[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 190 (Thursday, October 28, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S7471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3949. Mr. PORTMAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed 
to amendment SA 3867 submitted by Mr. Reed and intended to be proposed 
to the bill H.R. 4350, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2022 
for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

        At the appropriate place, insert the following:

     SEC. __. SUPPORT FOR INDUSTRY PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL 
                   STANDARDS ORGANIZATIONS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
     Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
       (2) Artificial intelligence.--The term ``artificial 
     intelligence'' has the meaning given the term in section 
     238(g) of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization 
     Act for Fiscal Year 2019 (10 U.S.C. 2358 note).
       (3) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means a 
     small business concern that is incorporated and maintains a 
     primary place of business in the United States.
       (4) Small business concern.--The term ``small business 
     concern'' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the 
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
       (b) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
     of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a 
     program to support participation by covered entities in 
     meetings and proceedings of standards development 
     organizations in the development of voluntary technical 
     standards.
       (c) Activities.--In carrying out the program established 
     under subsection (b), the Administrator shall award 
     competitive, merit-reviewed grants to covered entities to 
     cover the reasonable costs, up to a specified ceiling, of 
     participation of employees of those covered entities in 
     meetings and proceedings of standards development 
     organizations, including--
       (1) regularly attending meetings;
       (2) contributing expertise and research;
       (3) proposing new work items; and
       (4) volunteering for leadership roles such as a convener or 
     editor.
       (d) Award Criteria.--The Administrator may only provide a 
     grant under this section to a covered entity that--
       (1) demonstrates deep technical expertise in key emerging 
     technologies and technical standards, including artificial 
     intelligence and related technologies;
       (2) commits personnel with such expertise to regular 
     participation in international bodies responsible for 
     developing standards for such technologies over the period of 
     the grant; and
       (3) agrees to participate in efforts to coordinate between 
     the Federal Government and industry to ensure protection of 
     national security interests in the setting of international 
     standards.
       (e) No Matching Contribution.--A recipient of an award 
     under this section shall not be required to provide a 
     matching contribution.
       (f) Evaluation.--In making awards under this section, the 
     Administrator shall coordinate with the Director of the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology, who shall 
     provide support in the assessment of technical expertise in 
     emerging technologies and standards setting needs.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year 
     thereafter $1,000,000 to carry out the program established 
     under this section.
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