[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 87 (Wednesday, May 19, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S2791]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 1529. Mr. BENNET (for himself and Mr. Sasse) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1502 proposed by Mr.
Schumer to the bill S. 1260, to establish a new Directorate for
Technology and Innovation in the National Science Foundation, to
establish a regional technology hub program, to require a strategy and
report on economic security, science, research, innovation,
manufacturing, and job creation, to establish a critical supply chain
resiliency program, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on
the table; as follows:
In section 2102(b), at the end add the following:
(7) Consistent with the mission and operations of the
Foundation and to the extent possible--
(A) advancing federally funded research and development
that promotes democratic values and procedures, including
with respect to privacy, civil liberties, civil rights,
information security, fairness, nondiscrimination,
transparency, the rule of law, auditability, and
accountability;
(B) studying the consequences for such values of federally
funded research and development in the key technology focus
areas; and
(C) assessing the ethical, social, and legal implications
of such research and development.
In section 2102, strike subsection (d) and insert the
following:
(d) Assistant Directors.--
(1) Appointment.--The Director shall appoint Assistant
Directors for the Directorate, in the same manner as other
Assistant Directors of the Foundation are appointed.
(2) Qualifications.--Each Assistant Director for the
Directorate shall be an individual, who by reason of
professional background and experience, is specially
qualified to advise the Foundation on all matters pertaining
to research, development, and commercialization at the
Foundation, including partnerships with the private sector
and other users of Foundation funded research.
(3) Assistant director for technology and democracy.--The
Assistant Directors appointed under paragraph (1) shall
include an Assistant Director for Technology and Democracy.
Such Assistant Director shall report to the Deputy Director
of the Foundation and shall be responsible for--
(A) ensuring that research and development supported by the
Directorate assesses--
(i) potential consequences of such research and development
for democratic values and procedures, including with respect
to privacy, civil liberties, civil rights, information
security, fairness, nondiscrimination, transparency, the rule
of law, auditability, and accountability; and
(ii) any ethical, social, and legal implications of such
research and development; and
(B) integrating, where appropriate and practicable, a
respect for democratic values and procedures in the full
lifecycle of research and development supported by the
Directorate.
On page 257, between lines 21 and 22, insert the following:
``(iv) to promote, to the extent possible, responsible
research, development, and application of emerging
technologies that is consistent with democratic values and
procedures, including with respect to privacy, civil
liberties, civil rights, information security, fairness,
nondiscrimination, transparency, the rule of law,
auditability, and accountability; and
``(v) to support research, analysis, and expert guidance
for Federal, State, and local policymakers on the ethical,
social, and legal implications of emerging technologies,
including such implications for democratic values and
procedures; and''.
In title V of division B, at the end add the following:
SEC. 25__. EMERGING TECHNOLOGY LEADS.
(a) In General.--Each Federal agency substantially engaged
in the development, application, or oversight of emerging
technologies shall appoint a full-time, senior-level employee
as an emerging technology lead who will drive the responsible
use of emerging technologies, including artificial
intelligence, provide expertise on responsible policies and
practices, lead interagency coordination, and shape
procurement policies.
(b) Informing Congress.--Not later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall inform
Congress of each Federal agency in which a full-time, senior-
level employee has been appointed as an emerging technology
lead under subsection (a) and provide Congress with a
description of the authorities and responsibilities of the
employees so appointed.
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