NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACT OF 1950
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
117–167
Statute Compilation
United States House of Representatives
Office of the Legislative Counsel
text/xml
EN
Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
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National Science Foundation Act of 1950
10350
81
1950-05-10
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACT OF 1950
[As Amended Through P.L. 117–167, Enacted August 9, 2022]
[Currency: This publication is a compilation of the text of chapter 171 of the 81st Congress. It was last amended by the public law listed in the As Amended Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current law through the date of the enactment of the public law listed at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/comps/]
[Note: While this publication does not represent an official version of any Federal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents. The official version of Federal law is found in the United States Statutes at Large and in the United States Code. The legal effect to be given to the Statutes at Large and the United States Code is established by statute (1 U.S.C. 112, 204).]

AN ACT
To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense; and other purposes
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
[42 U.S.C. 1861 note] That this Act may be cited as the “National Science Foundation Act of 1950”.

establishment of national science foundation
Sec. 2.
[42 U.S.C. 1861]
There is hereby established in the executive branch of the Government an independent agency to be known as the National Science Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the “Foundation”). The Foundation shall consist of a National Science Board (hereinafter referred to as the “Board”) and a Director.

functions of the foundation
Sec. 3.
[42 U.S.C. 1862]
(a)
The Foundation is authorized and directed—
(1)
to initiate and support basic scientific research and programs to strengthen scientific research potential and science education programs at all levels in the mathematical, physical, medical, biological, social, and other sciences, and to initiate and support research fundamental to the engineering process and programs to strengthen engineering research potential and engineering education programs at all levels in the various fields of engineering, by making contracts or other arrangements (including grants, loans, and other forms of assistance) to support such scientific, engineering, and educational activities and to appraise the impact of research upon industrial development and upon the general welfare;
(2)
to award, as provided in section 10, scholarships and graduate fellowships for study and research in the sciences or in engineering;
(3)
to foster the interchange of scientific and engineering information among scientists and engineers in the United States and foreign countries;
(4)
to foster and support the development and use of computer and other scientific and engineering methods and technologies, primarily for research and education in the sciences and engineering;
(5)
to evaluate the status and needs of the various sciences and fields of engineering as evidenced by programs, projects, and studies undertaken by agencies of the Federal Government, by individuals, and by public and private research groups, employing by grant or contract such consulting services as it may deem necessary for the purpose of such evaluations; and to take into consideration the results of such evaluations in correlating the research and educational programs undertaken or supported by the Foundation with programs, projects, and studies undertaken by agencies of the Federal Government, by individuals, and by public and private research groups;
(6)
to provide a central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data on scientific and engineering and to provide a source of information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal Government;
(7)
to initiate and maintain a program for the determination of the total amount of money for scientific and engineering research, including money allocated for the construction of the facilities wherein such research is conducted, received by each educational institution and appropriate nonprofit organization in the United States, by grant, contract, or other arrangement from agencies of the Federal Government, and to report annually thereon to the President and the Congress; and
(8)
to take a leading role in fostering and supporting research and education activities to improve the security of networked information systems.
(b)
The Foundation is authorized to initiate and support specific scientific and engineering activities in connection with matters relating to international cooperation, national security, and the effects of scientific and engineering applications upon society by making contracts or other arrangements (including grants, loans, and other forms of assistance) for the conduct of such activities. When initiated or supported pursuant to requests made by any other Federal department or agency, including the Office of Technology Assessment, such activities shall be financed whenever feasible from funds transferred to the Foundation by the requesting official as provided in section 14(f), and any such activities shall be unclassified and shall be identified by the Foundation as being undertaken at the request of the appropriate official.
(c)
In addition to the authority contained in subsections (a) and (b), the Foundation is authorized to initiate and support scientific and engineering research, including applied research, at academic and other nonprofit institutions. When so directed by the President, the Foundation is further authorized to support, through other appropriate organizations, applied scientific research and engineering research relevant to national problems involving the public interest. In exercising the authority contained in this subsection, the Foundation may employ by grant or contract such consulting services as it deems necessary, and shall coordinate and correlate its activities with respect to any such problem with other agencies of the Federal Government undertaking similar programs in that field.
(d)
The Board and the Director shall recommend and encourage the pursuit of national policies for the promotion of research and education in science and engineering.
(e)
In exercising the authority and discharging the functions referred to in the foregoing subsections, it shall be an objective of the Foundation to strengthen research and education in the sciences and engineering, including independent research by individuals, throughout the United States, and to avoid undue concentration of such research and education.
(f)
The Foundation shall render an annual report to the President for submission on or before the 15th day of April of each year to the Congress, summarizing the activities of the Foundation and making such recommendations as it may deem appropriate. Such report shall include information as to the acquisition and disposition by the Foundation of any patents and patent rights.
(g)
In carrying out subsection (a)(4), the Foundation is authorized to foster and support access by the research and education communities to computer networks which may be used substantially for purposes in addition to research and education in the sciences and engineering, if the additional uses will tend to increase the overall capabilities of the networks to support such research and education activities.

national science board
Sec. 4.
[42 U.S.C. 1863]
(a)
The Board shall consist of twenty-four members to be appointed by the President and of the Director ex officio. In making nominations under this section, the President shall give due regard to equitable representation of scientists who are women or who represent minority groups. In addition to any powers and functions otherwise granted to it by this Act, the Board shall establish the policies of the Foundation.
(b)
The Board shall have an Executive Committee as provided in section 7, and may delegate to it or to the Director or both such of the powers and functions granted to the Board by this Act as it deems appropriate.
(c)
The persons nominated for appointment as members of the Board (1) shall be eminent in the fields of the basic, medical, or social sciences, engineering, agriculture, education, research management or public affairs; (2) shall be selected solely on the basis of established records of distinguished service and (3) shall be so selected as to provide representation of the views of scientific and engineering leaders in all areas of the Nation. In making nominations under this section, the President shall give due regard to equitable representation of scientists and engineering who are women or who represent minority groups. The President is requested, in the making of nominations of persons for appointment as members, to give due consideration to any recommendations for nomination which may be submitted to him by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges, the Association of American Universities, the Association of American Colleges, the Association of State Colleges and Universities, or by other scientific, engineering, or educational organizations.
(d)
The term of office of each member of the Board shall be six years; except that 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. Any person, other than the Director, who has been a member of the Board for twelve consecutive years shall thereafter be ineligible for appointment during the two-year period following the expiration of such twelfth year.
(e)
The Board shall meet annually on the third Monday in May unless, prior to May 10 in any year, the Chairman has set the annual meeting for a day in May other than the third Monday and at such other times as the Chairman may determine, but he shall also call a meeting whenever one-third of the members so request in writing. The Board shall adopt procedures governing the conduct of its meetings, including delivery of notice and a definition of a quorum, which in no case shall be less than one-half plus one of the confirmed members of the Board.
(f)
The election of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board shall take place at each annual meeting occurring in an even-numbered year. The Vice Chairman shall perform the duties of the Chairman in his absence. In case a vacancy occurs in the chairmanship or vice chairmanship, the Board shall elect a member to fill such vacancy.
(g)
The Board may, with the concurrence of a majority of its members, permit the appointment of a staff consisting of professional staff members, technical and professional personnel on leave of absence from academic, industrial, or research institutions for a limited term, and such operations and support staff members as may be necessary. Such staff shall be appointed by the Chairman and assigned at the direction of the Board. The professional members and limited term technical and professional personnel of such staff may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and the provisions of chapter 51 of such title relating to classification, and shall be compensated at a rate not exceeding the maximum rate payable under section 5376 of such title, as may be necessary to provide for the performance of such duties as may be prescribed by the Board in connection with the exercise of its powers and functions under this Act. Section 14(a)(3) shall apply to each limited term appointment of technical and professional personnel under this subsection. Each appointment under this subsection shall be subject to the same security requirements as those required for personnel of the Foundation appointed under section 14(a).
(h)
The Board is authorized to establish such special commissions as it may from time to time deem necessary for the purposes of this Act.
(i)
The Board is also authorized to appoint from among its members such committees as it deems necessary, and to assign to committees so appointed such survey and advisory functions as the Board deems appropriate to assist it in exercising its powers and functions under this Act.
(j)
(1)
The Board shall render to the President and the Congress no later than March 15 of each even numbered year, a report on indicators of the state of science and engineering in the United States.
(2)
The Board shall render to the President and the Congress reports on specific, individual policy matters within the authority of the Foundation (or otherwise as requested by the Congress or the President) related to science and engineering and education in science and engineering, as the Board, the President, or the Congress determines the need for such reports.
(k)
Portions of Board meetings in which the Board considers proposed Foundation budgets for a particular fiscal year may be closed to the public until the President's budget for that fiscal year has been submitted to the Congress.
(l)
Members of the Board shall be required to file a financial disclosure report under title II of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 92 Stat. 1836), except that such reports shall be held confidential and exempt from any law otherwise requiring their public disclosure.

director of the foundation
Sec. 5.
[42 U.S.C. 1864]
(a)
The Director of the Foundation (referred to in this Act as the “Director”) shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Before any person is appointed as Director, the President shall afford the Board an opportunity to make recommendations to him with respect to such appointment. The Director shall receive basic pay at the rate provided for level II of the Executive Schedule under section 5313 of title 5, United States Code, and shall serve for a term of six years unless sooner removed by the President.
(b)
Except as otherwise specifically provided in this Act (1) the Director shall exercise all of the authority granted to the Foundation by this Act (including any powers and functions which may be delegated to him by the Board), and (2) all actions taken by the Director pursuant to the provisions of this Act (or pursuant to the terms of a delegation from the Board) shall be final and binding upon the Foundation.
(c)
The Director may from time to time make such provisions as he deems appropriate authorizing the performance by any other officer, agency, or employee of the Foundation of any of his functions under this Act, including functions delegated to him by the Board; except that the Director may not redelegate policy-making functions delegated to him by the Board.
(d)
The formulation of programs in conformance with the policies of the Foundation shall be carried out by the Director in consultation with the Board.
(e)
(1)
The Director may make grants, contracts, and other arrangements pursuant to section 11(c) only with the prior approval of the Board, or under authority delegated by the Board, and subject to such conditions as the Board may specify.
(2)
Any delegation of authority or imposition of conditions under paragraph (1) shall be promptly published in the Federal Register and reported to the Committee on Labor and Human Resources, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, of the Senate and the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives.
(f)
The Director, in his capacity as ex officio member of the Board, shall, except with respect to compensation and tenure, be coordinate with the other members of the Board. He shall be a voting member of the Board and shall be eligible for election by the Board as Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board.

deputy director and assistant directors
Sec. 6.
[42 U.S.C. 1864a]
There shall be a Deputy Director of the Foundation (referred to in this Act as the “Deputy Director”) who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Before any person is appointed as Deputy Director, the President shall afford the Board and the Director an opportunity to make recommendations to him with respect to such appointment. The Deputy Director shall receive basic pay at the rate provided for level III of the Executive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States Code, and shall perform such duties and exercise such powers as the Director may prescribe. The Deputy Director shall act for, and exercise the powers of, the Director during the absence or disability of the Director or in the event of a vacancy in the office of Director.

executive committee
Sec. 7.
[42 U.S.C. 1865]
(a)
There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board (referred to in this Act as the “Executive Committee”), which shall be composed of five members and shall exercise such powers and functions as may be delegated to it by the Board. Four of the members shall be elected as provided in subsection (b), and the Director ex officio shall be the fifth member and the chairman of the Executive Committee.
(b)
At each of its annual meetings the Board shall elect two of its members as members of the Executive Committee, and the Executive Committee members so elected shall hold office for two years from the date of their election. Any person, other than the Director, who has been a member of the Executive Committee for six consecutive years shall thereafter be ineligible for service as a member thereof during the two-year period following the expiration of such sixth year. For the purposes of this subsection, the period between any two consecutive annual meetings of the Board shall be deemed to be one year.
(c)
Any person elected as a member of the Executive Committee to fill a vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his predecessor was elected shall be elected for the remainder of such term.
(d)
The Executive Committee shall render an annual report to the Board, and such other reports as it may deem necessary, summarizing its activities and making such recommendations as it may deem appropriate. Minority views and recommendations, if any, of members of the Executive Committee shall be included in such reports.

divisions within the foundation
Sec. 8.
[42 U.S.C. 1866]
There shall be within the Foundation such Divisions as the Director, in consultation with the Board, may from time to time determine.

special commissions
Sec. 9.
[42 U.S.C. 1868]
(a)
Each special commission established under section 4(h) shall be appointed by the Board and shall consist of such members as the Board considers appropriate.
(b)
Special commissions may be established to study and make recommendations to the Foundation on issues relating to research and education in science and engineering.

scholarships and graduate fellowships
Sec. 10.
[42 U.S.C. 1869]
(a)

In General.—
The Foundation is authorized to award scholarships and graduate fellowships for study and research in the sciences or in engineering at appropriate nonprofit American or nonprofit foreign institutions selected by the recipient of such aid, for stated periods of time. Persons shall be selected for such scholarships and fellowships from among citizens, nationals or lawfully admitted permanent resident aliens of the United States, and such selections shall be made solely on the basis of ability; but in any case in which two or more applicants for scholarships or fellowships, as the case may be, are deemed by the Foundation to be possessed of substantially equal ability, and there are not sufficient scholarships or fellowships, as the case may be, available to grant one to each of such applicants, the available scholarship or scholarships, fellowship or fellowships shall be awarded to the applicants in such manner as will tend to result in a wide distribution of scholarships and fellowships throughout the United States and as will address national workforce demand in critical STEM fields. Nothing contained in this Act shall prohibit the Foundation from refusing or revoking a scholarship or fellowship award, in whole or in part, in the case of any applicant or recipient, if the Board is of the opinion that such award is not in the best interests of the United States.
(b)

Amount.—
The Director shall establish for each year the amount to be awarded for scholarships and fellowships under this section for that year. Each such scholarship and fellowship shall include a cost of education allowance of at least $16,000, subject to any restrictions on the use of cost of education allowance as determined by the Director.
(c)

Outreach.—
The Director shall ensure program outreach to recruit fellowship applicants from fields of study that are in areas of critical national need from all regions of the country, and from historically underrepresented populations in STEM.

general authority of foundation
Sec. 11.
[42 U.S.C. 1870]
The Foundation shall have the authority, within the limits of available appropriations, to do all things necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, including, but without being limited thereto, the authority—
(a)
to prescribe such rules and regulations as it deems necessary governing the manner of its operations and its organization and personnel;
(b)
to make such expenditures as may be necessary for administering the provisions of this Act;
(c)
to enter into contracts or other arrangements, or modifications thereof, for the carrying on, by organizations or individuals in the United States and foreign countries, including other government agencies of the United States and of foreign countries, of such scientific or engineering activities as the Foundation deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act, and, at the request of the Secretary of State or Secretary of Defense, specific scientific or engineering activities in connection with matters relating to international cooperation or national security, and, when deemed appropriate by the Foundation, such contracts or other arrangements or modifications thereof, may be entered into without legal consideration without performance or other bonds and without regard to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. § 5);
(d)
to make advance, progress, and other payments which relate to scientific or engineering activities without regard to the provisions of section 3648 of the Revised Statutes (31 U.S.C. 529);
(e)
to acquire by purchase, lease, loan, gift, or condemnation, and to hold and dispose of by grant, sale, lease, or loan, real and personal property of all kinds necessary for, or resulting from, the exercise of authority granted by this Act;
(f)
to receive and use funds donated by others, if such funds are donated without restriction other than that they be used in furtherance of one or more of the general purposes of the Foundation, except that funds may be donated for specific prize competitions for “basic research” as defined in the Office of Management and Budget Circular No. A–11;
(g)
to publish or arrange for the publication of scientific and engineering information so as to further the full dissemination of information of scientific or engineering value consistent with the national interest, without regard to the provisions of section 87 by the Act of January 12, 1895 (28 Stat. 622), and section 11 of the Act of March 1, 1919 (40 Stat. 1270; 44 U.S.C. § 501);
(h)
to accept and utilize the services of voluntary and uncompensated personnel and to provide transportation and subsistence as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for persons serving without compensation;
(i)
to prescribe, with the approval of the Comptroller-General of the United States, the extent to which vouchers for funds expended under contracts for scientific or engineering research shall be subject to itemization or substantiation prior to payment, without regard to the limitations of other laws relating to the expenditure of public funds and accounting therefor;
(j)
to arrange with and reimburse the heads of other Federal agencies for the performance of any activity which the Foundation is authorized to conduct;
(k)
during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987, to indemnify grantees, contractors, and subcontractors associated with the Ocean Drilling Program under the provisions of section 2354 of title 10, United States Code, with all approvals and certifications required by such indemnification made by the Director; and
(l)
to provide for the widest practicable and appropriate dissemination of information within the United States concerning the Foundation’s activities and the results of those activities.

patent rights
Sec. 12.
[42 U.S.C. 1871]
Each contract or other arrangement executed pursuant to this Act which relates to scientific or engineering research shall contain provisions governing the disposition of inventions produced thereunder in a manner calculated to protect the public interest and the equities of the individual or organization with which the contract or other arrangement is executed: Provided, however, That nothing in this Act shall be construed to authorize the Foundation to enter into any contractual or other arrangement inconsistent with any provision of law affecting the issuance or use of patents.

international cooperation and coordination with foreign policy
Sec. 13.
[42 U.S.C. 1872]
(a)
The Foundation is hereby authorized to cooperate in any international scientific or engineering activities consistent with the purposes of this Act and to expend for such international scientific or engineering activities such sums within the limit of appropriated funds as the Foundation may deem desirable. The Director may defray the expenses of representatives of Government agencies and other organizations and of individual scientists or engineers to accredited international scientific or engineering congresses and meetings whenever he deems it necessary in the promotion of the objectives of this Act. In this connection, with the approval of the Secretary of State, the Foundation may undertake programs, granting fellowships to, or making other similar arrangements with, foreign nationals for study and research in the sciences or in engineering in the United States without regard to section 10 or the affidavit of allegiance to the United States required by section 15(d)(2) of this Act1.
^1
So in law. Subsection (d) of section 15 no longer exists.
(b)
(1)
The authority to enter into contracts or other arrangements with organizations or individuals in foreign countries and with agencies of foreign countries, as provided in section 11(c), and the authority to cooperate in international scientific or engineering activities as provided in subsection (a) of this section, shall be exercised only with the approval of the Secretary of State, to the end that such authority shall be exercised in such manner as is consistent with the foreign policy objectives of the United States.
(2)
If, in the exercise of the authority referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection, negotiation with foreign countries or agencies thereof becomes necessary, such negotiation shall be carried on by the Secretary of State in consultation with the Director.

miscellaneous provisions
Sec. 14.
[42 U.S.C. 1873]
(a)
(1)
The Director shall, in accordance with such policies as the Board shall from time to time prescribe, appoint and fix the compensation of such personnel as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Except as provided in section 4(h), such appointments shall be made and such compensation shall be fixed in accordance with the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates: Provided, That the Director may, in accordance with such policies as the Board shall from time to time prescribe, employ such technical and professional personnel and fix their compensation, without regard to such provisions, as he may deem necessary for the discharge of the responsibilities of the Foundation under this Act. The members of the special commissions shall be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service.
(2)
The Director may, under the authority provided by paragraph (1) of this subsection and in accordance with such policies as the Board chooses to prescribe, appoint for a limited term, or on a temporary basis, scientists, engineers, and other technical and professional personnel on leave of absence from academic, industrial, or research institutions to work for the Foundation.
(3)
The Foundation may pay, to the extent authorized for certain other Federal employees by section 5723 of title 5, United States Code, travel expenses for any individual appointed for a limited term or on a temporary basis and transportation expenses of his or her immediate family and his or her household goods and personal effects from that individual's residence at the time of selection or assignment to his or her duty station. The Foundation may pay such travel expenses and transportation expenses to the same extent for such an individual's return to the former place of residence from his or her duty station, upon separation from the Federal service following an agreed period of service. The Foundation may also pay a per diem allowance at a rate not to exceed the daily amounts prescribed under section 5702 of title 5, United States Code, to such an individual, in lieu of transportation expenses of the immediate family and household goods and personal effects, for the period of his or her employment with the Foundation. Notwithstanding any other provison of law, the employer's contribution to any retirement, life insurance, or health benefit plan for an individual appointed for a term of one year or less, which could be extended for no more than one additional year, may be made or reimbursed from appropriations available to the Foundation.
(b)
The Foundation shall not, itself, operate any laboratories or pilot plants.
(c)
The members of the Board and the members of each special commission shall be entitled to receive compensation for each day engaged in the business of the Foundation at a rate fixed by the Chairman but not exceeding the maximum rate payable under section 5376 of title 5, United States Code, and shall be allowed travel expenses as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code. For the purposes of determining the payment of compensation under this subsection, the time spent in travel by any member of the Board or any member of a special commission shall be deemed as time engaged in the business of the Foundation. Members of the Board and members of special commissions may waive compensation and reimbursement for traveling expenses.
(d)
Persons holding other offices in the executive branch of the Federal Government may serve as members of the special commissions, but they shall not receive remuneration for their services as such members during any period for which they receive compensation for their services in such other offices.
(e)
In making contracts or other arrangements for scientific or engineering research, the Foundation shall utilize appropriations available therefor in such manner as will in its discretion best realize the objectives of (1) having the work performed by organizations, agencies, and institutions, or individuals in the United States or foreign countries, including Government agencies of the United States and of foreign countries, qualified by training and experience to achieve the results desired, (2) strengthening the research staff of organizations, particularly nonprofit organizations, in the United States, (3) aiding institutions, agencies or organizations which, if aided, will advance scientific or engineering research, and (4) encouraging independent scientific research by individuals.
(f)
Funds available to any department or agency of the Government for scientific or engineering research or education, or the provision of facilities therefor, shall be available for transfer, with the approval of the head of the department or agency involved, in whole or in part, to the Foundation for such use as is consistent with the purposes for which such funds were provided, and funds so transferred shall be expendable by the Foundation for the purposes for which the transfer was made.
(g)
For purposes of this Act, the term “United States” when used in a geographical sense means the States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and all territories and possessions of the United States.
(h)
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the authorization of any appropriation to the Foundation shall expire (unless an earlier expiration is specifically provided) at the close of the second fiscal year following the fiscal year for which the authorizaton was enacted, to the extent that such appropriation has not theretofore actually been made.
(i)
(1)
(A)
Information supplied to the Foundation or a contractor of the Foundation in survey forms, questionnaires, or similar instruments for purposes of section 3(a)(5) or (6) by an individual, an industrial or commercial organization, or an educational, academic, or other nonprofit institution when the institution has received a pledge of confidentiality from the Foundation, shall not be disclosed to the public unless the information has been transformed into statistical or abstract formats that do not allow for the identification of the supplier.
(B)
Information that has not been transformed into formats described in subparagraph (A) may be used only for statistical or research purposes.
(C)
The identities of individuals, organizations, and institutions supplying information described in subparagraph (A) may not be disclosed to the public.
(2)
In support of functions authorized by section 3(a)(5) or (6), the Foundation may designate, at its discretion, authorized persons, including employees of Federal, State, or local agencies or instrumentalities (including local educational agencies) and employees of private organizations, to have access, for statistical or research purposes only, to information collected pursuant to section 3(a)(5) or (6) that allows for the identification of the supplier. No such person may—
(A)
publish information collected pursuant to section 3(a)(5) or (6) in such a manner that either an individual, an industrial or commercial organization, or an educational, academic, or other nonprofit institution that has received a pledge of confidentiality from the Foundation can be specifically identified;
(B)
permit anyone other than individuals authorized by the Foundation to examine data that allows for such identification relating to an individual, an industrial or commercial organization, or an academic, educational, or other nonprofit institution that has received a pledge of confidentiality from the Foundation; or
(C)
knowingly and willfully request or obtain any nondisclosable information described in paragraph (1) from the Foundation under false pretenses.
(3)
Violation of this subsection is punishable by a fine of not more than $10,000, imprisonment for not more than 5 years, or both.

security provisions
Sec. 15.
[42 U.S.C. 1874]
(a)
The Foundation shall not support any research or development activity in the field of nuclear energy, nor shall it exercise any authoriity pursuant to section 11(e) in respect to that field, without first having obtained the concurrence of the Secretary of Energy that such activity will not adversely affect the common defense and security. To the extent that such activity involves restricted data as defined in the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 the provisions of that Act regarding the control of the dissemination of restricted data and the security clearance of those individuals to be given access to restricted data shall be applicable. Nothing in this Act shall supersede or modify any provision of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954.
(b)
(1)
In the case of scientific or engineering research activities under this Act in connection with matters relating to the national defense, with respect to which funds have been transferred to the Foundation from the Department of Defense in accordance with the provisions of section 14(f) of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall establish such security requirements and safeguards, including restrictions with respect to access to information and property, as he deems necessary.
(2)
In the case of scientific or engineering research activities under this Act in connection with matters relating to the national defense other than research activities referred to in paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Foundation shall establish such security requirements and safeguards, including restrictions with respect to access to information and property as it deems necessary.
(3)
Any agency of the Government exercising investigatory functions is hereby authorized to make such investigations and reports as may be requested by the Foundation in connection with the enforcement of security requirements and safeguards, including restrictions with respect to access to information and property, established under paragraph (1) or (2) of this subsection.

appropriations
Sec. 16.
[42 U.S.C. 1875]
To enable the Foundation to carry out its powers and duties, only such sums may be appropriated as the Congress may authorize by law.