[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 53 (Monday, March 24, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H1205-H1207]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DOE AND NSF INTERAGENCY RESEARCH ACT
Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 1350) to provide for Department of Energy and National Science
Foundation research and development coordination, and for other
purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1350
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 ``DOE and NSF Interagency
Research Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy (in this section
referred to as the ``Secretary'') and the Director of the
National Science Foundation (in this section referred to as
the ``Director'') shall carry out cross-cutting and
collaborative research and development activities focused on
the joint advancement of Department of Energy and National
Science Foundation mission requirements and priorities.
(b) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Secretary and the
Director shall coordinate the activities under subsection (a)
through the establishment of a memorandum of understanding,
or other appropriate interagency agreement. Such memorandum
or agreement, as the case may be, shall require the use of a
competitive, merit-reviewed process, which considers
applications from Federal agencies, National Laboratories,
institutions of higher education, non-profit institutions,
and other appropriate entities.
(c) Coordination.--In carrying out the activities under
subsection (a), the Secretary and the Director may--
(1) conduct collaborative research in a variety of focus
areas, such as--
(A) basic plasma science and engineering, including
applications in astrophysics, materials science, fusion
science, and accelerator science;
[[Page H1206]]
(B) fundamental biological and computational science and
engineering, including computational neuroscience and
neuromorphic computing, including in collaboration with the
program authorized under section 306 of the Department of
Energy Research and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18644);
(C) modeling and simulation, machine learning, artificial
intelligence, data assimilation, large-scale data analytics,
predictive analysis, and advanced computational, storage, and
networking capabilities in order to optimize algorithms for
purposes related to energy and climate;
(D) quantum information sciences, including quantum
computing and quantum network infrastructure, including in
collaboration with the programs authorized under sections 403
and 404 of the National Quantum Initiative Act (15 U.S.C.
8853 and 8854);
(E) energy and materials science and engineering, including
artificial photosynthesis, plasma, solar fuels, and fusion,
including in collaboration with the programs authorized under
sections 303 and 307 of the Department of Energy Research and
Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18641 and 18645), and section 973
of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16313);
(F) advanced manufacturing technologies, including
efficient storage systems and alternatives to high-
temperature processing, for the purposes of optimizing energy
consumption, including in collaboration with the program
authorized under section 975 of the Department of Energy
Research and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 16315);
(G) microelectronics, including novel chip architectures,
memory systems, and interconnects; and
(H) advanced physics, including high energy and particle
physics, accelerator research and development, and high
performance computational tools, including in collaboration
with the programs authorized under section 303 of the
Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C.
18641);
(2) promote collaboration, open community-based
development, and data and information sharing between Federal
agencies, National Laboratories, institutions of higher
education, nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate
entities by providing the necessary access and secure data
and information transfer capabilities;
(3) support research infrastructure, including new
facilities and equipment, as the Secretary and Director
determine necessary; and
(4) organize education, training, and research initiatives
relating to STEM education and workforce development,
including--
(A) internships, fellowships, and other research or work-
based learning opportunities;
(B) educational programming for students at all levels,
especially experiential and project-based learning
opportunities; and
(C) professional development opportunities for educators
and researchers.
(d) Agreements.--In carrying out the activities under
subsection (a), the Secretary and the Director are authorized
to--
(1) carry out reimbursable agreements between the
Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and
other entities in order to maximize the effectiveness of
research and development; and
(2) collaborate with other Federal agencies, as
appropriate.
(e) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the
enactment of this section, the Secretary and the Director
shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report
detailing the following:
(1) Interagency coordination between each Federal agency
involved in the research and development activities carried
out under this section.
(2) Potential opportunities to expand the technical
capabilities of the Department of Energy and the National
Science Foundation.
(3) Collaborative research achievements.
(4) Areas of future mutually beneficial successes.
(5) Continuation of coordination activities between the
Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation.
(f) Research Security.--The activities authorized under
this section shall be applied in a manner consistent with
subtitle D of title VI of the Research and Development,
Competition, and Innovation Act (enacted as division B of
Public Law 117-167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Babin) and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 1350, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1350, the DOE and
NSF Interagency Research Act, which passed the House in the 118th
Congress. This bill supports the longstanding partnership between the
Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, allowing
these agencies to work on cutting-edge research and technological
challenges.
As this body is aware, our adversaries, like the Chinese Communist
Party, are quickly closing the gap on innovative technologies like
artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and advanced
manufacturing.
{time} 1515
The CCP's efforts to outspend, out-educate, and outpace the the
United States in these critical areas are increasingly concerning and
something that we cannot ignore.
This legislation will bolster U.S. leadership on the global stage in
emerging technologies, ensuring that our competitors do not eclipse us.
Additionally, by authorizing this interagency collaboration, we
maximize our investments to maintain our competitive edge.
DOE is our Nation's largest supporter of basic research in physical
sciences, while NSF is the backbone of the collaborative research
environment between government and academia. Together, these agencies
can fuel innovation across multiple disciplines, including physics,
quantum information sciences, artificial intelligence, and materials
science.
This bill enhances the capabilities of DOE and NSF, leveraging their
research and development investments to maximize the impact of taxpayer
dollars. By authorizing collaboration between DOE and NSF, we maximize
our return on investment and ensure that we remain at the forefront of
technological progress.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Stevens and Baird and the
members of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for
reintroducing this important legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, hopefully, our friends and colleagues in the other
Chamber are listening because we are moving once again to pass an
incredible piece of legislation, H.R. 1350, the DOE and NSF Interagency
Research Act, that I and Dr. Jim Baird have introduced yet again to
see it, hopefully, pass in the House, and we eagerly await the Senate
to take it up.
Simply put, H.R. 1350 authorizes collaborative research between the
Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation in areas that
are essential to our national competitiveness. This legislation will
build on the longstanding partnership between the Department of Energy
and the National Science Foundation to leverage the unique investments
and expertise in a wide range of fields, including quantum science,
artificial intelligence, fusion energy, and, of course, advanced
manufacturing.
Alongside these research partnerships, this legislation also
authorizes collaborative initiatives in education, training, and
development to build a stronger workforce in the science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics fields.
Lastly, this legislation promotes secure data and information
transfer capabilities between these agencies so that we are not working
in silos but are working together in a safe and secure environment to
develop a shared, agile data ecosystem.
In August 2024, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute updated its
dataset, exposing a dramatic shift in U.S. technology leadership. Once
dominant in 60 of the 64 critical technologies, according to this
policy institute, the U.S. now leads in just 7. China has surged from 3
to 57 since the start of the century.
This is not to put a wet blanket on our incredible country and our
innovation capabilities. We want to be measuring, coordinating, and
strategic, and we want to be effective stewards of any taxpayer
dollars, which is why this bill is not appropriating any such thing.
We are in a wake-up call moment, but this isn't over. To reclaim our
edge, we have to empower our top
[[Page H1207]]
science agencies to unite, to collaborate, and to drive the innovation
necessary to lead before any of our competitors seek to leave us
behind. That is why we have this bill. As the chair said, this has
passed the House. Our colleagues in the Senate just need to do their
jobs.
This collaboration between NSF and the DOE is not new. In fact, they
have an extensive history of joint activities, such as support for the
development of the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a world-class tool for
scientific discovery and astronomy located in Chile. We are proud of
that partnership.
A testament to the power of these collaborations, this observatory
just reached a major milestone with the installation of the Large
Synoptic Survey Telescope, the LSST, the largest digital camera ever
built. This facility will soon be ready to scan the sky for the next 10
years, creating an ultrahigh definition, time-lapsed record of our
universe.
The DOE and NSF Interagency Research Act strengthens the legislative
foundation of our beloved CHIPS and Science Act, a landmark bill that
enables both agencies to foster a more collaborative research
environment to maximize their collective impacts for our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, for all of these reasons, this bipartisan legislation
falls upon us, and I encourage all of my colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Baird), my dear
friend and one of my favorite colleagues--if that is okay and germane
to say--for his collaboration on this bill. We are both midwesterners.
He is an incredibly accomplished academic, veteran, and businessman
from an important part of our Nation. I have had the sincere privilege
of collaborating on legislation with the gentleman since we were first
sworn into Congress.
Mr. Speaker, we are again partnering on H.R. 1350, and I urge my
colleagues to vote in support of this bill, as I have done in other
sessions, so that we can implore the Senate to do their part. We are
introducing this bill early in the 119th session. We will pass it
through the House and, hopefully, see this become law.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1350, the DOE and NSF Interagency Research Act,
will support U.S. competitiveness in emerging technologies and key
economic sectors while leveraging taxpayer dollars, enabling more to be
accomplished with fewer resources.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the good work of my colleagues,
Representatives Stevens and Baird. I urge my colleagues to support this
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Department of Energy
and National Science Foundation Interagency Research Act, and I thank
Congresswoman Haley Stevens for working with me on this bipartisan
bill.
The Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation are
vehicles for some of our nation's cutting-edge scientific research.
Combined, these agencies tackle the modern challenges of physics,
quantum information sciences, Artificial Intelligence, and beyond.
However, there is no clear directive for these organizations to work
together.
This LegisLation explicitly directs the Secretary of Energy and the
Director of the NSF to coordinate their activities to accelerate
research and unlock new opportunities.
Operating in a silo is never the best practice when it comes to
conducting scientific research, especially as our country looks to
maximize the use of Americans' taxpayer dollars AND bolster our science
and technology sectors to combat the growing threat of the Chinese
Communist Party.
With this bill, the Department of Energy and the NSF can maximize
their impact through coordination and leveraging each other's
investments in research and development. The United States has earned
its reputation as a world leader in scientific research and innovation,
and now more than ever, we must reinforce critical partnerships that
promote these advancements.
As we face increased competition from Communist China, we must ensure
WE lead the world in research and development, including in areas like
Artificial Intelligence, so that our country--not Communist China--
continues to set the rules of the road.
Thank you again to Congresswoman Stevens for working with me on this
commonsense, bipartisan approach that empowers American innovation.
This legislation unanimously passed the U.S. House of Representatives
in 2023, and I hope we see this bill across the finish line this
Congress.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Kennedy of Utah). The question is on the
motion offered by the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1350.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________