[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2757 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2757

 To invest in innovation through research and development, to improve 
   the competitiveness of the United States, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 31, 2014

 Mr. Rockefeller (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Pryor, Mr. 
 Coons, and Mr. Markey) introduced the following bill; which was read 
     twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                             Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To invest in innovation through research and development, to improve 
   the competitiveness of the United States, 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 ``America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2014'' or ``America Creating Opportunities to 
Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science 
Reauthorization Act of 2014''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
            TITLE I--OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

Sec. 101. Federal research and development funding.
Sec. 102. Federal 5-year STEM education strategic plan.
Sec. 103. Administrative burdens in federally sponsored research.
Sec. 104. Prize competitions.
Sec. 105. Repeal of Space Act limitation on prize competitions.
Sec. 106. Coordinated Federal science agency policy for family 
                            caregivers.
Sec. 107. Scientific and technical conferences.
        TITLE II--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 201. Definitions.
Sec. 202. NASA education programs.
Sec. 203. Experimental program to stimulate competitive research.
Sec. 204. Foundational engineering.
       TITLE III--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 301. NOAA education programs.
        TITLE IV--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 402. Manufacturing extension partnership.
Sec. 403. Education and outreach.
Sec. 404. National Institute of Standards and Technology Foundation.
Sec. 405. Implementation activities.
Sec. 406. Standards and conformity assessment.
Sec. 407. Visiting committee on advanced technology.
Sec. 408. Grants and cooperative agreements.
Sec. 409. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
  TITLE V--SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS SUPPORT 
                                PROGRAMS

                Subtitle A--National Science Foundation

Sec. 501. Definitions.
Sec. 502. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 503. Sense of Congress on National Science Foundation basic 
                            research investments.
Sec. 504. National Science Foundation merit review.
Sec. 505. National Science Foundation STEM education program 
                            contribution and research dissemination.
Sec. 506. STEM teacher training.
Sec. 507. Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.
Sec. 508. Early undergraduate research opportunities.
Sec. 509. Informal STEM education.
Sec. 510. Broadening participation.
Sec. 511. Prizes and challenges for broadening participation.
Sec. 512. Commercialization grants.
Sec. 513. National Science Foundation Innovation Corps.
Sec. 514. Graduate traineeship grant program.
Sec. 515. The experimental program to stimulate competitive research.
Sec. 516. Assessing national K-12 science and engineering proficiency.
Sec. 517. Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship 
                            program.
Sec. 518. STEM education partnerships.
                   Subtitle B--STEM Secondary Schools

Sec. 521. Report on STEM secondary schools.
Sec. 522. Funding for STEM secondary schools.
                          TITLE VI--INNOVATION

                   Subtitle A--Innovation Ecosystems

Sec. 611. Regional innovation program.
Sec. 612. Workforce studies.
Sec. 613. National strategic plan for advanced manufacturing.
Sec. 614. Sense of Congress; optics and photonics innovations.
             Subtitle B--National Nanotechnology Initiative

Sec. 621. Short title.
Sec. 622. Findings.
Sec. 623. Enhancement of management of National Nanotechnology 
                            Initiative.
Sec. 624. Quadrennial reports by National Nanotechnology Advisory 
                            Panel.
Sec. 625. Quadrennial external review of National Nanotechnology 
                            Initiative.
Sec. 626. Nanotechnology transfer, commercialization, and roadmaps.
Sec. 627. Publication of data concerning nanotechnology.
Sec. 628. National Science Foundation evaluation of investments of 
                            National Nanotechnology Initiative in 
                            education and workforce training.
Sec. 629. Sharing of best practices of centers, networks, and user 
                            facilities.
Sec. 630. Sense of Congress regarding environment, health, and safety 
                            matters concerning nanotechnology.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Applied research.--The term ``applied research'' means 
        a systematic study to gain knowledge or understanding necessary 
        to determine the means by which a recognized and specific need 
        may be met.
            (2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (3) Basic research.--The term ``basic research'' means a 
        systematic study directed toward fuller knowledge or 
        understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of 
        observable facts without specific applications toward processes 
        or products in mind.
            (4) Evidence or evidence-based.--With respect to STEM 
        education programs or activities authorized under this Act, the 
        term ``evidence'' or ``evidence-based'' means the systematic 
        collection and analysis of information about the 
        characteristics and outcomes of Federal STEM education programs 
        and activities to improve effectiveness, efficiency, quality, 
        or other desired characteristics and to inform decisions about 
        current and future programming, including collection and 
        analysis through a variety of research methods or combination 
        of methods, as appropriate to the research question.
            (5) Federal science agency.--The term ``Federal science 
        agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the 
        America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6623).
            (6) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' has the meaning given the term 
        in section 2 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
        2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note).

            TITLE I--OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

SEC. 101. FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) investments in research and development activities have 
        historically delivered significant benefits, including 
        contributing to economic growth, workforce development, 
        national security, and other priorities;
            (2) maintaining U.S. economic competitiveness requires a 
        robust research foundation, the promotion of a scientifically 
        literate workforce, and the effective commercialization of 
        research products;
            (3) many research and development initiatives, due to the 
        long time periods required to achieve completion, can benefit 
        from stable and predictable investments and from multi-year 
        financial planning;
            (4) the Federal science agencies should receive sustained 
        and steady growth in funding for research and development 
        activities, including basic research, across a wide range of 
        disciplines, including physical, geological, and life sciences, 
        mathematics, engineering, and social, behavioral, and economic 
        sciences; and
            (5) to enhance and maintain the quality and credibility of 
        Federal research and development funding decisions, the Federal 
        science agencies should continue--
                    (A) to utilize competitive, merit-review processes 
                in evaluating external proposals for research and 
                development funding; and
                    (B) to solicit advice from independent scientific 
                advisory boards and committees representing the 
                nation's geographic diversity.
    (b) Declaration of Policy.--Since research and development 
activities constitute a national need, it is the policy of the United 
States that--
            (1) in developing and implementing their research and 
        development strategies, Federal science agencies should 
        encourage collaboration among industry, the Federal Government, 
        academia, and other public and nonprofit entities; and
            (2) research and development funding priorities of Federal 
        science agencies should be informed by the independent, expert 
        advice of Federal scientific advisory committees and boards, 
        within the broader context of agency mission requirements.

SEC. 102. FEDERAL 5-YEAR STEM EDUCATION STRATEGIC PLAN.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) STEM knowledge and skills are more important than ever 
        before to jobs throughout the economy and STEM education is 
        critical to imparting those skills to future workers.
            (2) Increasing the number and diversity of students trained 
        in STEM fields and retaining STEM professionals is critical to 
        supporting U.S. competitiveness within a global economy.
            (3) STEM literacy, a basic understanding of STEM concepts 
        and principles, is critical to U.S. consumers' evaluation of 
        scientific information and to informing national, local, and 
        personal decisions in a range of areas, including healthcare 
        and criminal justice.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that updates to 
the Federal 5-year STEM education strategic plan required by section 
101 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
6621), actions to implement the plan and its updates, and the Federal 
STEM education investments should--
            (1) support the development of a STEM workforce that is 
        responsive to the needs of industry, academia, and Federal, 
        State, and local governments;
            (2) leverage and incorporate the expertise of a broad range 
        of STEM educators and beneficiaries, including--
                    (A) public and private sector employers that rely 
                on an educated STEM workforce;
                    (B) institutions of higher education;
                    (C) non-profit STEM education groups and informal 
                STEM education providers; and
                    (D) Federal, State, and local agencies involved in 
                STEM education;
            (3) seek to optimize Federal STEM education initiatives and 
        decisions related to the expansion, consolidation, or 
        reorganization of STEM programs, and be supported both by 
        program evaluations and by careful consideration of each 
        affected program's contribution to STEM education;
            (4) encourage student exposure to scientists and engineers 
        by maintaining the role of Federal science agencies, such as 
        the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and STEM 
        professionals in education and outreach activities; and
            (5) support active, collaborative, and inquiry-based STEM 
        learning approaches that develop creative thinking and critical 
        analysis skills rather than solely emphasizing memorization.
    (c) COMPETES Reauthorization Amendments.--Section 101 of the 
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621) is 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Public Review and Comment.--The Chairperson of the National 
Science and Technology Council Committee on STEM Education shall 
publish in the Federal Register notice of any pending draft updates to 
the 5-year STEM education strategic plan and provide an opportunity for 
public comment on the draft updated plan. To encourage alignment 
between the strategic plan and national STEM needs, the Chairperson 
shall encourage comment, in particular, from State and local 
educational agencies, informal STEM education groups, nonprofit STEM 
education organizations, STEM-related industries, and institutions of 
higher education, including community colleges. For purposes of this 
subsection, the term `community college' means an institution of higher 
education (as defined under section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) at which the highest degree that is 
predominately awarded to students is an associate's degree.
    ``(e) Informal STEM Education.--In updating and implementing the 5-
year STEM education strategic plan, the National Science and Technology 
Council Committee on STEM Education shall develop guidance and best 
practices for Federal agencies on incorporating and encouraging 
informal STEM education efforts to support youth and public engagement 
in STEM fields.
    ``(f) STEM Career Awareness.--In updating and implementing the 5-
year STEM education strategic plan, the National Science and Technology 
Council Committee on STEM Education shall consider Federal cross-agency 
efforts to improve awareness of STEM careers among K-12 students, 
including among underrepresented and rural populations.''.
    (d) Sense of Congress; STEM Reorganization.--It is the sense of 
Congress that Federal STEM education programs benefit from the 
participation and leadership of the Federal science agencies and from 
the involvement of scientists and engineers in the development and 
implementation of STEM curricula. Any reorganization of Federal STEM 
education programs that diminishes the participation of Federal science 
agency scientists or engineers, including in the awarding of STEM-
related education grants, should be avoided.

SEC. 103. ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS IN FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH.

    (a) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall convene a subcommittee on research productivity 
under the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology 
Council, consistent with the Committee's charter obligation to increase 
the productivity of federally sponsored research efforts.
            (1) Membership.--The subcommittee shall consist, at a 
        minimum, of representatives from the Department of Health and 
        Human Services, the National Science Foundation, the Department 
        of Defense, the Department of Energy, and the Office of 
        Management and Budget.
            (2) Recommendations.--The subcommittee shall develop and 
        propose for adoption by the Federal science agencies, 
        recommendations for reducing the costs and administrative 
        burdens associated with competing for, completing, and 
        reporting on Federal research grants. The recommendations may 
        include changes to the requirements, procedures, and 
        documentation for--
                    (A) grant proposal submission, such as collecting 
                information only if necessary for merit review;
                    (B) conflict of interest reporting;
                    (C) budget reports, such as by making the 
                requirements commensurate to the size of the Federal 
                grant awarded;
                    (D) annual progress reports, such as by making the 
                requirements commensurate to the size of the Federal 
                grant awarded and to the level of risk; and
                    (E) meeting the regulations established by the 
                major Federal research agencies and the Office of 
                Management and Budget, including those regulations 
                relating to training, Institutional Review Boards, 
                payroll certification, and budget auditing.
    (b) Responsibilities.--The subcommittee shall--
            (1) compile and periodically update a list of all Federal 
        regulations and requirements that apply to federally sponsored 
        research and development activities research grants;
            (2) evaluate the Federal regulations and requirements based 
        on criteria such as the severity and likelihood of the risks 
        addressed and the benefits to safety and research integrity 
        relative to the costs imposed;
            (3) based on the evaluation under paragraph (2), make 
        recommendations for reducing any costs or administrative burden 
        imposed by Federal regulations and requirements, including if 
        appropriate--
                    (A) modifying, repealing, or creating specific 
                exemptions to the Federal regulations or requirements; 
                and
                    (B) harmonizing overlapping or redundant research 
                regulations or requirements across Federal science 
                agencies; and
            (4) make recommendations for modifying, as appropriate, 
        Federal regulations and requirements to improve technology 
        transfer between academia and industry and to minimize 
        potential regulatory roadblocks to research commercialization.
    (c) Consultation and Stakeholder Input.--In meeting the 
responsibilities under subsection (b), the subcommittee shall consult 
with the National Science Board and the President's Council of Advisors 
on Science and Technology. The subcommittee shall consider any comments 
or recommendations from federally funded and non-federally funded 
research organizations, including institutions of higher education.
    (d) Subcommittee Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the subcommittee shall report to the appropriate 
committees of Congress its recommendations under this section. The 
report shall include--
            (1) a list of any regulations, requirements, procedures, or 
        documentation proposed to be harmonized, streamlined, updated, 
        added, or eliminated;
            (2) a proposed plan, including a timeline, for implementing 
        the recommended changes described in paragraph (1); and
            (3) if necessary, any recommendations for legislative 
        action.

SEC. 104. PRIZE COMPETITIONS.

    Section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking ``may be one'' and inserting ``may 
                consist of 1'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``competition'' 
                each place it appears and inserting ``prize 
                competition''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``prizes'' and 
                inserting ``prize competitions'';
            (2) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) by striking ``publish a notice in the Federal 
                Register'' and inserting ``publish a notice on a 
                publicly accessible Federal Government website'';
                    (B) by striking ``the competition'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``the prize competition''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``prize'' and 
                inserting ``cash prize purse or non-cash prize award'';
            (3) in subsection (g)--
                    (A) by striking ``win a prize'' and inserting ``win 
                a cash prize purse or non-cash prize award''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``competition'' 
                and inserting ``prize competition'';
            (4) in subsection (h), by striking ``competition'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``prize competition'';
            (5) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) by striking ``competition'' each place it 
                appears and inserting ``prize competition'';
                    (B) by striking ``in amounts determined by the head 
                of an agency'' and inserting ``in that amount''; and
                    (C) by inserting ``The head of an agency 
                administering a prize competition shall determine the 
                amount of liability insurance, which may be none or 
                insignificant, required by participants in the prize 
                competition.'' before ``Participants shall'';
            (6) in subsection (j)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``competition'' 
                and inserting ``prize competition'';
                    (B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) Licenses.--To further the goals of a prize 
        competition, the Federal Government may--
                    ``(A) negotiate a license for the use of 
                intellectual property developed by a registered 
                participant in the prize competition; or
                    ``(B) require a registered participant in the prize 
                competition to provide an open source license to the 
                public for the use of the registered participant's 
                intellectual property.''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(3) Consent during registration.--The Federal Government 
        may obtain consent to the intellectual property and licensing 
        terms of a prize competition from participants during the 
        registration for the prize competition.'';
            (7) in subsection (k)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``each 
                competition'' each place it appears and inserting 
                ``each prize competition'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (3);
                    (C) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph 
                (3);
                    (D) by amending paragraph (3), as redesignated, to 
                read as follows:
            ``(3) Requirements.--A judge--
                    ``(A) may not have personal or financial interests 
                in, or be an employee, an officer, a director, or an 
                agent of any entity that is a registered participant in 
                a prize competition;
                    ``(B) may not have a familial or financial 
                relationship with an individual who is a registered 
                participant; and
                    ``(C) consistent with the guidelines established 
                under paragraph (2), may--
                            ``(i) be required to abide by a code of 
                        conduct or judging agreement; and
                            ``(ii) be required to provide financial 
                        disclosures as are relevant to avoiding 
                        conflicts of interest.''; and
                    (E) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) Guidelines.--A head of an agency that carries out a 
        prize competition under this section shall develop guidelines 
        to ensure that the panel of judges appointed for the prize 
        competition operates in a transparent manner, is free of 
        potential conflicts of interest, and is fairly balanced as 
        appropriate to the task. The guidelines are not required to 
        necessitate each judge to be a special Government employee (as 
        defined in section 202 of title 18, United States Code).'';
            (8) in subsection (l), by striking ``an agreement with a 
        private, nonprofit entity'' and inserting ``a contract, grant, 
        cooperative agreement, or other agreement with a private sector 
        for-profit, nonprofit, or State or local government entity'';
            (9) in subsection (m)--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out a prize competition 
        under this section, including providing financial support for 
        the design and administration of a prize competition or for 
        funding a cash prize purse or non-cash prize award, the head of 
        an agency--
                    ``(A) may use funds appropriated by Congress;
                    ``(B) may request and accept funds from other 
                Federal agencies or from private sector for-profit or 
                nonprofit entities or State or local government 
                agencies for such purposes; and
                    ``(C) may not give special consideration to any 
                agency or entity in return for such a donation.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``prize awards'' 
                and inserting ``cash prize purses or non-cash prize 
                awards'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) by striking ``No prize'' and 
                                inserting ``No prize competition'';
                                    (II) by striking ``the prize'' and 
                                inserting ``the cash prize purse or 
                                non-cash prize award''; and
                                    (III) by striking ``private 
                                source'' and inserting ``non-Federal 
                                source''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) by striking ``a prize'' and 
                                inserting ``a cash prize purse or non-
                                cash prize award'';
                                    (II) by striking ``the prize'' and 
                                inserting ``the prize competition''; 
                                and
                                    (III) by striking ``private 
                                source'' and inserting ``non-Federal 
                                source''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``a 
                        prize'' and inserting ``a cash prize purse or 
                        non-cash prize award''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``the 
                        award of more than $1,000,000 in cash prizes'' 
                        and inserting ``the award of more than 
                        $1,000,000 in cash prize purses'';
            (10) in subsection (o), by striking ``a prize under this 
        section'' and inserting ``a prize competition under this 
        section''; and
            (11) in subsection (p)--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``Annual'' and 
                inserting ``Biennial'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``Not later than March 1 of 
                        each year,'' and inserting ``Not later than 2 
                        years after the date of enactment of the 
                        America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2014, 
                        and biennially thereafter,''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``the preceding fiscal 
                        year'' and inserting ``the preceding 2 fiscal 
                        years''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``for a fiscal year'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) in the heading, by striking 
                                ``cash prizes'' and inserting ``cash 
                                prize purses''; and
                                    (II) by striking ``cash prizes'' 
                                each place it appears and inserting 
                                ``cash prize purses and non-cash prize 
                                awards'';
                            (iii) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as 
                        subparagraph (G); and
                            (iv) by inserting after subparagraph (E) 
                        the following:
                    ``(F) Liability.--The amount of liability insurance 
                required by registered participants in each prize 
                competition and, if the amount is either none or 
                insignificant, an explanation for that 
                determination.''.

SEC. 105. REPEAL OF SPACE ACT LIMITATION ON PRIZE COMPETITIONS.

    Section 20144(a) of title 51, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``The Administration may carry out a program to award prizes 
only in conformity with this section.''.

SEC. 106. COORDINATED FEDERAL SCIENCE AGENCY POLICY FOR FAMILY 
              CAREGIVERS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Family responsibilities have been identified as a 
        driver in reducing the number of students, including 
        minorities, who complete postsecondary degrees.
            (2) In particular, starting a family has been identified as 
        a prominent factor in reducing the number of women advancing in 
        academic careers in the sciences.
            (3) According to the Council of Economic Advisors, 
        workplace policies that permit greater flexibility, including 
        for activities related to family care, can improve worker 
        retention and increase productivity.
            (4) To support family caregivers, several Federal agencies 
        have adopted family-responsive policies, including through 
        programs such as the National Science Foundation's Career-Life 
        Balance Initiative.
            (5) Improved coordination among Federal science agencies 
        and those entities that receive Federal funding can ensure the 
        consistency of family-responsive policies.
    (b) Policy Evaluation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall evaluate ongoing Federal science agency 
programs and policies regarding career-life balance, workplace 
flexibility, and family-responsive initiatives.
    (c) Guidance.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
shall provide guidance to Federal science agencies to establish 
policies that--
            (1) as appropriate, consider the needs of scientific, 
        engineering, and technical personnel, including postdoctoral 
        fellows, who--
                    (A) receive Federal funding through intramural or 
                extramural research awards; and
                    (B) have family caregiving responsibilities; and
            (2) based on the evaluation in subsection (b), build on 
        proven best practices, taking into consideration--
                    (A) flexibility in the initiation of approved 
                research awards;
                    (B) no-cost extensions or suspensions of research 
                grants to permit for family caregiving activities;
                    (C) grant supplements to sustain research 
                activities during absences related to family 
                caregiving;
                    (D) communications and training efforts related to 
                family-responsive initiatives; and
                    (E) evaluating programs and policies with respect 
                to the recruitment and retention of STEM professionals.
    (d) External Input.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, in developing guidance under this section, shall 
consider input from entities receiving Federal research and development 
funding as well as from professional societies and other organizations 
involved in supporting women and underrepresented groups in the 
sciences, as appropriate.
    (e) Consistency in Policy.--The Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy, in developing guidance under this section, shall 
encourage the Federal science agencies and entities receiving Federal 
research and development funding to adopt proven, consistent, and 
complementary policies, programs, and best practices regarding career-
life balance, workplace flexibility, and family-responsive initiatives.

SEC. 107. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CONFERENCES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Cooperative research and development activities, 
        including collaboration between domestic and international 
        government, industry, and academic science and engineering 
        organizations, are important to promoting innovation and 
        knowledge creation.
            (2) Scientific and technical conferences and trade events 
        support the sharing of information, processes, and data within 
        the scientific and engineering communities.
            (3) In hosting and attending scientific and technical 
        conferences and trade events, Federal agencies--
                    (A) gain greater access to top researchers and to 
                new and potentially transformative ideas;
                    (B) keep abreast of developments relevant to their 
                respective missions, as is relevant for future program 
                planning;
                    (C) help disseminate Federal research results;
                    (D) provide opportunities both for employee 
                professional development and for recruiting new 
                employees;
                    (E) participate in scientific peer review; and
                    (F) support the reputation, visibility, and 
                leadership both of the specific agency and of the 
                United States.
            (4) For those Federal agencies that provide financial 
        support for external research and development activities, 
        participation in scientific and technical conferences can help 
        ensure that funds are directed toward the most promising ideas, 
        thereby maximizing the Federal investment.
    (b) Policy.--To the extent practicable given budget, security, and 
other constraints, each Federal science agency under this Act should 
support Federal employee and contractor attendance at scientific and 
technical conferences and trade events as relevant both to employee and 
contractor duties and to the agency's mission.
    (c) Oversight.--Consistent with other relevant law, the Federal 
agencies, through appropriate oversight, shall aim to minimize the 
costs to the Federal Government related to conference and trade event 
attendance, through methods such as--
            (1) ensuring that related fees collected by the Federal 
        agency help offset total costs to the Government;
            (2) developing or maintaining procedures for investigating 
        unexpected increases in related costs; and
            (3) strengthening policies and training relevant to 
        conference and trade event planning and participation.

        TITLE II--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration.
            (2) NASA.--The term ``NASA'' means the National Aeronautics 
        and Space Administration.

SEC. 202. NASA EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) NASA is well-positioned to leverage its workforce and 
        facilities, together with the excitement induced by space 
        exploration, in providing students and educators with authentic 
        STEM experiences;
            (2) whereas the Nation's STEM programs have traditionally 
        focused on mathematics and the sciences, NASA's aeronautics and 
        space exploration mission allows it a unique ability to engage 
        students in engineering and technology development; and
            (3) NASA's education and outreach programs have made a 
        significant contribution to the Nation's K-12 education 
        efforts.
    (b) In General.--The Administrator shall continue to provide 
education and outreach activities, including opportunities for 
experiential learning, designed to improve interest and proficiency 
among students and educators in mathematics and the sciences, as well 
as in engineering and technology development. Before finalizing any 
reorganization of NASA education programs, the Administrator shall 
consider the long-term research and workforce needs of each mission 
directorate.
    (c) Metrics.--The Administrator shall ensure that NASA education 
programs have measurable objectives and milestones, as well as clear, 
documented metrics for evaluating programs. The Administrator, for each 
NASA education program or portfolio of similar programs, shall--
            (1) encourage the collection of evidence as relevant to the 
        measurable objectives and milestones; and
            (2) ensure that program or portfolio evaluations focus on 
        educational outcomes and not just inputs, activities completed, 
        or the number of participants.
    (d) Best Practices.--The Administrator or the Administrator's 
designee shall ensure--
            (1) through participation in the National Science and 
        Technology Council Committee on STEM Education, that--
                    (A) best practices developed through NASA education 
                programs, including proven methods in areas such as 
                engineering education and outreach to underrepresented 
                groups, are considered in the development, updating, 
                and implementation of the Federal 5-year STEM education 
                strategic plan; and
                    (B) NASA education programs reflect best practices 
                and educational research developed within other Federal 
                agencies; and
            (2) NASA leverages its limited education resources by 
        collaborating with external organizations in adapting or 
        replicating successful NASA STEM education efforts.

SEC. 203. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH.

    The Administrator shall continue to conduct the Experimental 
Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) in order to enhance 
research competitiveness of States and jurisdictions historically 
underserved by Federal research and development funding.

SEC. 204. FOUNDATIONAL ENGINEERING.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The Nation's basic research and foundational 
        engineering activities support innovation and can provide novel 
        and transformative solutions to complex problems.
            (2) NASA investments in basic research, foundational 
        engineering, and technology development have advanced the NASA 
        mission, including through supporting materials design, 
        modeling, and manufacturing.
            (3) NASA investments in basic research, foundational 
        engineering, and the development of early-stage technologies 
        remain critical to NASA's long-term mission.
    (b) Reaffirmation of Policy.--Congress reaffirms its support, as 
articulated in section 20102 of title 51, United States Code, for 
NASA's efforts to expand understanding in the aeronautical and space 
sciences and to identify long-term opportunities relevant to operating 
in the atmosphere and in space. Congress further affirms the importance 
of technology development in supporting national leadership in these 
areas.
    (c) Foundational Engineering Capability.--The Administrator shall 
ensure that NASA maintains a core capability to identify and support 
activities related to foundational engineering. The purpose of this 
capability shall be--
            (1) to forecast NASA's future capability needs, including 
        those needs not directly related to current missions;
            (2) to develop or identify potentially transformative 
        technology concepts relevant to achieving the needs under 
        paragraph (1);
            (3) to determine and implement an agency-wide strategy, 
        that may include increasing research capacity and coordinating 
        with external partners, for supporting research in foundational 
        engineering; and
            (4) to support translating basic scientific research into 
        new technology development.

       TITLE III--NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 301. NOAA EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    Section 4002 of the America COMPETES Act (33 U.S.C. 893a) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 
        (e) and (f), respectively; and
            (2) by adding after section (c) the following:
    ``(d) Metrics.--In executing the NOAA science education plan under 
subsection (c), the Administrator shall maintain a comprehensive system 
for evaluating the agency's educational programs and activities. In so 
doing, the Administrator shall ensure that NOAA education programs have 
measurable objectives and milestones as well clear, documented metrics 
for evaluating programs. For each NOAA education program or portfolio 
of similar programs, the Administrator shall--
            ``(1) encourage the collection of evidence as relevant to 
        the measurable objectives and milestones; and
            ``(2) ensure that program or portfolio evaluations focus on 
        educational outcomes and not just inputs, activities completed, 
        or the number of participants.''.

        TITLE IV--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Fiscal Year 2015.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $912,672,000 for the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2015.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $697,872,000 shall be authorized for scientific 
                and technical research and services laboratory 
                activities;
                    (B) $58,800,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                    (C) $156,000,000 shall be authorized for industrial 
                technology services activities, of which $141,000,000 
                shall be authorized for the Hollings Manufacturing 
                Extension Partnership program under sections 25 and 26 
                of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
                Act (15 U.S.C. 278k, 278l).
    (b) Fiscal Year 2016.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $973,659,000 for the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2016.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $748,119,000 shall be authorized for scientific 
                and technical research and services laboratory 
                activities;
                    (B) $61,740,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                    (C) $163,800,000 shall be authorized for industrial 
                technology services activities, of which $148,050,000 
                shall be authorized for the Hollings Manufacturing 
                Extension Partnership program under sections 25 and 26 
                of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
                Act (15 U.S.C. 278k, 278l).
    (c) Fiscal Year 2017.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $1,038,800,000 for the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2017.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $801,983,000 shall be authorized for scientific 
                and technical research and services laboratory 
                activities;
                    (B) $64,827,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                    (C) $171,990,000 shall be authorized for industrial 
                technology services activities, of which $155,453,000 
                shall be authorized for the Hollings Manufacturing 
                Extension Partnership program under sections 25 and 26 
                of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
                Act (15 U.S.C. 278k, 278l).
    (d) Fiscal Year 2018.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $1,108,384,000 for the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2018.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $859,726,000 shall be authorized for scientific 
                and technical research and services laboratory 
                activities;
                    (B) $68,068,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                    (C) $180,590,000 shall be authorized for industrial 
                technology services activities, of which $163,225,000 
                shall be authorized for the Hollings Manufacturing 
                Extension Partnership program under sections 25 and 26 
                of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
                Act (15 U.S.C. 278k, 278l).
    (e) Fiscal Year 2019.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $1,182,717,000 for the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2019.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $921,626,000 shall be authorized for scientific 
                and technical research and services laboratory 
                activities;
                    (B) $71,472,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                    (C) $189,619,000 shall be authorized for industrial 
                technology services activities, of which $171,386,000 
                shall be authorized for the Hollings Manufacturing 
                Extension Partnership program under sections 25 and 26 
                of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
                Act (15 U.S.C. 278k, 278l).

SEC. 402. MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP.

    (a) In General.--Section 25 of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 25. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP.

    ``(a) Establishment.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, through the Director and, 
        if appropriate, through other officials, shall assist in 
        creating and supporting manufacturing extension centers for the 
        transfer of manufacturing technology and the dissemination of 
        best business practices.
            ``(2) Affiliation.--The Centers may be affiliated with any 
        United States-based public or nonprofit institution or 
        organization, or group thereof, that applies for and is awarded 
        financial assistance under this section.
            ``(3) Objective.--The objective of the Hollings 
        Manufacturing Extension Partnership is to enhance productivity, 
        competitiveness, and technological performance in U.S. 
        manufacturing through--
                    ``(A) the demonstration of manufacturing 
                technologies and techniques, including automated 
                manufacturing systems and other advanced production 
                technologies, based on research or development efforts 
                at the Institute;
                    ``(B) the transfer of technologies and techniques 
                under subparagraph (A) to manufacturing companies 
                throughout the United States;
                    ``(C) the participation of individuals from 
                industry, universities, State governments, other 
                Federal agencies, and, when appropriate, the Institute 
                in cooperative technology transfer activities;
                    ``(D) efforts to make new manufacturing 
                technologies and processes usable by United States-
                based small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies;
                    ``(E) the active dissemination to industrial firms, 
                including small- and medium-sized manufacturing 
                companies, of scientific, engineering, technical, and 
                management information about manufacturing;
                    ``(F) the use, if appropriate, of the expertise and 
                capabilities of Federal laboratories;
                    ``(G) the provision to community colleges of 
                information regarding the job skills needed in United 
                States-based small- and medium-sized manufacturing 
                companies in the regions the community colleges serve; 
                and
                    ``(H) assisting Federal agencies in achieving their 
                domestic preference requirements under chapter 83 of 
                title 41, United States Code, and similar laws, by 
                identifying small- and medium-sized manufacturing 
                companies throughout the United States and providing 
                those companies with technical assistance in meeting 
                Federal procurement and acquisition requirements.
    ``(b) Financial Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may provide financial 
        assistance to any Center, except that the Secretary may not 
        provide to a Center more than 50 percent of the capital and 
        annual operating and maintenance funds required to create and 
        maintain the Center.
            ``(2) Regulations.--The Secretary shall promulgate or 
        revise regulations, as necessary, to implement this section and 
        review and update the regulations at least once every 5 years 
        to comply with any applicable change in law that affects the 
        policy or program goals under this section. The Secretary may 
        publish in the Federal Register an updated description of the 
        program establishing the Centers, as the Secretary considers 
        necessary.
            ``(3) Application eligibility and requirements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any public or nonprofit 
                institution, including State and local government, or 
                group thereof, or consortia of public or nonprofit 
                institutions, may submit to the Secretary an 
                application for financial assistance under this 
                subsection, in accordance with the procedures 
                established by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Cost sharing.--Each applicant shall provide 
                adequate assurances that non-Federal assets obtained 
                from the applicant and the applicant's partnering 
                organizations will be used as a funding source to meet 
                not less than 50 percent of the costs incurred. In this 
                subparagraph, the term `costs incurred' means the costs 
                incurred in connection with the activities undertaken 
                to improve the management, productivity, 
                competitiveness, and technological performance of 
                small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies.
                    ``(C) Partnering organizations.--In meeting the 50 
                percent requirement under subparagraph (B), a Center 
                may enter into 1 or more agreements with 1 or more 
                partnering organizations, such as private industry, 
                universities, and State governments, to accomplish 
                programmatic objectives and access new and existing 
                resources that will further the impact of the Federal 
                investment made on behalf of small- and medium-sized 
                manufacturing companies. All non-Federal costs 
                contributed by such partnering organizations and 
                determined by a Center as programmatically reasonable 
                and allocable under Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                Partnership program procedures are includable as a 
                portion of the Center's contribution.
                    ``(D) Legal rights.--An applicant shall also submit 
                a proposal for the allocation of the legal rights 
                associated with any invention which may result from the 
                proposed Center's activities.
            ``(4) Merit review of applications.--The Secretary shall 
        subject each application under this subsection to merit review. 
        In making a decision whether to approve an application and 
        provide financial assistance under this subsection, the 
        Secretary shall consider, at a minimum--
                    ``(A) the merits of the application, particularly 
                those portions of the application regarding technology 
                transfer, training and education, and adaptation of 
                manufacturing technologies to the needs of particular 
                industrial sectors;
                    ``(B) the quality of service to be provided;
                    ``(C) the geographical diversity and extent of 
                service area; and
                    ``(D) the percentage of funding and amount of in-
                kind commitment from other sources.
            ``(5) Center evaluation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each Center that receives 
                financial assistance under this subsection shall be 
                evaluated during its third year of operation by an 
                evaluation panel appointed by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Composition.--Each evaluation panel shall be 
                composed of independent experts, none of whom shall be 
                connected with the involved Center, and Federal 
                officials.
                    ``(C) Chairperson.--An official of the Institute 
                shall chair the evaluation panel.
                    ``(D) Evaluation procedure.--Each evaluation panel 
                shall measure the involved Center's performance against 
                the objective specified in subsection (a)(3).
                    ``(E) Positive evaluation.--If the evaluation is 
                positive, the Secretary may provide continued funding 
                for Center operation and maintenance.
                    ``(F) Negative evaluation.--
                            ``(i) Probation.--The Secretary shall not 
                        provide funding for a Center's operation or 
                        maintenance beyond its third year unless the 
                        evaluation is positive. If a Center does not 
                        receive a positive evaluation, the evaluation 
                        panel shall notify the Center of deficiencies 
                        in its performance and the Center shall be 
                        placed on probation for 1 year.
                            ``(ii) Reevaluation.--The evaluation panel 
                        shall reevaluate a Center's performance 
                        following its probationary period. If the 
                        Center has not addressed the deficiencies 
                        identified by the evaluation panel or shown a 
                        significant improvement in its performance, the 
                        Director may either conduct a competition to 
                        select a new operator for the Center or close 
                        the Center.
                    ``(G) Continuation of financial assistance.--After 
                the sixth year, a Center may receive continued 
                financial assistance under this section only if it has 
                received a positive evaluation through an independent 
                review, under procedures established by the Institute. 
                Such an independent review shall be required at least 
                every 2 years after the sixth year of operation.
                    ``(H) Recompetition.--If a Center has received 
                financial assistance for 10 years, the Director shall 
                conduct a new competition to select an operator for the 
                Center. Current center operators in good standing with 
                the Institute shall be eligible to compete.
            ``(6) Center oversight boards.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each Center that receives 
                financial assistance under this subsection shall 
                establish an oversight board that is broadly 
                representative of regional stakeholders with a majority 
                of board members drawn from local small- and medium-
                sized manufacturing companies.
                    ``(B) Financial management.--Each oversight board 
                under subparagraph (A) shall establish responsibility 
                for the Center's financial management and designate a 
                chief financial officer. External entities may advise 
                on, but not exclusively manage, Center finances.
                    ``(C) Bylaws and conflict of interest.--Each 
                oversight board under subparagraph (A) shall adopt and 
                submit to the Director bylaws to govern the operation 
                of the board, including a conflict of interest policy 
                to ensure relevant relationships are disclosed and 
                proper recusal procedures are in place.
                    ``(D) Limitations.--Board members may not--
                            ``(i) serve as a vendor or provide services 
                        to the Center; or
                            ``(ii) serve on more than 1 Center's 
                        oversight board simultaneously.
            ``(7) Protection of confidential information.--The 
        Secretary shall ensure that the following are not publically 
        disclosed:
                    ``(A) Confidential information on the business 
                operations of--
                            ``(i) any participant in a program under 
                        the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                        Partnership; or
                            ``(ii) any client of a Center.
                    ``(B) Trade secrets possessed by any client of a 
                Center.
            ``(8) Patent rights.--The provisions of chapter 18 of title 
        35, United States Code, shall apply, unless inconsistent with 
        this section, to the promotion of technology from research by 
        Centers under this section except for contracts for such 
        specific technology extension or transfer services as may be 
        specified by statute or by the Director.
    ``(c) Acceptance of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--In addition to such sums as may be 
        appropriated to the Secretary and Director to operate the 
        Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, the 
        Secretary and Director may accept, for the purpose of 
        strengthening U.S. manufacturing, funds from other Federal 
        departments and agencies, and under section 2(c)(7) of this Act 
        (15 U.S.C. 272(c)(7)) from the private sector.
            ``(2) Allocation of funds.--
                    ``(A) Federal departments or agencies.--The 
                Director shall determine whether funds accepted from 
                other Federal departments or agencies shall be counted 
                in the calculation of the Federal share of capital and 
                annual operating and maintenance costs under subsection 
                (b).
                    ``(B) Private sector.--Funds accepted from the 
                private sector under section 2(c)(7) of this Act (15 
                U.S.C. 272(c)(7)), if allocated to a Center, shall not 
                be considered in the calculation of the Federal share 
                under subsection (b) of this section.
    ``(d) Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
        Institute a Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board.
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The MEP Advisory Board shall 
                consist of not fewer than 10 members broadly 
                representative of stakeholders, to be appointed by the 
                Director. At least 2 members shall be employed by or be 
                on a Center advisory board, and at least 5 other 
                members shall be from United States-based small 
                businesses in the manufacturing sector. No member shall 
                be an employee of the Federal Government.
                    ``(B) Term.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (C), the term of office of each member of the MEP 
                Advisory Board shall be 3 years.
                    ``(C) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a 
                vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term 
                for which the member's predecessor was appointed shall 
                be appointed for the remainder of such term.
                    ``(D) Serving consecutive terms.--Any individual 
                who has completed 2 consecutive full terms of service 
                on the MEP Advisory Board shall thereafter be 
                ineligible for appointment during the 1-year period 
                following the expiration of the second such term.
            ``(3) Meetings.--The MEP Advisory Board shall--
                    ``(A) meet not less than biannually; and
                    ``(B) provide to the Director--
                            ``(i) advice on Hollings Manufacturing 
                        Extension Partnership programs, plans, and 
                        policies;
                            ``(ii) assessments of the soundness of 
                        Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
                        plans and strategies; and
                            ``(iii) assessments of current performance 
                        against Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                        Partnership program plans.
            ``(4) Federal advisory committee act.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In discharging its duties under 
                this subsection, the MEP Advisory Board shall function 
                solely in an advisory capacity, in accordance with the 
                Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
                    ``(B) Exception.--Section 14 of the Federal 
                Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 14) shall not 
                apply to the MEP Advisory Board.
            ``(5) Report.--The MEP Advisory Board shall transmit an 
        annual report to the Secretary for transmittal to Congress not 
        later than 30 days after the submission to Congress of the 
        President's annual budget request in each year. In the annual 
        report, the MEP Advisory Board shall--
                    ``(A) address the status of the Hollings 
                Manufacturing Extension Partnership program; and
                    ``(B) comment on the relevant sections of the 
                programmatic planning document and updates thereto 
                transmitted to Congress by the Director under 
                subsections (c) and (d) of section 23 of this Act (15 
                U.S.C. 278i).
    ``(e) Competitive Awards Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish, within 
        the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program under 
        this section and under section 26 of this Act (15 U.S.C. 278l), 
        a program of competitive awards among participants described in 
        paragraph (2) of this subsection for the purpose described in 
        paragraph (3) of this subsection.
            ``(2) Participants.--Participants receiving awards under 
        this subsection shall be the Centers, or a consortium of such 
        Centers.
            ``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the program under this 
        subsection shall be to add capabilities to the Hollings 
        Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, including the 
        development of projects to solve new or emerging manufacturing 
        problems as determined by the Director, in consultation with 
        the Director of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
        Partnership program, the MEP Advisory Board, and 
        representatives of small- and medium-sized manufacturing 
        companies.
            ``(4) Competitive awards themes.--The Director may identify 
        1 or more themes for the competitive awards under this 
        subsection. The themes may--
                    ``(A) be related to projects designed to increase 
                the viability both of traditional manufacturing sectors 
                and other sectors, such as construction, that 
                increasingly rely on manufacturing through the use of 
                manufactured components and manufacturing techniques, 
                including supply chain integration and quality 
                management;
                    ``(B) be related to projects related to the 
                transfer of technology based on the technological needs 
                of manufacturers and available technologies from 
                institutions of higher education, laboratories, and 
                other technology producing entities;
                    ``(C) extend beyond these traditional areas to 
                include projects related to construction industry 
                modernization; and
                    ``(D) vary from year to year, depending on the 
                needs of manufacturers and the success of previous 
                competitions.
            ``(5) Reimbursements.--The Centers may be reimbursed for 
        costs incurred under the program under this subsection.
            ``(6) Applications.--Applications for awards under this 
        subsection shall be submitted in such manner and at such time, 
        and contain such information as the Director shall require, in 
        consultation with the MEP Advisory Board.
            ``(7) Selection.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Awards under this subsection 
                shall be peer reviewed and competitively awarded. The 
                Director shall endeavor to have broad geographic 
                diversity among selected proposals. The Director may 
                select proposals to receive awards to--
                            ``(i) create jobs or train newly hired 
                        employees;
                            ``(ii) promote technology transfer and 
                        commercialization of environmentally focused 
                        materials, products, and processes;
                            ``(iii) increase energy efficiency; or
                            ``(iv) improve the competitiveness of 
                        industries in the region in which the Center or 
                        Centers are located.
                    ``(B) Additional selection criteria.--The Director 
                may select proposals to receive awards that--
                            ``(i) in the region in which the Center or 
                        Centers are located, will encourage greater 
                        cooperation and foster partnerships with 
                        similar Federal, State, and locally funded 
                        programs to encourage energy efficiency and 
                        building technology; and
                            ``(ii) will collect data and analyze the 
                        increasing connection between manufactured 
                        products and manufacturing techniques, the 
                        future of construction practices, and the 
                        emerging application of products from the green 
                        energy industries.
            ``(8) Program contribution.--Recipients of awards under 
        this subsection shall not be required to provide a matching 
        contribution.
            ``(9) Global marketplace projects.--In selecting proposals 
        to receive awards under this subsection, the Director, in 
        consultation with the Secretary and the MEP Advisory Board, 
        may--
                    ``(A) take into consideration whether an 
                application has significant potential for enhancing the 
                competitiveness of United States-based small- and 
                medium-sized manufacturing companies in the global 
                marketplace; and
                    ``(B) give a preference to any application 
                described under subparagraph (A) to the extent the 
                Director considers appropriate, taking into account the 
                purpose under paragraph (3).
            ``(10) Duration.--Awards under this subsection shall last 
        no longer than 3 years.
            ``(11) Permissible uses.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A participant under paragraph 
                (2) may use an award under this subsection to assist--
                            ``(i) United States-based small- or medium-
                        sized construction companies; and
                            ``(ii) United States-based manufacturing 
                        companies eligible to participate in the 
                        Centers program under subsection (a).
                    ``(B) Reimbursements.--A participant under 
                paragraph (2) may be reimbursed under the program under 
                this subsection for the costs incurred in working with 
                the companies described in subparagraph (A).
            ``(12) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to any 
        amounts otherwise authorized or appropriated to carry out this 
        section, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Secretary of Commerce $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
        authorized in this Act.
    ``(f) Innovative Services Initiative.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall establish, within the 
        Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program under this 
        section, an innovative services initiative to assist United 
        States-based small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies 
        in--
                    ``(A) reducing their energy usage, greenhouse gas 
                emissions, and environmental waste to improve 
                profitability;
                    ``(B) accelerating the domestic commercialization 
                of new product technologies, including components for 
                renewable energy and energy efficiency systems; and
                    ``(C) identifying and diversifying to new markets, 
                including support for transitioning to the production 
                of components for renewable energy and energy 
                efficiency systems.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Program under this section.--The term `program under 
        this section' means the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
        Partnership program established by this section.
            ``(2) Center.--The term `Center' means a Hollings 
        Manufacturing Extension Center established under subsection 
        (a).
            ``(3) MEP advisory board.--The term `MEP Advisory Board' 
        means the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board 
        established under subsection (d).
            ``(4) Community college.--The term `community college' 
        means an institution of higher education (as defined under 
        section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1001)) at which the highest degree that is predominately 
        awarded to students is an associate's degree.
    ``(h) Evaluation of Obstacles Unique to United States-Based Small-
Sized Manufacturing Companies.--The Director shall--
            ``(1) identify and evaluate obstacles that are unique to 
        United States-based small-sized manufacturing companies and 
        that prevent the companies from effectively competing in the 
        global market;
            ``(2) implement a comprehensive plan to train the Centers 
        to address the obstacles under paragraph (1); and
            ``(3) facilitate improved communication between the Centers 
        to assist the companies described in paragraph (1) in 
        implementing appropriate, targeted solutions to the obstacles 
        under paragraph (1).''.
    (b) Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Armed forces; support of science, mathematics, and 
        engineering education.--Section 2199 of title 10, United States 
        Code, is amended by striking ``means a regional center for the 
        transfer of manufacturing technology referred to in section 
        25(a)'' and inserting ``means a center for the transfer of 
        manufacturing technology and the dissemination of best business 
        practices referred to in section 25''.
            (2) Enterprise integration initiative.--Section 3(a) of the 
        Enterprise Integration Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 278g-5(a)) is 
        amended by inserting ``Hollings'' before ``Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership program''.

SEC. 403. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

    The National Institutes of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
271 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by striking section 18 (15 U.S.C. 278g-1);
            (2) by striking section 19 (15 U.S.C. 278g-2);
            (3) by striking section 19A (15 U.S.C. 278g-2a); and
            (4) by inserting after section 17 (15 U.S.C. 278g) the 
        following:

``SEC. 18. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director, in furthering the Institute's 
mission, is authorized to expend appropriated funds to support, 
promote, and coordinate education and outreach efforts to enhance the 
awareness and understanding of measurement sciences, standards, and 
technology among the general public, industry, and academia.
    ``(b) Broadening Participation.--In evaluating an application for 
any fellowship under this section, the Director shall consider the goal 
of promoting the participation of underrepresented minorities in 
research areas supported by the Institute.
    ``(c) Research Fellowships and Other Assistance.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director is authorized to expend 
        funds appropriated for activities of the Institute in any 
        fiscal year, as the Director considers necessary, for awards of 
        research fellowships and other financial and logistical 
        assistance to--
                    ``(A) students at institutions of higher education 
                within the United States who show promise as present or 
                future contributors to the mission of the Institute; 
                and
                    ``(B) U.S. citizens for research and technical 
                activities of the Institute, including programs.
            ``(2) Selection.--The Director shall select recipients for 
        fellowships and assistance based on the potential recipient's 
        ability to complete the proposed work and on the relevance of 
        the proposed work to the mission and programs of the Institute.
            ``(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    ``(A) Institution of higher education.--The term 
                `institution of higher education' has the meaning given 
                the term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 
                1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
                    ``(B) Other financial and logistical assistance.--
                The term `other financial and logistical assistance' 
                includes--
                            ``(i) direct stipend awards; and
                            ``(ii) notwithstanding section 1345 of 
                        title 31, United States Code or any other 
                        contrary provision of law, temporary housing 
                        and transportation to and from the Institute 
                        facilities.
    ``(d) Manufacturing Fellowship Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--To promote the development of a 
        robust research community working at the leading edge of 
        manufacturing sciences, the Director shall establish a program 
        to award--
                    ``(A) postdoctoral research fellowships at the 
                Institute for research activities related to 
                manufacturing sciences; and
                    ``(B) senior research fellowships to established 
                researchers in industry or at institutions of higher 
                education who wish to pursue studies related to the 
                manufacturing sciences at the Institute.
            ``(2) Applications.--To be eligible for an award under this 
        subsection, an individual shall submit an application to the 
        Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Director may require.
            ``(3) Stipend levels.--The Director shall provide stipends 
        for postdoctoral research fellowships at a level consistent 
        with the postdoctoral research fellowship program under 
        subsection (e), and senior research fellowships at levels 
        consistent with support for a faculty member in a sabbatical 
        position.
    ``(e) Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.--The Director, in 
consultation with the National Academy of Sciences, shall establish and 
conduct a postdoctoral fellowship program. The postdoctoral fellowship 
program shall include not less than 20 new fellows per fiscal year.
    ``(f) Teacher Science and Technology Enhancement Institute 
Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall establish within the 
        Institute a teacher science and technology enhancement program 
        to provide for professional development of STEM teachers at 
        elementary, middle, and secondary schools (as those terms are 
        defined by the Director), including helping to increase the 
        teachers' understanding of STEM and the impacts of STEM on 
        commerce.
            ``(2) Focus.--In carrying out the program under this 
        subsection, the Director shall focus on the following areas:
                    ``(A) Scientific measurements.
                    ``(B) Tests and standards development.
                    ``(C) Industrial competitiveness and quality.
                    ``(D) Manufacturing.
                    ``(E) Engineering design.
                    ``(F) Technology transfer.
                    ``(G) Any other area of expertise of the Institute 
                that the Director considers appropriate.
            ``(3) Selection.--The Director shall develop and issue 
        procedures and selection criteria for participants in the 
        program under this subsection. The Director shall give special 
        consideration to an application from a teacher from a high-need 
        school (as defined in section 200 of the Higher Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021)).
            ``(4) Timing.--The program under this subsection shall be 
        conducted on an annual basis during the period of time when a 
        majority of elementary, middle, and secondary schools have not 
        commenced a school year, such as the months of June, July, or 
        August.
            ``(5) Equipment.--The program under this subsection shall--
                    ``(A) provide for teachers' participation in 
                activities at the laboratory facilities of the 
                Institute; or
                    ``(B) utilize other means of accomplishing the 
                goals of the program, as the Director considers 
                appropriate, such as the Internet, video conferencing 
                and recording, and workshops and conferences.''.

SEC. 404. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
Director, may establish or enter into an agreement with a nonprofit 
organization to establish a National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Foundation. The Foundation shall not be an agency or 
instrumentality of the United States Government.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Foundation shall be to support the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology in its mission.
    (c) Activities.--Activities of the Foundation may include the 
solicitation and acceptance of funds--
            (1) to support international metrology and standards 
        engagement activities;
            (2) to conduct education and outreach activities; and
            (3) to offer direct support to NIST associates, including 
        through activities such as the provision of fellowships, 
        grants, and occupational safety and awareness training.
    (d) Transfer of Funds.--The Director may authorize, under the 
agreement under subsection (a), the transfer of funds from the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology to the nonprofit organization to 
offset any administrative costs of the Foundation.
    (e) Liability.--The United States shall not be liable for any 
debts, defaults, acts, or omissions of the Foundation. The full faith 
and credit of the United States shall not extend to any obligations of 
the Foundation.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Under 
        Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology.
            (2) NIST associate.--The term ``NIST associate'' means any 
        guest researcher, research associate, facility user, or 
        volunteer who conducts research at a National Institute of 
        Standards and Technology facility, but is not an employee of 
        the National Institute of Standards and Technology or of 
        another Federal department or agency.

SEC. 405. IMPLEMENTATION ACTIVITIES.

    Subsection 2(c) of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(c)) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (18) through (22) as 
        paragraphs (19) through (23), respectively; and
            (2) by adding after paragraph (17) the following:
            ``(18) host, participate in, and support scientific and 
        technical conferences, and collect and retain conference fees 
        for the payment of related expenses, including, notwithstanding 
        section 1345 of title 31, United States Code, subsistence 
        expenses;''.

SEC. 406. STANDARDS AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT.

    Subsection 2(b) of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``is authorized to'' and inserting ``is 
        authorized to serve as the President's principal advisor on 
        standards pertaining to the Nation's innovation and 
        technological competitiveness and to'';
            (2) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
            ``(3) to compare standards used in scientific 
        investigation, engineering, manufacturing, commerce, industry, 
        and education with the standards adopted or recognized by the 
        Federal Government;'';
            (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
            ``(3A) to facilitate standards-related information sharing 
        and cooperation between Federal agencies and to coordinate the 
        use by Federal agencies of private sector standards, 
        emphasizing if possible the use of standards developed by 
        private, consensus organizations;'';
            (4) by amending paragraph (13) to read as follows:
            ``(13) to coordinate the technical standards and conformity 
        assessment activities of Federal, State, and local governments 
        with those of the private sector, with the goal of eliminating 
        unnecessary duplication and complexity in the development and 
        promulgation of conformity assessment requirements and 
        measures;''; and
            (5) by renumbering paragraphs (3A) through (13) as 
        paragraphs (4) through (14), respectively.

SEC. 407. VISITING COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.

    Section 10(a) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278(a)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``15'' and inserting ``not fewer than 9''; 
        and
            (2) by striking ``at least 10'' and inserting ``a 
        majority''.

SEC. 408. GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.

    Section 8 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 
(15 U.S.C. 3706) is amended by amending subsection (a) to read as 
follows:
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary may make grants and enter into 
cooperative agreements according to the provisions of this section in 
order to assist any activity consistent with this Act, including 
activities performed by individuals.''.

SEC. 409. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION.

    Section 4 of the Federal Emergency Management Improvement Act of 
1988 (15 U.S.C. 5001) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Secretary of Commerce'' each place it 
        appears and inserting ``Consumer Product Safety Commission''; 
        and
            (2) by striking ``Secretary'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``Consumer Product Safety Commission''.

  TITLE V--SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS SUPPORT 
                                PROGRAMS

                Subtitle A--National Science Foundation

SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS.

    In this subtitle:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation.
            (2) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National 
        Science Foundation.
            (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (4) State.--The term ``State'' means 1 of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the 
        Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, or any other 
        territory or possession of the United States.

SEC. 502. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Fiscal Year 2015.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Foundation $7,649,310,000 for fiscal year 2015.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $6,227,160,000 shall be authorized for research 
                and related activities;
                    (B) $888,825,000 shall be authorized for education 
                and human resources;
                    (C) $201,000,000 shall be authorized for major 
                research equipment and facilities construction;
                    (D) $312,900,000 shall be authorized for agency 
                operations and award management;
                    (E) $4,515,000 shall be authorized for the Office 
                of the National Science Board; and
                    (F) $14,910,000 shall be authorized for the Office 
                of Inspector General.
    (b) Fiscal Year 2016.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Foundation $8,157,724,000 for fiscal year 2016.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $6,675,516,000 shall be authorized for research 
                and related activities;
                    (B) $933,266,000 shall be authorized for education 
                and human resources;
                    (C) $200,000,000 shall be authorized for major 
                research equipment and facilities construction;
                    (D) $328,545,000 shall be authorized for agency 
                operations and award management;
                    (E) $4,741,000 shall be authorized for the Office 
                of the National Science Board; and
                    (F) $15,656,000 shall be authorized for the Office 
                of Inspector General.
    (c) Fiscal Year 2017.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Foundation $8,702,471,000 for fiscal year 2017.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $7,156,153,000 shall be authorized for research 
                and related activities;
                    (B) $979,930,000 shall be authorized for education 
                and human resources;
                    (C) $200,000,000 shall be authorized for major 
                research equipment and facilities construction;
                    (D) $344,972,000 shall be authorized for agency 
                operations and award management;
                    (E) $4,978,000 shall be authorized for the Office 
                of the National Science Board; and
                    (F) $16,438,000 shall be authorized for the Office 
                of Inspector General.
    (d) Fiscal Year 2018.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Foundation $9,285,030,000 for fiscal year 2018.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $7,671,396,000 shall be authorized for research 
                and related activities;
                    (B) $1,028,926,000 shall be authorized for 
                education and human resources;
                    (C) $200,000,000 shall be authorized for major 
                research equipment and facilities construction;
                    (D) $362,221,000 shall be authorized for agency 
                operations and award management;
                    (E) $5,227,000 shall be authorized for the Office 
                of the National Science Board; and
                    (F) $17,260,000 shall be authorized for the Office 
                of Inspector General.
    (e) Fiscal Year 2019.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Foundation $9,908,051,000 for fiscal year 2019.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $8,223,736,000 shall be authorized for research 
                and related activities;
                    (B) $1,080,372,000 shall be authorized for 
                education and human resources;
                    (C) $200,000,000 shall be authorized for major 
                research equipment and facilities construction;
                    (D) $380,332,000 shall be authorized for agency 
                operations and award management;
                    (E) $5,488,000 shall be authorized for the Office 
                of the National Science Board; and
                    (F) $18,123,000 shall be authorized for the Office 
                of Inspector General.

SEC. 503. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION BASIC 
              RESEARCH INVESTMENTS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) basic research investments support economic development 
        and national security by--
                    (A) creating a base of scientific knowledge and 
                understanding critical to innovation and to the 
                creation of new industries and jobs;
                    (B) training and attracting a community of 
                scientific and engineering experts; and
                    (C) enabling technological advances that can 
                respond to intractable or unexpected societal or 
                security challenges;
            (2) established by Congress in 1950, the Foundation 
        supports basic research activities in a wide range of fields, 
        including the mathematical, physical, biological, geological, 
        and social sciences, as well as in fundamental engineering;
            (3) the Foundation's basic research investments have 
        provided novel solutions to societal challenges and created the 
        scientific and engineering knowledge important to commercial 
        successes in areas such as fiber optics, DNA fingerprinting, 
        barcode readers, and Internet browsers;
            (4) the Foundation's investments in social, behavioral, and 
        economic research have addressed challenges, including--
                    (A) in medicine, matching organ donors to patients, 
                leading to a dramatic growth in paired kidney 
                transplants;
                    (B) in policing, implementing predictive models 
                that help to yield significant reductions in crime;
                    (C) in resource allocation, developing the theories 
                underlying the Federal Communications Commission 
                spectrum auction, which has generated over 
                $60,000,000,000 in revenue;
                    (D) in disaster preparation and recovery, 
                identifying barriers to effective disaster evacuation 
                strategies;
                    (E) in national defense, assisting U.S. troops in 
                cross-cultural communication and in identifying 
                threats; and
                    (F) in areas such as economics, education, 
                cybersecurity, transportation, and the national 
                defense, supporting informed decisionmaking in foreign 
                and domestic policy;
            (5) through its research support, the Foundation has proven 
        critical to the development of the Nation's scientific and 
        engineering workforce;
            (6) having recognized the benefits of research investments 
        to their economies and workforce, the Nation's economic 
        competitors have vastly increased their research efforts; and
            (7) the economic benefits related to basic research 
        investments tend to accrue within the region where the research 
        is conducted.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) basic research investments across a wide range of 
        disciplines are crucial to the Foundation's mission and 
        essential to the scientific progress of the Nation;
            (2) the Foundation's basic research investments continue to 
        support long-term national economic competitiveness by 
        expanding the potential for practical innovations in science 
        and technology and by attracting and training a knowledgeable 
        workforce;
            (3) the private sector's emphasis on investments in late 
        applied research and product development relative to 
        international competitors highlights the Foundation's critical 
        role in funding for basic and early applied research; and
            (4) if the United States is to remain innovative and 
        globally competitive, the Foundation must continue to meet its 
        legislative mandate through--
                    (A) robust support for basic research across a wide 
                range of science and engineering fields, including the 
                social, behavioral, and economic sciences;
                    (B) continued support for engagement between 
                scientists, particularly through scientific 
                conferences; and
                    (C) funding for the education and training of the 
                U.S. scientific and technical workforce.

SEC. 504. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION MERIT REVIEW.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Foundation's Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts 
        criteria remain appropriate for evaluating grant proposals, as 
        concluded by the 2011 National Science Board Task Force on 
        Merit Review;
            (2) evaluating proposals on the basis of the Foundation's 
        Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria assures that--
                    (A) proposals funded by the Foundation are of high 
                quality and advance scientific knowledge; and
                    (B) the Foundation's overall funding portfolio 
                addresses societal needs through research findings or 
                through related activities; and
            (3) as evidenced by the Foundation's contributions to 
        scientific advancement, economic development, human health, and 
        national security, its peer review and merit review processes 
        have successfully identified and funded scientifically and 
        societally relevant research and must be preserved.
    (b) Criteria.--The Foundation shall maintain the Intellectual Merit 
and Broader Impacts criteria as the basis for evaluating grant 
proposals in the merit review process.
    (c) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress a report detailing--
                    (A) steps taken to improve the merit-review 
                process, the justification for any changes, and the 
                effect of these steps on funding recipients;
                    (B) recent efforts by the Foundation to improve 
                transparency and accountability in the merit-review 
                process; and
                    (C) efforts to better understand and address 
                implicit bias in the merit-review process.
            (2) Changes.--The Director shall update and resubmit the 
        report under paragraph (1) if there are any changes to the 
        merit-review criteria.

SEC. 505. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION STEM EDUCATION PROGRAM 
              CONTRIBUTION AND RESEARCH DISSEMINATION.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The Foundation's Directorate for Education and Human 
        Resources, in collaboration, where appropriate, with other 
        Foundation directorates, supports STEM education by--
                    (A) funding research into student learning, to 
                include learning in informal environments;
                    (B) supporting programs to improve pedagogy and to 
                increase the participation of underrepresented groups 
                in the STEM workforce;
                    (C) providing financial support for students 
                pursuing STEM degrees and encouraging students to 
                become STEM educators; and
                    (D) promoting the adoption of validated teaching 
                practices and encouraging broad STEM literacy.
            (2) External evaluations of the Foundation's education 
        programs demonstrate that the education programs produce more 
        highly qualified teachers, increase interest in STEM careers 
        and in higher education, broaden the participation of 
        underrepresented minorities in STEM fields, and support the 
        development of the STEM workforce.
    (b) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States that--
            (1) the Foundation should maintain robust investments in 
        STEM education at all levels, in teacher education, and in 
        identifying and adapting promising STEM learning projects for 
        broader use; and
            (2) the Foundation's educational initiatives should--
                    (A) develop, evaluate, and promote new or 
                transformative approaches to STEM education both inside 
                and outside of the classroom;
                    (B) balance support for research into education, 
                with transforming promising research into innovative 
                educational approaches, tools, and programs, and with 
                disseminating pedagogical best practices; and
                    (C) consider the needs of the educational 
                community, including academia, informal educational 
                providers, and non-profit, industry, and local, State, 
                and Federal education agencies.
    (c) Evaluation.--The Director shall ensure that the Foundation's 
education programs have measurable objectives and clear, documented 
metrics for evaluating programs. The Director, for each education 
program or portfolio of similar programs, shall--
            (1) include measurable objectives and milestones within 
        program solicitations;
            (2) encourage the collection of evidence as relevant to the 
        measurable objectives and milestones in paragraph (1);
            (3) engage external evaluators, which may include 
        Foundation-funded researchers, in evaluating the program or 
        portfolio against the objectives and milestones in paragraph 
        (1) and not just the inputs or activities completed; and
            (4) wherever relevant, conduct longitudinal or comparison 
        group studies.
    (d) Best Practices.--The Director shall support activities to 
disseminate and catalyze the adoption of evidence-based best practices 
in STEM education content and pedagogy. In conducting these activities, 
the Director, at a minimum, shall--
            (1) identify those best practices that have been validated 
        through peer-reviewed research efforts;
            (2) establish collaborations with organizations involved in 
        teacher training, to include other Federal science agencies, 
        professional associations, institutions of higher education, 
        and private sector entities, including informal education 
        providers, as appropriate; and
            (3) through collaboration with organizations involved in 
        teacher training, transmit best practice information to 
        educators.
    (e) Program Scaling Grants.--The Director shall incentivize and 
support the widespread adoption of evidence-based education practices 
and initiatives.
            (1) Awards.--Grants under this subsection shall be 
        competitively awarded to propagate and implement practices that 
        improve student learning and increase participation and 
        retention in STEM fields.
            (2) Eligibility.--The following organizations may be 
        eligible for grants under this subsection:
                    (A) Institutions of higher education.
                    (B) State, local, and nonprofit educational 
                organizations.
                    (C) Other educational groups as identified by the 
                Director.
            (3) Use of funds.--Activities supported by grants under 
        this subsection may include--
                    (A) expanding promising education projects and 
                initiatives; and
                    (B) supporting professional development or 
                community outreach efforts, as required to encourage a 
                commitment to educational reforms.

SEC. 506. STEM TEACHER TRAINING.

    (a) Reaffirmation.--Congress reaffirms its support, as expressed in 
the America COMPETES Act (Public Law 110-69; 121 Stat. 572) and the 
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-358; 124 
Stat. 3982), for developing, implementing, and replicating programs at 
institutions of higher education to recruit and prepare STEM educators.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to further encourage 
the development, implementation, and adoption of projects to recruit, 
prepare, and provide for the training and professional development of 
STEM educators. The projects may be established, administered, or 
conducted in cooperation with institutions of higher education, public, 
nonprofit, or professional groups, and Federal, State, or local 
entities involved in education.
    (c) In General.--The Director shall provide grants to fund 
projects, including workshops, in order to provide teacher training and 
professional development for current and potential K-12 STEM educators.
    (d) Areas of Focus.--In carrying out this section, the Director 
shall focus on--
            (1) synthesizing the results of the Foundation's efforts in 
        the training and professional development of STEM educators;
            (2) disseminating evidence-based content, pedagogy, tools, 
        and best practices, as supported by Foundation-sponsored 
        education research, in areas including active STEM education;
            (3) assisting teachers in integrating evidence-based 
        content, pedagogy, tools, and best practices into student 
        instruction; and
            (4) increasing teacher comfort with teaching scientific 
        concepts and engineering practices, as well as with inquiry-
        based learning methods.
    (e) Federal Coordination.--The Director, through collaboration with 
the National Science and Technology Council Committee on Science, 
Technology, Engineering, and Math Education, shall ensure that Federal 
support for teacher training and professional development activities 
under this section are coordinated across Federal science agencies and 
jointly supported, as appropriate.
    (f) Collaboration.--Funded workshops and teacher training 
activities may occur in collaboration with industry, professional 
associations, nonprofit organizations, and institutions of higher 
education, including community colleges. Potential collaborations may 
include--
            (1) professional development activities that facilitate 
        teacher access to academic, government, and industry STEM 
        professionals;
            (2) establishing or expanding projects designed to recruit 
        and train STEM educators; and
            (3) industry, organization, or State or local agency co-
        funding for teacher professional development activities.
    (g) Report.--The Director shall include, in the Foundation annual 
budget report to Congress, a summary of teacher training projects 
funded by the Foundation during the previous fiscal year and the needs 
addressed by each funded project.

SEC. 507. ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program supports 
        the development and dissemination of evidence-based teacher 
        preparation models and the recruitment, preparation, and 
        retention of STEM educators;
            (2) as a result of awards granted between fiscal years 2002 
        and 2013, the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program will 
        support over 12,000 new math and science teachers, including in 
        high-need districts; and
            (3) independent evaluation suggests that the Robert Noyce 
        Teacher Scholarship Program improves recruitment of 
        underrepresented and STEM-trained students into teaching, 
        encourages teachers to work in high-need areas, and can improve 
        relationships between teacher preparation programs and 
        industry.
    (b) Retention.--Section 10 of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1) is amended by amending 
subsection (k) to read as follows:
    ``(k) STEM Teacher Service and Retention.--The Director shall 
develop and implement practices for increasing the retention of STEM 
teachers funded under this section in high-need districts, including 
rural areas. Potential actions may include--
            ``(1) conducting research to better understand factors 
        relevant to teacher retention;
            ``(2) increasing the recruitment from high-need districts;
            ``(3) partnering with nonprofit or professional 
        associations to provide teachers funded under this section with 
        more opportunities for professional development and mentorship;
            ``(4) establishing a system to better collect, track, and 
        respond to data on the career decisions of teachers funded 
        under this section; and
            ``(5) conducting pilot programs to improve teacher 
        retention.''.
    (c) Expansion.--Section 10 of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
    ``(m) Expansion.--The Director shall encourage the expansion of the 
Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program by--
            ``(1) actively recruiting participation among and providing 
        proposal drafting assistance to institutions of higher 
        education that do not grant doctoral degrees, including 
        associate-degree granting institutions and community colleges;
            ``(2) encouraging a broad geographic distribution of 
        funding recipients under this section through increased 
        outreach to geographic regions that have been traditionally 
        underfunded by the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program, 
        relative to other regions; and
            ``(3) soliciting grant proposals that incorporate 
        technology into teacher training, including the development of 
        distance learning techniques to support teacher training in 
        rural areas.''.

SEC. 508. EARLY UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
            (1) fewer than 40 percent of students who enter college 
        intending to pursue a STEM degree complete a STEM degree;
            (2) evaluations of the Foundation's Research Experiences 
        for Undergraduates Program, which engages undergraduate 
        students in research activities, suggest that research 
        experiences increase participant awareness, confidence, and 
        interest in research fields; and
            (3) providing research experiences, particularly during the 
        first 2 years of undergraduate education, improves both 
        persistence and performance in STEM fields.
    (b) Grant Awards.--The Director shall support innovation in early 
undergraduate education, with a focus on students in the first 2 years 
of undergraduate STEM education. Potential awards may include grants to 
institutions--
            (1) to facilitate the expanded participation of first or 
        second year undergraduate students at research sites designated 
        by the Director to provide research experiences for 
        undergraduate students under section 514 of the America 
        COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-6) if the 
        requirements under paragraphs (1) through (6) of subsection (a) 
        of that section are met; and
            (2) to implement innovative research and engineering design 
        courses, including those focusing on mentorship or discovery-
        based learning, for first or second year undergraduate 
        students.

SEC. 509. INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--Subject to subsections (h) and (j), the Director 
shall maintain a grant program to support STEM learning activities in 
informal educational settings. The purpose of the grant program shall 
be to improve STEM engagement and outcomes, including among students in 
kindergarten through twelfth grade.
    (b) Use of Funds.--Grants under this section may support--
            (1) research to identify best practices in informal STEM 
        learning;
            (2) designing, developing, implementing, evaluating, or 
        expanding innovative or promising informal STEM learning 
        activities, tools, or models;
            (3) implementing, expanding, or evaluating evidence-based 
        informal STEM learning activities that promote STEM education;
            (4) developing communities of practice in informal STEM 
        learning;
            (5) improving the STEM and educational expertise of 
        informal STEM educators; and
            (6) creating a national network of institutions involved in 
        informal STEM learning.
    (c) National Network.--The Director shall award, in supporting the 
national network under subsection (b), grants to foster partnerships 
between institutions involved in informal science learning, 
institutions of higher education, and education research centers. 
Funded activities may include developing, adapting, and making 
available informal STEM education activities and educational materials 
for broad implementation.
    (d) Kindergarten Through Eighth Grade Initiative for 
Underrepresented Groups.--Within the grant program established under 
subsection (a), the Director shall support an initiative to engage 
underrepresented students in kindergarten through the eighth grade in 
informal STEM education activities. Activities funded through the 
initiative may include--
            (1) exposing underrepresented students to role models and 
        near-peer mentors in the STEM fields;
            (2) providing for underrepresented students to attend STEM-
        related events, competitions, and programs;
            (3) providing information regarding STEM career 
        opportunities to underrepresented students and their parents;
            (4) training informal educators in the use of evidence-
        based methods for engaging underrepresented students in STEM;
            (5) engaging girls in STEM, including through single-gender 
        learning environments and hands-on, inquiry-based learning 
        programs; and
            (6) any other activities described under subsection (b) 
        that the Director considers relevant to underrepresented 
        students.
    (e) Eligibility.--Grants under this section shall be competitively 
awarded to organizations that provide informal STEM education 
activities to students in kindergarten through the twelfth grade, such 
as--
            (1) State, local, and nonprofit or nongovernmental 
        educational organizations;
            (2) institutions of higher education;
            (3) other education-oriented organizations, as identified 
        by the Director; and
            (4) consortia of any institutions or organizations listed 
        in paragraphs (1) through (3).
    (f) Applications.--An application for funding under this section 
shall be submitted at such time and in such manner and contain such 
information as the Director considers necessary. An application shall 
include, at a minimum--
            (1) a description of the student population to be served by 
        the activity;
            (2) a description of the process for attracting, 
        recruiting, or selecting student participants;
            (3) a description of how funded activities would support 
        research into engaging students, including underrepresented 
        students, in STEM and into promoting their academic 
        achievement;
            (4) an evaluation plan consistent with the requirements 
        under subsection (g);
            (5) a description of the applicant's experience and 
        expertise in providing informal education activities; and
            (6) if an application is relevant to the initiative in 
        subsection (d), a description of the applicant's experience and 
        expertise in increasing the participation of underrepresented 
        students in STEM.
    (g) Evaluations.--The Director shall require each grant recipient 
under this section to submit an evaluation at the conclusion of each 
fiscal year during which funds are received under this section. The 
evaluation shall--
            (1) include both formative and summative evaluations of the 
        funded activity, using methods appropriate to the programs;
            (2) be in a form prescribed by the Director; and
            (3) be submitted to the Director.
    (h) Research Impacts.--Each grant under this section shall be 
relevant to research on student engagement in STEM fields. In ensuring 
that grants help identify, develop, implement, or propagate best 
practices in informal STEM education, the Director may establish, as 
necessary, additional reporting requirements for a grant recipient 
under this section.
    (i) Broader Impacts.--The Director may encourage all Foundation 
research grant recipients, in satisfying the Foundation's Broader 
Impacts criterion, to dedicate a portion of awarded funds to public 
engagement activities conducted through sustained collaboration with an 
informal STEM education organization or initiative.
    (j) Limitations.--A grant under this section may not be used for 
construction of infrastructure.
    (k) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the Director shall 
consult with other relevant Federal agencies, and cooperate and 
coordinate with those Federal agencies, as necessary, to avoid 
duplication with the programs and policies of those Federal agencies.
    (l) Accountability and Dissemination.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director shall evaluate the grants 
        under this section and, to the extent practicable, identify any 
        research outputs, best practices, and materials developed or 
        demonstrated.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date the 
        evaluation is complete, the Director shall submit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress and make widely available to 
        the public a report that includes--
                    (A) the results of the evaluation; and
                    (B) any recommendations for improving informal STEM 
                education, STEM engagement, and STEM education outcomes 
                among students in kindergarten through twelfth grade.

SEC. 510. BROADENING PARTICIPATION.

    (a) In General.--The Director shall invest in broadening the 
participation of underrepresented groups, including minorities, women, 
and students from rural areas, in STEM fields. Investments shall 
include competitively awarded grants--
            (1) to support institutions of higher education in 
        providing academic and social support for underrepresented 
        groups;
            (2) to facilitate student research activities;
            (3) to establish, maintain, and expand partnerships, 
        including research collaborations, between national research 
        laboratories, Federal agencies, industry, and minority-serving 
        institutions (as described in section 371 of title III of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a))), including 
        community colleges;
            (4) to promote activities to improve, among parents and 
        students in underrepresented groups, awareness of educational 
        and career opportunities in STEM fields;
            (5) to conduct data collection and research activities 
        relevant to recruitment, retention, instruction, and curriculum 
        development in STEM fields; and
            (6) to expand those projects that broaden the participation 
        of underrepresented groups in STEM fields.
    (b) Use of Funds.--Grants to broaden the participation of 
underrepresented groups in STEM fields shall support activities such 
as--
            (1) mentoring programs that partner STEM professionals with 
        students;
            (2) internships for undergraduate and graduate students in 
        STEM;
            (3) outreach programs that provide elementary and secondary 
        school students with exposure to STEM fields; and
            (4) additional programs as the Director may determine.
    (c) Evaluation.--The Director, for each broadening participation 
program or portfolio of programs, shall--
            (1) identify and include measurable objectives and 
        milestones in each program's solicitation;
            (2) encourage the collection of quantitative data as 
        relevant to the measurable objectives and milestones under 
        paragraph (1);
            (3) engage external analysts in evaluating the program or 
        portfolio against the objectives and milestones under paragraph 
        (1);
            (4) ensure that program or portfolio evaluations focus on 
        the educational outcomes and not just the inputs, activities 
        completed, or number of participants; and
            (5) whenever relevant, conduct longitudinal or comparison 
        group studies.

SEC. 511. PRIZES AND CHALLENGES FOR BROADENING PARTICIPATION.

    (a) In General.--In order to encourage the participation of 
underrepresented students in STEM fields, the Director may establish a 
prize or challenge under the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
2010 (Public Law 111-358; 124 Stat. 3982) or under any other provision 
of law, as appropriate.
    (b) Purposes.--The purpose of a prize or challenge under this 
section, among other possible purposes, may be--
            (1) to recognize institutions of higher education that have 
        achieved sustained improvements in the recruitment, retention, 
        and graduation rates of underrepresented students in STEM 
        fields;
            (2) to encourage innovation by institutions of higher 
        education in improving the recruitment, retention, and 
        graduation rates of underrepresented students in STEM fields;
            (3) to develop, identify, and broadly distribute best 
        practices in the recruitment, retention, and graduation rates 
        of underrepresented students in STEM fields; or
            (4) to address other issues related to the participation of 
        underrepresented groups in the STEM fields, as the Director 
        considers necessary.
    (c) Selection.--Each prize award made under this section shall be 
determined based on proven outcomes for underrepresented students in 
STEM fields, as demonstrated through rigorous, data-driven evaluation.

SEC. 512. COMMERCIALIZATION GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Director shall continue to award grants to 
promote the translation of Foundation-sponsored research discoveries 
into the marketplace.
    (b) Use of Funds.--Commercialization grants awarded under this 
section may be used to fund activities such as--
            (1) identifying Foundation-sponsored research and 
        technologies that have the potential for accelerated 
        commercialization;
            (2) supporting prior or current Foundation-sponsored 
        investigators in developing early-stage proofs-of-concept and 
        prototypes of technologies that are derived from Foundation-
        sponsored research and have potential market value;
            (3) promoting sustainable partnerships between Foundation-
        funded institutions, industry, and other organizations within 
        academia and the private sector with the purpose of 
        accelerating technology transfer;
            (4) developing multi-disciplinary innovation ecosystems 
        which involve and are responsive to specific needs of academia 
        and industry; and
            (5) providing professional development, mentoring, and 
        advice in entrepreneurship, project management, and technology 
        and business development to innovators.
    (c) Eligibility.--
            (1) In general.--The following organizations may be 
        eligible for grants under this section:
                    (A) Institutions of higher education.
                    (B) Public technology transfer organizations.
                    (C) Nonprofit technology transfer organizations.
                    (D) A consortia of 2 or more of the organizations 
                described under subparagraphs (A) through (C).
            (2) Lead organizations.--Any eligible organization under 
        paragraph (1) may apply as a lead organization.
    (d) Applications.--An organization seeking a grant under this 
section shall be required to meet such requirements and to submit an 
application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as the Director may require. The Director 
shall--
            (1) solicit applications from Foundation grants recipients 
        who have developed technologies with the potential for 
        commercialization; and
            (2) seek from Foundation offices and divisions 
        recommendations on outstanding Foundation-sponsored research 
        with clear potential for commercialization within a 3- to 10-
        year period.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Director shall--
            (1) report to the appropriate committees of Congress on the 
        impact of commercialization grants described under subsections 
        (a) and (b); and
            (2) make recommendations on whether and how a technology 
        commercialization mechanism could be adopted by other Federal 
        science agencies.

SEC. 513. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION INNOVATION CORPS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The National Science Foundation Innovation Corps 
        (referred to in this section as the ``I-Corps'') was 
        established to foster a national innovation ecosystem by 
        encouraging institutions, scientists, engineers, and 
        entrepreneurs to identify and explore the potential of 
        Foundation-funded research well beyond the laboratory.
            (2) Through I-Corps, the Foundation invests in 
        entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training, and 
        mentoring that can ultimately lead to the practical deployment 
        of technologies, products, processes, and services that improve 
        the Nation's competitiveness and benefit society.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, in order 
to promote a strong, lasting foundation for the American innovation 
ecosystem, I-Corps should continue to build a network of entrepreneurs, 
educators, mentors, and institutions and support specialized education 
and training.
    (c) Expansion of I-Corps and Similar Programs.--
            (1) In general.--The Director shall encourage the 
        development and expansion of I-Corps and of other training 
        programs that focus on graduate student professional 
        development, including education in product commercialization 
        and entrepreneurship. To facilitate this development and 
        expansion, the Director may establish agreements with other 
        Federal agencies that fund scientific research and development 
        to allow researchers funded by those agencies to participate in 
        the I-Corps program.
            (2) Twenty-first century graduate education.--Sections 
        527(b) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 
        U.S.C. 1862p-15(b)) is amended--
                    (A) by striking paragraphs (6) and (7); and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (5) the following:
            ``(6) development and implementation of seminars, 
        workshops, and other professional development activities that 
        increase the ability of graduate students to engage in 
        innovation, technology transfer, research commercialization, 
        and entrepreneurship;
            ``(7) development and implementation of seminars, 
        workshops, and other professional development activities that 
        increase the ability of graduate students to effectively 
        communicate their research findings to technical audiences 
        outside of their own discipline and to nontechnical audiences, 
        including potential commercial partners and investors;''.

SEC. 514. GRADUATE TRAINEESHIP GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish a grant program to 
incentivize the establishment, improvement, or expansion of qualifying 
traineeship programs for graduate students.
    (b) Awards to Eligible Institutions.--
            (1) In general.--The Director may award a grant under this 
        section, in an amount determined by the Director, to an 
        eligible institution for the establishment, improvement, or 
        expansion of a qualifying traineeship program.
            (2) Partnership.--An eligible institution may partner with 
        1 or more nonprofit education or research organizations, 
        including scientific and engineering societies, for the 
        purposes of carrying out the activities authorized under this 
        section.
            (3) Use of funds.--A grant to an eligible institution may 
        be used--
                    (A) to provide up to 5 years of student support to 
                trainees, including stipends, tuition and fees, 
                education allowances, and support for ancillary needs; 
                and
                    (B) to fund permissible activities.
            (4) Permissible activities.--Activities supported by grants 
        to eligible institutions under this section may include--
                    (A) designing curricula that combine educational 
                content with professional skill development relevant to 
                a diversity of career pathways;
                    (B) advancing a multi-disciplinary focus that 
                applies advanced knowledge to problem solving in 
                multiple areas;
                    (C) providing opportunities for graduate students 
                to gain teamwork, oral communication, planning and 
                project management, writing, presentation, and 
                entrepreneurial skills;
                    (D) creating advisory committees of employers to 
                provide input and expertise in designing or modifying 
                graduate education programs;
                    (E) providing graduate students with resources and 
                guidance for a variety of career pathways; and
                    (F) implementing an accountability and reporting 
                system which tracks enrollment, completion rates, and 
                job placement information for the trainees supported 
                under the traineeship program.
            (5) Non-federal matching.--An eligible institution 
        receiving funding under this section for the establishment, 
        improvement, or expansion of a qualifying traineeship program 
        may be required to contribute non-Federal funds to the effort 
        in an amount that is significant and specified by the Director.
    (c) Awards to Individuals.--The Director may award a grant under 
this section to a Foundation-supported principal investigator, graduate 
student, or post-doctoral fellow, in an amount determined by the 
Director, to support professional skills development through 
participation in a qualifying traineeship program.
    (d) Merit Review.--
            (1) In general.--Each grant awarded under this section 
        shall be provided on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
            (2) Considerations.--In selecting an eligible institution 
        to receive a grant under subsection (b), the Director shall 
        consider at a minimum--
                    (A) the likelihood of success in undertaking the 
                proposed effort at the eligible institution submitting 
                the application;
                    (B) the evidence of long-term organizational 
                support for the existing or proposed traineeship 
                program; and
                    (C) the inclusion of plans for the assessment of 
                the existing or proposed traineeship program and for 
                the dissemination of best practices.
    (e) Evaluation.--The Director shall evaluate the traineeship grant 
program established under this section not later than 6 years after the 
date the program is established. At a minimum, the Director shall 
evaluate the extent to which the program has achieved the objective of 
supporting career development among graduate students.
    (f) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible institution.--The term ``eligible 
        institution'' means an institution of higher education.
            (2) Qualifying traineeship program.--The term ``qualifying 
        traineeship program'' means a traineeship program designed--
                    (A) to provide graduate students with career 
                experience related to the graduate students' fields of 
                study;
                    (B) to increase the relevance of academic 
                preparation to national workforce needs, including the 
                needs of industry or Federal, State, or local 
                government;
                    (C) to support education and experience in 
                entrepreneurship and commercialization; and
                    (D) to provide for tuition and fees and such 
                stipends and allowances, including travel and 
                subsistence expenses and dependency allowances, for the 
                trainees as the Director considers necessary.

SEC. 515. THE EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH.

    (a) Findings.--Section 517(a) of the America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-9(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by striking ``The National'' and inserting 
                ``the National''; and
                    (B) by striking ``education,'' and inserting 
                ``education'';
            (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``with 27 States and 2 
        jurisdictions, taken together, receiving only about 10 percent 
        of all NSF research funding'' and inserting ``with 28 States 
        and 3 jurisdictions, taken together, receiving only about 12 
        percent of all National Science Foundation research funding'';
            (3) by striking paragraph (3); and
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) first established at the National Science Foundation 
        in 1979, the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive 
        Research (referred to in this section as `EPSCoR') assists 
        States and jurisdictions historically underserved by Federal 
        research and development funding in strengthening their 
        research and innovation capabilities;
            ``(4) the EPSCoR structure requires each participating 
        State to develop a science and technology plan suited to State 
        and local research, education, and economic interests and 
        objectives;
            ``(5) EPSCoR has been credited with advancing the research 
        competitiveness of participating States, improving awareness of 
        science, promoting policies that link scientific investment and 
        economic growth, and encouraging partnerships between 
        government, industry, and academia;
            ``(6) EPSCoR proposals are evaluated through rigorous and 
        competitive merit-review processes to ensure that awarded 
        research and development efforts meet high scientific 
        standards; and
            ``(7) according to the National Academy of Sciences, EPSCoR 
        has strengthened the national research infrastructure and 
        enhanced the educational opportunities needed to develop the 
        science and engineering workforce.''.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--
            (1) In general.--It is the sense of Congress that--
                    (A) since maintaining the Nation's scientific and 
                economic leadership requires the participation of 
                talented individuals nationwide, EPSCoR investments 
                into State research and education capacities are in the 
                Federal interest and should be sustained; and
                    (B) EPSCoR should maintain its experimental 
                component by supporting innovative methods for 
                improving research capacity and competitiveness.
            (2) Definition of epscor.--In this subsection, the term 
        ``EPSCoR'' has the meaning given the term in section 502 of the 
        America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p 
        note).
    (c) Continuation of EPSCoR.--Section 517(b) of the America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-9(b)) is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(b) Continuation of Program.--The Director shall continue to 
carry out EPSCoR, with the objective of helping the eligible States to 
develop the research infrastructure that will make them more 
competitive for Foundation research funding. The program shall continue 
to increase at least as the National Science Foundation funding 
increases.''.
    (d) Award Structure Study.--Section 517 of the America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-9) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:
    ``(g) Award Structure Plan.--In implementing its mandate to 
maximize the impact of Federal EPSCoR support on building competitive 
research infrastructure, and based on the inputs and recommendations of 
previous EPSCoR reviews, the EPSCoR Interagency Coordinating Committee 
shall develop a plan that, at a minimum--
            ``(1) considers modifications to EPSCoR proposal 
        solicitation, award type, and project evaluation--
                    ``(A) to better reflect current agency priorities;
                    ``(B) to focus EPSCoR funding on achieving critical 
                scientific, infrastructure, and educational needs of 
                participating agencies and jurisdictions;
                    ``(C) to encourage collaboration between EPSCoR-
                eligible institutions and researchers, including with 
                institutions and researchers in other States and 
                jurisdictions;
                    ``(D) to improve communication between State and 
                Federal agency proposal reviewers; and
                    ``(E) to continue to reduce administrative burdens 
                associated with EPSCoR;
            ``(2) considers modifications to EPSCoR award structures--
                    ``(A) to emphasize long-term investments in 
                building research capacity, potentially through the use 
                of larger, renewable funding opportunities; and
                    ``(B) to allow participating agencies, States, and 
                jurisdictions to experiment with new research and 
                development funding models; and
            ``(3) considers modifications to the mechanisms used to 
        monitor and evaluate EPSCoR awards--
                    ``(A) to increase collaboration between EPSCoR-
                funded researchers and agency staff, including by 
                providing opportunities for mentoring young researchers 
                and for the use of Federal facilities;
                    ``(B) to identify and disseminate best practices; 
                and
                    ``(C) to harmonize metrics across participating 
                agencies, as appropriate.''.
    (e) Reports.--
            (1) Congressional reports.--Section 517 of the America 
        COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-9), as 
        amended, is further amended--
                    (A) by striking subsection (c);
                    (B) by redesignating subsections (d) through (g) as 
                subsections (c) through (f), respectively; and
                    (C) by amending subsection (d), as redesignated, to 
                read as follows:
    ``(d) Federal Agency Reports.--Each Federal agency that administers 
an EPSCoR program, as part of its Federal budget submission, shall 
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress--
            ``(1) a description of the program strategy and objectives;
            ``(2) a description of the awards made in the previous 
        fiscal year, including--
                    ``(A) the total amount made available, by State, 
                under EPSCoR;
                    ``(B) if applicable, the amount of co-funding made 
                available to each EPSCoR State;
                    ``(C) the total amount of agency funding made 
                available to all institutions and entities within each 
                EPSCoR State;
                    ``(D) the efforts and accomplishments to more fully 
                integrate the EPSCoR States in major agency activities 
                and initiatives;
                    ``(E) the percentage of reviewers and number of new 
                reviewers from EPSCoR States;
                    ``(F) the percentage of new investigators from 
                EPSCoR States; and
                    ``(G) the number of programs or large collaborator 
                awards involving a partnership of organizations and 
                institutions from EPSCoR and non-EPSCoR States; and
            ``(3) an analysis of the gains in academic research quality 
        and competitiveness, and in science and technology human 
        resource development, achieved by the program over the last 5 
        fiscal years.''.
            (2) Results of award structure plan.--In its first annual 
        report after the date of enactment of this Act, the EPSCoR 
        Interagency Coordinating Committee shall submit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress the results of the plan 
        under 517(f) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
        2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-9(f)).
    (f) Definition of EPSCoR.--Section 502 of the America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p note) is amended by 
amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) EPSCoR.--The term `EPSCoR' means--
                    ``(A) the Experimental Program to Stimulate 
                Competitive Research; or
                    ``(B) a program similar to the Experimental Program 
                to Stimulate Competitive Research at another Federal 
                agency.''.

SEC. 516. ASSESSING NATIONAL K-12 SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING PROFICIENCY.

    (a) Metrics.--The National Science Board shall assess, for 
inclusion in the biennial report to the President and Congress under 
section 4(j) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 
1863(j)), potential metrics for evaluating science and engineering 
comprehension for grades K-12. In conducting its assessment, the 
National Science Board shall consider including metrics that--
            (1) assess student understanding of science and engineering 
        practices and their application to real-world situations;
            (2) address student comprehension of core science and 
        engineering principles;
            (3) emphasize student engagement in and exposure to science 
        and engineering practices; and
            (4) measure student ability to develop and use science and 
        engineering knowledge.
    (b) Consultation.--In conducting its assessment, the National 
Science Board shall consult Federal, State, local, and private sector 
experts and draw upon available studies relevant to science and 
engineering education and assessment.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the National Science Board shall transmit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report detailing potential methodologies for 
assessing trends in national science and engineering proficiency for 
grades K-12. At a minimum, the report shall include--
            (1) a detailed list of recommended metrics for evaluating 
        science and engineering proficiency;
            (2) an assessment of any potential costs and challenges in 
        assessing science and engineering proficiency nationally; and
            (3) a recommendation on how best, if at all, to integrate 
        the science and engineering proficiency metrics into the report 
        required under section 4(j) of the National Science Foundation 
        Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(j)).

SEC. 517. INTEGRATIVE GRADUATE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH TRAINEESHIP 
              PROGRAM.

    Section 510(b) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 
(42 U.S.C. 1869 note) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Equal Treatment of IGERT and GRF.--
            ``(1) Rate of funding increase.--Beginning in the first 
        fiscal year after the date of enactment of the America COMPETES 
        Reauthorization Act of 2014 and each fiscal year thereafter, 
        the Director may only increase funding for the Foundation's 
        Graduate Research Fellowship program (or any successor 
        thereto), relative to the previous fiscal year's funding level, 
        at the same rate as a corresponding funding increase to the 
        Foundation's Integrative Graduate Education and Research 
        Traineeship program (or any successor thereto).
            ``(2) Essential elements of igert.--The essential elements 
        of the Foundation's Integrative Graduate Education and Research 
        Traineeship program (or any successor thereto) shall be 
        maintained, including--
                    ``(A) collaborative research that transcends 
                traditional disciplinary boundaries to solve large and 
                complex research problems of significant scientific and 
                societal importance;
                    ``(B) providing students the opportunity to become 
                leaders in the science and engineering of the future; 
                and
                    ``(C) that U.S. academic institutions in the United 
                States, its territories, or possessions that grant a 
                Ph.D. degree in science, technology, engineering, or 
                mathematics are eligible to be lead institutions.''.

SEC. 518. STEM EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS.

    Section 9 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 
2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``mathematics and 
        science'' and inserting ``stem'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``mathematics and science'' each 
                place it appears and inserting ``STEM'';
                    (B) by striking ``mathematics or science'' each 
                place it appears in and inserting ``STEM'';
                    (C) by striking ``mathematics, science, and 
                technology'' each place it appears and inserting 
                ``STEM'';
                    (D) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``mathematics, 
                science, or engineering'' and inserting ``STEM'';
                    (E) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
                        ``professional mathematicians, scientists, and 
                        engineers'' and inserting ``STEM 
                        professionals'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (J), by striking 
                        ``mathematicians, scientists, and engineers'' 
                        and inserting ``STEM professionals'';
                            (iii) in subparagraph (K), by striking 
                        ``science, technology, engineering, and 
                        mathematics'' each place it appears and 
                        inserting ``STEM''; and
                            (iv) in subparagraph (M), by striking 
                        ``mathematicians, scientists, and engineers'' 
                        and inserting ``STEM professionals'';
                    (F) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) by striking ``Science'' in the heading 
                        and inserting ``STEM'';
                            (ii) by striking ``science, mathematics, 
                        engineering, and technology'' each place it 
                        appears and inserting ``STEM''; and
                            (iii) by striking ``science, mathematics, 
                        engineering, or technology'' and inserting 
                        ``STEM'';
                    (G) in paragraph (8), by striking ``scientists, 
                technologists, engineers, or mathematicians'' and 
                inserting ``STEM professionals''; and
                    (H) in paragraph (10)--
                            (i) by striking ``science, technology, 
                        engineering, and mathematics'' each place it 
                        appears and inserting ``STEM''; and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A)(ii)(II), by 
                        striking ``science, technology, engineering, or 
                        mathematics'' and inserting ``STEM'';
            (3) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``mathematics and science'' each 
                place it appears and inserting ``STEM'';
                    (B) in paragraphs (1)(B)(iv), by striking 
                ``mathematics, science, engineering, and technology'' 
                and inserting ``STEM''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (2)(G), by striking ``mathematics, 
                science, engineering, and technology'' and inserting 
                ``STEM''; and
            (4) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) STEM.--The term `STEM' means science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics, including computing and computer 
        science.
            ``(2) STEM teacher.--The term `STEM teacher' means a 
        science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or computing 
        teacher at the elementary school or secondary school level.
            ``(3) Science.--In the context of elementary and secondary 
        education, the term `science' includes technology and pre-
        engineering.''.

                   Subtitle B--STEM Secondary Schools

SEC. 521. REPORT ON STEM SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

    (a) Database.--The Secretary of Education, in coordination with the 
Director of the National Science Foundation, shall develop a database 
to identify existing STEM secondary schools.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Secretary of Education, in coordination with the Director 
of the National Science Foundation, shall submit a report to Congress 
with recommendations on how to replicate existing successful STEM 
secondary schools.

SEC. 522. FUNDING FOR STEM SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to increase the number 
of STEM secondary schools in the United States.
    (b) Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Education, in 
        coordination with the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation, shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to 
        State educational agencies to enable the State educational 
        agencies to carry out the purpose of this section by 
        establishing or expanding STEM secondary schools.
            (2) Geographic distribution.--The Secretary of Education 
        shall award grants under this section in a manner that ensures 
        geographic diversity, including awarding grants to State 
        educational agencies serving rural areas.
    (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 to enable the local 
educational agencies to establish and maintain new STEM secondary 
schools, which may include repurposing an existing secondary school to 
become a STEM secondary school.

                          TITLE VI--INNOVATION

                   Subtitle A--Innovation Ecosystems

SEC. 611. REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Loan Guarantees for Science Park Infrastructure.--Section 27(d) 
of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3722(d)) is amended--
            (1) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting the 
        following:
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary 
        may guarantee 1 or more loans for projects for the construction 
        or expansion, including renovation and modernization, of 
        science park infrastructure.
            ``(2) Limitations.--
                    ``(A) Type.--In guaranteeing a loan under paragraph 
                (1), the Secretary may only guarantee 1 of the 
                following:
                            ``(i) Payment of up to 80 percent of the 
                        loan principal.
                            ``(ii) Not more than 3 years of debt 
                        service payments on the loan.
                    ``(B) Size.--The maximum amount of loan principal 
                guaranteed under this subsection may not exceed--
                            ``(i) $50,000,000 with respect to any 
                        single project; and
                            ``(ii) $300,000,000 with respect to all 
                        projects.'';
            (2) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) by striking subparagraph (D); and
                    (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (G) 
                as subparagraphs (D) through (F), respectively;
            (3) by striking paragraph (7) and inserting the following:
            ``(7) Tax treatment.--Section 149(b) of the Internal 
        Revenue Code of 1986 shall not apply to bonds guaranteed under 
        this subsection.''; and
            (4) by amending paragraph (8) to read as follows:
            ``(8) Authorization of appropriations.--
                    ``(A) In general.--There is authorized to be 
                appropriated for the cost (as defined in section 502 of 
                the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 661a)) 
                of guaranteeing loans under this section, $7,000,000 
                for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.
                    ``(B) Availability.--Amounts appropriated or 
                otherwise made available under subparagraph (A) shall 
                remain available for guaranteeing loans as described in 
                such subparagraph until expended.''.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations for Regional Innovation Program 
for Fiscal Years 2015 Through 2019.--Section 27(i) of the Stevenson-
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722(i)) is amended 
to read as follows:
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--Except as provided in 
subsection (d)(8), there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section, other than for loan guarantees under subsection (d), 
$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.''.
    (c) Report on Regional Innovation Clusters.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce 
shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
Representatives a report describing--
            (1) the achievements of the regional innovation clusters 
        formed or developed with the support of grants awarded under 
        section 27(i) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
        of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722(i)); and
            (2) the economic benefits and job creation attributable to 
        such regional innovation clusters with, to the extent 
        practical, quantifiable data.

SEC. 612. WORKFORCE STUDIES.

    (a) Report on the STEM Workforce.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in 
        consultation with the Chair of the National Science and 
        Technology Council Committee on STEM Education, shall conduct a 
        study of the current and projected state of the Nation's 
        available STEM workforce.
            (2) Content.--The study shall include--
                    (A) an assessment of demands for and the 
                availability of STEM professionals within the U.S. 
                workforce, currently and as projected over the next 
                decade, with data categorized by industry or industry 
                sector, as practicable;
                    (B) an assessment of the availability of STEM 
                professionals within the U.S. workforce, currently and 
                as projected over the next decade, as required to meet 
                the demand for STEM professionals within industry, 
                academia, and the Federal Government;
                    (C) an assessment of the most common STEM-skill 
                requirements within industry, academia, and the Federal 
                Government, currently and as projected over the next 
                decade;
                    (D) an identification of--
                            (i) the STEM skills that are most needed in 
                        the current and projected available STEM 
                        workforce; and
                            (ii) the industries or industry sectors 
                        most likely to be affected, over the next 
                        decade, by the needs identified under clause 
                        (i); and
                    (E) priorities for STEM training, as informed by 
                the assessments and identifications under this section.
            (3) Input.--The study shall draw on previous data 
        collection and reports related to STEM workforce needs in the 
        United States, as appropriate.
            (4) Report.--Not later than 540 days after the date 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall report 
        to the appropriate committees of Congress the findings of the 
        study, including any recommendations to update the Federal 5-
        year STEM education strategic plan to develop the available 
        STEM workforce based on the assessment under this subsection.
    (b) Repeal.--Section 303 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization 
Act of 2010 (33 U.S.C. 893c) is repealed.

SEC. 613. NATIONAL STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

    Section 102 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 
U.S.C. 6622) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following: 
        ``In furtherance of the Committee's work, the Committee shall 
        consult with the National Economic Council.'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking paragraph (7) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(7) develop and update a national strategic plan for 
        advanced manufacturing in accordance with subsection (c).''; 
        and
            (3) by striking subsection (c) and inserting the following:
    ``(c) National Strategic Plan for Advanced Manufacturing.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President shall submit to Congress, 
        and publish on an Internet website that is accessible to the 
        public, the strategic plan developed under paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Development.--The Committee shall develop and update 
        as required under paragraph (4), in coordination with the 
        National Economic Council, a strategic plan to improve 
        Government coordination and provide long-term guidance for 
        Federal programs and activities in support of United States 
        manufacturing competitiveness, including advanced manufacturing 
        research and development.
            ``(3) Contents.--The strategic plan described in paragraph 
        (2) shall--
                    ``(A) specify and prioritize near-term and long-
                term objectives, including research and development 
                objectives, the anticipated timeframe for achieving the 
                objectives, and the metrics for use in assessing 
                progress toward the objectives;
                    ``(B) describe the progress made in achieving the 
                objectives from prior strategic plans, including a 
                discussion of why specific objectives were not met;
                    ``(C) specify the role, including the programs and 
                activities, of each relevant Federal agency in meeting 
                the objectives of the strategic plan;
                    ``(D) describe how the Federal agencies and 
                federally funded research and development centers 
                supporting advanced manufacturing research and 
                development will foster the transfer of research and 
                development results into new manufacturing technologies 
                and United States based manufacturing of new products 
                and processes for the benefit of society to ensure 
                national, energy, and economic security;
                    ``(E) describe how such Federal agencies and 
                centers will strengthen all levels of manufacturing 
                education and training programs to ensure an adequate, 
                well-trained workforce;
                    ``(F) describe how such Federal agencies and 
                centers will assist small- and medium-sized 
                manufacturers in developing and implementing new 
                products and processes;
                    ``(G) analyze factors that impact innovation and 
                competitiveness for United States advanced 
                manufacturing, including--
                            ``(i) technology transfer and 
                        commercialization activities;
                            ``(ii) the adequacy of the national 
                        security industrial base;
                            ``(iii) the capabilities of the domestic 
                        manufacturing workforce;
                            ``(iv) export opportunities and trade 
                        policies;
                            ``(v) financing, investment, and taxation 
                        policies and practices;
                            ``(vi) emerging technologies and markets; 
                        and
                            ``(vii) advanced manufacturing research and 
                        development undertaken by competing nations; 
                        and
                    ``(H) elicit and consider the recommendations of a 
                wide range of stakeholders, including representatives 
                from diverse manufacturing companies, academia, and 
                other relevant organizations and institutions.
            ``(4) Updates.--Not later than May 1, 2018, and not less 
        frequently than once every 4 years thereafter, the President 
        shall submit to Congress, and publish on an Internet website 
        that is accessible to the public, an update of the strategic 
        plan submitted under paragraph (1). Such updates shall be 
        developed in accordance with the procedures set forth under 
        this subsection.
            ``(5) Requirement to consider strategy in the budget.--In 
        preparing the budget for a fiscal year under section 1105(a) of 
        title 31, United States Code, the President shall include 
        information regarding the consistency of the budget with the 
        goals and recommendations included in the strategic plan 
        developed under this subsection applying to that fiscal year.
            ``(6) AMP steering committee input.--The Advanced 
        Manufacturing Partnership Steering Committee of the President's 
        Council of Advisors on Science and Technology shall provide 
        input, perspective, and recommendations to assist in the 
        development and updates of the strategic plan under this 
        subsection.''.

SEC. 614. SENSE OF CONGRESS; OPTICS AND PHOTONICS INNOVATIONS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) optics and photonics research and technologies promote 
        U.S. global competitiveness in industry sectors, including 
        telecommunications and information technology, energy, 
        healthcare and medicine, manufacturing, and defense;
            (2) Federal science agencies, industry, and academia should 
        seek partnerships to develop basic research in optics and 
        photonics into more mature technologies and capabilities; and
            (3) Federal science agencies, as appropriate, should--
                    (A) identify optics and photonics-related programs 
                within their agencies; and
                    (B) partner with the private sector and academia to 
                leverage knowledge and resources and to promote 
                innovation in optics and photonics.

             Subtitle B--National Nanotechnology Initiative

SEC. 621. SHORT TITLE.

    This subtitle may be cited as the ``National Nanotechnology 
Initiative Amendments Act of 2014''.

SEC. 622. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) The National Nanotechnology Initiative is a multiagency 
        Federal Government research and development program established 
        in 2001.
            (2) As of the date of the enactment of this Act, more than 
        $18,000,000,000 has been invested in nanoscience and 
        nanotechnology through the National Nanotechnology Initiative.
            (3) Of the 20 agencies participating in the National 
        Nanotechnology Initiative, 11 have budgets for nanotechnology-
        related research and development.
            (4) Research supported by the National Nanotechnology 
        Initiative is advancing our fundamental understanding and 
        techniques to enable the measurement, manipulation, and control 
        of matter at the nanoscale.
            (5) In order for U.S. companies and society to benefit from 
        this research, the National Nanotechnology Initiative needs to 
        support the engineering, scale-up, and commercialization of 
        nanotechnology-enabled materials, devices, systems, and 
        products.
            (6) An important achievement of the National Nanotechnology 
        Initiative is the development of an extensive infrastructure of 
        interdisciplinary research, development, and education centers, 
        networks, and user facilities that should be continued, 
        supported, and expanded.
            (7) The field of nanotechnology is expanding rapidly and is 
        projected to develop closely with other emerging and converging 
        bio and information technologies, creating new science and 
        engineering domains and manufacturing paradigms.
            (8) The United States is the world leader in nanoscience 
        and nanotechnology and the creation of nanotechnology knowledge 
        as measured by the number and quality of scientific papers and 
        patents. However, international indicators, such as foreign 
        government and corporate funding and publications and patent 
        applications, suggest that the United States is facing 
        increasing global competition in nanotechnology.
            (9) The National Nanotechnology Initiative is making 
        important contributions to research, responsible development, 
        and infrastructure relating to nanotechnology and in the 
        commercialization of nanotechnology.

SEC. 623. ENHANCEMENT OF MANAGEMENT OF NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY 
              INITIATIVE.

    (a) Establishment of Nanotechnology Signature Initiatives; 
Quadrennial Strategic Plan.--Section 2 of the 21st Century 
Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (10) as 
                paragraphs (4) through (11), respectively;
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) establish nanotechnology signature initiatives in 
        focused areas of national importance (as described in 
        subsection (d));''; and
                    (C) by amending paragraph (5), as redesignated, to 
                read as follows:
            ``(5) develop, not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        enactment of the National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments 
        Act of 2014, and update not less frequently than once every 4 
        years thereafter, a strategic plan to guide the Program 
        activities described under subsection (b) that--
                    ``(A) specifies--
                            ``(i) the overarching goals for the 
                        Program;
                            ``(ii) near-term and long-term objectives 
                        for the Program; and
                            ``(iii) the metrics to be used for 
                        assessing progress toward such objectives;
                    ``(B) describes how the Program will--
                            ``(i) allocate funding for interagency 
                        nanotechnology projects;
                            ``(ii) encourage and support 
                        interdisciplinary research and development in 
                        nanotechnology; and
                            ``(iii) support the engineering, scale-up, 
                        and commercialization of nanotechnology 
                        necessary to move results out of the laboratory 
                        and into applications for the benefit of 
                        society, including through cooperation and 
                        collaboration with nanotechnology research, 
                        development, and technology transition 
                        initiatives supported by the States;
                    ``(C) includes--
                            ``(i) recommendations for research and 
                        technology development that could be met 
                        through joint industry and government 
                        partnership; and
                            ``(ii) plans of participating agencies for 
                        categorizing and tracking investments in 
                        nanotechnology; and
                    ``(D) addresses recommendations of the Advisory 
                Panel and the National Academy of Sciences concerning 
                the Program;'';
            (2) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e);
            (3) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
    ``(d) Nanotechnology Signature Initiatives.--
            ``(1) Teams.--The Council shall establish multiagency teams 
        to carry out the nanotechnology signature initiatives 
        established under subsection (c)(3).
            ``(2) Joint solicitations and collaborative networks.--Each 
        team established under paragraph (1) shall encourage joint 
        agency solicitations and the establishment of collaborative 
        nanotechnology research and development, user facilities, and 
        education networks.'';
            (4) in subsection (e), as redesignated by subparagraph 
        (B)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation and the House of Representatives 
                Committee on Science'' and inserting ``Committee on 
                Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
                the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
                House of Representatives'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as 
                paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively;
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) the Program budget for the current fiscal year and 
        the proposed Program budget for the next fiscal year for each 
        nanotechnology signature initiative, including a description of 
        each initiative's research goals, strategic plan, expected 
        outcomes for the next fiscal year, and accomplishments;''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (6), as redesignated, by striking 
                ``the plan described in subsection (c)(7),'' and 
                inserting ``the plan described in subsection (c)(8),''; 
                and
            (5) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Designation as National Nanotechnology Initiative.--The 
Program shall also be known as the `National Nanotechnology 
Initiative'.''.
    (b) Appointment of Director of National Nanotechnology Coordination 
Office as Cochair of Subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering, 
and Technology of National Science and Technology Council.--Section 3 
of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 
U.S.C. 7502) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Cochair of Subcommittee on Nanoscale Science, Engineering, 
and Technology.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall appoint the Director of the National Nanotechnology 
Coordination Office as a cochair of the Subcommittee on Nanoscale 
Science, Engineering, and Technology of the Council.''.
    (c) Nanotechnology Signature Initiative Defined.--Section 10 of the 
21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 
7509) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), 
        and (6) as paragraphs (2), (4), (6), (3), (1), and (7), 
        respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (4), as redesignated, the 
        following:
            ``(5) Nanotechnology signature initiative.--The term 
        `nanotechnology signature initiative' means a Program 
        initiative established under section 2(c)(3).''.
    (d) Sense of Congress on Working Groups of the National Science and 
Technology Council.--It is the sense of Congress that the National 
Science and Technology Council should--
            (1) regularly assess the working groups of the National 
        Science and Technology Council to ensure that each working 
        group is serving a useful management and coordination role 
        related to the goals and objectives of the strategic plan of 
        the National Nanotechnology Initiative required under section 
        2(c)(5) of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and 
        Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(c)(5)), as amended by 
        subsection (a)(1)(C);
            (2) redefine or eliminate working groups that are no longer 
        useful and form new working groups as needed;
            (3) consider creating new working groups in the areas of 
        user facility oversight and coordination and education and 
        workforce development; and
            (4) consider expanding the charters of the 
        Nanomanufacturing, Industry Liaison and Innovation Working 
        Group and the Nanotechnology Environment and Health 
        Implications Working Group to enable the groups to address more 
        broadly cross-agency nanotechnology-related areas, such as 
        informatics, modeling and simulation, regulatory science, and 
        instrument development.

SEC. 624. QUADRENNIAL REPORTS BY NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY ADVISORY 
              PANEL.

    Section 4(d) of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and 
Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7503(d)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(d) Quadrennial Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date on 
which the National Science and Technology Council develops the 
strategic plan required under section 2(c)(5) and not less frequently 
than once every 4 years thereafter, the Advisory Panel shall submit a 
report to the President and Congress that includes--
            ``(1) the assessments of the Advisory Panel under 
        subsection (c); and
            ``(2) the recommendations of the Advisory Panel for ways to 
        improve the Program.''.

SEC. 625. QUADRENNIAL EXTERNAL REVIEW OF NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY 
              INITIATIVE.

    Section 5 of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and 
Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7504) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 5. QUADRENNIAL EXTERNAL REVIEW OF NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY 
              PROGRAM.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director of the National Nanotechnology 
Coordination Office shall seek to enter into an arrangement with the 
National Academy of Sciences to conduct a quadrennial review of the 
Program. The Director shall ensure that the arrangement with the 
National Research Council is concluded in order to allow sufficient 
time to comply with the reporting requirements under subsection (c).
    ``(b) Scope of Work.--The Director shall negotiate with the 
National Academy of Sciences regarding the scope of work to be 
performed, which shall include--
            ``(1) a review of the research priorities of the Program, 
        including whether the amount and allocation of funding among 
        program component areas and nanotechnology signature 
        initiatives is appropriate to accomplish the Program's goals 
        and objectives;
            ``(2) an evaluation of the Program's management and 
        coordination across agencies and disciplines, including the 
        effectiveness of the National Nanotechnology Coordination 
        Office in providing technical and administrative support to the 
        Program; and
            ``(3) an assessment of the Program's success in 
        transferring technology to the private sector and 
        recommendations for improving technology demonstration, 
        transfer, and commercialization.
    ``(c) Quadrennial Reports.--Not later than 913 days after the date 
on which the development of the strategic plan required under section 
2(c)(5) is completed and not less frequently than once every 4 years 
thereafter, the Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination 
Office shall submit a report to the Advisory Panel and Congress that 
describes the results of the most recent quadrennial review carried out 
under subsection (a).''.

SEC. 626. NANOTECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, COMMERCIALIZATION, AND ROADMAPS.

    (a) Technology Transfer and Commercialization.--The 21st Century 
Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 10 as section 13; and
            (2) by inserting after section 9 the following:

``SEC. 10. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND COMMERCIALIZATION.

    ``(a) Public Outreach and Education.--
            ``(1) By participating agencies.--The Council shall 
        encourage agencies participating in the Program to inform the 
        public about--
                    ``(A) the science, technology, and benefits of 
                nanotechnology; and
                    ``(B) the commercial products enabled by 
                nanotechnology.
            ``(2) National nanotechnology coordination office.--The 
        Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office 
        shall inform the public about the matters described in 
        paragraph (1).
    ``(b) Access to Facilities.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Council shall encourage the head of 
        each agency that participates in the Program and supports a 
        federally owned or operated nanotechnology research center or 
        designated user facility as part of the Program to provide 
        access to such center or facility to a representative of 
        industry, academia, or other potential user of such center or 
        facility for the purpose of--
                    ``(A) transferring research results;
                    ``(B) demonstrating models of nanoscale- or 
                nanotechnology-enabled products or devices; or
                    ``(C) demonstrative processes for determining proof 
                of concept.
            ``(2) Policy.--The head of each agency described in 
        paragraph (1) shall develop a policy on providing access to the 
        centers and facilities described in such paragraph, which shall 
        include whether such access necessitates imposing a user fee.
    ``(c) Support of Standards Development.--
            ``(1) In general.--The head of an agency participating in 
        the Program shall support the development of domestic and 
        international standards for nanotechnology.
            ``(2) Travel expenses.--The head of an agency participating 
        in the Program may reimburse the travel expenses of an employee 
        of the agency who participates in activities relating to 
        development under paragraph (1).''.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the National Science and Technology Council should 
        encourage groups in nanotechnology-enabled industries to 
        participate in developing technology roadmaps and in partnering 
        to address long-term research and development needs;
            (2) when appropriate, agencies participating in the 
        National Nanotechnology Initiative should use the prize 
        authority granted under section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler 
        Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) to conduct 
        prize competitions in order to spur innovation, solve difficult 
        problems, and advance their core mission; and
            (3) to the greatest extent practical, agencies 
        participating in the National Nanotechnology Initiative that 
        conduct a Small Business Innovation Research program or a Small 
        Business Technology Transfer program should--
                    (A) encourage the submission of applications for 
                nanoscience- and nanotechnology-related projects to 
                such programs; and
                    (B) utilize authorities under subsections (cc) and 
                (gg) of section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
                638) to accelerate the commercialization of Small 
                Business Innovation Research program and Small Business 
                Technology Transfer program nanoscience and 
                nanotechnology research.

SEC. 627. PUBLICATION OF DATA CONCERNING NANOTECHNOLOGY.

    The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 
U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 10, as added 
by section 626(a)(2), the following:

``SEC. 11. PUBLICATION OF DATA.

    ``The National Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall serve as a 
central repository to collect, track, analyze, and report data 
regarding--
            ``(1) the impact of nanotechnology on the U.S. economy;
            ``(2) publications concerning nanotechnology;
            ``(3) patents relating to nanotechnology;
            ``(4) educational activities relating to nanotechnology; 
        and
            ``(5) matters concerning the U.S. workforce and 
        nanotechnology.''.

SEC. 628. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION EVALUATION OF INVESTMENTS OF 
              NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE IN EDUCATION AND 
              WORKFORCE TRAINING.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the National Science Foundation, in cooperation with the Secretary of 
Education and the Secretary of Labor and working with the Director of 
the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, shall--
            (1) evaluate the investments of the National Nanotechnology 
        Initiative in education and workforce training; and
            (2) submit to Congress a report on the findings of the 
        National Science Foundation with respect to the evaluation 
        carried out under paragraph (1).

SEC. 629. SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES OF CENTERS, NETWORKS, AND USER 
              FACILITIES.

    The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 
U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 11, as added 
by section 627, the following:

``SEC. 12. SHARING OF BEST PRACTICES OF CENTERS, NETWORKS, AND USER 
              FACILITIES.

    ``The Council, working with the Director of the National 
Nanotechnology Coordinating Office, shall periodically convene meetings 
for nanotechnology related centers, networks, and user facilities to 
share best practices regarding--
            ``(1) strategic planning;
            ``(2) intellectual property management;
            ``(3) outreach to industry; and
            ``(4) technology demonstration, transfer, and 
        commercialization.''.

SEC. 630. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ENVIRONMENT, HEALTH, AND SAFETY 
              MATTERS CONCERNING NANOTECHNOLOGY.

    (a) Sense of Congress on Coordination Regarding Environment, 
Health, and Safety Research Relating to Nanotechnology.--It is the 
sense of Congress that the National Science and Technology Council 
should--
            (1) coordinate the development by the agencies 
        participating in the National Nanotechnology Initiative of 
        performance measures, targets, timeframes, cost estimates and 
        available resources for nanotechnology environment, health, and 
        safety research that align with the research needs of the 
        Initiative, consistent with the agencies' respective statutory 
        authorities; and
            (2) include the information described in paragraph (1) in 
        publicly available reports.
    (b) Sense of Congress on Funding Cross-Agency Activities.--It is 
the sense of Congress that the head of each agency participating in the 
National Nanotechnology Initiative should consider funding cross-agency 
activities of the environment, health, and safety program component 
area, such as partnerships, informatics, regulatory science, 
nanotoxicology, models, and instrument development.
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