I 112th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1797 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 6, 2011 Mr. Luján (for himself and Mr. Deutch) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To promote the use of cooperative research and development agreements by the Department of Energy National Laboratories, and for other purposes.

1.

Cooperative research and development agreements

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Energy shall direct the Department of Energy National Laboratories, including the laboratories administered by the National Nuclear Security Administration, to enter into new, or increase the Federal share of existing, cooperative research and development agreements to better carry out the missions of the Department of Energy, and shall make available Department of Energy funds to pay for the Federal portion of such agreements. The Secretary shall ensure that special consideration is given under this section to cooperative research and development agreements that include small business firms and consortia involving small business firms. The Secretary shall ensure that the performance evaluation metrics of each National Laboratory operating contractor provide incentives for, and measure the effectiveness of, the contractor’s cooperative research and development agreement program at maturing Laboratory technology and transferring it to the private sector. Nothing in this section shall be construed to preclude or limit the use of funding provided under other authority of law for entering into or increasing the Federal share of cooperative research and development agreements, either in combination with funding provided under this section or separately. (b)

Reports

(1)

Requirement

The Secretary shall annually transmit to Congress a report that describes how funds were expended under this section, including a description of— (A)the types and sizes of non-Federal entities that participated in cooperative research and development agreements receiving funds under this section; and (B)the economic benefits, including the number of private sector jobs created, resulting from cooperative research and development agreements that received funds under this section. (2)

Consolidation of reports

Reports required under this subsection may be consolidated with other related reports required from the Secretary.