[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1898 Introduced in House (IH)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1898

     To provide for investment in innovation through research and 
 development and STEM education, to improve the competitiveness of the 
                 United States, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 21, 2015

   Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas (for herself, Ms. Lofgren, Mr. 
 Lipinski, Ms. Edwards, Ms. Bonamici, Mr. Swalwell of California, Mr. 
 Grayson, Mr. Bera, Ms. Esty, Mr. Veasey, Ms. Clark of Massachusetts, 
   Mr. Beyer, Mr. Perlmutter, Mr. Tonko, Mr. Takano, and Mr. Foster) 
 introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
  Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce, 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 investment in innovation through research and 
 development and STEM education, 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.
                 TITLE I--OSTP; GOVERNMENTWIDE SCIENCE

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

Sec. 101. Federal research and development funding.
Sec. 102. National Science and Technology Council amendments.
Sec. 103. Review of Federal regulations and reporting requirements.
Sec. 104. Amendments to prize competitions.
Sec. 105. Coordination of international science and technology 
                            partnerships.
Sec. 106. Scientific and technical conferences.
 Subtitle B--Reauthorization of the National Nanotechnology Initiative

Sec. 111. Short title.
Sec. 112. National Nanotechnology Program amendments.
Sec. 113. Societal dimensions of nanotechnology.
Sec. 114. Nanotechnology education.
Sec. 115. Technology transfer.
Sec. 116. Signature initiatives in areas of national importance.
Sec. 117. Nanomanufacturing research.
Sec. 118. Definitions.
                    Subtitle C--Engineering Biology

Sec. 121. Short title.
Sec. 122. Findings.
Sec. 123. Definitions.
Sec. 124. National Engineering Biology Research and Development 
                            Program.
Sec. 125. Advisory Committee.
Sec. 126. External review of ethical, legal, environmental, and 
                            societal issues.
Sec. 127. Agency activities.
                 TITLE II--STEM EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY

                Subtitle A--STEM Education and Workforce

Sec. 201. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 202. Coordination of Federal STEM education.
Sec. 203. Grand challenges in education research.
Sec. 204. National Research Council report on STEAM education.
Sec. 205. Engaging Federal scientists and engineers in STEM education.
              Subtitle B--Broadening Participation in STEM

Sec. 211. Short title.
Sec. 212. Purpose.
Sec. 213. Federal science agency policies for caregivers.
Sec. 214. Collection and reporting of data on Federal research grants.
Sec. 215. Policies for review of Federal research grants.
Sec. 216. Collection of data on demographics of faculty.
Sec. 217. Cultural and institutional barriers to expanding the academic 
                            and Federal STEM workforce.
Sec. 218. Research and dissemination at the National Science 
                            Foundation.
Sec. 219. Report to Congress.
Sec. 220. National Science Foundation support for increasing diversity 
                            among STEM faculty at institutions of 
                            higher education.
Sec. 221. National Science Foundation support for broadening 
                            participation in undergraduate STEM 
                            education.
Sec. 222. Definitions.
                 TITLE III--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

Sec. 301. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 302. Findings and sense of Congress on support for all fields of 
                            science and engineering.
Sec. 303. National Science Foundation merit review.
Sec. 304. Management and oversight of large facilities.
Sec. 305. Support for potentially transformative research.
Sec. 306. Strengthening institutional research partnerships.
Sec. 307. Innovation Corps.
Sec. 308. Definitions.
                       Subtitle B--STEM Education

Sec. 321. National Science Board report on consolidation of STEM 
                            education activities at the Foundation.
Sec. 322. Models for graduate student support.
Sec. 323. Undergraduate STEM education reform.
Sec. 324. Advanced manufacturing education.
Sec. 325. STEM education partnerships.
Sec. 326. Noyce scholarship program amendments.
Sec. 327. Informal STEM education.
Sec. 328. Research and development to support improved K-12 learning.
        TITLE IV--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 403. Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
Sec. 404. National Academies review.
Sec. 405. Improving NIST collaboration with other agencies.
Sec. 406. Miscellaneous provisions.
                          TITLE V--INNOVATION

Sec. 501. Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Sec. 502. Federal loan guarantees for innovative technologies in 
                            manufacturing.
Sec. 503. Innovation voucher pilot program.
Sec. 504. Federal Acceleration of State Technology Commercialization 
                            Pilot Program.
                     TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

                     Subtitle A--Office of Science

Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Definitions.
Sec. 603. Mission of the Office of Science.
Sec. 604. Basic energy sciences program.
Sec. 605. Biological and environmental research.
Sec. 606. Advanced scientific computing research program.
Sec. 607. Fusion energy research.
Sec. 608. High energy physics program.
Sec. 609. Nuclear physics program.
Sec. 610. Science laboratories infrastructure program.
Sec. 611. Authorization of appropriations.
                           Subtitle B--ARPA-E

Sec. 621. Short title.
Sec. 622. ARPA-E amendments.
                     Subtitle C--Energy Innovation

Sec. 641. Energy Innovation Hubs.
Sec. 642. Participation in the Innovation Corps program.
Sec. 643. Technology transfer.
Sec. 644. Funding competitiveness for institutions of higher education 
                            and other nonprofit institutions.
Sec. 645. Under Secretary for Science and Energy.
Sec. 646. Special hiring authority for scientific, engineering, and 
                            project management personnel.

                 TITLE I--OSTP; GOVERNMENTWIDE SCIENCE

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

SEC. 101. FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The predominant driver of gross domestic product growth 
        over the past half century has been scientific and 
        technological advancement.
            (2) Investments in research and development have also 
        delivered significant benefits for national security, health, 
        energy security, education, and the personal well-being of all 
        Americans.
            (3) Virtually every new technological product is traceable 
        to a research discovery, often one pursued with no application 
        in mind.
            (4) Nondefense Federal research and development accounts 
        for only 1.7 percent of the Federal budget. Federal basic 
        research accounts for only 1 percent of the budget.
            (5) There is a deficit between what America is investing 
        and what it should be investing to remain competitive, not only 
        in research but in technology transfer, innovation, and job 
        creation, thereby causing America's highly successful science 
        and technology enterprise to atrophy.
            (6) Many research and development initiatives, due to the 
        long time periods required to achieve completion, have 
        benefited from stable and predictable investments and from 
        multiyear financial planning.
            (7) The Federal science agencies should receive sustained 
        and steady growth in funding for research and development 
        activities, including basic research, across a wide range of 
        disciplines, including physical, geological, and life sciences, 
        mathematics, engineering, and social, behavioral, and economic 
        sciences.

SEC. 102. NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL AMENDMENTS.

    Section 401 of the National Science and Technology Policy, 
Organization, and Priorities Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 6651) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Federal Coordinating 
        Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology'' and 
        inserting ``National Science and Technology Council'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``and Energy Research 
        and Development Administration'' and inserting ``Department of 
        Energy, and any other agency designated by the President''; and
            (3) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) by striking ``engineering, and technology'' and 
                inserting ``engineering, technology, innovation, and 
                STEM education'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``engineering, 
                and technological'' and inserting ``engineering, 
                technological, innovation, and STEM education'';
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as 
                paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
                    (D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(3) address research needs identified under paragraph (2) 
        through appropriate funding mechanisms, which may include 
        solicitations involving 2 or more agencies and public-private 
        partnerships;''.

SEC. 103. REVIEW OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

    (a) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall establish or designate a working group under 
the National Science and Technology Council with the responsibility of 
reviewing Federal regulatory and reporting requirements across Federal 
agencies that affect the conduct of United States research in an effort 
to reduce regulatory burdens and to eliminate and harmonize duplicative 
regulatory and reporting requirements.
    (b) Responsibilities.--The working group established or designated 
under subsection (a) shall--
            (1) periodically review all Federal regulations and 
        reporting requirements that affect the conduct of United States 
        research to--
                    (A) identify ways to harmonize overlapping or 
                duplicative research regulations and reporting 
                requirements across Federal agencies;
                    (B) evaluate such regulations and reporting 
                requirements in relationship to the risks the 
                requirements seek to address to determine if the 
                benefits of the requirements are commensurate with the 
                costs to the progress of science or to the taxpayer;
                    (C) identify any regulations that are applied to 
                scientific researchers or to research-performing 
                institutions for which exemptions could be reasonably 
                applied or for which adjustments could be made to 
                better fit those regulations to diverse research 
                environments; and
                    (D) identify any specific regulations which could 
                be refocused on performance-based goals rather than on 
                process while still meeting the desired outcome;
            (2) examine the extent to which agencies' guidance 
        documents adhere with the most recently updated version of the 
        Office of Management and Budget's Agency Good Guidance 
        Practices bulletin; and
            (3) develop and update at least once every 3 years a 
        strategic plan for streamlining Federal regulations and 
        reporting requirements that affect the conduct of United States 
        research that contains, at a minimum--
                    (A) a priority list of research-related 
                regulations, reporting requirements, and agency 
                guidance to be harmonized, streamlined, updated, or 
                eliminated; and
                    (B) a plan, including a timeline, for implementing 
                the regulatory and reporting reforms identified in 
                subparagraph (A).
    (c) Stakeholder Input.--In carrying out the responsibilities under 
subsection (b), including the development of the strategic plan under 
subsection (b)(3), the working group established or designated under 
subsection (a) 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) Responsibilities of OSTP.--The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy, in collaboration with the Office of 
Management and Budget Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
shall encourage and monitor the efforts of the participating agencies 
to ensure that the strategic plan is developed under subsection (b)(3) 
and that appropriate steps are taken by the agencies to effectively 
implement the recommendations, achieve the objectives, and to adhere to 
the timeline in the strategic plan.
    (e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
shall transmit the priority list and strategic plan developed under 
subsection (b)(3) to the Congress. The Director shall further provide a 
report annually to the Congress, to be submitted not later than 60 days 
after the submission of the President's annual budget request, on the 
progress toward implementation of the regulatory reforms outlined in 
the strategic plan.

SEC. 104. 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 an explanation of the reasons for 
        granting the waivers.'';
            (6) in subsection (j) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
        follows:
            ``(2) Intellectual property.--
                    ``(A) Licenses.--The Federal Government may 
                negotiate a license for the use of intellectual 
                property developed by a participant for a prize 
                competition.
                    ``(B) Other conditions.--A Federal agency or 
                agencies in cooperation may require participants to 
                agree in advance to a specific approach to intellectual 
                property as a condition for eligibility to participate 
                in a prize competition.'';
            (7) 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;
            (8) 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.'';
            (9) 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'';
            (10) in subsection (n), by inserting ``for both for-profit 
        and nonprofit entities,'' after ``contract vehicle'';
            (11) in subsection (o)(1), by striking ``or providing a 
        prize'' and insert ``a prize competition or providing a cash 
        prize purse''; and
            (12) in subsection (p)--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``Annual Report'' 
                and inserting ``Biennial Report'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``of each year'' and 
                        inserting ``of each odd-numbered year''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``preceding fiscal year'' 
                        and inserting ``preceding 2 fiscal years''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``cash 
                        prizes'' both places it occurs and inserting 
                        ``cash prize purses''; and
                            (ii) 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. 105. COORDINATION OF INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
              PARTNERSHIPS.

    (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``International 
Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2015''.
    (b) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall establish a body under the National Science and 
Technology Council (NSTC) 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.
    (c) NSTC Body Leadership.--The body established under subsection 
(b) shall be co-chaired by senior level officials from the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy and the Department of State.
    (d) Responsibilities.--The body established under subsection (b) 
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.
    (e) Report to Congress.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall transmit a report, to be updated annually, 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 (d)(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.

SEC. 106. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CONFERENCES.

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

 Subtitle B--Reauthorization of the National Nanotechnology Initiative

SEC. 111. SHORT TITLE.

    This subtitle may be cited as the ``National Nanotechnology 
Initiative Amendments Act of 2015''.

SEC. 112. NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AMENDMENTS.

    The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 
U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) in section 2--
                    (A) in subsection (c), by amending paragraph (4) to 
                read as follows:
            ``(4) develop, and update every 3 years thereafter, a 
        strategic plan to guide the activities described under 
        subsection (b) that specifies near-term and long-term 
        objectives for the Program, the anticipated timeframe for 
        achieving the near-term objectives, and the metrics to be used 
        for assessing progress toward the objectives, and that 
        describes--
                    ``(A) how the Program will move results out of the 
                laboratory and into applications for the benefit of 
                society, including through cooperation and 
                collaborations with nanotechnology research, 
                development, and technology transition initiatives 
                supported by the States; and
                    ``(B) proposed research in areas of national 
                importance in accordance with the requirements of 
                section 116 of the National Nanotechnology Initiative 
                Amendments Act of 2015;'';
                    (B) in subsection (d)--
                            (i) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through 
                        (5) as paragraphs (2) through (6), 
                        respectively;
                            (ii) by inserting before paragraph (2), as 
                        redesignated by clause (i), the following:
            ``(1) the Program budget, for the previous fiscal year, for 
        each agency that participates in the Program, and for each 
        program component area;''; and
                            (iii) by amending paragraph (6), as 
                        redesignated by clause (i), to read as follows:
            ``(6) an assessment of how Federal agencies are 
        implementing the plan described in subsection (c)(7) and a 
        description of the amount of Small Business Innovative Research 
        and Small Business Technology Transfer Research funds 
        supporting the plan.''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subsection:
    ``(e) Standards Setting.--The agencies participating in the Program 
shall support the activities of committees involved in the development 
of standards for nanotechnology and may reimburse the travel costs of 
scientists and engineers who participate in activities of such 
committees.'';
            (2) in section 3--
                    (A) by amending subsection (b)(1) to read as 
                follows:
    ``(b) Funding.--
            ``(1) In general.--The operation of the National 
        Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall be supported by funds 
        from each agency participating in the Program.
            ``(2) Proportion.--The portion of such Office's total 
        budget provided by each agency for each fiscal year shall be in 
        the same proportion as the agency's share of the total budget 
        for the Program for the previous fiscal year, as specified in 
        the report required under section 2(d)(1).
            ``(3) Exception.--The Director of the National 
        Nanotechnology Coordination Office may establish a minimum 
        contribution or other exception to the requirement in paragraph 
        (2) for participating agencies whose share of the total budget 
        for the Program is below a threshold level, to be set by the 
        Director.''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subsection:
    ``(d) Public Information.--
            ``(1) Database.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The National Nanotechnology 
                Coordination Office shall develop and maintain a 
                database accessible by the public of projects funded 
                under at least the Environmental, Health, and Safety 
                program component area, or any successor program 
                component area, including, to the extent practicable, a 
                description of each project, its source of funding by 
                agency, and its funding history.
                    ``(B) Organization.--Projects shall be grouped by 
                major objective as defined by the research plan 
                required under section 113(b) of the National 
                Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2015.
            ``(2) Accessible facilities.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The National Nanotechnology 
                Coordination Office shall develop, maintain, and 
                publicize information on nanotechnology facilities 
                supported under the Program, and may include 
                information on nanotechnology facilities supported by 
                the States, that are accessible for use by individuals 
                from academic institutions and from industry.
                    ``(B) Websites.--The National Nanotechnology 
                Coordination Office shall maintain active web links to 
                the websites for each of these facilities and shall 
                work with each facility supported under the Program to 
                ensure that each facility publishes on its respective 
                website updated information on the terms and conditions 
                for the use of the facility, a description of the 
                capabilities of the instruments and equipment available 
                for use at the facility, and a description of the 
                technical support available to assist users of the 
                facility.'';
            (3) in section 4--
                    (A) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the 
                following: ``The co-chairs of the Advisory Panel shall 
                meet the qualifications of Panel membership required in 
                subsection (b) and may be members of the President's 
                Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The 
                Advisory Panel shall include members having specific 
                qualifications tailored to enable it to carry out the 
                requirements of subsection (c)(6).'';
                    (B) in subsection (c)--
                            (i) by striking paragraph (1); and
                            (ii) by redesignating paragraphs (2) 
                        through (7) as paragraphs (1) through (6), 
                        respectively; and
                    (C) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
    ``(d) Reports.--The Advisory Panel shall report not less frequently 
than every 3 years, and, to the extent practicable, 1 year following 
each of the National Research Council triennial reviews required under 
section 5, to the President on its assessments under subsection (c) and 
its recommendations for ways to improve the Program. The Director of 
the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall transmit a copy of 
each report under this subsection to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and other 
appropriate committees of the Congress.'';
            (4) by amending section 5 to read as follows:

``SEC. 5. TRIENNIAL EXTERNAL REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY 
              PROGRAM.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director of the National Nanotechnology 
Coordination Office shall enter into an arrangement with the National 
Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a 
triennial review of the Program. The Director shall ensure that the 
arrangement with the National Research Council is concluded in order to 
allow sufficient time for the reporting requirements of subsection (b) 
to be satisfied. Each triennial review shall include an evaluation of 
the--
            ``(1) research priorities and technical content of the 
        Program, including whether the balance of funding among program 
        component areas, as designated according to section 2(c)(2), is 
        appropriate;
            ``(2) Program's scientific and technological 
        accomplishments and its success in transferring technology to 
        the private sector; and
            ``(3) adequacy of the Program's activities addressing 
        ethical, legal, environmental, and other appropriate societal 
        concerns, including human health concerns.
    ``(b) Priority Reports.--If the Director of the National 
Nanotechnology Coordination Office, working with the National Research 
Council and with input from the Advisory Panel, determines that a more 
narrowly focused review of the Program is in the best interests of the 
Program, the Director may enter into such an arrangement with the 
National Research Council in lieu of a full review as required under 
subsection (a), but not more often than every second triennial review.
    ``(c) Evaluation To Be Transmitted to Congress.--The National 
Research Council shall document the results of each triennial review 
carried out in accordance with this section in a report that includes 
any recommendations for changes to the Program's objectives, technical 
content, or other policy or Program changes. Each report shall be 
submitted to the Director of the National Nanotechnology Coordination 
Office, who shall transmit it to the Advisory Panel, the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.''; 
and
            (5) in section 10--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) Nanotechnology.--The term `nanotechnology' means the 
        science and technology that will enable one to understand, 
        measure, model, image, manipulate, and manufacture at the 
        nanoscale, aimed at creating materials, devices, and systems 
        with fundamentally new properties or functions.''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
            ``(7) Nanoscale.--The term `nanoscale' means one or more 
        dimensions of between approximately 1 and 100 nanometers.''.

SEC. 113. SOCIETAL DIMENSIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY.

    (a) Coordinator for Environmental, Health, and Safety Research.--
The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
designate an associate director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy or other appropriate senior government official as the 
Coordinator for Environmental, Health, and Safety Research. The 
Coordinator shall be responsible for oversight of the coordination, 
planning, and budget prioritization of research and other activities 
related to environmental, health, safety, and other appropriate 
societal concerns related to nanotechnology. The responsibilities of 
the Coordinator shall include--
            (1) ensuring that a research plan for the environmental, 
        health, and safety research activities required under 
        subsection (b) is developed, updated, and implemented and that 
        the plan is responsive to the recommendations of the Advisory 
        Panel established under section 4(a) of the 21st Century 
        Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 
        7503(a)); and
            (2) encouraging and monitoring the efforts of the agencies 
        participating in the Program to allocate the level of resources 
        and management attention necessary to ensure that the 
        environmental, health, safety, and other appropriate societal 
        concerns related to nanotechnology are addressed under the 
        Program.
    (b) Research Plan.--
            (1) In general.--The Coordinator for Environmental, Health, 
        and Safety Research shall convene and chair a panel comprised 
        of representatives from the agencies funding research 
        activities under the Environmental, Health, and Safety program 
        component area of the Program, or any successor program 
        component area, and from such other agencies as the Coordinator 
        considers necessary to develop, periodically update, and 
        coordinate the implementation of a research plan for this 
        program component area. Such panel may be a subgroup of the 
        Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and Technology Subcommittee of 
        the National Science and Technology Council. In developing and 
        updating the plan, the panel convened by the Coordinator shall 
        solicit and be responsive to recommendations and advice from--
                    (A) the Advisory Panel established under section 
                4(a) of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and 
                Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7503(a)); and
                    (B) the agencies responsible for environmental, 
                health, and safety regulations associated with the 
                production, use, and disposal of nanoscale materials 
                and products.
            (2) Development of standards.--The plan required under 
        paragraph (1) shall include a description of how the Program 
        will help to ensure the development of--
                    (A) standards related to nomenclature associated 
                with engineered nanoscale materials;
                    (B) engineered nanoscale standard reference 
                materials for environmental, health, and safety 
                testing; and
                    (C) standards related to methods and procedures for 
                detecting, measuring, monitoring, sampling, and testing 
                engineered nanoscale materials for environmental, 
                health, and safety impacts.
            (3) Components of plan.--The plan required under paragraph 
        (1) shall, with respect to activities described in paragraphs 
        (1) and (2)--
                    (A) specify near-term research objectives and long-
                term research objectives;
                    (B) specify milestones associated with each near-
                term objective and the estimated time and resources 
                required to reach each milestone;
                    (C) with respect to subparagraphs (A) and (B), 
                describe the role of each agency carrying out or 
                sponsoring research in order to meet the objectives 
                specified under subparagraph (A) and to achieve the 
                milestones specified under subparagraph (B); and
                    (D) specify the funding allocated to each major 
                objective of the plan and the source of funding by 
                agency for the current fiscal year.
            (4) Transmittal to congress.--Not later than 6 months after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the plan required under 
        paragraph (1) shall be transmitted to the Committee on 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives.
            (5) Updating and appending to report.--The plan required 
        under paragraph (1) shall be updated at least every 3 years and 
        may be submitted as part of the report required under section 
        2(c)(4) of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and 
        Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(c)(4)).

SEC. 114. NANOTECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.

    (a) Undergraduate Education Programs.--The Program shall support 
efforts to introduce nanoscale science, engineering, and technology 
into undergraduate science and engineering education through a variety 
of interdisciplinary approaches. Activities supported may include--
            (1) development of courses of instruction or modules to 
        existing courses;
            (2) faculty professional development; and
            (3) acquisition of equipment and instrumentation suitable 
        for undergraduate education and research in nanotechnology.
    (b) Interagency Coordination of Education.--The Committee 
established under section 2(c) of the 21st Century Nanotechnology 
Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(c)) shall coordinate, as 
appropriate, with the Committee established under section 101 of the 
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621) to 
prioritize, plan, and assess the educational activities supported under 
the Program.
    (c) Societal Dimensions in Nanotechnology Education Activities.--
Activities supported under the Education and Societal Dimensions 
program component area, or any successor program component area, that 
involve informal, precollege, or undergraduate nanotechnology education 
shall include education regarding the environmental, health and safety, 
and other societal aspects of nanotechnology.
    (d) Remote Access to Nanotechnology Facilities.--
            (1) In general.--Agencies supporting nanotechnology 
        research facilities as part of the Program shall require the 
        entities that operate such facilities to allow access via the 
        Internet, and support the costs associated with the provision 
        of such access, by secondary school students and teachers, to 
        instruments and equipment within such facilities for 
        educational purposes. The agencies may waive this requirement 
        for cases when particular facilities would be inappropriate for 
        educational purposes or the costs for providing such access 
        would be prohibitive.
            (2) Procedures.--The agencies identified in paragraph (1) 
        shall require the entities that operate such nanotechnology 
        research facilities to establish and publish procedures, 
        guidelines, and conditions for the submission and approval of 
        applications for the use of the facilities for the purpose 
        identified in paragraph (1) and shall authorize personnel who 
        operate the facilities to provide necessary technical support 
        to students and teachers.

SEC. 115. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.

    (a) Prototyping.--
            (1) Access to facilities.--In accordance with section 
        2(b)(7) of 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development 
        Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(b)(7)), the agencies supporting 
        nanotechnology research facilities as part of the Program shall 
        provide access to such facilities to companies for the purpose 
        of assisting the companies in the development of prototypes of 
        nanoscale products, devices, or processes (or products, 
        devices, or processes enabled by nanotechnology) for 
        determining proof of concept. The agencies shall publicize the 
        availability of these facilities and encourage their use by 
        companies as provided for in this section. The agencies may 
        waive this requirement for academic facilities for which the 
        costs of providing such access would be prohibitive.
            (2) Procedures.--The agencies identified in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) shall establish and publish procedures, 
                guidelines, and conditions for the submission and 
                approval of applications for use of nanotechnology 
                facilities;
                    (B) shall publish descriptions of the capabilities 
                of facilities available for use under this subsection, 
                including the availability of technical support; and
                    (C) may waive recovery, require full recovery, or 
                require partial recovery of the costs associated with 
                use of the facilities for projects under this 
                subsection.
            (3) Selection and criteria.--
                    (A) In general.--In cases when less than full cost 
                recovery is required pursuant to paragraph (2)(C), 
                projects provided access to nanotechnology facilities 
                in accordance with this subsection shall be selected 
                through a competitive, merit-based process, and the 
                criteria for the selection of such projects shall 
                include at a minimum the readiness of the project for 
                technology demonstration.
                    (B) Special consideration.--The agencies may give 
                special consideration in selecting projects to 
                applications that are relevant to important national 
                needs or requirements.
    (b) Collaboration With Industry.--The Program shall coordinate with 
industry from all industrial sectors that would benefit from 
applications of nanotechnology by--
            (1) enhancing communication of information related to 
        nanotechnology innovation, including information about 
        research, education and training, manufacturing issues, and 
        market-driven needs;
            (2) advancing and accelerating the creation of new products 
        and manufacturing processes derived from discovery at the 
        nanoscale by working with industry, including small- and 
        medium-sized manufacturers;
            (3) developing innovative methods for transferring 
        nanotechnology products and processes from Federal agencies to 
        industry; and
            (4) facilitating industry-led partnerships between the 
        Program and industry sectors, including regional partnerships.
    (c) Coordination With State, Regional, and Local Initiatives.--
Section 2(b)(5) of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and 
Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(b)(5)) is amended to read as follows:
            ``(5) ensuring United States global leadership in the 
        development and application of nanotechnology, including 
        through the coordination and leveraging of Federal investments 
        with nanotechnology research, development, and technology 
        transition initiatives supported by the States and regions 
        across the country;''.

SEC. 116. SIGNATURE INITIATIVES IN AREAS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.

    (a) In General.--The Program shall include support for 
nanotechnology research and development activities directed toward 
topical and application areas that have the potential for significant 
contributions to national economic competitiveness and for other 
significant societal benefits. The activities supported shall be 
designed to advance the development of research discoveries by 
demonstrating technical solutions to important national challenges. The 
Advisory Panel shall make recommendations to the Program for candidate 
research and development areas for support under this section.
    (b) Characteristics.--
            (1) In general.--Research and development activities under 
        this section shall--
                    (A) include projects selected on the basis of 
                applications for support through a competitive, merit-
                based process;
                    (B) involve collaborations among researchers in 
                academic institutions and industry, and may involve 
                nonprofit research institutions and Federal 
                laboratories, as appropriate;
                    (C) when possible, leverage Federal investments 
                through collaboration with related State initiatives; 
                and
                    (D) include a plan for fostering the transfer of 
                research discoveries and the results of technology 
                demonstration activities to industry for commercial 
                development.
            (2) Joint solicitations.--Projects supported under this 
        section shall include projects for which determination of the 
        requirements for applications, review and selection of 
        applications for support, and subsequent funding of projects 
        shall be carried out by a collaboration of no fewer than 2 
        agencies participating in the Program. In selecting 
        applications for support, agencies may, as appropriate, give 
        special consideration to projects that include cost sharing 
        from non-Federal sources.
            (3) Interdisciplinary research centers.--Research and 
        development activities under this section may be supported 
        through interdisciplinary nanotechnology research centers, as 
        authorized by section 2(b)(4) of the 21st Century 
        Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 
        7501(b)(4)), that are organized to investigate basic research 
        questions and carry out technology demonstration activities in 
        areas such as those identified in subsection (a).
    (c) Report.--Reports required under section 2(d) of the 21st 
Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(d)) 
shall include a description of research and development areas supported 
in accordance with this section.

SEC. 117. NANOMANUFACTURING RESEARCH.

    (a) Research Areas.--The Program shall include research on--
            (1) the development of instrumentation and tools required 
        for the rapid characterization of nanoscale materials and for 
        monitoring of nanoscale manufacturing processes; and
            (2) approaches and techniques for scaling the synthesis of 
        new nanoscale materials to achieve industrial-level production 
        rates.
    (b) Green Nanotechnology.--Interdisciplinary research centers 
supported under the Program in accordance with section 2(b)(4) of the 
21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 
7501(b)(4)) that are focused on nanomanufacturing research shall 
include as part of the activities of such centers--
            (1) research on methods and approaches to develop 
        environmentally benign nanoscale products and nanoscale 
        manufacturing processes, taking into consideration relevant 
        findings and results of research supported under the 
        Environmental, Health, and Safety program component area, or 
        any successor program component area;
            (2) fostering the transfer of the results of such research 
        to industry; and
            (3) providing for the education of scientists and engineers 
        through interdisciplinary studies in the principles and 
        techniques for the design and development of environmentally 
        benign nanoscale products and processes.

SEC. 118. DEFINITIONS.

    In this subtitle, terms that are defined in section 10 of the 21st 
Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7509) 
have the meaning given those terms in that section.

                    Subtitle C--Engineering Biology

SEC. 121. SHORT TITLE.

    This subtitle may be cited as the ``Engineering Biology Research 
and Development Act of 2015''.

SEC. 122. FINDINGS.

    The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Cellular and molecular processes may be used, mimicked, 
        or redesigned to develop new products, processes, and systems 
        that improve societal well-being, strengthen national security, 
        and contribute to the economy.
            (2) Engineering biology relies on scientists and engineers 
        with a diverse and unique set of skills combining the 
        biological, physical, and information sciences and engineering.
            (3) Long-term research and development is necessary to 
        create breakthroughs in engineering biology. Such research and 
        development requires government investment as the benefits are 
        too distant or uncertain for industry to support alone.
            (4) The Federal Government can play an important role by 
        facilitating the development of tools and technologies to 
        further advance engineering biology, including multiple user 
        facilities that the Federal Government is uniquely able to 
        support.
            (5) Since other countries are investing significant 
        resources in engineering biology, the United States is at risk 
        of losing its competitive lead in this emerging area if it does 
        not invest the necessary resources and have a national 
        strategy.
            (6) A National Engineering Biology Initiative can serve to 
        establish new research directions and technology goals, improve 
        interagency coordination and planning processes, drive 
        technology transfer, and help ensure optimal returns on the 
        Federal investment.

SEC. 123. DEFINITIONS.

    In this subtitle--
            (1) the term ``Advisory Committee'' means the advisory 
        committee designated under section 125;
            (2) the term ``biomanufacturing'' means the manufacturing 
        of products using biological manufacturing technologies;
            (3) the term ``engineering biology'' means the science and 
        engineering of cellular and molecular processes to advance 
        fundamental understanding of complex natural systems and to 
        develop new and advance existing products, processes, and 
        systems that will contribute significantly to societal well-
        being, national security, and the economy;
            (4) the term ``Interagency Committee'' means the 
        interagency committee designated under section 124(e); and
            (5) the term ``Program'' means the National Engineering 
        Biology Research and Development Program established under 
        section 124.

SEC. 124. NATIONAL ENGINEERING BIOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The President shall implement a National 
Engineering Biology Research and Development Program to advance 
societal well-being, national security, and economic productivity and 
competitiveness through--
            (1) advancing areas of research at the intersection of the 
        biological, physical, and information sciences and engineering;
            (2) supporting social science research that advances the 
        field of engineering biology and contributes to the adoption of 
        new products, processes, and technologies;
            (3) expanding the number of researchers, educators, and 
        students with engineering biology training;
            (4) accelerating the translation and commercialization of 
        engineering biology research and development by the private 
        sector; and
            (5) improving the interagency planning and coordination of 
        Federal Government activities related to engineering biology.
    (b) Program Activities.--The activities of the Program shall 
include--
            (1) sustained support for engineering biology research and 
        development through--
                    (A) grants to individual investigators and 
                interdisciplinary teams of investigators;
                    (B) projects funded under joint solicitations by a 
                collaboration of no fewer than two agencies 
                participating in the Program; and
                    (C) interdisciplinary research centers that are 
                organized to investigate basic research questions and 
                carry out technology development and demonstration 
                activities;
            (2) education and training of undergraduate and graduate 
        students in research at the intersection of biological, 
        physical, and information sciences and engineering;
            (3) activities to develop robust mechanisms for tracking 
        and quantifying the outputs and economic benefits of 
        engineering biology; and
            (4) activities to accelerate the translation and 
        commercialization of new products, processes, and technologies 
        by--
                    (A) identifying precompetitive research 
                opportunities;
                    (B) facilitating public-private partnerships in 
                engineering biology research and development;
                    (C) connecting researchers, graduate students, and 
                postdoctoral fellows with entrepreneurship education 
                and training opportunities; and
                    (D) supporting proof of concept activities and the 
                formation of startup companies including through 
                programs such as the Small Business Innovation Research 
                Program and the Small Business Technology Transfer 
                Program.
    (c) Expanding Participation.--The Program shall include, to the 
maximum extent practicable, outreach to primarily undergraduate and 
minority-serving institutions about Program opportunities, and shall 
encourage the development of research collaborations between research-
intensive universities and primarily undergraduate and minority-serving 
institutions.
    (d) Ethical, Legal, Environmental, and Societal Issues.--Program 
activities shall take into account ethical, legal, environmental, and 
other appropriate societal issues, including the need for safeguards 
and monitoring systems to protect society against the unintended 
release of engineered materials produced, by--
            (1) supporting research, including in the social sciences, 
        and other activities addressing ethical, legal, environmental, 
        and other appropriate societal issues related to engineering 
        biology, including integrating research on these topics with 
        the research and development in engineering biology, and 
        ensuring that the results of such research are widely 
        disseminated, including through interdisciplinary engineering 
        biology research centers described in subsection (b)(1)(C); and
            (2) ensuring, through the agencies and departments that 
        participate in the Program, that public input and outreach are 
        integrated into the Program by the convening of regular and 
        ongoing public discussions through mechanisms such as citizen 
        panels, consensus conferences, and educational events, as 
        appropriate.
    (e) Interagency Committee.--The President shall designate an 
interagency committee on engineering biology, which shall include 
representatives from the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the 
National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, the Environmental Protection Agency, and any 
other agency that the President considers appropriate. The Director of 
the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall select a chairperson 
from among the members of the Interagency Committee. The Interagency 
Committee shall oversee the planning, management, and coordination of 
the Program. The Interagency Committee shall--
            (1) provide for interagency coordination of Federal 
        engineering biology research, development, and other activities 
        undertaken pursuant to the Program;
            (2) establish and periodically update goals and priorities 
        for the Program;
            (3) develop, not later than 12 months after the date of 
        enactment of this subtitle, and update every 5 years, a 
        strategic plan to guide the activities of the Program and meet 
        the goals and priorities established under paragraph (2) and 
        describe--
                    (A) the Program's support for long-term funding for 
                interdisciplinary engineering biology research and 
                development;
                    (B) the Program's support for education and public 
                outreach activities;
                    (C) the Program's support for research and other 
                activities on ethical, legal, environmental, and other 
                appropriate societal issues related to engineering 
                biology; and
                    (D) how the Program will move results out of the 
                laboratory and into application for the benefit of 
                society and United States competitiveness;
            (4) propose an annually coordinated interagency budget for 
        the Program that will ensure the maintenance of a robust 
        engineering biology research and development portfolio and 
        ensure that the balance of funding across the Program is 
        sufficient to meet the goals and priorities established for the 
        Program;
            (5) develop a plan to utilize Federal programs, such as the 
        Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small 
        Business Technology Transfer Program, in support of the goals 
        described in subsection (b)(4); and
            (6) in carrying out its responsibilities under this 
        section, take into consideration the recommendations of the 
        Advisory Committee, the results of the workshop convened under 
        section 126, existing reports on related topics, and the views 
        of academic, State, industry, and other appropriate groups.
    (f) Annual Report.--The Interagency Committee shall prepare an 
annual report, to be submitted to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate not later than 90 
days after submission of the President's annual budget request, that 
includes--
            (1) the Program budget for the fiscal year to which such 
        budget request applies, and for the then current fiscal year, 
        including a breakout of spending for each agency participating 
        in the Program, and for the development and acquisition of any 
        research facilities and instrumentation; and
            (2) an assessment of how Federal agencies are implementing 
        the plan described in subsection (e)(5), and a description of 
        the amount and number of Small Business Innovation Research and 
        Small Business Technology Transfer awards made in support of 
        the Program.

SEC. 125. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) In General.--The President shall designate an advisory 
committee on engineering biology research and development with at least 
12 members, including representatives of research and academic 
institutions, industry, and nongovernmental entities, who are qualified 
to provide advice on the Program.
    (b) Assessment.--The Advisory Committee shall assess--
            (1) progress made in implementing the Program;
            (2) the need to revise the Program;
            (3) the balance of activities and funding across the 
        Program;
            (4) whether the Program priorities and goals developed by 
        the Interagency Committee are helping to maintain United States 
        leadership in engineering biology;
            (5) the management, coordination, implementation, and 
        activities of the Program; and
            (6) whether ethical, legal, environmental, and other 
        appropriate societal issues are adequately addressed by the 
        Program.
    (c) Reports.--The Advisory Committee shall report within 3 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and thereafter not less 
frequently than once every 5 years, to the President, the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, on 
its findings of the assessment carried out under this section and its 
recommendations for ways to improve the Program.
    (d) Federal Advisory Committee Act Application.--Section 14 of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the 
Advisory Committee.

SEC. 126. EXTERNAL REVIEW OF ETHICAL, LEGAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND 
              SOCIETAL ISSUES.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall enter into an agreement with the National Academies to convene a 
workshop to review the ethical, legal, environmental, and other 
appropriate societal issues related to engineering biology research and 
development. The goals of the workshop shall be to--
            (1) assess the current research on such issues;
            (2) evaluate the research gaps relating to such issues; and
            (3) provide recommendations on how the Program can address 
        the research needs identified.
    (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation 
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 summary report containing the 
findings of the workshop convened under this section.

SEC. 127. AGENCY ACTIVITIES.

    (a) National Science Foundation.--As part of the Program, the 
National Science Foundation shall--
            (1) support basic research at the intersection of the 
        biological, physical, and information sciences and engineering 
        through individual grants and through interdisciplinary 
        research centers;
            (2) support research on the environmental and social 
        effects of engineering biology;
            (3) provide research instrumentation support for 
        engineering biology disciplines; and
            (4) award grants, on a competitive basis, to enable 
        institutions to support graduate students and postdoctoral 
        fellows who perform some of their engineering biology research 
        in an industry setting.
    (b) Department of Commerce.--As part of the Program, the Director 
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall--
            (1) establish a bioscience research program to advance the 
        development of standard reference materials and measurements 
        and to create new data tools, techniques, and processes 
        necessary to advance engineering biology and biomanufacturing;
            (2) provide access to user facilities with advanced or 
        unique equipment, services, materials, and other resources to 
        industry, institutions of higher education, nonprofit 
        organizations, and government agencies to perform research and 
        testing; and
            (3) provide technical expertise to inform the development 
        of guidelines and safeguards for new products, processes, and 
        systems of engineering biology.
    (c) Department of Energy.--As part of the Program, the Secretary of 
Energy shall--
            (1) conduct and support basic research, development, 
        demonstration, and commercial application activities in 
        engineering biology disciplines, including in the areas of 
        synthetic biology, advanced biofuel development, biobased 
        materials, and environmental remediation; and
            (2) provide access to user facilities with advanced or 
        unique equipment, services, materials, and other resources, as 
        appropriate, to industry, institutions of higher education, 
        nonprofit organizations, and government agencies to perform 
        research and testing.
    (d) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.--As part of the 
Program, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall--
            (1) conduct and support basic and applied research in 
        engineering biology fields, including in the field of synthetic 
        biology, and related to Earth and space sciences, aeronautics, 
        space technology, and space exploration and experimentation, 
        consistent with the priorities established in the National 
        Academies' decadal surveys; and
            (2) award grants, on a competitive basis, that enable 
        institutions to support graduate students and postdoctoral 
        fellows who perform some of their engineering biology research 
        in an industry setting.
    (e) Environmental Protection Agency.--As part of the Program, the 
Environmental Protection Agency shall support research on how products, 
processes, and systems of engineering biology will affect the 
environment.

                 TITLE II--STEM EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY

                Subtitle A--STEM Education and Workforce

SEC. 201. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the National Science and 
Technology Council's Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM), established 
under section 101 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 
(42 U.S.C. 6621), has taken important initial steps toward developing 
and implementing a strategic plan for Federal investments in STEM 
education, but that more work must be done to solicit and take into 
account views and experience from stakeholders who help implement or 
are the beneficiaries of Federal STEM programs across the Nation. It is 
further the sense of Congress that science mission agencies such as the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of Energy are essential 
partners in contributing to the goals and implementation of a Federal 
STEM strategic plan because such agencies have unique scientific and 
technological facilities as well as highly trained scientists who are 
eager and able to contribute to improved STEM learning outcomes in 
their own communities.

SEC. 202. COORDINATION OF FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION.

    Section 101 of America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 
U.S.C. 6621) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(5)--
                    (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (D) 
                as subparagraphs (B) through (E), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting before subparagraph (B), as so 
                redesigned by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the 
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(A) have as its primary goal to leverage the 
                limited STEM education funding and other assets, 
                including intellectual capital, invested by Federal 
                STEM agencies for maximum benefit to student 
                learning;'';
            (2) by striking the second subsection (b);
            (3) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (f);
            (4) by inserting after subsection (b), the following new 
        subsections:
    ``(c) Coordinator for STEM Education.--The Director of the Office 
of Science and Technology Policy shall designate an associate director 
of the Office of Science and Technology Policy as the Coordinator for 
STEM Education. When an appropriate associate director is not 
available, the Director may designate another appropriate senior 
government official as the Coordinator for STEM Education. The 
Coordinator shall chair the committee established under subsection (a). 
The Coordinator shall, with the assistance of appropriate senior 
officials from other Committee on STEM Education agencies, ensure that 
the requirements of this section are satisfied.
    ``(d) Stakeholder Input.--
            ``(1) Interagency consolidation.--For all agency proposals 
        to consolidate or transfer budgets or functions for STEM 
        education programs or activities between agencies, at the time 
        of submission of such proposals to Congress, the Director shall 
        report to Congress on activities undertaken by the Office of 
        Science and Technology Policy or by relevant agencies to take 
        into consideration relevant input from the STEM Education 
        Advisory Panel established under subsection (e) and other 
        relevant education stakeholders.
            ``(2) Intraagency consolidation.--For all agency proposals 
        to internally consolidate or terminate STEM education programs 
        with budgets exceeding $10,000,000, at the time of submission 
        of such proposals to Congress, the head of the relevant agency 
        shall report to Congress on activities to solicit and take into 
        consideration input on such proposals from the STEM Education 
        Advisory Panel established under subsection (e) and other 
        relevant education stakeholders.
    ``(e) STEM Education Advisory Panel.--
            ``(1) In general.--The President shall establish or 
        designate a STEM Education Advisory Panel. The cochairs of the 
        Advisory Panel shall meet the qualifications of Panel 
        membership required in paragraph (2) and may be members of the 
        President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
            ``(2) Qualifications.--The Advisory Panel established or 
        designated by the President under this subsection shall consist 
        of members from academic institutions, industry, informal 
        education providers, nonprofit STEM education organizations, 
        foundations, and local and State educational agencies. Members 
        of the Advisory Panel shall be qualified to provide advice on 
        Federal STEM education programs, best practices in STEM 
        education, assessment of STEM education programs, STEM 
        education standards, industry needs for STEM graduates, and 
        public-private STEM education partnerships.
            ``(3) Duties.--The Advisory Panel shall advise the 
        President and the committee established under subsection (a) on 
        implementing the Federal STEM education strategic plan required 
        under subsection (b)(5) and coordinating Federal STEM programs 
        with nongovernmental STEM initiatives and State and local 
        educational agencies.
            ``(4) Report.--The Advisory Panel shall report, not more 
        than 1 year after enactment of the America Competes 
        Reauthorization Act of 2015, on options for evidence-based 
        implementation of the Federal STEM strategic plan required 
        under subsection (b)(5), including options for designating 
        certain agencies as coordinating leads for different priority 
        investment areas, timelines for implementation, and specific 
        management, budget, policy, or other steps that agencies must 
        take to effectively implement the strategic plan.
            ``(5) Sunset.--The authorization for the Advisory Panel 
        established under this subsection shall expire 3 years after 
        the date of enactment of the America Competes Reauthorization 
        Act of 2015.''; and
            (5) in subsection (f), as so redesignated by paragraph (3) 
        of this section--
                    (A) by inserting ``progress made in implementing'' 
                after ``describing'';
                    (B) by striking paragraph (3); and
                    (C) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 
                paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively.

SEC. 203. GRAND CHALLENGES IN EDUCATION RESEARCH.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
and the Secretary of Education shall collaborate in--
            (1) identifying, prioritizing, and developing strategies to 
        address grand challenges in research and development, including 
        assessment, on the teaching and learning of STEM at the pre-K-
        12 level, in formal and informal settings, for diverse learning 
        populations, including individuals identified in section 33 or 
        34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b); and
            (2) ensuring the dissemination and promoting the 
        utilization of the results of such research and development.
    (b) Stakeholder Input.--In identifying the grand challenges under 
subsection (a), the Director and the Secretary shall--
            (1) take into consideration critical research gaps 
        identified in existing reports, including reports by the 
        National Academies, on the teaching and learning of STEM at the 
        pre-K-12 level in formal and informal settings; and
            (2) solicit input from a wide range of stakeholders, 
        including officials from State educational agencies and local 
        educational agencies, STEM teachers, STEM education 
        researchers, scientific and engineering societies, STEM faculty 
        at institutions of higher education, informal STEM education 
        providers, businesses with a large STEM workforce, and other 
        stakeholders in the teaching and learning of STEM at the pre-K-
        12 level, and may enter into an arrangement with the National 
        Research Council for these purposes.
    (c) Topics To Consider.--In identifying the grand challenges under 
subsection (a), the Director and the Secretary shall, at a minimum, 
consider research and development on--
            (1) scalability, sustainability, and replication of 
        successful STEM activities, programs, and models, in formal and 
        informal environments;
            (2) model systems that support improved teaching and 
        learning of STEM across entire local educational agencies and 
        States, including rural areas, and encompassing and integrating 
        the teaching and learning of STEM in formal and informal 
        venues;
            (3) implementation of new State mathematics and science 
        standards;
            (4) what makes a STEM teacher effective and STEM teacher 
        professional development effective, including development of 
        tools and methodologies to measure STEM teacher effectiveness;
            (5) cyber-enabled and other technology tools for teaching 
        and learning, including massive open online courses;
            (6) STEM teaching and learning in informal environments, 
        including development of tools and methodologies for assessing 
        STEM teaching and learning in informal environments; and
            (7) how integrating engineering with mathematics and 
        science education may--
                    (A) improve student learning of mathematics and 
                science;
                    (B) increase student interest and persistence in 
                STEM; or
                    (C) improve student understanding of engineering 
                design principles and of the built world.
    (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director and the Secretary shall report to 
Congress with a description of--
            (1) the grand challenges identified pursuant to this 
        section;
            (2) the role of each agency in supporting research and 
        development activities to address the grand challenges;
            (3) the common metrics that will be used to assess progress 
        toward meeting the grand challenges;
            (4) plans for periodically updating the grand challenges;
            (5) how the agencies will disseminate and promote the 
        utilization of the results of research and development 
        activities carried out under this section to STEM education 
        practitioners, to other Federal agencies that support STEM 
        programs and activities, and to non-Federal funders of STEM 
        education; and
            (6) how the agencies will support implementation of best 
        practices identified by the research and development 
        activities.

SEC. 204. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL REPORT ON STEAM EDUCATION.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
        (STEM) Talent Expansion Program set an important goal of 
        increasing the number of students graduating with associate or 
        baccalaureate degrees in the STEM fields, and this should 
        continue to be a focus of that program;
            (2) to further the goal of the STEM Talent Expansion 
        Program, as well as STEM education promotion programs across 
        the Federal Government, innovative approaches are needed to 
        enhance STEM education in the United States;
            (3) STEAM, which is the integration of arts and design, 
        broadly defined, into Federal STEM programming, research, and 
        innovation activities, is a method-validated approach to 
        maintaining the competitiveness of the United States in both 
        workforce and innovation and to increasing and broadening 
        students' engagement in the STEM fields;
            (4) STEM graduates need more than technical skills to 
        thrive in the 21st century workforce; they also need to be 
        creative, innovative, collaborative, and able to think 
        critically;
            (5) STEAM should be recognized as providing value to STEM 
        research and education programs across Federal agencies, 
        without supplanting the focus on the traditional STEM 
        disciplines;
            (6) Federal agencies should work cooperatively on 
        interdisciplinary initiatives to support the integration of 
        arts and design into STEM, and current interdisciplinary 
        programs should be strengthened;
            (7) Federal agencies should allow for STEAM activities 
        under current and future grant-making and other activities; and
            (8) Federal agencies should clarify that, where 
        appropriate, data collection, surveys, and reporting on STEM 
        activities and grant-making should examine activities that 
        involve cross-disciplinary learning that integrates specialized 
        skills and expertise from both art and science.
    (b) National Research Council Workshop.--The National Science 
Foundation shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research 
Council to conduct a workshop on the integration of arts and design 
with STEM education. The workshop shall include a discussion of--
            (1) how the perspectives and experience of artists and 
        designers may contribute to the advancement of science, 
        engineering, and innovation, for example through the 
        development of visualization aids for large experimental and 
        computational data sets;
            (2) how arts and design-based education experiences might 
        support formal and informal STEM education at the pre-K-12 
        level, particularly in fostering creativity and risk taking, 
        and encourage more students to pursue STEM studies, including 
        students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM;
            (3) how the teaching of design principles can be better 
        integrated into undergraduate engineering and other STEM 
        curricula, including in the first two years of undergraduate 
        studies, to enhance student capacity for creativity and 
        innovation and improve student retention, including students 
        from groups historically underrepresented in STEM; and
            (4) what additional steps, if any, Federal science agencies 
        should take to promote the inclusion of arts and design 
        principles in their respective STEM programs and activities in 
        order to improve student STEM learning outcomes, increase the 
        recruitment and retention of students into STEM studies and 
        careers, and increase innovation in the United States.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the National Research Council shall submit a report to 
Congress providing a summary description of the discussion and findings 
from the workshop required under subsection (b).

SEC. 205. ENGAGING FEDERAL SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS IN STEM EDUCATION.

    The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
develop guidance for Federal agencies to increase opportunities and 
training, as appropriate, for Federal scientists and engineers to 
participate in STEM engagement activities through their respective 
agencies and in their communities.

              Subtitle B--Broadening Participation in STEM

SEC. 211. SHORT TITLE.

    This subtitle may be cited as the ``STEM Opportunities Act of 
2015''.

SEC. 212. PURPOSE.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, acting through the Federal science agencies, shall 
carry out programs and activities with the purpose of ensuring that 
Federal science agencies and institutions of higher education receiving 
Federal research and development funding are fully engaging their 
entire talent pool.
    (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this subtitle are as follows:
            (1) To promote research on and increase understanding of 
        the participation and trajectories of women and 
        underrepresented minorities in STEM careers at institutions of 
        higher education and Federal science agencies, including 
        Federal laboratories.
            (2) To raise awareness within Federal science agencies, 
        including Federal laboratories, and institutions of higher 
        education about cultural and institutional barriers limiting 
        the recruitment, retention, promotion, and other indicators of 
        participation and achievement of women and underrepresented 
        minorities in academic and Government STEM research careers at 
        all levels.
            (3) To identify, disseminate, and implement best practices 
        at Federal science agencies, including Federal laboratories, 
        and at institutions of higher education to remove or reduce 
        cultural and institutional barriers limiting the recruitment, 
        retention, and success of women and underrepresented minorities 
        in academic and Government STEM research careers.
            (4) To provide grants to institutions of higher education 
        to recruit, retain, and advance STEM faculty members from 
        underrepresented minority groups and to implement or expand 
        reforms in undergraduate STEM education in order to increase 
        the number of students from underrepresented minority groups 
        receiving degrees in these fields.

SEC. 213. FEDERAL SCIENCE AGENCY POLICIES FOR CAREGIVERS.

    (a) OSTP Guidance.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall provide guidance to Federal science agencies to 
establish policies that--
            (1) apply to all--
                    (A) intramural and extramural research awards; and
                    (B) primary investigators who have caregiving 
                responsibilities, including care for a newborn or newly 
                adopted child and care for an immediate family member 
                who is sick or disabled; and
            (2) provide--
                    (A) flexibility in timing for the initiation of 
                approved research awards;
                    (B) no-cost extensions of research awards;
                    (C) grant supplements as appropriate to research 
                awards for research technicians or equivalent to 
                sustain research activities; and
                    (D) any other appropriate accommodations at the 
                discretion of the head of each agency.
    (b) Uniformity of Guidance.--In providing such guidance, the 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall encourage 
uniformity and consistency in the policies across all agencies.
    (c) Establishment of Policies.--Consistent with the guidance 
provided under this section, Federal science agencies shall maintain or 
develop and implement policies for caregivers and shall broadly 
disseminate such policies to current and potential grantees.
    (d) Data on Usage.--Federal science agencies shall--
            (1) collect data on the usage of the policies under 
        subsection (c), by gender, at both institutions of higher 
        education and Federal laboratories; and
            (2) report such data on an annual basis to the Director of 
        the Office of Science and Technology Policy in such form as 
        required by the Director.

SEC. 214. COLLECTION AND REPORTING OF DATA ON FEDERAL RESEARCH GRANTS.

    (a) Collection of Data.--
            (1) In general.--Each Federal science agency shall collect 
        standardized record-level annual information on demographics, 
        primary field, award type, budget request, funding outcome, and 
        awarded budget for all applications for merit-reviewed research 
        and development grants to institutions of higher education and 
        Federal laboratories supported by that agency.
            (2) Uniformity and standardization.--The Director of the 
        Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish a 
        policy to ensure uniformity and standardization of the data 
        collection required under paragraph (1).
            (3) Record-level data.--
                    (A) Requirement.--On an annual basis, beginning 
                with the deadline under subparagraph (C), each Federal 
                science agency shall submit to the Director of the 
                National Science Foundation record-level data collected 
                under paragraph (1) in the form required by such 
                Director.
                    (B) Previous data.--As part of the first submission 
                under subparagraph (A), each Federal science agency, to 
                the extent practicable, shall also submit comparable 
                record-level data for the 5 years preceding the 
                deadline under subparagraph (C).
                    (C) Deadline.--The deadline under this paragraph is 
                2 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (b) Reporting of Data.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall publish statistical summary data collected under this 
section, disaggregated and cross-tabulated by race, ethnicity, gender, 
age, and years since completion of doctoral degree, including in 
conjunction with the National Science Foundation's report required by 
section 37 of the Science and Technology Equal Opportunities Act (42 
U.S.C. 1885d; Public Law 96-516).

SEC. 215. POLICIES FOR REVIEW OF FEDERAL RESEARCH GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, in collaboration with the Director of the National 
Science Foundation, shall identify information and best practices 
useful for educating program officers and members of standing peer 
review committees at Federal science agencies about--
            (1) research on implicit bias based on gender, race, or 
        ethnicity; and
            (2) methods to minimize the effect of such bias in the 
        review of extramural and intramural Federal research grants.
    (b) Guidance to All Federal Science Agencies.--The Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy shall disseminate the 
information and best practices identified in subsection (a) to all 
Federal science agencies and provide guidance as necessary on policies 
to implement such practices within each agency.
    (c) Establishment of Policies.--Consistent with the guidance 
provided in subsection (b), Federal science agencies shall maintain or 
develop and implement policies and practices to minimize the effects of 
implicit bias in the review of extramural and intramural Federal 
research grants.
    (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall report to Congress on what steps all Federal 
science agencies have taken to implement policies and practices to 
minimize the effects of bias in the review of extramural and intramural 
Federal research grants.

SEC. 216. COLLECTION OF DATA ON DEMOGRAPHICS OF FACULTY.

    (a) Collection of Data.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and at least every 5 years thereafter, 
        the Director of the National Science Foundation shall carry out 
        a survey to collect institution-level data on the demographics 
        of STEM faculty, by broad fields of STEM, at different types of 
        institutions of higher education.
            (2) Considerations.--To the extent practicable, the 
        Director of the National Science Foundation shall consider, by 
        gender, race, ethnicity, citizenship status, age, and years 
        since completion of doctoral degree--
                    (A) the number and percentage of faculty;
                    (B) the number and percentage of faculty at each 
                rank;
                    (C) the number and percentage of faculty who are in 
                nontenure-track positions, including teaching and 
                research;
                    (D) the number and percentage of faculty who are 
                reviewed for promotion, including tenure, and the 
                percentage of that number who are promoted, including 
                being awarded tenure;
                    (E) faculty years in rank;
                    (F) the number and percentage of faculty to leave 
                tenure-track positions;
                    (G) the number and percentage of faculty hired, by 
                rank; and
                    (H) the number and percentage of faculty in 
                leadership positions.
    (b) Existing Surveys.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation--
            (1) may carry out the requirements under subsection (a) by 
        collaborating with statistical centers at other Federal 
        agencies to modify or expand, as necessary, existing Federal 
        surveys of higher education; or
            (2) may award a grant or contract to an institution of 
        higher education or other nonprofit organization to design and 
        carry out the requirements under subsection (a).
    (c) Reporting Data.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall publish statistical summary data collected under this 
section, including as part of the National Science Foundation's report 
required by section 37 of the Science and Technology Equal 
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885d; Public Law 96-516).
    (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation 
$3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2018 to develop and 
carry out the initial survey required in subsection (a).

SEC. 217. CULTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS TO EXPANDING THE ACADEMIC 
              AND FEDERAL STEM WORKFORCE.

    (a) Best Practices at Institutions of Higher Education.--
            (1) Development of guidance.--Not later than 6 months after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall develop written guidance for 
        institutions of higher education on the best practices for--
                    (A) conducting periodic campus culture surveys of 
                STEM departments, with a particular focus on 
                identifying any cultural or institutional barriers to 
                or successful enablers for the recruitment, retention, 
                promotion, and other indicators of participation and 
                achievement, of women and underrepresented minorities 
                in STEM degree programs and academic STEM careers; and
                    (B) providing educational opportunities, including 
                workshops as described in subsection (c), for STEM 
                faculty and administrators to learn about current 
                research on implicit bias in recruitment, evaluation, 
                and promotion of faculty in STEM and recruitment and 
                evaluation of undergraduate and graduate students in 
                STEM degree programs.
            (2) Existing guidance.--In developing the guidance in 
        paragraph (1), the Director of the National Science Foundation 
        shall utilize guidance already developed by the National 
        Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Energy, 
        and the Department of Education.
            (3) Dissemination of guidance.--The Director of the 
        National Science Foundation shall broadly disseminate the 
        guidance developed in paragraph (1) to institutions of higher 
        education that receive Federal research funding.
            (4) Reports to the national science foundation.--The 
        Director of the National Science Foundation shall develop a 
        policy that--
                    (A) applies to, at a minimum, the institutions 
                classified under the Indiana University Center for 
                Postsecondary Research Carnegie Classification on 
                January 1, 2015, as a doctorate-granting university 
                with a very high level of research activity; and
                    (B) requires each institution identified in 
                subparagraph (A), not later than 3 years after the date 
                of enactment of this Act, to report to the Director of 
                the National Science Foundation on activities and 
                policies developed and implemented based on the 
                guidance provided in paragraph (1).
    (b) Best Practices at Federal Laboratories.--
            (1) Development of guidance.--Not later than 6 months after 
        the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office 
        of Science and Technology Policy shall develop written guidance 
        for Federal laboratories to develop and implement practices and 
        policies to--
                    (A) conduct periodic laboratorywide culture surveys 
                of research personnel at all levels, with a particular 
                focus on identifying any cultural or institutional 
                barriers to the recruitment, retention, and success of 
                women and underrepresented minorities in STEM careers 
                at Federal laboratories; and
                    (B) provide educational opportunities, including 
                workshops as described in subsection (c), for STEM 
                research personnel to learn about current research in 
                implicit bias in recruitment, evaluation, and promotion 
                of research personnel at Federal laboratories.
            (2) Establishment of policies.--Consistent with the 
        guidance provided in paragraph (1), Federal science agencies 
        with Federal laboratories shall maintain or develop and 
        implement policies for their respective Federal laboratories.
    (c) Workshops To Address Cultural Barriers to Expanding the 
Academic and Federal STEM Workforce.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall recommend a uniform policy for Federal science 
        agencies to carry out a program of workshops that educate STEM 
        department chairs at institutions of higher education, senior 
        managers at Federal laboratories, and other federally funded 
        researchers about methods that minimize the effects of implicit 
        bias in the career advancement, including hiring, tenure, 
        promotion, and selection for any honor based in part on the 
        recipient's research record, of academic and Federal STEM 
        researchers.
            (2) Interagency coordination.--The Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall ensure that workshops supported under 
        this subsection are coordinated across Federal science agencies 
        and jointly supported as appropriate.
            (3) Minimizing costs.--To the extent practicable, workshops 
        shall be held in conjunction with national or regional STEM 
        disciplinary meetings to minimize costs associated with 
        participant travel.
            (4) Priority fields for academic participants.--In 
        considering the participation of STEM department chairs and 
        other academic researchers, the Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall prioritize workshops for the broad 
        fields of STEM in which the national rate of representation of 
        women among tenured or tenure-track faculty or non-faculty 
        researchers at doctorate-granting institutions of higher 
        education is less than 25 percent, according to the most recent 
        data available from the National Center for Science and 
        Engineering Statistics.
            (5) Organizations eligible to carry out workshops.--Federal 
        science agencies may carry out the program of workshops under 
        this subsection by making grants to eligible organizations. In 
        addition to any other organizations made eligible by the 
        Federal science agencies, the following organizations are 
        eligible for grants under this subsection:
                    (A) Nonprofit scientific and professional societies 
                and organizations that represent one or more STEM 
                disciplines.
                    (B) Nonprofit organizations that have the primary 
                mission of advancing the participation of women or 
                underrepresented minorities in STEM.
            (6) Characteristics of workshops.--The workshops shall have 
        the following characteristics:
                    (A) Invitees to workshops shall include at least--
                            (i) the chairs of departments in the 
                        relevant STEM discipline or disciplines from at 
                        least the top 50 institutions of higher 
                        education, as determined by the amount of 
                        Federal research and development funds 
                        obligated to each institution of higher 
                        education in the prior year based on data 
                        available from the National Science Foundation; 
                        and
                            (ii) in the case of Federal laboratories, 
                        individuals with personnel management 
                        responsibilities comparable to those of an 
                        institution of higher education department 
                        chair.
                    (B) Activities at the workshops shall include 
                research presentations and interactive discussions or 
                other activities that increase the awareness of the 
                existence of implicit bias in recruitment, hiring, 
                tenure review, promotion, and other forms of formal 
                recognition of individual achievement for faculty and 
                other federally funded STEM researchers and shall 
                provide strategies to overcome such bias.
                    (C) Research presentations and other workshop 
                programs, as appropriate, shall include a discussion of 
                the unique challenges faced by underrepresented 
                subgroups, including minority women, minority men, and 
                first generation minority graduates in research.
                    (D) Workshop programs shall include information on 
                best practices for mentoring undergraduate and graduate 
                women and underrepresented minority students.
            (7) Data on workshops.--Any proposal for funding by an 
        organization seeking to carry out a workshop under this 
        subsection shall include a description of how such organization 
        will--
                    (A) collect data on the rates of attendance by 
                invitees in workshops, including information on the 
                home institution and department of attendees, and the 
                rank of faculty attendees;
                    (B) conduct attitudinal surveys on workshop 
                attendees before and after the workshops; and
                    (C) collect follow-up data on any relevant 
                institutional policy or practice changes reported by 
                attendees not later than 1 year after attendance in 
                such a workshop.
            (8) Report to nsf.--Organizations receiving funding to 
        carry out workshops under this subsection shall report the data 
        required in paragraph (7) to the Director of the National 
        Science Foundation in such form as required by such Director.
    (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 4 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall submit a report to Congress that includes--
            (1) a summary and analysis of the types and frequency of 
        activities and policies developed and carried out under 
        subsection (a) based on the reports submitted under paragraph 
        (4) of such subsection; and
            (2) a description and evaluation of the status and 
        effectiveness of the program of workshops required under 
        subsection (c), including a summary of any data reported under 
        paragraph (8) of such subsection.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation 
$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020 to carry out this 
section.

SEC. 218. RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATION AT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE 
              FOUNDATION.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall award research grants and carry out dissemination activities 
consistent with the purposes of this subtitle, including--
            (1) research grants to analyze the record-level data 
        collected under section 214 and section 216, consistent with 
        policies to ensure the privacy of individuals identifiable by 
        such data;
            (2) research grants to study best practices for work-life 
        accommodation;
            (3) research grants to study the impact of policies and 
        practices that are implemented under this subtitle or that are 
        otherwise consistent with the purposes of this subtitle;
            (4) collaboration with other Federal science agencies and 
        professional associations to exchange best practices, harmonize 
        work-life accommodation policies and practices, and overcome 
        common barriers to work-life accommodation; and
            (5) collaboration with institutions of higher education in 
        order to clarify and catalyze the adoption of a coherent and 
        consistent set of work-life accommodation policies and 
        practices.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation 
$5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020 to carry out this 
section.

SEC. 219. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall submit a 
report to Congress that includes--
            (1) a description and evaluation of the status and usage of 
        caregiver policies at all Federal science agencies, including 
        any recommendations for revising or expanding such policies;
            (2) a description of any significant updates to the 
        policies for review of Federal research grants required under 
        section 215, and any evidence of the impact of such policies on 
        the review or awarding of Federal research grants; and
            (3) a description and evaluation of the status of Federal 
        laboratory policies and practices required under section 
        217(b), including any recommendations for revising or expanding 
        such policies.

SEC. 220. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SUPPORT FOR INCREASING DIVERSITY 
              AMONG STEM FACULTY AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

    (a) Grants.--The Director of the National Science Foundation shall 
award grants to institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof) 
for the development of innovative reform efforts designed to increase 
the recruitment, retention, and advancement of individuals from 
underrepresented minority groups in academic STEM careers.
    (b) Merit Review; Competition.--Grants shall be awarded under this 
section on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Activities supported by grants under this 
section may include--
            (1) institutional assessment activities, such as data 
        analyses and policy review, in order to identify and address 
        specific issues in the recruitment, retention, and advancement 
        of faculty members from underrepresented minority groups;
            (2) implementation of institution-wide improvements in 
        workload distribution, such that faculty members from 
        underrepresented minority groups are not disadvantaged in the 
        amount of time available to focus on research, publishing 
        papers, and engaging in other activities required to achieve 
        tenure status and run a productive research program;
            (3) development and implementation of training courses for 
        administrators and search committee members to ensure that 
        candidates from underrepresented minority groups are not 
        subject to implicit biases in the search and hiring process;
            (4) development and hosting of intra- or inter-
        institutional workshops to propagate best practices in 
        recruiting, retaining, and advancing faculty members from 
        underrepresented minority groups;
            (5) professional development opportunities for faculty 
        members from underrepresented minority groups;
            (6) activities aimed at making undergraduate STEM students 
        from underrepresented minority groups aware of opportunities 
        for academic careers in STEM fields;
            (7) activities to identify and engage exceptional graduate 
        students from underrepresented minority groups at various 
        stages of their studies and to encourage them to enter academic 
        careers; and
            (8) other activities consistent with subsection (a), as 
        determined by the Director of the National Science Foundation.
    (d) Selection Process.--
            (1) Application.--An institution of higher education (or 
        consortia thereof) seeking funding under this section shall 
        submit an application to the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information and assurances as such Director may require. The 
        application shall include, at a minimum, a description of--
                    (A) the reform effort that is being proposed for 
                implementation by the institution of higher education;
                    (B) any available evidence of specific difficulties 
                in the recruitment, retention, and advancement of 
                faculty members from underrepresented minority groups 
                in STEM academic careers within the institution of 
                higher education submitting an application, and how the 
                proposed reform effort would address such issues;
                    (C) how the institution of higher education 
                submitting an application plans to sustain the proposed 
                reform effort beyond the duration of the grant; and
                    (D) how the success and effectiveness of the 
                proposed reform effort will be evaluated and assessed 
                in order to contribute to the national knowledge base 
                about models for catalyzing institutional change.
            (2) Review of applications.--In selecting grant recipients 
        under this section, the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall consider, at a minimum--
                    (A) the likelihood of success in undertaking the 
                proposed reform effort at the institution of higher 
                education submitting the application, including the 
                extent to which the administrators of the institution 
                are committed to making the proposed reform effort a 
                priority;
                    (B) the degree to which the proposed reform effort 
                will contribute to change in institutional culture and 
                policy such that greater value is placed on the 
                recruitment, retention, and advancement of faculty 
                members from underrepresented minority groups;
                    (C) the likelihood that the institution of higher 
                education will sustain or expand the proposed reform 
                effort beyond the period of the grant; and
                    (D) the degree to which evaluation and assessment 
                plans are included in the design of the proposed reform 
                effort.
            (3) Grant distribution.--The Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall ensure, to the extent practicable, 
        that grants awarded under this section are made to a variety of 
        types of institutions of higher education.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation 
$10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020 to carry out 
this section.

SEC. 221. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SUPPORT FOR BROADENING 
              PARTICIPATION IN UNDERGRADUATE STEM EDUCATION.

    (a) Grants.--The Director of the National Science Foundation shall 
award grants to institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof) 
to implement or expand research-based reforms in undergraduate STEM 
education for the purpose of recruiting and retaining students from 
minority groups who are underrepresented in STEM fields, with a 
priority focus on natural science and engineering fields.
    (b) Merit Review; Competition.--Grants shall be awarded under this 
section on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis.
    (c) Use of Funds.--Activities supported by grants under this 
section may include--
            (1) implementation or expansion of innovative, research-
        based approaches to broaden participation of underrepresented 
        minority groups in STEM fields;
            (2) implementation or expansion of bridge, cohort, 
        tutoring, or mentoring programs designed to enhance the 
        recruitment and retention of students from underrepresented 
        minority groups in STEM fields;
            (3) implementation or expansion of outreach programs 
        linking institutions of higher education and K-12 school 
        systems in order to heighten awareness among pre-college 
        students from underrepresented minority groups of opportunities 
        in college-level STEM fields and STEM careers;
            (4) implementation or expansion of faculty development 
        programs focused on improving retention of undergraduate STEM 
        students from underrepresented minority groups;
            (5) implementation or expansion of mechanisms designed to 
        recognize and reward faculty members who demonstrate a 
        commitment to increasing the participation of students from 
        underrepresented minority groups in STEM fields;
            (6) expansion of successful reforms aimed at increasing the 
        number of STEM students from underrepresented minority groups 
        beyond a single course or group of courses to achieve reform 
        within an entire academic unit, or expansion of successful 
        reform efforts beyond a single academic unit to other STEM 
        academic units within an institution of higher education;
            (7) expansion of opportunities for students from 
        underrepresented minority groups to conduct STEM research in 
        industry, at Federal laboratories, and at international 
        research institutions or research sites;
            (8) provision of stipends for students from 
        underrepresented minority groups participating in research;
            (9) development of research collaborations between 
        research-intensive universities and primarily undergraduate 
        minority-serving institutions;
            (10) support for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows 
        from underrepresented minority groups to participate in 
        instructional or assessment activities at primarily 
        undergraduate institutions, including primarily undergraduate 
        minority-serving institutions and two-year institutions of 
        higher education; and
            (11) other activities consistent with subsection (a), as 
        determined by the Director of the National Science Foundation.
    (d) Selection Process.--
            (1) Application.--An institution of higher education (or 
        consortium thereof) seeking a grant under this section shall 
        submit an application to the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information and assurances as such Director may require. The 
        application shall include, at a minimum--
                    (A) a description of the proposed reform effort;
                    (B) a description of the research findings that 
                will serve as the basis for the proposed reform effort 
                or, in the case of applications that propose an 
                expansion of a previously implemented reform, a 
                description of the previously implemented reform 
                effort, including data about the recruitment, 
                retention, and academic achievement of students from 
                underrepresented minority groups;
                    (C) evidence of an institutional commitment to, and 
                support for, the proposed reform effort, including a 
                long-term commitment to implement successful strategies 
                from the current reform beyond the academic unit or 
                units included in the grant proposal;
                    (D) a description of existing or planned 
                institutional policies and practices regarding faculty 
                hiring, promotion, tenure, and teaching assignment that 
                reward faculty contributions to improving the education 
                of students from underrepresented minority groups in 
                STEM; and
                    (E) how the success and effectiveness of the 
                proposed reform effort will be evaluated and assessed 
                in order to contribute to the national knowledge base 
                about models for catalyzing institutional change.
            (2) Review of applications.--In selecting grant recipients 
        under this section, the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall consider, at a minimum--
                    (A) the likelihood of success of the proposed 
                reform effort at the institution submitting the 
                application, including the extent to which the faculty, 
                staff, and administrators of the institution are 
                committed to making the proposed institutional reform a 
                priority of the participating academic unit or units;
                    (B) the degree to which the proposed reform effort 
                will contribute to change in institutional culture and 
                policy such that greater value is placed on faculty 
                engagement in the retention of students from 
                underrepresented minority groups;
                    (C) the likelihood that the institution will 
                sustain or expand the proposed reform effort beyond the 
                period of the grant; and
                    (D) the degree to which evaluation and assessment 
                plans are included in the design of the proposed reform 
                effort.
            (3) Priority.--For applications that include an expansion 
        of existing reforms beyond a single academic unit, the Director 
        of the National Science Foundation shall give priority to 
        applications for which a senior institutional administrator, 
        such as a dean or other administrator of equal or higher rank, 
        serves as the principal investigator.
            (4) Grant distribution.--The Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall ensure, to the extent practicable, 
        that grants awarded under this section are made to a variety of 
        types of institutions of higher education, including two-year 
        and minority-serving institutions of higher education.
    (e) Education Research.--
            (1) In general.--All grants made under this section shall 
        include an education research component that will support the 
        design and implementation of a system for data collection and 
        evaluation of proposed reform efforts in order to build the 
        knowledge base on promising models for increasing recruitment 
        and retention of students from underrepresented minority groups 
        in STEM education at the undergraduate level across a diverse 
        set of institutions.
            (2) Dissemination.--The Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall coordinate with relevant Federal agencies in 
        disseminating the results of the research under this subsection 
        to ensure that best practices in broadening participation in 
        STEM education at the undergraduate level are made readily 
        available to all institutions of higher education, other 
        Federal agencies that support STEM programs, non-Federal 
        funders of STEM education, and the general public.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Director of the National Science Foundation 
$15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020 to carry out 
this section.

SEC. 222. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) This Subtitle.--In this subtitle:
            (1) Federal laboratory.--The term ``Federal laboratory'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 4 of the Stevenson-
        Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703).
            (2) Federal science agency.--The term ``Federal science 
        agency'' means any Federal agency with at least $100,000,000 in 
        research and development expenditures in fiscal year 2014.
            (3) 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)).
            (4) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics, including other academic subjects 
        that build on these disciplines such as computer science.
    (b) National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002.--Section 
4 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 
U.S.C. 1862n note) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (16) as paragraph (17); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (15) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(16) STEM.--The term `STEM' means science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics, including other academic subjects 
        that build on these disciplines such as computer science.''.

                 TITLE III--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Fiscal Year 2016.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Foundation $7,723,550,000 for fiscal year 2016.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $6,186,300,000 shall be made available for 
                research and related activities;
                    (B) $962,570,000 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) $354,840,000 shall be made available for agency 
                operations and award management;
                    (E) $4,370,000 shall be made available for the 
                Office of the National Science Board, including 
                salaries and compensation for members of the Board and 
                staff appointed under section 4 of the National Science 
                Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863), travel and 
                training costs for members of the Board and such staff, 
                general and Board operating expenses, representational 
                expenses for the Board, honorary awards made by the 
                Board, Board reports (other than the report entitled 
                ``Science and Engineering Indicators''), and contracts; 
                and
                    (F) $15,160,000 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 $8,099,010,000 for fiscal year 2017.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $6,495,620,000 shall be made available for 
                research and related activities;
                    (B) $1,010,700,000 shall be made available for 
                education and human resources;
                    (C) $200,000,000 shall be made available for major 
                research equipment and facilities construction;
                    (D) $372,580,000 shall be made available for agency 
                operations and award management;
                    (E) $4,500,000 shall be made available for the 
                Office of the National Science Board, including 
                salaries and compensation for members of the Board and 
                staff appointed under section 4 of the National Science 
                Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863), travel and 
                training costs for members of the Board and such staff, 
                general and Board operating expenses, representational 
                expenses for the Board, honorary awards made by the 
                Board, Board reports (other than the report entitled 
                ``Science and Engineering Indicators''), and contracts; 
                and
                    (F) $15,610,000 shall be made available for the 
                Office of Inspector General.
    (c) Fiscal Year 2018.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Foundation $8,493,560,000 for fiscal year 2018.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $6,820,400,000 shall be made available for 
                research and related activities;
                    (B) $1,061,230,000 shall be made available for 
                education and human resources;
                    (C) $200,000,000 shall be made available for major 
                research equipment and facilities construction;
                    (D) $391,210,000 shall be made available for agency 
                operations and award management;
                    (E) $4,640,000 shall be made available for the 
                Office of the National Science Board, including 
                salaries and compensation for members of the Board and 
                staff appointed under section 4 of the National Science 
                Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863), travel and 
                training costs for members of the Board and such staff, 
                general and Board operating expenses, representational 
                expenses for the Board, honorary awards made by the 
                Board, Board reports (other than the report entitled 
                ``Science and Engineering Indicators''), and contracts; 
                and
                    (F) $16,080,000 shall be made available for the 
                Office of Inspector General.
    (d) Fiscal Year 2019.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Foundation $8,907,820,000 for fiscal year 2019.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $7,161,420,000 shall be made available for 
                research and related activities;
                    (B) $1,114,300,000 shall be made available for 
                education and human resources;
                    (C) $200,000,000 shall be made available for major 
                research equipment and facilities construction;
                    (D) $410,770,000 shall be made available for agency 
                operations and award management;
                    (E) $4,780,000 shall be made available for the 
                Office of the National Science Board, including 
                salaries and compensation for members of the Board and 
                staff appointed under section 4 of the National Science 
                Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863), travel and 
                training costs for members of the Board and such staff, 
                general and Board operating expenses, representational 
                expenses for the Board, honorary awards made by the 
                Board, Board reports (other than the report entitled 
                ``Science and Engineering Indicators''), and contracts; 
                and
                    (F) $16,570,000 shall be made available for the 
                Office of Inspector General.
    (e) Fiscal Year 2020.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Foundation $9,342,790,000 for fiscal year 2020.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $7,519,490,000 shall be made available for 
                research and related activities;
                    (B) $1,170,010,000 shall be made available for 
                education and human resources;
                    (C) $200,000,000 shall be made available for major 
                research equipment and facilities construction;
                    (D) $431,310,000 shall be made available for agency 
                operations and award management;
                    (E) $4,920,000 shall be made available for the 
                Office of the National Science Board, including 
                salaries and compensation for members of the Board and 
                staff appointed under section 4 of the National Science 
                Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863), travel and 
                training costs for members of the Board and such staff, 
                general and Board operating expenses, representational 
                expenses for the Board, honorary awards made by the 
                Board, Board reports (other than the report entitled 
                ``Science and Engineering Indicators''), and contracts; 
                and
                    (F) $17,060,000 shall be made available for the 
                Office of Inspector General.

SEC. 302. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SUPPORT FOR ALL FIELDS OF 
              SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that the Foundation's investments in 
social, behavioral, and economic research have addressed challenges, 
including--
            (1) in medicine, matching organ donors to patients, leading 
        to a dramatic growth in paired kidney transplants;
            (2) in policing, implementing predictive models that help 
        to yield significant reductions in crime;
            (3) in resource allocation, developing the theories 
        underlying the Federal Communications Commission spectrum 
        auction, which has generated over $60,000,000,000 in revenue;
            (4) in disaster preparation and recovery, identifying 
        barriers to effective disaster evacuation strategies;
            (5) in national defense, assisting United States troops in 
        cross-cultural communication and in identifying threats; and
            (6) in areas such as economics, education, cybersecurity, 
        transportation, and national defense, supporting informed 
        decisionmaking in foreign and domestic policy.
    (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that in order 
to achieve its mission ``to promote the progress of science; to advance 
the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national 
defense'' the Foundation must continue to support unfettered, 
competitive, merit-reviewed basic research across all fields of science 
and engineering, including the social, behavioral, and economic 
sciences.

SEC. 303. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION MERIT REVIEW.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Foundation's Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts 
        criteria remain appropriate for evaluating grant proposals, as 
        concluded by the 2011 National Science Board Task Force on 
        Merit Review;
            (2) evaluating proposals on the basis of the Foundation's 
        Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria ensures that--
                    (A) proposals funded by the Foundation are of high 
                quality and advance scientific knowledge; and
                    (B) the Foundation's overall funding portfolio 
                addresses societal needs through research findings or 
                through related activities; and
            (3) as evidenced by the Foundation's contributions to 
        scientific advancement, economic development, human health, and 
        national security, its peer review and merit review processes 
        have successfully identified and funded scientifically and 
        societally relevant research, remain the gold standard for the 
        world, and must be preserved.
    (b) Criteria.--The Foundation shall maintain the Intellectual Merit 
and Broader Impacts criteria as the basis for evaluating grant 
proposals in the merit review process.

SEC. 304. MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF LARGE FACILITIES.

    (a) Large Facilities Office.--The Director shall maintain a Large 
Facilities Office within the Foundation. The functions of the Large 
Facilities Office shall be to support the research directorates in the 
development and implementation of major 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 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; and
            (3) coordinating and collaborating with research 
        directorates to share best management practices and lessons 
        learned from prior projects.
    (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 research facilities. The duties of 
this official shall include--
            (1) oversight of the development, construction, and 
        operation of major 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 research facilities; and
            (4) periodically reviewing and updating as necessary 
        Foundation policies and guidelines for the development and 
        construction of major research facilities.
    (c) Policies for Costing Large Facilities.--
            (1) In general.--The Director shall ensure that the 
        Foundation's policies for developing and managing major 
        research facility construction costs are consistent with the 
        best practices described in the March 2009 General 
        Accountability Office Report GAO-09-3SP.
            (2) 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 research facility construction costs, including 
        a description of any aspects of the policies that diverge from 
        the best practices recommended in General Accountability Office 
        Report GAO-09-3SP.

SEC. 305. SUPPORT FOR POTENTIALLY TRANSFORMATIVE RESEARCH.

    (a) In General.--The Director shall establish and periodically 
update grant solicitation, merit review, and funding policies and 
mechanisms designed to identify and provide support for high-risk, 
high-reward basic research proposals.
    (b) Policies and Mechanisms.--Such policies and mechanisms may 
include--
            (1) development of solicitations specifically for high-
        risk, high-reward basic research;
            (2) establishment of review panels for the primary purpose 
        of selecting high-risk, high-reward proposals;
            (3) development of guidance to standard review panels to 
        encourage the identification and consideration of high-risk, 
        high-reward proposals; and
            (4) support for workshops and other conferences with the 
        primary purpose of identifying new opportunities for high-risk, 
        high-reward basic research, especially at interdisciplinary 
        interfaces.
    (c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``high-
risk, high-reward basic research'' means research driven by ideas that 
have the potential to radically change our understanding of an 
important existing scientific or engineering concept, or leading to the 
creation of a new paradigm or field of science or engineering, and that 
is characterized by its challenge to current understanding or its 
pathway to new frontiers.

SEC. 306. STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS.

    (a) In General.--For any Foundation research grant, in an amount 
greater than $5,000,000, to be carried out through a partnership that 
includes one or more minority-serving institutions or predominantly 
undergraduate institutions and one or more institutions described in 
subsection (b), the Director shall award funds directly, according to 
the budget justification described in the grant proposal, to at least 
two of the institutions of higher education in the partnership, 
including at least one minority-serving institution or one 
predominantly undergraduate institution, to ensure a strong and 
equitable partnership.
    (b) Institutions.--The institutions referred to in subsection (a) 
are institutions of higher education that are among the 100 
institutions receiving, over the 3-year period immediately preceding 
the awarding of grants, the highest amount of research funding from the 
Foundation.
    (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Director shall provide a report to Congress on 
institutional research partnerships identified in subsection (a) funded 
in the 2 previous fiscal years and make any recommendations for how 
such partnerships can continue to be strengthened.

SEC. 307. INNOVATION CORPS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the National Science 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 investments 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.
    (b) Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a program to 
        award grants for entrepreneurship and commercialization 
        education to Foundation-funded researchers to increase the 
        economic and social impact of federally funded research.
            (2) Purposes.--The purpose of the program shall be to 
        increase the capacity of STEM researchers and students to 
        successfully engage in entrepreneurial activities and to help 
        transition the results of federally funded research into the 
        marketplace by--
                    (A) identifying STEM research that can lead to the 
                practical deployment of technologies, products, 
                processes, and services that improve the Nation's 
                economic competitiveness;
                    (B) bringing STEM researchers and students together 
                with entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and other 
                industry representatives experienced in 
                commercialization of new technologies;
                    (C) supporting entrepreneurship and 
                commercialization education and training for faculty, 
                students, postdoctoral fellows, and other STEM 
                researchers; and
                    (D) promoting the development of regional and 
                national networks of entrepreneurs, venture 
                capitalists, and other industry representatives who can 
                serve as mentors to researchers and students at 
                Foundation-funded institutions across the country.
            (3) Additional use of funds.--Grants awarded under this 
        subsection may be used to help support--
                    (A) prototype and proof-of-concept development for 
                the funded project; and
                    (B) additional activities needed to build a 
                national infrastructure for STEM entrepreneurship.
            (4) Other federal agencies.--The Director may establish 
        agreements with other Federal agencies that fund scientific 
        research to make researchers funded by those agencies eligible 
        to participate in the Foundation's Innovation Corps program.

SEC. 308. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this title:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Foundation.
            (2) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National 
        Science Foundation.
            (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1001(a)).
            (4) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics, including other academic subjects 
        that build on these disciplines such as computer science.

                       Subtitle B--STEM Education

SEC. 321. NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD REPORT ON CONSOLIDATION OF STEM 
              EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AT THE FOUNDATION.

    (a) In General.--The National Science Board shall review and 
evaluate the appropriateness of the Foundation's portfolio of STEM 
education programs and activities at the pre-K-12 and undergraduate 
levels, including informal education, taking into account the mission 
of the Foundation and the 2013 Federal STEM Education 5-Year Strategic 
Plan.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the National Science Board shall submit to Congress a report 
summarizing their findings and including--
            (1) an analysis of how well the Foundation's portfolio of 
        STEM education programs is contributing to the mission of the 
        Foundation;
            (2) an analysis of how well STEM education programs and 
        activities are coordinated and best practices are shared across 
        the Foundation;
            (3) an analysis of how well the Foundation's portfolio of 
        STEM education programs is aligned with and contributes to 
        priority STEM education investment areas described in the 2013 
        Federal STEM Education 5-Year Strategic Plan;
            (4) any Board recommendations regarding internal 
        reorganization, including consolidation, of the Foundation's 
        STEM education programs and activities, taking into account 
        both the mission of the Foundation and the 2013 Federal STEM 
        Education 5-Year Strategic Plan;
            (5) any Board recommendations regarding the Foundation's 
        role in helping to implement the Federal STEM Education 5-Year 
        Strategic Plan, including opportunities for the Foundation to 
        more effectively partner and collaborate with other Federal 
        agencies; and
            (6) any additional Board recommendations regarding specific 
        management, policy, budget, or other steps the Foundation 
        should take to increase effectiveness and accountability across 
        its portfolio of STEM education programs and activities.

SEC. 322. MODELS FOR GRADUATE STUDENT SUPPORT.

    (a) In General.--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.
    (b) 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).
    (c) 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.
    (d) Graduate Student Input.--The participants in the workshop or 
roundtable shall include current or recent STEM graduate students.
    (e) 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. 323. UNDERGRADUATE STEM EDUCATION REFORM.

    Section 17 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 
2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-6) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 17. UNDERGRADUATE STEM EDUCATION REFORM.

    ``(a) In General.--The Director, through the Directorate for 
Education and Human Resources, shall award grants, on a competitive, 
merit-reviewed basis, to institutions of higher education (or to 
consortia thereof) and to other eligible nonprofit organizations to 
reform undergraduate STEM education for the purpose of increasing the 
number and quality of students studying toward and completing 
baccalaureate degrees in STEM and improving the STEM learning outcomes 
for all undergraduate students.
    ``(b) Interdirectorate Working Group on Undergraduate STEM 
Education.--In carrying out the requirements of this section, the 
Directorate for Education and Human Resources shall collaborate and 
coordinate with the Research Directorates, including through the 
establishment of an interdirectorate working group on undergraduate 
STEM education reform, in order to identify and implement new and 
expanded opportunities for collaboration between STEM disciplinary 
researchers and education researchers on the reform of undergraduate 
STEM education.
    ``(c) Grants.--Research and development supported by grants under 
this section may encompass a single discipline, multiple disciplines, 
or interdisciplinary education at the undergraduate level, and may 
include--
            ``(1) research foundational to the improvement of teaching, 
        learning, and retention;
            ``(2) development, implementation, and assessment of 
        innovative, research-based approaches to transforming teaching, 
        learning, and retention; and
            ``(3) scaling of successful efforts on learning and 
        learning environments, broadening participation, workforce 
        preparation, employing emerging technologies, or other reforms 
        in STEM education, including expansion of successful STEM 
        reform efforts beyond a single course or group of courses to 
        achieve reform within an entire academic unit, or expansion of 
        successful reform efforts beyond a single academic unit to 
        other STEM academic units within an institution or to 
        comparable academic units at other institutions.
    ``(d) Selection Process.--
            ``(1) Applications.--An institution of higher education or 
        other eligible nonprofit organization seeking a grant under 
        this section shall submit an application to the Director at 
        such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
        the Director may require. In addition to a description of the 
        proposed research, development, or scaling effort, including a 
        description of the research findings that will serve as the 
        basis for the proposed effort, applications shall include, at a 
        minimum--
                    ``(A) evidence of institutional support for, and 
                commitment to, the proposed effort, including long-term 
                commitment to implement and scale successful strategies 
                resulting from the current effort;
                    ``(B) a description of existing or planned 
                institutional policies and practices regarding faculty 
                hiring, promotion, tenure, and teaching assignment that 
                reward faculty contributions to undergraduate STEM 
                education; and
                    ``(C) a description of the plans for assessment and 
                evaluation of the effort, including evidence of 
                participation by individuals with experience in 
                assessment and evaluation of teaching and learning 
                programs.
            ``(2) Review of applications.--In selecting grant 
        recipients for funding under this section, the Director shall 
        consider, as appropriate to the scale of the proposed effort--
                    ``(A) the likelihood of success in undertaking the 
                proposed effort at the institution submitting the 
                application, including the extent to which the faculty, 
                staff, and administrators of the institution are 
                committed to making undergraduate STEM education reform 
                a priority of the participating academic unit or units;
                    ``(B) the degree to which the proposed effort will 
                contribute to change in institutional culture and 
                policy such that a greater value is placed on faculty 
                engagement in undergraduate education;
                    ``(C) the likelihood that the institution will 
                sustain or expand the effort beyond the period of the 
                grant; and
                    ``(D) the degree to which the proposed effort will 
                contribute to the systematic accumulation of knowledge 
                on STEM education.
            ``(3) Priority.--The Director shall give priority to 
        proposals focused on the first 2 years of undergraduate 
        education, including STEM education at 2-year institutions of 
        higher education.
            ``(4) Grant distribution.--The Director shall ensure, to 
        the extent practicable, that grants awarded under this section 
        are made to a variety of types of institutions of higher 
        education.''.

SEC. 324. ADVANCED MANUFACTURING EDUCATION.

    Section 506(b) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 
(42 U.S.C. 1862p-1(b)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Advanced Manufacturing Education.--The Director shall award 
grants, on a competitive, merit reviewed basis, to community colleges 
for the development and implementation of innovative advanced 
manufacturing education reforms to ensure an adequate and well-trained 
advanced manufacturing workforce. Activities supported by grants under 
this subsection may include--
            ``(1) the development or expansion of educational 
        materials, courses, curricula, strategies, and methods that 
        will lead to improved advanced manufacturing degree or 
        certification programs, including the integration of industry 
        standards and workplace competencies into the curriculum;
            ``(2) the development and implementation of faculty 
        professional development programs that enhance a faculty 
        member's capabilities and teaching skills in advanced 
        manufacturing, including efforts to understand current advanced 
        manufacturing technologies and practices;
            ``(3) the establishment of centers that provide models and 
        leadership in advanced manufacturing education and serve as 
        regional or national clearinghouses for educational materials 
        and methods, including in rural areas;
            ``(4) activities to enhance the recruitment and retention 
        of students into certification and degree programs in advanced 
        manufacturing, including the provision of improved mentoring 
        and internship opportunities;
            ``(5) the establishment of partnerships with private sector 
        entities to ensure the development of an advanced manufacturing 
        workforce with the skills necessary to meet regional economic 
        needs; and
            ``(6) other activities as determined appropriate by the 
        Director.''.

SEC. 325. STEM EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS.

    Section 9 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 
2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking ``mathematics and 
        science'' and inserting ``stem'';
            (2) by striking ``mathematics and science'' each place it 
        appears in subsections (a) and (b) and inserting ``STEM'';
            (3) by striking ``mathematics or science'' each place it 
        appears in subsection (a)(3) and (4)(A) and inserting ``STEM'';
            (4) by striking ``mathematics, science, or engineering'' in 
        subsection (a)(2)(B) and inserting ``STEM'';
            (5) by striking ``mathematics, science, and technology'' in 
        subsection (a)(3)(B)(ii)(II) and (8) and inserting ``STEM'';
            (6) by striking ``professional mathematicians, scientists, 
        and engineers'' in subsection (a)(3)(F) and inserting ``STEM 
        professionals'';
            (7) by striking ``mathematicians, scientists, and 
        engineers'' in subsection (a)(3)(J) and (M) and inserting 
        ``STEM professionals'';
            (8) by striking ``scientists, technologists, engineers, or 
        mathematicians'' in subsection (a)(8) and inserting ``STEM 
        professionals'';
            (9) by striking ``science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics'' each place it appears in subsection (a)(3)(K) and 
        (10) and inserting ``STEM'';
            (10) by striking ``science, technology, engineering, or 
        mathematics'' in subsection (a)(10)(A)(ii)(II) and inserting 
        ``STEM'';
            (11) by striking ``science, mathematics, engineering, and 
        technology'' each place it appears in subsection (a)(5) and 
        inserting ``STEM'';
            (12) by striking ``science, mathematics, engineering, or 
        technology'' in subsection (a)(5) and inserting ``STEM'';
            (13) by striking ``mathematics, science, engineering, and 
        technology'' in subsection (b)(1) and (2) and inserting 
        ``STEM''; and
            (14) by striking subsection (d).

SEC. 326. NOYCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM 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), by--
                            (i) 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--
                    ``(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)''; and
            (4) by adding 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.''.

SEC. 327. 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.

SEC. 328. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT IMPROVED K-12 LEARNING.

    (a) In General.--The Director, acting through the Directorate for 
Education and Human Resources, shall award competitive, merit-reviewed 
grants to support research and development on alignment, 
implementation, impact, and ongoing improvement of standards and 
equivalent learning expectations used by States in mathematics, 
science, and, as appropriate, other State-based STEM standards.
    (b) Research Areas.--In making awards under this section, the 
Director shall consider proposals for research and development, 
including, as appropriate, large-scale research and development, of--
            (1) resources, including virtual resources such as web 
        portals, for content, professional development, and research 
        results;
            (2) teacher education and professional development;
            (3) learning progressions;
            (4) assessments;
            (5) metrics for evaluating the impact of standards; and
            (6) other areas of research and development that are likely 
        to contribute to the alignment, implementation, impact, and 
        ongoing improvement of standards in STEM subjects.

        TITLE IV--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``National Institute of Standards 
and Technology Authorization Act of 2015''.

SEC. 402. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Fiscal Year 2016.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $1,119,700,000 for the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2016.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $754,700,000 shall be authorized for scientific 
                and technical research and services laboratory 
                activities;
                    (B) $59,000,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                    (C) $306,000,000 shall be authorized for industrial 
                technology services activities, of which--
                            (i) $141,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                        the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                        Partnership under section 25 of the National 
                        Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
                        U.S.C. 278k) and the program under section 26 
                        of such Act (15 U.S.C. 278l), of which not more 
                        than $20,000,000 shall be for the competitive 
                        grant program under section 25(f) of such Act; 
                        and
                            (ii) $150,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                        the Network for Manufacturing Innovation 
                        Program established under section 34 of such 
                        Act (15 U.S.C. 278s).
    (b) Fiscal Year 2017.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $1,484,390,000 for the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2017.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $792,440,000 shall be authorized for scientific 
                and technical research and services laboratory 
                activities;
                    (B) $61,950,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                    (C) $320,000,000 shall be authorized for industrial 
                technology services activities, of which--
                            (i) $160,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                        the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                        Partnership under section 25 of the National 
                        Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
                        U.S.C. 278k) and the program under section 26 
                        of such Act (15 U.S.C. 278l), of which not more 
                        than $20,000,000 shall be for the competitive 
                        grant program under section 25(f) of such Act; 
                        and
                            (ii) $150,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                        the Network for Manufacturing Innovation 
                        Program established under section 34 of such 
                        Act (15 U.S.C. 278s).
    (c) Fiscal Year 2018.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $1,517,100,000 for the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2018.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $832,060,000 shall be authorized for scientific 
                and technical research and services laboratory 
                activities;
                    (B) $65,050,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                    (C) $310,000,000 shall be authorized for industrial 
                technology services activities, of which--
                            (i) $160,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                        the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                        Partnership under section 25 of the National 
                        Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
                        U.S.C. 278k) and the program under section 26 
                        of such Act (15 U.S.C. 278l), of which not more 
                        than $20,000,000 shall be for the competitive 
                        grant program under section 25(f) of such Act; 
                        and
                            (ii) $150,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                        the Network for Manufacturing Innovation 
                        Program established under section 34 of such 
                        Act (15 U.S.C. 278s).
    (d) Fiscal Year 2019.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $1,561,960,000 for the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2019.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $873,660,000 shall be authorized for scientific 
                and technical research and services laboratory 
                activities;
                    (B) $68,300,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                    (C) $310,000,000 shall be authorized for industrial 
                technology services activities, of which--
                            (i) $160,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                        the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                        Partnership under section 25 of the National 
                        Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
                        U.S.C. 278k) and the program under section 26 
                        of such Act (15 U.S.C. 278l), of which not more 
                        than $20,000,000 shall be for the competitive 
                        grant program under section 25(f) of such Act; 
                        and
                            (ii) $150,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                        the Network for Manufacturing Innovation 
                        Program established under section 34 of such 
                        Act (15 U.S.C. 278s).
    (e) Fiscal Year 2020.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        the Secretary of Commerce $1,609,060,000 for the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2020.
            (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
        paragraph (1)--
                    (A) $917,340,000 shall be authorized for scientific 
                and technical research and services laboratory 
                activities;
                    (B) $71,710,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                    (C) $310,000,000 shall be authorized for industrial 
                technology services activities, of which--
                            (i) $160,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                        the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                        Partnership under section 25 of the National 
                        Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
                        U.S.C. 278k) and the program under section 26 
                        of such Act (15 U.S.C. 278l), of which not more 
                        than $20,000,000 shall be for the competitive 
                        grant program under section 25(f) of such Act; 
                        and
                            (ii) $150,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                        the Network for Manufacturing Innovation 
                        Program established under section 34 of such 
                        Act (15 U.S.C. 278s).

SEC. 403. 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 
        shall provide assistance for the creation and support of 
        regional manufacturing extension centers for the transfer of 
        manufacturing technology and best business practices. These 
        centers shall be known as the `Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
        Centers' (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 program is to 
        enhance productivity, competitiveness, and technological 
        performance in United States manufacturing through--
                    ``(A) the transfer of manufacturing technology and 
                techniques 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 development of new partnerships, 
                networks, and services that will assist small- and 
                medium-sized manufacturing companies expand into new 
                markets, including global markets;
                    ``(F) the utilization, when appropriate, of the 
                expertise and capability that exists in Federal 
                laboratories other than the Institute; and
                    ``(G) 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.
    ``(b) Activities.--The activities of the Centers shall include--
            ``(1) the establishment of automated manufacturing systems 
        and other advanced production technologies, based on research 
        by the Institute and other entities, for the purpose of 
        demonstrations and technology transfer;
            ``(2) assistance to Federal agencies in supporting United 
        States-based manufacturing by identifying and providing 
        technical assistance to small- and medium-sized manufacturers 
        to help them meet Federal agency procurement and acquisition 
        needs;
            ``(3) 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
            ``(4) 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) Financial Assistance and Requirements.--
            ``(1) Financial support.--The Secretary may provide 
        financial support to any Center created under subsection (a) 
        for an initial period of 5 years, which may be renewed for an 
        additional 5-year period. The Secretary may provide to a Center 
        up to 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 5 years.
            ``(3) Application.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any public or nonprofit 
                institution, or consortium thereof, 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 management, 
                productivity, competitiveness, 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 submit a proposal for the 
                allocation of the legal rights associated with any 
                invention that 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 independent 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 fifth year.
                    ``(F) Corrective action plan.--The Secretary may 
                not provide funding for the remaining years of a 
                Center's operation unless the evaluation is positive. 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 a corrective action plan and provided the 
                opportunity to address deficiencies unless immediate 
                action is necessary to protect the public interest. The 
                program shall re-evaluate the Center within one year 
                and 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 or may close the Center.
                    ``(G) Additional financial support.--After the 
                fifth 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) Recompetition.--If a Center has received 
                financial support for 10 consecutive years, the 
                Director shall conduct a new competition. An existing 
                Center may submit an application as part of the new 
                competition.
                    ``(I) Recompetition plan.--Not later than 180 days 
                after the date of enactment of the America Competes 
                Reauthorization Act of 2015, the Director shall submit 
                a plan to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
                the Senate detailing how the program will implement the 
                new competitions required under subparagraph (H). The 
                Director shall consult with the MEP Advisory Board 
                established under subsection (f) in the development and 
                implementation of the plan.
            ``(6) Oversight board.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each Center that receives 
                financial assistance under this section shall establish 
                an oversight board that is broadly representative of 
                regional stakeholders with a majority of board members 
                drawn from local small- and medium-sized manufacturing 
                firms.
                    ``(B) Bylaws and conflict of interest.--Each board 
                under subparagraph (A) shall adopt and submit to the 
                Director bylaws to govern the operation of the board, 
                including a conflict of interest policy to ensure 
                relevant relationships are disclosed and proper recusal 
                procedures are in place.
                    ``(C) Limitation.--Board members may not serve 
                simultaneously on more than one Center's oversight 
                board or serve as a contractor providing services to a 
                Center.
            ``(7) Protection of confidential information.--The 
        Secretary shall ensure that the following are not publically 
        disclosed:
                    ``(A) Confidential information on the business 
                operations of--
                            ``(i) a participant under the program; or
                            ``(ii) a client of a Center.
                    ``(B) Trade secrets possessed by any client of a 
                Center.
            ``(8) Patent rights.--The provisions of chapter 18 of title 
        35, United States Code, shall apply, 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.
    ``(d) Reporting and Auditing Requirements.--The Director shall 
establish procedures regarding Center financial reporting and auditing 
to ensure that awards are used for the purposes specified in this 
section and are in accordance with sound accounting practices.
    ``(e) 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.
    ``(f) 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.
    ``(g) Competitive Grant Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish, within 
        the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, 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, the MEP Advisory Board, 
        and small- and medium-sized manufacturers.
            ``(4) Themes.--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. These themes may include--
                    ``(A) supply chain integration and quality 
                management;
                    ``(B) the creation of partnerships to encourage the 
                development of a workforce with the skills necessary to 
                meet the needs of a region, including the creation of 
                apprenticeship opportunities and the adoption of 
                universally recognized credential programs, as 
                appropriate;
                    ``(C) energy efficiency, including efficient 
                building technologies and environmentally friendly 
                materials, products, and processes;
                    ``(D) enhancing the competitiveness of small- and 
                medium-sized manufacturers in the global marketplace;
                    ``(E) the transfer of technology based on the 
                technological needs of manufacturers and available 
                technologies from institutions of higher education, 
                laboratories, and other technology producing entities; 
                and
                    ``(F) areas that extend beyond traditional areas of 
                manufacturing extension activities, including projects 
                related to construction industry modernization.
            ``(5) Reimbursement.--Centers may be reimbursed for costs 
        incurred under the program under this subsection.
            ``(6) Applications.--Applications for awards under this 
        subsection shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, and 
        containing such information as the Director shall require, in 
        consultation with the MEP Advisory Board.
            ``(7) 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) utilize innovative or collaborative 
                approaches to solving the problem described in the 
                competition;
                    ``(B) improve the competitiveness of industries in 
                the region in which the Center or Centers are located; 
                and
                    ``(C) contribute to the long-term economic 
                stability of that region, including the creation of 
                jobs or training employees.
            ``(8) Program contribution.--Recipients of awards under 
        this subsection shall not be required to provide a matching 
        contribution.
            ``(9) Duration.--Awards under this subsection shall last no 
        longer than 5 years.
    ``(h) Innovative Services Initiative.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Director, in coordination with 
        the Advanced Manufacturing Office of the Department of Energy, 
        shall establish, within the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
        Partnership, an innovative services initiative to assist small- 
        and medium-sized manufacturers in--
                    ``(A) reducing their energy usage, greenhouse gas 
                emissions, and environmental waste to improve 
                profitability;
                    ``(B) accelerating the domestic commercialization 
                of new product technologies, including components for 
                renewable energy and energy efficiency systems; and
                    ``(C) identifying and diversifying to new markets, 
                including support for transitioning to the production 
                of components for renewable energy and energy 
                efficiency systems.
            ``(2) Market demand.--The Director may not undertake any 
        activity to accelerate the domestic commercialization of a new 
        product technology under this subsection unless an analysis of 
        market demand for the new product technology has been 
        conducted.
    ``(i) Export Assistance to Small- and Medium-sized Manufacturers.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall--
                    ``(A) evaluate obstacles that are unique to small- 
                and medium-sized manufacturers that prevent such 
                manufacturers from effectively competing in the global 
                market;
                    ``(B) implement a comprehensive export assistance 
                initiative through the Centers to help small- and 
                medium-sized manufacturers address such obstacles; and
                    ``(C) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure 
                that the activities carried out under this subsection 
                are coordinated with, and do not duplicate the efforts 
                of, other export assistance programs within the Federal 
                Government.
            ``(2) Requirements.--The initiative shall include--
                    ``(A) export assistance counseling;
                    ``(B) the development of partnerships that will 
                provide small- and medium-sized manufacturers with 
                greater access to and knowledge of global markets; and
                    ``(C) improved communication between the Centers to 
                assist such manufacturers in implementing appropriate, 
                targeted solutions to such obstacles.
    ``(j) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Area career and technical education school.--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).
            ``(2) Community college.--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. 404. NATIONAL ACADEMIES 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 Academies 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.

SEC. 405. IMPROVING NIST COLLABORATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES.

    Section 8 of the National Bureau of Standards Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 1983 (15 U.S.C. 275b) is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``and with'' after 
        ``performed for''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following: ``The Secretary may 
        accept, apply for, use, and spend Federal, State, and non-
        governmental acquisition and assistance funds to further the 
        mission of the Institute without regard to the source or the 
        period of availability of these funds as well as share 
        personnel, associates, facilities, and property with these 
        partner organizations, with or without reimbursement, upon 
        mutual agreement.''.

SEC. 406. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

    (a) Functions and Activities.--Section 15 of the 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;'';
            (2) by striking ``transportation services for employees of 
        the Institute'' and inserting ``transportation services for 
        employees, associates, or fellows of the Institute''; and
            (3) by striking ``Code.'' and inserting ``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.''.
    (b) Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program.--Section 19 of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-2) is amended 
to read as follows:

``SEC. 19. POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

    ``The Director, in conjunction with the National Academy of 
Sciences, shall establish and conduct a post-doctoral fellowship 
program that shall include not less than 20 new fellows per fiscal 
year. In evaluating applications for fellowships under this section, 
the Director shall give consideration to the goal of promoting the 
participation of underrepresented minorities in research areas 
supported by the Institute.''.

                          TITLE V--INNOVATION

SEC. 501. OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

    Section 25 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3720) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a) by inserting ``with a Director and 
        full-time staff'' after ``Office of Innovation and 
        Entrepreneurship'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
            ``(3) providing access to relevant data, research, and 
        technical assistance on innovation and commercialization, 
        including best practices for university-based incubators and 
        accelerators;'';
                    (B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) as 
                paragraphs (6) and (7), respectively; and
                    (C) by inserting the following after paragraph (3):
            ``(4) overseeing the implementation of the loan guarantee 
        programs and the Regional Innovation Program established under 
        sections 26 and 27, respectively;
            ``(5) developing, within 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of the America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2015, 
        and updating at least every 5 years, a strategic plan to guide 
        the activities of the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 
        that shall--
                    ``(A) specify and prioritize near-term and long-
                term goals, objectives, and policies to accelerate 
                innovation and advance the commercialization of 
                research and development, including federally funded 
                research and development, set forth the anticipated 
                time for achieving the objectives, and identify metrics 
                for use in assessing progress toward such objectives;
                    ``(B) describe how the Department of Commerce is 
                working in conjunction with other Federal agencies to 
                foster innovation and commercialization across the 
                United States; and
                    ``(C) provide a summary of the activities, 
                including the development of metrics to evaluate 
                regional innovation strategies undertaken through the 
                Regional Innovation Research and Information Program 
                established under section 27(e);'';
            (3) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
    ``(c) Advisory Committee.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish or 
        designate an advisory committee, which shall meet at least 
        twice each fiscal year, to provide advice to the Secretary on 
        carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Office of 
        Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
            ``(2) Report to congress.--The advisory committee shall 
        prepare a report, to be submitted to the Committee on Science, 
        Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate every 3 years. The first report shall be submitted not 
        later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the America 
        Competes Reauthorization Act of 2015 and shall include--
                    ``(A) an assessment of the strategic plan developed 
                under subsection (b)(5) and the progress made in 
                implementing the plan and the duties of the Office of 
                Innovation and Entrepreneurship;
                    ``(B) an assessment of how the Office of Innovation 
                and Entrepreneurship is working with other Federal 
                agencies to meet the goals and duties of the office; 
                and
                    ``(C) any recommendations for how the Office of 
                Innovation and Entrepreneurship could be improved.''; 
                and
            (4) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 
through 2020 to carry out this section.''.

SEC. 502. FEDERAL LOAN GUARANTEES FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN 
              MANUFACTURING.

    Section 26(t) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3721(t)) is amended by striking ``fiscal years 2011 
through 2013'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2016 through 2020''.

SEC. 503. INNOVATION VOUCHER PILOT PROGRAM.

    Section 25 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3720) as amended by section 501 of this Act, is further 
amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) Innovation Voucher Pilot Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Office 
        of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and in conjunction with the 
        States, shall establish an innovation voucher pilot program to 
        accelerate innovative activities and enhance the 
        competitiveness of small- and medium-sized manufacturers in the 
        United States. The pilot program shall--
                    ``(A) foster collaborations between small- and 
                medium-sized manufacturers and research institutions; 
                and
                    ``(B) enable small- and medium-sized manufacturers 
                to access technical expertise and capabilities that 
                will lead to the development of innovative products or 
                manufacturing processes, including through--
                            ``(i) research and development, including 
                        proof of concept, technical development, and 
                        compliance testing activities;
                            ``(ii) early-stage product development, 
                        including engineering design services; and
                            ``(iii) technology transfer and related 
                        activities.
            ``(2) Award size.--The Secretary shall competitively award 
        vouchers worth up to $20,000 to small- and medium-sized 
        manufacturers for use at eligible research institutions to 
        acquire the services described in paragraph (1)(B).
            ``(3) Streamlined procedures.--The Secretary shall 
        streamline and simplify the application, administrative, and 
        reporting procedures for vouchers administered under the 
        program.
            ``(4) Regulations.--Prior to awarding any vouchers under 
        the program, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations--
                    ``(A) establishing criteria for the selection of 
                recipients of awards under this subsection;
                    ``(B) establishing procedures regarding financial 
                reporting and auditing--
                            ``(i) to ensure that awards are used for 
                        the purposes of the program; and
                            ``(ii) that are in accordance with sound 
                        accounting practices; and
                    ``(C) describing any other policies, procedures, or 
                information necessary to implement this subsection, 
                including those intended to streamline and simplify the 
                program in accordance with paragraph (3).
            ``(5) Transfer authority.--The Secretary may transfer funds 
        appropriated to the Department of Commerce to other Federal 
        agencies for the performance of services authorized under this 
        subsection.
            ``(6) Administrative costs.--All of the amounts 
        appropriated to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year 
        shall be used for vouchers awarded under this subsection, 
        except that the Secretary may set aside a percentage of such 
        amounts for eligible research institutions performing the 
        services described in paragraph (1)(B) to defray administrative 
        costs associated with the services. The Secretary shall 
        establish a single, fixed percentage for such purposes that 
        will apply to all eligible research institutions.
            ``(7) Outreach.--The Secretary may use centers established 
        under section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) to provide information about 
        the program established under this subsection and to conduct 
        outreach to potential applicants, as appropriate.
            ``(8) Reports to congress.--
                    ``(A) Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
                of enactment of the America Competes Reauthorization 
                Act of 2015, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a 
                plan that will serve as a guide for the activities of 
                the program. The plan shall include a description of 
                the specific objectives of the program and the metrics 
                that will be used in assessing progress toward those 
                objectives.
                    ``(B) Outcomes.--Not later than 3 years after the 
                date of enactment of the America Competes 
                Reauthorization Act of 2015, the Secretary shall 
                transmit to Congress a report containing--
                            ``(i) a summary of the activities carried 
                        out under this subsection;
                            ``(ii) an assessment of the impact of such 
                        activities on the innovative capacity of small- 
                        and medium-sized manufacturers receiving 
                        assistance under the pilot program; and
                            ``(iii) any recommendations for 
                        administrative and legislative action that 
                        could optimize the effectiveness of the pilot 
                        program.
            ``(9) Coordination and nonduplication.--To the maximum 
        extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that the 
        activities carried out under this subsection are coordinated 
        with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, other programs 
        within the Federal Government.
            ``(10) Eligible research institutions defined.--For the 
        purposes of this subsection, the term `eligible research 
        institution' means--
                    ``(A) an institution of higher education, as such 
                term is defined in section 101(a) of the Higher 
                Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a));
                    ``(B) a Federal laboratory;
                    ``(C) a federally funded research and development 
                center; or
                    ``(D) a Hollings Manufacturing Extension Center 
                established under section 25 of the National Institute 
                of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k).
            ``(11) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the 
        pilot program in this subsection $5,000,000 for each of fiscal 
        years 2016 through 2020.''.

SEC. 504. FEDERAL ACCELERATION OF STATE TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION 
              PILOT PROGRAM.

    The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3701 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 28. FEDERAL ACCELERATION OF STATE TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION 
              PILOT PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Authority.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        Federal Acceleration of State Technology Commercialization 
        Pilot Program or FAST Commercialization Pilot Program to award 
        grants to States, or consortia thereof, for the purposes 
        described in paragraph (2). Awards under this section shall be 
        made through a competitive, merit-based process.
            ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the program under this 
        section is to advance United States productivity and global 
        competitiveness by accelerating commercialization of innovative 
        technology by leveraging Federal support for State 
        commercialization efforts. The program shall provide matching 
        funds to a State, or consortium thereof, for the acceleration 
        of commercialization activities and the promotion of small 
        manufacturing enterprises in the United States.
    ``(b) Application.--Applications for awards under this section 
shall be submitted in such a manner, at such a time, and containing 
such information as the Secretary shall require, including--
            ``(1) a description of the current state of technology 
        commercialization in the State or States, including successes 
        and barriers to commercialization; and
            ``(2) a description of the State's or consortium's plan for 
        increasing commercialization of new technologies, products, 
        processes, and services.
    ``(c) Selection Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish criteria 
for the selection of awardees, which shall consider at a minimum a 
review of efforts during the fiscal year prior to submitting an 
application to--
            ``(1) promote manufacturing; and
            ``(2) commercialize new technologies, products, processes, 
        and services, including activities to translate federally 
        funded research and technologies to small manufacturing 
        enterprises.
    ``(d) Matching Requirement.--A State or consortium receiving a 
grant under this section shall provide non-Federal cash contributions 
in an amount equal to 50 percent of the total cost of the project for 
which the grant is provided.
    ``(e) Coordination and Nonduplication.--In carrying out the program 
under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that grants made under 
the program are coordinated with, and do not duplicate, the efforts of 
other commercialization programs within the Federal Government.
    ``(f) Evaluation.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
        enactment of the America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2015, 
        the Secretary shall enter into a contract with an independent 
        entity, such as the National Academy of Sciences, to conduct an 
        evaluation of the program established under subsection (a).
            ``(2) Requirements.--The evaluation shall--
                    ``(A) assess whether the program is achieving its 
                goals;
                    ``(B) include any recommendations for how the 
                program may be improved; and
                    ``(C) include a recommendation as to whether the 
                program should be continued or terminated.
    ``(g) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `State' has the meaning given that term in 
        section 3 of the Public Works and Economic Development Act of 
        1965 (42 U.S.C. 3122); and
            ``(2) the term `commercialization' has the meaning given 
        that term in section 9(e)(10) of the Small Business Act (15 
        U.S.C. 638(e)(10)).
    ``(h) Duration.--Each award shall be for a 5-year period.
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary $50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 
through 2018 to carry out this section.''.

                     TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

                     Subtitle A--Office of Science

SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.

    This subtitle may be cited as the ``Department of Energy Office of 
Science Authorization Act of 2015''.

SEC. 602. DEFINITIONS.

    Except as otherwise provided, in this subtitle:
            (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Energy.
            (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Office of Science.
            (3) Office of science.--The term ``Office of Science'' 
        means the Department of Energy Office of Science.
            (4) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means 
        the Under Secretary for Science and Energy.
            (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Energy.

SEC. 603. MISSION OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE.

    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.
    ``(d) Duties.--In support of this mission, the Director shall carry 
out programs, including those in basic energy sciences, biological and 
environmental research, advanced scientific computing research, fusion 
energy sciences, high energy physics, and nuclear physics, through 
activities focused on--
            ``(1) Science for Discovery to unravel nature's mysteries 
        through activities which range from the study of subatomic 
        particles, atoms, and molecules that make up the materials of 
        our everyday world to the study of DNA, proteins, cells, and 
        entire biological systems;
            ``(2) Science for National Need by--
                    ``(A) advancing a clean energy agenda through 
                research on energy production, storage, transmission, 
                efficiency, and use; and
                    ``(B) advancing our understanding of the Earth and 
                its climate through research in atmospheric and 
                environmental sciences and climate change; 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 complex molecular systems and the 
        nanoworld.
    ``(e) Supporting Activities.--The activities described in 
subsection (d) shall include providing for relevant facilities and 
infrastructure, programmatic analysis, interagency coordination, and 
workforce development and outreach activities.
    ``(f) User Facilities.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Director shall carry out the 
        construction, operation, and maintenance of user facilities, 
        including underground research facilities, to support the 
        activities described in subsection (d). As practicable, these 
        facilities shall serve the needs of the Department, industry, 
        the academic community, and other relevant entities for the 
        purposes of advancing the missions of the Department.
            ``(2) Coordination with other federal agencies.--The 
        Director may form partnerships to enhance the utilization of 
        and ensure access to user facilities, including underground 
        research facilities, by other Federal agencies.
    ``(g) Other Authorized Activities.--In addition to the activities 
authorized under the Department of Energy Office of Science 
Authorization Act of 2015, the Office of Science shall carry out other 
such activities as it is authorized or required to carry out by law.
    ``(h) Coordination and Joint Activities With Other Department of 
Energy Programs.--The Under Secretary shall ensure the coordination of 
activities under the Department of Energy Office of Science 
Authorization Act of 2015 with the other activities of the Department, 
and shall support joint activities among the programs of the 
Department.
    ``(i) Domestic Manufacturing Capability for Office of Science 
Facilities Report.--Not later than one year after the date of enactment 
of the Department of Energy Office of Science Authorization Act of 
2015, the Secretary shall transmit a report 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 report 
shall--
            ``(1) assess the current ability of domestic manufacturers 
        to meet the procurement requirements for major ongoing projects 
        funded by the Office of Science, including a calculation of the 
        percentage of equipment acquired from domestic manufacturers 
        for this purpose; and
            ``(2) identify steps that can be taken by the Federal 
        Government and by private industry to increase the capability 
        of domestic manufacturers to meet procurement requirements of 
        the Office of Science for major projects.''.

SEC. 604. BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES PROGRAM.

    (a) Program.--As part of the activities authorized under the 
amendment made by section 603, 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 and addressing scientific grand challenges.
    (b) Basic Energy Sciences User Facilities.--
            (1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a subprogram 
        to support and oversee the construction, operation, and 
        maintenance of national user facilities that 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--
                    (A) x-ray light sources;
                    (B) neutron sources;
                    (C) nanoscale science research centers; and
                    (D) other facilities the Director considers 
                appropriate, consistent with section 209(f) of the 
                Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 
                7139(f)).
            (2) Facility research and development.--The Director shall 
        carry out research and development on advanced accelerator and 
        storage ring technologies relevant to the Basic Energy Sciences 
        user facilities, in consultation with the Office of Science's 
        High Energy Physics and Nuclear Physics programs.
            (3) Facility construction and upgrades.--Consistent with 
        the Office of Science's project management practices, the 
        Director shall support construction of--
                    (A) an upgrade of the Advanced Photon Source to 
                optimize and enhance beam brightness;
                    (B) a Second Target Station at the Spallation 
                Neutron Source to double user capacity and expand the 
                suite of instruments to meet new scientific challenges;
                    (C) the Linac Coherent Light Source II to expand 
                the x-ray wavelength range, incorporate high repetition 
                rate operation for soft and medium energy x-rays, and 
                increase user capacity of the Linac Coherent Light 
                Source; and
                    (D) an upgrade to the Advanced Light Source to 
                improve brightness and performance.
    (c) Energy Frontier Research Centers.--
            (1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a program to 
        provide awards, on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to 
        multi-institutional collaborations or other appropriate 
        entities to conduct fundamental and use-inspired energy 
        research to accelerate scientific breakthroughs related to 
        needs identified in--
                    (A) the Grand Challenges report of the Department's 
                Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee;
                    (B) the report of the Department's Basic Energy 
                Sciences Advisory Committee entitled ``From Quanta to 
                the Continuum: Opportunities for Mesoscale Science'';
                    (C) the Basic Energy Sciences Basic Research Needs 
                workshop report; or
                    (D) other relevant reports identified by the 
                Director.
            (2) Collaborations.--A collaboration receiving an award 
        under this subsection may include multiple types of 
        institutions and private sector entities.
            (3) Selection and duration.--
                    (A) In general.--A collaboration under this 
                subsection shall be selected for a period of 5 years. 
                An Energy Frontier Research Center already in existence 
                and supported by the Director on the date of enactment 
                of this Act may continue to receive support for a 
                period of 5 years beginning on the date of 
                establishment of that center.
                    (B) Reapplication.--After the end of the period 
                described in subparagraph (A), an awardee may reapply 
                for selection for a second period of 5 years on a 
                competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
                    (C) Termination.--Consistent with the existing 
                authorities of the Department, the Director may 
                terminate an underperforming center for cause during 
                the performance period.
            (4) No funding for construction.--No funding provided 
        pursuant to this subsection may be used for the construction of 
        new buildings or facilities.

SEC. 605. BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH.

    (a) In General.--As part of the activities authorized under section 
209 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7139), and 
coordinated with the activities authorized under section 604 and 
section 606, the Director shall carry out a program of research and 
development in the areas of biological systems science and climate and 
environmental science, including subsurface science, to support the 
energy and environmental missions of the Department.
    (b) Biological Systems Science Activities.--
            (1) Activities.--As part of the activities authorized under 
        subsection (a), the Director shall carry out research and 
        development activities in fundamental, structural, 
        computational, and systems biology to increase systems-level 
        understanding of the complex biological systems, which shall 
        include activities to--
                    (A) accelerate breakthroughs and new knowledge that 
                will enable cost-effective sustainable production of--
                            (i) biomass-based liquid transportation 
                        fuels;
                            (ii) bioenergy; and
                            (iii) biobased materials;
                    (B) improve understanding of the global carbon 
                cycle, including processes for removing carbon dioxide 
                from the atmosphere, through photosynthesis and other 
                biological processes, for sequestration and storage; 
                and
                    (C) understand the biological mechanisms used to 
                transform, immobilize, or remove contaminants from 
                subsurface environments.
            (2) Bioenergy research centers.--
                    (A) In general.--In carrying out activities under 
                paragraph (1), the Director shall support at least 3 
                bioenergy research centers to accelerate advanced 
                research and development of biomass-based liquid 
                transportation fuels, bioenergy, or biobased materials 
                that are produced from a variety of regionally diverse 
                feedstocks.
                    (B) Selection and duration.--A center established 
                under subparagraph (A) shall be selected on a 
                competitive, merit-reviewed basis for a period of 5 
                years beginning on the date of establishment of that 
                center. A center already in existence on the date of 
                enactment of this Act may continue to receive support 
                for a period of 5 years beginning on the date of 
                establishment of that center.
                    (C) Renewal.--After the end of the period described 
                in subparagraph (B), an awardee may apply for a second 
                period of 5 years on a merit-reviewed basis.
                    (D) Termination.--Consistent with the existing 
                authorities of the Department, the Director may 
                terminate an underperforming center for cause during 
                the performance period.
            (3) Low dose radiation research program.--
                    (A) In general.--The Director 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.
                    (B) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term ``low 
                dose radiation'' means a radiation dose of less than 
                100 millisieverts.
                    (C) 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. The 
                study shall be conducted in coordination with Federal 
                agencies that perform ionizing radiation effects 
                research.
                    (D) Contents.--The study performed under 
                subparagraph (C) shall--
                            (i) identify current scientific challenges 
                        for understanding the long-term effects of 
                        ionizing radiation;
                            (ii) assess the status of current low dose 
                        radiation research in the United States and 
                        internationally;
                            (iii) formulate overall scientific goals 
                        for the future of low-dose radiation research 
                        in the United States;
                            (iv) 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;
                            (v) define the essential components of a 
                        research program that would address this 
                        research agenda within the universities and the 
                        National Laboratories; and
                            (vi) assess the cost-benefit effectiveness 
                        of such a program.
                    (E) 5-year research plan.--Not later than 90 days 
                after the completion of the assessment performed under 
                subparagraph (C), the Secretary 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 five-year 
                research plan that responds to the assessment's 
                findings and recommendations and identifies and 
                prioritizes research needs.
            (4) Repeal.--Section 977 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
        (42 U.S.C. 16317) is repealed.
    (c) Climate and Environmental Science Activities.--
            (1) In general.--As part of the activities authorized under 
        subsection (a), and in coordination with activities carried out 
        under subsection (b), the Director shall carry out climate and 
        environmental science research, which shall include activities 
        to--
                    (A) understand, observe, and model the response of 
                Earth's atmosphere and biosphere to increased 
                concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions and any 
                associated changes in climate;
                    (B) understand the processes for immobilization, or 
                removal of, and understand the movement of, energy 
                production-derived contaminants such as radionuclides 
                and heavy metals, and understand the process of 
                sequestration and transformation of carbon dioxide in 
                subsurface environments; and
                    (C) inform potential mitigation and adaptation 
                options for increased concentrations of greenhouse gas 
                emissions and any associated changes in climate.
            (2) Subsurface biogeochemical research.--
                    (A) In general.--As part of the activities 
                described in paragraph (1), the Director shall carry 
                out research to advance a fundamental understanding of 
                coupled physical, chemical, and biological processes 
                for controlling the movement of sequestered carbon and 
                subsurface environmental contaminants.
                    (B) Coordination.--
                            (i) Director.--The Director shall carry out 
                        activities under this paragraph in accordance 
                        with priorities established by the Under 
                        Secretary to support and accelerate the 
                        decontamination of relevant facilities managed 
                        by the Department.
                            (ii) Under secretary.--The Under Secretary 
                        shall ensure the coordination of activities of 
                        the Department, including activities under this 
                        paragraph, to support and accelerate the 
                        decontamination of relevant facilities managed 
                        by the Department.
            (3) Climate and earth modeling.--As part of the activities 
        described in paragraph (1), the Director, in collaboration with 
        the Advanced Scientific Computing Research program described in 
        section 606, shall carry out research to develop, evaluate, and 
        use high-resolution regional climate, global climate, and Earth 
        models to inform decisions on reducing the impacts of a 
        changing climate. Such modeling shall include, among other 
        critical elements, greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and 
        interaction among human and Earth systems.

SEC. 606. ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--As part of the activities authorized under section 
209 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7139), the 
Director shall carry out a research, development, demonstration, and 
commercial application program to advance computational and networking 
capabilities for data-driven discovery and to analyze, model, simulate, 
and predict complex phenomena relevant to the development of new energy 
technologies and the competitiveness of the United States.
    (b) Coordination.--The Under Secretary shall ensure the 
coordination of the activities of the Department, including activities 
under this section, to determine and meet the computational and 
networking research and facility needs of the Office of Science and all 
other relevant energy technology and energy efficiency programs within 
the Department.
    (c) Research To Support Energy Applications.--
            (1) In general.--As part of the activities authorized under 
        subsection (a), the program shall support research in high-
        performance computing and networking relevant to energy 
        applications including modeling, simulation, and advanced data 
        analytics for basic and applied energy research programs 
        carried out by the Secretary.
            (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to the 
        Congress a plan to integrate and leverage the expertise and 
        capabilities of the program described in subsection (a), as 
        well as other relevant computational and networking research 
        programs and resources supported by the Federal Government, to 
        advance the missions of the Department's applied energy and 
        energy efficiency programs.
    (d) Applied Mathematics and Software Development for High-End 
Computing Systems.--The Director shall carry out activities to develop, 
test, and support mathematics, models, and algorithms for complex 
systems, as well as programming environments, tools, languages, and 
operating systems for high-end computing systems (as defined in section 
2 of the Department of Energy High-End Computing Revitalization Act of 
2004 (15 U.S.C. 5541)).
    (e) Exascale Computing 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 
                Department of Energy Office of Science Authorization 
                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.''.
    (f) 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) 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.
            ``(6) 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).
            ``(7) National laboratory.--The term `National Laboratory' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
            ``(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.''.

SEC. 607. FUSION ENERGY RESEARCH.

    (a) Program.--As part of the activities authorized under section 
209 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7139) and 
section 972 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16312), the 
Director shall carry out a fusion energy sciences research and enabling 
technology development program to effectively address the scientific 
and engineering challenges to building a cost-competitive fusion power 
plant and to establish a competitive fusion power industry in the 
United States. As part of this program, the Director shall carry out 
research activities to expand the fundamental understandings of plasmas 
and matter at very high temperatures and densities for fusion 
applications and for other plasma science applications.
    (b) Tokamak Research and Development.--
            (1) In general.--As part of the program described in 
        subsection (a), the Director shall support research and 
        development activities and facility operations to--
                    (A) optimize the tokamak approach to fusion energy; 
                and
                    (B) determine the viability of the tokamak approach 
                to fusion energy to lead to a commercial fusion power 
                plant.
            (2) ITER.--
                    (A) Responsibilities.--The Director shall 
                coordinate and carry out the responsibilities of the 
                United States with respect to the ITER international 
                fusion project pursuant to the Agreement on the 
                Establishment of the International Fusion Energy 
                Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER 
                Project.
                    (B) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date 
                of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to 
                Congress a report providing an assessment of--
                            (i) the most recent schedule for ITER that 
                        has been approved by the ITER Council; and
                            (ii) progress of the ITER Council and the 
                        ITER Director-General toward implementation of 
                        the recommendations of the Third Biennial 
                        International Organization Management 
                        Assessment Report.
                    (C) Fairness in competition for solicitations for 
                international project activities.--Section 33 of the 
                Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 2053) is amended 
                by adding at the end the following: ``For purposes of 
                this section, with respect to international research 
                projects, the term `private facilities or laboratories' 
                shall refer to facilities or laboratories located in 
                the United States.''.
                    (D) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress 
                that the United States should support a robust, diverse 
                program in addition to meeting its commitments to ITER. 
                It is further the sense of Congress that developing the 
                scientific basis for fusion, providing research results 
                key to the success of ITER, and training the next 
                generation of fusion scientists are of critical 
                importance to the United States and should in no way be 
                diminished by participation of the United States in the 
                ITER project.
    (c) Inertial Fusion Energy Research and Development Program.--The 
Secretary shall carry out a program of research and technology 
development in inertial fusion for energy applications, including ion 
beam, laser, and pulsed power fusion systems.
    (d) Alternative and Enabling Concepts.--
            (1) In general.--As part of the program described in 
        subsection (a), the Director shall support research and 
        development activities and facility operations at United States 
        universities, national laboratories, and private facilities for 
        a portfolio of alternative and enabling fusion energy concepts 
        that may provide solutions to significant challenges to the 
        establishment of a commercial magnetic fusion power plant, 
        prioritized based on the ability of the United States to play a 
        leadership role in the international fusion research community. 
        Fusion energy concepts and activities explored under this 
        paragraph may include--
                    (A) high magnetic field approaches facilitated by 
                high temperature superconductors;
                    (B) advanced stellarator concepts;
                    (C) non-tokamak confinement configurations 
                operating at low magnetic fields;
                    (D) magnetized target fusion energy concepts;
                    (E) liquid metals to address issues associated with 
                fusion plasma interactions with the inner wall of the 
                encasing device;
                    (F) immersion blankets for heat management and fuel 
                breeding;
                    (G) advanced scientific computing activities: and
                    (H) other promising fusion energy concepts 
                identified by the Director.
            (2) Coordination with arpa-e.--The Under Secretary and the 
        Director shall coordinate with the Director of the Advanced 
        Research Projects Agency-Energy (in this paragraph referred to 
        as ``ARPA-E'') to--
                    (A) assess the potential for any fusion energy 
                project supported by ARPA-E to represent a promising 
                approach to a commercially viable fusion power plant;
                    (B) determine whether the results of any fusion 
                energy project supported by ARPA-E merit the support of 
                follow-on research activities carried out by the Office 
                of Science; and
                    (C) avoid unintentional duplication of activities.
    (e) 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), 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 
create materials that can endure the neutron, plasma, and heat fluxes 
expected in a commercial fusion power plant. As part of the activities 
authorized under subsection (g), the Secretary shall--
            (1) provide an assessment of the need for a facility or 
        facilities that can examine and test potential fusion and next 
        generation fission reactor materials and other enabling 
        technologies relevant to the development of commercial fusion 
        power plants; and
            (2) provide an assessment of whether a single new facility 
        that substantially addresses magnetic fusion, inertial fusion, 
        and next generation fission materials research needs is 
        feasible, in conjunction with the expected capabilities of 
        facilities operational at the time of this assessment.
    (f) General Plasma Science and Applications.--Not later than 2 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
provide to Congress an assessment of opportunities in which the United 
States can provide world-leading contributions to advancing plasma 
science and non-fusion energy applications, and identify opportunities 
for partnering with other Federal agencies both within and outside of 
the Department of Energy.
    (g) Identification of Priorities.--
            (1) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to Congress 
        a report on the Department's proposed fusion energy research 
        and development activities over the following 10 years under at 
        least 3 realistic budget scenarios, including a scenario based 
        on 3 percent annual growth in the non-ITER portion of the 
        budget for fusion energy research and development activities. 
        The report shall--
                    (A) identify specific areas of fusion energy 
                research and enabling technology development in which 
                the United States can and should establish or solidify 
                a lead in the global fusion energy development effort;
                    (B) identify priorities for initiation of facility 
                construction and facility decommissioning under each of 
                those scenarios;
                    (C) provide a roadmap addressing critical 
                scientific challenges to ensure that within 10 years 
                after the date of enactment of this Act there is 
                sufficient basis to justify and motivate the initiation 
                of an applied fusion energy development program; and
                    (D) assess the ability of the United States fusion 
                workforce to carry out the activities identified in 
                subparagraphs (A) through (C), including the adequacy 
                of college and university programs to train the leaders 
                and workers of the next generation of fusion energy 
                researchers.
            (2) Process.--In order to develop the report required under 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall leverage best practices and 
        lessons learned from the process used to develop the most 
        recent report of the Particle Physics Project Prioritization 
        Panel of the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel. No member of 
        the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee shall be excluded 
        from participating in developing or voting on final approval of 
        the report required under paragraph (1).

SEC. 608. HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--As part of the activities authorized under section 
209 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7139), the 
Director shall carry out a research program on the elementary 
constituents of matter and energy and the nature of space and time.
    (b) Energy Frontier Research.--As part of the program described in 
subsection (a), the Director shall carry out research using high energy 
accelerators and advanced detectors to create and study interactions of 
novel particles and investigate fundamental forces.
    (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 on relevant research projects.
    (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. These 
activities shall be consistent with the research priorities identified 
by the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel or the National Academy of 
Sciences, and may include--
            (1) collaborations with the National Aeronautics and Space 
        Administration, the National Science Foundation, or 
        international collaborations on relevant research projects; and
            (2) the development of space-based, land-based, and 
        underground facilities and experiments.
    (e) Facility Construction and Major Items of Equipment.--Consistent 
with the Office of Science's project management practices, the Director 
shall support construction or fabrication of--
            (1) an international Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility based 
        in the United States;
            (2) the Muon to Electron Conversion Experiment;
            (3) Second Generation Dark Matter experiments;
            (4) the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument;
            (5) the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope camera;
            (6) upgrades to components of the Large Hadron Collider; 
        and
            (7) other high priority projects recommended in the most 
        recent report of the Particle Physics Project Prioritization 
        Panel of the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel.
    (f) Accelerator Research and Development.--As part of the program 
described in subsection (a), 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, in coordination with 
the Office of Science's Basic Energy Sciences and Nuclear Physics 
programs.
    (g) 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. 609. NUCLEAR PHYSICS PROGRAM.

    (a) Program.--As part of the activities authorized under section 
209 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7139), the 
Director shall carry out a research program, and support relevant 
facilities, to discover and understand various forms of nuclear matter.
    (b) Facility Construction.--
            (1) In general.--Consistent with the Office of Science's 
        project management practices, the Director shall continue to 
        support the construction of the Facility for Rare Isotope 
        Beams.
            (2) Repeal.--Section 981 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
        (42 U.S.C. 16321) is repealed.
    (c) Isotope Development and Production for Research Applications.--
            (1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a program for 
        the production of isotopes that the Director determines are 
        needed for research and applications, including--
                    (A) the development of techniques to produce 
                isotopes; and
                    (B) support for infrastructure required for isotope 
                research and production.
            (2) Coordination.--In making the determination described in 
        paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                    (A) ensure that isotope production activities do 
                not compete with private industry unless critical 
                national interests necessitate the Federal Government's 
                involvement; and
                    (B) consider any relevant recommendations made by 
                Federal advisory committees, the National Academies, 
                and interagency working groups in which the Department 
                participates.

SEC. 610. 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.
    (c) Definition.--The term ``Office of Science laboratory'' means a 
subset of National Laboratories as defined in section 2(3) of the 
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801) consisting of subparagraphs 
(A), (B), (C), (D), (F), (K), (L), (M), (P), and (Q).

SEC. 611. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the 
activities of the Office of Science--
            (1) $5,339,794,000 for fiscal year 2016;
            (2) $5,606,783,700 for fiscal year 2017;
            (3) $5,887,122,885 for fiscal year 2018;
            (4) $6,181,479,029 for fiscal year 2019; and
            (5) $6,490,552,981 for fiscal year 2020.

                           Subtitle B--ARPA-E

SEC. 621. SHORT TITLE.

    This subtitle may be cited as the ``ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 
2015''.

SEC. 622. ARPA-E AMENDMENTS.

    Section 5012 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16538) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o) and 
        inserting after subsection (m) the following new subsection:
    ``(n) Protection of Proprietary Information.--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:
            ``(1) Plans for commercialization of technologies developed 
        under the award, including business plans, technology to market 
        plans, market studies, and cost and performance models.
            ``(2) 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.
            ``(3) 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.
            ``(4) Revenue from the licensing or sale of new products or 
        services resulting from the research conducted under the 
        award.''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2) of subsection (o), as so redesignated 
        by paragraph (1) of this section, by--
                    (A) striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph 
                (D);
                    (B) striking the period at the end of subparagraph 
                (E) and inserting a semicolon; and
                    (C) adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) $325,000,000 for fiscal year 2016;
                    ``(G) $341,250,000 for fiscal year 2017;
                    ``(H) $358,312,500 for fiscal year 2018;
                    ``(I) $376,228,125 for fiscal year 2019; and
                    ``(J) $395,039,531 for fiscal year 2020.''.

                     Subtitle C--Energy Innovation

SEC. 641. ENERGY INNOVATION HUBS.

    (a) Authorization of Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Energy shall carry out a 
        program to enhance the Nation's economic, environmental, and 
        energy security by making awards to consortia for establishing 
        and operating Energy Innovation Hubs to conduct and support, 
        whenever practicable at one centralized location, 
        multidisciplinary, collaborative research, development, 
        demonstration, and commercial application of advanced energy 
        technologies.
            (2) Technology development focus.--The Secretary shall 
        designate for each Hub a unique advanced energy technology 
        focus.
            (3) Coordination.--The Secretary shall ensure the 
        coordination of, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, the 
        activities of Hubs with those of other Department of Energy 
        research entities, including the National Laboratories, the 
        Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Energy Frontier 
        Research Centers, and within industry.
    (b) Consortia.--
            (1) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive an award under 
        this section for the establishment and operation of a Hub, a 
        consortium shall--
                    (A) be composed of no fewer than 2 qualifying 
                entities; and
                    (B) operate subject to an agreement entered into by 
                its members that documents--
                            (i) the proposed partnership agreement, 
                        including the governance and management 
                        structure of the Hub;
                            (ii) measures to enable cost-effective 
                        implementation of the program under this 
                        section;
                            (iii) a proposed budget, including 
                        financial contributions from non-Federal 
                        sources;
                            (iv) a plan for managing intellectual 
                        property rights; and
                            (v) an accounting structure that enables 
                        the Secretary to ensure that the consortium has 
                        complied with the requirements of this section.
            (2) Application.--A consortium seeking to establish and 
        operate a Hub under this section, acting through a prime 
        applicant, shall transmit to the Secretary an application at 
        such time, in such form, and accompanied by such information as 
        the Secretary shall require, including a detailed description 
        of the elements of the consortium agreement required under 
        paragraph (1)(B). If the consortium members will not be located 
        at one centralized location, such application shall include a 
        communications plan that ensures close coordination and 
        integration of the Hub's activities.
    (c) Selection and Schedule.--The Secretary shall select consortia 
for awards for the establishment and operation of Hubs through 
competitive selection processes. In selecting consortia, the Secretary 
shall consider the information a consortium must disclose according to 
subsection (b), as well as any existing facilities a consortium will 
provide for Hub activities. Awards made to a Hub shall be for a period 
not to exceed 5 years, after which the award may be renewed, subject to 
a rigorous merit review. A Hub already in existence on the date of 
enactment of this Act may continue to receive support for a period of 5 
years beginning on the date of establishment of that Hub.
    (d) Hub Operations.--
            (1) In general.--Each Hub shall conduct or provide for 
        multidisciplinary, collaborative research, development, 
        demonstration, and, where appropriate, commercial application 
        of advanced energy technologies within the technology 
        development focus designated under subsection (a)(2). Each Hub 
        shall--
                    (A) encourage collaboration and communication among 
                the member qualifying entities of the consortium and 
                awardees by conducting activities whenever practicable 
                at one centralized location;
                    (B) develop and publish on the Department of 
                Energy's website proposed plans and programs;
                    (C) submit an annual report to the Secretary 
                summarizing the Hub's activities, including detailing 
                organizational expenditures, and describing each 
                project undertaken by the Hub; and
                    (D) monitor project implementation and 
                coordination.
            (2) Conflicts of interest.--
                    (A) Procedures.--Hubs shall maintain conflict of 
                interest procedures, consistent with those of the 
                Department of Energy, to ensure that employees and 
                consortia designees for Hub activities who are in 
                decisionmaking capacities disclose all material 
                conflicts of interest.
                    (B) Disqualification and revocation.--The Secretary 
                may disqualify an application or revoke funds 
                distributed to a Hub if the Secretary discovers a 
                failure to comply with conflict of interest procedures 
                established under subparagraph (A).
            (3) Prohibition on construction.--
                    (A) In general.--No funds provided pursuant to this 
                section may be used for construction of new buildings 
                or facilities for Hubs. Construction of new buildings 
                or facilities shall not be considered as part of the 
                non-Federal share of a Hub cost-sharing agreement.
                    (B) Test bed and renovation exception.--Nothing in 
                this subsection shall prohibit the use of funds 
                provided pursuant to this section, or non-Federal cost 
                share funds, for research or for the construction of a 
                test bed or renovations to existing buildings or 
                facilities for the purposes of research if the 
                Secretary determines that the test bed or renovations 
                are limited to a scope and scale necessary for the 
                research to be conducted.
    (e) Termination.--Consistent with the existing authorities of the 
Department, the Secretary may terminate an underperforming Hub for 
cause during the performance period.
    (f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
            (1) Advanced energy technology.--The term ``advanced energy 
        technology'' means--
                    (A) an innovative technology--
                            (i) that produces energy from solar, wind, 
                        geothermal, biomass, tidal, wave, ocean, or 
                        other renewable energy resources;
                            (ii) that produces nuclear energy;
                            (iii) for carbon capture and sequestration;
                            (iv) that enables advanced vehicles, 
                        vehicle components, and related technologies 
                        that result in significant energy savings;
                            (v) that generates, transmits, distributes, 
                        utilizes, or stores energy more efficiently 
                        than conventional technologies, including 
                        through Smart Grid technologies; or
                            (vi) that enhances the energy independence 
                        and security of the United States by enabling 
                        improved or expanded supply and production of 
                        domestic energy resources, including coal, oil, 
                        and natural gas;
                    (B) research, development, demonstration, and 
                commercial application activities necessary to ensure 
                the long-term, secure, and sustainable supply of energy 
                critical elements; or
                    (C) another innovative energy technology area 
                identified by the Secretary.
            (2) Energy critical element.--The term ``energy critical 
        element'' means any of a class of chemical elements that have a 
        high risk of a supply disruption and are critical to one or 
        more new, energy-related technologies such that a shortage of 
        such element would significantly inhibit large-scale deployment 
        of technologies that produce, transmit, store, or conserve 
        energy.
            (3) Hub.--The term ``Hub'' means an Energy Innovation Hub 
        established or operating in accordance with this section, 
        including any Energy Innovation Hub existing as of the date of 
        enactment of this Act.
            (4) Qualifying entity.--The term ``qualifying entity'' 
        means--
                    (A) an institution of higher education;
                    (B) an appropriate State or Federal entity, 
                including the Department of Energy Federally Funded 
                Research and Development Centers;
                    (C) a nongovernmental organization with expertise 
                in advanced energy technology research, development, 
                demonstration, or commercial application; or
                    (D) any other relevant entity the Secretary 
                considers appropriate.

SEC. 642. PARTICIPATION IN THE INNOVATION CORPS PROGRAM.

    (a) Agreement.--The Secretary of Energy shall enter into an 
agreement with the Director of the National Science Foundation to 
enable researchers funded by the Department of Energy to participate in 
the Innovation Corps program authorized by section 307.
    (b) Authorization.--The Secretary of Energy may also establish a 
Department of Energy Innovation Corps program, modeled after the 
National Science Foundation Innovation Corps program, to incorporate 
experts from the Department of Energy National Laboratories in the 
training curriculum of the program.

SEC. 643. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.

    (a) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Energy 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.
    (b) Amendments.--Section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16391) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (e), by striking ``for commercial 
        purposes'' and inserting ``of any sort for commercial purposes, 
        including energy technologies not currently supported by the 
        Department of Energy'';
            (2) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as subsections 
        (h) and (i), respectively; and
            (3) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new 
        subsections:
    ``(f) Agreements for Commercializing Technology Pilot Program.--
            ``(1) 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 subsection.
            ``(2) Terms.--Each agreement entered into pursuant to the 
        pilot program referred to in paragraph (1) 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.
            ``(3) Eligibility.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any director of a National 
                Laboratory may enter into an agreement pursuant to the 
                pilot program referred to in paragraph (1).
                    ``(B) Agreements with non-federal entities.--To 
                carry out subparagraph (A) and subject to subparagraph 
                (C), 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 
                subparagraph (A), provided that such funding is solely 
                used to carry out the purposes of the Federal award.
                    ``(C) Restriction.--The requirements of chapter 18 
                of title 35, United States Code (commonly known as the 
                `Bayh-Dole Act') shall apply if--
                            ``(i) the agreement is a funding agreement 
                        (as that term is defined in section 201 of that 
                        title); and
                            ``(ii) at least 1 of the parties to the 
                        funding agreement is eligible to receive rights 
                        under that chapter.
            ``(4) Submission to secretary.--Each affected director of a 
        National Laboratory shall submit to the Secretary, with respect 
        to each agreement entered into under this subsection--
                    ``(A) a summary of information relating to the 
                relevant project;
                    ``(B) the total estimated costs of the project;
                    ``(C) estimated commencement and completion dates 
                of the project; and
                    ``(D) other documentation determined to be 
                appropriate by the Secretary.
            ``(5) 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 subsection--
                    ``(A) is not in direct competition with the private 
                sector; and
                    ``(B) 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 subsection.
            ``(6) Extension.--The pilot program referred to in 
        paragraph (1) shall be extended until October 31, 2017.
            ``(7) Reports.--
                    ``(A) Overall assessment.--Not later than 60 days 
                after the date described in paragraph (6), 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--
                            ``(i) assesses the overall effectiveness of 
                        the pilot program referred to in paragraph (1);
                            ``(ii) identifies opportunities to improve 
                        the effectiveness of the pilot program;
                            ``(iii) assesses the potential for program 
                        activities to interfere with the 
                        responsibilities of the National Laboratories 
                        to the Department; and
                            ``(iv) provides a recommendation regarding 
                        the future of the pilot program.
                    ``(B) 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 subsection.
    ``(g) Inclusion of Technology Maturation in Authorized Technology 
Transfer Activities.--The Secretary shall permit the directors of the 
National Laboratories to use funds authorized to support technology 
transfer, following the standard practices of the Department, to carry 
out technology maturation activities to identify and improve potential 
commercial application opportunities and demonstrate applications of 
research and technologies arising from National Laboratory 
activities.''.
    (c) Delegation of Authority for Technology Transfer Agreements.--
            (1) Authority.--The Secretary of Energy shall delegate to 
        directors of the National Laboratories signature authority for 
        any technology transfer agreement with a total cost of not more 
        than $500,000, including both National Laboratory contributions 
        and the project recipient cost share contribution, if such an 
        agreement falls within the scope of a strategic plan for the 
        National Laboratory that has been approved by the Department.
            (2) Agreements included.--The agreements to which this 
        subsection applies include--
                    (A) Cooperative Research and Development 
                Agreements; and
                    (B) non-Federal Work for Others Agreements.
            (3) Availability of records.--
                    (A) Not later than 7 days after the date on which 
                the director of a National Laboratory enters into an 
                agreement under this subsection, such director shall 
                submit to the Secretary of Energy for monitoring and 
                review all records of the National Laboratory relating 
                to the agreement.
                    (B) Not later than 30 days after the date on which 
                the director of a specific National Laboratory enters 
                into an agreement under this subsection, the Secretary 
                may terminate the agreement and the authority of any 
                director of such National Laboratory to enter into 
                agreements under this subsection if--
                            (i) all records of the National Laboratory 
                        relating to the agreement have not been 
                        transmitted to the Secretary in accordance with 
                        subparagraph (A); or
                            (ii) the Secretary determines that this 
                        agreement is inconsistent with the mission of 
                        the Department.
            (4) Limitation.--This subsection does not apply to any 
        agreement with a majority foreign-owned company.
            (5) Sunset.--
                    (A) In general.--This subsection shall apply only 
                during the 4-year period beginning on the date of 
                enactment of this Act.
                    (B) Assessment.--Not later than the date that is 
                180 days prior to the last day of the period described 
                in subparagraph (A), the Secretary 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 assessment of 
                the effectiveness of the authority provided to the 
                directors of the National Laboratories under this 
                subsection to accelerate the development of new 
                technologies, and an assessment of any incidences of 
                potential misuse of this authority in the opinion of 
                the Secretary.

SEC. 644. 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. 645. 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. 646. SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITY FOR SCIENTIFIC, ENGINEERING, AND 
              PROJECT MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL.

    (a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall have the authority to--
            (1) make appointments of scientific, engineering, and 
        professional personnel, without regard to civil service laws, 
        to assist the Department in meeting specific project or 
        research needs;
            (2) fix the basic pay of any employee appointed under this 
        section at a rate to be determined by the Under Secretary at 
        rates not in excess of the Executive Schedule (EX-II) without 
        regard to the civil service laws; and
            (3) pay any employee appointed under this section payments 
        in addition to basic pay, except that the total amount of 
        additional payments paid to an employee under this subsection 
        for any 12-month period shall not exceed the least of the 
        following amounts:
                    (A) $25,000.
                    (B) The amount equal to 25 percent of the annual 
                rate of basic pay of that employee.
                    (C) The amount of the limitation that is applicable 
                for a calendar year under section 5307(a)(1) of title 
                5, United States Code.
    (b) Term.--
            (1) In general.--The term of any employee appointed under 
        this section shall not exceed 3 years.
            (2) Termination.--The Under Secretary shall have the 
        authority to terminate any employee appointed under this 
        section at any time based on performance or changing project or 
        research needs of the Department.
                                 <all>