[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1806 Introduced in House (IH)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1806

 To provide for technological innovation through the prioritization of 
Federal investment in basic research, fundamental scientific discovery, 
 and development to improve the competitiveness of the United States, 
                        and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 15, 2015

Mr. Smith of Texas (for himself, Mr. Lucas, Mrs. Comstock, Mr. Weber of 
Texas, Mr. Moolenaar, Mr. Palazzo, Mr. Hultgren, Mr. Knight, Mr. Babin, 
 and Mr. Loudermilk) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to 
    the Committees on Education and the Workforce and Oversight and 
 Government Reform, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To provide for technological innovation through the prioritization of 
Federal investment in basic research, fundamental scientific discovery, 
 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 2015''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
                  TITLE I--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 102. Findings.
Sec. 103. Policy objectives.
Sec. 104. Definitions.
Sec. 105. Accountability and transparency.
Sec. 106. Greater accountability in Federal funding for research.
Sec. 107. Obligation of major research equipment and facilities 
                            construction funds.
Sec. 108. Management and oversight of large facilities.
Sec. 109. Whistleblower education.
Sec. 110. Graduate student support.
Sec. 111. Permissible support.
Sec. 112. Expanding STEM opportunities.
Sec. 113. Review of education programs.
Sec. 114. Recompetition of awards.
Sec. 115. Sense of the Congress regarding industry investment in STEM 
                            education.
Sec. 116. Misrepresentation of research results.
Sec. 117. Research reproducibility and replication.
Sec. 118. Research grant conditions.
Sec. 119. Computing resources study.
Sec. 120. Scientific breakthrough prizes.
Sec. 121. Rotating personnel.
Sec. 122. Sense of Congress regarding Innovation Corps.
Sec. 123. Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies 
                            Initiative.
Sec. 124. Noyce scholarship program amendments.
Sec. 125. Informal STEM education.
      TITLE II--SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS

Sec. 201. Findings; sense of Congress.
Sec. 202. STEM Education Advisory Panel.
Sec. 203. Committee on STEM Education.
Sec. 204. STEM Education Coordinating Office.
           TITLE III--OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

Sec. 301. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 302. Regulatory efficiency.
Sec. 303. Coordination of international science and technology 
                            partnerships.
Sec. 304. Alternative research funding models.
Sec. 305. Amendments to prize competitions.
Sec. 306. United States Chief Technology Officer.
Sec. 307. National Research Council study on technology for emergency 
                            notifications on university campuses.
        TITLE IV--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 402. Standards and conformity assessment.
Sec. 403. Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology.
Sec. 404. Police and security authority.
Sec. 405. Education and outreach.
Sec. 406. Programmatic planning report.
Sec. 407. Assessments by the National Research Council.
Sec. 408. Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
Sec. 409. Elimination of obsolete reports.
Sec. 410. Modifications to grants and cooperative agreements.
Sec. 411. Information systems standards consultation.
Sec. 412. United States-Israeli cooperation.
                 TITLE V--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SCIENCE

Sec. 501. Mission.
Sec. 502. Basic energy sciences.
Sec. 503. Advanced scientific computing research.
Sec. 504. High energy physics.
Sec. 505. Biological and environmental research.
Sec. 506. Fusion energy.
Sec. 507. Nuclear physics.
Sec. 508. Science laboratories infrastructure program.
Sec. 509. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 510. Definitions.
    TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY APPLIED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

           Subtitle A--Crosscutting Research and Development

Sec. 601. Crosscutting research and development.
Sec. 602. Strategic research portfolio analysis and coordination plan.
Sec. 603. Strategy for facilities and infrastructure.
 Subtitle B--Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability Research and 
                              Development

Sec. 611. Distributed energy and electric energy systems.
Sec. 612. Electric transmission and distribution research and 
                            development.
          Subtitle C--Nuclear Energy Research and Development

Sec. 621. Objectives.
Sec. 622. Program objectives study.
Sec. 623. Nuclear energy research and development programs.
Sec. 624. Small modular reactor program.
Sec. 625. Fuel cycle research and development.
Sec. 626. Nuclear energy enabling technologies program.
Sec. 627. Technical standards collaboration.
Sec. 628. Available facilities database.
Sec. 629. Nuclear waste disposal.
    Subtitle D--Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Research and 
                              Development

Sec. 641. Energy efficiency.
Sec. 642. Next Generation Lighting Initiative.
Sec. 643. Building standards.
Sec. 644. Secondary electric vehicle battery use program.
Sec. 645. Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program.
Sec. 646. Advanced Energy Technology Transfer Centers.
Sec. 647. Renewable energy.
Sec. 648. Bioenergy program.
Sec. 649. Concentrating solar power research program.
Sec. 650. Renewable energy in public buildings.
           Subtitle E--Fossil Energy Research and Development

Sec. 661. Fossil energy.
Sec. 662. Research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
                            application programs.
Sec. 663. High efficiency gas turbines research and development.
          Subtitle F--Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy

Sec. 671. ARPA-E amendments.
              Subtitle G--Authorization of Appropriations

Sec. 681. Authorization of appropriations.
                        Subtitle H--Definitions

Sec. 691. Definitions.
          TITLE VII--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

                         Subtitle A--In General

Sec. 701. Definitions.
Sec. 702. Savings clause.
       Subtitle B--Innovation Management at Department of Energy

Sec. 711. Under Secretary for Science and Energy.
Sec. 712. Technology transfer and transitions assessment.
Sec. 713. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 714. Nuclear energy innovation.
    Subtitle C--Cross-Sector Partnerships and Grant Competitiveness

Sec. 721. Agreements for Commercializing Technology pilot program.
Sec. 722. Public-private partnerships for commercialization.
Sec. 723. Inclusion of early-stage technology demonstration in 
                            authorized technology transfer activities.
Sec. 724. Funding competitiveness for institutions of higher education 
                            and other nonprofit institutions.
Sec. 725. Participation in the Innovation Corps program.
                    Subtitle D--Assessment of Impact

Sec. 731. Report by Government Accountability Office.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act--
            (1) the term ``STEM'' means the subjects of science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics;
            (2) the term ``STEM education'' means education in the 
        subjects of STEM, including computer science; and
            (3) the term ``Committee on STEM Education'' means the 
        Committee on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
        Education established under section 101 of the America COMPETES 
        Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621).

                  TITLE I--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Fiscal Year 2016.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Foundation $7,597,140,000 for fiscal year 2016.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $6,186,300,000 shall be made available to carry 
                out research and related activities, including--
                            (i) $834,800,000 for the Biological Science 
                        Directorate;
                            (ii) $1,050,000,000 for the Computer and 
                        Information Science and Engineering 
                        Directorate;
                            (iii) $1,034,000,000 for the Engineering 
                        Directorate;
                            (iv) $1,200,000,000 for the Geosciences 
                        Directorate;
                            (v) $1,500,000,000 for the Mathematical and 
                        Physical Science Directorate;
                            (vi) $150,000,000 for the Social, 
                        Behavioral, and Economics Directorate, of which 
                        $50,000,000 shall be for the National Center 
                        for Science and Engineering Statistics;
                            (vii) $38,520,000 for the Office of 
                        International Science and Engineering;
                            (viii) $377,500,000 for Integrative 
                        Activities; and
                            (ix) $1,480,000 for the United States 
                        Arctic Commission;
                    (B) $866,000,000 shall be made available for 
                education and human resources;
                    (C) $200,310,000 shall be made available for major 
                research equipment and facilities construction;
                    (D) $325,000,000 shall be made available for agency 
                operations and award management;
                    (E) $3,870,000 shall be made available for the 
                Office of the National Science Board; and
                    (F) $15,660,000 shall be made available for the 
                Office of Inspector General.
    (b) Fiscal Year 2017.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Foundation $7,597,140,000 for fiscal year 2017.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $6,186,300,000 shall be made available to carry 
                out research and related activities, including--
                            (i) $834,800,000 for the Biological Science 
                        Directorate;
                            (ii) $1,050,000,000 for the Computer and 
                        Information Science and Engineering 
                        Directorate;
                            (iii) $1,034,000,000 for the Engineering 
                        Directorate;
                            (iv) $1,200,000,000 for the Geosciences 
                        Directorate;
                            (v) $1,500,000,000 for the Mathematical and 
                        Physical Science Directorate;
                            (vi) $150,000,000 for the Social, 
                        Behavioral, and Economics Directorate, of which 
                        $50,000,000 shall be for the National Center 
                        for Science and Engineering Statistics;
                            (vii) $38,520,000 for the Office of 
                        International Science and Engineering;
                            (viii) $377,500,000 for Integrative 
                        Activities; and
                            (ix) $1,480,000 for the United States 
                        Arctic Commission;
                    (B) $866,000,000 shall be made available for 
                education and human resources;
                    (C) $200,310,000 shall be made available for major 
                research equipment and facilities construction;
                    (D) $325,000,000 shall be made available for agency 
                operations and award management;
                    (E) $3,870,000 shall be made available for the 
                Office of the National Science Board; and
                    (F) $15,660,000 shall be made available for the 
                Office of Inspector General.

SEC. 102. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Taxpayer-supported research investments administered by 
        the Foundation should serve the national interest.
            (2) The Foundation has made major contributions for more 
        than 60 years to strengthen and sustain the Nation's academic 
        research enterprise.
            (3) The economic strength and national security of the 
        United States, and the quality of life of all Americans, are 
        grounded in the Nation's scientific and technological 
        capabilities.
            (4) Providing support for basic research is an investment 
        in our Nation's future security and economic prosperity.
            (5) Congress applauds the Foundation's recognition that 
        wise stewardship of taxpayer dollars is necessary to maintain 
        and ensure the public's trust for funding of fundamental 
        scientific and engineering research.
            (6) Other nations are increasing their public investments 
        in basic research in the physical sciences in order to boost 
        long-term economic growth.
            (7) Longstanding United States leadership in 
        supercomputing, genomics, nanoscience, photonics, quantum 
        physics, and other key technological areas is jeopardized if 
        United States investments in basic research in the natural 
        sciences do not keep pace.
            (8) Redundant regulations and reporting requirements 
        imposed by Federal agencies on research institutions and 
        researchers increase costs by tens of millions of dollars 
        annually.
            (9) The Foundation carries out important functions by 
        supporting basic research in all science and engineering 
        disciplines and in supporting STEM education at all levels.
            (10) The research and education activities of the 
        Foundation promote the discovery, integration, dissemination, 
        and application of new knowledge in service to society and 
        prepare future generations of scientists, mathematicians, and 
        engineers who will be necessary to ensure America's leadership 
        in the global marketplace.
            (11) Many of the complex problems and challenges facing the 
        Nation increasingly require the collaboration of multiple 
        scientific disciplines. The Foundation should continue to 
        emphasize cross-directorate research collaboration and 
        activities to address these issues and encourage 
        interdisciplinary research.
            (12) The Foundation should meet the highest standards of 
        efficiency, transparency, and accountability in its stewardship 
        of public funds.
            (13) The Foundation is charged with the responsibilities--
                    (A) to develop and encourage the pursuit of a 
                national policy for the promotion of basic research and 
                education in the sciences;
                    (B) to initiate, support, and conduct basic 
                scientific research and to appraise the impact of 
                research on industrial development and the general 
                welfare;
                    (C) to initiate, support, and conduct scientific 
                research activities in connection with matters relating 
                to the national defense, at the request of the 
                Secretary of Defense;
                    (D) to award scholarships and graduate fellowships 
                in the sciences;
                    (E) to foster the interchange of scientific 
                information among scientists and across scientific 
                disciplines;
                    (F) to evaluate scientific research programs 
                undertaken by agencies of the Federal Government, and 
                to correlate the Foundation's scientific research with 
                that undertaken by individuals and by public and 
                private research groups;
                    (G) to communicate effectively to American citizens 
                the relevance of public investments in scientific 
                discovery and technological innovation to the Nation's 
                security, prosperity, and welfare; and
                    (H) to establish such special commissions as the 
                Board considers necessary.
            (14) The emerging global economic, scientific, and 
        technical environment challenges long standing assumptions 
        about domestic and international policy, requiring the 
        Foundation to play a more proactive role in sustaining the 
        competitive advantage of the United States through superior 
        research capabilities.

SEC. 103. POLICY OBJECTIVES.

    In allocating resources made available under this title, the 
Foundation shall have the following policy objectives:
            (1) To renew and maintain the Nation's international 
        leadership in science and technology by--
                    (A) increasing the national investment in basic 
                scientific research and increasing interdisciplinary 
                investment in strategic areas vital to the national 
                interest;
                    (B) balancing the Nation's research portfolio among 
                the life sciences, mathematics, the physical sciences, 
                computer and information science, geosciences, 
                engineering, and social, behavioral, and economic 
                sciences, all of which are important for the continued 
                development of enabling technologies necessary for 
                sustained economic competitiveness;
                    (C) encouraging investments in potentially 
                transformative scientific research to benefit our 
                Nation and its citizens;
                    (D) expanding the pool of scientists and engineers 
                in the United States, including among segments of the 
                population that have been historically underrepresented 
                in STEM fields; and
                    (E) modernizing the Nation's research 
                infrastructure and establishing and maintaining 
                cooperative international relationships with premier 
                research institutions.
            (2) To increase overall workforce skills by--
                    (A) improving the quality of STEM education and 
                tools provided both inside and outside of the 
                classroom, including in kindergarten through grade 12; 
                and
                    (B) expanding STEM training opportunities at 
                institutions of higher education.
            (3) To strengthen innovation by expanding the focus of 
        competitiveness and innovation at the regional and local level.

SEC. 104. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the National Science 
        Board.
            (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Foundation.
            (3) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National 
        Science Foundation established under section 2 of the National 
        Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861).
            (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (5) State.--The term ``State'' means one 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.
            (6) United states.--The term ``United States'' means 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, and any other 
        territory or possession of the United States.

SEC. 105. ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) sustained, predictable Federal funding is essential to 
        United States leadership in science and technology;
            (2) building understanding of and confidence in investments 
        in basic research are essential to public support for 
        sustained, predictable Federal funding; and
            (3) the Foundation should commit itself fully to 
        transparency and accountability and to clear, consistent public 
        communication regarding the national interest for each 
        Foundation-awarded grant and cooperative agreement.

SEC. 106. GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY IN FEDERAL FUNDING FOR RESEARCH.

    (a) Standard for Award of Grants.--The Foundation shall award 
Federal funding for basic research and education in the sciences 
through a new research grant or cooperative agreement only if an 
affirmative determination is made by the Foundation under subsection 
(b) and written justification relating thereto is published under 
subsection (c).
    (b) Determination.--A determination referred to in subsection (a) 
is a justification by the responsible Foundation official as to how the 
research grant or cooperative agreement promotes the progress of 
science in the United States, consistent with the Foundation mission as 
established in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 
1861 et seq.), and further--
            (1) is worthy of Federal funding; and
            (2) is in the national interest, as indicated by having the 
        potential to achieve--
                    (A) increased economic competitiveness in the 
                United States;
                    (B) advancement of the health and welfare of the 
                American public;
                    (C) development of an American STEM workforce that 
                is globally competitive;
                    (D) increased public scientific literacy and public 
                engagement with science and technology in the United 
                States;
                    (E) increased partnerships between academia and 
                industry in the United States;
                    (F) support for the national defense of the United 
                States; or
                    (G) promotion of the progress of science in the 
                United States.
    (c) Written Justification.--Public announcement of each award of 
Federal funding described in subsection (a) shall include a written 
justification from the responsible Foundation official as to how a 
grant or cooperative agreement meets the requirements of subsection 
(b).
    (d) Implementation.--A determination under subsection (b) shall be 
made after a research grant or cooperative agreement proposal has 
satisfied the Foundation's reviews for Merit and Broader Impacts. 
Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering the Foundation's 
intellectual merit or broader impacts criteria for evaluating grant 
applications.

SEC. 107. OBLIGATION OF MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 
              CONSTRUCTION FUNDS.

    No funds may be obligated for a fiscal year for a construction 
project for the Foundation that has not commenced before the date of 
enactment of this Act until 30 days after the report required with 
respect to each such fiscal year under section 14(a)(2) of the National 
Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-4(a)(2)) 
is transmitted to the Congress.

SEC. 108. MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF LARGE FACILITIES.

    (a) Large Facilities Office.--The Director shall maintain a Large 
Facilities Office within the Office of the Director. The functions of 
the Large Facilities Office shall be to support the research 
directorates in the development, implementation, and assessment of 
major multi-user research facilities, including by--
            (1) serving as the Foundation's primary resource for all 
        policy or process issues related to the development and 
        implementation of major multi-user research facilities;
            (2) serving as a Foundation-wide resource on project 
        management, including providing expert assistance on 
        nonscientific and nontechnical aspects of project planning, 
        budgeting, implementation, management, and oversight;
            (3) coordinating and collaborating with research 
        directorates to share best management practices and lessons 
        learned from prior projects; and
            (4) assessing projects during preconstruction and 
        construction phases for cost and schedule risk.
    (b) Oversight of Large Facilities.--The Director shall appoint a 
senior agency official within the Office of the Director whose primary 
responsibility is oversight of major multi-user research facilities. 
The duties of this official shall include--
            (1) oversight of the development, construction, and 
        operation of major multi-user research facilities across the 
        Foundation;
            (2) in collaboration with the directors of the research 
        directorates and other senior agency officials as appropriate, 
        ensuring that the requirements of section 14(a) of the National 
        Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 are satisfied;
            (3) serving as a liaison to the National Science Board for 
        approval and oversight of major multi-user research facilities; 
        and
            (4) periodically reviewing and updating as necessary 
        Foundation policies and guidelines for the development and 
        construction of major multi-user research facilities.
    (c) Policies for Large Facility Costs.--
            (1) In general.--The Director shall ensure that the 
        Foundation's polices for developing and maintaining major 
        multi-user research facility construction costs are consistent 
        with the best practices described in the March 2009 Government 
        Accountability Office Report GAO-09-3SP, or any successor 
        report thereto, and the Uniform Guidance in 2 C.F.R. part 200.
            (2) Cost proposal audits.--
                    (A) General requirement.--The Director shall ensure 
                that a cost proposal audit is conducted on any project 
                with a total project cost over $50,000,000, in 
                accordance with Government Auditing Standards as 
                established in Government Accountability Office Report 
                GAO-12-331G, or any successor report thereto.
                    (B) Correction of issues found.--The Director must 
                certify in writing that all issues identified by the 
                auditor, including any finding of unjustified or 
                questionable costs items, are corrected before the 
                Foundation may execute a construction agreement with 
                respect to the audited project.
                    (C) Transmittal to congress.--The Director shall 
                transmit each certification made under subparagraph (B) 
                to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
                the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
                Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
                the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives, and the Committee on Appropriations of 
                the Senate.
            (3) Incurred cost audits.--The Director shall ensure that 
        an incurred cost submission and audit is conducted annually on 
        any project with a total project cost over $50,000,000, in 
        accordance with Government Auditing Standards as established in 
        Government Accountability Office Report GAO-12-331G, or any 
        successor report thereto.
            (4) Contingencies.--
                    (A) In general.--The Foundation shall not make any 
                award which provides for contributions to a contingency 
                reserve held or managed by the awardee, or any similar 
                provision made for events the occurrence of which 
                cannot be foretold with certainty as to time or 
                intensity, or with an assurance of their happening. For 
                budgeting purposes, the Foundation shall estimate costs 
                associated with unforeseen events that could occur, and 
                shall retain the funds allocated for such purposes 
                except as provided in this paragraph.
                    (B) Updating policy manual.--The Foundation shall 
                update its NSF Grant Policy Manual and any other 
                applicable guidance for contingencies on major multi-
                user research facilities with regard to estimating, 
                monitoring, and accounting for contingency 
                expenditures.
                    (C) Foundation requirements.--The policy updated 
                under subparagraph (B) shall require that the 
                Foundation--
                            (i) may only include contingency amounts in 
                        an award made to a recipient to the extent that 
                        those amounts are for occurrences that are 
                        foreseeable with certainty as to time, 
                        intensity, or the assurance of them happening 
                        and are supported by verifiable cost data;
                            (ii) shall retain control over funds 
                        budgeted for unforeseeable events and release 
                        those funds only when the awardee demonstrates 
                        a bona fide need for the funds supported by 
                        verifiable cost data; and
                            (iii) shall ensure that supporting cost 
                        data described in clauses (i) and (ii) are 
                        sufficient to establish that the amounts are 
                        reasonable, allocable, and allowable.
                    (D) Awardee requirements.--The policy updated under 
                subparagraph (B) shall require that an awardee shall--
                            (i) provide verifiable cost data for any 
                        amounts proposed for contingencies;
                            (ii) support requests for the release of 
                        contingency funds with evidence of a bona fide 
                        need and verifiable cost data to establish that 
                        the amounts sought are reasonable, allocable, 
                        and allowable; and
                            (iii) record and report all contingency 
                        expenditures to the Foundation.
                    (E) Current awardees.--The Foundation shall work 
                with awardees for whom awards with contingency 
                provisions have been made before the date of enactment 
                of this Act--
                            (i) to determine if any of their use of 
                        contingency funds represents out-of-scope 
                        changes for which Foundation's prior written 
                        approval was not obtained; and
                            (ii) if out-of-scope changes are found, to 
                        identify any financial action that may be 
                        appropriate.
            (5) Management fees.--
                    (A) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term 
                ``management fee'' means a portion of an award made by 
                the Foundation for the purpose of covering ordinary and 
                necessary business expenses necessary to maintain 
                operational stability which are not otherwise allowable 
                under Cost Principles Uniform Guidance in 2 C.F.R. part 
                200, Subpart E, or any successor regulation thereto.
                    (B) Limitation.--The Foundation may provide 
                management fees under an award only if the awardee has 
                demonstrated that it has limited or no other financial 
                resources for covering the expenses for which the 
                management fees are sought.
                    (C) Financial information.--The Foundation shall 
                require award applicants to provide income and 
                financial information covering a period of no less than 
                three prior years (or in the case of an entity 
                established less than three years prior to the entity's 
                application date, the period beginning on the date of 
                establishment and ending on the application date), 
                including cash on hand and net asset information, in 
                support of a request for management fees. The 
                Foundation shall also require awardees to report to the 
                Foundation, within 30 days of receipt, any sources of 
                non-Federal funds received in excess of $50,000 during 
                the award period.
                    (D) Expense reporting.--The Foundation shall 
                require awardees to track and report to the Foundation 
                annually all expenses reimbursed or otherwise paid for 
                with management fee funds, in accordance with Federal 
                accounting practices as established in Government 
                Accountability Office Report GAO-12-331G, or any 
                successor report thereto.
                    (E) Audits.--The Inspector General of the 
                Foundation may audit any Foundation award for 
                compliance with this paragraph.
                    (F) Prohibited uses.--An awardee may not use 
                management fees for--
                            (i) costs allowable under Cost Principles 
                        Uniform Guidance in 2 C.F.R. part 200, Subpart 
                        E, or any successor regulation thereto;
                            (ii) alcoholic beverages;
                            (iii) tickets to concerts, or sporting and 
                        other entertainment events;
                            (iv) vacation or other travel for 
                        nonbusiness purposes;
                            (v) charitable contributions;
                            (vi) social or sporting club memberships;
                            (vii) meals for nonbusiness purposes;
                            (viii) luxury or personal items;
                            (ix) lobbying, as described in the Uniform 
                        Guidance at 2 C.F.R. 200.450; or
                            (x) any other purpose the Foundation 
                        determines is inappropriate.
                    (G) Review.--The Foundation shall review management 
                fee usage under each Foundation award on at least an 
                annual basis for compliance with this paragraph and the 
                Foundation's Large Facilities Manual.
            (6) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to Congress a 
        report describing the Foundation's policies for developing and 
        managing major multi-user research facility construction costs, 
        including a description of any aspects of the policies that 
        diverge from the best practices recommended in Government 
        Accountability Office Report GAO-09-3SP, or any successor 
        report thereto, and the Uniform Guidance in 2 C.F.R. part 200.

SEC. 109. WHISTLEBLOWER EDUCATION.

    (a) In General.--The Foundation shall be subject to section 4712 of 
title 41, United States Code.
    (b) Education and Training.--The Foundation shall provide education 
and training for Foundation managers and staff on the requirements of 
such section 4712, and provide information on the law to all grantees, 
contractors, and employees of such grantees and contractors.

SEC. 110. GRADUATE STUDENT SUPPORT.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
essential elements of the NSF Research Traineeship Program, formerly 
the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program, 
(or any successor thereto) should be maintained, including--
            (1) collaborative research that transcends traditional 
        disciplinary boundaries to solve large and complex research 
        problems of significant scientific and societal importance; and
            (2) providing students the opportunity to become leaders in 
        the science and engineering of the future.
    (b) Models for Support.--The Director shall enter into an agreement 
with the National Research Council to convene a workshop or roundtable 
to examine models of Federal support for STEM graduate students, 
including the Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship program and 
comparable fellowship programs at other agencies, traineeship programs, 
and the research assistant model.
    (c) Purpose.--The purpose of the workshop or roundtable shall be to 
compare and evaluate the extent to which each of these models helps to 
prepare graduate students for diverse careers utilizing STEM degrees, 
including at diverse types of institutions of higher education, in 
industry, and at government agencies and research laboratories, and to 
make recommendations regarding--
            (1) how current Federal programs and models, including 
        programs and models at the Foundation, can be improved;
            (2) the appropriateness of the current distribution of 
        funding among the different models at the Foundation and across 
        the agencies; and
            (3) the appropriateness of creating a new education and 
        training program for graduate students distinct from programs 
        that provide direct financial support, including the grants 
        authorized in section 527 of the America COMPETES 
        Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-15).
    (d) Criteria.--At a minimum, in comparing programs and models, the 
workshop or roundtable participants shall consider the capacity of such 
programs or models to provide students with knowledge and skills--
            (1) to become independent, creative, successful 
        researchers;
            (2) to participate in large interdisciplinary research 
        projects, including in an international context;
            (3) to adhere to the highest standards for research ethics;
            (4) to become high-quality teachers utilizing the most 
        currently available evidence-based pedagogy;
            (5) in oral and written communication, to both technical 
        and nontechnical audiences;
            (6) in innovation, entrepreneurship, and business ethics; 
        and
            (7) in program management.
    (e) Graduate Student Input.--The participants in the workshop or 
roundtable shall include current or recent STEM graduate students.
    (f) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the National Research Council shall submit to Congress a 
summary report of the findings and recommendations of the workshop or 
roundtable convened under this section.

SEC. 111. PERMISSIBLE SUPPORT.

    A grant made by the Education and Human Resources Directorate to 
support informal education may be used--
            (1) to support the participation of underrepresented 
        students in nonprofit competitions, out-of-school activities, 
        and field experiences related to STEM subjects (such as 
        robotics, science research, invention, mathematics, and 
        technology competitions), including--
                    (A) the purchase of parts and supplies needed to 
                participate in such competitions; and
                    (B) incentives and stipends for teachers and 
                instructional leaders who are involved in assisting 
                students and preparing students for such competitions, 
                if such activities fall outside the regular duties and 
                responsibilities of such teachers and instructional 
                leaders; and
            (2) to broaden underrepresented secondary school students' 
        access to, and interest in, careers that require academic 
        preparation in STEM subjects.

SEC. 112. EXPANDING STEM OPPORTUNITIES.

    (a) In General.--Within the Directorate for Education and Human 
Resources (or any successor thereto), under existing programs targeting 
broadening participation, the Director shall provide grants on a merit-
reviewed, competitive basis for research on programming that engages 
underrepresented students in grades kindergarten through 8 in STEM.
    (b) Use of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--Grants awarded under this section shall be 
        used for research to advance the engagement of underrepresented 
        students in grades kindergarten through 8 in STEM through the 
        development and implementation of innovative before-school, 
        after-school, out-of-school, or summer activities, including 
        programs (if applicable to the target population) provided in a 
        single-gender environment, that are designed to encourage 
        interest, engagement, and skills development of 
        underrepresented students in STEM. Such research shall be 
        conducted in learning environments that actively provide 
        programming to underrepresented students in grades kindergarten 
        through 8 in STEM.
            (2) Permitted activities.--Such activities may include--
                    (A) the development and implementation of 
                programming described in subsection (a) for the purpose 
                of research;
                    (B) the use of a variety of engagement methods, 
                including cooperative and hands-on learning;
                    (C) exposure of underrepresented youth to role 
                models in the fields of STEM and nearpeer mentors;
                    (D) training of informal learning educators and 
                youth-serving professionals using evidence-based 
                methods consistent with the target student population 
                being served;
                    (E) education of students on the relevance and 
                significance of STEM careers, provision of academic 
                advice and assistance, and activities designed to help 
                students make real-world connections to STEM content 
                activities;
                    (F) the attendance of underrepresented youth at 
                events, competitions, and academic programs to provide 
                content expertise and encourage career exposure in 
                STEM;
                    (G) activities designed to engage parents of 
                underrepresented youth;
                    (H) innovative strategies to engage 
                underrepresented youth, such as using leadership skill 
                outcome measures to encourage youth with the confidence 
                to pursue STEM coursework and academic study;
                    (I) coordination with STEM-rich environments, 
                including other nonprofit, nongovernmental 
                organizations, classroom and out-of-classroom settings, 
                institutions of higher education, vocational 
                facilities, corporations, museums, or science centers; 
                and
                    (J) the acquisition of instructional materials or 
                technology-based tools to conduct applicable grant 
                activity.
    (c) Application.--An applicant seeking funding under the section 
shall submit an application at such time, in such manner, and 
containing such information as may be required. The application shall 
include, at a minimum, the following:
            (1) A description of the target audience to be served by 
        the program.
            (2) A description of the process for recruitment and 
        selection of students, as appropriate.
            (3) A description of how such research activity may inform 
        programming that engages underrepresented students in grades 
        kindergarten through 8 in STEM.
            (4) A description of how such research activity may inform 
        programming that promotes student academic achievement in STEM.
            (5) An evaluation plan that includes, at a minimum, the use 
        of outcome-oriented measures to determine the impact and 
        efficacy of activities being researched.
    (d) Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the Director 
shall give priority to applicants which, for the purpose of grant 
activity, include or partner with a nonprofit, nongovernmental 
organization that has extensive experience and expertise in increasing 
the participation of underrepresented students in STEM.
    (e) Accountability and Dissemination.--
            (1) Evaluation required.--Not later than 5 years after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall evaluate the 
        grants provided under this section. In addition to evaluating 
        the effectiveness of the grant activities, such evaluation 
        shall--
                    (A) use a common set of benchmarks and assessment 
                tools to identify best practices and materials 
                developed or demonstrated by the research; and
                    (B) to the extent practicable, combine the research 
                resulting from the grant activity with the current 
                research on serving underrepresented students in grades 
                kindergarten through 8.
            (2) Report on evaluations.--Not later than 180 days after 
        the completion of the evaluation under paragraph (1), the 
        Director shall submit to Congress and make widely available to 
        the public a report that includes--
                    (A) the results of the evaluation; and
                    (B) any recommendations for administrative and 
                legislative action that could optimize the 
                effectiveness of the program.
    (f) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the Director shall 
consult, cooperate, and coordinate, to enhance program effectiveness 
and to avoid duplication, with the programs and policies of other 
relevant Federal agencies.

SEC. 113. REVIEW OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Director shall review the education programs 
of the Foundation that are in operation as of the date of enactment of 
this Act to determine--
            (1) whether any of such programs duplicate target groups, 
        services provided, fields of focus, or objectives; and
            (2) how those programs are being evaluated and assessed for 
        outcome-oriented effectiveness.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and annually thereafter as part of the annual budget 
submission to Congress, the Director shall complete a report on the 
review carried out under this section and shall submit the report to 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate, and shall make the report widely available to the public.

SEC. 114. RECOMPETITION OF AWARDS.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            (1) the merit-reviewed competition of grant and award 
        proposals is a hallmark of the Foundation grant and award 
        making process;
            (2) the majority of Foundation-funded multi-user research 
        facilities have transitioned to five-year cooperative 
        agreements, and every five years the program officer 
        responsible for the facility makes a recommendation to the 
        National Science Board as to the renewal, recompetition, or 
        termination of support for the facility; and
            (3) requiring the recompetition of expiring awards is based 
        on the conviction that competition is most likely to ensure the 
        effective stewardship of Foundation funds for supporting 
        research and education.
    (b) Recompetition.--The Director shall ensure that the system for 
recompetition of Maintenance and Operations of facilities, equipment 
and instrumentation is fair, consistent, and transparent and is applied 
in a manner that renews grants and awards in a timely manner. The 
Director shall periodically evaluate whether the criteria of the system 
are being applied in a manner that is transparent, reliable, and valid.

SEC. 115. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING INDUSTRY INVESTMENT IN STEM 
              EDUCATION.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) in order to bolster the STEM workforce pipeline, many 
        industry sectors are becoming involved in K-12 initiatives and 
        supporting undergraduate and graduate work in STEM subject 
        areas and fields;
            (2) partnerships with education providers, STEM focused 
        competitions, and other opportunities have become important 
        aspects of private sector efforts to strengthen the STEM 
        workforce;
            (3) understanding the work that private sector 
        organizations are undertaking in STEM fields should inform the 
        Federal Government's role in STEM education; and
            (4) successful private sector STEM initiatives, as 
        reflected by measurements of relevant outcomes, should be 
        encouraged and supported by the Foundation.

SEC. 116. MISREPRESENTATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS.

    (a) Prohibition.--The findings and conclusions of any article 
authored by a principal investigator receiving a research grant from 
the Foundation, using the results of the research conducted under the 
grant, that is published in a peer-reviewed publication, otherwise made 
publicly available, or incorporated in an application for a research 
grant or grant extension from the Foundation may not contain any 
falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism, as established in the 
Foundation's Research Misconduct regulation (45 C.F.R. 689).
    (b) Publication.--The Director shall make publicly available any 
finding that research misconduct (as defined in 45 C.F.R. 689) has been 
committed, including the name of the principal investigator, within 30 
days of the final administration action of the Foundation.

SEC. 117. RESEARCH REPRODUCIBILITY AND REPLICATION.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the gold standard of good science is the ability of a 
        researcher or research lab to reproduce a published method and 
        finding;
            (2) there is growing concern that a significant amount of 
        published research findings cannot be reproduced or replicated, 
        which can negatively affect the public's trust in science;
            (3) there are a complex set of factors affecting 
        reproducibility and replication; and
            (4) the increasing interdisciplinary nature and complexity 
        of scientific research may be a contributing factor to issues 
        with research reproducibility and replication.
    (b) Report.--The Director shall--
            (1) not later than 45 days after the date of enactment of 
        this Act, enter into an agreement with the National Research 
        Council to provide, within 18 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, a report to assess research and data 
        reproducibility and replicability issues in interdisciplinary 
        research and to make recommendations on how to improve rigor 
        and transparency in scientific research; and
            (2) not later than 60 days after receiving the results of 
        the assessment under paragraph (1), submit a report to the 
        Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate on the findings of the assessment, 
        together with the agreement or disagreement of the Director and 
        Board with each of its findings and recommendations.

SEC. 118. RESEARCH GRANT CONDITIONS.

    The Foundation shall establish procedures to ensure that--
            (1) a research grant awarded by the Foundation to a 
        principal investigator supports a scope of work not otherwise 
        being directly funded by grants provided by other Federal 
        agencies;
            (2) a principal investigator includes in any application 
        for a research grant awarded by the Foundation a list of all 
        Federal research funding received by the principal 
        investigator, as well as any funding that is being requested as 
        of that time;
            (3) unpublished research results used to support a grant 
        proposal made to the Foundation do not include any knowing 
        misrepresentations of data;
            (4) principal investigators who receive Foundation research 
        grant funding under more than one grant at the same time have 
        sufficient resources to conduct the proposed research under 
        each of those grants appropriately under the terms of the 
        grant; and
            (5) barriers to early career and new investigator 
        applicants are addressed, including taking into account the 
        broader accomplishments and potential of the individual 
        investigator in addition to the potential impact of the 
        project.

SEC. 119. COMPUTING RESOURCES STUDY.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General shall transmit to the Congress a report detailing 
the results of a study on the use of scientific computing resources 
funded by the Foundation at institutions of higher education. Such 
study shall assess--
            (1) efficiencies that can be achieved by using shared 
        scientific computing resources for projects that have similar 
        scientific computing requirements or projects where specialized 
        software solutions could be shared with other practitioners in 
        the scientific community;
            (2) efficiencies that can be achieved by using shared 
        hardware that can be cost effectively procured from cloud 
        computing services;
            (3) efficiencies that can be achieved by using shared 
        software from an open source repository or platform; and
            (4) cost savings that could be achieved by potential 
        sharing of scientific computing resources across all Foundation 
        grants.

SEC. 120. SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH PRIZES.

    The Director shall place a high priority on designing and 
administering pilot programs for scientific breakthrough prizes, in 
conjunction with private entities, that are consistent with Office of 
Science and Technology Policy guidelines. Breakthrough prizes shall 
center around technological breakthroughs that are of strategic 
importance to the Nation, and have the capacity to spur new economic 
growth.

SEC. 121. ROTATING PERSONNEL.

    In order to control the costs to the Foundation of individuals 
employed pursuant to the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 (42 
U.S.C. 4701 note)--
            (1) the Foundation shall provide to Congress a written 
        justification and waiver by the Deputy Director in instances in 
        which such an individual is to be paid at a rate that exceeds 
        the maximum rate of pay for the Senior Executive Service, 
        including, if applicable, adjustment for the certified Senior 
        Executive Service Performance Appraisal System;
            (2) the Foundation shall provide to Congress a written 
        justification and waiver by the Director in instances in which 
        such an individual is to be paid at a rate that exceeds the 
        annual salary rate of the Vice President of the United States; 
        and
            (3) the Foundation shall provide an annual report to 
        Congress on the costs to the Foundation of employing such 
        individuals, including--
                    (A) the timeliness and completeness of Foundation 
                actions in response to recommendations and findings 
                from the Office of Inspector General related to the 
                employment of such individuals;
                    (B) actions taken by the Foundation to reduce the 
                cost to the Foundation of the employment of such 
                individuals at pay levels that exceed the threshold 
                described in paragraph (1);
                    (C) the value to the Foundation of employing 
                individuals pursuant to the Intergovernmental Personnel 
                Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 4701 note) whose pay is set 
                below the threshold described in paragraph (1); and
                    (D) the value to the Foundation of employing 
                individuals who are not permanent employees whose pay 
                requires a justification and waiver under paragraph (1) 
                or (2).

SEC. 122. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING INNOVATION CORPS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Foundation's Innovation Corps (I-Corps) was 
        established to foster a national innovation ecosystem by 
        encouraging institutions, scientists, engineers, and 
        entrepreneurs to identify and explore the innovation and 
        commercial potential of Foundation-funded research well beyond 
        the laboratory;
            (2) the Foundation's I-Corps includes investment in 
        entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training, and 
        mentoring, ultimately leading to the practical deployment of 
        technologies, products, processes, and services that improve 
        the Nation's competitiveness, promote economic growth, and 
        benefit society; and
            (3) by building networks of entrepreneurs, educators, 
        mentors, institutions, and collaborations, and supporting 
        specialized education and training, I-Corps is at the leading 
        edge of a strong, lasting foundation for an American innovation 
        ecosystem.

SEC. 123. BRAIN RESEARCH THROUGH ADVANCING INNOVATIVE NEUROTECHNOLOGIES 
              INITIATIVE.

    The Foundation shall support research activities related to the 
Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies 
Initiative. The Foundation is encouraged to work in conjunction with 
the Interagency Working Group on Neuroscience (IWGN) to determine how 
to use the data infrastructure of the Foundation and other applicable 
agencies to help neuroscientists collect, standardize, manage, and 
analyze the large amounts of data that will result from research 
attempting to understand how the brain functions.

SEC. 124. NOYCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Amendments.--Section 10A of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by inserting ``or bachelor's'' 
        after ``master's'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (2)(B);
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) by inserting ``for teachers with 
                        master's degrees in their field'' after 
                        ``Teaching Fellowships''; and
                            (ii) by striking the period at the end of 
                        subparagraph (B) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(4) in the case of National Science Foundation Master 
        Teaching Fellowships for teachers with bachelor's degrees in 
        their field and working toward a master's degree--
                    ``(A) offering academic courses leading to a 
                master's degree and leadership training to prepare 
                individuals to become master teachers in elementary and 
                secondary schools; and
                    ``(B) offering programs both during and after 
                matriculation in the program for which the fellowship 
                is received to enable fellows to become highly 
                effective mathematics and science teachers, including 
                mentoring, training, induction, and professional 
                development activities, to fulfill the service 
                requirements of this section, including the 
                requirements of subsection (e), and to exchange ideas 
                with others in their fields.'';
            (3) in subsection (e), by striking ``subsection (g)'' and 
        inserting ``subsection (h)'';
            (4) by redesignating subsections (g) through (i) as 
        subsections (h) through (j), respectively; and
            (5) by inserting after subsection (f) the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(g) Support for Master Teaching Fellows While Enrolled in a 
Master's Degree Program.--A National Science Foundation Master Teacher 
Fellow may receive a maximum of 1 year of fellowship support while 
enrolled in a master's degree program as described in subsection 
(c)(4)(A), except that if such fellow is enrolled in a part-time 
program, such amount shall be prorated according to the length of the 
program.''.
    (b) Definition.--Section 10(i)(5) of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1(i)(5)) is 
amended by inserting ``computer science,'' after ``means a science,''.

SEC. 125. INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION.

    (a) Grants.--The Director, through the Directorate for Education 
and Human Resources, shall continue to award competitive, merit-
reviewed grants to support--
            (1) research and development of innovative out-of-school 
        STEM learning and emerging STEM learning environments in order 
        to improve STEM learning outcomes and engagement in STEM; and
            (2) research that advances the field of informal STEM 
        education.
    (b) Uses of Funds.--Activities supported by grants under this 
section may encompass a single STEM discipline, multiple STEM 
disciplines, or integrative STEM initiatives and shall include--
            (1) research and development that improves our 
        understanding of learning and engagement in informal 
        environments, including the role of informal environments in 
        broadening participation in STEM; and
            (2) design and testing of innovative STEM learning models, 
        programs, and other resources for informal learning 
        environments to improve STEM learning outcomes and increase 
        engagement for K-12 students, K-12 teachers, and the general 
        public, including design and testing of the scalability of 
        models, programs, and other resources.

      TITLE II--SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS

SEC. 201. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) According to the National Science Board's Science and 
        Engineering Indicators, the science and engineering workforce 
        has shown sustained growth for more than half a century, and 
        workers with science and engineering degrees tend to earn more 
        than comparable workers in other fields.
            (2) According to the Program for International Student 
        Assessment 2012 results, America lags behind many other nations 
        in STEM education. American students rank 21st in science and 
        26th in mathematics.
            (3) Junior Achievement USA and ING found a decrease of 25 
        percent in the percentage of teenage students interested in 
        STEM careers.
            (4) According to a 2007 report from the Department of 
        Labor, industries and firms dependent on a strong science and 
        mathematics workforce have launched a variety of programs that 
        target K-12 students and undergraduate and graduate students in 
        STEM fields.
            (5) The Federal Government spends nearly $3 billion 
        annually on STEM education related program and activities, but 
        encouraging STEM education activities beyond the scope of the 
        Federal Government, including privately sponsored competitions 
        and programs in our schools, is crucial to the future technical 
        and economic competitiveness of the United States.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) more effective coordination and adoption of performance 
        measurement based on objective outcomes for federally supported 
        STEM programs is needed;
            (2) leveraging private and nonprofit investments in STEM 
        education will be essential to strengthening the Federal STEM 
        portfolio;
            (3) strengthening the Federal STEM portfolio may require 
        program consolidations and terminations, but such changes 
        should be based on evidence with stakeholder input;
            (4) coordinating STEM programs and activities across the 
        Federal Government in order to limit duplication and engage 
        stakeholders in STEM programs and related activities for which 
        objective outcomes can be measured will bolster results of 
        Federal STEM education programs, improve the return on 
        taxpayers' investments in STEM education programs, and in turn 
        strengthen the United States economy; and
            (5) as the Committee on STEM Education implements the 5-
        year Strategic Plan for Federal STEM education required under 
        section 101(b)(5) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act 
        of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621(b)(5)), STEM education stakeholders 
        must be engaged and outcome-based evaluation metrics should be 
        considered in the coordination and consolidation efforts for 
        the Federal STEM portfolio.

SEC. 202. STEM EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL.

    (a) Establishment.--The President shall establish or designate a 
STEM Education Advisory Panel that incorporates key stakeholders from 
the education and industry sectors. The co-chairs shall be members of 
the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
    (b) Qualifications.--The Advisory Panel established or designated 
by the President under subsection (a) shall consist primarily of 
members from academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, and 
industry and shall include in-school, out-of-school, and informal 
educational practitioners. Members of the Advisory Panel shall be 
qualified to provide advice and information on STEM education research, 
development, training, implementation, interventions, professional 
development, or workforce needs or concerns. In selecting or 
designating an Advisory Panel, the President may also seek and give 
consideration to recommendations from the Congress, industry, the 
scientific community (including the National Academy of Sciences, 
scientific professional societies, and academia), State and local 
governments, and other appropriate organizations.
    (c) Duties.--The Advisory Panel shall advise the President, the 
Committee on STEM Education, and the STEM Education Coordinating Office 
established under section 204 on matters relating to STEM education, 
and shall each year provide general guidance to every Federal agency 
with STEM education programs or activities, including in the 
preparation of requests for appropriations for activities related to 
STEM education. The Advisory Panel shall also assess and develop 
recommendations for--
            (1) progress made in implementing the STEM education 
        Strategic Plan required under section 101 of the America 
        COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621), and any 
        needs or opportunities to update the strategic plan;
            (2) the management, coordination, and implementation of 
        STEM education programs and activities across the Federal 
        Government;
            (3) the appropriateness of criteria used by Federal 
        agencies to evaluate the effectiveness of Federal STEM 
        education programs and activities;
            (4) ways to leverage private and nonprofit STEM investments 
        and encourage public-private partnerships to strengthen STEM 
        education and help build the STEM workforce pipeline;
            (5) ways to incorporate workforce needs into Federal STEM 
        education programs, particularly in areas experiencing high 
        unemployment rates;
            (6) ways to better vertically and horizontally integrate 
        Federal STEM programs and activities from pre-K through 
        graduate study and the workforce, and from in-school to out-of-
        school in order to improve transitions for students moving 
        through the STEM pipeline;
            (7) whether societal and workforce concerns are adequately 
        addressed by current Federal STEM education programs and 
        activities;
            (8) the extent to which Federal STEM education programs and 
        activities are contributing to recruitment and retention of 
        women and underrepresented students in the STEM education and 
        workforce pipeline; and
            (9) ways to encourage geographic diversity in STEM 
        education and the workforce pipeline.
    (d) Reports.--The Advisory Panel shall report, not less frequently 
than once every 3 fiscal years, to the President and Congress on its 
assessments under subsection (c) and its recommendations for ways to 
improve Federal STEM education programs. The first report under this 
subsection shall be submitted within 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act.
    (e) Travel Expenses of Non-Federal Members.--Non-Federal members of 
the Advisory Panel, while attending meetings of the Advisory Panel or 
while otherwise serving at the request of the head of the Advisory 
Panel away from their homes or regular places of business, may be 
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as 
authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for 
individuals in the Government serving without pay. Nothing in this 
subsection shall be construed to prohibit members of the Advisory Panel 
who are officers or employees of the United States from being allowed 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
accordance with existing law.

SEC. 203. COMMITTEE ON STEM EDUCATION.

    Section 101 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 
U.S.C. 6621) is amended--
            (1) in the first subsection (b)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (6) as 
                paragraphs (5) through (8), respectively;
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following 
                new paragraphs:
            ``(3) collaborate with the STEM Education Advisory Panel 
        established under section 202 of the America COMPETES 
        Reauthorization Act of 2015 and other outside stakeholders to 
        ensure the engagement of the STEM education community;
            ``(4) review evaluation measures used for Federal STEM 
        education programs;''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (8), as so redesignated by 
                subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, by striking ``, 
                periodically update,''; and
            (2) in the second subsection (b) and in subsection (c), by 
        striking ``subsection (b)(5)'' and inserting ``subsection 
        (b)(7)''.

SEC. 204. STEM EDUCATION COORDINATING OFFICE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall establish within the Directorate for Education and Human 
Resources a STEM Education Coordinating Office, which shall have a 
Director and staff that shall include career employees detailed from 
Federal agencies that fund STEM education programs and activities.
    (b) Responsibilities.--The STEM Education Coordinating Office 
shall--
            (1) provide technical and administrative support to--
                    (A) the Committee on STEM Education, especially in 
                its coordination of Federal STEM programs and strategic 
                planning responsibilities;
                    (B) the Advisory Panel established under section 
                202; and
                    (C) Federal agencies with STEM education programs;
            (2) periodically update and maintain the inventory of 
        federally sponsored STEM education programs and activities 
        established under section 101(b)(8) of the America COMPETES 
        Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621); and
            (3) provide for dissemination of information on Federal 
        STEM education programs and activities, as appropriate, to 
        stakeholders in academia, industry, nonprofit organizations 
        with expertise in STEM education, State and local educational 
        agencies, and other STEM stakeholders.
    (c) Report.--The Director of the STEM Education Coordinating Office 
shall transmit a report annually to Congress not later than 60 days 
after the submission of the President's budget request. The annual 
report shall include--
            (1) any updates to the inventory required under subsection 
        (b)(2);
            (2) a description of all consolidations and terminations of 
        Federal STEM education programs implemented in the previous 
        fiscal year, including an explanation of the reasons for 
        consolidations and terminations;
            (3) recommendations for consolidations and terminations of 
        STEM education programs or activities in the upcoming fiscal 
        year;
            (4) a description of any significant new STEM Education 
        public-private partnerships; and
            (5) description of the progress made in carrying out the 
        strategic plan required under section 101 of the America 
        COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621), 
        including a description of the outcome of any program 
        assessments completed in the previous year.
    (d) Responsibilities of NSF.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall encourage and monitor the efforts of the STEM 
Education Coordinating Office to ensure that the Coordinating Office is 
carrying out its responsibilities under subsection (b) appropriately.

           TITLE III--OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY

SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated for the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy--
            (1) $4,550,000 for fiscal year 2016; and
            (2) $4,550,000 for fiscal year 2017.

SEC. 302. REGULATORY EFFICIENCY.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) high and increasing administrative burdens and costs in 
        Federal research administration, particularly in the higher 
        education sector where most federally sponsored research is 
        performed, are eroding funds available to carry out basic 
        scientific research;
            (2) progress has been made over the last decade in 
        streamlining the pre-award grant application process through 
        Grants.gov, the Federal Government's website portal;
            (3) post-award administrative costs have grown as Federal 
        research agencies have continued to impose agency-unique 
        compliance and reporting requirements on researchers and 
        research institutions;
            (4) facilities and administration costs at research 
        universities can exceed 50 percent of the total value of 
        Federal research grants, and it is estimated that nearly 30 
        percent of the funds invested annually in federally funded 
        research is consumed by paperwork and other administrative 
        processes required by Federal agencies; and
            (5) it is a matter of critical importance to American 
        competitiveness that administrative costs of federally funded 
        research be streamlined so that a higher proportion of taxpayer 
        dollars flow into direct research activities.
    (b) In General.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall establish a working group under the authority 
of the National Science and Technology Council, to include the Office 
of Management and Budget. The working group shall be responsible for 
reviewing Federal regulations affecting research and research 
universities and making recommendations on how to--
            (1) harmonize, streamline, and eliminate duplicative 
        Federal regulations and reporting requirements;
            (2) minimize the regulatory burden on United States 
        institutions of higher education performing federally funded 
        research while maintaining accountability for Federal tax 
        dollars; and
            (3) identify and update specific regulations to refocus on 
        performance-based goals rather than on process while still 
        meeting the desired outcome.
    (c) Stakeholder Input.--In carrying out the responsibilities under 
subsection (b), the working group shall take into account input and 
recommendations from non-Federal stakeholders, including federally 
funded and nonfederally funded researchers, institutions of higher 
education, scientific disciplinary societies and associations, 
nonprofit research institutions, industry, including small businesses, 
federally funded research and development centers, and others with a 
stake in ensuring effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability in the 
performance of scientific research.
    (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and annually thereafter for 3 years, the Director shall 
report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate on what steps have been taken to carry out 
the recommendations of the working group established under subsection 
(b).

SEC. 303. COORDINATION OF INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
              PARTNERSHIPS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall establish a body under the National Science and 
Technology Council with the responsibility to identify and coordinate 
international science and technology cooperation that can strengthen 
the United States science and technology enterprise, improve economic 
and national security, and support United States foreign policy goals.
    (b) NSTC Body Leadership.--The body established under subsection 
(a) shall be co-chaired by senior level officials from the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy and the Department of State.
    (c) Responsibilities.--The body established under subsection (a) 
shall--
            (1) plan and coordinate interagency international science 
        and technology cooperative research and training activities and 
        partnerships supported or managed by Federal agencies and work 
        with other National Science and Technology Council committees 
        to help plan and coordinate the international component of 
        national science and technology priorities;
            (2) establish Federal priorities and policies for aligning, 
        as appropriate, international science and technology 
        cooperative research and training activities and partnerships 
        supported or managed by Federal agencies with the foreign 
        policy goals of the United States;
            (3) identify opportunities for new international science 
        and technology cooperative research and training partnerships 
        that advance both the science and technology and the foreign 
        policy priorities of the United States;
            (4) in carrying out paragraph (3), solicit input and 
        recommendations from non-Federal science and technology 
        stakeholders, including universities, scientific and 
        professional societies, industry, and relevant organizations 
        and institutions; and
            (5) identify broad issues that influence the ability of 
        United States scientists and engineers to collaborate with 
        foreign counterparts, including barriers to collaboration and 
        access to scientific information.
    (d) Report to Congress.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall transmit a report, to be updated every 2 years, 
to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate. The report shall also be made available to the 
public on the reporting agency's website. The report shall contain a 
description of--
            (1) the priorities and policies established under 
        subsection (c)(2);
            (2) the ongoing and new partnerships established since the 
        last update to the report;
            (3) the means by which stakeholder input was received, as 
        well as summary views of stakeholder input; and
            (4) the issues influencing the ability of United States 
        scientists and engineers to collaborate with foreign 
        counterparts.
    (e) Additional Reports to Congress.--The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall transmit, not later than 60 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Foreign 
Relations of the Senate, a report that lists and describes all foreign 
travel by Office of Science and Technology Policy staff and detailees. 
Each report shall specify the dates of each trip, the purpose of the 
trip, Office of Science and Technology Policy participants on the trip, 
total Office of Science and Technology Policy costs associated with the 
trip, and details of all international meetings, including meeting 
participants and topics addressed.

SEC. 304. ALTERNATIVE RESEARCH FUNDING MODELS.

    (a) Pilot Program Authority.--The heads of Federal science 
agencies, in consultation with the Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy, shall conduct appropriate pilot programs to 
validate alternative research funding models, including--
            (1) scientific breakthrough prize programs that are of 
        strategic importance to the Nation and have the capacity to 
        spur new economic growth; and
            (2) novel mechanisms of funding including obtaining non-
        Federal funds through crowd source funding.
    (b) Non-Federal Partners.--A pilot program may be conducted under 
this section through an agreement, grant, or contractual relationship 
with a non-Federal entity regarding the design, administration, and 
funding of the program.
    (c) Prize Competition Judges.--
            (1) Requirements.--Judges for a prize competition carried 
        out under this section shall not be required to be Federal 
        employees. An individual who serves as a judge for a prize 
        competition carried out under this section who is not a Federal 
        employee shall be required to sign an agreement, developed by 
        the Office of Science and Technology Policy, with respect to 
        nondisclosure, conflict of interest, and judging code of 
        conduct requirements.
            (2) Disclosure of personal financial interests.--A judge 
        for a prize competition with a total purse of $10,000 or more, 
        or for an aggregate of prize competitions with a total purse of 
        $50,000 or more, shall be required to disclose all personal 
        financial interests.
            (3) Report to congress.--Not later than 30 days after the 
        Office of Science and Technology Policy completes development 
        of an agreement under paragraph (1), it shall transmit a report 
        to Congress describing the requirements of such agreement.
    (d) Public Notice.--The heads of Federal science agencies shall 
widely advertise prize competitions to be conducted under this section 
to ensure maximum participation.
    (e) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``Federal 
science agency'' means--
            (1) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
            (2) the National Science Foundation;
            (3) the National Institute of Standards and Technology; and
            (4) the National Weather Service.
    (f) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter as part of the annual 
budget submission to Congress, the Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy shall transmit to the Congress a report on 
programs identified and conducted under subsection (a).

SEC. 305. AMENDMENTS TO 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 inserting ``competition'' after ``section, a 
                prize'';
                    (B) by inserting ``types'' after ``following''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``prizes'' and 
                inserting ``prize competitions'';
            (2) in subsection (f)--
                    (A) by striking ``in the Federal Register'' and 
                inserting ``on a publicly accessible Government 
                website, such as www.challenge.gov,''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``prize'' and 
                inserting ``cash prize purse'';
            (3) in subsection (g), by striking ``prize'' and inserting 
        ``cash prize purse'';
            (4) in subsection (h), by inserting ``prize'' before 
        ``competition'' both places it appears;
            (5) in subsection (i)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ``prize'' 
                before ``competition'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``prize'' 
                before ``competition'' both places it appears;
                    (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph 
                (4); and
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(3) Waiver.--An agency may waive the requirement under 
        paragraph (2). The annual report under subsection (p) shall 
        include a list of such waivers granted during the preceding 
        fiscal year, along with a detailed explanation of the reasons 
        for granting the waivers.'';
            (6) in subsection (k)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``prize'' 
                before ``competition''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``prize'' before 
                ``competitions'' both places it appears;
            (7) in subsection (l), by striking all after ``may enter 
        into'' and inserting ``a grant, contract, cooperative 
        agreement, or other agreement with a private sector for-profit 
        or nonprofit entity to administer the prize competition, 
        subject to the provisions of this section.'';
            (8) in subsection (m)--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
            ``(1) In general.--Support for a prize competition under 
        this section, including financial support for the design and 
        administration of a prize competition or funds for a cash prize 
        purse, may consist of Federal appropriated funds and funds 
        provided by private sector for-profit and nonprofit entities. 
        The head of an agency may accept funds from other Federal 
        agencies, private sector for-profit entities, and nonprofit 
        entities to support such prize competitions. The head of an 
        agency may not give any special consideration to any private 
        sector for-profit or nonprofit entity in return for a 
        donation.'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``prize awards'' 
                and inserting ``cash prize purses'';
                    (C) in paragraph (3)(A)--
                            (i) by striking ``No prize'' and inserting 
                        ``No prize competition''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``the prize'' and 
                        inserting ``the cash prize purse'';
                    (D) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ``a prize'' 
                and inserting ``a cash prize purse'';
                    (E) in paragraph (3)(B)(i), by inserting 
                ``competition'' after ``prize'';
                    (F) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``a prize'' 
                and inserting ``a cash prize purse''; and
                    (G) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``cash 
                prizes'' and inserting ``cash prize purses'';
            (9) in subsection (n), by inserting ``for both for-profit 
        and nonprofit entities,'' after ``contract vehicle'';
            (10) in subsection (o)(1), by striking ``or providing a 
        prize'' and insert ``a prize competition or providing a cash 
        prize purse''; and
            (11) in subsection (p)(2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``cash 
                prizes'' both places it occurs and inserting ``cash 
                prize purses''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
                    ``(G) Plan.--A description of crosscutting topical 
                areas and agency-specific mission needs that may be the 
                strongest opportunities for prize competitions during 
                the upcoming 2 fiscal years.''.

SEC. 306. UNITED STATES CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER.

    Title II of the National Science and Technology Policy, 
Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6611 et seq.) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:

                ``united states chief technology officer

    ``Sec. 210.  (a) Appointment.--The President may appoint a United 
States Chief Technology Officer. Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015, such 
officer shall be one of the Associate Directors of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy.
    ``(b) Duties.--The duties of the United States Chief Technology 
Officer should include--
            ``(1) advising the President and the Director of the Office 
        of Science and Technology Policy on Federal information 
        systems, technology, data, and innovation policies and 
        initiatives;
            ``(2) promoting an improved exchange of information among 
        the Federal Government, the public, and Congress;
            ``(3) promoting the use of innovative technological 
        approaches across the Federal Government to ensure a modern 
        information technology infrastructure;
            ``(4) working with the Chief Technology Officers and Chief 
        Information Officers of all Federal agencies to ensure the use 
        of best technologies and security practices for information 
        systems;
            ``(5) establishing a working group with such Officers to 
        exchange best practices about information systems;
            ``(6) promoting transparency and accountability across the 
        Federal Government for all technological implementation by 
        working with agencies to ensure that each arm of the Federal 
        Government, including the executive branch, makes its records 
        open and accessible;
            ``(7) promoting security and privacy protection policies 
        for all Federal information technology systems that are 
        consistent with Federal law, regulations, and current best 
        practices;
            ``(8) promoting technological interoperability of key 
        Government functions;
            ``(9) in consultation with the Office of Management and 
        Budget, providing an annual report to the President, the 
        Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and 
        Congress on the current state of information systems of all 
        Federal agencies, including--
                    ``(A) the status of information systems, including 
                potential technology and security concerns about these 
                information systems in all Federal agencies;
                    ``(B) a review of all Federal websites with third-
                party embedded tools that--
                            ``(i) identifies each embedded tool, who it 
                        belongs to, and the data it collects; and
                            ``(ii) addresses effects on cybersecurity 
                        and consumer privacy, including whether each 
                        website provides prominent notice to consumers 
                        about the presence of the tool and whether the 
                        consumer may opt-out of the tool;
                    ``(C) the amount of money being spent on various 
                technologies; and
                    ``(D) technology recommendations and best 
                practices; and
            ``(10) such other functions and activities as the President 
        and Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy may 
        assign.
    ``(c) Report.--In the absence of a United States Chief Technology 
Officer, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
shall be responsible for providing the report required under subsection 
(b)(9).''.

SEC. 307. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STUDY ON TECHNOLOGY FOR EMERGENCY 
              NOTIFICATIONS ON UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research 
Council to conduct and complete a study to identify and review 
technologies employed at institutions of higher education to provide 
notifications to students, faculty, and other personnel during 
emergency situations in accordance with the requirements of existing 
law. The study shall address--
            (1) the timeliness of notifications during emergency 
        situations provided by various technologies;
            (2) the durability of such technologies in delivering such 
        notifications to students, faculty, and other personnel; and
            (3) the limitations exhibited by such technologies to 
        successfully deliver notifications not more than 30 seconds 
        after the institution of higher education transmits such 
        notifications.
    (b) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which 
the National Research Council enters into the arrangement required by 
subsection (a), the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall submit to Congress a report on the study conducted under 
such subsection.

        TITLE IV--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

SEC. 401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Fiscal Year 2016.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $933,700,000 for the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2016.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $744,700,000 shall be for scientific and 
                technical research and services laboratory activities;
                    (B) $59,000,000 shall be for the construction and 
                maintenance of facilities; and
                    (C) $130,000,000 shall be for industrial technology 
                services activities, of which $125,000,000 shall be for 
                the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program under 
                sections 25 and 26 of the National Institute of 
                Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278I) 
                and $5,000,000 shall be for the Network for 
                Manufacturing Innovation Program under section 34 of 
                the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act 
                (15 U.S.C. 278s).
    (b) Fiscal Year 2017.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $933,700,000 for the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2017.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $744,700,000 shall be for scientific and 
                technical research and services laboratory activities;
                    (B) $59,000,000 shall be for the construction and 
                maintenance of facilities; and
                    (C) $130,000,000 shall be for industrial technology 
                services activities, of which $125,000,000 shall be for 
                the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program under 
                sections 25 and 26 of the National Institute of 
                Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278I) 
                and $5,000,000 shall be for the Network for 
                Manufacturing Innovation Program under section 34 of 
                the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act 
                (15 U.S.C. 278s).

SEC. 402. STANDARDS AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT.

    Section 2 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act 
(15 U.S.C. 272) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``authorized to take'' and inserting 
                ``authorized to serve as the President's principal 
                adviser on standards policy pertaining to the Nation's 
                technological competitiveness and innovation ability 
                and to take'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``compare 
                standards'' and all that follows through ``Federal 
                Government'' and inserting ``facilitate standards-
                related information sharing and cooperation between 
                Federal agencies''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (13), by striking ``Federal, 
                State, and local'' and all that follows through 
                ``private sector'' and inserting ``technical standards 
                activities and conformity assessment activities of 
                Federal, State, and local governments with private 
                sector''; and
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (21), by striking ``and'' after 
                the semicolon;
                    (B) by redesignating paragraph (22) as paragraph 
                (24); and
                    (C) by inserting after paragraph (21) the 
                following:
            ``(22) participate in and support scientific and technical 
        conferences;
            ``(23) perform pre-competitive measurement science and 
        technology research in partnership with institutions of higher 
        education and industry to promote United States industrial 
        competitiveness; and''.

SEC. 403. VISITING COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.

    Section 10 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by striking ``15 members'' and inserting ``not 
                fewer than 11 members'';
                    (B) by striking ``at least 10'' and inserting ``at 
                least two-thirds''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following: ``The 
                Committee may consult with the National Research 
                Council in making recommendations regarding general 
                policy for the Institute.''; and
            (2) in subsection (h)(1), by striking ``, including the 
        Program established under section 28,''.

SEC. 404. POLICE AND SECURITY AUTHORITY.

    Section 15 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278e) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``of the Government; and'' and inserting 
        ``of the Government;''; and
            (2) by striking ``United States Code.'' and inserting 
        ``United States Code; and (i) the protection of Institute 
        buildings and other plant facilities, equipment, and property, 
        and of employees, associates, visitors, or other persons 
        located therein or associated therewith, notwithstanding any 
        other provision of law.''.

SEC. 405. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
271 et seq.) is amended by striking sections 18, 19, and 19A and 
inserting the following:

``SEC. 18. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director may support, promote, and 
coordinate activities and efforts to enhance public awareness and 
understanding of measurement sciences, standards, and technology by the 
general public, industry, and academia in support of the Institute's 
mission.
    ``(b) Research Fellowships.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director may award research 
        fellowships and other forms of financial and logistical 
        assistance, including direct stipend awards, 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) United States citizens for research and 
                technical activities of the Institute.
            ``(2) Selection.--The Director shall select persons to 
        receive such fellowships and assistance on the basis of ability 
        and of the relevance of the proposed work to the mission and 
        programs of the Institute.
            ``(3) Definition.--For the purposes of this subsection, 
        financial and logistical assistance includes, notwithstanding 
        section 1345 of title 31, United States Code, or any contrary 
        provision of law, temporary housing and local transportation to 
        and from the Institute facilities.
    ``(c) Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program.--The Director shall 
establish and conduct a post-doctoral fellowship program, subject to 
the availability of appropriations, that shall include not fewer than 
20 fellows per fiscal year. In evaluating applications for fellowships 
under this subsection, the Director shall give consideration to the 
goal of promoting the participation of underrepresented students in 
research areas supported by the Institute.''.

SEC. 406. PROGRAMMATIC PLANNING REPORT.

    Section 23(d) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278i(d)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
``The 3-year programmatic planning document shall also describe how the 
Director is addressing recommendations from the Visiting Committee on 
Advanced Technology established under section 10.''.

SEC. 407. ASSESSMENTS BY THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL.

    (a) National Academy of Sciences Review.--Not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology shall enter into a contract with 
the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a single, comprehensive 
review of the Institute's laboratory programs. The review shall--
            (1) assess the technical merits and scientific caliber of 
        the research conducted at the laboratories;
            (2) examine the strengths and weaknesses of the 2010 
        laboratory reorganization on the Institute's ability to fulfill 
        its mission;
            (3) evaluate how cross-cutting research and development 
        activities are planned, coordinated, and executed across the 
        laboratories; and
            (4) assess how the laboratories are engaging industry, 
        including the incorporation of industry need, into the research 
        goals and objectives of the Institute.
    (b) Additional Assessments.--Section 24 of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278j) is amended to read as 
follows:

``SEC. 24. ASSESSMENTS BY THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL.

    ``(a) In General.--The Institute shall contract with the National 
Research Council to perform and report on assessments of the technical 
quality and impact of the work conducted at Institute laboratories.
    ``(b) Schedule.--Two laboratories shall be assessed under 
subsection (a) each year, and each laboratory shall be assessed at 
least once every 3 years.
    ``(c) Summary Report.--Beginning in the year after the first 
assessment is conducted under subsection (a), and once every two years 
thereafter, the Institute shall contract with the National Research 
Council to prepare a report that summarizes the findings common across 
the individual assessment reports.
    ``(d) Additional Assessments.--The Institute, at the discretion of 
the Director, also may contract with the National Research Council to 
conduct additional assessments of Institute programs and projects that 
involve collaboration across the Institute laboratories and centers and 
assessments of selected scientific and technical topics.
    ``(e) Consultation With Visiting Committee on Advanced 
Technology.--The National Research Council may consult with the 
Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology established under section 10 
in performing the assessments under this section.
    ``(f) Reports.--Not later than 30 days after the completion of each 
assessment, the Institute shall transmit the report on such assessment 
to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate.''.

SEC. 408. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP.

    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 and Purpose.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, through the Director and, 
        if appropriate, through other officials, shall provide 
        assistance for the creation and support of manufacturing 
        extension centers, to be known as the `Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Centers', for the transfer of manufacturing 
        technology and best business practices (in this Act referred to 
        as the `Centers'). The program under this section shall be 
        known as the `Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership'.
            ``(2) Affiliations.--Such Centers shall 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 Centers is to 
        enhance competitiveness, productivity, and technological 
        performance in United States manufacturing through--
                    ``(A) the transfer of manufacturing technology and 
                techniques developed at the Institute to Centers and, 
                through them, to manufacturing companies throughout the 
                United States;
                    ``(B) the participation of individuals from 
                industry, institutions of higher education, State 
                governments, other Federal agencies, and, when 
                appropriate, the Institute in cooperative technology 
                transfer activities;
                    ``(C) efforts to make new manufacturing technology 
                and processes usable by United States-based small and 
                medium-sized companies;
                    ``(D) the active dissemination of scientific, 
                engineering, technical, and management information 
                about manufacturing to industrial firms, including 
                small and medium-sized manufacturing companies;
                    ``(E) the utilization, when appropriate, of the 
                expertise and capability that exists in Federal 
                laboratories other than the Institute;
                    ``(F) the provision to community colleges and area 
                career and technical education schools of information 
                about the job skills needed in small and medium-sized 
                manufacturing businesses in the regions they serve; and
                    ``(G) promoting and expanding certification systems 
                offered through industry, associations, and local 
                colleges, when appropriate.
    ``(b) Activities.--The activities of the Centers shall include--
            ``(1) the establishment of automated manufacturing systems 
        and other advanced production technologies, based on Institute-
        supported research, for the purpose of demonstrations and 
        technology transfer;
            ``(2) the active transfer and dissemination of research 
        findings and Center expertise to a wide range of companies and 
        enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized manufacturers; 
        and
            ``(3) the facilitation of collaborations and partnerships 
        between small and medium-sized manufacturing companies and 
        community colleges and area career and technical education 
        schools to help such colleges and schools better understand the 
        specific needs of manufacturers and to help manufacturers 
        better understand the skill sets that students learn in the 
        programs offered by such colleges and schools.
    ``(c) Operations.--
            ``(1) Financial support.--The Secretary may provide 
        financial support to any Center created under subsection (a). 
        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 such Center.
            ``(2) Regulations.--The Secretary shall implement, review, 
        and update the sections of the Code of Federal Regulations 
        related to this section at least once every 3 years.
            ``(3) Application.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any nonprofit institution, or 
                consortium thereof, or State or local government, may 
                submit to the Secretary an application for financial 
                support under this section, in accordance with the 
                procedures established by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Cost sharing.--In order to receive assistance 
                under this section, an applicant for financial 
                assistance under subparagraph (A) 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. For 
                purposes of the preceding sentence, the costs incurred 
                means the costs incurred in connection with the 
                activities undertaken to improve the competitiveness, 
                management, productivity, and technological performance 
                of small and medium-sized manufacturing companies.
                    ``(C) Agreements with other entities.--In meeting 
                the 50-percent requirement, it is anticipated that a 
                Center will enter into agreements with other entities 
                such as private industry, institutions of higher 
                education, 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.
                    ``(D) Legal rights.--Each applicant under 
                subparagraph (A) 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.--The Secretary shall subject each such 
        application to merit review. In making a decision whether to 
        approve such application and provide financial support under 
        this section, the Secretary shall consider, at a minimum, the 
        following:
                    ``(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) Geographical diversity and extent of service 
                area.
                    ``(D) The percentage of funding and amount of in-
                kind commitment from other sources.
            ``(5) Evaluation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each Center that receives 
                financial assistance under this section shall be 
                evaluated during its third year of operation by an 
                evaluation panel appointed by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Composition.--Each such evaluation panel 
                shall be composed of private experts, none of whom 
                shall be connected with the involved Center, and 
                Federal officials.
                    ``(C) Chair.--An official of the Institute shall 
                chair the panel.
                    ``(D) Performance measurement.--Each evaluation 
                panel shall measure the involved Center's performance 
                against the objectives specified in this section.
                    ``(E) Positive evaluation.--If the evaluation is 
                positive, the Secretary may provide continued funding 
                through the sixth year.
                    ``(F) Probation.--The Secretary shall not provide 
                funding unless the Center has received a positive 
                evaluation. A Center that has not received a positive 
                evaluation by the evaluation panel shall be notified by 
                the panel of the deficiencies in its performance and 
                shall be placed on probation for one year, after which 
                time the panel shall reevaluate the Center. If the 
                Center has not addressed the deficiencies identified by 
                the panel, or shown a significant improvement in its 
                performance, the Director shall conduct a new 
                competition to select an operator for the Center or may 
                close the Center.
                    ``(G) Additional financial support.--After the 
                sixth year, a Center may receive additional financial 
                support under this section if it has received a 
                positive evaluation through an independent review, 
                under procedures established by the Institute.
                    ``(H) Eight-year review.--A Center shall undergo an 
                independent review in the 8th year of operation. Each 
                evaluation panel shall measure the Center's performance 
                against the objectives specified in this section. A 
                Center that has not received a positive evaluation as a 
                result of an independent review shall be notified by 
                the Program of the deficiencies in its performance and 
                shall be placed on probation for one year, after which 
                time the Program shall reevaluate the Center. If the 
                Center has not addressed the deficiencies identified by 
                the review, or shown a significant improvement in its 
                performance, the Director shall conduct a new 
                competition to select an operator for the Center or may 
                close the Center.
                    ``(I) Recompetition.--If a recipient of a Center 
                award has received financial assistance for 10 
                consecutive years, the Director shall conduct a new 
                competition to select an operator for the Center 
                consistent with the plan required in this Act. 
                Incumbent Center operators in good standing shall be 
                eligible to compete for the new award.
                    ``(J) Reports.--
                            ``(i) Plan.--Not later than 180 days after 
                        the date of enactment of the America COMPETES 
                        Reauthorization Act of 2015, the Director shall 
                        transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, 
                        and Technology of the House of Representatives 
                        and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                        Transportation of the Senate a plan as to how 
                        the Institute will conduct reviews, 
                        assessments, and reapplication competitions 
                        under this paragraph.
                            ``(ii) Independent assessment.--The 
                        Director shall contract with an independent 
                        organization to perform an assessment of the 
                        implementation of the reapplication competition 
                        process under this paragraph within 3 years 
                        after the transmittal of the report under 
                        clause (i). The organization conducting the 
                        assessment under this clause may consult with 
                        the MEP Advisory Board.
                            ``(iii) Comparison of centers.--Not later 
                        than 2 years after the date of enactment of the 
                        America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015, 
                        the Director shall transmit to the Committee on 
                        Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
                        Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
                        Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
                        report providing information on the first and 
                        second years of operations for centers 
                        operating from new competitions or 
                        recompetition as compared to longstanding 
                        centers. The report shall provide detail on the 
                        engagement in services provided by Centers and 
                        the characteristics of services provided, 
                        including volume and type of services, so that 
                        the Committees can evaluate whether the cost-
                        sharing ratio has an effect on the services 
                        provided at Centers.
            ``(6) Patent rights.--The provisions of chapter 18 of title 
        35, United States Code, shall apply, to the extent not 
        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.
            ``(7) Protection of center client confidential 
        information.--Section 552 of title 5, United States Code, shall 
        apply to the following information obtained by the Federal 
        Government on a confidential basis in connection with the 
        activities of any participant involved in the Hollings 
        Manufacturing Extension Partnership:
                    ``(A) Information on the business operation of any 
                participant in a Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                Partnership program or of a client of a Center.
                    ``(B) Trade secrets possessed by any client of a 
                Center.
            ``(8) Advisory boards.--Each Center's advisory boards shall 
        institute a conflict of interest policy, approved by the 
        Director, that ensures the Board represents local small and 
        medium-sized manufacturers in the Center's region. Board 
        Members may not serve as a vendor or provide services to the 
        Center, nor may they serve on more than one Center's oversight 
        board simultaneously.
    ``(d) 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, the Secretary and 
        Director also may accept funds from other Federal departments 
        and agencies and, under section 2(c)(7), from the private 
        sector for the purpose of strengthening United States 
        manufacturing.
            ``(2) Allocation of funds.--
                    ``(A) Funds accepted from other 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 (c).
                    ``(B) Funds accepted from the private sector.--
                Funds accepted from the private sector under section 
                2(c)(7), if allocated to a Center, may not be 
                considered in the calculation of the Federal share 
                under subsection (c) of this section.
    ``(e) MEP Advisory Board.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
        Institute a Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board 
        (in this subsection referred to as the `MEP 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 on 
                an advisory board for the Centers, at least 1 member 
                shall represent a community college, and at least 5 
                other members shall be from United States small 
                businesses in the manufacturing sector. No member shall 
                be an employee of the Federal Government.
                    ``(B) Term.--Except as provided in subparagraph (C) 
                or (D), 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 his predecessor was appointed shall be 
                appointed for the remainder of such term.
                    ``(D) Serving consecutive terms.--Any person who 
                has completed two consecutive full terms of service on 
                the MEP Advisory Board shall thereafter be ineligible 
                for appointment during the one-year period following 
                the expiration of the second such term.
            ``(3) Meetings.--The MEP Advisory Board shall meet not less 
        than 2 times annually and shall provide to the Director--
                    ``(A) advice on Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                Partnership programs, plans, and policies;
                    ``(B) assessments of the soundness of Hollings 
                Manufacturing Extension Partnership plans and 
                strategies; and
                    ``(C) assessments of current performance against 
                Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program 
                plans.
            ``(4) Federal advisory committee act applicability.--
                    ``(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.
                    ``(B) Exception.--Section 14 of the Federal 
                Advisory Committee Act 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 
        within 30 days after the submission to Congress of the 
        President's annual budget request in each year. Such report 
        shall address the status of the program established pursuant to 
        this section and 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.
    ``(f) Competitive Grant Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish, within 
        the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, under this 
        section and section 26, a program of competitive awards among 
        participants described in paragraph (2) for the purposes 
        described in paragraph (3).
            ``(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 is to add capabilities to the Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership, 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 small and medium-sized manufacturers. One or more 
        themes for the competition may be identified, which may vary 
        from year to year, depending on the needs of manufacturers and 
        the success of previous competitions. Centers may be reimbursed 
        for costs incurred under the program.
            ``(4) Applications.--Applications for awards under this 
        subsection shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, and 
        containing such information as the Director shall require, in 
        consultation with the MEP Advisory Board.
            ``(5) Selection.--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 shall select proposals to receive 
        awards that will--
                    ``(A) improve the competitiveness of industries in 
                the region in which the Center or Centers are located;
                    ``(B) create jobs or train newly hired employees; 
                and
                    ``(C) promote the transfer and commercialization of 
                research and technology from institutions of higher 
                education, national laboratories, and nonprofit 
                research institutes.
            ``(6) Program contribution.--Recipients of awards under 
        this subsection shall not be required to provide a matching 
        contribution.
            ``(7) Global marketplace projects.--In making awards under 
        this subsection, the Director, in consultation with the MEP 
        Advisory Board and the Secretary, may take into consideration 
        whether an application has significant potential for enhancing 
        the competitiveness of small and medium-sized United States 
        manufacturers in the global marketplace.
            ``(8) Duration.--Awards under this subsection shall last no 
        longer than 3 years.
    ``(g) Evaluation of Obstacles Unique to Small Manufacturers.--The 
Director shall--
            ``(1) evaluate obstacles that are unique to small 
        manufacturers that prevent such manufacturers from effectively 
        competing in the global market;
            ``(2) implement a comprehensive plan to train the Centers 
        to address such obstacles; and
            ``(3) facilitate improved communication between the Centers 
        to assist such manufacturers in implementing appropriate, 
        targeted solutions to such obstacles.
    ``(h) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `area career and technical education school' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Carl D. 
        Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 
        (20 U.S.C. 2302); and
            ``(2) the term `community college' means an institution of 
        higher education (as defined under section 101(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) at which the highest 
        degree that is predominately awarded to students is an 
        associate's degree.''.

SEC. 409. ELIMINATION OF OBSOLETE REPORTS.

    (a) Enterprise Integration Standardization and Implementation 
Activities Report.--Section 3 of the Enterprise Integration Act of 2002 
(15 U.S.C. 278g-5) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (c); and
            (2) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections 
        (c) and (d), respectively.
    (b) TIP Reports.--Section 28 of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (g); and
            (2) in subsection (k), by striking paragraph (5).

SEC. 410. MODIFICATIONS TO GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.

    Section 8(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3706(a)) is amended by striking ``The total amount of 
any such grant or cooperative agreement may not exceed 75 percent of 
the total cost of the program.''.

SEC. 411. INFORMATION SYSTEMS STANDARDS CONSULTATION.

    Section 20(c)(1) of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-3(c)(1)) is amended by striking ``the 
National Security Agency,''.

SEC. 412. UNITED STATES-ISRAELI COOPERATION.

    It is the Sense of Congress that--
            (1) partnerships that facilitate basic scientific research 
        between the United States and Israel advance technology 
        development, innovation, and commercialization leading to 
        growth in various sectors, including manufacturing, and 
        creating benefits for both nations;
            (2) joint research and development agreements carried out 
        through government organizations like the National Institute of 
        Standards and Technology support these efforts;
            (3) partnerships between the United States and Israel that 
        further the basic scientific enterprise should be encouraged; 
        and
            (4) the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
        should continue its role as facilitator of scientific 
        collaborations between Israel and United States cities, States, 
        businesses, academic institutions, and scientific foundations.

                 TITLE V--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SCIENCE

SEC. 501. MISSION.

    Section 209 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 
7139) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Mission.--The mission of the Office of Science shall be the 
delivery of scientific discoveries, capabilities, and major scientific 
tools to transform the understanding of nature and to advance the 
energy, economic, and national security of the United States. In 
support of this mission, the Director shall carry out programs on basic 
energy sciences, advanced scientific computing research, high energy 
physics, biological and environmental research, fusion energy sciences, 
and nuclear physics, including as provided under subtitle A of title V 
of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015, through activities 
focused on--
            ``(1) fundamental scientific discoveries through the study 
        of matter and energy;
            ``(2) science in the national interest, including--
                    ``(A) advancing an agenda for American energy 
                security through research on energy production, 
                storage, transmission, efficiency, and use; and
                    ``(B) advancing our understanding of the Earth's 
                climate through research in atmospheric and 
                environmental sciences; and
            ``(3) National Scientific User Facilities to deliver the 
        21st century tools of science, engineering, and technology and 
        provide the Nation's researchers with the most advanced tools 
        of modern science including accelerators, colliders, 
        supercomputers, light sources and neutron sources, and 
        facilities for studying materials science.
    ``(d) Coordination With Other Department of Energy Programs.--The 
Under Secretary for Science and Energy shall ensure the coordination of 
Office of Science activities and programs with other activities of the 
Department.''.

SEC. 502. BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES.

    (a) Program.--The Director shall carry out a program in basic 
energy sciences, including materials sciences and engineering, chemical 
sciences, physical biosciences, and geosciences, for the purpose of 
providing the scientific foundations for new energy technologies.
    (b) Mission.--The mission of the program described in subsection 
(a) shall be to support fundamental research to understand, predict, 
and ultimately control matter and energy at the electronic, atomic, and 
molecular levels in order to provide the foundations for new energy 
technologies and to support Department missions in energy, environment, 
and national security.
    (c) Basic Energy Sciences User Facilities.--The Director shall 
carry out a subprogram for the development, construction, operation, 
and maintenance of national user facilities to support the program 
under this section. As practicable, these facilities shall serve the 
needs of the Department, industry, the academic community, and other 
relevant entities to create and examine new materials and chemical 
processes for the purposes of advancing new energy technologies and 
improving the competitiveness of the United States. These facilities 
shall include--
            (1) x-ray light sources;
            (2) neutron sources;
            (3) nanoscale science research centers; and
            (4) other facilities the Director considers appropriate, 
        consistent with section 209 of the Department of Energy 
        Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7139).
    (d) Light Source Leadership Initiative.--
            (1) Establishment.--In support of the subprogram authorized 
        in subsection (c), the Director shall establish an initiative 
        to sustain and advance global leadership of light source user 
        facilities.
            (2) Leadership strategy.--Not later than 9 months after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, and biennially thereafter, the 
        Director shall prepare, in consultation with relevant 
        stakeholders, and submit to the Committee on Science, Space, 
        and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a light 
        source leadership strategy that--
                    (A) identifies, prioritizes, and describes plans 
                for the development, construction, and operation of 
                light sources over the next decade;
                    (B) describes plans for optimizing management and 
                use of existing light source facilities; and
                    (C) assesses the international outlook for light 
                source user facilities and describes plans for United 
                States cooperation in such projects.
            (3) Advisory committee feedback and recommendations.--Not 
        later than 45 days after submission of the strategy described 
        in paragraph (2), the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee 
        shall provide the Director, the Committee on Science, Space, 
        and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the 
        Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a 
        report of the Advisory Committee's analyses, findings, and 
        recommendations for improving the strategy, including a review 
        of the most recent budget request for the initiative.
            (4) Proposed budget.--The Director shall transmit annually 
        to Congress a proposed budget corresponding to the activities 
        identified in the strategy.
    (e) Accelerator Research and Development.--The Director shall carry 
out research and development on advanced accelerator and storage ring 
technologies relevant to the development of Basic Energy Sciences user 
facilities, in consultation with the Office of Science's High Energy 
Physics and Nuclear Physics programs.

SEC. 503. ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING RESEARCH.

    (a) Program.--The Director shall carry out a research, development, 
and demonstration program to advance computational and networking 
capabilities to analyze, model, simulate, and predict complex phenomena 
relevant to the development of new energy technologies and the 
competitiveness of the United States.
    (b) Facilities.--The Director, as part of the program described in 
subsection (a), shall develop and maintain world-class computing and 
network facilities for science and deliver critical research in applied 
mathematics, computer science, and advanced networking to support the 
Department's missions.
    (c) Definitions.--Section 2 of the Department of Energy High-End 
Computing Revitalization Act of 2004 (15 U.S.C. 5541) is amended by 
striking paragraphs (1) through (5) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) Co-design.--The term `co-design' means the joint 
        development of application algorithms, models, and codes with 
        computer technology architectures and operating systems to 
        maximize effective use of high-end computing systems.
            ``(2) Department.--The term `Department' means the 
        Department of Energy.
            ``(3) Exascale.--The term `exascale' means computing system 
        performance at or near 10 to the 18th power floating point 
        operations per second.
            ``(4) High-end computing system.--The term `high-end 
        computing system' means a computing system with performance 
        that substantially exceeds that of systems that are commonly 
        available for advanced scientific and engineering applications.
            ``(5) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        `institution of higher education' has the meaning given the 
        term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
        15801).
            ``(6) Leadership system.--The term `leadership system' 
        means a high-end computing system that is among the most 
        advanced in the world in terms of performance in solving 
        scientific and engineering problems.
            ``(7) National laboratory.--The term `National Laboratory' 
        means any one of the seventeen laboratories owned by the 
        Department.
            ``(8) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.
            ``(9) Software technology.--The term `software technology' 
        includes optimal algorithms, programming environments, tools, 
        languages, and operating systems for high-end computing 
        systems.''.
    (d) Department of Energy High-End Computing Research and 
Development Program.--Section 3 of the Department of Energy High-End 
Computing Revitalization Act of 2004 (15 U.S.C. 5542) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``program'' and 
                inserting ``coordinated program across the 
                Department'';
                    (B) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (1);
                    (C) by striking the period at the end of paragraph 
                (2) and inserting ``; and''; and
                    (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(3) partner with universities, National Laboratories, and 
        industry to ensure the broadest possible application of the 
        technology developed in this program to other challenges in 
        science, engineering, medicine, and industry.'';
            (2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``vector'' and all 
        that follows through ``architectures'' and inserting ``computer 
        technologies that show promise of substantial reductions in 
        power requirements and substantial gains in parallelism of 
        multicore processors, concurrency, memory and storage, 
        bandwidth, and reliability''; and
            (3) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
    ``(d) Exascale Computing Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
        coordinated research program to develop exascale computing 
        systems to advance the missions of the Department.
            ``(2) Execution.--The Secretary shall, through competitive 
        merit review, establish two or more National Laboratory-
        industry-university partnerships to conduct integrated 
        research, development, and engineering of multiple exascale 
        architectures, and--
                    ``(A) conduct mission-related co-design activities 
                in developing such exascale platforms;
                    ``(B) develop those advancements in hardware and 
                software technology required to fully realize the 
                potential of an exascale production system in 
                addressing Department target applications and solving 
                scientific problems involving predictive modeling and 
                simulation and large-scale data analytics and 
                management; and
                    ``(C) explore the use of exascale computing 
                technologies to advance a broad range of science and 
                engineering.
            ``(3) Administration.--In carrying out this program, the 
        Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) provide, on a competitive, merit-reviewed 
                basis, access for researchers in United States 
                industry, institutions of higher education, National 
                Laboratories, and other Federal agencies to these 
                exascale systems, as appropriate; and
                    ``(B) conduct outreach programs to increase the 
                readiness for the use of such platforms by domestic 
                industries, including manufacturers.
            ``(4) Reports.--
                    ``(A) Integrated strategy and program management 
                plan.--The Secretary shall submit to Congress, not 
                later than 90 days after the date of enactment of the 
                America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015, a report 
                outlining an integrated strategy and program management 
                plan, including target dates for prototypical and 
                production exascale platforms, interim milestones to 
                reaching these targets, functional requirements, roles 
                and responsibilities of National Laboratories and 
                industry, acquisition strategy, and estimated resources 
                required, to achieve this exascale system capability. 
                The report shall include the Secretary's plan for 
                Departmental organization to manage and execute the 
                Exascale Computing Program, including definition of the 
                roles and responsibilities within the Department to 
                ensure an integrated program across the Department. The 
                report shall also include a plan for ensuring balance 
                and prioritizing across ASCR subprograms in a flat or 
                slow-growth budget environment.
                    ``(B) Status reports.--At the time of the budget 
                submission of the Department for each fiscal year, the 
                Secretary shall submit a report to Congress that 
                describes the status of milestones and costs in 
                achieving the objectives of the exascale computing 
                program.
                    ``(C) Exascale merit report.--At least 18 months 
                prior to the initiation of construction or installation 
                of any exascale-class computing facility, the Secretary 
                shall transmit a plan to the Congress detailing--
                            ``(i) the proposed facility's cost 
                        projections and capabilities to significantly 
                        accelerate the development of new energy 
                        technologies;
                            ``(ii) technical risks and challenges that 
                        must be overcome to achieve successful 
                        completion and operation of the facility; and
                            ``(iii) an independent assessment of the 
                        scientific and technological advances expected 
                        from such a facility relative to those expected 
                        from a comparable investment in expanded 
                        research and applications at terascale-class 
                        and petascale-class computing facilities, 
                        including an evaluation of where investments 
                        should be made in the system software and 
                        algorithms to enable these advances.''.

SEC. 504. HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS.

    (a) Program.--The Director shall carry out a research program on 
the fundamental constituents of matter and energy and the nature of 
space and time.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the Director should incorporate the findings and 
        recommendations of the Particle Physics Project Prioritization 
        Panel's report entitled ``Building for Discovery: Strategic 
        Plan for U.S. Particle Physics in the Global Context'', into 
        the Department's planning process as part of the program 
        described in subsection (a);
            (2) the Director should prioritize domestically hosted 
        research projects that will maintain the United States position 
        as a global leader in particle physics and attract the world's 
        most talented physicists and foreign investment for 
        international collaboration; and
            (3) the nations that lead in particle physics by hosting 
        international teams dedicated to a common scientific goal 
        attract the world's best talent and inspire future generations 
        of physicists and technologists.
    (c) Neutrino Research.--As part of the program described in 
subsection (a), the Director shall carry out research activities on 
rare decay processes and the nature of the neutrino, which may include 
collaborations with the National Science Foundation or international 
collaborations.
    (d) Dark Energy and Dark Matter Research.--As part of the program 
described in subsection (a), the Director shall carry out research 
activities on the nature of dark energy and dark matter, which may 
include collaborations with the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration or the National Science Foundation, or international 
collaborations.
    (e) Accelerator Research and Development.--The Director shall carry 
out research and development in advanced accelerator concepts and 
technologies, including laser technologies, to reduce the necessary 
scope and cost for the next generation of particle accelerators. The 
Director shall ensure access to national laboratory accelerator 
facilities, infrastructure, and technology for users and developers of 
accelerators that advance applications in energy and the environment, 
medicine, industry, national security, and discovery science.
    (f) International Collaboration.--The Director, as practicable and 
in coordination with other appropriate Federal agencies as necessary, 
shall ensure the access of United States researchers to the most 
advanced accelerator facilities and research capabilities in the world, 
including the Large Hadron Collider.

SEC. 505. BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH.

    (a) Program.--The Director shall carry out a program of research, 
development, and demonstration in the areas of biological systems 
science and climate and environmental science to support the energy and 
environmental missions of the Department.
    (b) Priority Research.--In carrying out this section, the Director 
shall prioritize fundamental research on biological systems and 
genomics science with the greatest potential to enable scientific 
discovery.
    (c) Assessment.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit a report to 
Congress identifying climate science-related initiatives under this 
section that overlap or duplicate initiatives of other Federal agencies 
and the extent of such overlap or duplication.
    (d) Limitation.--The Director shall not approve new climate 
science-related initiatives to be carried out through the Office of 
Science without making a determination that such work is unique and not 
duplicative of work by other Federal agencies. Not later than 3 months 
after receiving the assessment required under subsection (c), the 
Director shall cease those climate science-related initiatives 
identified in the assessment as overlapping or duplicative, unless the 
Director justifies that such work is critical to achieving American 
energy security.
    (e) Low Dose Radiation Research Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Director of the Department of Energy 
        Office of Science shall carry out a research program on low 
        dose radiation. The purpose of the program is to enhance the 
        scientific understanding of and reduce uncertainties associated 
        with the effects of exposure to low dose radiation in order to 
        inform improved risk management methods.
            (2) Study.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into an 
        agreement with the National Academies to conduct a study 
        assessing the current status and development of a long-term 
        strategy for low dose radiation research. Such study shall be 
        completed not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
        of this Act. The study shall be conducted in coordination with 
        Federal agencies that perform ionizing radiation effects 
        research and shall leverage the most current studies in this 
        field. Such study shall--
                    (A) identify current scientific challenges for 
                understanding the long-term effects of ionizing 
                radiation;
                    (B) assess the status of current low dose radiation 
                research in the United States and internationally;
                    (C) formulate overall scientific goals for the 
                future of low-dose radiation research in the United 
                States;
                    (D) recommend a long-term strategic and prioritized 
                research agenda to address scientific research goals 
                for overcoming the identified scientific challenges in 
                coordination with other research efforts;
                    (E) define the essential components of a research 
                program that would address this research agenda within 
                the universities and the National Laboratories; and
                    (F) assess the cost-benefit effectiveness of such a 
                program.
            (3) Research plan.--Not later than 90 days after the 
        completion of the study performed under paragraph (2) the 
        Secretary of Energy shall deliver to the Committee on Science, 
        Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a 5-
        year research plan that responds to the study's findings and 
        recommendations and identifies and prioritizes research needs.
            (4) Definition.--In this subsection, the term ``low dose 
        radiation'' means a radiation dose of less than 100 
        millisieverts.
            (5) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall 
        be construed to subject any research carried out by the 
        Director under the research program under this subsection to 
        any limitations described in section 977(e) of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16317(e)).

SEC. 506. FUSION ENERGY.

    (a) Program.--The Director shall carry out a fusion energy sciences 
research program to expand the fundamental understanding of plasmas and 
matter at very high temperatures and densities and to build the 
scientific foundation necessary to enable fusion power.
    (b) Fusion Materials Research and Development.--As part of the 
activities authorized in section 978 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(42 U.S.C. 16318)--
            (1) the Director, in coordination with the Assistant 
        Secretary for Nuclear Energy of the Department, shall carry out 
        research and development activities to identify, characterize, 
        and demonstrate materials that can endure the neutron, plasma, 
        and heat fluxes expected in a fusion power system; and
            (2) the Secretary shall--
                    (A) provide an assessment of the need for a 
                facility or facilities that can examine and test 
                potential fusion and next generation fission materials 
                and other enabling technologies relevant to the 
                development of fusion power; and
                    (B) provide an assessment of whether a single new 
                facility that substantially addresses magnetic fusion 
                and next generation fission materials research needs is 
                feasible, in conjunction with the expected capabilities 
                of facilities operational as of the date of enactment 
                of this Act.

SEC. 507. NUCLEAR PHYSICS.

    (a) Program.--The Director shall carry out a program of 
experimental and theoretical research, and support associated 
facilities, to discover, explore, and understand all forms of nuclear 
matter.
    (b) Isotope Development and Production for Research Applications.--
The Director shall carry out a program for the production of isotopes, 
including the development of techniques to produce isotopes, that the 
Secretary determines are needed for research, medical, industrial, or 
other purposes. In making this determination, the Secretary shall--
            (1) ensure that, as has been the policy of the United 
        States since the publication in 1965 of Federal Register notice 
        30 Fed. Reg. 3247, isotope production activities do not compete 
        with private industry unless critical national interests 
        necessitate the Federal Government's involvement;
            (2) ensure that activities undertaken pursuant to this 
        section, to the extent practicable, promote the growth of a 
        robust domestic isotope production industry; and
            (3) consider any relevant recommendations made by Federal 
        advisory committees, the National Academies, and interagency 
        working groups in which the Department participates.

SEC. 508. SCIENCE LABORATORIES INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.

    (a) Program.--The Director shall carry out a program to improve the 
safety, efficiency, and mission readiness of infrastructure at Office 
of Science laboratories. The program shall include projects to--
            (1) renovate or replace space that does not meet research 
        needs;
            (2) replace facilities that are no longer cost effective to 
        renovate or operate;
            (3) modernize utility systems to prevent failures and 
        ensure efficiency;
            (4) remove excess facilities to allow safe and efficient 
        operations; and
            (5) construct modern facilities to conduct advanced 
        research in controlled environmental conditions.
    (b) Approach.--In carrying out this section, the Director shall 
utilize all available approaches and mechanisms, including capital line 
items, minor construction projects, energy savings performance 
contracts, utility energy service contracts, alternative financing, and 
expense funding, as appropriate.

SEC. 509. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Fiscal Year 2016.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary for the Office of Science for fiscal year 2016 
$5,339,800,000, of which--
            (1) $1,850,000,000 shall be for Basic Energy Science;
            (2) $788,000,000 shall be for High Energy Physics;
            (3) $550,000,000 shall be for Biological and Environmental 
        Research;
            (4) $624,700,000 shall be for Nuclear Physics;
            (5) $621,000,000 shall be for Advanced Scientific Computing 
        Research;
            (6) $488,000,000 shall be for Fusion Energy Sciences;
            (7) $113,600,000 shall be for Science Laboratories 
        Infrastructure;
            (8) $181,000,000 shall be for Science Program Direction;
            (9) $103,000,000 shall be for Safeguards and Security; and
            (10) $20,500,000 shall be for Workforce Development for 
        Teachers and Scientists.
    (b) Fiscal Year 2017.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
the Secretary for the Office of Science for fiscal year 2017 
$5,339,800,000, of which--
            (1) $1,850,000,000 shall be for Basic Energy Science;
            (2) $788,000,000 shall be for High Energy Physics;
            (3) $550,000,000 shall be for Biological and Environmental 
        Research;
            (4) $624,700,000 shall be for Nuclear Physics;
            (5) $621,000,000 shall be for Advanced Scientific Computing 
        Research;
            (6) $488,000,000 shall be for Fusion Energy Sciences;
            (7) $113,600,000 shall be for Science Laboratories 
        Infrastructure;
            (8) $181,000,000 shall be for Science Program Direction;
            (9) $103,000,000 shall be for Safeguards and Security; and
            (10) $20,500,000 shall be for Workforce Development for 
        Teachers and Scientists.

SEC. 510. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title--
            (1) the term ``Department'' means the Department of Energy;
            (2) the term ``Director'' means the Director of the Office 
        of Science of the Department; and
            (3) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Energy.

    TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY APPLIED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

           Subtitle A--Crosscutting Research and Development

SEC. 601. CROSSCUTTING RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Crosscutting Research and Development.--The Secretary shall, 
through the Under Secretary for Science and Energy, utilize the 
capabilities of the Department to identify strategic opportunities for 
collaborative research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application of innovative science and technologies for--
            (1) advancing the understanding of the energy-water-land 
        use nexus;
            (2) improving energy transmission and distribution systems 
        security and resiliency;
            (3) utilizing supercritical carbon dioxide in electric 
        power generation;
            (4) subsurface technology and engineering;
            (5) exascale computing;
            (6) cybersecurity; and
            (7) critical challenges identified through comprehensive 
        energy studies, evaluations, and reviews.
    (b) Crosscutting Approaches.--To the maximum extent practicable, 
the Secretary shall seek to leverage existing programs, and consolidate 
and coordinate activities, throughout the Department to promote 
collaboration and crosscutting approaches within programs.
    (c) Additional Actions.--The Secretary shall--
            (1) prioritize activities that promote the utilization of 
        all affordable domestic resources;
            (2) develop a rigorous and realistic planning, evaluation, 
        and technical assessment framework for setting objective, long-
        term strategic goals and evaluating progress that ensures the 
        integrity and independence to insulate planning from political 
        influence and the flexibility to adapt to market dynamics;
            (3) ensure that activities shall be undertaken in a manner 
        that does not duplicate other activities within the Department 
        or other Federal Government activities; and
            (4) identify programs that may be more effectively left to 
        the States, industry, nongovernmental organizations, 
        institutions of higher education, or other stakeholders.

SEC. 602. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS AND COORDINATION PLAN.

    Section 994 of Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16358) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 994. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PORTFOLIO ANALYSIS AND COORDINATION 
              PLAN.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall periodically review all of 
the science and technology activities of the Department in a strategic 
framework that takes into account the frontiers of science to which the 
Department can contribute, the national needs relevant to the 
Department's statutory missions, and global energy dynamics.
    ``(b) Coordination Analysis and Plan.--As part of the review under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall develop a plan to improve 
coordination and collaboration in research, development, demonstration, 
and commercial application activities across Department organizational 
boundaries.
    ``(c) Plan Contents.--The plan shall describe--
            ``(1) cross-cutting scientific and technical issues and 
        research questions that span more than one program or major 
        office of the Department;
            ``(2) how the applied technology programs of the Department 
        are coordinating their activities, and addressing those 
        questions;
            ``(3) ways in which the technical interchange within the 
        Department, particularly between the Office of Science and the 
        applied technology programs, can be enhanced, including ways in 
        which the research agendas of the Office of Science and the 
        applied programs can interact and assist each other;
            ``(4) a description of how the Secretary will ensure that 
        the Department's overall research agenda include, in addition 
        to fundamental, curiosity-driven research, fundamental research 
        related to topics of concern to the applied programs, and 
        applications in Departmental technology programs of research 
        results generated by fundamental, curiosity-driven research;
            ``(5) critical assessments of any ongoing programs that 
        have experienced sub-par performance or cost over-runs of 10 
        percent or more over one or more years; and
            ``(6) activities that may be more effectively left to the 
        States, industry, nongovernmental organizations, institutions 
        of higher education, or other stakeholders.
    ``(d) Plan Transmittal.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015, and 
every 4 years thereafter, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate the results 
of the review under subsection (a) and the coordination plan under 
subsection (b).''.

SEC. 603. STRATEGY FOR FACILITIES AND INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) Amendments.--Section 993 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16357) is amended--
            (1) by amending the section heading to read as follows: 
        ``strategy for facilities and infrastructure''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``2008'' and 
        inserting ``2018''.
    (b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The item relating to section 993 
in the table of contents of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is amended to 
read as follows:

``Sec. 993. Strategy for facilities and infrastructure.''.

 Subtitle B--Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability Research and 
                              Development

SEC. 611. DISTRIBUTED ENERGY AND ELECTRIC ENERGY SYSTEMS.

    Section 921 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16211) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 921. DISTRIBUTED ENERGY AND ELECTRIC ENERGY SYSTEMS.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out programs of 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application on 
distributed energy resources and systems reliability and efficiency, to 
improve the reliability and efficiency of distributed energy resources 
and systems, integrating advanced energy technologies with grid 
connectivity, including activities described in this subtitle. The 
programs shall address advanced energy technologies and systems and 
advanced grid security, resiliency, and reliability technologies.
    ``(b) Objectives.--To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary 
shall seek to--
            ``(1) leverage existing programs;
            ``(2) consolidate and coordinate activities throughout the 
        Department to promote collaboration and crosscutting 
        approaches;
            ``(3) ensure activities are undertaken in a manner that 
        does not duplicate other activities within the Department or 
        other Federal Government activities; and
            ``(4) identify programs that may be more effectively left 
        to the States, industry, nongovernmental organizations, 
        institutions of higher education, or other stakeholders.''.

SEC. 612. ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION RESEARCH AND 
              DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Amendments.--Section 925 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16215) is amended--
            (1) by amending the section heading to read as follows: 
        ``electric transmission and distribution research and 
        development'';
            (2) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) Program.--The Secretary shall establish a comprehensive 
research, development, and demonstration program to ensure the 
reliability, efficiency, and environmental integrity of electrical 
transmission and distribution systems, which shall include innovations 
for--
            ``(1) advanced energy delivery technologies, energy storage 
        technologies, materials, and systems;
            ``(2) advanced grid reliability and efficiency technology 
        development;
            ``(3) technologies contributing to significant load 
        reductions;
            ``(4) advanced metering, load management, and control 
        technologies;
            ``(5) technologies to enhance existing grid components;
            ``(6) the development and use of high-temperature 
        superconductors to--
                    ``(A) enhance the reliability, operational 
                flexibility, or power-carrying capability of electric 
                transmission or distribution systems; or
                    ``(B) increase the efficiency of electric energy 
                generation, transmission, distribution, or storage 
                systems;
            ``(7) integration of power systems, including systems to 
        deliver high-quality electric power, electric power 
        reliability, and combined heat and power;
            ``(8) supply of electricity to the power grid by small 
        scale, distributed, and residential-based power generators;
            ``(9) the development and use of advanced grid design, 
        operation, and planning tools; and
            ``(10) any other infrastructure technologies, as 
        appropriate.''; and
            (3) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
    ``(c) Implementation.--
            ``(1) Consortium.--The Secretary shall consider 
        implementing the program under this section using a consortium 
        of participants from industry, institutions of higher 
        education, and National Laboratories.
            ``(2) Objectives.--To the maximum extent practicable the 
        Secretary shall seek to--
                    ``(A) leverage existing programs;
                    ``(B) consolidate and coordinate activities, 
                throughout the Department to promote collaboration and 
                crosscutting approaches;
                    ``(C) ensure activities are undertaken in a manner 
                that does not duplicate other activities within the 
                Department or other Federal Government activities; and
                    ``(D) identify programs that may be more 
                effectively left to the States, industry, 
                nongovernmental organizations, institutions of higher 
                education, or other stakeholders.''.
    (b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The item relating to section 925 
in the table of contents of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is amended to 
read as follows:

``Sec. 925. Electric transmission and distribution research and 
                            development.''.

          Subtitle C--Nuclear Energy Research and Development

SEC. 621. OBJECTIVES.

    Section 951 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271) is 
amended--
            (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct programs of civilian 
nuclear energy research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application, including activities described in this subtitle. Such 
programs shall take into consideration the following objectives:
            ``(1) Enhancing nuclear power's viability as part of the 
        United States energy portfolio.
            ``(2) Reducing used nuclear fuel and nuclear waste products 
        generated by civilian nuclear energy.
            ``(3) Supporting technological advances in areas that 
        industry by itself is not likely to undertake because of 
        technical and financial uncertainty.
            ``(4) Providing the technical means to reduce the 
        likelihood of nuclear proliferation.
            ``(5) Maintaining a cadre of nuclear scientists and 
        engineers.
            ``(6) Maintaining National Laboratory and university 
        nuclear programs, including their infrastructure.
            ``(7) Supporting both individual researchers and 
        multidisciplinary teams of researchers to pioneer new 
        approaches in nuclear energy, science, and technology.
            ``(8) Developing, planning, constructing, acquiring, and 
        operating special equipment and facilities for the use of 
        researchers.
            ``(9) Supporting technology transfer and other appropriate 
        activities to assist the nuclear energy industry, and other 
        users of nuclear science and engineering, including activities 
        addressing reliability, availability, productivity, component 
        aging, safety, and security of nuclear power plants.
            ``(10) Reducing the environmental impact of nuclear energy-
        related activities.
            ``(11) Researching and developing technologies and 
        processes to meet Federal and State requirements and standards 
        for nuclear power systems.'';
            (2) by striking subsections (b) through (d); and
            (3) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (b).

SEC. 622. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES STUDY.

    Section 951 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271) is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) Program Objectives Study.--In furtherance of the program 
objectives listed in subsection (a) of this section, the Government 
Accountability Office shall, within one year after the date of 
enactment of this subsection, transmit to the Congress a report on the 
results of a study on the scientific and technical merit of major 
Federal and State requirements and standards, including moratoria, that 
delay or impede the further development and commercialization of 
nuclear power, and how the Department can assist in overcoming such 
delays or impediments.''.

SEC. 623. NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

    Section 952 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16272) is 
amended by striking subsections (c) through (e) and inserting the 
following:
    ``(c) Reactor Concepts.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a program 
        of research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
        application to advance nuclear power systems as well as 
        technologies to sustain currently deployed systems.
            ``(2) Designs and technologies.--In conducting the program 
        under this subsection, the Secretary shall examine advanced 
        reactor designs and nuclear technologies, including those 
        that--
                    ``(A) have higher efficiency, lower cost, and 
                improved safety compared to reactors in operation as of 
                the date of enactment of the America COMPETES 
                Reauthorization Act of 2015;
                    ``(B) utilize passive safety features;
                    ``(C) minimize proliferation risks;
                    ``(D) substantially reduce production of high-level 
                waste per unit of output;
                    ``(E) increase the life and sustainability of 
                reactor systems currently deployed;
                    ``(F) use improved instrumentation;
                    ``(G) are capable of producing large-scale 
                quantities of hydrogen or process heat;
                    ``(H) minimize water usage or use alternatives to 
                water as a cooling mechanism; or
                    ``(I) use nuclear energy as part of an integrated 
                energy system.
            ``(3) International cooperation.--In carrying out the 
        program under this subsection, the Secretary shall seek 
        opportunities to enhance the progress of the program through 
        international cooperation through such organizations as the 
        Generation IV International Forum or any other international 
        collaboration the Secretary considers appropriate.
            ``(4) Exceptions.--No funds authorized to be appropriated 
        to carry out the activities described in this subsection shall 
        be used to fund the activities authorized under sections 641 
        through 645.''.

SEC. 624. SMALL MODULAR REACTOR PROGRAM.

    Section 952 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16272) is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Small Modular Reactor Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out a small 
        modular reactor program to promote research, development, 
        demonstration, and commercial application of small modular 
        reactors, including through cost-shared projects for commercial 
        application of reactor systems designs.
            ``(2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with and 
        utilize the expertise of the Secretary of the Navy in 
        establishing and carrying out such program.
            ``(3) Additional activities.--Activities may also include 
        development of advanced computer modeling and simulation tools, 
        by Federal and non-Federal entities, which demonstrate and 
        validate new design capabilities of innovative small modular 
        reactor designs.
            ``(4) Definition.--For the purposes of this subsection, the 
        term `small modular reactor' means a nuclear reactor meeting 
        generally accepted industry standards--
                    ``(A) with a rated capacity of less than 300 
                electrical megawatts;
                    ``(B) with respect to which most parts can be 
                factory assembled and shipped as modules to a reactor 
                plant site for assembly; and
                    ``(C) that can be constructed and operated in 
                combination with similar reactors at a single site.''.

SEC. 625. FUEL CYCLE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) Amendments.--Section 953 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16273) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading by striking ``advanced fuel 
        cycle initiative'' and inserting ``fuel cycle research and 
        development'';
            (2) by striking subsection (a);
            (3) by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) as 
        subsections (d) through (f), respectively; and
            (4) by inserting before subsection (d), as so redesignated 
        by paragraph (3) of this subsection, the following new 
        subsections:
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a fuel cycle 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application 
program (referred to in this section as the `program') on fuel cycle 
options that improve uranium resource utilization, maximize energy 
generation, minimize nuclear waste creation, improve safety, mitigate 
risk of proliferation, and improve waste management in support of a 
national strategy for spent nuclear fuel and the reactor concepts 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application 
program under section 952(c).
    ``(b) Fuel Cycle Options.--Under this section the Secretary may 
consider implementing the following initiatives:
            ``(1) Open cycle.--Developing fuels, including the use of 
        nonuranium materials and alternate claddings, for use in 
        reactors that increase energy generation, improve safety 
        performance and margins, and minimize the amount of nuclear 
        waste produced in an open fuel cycle.
            ``(2) Recycle.--Developing advanced recycling technologies, 
        including advanced reactor concepts to improve resource 
        utilization, reduce proliferation risks, and minimize 
        radiotoxicity, decay heat, and mass and volume of nuclear waste 
        to the greatest extent possible.
            ``(3) Advanced storage methods.--Developing advanced 
        storage technologies for both onsite and long-term storage that 
        substantially prolong the effective life of current storage 
        devices or that substantially improve upon existing nuclear 
        waste storage technologies and methods, including repositories.
            ``(4) Fast test reactor.--Investigating the potential 
        research benefits of a fast test reactor user facility to 
        conduct experiments on fuels and materials related to fuel 
        forms and fuel cycles that will increase fuel utilization, 
        reduce proliferation risks, and reduce nuclear waste products.
            ``(5) Other technologies.--Developing any other technology 
        or initiative that the Secretary determines is likely to 
        advance the objectives of the program.
    ``(c) Additional Advanced Recycling and Crosscutting Activities.--
In addition to and in support of the specific initiatives described in 
paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection (b), the Secretary may support 
the following activities:
            ``(1) Development and testing of integrated process flow 
        sheets for advanced nuclear fuel recycling processes.
            ``(2) Research to characterize the byproducts and waste 
        streams resulting from fuel recycling processes.
            ``(3) Research and development on reactor concepts or 
        transmutation technologies that improve resource utilization or 
        reduce the radiotoxicity of waste streams.
            ``(4) Research and development on waste treatment processes 
        and separations technologies, advanced waste forms, and 
        quantification of proliferation risks.
            ``(5) Identification and evaluation of test and 
        experimental facilities necessary to successfully implement the 
        advanced fuel cycle initiative.
            ``(6) Advancement of fuel cycle-related modeling and 
        simulation capabilities.
            ``(7) Research to understand the behavior of high-burnup 
        fuels.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The item relating to section 953 in the 
table of contents of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 is amended to read 
as follows:

``Sec. 953. Fuel cycle research and development.''.

SEC. 626. NUCLEAR ENERGY ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES PROGRAM.

    (a) Amendment.--Subtitle E of title IX of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16271 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section:

``SEC. 958. NUCLEAR ENERGY ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall conduct a program to support 
the integration of activities undertaken through the reactor concepts 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application 
program under section 952(c) and the fuel cycle research and 
development program under section 953, and support crosscutting nuclear 
energy concepts. Activities commenced under this section shall be 
concentrated on broadly applicable research and development focus 
areas.
    ``(b) Activities.--Activities conducted under this section may 
include research involving--
            ``(1) advanced reactor materials;
            ``(2) advanced radiation mitigation methods;
            ``(3) advanced proliferation and security risk assessment 
        methods;
            ``(4) advanced sensors and instrumentation;
            ``(5) high performance computation modeling, including 
        multiphysics, multidimensional modeling simulation for nuclear 
        energy systems, and continued development of advanced modeling 
        simulation capabilities through national laboratory, industry, 
        and university partnerships for operations and safety 
        performance improvements of light water reactors for currently 
        deployed and near-term reactors and for the development of 
        small modular reactors; and
            ``(6) any crosscutting technology or transformative concept 
        aimed at establishing substantial and revolutionary 
        enhancements in the performance of future nuclear energy 
        systems that the Secretary considers relevant and appropriate 
        to the purpose of this section.
    ``(c) Report.--The Secretary shall submit, as part of the annual 
budget submission of the Department, a report on the activities of the 
program conducted under this section, which shall include a brief 
evaluation of each activity's progress.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents of the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 is amended by adding at the end of the items for 
subtitle E of title IX the following new item:

``Sec. 958. Nuclear energy enabling technologies.''.

SEC. 627. TECHNICAL STANDARDS COLLABORATION.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology shall establish a nuclear energy standards 
committee (in this section referred to as the ``technical standards 
committee'') to facilitate and support, consistent with the National 
Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995, the development or 
revision of technical standards for new and existing nuclear power 
plants and advanced nuclear technologies.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) In general.--The technical standards committee shall 
        include representatives from appropriate Federal agencies and 
        the private sector, and be open to materially affected 
        organizations involved in the development or application of 
        nuclear energy-related standards.
            (2) Co-chairs.--The technical standards committee shall be 
        co-chaired by a representative from the National Institute of 
        Standards and Technology and a representative from a private 
        sector standards organization.
    (c) Duties.--The technical standards committee shall, in 
cooperation with appropriate Federal agencies--
            (1) perform a needs assessment to identify and evaluate the 
        technical standards that are needed to support nuclear energy, 
        including those needed to support new and existing nuclear 
        power plants and advanced nuclear technologies;
            (2) formulate, coordinate, and recommend priorities for the 
        development of new technical standards and the revision of 
        existing technical standards to address the needs identified 
        under paragraph (1);
            (3) facilitate and support collaboration and cooperation 
        among standards developers to address the needs and priorities 
        identified under paragraphs (1) and (2);
            (4) as appropriate, coordinate with other national, 
        regional, or international efforts on nuclear energy-related 
        technical standards in order to avoid conflict and duplication 
        and to ensure global compatibility; and
            (5) promote the establishment and maintenance of a database 
        of nuclear energy-related technical standards.
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--To the extent provided for in 
advance by appropriations Acts, the Secretary may transfer to the 
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology not to 
exceed $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2016 for the Secretary of Commerce to 
carry out this section from amounts appropriated for nuclear energy 
research and development within the Nuclear Energy Enabling 
Technologies account for the Department.

SEC. 628. AVAILABLE FACILITIES DATABASE.

    The Secretary shall prepare a database of non-Federal user 
facilities receiving Federal funds that may be used for unclassified 
nuclear energy research.   The Secretary shall make this database 
accessible on the Department's website.

SEC. 629. NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL.

    To the extent consistent with the requirements of current law, the 
Department shall be responsible for disposal of high-level radioactive 
waste or spent nuclear fuel generated by reactors under the programs 
authorized in this subtitle, or the amendments made by this subtitle.

    Subtitle D--Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Research and 
                              Development

SEC. 641. ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

    Section 911 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16191) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 911. ENERGY EFFICIENCY.

    ``(a) Objectives.--The Secretary shall conduct programs of energy 
efficiency research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application, including activities described in this subtitle. Such 
programs shall prioritize activities that industry by itself is not 
likely to undertake because of technical challenges or regulatory 
uncertainty, and take into consideration the following objectives:
            ``(1) Increasing energy efficiency.
            ``(2) Reducing the cost of energy.
            ``(3) Reducing the environmental impact of energy-related 
        activities.
    ``(b) Programs.--Programs under this subtitle shall include 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of--
            ``(1) innovative, affordable technologies to improve the 
        energy efficiency and environmental performance of vehicles, 
        including weight and drag reduction technologies, and whole-
        vehicle design optimization;
            ``(2) cost-effective technologies, for new construction and 
        retrofit, to improve the energy efficiency and environmental 
        performance of buildings, using a whole-buildings approach;
            ``(3) advanced technologies to improve the energy 
        efficiency, environmental performance, and process efficiency 
        of energy-intensive and waste-intensive industries; and
            ``(4) technologies to improve the energy efficiency of 
        appliances and mechanical systems for buildings in extreme 
        climates, including cogeneration, trigeneration, and 
        polygeneration units.''.

SEC. 642. NEXT GENERATION LIGHTING INITIATIVE.

    Section 912 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16192) is 
repealed.

SEC. 643. BUILDING STANDARDS.

    Section 914 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16194) is 
amended by striking subsection (c).

SEC. 644. SECONDARY ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY USE PROGRAM.

    Section 915 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16195) is 
repealed.

SEC. 645. NETWORK FOR MANUFACTURING INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    To the extent provided for in advance by appropriations Acts, the 
Secretary may transfer to the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology up to $150,000,000 for the period encompassing fiscal years 
2015 through 2017 from amounts appropriated for advanced manufacturing 
research and development under this subtitle (and the amendments made 
by this subtitle) for the Secretary of Commerce to carry out the 
Network for Manufacturing Innovation Program authorized under section 
34 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
278s).

SEC. 646. ADVANCED ENERGY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTERS.

    Section 917 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16197) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by inserting ``and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (2)(B);
                    (B) by striking ``; and'' at the end of paragraph 
                (3) and inserting a period; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (4);
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking paragraph (1);
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (5) as 
                paragraphs (1) through (4), respectively; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (6);
            (3) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:
    ``(g) Prohibition.--None of the funds awarded under this section 
may be used for the construction of facilities or the deployment of 
commercially available technologies.''; and
            (4) by striking subsection (i).

SEC. 647. RENEWABLE ENERGY.

    Section 931 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16231) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 931. RENEWABLE ENERGY.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Objectives.--The Secretary shall conduct programs of 
        renewable energy research, development, demonstration, and 
        commercial application, including activities described in this 
        subtitle. Such programs shall prioritize discovery research and 
        development and take into consideration the following 
        objectives:
                    ``(A) Increasing the conversion efficiency of all 
                forms of renewable energy through improved 
                technologies.
                    ``(B) Decreasing the cost of renewable energy 
                generation and delivery.
                    ``(C) Promoting the diversity of the energy supply.
                    ``(D) Decreasing the dependence of the United 
                States on foreign mineral resources.
                    ``(E) Decreasing the environmental impact of 
                renewable energy-related activities.
                    ``(F) Increasing the export of renewable generation 
                technologies from the United States.
            ``(2) Programs.--
                    ``(A) Solar energy.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
                program of research, development, demonstration, and 
                commercial application for solar energy, including 
                innovations in--
                            ``(i) photovoltaics;
                            ``(ii) solar heating;
                            ``(iii) concentrating solar power;
                            ``(iv) lighting systems that integrate 
                        sunlight and electrical lighting in complement 
                        to each other; and
                            ``(v) development of technologies that can 
                        be easily integrated into new and existing 
                        buildings.
                    ``(B) Wind energy.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
                program of research, development, demonstration, and 
                commercial application for wind energy, including 
                innovations in--
                            ``(i) low speed wind energy;
                            ``(ii) testing and verification 
                        technologies;
                            ``(iii) distributed wind energy generation; 
                        and
                            ``(iv) transformational technologies for 
                        harnessing wind energy.
                    ``(C) Geothermal.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
                program of research, development, demonstration, and 
                commercial application for geothermal energy, including 
                technologies for--
                            ``(i) improving detection of geothermal 
                        resources;
                            ``(ii) decreasing drilling costs;
                            ``(iii) decreasing maintenance costs 
                        through improved materials;
                            ``(iv) increasing the potential for other 
                        revenue sources, such as mineral production; 
                        and
                            ``(v) increasing the understanding of 
                        reservoir life cycle and management.
                    ``(D) Hydropower.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
                program of research, development, demonstration, and 
                commercial application for technologies that enable the 
                development of new and incremental hydropower capacity, 
                including:
                            ``(i) Advanced technologies to enhance 
                        environmental performance and yield greater 
                        energy efficiencies.
                            ``(ii) Ocean energy, including wave energy.
                    ``(E) Miscellaneous projects.--The Secretary shall 
                conduct research, development, demonstration, and 
                commercial application programs for--
                            ``(i) the combined use of renewable energy 
                        technologies with one another and with other 
                        energy technologies, including the combined use 
                        of renewable power and fossil technologies;
                            ``(ii) renewable energy technologies for 
                        cogeneration of hydrogen and electricity; and
                            ``(iii) kinetic hydro turbines.
    ``(b) Rural Demonstration Projects.--In carrying out this section, 
the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall 
give priority to demonstrations that assist in delivering electricity 
to rural and remote locations including--
            ``(1) advanced renewable power technology, including 
        combined use with fossil technologies;
            ``(2) biomass; and
            ``(3) geothermal energy systems.
    ``(c) Analysis and Evaluation.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct analysis and 
        evaluation in support of the renewable energy programs under 
        this subtitle. These activities shall be used to guide budget 
        and program decisions, and shall include--
                    ``(A) economic and technical analysis of renewable 
                energy potential, including resource assessment;
                    ``(B) analysis of past program performance, both in 
                terms of technical advances and in market introduction 
                of renewable energy;
                    ``(C) assessment of domestic and international 
                market drivers, including the impacts of any Federal, 
                State, or local grants, loans, loan guarantees, tax 
                incentives, statutory or regulatory requirements, or 
                other government initiatives; and
                    ``(D) any other analysis or evaluation that the 
                Secretary considers appropriate.
            ``(2) Funding.--The Secretary may designate up to 1 percent 
        of the funds appropriated for carrying out this subtitle for 
        analysis and evaluation activities under this subsection.
            ``(3) Submittal to congress.--This analysis and evaluation 
        shall be submitted to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
        Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
        Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate at least 30 days 
        before each annual budget request is submitted to Congress.''.

SEC. 648. BIOENERGY PROGRAM.

    Section 932 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16232) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 932. BIOENERGY PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Program.--The Secretary shall conduct a program of research, 
development, demonstration, and commercial application for bioenergy, 
including innovations in--
            ``(1) biopower energy systems;
            ``(2) biofuels;
            ``(3) bioproducts;
            ``(4) integrated biorefineries that may produce biopower, 
        biofuels, and bioproducts; and
            ``(5) cross-cutting research and development in feedstocks.
    ``(b) Biofuels and Bioproducts.--The goals of the biofuels and 
bioproducts programs shall be to develop, in partnership with industry 
and institutions of higher education--
            ``(1) advanced biochemical and thermochemical conversion 
        technologies capable of making fuels from lignocellulosic 
        feedstocks that are price-competitive with fossil-based fuels 
        and fully compatible with either internal combustion engines or 
        fuel cell-powered vehicles;
            ``(2) advanced biotechnology processes capable of making 
        biofuels and bioproducts with emphasis on development of 
        biorefinery technologies using enzyme-based processing systems; 
        and
            ``(3) other advanced processes that will enable the 
        development of cost-effective bioproducts, including biofuels.
    ``(c) Retrofit Technologies for the Development of Ethanol From 
Cellulosic Materials.--The Secretary shall establish a program of 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial application for 
technologies and processes to enable biorefineries that exclusively use 
corn grain or corn starch as a feedstock to produce ethanol to be 
retrofitted to accept a range of biomass, including lignocellulosic 
feedstocks.
    ``(d) Limitations.--None of the funds authorized for carrying out 
this section may be used to fund commercial biofuels production for 
defense purposes in collaboration with the Department of Defense and 
the Department of Agriculture.
    ``(e) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Biomass.--The term `biomass' means--
                    ``(A) any organic material grown for the purpose of 
                being converted to energy;
                    ``(B) any organic byproduct of agriculture 
                (including wastes from food production and processing) 
                that can be converted into energy; or
                    ``(C) any waste material that can be converted to 
                energy, is segregated from other waste materials, and 
                is derived from--
                            ``(i) any of the following forest-related 
                        resources: mill residues, precommercial 
                        thinnings, slash, brush, or otherwise 
                        nonmerchantable material;
                            ``(ii) wood waste materials, including 
                        waste pallets, crates, dunnage, manufacturing 
                        and construction wood wastes (other than 
                        pressure-treated, chemically treated, or 
                        painted wood wastes), and landscape or right-
                        of-way tree trimmings, but not including 
                        municipal solid waste, gas derived from the 
                        biodegradation of municipal solid waste, or 
                        paper that is commonly recycled; or
                            ``(iii) solids derived from waste water 
                        treatment processes.
            ``(2) Lignocellulosic feedstock.--The term `lignocellulosic 
        feedstock' means any portion of a plant or coproduct from 
        conversion, including crops, trees, forest residues, and 
        agricultural residues not specifically grown for food, 
        including from barley grain, grapeseed, rice bran, rice hulls, 
        rice straw, soybean matter, and sugarcane bagasse.''.

SEC. 649. CONCENTRATING SOLAR POWER RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    Section 934 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16234) is 
repealed.

SEC. 650. RENEWABLE ENERGY IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

    Section 935 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16235) and 
the item relating thereto in the table of contents of that Act are 
repealed.

           Subtitle E--Fossil Energy Research and Development

SEC. 661. FOSSIL ENERGY.

    Section 961 of Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16291) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 961. FOSSIL ENERGY.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out research, 
development, demonstration, and commercial application programs in 
fossil energy, including activities under this subtitle, with the goal 
of improving the efficiency, effectiveness, and environmental 
performance of fossil energy production, upgrading, conversion, and 
consumption. Such programs shall take into consideration the following 
objectives:
            ``(1) Increasing the energy conversion efficiency of all 
        forms of fossil energy through improved technologies.
            ``(2) Decreasing the cost of all fossil energy production, 
        generation, and delivery.
            ``(3) Promoting diversity of energy supply.
            ``(4) Decreasing the dependence of the United States on 
        foreign energy supplies.
            ``(5) Decreasing the environmental impact of energy-related 
        activities.
            ``(6) Increasing the export of fossil energy-related 
        equipment, technology, and services from the United States.
    ``(b) Limitations.--
            ``(1) Uses.--None of the funds authorized for carrying out 
        this section may be used for Fossil Energy Environmental 
        Restoration.
            ``(2) Institutions of higher education.--Not less than 20 
        percent of the funds appropriated for carrying out section 964 
        of this Act for each fiscal year shall be dedicated to research 
        and development carried out at institutions of higher 
        education.
            ``(3) Use for regulatory assessments or determinations.--
        The results of any research, development, demonstration, or 
        commercial application projects or activities of the Department 
        may not be used for regulatory assessments or determinations by 
        Federal regulatory authorities.
    ``(c) Assessments.--
            ``(1) Constraints against bringing resources to market.--
        Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the 
        America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015, the Secretary 
        shall transmit to Congress an assessment of the technical, 
        institutional, policy, and regulatory constraints to bringing 
        new domestic fossil resources to market.
            ``(2) Technology capabilities.--Not later than 2 years 
        after the date of enactment of the America COMPETES 
        Reauthorization Act of 2015, the Secretary shall transmit to 
        Congress a long-term assessment of existing and projected 
        technological capabilities for expanded production from 
        domestic unconventional oil, gas, and methane reserves.''.

SEC. 662. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, AND COMMERCIAL 
              APPLICATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Section 962 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16292) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (10), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(12) specific additional programs to address water use 
        and reuse;
            ``(13) the testing, including the construction of testing 
        facilities, of high temperature materials for use in advanced 
        systems for combustion or use of coal; and
            ``(14) innovations to application of existing coal 
        conversion systems designed to increase efficiency of 
        conversion, flexibility of operation, and other modifications 
        to address existing usage requirements.'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) as 
        subsections (c) through (e), respectively;
            (3) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b) Transformational Coal Technology Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--As part of the program established under 
        subsection (a), the Secretary may carry out a program designed 
        to undertake research, development, demonstration, and 
        commercial application of technologies, including the 
        accelerated development of--
                    ``(A) chemical looping technology;
                    ``(B) supercritical carbon dioxide power generation 
                cycles;
                    ``(C) pressurized oxycombustion, including new and 
                retrofit technologies; and
                    ``(D) other technologies that are characterized by 
                the use of--
                            ``(i) alternative energy cycles;
                            ``(ii) thermionic devices using waste heat;
                            ``(iii) fuel cells;
                            ``(iv) replacement of chemical processes 
                        with biotechnology;
                            ``(v) nanotechnology;
                            ``(vi) new materials in applications (other 
                        than extending cycles to higher temperature and 
                        pressure), such as membranes or ceramics;
                            ``(vii) carbon utilization, such as in 
                        construction materials, using low quality 
                        energy to reconvert back to a fuel, or 
                        manufactured food;
                            ``(viii) advanced gas separation concepts; 
                        and
                            ``(ix) other technologies, including--
                                    ``(I) modular, manufactured 
                                components; and
                                    ``(II) innovative production or 
                                research techniques, such as using 3-D 
                                printer systems, for the production of 
                                early research and development 
                                prototypes.
            ``(2) Cost share.--In carrying out the program described in 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall enter into partnerships with 
        private entities to share the costs of carrying out the 
        program. The Secretary may reduce the non-Federal cost share 
        requirement if the Secretary determines that the reduction is 
        necessary and appropriate considering the technological risks 
        involved in the project.''; and
            (4) in subsection (c) (as so redesignated) by striking 
        paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out programs authorized by 
        this section, the Secretary shall identify cost and performance 
        goals for coal-based technologies that would permit the 
        continued cost-competitive use of coal for the production of 
        electricity, chemical feedstocks, transportation fuels, and 
        other marketable products.''.
    (b) Advisory Committee; Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 
963 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16293) is amended--
            (1) by amending paragraph (6) of subsection (c) to read as 
        follows:
            ``(6) Advisory committee.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the 
                Secretary shall establish an advisory committee to 
                undertake, not less frequently than once every 3 years, 
                a review and prepare a report on the progress being 
                made by the Department of Energy to achieve the goals 
                described in subsections (a) and (b) of section 962 and 
                subsection (b) of this section.
                    ``(B) Membership requirements.--Members of the 
                advisory committee established under subparagraph (A) 
                shall be appointed by the Secretary.''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
    ``(d) Study of Carbon Dioxide Pipelines.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act 
of 2015, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress the results of a 
study to assess the cost and feasibility of engineering, permitting, 
building, maintaining, regulating, and insuring a national system of 
carbon dioxide pipelines.''.

SEC. 663. HIGH EFFICIENCY GAS TURBINES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary, through the Office of Fossil 
Energy, shall carry out a multiyear, multiphase program of research, 
development, demonstration, and commercial application to innovate 
technologies to maximize the efficiency of gas turbines used in power 
generation systems.
    (b) Program Elements.--The program under this section shall--
            (1) support innovative engineering and detailed gas turbine 
        design for megawatt-scale and utility-scale electric power 
        generation, including--
                    (A) high temperature materials, including 
                superalloys, coatings, and ceramics;
                    (B) improved heat transfer capability;
                    (C) manufacturing technology required to construct 
                complex three-dimensional geometry parts with improved 
                aerodynamic capability;
                    (D) combustion technology to produce higher firing 
                temperature while lowering nitrogen oxide and carbon 
                monoxide emissions per unit of output;
                    (E) advanced controls and systems integration;
                    (F) advanced high performance compressor 
                technology; and
                    (G) validation facilities for the testing of 
                components and subsystems;
            (2) include technology demonstration through component 
        testing, subscale testing, and full scale testing in existing 
        fleets;
            (3) include field demonstrations of the developed 
        technology elements so as to demonstrate technical and economic 
        feasibility; and
            (4) assess overall combined cycle and simple cycle system 
        performance.
    (c) Program Goals.--The goals of the multiphase program established 
under subsection (a) shall be--
            (1) in phase I--
                    (A) to develop the conceptual design of advanced 
                high efficiency gas turbines that can achieve at least 
                62 percent combined cycle efficiency or 47 percent 
                simple cycle efficiency on a lower heating value basis; 
                and
                    (B) to develop and demonstrate the technology 
                required for advanced high efficiency gas turbines that 
                can achieve at least 62 percent combined cycle 
                efficiency or 47 percent simple cycle efficiency on a 
                lower heating value basis; and
            (2) in phase II, to develop the conceptual design for 
        advanced high efficiency gas turbines that can achieve at least 
        65 percent combined cycle efficiency or 50 percent simple cycle 
        efficiency on a lower heating value basis.
    (d) Proposals.--Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall solicit grant and contract proposals from 
industry, small businesses, universities, and other appropriate parties 
for conducting activities under this section. In selecting proposals, 
the Secretary shall emphasize--
            (1) the extent to which the proposal will stimulate the 
        creation or increased retention of jobs in the United States; 
        and
            (2) the extent to which the proposal will promote and 
        enhance United States technology leadership.
    (e) Competitive Awards.--The provision of funding under this 
section shall be on a competitive basis with an emphasis on technical 
merit.
    (f) Cost Sharing.--Section 988 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16352) shall apply to an award of financial assistance made 
under this section.

          Subtitle F--Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy

SEC. 671. ARPA-E AMENDMENTS.

    Section 5012 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16538) is 
amended--
            (1) by amending paragraph (1) of subsection (c) to read as 
        follows:
            ``(1) In general.--The goals of ARPA-E shall be to enhance 
        the economic and energy security of the United States and to 
        ensure that the United States maintains a technological lead 
        through the development of advanced energy technologies.'';
            (2) in subsection (i)(1), by inserting ``ARPA-E shall not 
        provide funding for a project unless the prospective grantee 
        demonstrates sufficient attempts to secure private financing as 
        to indicate that the project is not independently commercially 
        viable.'' after ``relevant research agencies.'';
            (3) in subsection (l)(1), by inserting ``and once every 6 
        years thereafter,'' after ``operation for 6 years,''; and
            (4) by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o) and 
        inserting after subsection (m) the following new subsection:
    ``(n) Protection of Proprietary Information.--
            ``(1) In general.--The following categories of information 
        collected by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy from 
        recipients of financial assistance awards shall be considered 
        privileged and confidential and not subject to disclosure 
        pursuant to section 552 of title 5, United States Code:
                    ``(A) Plans for commercialization of technologies 
                developed under the award, including business plans, 
                technology to market plans, market studies, and cost 
                and performance models.
                    ``(B) Investments provided to an awardee from third 
                parties, such as venture capital, hedge fund, or 
                private equity firms, including amounts and percentage 
                of ownership of the awardee provided in return for such 
                investments.
                    ``(C) Additional financial support that the awardee 
                plans to invest or has invested into the technology 
                developed under the award, or that the awardee is 
                seeking from third parties.
                    ``(D) Revenue from the licensing or sale of new 
                products or services resulting from the research 
                conducted under the award.
            ``(2) Effect of subsection.--Nothing in this subsection 
        affects--
                    ``(A) the authority of the Secretary to use 
                information without publicly disclosing such 
                information; or
                    ``(B) the responsibility of the Secretary to 
                transmit information to Congress as required by law.''.

              Subtitle G--Authorization of Appropriations

SEC. 681. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability Research and 
Development.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
for research, development, demonstration, and commercial application 
for electrical delivery and energy reliability technology activities 
within the Office of Electricity $113,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2016 and 2017.
    (b) Nuclear Energy.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary for research, development, demonstration, and 
        commercial application for nuclear energy technology activities 
        within the Office of Nuclear Energy $504,600,000 for each of 
        fiscal years 2016 and 2017.
            (2) Limitation.--Any amounts made available pursuant to the 
        authorization of appropriations under paragraph (1) shall not 
        be derived from the Nuclear Waste Fund established under 
        section 302(c) of the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 (42 
        U.S.C. 10222(c)).
    (c) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary for research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application for energy efficiency and 
renewable energy technology activities within the Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy $1,198,500,000 for each of fiscal years 
2016 and 2017.
    (d) Fossil Energy.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary for research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application for fossil energy technology activities within the Office 
of Fossil Energy $605,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017.
    (e) ARPA-E.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
Secretary for the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy $140,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2016 and 2017.

                        Subtitle H--Definitions

SEC. 691. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title--
            (1) the term ``Department'' means the Department of Energy; 
        and
            (2) the term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Energy.

          TITLE VII--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER

                         Subtitle A--In General

SEC. 701. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Energy.
            (2) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory'' 
        means a Department of Energy nonmilitary national laboratory, 
        including--
                    (A) Ames Laboratory;
                    (B) Argonne National Laboratory;
                    (C) Brookhaven National Laboratory;
                    (D) Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory;
                    (E) Idaho National Laboratory;
                    (F) Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory;
                    (G) National Energy Technology Laboratory;
                    (H) National Renewable Energy Laboratory;
                    (I) Oak Ridge National Laboratory;
                    (J) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory;
                    (K) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory;
                    (L) Savannah River National Laboratory;
                    (M) Stanford Linear Accelerator Center;
                    (N) Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility; 
                and
                    (O) any laboratory operated by the National Nuclear 
                Security Administration, but only with respect to the 
                civilian energy activities thereof.
            (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.

SEC. 702. SAVINGS CLAUSE.

    Nothing in this title or an amendment made by this title abrogates 
or otherwise affects the primary responsibilities of any National 
Laboratory to the Department.

       Subtitle B--Innovation Management at Department of Energy

SEC. 711. UNDER SECRETARY FOR SCIENCE AND ENERGY.

    (a) In General.--Section 202(b) of the Department of Energy 
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7132(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``Under Secretary for Science'' each place 
        it appears and inserting ``Under Secretary for Science and 
        Energy''; and
            (2) in paragraph (4)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at 
                the end and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the 
                following:
            ``(H) establish appropriate linkages between offices under 
        the jurisdiction of the Under Secretary; and
            ``(I) perform such functions and duties as the Secretary 
        shall prescribe, consistent with this section.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--
            (1) Section 3164(b)(1) of the Department of Energy Science 
        Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381a(b)(1)) is amended by 
        striking ``Under Secretary for Science'' and inserting ``Under 
        Secretary for Science and Energy''.
            (2) Section 641(h)(2) of the United States Energy Storage 
        Competitiveness Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17231(h)(2)) is amended 
        by striking ``Under Secretary for Science'' and inserting 
        ``Under Secretary for Science and Energy''.

SEC. 712. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND TRANSITIONS ASSESSMENT.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
annually thereafter, the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report which 
shall include--
            (1) an assessment of the Department's current ability to 
        carry out the goals of section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of 
        2005 (42 U.S.C. 16391), including an assessment of the role and 
        effectiveness of the Director of the Office of Technology 
        Transitions; and
            (2) recommended departmental policy changes and legislative 
        changes to section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
        U.S.C. 16391) to improve the Department's ability to 
        successfully transfer new energy technologies to the private 
        sector.

SEC. 713. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of the Congress that the Secretary should encourage 
the National Laboratories and federally funded research and development 
centers to inform small businesses of the opportunities and resources 
that exist pursuant to this title.

SEC. 714. NUCLEAR ENERGY INNOVATION.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary, in consultation with the National Laboratories, relevant 
Federal agencies, and other stakeholders, shall transmit to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
the Senate a report assessing the Department's capabilities to 
authorize, host, and oversee privately funded fusion and non-light 
water reactor prototypes and related demonstration facilities at 
Department-owned sites. For purposes of this report, the Secretary 
shall consider the Department's capabilities to facilitate privately-
funded prototypes up to 20 megawatts thermal output. The report shall 
address the following:
            (1) The Department's safety review and oversight 
        capabilities.
            (2) Potential sites capable of hosting research, 
        development, and demonstration of prototype reactors and 
        related facilities for the purpose of reducing technical risk.
            (3) The Department's and National Laboratories' existing 
        physical and technical capabilities relevant to research, 
        development, and oversight.
            (4) The efficacy of the Department's available contractual 
        mechanisms, including cooperative research and development 
        agreements, work for others agreements, and agreements for 
        commercializing technology.
            (5) Potential cost structures related to physical security, 
        decommissioning, liability, and other long-term project costs.
            (6) Other challenges or considerations identified by the 
        Secretary, including issues related to potential cases of 
        demonstration reactors up to 2 gigawatts of thermal output.

    Subtitle C--Cross-Sector Partnerships and Grant Competitiveness

SEC. 721. AGREEMENTS FOR COMMERCIALIZING TECHNOLOGY PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out the Agreements for 
Commercializing Technology pilot program of the Department, as 
announced by the Secretary on December 8, 2011, in accordance with this 
section.
    (b) Terms.--Each agreement entered into pursuant to the pilot 
program referred to in subsection (a) shall provide to the contractor 
of the applicable National Laboratory, to the maximum extent determined 
to be appropriate by the Secretary, increased authority to negotiate 
contract terms, such as intellectual property rights, payment 
structures, performance guarantees, and multiparty collaborations.
    (c) Eligibility.--
            (1) In general.--Any director of a National Laboratory may 
        enter into an agreement pursuant to the pilot program referred 
        to in subsection (a).
            (2) Agreements with non-federal entities.--To carry out 
        paragraph (1) and subject to paragraph (3), the Secretary shall 
        permit the directors of the National Laboratories to execute 
        agreements with a non-Federal entity, including a non-Federal 
        entity already receiving Federal funding that will be used to 
        support activities under agreements executed pursuant to 
        paragraph (1), provided that such funding is solely used to 
        carry out the purposes of the Federal award.
            (3) Restriction.--The requirements of chapter 18 of title 
        35, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Bayh-Dole 
        Act'') shall apply if--
                    (A) the agreement is a funding agreement (as that 
                term is defined in section 201 of that title); and
                    (B) at least 1 of the parties to the funding 
                agreement is eligible to receive rights under that 
                chapter.
    (d) Submission to Secretary.--Each affected director of a National 
Laboratory shall submit to the Secretary, with respect to each 
agreement entered into under this section--
            (1) a summary of information relating to the relevant 
        project;
            (2) the total estimated costs of the project;
            (3) estimated commencement and completion dates of the 
        project; and
            (4) other documentation determined to be appropriate by the 
        Secretary.
    (e) Certification.--The Secretary shall require the contractor of 
the affected National Laboratory to certify that each activity carried 
out under a project for which an agreement is entered into under this 
section--
            (1) is not in direct competition with the private sector; 
        and
            (2) does not present, or minimizes, any apparent conflict 
        of interest, and avoids or neutralizes any actual conflict of 
        interest, as a result of the agreement under this section.
    (f) Extension.--The pilot program referred to in subsection (a) 
shall be extended until October 31, 2017.
    (g) Reports.--
            (1) Overall assessment.--Not later than 60 days after the 
        date described in subsection (f), the Secretary, in 
        coordination with directors of the National Laboratories, shall 
        submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
        the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
        Natural Resources of the Senate a report that--
                    (A) assesses the overall effectiveness of the pilot 
                program referred to in subsection (a);
                    (B) identifies opportunities to improve the 
                effectiveness of the pilot program;
                    (C) assesses the potential for program activities 
                to interfere with the responsibilities of the National 
                Laboratories to the Department; and
                    (D) provides a recommendation regarding the future 
                of the pilot program.
            (2) Transparency.--The Secretary, in coordination with 
        directors of the National Laboratories, shall submit to the 
        Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
        Resources of the Senate an annual report that accounts for all 
        incidences of, and provides a justification for, non-Federal 
        entities using funds derived from a Federal contract or award 
        to carry out agreements pursuant to this section.

SEC. 722. PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS FOR COMMERCIALIZATION.

    (a) In General.--Subject to subsections (b) and (c), the Secretary 
shall delegate to directors of the National Laboratories signature 
authority with respect to any agreement described in subsection (b) the 
total cost of which (including the National Laboratory contributions 
and project recipient cost share) is less than $1,000,000.
    (b) Agreements.--Subsection (a) applies to--
            (1) a cooperative research and development agreement;
            (2) a non-Federal work-for-others agreement; and
            (3) any other agreement determined to be appropriate by the 
        Secretary, in collaboration with the directors of the National 
        Laboratories.
    (c) Administration.--
            (1) Accountability.--The director of the affected National 
        Laboratory and the affected contractor shall carry out an 
        agreement under this section in accordance with applicable 
        policies of the Department, including by ensuring that the 
        agreement does not compromise any national security, economic, 
        or environmental interest of the United States.
            (2) Certification.--The director of the affected National 
        Laboratory and the affected contractor shall certify that each 
        activity carried out under a project for which an agreement is 
        entered into under this section does not present, or minimizes, 
        any apparent conflict of interest, and avoids or neutralizes 
        any actual conflict of interest, as a result of the agreement 
        under this section.
            (3) Availability of records.--On entering an agreement 
        under this section, the director of a National Laboratory shall 
        submit to the Secretary for monitoring and review all records 
        of the National Laboratory relating to the agreement.
            (4) Rates.--The director of a National Laboratory may 
        charge higher rates for services performed under a partnership 
        agreement entered into pursuant to this section, regardless of 
        the full cost of recovery, if such funds are used exclusively 
        to support further research and development activities at the 
        respective National Laboratory.
    (d) Exception.--This section does not apply to any agreement with a 
majority foreign-owned company.
    (e) Conforming Amendment.--Section 12 of the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3710a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as 
                subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, and indenting 
                the subparagraphs appropriately;
                    (B) by striking ``Each Federal agency'' and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
        each Federal agency''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Exception.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1), in 
        accordance with section 722(a) of the America COMPETES 
        Reauthorization Act of 2015, approval by the Secretary of 
        Energy shall not be required for any technology transfer 
        agreement proposed to be entered into by a National Laboratory 
        of the Department of Energy, the total cost of which (including 
        the National Laboratory contributions and project recipient 
        cost share) is less than $1,000,000.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``subsection (a)(1)'' 
        each place it appears and inserting ``subsection (a)(1)(A)''.

SEC. 723. INCLUSION OF EARLY-STAGE TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATION IN 
              AUTHORIZED TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER ACTIVITIES.

    Section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16391) is 
amended by--
            (1) redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
            (2) inserting after subsection (f) the following:
    ``(g) Early-Stage Technology Demonstration.--The Secretary shall 
permit the directors of the National Laboratories to use funds 
authorized to support technology transfer within the Department to 
carry out early-stage and pre-commercial technology demonstration 
activities to remove technology barriers that limit private sector 
interest and demonstrate potential commercial applications of any 
research and technologies arising from National Laboratory 
activities.''.

SEC. 724. FUNDING COMPETITIVENESS FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION 
              AND OTHER NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS.

    Section 988(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16352(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Except as provided in 
        paragraphs (2) and (3)'' and inserting ``Except as provided in 
        paragraphs (2), (3), and (4)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Exemption for institutions of higher education and 
        other nonprofit institutions.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not apply to 
                a research or development activity performed by an 
                institution of higher education or nonprofit 
                institution (as defined in section 4 of the Stevenson-
                Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
                3703)).
                    ``(B) Termination date.--The exemption under 
                subparagraph (A) shall apply during the 6-year period 
                beginning on the date of enactment of this 
                paragraph.''.

SEC. 725. PARTICIPATION IN THE INNOVATION CORPS PROGRAM.

    The Secretary may enter into an agreement with the Director of the 
National Science Foundation to enable researchers funded by the 
Department to participate in the National Science Foundation Innovation 
Corps program.

                    Subtitle D--Assessment of Impact

SEC. 731. REPORT BY GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE.

    Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a 
report--
            (1) describing the results of the projects developed under 
        sections 721, 722, and 723, including information regarding--
                    (A) partnerships initiated as a result of those 
                projects and the potential linkages presented by those 
                partnerships with respect to national priorities and 
                other taxpayer-funded research; and
                    (B) whether the activities carried out under those 
                projects result in--
                            (i) fiscal savings;
                            (ii) expansion of National Laboratory 
                        capabilities;
                            (iii) increased efficiency of technology 
                        transfers; or
                            (iv) an increase in general efficiency of 
                        the National Laboratory system; and
            (2) assess the scale, scope, efficacy, and impact of the 
        Department's efforts to promote technology transfer and private 
        sector engagement at the National Laboratories, and make 
        recommendations on how the Department can improve these 
        activities.
                                 <all>