies for
the purpose of implementing the Program.
7.It is the sense of
Congress that—
(1)the Office of the
Science and Technology Advisor of the Department of State should be further
integrated into the overall activities of the Department of State, including
greater involvement in the activities of regional bureaus; and
(2)science is a
critical, underutilized resource for United States diplomacy, and that the
activities of bureaus with oversight over science programs within the
Department should be integrated.
8.Embassy Science
Fellows Program
(a)It is the sense of
Congress that—
(1)scientific fellows at the Department of
State critically augment the capacity of the Department and United States
embassies to address science and technology issues;
(2)Federal agencies
are reluctant to pay the costs of scientists detailed to serve in United States
embassies; and
(3)expanding existing
fellowship programs will meet the Department’s needs to enhance the role of
science at United States embassies.
(b)The Secretary of State is authorized to
establish a program to be known as the Embassy Science Fellows
Program
to serve the following purposes:
(1)Pay for the costs of scientists employed at
Federal agencies to serve in the Department of State for a period of not longer
than three years.
(2)Enhance the role
scientists play in strengthening United States diplomatic efforts.
(3)Ensure the
placement of scientists at United States embassies.
(c)Authorization of
appropriationsFrom amounts
made available to the Diplomatic and Consular Programs account of the
Department of State, there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
State such sums as may be necessary to implement the Program authorized to be
established in accordance with subsection (b).
(d)Acceptance of
funds from outside sourcesThe Embassy Science Fellows Program may
accept funds from outside sources, including foundations, nongovernmental
organizations, and private business entities.
9.Jefferson Science
Fellows Program
(a)It is the sense of
Congress that—
(1)tenured academic
scientists from United States institutions of higher learning can provide
critical expertise and inform foreign policy matters at the Department of
State;
(2)United States
academic institutions enjoy an enhanced reputation in the international
scientific community;
(3)the presence of
United States scientists at the Department of State enhances the utility of
science as tool for diplomatic engagement; and
(4)the Jefferson
Science Fellows Program authorized to be established pursuant to this section
will provide a successful model for augmenting the scientific expertise at the
Department of State.
(b)The
Secretary of State is authorized to establish a program to be known as the
Jefferson Science Fellows Program
to serve the following
purposes:
(1)Provide an
opportunity for tenured research-active scientists and engineers from the
United States academic community to serve in the Department of State for one
year.
(2)Maintain an
ongoing interactive relationship between United States academic institutions
and the Department of State by utilizing former Jefferson Fellows as expert
consultants for short-term projects for at least five years following their
fellowship tenure.
(3)Enhance the
availability at the Department of State of up-to-date scientific knowledge
relevant to foreign policy and international relations.
(4)Enhance the use of
science as a tool for diplomacy at the Department of State.
(c)Authorization of
appropriationsFrom amounts made available to the Diplomatic and
Consular Programs account of the Department of State, there is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of State such sums as may be necessary to
implement the Jefferson Science Fellows Program authorized to be established in
accordance with subsection (b).
(d)Acceptance of
funds from outside sourcesThe Jefferson Science Fellows Program
may accept funds from outside sources, including foundations, nongovernmental
organizations, and private business entities.
10.Scientific
Envoys Program
(a)The Secretary of State shall establish a
program to be known as the Scientific Envoys Program
. In
carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall appoint scientists and engineers,
including Nobel Prize Laureates and renowned researchers and professors, to
serve as envoys on behalf of the United States to—
(1)represent the
commitment of the United States to promote, in collaboration with other
countries, the advancement of science and technology; and
(2)facilitate
partnership with eligible countries.
(b)The
following restrictions shall apply to the Program:
(1)Of amounts
authorized to be appropriated for the Program, funds may be used to cover only
the travel and per diem costs of envoys appointed by the Secretary of State.
(2)The total length
of travel for any envoy may not exceed 14 days.
(3)Not more than 12
envoys may be appointed annually.
(4)An envoy may serve
a term of not longer than 3 years.
(c)Authorization of
appropriationsFrom amounts made available to the Exchange and
Cultural Affairs account of the Department of State, there is authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of State such sums as may be necessary to
implement the Program authorized to be established in accordance with
subsection (a).
11.Sense of
Congress regarding science-related conferences, exchanges, and
programs
(a)Congress finds the following:
(1)The United States
is a preeminent location for science-related conferences, exchanges, and
programs.
(2)Such conferences
contribute to State and local economies and provide critical opportunities for
United States scientists to interact with foreign counterparts.
(3)Recently, the visa
process to gain admission to the United States for such events has become
sufficiently onerous to deter foreign visitors whom the United States should
welcome.
(b)It is the sense of Congress that relevant Federal
agencies should work to improve the overall visa process to ensure that the
United States remains a central destination for such conferences, exchanges,
and programs.