[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 239 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 239

             To support innovation, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 31, 2011

 Ms. Klobuchar (for herself and Mr. Brown of Massachusetts) introduced 
the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee 
                               on Finance

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
             To support innovation, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Innovate America 
Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.
                   TITLE I--RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Sec. 101. Simplification of tax credit for contributions to 
                            universities for research and development 
                            purposes.
Sec. 102. Credit for charitable contributions of equipment to secondary 
                            schools and technical and community 
                            colleges.
  TITLE II--LENDING TO SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED HIGH GROWTH TECHNOLOGY 
                               COMPANIES

Sec. 201. Innovative Technology Development Loan Guarantee Program.
                          TITLE III--EDUCATION

Sec. 301. Definitions.
Sec. 302. Increasing funding for STEM secondary schools.
Sec. 303. Grants to institutions of higher education for retaining STEM 
                            students.
Sec. 304. Expanding undergraduate research opportunities.
Sec. 305. Internet website promoting commercialization of technology 
                            ideas invented by federally funded 
                            researchers.
Sec. 306. Technology Commercialization Awards Pilot Program.
             TITLE IV--MANUFACTURING AND EXPORT PROMOTIONS

Sec. 401. Manufacturing assistance program for small- and medium-sized 
                            manufacturers in the United States.
Sec. 402. Removing barriers for exporting industries in the United 
                            States.
Sec. 403. Improving access to international markets.
                            TITLE V--OFFSETS

Sec. 501. Limitation on Government printing costs.
Sec. 502. Eliminating bonuses for poor performance by Government 
                            contractors.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Innovation has historically been a catalyzing force in 
        the American economy, driving the production of game-changing 
        technologies, the creation of millions of jobs and the opening 
        of countless new avenues for growth. In an increasingly 
        competitive global economy, our Nation's continued leadership 
        and prosperity will hinge on progress in key innovative areas, 
        most notably exporting, entrepreneurship, research and 
        development, and education in science, technology, engineering, 
        and mathematics (STEM);
            (2) Start-up companies create the lion's share of new 
        technologies. Increasing the flow of capital to these firms 
        would bridge the gap that often exists between their initial 
        startup costs and their long-term capital needs, giving the 
        firms the resources necessary to research, develop and 
        commercialize new products.
            (3) Simplifying, expanding and stabilizing the tax credits 
        that businesses and institutions of higher education rely on to 
        offset the cost of research and would promote greater clarity 
        in the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and deliver a powerful 
        incentive for private sector innovation.
            (4) Increasing the emphasis on STEM education in high 
        schools and institutions of higher education would ensure that 
        more students have the skills and training to not only compete 
        for jobs in a 21st century economy, but also to create the 
        startup companies and revolutionary technologies that will 
        sustain American prosperity for centuries to come.
            (5) An effective regulatory climate should protect 
        consumers and promote transparency without overburdening the 
        businesses that create jobs. Federal agencies with rulemaking 
        authority should be vigilant in assessing the impact of new 
        regulations on innovation and job creation, particularly in 
        anchor industries like manufacturing.
            (6) The economic impact of a new product or technology is 
        often dependent on its commercial success. To ensure American 
        products can be bought and sold in markets around the world, 
        the government should identify and remove over burdensome 
        regulations that create barriers for United States exporting 
        companies.
            (7) Comprehensive and fair trade agreements are vital to 
        the United States' ability to export. The Federal Government 
        should ardently work towards ratifying trade agreements with 
        foreign countries that benefit the citizens and industries of 
        the United States.

                   TITLE I--RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 101. SIMPLIFICATION OF TAX CREDIT FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO 
              UNIVERSITIES FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PURPOSES.

    (a) In General.--Subparagraph (A) of section 41(e)(7) of the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (defining basic research) is amended by 
striking ``not having a specific commercial objective''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by this section shall apply 
to taxable years beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 102. CREDIT FOR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF EQUIPMENT TO SECONDARY 
              SCHOOLS AND TECHNICAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

    (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section:

``SEC. 45S. CREDIT FOR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS OF EQUIPMENT TO 
              SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND TECHNICAL AND COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

    ``(a) In General.--For purposes of section 38, the charitable 
equipment contribution credit determined under this section for any 
taxable year is an amount equal to 30 percent of the fair market value 
(determined at the time of the contribution) of any qualified equipment 
which is contributed by the taxpayer to a secondary school, technical 
college, or community college.
    ``(b) Qualified Equipment.--For purposes of this section, the term 
`qualified equipment' means any tangible personal property described in 
paragraph (1) of section 1221(a), but only if--
            ``(1) the property is purchased, constructed, or assembled 
        by the taxpayer,
            ``(2) the property is equipment or apparatus substantially 
        all of the use of which by the donee is for research or 
        experimentation, research training, or education in science or 
        technology,
            ``(3) the property is suitable for use in the donee's 
        research or experimentation or educational programs,
            ``(4) the property is not transferred by the donee in 
        exchange for money, other property, or services, and
            ``(5) the taxpayer receives from the donee a written 
        statement representing that its use and disposition of the 
        property will be in accordance with the provisions of 
        paragraphs (2), (3), and (4).
    ``(c) Gain Not Taken Into Account.--The amount of any contribution 
of qualified equipment otherwise taken into account under subsection 
(a) shall be reduced, but not below zero, by the sum of--
            ``(1) \1/2\ of the amount of any gain which would not have 
        been long-term capital gain (determined without regard to 
        section 1221(b)(3)) if the property contributed had been sold 
        by the taxpayer at its fair market value (determined at the 
        time of such contribution), and
            ``(2) the amount, if any, by which the amount of such 
        contribution (determined by taking into account paragraph (1) 
        but without regard to this paragraph) exceeds twice the 
        taxpayer's basis in the qualified equipment.
    ``(d) Definitions.--For purposes of this section--
            ``(1) Secondary school.--The term `secondary school' has 
        the meaning given such term by section 9101 of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965.
            ``(2) Technical college.--The term `technical college' 
        means a postsecondary vocational institution (as defined in 
        section 102(c) of the Higher Education Act of 1965).
            ``(3) Community college.--The term `community college' 
        means a junior or community college (as defined in section 312 
        of the Higher Education Act of 1965).
    ``(e) Denial of Double Benefit.--No deduction shall be allowed 
under section 170 for any contribution for which a credit is allowed 
under this section.''.
    (b) Credit Treated as Part of General Business Credit.--Section 
38(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
            (1) by striking ``plus'' at the end of paragraph (35),
            (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (36) and 
        inserting ``, plus'', and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(37) the charitable equipment contribution credit 
        determined under section 45S(a).''.
    (c) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart D of 
part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``Sec. 45S. Credit for charitable contributions of equipment to 
                            secondary schools and technical and 
                            community colleges.''.
    (d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall 
apply to contributions made after December 31, 2010.

  TITLE II--LENDING TO SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED HIGH GROWTH TECHNOLOGY 
                               COMPANIES

SEC. 201. INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LOAN GUARANTEE PROGRAM.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Clean technology.--The term ``clean technology'' 
        means--
                    (A) technology that improves energy efficiency, 
                including--
                            (i) technologies to reduce energy 
                        consumption;
                            (ii) energy-efficient building technologies 
                        and applications; and
                            (iii) efficient electricity transmission, 
                        distribution, and electrical grid-based 
                        storage;
                    (B) technology relating to energy storage;
                    (C) fuel cells and batteries; and
                    (D) component technologies for electric vehicles.
            (2) Renewable energy.--The term ``renewable energy'' means 
        energy generated from any of the following:
                    (A) Solar, wind, geothermal, or ocean based 
                sources.
                    (B) Biomass, biofuels, or feedstock.
                    (C) Landfill gas.
                    (D) Municipal solid waste.
                    (E) Incremental hydropower.
                    (F) Hydropower that has been certified by the Low 
                Impact Hydropower Institute
            (3) Small- or medium-size high growth technology company.--
        The term ``small- or medium-sized high growth technology 
        company'' means a small business concern that primarily engages 
        in commerce in 1 or more of the following industries:
                    (A) Life sciences.
                    (B) Medical devices.
                    (C) Computer hardware.
                    (D) Computer software.
                    (E) Clean technology.
                    (F) Renewable energy generation and manufacturing.
                    (G) Such other industries as the Secretary 
                considers appropriate.
            (4) Secretary.--Except as otherwise provided, the term 
        ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce.
            (5) Small business concern.--The term ``small business 
        concern'' has the meaning given that term under section 3(a) of 
        the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632(a)).
    (b) Establishment of Innovative Product Loan Guarantee Program.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a loan 
        guarantee program to help small- and medium-sized high growth 
        technology companies who the Secretary determines--
                    (A) are operating in a phase of the business life 
                cycle in which technological, market, or regulatory 
                uncertainty constrains the amount of capital available 
                from lenders and equity investors to such companies 
                during such phase; and
                    (B) are unable to progress to the next phase of the 
                business life cycle because of such constraints on the 
                availability of capital.
            (2) Designation.--The loan guarantee program established 
        under paragraph (1) shall be known as the ``Innovative 
        Technology Development Loan Guarantee Program''.
    (c) General Authority.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may, under the program 
        established pursuant to subsection (b)(1), guarantee the full 
        or partial repayment of a loan that meets the requirements of 
        this section.
            (2) Guarantee percentage.--For a loan guaranteed under the 
        program established pursuant to subsection (b)(1), the 
        Secretary may guarantee such percentage of such loan as the 
        Secretary considers appropriate, except that such percentage 
        shall be not less than 50 percent and not more than 90 percent.
    (d) Loan Requirements.--A loan referred to in subsection (c) meets 
the requirements of this section if each of the following requirements 
is met:
            (1) Purpose.--The loan is for--
                    (A) fixed assets relating to reequipping, 
                expanding, or establishing a facility the Secretary 
                considers necessary for the loan recipient to enter the 
                next phase of the business life cycle; or
                    (B) providing the loan recipient with working 
                capital the Secretary considers necessary for the loan 
                recipient to enter the next phase of the business life 
                cycle.
            (2) Interest rate.--The interest rate for the loan does not 
        exceed such maximum rate as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate.
            (3) Terms and conditions.--The loan has such terms and 
        conditions as the Secretary considers commercially reasonable 
        and consistent with prevailing market standards.
            (4) Pre-qualified lenders.--The loan is offered by a lender 
        who has been pre-qualified under subsection (e).
    (e) Pre-qualification of Lenders.--The Secretary shall pre-qualify 
lenders who--
            (1) are nongovernmental entities who specialize in 
        providing financing to high growth technology companies; and
            (2) the Secretary determines will expedite the loan process 
        and are competent to carry out credit underwriting, loan 
        origination, loan documentation, loan administration, and loan 
        servicing under the program established pursuant to subsection 
        (b)(1).
    (f) Syndication.--A lender offering a loan that is guaranteed under 
the program established pursuant to subsection (b)(1) shall agree not 
to syndicate or assign the loan unless--
            (1) the loan is syndicated or assigned to a third party 
        financial institution that the Secretary considers qualified;
            (2) the lender retains a pre-specified portion of the 
        unguaranteed credit risk; and
            (3) the lender continues to perform as the servicing and 
        administrative agent for the loan.
    (g) Default.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in the 
case of a default on a loan guaranteed under this section, the lender 
shall have the right of first refusal to serve as workout and 
collection agent for purposes of such default and under such terms as 
the Secretary considers appropriate.
    (h) Fees.--The Secretary may establish such fees as the Secretary 
considers necessary to cover the costs of administering the program 
established under subsection (b)(1).
    (i) Innovative Technology Development Fund.--
            (1) In general.--There is established in the Treasury of 
        the United States a revolving fund known as the ``Innovative 
        Technology Development Fund'' (in this subsection referred to 
        as the ``Fund'').
            (2) Elements.--There shall be deposited in the fund the 
        following, which shall constitute the assets of the Fund:
                    (A) Amounts paid into the Fund under any provision 
                of law or regulation established by the Secretary 
                imposing fees under subsection (h).
                    (B) All other amounts received by the Secretary 
                incident to operations relating to the loan guarantee 
                program established under subsection (b)(1).
            (3) Use of funds.--The Fund shall be available to the 
        Secretary, without fiscal year limitation, to carry out the 
        provisions of this section.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $200,000,000 
for fiscal year 2011.

                          TITLE III--EDUCATION

SEC. 301. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation.
            (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' means an institution of 
        higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (3) Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
        secondary school.--The term ``science, technology, engineering, 
        and mathematics secondary school'' means a secondary school--
                    (A) with a strategic focus on the subjects of 
                science, technology, engineering, and mathematics;
                    (B) that limits curriculum requirements; and
                    (C) allows students greater selective choice within 
                the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
                subject areas while providing the resources to ensure 
                adequate student choice and curricular rigor.
            (4) State educational agency.--The term ``State educational 
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        7801).

SEC. 302. INCREASING FUNDING FOR STEM SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to increase the number 
of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics secondary schools 
in the United States from 100 to 200.
    (b) Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--From amounts appropriated under subsection 
        (f), the Secretary of Education shall award grants, on a 
        competitive basis, to State educational agencies to enable the 
        State educational agencies to carry out the purposes of this 
        section by establishing or expanding science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics secondary schools.
            (2) Geographic distribution.--The Secretary shall award 
        grants under this section in a manner that ensure geographic 
        diversity.
    (c) Application.--A State educational agency desiring to receive a 
grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary 
of Education at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Secretary may require.
    (d) Use of Funds.--A State educational agency receiving funds under 
this section shall use such funds to award subgrants, on a competitive 
basis, to local educational agencies in the State in order to enable 
the local educational agencies to establish and maintain new science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics secondary schools, which may 
include repurposing an existing secondary school to become a science, 
technology, engineering, or mathematics school.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section, $50,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2012 through 2021.

SEC. 303. GRANTS TO INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION FOR RETAINING STEM 
              STUDENTS.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to provide positive 
incentives for institutions of higher education to implement programs 
that help retain students in science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics programs at the institution of higher education.
    (b) Program Authorized.--The Director shall establish a program of 
providing awards, from funds available through the STEM Awards Trust 
Fund described in subsection (c), to 4-year degree-granting 
institutions of higher education. In order to receive an award under 
this subsection, a 4-year degree-granting institution of higher 
education shall have--
            (1) dramatically increased the percentage and number of 
        students who enter an institution intending to major in 
        science, technology, engineering, or mathematics and who do 
        graduate from such institution with a degree in such a subject; 
        and
            (2) demonstrably sustained such increase for more than 5 
        years.
    (c) STEM Awards Trust Fund.--
            (1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of 
        the United States a trust fund, to be known as the STEM Awards 
        Trust Fund (referred to in this section as the ``Trust Fund''), 
        consisting of such amounts as are transferred to the Trust Fund 
        under paragraph (2) of this section and any interest earned on 
        investment of amounts in the Trust Fund under paragraph (3)(B).
            (2) Transfer of amounts.--
                    (A) Gifts.--The Director may accept, use, and 
                dispose of gifts, not including gifts of services, for 
                the purposes of carrying out this section.
                    (B) Transfer of gifts into trust fund.--The 
                Director shall, for each fiscal year, transfer any 
                amounts provided to the Director under subparagraph (A) 
                into the Trust Fund.
                    (C) Transfer of appropriated funds.--Any amounts 
                appropriated to carry out this section shall be without 
                fiscal year limitation, and the Director shall transfer 
                such amounts into the Trust Fund. Such amounts shall be 
                kept in a separate account or otherwise separated from 
                any amounts transferred into the Trust Fund under 
                subparagraph (B).
            (3) Investment of trust fund.--
                    (A) In general.--It shall be the duty of the 
                Secretary of the Treasury to invest such portion of the 
                Trust Fund as is not, in the Secretary's judgment, 
                required to meet current withdrawals. Such investments 
                may be made only in interest-bearing obligations of the 
                United States or in obligations guaranteed as to both 
                principal and interest by the United States. For such 
                purpose, such obligations may be acquired--
                            (i) on original issue at the issue price, 
                        or
                            (ii) by purchase of outstanding obligations 
                        at the market price.
                The purposes for which obligations of the United States 
                may be issued under chapter 31 of title 31, of the 
                United States Code, are hereby extended to authorize 
                the issuance at par of special obligations exclusively 
                to the Trust Fund. Such special obligations shall bear 
                interest at a rate equal to the average rate of 
                interest, computed as to the end of the calendar month 
                next preceding the date of such issue, borne by all 
                marketable interest-bearing obligations of the United 
                States then forming a part of the Public Debt; except 
                that where such average rate is not a multiple of one-
                eighth of 1 percent, the rate of interest of such 
                special obligations shall be the multiple of one-eighth 
                of 1 percent next lower than such average rate. Such 
                special obligations shall be issued only if the 
                Secretary of the Treasury determines that the purchase 
                of other interest-bearing obligations of the United 
                States, or of obligations guaranteed as to both 
                principal and interest by the United States on original 
                issue or at the market price, is not in the public 
                interest.
                    (B) Sale of obligation.--Any obligation acquired by 
                the Trust Fund (except special obligations issued 
                exclusively to the Trust Fund) may be sold by the 
                Secretary of the Treasury at the market price, and such 
                special obligations may be redeemed at par plus accrued 
                interest.
                    (C) Credits to trust fund.--The interest on, and 
                the proceeds from the sale or redemption of, any 
                obligations held in the Trust Fund shall be credited to 
                and form a part of the Trust Fund.
            (4) Obligations from trust fund.--
                    (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                Director is hereafter authorized to obligate such sums 
                as are available in the Trust Fund (including any 
                amounts not obligated in previous fiscal years) for--
                            (i) providing awards under subsection (b); 
                        and
                            (ii) properly allocable administrative 
                        costs of the Federal Government for the 
                        activities specified above.
                    (B) Federal match.--In making any award under this 
                section, the Director shall, to the extent feasible, 
                use equal amounts of funds in the Trust Fund that were 
                given by private entities under paragraph (2)(A) and 
                funds in the Trust Fund that were appropriated in 
                accordance with paragraph (2)(C).
            (5) Report to congress.--It shall be the duty of the 
        Secretary of the Treasury to hold the Trust Fund, and (after 
        consultation with the Director) to report to the Congress each 
        year on the financial condition and the results of the 
        operations of the Trust Fund during the preceding fiscal year 
        and on its expected condition and operations during the next 
        fiscal year. Such report shall be printed as both a House and 
        Senate document of the session of the Congress to which the 
        report is made.
    (d) Evaluation.--Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Director shall conduct an evaluation regarding the 
effectiveness of the program under this section.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $66,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2012 through 2016.
    (f) Sunset Provision.--
            (1) In general.--The provisions of this section shall cease 
        to have effect on the date that is 5 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, unless the Director--
                    (A) determines, based on the evaluation described 
                in subsection (d), that the program has proven to be 
                effective in accomplishing the purposes of this 
                section; and
                    (B) submits, in writing, the Director's decision to 
                the appropriate committees of Congress.
            (2) Dissolution of trust fund.--Notwithstanding subsection 
        (c)(2)(C), upon a termination of this section under paragraph 
        (1), all amounts in the Trust Fund shall be deposited in the 
        Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts.

SEC. 304. EXPANDING UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than June 1, 2013, the President shall 
ensure that not less than 10 percent of all Federal funds available for 
a fiscal year for undergraduate student research opportunities at 4-
year degree-granting institutions of higher education shall be used to 
fund research opportunities for postsecondary students during the 
students' first academic year of postsecondary education or the summer 
following such first year.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that each 
Federal agency should restructure the agency's undergraduate student 
research opportunities for students attending 4-year institutions of 
higher education, in order to provide more research opportunities for 
postsecondary students during the students' first academic year of 
postsecondary education or the summer following such first year.
    (c) Identification of Research Programs.--Not later than December 
31, 2012, the head of each Federal agency shall submit to the 
President--
            (1) a list of all programs and funds available for 
        undergraduate student research under the jurisdiction of the 
        agency; and
            (2) recommendations regarding how the agency can best 
        fulfill the requirements of subsection (a).

SEC. 305. INTERNET WEBSITE PROMOTING COMMERCIALIZATION OF TECHNOLOGY 
              IDEAS INVENTED BY FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCHERS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall, acting through 
the Director of the National Institute for Standards and Technology, 
establish and maintain an Internet website that connects federally 
funded researchers who have ideas for technologies that they believe 
could be commercialized with persons who express interest in working 
with federally funded researchers on the commercialization of their 
technologies.
    (b) Participation Optional.--Participation of a federally funded 
researcher in the Internet website required by subsection (a) shall be 
optional.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
        establishment of the Internet website required by subsection 
        (a), the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on such 
        Internet website.
            (2) Elements.--The report required by paragraph (1) shall 
        include the following:
                    (A) The status of the Internet website required by 
                subsection (a).
                    (B) An assessment of such Internet website.
                    (C) Such recommendations as the Secretary may have 
                for improvements to the Internet website and any 
                additional funding or legislative action as the 
                Secretary considers necessary to implement such 
                improvements.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce to carry out this section 
$1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 2015. Amounts 
appropriated under this subsection shall remain available until 
expended.

SEC. 306. TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION AWARDS PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
(referred to in this section as the ``Director''), through the 
Partnerships for Innovation Program, shall administer a Technology 
Commercialization Awards Pilot Program through which promising 
technology advances derived from National Science Foundation research 
grants shall be eligible for follow-on funding to move the technology 
through prototype and demonstration phases, with training available for 
researcher participants in business plan development, technology 
transfer and commercialization, and in processes for establishing 
start-up firms based on the technologies developed.
    (b) Competitive Selection.--The Director shall--
            (1) seek from National Science Foundation offices and 
        divisions recommendations on outstanding research funded by the 
        National Science Foundation with clear promise that such 
        research can be advanced close to commercialized in a 3- to 5-
        year period;
            (2) solicit applications from National Science Foundation 
        award grantees who believe that they have qualifying 
        technologies eligible for commercialization; and
            (3) award grants to such National Science Foundation award 
        grantees based on a merit-based, competitive selection process.
    (c) Advisory Committee.--The Director shall form an Advisory 
Committee of experts on technology and the technology commercialization 
process to advise the National Science Foundation on the Technology 
Commercialization Awards Pilot Program.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the first grant is 
awarded under this section, the Director shall--
            (1) report to the relevant committees of Congress on the 
        Technology Commercialization Awards Pilot Program's results; 
        and
            (2) make recommendations on whether and how such a 
        technology commercialization fund could be adopted by other 
        Federal research and development agencies.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of the 
fiscal years 2011 through 2015.

             TITLE IV--MANUFACTURING AND EXPORT PROMOTIONS

SEC. 401. MANUFACTURING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SMALL- AND MEDIUM-SIZED 
              MANUFACTURERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Commerce.
            (2) Small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers.--The 
        term ``small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers'' means 
        businesses--
                    (A) with not more than 500 employees; and
                    (B) with facilities located in the United States 
                that mechanically, physically, or chemically transform 
                materials, substances, or components into new products, 
                including component parts.
    (b) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a manufacturing 
assistance program for small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers 
for the purposes of promoting the manufacturing of goods in the United 
States and enabling those manufacturers to be competitive in the global 
economy by--
            (1) identifying and reducing regulatory burdens on those 
        manufacturers under subsection (c); and
            (2) providing those manufacturers with information and 
        other assistance under subsection (d).
    (c) Reduction of Regulatory Burdens.--The Secretary shall--
            (1) identify any regulatory requirements applicable to 
        small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers that--
                    (A) impose an unnecessary burden on those 
                manufacturers; and
                    (B) may be eliminated or reduced in order to 
                promote the manufacture of goods in the United States;
            (2) take appropriate action to eliminate or reduce the 
        regulatory requirements identified under paragraph (1); and
            (3) not later than 1 year after the date on which the 
        Secretary establishes the program required by subsection (b), 
        submit to Congress a report that makes recommendations with 
        respect to action by Congress that may be necessary to 
        eliminate or reduce the regulatory requirements identified 
        under paragraph (1).
    (d) Assistance.--The Secretary shall assist small- and medium-sized 
domestic manufacturers by providing the manufacturers with information 
with respect to--
            (1) how small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers can 
        comply efficiently with regulations applicable to those 
        manufacturers;
            (2) recently proposed and recently prescribed regulations 
        likely to have an effect on small- and medium-sized domestic 
        manufacturers; and
            (3) how small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers can 
        express their views and provide input with respect to any 
        policy developments relating to the manufacture of products in 
        the United States.
    (e) Report on Effectiveness of Program.--Not later than January 1, 
2015, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the program 
established under subsection (b) that includes--
            (1) an assessment of the extent to which the program has 
        been effective--
                    (A) in identifying and reducing regulatory burdens 
                on small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers under 
                subsection (c);
                    (B) in providing information and other assistance 
                to small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers under 
                subsection (d); and
                    (C) in promoting the manufacturing of goods in the 
                United States and enabling small- and medium-sized 
                domestic manufacturers to be competitive in the global 
                economy;
            (2) detailed information with respect to the nature, 
        location, and duration of any jobs created as a result of the 
        program established under subsection (b) and a description of 
        the methodology used to compile that information; and
            (3) any recommendations with respect to continuing or 
        improving the program established under subsection (b).
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary $15,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
2011 through 2015 to carry out the program established under subsection 
(b).

SEC. 402. REMOVING BARRIERS FOR EXPORTING INDUSTRIES IN THE UNITED 
              STATES.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Under Secretary for International Trade of the Department of 
Commerce shall submit to Congress a report--
            (1) identifying the 20 industries in the United States that 
        export the most goods or services;
            (2) identifying regulatory and policy barriers to 
        exportation for those industries; and
            (3) making recommendations with respect to legislative 
        action that could by taken by Congress to reduce those 
        barriers.

SEC. 403. IMPROVING ACCESS TO INTERNATIONAL MARKETS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the United States Trade 
Representative $2,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2011 through 
2013 to initiate any proceeding to resolve a dispute relating to 
barriers to market access with a country--
            (1) that is a WTO member (as that term is defined in 
        section 2(10) of the Uruguay Round Agreements Act (19 U.S.C. 
        3501(10))); or
            (2) with which the United States has a trade agreement in 
        effect.

                            TITLE V--OFFSETS

SEC. 501. LIMITATION ON GOVERNMENT PRINTING COSTS.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall coordinate 
with the heads of Federal departments and independent agencies to--
            (1) determine which Government publications could be 
        available on Government websites and no longer printed and to 
        devise a strategy to reduce overall Government printing costs 
        over the 10-year period beginning with fiscal year 2011, except 
        that the Director shall ensure that essential printed documents 
        prepared for social security recipients, medicare 
        beneficiaries, and other populations in areas with limited 
        Internet access or use continue to remain available;
            (2) establish government-wide Federal guidelines on 
        employee printing; and
            (3) issue on the Office of Management and Budget's public 
        website the results of a cost-benefit analysis on implementing 
        a digital signature system and on establishing employee 
        printing identification systems, such as the use of individual 
        employee cards or codes, to monitor the amount of printing done 
        by Federal employees; except that the Director of the Office of 
        Management and Budget shall ensure that Federal employee 
        printing costs unrelated to national defense, homeland 
        security, border security, national disasters, and other 
        emergencies do not exceed $860,000,000 annually.

SEC. 502. ELIMINATING BONUSES FOR POOR PERFORMANCE BY GOVERNMENT 
              CONTRACTORS.

    (a) Guidance on Linking of Award and Incentive Fees to Outcomes.--
Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, each 
Federal department or agency shall issue guidance, with detailed 
implementation instructions (including definitions), on the appropriate 
use of award and incentive fees in department or agency programs.
    (b) Elements.--The guidance under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) ensure that all new contracts using award fees link 
        such fees to outcomes (which shall be defined in terms of 
        program cost, schedule, and performance);
            (2) establish standards for identifying the appropriate 
        level of officials authorized to approve the use of award and 
        incentive fees in new contracts;
            (3) provide guidance on the circumstances in which 
        contractor performance may be judged to be excellent or 
        superior and the percentage of the available award fee which 
        contractors should be paid for such performance;
            (4) establish standards for determining the percentage of 
        the available award fee, if any, which contractors should be 
        paid for performance that is judged to be acceptable, average, 
        expected, good, or satisfactory;
            (5) ensure that no award fee may be paid for contractor 
        performance that is judged to be below satisfactory performance 
        or performance that does not meet the basic requirements of the 
        contract;
            (6) provide specific direction on the circumstances, if 
        any, in which it may be appropriate to roll over award fees 
        that are not earned in one award fee period to a subsequent 
        award fee period or periods;
            (7) ensure that the Department or agency--
                    (A) collects relevant data on award and incentive 
                fees paid to contractors; and
                    (B) has mechanisms in place to evaluate such data 
                on a regular basis; and
            (8) include performance measures to evaluate the 
        effectiveness of award and incentive fees as a tool for 
        improving contractor performance and achieving desired program 
        outcomes.
    (c) Return of Unearned Bonuses.--Any funds intended to be awarded 
as incentive fees that are not paid due to contractors' inability to 
meet the criteria established by this section shall be returned to the 
Treasury.
                                 <all>