[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 45 (Wednesday, March 15, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1844-S1845]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. Baldwin):
  S. 641. A bill to prioritize funding for an expanded and sustained 
national investment in basic science research; to the Committee on the 
Budget.

                                 S. 641

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``American Innovation Act''.

     SEC. 2. CAP ADJUSTMENT.

       (a) In General.--Section 251(b)(2) of the Balanced Budget 
     and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 
     901(b)(2)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraph (D) as subparagraph (E); 
     and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (C), the following:
       ``(D) Basic science research.--
       ``(i) National science foundation.--If a bill or joint 
     resolution making appropriations for a fiscal year is enacted 
     that specifies amounts for the National Science Foundation, 
     then the adjustments for that fiscal year shall be the amount 
     of additional new budget authority provided in that Act for 
     such programs for that fiscal year, but shall not exceed--

       ``(I) for fiscal year 2017, $429,000,000 in additional new 
     budget authority;
       ``(II) for fiscal year 2018, $834,000,000 in additional new 
     budget authority;
       ``(III) for fiscal year 2019, $1,279,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority;
       ``(IV) for fiscal year 2020, $1,764,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority; and
       ``(V) for fiscal year 2021, $2,279,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority.

       ``(ii) Department of energy, office of science.--If a bill 
     or joint resolution making appropriations for a fiscal year 
     is enacted that specifies amounts for the Office of Science 
     at the Department of Energy, then the adjustments for that 
     fiscal year shall be the amount of additional new budget 
     authority provided in that Act for such programs for that 
     fiscal year, but shall not exceed--

       ``(I) for fiscal year 2017, $378,000,000 in additional new 
     budget authority;
       ``(II) for fiscal year 2018, $674,000,000 in additional new 
     budget authority;
       ``(III) for fiscal year 2019, $998,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority;
       ``(IV) for fiscal year 2020, $1,351,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority; and
       ``(V) for fiscal year 2021, $1,727,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority.

       ``(iii) Department of defense science and technology 
     programs.--If a bill or joint resolution making 
     appropriations for a fiscal year is enacted that specifies 
     amounts for the Department of Defense science and technology 
     programs, then the adjustments for that fiscal year shall be 
     the amount of additional new budget authority provided in 
     that Act for such programs for that fiscal year, but shall 
     not exceed--

       ``(I) for fiscal year 2017, $931,000,000 in additional new 
     budget authority;
       ``(II) for fiscal year 2018, $1,661,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority;
       ``(III) for fiscal year 2019, $2,456,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority;
       ``(IV) for fiscal year 2020, $3,320,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority; and
       ``(V) for fiscal year 2021, $4,258,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority.

       ``(iv) National institute of standards and technology 
     scientific and technical research and services.--If a bill or 
     joint resolution making appropriations for a fiscal year is 
     enacted that specifies amounts for the scientific and 
     technical research and services of the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology at the Department of Commerce, then 
     the adjustments for that fiscal year shall be the amount of 
     additional new budget authority provided in that Act for such 
     programs for that fiscal year, but shall not exceed--

       ``(I) for fiscal year 2017, $42,000,000 in additional new 
     budget authority;
       ``(II) for fiscal year 2018, $73,000,000 in additional new 
     budget authority;
       ``(III) for fiscal year 2019, $108,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority;
       ``(IV) for fiscal year 2020, $147,000,000 in additional new 
     budget authority; and
       ``(V) for fiscal year 2021, $188,000,000 in additional new 
     budget authority.

       ``(v) National aeronautics and space administration science 
     mission directorate.--If a bill or joint resolution making 
     appropriations for a fiscal year is enacted that specifies 
     amounts for the Science Mission Directorate at the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration, then the adjustments 
     for that fiscal year shall be the amount of additional new 
     budget authority provided in that Act for such programs for 
     that fiscal year, but shall not exceed--

       ``(I) for fiscal year 2017, $302,000,000 in additional new 
     budget authority;
       ``(II) for fiscal year 2018, $600,000,000 in additional new 
     budget authority;
       ``(III) for fiscal year 2019, $928,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority;
       ``(IV) for fiscal year 2020, $1,286,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority; and
       ``(V) for fiscal year 2021, $1,666,000,000 in additional 
     new budget authority.

       ``(vi) Definitions.--As used in this subparagraph:

       ``(I) Additional new budget authority.--The term 
     `additional new budget authority' means--

       ``(aa) with respect to the National Science Foundation, the 
     amount provided for a fiscal year, in excess of the amount 
     provided in fiscal year 2016, in an appropriation Act and 
     specified to support the National Science Foundation;
       ``(bb) with respect to the Department of Energy Office of 
     Science, the amount provided for a fiscal year, in excess of 
     the amount provided in fiscal year 2016, in an appropriation 
     Act and specified to support the Department of Energy Office 
     of Science;
       ``(cc) with respect to the Department of Defense science 
     and technology programs, the amount provided for a fiscal 
     year, in excess of the amount provided in fiscal year 2016, 
     in an appropriation Act and specified to support the 
     Department of Defense science and technology programs;
       ``(dd) with respect to the National Institute of Standards 
     and Technology scientific and technical research services, 
     the amount provided for a fiscal year, in excess of the 
     amount provided in fiscal year 2016, in an appropriation Act 
     and specified to support the National Institute of Standards 
     and Technology scientific and technical research services; 
     and
       ``(ee) with respect to the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration Science Mission Directorate, the amount 
     provided for a fiscal year, in excess of the amount provided 
     in fiscal year 2016, in an appropriation Act and specified to 
     support the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
     Science Mission Directorate.

[[Page S1845]]

       ``(II) Department of defense science and technology 
     programs.--The term `Department of Defense science and 
     technology programs' means the appropriations accounts that 
     support the various institutes, offices, and centers that 
     make up the Department of Defense science and technology 
     programs.
       ``(III) Department of energy office of science.--The term 
     `Department of Energy Office of Science' means the 
     appropriations accounts that support the various institutes, 
     offices, and centers that make up the Department of Energy 
     Office of Science.
       ``(IV) National aeronautics and space administration 
     science mission directorate.--The term `National Aeronautics 
     and Space Administration Science Mission Directorate' means 
     the appropriations accounts that support the various 
     institutes, offices, and centers that make up the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration Science Mission 
     Directorate.
       ``(V) National institute of standards and technology 
     scientific and technical research and services.--The term 
     `National Institute of Standards and Technology scientific 
     and technical research and services' means the appropriations 
     accounts that support the various institutes, offices, and 
     centers that make up the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology scientific and technical research and services.
       ``(VI) National science foundation.--The term `National 
     Science Foundation' means the appropriations accounts that 
     support the various institutes, offices, and centers that 
     make up the National Science Foundation.''.

       (b) Funding.--There are hereby authorized to be 
     appropriated--
       (1) for the National Science Foundation, the amounts 
     provided for under clause (i) of such section 251(b)(2)(D) in 
     each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, and such sums as may 
     be necessary for each subsequent fiscal year;
       (2) for the Department of Energy Office of Science, the 
     amounts provided for under clause (ii) of such section 
     251(b)(2)(D) in each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, and 
     such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal 
     year;
       (3) for the Department of Defense science and technology 
     programs, the amounts provided for under clause (iii) of such 
     section 251(b)(2)(D) in each of fiscal years 2017 through 
     2021, and such sums as may be necessary for each subsequent 
     fiscal year;
       (4) for the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
     scientific and technical research and services, the amounts 
     provided for under clause (iv) of such section 251(b)(2)(D) 
     in each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, and such sums as 
     may be necessary for each subsequent fiscal year; and
       (5) for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
     Science Mission Directorate, the amounts provided for under 
     clause (v) of such section 251(b)(2)(D) in each of fiscal 
     years 2016 through 2021, and such sums as may be necessary 
     for each subsequent fiscal year.
       (c) Minimum Continued Funding Requirement.--Amounts 
     appropriated for each of the programs and agencies described 
     in section 251(b)(2)(D) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency 
     Deficit Control Act of 1985 (as added by subsection (a)) for 
     each of fiscal years 2017 through 2021, and each subsequent 
     fiscal year, shall not be less than the amounts appropriated 
     for such programs and agencies for fiscal year 2016.
       (d) Exemption of Certain Appropriations From 
     Sequestration.--
       (1) In general.--Section 255(g)(1)(A) of the Balanced 
     Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act (2 U.S.C. 
     905(g)(1)(A)) is amended by inserting after ``Advances to the 
     Unemployment Trust Fund and Other Funds (16-0327-0-1-600).'' 
     the following:
       ``Appropriations under the American Innovation Act.''.
       (2) Applicability.--The amendment made by this section 
     shall apply to any sequestration order issued under the 
     Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 (2 
     U.S.C. 900 et seq.) on or after the date of enactment of this 
     Act.
                                 ______