[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5639 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5639


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 12, 2016

    Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To update the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act, 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.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Improvement Act of 2016''.

SEC. 2. STANDARDS AND CONFORMITY ASSESSMENT.

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

SEC. 3. VISITING COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.

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

SEC. 4. POLICE AND SECURITY AUTHORITY.

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

SEC. 5. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

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

``SEC. 18. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.

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

SEC. 6. PROGRAMMATIC PLANNING REPORT.

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

SEC. 7. ASSESSMENTS BY THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL.

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

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

    ``(a) In General.--The Institute shall contract with the National 
Research Council to perform and report on assessments of the technical 
quality and impact of the work conducted at Institute laboratories.
    ``(b) Schedule.--Two laboratories shall be assessed under 
subsection (a) each year, and each laboratory shall be assessed at 
least once every 3 years.
    ``(c) Summary Report.--Beginning in the year after the first 
assessment is conducted under subsection (a), and once every 2 years 
thereafter, the Institute shall contract with the National Research 
Council to prepare a report that summarizes the findings common across 
the individual assessment reports.
    ``(d) Additional Assessments.--The Institute, at the discretion of 
the Director, also may contract with the National Research Council to 
conduct additional assessments of Institute programs and projects that 
involve collaboration across the Institute laboratories and centers and 
assessments of selected scientific and technical topics.
    ``(e) Consultation With Visiting Committee on Advanced 
Technology.--The National Research Council may consult with the 
Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology established under section 10 
in performing the assessments under this section.
    ``(f) Reports.--Not later than 30 days after the completion of each 
assessment, the Institute shall transmit the report on such assessment 
to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate.''.

SEC. 8. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP.

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

``SEC. 25. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP.

    ``(a) Establishment and Purpose.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, through the Director and, 
        if appropriate, through other officials, shall provide 
        assistance for the creation and support of manufacturing 
        extension centers, to be known as the `Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Centers', for the transfer of manufacturing 
        technology and best business practices (in this Act referred to 
        as the `Centers'). The program under this section shall be 
        known as the `Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership'.
            ``(2) Affiliations.--Such Centers shall be affiliated with 
        any United States-based public or nonprofit institution or 
        organization, or group thereof, that applies for and is awarded 
        financial assistance under this section.
            ``(3) Objective.--The objective of the Centers is to 
        enhance competitiveness, productivity, and technological 
        performance in United States manufacturing through--
                    ``(A) the transfer of manufacturing technology and 
                techniques developed at the Institute to Centers and, 
                through them, to manufacturing companies throughout the 
                United States;
                    ``(B) the participation of individuals from 
                industry, institutions of higher education, State 
                governments, other Federal agencies, and, when 
                appropriate, the Institute in cooperative technology 
                transfer activities;
                    ``(C) efforts to make new manufacturing technology 
                and processes usable by United States-based small- and 
                medium-sized companies;
                    ``(D) the active dissemination of scientific, 
                engineering, technical, and management information 
                about manufacturing to industrial firms, including 
                small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies;
                    ``(E) the utilization, when appropriate, of the 
                expertise and capability that exists in Federal 
                laboratories other than the Institute;
                    ``(F) the provision to community colleges and area 
                career and technical education schools of information 
                about the job skills needed in small- and medium-sized 
                manufacturing businesses in the regions they serve; and
                    ``(G) promoting and expanding certification systems 
                offered through industry, associations, and local 
                colleges, when appropriate.
    ``(b) Activities.--The activities of the Centers shall include--
            ``(1) the establishment of automated manufacturing systems 
        and other advanced production technologies, based on Institute-
        supported research, for the purpose of demonstrations and 
        technology transfer;
            ``(2) the active transfer and dissemination of research 
        findings and Center expertise to a wide range of companies and 
        enterprises, particularly small- and medium-sized 
        manufacturers; and
            ``(3) the facilitation of collaborations and partnerships 
        between small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies and 
        community colleges and area career and technical education 
        schools to help such colleges and schools better understand the 
        specific needs of manufacturers and to help manufacturers 
        better understand the skill sets that students learn in the 
        programs offered by such colleges and schools.
    ``(c) Operations.--
            ``(1) Financial support.--The Secretary may provide 
        financial support to any Center created under subsection (a). 
        The Secretary may not provide to a Center more than 50 percent 
        of the capital and annual operating and maintenance funds 
        required to create and maintain such Center.
            ``(2) Regulations.--The Secretary shall implement, review, 
        and update the sections of the Code of Federal Regulations 
        related to this section at least once every 3 years.
            ``(3) Application.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Any nonprofit institution, or 
                consortium thereof, or State or local government, may 
                submit to the Secretary an application for financial 
                support under this section, in accordance with the 
                procedures established by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Cost sharing.--In order to receive assistance 
                under this section, an applicant for financial 
                assistance under subparagraph (A) shall provide 
                adequate assurances that non-Federal assets obtained 
                from the applicant and the applicant's partnering 
                organizations will be used as a funding source to meet 
                not less than 50 percent of the costs incurred. For 
                purposes of the preceding sentence, the costs incurred 
                means the costs incurred in connection with the 
                activities undertaken to improve the competitiveness, 
                management, productivity, and technological performance 
                of small- and medium-sized manufacturing companies.
                    ``(C) Agreements with other entities.--In meeting 
                the 50 percent requirement, it is anticipated that a 
                Center will enter into agreements with other entities 
                such as private industry, institutions of higher 
                education, and State governments to accomplish 
                programmatic objectives and access new and existing 
                resources that will further the impact of the Federal 
                investment made on behalf of small- and medium-sized 
                manufacturing companies.
                    ``(D) Legal rights.--Each applicant under 
                subparagraph (A) shall also submit a proposal for the 
                allocation of the legal rights associated with any 
                invention which may result from the proposed Center's 
                activities.
            ``(4) Merit review.--The Secretary shall subject each such 
        application to merit review. In making a decision whether to 
        approve such application and provide financial support under 
        this section, the Secretary shall consider, at a minimum, the 
        following:
                    ``(A) The merits of the application, particularly 
                those portions of the application regarding technology 
                transfer, training and education, and adaptation of 
                manufacturing technologies to the needs of particular 
                industrial sectors.
                    ``(B) The quality of service to be provided.
                    ``(C) Geographical diversity and extent of service 
                area.
                    ``(D) The percentage of funding and amount of in-
                kind commitment from other sources.
            ``(5) Evaluation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each Center that receives 
                financial assistance under this section shall be 
                evaluated during its third year of operation by an 
                evaluation panel appointed by the Secretary.
                    ``(B) Composition.--Each such evaluation panel 
                shall be composed of private experts, none of whom 
                shall be connected with the involved Center, and 
                Federal officials.
                    ``(C) Chair.--An official of the Institute shall 
                chair the panel.
                    ``(D) Performance measurement.--Each evaluation 
                panel shall measure the involved Center's performance 
                against the objectives specified in this section.
                    ``(E) Positive evaluation.--If the evaluation is 
                positive, the Secretary may provide continued funding 
                through the sixth year.
                    ``(F) Probation.--The Secretary shall not provide 
                funding unless the Center has received a positive 
                evaluation. A Center that has not received a positive 
                evaluation by the evaluation panel shall be notified by 
                the panel of the deficiencies in its performance and 
                shall be placed on probation for 1 year, after which 
                time the panel shall reevaluate the Center. If the 
                Center has not addressed the deficiencies identified by 
                the panel, or shown a significant improvement in its 
                performance, the Director shall conduct a new 
                competition to select an operator for the Center or may 
                close the Center.
                    ``(G) Additional financial support.--After the 
                sixth year, a Center may receive additional financial 
                support under this section if it has received a 
                positive evaluation through an independent review, 
                under procedures established by the Institute.
                    ``(H) Eight-year review.--A Center shall undergo an 
                independent review in the eighth year of operation. 
                Each evaluation panel shall measure the Center's 
                performance against the objectives specified in this 
                section. A Center that has not received a positive 
                evaluation as a result of an independent review shall 
                be notified by the Program of the deficiencies in its 
                performance and shall be placed on probation for 1 
                year, after which time the Program shall reevaluate the 
                Center. If the Center has not addressed the 
                deficiencies identified by the review, or shown a 
                significant improvement in its performance, the 
                Director shall conduct a new competition to select an 
                operator for the Center or may close the Center.
                    ``(I) Recompetition.--If a recipient of a Center 
                award has received financial assistance for 10 
                consecutive years, the Director shall conduct a new 
                competition to select an operator for the Center 
                consistent with the plan required in this Act. 
                Incumbent Center operators in good standing shall be 
                eligible to compete for the new award.
                    ``(J) Reports.--
                            ``(i) Plan.--Not later than 180 days after 
                        the date of enactment of the National Institute 
                        of Standards and Technology Improvement Act of 
                        2016, the Director shall transmit to the 
                        Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
                        the House of Representatives and the Committee 
                        on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
                        Senate a plan as to how the Institute will 
                        conduct reviews, assessments, and reapplication 
                        competitions under this paragraph.
                            ``(ii) Independent assessment.--The 
                        Director shall contract with an independent 
                        organization to perform an assessment of the 
                        implementation of the reapplication competition 
                        process under this paragraph within 3 years 
                        after the transmittal of the report under 
                        clause (i). The organization conducting the 
                        assessment under this clause may consult with 
                        the MEP Advisory Board.
                            ``(iii) Comparison of centers.--Not later 
                        than 2 years after the date of enactment of the 
                        National Institute of Standards and Technology 
                        Improvement Act of 2016, the Director shall 
                        transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, 
                        and Technology of the House of Representatives 
                        and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                        Transportation of the Senate a report providing 
                        information on the first and second years of 
                        operations for centers operating from new 
                        competitions or recompetition as compared to 
                        longstanding centers. The report shall provide 
                        detail on the engagement in services provided 
                        by Centers and the characteristics of services 
                        provided, including volume and type of 
                        services, so that the Committees can evaluate 
                        whether the cost-sharing ratio has an effect on 
                        the services provided at Centers.
            ``(6) Patent rights.--The provisions of chapter 18 of title 
        35, United States Code, shall apply, to the extent not 
        inconsistent with this section, to the promotion of technology 
        from research by Centers under this section except for 
        contracts for such specific technology extension or transfer 
        services as may be specified by statute or by the Director.
            ``(7) Protection of center client confidential 
        information.--Section 552 of title 5, United States Code, shall 
        apply to the following information obtained by the Federal 
        Government on a confidential basis in connection with the 
        activities of any participant involved in the Hollings 
        Manufacturing Extension Partnership:
                    ``(A) Information on the business operation of any 
                participant in a Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                Partnership program or of a client of a Center.
                    ``(B) Trade secrets possessed by any client of a 
                Center.
            ``(8) Advisory boards.--Each Center's advisory boards shall 
        institute a conflict of interest policy, approved by the 
        Director, that ensures the Board represents local small- and 
        medium-sized manufacturers in the Center's region. Board 
        Members may not serve as a vendor or provide services to the 
        Center, nor may they serve on more than one Center's oversight 
        board simultaneously.
    ``(d) Acceptance of Funds.--
            ``(1) In general.--In addition to such sums as may be 
        appropriated to the Secretary and Director to operate the 
        Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the Secretary and 
        Director also may accept funds from other Federal departments 
        and agencies and, under section 2(c)(7), from the private 
        sector, to be available to the extent provided by 
        appropriations Acts, for the purpose of strengthening United 
        States manufacturing.
            ``(2) Allocation of funds.--
                    ``(A) Funds accepted from other federal departments 
                or agencies.--The Director shall determine whether 
                funds accepted from other Federal departments or 
                agencies shall be counted in the calculation of the 
                Federal share of capital and annual operating and 
                maintenance costs under subsection (c).
                    ``(B) Funds accepted from the private sector.--
                Funds accepted from the private sector under section 
                2(c)(7), if allocated to a Center, may not be 
                considered in the calculation of the Federal share 
                under subsection (c) of this section.
    ``(e) MEP Advisory Board.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
        Institute a Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board 
        (in this subsection referred to as the `MEP Advisory Board').
            ``(2) Membership.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The MEP Advisory Board shall 
                consist of not fewer than 10 members broadly 
                representative of stakeholders, to be appointed by the 
                Director. At least two members shall be employed by or 
                on an advisory board for the Centers, at least one 
                member shall represent a community college, and at 
                least five 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 1-year period following the 
                expiration of the second such term.
            ``(3) Meetings.--The MEP Advisory Board shall meet not less 
        than two times annually and shall provide to the Director--
                    ``(A) advice on Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                Partnership programs, plans, and policies;
                    ``(B) assessments of the soundness of Hollings 
                Manufacturing Extension Partnership plans and 
                strategies; and
                    ``(C) assessments of current performance against 
                Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership program 
                plans.
            ``(4) Federal advisory committee act applicability.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In discharging its duties under 
                this subsection, the MEP Advisory Board shall function 
                solely in an advisory capacity, in accordance with the 
                Federal Advisory Committee Act.
                    ``(B) Exception.--Section 14 of the Federal 
                Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the MEP 
                Advisory Board.
            ``(5) Report.--The MEP Advisory Board shall transmit an 
        annual report to the Secretary for transmittal to Congress 
        within 30 days after the submission to Congress of the 
        President's annual budget request in each year. Such report 
        shall address the status of the program established pursuant to 
        this section and comment on the relevant sections of the 
        programmatic planning document and updates thereto transmitted 
        to Congress by the Director under subsections (c) and (d) of 
        section 23.
    ``(f) Competitive Grant Program.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish, within 
        the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, under this 
        section and section 26, a program of competitive awards among 
        participants described in paragraph (2) for the purposes 
        described in paragraph (3).
            ``(2) Participants.--Participants receiving awards under 
        this subsection shall be the Centers, or a consortium of such 
        Centers.
            ``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the program under this 
        subsection is to add capabilities to the Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership, including the development of projects to 
        solve new or emerging manufacturing problems as determined by 
        the Director, in consultation with the Director of the Hollings 
        Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, the MEP Advisory 
        Board, and small- and medium-sized manufacturers. One or more 
        themes for the competition may be identified, which may vary 
        from year to year, depending on the needs of manufacturers and 
        the success of previous competitions. Centers may be reimbursed 
        for costs incurred under the program.
            ``(4) Applications.--Applications for awards under this 
        subsection shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, and 
        containing such information as the Director shall require, in 
        consultation with the MEP Advisory Board.
            ``(5) Selection.--Awards under this subsection shall be 
        peer reviewed and competitively awarded. The Director shall 
        endeavor to have broad geographic diversity among selected 
        proposals. The Director shall select proposals to receive 
        awards that will--
                    ``(A) improve the competitiveness of industries in 
                the region in which the Center or Centers are located;
                    ``(B) create jobs or train newly hired employees; 
                and
                    ``(C) promote the transfer and commercialization of 
                research and technology from institutions of higher 
                education, national laboratories, and nonprofit 
                research institutes.
            ``(6) Program contribution.--Recipients of awards under 
        this subsection shall not be required to provide a matching 
        contribution.
            ``(7) Global marketplace projects.--In making awards under 
        this subsection, the Director, in consultation with the MEP 
        Advisory Board and the Secretary, may take into consideration 
        whether an application has significant potential for enhancing 
        the competitiveness of small- and medium-sized United States 
        manufacturers in the global marketplace.
            ``(8) Duration.--Awards under this subsection shall last no 
        longer than 3 years.
    ``(g) Evaluation of Obstacles Unique to Small Manufacturers.--The 
Director shall--
            ``(1) evaluate obstacles that are unique to small 
        manufacturers that prevent such manufacturers from effectively 
        competing in the global market;
            ``(2) implement a comprehensive plan to train the Centers 
        to address such obstacles; and
            ``(3) facilitate improved communication between the Centers 
        to assist such manufacturers in implementing appropriate, 
        targeted solutions to such obstacles.
    ``(h) Definitions.--In this section--
            ``(1) the term `area career and technical education school' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the Carl D. 
        Perkins Career and Technical Education Improvement Act of 2006 
        (20 U.S.C. 2302); and
            ``(2) the term `community college' means an institution of 
        higher education (as defined under section 101(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) at which the highest 
        degree that is predominately awarded to students is an 
        associate's degree.''.

SEC. 9. ELIMINATION OF OBSOLETE REPORTS.

    Section 28 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278n) is amended--
            (1) by striking subsection (g); and
            (2) in subsection (k)--
                    (A) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``and'' after 
                the semicolon at the end;
                    (B) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``; and'' at 
                the end and inserting a period; and
                    (C) by striking paragraph (5).

SEC. 10. MODIFICATIONS TO GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.

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

SEC. 11. INFORMATION SYSTEMS STANDARDS CONSULTATION.

    Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology shall not consult with the Department of 
Defense and the National Security Agency in contravention of section 
20(c)(1) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278g-3(c)(1)).

SEC. 12. UNITED STATES-ISRAELI COOPERATION.

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

            Passed the House of Representatives July 11, 2016.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.