[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 3, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S1305]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 1350. Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Jones, Mr. Moran, and
Mrs. Hyde-Smith) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him
to the bill S. 2657, to support innovation in advanced geothermal
research and development, and for other purposes; which was ordered to
lie on the table; as follows:
At the end of subtitle H of title I, add the following:
SEC. 18__. ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO SIMULATE COMPETITIVE
RESEARCH.
Section 2203(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C.
13503(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and inserting
the following:
``(3) Established program to stimulate competitive
research.--
``(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:
``(i) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means an
institution of higher education located in an eligible
jurisdiction.
``(ii) Eligible jurisdiction.--The term `eligible
jurisdiction' means a State that, as determined by the
Secretary--
``(I)(aa) historically has received relatively little
Federal research and development funding; and
``(bb) has demonstrated a commitment--
``(AA) to develop the research bases in the State; and
``(BB) to improve science and engineering research and
education programs at institutions of higher education in the
State; and
``(II) is an eligible jurisdiction under the criteria used
by the Secretary to make awards under this paragraph on the
day before the date of enactment of the American Energy
Innovation Act of 2020.
``(iii) EPSCoR.--The term `EPSCoR' means the Established
Program to Stimulate Competitive Research operated under
subparagraph (B).
``(iv) National laboratory.--The term `National Laboratory'
has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
``(v) State.--The term `State' means--
``(I) a State;
``(II) the District of Columbia;
``(III) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
``(IV) Guam; and
``(V) the United States Virgin Islands.
``(B) Program operation.--The Secretary shall operate an
Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.
``(C) Objectives.--The objectives of EPSCoR shall be--
``(i) to increase the number of researchers at institutions
of higher education in eligible jurisdictions capable of
performing nationally competitive science and engineering
research in support of the mission of the Department of
Energy in the areas of applied energy research, environmental
management, and basic science;
``(ii) to enhance the capabilities of institutions of
higher education in eligible jurisdictions to develop, plan,
and execute research that is competitive in the peer-review
process; and
``(iii) to increase the probability of long-term growth of
competitive funding to institutions of higher education in
eligible jurisdictions.
``(D) Grants in areas of applied energy research,
environmental management, and basic science.--
``(i) In general.--EPSCoR shall make grants to eligible
entities to carry out and support applied energy research and
research in all areas of environmental management and basic
science sponsored by the Department of Energy, including--
``(I) energy efficiency, fossil energy, renewable energy,
and other applied energy research;
``(II) electricity delivery research;
``(III) cybersecurity, energy security, and emergency
response;
``(IV) environmental management; and
``(V) basic science research.
``(ii) Activities.--EPSCOR may make grants under this
subparagraph for any activities consistent with the
objectives described in subparagraph (C) in the areas of
applied energy research, environmental management, and basic
science described in clause (i), including--
``(I) to support research at eligible entities that is
carried out in partnership with the National Laboratories;
``(II) to provide for graduate traineeships;
``(III) to support research by early career faculty; and
``(IV) to improve research capabilities at eligible
entities through biennial implementation grants.
``(iii) No cost sharing.--EPSCoR shall not impose any cost-
sharing requirement with respect to a grant made under this
subparagraph.
``(E) Other activities.--EPSCoR may carry out such
activities as may be necessary to meet the objectives
described in subparagraph (C) in the areas of applied energy
research, environmental management, and basic science
described in subparagraph (D)(i).
``(F) Program implementation.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date
of enactment of the American Energy Innovation Act of 2020,
the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Energy and
Natural Resources and Appropriations of the Senate and the
Committees on Energy and Commerce and Appropriations of the
House of Representatives a plan describing how the Secretary
shall implement EPSCoR.
``(ii) Contents of plan.--The plan described in clause (i)
shall include a description of--
``(I) the management structure of EPSCoR, which shall
ensure that all research areas and activities described in
this paragraph are incorporated into EPSCoR;
``(II) efforts to conduct outreach to inform eligible
entities and faculty of changes to, and opportunities under,
EPSCoR;
``(III) how EPSCoR plans to increase engagement with
eligible entities, faculty, and State committees, including
by holding regular workshops, to increase participation in
EPSCoR; and
``(IV) any other issues relating to EPSCoR that the
Secretary determines appropriate.
``(G) Program evaluation.--
``(i) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the date of
enactment of the American Energy Innovation Act of 2020, the
Secretary shall contract with a federally funded research and
development center, the National Academy of Sciences, or a
similar organization to carry out an assessment of the
effectiveness of EPSCoR, including an assessment of--
``(I) the tangible progress made towards achieving the
objectives described in subparagraph (C);
``(II) the impact of research supported by EPSCoR on the
mission of the Department of Energy; and
``(III) any other issues relating to EPSCoR that the
Secretary determines appropriate.
``(ii) Limitation.--The organization with which the
Secretary contracts under clause (i) shall not be a National
Laboratory.
``(iii) Report.--Not later than 6 years after the date of
enactment of the American Energy Innovation Act of 2020, the
Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Energy and
Natural Resources and Appropriations of the Senate and the
Committees on Energy and Commerce and Appropriations of the
House of Representatives a report describing the results of
the assessment carried out under clause (i), including
recommendations for improvements that would enable the
Secretary to achieve the objectives described in subparagraph
(C).''.
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