[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 178 (Friday, December 9, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7079-S7099]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 5186. Mr. PORTMAN (for Mr. Gardner (for himself and Mr. Peters))
proposed an amendment to the bill S. 3084, to invest in innovation
through research and development, and to improve the competitiveness of
the United States; as follows:
[[Page S7080]]
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``American
Innovation and Competitiveness Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act
is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--MAXIMIZING BASIC RESEARCH
Sec. 101. Reaffirmation of merit-based peer review.
Sec. 102. Transparency and accountability.
Sec. 103. EPSCoR reaffirmation and update.
Sec. 104. Cybersecurity research.
Sec. 105. Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Update.
Sec. 106. Physical sciences coordination.
Sec. 107. Laboratory program improvements.
Sec. 108. Standard Reference Data Act update.
Sec. 109. NSF mid-scale project investments.
Sec. 110. Oversight of NSF major multi-user research facility projects.
Sec. 111. Personnel oversight.
Sec. 112. Management of the U.S. Antarctic Program.
Sec. 113. NIST campus security.
Sec. 114. Coordination of sustainable chemistry research and
development.
Sec. 115. Misrepresentation of research results.
Sec. 116. Research reproducibility and replication.
Sec. 117. Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies
Initiative.
TITLE II--ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY BURDEN REDUCTION
Sec. 201. Interagency working group on research regulation.
Sec. 202. Scientific and technical collaboration.
Sec. 203. NIST grants and cooperative agreements update.
Sec. 204. Repeal of certain obsolete reports.
Sec. 205. Repeal of certain provisions.
Sec. 206. Grant subrecipient transparency and oversight.
Sec. 207. Micro-purchase threshold for procurement solicitations by
research institutions.
Sec. 208. Coordination of international science and technology
partnerships.
TITLE III--SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH EDUCATION
Sec. 301. Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program update.
Sec. 302. Space grants.
Sec. 303. STEM Education Advisory Panel.
Sec. 304. Committee on STEM Education.
Sec. 305. Programs to expand STEM opportunities.
Sec. 306. NIST education and outreach.
Sec. 307. Presidential awards for excellence in STEM mentoring.
Sec. 308. Working group on inclusion in STEM fields.
Sec. 309. Improving undergraduate STEM experiences.
Sec. 310. Computer science education research.
Sec. 311. Informal STEM education.
Sec. 312. Developing STEM apprenticeships.
Sec. 313. NSF report on broadening participation.
Sec. 314. NOAA science education programs.
Sec. 315. Hispanic-serving institutions undergraduate program update.
TITLE IV--LEVERAGING THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Sec. 401. Prize competition authority update.
Sec. 402. Crowdsourcing and citizen science.
Sec. 403. NIST director functions update.
Sec. 404. NIST Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology update.
TITLE V--MANUFACTURING
Sec. 501. Hollings manufacturing extension partnership improvements.
TITLE VI--INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Sec. 601. Innovation corps.
Sec. 602. Translational research grants.
Sec. 603. Optics and photonics technology innovations.
Sec. 604. United States chief technology officer.
Sec. 605. National research council study on technology for emergency
notifications on campuses.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, unless expressly provided otherwise:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Federal science agency.--The term ``Federal science
agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C.
6623).
(3) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National
Science Foundation.
(4) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965
(20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(5) NIST.--The term ``NIST'' means the National Institute
of Standards and Technology.
(6) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' has the meaning given the term
in section 2 of the American COMPETES Reauthorization Act of
2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note).
(7) STEM education.--The term ``STEM education'' has the
meaning given the term in section 2 of the STEM Education Act
of 2015 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note).
TITLE I--MAXIMIZING BASIC RESEARCH
SEC. 101. REAFFIRMATION OF MERIT-BASED PEER REVIEW.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) sustained, predictable Federal funding of basic
research is essential to United States leadership in science
and technology;
(2) the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts
criteria are appropriate for evaluating grant proposals, as
concluded by the 2011 National Science Board Task Force on
Merit Review;
(3) evaluating proposals on the basis of the Foundation's
intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria should be
used to assure that the Foundation's activities are in the
national interest as these reviews can affirm that--
(A) the proposals funded by the Foundation are of high
quality and advance scientific knowledge; and
(B) the Foundation's grants address societal needs through
basic research findings or through related activities; and
(4) as evidenced by the Foundation's contributions to
scientific advancement, economic growth, human health, and
national security, its peer review and merit review processes
have identified and funded scientifically and societally
relevant basic research and should be preserved.
(b) Merit Review Criteria.--The Foundation shall maintain
the intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria, among
other specific criteria as appropriate, as the basis for
evaluating grant proposals in the merit review process.
(c) Updates.--If after the date of enactment of this Act a
change is made to the merit-review process, the Director
shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of
Congress not later than 30 days after the date of the change.
SEC. 102. TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
(a) Findings.--
(1) building the understanding of and confidence in
investments in basic research is essential to public support
for sustained, predictable Federal funding;
(2) the Foundation has improved transparency and
accountability of the outcomes made through the merit review
process, but additional transparency into individual grants
is valuable in communicating and assuring the public value of
federally funded research; and
(3) the Foundation should commit to transparency and
accountability and to clear, consistent public communication
regarding the national interest for each Foundation-awarded
grant and cooperative agreement.
(b) Guidance.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Foundation shall issue
and periodically update, as appropriate, policy guidance for
both Foundation staff and other Foundation merit review
process participants on the importance of transparency and
accountability to the outcomes made through the merit review
process.
(2) Requirements.--The guidance under paragraph (1) shall
require that each public notice of a Foundation-funded
research project justify the expenditure of Federal funds
by--
(A) describing how the project--
(i) reflects the statutory mission of the Foundation, as
established in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950
(42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.); and
(ii) addresses the Foundation's intellectual merit and
broader impacts criteria; and
(B) clearly identifying the research goals of the project
in a manner that can be easily understood by both technical
and non-technical audiences.
(c) Broader Impacts Review Criterion Update.--Section
526(a) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010
(42 U.S.C. 1862p-14(a)) is amended to read as follows:
``(a) Goals.--The Foundation shall apply a broader impacts
review criterion to identify and demonstrate project support
of the following goals:
``(1) Increasing the economic competitiveness of the United
States.
``(2) Advancing of the health and welfare of the American
public.
``(5) Developing an American STEM workforce that is
globally competitive through improved pre-kindergarten
through grade 12 STEM education and teacher development, and
improved undergraduate STEM education and instruction.
``(6) Improving public scientific literacy and engagement
with science and technology in the United States.
``(4) Enhancing partnerships between academia and industry
in the United States.
``(3) Supporting the national defense of the United States.
``(7) Expanding participation of women and individuals from
underrepresented groups in STEM.''.
SEC. 103. EPSCOR REAFFIRMATION AND UPDATE.
(a) Findings.--Section 517(a) of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-9(a)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``The National'' and inserting ``the
National''; and
[[Page S7081]]
(B) by striking ``education,'' and inserting ``education'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``with 27 States'' and
all that follows through the semicolon at the end and
inserting ``with 28 States and jurisdictions, taken together,
receiving only about 12 percent of all National Science
Foundation research funding;'';
(3) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
``(3) each of the States described in paragraph (2)
receives only a fraction of 1 percent of the Foundation's
research dollars each year;''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) first established at the National Science Foundation
in 1979, the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research (referred to in this section as `EPSCoR') assists
States and jurisdictions historically underserved by Federal
research and development funding in strengthening their
research and innovation capabilities;
``(5) the EPSCoR structure requires each participating
State to develop a science and technology plan suited to
State and local research, education, and economic interests
and objectives;
``(6) EPSCoR has been credited with advancing the research
competitiveness of participating States, improving awareness
of science, promoting policies that link scientific
investment and economic growth, and encouraging partnerships
between government, industry, and academia;
``(7) EPSCoR proposals are evaluated through a rigorous and
competitive merit-review process to ensure that awarded
research and development efforts meet high scientific
standards; and
``(8) according to the National Academy of Sciences, EPSCoR
has strengthened the national research infrastructure and
enhanced the educational opportunities needed to develop the
science and engineering workforce.''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--
(1) In general.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(A) since maintaining the Nation's scientific and economic
leadership requires the participation of talented individuals
nationwide, EPSCoR investments into State research and
education capacities are in the Federal interest and should
be sustained; and
(B) EPSCoR should maintain its experimental component by
supporting innovative methods for improving research capacity
and competitiveness.
(2) Definition of epscor.--In this subsection, the term
``EPSCoR'' has the meaning given the term in section 502 of
the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C.
1862p note).
(c) Award Structure Updates.--Section 517 of the America
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-9) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(g) Award Structure Updates.--In implementing the mandate
to maximize the impact of Federal EPSCoR support on building
competitive research infrastructure, and based on the inputs
and recommendations of previous EPSCoR reviews, the head of
each Federal agency administering an EPSCoR program shall--
``(1) consider modifications to EPSCoR proposal
solicitation, award type, and project evaluation--
``(A) to more closely align with current agency priorities
and initiatives;
``(B) to focus EPSCoR funding on achieving critical
scientific, infrastructure, and educational needs of that
agency;
``(C) to encourage collaboration between EPSCoR-eligible
institutions and researchers, including with institutions and
researchers in other States and jurisdictions;
``(D) to improve communication between State and Federal
agency proposal reviewers; and
``(E) to continue to reduce administrative burdens
associated with EPSCoR;
``(2) consider modifications to EPSCoR award structures--
``(A) to emphasize long-term investments in building
research capacity, potentially through the use of larger,
renewable funding opportunities; and
``(B) to allow the agency, States, and jurisdictions to
experiment with new research and development funding models;
and
``(3) consider modifications to the mechanisms used to
monitor and evaluate EPSCoR awards--
``(A) to increase collaboration between EPSCoR-funded
researchers and agency staff, including by providing
opportunities for mentoring young researchers and for the use
of Federal facilities;
``(B) to identify and disseminate best practices; and
``(C) to harmonize metrics across participating Federal
agencies, as appropriate.''.
(d) Reports.--
(1) Congressional reports.--Section 517 of the America
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-9), as
amended, is further amended--
(A) by striking subsection (c);
(B) by redesignating subsections (d) through (g) as
subsections (c) through (f), respectively;
(C) in subsection (c), as redesignated--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Experimental Programs
to Stimulate Competitive Research'' and inserting ``EPSCoR'';
and
(ii) in paragraph (2)--
(I) in subparagraphs (A) and (E), by striking ``EPSCoR and
Federal EPSCoR-like programs'' and inserting ``each EPSCoR'';
(II) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``EPSCoR and other
Federal EPSCoR-like programs'' and inserting ``each EPSCoR'';
(III) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``EPSCoR or Federal
EPSCoR-like programs'' and inserting ``each EPSCoR''; and
(IV) in subparagraph (G), by striking ``EPSCoR programs''
and inserting ``each EPSCoR''; and
(D) by amending subsection (d), as redesignated, to read as
follows:
``(d) Federal Agency Reports.--Each Federal agency that
administers an EPSCoR shall submit to Congress, as part of
its Federal budget submission--
``(1) a description of the program strategy and objectives;
``(2) a description of the awards made in the previous
fiscal year, including--
``(A) the total amount made available, by State, under
EPSCoR;
``(B) the total amount of agency funding made available to
all institutions and entities within each EPSCoR State;
``(C) the efforts and accomplishments to more fully
integrate the EPSCoR States in major agency activities and
initiatives;
``(D) the percentage of EPSCoR reviewers from EPSCoR
States; and
``(E) the number of programs or large collaborator awards
involving a partnership of organizations and institutions
from EPSCoR and non-EPSCoR States; and
``(3) an analysis of the gains in academic research quality
and competitiveness, and in science and technology human
resource development, achieved by the program over the last 5
fiscal years.''; and
(E) in subsection (e)(1), as redesignated, by striking
``Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research or a
program similar to the Experimental Program to Stimulate
Competitive Research'' and inserting ``EPSCoR''.
(2) Results of award structure plan.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the EPSCoR
Interagency Coordinating Committee shall brief the
appropriate committees of Congress on the updates made to the
award structure under 517(f) of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-9(f)), as
amended by this subsection.
(e) Definition of EPSCoR.--
(1) In general.--Section 502 of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p note) is amended
by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) EPSCoR.--The term `EPSCoR' means--
``(A) the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research established by the Foundation; or
``(B) a program similar to the Established Program to
Stimulate Competitive Research at another Federal agency.''.
(2) Technical and conforming amendments.--Section 113 of
the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42
U.S.C. 1862g) is amended--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``experimental'' and
inserting ``established'';
(B) in subsection (a), by striking ``an Experimental
Program to Stimulate Competitive Research'' and inserting ``a
program to stimulate competitive research (known as the
`Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research')'';
and
(C) in subsection (b), by striking ``the program'' and
inserting ``the Program''.
SEC. 104. CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH.
(a) Foundation Cybersecurity Research.--Section 4(a)(1) of
the Cyber Security Research and Development Act, as amended
(15 U.S.C. 7403(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (O), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (P), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(Q) security of election-dedicated voting system software
and hardware; and
``(R) role of the human factor in cybersecurity and the
interplay of computers and humans and the physical world.''.
(b) NIST Cybersecurity Priorities.--
(1) Critical infrastructure awareness.--The Director of
NIST shall continue to raise public awareness of the
voluntary, industry-led cybersecurity standards and best
practices for critical infrastructure developed under section
2(c)(15) of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(c)(15)).
(2) Quantum computing.--Under section 2(b) of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(b))
and section 20 of that Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-3), the Director
of NIST shall--
(A) research information systems for future cybersecurity
needs; and
(B) coordinate with relevant stakeholders to develop a
process--
(i) to research and identify or, if necessary, develop
cryptography standards and guidelines for future
cybersecurity needs, including quantum-resistant cryptography
standards; and
(ii) to provide recommendations to Congress, Federal
agencies, and industry consistent with the National
Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 (Public Law
104-113; 110 Stat. 775), for a secure and smooth transition
to the standards under clause (i).
(3) Federal information systems research and development.--
Section 20(d)(3) of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-3(d)(3)) is amended to read as
follows:
[[Page S7082]]
``(3) conduct research and analysis--
``(A) to determine the nature and extent of information
security vulnerabilities and techniques for providing cost-
effective information security;
``(B) to review and determine prevalent information
security challenges and deficiencies identified by agencies
or the Institute, including any challenges or deficiencies
described in any of the annual reports under section 3553 or
3554 of title 44, United States Code, and in any of the
reports and the independent evaluations under section 3555 of
that title, that may undermine the effectiveness of agency
information security programs and practices; and
``(C) to evaluate the effectiveness and sufficiency of, and
challenges to, Federal agencies' implementation of standards
and guidelines developed under this section and policies and
standards promulgated under section 11331 of title 40, United
States Code;''.
(4) Voting.--Section 2(c) of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(c)) is amended--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (16) through (23) as
paragraphs (17) through (24), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (15) the following:
``(16) perform research to support the development of
voluntary, consensus-based, industry-led standards and
recommendations on the security of computers, computer
networks, and computer data storage used in election systems
to ensure voters can vote securely and privately.''.
SEC. 105. NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT UPDATE.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Modernization Act of 2016''.
(b) Findings.--Section 2 of the High-Performance Computing
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5501) is amended--
(1) in paragraphs (2) and (5), by striking ``high-
performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology, including high-performance
computing,''; and
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``high-performance
computing'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology, including high-performance computing'';
(c) Purposes.--Section 3 of the High-Performance Computing
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5502) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``high-performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology'';
(2) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``expanding Federal support for research, development, and
application of high-performance computing'' and inserting
``supporting Federal research, development, and application
of networking and information technology'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``high-performance
computing'' both places it appears and inserting ``networking
and information technology'';
(C) by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D);
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C) stimulate research on and promote more rapid
development of high-end computing systems software and
applications software;'';
(E) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (H) as
subparagraphs (D) through (G), respectively;
(F) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated, by inserting
``high-end'' after ``the development of'';
(G) in subparagraphs (E) and (F), as redesignated, by
striking ``high-performance computing'' each place it appears
and inserting ``networking and information technology''; and
(H) in subparagraph (G), as redesignated, by striking
``high-performance'' and inserting ``high-end''; and
(3) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``high-performance computing and'' and
inserting ``networking and information technology and''; and
(B) by striking ``high-performance computing network'' and
inserting ``networking and information technology''.
(d) Definitions.--Section 4 of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5503) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraphs (3) and (5);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (4), (6), and (7)
as paragraphs (2), (3), (5), (8), and (9), respectively;
(3) by inserting before paragraph (2), as redesignated, the
following:
``(1) `cyber-physical systems' means physical or engineered
systems whose networking and information technology functions
and physical elements are deeply integrated and are actively
connected to the physical world through sensors, actuators,
or other means to enable safe and effective, real-time
performance in safety-critical and other applications;'';
(4) in paragraph (3), as redesignated, by striking ``high-
performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology'';
(5) by inserting after paragraph (3), as redesignated, the
following:
``(4) `high-end computing' means the most advanced and
capable computing systems, including their hardware, storage,
networking and software, encompassing both massive
computational capability and large-scale data analytics to
solve computational problems of national importance that are
beyond the capability of small- to medium-scale systems,
including computing formerly known as high-performance
computing;'';
(6) by inserting after paragraph (5), as redesignated, the
following:
``(6) `networking and information technology' means high-
end computing, communications, and information technologies,
high-capacity and high-speed networks, special purpose and
experimental systems, high-end computing systems software and
applications software, and the management of large data sets;
``(7) `participating agency' means an agency described in
section 101(a)(3)(C);''; and
(7) in paragraph (8), as redesignated, by striking
``National High-Performance Computing Program'' and inserting
``Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Program''.
(e) Title I Heading.--The heading of title I of the High-
Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511 et seq.) is
amended by striking ``HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING'' and
inserting ``NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY''.
(f) Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Program.--Section 101 of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``national high-
performance computing program'' and inserting ``networking
and information technology research and development
program'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``National High-
Performance Computing Program'' and inserting ``Networking
and Information Technology Research and Development'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``National High-Performance Computing Program'' and inserting
``Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Program'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``high-performance
computing, including networking'' and inserting ``networking
and information technology'';
(iii) in subparagraphs (B) and (G), by striking ``high-
performance'' each place it appears and inserting ``high-
end'';
(iv) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``high-performance
computing and networking'' and inserting ``high-end
computing, distributed, and networking'';
(v) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows:
``(D) provide for efforts to increase software security and
reliability;'';
(vi) in subparagraph (H)--
(I) by inserting ``support and guidance'' after
``provide''; and
(II) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(vii) in subparagraph (I)--
(I) by striking ``improving the security'' and inserting
``improving the security, reliability, and resilience''; and
(II) by striking the period at the end and inserting a
semicolon; and
(viii) by adding at the end the following:
``(J) provide for increased understanding of the scientific
principles of cyber-physical systems and improve the methods
available for the design, development, and operation of
cyber-physical systems that are characterized by high
reliability, safety, and security;
``(K) provide for research and development on human-
computer interactions, visualization, and big data;
``(L) provide for research and development on the
enhancement of cybersecurity, including the human facets of
cyber threats and secure cyber systems;
``(M) provide for the understanding of the science,
engineering, policy, and privacy protection related to
networking and information technology;
``(N) provide for the transition of high-end computing
hardware, system software, development tools, and
applications into development and operations; and
``(O) foster public-private collaboration among government,
industry research laboratories, academia, and nonprofit
organizations to maximize research and development efforts
and the benefits of networking and information technology,
including high-end computing.'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
``(A) establish the goals and priorities for Federal
networking and information technology research, development,
education, and other activities;'';
(ii) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:
``(C) provide for interagency coordination of Federal
networking and information technology research, development,
education, and other activities undertaken pursuant to the
Program--
``(i) among the participating agencies; and
``(ii) to the extent practicable, with other Federal
agencies not described in paragraph (3)(C), other Federal and
private research laboratories, industry, research entities,
institutions of higher education, relevant nonprofit
organizations, and international partners of the United
States;'';
(iii) by amending subparagraph (E) to read as follows:
``(E) encourage and monitor the efforts of the agencies
participating in the Program to allocate the level of
resources and management attention necessary to ensure that
the
[[Page S7083]]
strategic plans under subsection (e) are developed and
executed effectively and that the objectives of the Program
are met; and''; and
(iv) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``high-performance''
and inserting ``high-end''; and
(D) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), and (E)
as subparagraphs (C), (D), (E), and (G), respectively;
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following:
``(B) provide a detailed description of the nature and
scope of research infrastructure designated as such under the
Program;'';
(iii) in subparagraph (C), as redesignated--
(I) by amending clause (i) to read as follows:
``(i) the Department of Justice;'';
(II) by redesignating clauses (vii) through (xi) as clauses
(viii) through (xii), respectively;
(III) by inserting after clause (vi) the following:
``(vii) the Department of Homeland Security;''; and
(IV) by amending clause (viii), as redesignated, to read as
follows:
``(viii) the National Archives and Records
Administration;'';
(iv) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated--
(I) by striking ``is submitted,'' and inserting ``is
submitted, the levels for the previous fiscal year,''; and
(II) by striking ``each Program Component Area;'' and
inserting ``each Program Component Area and research area
supported in accordance with section 102;'';
(v) by amending subparagraph (E), as redesignated, to read
as follows:
``(E) describe the levels of Federal funding for each
participating agency, and for each Program Component Area,
for the fiscal year during which such report is submitted,
the levels for the previous fiscal year, and the levels
proposed for the fiscal year with respect to which the budget
submission applies;''; and
(vi) by inserting after subparagraph (E), as redesignated,
the following:
``(F) include a description of how the objectives for each
Program Component Area, and the objectives for activities
that involve multiple Program Component Areas, relate to the
objectives of the Program identified in the strategic plans
required under subsection (e); and'';
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A)--
(i) by striking ``high-performance computing'' both places
it appears and inserting ``networking and information
technology''; and
(ii) after the first sentence, by inserting the following:
``Each chair of the advisory committee shall meet the
qualifications of committee membership and may be a member of
the President's Council of Advisors on Science and
Technology.'';
(B) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking ``high-performance
computing, networking technology, and related software'' and
inserting ``networking and information technology''; and
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the second sentence, by striking ``2'' and inserting
``3'';
(ii) by striking ``Committee on Science and Technology''
and inserting ``Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology''; and
(iii) by striking ``The first report shall be due within 1
year after the date of enactment of the America COMPETES
Act.'';
(4) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking ``high-performance
computing'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Periodic Reviews.--The heads of the participating
agencies, working through the National Science and Technology
Council and the Program, shall--
``(1) periodically assess and update, as appropriate, the
structure of the Program, including the Program Component
Areas and associated contents, scope, and funding levels,
taking into consideration any relevant recommendations of the
advisory committee established under subsection (b); and
``(2) ensure that such agency's implementation of the
Program includes foundational, large-scale, long-term, and
interdisciplinary information technology research and
development activities, including activities described in
section 102.
``(e) Strategic Plans.--
``(1) In general.--The heads of the participating agencies,
working through the National Science and Technology Council
and the Program, shall develop and implement strategic plans
to guide--
``(A) emerging activities of Federal networking and
information technology research and development; and
``(B) the activities described in subsection (a)(1).
``(2) Updates.--The heads of the participating agencies
shall update the strategic plans as appropriate.
``(3) Contents.--Each strategic plan shall--
``(A) specify near-term and long-term objectives for the
portions of the Program relevant to the strategic plan, the
anticipated schedule for achieving the near-term and long-
term objectives, and the metrics to be used for assessing
progress toward the near-term and long-term objectives;
``(B) specify how the near-term and long-term objectives
complement research and development areas in which academia
and the private sector are actively engaged;
``(C) describe how the heads of the participating agencies
will support mechanisms for foundational, large-scale, long-
term, and interdisciplinary information technology research
and development and for Grand Challenges, including through
collaborations--
``(i) across Federal agencies;
``(ii) across Program Component Areas; and
``(iii) with industry, Federal and private research
laboratories, research entities, institutions of higher
education, relevant nonprofit organizations, and
international partners of the United States;
``(D) describe how the heads of the participating agencies
will foster the rapid transfer of research and development
results into new technologies and applications in the
national interest, including through cooperation and
collaborations with networking and information technology
research, development, and technology transition initiatives
supported by the States; and
``(E) describe how the portions of the Program relevant to
the strategic plan will address long-term challenges for
which solutions require foundational, large-scale, long-term,
and interdisciplinary information technology research and
development.
``(4) Private sector efforts.--In developing, implementing,
and updating strategic plans, the heads of the participating
agencies, working through the National Science and Technology
Council and the Program, shall coordinate with industry,
academia, and other interested stakeholders to ensure, to the
extent practicable, that the Federal networking and
information technology research and development activities
carried out under this section do not duplicate the efforts
of the private sector.
``(5) Recommendations.--In developing and updating
strategic plans, the heads of the participating agencies
shall solicit recommendations and advice from--
``(A) the advisory committee under subsection (b);
``(B) the Committee on Science and relevant subcommittees
of the National Science and Technology Council; and
``(C) a wide range of stakeholders, including industry,
academia, National Laboratories, and other relevant
organizations and institutions.
``(f) Reports.--The heads of the participating agencies,
working through the National Science and Technology Council
and the Program, shall submit to the advisory committee, the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate, and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
of the House of Representatives--
``(1) the strategic plans developed under subsection
(e)(1); and
``(2) each update under subsection (e)(2).''.
(g) National Research and Education Network.--Section 102
of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5512) is repealed.
(h) Next Generation Internet.--Section 103 of the High-
Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5513) is
repealed.
(i) Grand Challenges in Areas of National Importance.--
Title I of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15
U.S.C. 5511 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``SEC. 102. GRAND CHALLENGES IN AREAS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
``(a) In General.--The Program shall encourage the
participating agencies to support foundational, large-scale,
long-term, interdisciplinary, and interagency information
technology research and development activities in networking
and information technology directed toward agency mission
areas that have the potential for significant contributions
to national economic competitiveness and for other
significant societal benefits. Such activities, ranging from
basic research to the demonstration of technical solutions,
shall be designed to advance the development of fundamental
discoveries. The advisory committee established under section
101(b) shall make recommendations to the Program for
candidate research and development areas for support under
this section.
``(b) Characteristics.--
``(1) In general.--Research and development activities
under this section shall--
``(A) include projects selected on the basis of
applications for support through a competitive, merit-based
process;
``(B) to the extent practicable, involve collaborations
among researchers in institutions of higher education and
industry, and may involve nonprofit research institutions and
Federal laboratories, as appropriate;
``(C) to the extent practicable, leverage Federal
investments through collaboration with related State and
private sector initiatives; and
``(D) include a plan for fostering the transfer of research
discoveries and the results of technology demonstration
activities, including from institutions of higher education
and Federal laboratories, to industry for commercial
development.
``(2) Cost-sharing.--In selecting applications for support,
the agencies may give special consideration to projects that
include cost sharing from non-Federal sources.''.
(j) National Science Foundation Activities.--Section 201 of
the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5521)
is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) by striking ``(a) General Responsibilities.--'';
[[Page S7084]]
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``high-end'' after ``National Science
Foundation shall provide''; and
(ii) by striking ``high-performance computing'' and all
that follows through ``networking;'' and inserting
``networking and information technology; and'';
(C) by striking paragraphs (2) through (4); and
(D) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
``(2) the National Science Foundation shall use its
existing programs, in collaboration with other agencies, as
appropriate, to improve the teaching and learning of
networking and information technology at all levels of
education and to increase participation in networking and
information technology fields, including by individuals
identified in sections 33 and 34 of the Science and
Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a and
1885b).''; and
(2) by striking subsection (b).
(k) National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Activities.--Section 202 of the High-Performance Computing
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5522) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(a) General Responsibilities.--'';
(2) by striking ``high-performance computing'' and
inserting ``networking and information technology''; and
(3) by striking subsection (b).
(l) Department of Energy Activities.--Section 203 of the
High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5523) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``(a) General Responsibilities.--'';
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ``high-performance
computing and networking'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology'';
(3) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``high-performance''
and inserting ``high-end''; and
(4) by striking subsection (b).
(m) Department of Commerce Activities.--Section 204 of the
High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5524) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``high-performance
computing systems and networks'' and inserting ``networking
and information technology systems and capabilities'';
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``interoperability of
high-performance computing systems in networks and for common
user interfaces to systems'' and inserting ``interoperability
and usability of networking and information technology
systems''; and
(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``high-performance
computing'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``High-Performance
Computing and Network'' and inserting ``Networking and
Information Technology'';
(B) by striking ``Pursuant to the Computer Security Act of
1987 (Public Law 100-235; 101 Stat. 1724), the'' and
inserting ``The''; and
(C) by striking ``sensitive information in Federal computer
systems'' and inserting ``Federal agency information and
information systems''; and
(3) by striking subsections (c) and (d).
(n) Environmental Protection Agency Activities.--Section
205 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5525) is repealed.
(o) Role of the Department of Education.--Section 206 of
the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5526)
is repealed.
(p) Miscellaneous Provisions.--Section 207 of the High-
Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5527) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``paragraphs (1)
through (5) of section 2315(a) of title 10'' and inserting
``section 3552(b)(6)(A)(i) of title 44''; and
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ``high-performance
computing'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology''.
(q) Repeal.--Section 208 of the High-Performance Computing
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5528) is repealed.
(r) National Science Foundation Research.--Section
4(b)(5)(K) of the Cyber Security Research and Development Act
(15 U.S.C. 7403(b)(5)(K)) is amended by striking ``high-
performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology''.
(s) National Information Technology Research and
Development Program.--Section 13202(b) of the America
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 17912(b)) is
amended by striking ``National High-Performance Computing
Program'' and inserting ``Networking and Information
Technology Research and Development Program''.
(t) Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development.--
Section 201(a)(4) of the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of
2014 (15 U.S.C. 7431(a)(4)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``clauses (i) through (x)'' and inserting
``clauses (i) through (xi)''; and
(2) by striking ``under clause (xi)'' and inserting ``under
clause (xii)''.
(u) Additional Repeal.--Section 4 of the Department of
Energy High-End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004 (15
U.S.C. 5543) is repealed.
SEC. 106. PHYSICAL SCIENCES COORDINATION.
(a) High-energy Physics.--
(1) In general.--The Physical Science Subcommittee of the
National Science and Technology Council (referred to in this
section as ``Subcommittee'') shall continue to coordinate
Federal efforts related to high-energy physics research to
maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of United States
investment in high-energy physics.
(2) Purposes.--The purposes of the Subcommittee include--
(A) to advise and assist the Committee on Science and the
National Science and Technology Council on United States
policies, procedures, and plans in the physical sciences,
including high-energy physics; and
(B) to identify emerging opportunities, stimulate
international cooperation, and foster the development of the
physical sciences in the United States, including--
(i) in high-energy physics research, including related
underground science and engineering research;
(ii) in physical infrastructure and facilities;
(iii) in information and analysis; and
(iv) in coordination activities.
(3) Responsibilities.--In regard to coordinating Federal
efforts related to high-energy physics research, the
Subcommittee shall, taking into account the findings and
recommendations of relevant advisory committees--
(A) provide recommendations on planning for construction
and stewardship of large facilities participating in high-
energy physics;
(B) provide recommendations on research coordination and
collaboration among the programs and activities of Federal
agencies related to underground science, neutrino research,
dark energy, and dark matter research;
(C) establish goals and priorities for high-energy physics,
related underground science, and research and development
that will strengthen United States competitiveness in high-
energy physics;
(D) propose methods for engagement with international,
Federal, and State agencies and Federal laboratories not
represented on the National Science and Technology Council to
identify and reduce regulatory, logistical, and fiscal
barriers that inhibit United States leadership in high-energy
physics and related underground science; and
(E) develop, and update as necessary, a strategic plan to
guide Federal programs and activities in support of high-
energy physics research, including--
(i) the efforts taken in support of paragraph (2) since the
last strategic plan;
(ii) an evaluation of the current research needs for
maintaining United States leadership in high-energy physics;
and
(iii) an identification of future priorities in the area of
high-energy physics.
(b) Radiation Biology.--
(1) In general.--The Subcommittee shall continue to
coordinate Federal efforts related to radiation biology
research to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of
United States investment in radiation biology.
(2) Responsibilities for radiation biology.--In regard to
coordinating Federal efforts related to radiation biology
research, the Subcommittee shall--
(A) advise and assist the National Science and Technology
Council on policies and initiatives in radiation biology,
including enhancing scientific knowledge of the effects of
low dose radiation on biological systems to improve radiation
risk management methods;
(B) identify opportunities to stimulate international
cooperation and leverage research and knowledge from sources
outside of the United States;
(C) ensure coordination between the Department of Energy
Office of Science, Foundation, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, National Institutes of Health, Environmental
Protection Agency, Department of Defense, Nuclear Regulatory
Commission, and Department of Homeland Security;
(D) identify ongoing scientific challenges for
understanding the long-term effects of ionizing radiation on
biological systems; and
(E) formulate overall scientific goals for the future of
low-dose radiation research in the United States.
(c) Fusion Energy Sciences.--
(1) In general.--The Subcommittee shall continue to
coordinate Federal efforts related to fusion energy research
to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of United States
investment in fusion energy sciences.
(2) Responsibilities for fusion energy sciences.--In regard
to coordinating Federal efforts related to fusion energy
sciences, the Subcommittee shall--
(A) advise and assist the National Science and Technology
Council on policies and initiatives in fusion energy
sciences, including enhancing scientific knowledge of fusion
energy science, plasma physics, and related materials
sciences;
(B) identify opportunities to stimulate international
cooperation and leverage research and knowledge from sources
outside of the United States, including the ITER project;
(C) ensure coordination between the Department of Energy
Office of Science, National Nuclear Security Administration,
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, Foundation, and
Department of Defense regarding fusion energy sciences and
plasma physics; and
(D) formulate overall scientific goals for the future of
fusion energy sciences and plasma physics.
[[Page S7085]]
SEC. 107. LABORATORY PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) In General.--The Director of NIST, acting through the
Associate Director for Laboratory Programs, shall develop and
implement a comprehensive strategic plan for laboratory
programs that expands--
(1) interactions with academia, international researchers,
and industry; and
(2) commercial and industrial applications.
(b) Optimizing Commercial and Industrial Applications.--In
accordance with the purpose under section 1(b)(3) of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
271(b)(3)), the comprehensive strategic plan shall--
(1) include performance metrics for the dissemination of
fundamental research results, measurements, and standards
research results to industry, including manufacturing, and
other interested parties;
(2) document any positive benefits of research on the
competitiveness of the interested parties described in
paragraph (1);
(3) clarify the current approach to the technology transfer
activities of NIST; and
(4) consider recommendations from the National Academy of
Sciences.
SEC. 108. STANDARD REFERENCE DATA ACT UPDATE.
Section 2 of the Standard Reference Data Act (15 U.S.C.
290a) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
``For the purposes of this Act:
``(1) Standard reference data.--The term `standard
reference data' means data that is--
``(A) either--
``(i) quantitative information related to a measurable
physical, or chemical, or biological property of a substance
or system of substances of known composition and structure;
``(ii) measurable characteristics of a physical artifact or
artifacts;
``(iii) engineering properties or performance
characteristics of a system; or
``(iv) 1 or more digital data objects that serve--
``(I) to calibrate or characterize the performance of a
detection or measurement system; or
``(II) to interpolate or extrapolate, or both, data
described in subparagraph (A) through (C); and
``(B) that is critically evaluated as to its reliability
under section 3 of this Act.
``(2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Commerce.''.
SEC. 109. NSF MID-SCALE PROJECT INVESTMENTS.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Foundation funds major research facilities,
infrastructure, and instrumentation that provide unique
capabilities at the frontiers of science and engineering.
(2) Modern and effective research facilities,
infrastructure, and instrumentation are critical to
maintaining United States leadership in science and
engineering.
(3) The costs of some proposed research instrumentation,
equipment, and upgrades to major research facilities fall
between programs currently funded by the Foundation, creating
a gap between the established parameters of the Major
Research Instrumentation and Major Research Equipment and
Facilities Construction programs, including projects that
have been identified as cost-effective additions of high
priority to the advancement of scientific understanding.
(4) The 2010 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey
recommended a mid-scale innovations program.
(b) Mid-scale Projects.--
(1) In general.--The Foundation shall evaluate the existing
and future needs, across all disciplines supported by the
Foundation, for mid-scale projects.
(2) Strategy.--The Director of the Foundation shall develop
a strategy to address the needs identified in paragraph (1).
(3) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Foundation shall
provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of Congress
on the evaluation under paragraph (1) and the strategy under
paragraph (2).
(4) Definition of mid-scale projects.--In this subsection,
the term ``mid-scale projects'' means research
instrumentation, equipment, and upgrades to major research
facilities or other research infrastructure investments that
exceed the maximum award funded by the major research
instrumentation program and are below the minimum award
funded by the major research equipment and facilities
construction program as described in section 507 of the
AMERICA Competes Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-
358; 124 Stat. 4008).
SEC. 110. OVERSIGHT OF NSF MAJOR MULTI-USER RESEARCH FACILITY
PROJECTS.
(a) Facilities Oversight.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Foundation shall
strengthen oversight and accountability over the full life-
cycle of each major multi-user research facility project,
including planning, development, procurement, construction,
operations, and support, and shut-down of the facility, in
order to maximize research investment.
(2) Requirements.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Director shall--
(A) prioritize the scientific outcomes of a major multi-
user research facility project and the internal management
and financial oversight of the major multi-user research
facility project;
(B) clarify the roles and responsibilities of all
organizations, including offices, panels, committees, and
directorates, involved in supporting a major multi-user
research facility project, including the role of the Major
Research Equipment and Facilities Construction Panel;
(C) establish policies and procedures for the planning,
management, and oversight of a major multi-user research
facility project at each phase of the life-cycle of the major
multi-user research facility project;
(D) ensure that policies for estimating and managing costs
and schedules are consistent with the best practices
described in the Government Accountability Office Cost
Estimating and Assessment Guide, the Government
Accountability Office Schedule Assessment Guide, and the
Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance (2 C.F.R.
Part 200);
(E) establish the appropriate project management and
financial management expertise required for Foundation staff
to oversee each major multi-user research facility project
effectively, including by improving project management
training and certification;
(F) coordinate the sharing of the best management practices
and lessons learned from each major multi-user research
facility project;
(G) continue to maintain a Large Facilities Office to
support the research directorates in the development,
implementation, and oversight of each major multi-user
research facility project, including by--
(i) serving as the Foundation's primary resource for all
policy or process issues related to the development,
implementation, and oversight of a major multi-user research
facility project;
(ii) serving as a Foundation-wide resource on project
management, including providing expert assistance on
nonscientific and nontechnical aspects of project planning,
budgeting, implementation, management, and oversight;
(iii) coordinating and collaborating with research
directorates to share best management practices and lessons
learned from prior major multi-user research facility
projects; and
(iv) assessing each major multi-user research facility
project for cost and schedule risk; and
(H) appoint a senior agency official whose responsibility
is oversight of the development, construction, and operations
of major multi-user research facilities across the
Foundation.
(b) Facilities Full Life-cycle Costs.--
(1) In general.--Subject to subsection (c)(1), the Director
of the Foundation shall require that any pre-award analysis
of a major multi-user research facility project includes the
development and consideration of the full life-cycle cost (as
defined in section 2 of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 1862k note)) in
accordance with section 14 of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-4).
(2) Implementation.--Based on the pre-award analysis
described in paragraph (1), the Director of the Foundation
shall include projected operational costs within the
Foundation's out-years as part of the President's annual
budget submission to Congress under section 1105 of title 31,
United States Code.
(c) Cost Oversight.--
(1) Pre-award analysis.--
(A) In general.--The Director of the Foundation and the
National Science Board may not approve or execute any
agreement to start construction on any proposed major multi-
user research facility project unless--
(i) an external analysis of the proposed budget has been
conducted to ensure the proposal is complete and reasonable;
(ii) the analysis under clause (i) follows the Government
Accountability Office Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide;
(iii) except as provided under subparagraph (C), an
analysis of the accounting systems has been conducted;
(iv) an independent cost estimate of the construction of
the project has been conducted using the same detailed
technical information as the project proposal estimate to
determine whether the estimate is well-supported and
realistic; and
(v) the Foundation and the National Science Board have
considered the analyses under clauses (i) and (iii) and the
independent cost estimate under clause (iv) and resolved any
major issues identified therein.
(B) Audits.--An external analysis under subparagraph (A)(i)
may include an audit.
(C) Exception.--The Director of the Foundation, at the
Director's discretion, may waive the requirement under
subparagraph (A)(iii) if a similar analysis of the accounting
systems was conducted in the prior years.
(2) Construction oversight.--The Director of the Foundation
shall require for each major multi-user research facility
project--
(A) periodic external reviews on project management and
performance;
(B) adequate internal controls, policies, and procedures,
and reliable accounting systems in preparation for the
incurred cost audits under subparagraph (D);
(C) annual incurred cost submissions of financial
expenditures; and
(D) an incurred cost audit of the major multi-user research
facility project in accordance with Government Accountability
Office Government Auditing Standards--
(i) at least once during construction at a time determined
based on risk analysis and length of the award, except that
the length
[[Page S7086]]
of time between audits may not exceed 3 years; and
(ii) at the completion of the construction phase.
(3) Operations cost analysis.--The Director of the
Foundation shall require an independent cost analysis of the
operational proposal for each major multi-user research
facility project.
(d) Contingency.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Foundation shall
strengthen internal controls to improve oversight of
contingency on a major multi-user research facility project.
(2) Requirements.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Director of the Foundation shall--
(A) only include contingency amounts in an award in
accordance with section 200.433 of title 2, Code of Federal
Regulations (relating to contingency provisions), or any
successor regulation;
(B) retain control over funds budgeted for contingency,
except that the Director may disburse budgeted contingency
funds incrementally to the awardee to ensure project
stability and continuity;
(C) track contingency use; and
(D) ensure that contingency amounts allocated to the
performance baseline are reasonable and allowable.
(e) Use of Fees.--
(1) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(A) the use of taxpayer-funded award fees should be
transparent and explicable; and
(B) the Foundation should implement an award fee policy
that ensures more transparency and accountability in the
funding of necessary and appropriate expenses directly
related to the construction and operation of major multi-user
research facilities.
(2) Reporting and recordkeeping.--The Director of the
Foundation shall establish guidelines for awardees regarding
inappropriate expenditures associated with all fee types used
in cooperative agreements, including for alcoholic beverages,
lobbying, meals or entertainment for non-business purposes,
non-business travel, and any other purpose the Director
determines is inappropriate.
(f) Oversight Implementation Progress.--The Director of the
Foundation shall--
(1) not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, and periodically thereafter until the completion
date, provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of
Congress on the response to or progress made toward
implementation of--
(A) this section;
(B) all of the issues and recommendations identified in
cooperative agreement audit reports and memoranda issued by
the Inspector General of the Foundation in the last 5 years;
and
(C) all of the issues and recommendations identified by a
panel of the National Academy of Public Administration in the
December 2015 report entitled ``National Science Foundation:
Use of Cooperative Agreements to Support Large Scale
Investment in Research''; and
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, notify the appropriate committees of Congress when
the Foundation has implemented the recommendations identified
in a panel of the National Academy of Public Administration
report issued December 2015.
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of
the House of Representatives.
(2) Major multi-user research facility project.--The term
`` `major multi-user research facility project' '' means a
science and engineering facility project that--
(A) exceeds the lesser of--
(i) 10 percent of a Directorate's annual budget; or
(ii) $100,000,000 in total project costs; or
(B) is funded by the major research equipment and
facilities construction account, or any successor account.
SEC. 111. PERSONNEL OVERSIGHT.
(a) Conflicts of Interest.--The Director of the Foundation
shall update the policy and procedure of the Foundation
relating to conflicts of interest to improve documentation
and management of any known conflict of interest of an
individual on temporary assignment at the Foundation,
including an individual on assignment under the
Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 4701 et
seq.).
(b) Justifications.--The Deputy Director of the Foundation
shall submit annually to the appropriate committees of
Congress written justification for each rotator employed
under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C.
4701 et seq.), or other rotator employed, by the Foundation
that year that is paid at a rate that exceeds the maximum
rate of pay for the Senior Executive Service, including, if
applicable, the level of adjustment for the certified Senior
Executive Service Performance Appraisal System.
(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Foundation shall
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on
the Foundation's efforts to control costs associated with
employing rotators, including the results of and
participation in the Foundation's cost-sharing pilot program
and the Foundation's progress in responding to the findings
and implementing the recommendations of the Office of
Inspector General of the Foundation related to the employment
of rotators.
SEC. 112. MANAGEMENT OF THE U.S. ANTARCTIC PROGRAM.
(a) Review.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Foundation shall
continue to review the efforts by the Foundation to sustain
and strengthen scientific efforts in the face of logistical
challenges for the United States Antarctic Program.
(2) Issues to be examined.--In conducting the review, the
Director shall examine, at a minimum, the following:
(A) Implementation by the Foundation of issues and
recommendations identified by--
(i) the Inspector General of the National Science
Foundation in audit reports and memoranda on the United
States Antarctic Program in the last 4 years;
(ii) the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon Panel report,
More and Better Science in Antarctica through Increased
Logistical Effectiveness, issued July 23, 2012; and
(iii) the National Research Council report, Future Science
Opportunities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, issued
September 2011.
(B) Efforts by the Foundation to track its progress in
addressing the issues and recommendations under subparagraph
(A).
(C) Efforts by the Foundation to address other
opportunities and challenges, including efforts on scientific
research, coordination with other Federal agencies and
international partners, logistics and transportation, health
and safety of participants, oversight and financial
management of awardees and contractors, and resources and
policy challenges.
(b) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director shall brief the
appropriate committees of Congress on the ongoing review,
including findings and any recommendations.
SEC. 113. NIST CAMPUS SECURITY.
(a) Supervisory Authority.--The Department of Commerce
Office of Security shall directly manage the law enforcement
and site security programs of NIST through an assigned
Director of Security for NIST without increasing the number
of full-time equivalent employees of the Department of
Commerce, including NIST.
(b) Reports.--The Director of Security for NIST shall
provide an activities and security report on a quarterly
basis for the first year after the date of enactment of this
Act, and on an annual basis thereafter, to the Under
Secretary for Standards and Technology and the appropriate
committees of Congress.
SEC. 114. COORDINATION OF SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT.
(a) Importance of Sustainable Chemistry.--It is the sense
of Congress that--
(1) the science of chemistry is vital to improving the
quality of human life and plays an important role in
addressing critical global challenges, including water
quality, energy, health care, and agriculture;
(2) sustainable chemistry can reduce risks to human health
and the environment, reduce waste, improve pollution
prevention, promote safe and efficient manufacturing, and
promote efficient use of resources in developing new
materials, processes, and technologies that support viable
long-term solutions to a significant number of challenges;
(3) sustainable chemistry can stimulate innovation,
encourage new and creative approaches to problems, create
jobs, and save money; and
(4) a coordinated effort on sustainable chemistry will
allow for a greater return on research investment in this
area.
(b) Sustainable Chemistry Basic Research.--Subject to the
availability of appropriated funds, the Director of the
Foundation may continue to carry out the Sustainable
Chemistry Basic Research program authorized under section 509
of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2010
(42 U.S.C. 1862p-3).
SEC. 115. MISREPRESENTATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS.
(a) Prohibition.--The Director of the Foundation may revise
the regulations under part 689 of title 45, Code of Federal
Regulations (relating to research misconduct) to ensure that
the findings and conclusions of any article authored by a
principal investigator, using the results of research
conducted under a Foundation grant, that is published in a
peer-reviewed publication, made publicly available, or
incorporated in an application for a research grant or grant
extension from the Foundation, does not contain any
falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism.
(b) Interagency Communication.--Upon a finding that
research misconduct has occurred, the Foundation shall, in
addition to any possible final action under section 689.3 of
title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, notify other Federal
science agencies of the finding.
SEC. 116. RESEARCH REPRODUCIBILITY AND REPLICATION.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the gold standard of good science is the ability of a
researcher or research laboratory to reproduce a published
research finding, including methods;
(2) there is growing concern that some published research
findings cannot be reproduced or replicated, which can
negatively affect the public's trust in science;
[[Page S7087]]
(3) there are a complex set of factors affecting
reproducibility and replication; and
(4) the increasing interdisciplinary nature and complexity
of scientific research may be a contributing factor to issues
with research reproducibility and replication.
(b) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 45 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Foundation shall
enter into an agreement with the National Research Council--
(A) to assess research and data reproducibility and
replicability issues in interdisciplinary research;
(B) to make recommendations for improving rigor and
transparency in scientific research; and
(C) to submit to the Director of the Foundation a report on
the assessment, including its findings and recommendations,
not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
Act.
(2) Submission to congress.--Not later than 60 days after
the date the Director of the Foundation receives the report
under paragraph (1)(C), the Director shall submit the report
to the appropriate committees of Congress, including a
response from the Director of the Foundation and the Chair of
the National Science Board as to whether they agree with each
of the findings and recommendations in the report.
SEC. 117. BRAIN RESEARCH THROUGH ADVANCING INNOVATIVE
NEUROTECHNOLOGIES INITIATIVE.
(a) In General.--The Foundation shall support research
activities related to the interagency Brain Research through
Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the Foundation should work in conjunction with the
Interagency Working Group on Neuroscience established by the
National Science and Technology Council, Committee on Science
to determine how to use the data infrastructure of the
Foundation and other applicable Federal science agencies to
help neuroscientists collect, standardize, manage, and
analyze the large amounts of data that result from research
attempting to understand how the brain functions.
TITLE II--ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY BURDEN REDUCTION
SEC. 201. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON RESEARCH REGULATION.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Research and Development Efficiency Act''.
(b) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Scientific and technological advancement have been the
largest drivers of economic growth in the last 50 years, with
the Federal Government being the largest investor in basic
research.
(2) Substantial and increasing administrative burdens and
costs in Federal research administration, particularly in the
higher education sector where most federally funded research
is performed, are eroding funds available to carry out basic
scientific research.
(3) Federally funded grants are increasingly competitive,
with the Foundation funding only approximately 1 in every 5
grant proposals.
(4) Progress has been made over the last decade in
streamlining the pre-award grant application process through
the Federal Government's Grants.gov website.
(5) Post-award administrative costs have increased as
Federal research agencies have continued to impose agency-
unique compliance and reporting requirements on researchers
and research institutions.
(6) Researchers spend as much as 42 percent of their time
complying with Federal regulations, including administrative
tasks such as applying for grants or meeting reporting
requirements.
(c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) administrative burdens faced by researchers may be
reducing the return on investment of federally funded
research and development; and
(2) it is a matter of critical importance to United States
competitiveness that administrative costs of federally funded
research be streamlined so that a higher proportion of
federal funding is applied to direct research activities.
(d) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of
Management and Budget, in coordination with the Office of
Science and Technology Policy, shall establish an interagency
working group (referred to in this section as the ``Working
Group'') for the purpose of reducing administrative burdens
on federally funded researchers while protecting the public
interest through the transparency of and accountability for
federally funded activities.
(e) Responsibilities.--
(1) In general.--The Working Group shall--
(A) regularly review relevant, administration-related
regulations imposed on federally funded researchers;
(B) recommend those regulations or processes that may be
eliminated, streamlined, or otherwise improved for the
purpose described in subsection (d);
(C) recommend ways to minimize the regulatory burden on
United States institutions of higher education performing
federally funded research while maintaining accountability
for federal funding; and
(D) recommend ways to identify and update specific
regulations to refocus on performance-based goals rather than
on process while achieving the outcome described in
subparagraph (C).
(2) Grant review.--
(A) In general.--The Working Group shall--
(i) conduct a comprehensive review of Federal science
agency grant proposal documents; and
(ii) develop, to the extent practicable, a simplified,
uniform grant format to be used by all Federal science
agencies.
(B) Considerations.--In developing the uniform grant
format, the Working Group shall consider whether to
implement--
(i) procedures for preliminary project proposals in advance
of peer-review selection;
(ii) increased use of ``Just-In-Time'' procedures for
documentation that does not bear directly on the scientific
merit of a proposal;
(iii) simplified initial budget proposals in advance of
peer review selection; and
(iv) detailed budget proposals for applicants that peer
review selection identifies as likely to be funded.
(3) Centralized researcher profile database.--
(A) Establishment.--The Working Group shall establish, to
the extent practicable, a secure, centralized database for
investigator biosketches, curriculum vitae, licenses, lists
of publications, and other documents considered relevant by
the Working Group.
(B) Considerations.--In establishing the centralized
profile database under subparagraph (A), the Working Group
shall consider incorporating existing investigator databases.
(C) Grant proposals.--To the extent practicable, all grant
proposals shall utilize the centralized investigator profile
database established under subparagraph (A).
(D) Requirements.--Each investigator shall--
(i) be responsible for ensuring the investigator's profile
is current and accurate; and
(ii) be assigned a unique identifier linked to the database
and accessible to all Federal funding agencies.
(4) Centralized assurances repository.--The Working Group
shall--
(A) establish a central repository for all of the
assurances required for Federal research grants; and
(B) provide guidance to institutions of higher education
and Federal science agencies on the use of the centralized
assurances repository.
(5) Comprehensive review.--
(A) In general.--The Working Group shall--
(i) conduct a comprehensive review of the mandated progress
reports for federally funded research; and
(ii) develop a strategy to simplify investigator progress
reports.
(B) Considerations.--In developing the strategy, the
Working Group shall consider limiting progress reports to
performance outcomes.
(f) Consultation.--In carrying out its responsibilities
under subsection (e)(1), the Working Group shall consult with
academic researchers outside the Federal Government,
including--
(1) federally funded researchers;
(2) non-federally funded researchers;
(3) institutions of higher education and their
representative associations;
(4) scientific and engineering disciplinary societies and
associations;
(5) nonprofit research institutions;
(6) industry, including small businesses;
(7) federally funded research and development centers; and
(8) members of the public with a stake in ensuring
effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability in the
performance of scientific research.
(g) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 3 years,
the Working Group shall submit to the appropriate committees
of Congress a report on its responsibilities under this
section, including a discussion of the considerations
described in paragraphs (2)(B), (3)(B), and (5)(B) of
subsection (e) and recommendations made under subsection
(e)(1).
SEC. 202. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COLLABORATION.
(a) Definition of Scientific and Technical Workshop.--In
this section, the term ``scientific and technical workshop''
means a symposium, seminar, or any other organized, formal
gathering where scientists or engineers working in STEM
research and development fields assemble to coordinate,
exchange and disseminate information or to explore or clarify
a defined subject, problem or area of knowledge in the STEM
fields.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States should encourage broad dissemination
of Federal research findings and engagement of Federal
researchers with the scientific and technical community; and
(2) laboratory, test center, and field center directors and
other similar heads of offices should approve scientific and
technical workshop attendance if--
(A) that attendance would meet the mission of the
laboratory or test center; and
(B) sufficient laboratory or test center funds are
available for that purpose.
(c) Attendance Policies.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the heads of the Federal
science agencies shall each develop an action plan for the
[[Page S7088]]
implementation of revisions and updates to their policies on
attendance at scientific and technical workshops.
(d) NIST Workshops.--Section 2(c) of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(c)), as
amended by section 104 of this Act, is further amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (19) through (24) as
paragraphs (22) through (27), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (18) the following:
``(19) host, participate in, and support scientific and
technical workshops (as defined in section 202 of the
American Innovation and Competitiveness Act);
``(20) collect and retain any fees charged by the Secretary
for hosting a scientific and technical workshop described in
paragraph (19);
``(21) notwithstanding title 31 of the United States Code,
use the fees described in paragraph (20) to pay for any
related expenses, including subsistence expenses for
participants;''.
SEC. 203. NIST GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS UPDATE.
Section 8(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation
Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3706(a)) is amended by striking ``The
total amount of any such grant or cooperative agreement may
not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the program.''.
SEC. 204. REPEAL OF CERTAIN OBSOLETE REPORTS.
(a) Repeal of Certain Obsolete Reports.--
(1) NIST reports.--
(A) Report on donation of educationally useful federal
equipment to schools.--Section 6(b) of the Technology
Administration Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) is amended--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1) In general.--'' and
indenting appropriately; and
(ii) by striking paragraph (2).
(B) Three-year programmatic planning document.--
(i) In general.--Section 23 of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278i) is amended by
striking subsections (c) and (d).
(ii) Conforming amendment.--Section 10(h)(1) of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
278(h)(1)) is amended by striking the last sentence.
(2) Multiagency report on innovation acceleration
research.--Section 1008 of the America COMPETES Act (42
U.S.C. 6603) is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (c); and
(B) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (c).
(3) NSF reports.--
(A) Funding for successful stem education programs; report
to congress.--Section 7012 of the America COMPETES Act (42
U.S.C. 1862o-4) is amended by striking subsection (c).
(B) Encouraging participation; evaluation and report.--
Section 7031 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o-11)
is amended by striking subsection (b).
(C) Math and science partnerships program coordination
report.--Section 9(c) of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n(c)) is amended--
(i) by striking paragraph (4); and
(ii) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (4).
(b) National Nanotechnology Initiative Reports.--The 21st
Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15
U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by amending section 2(c)(4) (15 U.S.C. 7501(c)(4)) to
read as follows:
``(4) develop, not later than 5 years after the date of the
release of the most-recent strategic plan, and update every 5
years thereafter, a strategic plan to guide the activities
described under subsection (b) that describes--
``(A) the near-term and long-term objectives for the
Program;
``(B) the anticipated schedule for achieving the near-term
objectives; and
``(C) the metrics that will be used to assess progress
toward the near-term and long-term objectives;
``(D) how the Program will move results out of the
laboratory and into application for the benefit of society;
``(E) the Program's support for long-term funding for
interdisciplinary research and development in nanotechnology;
and
``(F) the allocation of funding for interagency
nanotechnology projects;'';
(2) by amending section 4(d) (15 U.S.C. 7503(d)) to read as
follows:
``(d) Reports.--Not later than 4 years after the date of
the most recent assessment under subsection (c), and
quadrennially thereafter, the Advisory Panel shall submit to
the President, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a
report its assessments under subsection (c) and its
recommendations for ways to improve the Program.''; and
(3) in section 5 (15 U.S.C. 7504)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``triennial'' and inserting
``quadrennial'';
(B) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``triennial'' and inserting ``quadrennial'';
(C) in subsection (b), by striking ``triennial'' and
inserting ``quadrennial'';
(D) in subsection (c), by striking ``triennial'' and
inserting ``quadrennial''; and
(E) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
``(d) Report.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date
the first evaluation under subsection (a) is received, and
quadrennially thereafter, the Director of the National
Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall report to the
President its assessments under subsection (c) and its
recommendations for ways to improve the Program.
``(2) Congress.--Not later than 30 days after the date the
President receives the report under paragraph (1), the
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall
transmit a copy of the report to Congress.''.
(c) Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction.--
Section 14 of the National Science Foundation Authorization
Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-4) is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) Prioritization of Proposed Major Research Equipment
and Facilities Construction.--
``(1) Development of priorities.--The Director shall--
``(A) 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
``(B) submit the list described in subparagraph (A) to the
Board for approval.
``(2) Criteria.--The Director shall include in the criteria
for developing the list under paragraph (1) the readiness of
plans for construction and operation, including confidence in
the estimates of the full life-cycle cost (as defined in
section 2 of the National Science Foundation Authorization
Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 1862k note)) and the proposed schedule
of completion.
``(3) Updates.--The Director shall update the list prepared
under paragraph (1) each time the Board approves a new
project that would receive funding under the major research
equipment and facilities construction account and
periodically submit any updated list to the Board for
approval.'';
(2) by striking subsection (e);
(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections
(b) and (c), respectively; and
(4) by amending subsection (c), as redesignated, to read as
follows:
``(c) Board Approval of Major Research Equipment and
Facilities Projects.--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.''.
SEC. 205. REPEAL OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS.
(a) Technology Innovation Program.--
(1) In general.--Section 28 of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n) is repealed.
(2) Conforming amendments.--
(A) Additional award criteria.--Section 4226(b) of the
Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (15 U.S.C. 278n note) is
repealed.
(B) Management costs.--Section 2(d) of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(d))
is amended by striking ``sections 25, 26, and 28'' and
inserting ``sections 25 and 26''.
(C) Annual and other reports to secretary and congress.--
Section 10(h)(1) of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278(h)(1)) is amended by striking
``, including the Program established under section 28,''.
(b) Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow.--Sections 6111
through 6116 of the America COMPETES Act (20 U.S.C. 9811,
9812, 9813, 9814, 9815, 9816) and the items relating to those
sections in the table of contents under section 2 of that Act
(Public Law 110-69; 121 Stat. 572) are repealed.
SEC. 206. GRANT SUBRECIPIENT TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT.
(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of the
Foundation shall prepare and submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress an audit of the Foundation's policies
and procedures governing the monitoring of pass-through
entities with respect to subrecipients.
(b) Contents.--The audit shall include the following:
(1) Information regarding the Foundation's process to
oversee--
(A) the compliance of pass-through entities under section
200.331 and subpart F of part 200 of chapter II of subtitle A
of title 2, Code of Federal Regulations, and the other
requirements of that title for subrecipients;
(B) whether pass-through entities have processes and
controls in place regarding financial compliance of
subrecipients, where appropriate; and
(C) whether pass-through entities have processes and
controls in place to maintain approved grant objectives for
subrecipients, where appropriate.
(2) Recommendations, if necessary, to increase transparency
and oversight while balancing administrative burdens.
SEC. 207. MICRO-PURCHASE THRESHOLD FOR PROCUREMENT
SOLICITATIONS BY RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS.
(a) Micro-purchase Threshold.--The micro-purchase threshold
for procurement activities administered under sections 6303
through 6305 of title 31, United States Code, awarded by the
Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, or
[[Page S7089]]
the National Institute of Standards and Technology to
institutions of higher education, or related or affiliated
nonprofit entities, or to nonprofit research organizations or
independent research institutes is--
(1) $10,000 (as adjusted periodically to account for
inflation); or
(2) such higher threshold as determined appropriate by the
head of the relevant executive agency and consistent with
audit findings under chapter 75 of title 31, United States
Code, internal institutional risk assessment, or State law.
(b) Uniform Guidance.--The Uniform Guidance shall be
revised to conform with the requirements of this section. For
purposes of the preceding sentence, the term ``Uniform
Guidance'' means the uniform administrative requirements,
cost principles, and audit requirements for Federal awards
contained in part 200 of title 2 of the Code of Federal
Regulations.
SEC. 208. COORDINATION OF INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of
2016''.
(b) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy shall establish a body under the
National Science and Technology Council with the
responsibility to identify and coordinate international
science and technology cooperation that can strengthen the
United States science and technology enterprise, improve
economic and national security, and support United States
foreign policy goals.
(c) NSTC Body Leadership.--The body established under
subsection (b) shall be co-chaired by senior level officials
from the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the
Department of State.
(d) Responsibilities.--The body established under
subsection (b) shall--
(1) plan and coordinate interagency international science
and technology cooperative research and training activities
and partnerships supported or managed by Federal agencies;
(2) work with other National Science and Technology Council
committees to help plan and coordinate the international
component of national science and technology priorities;
(3) establish Federal priorities and policies for aligning,
as appropriate, international science and technology
cooperative research and training activities and partnerships
supported or managed by Federal agencies with the foreign
policy goals of the United States;
(4) identify opportunities for new international science
and technology cooperative research and training partnerships
that advance both the science and technology and the foreign
policy priorities of the United States;
(5) in carrying out paragraph (4), solicit input and
recommendations from non-Federal science and technology
stakeholders, including institutions of higher education,
scientific and professional societies, industry, and other
relevant organizations and institutions; and
(6) identify broad issues that influence the ability of
United States scientists and engineers to collaborate with
foreign counterparts, including barriers to collaboration and
access to scientific information.
(e) Report to Congress.--The Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy shall submit to the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on
Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives a biennial report on the
requirements of this section.
(f) Website.--The Director shall make each report available
to the public on the Office of Science and Technology Policy
website.
(g) Termination.--The body established under subsection (b)
shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date
of enactment of this Act.
(h) Additional Reports to Congress.--The Director of the
Office of Science and Technology Policy shall submit, not
later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act
and annually thereafter, to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Foreign
Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space,
and Technology and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives a report that lists and describes
the details of all foreign travel by Office of Science and
Technology Policy staff and detailees.
TITLE III--SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH EDUCATION
SEC. 301. ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM UPDATE.
Section 10A of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1a) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``(k) STEM Teacher Service and Retention.--
``(1) In general.--The Director shall develop and implement
practices for increasing the proportion of individuals
receiving fellowships under this section who--
``(A) fulfill the service obligation required under
subsection (h); and
``(B) remain in the teaching profession in a high need
local educational agency beyond the service obligation.
``(2) Practices.--The practices described under paragraph
(1) may include--
``(A) partnering with nonprofit or professional
associations or with other government entities to provide
individuals receiving fellowships under this section with
opportunities for professional development, including
mentorship programs that pair those individuals with
currently employed and recently retired science, technology,
engineering, mathematics, or computer science professionals;
``(B) increasing recruitment from high need districts;
``(C) establishing a system to better collect, track, and
respond to data on the career decisions of individuals
receiving fellowships under this section;
``(D) conducting research to better understand factors
relevant to teacher service and retention, including factors
specifically impacting the retention of teachers who are
individuals identified in sections 33 and 34 of the Science
and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a,
1885b); and
``(E) conducting pilot programs to improve teacher service
and retention.''.
SEC. 302. SPACE GRANTS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
the National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program has
been an important program by which the Federal Government has
partnered with universities, colleges, industry, and other
organizations to provide hands-on STEM experiences, fostering
of multidisciplinary space research, and supporting graduate
fellowships in space-related fields, among other purposes.
(b) Administrative Costs.--Section 40303 of title 51,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(d) Program Administration Costs.--In carrying out the
provisions of this chapter, the Administrator--
``(1) shall maximize appropriated funds for grants and
contracts made under section 40304 in each fiscal year; and
``(2) in each fiscal year, the Administrator shall limit
its program administration costs to no more than 5 percent of
funds appropriated for this program for that fiscal year.
``(e) Reports.--For any fiscal year in which the
Administrator cannot meet the administration cost target
under subsection (d)(2), if the Administration is unable to
limit program costs under subsection (b), the Administrator
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report, including--
``(1) a description of why the Administrator did not meet
the cost target under subsection (d); and
``(2) the measures the Administrator will take in the next
fiscal year to meet the cost target under subsection (d)
without drawing upon other Federal funding.''.
SEC. 303. STEM EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment this Act, the Director of the Foundation,
Secretary of Education, Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Administrator of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall
jointly establish an advisory panel (referred to in this
section as the ``STEM Education Advisory Panel'') to advise
the Committee on STEM Education of the National Science and
Technology Council (referred to in this section as
``CoSTEM'') on matters relating to STEM education.
(b) Members.--
(1) In general.--The STEM Education Advisory Panel shall be
composed of not less than 11 members.
(2) Appointment.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the Director
of the Foundation, in consultation with the Secretary of
Education and the heads of the Federal science agencies,
shall appoint the members of the STEM Education Advisory
Panel.
(B) Consideration.--In selecting individuals to appoint
under subparagraph (A), the Director of the Foundation shall
seek and give consideration to recommendations from Congress,
industry, the scientific community, including the National
Academy of Sciences, scientific professional societies,
academia, State and local governments, organizations
representing individuals identified in section 33 or section
34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42
U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b), and such other organizations as the
Director considers appropriate.
(C) Qualifications.--Members shall--
(i) primarily be individuals from academic institutions,
nonprofit organizations, and industry, including in-school,
out-of-school, and informal education practitioners; and
(ii) be individuals who are qualified to provide advice and
information on STEM education research, development,
training, implementation, interventions, professional
development, or workforce needs or concerns.
(c) Responsibilities.--
(1) In general.--The STEM Education Advisory Panel shall--
(A) advise CoSTEM;
(B) periodically assess CoSTEM's progress in carrying out
its responsibilities under section 101(b) of the America
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621(b)); and
(C) help identify any need or opportunity to update the
strategic plan under section 101(b) of that Act.
(2) Considerations.--In its advisory role, the STEM
Education Advisory Panel shall consider--
(A) the management, coordination, and implementation of
STEM education programs and activities across the Federal
Government;
[[Page S7090]]
(B) the appropriateness of criteria used by Federal
agencies to evaluate the effectiveness of Federal STEM
education programs and activities;
(C) whether societal and workforce concerns are adequately
addressed by current Federal STEM education programs and
activities;
(D) how Federal agencies can incentivize institutions of
higher education to improve retention of STEM students;
(E) ways to leverage private and nonprofit STEM investments
and encourage public-private partnerships to strengthen STEM
education and help build the STEM workforce pipeline;
(F) ways to incorporate workforce needs into Federal STEM
education programs and activities, particularly for specific
employment fields of national interest and employment fields
experiencing high unemployment rates;
(G) ways to better vertically and horizontally integrate
Federal STEM education programs and activities from pre-
kindergarten through graduate study and the workforce, and
from in-school to out-of-school in order to improve
transitions for students moving through the STEM education
and workforce pipelines;
(H) the extent to which Federal STEM education programs and
activities are contributing to recruitment and retention of
individuals identified in sections 33 and 34 of the Science
and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a,
1885b) in the STEM education and workforce pipelines; and
(I) ways to encourage geographic diversity in the STEM
education and the workforce pipelines.
(3) Recommendations.--The STEM Education Advisory Panel
shall make recommendations to improve Federal STEM education
programs and activities based on each assessment under
paragraph (1)(B).
(d) Funding.--The Director of the Foundation, the Secretary
of Education, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, and the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall jointly
make funds available on an annual basis to support the
activities of the STEM Education Advisory Panel.
(e) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and after each assessment under
subsection (c)(1)(B), the STEM Education Advisory Panel shall
submit to the appropriate committees of Congress and CoSTEM a
report on its assessment under that subsection and its
recommendations under subsection (c)(3).
(f) Travel Expenses of Non-Federal Members.--
(1) In general.--Non-Federal members of the STEM Education
Advisory Panel, while attending meetings of the panel or
while otherwise serving at the request of a co-chairperson
away from their homes or regular places of business, may be
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United
States Code, for individuals in the Government serving
without pay.
(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall
be construed to prohibit members of the STEM Advisory Panel
who are officers or employees of the United States from being
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with existing law.
(g) Termination.--The STEM Education Advisory Panel
established under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date
that is 5 years after the date that it is established.
SEC. 304. COMMITTEE ON STEM EDUCATION.
(a) Responsibilities.--Section 101(b) of the America
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621(b)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (5)(D), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) collaborate with the STEM Education Advisory Panel
established under section 303 of the American Innovation and
Competitiveness Act and other outside stakeholders to ensure
the engagement of the STEM education community;
``(8) review the measures used by a Federal agency to
evaluate its STEM education activities and programs;
``(9) request and review feedback from States on how the
States are utilizing Federal STEM education programs and
activities; and
``(10) recommend the reform, termination, or consolidation
of Federal STEM education activities and programs, taking
into consideration the recommendations of the STEM Education
Advisory Panel.''.
(b) Reports.--Section 101 of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(c) Report.--'' and inserting ``(d)
Reports.--'';
(2) by striking ``(b) Responsibilities of OSTP.--'' and
inserting ``(c) Responsibilities of OSTP.--''; and
(3) in subsection (d), as redesignated--
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) a description of all consolidations and terminations
of Federal STEM education programs and activities implemented
in the previous fiscal year, including an explanation for the
consolidations and terminations;
``(7) recommendations for reforms, consolidations, and
terminations of STEM education programs or activities in the
upcoming fiscal year; and
``(8) a description of any significant new STEM education
public-private partnerships.''.
SEC. 305. PROGRAMS TO EXPAND STEM OPPORTUNITIES.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Economic projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
indicate that by 2018, there could be 2,400,000 unfilled STEM
jobs.
(2) Women represent slightly more than half the United
States population, and projections indicate that 54 percent
of the population will be a member of a racial or ethnic
minority group by 2050.
(3) Despite representing half the population, women
comprise only about 30 percent of STEM workers according to a
2015 report by the National Center for Science and
Engineering Statistics.
(4) A 2014 National Center for Education Statistics study
found that underrepresented populations leave the STEM fields
at higher rates than their counterparts.
(5) The representation of women in STEM drops significantly
at the faculty level. Overall, women hold only 25 percent of
all tenured and tenure-track positions and 17 percent of full
professor positions in STEM fields in our Nation's
universities and 4-year colleges.
(6) Black and Hispanic faculty together hold about 6.5
percent of all tenured and tenure-track positions and 5
percent of full professor positions.
(7) Many of the numbers in the American Indian or Alaskan
Native and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
categories for different faculty ranks were too small for the
Foundation to report publicly without potentially
compromising confidential information about the individuals
being surveyed.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) it is critical to our Nation's economic leadership and
global competitiveness that the United States educate, train,
and retain more scientists, engineers, and computer
scientists;
(2) there is currently a disconnect between the
availability of and growing demand for STEM-skilled workers;
(3) historically, underrepresented populations are the
largest untapped STEM talent pools in the United States; and
(4) given the shifting demographic landscape, the United
States should encourage full participation of individuals
from underrepresented populations in STEM fields.
(c) Reaffirmation.--The Director of the Foundation shall
continue to support programs designed to broaden
participation of underrepresented populations in STEM fields.
(d) Grants to Broaden Participation.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Foundation shall award
grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to eligible
entities to increase the participation of underrepresented
populations in STEM fields, including individuals identified
in section 33 or section 34 of the Science and Engineering
Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b).
(2) Center of excellence.--
(A) In general.--Grants awarded under this subsection may
include grants for the establishment of a Center of
Excellence to collect, maintain, and disseminate information
to increase participation of underrepresented populations in
STEM fields.
(B) Purpose.--The purpose of a Center of Excellence under
this subsection is to promote diversity in STEM fields by
building on the success of the INCLUDES programs, providing
technical assistance, maintaining best practices, and
providing related training at federally funded academic
institutions.
(e) Accountability and Dissemination.--
(1) Evaluation.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Foundation shall
evaluate the grants provided under this section.
(B) Requirements.--In conducting the evaluation under
subparagraph (A), the Director shall--
(i) use a common set of benchmarks and assessment tools to
identify best practices and materials developed or
demonstrated by the research; and
(ii) to the extent practicable, combine the research
resulting from the grant activity under subsection (e) with
the current research on serving underrepresented students in
grades kindergarten through 8.
(2) Report on evaluations.--Not later than 180 days after
the completion of the evaluation under paragraph (1), the
Director of the Foundation shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress and make widely available to the
public a report that includes--
(A) the results of the evaluation; and
(B) any recommendations for administrative and legislative
action that could optimize the effectiveness of the program.
(f) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the
Director of the Foundation shall consult and cooperate with
the programs and policies of other relevant Federal agencies
to avoid duplication with and enhance the effectiveness of
the program under this section.
[[Page S7091]]
SEC. 306. NIST EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.
(a) Repeal.--The National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is amended by striking
section 18 (15 U.S.C. 278g-1).
(b) Education and Outreach.--The National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.), as
amended, is further amended by inserting after section 17,
the following:
``SEC. 18. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.
``(a) In General.--The Director is authorized to expend
funds appropriated for activities of the Institute in any
fiscal year, to support, promote, and coordinate activities
and efforts to enhance public awareness and understanding of
measurement sciences, standards and technology at the
national measurement laboratories and otherwise in
fulfillment of the mission of the Institute. The Director may
carry out activities under this subsection, including
education and outreach activities to the general public,
industry and academia in support of the Institute's mission.
``(b) Hiring.--The Director, in coordination with the
Director of the Office of Personnel Management, may revise
the procedures the Director applies when making appointments
to laboratory positions within the competitive service--
``(1) to ensure corporate memory of and expertise in the
fundamental ongoing work, and on developing new capabilities
in priority areas;
``(2) to maintain high overall technical competence;
``(3) to improve staff diversity;
``(4) to balance emphases on the noncore and core areas; or
``(5) to improve the ability of the Institute to compete in
the marketplace for qualified personnel.
``(c) Volunteers.--
``(1) In general.--The Director may establish a program to
use volunteers in carrying out the programs of the Institute.
``(2) Acceptance of personnel.--The Director may accept,
subject to regulations issued by the Office of Personnel
Management, voluntary service for the Institute for such
purpose if the service--
``(A) is to be without compensation; and
``(B) will not be used to displace any current employee or
act as a substitute for any future full-time employee of the
Institute.
``(3) Federal employee status.--Any individual who provides
voluntary service under this subsection shall not be
considered a Federal employee, except for purposes of chapter
81 of title 5, United States Code (relating to compensation
for injury), and sections 2671 through 2680 of title 28,
United States Code (relating to tort claims).
``(d) Research Fellowships.--
``(1) In general.--The Director may expend funds
appropriated for activities of the Institute in any fiscal
year, as the Director considers appropriate, for awards of
research fellowships and other forms of financial and
logistical assistance, including direct stipend awards to--
``(A) students at institutions of higher learning within
the United States who show promise as present or future
contributors to the mission of the Institute; and
``(B) United States citizens for research and technical
activities of the Institute, including programs.
``(2) Selection criteria.--The selection of persons to
receive such fellowships and assistance shall be made on the
basis of ability and of the relevance of the proposed work to
the mission and programs of the Institute.
``(3) Financial and logistical assistance.--Notwithstanding
section 1345 of title 31, United States Code, or any other
law to the contrary, the Director may include as a form of
financial or logistical assistance under this subsection
temporary housing and transportation to and from Institute
facilities.
``(e) Educational Outreach Activities.--The Director may--
``(1) facilitate education programs for undergraduate and
graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and academic and
industry employees;
``(2) sponsor summer workshops for STEM kindergarten
through grade 12 teachers as appropriate;
``(3) develop programs for graduate student internships and
visiting faculty researchers;
``(4) document publications, presentations, and
interactions with visiting researchers and sponsoring interns
as performance metrics for improving and continuing
interactions with those individuals; and
``(5) facilitate laboratory tours and provide presentations
for educational, industry, and community groups.''.
(c) Post-doctoral Fellowship Program.--Section 19 of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
278g-2) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 19. POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Institute and the National Academy
of Sciences, jointly, shall establish and conduct a post-
doctoral fellowship program, subject to the availability of
appropriations.
``(b) Organization.--The post-doctoral fellowship program
shall include not less than 20 new fellows per fiscal year.
``(c) Evaluations.--In evaluating applications for post-
doctoral fellowships under this section, the Director of the
Institute and the President of the National Academy of
Sciences shall give consideration to the goal of promoting
the participation of individuals identified in sections 33
and 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act
(42 U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b) in research areas supported by the
Institute.''.
(d) Savings Clauses.--
(1) Research fellowships and other financial assistance to
students at institutes of higher education.--The repeal made
by subsection (a) of this section shall not affect any award
of a research fellowship or other form of financial
assistance made under section 18 of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-1) before the
date of enactment of this Act. Such award shall continue to
be subject to the requirements to which such funds were
subject under that section before the date of enactment of
this Act.
(2) Post-doctoral fellowship program.--The amendment made
by subsection (c) of this section shall not affect any award
of a post-doctoral fellowship or other form of financial
assistance made under section 19 of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-2) before the
date of enactment of this Act. Such awards shall continue to
be subject to the requirements to which such funds were
subject under that section before the date of enactment of
this Act.
SEC. 307. PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN STEM
MENTORING.
(a) In General.--The Director of the Foundation shall
continue to administer awards on behalf of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy to recognize outstanding
mentoring in STEM fields.
(b) Annual Award Recipients.--The Director of the
Foundation shall provide Congress with a list of award
recipients, including the name, institution, and a brief
synopsis of the impact of the mentoring efforts.
SEC. 308. WORKING GROUP ON INCLUSION IN STEM FIELDS.
(a) Establishment.--The Office of Science and Technology
Policy, in collaboration with Federal departments and
agencies, shall establish an interagency working group to
compile and summarize available research and best practices
on how to promote diversity and inclusions in STEM fields and
examine whether barriers exist to promoting diversity and
inclusion within Federal agencies employing scientists and
engineers.
(b) Responsibilities.--The working group shall be
responsible for reviewing and assessing research, best
practices, and policies across Federal science agencies
related to the inclusion of individuals identified in
sections 33 and 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b) in the Federal
STEM workforce, including available research and best
practices on how to promote diversity and inclusion in STEM
fields, including--
(1) policies providing flexibility for scientists and
engineers that are also caregivers, particularly on the
timing of research grants;
(2) policies to address the proper handling of claims of
sexual harassment;
(3) policies to minimize the effects of implicit bias and
other systemic factors in hiring, promotion, evaluation and
the workplace in general; and
(4) other evidence-based strategies that the working group
considers effective for promoting diversity and inclusion in
the STEM fields.
(c) Stakeholder Input.--In carrying out the
responsibilities under section (b), the working group shall
solicit and consider input and recommendations from non-
Federal stakeholders, including--
(1) the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology;
(2) federally funded and non-federally funded researchers,
institutions of higher education, scientific disciplinary
societies, and associations;
(3) nonprofit research institutions;
(4) industry, including small businesses;
(5) federally funded research and development centers;
(6) non-governmental organizations; and
(7) such other members of the public interested in
promoting a diverse and inclusive Federal STEM workforce.
(d) Public Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the
working group shall publish a report on the review and
assessment under subsection (b), including a summary of
available research and best practices, any recommendations
for Federal actions to promote a diverse and inclusive
Federal STEM workforce, and updates on the implementation of
previous recommendations for Federal actions.
(e) Termination.--The interagency working group established
under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that is 10
years after the date that it is established.
SEC. 309. IMPROVING UNDERGRADUATE STEM EXPERIENCES.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
each Federal science agency should invest in and expand
research opportunities for undergraduate students attending
institutions of higher education during the undergraduate
students' first 2 academic years of postsecondary education.
(b) Identification of Research Programs.--Not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the head of
each Federal agency shall submit to the President
recommendations regarding how the agency could best fulfill
the goals described in subsection (a).
[[Page S7092]]
SEC. 310. COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION RESEARCH.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that as the lead Federal
agency for building the research knowledge base for computer
science education, the Foundation is well positioned to make
investments that will accelerate ongoing efforts to enable
rigorous and engaging computer science throughout the Nation
as an integral part of STEM education.
(b) Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Foundation shall award
grants to eligible entities to research computer science
education and computational thinking.
(2) Research.--The research described in paragraph (1) may
include the development or adaptation, piloting or full
implementation, and testing of--
(A) models of preservice preparation for teachers who will
teach computer science and computational thinking;
(B) scalable and sustainable models of professional
development and ongoing support for the teachers described in
subparagraph (A);
(C) tools and models for teaching and learning aimed at
supporting student success and inclusion in computing within
and across diverse populations, particularly poor, rural, and
tribal populations and other populations that have been
historically underrepresented in computer science and STEM
fields; and
(D) high-quality learning opportunities for teaching
computer science and, especially in poor, rural, or tribal
schools at the elementary school and middle school levels,
for integrating computational thinking into STEM teaching and
learning.
(c) Collaborations.--In carrying out the grants established
in subsection (b), eligible entities may collaborate and
partner with local or remote schools to support the
integration of computing and computational thinking within
pre-kindergarten through grade 12 STEM curricula and
instruction.
(d) Metrics.--The Director of the Foundation shall develop
metrics to measure the success of the grant program funded
under this section in achieving program goals.
(e) Report.--The Director of the Foundation shall report,
in the annual budget submission to Congress, on the success
of the program as measured by the metrics in subsection (d).
(f) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the
term ``eligible entity'' means an institution of higher
education or a nonprofit research organization.
SEC. 311. INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION.
(a) National STEM Partnership Grants.--Section 3(a) of the
STEM Education Act of 2015 (42 U.S.C. 1862q(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) a national partnership of institutions involved in
informal STEM learning.''.
(b) Use of Funds.--Section 3(b) of the STEM Education Act
of 2015 (42 U.S.C. 1862q(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) fostering on-going partnerships between institutions
involved in informal STEM learning, institutions of higher
education, and education research centers; and
``(4) developing, and making available informal STEM
education activities and educational materials.''.
SEC. 312. DEVELOPING STEM APPRENTICESHIPS.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The lack of data on the return on investment for United
States employers using registered apprenticeships makes it
difficult--
(A) to communicate the value of these programs to
businesses; and
(B) to expand registered apprenticeships.
(2) The lack of data on the value and impact of employer-
provided worker training, which is likely substantial,
hinders the ability of the Federal Government to formulate
policy related to workforce training.
(3) The Secretary of Commerce has initiated--
(A) the first study on the return on investment for United
States employers using registered apprenticeships through
case studies of firms in various sectors, occupations, and
geographic locations to provide the business community with
data on employer benefits and costs; and
(B) discussions with officials at relevant Federal agencies
about the need to collect comprehensive data on--
(i) employer-provided worker training; and
(ii) existing tools that could be used to collect such
data.
(b) Development of Apprenticeship Information.--The
Secretary of Commerce shall continue to research the value to
businesses of utilizing apprenticeship programs, including--
(1) evidence of return on investment of apprenticeships,
including estimates for the average time it takes a business
to recover the costs associated with training apprentices;
and
(2) data from the United States Census Bureau and other
statistical surveys on employer-provided training, including
apprenticeships and other on-the-job training and industry-
recognized certification programs.
(c) Dissemination of Apprenticeship Information.--The
Secretary of Commerce shall disseminate findings from
research on apprenticeships to businesses and other relevant
stakeholders, including--
(1) institutions of higher education;
(2) State and local chambers of commerce; and
(3) workforce training organizations.
(d) New Apprenticeship Program Study.--The Secretary of
Commerce may collaborate with the Secretary of Labor to study
approaches for reducing the cost of creating new
apprenticeship programs and hosting apprentices for
businesses, particularly small businesses, including--
(1) training sharing agreements;
(2) group training models; and
(3) pooling resources and best practices.
(e) Economic Development Administration Grants.--The
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
3701 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``SEC. 28. STEM APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce may carry out
a grant program to identify the need for skilled science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this
section as `STEM') workers and to expand STEM apprenticeship
programs.
``(b) Eligible Recipient Defined.--In this section, the
term `eligible recipient' means--
``(1) a State;
``(2) an Indian tribe;
``(3) a city or other political subdivision of a State;
``(4) an entity that--
``(A) is a nonprofit organization, an institution of higher
education, a public-private partnership, a science or
research park, a Federal laboratory, or an economic
development organization or similar entity; and
``(B) has an application that is supported by a State, a
political subdivision of a State, or a native organization;
or
``(5) a consortium of any of the entities described in
paragraphs (1) through (5).
``(c) Needs Assessment Grants.--The Secretary of Commerce
may provide a grant to an eligible recipient to conduct a
needs assessment to identify--
``(1) the unmet need of a region's employer base for
skilled STEM workers;
``(2) the potential of STEM apprenticeships to address the
unmet need described in paragraph (1); and
``(3) any barriers to addressing the unmet need described
in paragraph (1).
``(d) Apprenticeship Expansion Grants.--The Secretary of
Commerce may provide a grant to an eligible recipient that
has conducted a needs assessment as described in subsection
(c)(1) to develop infrastructure to expand STEM
apprenticeship programs.''.
SEC. 313. NSF REPORT ON BROADENING PARTICIPATION.
Section 204(e) of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1885c(e)) is amended to
read as follows:
``(e) Biennial Report.--Every 2 years, the Committee shall
prepare and submit to the Director a report on its activities
during the previous 2 years and proposed activities for the
next 2 years. The Director shall submit to Congress the
report, unaltered, together with such comments as the
Director considers appropriate, including--
``(1) review data on the participation in Foundation
activities of institutions serving populations that are
underrepresented in STEM disciplines, including poor, rural,
and tribal populations; and
``(2) recommendations regarding how the Foundation could
improve outreach and inclusion of these populations in
Foundation activities.''.
SEC. 314. NOAA SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--Section 4002(a) of the America COMPETES
Act (33 U.S.C. 893a(a)) is amended by striking ``agency, with
consideration given to the goal of promoting the
participation of individuals from underrepresented groups''
and inserting ``the agency, with consideration given to the
goal of promoting the participation of individuals identified
in sections 33 and 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b)''.
(b) Educational Program Goals.--Section 4002(b)(4) of the
America COMPETES Act (33 U.S.C. 893a(b)(4)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) and subparagraph (D);
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C) are designed considering the unique needs of
underrepresented groups, translating such materials and other
resources;''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(E) are promoted widely, especially among individuals
identified in sections 33 and 34 of the Science and
Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b);
and''.
(c) Metrics.--Section 4002 of the America COMPETES Act (33
U.S.C. 893a) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as subsections
(e) and (f), respectively; and
(2) by adding after section (c) the following:
``(d) Metrics.--In executing the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration science education plan under
subsection (c),
[[Page S7093]]
the Administrator shall maintain a comprehensive system for
evaluating the Administration's educational programs and
activities. In so doing, the Administrator shall ensure that
such education programs have measurable objectives and
milestones as well as clear, documented metrics for
evaluating programs. For each such education program or
portfolio of similar programs, the Administrator shall--
``(1) encourage the collection of evidence as relevant to
the measurable objectives and milestones; and
``(2) ensure that program or portfolio evaluations focus on
educational outcomes and not just inputs, activities
completed, or the number of participants.''.
SEC. 315. HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM
UPDATE.
(a) In General.--Section 7033(a) of the America COMPETES
Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o-12(a)) is amended as follows:
``(a) In General.--The Director shall award grants on a
competitive, merit-reviewed basis to Hispanic-serving
institutions (as defined in section 502 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a)) to enhance the
quality of undergraduate STEM education at such institutions
and to increase the retention and graduation rates of
students pursuing associate's or baccalaureate degrees in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.''.
(b) Savings Provision.--The amendment made by subsection
(a) of this section shall not affect any award of a grant or
other form of financial assistance made under section 7033 of
the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o-12) before the date
of enactment of this Act. Such awards shall continue to be
subject to the requirements to which such funds were subject
under that section before the date of enactment of this Act.
TITLE IV--LEVERAGING THE PRIVATE SECTOR
SEC. 401. PRIZE COMPETITION AUTHORITY UPDATE.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Science Prize Competition Act''.
(b) In General.--Section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Prizes'' and
by inserting ``Prize Competitions'';
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``prize may be one or more of the following'' and inserting
``prize competition may be 1 or more of the following types
of activities'';
(C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``competition'' after
``prize''; and
(D) in paragraphs (3) and (4), by striking ``prizes'' and
inserting ``prize competitions'';
(2) in subsection (f)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``in
the Federal Register'' and inserting ``on a publicly
accessible Government website, such as www.challenge.gov,'';
(B) in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), by inserting ``prize''
before ``competition''; and
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``prize'' and inserting
``cash prize purse or non-cash prize award'';
(3) in subsection (g)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``prize'' and inserting ``cash prize purse''; and
(B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``prize'' before
``competition'';
(4) in subsection (h), by inserting ``prize'' before
``competition'' each place it appears;
(5) in subsection (i)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ``prize'' before
``competition'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``prize'' before
``competition'' each place it appears;
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Waivers.--
``(A) In general.--An agency may waive the requirement
under paragraph (2).
``(B) List.--The Director shall include a list of all of
the waivers granted under this paragraph during the preceding
fiscal year, including a detailed explanation of the reason
for granting the waiver.'';
(6) in subsection (j)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``prize'' before
``competition''; and
(B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) Licenses.--As appropriate and to further the goals of
a prize competition, the Federal Government may negotiate a
license for the use of intellectual property developed by a
registered participant in a prize competition.'';
(7) in subsection (k)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``each competition'' and
inserting ``each prize competition'' each place it appears;
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``prize'' before
``competition''; and
(C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``prize'' before
``competitions'' each place it appears;
(8) in subsection (l), by striking ``an agreement with''
and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``a grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or
other agreement with a private sector for-profit or nonprofit
entity or State or local government agency to administer the
prize competition, subject to the provisions of this
section.'';
(9) in subsection (m)--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--Support for a prize competition under
this section, including financial support for the design and
administration of a prize competition or funds for a cash
prize purse, may consist of Federal appropriated funds and
funds provided by private sector for-profit and nonprofit
entities. The head of an agency may request and accept funds
from other Federal agencies, State, United States territory,
local, or tribal government agencies, private sector for-
profit entities, and nonprofit entities, to be available to
the extent provided by appropriations Acts, to support such
prize competitions. The head of an agency may not give any
special consideration to any agency or entity in return for a
donation.'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``prize awards'' and
inserting ``cash prize purses or non-cash prize awards'';
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
``(A) Announcement.--No prize competition may be announced
under subsection (f) until all the funds needed to pay out
the announced amount of the cash prize purse have been
appropriated or committed in writing by a private or State,
United States territory, local, or tribal government
source.''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``a
prize'' and inserting ``a cash prize purse or non-cash prize
award'';
(II) in clause (i), by inserting ``competition'' after
``prize''; and
(III) in clause (ii), by inserting ``or State, United
States territory, local, or tribal government'' after
``private''; and
(D) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking ``a prize'' and inserting ``a cash prize
purse or a non-cash prize award''; and
(II) by striking ``Science and Technology'' and inserting
``Science, Space, and Technology''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``cash prizes'' and
inserting ``cash prize purses or non-cash prize awards'';
(10) in subsection (n)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``Service'' and inserting
``Services'';
(B) by striking ``the date of the enactment of the America
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010,'' and inserting ``the
date of enactment of the American Innovation and
Competitiveness Act,''; and
(C) by inserting ``for both for-profit and nonprofit
entities and State, United States territory, local, and
tribal government entities,'' after ``contract vehicle'';
(11) in subsection (o)(1), by striking ``or providing a
prize'' and inserting ``a prize competition or providing a
cash prize purse or non-cash prize award''; and
(12) in subsection (p)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``Annual'' and inserting
``Biennial'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``each year'' and inserting ``every other
year'';
(ii) by striking ``Science and Technology'' and inserting
``Science, Space, and Technology''; and
(iii) by striking ``fiscal year'' and inserting ``2 fiscal
years''; and
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``The report for a fiscal year'' and
inserting ``A report'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C)--
(I) in the heading, by striking ``prizes'' and inserting
``prize purses or non-cash prize awards''; and
(II) by striking ``cash prizes'' each place it appears and
inserting ``cash prize purses or non-cash prize awards''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) Plan.--A description of crosscutting topical areas
and agency-specific mission needs that may be the strongest
opportunities for prize competitions during the upcoming 2
fiscal years.''.
SEC. 402. CROWDSOURCING AND CITIZEN SCIENCE.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the authority granted to Federal agencies under the
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-
358; 124 Stat. 3982) to pursue the use of incentive prizes
and challenges has yielded numerous benefits;
(2) crowdsourcing and citizen science projects have a
number of additional unique benefits, including accelerating
scientific research, increasing cost effectiveness to
maximize the return on taxpayer dollars, addressing societal
needs, providing hands-on learning in STEM, and connecting
members of the public directly to Federal science agency
missions and to each other; and
(3) granting Federal science agencies the direct, explicit
authority to use crowdsourcing and citizen science will
encourage its appropriate use to advance Federal science
agency missions and stimulate and facilitate broader public
participation in the innovation process, yielding numerous
benefits to the Federal Government and citizens who
participate in such projects.
(c) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Citizen science.--The term ``citizen science'' means a
form of open collaboration
[[Page S7094]]
in which individuals or organizations participate voluntarily
in the scientific process in various ways, including--
(A) enabling the formulation of research questions;
(B) creating and refining project design;
(C) conducting scientific experiments;
(D) collecting and analyzing data;
(E) interpreting the results of data;
(F) developing technologies and applications;
(G) making discoveries; and
(H) solving problems.
(2) Crowdsourcing.--The term ``crowdsourcing'' means a
method to obtain needed services, ideas, or content by
soliciting voluntary contributions from a group of
individuals or organizations, especially from an online
community.
(3) Participant.--The term ``participant'' means any
individual or other entity that has volunteered in a
crowdsourcing or citizen science project under this section.
(d) Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science.--
(1) In general.--The head of each Federal science agency,
or the heads of multiple Federal science agencies working
cooperatively, may utilize crowdsourcing and citizen science
to conduct projects designed to advance the mission of the
respective Federal science agency or the joint mission of
Federal science agencies, as applicable.
(2) Voluntary services.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of
title 31, United States Code, the head of a Federal science
agency may accept, subject to regulations issued by the
Director of the Office of Personnel Management, in
coordination with the Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy, services from participants under this
section if such services--
(A) are performed voluntarily as a part of a crowdsourcing
or citizen science project authorized under paragraph (1);
(B) are not financially compensated for their time; and
(C) will not be used to displace any employee of the
Federal Government.
(3) Outreach.--The head of each Federal science agency
engaged in a crowdsourcing or citizen science project under
this section shall make public and promote such project to
encourage broad participation.
(4) Consent, registration, and terms of use.--
(A) In general.--Each Federal science agency shall
determine the appropriate level of consent, registration, or
acknowledgment of the terms of use that are required from
participants in crowdsourcing or citizen science projects
under this section on a per-project basis.
(B) Disclosures.--In seeking consent, conducting
registration, or developing terms of use for a project under
this subsection, a Federal science agency shall disclose the
privacy, intellectual property, data ownership, compensation,
service, program, and other terms of use to the participant
in a clear and reasonable manner.
(C) Mode of consent.--A Federal agency or Federal science
agencies, as applicable, may obtain consent electronically or
in written form from participants under this section.
(5) Protections for human subjects.--Any crowdsourcing or
citizen science project under this section that involves
research involving human subjects shall be subject to part 46
of title 28, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor
regulation).
(6) Data.--
(A) In general.--A Federal science agency shall, where
appropriate and to the extent practicable, make data
collected through a crowdsourcing or citizen science project
under this section available to the public, in a machine
readable format, unless prohibited by law.
(B) Notice.--As part of the consent process, the Federal
science agency shall notify all participants--
(i) of the expected uses of the data compiled through the
project;
(ii) if the Federal science agency will retain ownership of
such data;
(iii) if and how the data and results from the project
would be made available for public or third party use; and
(iv) if participants are authorized to publish such data.
(7) Technologies and applications.--Federal science
agencies shall endeavor to make technologies, applications,
code, and derivations of such intellectual property developed
through a crowdsourcing or citizen science project under this
section available to the public.
(8) Liability.--Each participant in a crowdsourcing or
citizen science project under this section shall agree--
(A) to assume any and all risks associated with such
participation; and
(B) to waive all claims against the Federal Government and
its related entities, except for claims based on willful
misconduct, for any injury, death, damage, or loss of
property, revenue, or profits (whether direct, indirect, or
consequential) arising from participation in the project.
(9) Research misconduct.--Federal science agencies
coordinating crowdsourcing or citizen science projects under
this section shall make all practicable efforts to ensure
that participants adhere to all relevant Federal research
misconduct policies and other applicable ethics policies.
(10) Multi-sector partnerships.--The head of each Federal
science agency engaged in crowdsourcing or citizen science
under this section, or the heads of multiple Federal science
agencies working cooperatively, may enter into a contract or
other agreement to share administrative duties for such
projects with--
(A) a for profit or nonprofit private sector entity,
including a private institution of higher education;
(B) a State, tribal, local, or foreign government agency,
including a public institution of higher education; or
(C) a public-private partnership.
(11) Funding.--In carrying out crowdsourcing and citizen
science projects under this section, the head of a Federal
science agency, or the heads of multiple Federal science
agencies working cooperatively--
(A) may use funds appropriated by Congress;
(B) may publicize projects and solicit and accept funds or
in-kind support for such projects, to be available to the
extent provided by appropriations Acts, from--
(i) other Federal agencies;
(ii) for profit or nonprofit private sector entities,
including private institutions of higher education; or
(iii) State, tribal, local, or foreign government agencies,
including public institutions of higher education; and
(C) may not give any special consideration to any entity
described in subparagraph (B) in return for such funds or in-
kind support.
(12) Facilitation.--
(A) General services administration assistance.--The
Administrator of the General Services Administration, in
coordination with the Director of the Office of Personnel
Management and the Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy, shall, at no cost to Federal science
agencies, identify and develop relevant products, training,
and services to facilitate the use of crowdsourcing and
citizen science projects under this section, including by
specifying the appropriate contract vehicles and technology
and organizational platforms to enhance the ability of
Federal science agencies to carry out the projects under this
section.
(B) Additional guidance.--The head of each Federal science
agency engaged in crowdsourcing or citizen science under this
section may--
(i) consult any guidance provided by the Director of the
Office of Science and Technology Policy, including the
Federal Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Toolkit;
(ii) designate a coordinator for that Federal science
agency's crowdsourcing and citizen science projects; and
(iii) share best practices with other Federal agencies,
including participation of staff in the Federal Community of
Practice for Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science.
(e) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy shall include, as a component
of an annual report required under section 24(p) of the
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
3719(p)), a report on the projects and activities carried out
under this section.
(2) Information included.--The report required under
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) a summary of each crowdsourcing and citizen science
project conducted by a Federal science agency during the most
recently completed 2 fiscal years, including a description of
the proposed goals of each crowdsourcing and citizen science
project;
(B) an analysis of why the utilization of a crowdsourcing
or citizen science project summarized in subparagraph (A) was
the preferable method of achieving the goals described in
subparagraph (A) as opposed to other authorities available to
the Federal science agency, such as contracts, grants,
cooperative agreements, and prize competitions;
(C) the participation rates, submission levels, number of
consents, and any other statistic that might be considered
relevant in each crowdsourcing and citizen science project;
(D) a detailed description of--
(i) the resources, including personnel and funding, that
were used in the execution of each crowdsourcing and citizen
science project;
(ii) the project activities for which such resources were
used; and
(iii) how the obligations and expenditures relating to the
project's execution were allocated among the accounts of the
Federal science agency, including a description of the amount
and source of all funds, private, public, and in-kind,
contributed to each crowdsourcing and citizen science
project;
(E) a summary of the use of crowdsourcing and citizen
science by all Federal science agencies, including
interagency and multi-sector partnerships;
(F) a description of how each crowdsourcing and citizen
science project advanced the mission of each participating
Federal science agency;
(G) an identification of each crowdsourcing or citizen
science project where data collected through such project was
not made available to the public, including the reasons for
such action; and
(H) any other information that the Director of the Office
of Science and Technology Policy considers relevant.
(f) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section may be
construed--
(1) to affect the authority to conduct crowdsourcing and
citizen science authorized by any other provision of law; or
[[Page S7095]]
(2) to displace Federal Government resources allocated to
the Federal science agencies that use crowdsourcing or
citizen science authorized under this section to carry out a
project.
SEC. 403. NIST DIRECTOR FUNCTIONS UPDATE.
Section 2(b) of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(b)), as amended by section 403
of this Act, is further amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``authorized to take'' and inserting ``authorized to serve as
the President's principal adviser on standards policy
pertaining to the Nation's technological competitiveness and
innovation ability and to take'';
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ``compare standards'' and
all that follows through ``Federal Government'' and inserting
``facilitate standards-related information sharing and
cooperation between Federal agencies''; and
(3) in paragraph (13), by striking ``Federal, State, and
local'' and all that follows through ``private sector'' and
inserting ``technical standards activities and conformity
assessment activities of Federal, State, and local
governments with private sector''.
SEC. 404. NIST VISITING COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY
UPDATE.
Section 10 of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the second sentence, by striking ``15 members
appointed by the Director, at least 10 of whom'' and
inserting ``not fewer than 9 members appointed by the
Director, a majority of whom''; and
(B) in the third sentence, by striking ``National Bureau of
Standards'' and inserting ``National Institute of Standards
and Technology''; and
(2) in subsection (h)(1), by striking ``, including the
Program established under section 28,''.
TITLE V--MANUFACTURING
SEC. 501. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP
IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the
``Manufacturing Extension Partnership Improvement Act''.
(b) In General.--Section 25 of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) is amended to
read as follows:
``SEC. 25. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP.
``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
`appropriate committees of Congress' means--
``(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate; and
``(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of
the House of Representatives.
``(2) Area career and technical education school.--The term
`area career and technical education school' has the meaning
given the term in section 3 of the Vocational Education Act
of 1963 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
``(3) Center.--The term `Center' means a manufacturing
extension center that--
``(A) is created under subsection (b); and
``(B) is affiliated with an eligible entity that applies
for and is awarded financial support under subsection (e).
``(4) Community college.--The term `community college'
means an institution of higher education (as defined under
section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001(a))) at which the highest degree that is predominately
awarded to students is an associate's degree.
``(5) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a
United States-based nonprofit institution, or consortium
thereof, an institution of higher education, or a State,
United States territory, local, or tribal government.
``(6) Hollings manufacturing extension partnership or
program.--The term `Hollings Manufacturing Extension
Partnership' or `Program' means the program established under
subsection (b).
``(7) MEP advisory board.--The term `MEP Advisory Board'
means the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board
established under subsection (n).
``(b) Establishment and Purpose.--The Secretary, acting
through the Director and, if appropriate, through other
Federal officials, shall establish a program to provide
assistance for the creation and support of manufacturing
extension centers for the transfer of manufacturing
technology and best business practices.
``(c) Objective.--The objective of the Program shall be to
enhance competitiveness, productivity, and technological
performance in United States manufacturing through--
``(1) the transfer of manufacturing technology and
techniques developed at the Institute to Centers and, through
them, to manufacturing companies throughout the United
States;
``(2) the participation of individuals from industry,
institutions of higher education, State governments, other
Federal agencies, and, when appropriate, the Institute in
cooperative technology transfer activities;
``(3) efforts to make new manufacturing technology and
processes usable by United States-based small and medium-
sized companies;
``(4) the active dissemination of scientific, engineering,
technical, and management information about manufacturing to
industrial firms, including small and medium-sized
manufacturing companies;
``(5) the utilization, when appropriate, of the expertise
and capability that exists in Federal agencies, other than
the Institute, and federally-sponsored laboratories;
``(6) the provision to community colleges and area career
and technical education schools of information about the job
skills needed in manufacturing companies, including small and
medium-sized manufacturing businesses in the regions they
serve;
``(7) the promotion and expansion of certification systems
offered through industry, associations, and local colleges
when appropriate, including efforts such as facilitating
training, supporting new or existing apprenticeships, and
providing access to information and experts, to address
workforce needs and skills gaps in order to assist small- and
medium-sized manufacturing businesses; and
``(8) the growth in employment and wages at United States-
based small and medium-sized companies.
``(d) Activities.--The activities of a Center shall
include--
``(1) the establishment of automated manufacturing systems
and other advanced production technologies, based on
Institute-supported research, for the purpose of
demonstrations and technology transfer;
``(2) the active transfer and dissemination of research
findings and Center expertise to a wide range of companies
and enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized
manufacturers; and
``(3) the facilitation of collaborations and partnerships
between small and medium-sized manufacturing companies ,
community colleges, and area career and technical education
schools, to help those entities better understand the
specific needs of manufacturers and to help manufacturers
better understand the skill sets that students learn in the
programs offered by such colleges and schools.
``(e) Financial Assistance.--
``(1) Authorization.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
the Secretary may provide financial assistance for the
creation and support of a Center through a cooperative
agreement with an eligible entity.
``(2) Cost sharing.--The Secretary may not provide more
than 50 percent of the capital and annual operating and
maintenance funds required to establish and support a Center.
``(3) Rule of construction.--For purposes of paragraph (2),
any amount received by an eligible entity for a Center under
a provision of law other than paragraph (1) shall not be
considered an amount provided under paragraph (1).
``(4) Regulations.--The Secretary may revise or promulgate
such regulations as necessary to carry out this subsection.
``(f) Applications.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner,
and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Program description.--The Secretary shall establish
and update, as necessary--
``(A) a description of the Program;
``(B) the application procedures;
``(C) performance metrics;
``(D) criteria for determining qualified applicants; and
``(E) criteria for choosing recipients of financial
assistance from among the qualified applicants.
``(F) procedures for determining allowable cost share
contributions; and
``(G) such other program policy objectives and operational
procedures as the Secretary considers necessary.
``(3) Cost sharing.--
``(A) In general.--To be considered for financial
assistance under this section, an applicant shall provide
adequate assurances that the applicant and if applicable, the
applicant's partnering organizations, will obtain funding for
not less than 50 percent of the capital and annual operating
and maintenance funds required to establish and support the
Center from sources other than the financial assistance
provided under subsection (e).
``(B) Agreements with other entities.--In meeting the cost-
sharing requirement under subparagraph (A), an eligible
entity may enter into an agreement with 1 or more other
entities, such as a private industry, institutions of higher
education, or a State, United States territory, local, or
tribal government for the contribution by that other entity
of funding if the Secretary determines the agreement--
``(i) is programmatically reasonable;
``(ii) will help accomplish programmatic objectives; and
``(iii) is allocable under Program procedures under
subsection (f)(2).
``(4) Legal rights.--Each applicant shall include in the
application a proposal for the allocation of the legal rights
associated with any intellectual property which may result
from the activities of the Center.
``(5) Merit review of applications.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall subject each
application to merit review.
``(B) Considerations.--In making a decision whether to
approve an application and provide financial assistance under
subsection (e), the Secretary shall consider, at a minimum--
``(i) the merits of the application, particularly those
portions of the application regarding technology transfer,
training and education, and adaptation of manufacturing
[[Page S7096]]
technologies to the needs of particular industrial sectors;
``(ii) the quality of service to be provided;
``(iii) the geographical diversity and extent of the
service area; and
``(iv) the type and percentage of funding and in-kind
commitment from other sources under paragraph (3).
``(g) Evaluations.--
``(1) Third and eighth year evaluations by panel.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that each
Center is evaluated during its third and eighth years of
operation by an evaluation panel appointed by the Secretary.
``(B) Composition.--The Secretary shall ensure that each
evaluation panel appointed under subparagraph (A) is composed
of--
``(i) private experts, none of whom are connected with the
Center evaluated by the panel; and
``(ii) Federal officials.
``(C) Chairperson.--For each evaluation panel appointed
under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall appoint a
chairperson who is an official of the Institute.
``(2) Fifth year evaluations by secretary.--In the fifth
year of operation of a Center, the Secretary shall conduct a
review of the Center.
``(3) Performance measurement.--In evaluating a Center an
evaluation panel or the Secretary, as applicable, shall
measure the performance of the Center against--
``(A) the objective specified in subsection (c);
``(B) the performance metrics under subsection (f)(2)(C);
and
``(C) such other criterion as considered appropriate by the
Secretary.
``(4) Positive evaluations.--If an evaluation of a Center
is positive, the Secretary may continue to provide financial
assistance for the Center--
``(A) in the case of an evaluation occurring in the third
year of a Center, through the fifth year of the Center;
``(B) in the case of an evaluation occurring in the fifth
year of a Center, through the eighth year of the Center; and
``(C) in the case of an evaluation occurring in the eighth
year of a Center, through the tenth year of the Center.
``(5) Other than positive evaluations.--
``(A) Probation.--If an evaluation of a Center is other
than positive, the Secretary shall put the Center on
probation during the period beginning on the date that the
Center receives notice under subparagraph (B)(i) and ending
on the date that the reevaluation is complete under
subparagraph (B)(iii).
``(B) Notice and reevaluation.--If a Center receives an
evaluation that is other than positive, the evaluation panel
or Secretary, as applicable, shall--
``(i) notify the Center of the reason, including any
deficiencies in the performance of the Center identified
during the evaluation;
``(ii) assist the Center in remedying the deficiencies by
providing the Center, not less frequently than once every 3
months, an analysis of the Center, if considered appropriate
by the panel or Secretary, as applicable; and
``(iii) reevaluate the Center not later than 1 year after
the date of the notice under clause (i).
``(C) Continued support during period of probation.--
``(i) In general.--The Secretary may continue to provide
financial assistance under subsection (e) for a Center during
the probation period.
``(ii) Post probation.--After the period of probation, the
Secretary shall not provide any financial assistance unless
the Center has received a positive evaluation under
subparagraph (B)(iii).
``(6) Failure to remedy.--
``(A) In general.--If a Center fails to remedy a deficiency
or to show significant improvement in performance before the
end of the probation period under paragraph (5), the
Secretary shall conduct a competition to select an operator
for the Center under subsection (h).
``(B) Treatment of centers subject to new competition.--
Upon the selection of an operator for a Center under
subsection (h), the Center shall be considered a new Center
and the calculation of the years of operation of that Center
for purposes of paragraphs (1) through (5) of this subsection
and subsection (h)(1) shall start anew.
``(h) Reapplication Competition for Financial Assistance
After 10 Years.--
``(1) In general.--If an eligible entity has operated a
Center under this section for a period of 10 consecutive
years, the Secretary shall conduct a competition to select an
eligible entity to operate the Center in accordance with the
process plan under subsection (i).
``(2) Incumbent eligible entities.--An eligible entity that
has received financial assistance under this section for a
period of 10 consecutive years and that the Secretary
determines is in good standing shall be eligible to compete
in the competition under paragraph (1).
``(3) Treatment of centers subject to reapplication
competition.--Upon the selection of an operator for a Center
under paragraph (1), the Center shall be considered a new
Center and the calculation of the years of operation of that
Center for purposes of paragraphs (1) through (5) of
subsection (g) shall start anew.
``(i) Process Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of the enactment of the American Innovation and
Competitiveness Act, the Secretary shall implement and submit
to Congress a plan for how the Institute will conduct an
evaluation, competition, and reapplication competition under
this section.
``(j) Operational Requirements.--
``(1) Protection of confidential information of center
clients.--The following information, if obtained by the
Federal Government in connection with an activity of a Center
or the Program, shall be exempt from public disclosure under
section 552 of title 5, United States Code:
``(A) Information on the business operation of any
participant in the Program or of a client of a Center.
``(B) Trade secrets of any client of a Center.
``(k) Oversight Boards.--
``(1) In general.--As a condition on receipt of financial
assistance for a Center under subsection (e), an eligible
entity shall establish a board to oversee the operations of
the Center.
``(2) Standards.--
``(A) In general.--The Director shall establish appropriate
standards for each board described under paragraph (1).
``(B) Considerations.--In establishing the standards, the
Director shall take into account the type and organizational
structure of an eligible entity.
``(C) Requirements.--The standards shall address--
``(i) membership;
``(ii) composition;
``(iii) term limits;
``(iv) conflicts of interest; and
``(v) such other requirements as the Director considers
necessary.
``(3) Membership.--
``(A) In general.--Each board established under paragraph
(1) shall be composed of members as follows:
``(i) The membership of each board shall be representative
of stakeholders in the region in which the Center is located.
``(ii) A majority of the members of the board shall be
selected from among individuals who own or are employed by
small or medium-sized manufacturers.
``(B) Limitation.--A member of a board established under
paragraph (1) may not serve on more than 1 board established
under that paragraph.
``(4) Bylaws.--
``(A) In general.--Each board established under paragraph
(1) shall adopt and submit to the Director bylaws to govern
the operation of the board.
``(B) Conflicts of interest.--Bylaws adopted under
subparagraph (A) shall include policies to minimize conflicts
of interest, including such policies relating to disclosure
of relationships and recusal as may be necessary to minimize
conflicts of interest.
``(l) Acceptance of Funds.--In addition to such sums as may
be appropriated to the Secretary and Director to operate the
Program, the Secretary and Director may also accept funds
from other Federal departments and agencies and from the
private sector under section 2(c)(7) of this Act (15 U.S.C.
272(c)(7)), to be available to the extent provided by
appropriations Acts, for the purpose of strengthening United
States manufacturing.
``(m) MEP Advisory Board.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the
Institute a Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory
Board.
``(2) Membership.--
``(A) Composition.--
``(i) In general.--The MEP Advisory Board shall consist of
not fewer than 10 members appointed by the Director and
broadly representative of stakeholders.
``(ii) Requirements.--Of the members appointed under clause
(i)--
``(I) at least 2 members shall be employed by or on an
advisory board for a Center;
``(II) at least 5 members shall be from United States small
businesses in the manufacturing sector; and
``(III) at least 1 member shall represent a community
college.
``(iii) Limitation.--No member of the MEP Advisory Board
shall be an employee of the Federal Government.
``(B) Term.--Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the
term of office of each member of the MEP Advisory Board shall
be 3 years.
``(C) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy
occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his
predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the
remainder of such term.
``(D) Serving consecutive terms.--Any person who has
completed 2 consecutive full terms of service on the MEP
Advisory Board shall thereafter be ineligible for appointment
during the 1-year period following the expiration of the
second such term.
``(3) Meetings.--The MEP Advisory Board shall--
``(A) meet not less than biannually; and
``(B) provide to the Director--
``(i) advice on the activities, plans, and policies of the
Program;
``(ii) assessments of the soundness of the plans and
strategies of the Program; and
``(iii) assessments of current performance against the
plans of the Program.
``(4) FACA applicability.--
``(A) In general.--In discharging its duties under this
subsection, the MEP Advisory Board shall function solely in
an advisory capacity, in accordance with the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
``(B) Exception.--Section 14 of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act shall not apply to the MEP Advisory Board.
[[Page S7097]]
``(5) Annual report.--
``(A) In general.--At a minimum, the MEP Advisory Board
shall transmit an annual report to the Secretary for
transmittal to Congress not later than 30 days after the
submission to Congress of the President's annual budget under
section 1105 of title 31, United States Code.
``(B) Contents.--The report shall address the status of the
Program and describe the relevant sections of the
programmatic planning document and updates thereto
transmitted to Congress by the Director under subsections (c)
and (d) of section 23 (15 U.S.C. 278i).
``(n) Small Manufacturers.--
``(1) Evaluation of obstacles.--As part of the Program, the
Director shall--
``(A) identify obstacles that prevent small manufacturers
from effectively competing in the global market;
``(B) implement a comprehensive plan to train the Centers
to address the obstacles identified in paragraph (2); and
``(C) facilitate improved communication between the Centers
to assist such manufacturers in implementing appropriate,
targeted solutions to the obstacles identified in paragraph
(2).
``(2) Development of open access resources.--As part of the
Program, the Secretary shall develop open access resources
that address best practices related to inventory sourcing,
supply chain management, manufacturing techniques, available
Federal resources, and other topics to further the
competitiveness and profitability of small manufacturers.''.
(c) Competitive Awards Program.--The National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is
amended by inserting after section 25 the following:
``SEC. 25A. COMPETITIVE AWARDS PROGRAM.
``(a) Establishment.--The Director shall establish within
the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership under
section 25 (15 U.S.C. 278k) and section 26 (15 U.S.C. 278l) a
program of competitive awards among participants described in
subsection (b) of this section for the purposes described in
subsection (c).
``(b) Participants.--Participants receiving awards under
this section shall be Centers, or a consortium of Centers.
``(c) Purpose, Themes, and Reimbursement.--
``(1) Purpose.--The purpose of the program established
under subsection (a) is to add capabilities to the Hollings
Manufacturing Extension Partnership, including the
development of projects to solve new or emerging
manufacturing problems as determined by the Director, in
consultation with the Director of the Hollings Manufacturing
Extension Partnership, the MEP Advisory Board, other Federal
agencies, and small and medium-sized manufacturers.
``(2) Themes.--The Director may identify 1 or more themes
for a competition carried out under this section, which may
vary from year to year, as the Director considers appropriate
after assessing the needs of manufacturers and the success of
previous competitions.
``(3) Reimbursement.--Centers may be reimbursed for costs
incurred by the Centers under this section.
``(d) Applications.--Applications for awards under this
section shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, and
containing such information as the Director shall require in
consultation with the MEP Advisory Board.
``(e) Selection.--
``(1) Peer review and competitively awarded.--The Director
shall ensure that awards under this section are peer reviewed
and competitively awarded.
``(2) Geographic diversity.--The Director shall endeavor to
have broad geographic diversity among selected proposals.
``(3) Criteria.--The Director shall select applications to
receive awards that the Director determines will achieve 1 or
more of the following:
``(A) Improve the competitiveness of industries in the
region in which the Center or Centers are located.
``(B) Create jobs or train newly hired employees.
``(C) Promote the transfer and commercialization of
research and technology from institutions of higher
education, national laboratories or other federally funded
research programs, and nonprofit research institutes.
``(D) Recruit a diverse manufacturing workforce, including
through outreach to underrepresented populations, including
individuals identified in section 33 or section 34 of the
Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C.
1885a, 1885b).
``(E) Such other result as the Director determines will
advance the objective set forth in section 25(c) (15 U.S.C.
278k) or in section 26 (15 U.S.C. 278l).
``(f) Program Contribution.--Recipients of awards under
this section shall not be required to provide a matching
contribution.
``(g) Global Marketplace Projects.--In making an award
under this section, the Director, in consultation with the
MEP Advisory Board and the Secretary, may take into
consideration whether an application has significant
potential for enhancing the competitiveness of small and
medium-sized United States manufacturers in the global
marketplace.
``(h) Duration.--The duration of an award under this
section shall be for not more than 3 years.
``(i) Definitions.--The terms used in this section have the
meanings given the terms in section 25 (15 U.S.C. 278k).''.
(d) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United
States, in consultation with the MEP Advisory Board (as
defined in section 25 of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k)), shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report analyzing--
(A) the effectiveness of the changes in the cost share to
Centers under section 25 of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k);
(B) the engagement in services and the characteristics of
services provided by 2 types of Centers, including volume and
type of service; and
(C) whether the cost-sharing ratio has any effect on the
services provided by either type of Center.
(2) Independent assessment.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
submission of the report under paragraph (1), the Director of
NIST shall contract with an independent organization to
perform an assessment of the implementation of the
reapplication competition process.
(B) Consultation.--The independent organization performing
the assessment under subparagraph (A) may consult with the
MEP Advisory Board (as defined in section 25 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k)).
(3) Comparison of centers.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress a report providing
information on the first and second years of operations for
Centers (as defined in section 25 of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k)) operating
from new competitions or recompetition as compared to
longstanding Centers.
(B) Contents.--The report shall provide detail on the
engagement in services provided by Centers and the
characteristics of services provided, including volume and
type of services, so that the appropriate committees of
Congress can evaluate whether the cost-sharing ratio has an
effect on the services provided at Centers.
(e) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Definitions.--Section 2199(3) of title 10, United
States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``regional center'' and inserting
``manufacturing extension center'';
(B) by inserting ``and best business practices'' before
``referred''; and
(C) by striking ``25(a)'' and inserting ``25(b)''.
(2) Enterprise integration initiative.--Section 3(a) of the
Enterprise Integration Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 278g-5(a)) is
amended by inserting ``Hollings'' before ``Manufacturing
Extension Partnership''.
(3) Assistance to state technology programs.--Section 26(a)
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15
U.S.C. 278l(a)) is amended by striking ``Centers program
created'' and inserting ``Hollings Manufacturing Extension
Partnership''.
(f) Savings Provisions.--Notwithstanding the amendments
made by subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the
Secretary of Commerce may carry out section 25 of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
278k) as that section was in effect on the day before the
date of enactment of this Act, with respect to existing
grants, agreements, cooperative agreements, or contracts, and
with respect to applications for such items that are received
by the Secretary prior to the date of enactment of this Act.
(g) Patent Rights.--The provisions of chapter 18 of title
35, United States Code, shall apply, to the extent not
inconsistent with section 25 of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) and section 25
of that Act, to the promotion of technology from research by
Centers under those sections, except for contracts for such
specific technology extension or transfer services as may be
specified by the Director of NIST or under other law.
TITLE VI--INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
SEC. 601. INNOVATION CORPS.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The National Science Foundation Innovation Corps
(referred to in this section as the ``I-Corps'') was
established to foster a national innovation ecosystem by
encouraging institutions, scientists, engineers, and
entrepreneurs to identify and explore the innovation and
commercial potential of National Science Foundation-funded
research well beyond the laboratory.
(2) Through I-Corps, the Foundation invests in
entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training,
and mentoring that can ultimately lead to the practical
deployment of technologies, products, processes, and services
that improve the Nation's competitiveness, promote economic
growth, and benefit society.
(3) By building networks of entrepreneurs, educators,
mentors, institutions, and collaborations, and supporting
specialized education and training, I-Corps is at the leading
edge of a strong, lasting foundation for an American
innovation ecosystem.
(4) By translating federally funded research to a
commercial stage more quickly and efficiently, programs like
the I-Corps
[[Page S7098]]
create new jobs and companies, help solve societal problems,
and provide taxpayers with a greater return on their
investment in research.
(5) The I-Corps program model has a strong record of
success that should be replicated at all Federal science
agencies.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) commercialization of federally funded research can
improve the Nation's competitiveness, grow the economy, and
benefit society;
(2) I-Corps is a useful tool in promoting the
commercialization of federally funded research by training
researchers funded by the Foundation in entrepreneurship and
commercialization;
(3) I-Corps should continue to build a network of
entrepreneurs, educators, mentors, and institutions and
support specialized education and training;
(4) researchers other than those funded by the Foundation
may also benefit from the education and training described in
paragraph (3); and
(5) I-Corps should continue to promote a strong innovation
system by investing in and supporting female entrepreneurs
through mentorship, education, and training because they are
historically underrepresented in entrepreneurial fields.
(c) I-Corps Program.--
(1) In general.--In order to promote a strong, lasting
foundation for the national innovation ecosystem and increase
the positive economic and social impact of federally funded
research, the Director of the Foundation shall set forth
eligibility requirements and carry out a program to award
grants for entrepreneurship and commercialization education,
training, and mentoring.
(2) Expansion of i-corps.--
(A) In general.--The Director--
(i) shall encourage the development and expansion of I-
Corps and other training programs that focus on professional
development, including education in entrepreneurship and
commercialization; and
(ii) may establish an agreement with another Federal
science agency--
(I) to make researchers, students, and institutions funded
by that agency eligible to participate in the I-Corps
program; or
(II) to assist that agency with the design and
implementation of its own program that is similar to the I-
Corps program.
(B) Partnership funding.--In negotiating an agreement with
another Federal science agency under subparagraph (A)(ii),
the Director shall require that Federal science agency to
provide funding for--
(i) the training for researchers, students, and
institutions selected for the I-Corps program; and
(ii) the locations that Federal science agency designates
as regional and national infrastructure for science and
engineering entrepreneurship.
(3) Follow-on grants.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the Director,
in consultation with the Director of the Small Business
Innovation Research Program, shall make funds available for
competitive grants, including to I-Corps participants, to
help support--
(i) prototype or proof-of-concept development; and
(ii) such activities as the Director considers necessary to
build local, regional, and national infrastructure for
science and engineering entrepreneurship.
(B) Limitation.--Grants under subparagraph (A) shall be
limited to participants with innovations that because of the
early stage of development are not eligible to participate in
a Small Business Innovation Research Program or a Small
Business Technology Transfer Program.
(4) State and local partnerships.--The Director may engage
in partnerships with State and local governments, economic
development organizations, and nonprofit organizations to
provide access to the I-Corps program to support
entrepreneurship education and training for researchers,
students, and institutions under this subsection.
(5) Reports.--The Director shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a biennial report on I-Corps program
efficacy, including metrics on the effectiveness of the
program. Each Federal science agency participating in the I-
Corps program or that implements a similar program under
paragraph (2)(A) shall contribute to the report.
(6) Definitions.--In this subsection, the terms ``Small
Business Innovation Research Program'' and ``Small Business
Technology Transfer Program'' have the meanings given those
terms in section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638).
SEC. 602. TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH GRANTS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) commercialization of federally funded research may
benefit society and the economy; and
(2) not-for-profit organizations support the
commercialization of federally funded research by providing
useful business and technical expertise to researchers.
(b) Commercialization Promotion.--The Director of the
Foundation shall continue to award grants on a competitive,
merit-reviewed basis to eligible entities to promote the
commercialization of federally funded research results.
(c) Use of Funds.--Activities supported by grants under
this section may include--
(1) identifying Foundation-sponsored research and
technologies that have the potential for accelerated
commercialization;
(2) supporting prior or current Foundation-sponsored
investigators, institutions of higher education, and non-
profit organizations that partner with an institution of
higher education in undertaking proof-of-concept work,
including development of prototypes of technologies that are
derived from Foundation-sponsored research and have potential
market value;
(3) promoting sustainable partnerships between Foundation-
funded institutions, industry, and other organizations within
academia and the private sector with the purpose of
accelerating the transfer of technology;
(4) developing multi-disciplinary innovation ecosystems
which involve and are responsive to specific needs of
academia and industry; and
(5) providing professional development, mentoring, and
advice in entrepreneurship, project management, and
technology and business development to innovators.
(d) Eligibility.--
(1) In general.--The following organizations may be
eligible for grants under this section:
(A) Institutions of higher education.
(B) Public or nonprofit technology transfer organizations.
(C) A nonprofit organization that partners with an
institution of higher education.
(D) A consortia of 2 or more of the organizations described
under subparagraphs (A) through (C).
(2) Lead organizations.--Any eligible organization under
paragraph (1) may apply as a lead organization.
(e) Applications.--An eligible entity 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.
SEC. 603. OPTICS AND PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The 1998 National Research Council Report, ``Harnessing
Light'' presented a comprehensive overview on the importance
of optics and photonics to various sectors of the United
States economy.
(2) In 2012, in response to increased coordination and
investment by other nations, the National Research Council
released a follow up study recommending a national photonics
initiative to increase collaboration and coordination among
United States industry, Federal and State government, and
academia to identify and further advance areas of photonics
critical to regaining United States competitiveness and
maintaining national security.
(3) Publicly-traded companies focused on optics and
photonics in the United States enable more than $3 trillion
in revenue annually.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) optics and photonics research and technologies promote
United States global competitiveness in industry sectors,
including telecommunications and information technology,
energy, healthcare and medicine, manufacturing, and defense;
(2) Federal science agencies, industry, and academia should
seek partnerships with each other to develop basic research
in optics and photonics into more mature technologies and
capabilities; and
(3) each Federal science agency, as appropriate, should--
(A) survey and identify optics and photonics-related
programs within that Federal science agency and share results
with other Federal science agencies for the purpose of
generating multiple applications and uses;
(B) partner with the private sector and academia to
leverage knowledge and resources to maximize opportunities
for innovation in optics and photonics;
(C) explore research and development opportunities,
including Federal and private sector-sponsored internships,
to ensure a highly trained optics and photonics workforce in
the United States;
(D) encourage partnerships between academia and industry to
promote improvement in the education of optics and photonics
technicians at the secondary school level, undergraduate
level, and 2-year college level, including through the
Foundation's Advanced Technological Education program; and
(E) assess existing programs and explore alternatives to
modernize photonics laboratory equipment in undergraduate
institutions in the United States to facilitate critical
hands-on learning.
SEC. 604. UNITED STATES CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``United
States Chief Technology Officer Act''.
(b) In General.--Section 203 the National Science and
Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976
(42 U.S.C. 6612) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(b) Associate Directors.--'' before
``The President is authorized'' and indenting appropriately;
(2) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``There shall
be'' and indenting appropriately; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Chief Technology Officer.--Subject to subsection (b),
the President is authorized to designate 1 of the Associate
Directors under that subsection as a United States Chief
Technology Officer.''.
[[Page S7099]]
SEC. 605. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL STUDY ON TECHNOLOGY FOR
EMERGENCY NOTIFICATIONS ON CAMPUSES.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy shall enter into an arrangement with
the National Research Council to conduct and complete a study
to identify and review technologies employed at institutions
of higher education to provide notifications to students,
faculty, and other personnel during emergency situations in
accordance with law.
(b) Contents.--The study shall address--
(1) the timeliness of notifications provided by the
technologies during emergency situations;
(2) the durability of the technologies in delivering the
notifications to students, faculty, and other personnel; and
(3) the limitations exhibited by the technologies to
successfully deliver the notifications not more than 30
seconds after the institution of higher education transmits
the notifications.
(c) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after the date
that the National Research Council enters into the
arrangement under subsection (a), the Director of the Office
of Science and Technology Policy shall submit to Congress a
report on the study, including recommendations for addressing
any limitations identified under subsection (b)(3).
____________________