[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H9009-H9018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0300
               INVESTING IN AMERICA'S FUTURE ACT OF 2002

  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the bill (H.R. 
4664) to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2003, 2004, and 2005 
for the National Science Foundation, and for other purposes, be 
considered to have been taken from the Speaker's table and the Senate 
amendments concurred in.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The Clerk read the Senate amendments, as follows:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``National Science Foundation 
     Authorization Act of 2002''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) The National Science Foundation has made major 
     contributions for more than 50 years to strengthen and 
     sustain the Nation's academic research enterprise that is the 
     envy of the world.
       (2) The economic strength and national security of the 
     United States and the quality of life of all Americans are 
     grounded in the Nation's scientific and technological 
     capabilities.
       (3) The National Science Foundation carries out important 
     functions in supporting basic research in all science and 
     engineering disciplines and in supporting science, 
     mathematics, engineering, and technology education at all 
     levels.
       (4) The research and education activities of the National 
     Science Foundation promote the discovery, integration, 
     dissemination, and application of new knowledge in service to 
     society and prepare future generations of scientists, 
     mathematicians, and engineers who will be necessary to ensure 
     America's leadership in the global marketplace.
       (5) The National Science Foundation must be provided with 
     sufficient resources to enable it to carry out its 
     responsibilities to develop intellectual capital, strengthen 
     the scientific infrastructure, integrate research and 
     education, enhance the delivery of mathematics and science 
     education in the United States, and improve the technological 
     literacy of all people in the United States.
       (6) The emerging global economic, scientific, and technical 
     environment challenges long-standing assumptions about 
     domestic and international policy, requiring the National 
     Science Foundation to play a more proactive role in 
     sustaining the competitive advantage of the United States 
     through superior research capabilities.
       (7) Commercial application of the results of Federal 
     investment in basic and computing science is consistent with 
     longstanding United States technology transfer policy and is 
     a critical national priority, particularly with regard to 
     cybersecurity and other homeland security applications, 
     because of the urgent needs of commercial, academic, and 
     individual users as well as the Federal and State 
     Governments.

     SEC. 3. POLICY OBJECTIVES.

       In allocating resources made available under section 5, the 
     Foundation shall have the following policy objectives:
       (1) To strengthen the Nation's lead in science and 
     technology by--
       (A) increasing the national investment in general 
     scientific research and increasing investment in strategic 
     areas;
       (B) balancing the Nation's research portfolio among the 
     life sciences, mathematics, the physical sciences, computer 
     and information science, geoscience, engineering, and social, 
     behavioral, and economic sciences, all of which are important 
     for the continued development of enabling technologies 
     necessary for sustained international competitiveness;
       (C) expanding the pool of scientists and engineers in the 
     United States;
       (D) modernizing the Nation's research infrastructure; and
       (E) establishing and maintaining cooperative international 
     relationships with premier research institutions, with the 
     goal of such relationships being the exchange of personnel, 
     data, and information in an effort to alleviate problems 
     common to the global community.
       (2) To increase overall workforce skills by--
       (A) improving the quality of mathematics and science 
     education, particularly in kindergarten through grade 12;
       (B) promoting access to information technology for all 
     students;
       (C) raising postsecondary enrollment rates in science, 
     mathematics, engineering, and technology disciplines for 
     individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and 
     Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 
     1885b);
       (D) increasing access to higher education in science, 
     mathematics, engineering, and technology fields for students 
     from low-income households; and
       (E) expanding science, mathematics, engineering, and 
     technology training opportunities at institutions of higher 
     education.
       (3) To strengthen innovation by expanding the focus of 
     competitiveness and innovation policy at the regional and 
     local level.

     SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Academic unit.--The term ``academic unit'' means a 
     department, division, institute, school, college, or other 
     subcomponent of an institution of higher education.
       (2) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the National Science 
     Board established under section 2 of the National Science 
     Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861).
       (3) Community college.--The term ``community college'' has 
     the meaning given such term in section 3301(3) of the 
     Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     7011(3)).
       (4) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the National Science Foundation established under section 2 
     of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 
     1861).
       (5) Elementary school.--The term ``elementary school'' has 
     the meaning given that term by section 9101(18) of the 
     Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     7801(18)).
       (6) Eligible nonprofit organization.--The term ``eligible 
     nonprofit organization'' means a nonprofit research 
     institute, or a nonprofit professional association, with 
     demonstrated experience and effectiveness in mathematics or 
     science education as determined by the Director.
       (7) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National 
     Science Foundation established under section 2 of the 
     National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861).
       (8) High-need local educational agency.--The term ``high-
     need local educational agency'' means a local educational 
     agency that meets one or more of the following criteria:
       (A) It has at least one school in which 50 percent or more 
     of the enrolled students are eligible for participation in 
     the free and reduced price lunch program established by the 
     Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 
     et seq.).
       (B) It has at least one school in which--
       (i) more than 34 percent of the academic classroom teachers 
     at the secondary level (across all academic subjects) do not 
     have an undergraduate degree with a major or minor in, or a 
     graduate degree in, the academic field in which they teach 
     the largest percentage of their classes; or
       (ii) more than 34 percent of the teachers in two of the 
     academic departments do not have an undergraduate degree with 
     a major or minor in, or a graduate degree in, the academic 
     field in which they teach the largest percentage of their 
     classes.
       (C) It has at least one school whose teacher attrition rate 
     has been 15 percent or more over the last three school years.
       (9) 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)).
       (10) Local educational agency.--The term ``local 
     educational agency'' has the meaning given such term by 
     section 9101(26) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(26)).
       (11) Master teacher.--The term ``master teacher'' means a 
     mathematics or science teacher who works to improve the 
     instruction of mathematics or science in kindergarten through 
     grade 12 through--
       (A) participating in the development or revision of 
     science, mathematics, engineering, or technology curricula;
       (B) serving as a mentor to mathematics or science teachers;
       (C) coordinating and assisting teachers in the use of 
     hands-on inquiry materials, equipment, and supplies, and when 
     appropriate, supervising acquisition and repair of such 
     materials;
       (D) providing in-classroom teaching assistance to 
     mathematics or science teachers; and
       (E) providing professional development, including for the 
     purposes of training other master teachers, to mathematics 
     and science teachers.
       (12) National research facility.--The term ``national 
     research facility'' means a research facility funded by the 
     Foundation which is available, subject to appropriate 
     policies allocating access, for use by all scientists and 
     engineers affiliated with research institutions located in 
     the United States.

[[Page H9010]]

       (13) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has 
     the meaning given that term by section 9101(38) of the 
     Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
     7801(38)).
       (14) State.--Except with respect to the Experimental 
     Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, the term ``State'' 
     means one of the several States, the District of Columbia, 
     the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
     American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
     Islands, or any other territory or possession of the United 
     States.
       (15) State educational agency.--The term ``State 
     educational agency'' has the meaning given such term by 
     section 9101(41) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801(41)).
       (16) United states.--The term ``United States'' means the 
     several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of 
     Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the 
     Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other 
     territory or possession of the United States.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Fiscal Year 2003.--
       (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Foundation $5,536,390,000 for fiscal year 2003.
       (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under 
     paragraph (1)--
       (A) $4,155,690,000 shall be made available to carry out 
     research and related activities, of which $704,000,000 shall 
     be for information technology research described in paragraph 
     (1) of section 8 and $301,000,000 shall be for nanoscale 
     science and engineering described in paragraph (2) of section 
     8;
       (B) $1,006,250,000 shall be made available for education 
     and human resources, of which--
       (i) $200,000,000 shall be for mathematics and science 
     education partnerships described in section 9;
       (ii) $20,000,000 shall be for the Robert Noyce Scholarship 
     Program described in section 10; and
       (iii) $25,000,000 shall be for the science, mathematics, 
     engineering, and technology talent expansion program 
     described in paragraph (7) of section 8;
       (C) $172,050,000 shall be made available for major research 
     equipment and facilities construction;
       (D) $191,200,000 shall be made available for salaries and 
     expenses;
       (E) $3,500,000 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) $7,700,000 shall be made available for the Office of 
     Inspector General.
       (b) Fiscal Year 2004.--
       (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Foundation $6,390,832,000 for fiscal year 2004.
       (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under 
     paragraph (1)--
       (A) $4,799,822,000 shall be made available to carry out 
     research and related activities, of which $774,000,000 shall 
     be for information technology research described in paragraph 
     (1) of section 8 and $350,000,000 shall be for nanoscale 
     science and engineering described in paragraph (2) of section 
     8;
       (B) $1,157,188,000 shall be made available for education 
     and human resources, of which--
       (i) $300,000,000 shall be for mathematics and science 
     education partnerships described in section 9;
       (ii) $20,000,000 shall be for the Robert Noyce Scholarship 
     Program described in section 10; and
       (iii) $30,000,000 shall be for the science, mathematics, 
     engineering, and technology talent expansion program 
     described in paragraph (7) of section 8;
       (C) $211,182,000 shall be made available for major research 
     equipment and facilities construction;
       (D) $210,320,000 shall be made available for salaries and 
     expenses;
       (E) $3,850,000 shall be made available for the Office of 
     the National Science Board for the purposes described in 
     subsection (a)(2)(E); and
       (F) $8,470,000 shall be made available for the Office of 
     Inspector General.
       (c) Fiscal Year 2005.--
       (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Foundation $7,378,343,000 for fiscal year 2005.
       (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under 
     paragraph (1)--
       (A) $5,543,794,000 shall be made available to carry out 
     research and related activities;
       (B) $1,330,766,000 shall be made available to carry out 
     education and human resources, of which--
       (i) $400,000,000 shall be for mathematics and science 
     education partnerships described in section 9;
       (ii) $20,000,000 shall be for the Robert Noyce Scholarship 
     Program described in section 10; and
       (iii) $35,000,000 shall be for the science, mathematics, 
     engineering, and technology talent expansion program 
     described in paragraph (7) of section 8;
       (C) $258,879,000 shall be made available for major research 
     equipment and facilities construction;
       (D) $231,337,000 shall be made available for salaries and 
     expenses;
       (E) $4,250,000 shall be made available for the Office of 
     the National Science Board for the purposes described in 
     subsection (a)(2)(E); and
       (F) $9,317,000 shall be made available for the Office of 
     Inspector General.
       (d) Fiscal Year 2006.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Foundation $8,519,776,000 for fiscal year 
     2006.
       (e) Fiscal Year 2007.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Foundation $9,839,262,000 for fiscal year 
     2007.
       (f) Contingent Authorization.--
       (1) In general.--Funds are authorized to be appropriated 
     under subsections (d) and (e), contingent on a determination 
     by Congress that the Foundation has made successful progress 
     toward meeting management goals consisting of--
       (A) strategic management of human capital;
       (B) competitive sourcing;
       (C) improved financial performance;
       (D) expanded electronic government; and
       (E) budget and performance integration.
       (2) Consideration.--In making that determination, Congress 
     shall take into consideration whether or not the Director of 
     the Office of Management and Budget has certified that the 
     Foundation has, overall, made successful progress toward 
     meeting those goals.

     SEC. 6. OBLIGATION OF MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 
                   CONSTRUCTION FUNDS.

       (a) Fiscal Year 2003.--None of the funds authorized under 
     section 5(a)(2)(C) may be obligated until 30 days after the 
     first report required under section 14(a)(2) is transmitted 
     to the Congress.
       (b) Fiscal Year 2004.--None of the funds authorized under 
     section 5(b)(2)(C) may be obligated until 30 days after the 
     report required by June 15, 2003, under section 14(a)(2) is 
     transmitted to the Congress.
       (c) Fiscal Year 2005.--None of the funds authorized under 
     section 5(c)(2)(C) may be obligated until 30 days after the 
     report required by June 15, 2004, under section 14(a)(2) is 
     transmitted to the Congress.
       (d) Fiscal Year 2006.--None of the funds authorized under 
     section 5(d) may be obligated for major research equipment 
     and facilities construction until 30 days after the report 
     required by June 15, 2005, under section 14(a)(2) is 
     transmitted to the Congress.
       (e) Fiscal Year 2007.--None of the funds authorized under 
     section 5(e) may be obligated for major research equipment 
     and facilities construction until 30 days after the report 
     required by June 15, 2006, under section 14(a)(2) is 
     transmitted to the Congress.

     SEC. 7. ANNUAL PLAN FOR ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.

       Not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of 
     legislation providing for the annual appropriation of funds 
     for the Foundation, the Director shall submit to the 
     Committee on Science and the Committee on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate, a plan for the allocation of 
     funds authorized by this Act for the corresponding fiscal 
     year. The portion of the plan pertaining to Research and 
     Related Activities shall include a description of how the 
     allocation of funding--
       (1) will affect the average size and duration of research 
     grants supported by the Foundation by field of science, 
     mathematics, and engineering;
       (2) will affect trends in research support for major fields 
     and subfields of science, mathematics, and engineering, 
     including for emerging multidisciplinary research areas; and
       (3) is designed to achieve an appropriate balance among 
     major fields and subfields of science, mathematics, and 
     engineering.

     SEC. 8. SPECIFIC PROGRAM AUTHORIZATIONS.

       From amounts authorized to be appropriated under section 5, 
     the Director shall carry out the Foundation's research and 
     education programs, including the following initiatives in 
     accordance with this section:
       (1) Information technology.--An information technology 
     research program to support competitive, merit-reviewed 
     proposals for research, education, and infrastructure support 
     in areas related to cybersecurity, terascale computing 
     systems, software, networking, scalability, communications, 
     data management, and remote sensing and geospatial 
     information technologies.
       (2) Nanoscale science and engineering.--A nanoscale science 
     and engineering research and education program to support 
     competitive, merit-reviewed proposals that emphasize--
       (A) research aimed at discovering novel phenomena, 
     processes, materials, and tools that address grand challenges 
     in materials, electronics, optoelectronics and magnetics, 
     manufacturing, the environment, and health care; and
       (B) supporting new research and interdisciplinary centers 
     and networks of excellence, including shared national user 
     facilities, infrastructure, research, and education 
     activities on the societal implications of advances in 
     nanoscale science and engineering.
       (3) Plant genome research.--(A) A plant genome research 
     program to support competitive, merit-reviewed proposals--
       (i) that advance the understanding of the structure, 
     organization, and function of plant genomes; and
       (ii) that accelerate the use of new knowledge and 
     innovative technologies toward a more complete understanding 
     of basic biological processes in plants, especially in 
     economically important plants such as corn and soybeans.
       (B) Regional plant genome and gene expression research 
     centers to conduct research and dissemination activities that 
     may include--
       (i) basic plant genomics research and genomics 
     applications, including those related to cultivation of crops 
     in extreme environments

[[Page H9011]]

     and to cultivation of crops with reduced reliance on 
     fertilizer, herbicides, and pesticides;
       (ii) basic research that will contribute to the development 
     or use of innovative plant-derived products;
       (iii) basic research on alternative uses for plants and 
     plant materials, including the use of plants as renewable 
     feedstock for alternative energy production and nonpetroleum-
     based industrial chemicals and precursors; and
       (iv) basic research and dissemination of information on the 
     ecological and other consequences of genetically engineered 
     plants.

     Competitive, merit-based awards for centers under this 
     subparagraph shall be to consortia of institutions of higher 
     education or nonprofit organizations. The Director shall, to 
     the extent practicable, ensure that research centers 
     established under this subparagraph collectively examine as 
     many different agricultural environments as possible, enhance 
     the excellence of existing Foundation programs, and focus on 
     plants of economic importance.
       (C) Research partnerships to focus on--
       (i) basic genomic research on crops grown in the developing 
     world;
       (ii) basic plant genome research that will advance and 
     expedite the development of improved cultivars, including 
     those that are pest-resistant, produce increased yield, 
     reduce the need for fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides, 
     or have increased tolerance to stress;
       (iii) basic research that could lead to the development of 
     technologies to produce pharmaceutical compounds such as 
     vaccines and medications in plants that can be grown in the 
     developing world; and
       (iv) research on the impact of plant biotechnology on the 
     social, political, economic, health, and environmental 
     conditions in countries in the developing world.

     Competitive, merit-based awards for partnerships under this 
     subparagraph shall be to institutions of higher education, 
     nonprofit organizations, or consortia of such entities that 
     enter into a partnership that shall include one or more 
     research institutions in one or more developing nations, and 
     that may also include for-profit companies involved in plant 
     biotechnology. The Director, by means of outreach, shall 
     encourage inclusion of historically Black colleges and 
     universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, tribally 
     controlled colleges and universities, Alaska Native-serving 
     institutions, and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions in 
     consortia that enter into such partnerships.
       (4) Innovation partnerships.--An innovation partnerships 
     program to support competitive, merit-reviewed proposals that 
     seek to stimulate innovation at the regional level through 
     new partnerships involving States, regional governmental 
     entities, local governmental entities, industry, academic 
     institutions, and other related organizations in 
     strategically important fields of science and technology.
       (5) Mathematics and science education partnerships.--The 
     mathematics and science education partnerships program 
     described in section 9.
       (6) Robert noyce scholarship program.--The Robert Noyce 
     Scholarship Program described in section 10.
       (7) Science, mathematics, engineering, and technology 
     talent expansion program.--(A) A program of competitive, 
     merit-based, multi-year grants for eligible applicants to 
     increase the number of students studying toward and 
     completing associate's or bachelor's degrees in science, 
     mathematics, engineering, and technology, particularly in 
     fields that have faced declining enrollment in recent years.
       (B) In selecting projects under this paragraph, the 
     Director shall strive to increase the number of students 
     studying toward and completing baccalaureate degrees, 
     concentrations, or certificates in science, mathematics, 
     engineering, or technology who are individuals identified in 
     section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
     Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
       (C) The types of projects the Foundation may support under 
     this paragraph include those that promote high quality--
       (i) interdisciplinary teaching;
       (ii) undergraduate-conducted research;
       (iii) mentor relationships for students;
       (iv) bridge programs that enable students at community 
     colleges to matriculate directly into baccalaureate science, 
     mathematics, engineering, or technology programs;
       (v) internships carried out in partnership with industry; 
     and
       (vi) innovative uses of digital technologies, particularly 
     at institutions of higher education that serve high numbers 
     or percentages of economically disadvantaged students.
       (D)(i) In order to receive a grant under this paragraph, an 
     eligible applicant shall establish targets to increase the 
     number of students studying toward and completing associate's 
     or bachelor's degrees in science, mathematics, engineering, 
     or technology.
       (ii) A grant under this paragraph shall be awarded for a 
     period of 5 years, with the final 2 years of funding 
     contingent on the Director's determination that satisfactory 
     progress has been made by the grantee toward meeting the 
     targets established under clause (i).
       (iii) In the case of community colleges, a student who 
     transfers to a baccalaureate program, or receives a 
     certificate under an established certificate program, in 
     science, mathematics, engineering, or technology shall be 
     counted toward meeting a target established under clause (i).
       (E) For each grant awarded under this paragraph to an 
     institution of higher education, at least 1 principal 
     investigator shall be in a position of administrative 
     leadership at the institution of higher education, and at 
     least 1 principal investigator shall be a faculty member from 
     an academic department included in the work of the project. 
     For each grant awarded to a consortium or partnership, at 
     each institution of higher education participating in the 
     consortium or partnership, at least 1 of the individuals 
     responsible for carrying out activities authorized under this 
     paragraph at that institution shall be in a position of 
     administrative leadership at the institution, and at least 1 
     shall be a faculty member from an academic department 
     included in the work of the project at that institution.
       (F) In this paragraph, the term ``eligible applicant'' 
     means--
       (i) an institution of higher education;
       (ii) a consortium of institutions of higher education; or
       (iii) a partnership between--
       (I) an institution of higher education or a consortium of 
     such institutions; and
       (II) a nonprofit organization, a State or local government, 
     or a private company, with demonstrated experience and 
     effectiveness in science, mathematics, engineering, or 
     technology education.
       (8) Secondary School Systemic Initiative.--A program of 
     competitive, merit-based grants for State educational 
     agencies or local educational agencies that supports the 
     planning and implementation of agency-wide secondary school 
     reform initiatives designed to promote scientific and 
     technological literacy, meet the mathematics and science 
     education needs of students at risk of not achieving State 
     student academic achievement standards, reduce the need for 
     basic skill training by employers, and heighten college 
     completion rates through activities, such as--
       (A) systemic alignment of secondary school curricula and 
     higher education freshman placement requirements;
       (B) development of materials and curricula that support 
     small, theme-oriented schools and learning communities;
       (C) implementation of enriched mathematics and science 
     curricula for all secondary school students;
       (D) strengthened teacher training in mathematics, science, 
     and reading as it relates to technical and specialized texts;
       (E) laboratory improvement and provision of instrumentation 
     as part of a comprehensive program to enhance the quality of 
     mathematics, science, engineering, and technology 
     instruction; or
       (F) other secondary school systemic initiatives that enable 
     grantees to leverage private sector funding for mathematics, 
     science, engineering, and technology scholarships.
     In awarding grants under this paragraph, the Director shall 
     give priority to agencies that serve high poverty 
     communities.
       (9) Experimental program to stimulate competitive 
     research.--The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive 
     Research, established under section 113 of the National 
     Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 
     1862g), that is designed to enhance--
       (A) research in mathematics, science, and engineering 
     throughout the States eligible to participate in the program 
     and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
       (B) research infrastructure in the States eligible to 
     participate in the program and the Commonwealth of Puerto 
     Rico; and
       (C) the geographic distribution of Federal research and 
     development support.
       (10) The science and engineering equal opportunities act.--
     A comprehensive program designed to advance the goals of the 
     Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1885 et seq.), including programs to--
       (A) provide support to minority-serving institutions; and
       (B) ensure that reports required under sections 36 and 37 
     of such Act are submitted to the--
       (i) Committee on Science of the House of Representatives;
       (ii) Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of 
     the Senate; and
       (iii) Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
     the Senate.
       (11) Astronomical research and instrumentation.--An 
     astronomical research program to support competitive, merit-
     reviewed proposals that--
       (A) will advance understanding of--
       (i) the origins and characteristics of planets, the Sun, 
     other stars, the Milky Way Galaxy, and extragalactic objects 
     (such as clusters of galaxies and quasars); and
       (ii) the structure and origin of the universe; and
       (B) support related activities such as developing advanced 
     technologies and instrumentation, funding undergraduate and 
     graduate students, and satisfying other instrumentation and 
     research needs.

     SEC. 9. MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS.

       (a) Program Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--(A) The Director shall carry out a program 
     to award grants to institutions of higher education or 
     eligible nonprofit organizations (or consortia of such 
     institutions or organizations) to establish mathematics and 
     science education partnership programs to improve elementary 
     and secondary mathematics and science instruction.
       (B) Grants shall be awarded under this subsection on a 
     competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
       (2) Partnerships.--(A) In order to be eligible to receive a 
     grant under this subsection, an institution of higher 
     education or eligible nonprofit organization (or consortium 
     of such institutions or organizations) shall enter into a 
     partnership with one or more local educational agencies that 
     may also include a State educational agency or one or more 
     businesses.
       (B) A participating institution of higher education shall 
     include mathematics, science, or engineering departments in 
     the programs carried out through a partnership under this 
     paragraph.

[[Page H9012]]

       (3) Uses of funds.--Grants awarded under this subsection 
     shall be used for activities that draw upon the expertise of 
     the partners to improve elementary or secondary education in 
     mathematics or science and that are consistent with State 
     mathematics and science student academic achievement 
     standards, including--
       (A) recruiting and preparing students for careers in 
     elementary or secondary mathematics or science education;
       (B) offering professional development programs, including 
     summer or academic year institutes or workshops, designed to 
     strengthen the capabilities of mathematics and science 
     teachers;
       (C) offering innovative preservice and inservice programs 
     that instruct teachers on using technology more effectively 
     in teaching mathematics and science, including programs that 
     recruit and train undergraduate and graduate students to 
     provide technical support to teachers;
       (D) developing distance learning programs for teachers or 
     students, including developing courses, curricular materials, 
     and other resources for the in-service professional 
     development of teachers that are made available to teachers 
     through the Internet;
       (E) developing a cadre of master teachers who will promote 
     reform and improvement in schools;
       (F) offering teacher preparation and certification programs 
     for professional mathematicians, scientists, and engineers 
     who wish to begin a career in teaching;
       (G) developing tools to evaluate activities conducted under 
     this subsection;
       (H) developing or adapting elementary school and secondary 
     school mathematics and science curricular materials that 
     incorporate contemporary research on the science of learning;
       (I) developing initiatives to increase and sustain the 
     number, quality, and diversity of prekindergarten through 
     grade 12 teachers of mathematics and science, especially in 
     underserved areas;
       (J) using mathematicians, scientists, and engineers 
     employed by private businesses to help recruit and train 
     mathematics and science teachers;
       (K) developing and offering mathematics or science 
     enrichment programs for students, including after-school and 
     summer programs;
       (L) providing research opportunities in business or 
     academia for students and teachers;
       (M) bringing mathematicians, scientists, and engineers from 
     business and academia into elementary school and secondary 
     school classrooms; and
       (N) any other activities the Director determines will 
     accomplish the goals of this subsection.
       (4) Master teachers.--Activities carried out in accordance 
     with paragraph (3)(E) shall--
       (A) emphasize the training of master teachers who will 
     improve the instruction of mathematics or science in 
     kindergarten through grade 12;
       (B) include training in both content and pedagogy; and
       (C) provide training only to teachers who will be granted 
     sufficient nonclassroom time to serve as master teachers, as 
     demonstrated by assurances their employing school has 
     provided to the Director, in such time and such manner as the 
     Director may require.
       (5) Science enrichment programs for girls.--Activities 
     carried out in accordance with paragraph (3)(K) and (L) shall 
     include elementary school and secondary school programs to 
     encourage the ongoing interest of girls in science, 
     mathematics, engineering, and technology and to prepare girls 
     to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees and careers in 
     science, mathematics, engineering, or technology. Funds made 
     available through awards to partnerships for the purposes of 
     this paragraph may support programs for--
       (A) encouraging girls to pursue studies in science, 
     mathematics, engineering, and technology and to major in such 
     fields in postsecondary education;
       (B) tutoring girls in science, mathematics, engineering, 
     and technology;
       (C) providing mentors for girls in person and through the 
     Internet to support such girls in pursuing studies in 
     science, mathematics, engineering, and technology;
       (D) educating the parents of girls about the difficulties 
     faced by girls to maintain an interest and desire to achieve 
     in science, mathematics, engineering, and technology, and 
     enlisting the help of parents in overcoming these 
     difficulties; and
       (E) acquainting girls with careers in science, mathematics, 
     engineering, and technology and encouraging girls to plan for 
     careers in such fields.
       (6) Research in secondary schools.--Activities carried out 
     in accordance with paragraph (3)(K) may include support for 
     research projects performed by students at secondary schools. 
     Uses of funds made available through awards to partnerships 
     for purposes of this paragraph may include--
       (A) training secondary school mathematics and science 
     teachers in the design of research projects for students;
       (B) establishing a system for students and teachers 
     involved in research projects funded under this subsection to 
     exchange information about their projects and research 
     results; and
       (C) assessing the educational value of the student research 
     projects by such means as tracking the academic performance 
     and choice of academic majors of students conducting 
     research.
       (7) Stipends.--Grants awarded under this subsection may be 
     used to provide stipends for teachers or students 
     participating in training or research activities that would 
     not be part of their typical classroom activities.
       (b) Selection Process.--
       (1) Application.--An institution of higher education or an 
     eligible nonprofit organization (or a consortium of such 
     institutions or organizations) seeking funding under 
     subsection (a) shall submit an application to the Director at 
     such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
     the Director may require. The application shall include, at a 
     minimum--
       (A) a description of the partnership and the role that each 
     member will play in implementing the proposal;
       (B) a description of each of the activities to be carried 
     out, including--
       (i) how such activities will be aligned with State 
     mathematics and science student academic achievement 
     standards and with other activities that promote student 
     achievement in mathematics and science;
       (ii) how such activities will be based on a review of 
     relevant research;
       (iii) why such activities are expected to improve student 
     performance and strengthen the quality of mathematics and 
     science instruction; and
       (iv) any activities that will encourage the interest of 
     individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and 
     Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 
     1885b) in mathematics, science, engineering, and technology 
     and will help prepare such individuals to pursue 
     postsecondary studies in these fields;
       (C) a description of the number, size, and nature of any 
     stipends that will be provided to students or teachers and 
     the reasons such stipends are needed;
       (D) a description of how the partnership will serve as a 
     catalyst for reform of mathematics and science education 
     programs;
       (E) a description of how the partnership will assess its 
     success;
       (F) a description of how the partnership will collaborate 
     with the State educational agency to ensure that successful 
     partnership activities may be replicated throughout the 
     State; and
       (G) a description of the manner in which the partnership 
     will be continued after assistance under this section ends.
       (2) Review of applications.--In evaluating the applications 
     submitted under paragraph (1), the Director shall consider, 
     at a minimum--
       (A) the ability of the partnership to carry out effectively 
     the proposed programs;
       (B) the extent to which the members of the partnership are 
     committed to making the partnership a central organizational 
     focus;
       (C) the degree to which activities carried out by the 
     partnership are based on relevant research and are likely to 
     result in increased student achievement;
       (D) the degree to which such activities are aligned with 
     State mathematics and science student academic achievement 
     standards;
       (E) the likelihood that the partnership will demonstrate 
     activities that can be widely implemented as part of larger 
     scale reform efforts; and
       (F) the extent to which the activities will encourage the 
     interest of individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the 
     Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 
     1885a or 1885b) in mathematics, science, engineering, and 
     technology and will help prepare such individuals to pursue 
     postsecondary studies in these fields.
       (3) Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
     Director shall--
       (A) give priority to applications in which the partnership 
     includes a high-need local educational agency or a high-need 
     local educational agency in which at least one school does 
     not make adequate yearly progress, as determined pursuant to 
     part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
     Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.); and
       (B) ensure that, to the extent practicable, a substantial 
     number of the partnerships funded under this section include 
     businesses.
       (c) Accountability and Dissemination.--
       (1) Assessment required.--The Director shall evaluate the 
     program established under subsection (a). At a minimum, such 
     evaluation shall--
       (A) use a common set of benchmarks and assessment tools to 
     identify best practices and materials developed and 
     demonstrated by the partnerships; and
       (B) to the extent practicable, compare the effectiveness of 
     practices and materials developed and demonstrated by the 
     partnerships authorized under this section with those of 
     partnerships funded by other State or Federal agencies.
       (2) Dissemination of results.--(A) The results of the 
     evaluation required under paragraph (1) shall be made 
     available to the public and shall be provided to the 
     Committee on Science of the House of Representatives, the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions of the Senate.
       (B) Materials developed under the program established under 
     subsection (a) that are demonstrated to be effective shall be 
     made widely available to the public.
       (3) Annual meeting.--The Director, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of Education, shall convene an annual meeting of 
     the partnerships participating under this section to foster 
     greater national collaboration.
       (4) Report on coordination.--The Director, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Education, shall provide an annual 
     report to the Committee on Science of the House of 
     Representatives, the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
     of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee 
     on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate 
     describing how the program authorized

[[Page H9013]]

     under this section has been and will be coordinated with the 
     program authorized under part B of title II of the Elementary 
     and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.). 
     The report under this paragraph shall be submitted along with 
     the President's annual budget request.
       (5) Technical assistance.--At the request of an eligible 
     partnership or a State educational agency, the Director shall 
     provide the partnership or agency with technical assistance 
     in meeting any requirements of this section, including 
     providing advice from experts on how to develop--
       (A) a quality application for a grant; and
       (B) quality activities from funds received from a grant 
     under this section.

     SEC. 10. ROBERT NOYCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

       (a) Scholarship Program.--
       (1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a program to 
     award grants to institutions of higher education (or 
     consortia of such institutions) to provide scholarships, 
     stipends, and programming designed to recruit and train 
     mathematics and science teachers. Such program shall be known 
     as the ``Robert Noyce Scholarship Program''.
       (2) Merit review.--Grants shall be provided under this 
     subsection on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
       (3) Use of grants.--Grants provided under this section 
     shall be used by institutions of higher education or 
     consortia--
       (A) to develop and implement a program to encourage top 
     college juniors and seniors majoring in mathematics, science, 
     and engineering at the grantee's institution to become 
     mathematics and science teachers, through--
       (i) administering scholarships in accordance with 
     subsection (c);
       (ii) offering programs to help scholarship recipients to 
     teach in elementary schools and secondary schools, including 
     programs that will result in teacher certification or 
     licensing; and
       (iii) offering programs to scholarship recipients, both 
     before and after they receive their baccalaureate degree, to 
     enable the recipients to become better mathematics and 
     science teachers, to fulfill the service requirements of this 
     section, and to exchange ideas with others in their fields; 
     or
       (B) to develop and implement a program to encourage 
     science, mathematics, or engineering professionals to become 
     mathematics and science teachers, through--
       (i) administering stipends in accordance with subsection 
     (d);
       (ii) offering programs to help stipend recipients obtain 
     teacher certification or licensing; and
       (iii) offering programs to stipend recipients, both during 
     and after matriculation in the program for which the stipend 
     is received, to enable recipients to become better 
     mathematics and science teachers, to fulfill the service 
     requirements of this section, and to exchange ideas with 
     others in their fields.
       (b) Selection Process.--
       (1) Application.--An institution of higher education or 
     consortium seeking funding 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. The 
     application shall include, at a minimum--
       (A) a description of the scholarship or stipend program 
     that the applicant intends to operate, including the number 
     of scholarships or the size and number of stipends the 
     applicant intends to award, and the selection process that 
     will be used in awarding the scholarships or stipends;
       (B) evidence that the applicant has the capability to 
     administer the scholarship or stipend program in accordance 
     with the provisions of this section; and
       (C) a description of the programming that will be offered 
     to scholarship or stipend recipients during and after their 
     matriculation in the program for which the scholarship or 
     stipend is received.
       (2) Review of applications.--In evaluating the applications 
     submitted under paragraph (1), the Director shall consider, 
     at a minimum--
       (A) the ability of the applicant to effectively carry out 
     the program;
       (B) the extent to which the applicant is committed to 
     making the program a central organizational focus;
       (C) the degree to which the proposed programming will 
     enable scholarship or stipend recipients to become successful 
     mathematics and science teachers;
       (D) the number and quality of the students that will be 
     served by the program; and
       (E) the ability of the applicant to recruit students who 
     would otherwise not pursue a career in teaching.
       (c) Scholarship Requirements.--
       (1) In general.--Scholarships under this section shall be 
     available only to students who are--
       (A) majoring in science, mathematics, or engineering; and
       (B) in the last 2 years of a baccalaureate degree program.
       (2) Selection.--Individuals shall be selected to receive 
     scholarships primarily on the basis of academic merit, with 
     consideration given to financial need and to the goal of 
     promoting the participation of individuals identified in 
     section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
     Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
       (3) Amount.--The Director shall establish for each year the 
     amount to be awarded for scholarships under this section for 
     that year, which shall be not less than $7,500 per year, 
     except that no individual shall receive for any year more 
     than the cost of attendance at that individual's institution. 
     Individuals may receive a maximum of 2 years of scholarship 
     support.
       (4) Service obligation.--If an individual receives a 
     scholarship, that individual shall be required to complete, 
     within 6 years after graduation from the baccalaureate degree 
     program for which the scholarship was awarded, 2 years of 
     service as a mathematics or science teacher for each year a 
     scholarship was received. Service required under this 
     paragraph shall be performed in a high-need local educational 
     agency.
       (d) Stipends.--
       (1) In general.--Stipends under this section shall be 
     available only to mathematics, science, and engineering 
     professionals who, while receiving the stipend, are enrolled 
     in a program to receive certification or licensing to teach.
       (2) Selection.--Individuals shall be selected to receive 
     stipends under this section primarily on the basis of 
     academic merit, with consideration given to financial need 
     and to the goal of promoting the participation of individuals 
     identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering 
     Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
       (3) Duration.--Individuals may receive a maximum of 1 year 
     of stipend support.
       (4) Service obligation.--If an individual receives a 
     stipend under this section, that individual shall be required 
     to complete, within 6 years after graduation from the program 
     for which the stipend was awarded, 2 years of service as a 
     mathematics or science teacher for each year a stipend was 
     received. Service required under this paragraph shall be 
     performed in a high-need local educational agency.
       (e) Conditions of Support.--As a condition of acceptance of 
     a scholarship or stipend under this section, a recipient 
     shall enter into an agreement with the institution of higher 
     education--
       (1) accepting the terms of the scholarship or stipend 
     pursuant to subsections (c) and (g), or subsection (d);
       (2) agreeing to provide the awarding institution of higher 
     education with annual certification of employment and up-to-
     date contact information and to participate in surveys 
     provided by the institution of higher education as part of an 
     ongoing assessment program; and
       (3) establishing that any scholarship recipient shall be 
     liable to the United States for any amount that is required 
     to be repaid in accordance with the provisions of subsection 
     (g).
       (f) Collection for Noncompliance.--
       (1) Monitoring compliance.--An institution of higher 
     education (or consortium thereof) receiving a grant under 
     this section shall, as a condition of participating in the 
     program, enter into an agreement with the Director to monitor 
     the compliance of scholarship and stipend recipients with 
     their respective service requirements.
       (2) Collection of repayment.--(A) In the event that a 
     scholarship recipient is required to repay the scholarship 
     under subsection (g), the institution shall be responsible 
     for collecting the repayment amounts.
       (B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), any such 
     repayment shall be returned to the Treasury of the United 
     States.
       (C) A grantee may retain a percentage of any repayment it 
     collects to defray administrative costs associated with the 
     collection. The Director shall establish a single, fixed 
     percentage that will apply to all grantees.
       (g) Failure to Complete Service Obligation.--
       (1) General rule.--If an individual who has received a 
     scholarship under this section--
       (A) fails to maintain an acceptable level of academic 
     standing in the educational institution in which the 
     individual is enrolled, as determined by the Director;
       (B) is dismissed from such educational institution for 
     disciplinary reasons;
       (C) withdraws from the baccalaureate degree program for 
     which the award was made before the completion of such 
     program;
       (D) declares that the individual does not intend to fulfill 
     the service obligation under this section; or
       (E) fails to fulfill the service obligation of the 
     individual under this section,

     such individual shall be liable to the United States as 
     provided in paragraph (2).
       (2) Amount of repayment.--(A) If a circumstance described 
     in paragraph (1) occurs before the completion of one year of 
     a service obligation under this section, the United States 
     shall be entitled to recover from the individual, within one 
     year after the date of the occurrence of such circumstance, 
     an amount equal to--
       (i) the total amount of awards received by such individual 
     under this section; plus
       (ii) the interest on the amounts of such awards which would 
     be payable if at the time the awards were received they were 
     loans bearing interest at the maximum legal prevailing rate, 
     as determined by the Treasurer of the United States,

     multiplied by 2.
       (B) If a circumstance described in paragraph (1)(D) or (E) 
     occurs after the completion of one year of a service 
     obligation under this section, the United States shall be 
     entitled to recover from the individual, within one year 
     after the date of the occurrence of such circumstance, an 
     amount equal to the total amount of awards received by such 
     individual under this section minus \1/2\ of the amount of 
     the award received per year for each full year of service 
     completed, plus the interest on such amounts which would be 
     payable if at the time the amounts were received they were 
     loans bearing interest at the maximum legal prevailing rate, 
     as determined by the Treasurer of the United States.
       (3) Exceptions.--The Director may provide for the partial 
     or total waiver or suspension of any service or payment 
     obligation by an individual under this section whenever 
     compliance by the individual with the obligation is 
     impossible or would involve extreme hardship to the 
     individual, or if enforcement of such obligation

[[Page H9014]]

     with respect to the individual would be unconscionable.
       (h) Data Collection.--Institutions or consortia receiving 
     grants under this section shall supply to the Director any 
     relevant statistical and demographic data on scholarship 
     recipients and stipend recipients the Director may request, 
     including information on employment required by subsection 
     (e).
       (i) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``cost of attendance'' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1087ll);
       (2) the term ``mathematics and science teacher'' means a 
     mathematics, science, or technology teacher at the elementary 
     school or secondary school level;
       (3) the term ``mathematics, science, or engineering 
     professional'' means a person who holds a baccalaureate, 
     masters, or doctoral degree in science, mathematics, or 
     engineering and is working in that field or a related area;
       (4) the term ``scholarship'' means an award under 
     subsection (c); and
       (5) the term ``stipend'' means an award under subsection 
     (d).

     SEC. 11. ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON MATHEMATICS 
                   AND SCIENCE LEARNING AND EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT.

       (a) Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--(A) The Director shall award grants to 
     institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof) to 
     establish multidisciplinary Centers for Research on Learning 
     and Education Improvement.
       (B) Grants shall be awarded under this paragraph on a 
     competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
       (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Centers shall be to 
     conduct and evaluate research in cognitive science, 
     education, and related fields and to develop ways in which 
     the results of such research can be applied in elementary 
     school and secondary school classrooms to improve the 
     teaching of mathematics and science.
       (3) Focus.--(A) Each Center shall be focused on a different 
     challenge faced by elementary school or secondary school 
     teachers of mathematics and science. In determining the 
     research focus of the Centers, the Director shall consult 
     with the National Academy of Sciences and the Secretary of 
     Education and take into account the extent to which other 
     Federal programs support research on similar questions.
       (B) The proposal solicitation issued by the Director shall 
     state the focus of each Center and applicants shall apply for 
     designation as a specific Center.
       (C) At least one Center shall focus on developing ways in 
     which the results of research described in paragraph (2) can 
     be applied, duplicated, and scaled up for use in low-
     performing elementary schools and secondary schools to 
     improve the teaching and student achievement levels in 
     mathematics and science.
       (D) To the extent practicable and relevant to its focus, 
     every Center shall include, as part of its research, work 
     designed to quantitatively assess and improve the ways that 
     information technology is used in the teaching of mathematics 
     and science.
       (b) Selection Process.--
       (1) Application.--An institution of higher education (or a 
     consortium of such institutions) seeking funding 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. The application shall include, at a 
     minimum, a description of--
       (A) the initial research projects that will be undertaken 
     by the Center and the process by which new projects will be 
     identified;
       (B) how the Center will work with other research 
     institutions and schools to broaden the national research 
     agenda on learning and teaching;
       (C) how the Center will promote active collaboration among 
     physical, biological, and social science researchers;
       (D) how the Center will promote active participation by 
     elementary and secondary mathematics and science teachers and 
     administrators; and
       (E) how the results of the Center's research can be 
     incorporated into educational practices, and how the Center 
     will assess the success of those practices.
       (2) Review of applications.--In evaluating the applications 
     submitted under paragraph (1), the Director shall consider, 
     at a minimum--
       (A) the ability of the applicant to effectively carry out 
     the research program, including the activities described in 
     paragraph (1)(E);
       (B) the experience of the applicant in conducting research 
     on the science of teaching and learning and the capacity of 
     the applicant to foster new multidisciplinary collaborations;
       (C) the capacity of the applicant to attract elementary 
     school and secondary school teachers from a diverse array of 
     schools, and with diverse professional experiences, for 
     participation in Center activities; and
       (D) the capacity of the applicant to attract and provide 
     adequate support for graduate students to pursue research at 
     the intersection of educational practice and basic research 
     on human cognition and learning.
       (3) Awards.--The Director shall ensure, to the extent 
     practicable, that the Centers funded under this section 
     conduct research and develop educational practices designed 
     to improve the educational performance of a broad range of 
     students, including individuals identified in section 33 or 
     34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
       (c) Annual Conference.--The Director shall convene an 
     annual meeting of the Centers to foster collaboration among 
     the Centers and to further disseminate the results of the 
     Centers' activities.
       (d) Coordination.--The Director shall coordinate with the 
     Secretary of Education in--
       (1) disseminating the results of the research conducted 
     pursuant to grants awarded under this section to elementary 
     school teachers and secondary school teachers; and
       (2) providing programming, guidance, and support to ensure 
     that such teachers--
       (A) understand the implications of the research 
     disseminated under paragraph (1) for classroom practice; and
       (B) can use the research to improve such teachers' 
     performance in the classroom.

     SEC. 12. DUPLICATION OF PROGRAMS.

       (a) In General.--The Director shall review the education 
     programs of the Foundation that are in operation as of the 
     date of enactment of this Act to determine whether any of 
     such programs duplicate the programs authorized under this 
     Act.
       (b) Implementation.--As programs authorized under this Act 
     are implemented, the Director shall--
       (1) terminate any duplicative program being carried out by 
     the Foundation or merge the duplicative program into a 
     program authorized under this Act; and
       (2) not establish any new program that duplicates a program 
     that has been implemented pursuant to this Act.
       (c) Report.--
       (1) Review.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy shall review the education programs of the 
     Foundation to ensure compliance with the provisions of this 
     section.
       (2) Submission.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter as part of the 
     annual Office of Science and Technology Policy's budget 
     submission to Congress, the Director of the Office of Science 
     and Technology Policy shall complete a report on the review 
     carried out under this subsection and shall submit the report 
     to the Committee on Science and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

     SEC. 13. MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION.

       (a) Review and Assessment.--The Director shall conduct a 
     review and assessment of the major research instrumentation 
     program and, not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, submit a report of findings and 
     recommendations to the Committee on Science of the House of 
     Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate. The report 
     shall include--
       (1) estimates of the needs, by major field of science and 
     engineering and by types of institutions of higher education, 
     for the types of research instrumentation that are eligible 
     for acquisition under the guidelines of the major research 
     instrumentation program;
       (2) a description of the distribution of awards and funding 
     levels by year, by major field of science and engineering, 
     and by type of institution of higher education for the 
     program, since the inception of the major research 
     instrumentation program; and
       (3) an analysis of the impact of the major research 
     instrumentation program on the research instrumentation needs 
     that were documented in the Foundation's 1994 survey of 
     academic research instrumentation needs.
       (b) National Academy of Sciences Assessment on 
     Interdisciplinary Research and Advanced Instrumentation 
     Centers.--
       (1) Assessment.--Not later than 3 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into an 
     arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to assess 
     the need for an interagency program to establish and support 
     fully equipped, state-of-the-art university-based centers for 
     interdisciplinary research and advanced instrumentation 
     development.
       (2) Transmittal to congress.--Not later than 15 months 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director 
     shall transmit to the Committee on Science of the House of 
     Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate the assessment 
     conducted by the National Academy of Sciences together with 
     the Foundation's reaction to the assessment authorized under 
     paragraph (1).

     SEC. 14. MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION 
                   PLAN.

       (a) Prioritization of Proposed Major Research Equipment and 
     Facilities Construction.--
       (1) Development of priorities.--(A) The Director shall--
       (i) develop a list indicating by number the relative 
     priority for funding under the major research equipment and 
     facilities construction account that the Director assigns to 
     each project the Board has approved for inclusion in a future 
     budget request; and
       (ii) submit the list described in clause (i) to the Board 
     for approval.
       (B) The Director shall update the list prepared under 
     subparagraph (A) each time the Board approves a new project 
     that would receive funding under the major research equipment 
     and facilities construction account, as necessary to prepare 
     reports under paragraph (2), and, from time to time, submit 
     any updated list to the Board for approval.
       (2) Annual report.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, and not later than each June 15 
     thereafter, the Director shall transmit to the Committee on 
     Science of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
     Senate a report containing--

[[Page H9015]]

       (A) the most recent Board-approved priority list developed 
     under paragraph (1)(A);
       (B) a description of the criteria used to develop such 
     list; and
       (C) a description of the major factors for each project 
     that determined the ranking of such project on the list, 
     based on the application of the criteria described pursuant 
     to subparagraph (B).
       (3) Criteria.--The criteria described pursuant to paragraph 
     (2)(B) shall include, at a minimum--
       (A) scientific merit;
       (B) broad societal need and probable impact;
       (C) consideration of the results of formal prioritization 
     efforts by the scientific community;
       (D) readiness of plans for construction and operation;
       (E) the applicant's management and administrative capacity 
     of large research facilities;
       (F) international and interagency commitments; and
       (G) the order in which projects were approved by the Board 
     for inclusion in a future budget request.
       (b) Facilities Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Section 201(a)(1) of the National Science 
     Foundation Authorization Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 1862l(a)(1)) 
     is amended to read as follows:
       ``(1) In general.--The Director shall prepare, and include 
     as part of the Foundation's annual budget request to 
     Congress, a plan for the proposed construction of, and repair 
     and upgrades to, national research facilities, including full 
     life-cycle cost information.''.
       (2) Contents of plan.--Section 201(a)(2) of the National 
     Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 
     1862l(a)(2)) is amended--
       (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``(1);'' and inserting 
     ``(1), including costs for instrumentation development;'';
       (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' after the 
     semicolon;
       (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``construction.'' and 
     inserting ``construction;''; and
       (D) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(D) for each project funded under the major research 
     equipment and facilities construction account--
       ``(i) estimates of the total project cost (from planning to 
     commissioning); and
       ``(ii) the source of funds, including Federal funding 
     identified by appropriations category and non-Federal 
     funding;
       ``(E) estimates of the full life-cycle cost of each 
     national research facility;
       ``(F) information on any plans to retire national research 
     facilities; and
       ``(G) estimates of funding levels for grants supporting 
     research that will be conducted using each national research 
     facility.''.
       (3) Definition.--Section 2 of the National Science 
     Foundation Authorization Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 1862k note) 
     is amended--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as 
     paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
       ``(3) Full life-cycle cost.--The term `full life-cycle 
     cost' means all costs of planning, development, procurement, 
     construction, operations and support, and shut-down costs, 
     without regard to funding source and without regard to what 
     entity manages the project or facility involved.''.
       (c) Project Management.--No national research facility 
     project funded under the major research equipment and 
     facilities construction account shall be managed by an 
     individual whose appointment to the Foundation is temporary.
       (d) Board Approval of Major Research Equipment and 
     Facilities Projects.--
       (1) In general.--The Board shall explicitly approve any 
     project to be funded out of the major research equipment and 
     facilities construction account before any funds may be 
     obligated from such account for such project.
       (2) Report.--Not later than September 15 of each fiscal 
     year, the Board shall report to the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and the 
     Committee on Science of the House of Representatives on the 
     conditions of any delegation of authority under section 4 of 
     the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863) 
     that relates to funds appropriated for any project in the 
     major research equipment and facilities construction account.
       (e) National Academy of Sciences Study on Major Research 
     Equipment and Facilities Construction.--
       (1) Study.--Not later than 3 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into an 
     arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to perform 
     a study on setting priorities for a diverse array of 
     disciplinary and interdisciplinary Foundation-sponsored large 
     research facility projects.
       (2) Transmittal to congress.--Not later than 15 months 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director 
     shall transmit to the Committee on Science and the Committee 
     on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and to the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the 
     Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the study 
     conducted by the National Academy of Sciences together with 
     the Foundation's reaction to the study authorized under 
     paragraph (1).

     SEC. 15. ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS.

       (a) Board Meetings.--
       (1) In general.--Section 4(e) of the National Science 
     Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(e)) is amended by 
     striking the second and third sentences and inserting ``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.''.
       (2) Open meetings.--The Board and all of its committees, 
     subcommittees, and task forces (and any other entity 
     consisting of members of the Board and reporting to the 
     Board) shall be subject to section 552b of title 5, United 
     States Code.
       (3) Compliance audit.--The Inspector General of the 
     Foundation shall conduct an annual audit of the compliance by 
     the Board with the requirements described in paragraph (2). 
     The audit shall examine the proposed and actual content of 
     closed meetings and determine whether the closure of the 
     meetings was consistent with section 552b of title 5, United 
     States Code.
       (4) Report.--Not later than February 15 of each year, the 
     Inspector General of the Foundation shall transmit to the 
     Committee on Science of the House of Representatives, the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions of the Senate the audit required under paragraph (3) 
     along with recommendations for corrective actions that need 
     to be taken to achieve fuller compliance with the 
     requirements described in paragraph (2), and recommendations 
     on how to ensure public access to the Board's deliberations.
       (b) Confidentiality of Certain Information.--Section 14(i) 
     of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 
     1873(i)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(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.''.
       (c) Appointment.--Section 4(g) of the National Science 
     Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(g)) is amended by 
     striking the second sentence and inserting ``Such staff shall 
     be appointed by the Chairman and assigned at the direction of 
     the Board.''.
       (d) Scholarship Eligibility.--The Director shall not 
     exclude part-time students from eligibility for scholarships 
     under the Computer Science, Engineering, and Mathematics 
     Scholarship program.

     SEC. 16. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES ACT 
                   AMENDMENTS.

       Section 32 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
     Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``backgrounds.'' and 
     inserting ``backgrounds, including persons with 
     disabilities.''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by inserting ``, including persons with disabilities,'' 
     after ``backgrounds''; and
       (B) by striking ``and minorities'' each place the term 
     appears and inserting ``, minorities, and persons with 
     disabilities''.

     SEC. 17. UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION REFORM.

       (a) In General.--The Director shall award grants, on a 
     competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to institutions of higher 
     education to expand previously implemented reforms of 
     undergraduate science, mathematics, engineering, or 
     technology education that have been demonstrated to have been 
     successful in increasing the number and quality of students 
     studying toward and completing associate's or baccalaureate 
     degrees in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology.
       (b) Uses of Funds.--Activities supported by grants under 
     this section may include--
       (1) expansion of successful reform efforts beyond a single 
     course or group of courses to achieve reform within an entire 
     academic unit;

[[Page H9016]]

       (2) expansion of successful reform efforts beyond a single 
     academic unit to other science, mathematics, engineering, or 
     technology academic units within an institution;
       (3) creation of multidisciplinary courses or programs that 
     formalize collaborations for the purpose of improved student 
     instruction and research in science, mathematics, 
     engineering, and technology;
       (4) expansion of undergraduate research opportunities 
     beyond a particular laboratory, course, or academic unit to 
     engage multiple academic units in providing multidisciplinary 
     research opportunities for undergraduate students;
       (5) expansion of innovative tutoring or mentoring programs 
     proven to enhance student recruitment or persistence to 
     degree completion in science, mathematics, engineering, or 
     technology;
       (6) improvement of undergraduate science, mathematics, 
     engineering, and technology education for nonmajors, 
     including education majors; and
       (7) implementation of technology-driven reform efforts, 
     including the installation of technology to facilitate such 
     reform, that directly impact undergraduate science, 
     mathematics, engineering, or technology instruction or 
     research experiences.
       (c) Selection Process.--
       (1) Applications.--An institution of higher education 
     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. The 
     application shall include, at a minimum--
       (A) a description of the proposed reform effort;
       (B) a description of the previously implemented reform 
     effort that will serve as the basis for the proposed reform 
     effort and evidence of success of that previous effort, 
     including data on student recruitment, persistence to degree 
     completion, and academic achievement;
       (C) evidence of active participation in the proposed 
     project by individuals who were central to the success of the 
     previously implemented reform effort; and
       (D) evidence of institutional support for, and commitment 
     to, the proposed reform effort, including a description of 
     existing or planned institutional policies and practices 
     regarding faculty hiring, promotion, tenure, and teaching 
     assignment that reward faculty contributions to undergraduate 
     education equal to, or greater than, scholarly scientific 
     research.
       (2) Review of applications.--In evaluating applications 
     submitted under paragraph (1), the Director shall consider at 
     a minimum--
       (A) the evidence of past success in implementing 
     undergraduate education reform and the likelihood of success 
     in undertaking the proposed expanded effort;
       (B) 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;
       (C) the degree to which the proposed reform will contribute 
     to change in institutional culture and policy such that a 
     greater value is placed on faculty engagement in 
     undergraduate education, as evidenced through promotion and 
     tenure policies; and
       (D) the likelihood that the institution will sustain or 
     expand the reform beyond the period of the grant.
       (3) 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. 18. REPORTS.

       (a) Grant Size and Duration.--Not later than 6 months after 
     the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
     transmit to the Committee on Science of the House of 
     Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report 
     describing the impact that increasing the average grant size 
     and duration would have on minority-serving institutions and 
     on institutions located in States where the Foundation's 
     Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research 
     (established under section 113 of the National Science 
     Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g)) is 
     carrying out activities.
       (b) Faculty.--Not later than 3 months after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into an 
     arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to assess 
     gender differences in the careers of science and engineering 
     faculty. This study shall build on the Academy's work on 
     gender differences in the carriers of doctoral scientists and 
     engineers and examine issues such as faculty hiring, 
     promotion, tenure, and allocation of resources including 
     laboratory space. Upon completion, the results of this study 
     shall be transmitted to the Committee on Science of the House 
     of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
       (c) Grant Funding.--Not later than 3 months after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into an 
     agreement with an appropriate party to assess gender 
     differences in the distribution of external Federal research 
     and development funding. This study shall examine differences 
     in amounts requested and awarded, by gender, in major Federal 
     external grant programs. Upon completion, the results of this 
     study shall be transmitted to the Committee on Science of the 
     House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
     and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
       (d) Study of Broadband Network Access for Schools and 
     Libraries.--
       (1) Report to congress.--The Director shall conduct a study 
     of the issues described in paragraph (3), and not later than 
     1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, transmit 
     to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives, 
     the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions of the Senate a report including recommendations to 
     address those issues. Such report shall be updated annually 
     for 4 additional years.
       (2) Consultation.--In preparing the reports under paragraph 
     (1), the Director shall consult with Federal agencies and 
     educational entities as the Director considers appropriate.
       (3) Issues to be addressed.--The reports shall--
       (A) identify the availability of high-speed, large 
     bandwidth capacity access to different demographic groups 
     served by elementary schools, secondary schools, and 
     libraries in the United States;
       (B) identify how the provision of high-speed, large 
     bandwidth capacity access to the Internet to such schools and 
     libraries can be effectively utilized within each school and 
     library;
       (C) consider the effect that specific or regional 
     circumstances may have on the ability of such institutions to 
     acquire high-speed, large bandwidth capacity access to 
     achieve universal connectivity as an effective tool in the 
     education process; and
       (D) include options and recommendations to address the 
     challenges and issues identified in the reports.
       (e) Minority-Serving Institution Funding.--
       (1) Annual reporting required.--The Director shall submit 
     an annual report, along with the President's annual budget 
     request, to the Committee on Science of the House of 
     Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on the amount of 
     funding awarded by the Foundation to minority-serving 
     institutions, including funding received as members of 
     consortia. The report shall include information on such 
     funding to minority-serving institutions--
       (A) expressed as a percentage of funding to all 
     institutions of higher education for each appropriations 
     account within the Foundation's budget; and
       (B) for the preceding 10 years.
       (2) Report on ways to improve funding.--Within one year 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
     submit to the Committee on Science of the House of 
     Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on 
     recommendations on how the Foundation can improve funding to 
     minority-serving institutions.

     SEC. 19. EVALUATIONS.

       (a) Education.--
       (1) In general.--The Director, through the Research, 
     Evaluation and Communication Division of the Education and 
     Human Resources Directorate of the Foundation, shall evaluate 
     the effectiveness of all undergraduate science, mathematics, 
     engineering, or technology education activities supported by 
     the Foundation in increasing the number and quality of 
     students, including individuals identified in section 33 or 
     34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) studying toward and completing 
     associate's or baccalaureate degrees in science, mathematics, 
     engineering, and technology. In conducting the evaluation, 
     the Director shall consider information on--
       (A) the number of students enrolled in undergraduate 
     science, mathematics, engineering, and technology programs;
       (B) student academic achievement, including quantifiable 
     measurements of students' mastery of content and skills;
       (C) persistence to degree completion, including students 
     who transfer from science, mathematics, engineering, and 
     technology programs to programs in other academic 
     disciplines; and
       (D) placement during the first year after degree completion 
     in post-graduate education or career pathways.
       (2) Assessment benchmarks and tools.--The Director, through 
     the Research, Evaluation and Communication Division of the 
     Education and Human Resources Directorate of the Foundation, 
     shall establish a common set of assessment benchmarks and 
     tools, and shall enable every Foundation-sponsored project to 
     incorporate the use of these benchmarks and tools in their 
     project-based assessment activities.
       (3) Reports to congress.--Not later than 3 years after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, and once every 3 years 
     thereafter, the Director shall transmit to the Committee on 
     Science of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
     Senate a report containing the results of evaluations under 
     paragraph (1).
       (b) Awards.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this 
     Act, the Director shall annually evaluate a random sample of 
     grants, contracts, or other awards made pursuant to this Act.
       (c) Dissemination.--The Director shall--
       (1) provide for the dissemination of the results of the 
     evaluations conducted pursuant to this section to the public; 
     and
       (2) provide notice to the public that such evaluations are 
     available.

[[Page H9017]]

     SEC. 20. REPORT BY COMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN 
                   SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.

       As part of the first report required by section 36(e) of 
     the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 
     U.S.C. 1885c(e)) transmitted to Congress after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Committee on Equal Opportunities 
     in Science and Engineering shall include--
       (1) a summary of its findings over the previous 10 years;
       (2) a description of past and present policies and 
     activities of the Foundation to encourage full participation 
     of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in 
     science, mathematics, and engineering fields, including 
     activities in support of minority-serving institutions; and
       (3) an assessment of the trends in participation in 
     Foundation activities, and an assessment of the success of 
     Foundation policies and activities, along with proposals for 
     new strategies or the broadening of existing successful 
     strategies toward facilitating the goals of that Act.

     SEC. 21. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION PROGRAM.

       (a) Core Science and Mathematics Courses.--Section 3(a) of 
     the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 
     1862i(a)) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``, and to improve the quality of their 
     core education courses in science and mathematics'' after 
     ``education in advanced-technology fields'';
       (2) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``and in core science and 
     mathematics courses'' after ``advanced-technology fields''; 
     and
       (3) in paragraph (2) by striking ``in advanced-technology 
     fields'' and inserting ``who provide instruction in science, 
     mathematics, and advanced-technology fields''.
       (b) Articulation Partnerships.--Section 3(c)(1)(B) of the 
     Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 
     1862i(c)(1)(B)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of clause (i);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of clause (ii) and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding after clause (ii) the following new clauses:
       ``(iii) provide students with research experiences at 
     bachelor's-degree-granting institutions participating in the 
     partnership, including stipend support for students 
     participating in summer programs; and
       ``(iv) provide faculty mentors for students participating 
     in activities under clause (iii), including summer salary 
     support for faculty mentors.''.
       (c) National Science Foundation Report.--Within 6 months 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director 
     shall transmit a report to the Committee on Science of the 
     House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
     and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on--
       (1) efforts by the Foundation and awardees under the 
     program carried out under section 3 of the Scientific and 
     Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i) to 
     disseminate information about the results of projects;
       (2) the effectiveness of national centers of scientific and 
     technical education established under section 3(b) of the 
     Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 
     1862i(b)) in serving as national and regional clearinghouses 
     of information and models for best practices in undergraduate 
     science, mathematics, and technology education; and
       (3) efforts to satisfy the requirement of section 3(f)(4) 
     of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 
     U.S.C. 1862i(f)(4)).

     SEC. 22. REPORT ON FOUNDATION BUDGETARY AND PROGRAMMATIC 
                   EXPANSION.

       The Board shall prepare a report to address and examine the 
     Foundation's budgetary and programmatic growth provided for 
     by this Act. The report shall be submitted to the Committee 
     on Science of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
     Senate within one year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act and shall include--
       (1) recommendations on how the increased funding should be 
     utilized;
       (2) an examination of the projected impact that the 
     budgetary increases will have on the Nation's scientific and 
     technological workforce;
       (3) a description of new or expanded programs that will 
     enable institutions of higher education to expand their 
     participation in Foundation-funded activities;
       (4) an estimate of the national scientific and 
     technological research infrastructure needed to adequately 
     support the Foundation's increased funding and additional 
     programs; and
       (5) a description of the impact the budgetary increases 
     provided under this Act will have on the size and duration of 
     grants awarded by the Foundation.

     SEC. 23. ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

       (a) Establishment.--The Foundation and the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration shall jointly establish 
     an Astronomy and Astrophysics Advisory Committee (in this 
     section referred to as the ``Advisory Committee'').
       (b) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall--
       (1) assess, and make recommendations regarding, the 
     coordination of astronomy and astrophysics programs of the 
     Foundation and the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration;
       (2) assess, and make recommendations regarding, the status 
     of the activities of the Foundation and the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration as they relate to the 
     recommendations contained in the National Research Council's 
     2001 report entitled ``Astronomy and Astrophysics in the New 
     Millennium'', and the recommendations contained in subsequent 
     National Research Council reports of a similar nature; and
       (3) not later than March 15 of each year, transmit a report 
     to the Director, the Administrator of the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Committee on 
     Science of the House of Representatives, the Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
     Senate on the Advisory Committee's findings and 
     recommendations under paragraphs (1) and (2).
       (c) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall consist of 13 
     members, none of whom shall be a Federal employee, 
     including--
       (1) 5 members selected by the Director;
       (2) 5 members selected by the Administrator of the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration; and
       (3) 3 members selected by the Director of the Office of 
     Science and Technology Policy.
       (d) Selection Process.--Initial selections under subsection 
     (c) shall be made within 3 months after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act. Vacancies shall be filled in the same 
     manner as provided in subsection (c).
       (e) Chairperson.--The Advisory Committee shall select a 
     chairperson from among its members.
       (f) Coordination.--The Advisory Committee shall coordinate 
     with the advisory bodies of other Federal agencies, such as 
     the Department of Energy, which may engage in related 
     research activities.
       (g) Compensation.--The members of the Advisory Committee 
     shall serve without compensation, but shall receive travel 
     expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 
     accordance with sections 5702 and 5703 of title 5, United 
     States Code.
       (h) Meetings.--The Advisory Committee shall convene, in 
     person or by electronic means, at least 4 times a year.
       (i) Quorum.--A majority of the members serving on the 
     Advisory Committee shall constitute a quorum for purposes of 
     conducting the business of the Advisory Committee.
       (j) Duration.--Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee 
     Act shall not apply to the Advisory Committee.

     SEC. 24. MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Director is authorized to establish a 
     new program to award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed 
     basis to Hispanic-serving institutions, Alaska Native-serving 
     institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, and other 
     institutions of higher education serving a substantial number 
     of minority students to enhance the quality of undergraduate 
     science, mathematics, and engineering education at such 
     institutions and to increase the retention and graduation 
     rates of students pursuing associate's or baccalaureate 
     degrees in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology.
       (b) Program Components.--Grants awarded under this section 
     shall support--
       (1) activities to improve courses and curriculum in 
     science, mathematics, and engineering;
       (2) faculty development;
       (3) stipends for undergraduate students participating in 
     research; and
       (4) other activities consistent with subsection (a), as 
     determined by the Director.
       (c) Program Coordination.--This program shall be 
     coordinated with and in addition to the ongoing Historically 
     Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Program and the 
     Tribal Colleges and Universities Program.
       (d) Instrumentation.--Funding for instrumentation is an 
     allowed use of grants awarded under this section and under 
     the ongoing Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
     Undergraduate Program and the Tribal Colleges and 
     Universities Program.

     SEC. 25. STUDY ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING DATA 
                   DISCREPANCIES.

       (a) Study.--The Director, in consultation with the Director 
     of the Office of Management and Budget and the heads of other 
     Federal agencies, shall enter into agreement with the 
     National Academy of Sciences to conduct a comprehensive study 
     to determine the source of discrepancies in Federal reports 
     on obligations and actual expenditures of Federal research 
     and development funding.
       (b) Contents.--The study shall--
       (1) examine the relevance and accuracy of reporting 
     classifications and definitions used in the reports described 
     in subsection (a);
       (2) examine whether the classifications and definitions are 
     used consistently across Federal agencies for data gathering;
       (3) examine whether and how Federal agencies use reports 
     described in subsection (a), and describe any other sources 
     of similar data used by those agencies;
       (4) recommend alternatives for modifications to the current 
     reporting process and system that would--
       (A) accommodate emerging fields of science and changing 
     practices in the conduct of research and development;
       (B) minimize, to the extent possible, the burden imposed on 
     the reporters of these data;
       (C) increase the consistency of application of the system 
     across the Federal agencies including the Office of 
     Management and Budget and the Foundation;
       (D) encourage the use of new technologies to increase 
     accuracy, timeliness, and consistency of the reported data 
     between the agencies and the research performers; and
       (E) overcome systemic shortfalls; and
       (5) recommend an implementation timeline for the 
     modifications recommended under paragraph (4), and recommend 
     specific responsibilities for the program and budget offices 
     in the agencies, taking into consideration required

[[Page H9018]]

     changes to the current computer systems and processes used by 
     the agencies.
       (c) Submission.--The Director shall submit a report on the 
     results of the study to the Committee on Science of the House 
     of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
     Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate within one year 
     after the date of enactment of this Act.
       (d) Implementation.--Within 6 months after the completion 
     of the study required by subsection (a), the Director of the 
     Office of Science and Technology Policy shall submit to the 
     Committee on Science of the House of Representatives, the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions of the Senate a plan for implementation of the 
     recommendations of the study.

     SEC. 26. PLANNING GRANTS.

       The Director is authorized to accept planning proposals 
     from applicants who are within .075 percentage points of the 
     current eligibility level for the Experimental Program to 
     Stimulate Competitive Research. Such proposals shall be 
     reviewed by the Foundation to determine their merit for 
     support under the Experimental Program to Stimulate 
     Competitive Research or any other appropriate program.

       Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to authorize 
     appropriations for fiscal years 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 
     2007 for the National Science Foundation, and for other 
     purposes.''.
  Mr. ARMEY (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the Senate amendments be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). Is there objection to the 
request of the gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request 
of the gentleman from Texas?
  There was no objection.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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