[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 1]
[Senate]
[Pages 220-239]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. DOMENICI (for himself, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Alexander, Ms. 
        Mikulski, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Hatch, Mr. Obama, Mr. 
        Warner, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Bond, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Burns, Mr. 
        Bayh, Mr. Craig, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Menendez, 
        Mr. DeWine, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Smith, Mr. 
        Nelson of Florida, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Allen, Mr. 
        Akaka, Mr. Talent, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Chambliss, Ms. Stabenow, 
        Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Coleman, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Martinez, 
        Mr. Inouye, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Biden, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Hagel, Ms. 
        Murkowski, Mr. Pryor, Ms. Collins, Mr. Vitter, and Ms. 
        Landrieu):
  S. 2197. A bill to improve the global competitiveness of the United 
States in science and energy technology, to strengthen basic research 
programs at the Department of Energy, and to provide support for 
mathematics and science education at all levels through the resources 
available through the Department of Energy, including at the National 
Laboratories; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DOMENICI (for himself, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Alexander, Ms. 
        Mikulski, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Obama, Mr. Warner, Mr. 
        Lieberman, Mr. Bond, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Burns, Mr. Bayh, Mr. 
        Craig, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Menendez, Mr. DeWine, 
        Mr. Kohl, Mr. Thomas, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Smith, Mr. Nelson of 
        Florida, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Allen, Mr. Akaka, Mr. 
        Talent, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Coleman, Mr. 
        Salazar, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Inouye, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Biden, Mr. 
        Cochran, Mr. Hagel, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Pryor, Mr. Enzi, Ms. 
        Collins, Mr. Vitter, and Ms. Landrieu):
  S. 2198. A bill to ensure the United States successfully competes in 
the 21st century global economy; to the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. DOMENICI (for himself, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Alexander, Ms. 
        Mikulski, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Warner, Mr. Obama, Mr. Bond, 
        Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Burns, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Craig, Mr. Bayh, 
        Mrs. Hutchison, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Menendez, Mr. 
        Thomas, Mr. Kohl, Mr. Smith, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Voinovich, Mr. 
        Nelson of Florida, Mr. Allen, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Talent, Mr. Akaka, 
        Mr. Chambliss, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. 
        Coleman, Mr. Dayton, Mr. Martinez, Mr. Salazar, Mr. Inouye, Mr. 
        Stevens, Mr. Biden, Mr. Cochran, Mr. Hagel, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. 
        Pryor, Ms. Collins, Mr. Vitter, and Ms. Landrieu):
  S. 2199. A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide 
tax incentives to promote research and development, innovation, and 
continuing education; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a legislative 
package which we refer to as the ``Protecting America's Competitive 
Edge Act of 2006'' or the ``PACE'' Act. This legislation ensures that 
the United States continues to set the pace in science, and in the 
development of new technologies.

[[Page 221]]

  I know my colleagues Senator Bingaman, Senator Alexander, and Senator 
Mikulski share my conviction that this legislation addresses one of the 
most pressing challenges before us today. There are troubling signs 
that the United States is becoming less competitive in scientific and 
high-technology fields. Today, the United States is a net importer of 
high technology products. The U.S. share of global high-technology 
exports has fallen over the last two decades from 30 percent to only 17 
percent.
  The PACE legislation closely follows the recommendations made in a 
recent National Academy of Sciences report entitled ``Rising Above the 
Gathering Storm.'' The metaphorical storm is the challenge to our 
global competitiveness in science and technology. I want to 
congratulate Norm Augustine, who chaired the National Academy 
committee, and the members of his committee for producing such a 
comprehensive, ground-breaking report on this important issue.
  The Augustine report makes 20 recommendations for U.S. schools, 
universities, research and economic policy. Our legislation will enact 
each of the recommendations. For example, our legislation doubles 
authorizations for basic research in the physical sciences by over the 
next 7 years. It also requires that at least 8 percent of Federal 
research budgets are allocated to high-risk, potentially high pay-off 
research. It will strengthen the skills of thousands of math and 
science teachers by establishing training and education programs at 
summer institutes hosted at the National Laboratories.
  We need to take U.S. competitiveness seriously. We need to take 
action to support our standard of living, and ensure we continue to 
grow and prosper. If we do not, we can expect other nations to rival 
our global competitiveness--and one day to surpass us.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of all three bills in the 
following order, the PACE-Energy Act, the PACE-Education Act, and the 
PACE-Finance Act, be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2197

       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 ``Protecting America's 
     Competitive Edge Through Energy Act of 2006'' or the ``PACE-
     Energy Act''.

     SEC. 2. MATHEMATICS, SCIENCE, AND ENGINEERING EDUCATION AT 
                   THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

       (a) Science Education Programs.--Section 3164 of the 
     Department of Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (42 
     U.S.C. 7381a) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsections (b) through (d) as 
     subsections (c) through (e), respectively;
       (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
       ``(b) Organization of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering 
     Education Programs.--
       ``(1) Director of mathematics, science and engineering 
     education.--The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary 
     for Science (referred to in this subsection as the `Under 
     Secretary'), shall appoint a Director of Mathematics, 
     Science, and Engineering Education (referred to in this 
     subsection as the `Director') with the principal 
     responsibility for administering mathematics, science, and 
     engineering education programs of the Department.
       ``(2) Qualifications.--The Director shall be an individual, 
     who by reason of professional background and experience, is 
     specially qualified to advise the Under Secretary on all 
     matters pertaining to mathematics, science, and engineering 
     education at the Department.
       ``(3) Duties.--The Director shall--
       ``(A) oversee all mathematics, science, and engineering 
     education programs of the Department;
       ``(B) represent the Department as the principal interagency 
     liaison for all mathematics, science, and engineering 
     education programs, unless otherwise represented by the 
     Secretary or the Under Secretary;
       ``(C) prepare the annual budget and advise the Under 
     Secretary on all budgetary issues for mathematics, science, 
     and engineering education programs of the Department; and
       ``(D) perform other such matters related to mathematics, 
     science, and engineering education as are required by the 
     Secretary or the Under Secretary.
       ``(4) Staff and other resources.--The Secretary shall 
     assign to the Director such personnel and other resources as 
     the Secretary considers necessary to permit the Director to 
     carry out the duties of the Director.
       ``(5) Assessment.--The Secretary shall offer to enter into 
     a contract with the National Academy of Sciences under which 
     the National Academy, not later than 5 years after, and not 
     later than 10 years after, the date of enactment of this 
     paragraph, shall assess the performance of the mathematics, 
     science, and engineering education programs of the 
     Department.
       ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to 
     carry out this subsection.''; and
       (3) by striking subsection (d) (as redesignated by 
     paragraph (1)) and inserting the following:
       ``(d) Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education 
     Fund.--The Secretary shall establish a Mathematics, Science, 
     and Engineering Education Fund, using not less than 0.3 
     percent of the amount made available to the Department for 
     research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
     application for each fiscal year, to carry out sections 3165, 
     3166, and 3167.''.
       (b) Definition.--Section 3168 of the Department of Energy 
     Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381d) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) 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).''.
       (c) Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education 
     Programs.--The Department of Energy Science Education 
     Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by inserting after section 3162 the following:

             ``Subpart A--Science Education Enhancement'';

       (2) in section 3169, by striking ``part'' and inserting 
     ``subpart''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:

 ``Subpart B--Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Programs

     ``SEC. 3170. DEFINITIONS.

       ``In this subpart:
       ``(1) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
     Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education.
       ``(2) 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).

   ``CHAPTER 1--ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY SCHOOLS FOR MATHEMATICS AND 
                                SCIENCE

     ``SEC. 3171. ASSISTANCE FOR SPECIALTY SCHOOLS FOR MATHEMATICS 
                   AND SCIENCE.

       ``(a) In General.--Consistent with sections 3165 and 3166, 
     the Director shall make available necessary funds for a 
     program using scientific and engineering staff of the 
     National Laboratories, in which the staff--
       ``(1) assists teaching courses at statewide specialty 
     secondary schools that provide comprehensive mathematics and 
     science (including engineering) education; and
       ``(2) uses National Laboratory scientific equipment in the 
     teaching of the courses.
       ``(b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the 
     date of enactment of the Protecting America's Competitive 
     Edge Through Energy Act of 2006, the Director shall submit a 
     report to the appropriate committees of Congress detailing 
     the impact of the activities assisted with funds made 
     available under this section.

         ``CHAPTER 2--EXPERIENTIAL-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

     ``SEC. 3175. EXPERIENTIAL-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

       ``(a) Internships Authorized.--From the amounts authorized 
     under subsection (d), the Secretary, acting through the 
     Director, shall establish a summer internship program for 
     middle school and secondary school students that shall--
       ``(1) provide the students with internships at the National 
     Laboratories; and
       ``(2) promote experiential, hands-on learning in 
     mathematics or science.
       ``(b) Eligibility Criteria.--The Director shall establish 
     criteria to determine the sufficient level of academic 
     preparedness necessary for a student to be eligible for an 
     internship under this section.
       ``(c) Priority.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Director shall give priority for an 
     internship under this section to a student who meets the 
     eligibility criteria described in subsection (b) and who 
     attends a school--
       ``(A)(i) in which not less than 40 percent of the children 
     enrolled in the school are from low-income families; or
       ``(ii) that is designated with a school locale code of 7 or 
     8, as determined by the Secretary of Education; and
       ``(B) for which there is--
       ``(i) a high percentage of teachers who are not teaching in 
     the academic subject areas or grade levels in which the 
     teachers were trained to teach;
       ``(ii) a high teacher turnover rate; or
       ``(iii) a high percentage of teachers with emergency, 
     provisional, or temporary certification or licenses.
       ``(2) Coordination.--The Director shall consult with the 
     Secretary of Education in

[[Page 222]]

     order to determine whether a student meets the priority 
     requirements of this subsection.
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $50,000,000 for 
     each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2013.

``CHAPTER 3--NATIONAL LABORATORIES CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS 
                         AND SCIENCE EDUCATION

     ``SEC. 3181. NATIONAL LABORATORIES CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN 
                   MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish at each of 
     the National Laboratories a program to support a Center of 
     Excellence in Mathematics and Science at 1 public secondary 
     school located in the region of the National Laboratory to 
     provide assistance in accordance with subsection (c).
       ``(b) Goals.--The Secretary shall establish goals and 
     performance assessments for each Center of Excellence 
     authorized under subsection (a).
       ``(c) Assistance.--Consistent with sections 3165 and 3166, 
     the Director shall make available necessary funds for a 
     program using scientific and engineering staff of the 
     National Laboratories, during which the staff--
       ``(1) assists teaching courses at the Centers of Excellence 
     in Mathematics and Science; and
       ``(2) uses National Laboratory scientific equipment in the 
     teaching of the courses.
       ``(d) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall consider the results 
     of the performance assessments required under subsection (b) 
     in any performance review of a National Laboratories 
     management and operations contractor.

                     ``CHAPTER 4--SUMMER INSTITUTES

     ``SEC. 3185. SUMMER INSTITUTES.

       ``(a) Definition of Summer Institute.--In this section, the 
     term `summer institute' means an institute at a National 
     Laboratory, conducted during the summer, that--
       ``(1) is conducted for a period of not less than 2 weeks;
       ``(2) includes, as a component, a program that provides 
     direct interaction between students and faculty; and
       ``(3) provides for follow-up training during the academic 
     year.
       ``(b) Summer Institute Programs Authorized.--The Secretary, 
     acting through the Director, shall establish or expand 
     program of summer institutes at each of the National 
     Laboratories to provide additional training to strengthen the 
     mathematics and science teaching skills of teachers employed 
     at public schools in kindergarten through grade 12 education, 
     with a particular focus on teachers of kindergarten through 
     grade 8.

              ``CHAPTER 5--DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST PROGRAM

     ``SEC. 3191. DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to promote 
     scientific and academic excellence at National Laboratories.
       ``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting through the 
     Director and in consultation with the Director of the Office 
     of Science, shall establish a program to support the 
     appointment of distinguished scientists by National 
     Laboratories.
       ``(c) Qualifications.--Successful candidates under this 
     section shall be persons who, by reason of professional 
     background and experience, are able to bring international 
     recognition to the appointing National Laboratory in their 
     field of scientific endeavor.
       ``(d) Selection.--A distinguished scientist appointed under 
     this section shall be selected through an open peer review 
     process.
       ``(e) Appointment.--An appointment by a National Laboratory 
     under this section shall be at the rank of the highest grade 
     of distinguished scientist or technical staff of the National 
     Laboratory.
       ``(f) Duration.--An appointment under this section shall be 
     for 6 years, consisting of 2 3-year funding allotments.
       ``(g) Use of Funds.--Funds made available under this 
     section may be used for--
       ``(1) the salary of the distinguished scientist and support 
     staff;
       ``(2) undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral 
     appointments;
       ``(3) research-related equipment;
       ``(4) professional travel; and
       ``(5) such other requirements as the Director determines 
     are necessary to carry out the purpose of the program.
       ``(h) Review.--
       ``(1) In general.--The appointment of a distinguished 
     scientist under this section shall be reviewed at the end of 
     the first 3-year allotment for the distinguished scientist 
     through an open peer review process to determine if the 
     appointment is meeting the purpose of this section under 
     subsection (a).
       ``(2) Funding.--Funding of the appointment of the 
     distinguished scientist for the second 3-year allotment shall 
     be determined based on the review conducted under paragraph 
     (1).''.

     SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY EARLY-CAREER RESEARCH GRANTS.

       (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to 
     authorize research grants in the Department of Energy for 
     early-career scientists and engineers for purposes of 
     pursuing independent research.
       (b) Definition of Eligible Early-Career Researcher.--In 
     this section, the term ``eligible early-career researcher'' 
     means an individual who--
       (1) completed a doctorate or other terminal degree not more 
     than 10 years before the date of enactment of this Act and 
     has demonstrated promise in the field of science, technology, 
     engineering, or mathematics; or
       (2) has an equivalent professional qualification in the 
     field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
       (c) Grant Program Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Energy, through the 
     Director of the Office of Science of the Department of 
     Energy, shall award not less than 65 grants per year to 
     outstanding eligible early-career researchers to support the 
     work of such researchers in the Department, particularly the 
     National Laboratories, or other federally-funded research and 
     development centers.
       (2) Application.--An eligible early-career researcher who 
     desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit to 
     the Secretary of Energy an application at such time, in such 
     manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary 
     may require.
       (3) Special consideration.--In awarding grants under this 
     section, the Secretary of Energy shall give special 
     consideration to eligible early-career researchers who have 
     followed alternative career paths such as working part-time 
     or in non-academic settings, or who have taken a significant 
     career break or other leave of absence.
       (4) Duration and amount.--A grant under this section shall 
     be 5 years in duration. An eligible early career-researcher 
     who receives a grant under this section shall receive 
     $100,000 for each year of the grant period.
       (5) Use of funds.--An eligible early career-researcher who 
     receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds 
     for basic research in natural sciences, engineering, 
     mathematics, or computer sciences at the Department of 
     Energy, particularly the National Laboratories, or other 
     federally-funded research and development center.
       (6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       (A) $6,500,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (B) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (C) $19,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (D) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
       (E) $32,500,000 for fiscal year 2011.

     SEC. 4. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AUTHORITY-ENERGY.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) ARPA-E.--The term ``ARPA-E'' means the Advanced 
     Research Projects Authority-Energy established under 
     subsection (b).
       (2) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Acceleration Fund 
     for Research and Development of Energy Technologies 
     established under subsection (c).
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Energy.
       (4) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' means 
     the position of Under Secretary for Science established under 
     section 202(b) of the Department of Energy Organization Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 7132(b)).
       (b) ARPA-E.--
       (1) Establishment.--There is established the Advanced 
     Research Projects Authority-Energy.
       (2) Director.--ARPA-E shall be headed by a Director, who 
     shall be appointed by the Secretary and report to the Under 
     Secretary.
       (3) Responsibilities.--The Director shall use the Fund to 
     award competitive, merit-based grants, cooperative 
     agreements, and contracts to public or private entities 
     (including businesses, federally funded research and 
     development centers, and institutions of higher education) 
     to--
       (A) support basic and applied energy research to promote 
     revolutionary changes in technologies that would promote the 
     missions of the Department of Energy;
       (B) advance the development, testing, evaluation, and 
     deployment of critical energy technologies; and
       (C) accelerate prototyping and development of technologies 
     that would address national energy priorities.
       (4) Targeted competitions.--The Director may solicit 
     proposals to address areas of national need in science and 
     energy technology, as identified by the Director.
       (5) Coordination.--The Director--
       (A) shall ensure that the activities of ARPA-E are 
     coordinated with activities of other appropriate research 
     agencies; and
       (B) may carry out projects under this section jointly with 
     other agencies.
       (6) Personnel.--
       (A) In general.--In hiring personnel for ARPA-E, the 
     Secretary shall have the hiring and management authorities 
     described in section 1101 of the Strom Thurmond National 
     Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999 (Public Law 
     105-261; 5 U.S.C. 3104 note).
       (B) Term.--The term of appointments for an employee under 
     subparagraph (A) may not exceed 5 years, except that the 
     Secretary may renew the term of appointment of the employee 
     for an additional term of 5 years.
       (7) Demonstrations.--The Director shall periodically hold 
     energy technology demonstrations to improve contact among 
     technology developers, vendors, and acquisition personnel.
       (c) Fund.--

[[Page 223]]

       (1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury of 
     the United States a revolving fund, to be known as the 
     ``Acceleration Fund for Research and Development of Energy 
     Technologies'', consisting of--
       (A) such amounts as are appropriated to the Fund under 
     paragraph (5); and
       (B) any interest earned on investment of amounts in the 
     Fund under paragraph (3).
       (2) Expenditures from fund.--
       (A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), on request by 
     the Director, the Secretary of the Treasury shall transfer 
     from the Fund to the Director such amounts as the Director 
     determines are necessary to carry out this section.
       (B) Administrative expenses.--An amount not exceeding 5 
     percent of the amounts in the Fund shall be available for 
     each fiscal year to pay the administrative expenses necessary 
     to carry out this section.
       (3) Investment of amounts.--
       (A) In general.--The Secretary of the Treasury shall invest 
     such portion of the Fund as is not, in the judgment of the 
     Secretary of the Treasury, required to meet current 
     withdrawals.
       (B) Interest-bearing obligations.--Investments may be made 
     only in interest-bearing obligations of the United States.
       (C) Acquisition of obligations.--For the purpose of 
     investments under subparagraph (A), obligations may be 
     acquired--
       (i) on original issue at the issue price; or
       (ii) by purchase of outstanding obligations at the market 
     price.
       (D) Sale of obligations.--Any obligation acquired by the 
     Fund may be sold by the Secretary of the Treasury at the 
     market price.
       (E) Credits to fund.--The interest on, and the proceeds 
     from the sale or redemption of, any obligations held in the 
     Fund shall be credited to, and form a part of, the Fund.
       (4) Transfers of amounts.--
       (A) In general.--The amounts required to be transferred to 
     the Fund under this subsection shall be transferred at least 
     monthly from the general fund of the Treasury to the Fund on 
     the basis of estimates made by the Secretary of the Treasury.
       (B) Adjustments.--Proper adjustment shall be made in 
     amounts subsequently transferred to the extent prior 
     estimates were in excess of or less than the amounts required 
     to be transferred.
       (5) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Fund--
       (A) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (B) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (C) $700,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (D) $900,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
       (E) $1,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF 
                   ENERGY FOR BASIC RESEARCH.

       Section 971(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
     16311(b)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting a semicolon; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) $5,320,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       ``(5) $5,851,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
       ``(6) $6,436,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
       ``(7) $7,080,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.''.

     
                                  ____
                                S. 2198

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Protecting 
     America's Competitive Edge Through Education and Research Act 
     of 2006'' or the ``PACE-Education Act''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title.

TITLE I--10,000 TEACHERS, 10,000,000 MINDS K-12 MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE 
                               EDUCATION

                         Subtitle A--Education

Sec. 111. Definitions.

                  CHAPTER 1--MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS

Sec. 121. Baccalaureate degrees in mathematics and science with teacher 
              certification.
Sec. 122. Master's degrees in mathematics and science education for 
              teachers.

  CHAPTER 2--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS


SUBCHAPTER A--National Science Foundation Scholarships for Mathematics 
                          and Science Teachers

Sec. 131. Purpose.
Sec. 132. Recruiting and training new mathematics and science teachers.


 SUBCHAPTER B--National Science Foundation Fellowships for Mathematics 
                          and Science Teachers

Sec. 141. National Science Foundation fellowships for mathematics and 
              science teachers.

 CHAPTER 3--ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS

Sec. 151. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Programs.

 CHAPTER 4--NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING 
                               MATERIALS

Sec. 161. National clearinghouse on mathematics and science teaching 
              materials.

           CHAPTER 5--FUTURE AMERICAN-SCIENTIST SCHOLARSHIPS

Sec. 171. Future American-Scientist Scholarships.

                CHAPTER 6--GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

Sec. 181. Graduate Research Fellowships in scientific areas of national 
              need.

  Subtitle B--National Science Foundation Early-Career Research Grants

Sec. 191. National Science Foundation early-career research grants.

  TITLE II--SOWING THE SEEDS THROUGH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH

      Subtitle A--Office of Science and Technology Policy Matters

Sec. 211. Coordination of science, mathematics, and engineering 
              education programs.
Sec. 212. National Coordination Office for Advanced Research 
              Instrumentation and Facilities.
Sec. 213. High-risk, high-payoff research.
Sec. 214. President's Innovation Award.

   Subtitle B--National Aeronautics and Space Administration Matters

Sec. 221. National Aeronautics and Space Administration early-career 
              research grants.
Sec. 222. Authorization of appropriations for the National Aeronautics 
              and Space Administration for basic sciences.

                   Subtitle C--Communications Matters

Sec. 231. Sense of Senate on policies to accelerate deployment of 
              access to broadband Internet.

                       Subtitle D--Science Parks

Sec. 241. Development of science parks.

 Subtitle E--Authorization of Appropriations for the National Science 
             Foundation for Research and Related Activities

Sec. 251. Authorization of appropriations for the National Science 
              Foundation for research and related activities.

 TITLE III--ENSURING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST REMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES

 Subtitle A--Visas for Doctorate Students in Mathematics, Engineering, 
                  Technology, or the Physical Sciences

Sec. 311. Findings.
Sec. 312. Sense of the Senate.
Sec. 313. Visas for doctorate students in mathematics, engineering, 
              technology, or the physical sciences.
Sec. 314. Aliens not subject to numerical limitations on employment-
              based immigrants.

                       Subtitle B--Patent Reform

Sec. 321. Patent reform.

                   TITLE IV--REFORMING DEEMED EXPORTS

Sec. 401. Sense of Senate on exemption of certain uses of technology 
              from treatment as exports.

   TITLE V--STRENGTHENING BASIC RESEARCH AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Sec. 501. Department of Defense early-career research grants.
Sec. 502. Authorization of appropriations for the Department of Defense 
              for basic research.

TITLE I--10,000 TEACHERS, 10,000,000 MINDS K-12 MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE 
                               EDUCATION

                         Subtitle A--Education

     SEC. 111. DEFINITIONS.

       Unless otherwise specified in this subtitle, the terms used 
     in this subtitle have the meanings given the terms in section 
     9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 7801).

                  CHAPTER 1--MATH AND SCIENCE TEACHERS

     SEC. 121. BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE 
                   WITH TEACHER CERTIFICATION.

       (a) Grants Authorized.--From the amounts authorized under 
     subsection (g), the Secretary shall award grants to eligible 
     recipients to enable the eligible recipients to provide 
     integrated courses of study in mathematics, science, or 
     engineering and teacher education, that lead to a 
     baccalaureate degree in mathematics, science, or engineering 
     with concurrent teacher certification.
       (b) Definition of Eligible Recipient.--In this section, the 
     term ``eligible recipient'' means any department of 
     mathematics, science, or engineering of an institution of 
     higher education.
       (c) Award and Duration.--
       (1) Award.--The Secretary shall award a grant under this 
     section to each eligible recipient that collaborates with a 
     teacher

[[Page 224]]

     preparation program at an institution of higher education to 
     develop undergraduate degrees in mathematics, science, or 
     engineering with pedagogy education and teacher 
     certification.
       (2) Duration.--The Secretary shall award a grant under this 
     section to each eligible recipient in an amount that is not 
     more than $1,000,000 per year for a period of 5 years.
       (d) Matching Requirement.--Each eligible recipient 
     receiving a grant under this section shall provide, from non-
     Federal sources (provided in cash or in kind), to carry out 
     the activities supported by the grant, an amount that is not 
     less than 25 percent of the amount of the grant for the first 
     year of the grant, not less than 35 percent of the amount of 
     the grant for the second year of the grant, and not less than 
     50 percent of the amount of the grant for each succeeding 
     fiscal year of the grant.
       (e) Application.--
       (1) In general.--Each eligible recipient desiring a grant 
     under this section shall submit an application to the 
     Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by 
     such information as the Secretary may require.
       (2) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant to 
     paragraph (1) shall include--
       (A) a description of how the eligible recipient will use 
     grant funds to develop and administer undergraduate degrees 
     in mathematics, science, or engineering with pedagogy 
     education and teacher certification, including a description 
     of proposed high-quality research and laboratory experiences 
     that will be available to students;
       (B) a description of how the mathematics, science, or 
     engineering departments will coordinate with a teacher 
     preparation program to carry out the activities authorized 
     under this section;
       (C) a resource assessment that describes the resources 
     available to the eligible recipient, the intended use of the 
     grant funds, and the commitment of the resources of the 
     eligible recipient to the activities assisted under this 
     section, including financial support, faculty participation, 
     time commitments, and continuation of the activities assisted 
     under the grant when the grant period ends;
       (D) an evaluation plan, including measurable objectives and 
     benchmarks for--
       (i) improving student retention;
       (ii) increasing the percentage of highly qualified 
     mathematics and science teachers; and
       (iii) improving kindergarten through grade 12 student 
     academic performance in mathematics and science;
       (E) a description of the activities the eligible recipient 
     will conduct to ensure graduates of the program keep informed 
     of the latest developments in the respective fields;
       (F) a description of how the eligible recipient will work 
     with local educational agencies in the area in which the 
     eligible recipient is located and, to the extent practicable, 
     with local educational agencies where graduates of the 
     program authorized under this section are employed, to ensure 
     that the activities required under subsection (f)(3) are 
     carried out; and
       (G) a description of efforts to encourage applications to 
     the program from underrepresented groups, including women and 
     minority groups.
       (f) Authorized Activities.--An eligible recipient shall use 
     the funds received under this section--
       (1) to develop and administer teacher education and 
     certification programs with in-depth content education and 
     subject-specific education in pedagogy, leading to 
     baccalaureate degrees in mathematics, science, or engineering 
     with concurrent teacher certification;
       (2) to offer high-quality research experiences and training 
     in the use of educational technology; and
       (3) to work with local educational agencies in the area in 
     which the eligible recipient is located and, to the extent 
     practicable, with local educational agencies where graduates 
     of the program authorized under this section are employed, to 
     support the new teachers during the initial years of 
     teaching, which may include--
       (A) promoting effective teaching skills;
       (B) development of skills in educational interventions 
     based on scientifically-based research;
       (C) providing opportunities for high-quality teacher 
     mentoring;
       (D) providing opportunities for regular professional 
     development;
       (E) interdisciplinary collaboration among exemplary 
     teachers, faculty, researchers, and other staff who prepare 
     new teachers; and
       (F) allowing time for joint lesson planning and other 
     constructive collaborative activities.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       (1) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (2) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (3) $190,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (4) $290,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       (5) $390,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
       (6) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
       (7) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.

     SEC. 122. MASTER'S DEGREES IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE 
                   EDUCATION FOR TEACHERS.

       (a) Purposes.--The purpose of this section is provide 
     competitive institutional grants for eligible recipients to 
     develop part-time, 3-year master's degree programs in 
     mathematics and science education for teachers in order to 
     enhance the content knowledge and pedagogical skills of 
     teachers.
       (b) Definition of Eligible Recipient.--In this section, the 
     term ``eligible recipient'' means a mathematics, science, or 
     engineering department of an institution of higher education.
       (c) Grants Authorized.--
       (1) Grants to eligible recipients.--From the amounts 
     authorized under subsection (i), the Secretary is authorized 
     to award grants of not more than $1,000,000, on a competitive 
     basis, to eligible recipients to enable the eligible 
     recipients to carry out the authorized activities described 
     in subsection (f).
       (2) Qualification.--In order to qualify for a grant under 
     this section, an eligible recipient shall collaborate with a 
     teacher preparation program of an institution of higher 
     education.
       (d) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     this section, an eligible recipient shall submit an 
     application to the Secretary that--
       (1) meets the requirements of this section;
       (2) includes a description of how the eligible recipient 
     intends to use the grant funds provided under this section;
       (3) contains such information and assurances as the 
     Secretary may require;
       (4) describes how the eligible recipient will prepare 
     teachers to become more effective mathematics or science 
     teachers;
       (5) describes how the eligible recipient will coordinate 
     with a teacher preparation program, and how the activities of 
     the eligible recipient will be consistent with State, local, 
     and other education reform activities that promote student 
     achievement;
       (6) describes the resources available to the eligible 
     recipient, the intended use of the grant funds, and the 
     commitment of resources of the eligible recipient to the 
     activities assisted under this section, including financial 
     support, faculty participation, time commitments, and 
     continuation of the activities when the grant period ends;
       (7) provides an evaluation plan pursuant to subsection (g);
       (8) describes how the eligible recipient will align the 
     proposed master's degree program with challenging student 
     academic achievement standards, and challenging academic 
     content standards, established by the State in which the 
     eligible recipient is located;
       (9) describes the activities the eligible recipient will 
     undertake to ensure that local educational agencies in the 
     geographic areas served by the eligible recipient are 
     provided information about the activities carried out with 
     grant funds under this section; and
       (10) describes how the eligible recipient will encourage 
     applications to the program from underrepresented groups, 
     including women and minority groups.
       (e) Priority.--The Secretary may give priority 
     consideration to applications that demonstrate that the 
     eligible recipient shall--
       (1) consult with local educational agencies in developing 
     and administering master's degree programs;
       (2) use online technology to allow for flexibility in the 
     pace at which candidates complete the master's degree 
     programs; and
       (3) develop innovative efforts aimed at reducing the 
     shortage of master's degree level mathematics or science 
     teachers in low-income urban or rural areas.
       (f) Authorized Activities.--An eligible recipient shall use 
     the grant funds received under this section to develop part-
     time, 3-year master's degree programs in mathematics and 
     science education for teachers, conducted over 3 full-time 
     summer sessions, and alternate weekends during the academic 
     year, as appropriate, which shall include--
       (1) developing courses that--
       (A) are based on rigorous mathematics and science content 
     and aligned with challenging State academic content 
     standards;
       (B) promote effective teaching skills; and
       (C) promote understanding of effective instructional 
     strategies for students with special needs, including 
     students with disabilities, students who are limited English 
     proficient, and students who are gifted and talented;
       (2) hiring and training professional staff to administer 
     the program;
       (3) purchasing equipment for computer and teaching aids;
       (4) providing educational instruction for not fewer than 20 
     teachers per year;
       (5) providing stipends to help support the participants in 
     the form of tuition reimbursement and travel expenses; and
       (6) creating opportunities for clinical experience and 
     training for teachers through participation with 
     professionals in business, research, and work environments 
     relating to mathematics, science, or engineering, including 
     opportunities for using laboratory equipment.
       (g) Annual Evaluation.--Each eligible recipient shall 
     establish and include in the application submitted pursuant 
     to section (d) an evaluation plan that includes strong 
     performance objectives. The plan shall include objectives and 
     measures for increasing--

[[Page 225]]

       (1) the percentage of master's degree level mathematics or 
     science teachers hired by the State in which the eligible 
     recipient is located;
       (2) teacher retention;
       (3) the percentage of master's degree level mathematics or 
     science teachers serving in high-need schools;
       (4) the percentage of master's degree level mathematics or 
     science teachers among underrepresented groups; and
       (5) the competencies of program graduates in their 
     respective fields of mathematics or science.
       (h) Graduate Fellowships.--An individual who has received a 
     master's degree in mathematics or science education under a 
     program developed pursuant to this section and who meets the 
     requirements of section 141(b)(2) shall be eligible for a 
     fellowship authorized under such section 141(b)(2).
       (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       (1) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (2) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (3) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (4) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       (5) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
       (6) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
       (7) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.

  CHAPTER 2--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS

Subchapter A--National Science Foundation Scholarships for Mathematics 
                          and Science Teachers

     SEC. 131. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this subchapter is to annually recruit and 
     train 10,000 new mathematics and science teachers by 
     providing scholarships for undergraduate courses of study 
     leading to baccalaureate degrees in mathematics, science, or 
     engineering, with concurrent teacher certification.

     SEC. 132. RECRUITING AND TRAINING NEW MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE 
                   TEACHERS.

       (a) Grants Authorized.--From the amounts authorized under 
     subsection (g), the Director of the National Science 
     Foundation (referred to in this section as the ``Director'') 
     shall award merit-based undergraduate scholarships to 
     eligible students to assist the eligible students in paying 
     their college education expenses, which shall include 
     tuition, fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for 
     courses of instruction.
       (b) Definition of Eligible Student.--In this section, the 
     term ``eligible student'' means a student who--
       (1) attends an institution of higher education;
       (2) is majoring in mathematics, science, or engineering;
       (3) is pursuing concurrent certification in teaching; and
       (4) demonstrates continued academic achievement and 
     progress, as determined by the Director, toward completion of 
     a baccalaureate degree in mathematics, science, or 
     engineering with concurrent certification in teaching.
       (c) Awards.--The Director shall award a scholarship under 
     this section to an eligible student in an amount that is not 
     greater than $20,000 per academic year for not more than 4 
     years of undergraduate study. The amount awarded for each 
     academic year shall not exceed the student's cost of 
     attendance for the academic year.
       (d) Service Requirements.--
       (1) Service requirement.--An individual who is awarded a 
     scholarship under this section shall enter into an agreement 
     with the Director under which the individual agrees to be 
     employed for not less than 5 academic years as a full-time 
     mathematics, science, or elementary school teacher in a 
     public elementary school or secondary school, or 4 academic 
     years as a full-time mathematics, science, or elementary 
     school teacher in a public elementary school or secondary 
     school--
       (A)(i) in which not less than 40 percent of the children 
     enrolled in the school are from low-income families; or
       (ii) designated with a school locale code of 7 or 8, or 
     otherwise designated as a rural school, as determined by the 
     Secretary; and
       (B)(i) in which there is a higher percentage of teachers 
     not teaching in the academic subject areas or grade levels in 
     which the teachers were trained to teach; or
       (ii) in which there is a high teacher turnover rate or a 
     high percentage of teachers with emergency, provisional, or 
     temporary certification or licenses.
       (2) Coordination with the secretary of education.--The 
     Director shall coordinate with the Secretary to determine 
     whether an individual who receives a scholarship award under 
     this section is employed as a full-time mathematics, science, 
     or elementary school teacher in accordance with paragraphs 
     (1), (3), and (4).
       (3) Failure to comply.--If an individual who receives a 
     scholarship award under this section fails to comply with the 
     agreement entered into pursuant to paragraph (1), the 
     Director shall take 1 or more of the following actions:
       (A) Require the individual to repay all or the applicable 
     portion of the total scholarship amount awarded to the 
     individual under this section.
       (B) Impose a fine or penalty in an amount to be determined 
     by the Director.
       (4) Regulations.--The Director shall promulgate regulations 
     setting forth the terms of repayment and the criteria to be 
     considered in granting a waiver for the service requirements. 
     Such criteria shall include whether compliance with the 
     service requirements is inequitable and represents undue 
     hardship.
       (e) Coordination With the Secretary of Defense.--The 
     Director shall coordinate with the Secretary of Defense to 
     ensure members of the Armed Forces are aware of the 
     educational opportunity under this section, particularly 
     members of the Armed Forces who have training in engineering.
       (f) Fellowships.--An individual shall be eligible for a 
     fellowship under section 141(b)(1) if the individual--
       (1) has received a baccalaureate degree in mathematics, 
     science, or engineering, and concurrent certification in 
     teaching;
       (2) has received a scholarship award under this section; 
     and
       (3) meets the requirements of section 141(b)(1).
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       (1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (2) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (3) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (4) $170,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       (5) $170,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
       (6) $170,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
       (7) $170,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.

 Subchapter B--National Science Foundation Fellowships for Mathematics 
                          and Science Teachers

     SEC. 141. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIPS FOR 
                   MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHERS.

       (a) Fellowship Authorized.--The Director of the National 
     Science Foundation (referred to in this section as the 
     ``Director'') is authorized to award fellowships to 
     individuals, as described in subsection (b), a portion of 
     which shall be used for continuing education and professional 
     development activities.
       (b) Fellowship Awards.--The Director shall award the 
     following fellowships:
       (1) The Director shall award $10,000 annually for 4 
     academic years to an individual who meets the following 
     criteria:
       (A) The individual has received a baccalaureate degree in 
     mathematics, science, or engineering, and concurrent 
     certification in teaching.
       (B) The individual received a scholarship award under 
     section 132.
       (C) The individual is employed as a full-time mathematics, 
     science, or elementary school teacher in a public elementary 
     school or secondary school--
       (i)(I) in which not less than 40 percent of the children 
     enrolled in the school are from low-income families; or
       (II) designated with a school locale code of 7 or 8, or 
     otherwise designated as a rural school, as determined by the 
     Secretary; and
       (ii)(I) in which there is a high percentage of teachers not 
     teaching in the academic subject areas or grade levels in 
     which the teachers were trained to teach; or
       (II) in which there is a high teacher turnover rate or a 
     high percentage of teachers with emergency, provisional, or 
     temporary certification or licenses.
       (2) The Director shall award $10,000 annually for 5 
     academic years to an individual who has received a master's 
     degree in mathematics or science education under a program 
     developed pursuant to section 122 and who undertakes 
     increased responsibilities, such as teacher mentoring and 
     other leadership activities.
       (c) Application.--An individual desiring a fellowship under 
     this section shall submit an application to the Director at 
     such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
     information as the Director may require. Each application 
     shall include assurances that the individual meets the 
     requirements of the fellowship for which the individual is 
     applying.
       (d) Coordination.--The Director shall coordinate with the 
     Secretary to determine whether an individual who receives a 
     fellowship under this section meets the requirements of this 
     section.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated--
       (1) to carry out subsection (b)(1)--
       (A) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (B) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (C) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       (D) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
       (E) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
       (F) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
       (2) to carry out subsection (b)(2)--
       (A) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
       (B) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2011;
       (C) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2012; and
       (D) $400,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.

 CHAPTER 3--ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS

     SEC. 151. ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE 
                   PROGRAMS.

       (a) Purpose.--The purposes of this section are--

[[Page 226]]

       (1) to educate an additional 70,000 Advanced Placement (AP) 
     or International Baccalaureate (IB) and 80,000 pre-AP or pre-
     IB teachers of mathematics and science over the 5 year period 
     beginning with 2007; and
       (2) to triple to 1,500,000 the number of students who take 
     AP and IB mathematics and science examinations.
       (b) Grants Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--From the amounts authorized under 
     subsection (i), the Secretary shall award grants, on a 
     competitive basis, to eligible recipients to enable the 
     eligible recipients to carry out the activities authorized in 
     subsection (f).
       (2) Limitation.--An eligible recipient may not receive more 
     than 1 grant at a time under this section to undertake 
     authorized activities within the same State.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Eligible recipient.--The term ``eligible recipient'' 
     means a nonprofit educational entity with expertise in 
     Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate services.
       (2) Master teacher.--The term ``master teacher'' means a 
     teacher--
       (A) with an advanced degree or an advanced certification;
       (B) who uses the most effective teaching methods in the 
     teacher's disciplines; and
       (C) who has shown demonstrable results of higher student 
     achievement in mathematics or science.
       (d) Application.--
       (1) In general.--Each eligible recipient desiring a grant 
     under this section shall submit an application to the 
     Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by 
     such information as the Secretary may require.
       (2) Contents.--Each application submitted pursuant to 
     paragraph (1) shall--
       (A) describe the need for increased access to Advanced 
     Placement or International Baccalaureate programs in 
     mathematics and science;
       (B) provide for the involvement of business and community 
     organizations in the activities to be assisted;
       (C) describe the availability of matching funds from non-
     Federal sources to assist in the activities authorized; and
       (D) demonstrate an intent to carry out activities that 
     target local educational agencies--
       (i) that serve not fewer than 10,000 children from low-
     income families;
       (ii) for which not less than 20 percent of the children 
     served by the local educational agency are children from low-
     income families; or
       (iii) with a total of less than 600 students in average 
     daily attendance at the schools that are served by the local 
     educational agency and all of those schools are designated 
     with a school locale code of 7 or 8, or otherwise designated 
     as a rural school, as determined by the Secretary.
       (e) Priority Consideration.--The Secretary shall give 
     priority to eligible recipients that submit an application 
     under subsection (d) that demonstrates a pervasive need to 
     expand or develop Advanced Placement or International 
     Baccalaureate programs in mathematics and science.
       (f) Authorized Activities.--An eligible recipient shall use 
     the grant funds provided under this section for the following 
     activities:
       (1) To identify and work with local educational agencies to 
     expand or develop Advanced Placement or International 
     Baccalaureate and pre-Advanced Placement or pre-International 
     Baccalaureate programs in mathematics and science in schools 
     served by the local educational agencies.
       (2) To work with the local educational agencies to 
     establish Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate 
     coordinators in each secondary school served by the local 
     educational agencies.
       (3) To ensure master teachers provide training to prepare 
     teachers to teach Advanced Placement or International 
     Baccalaureate courses in mathematics and science, which shall 
     include at a minimum--
       (A) week-long summer institutes; and
       (B) 2-day seminars in the teachers' disciplines each year 
     for 4 years.
       (4) To ensure master teachers provide training to prepare 
     teachers to teach pre-Advanced Placement or pre-International 
     Baccalaureate courses in mathematics and science, which shall 
     include at a minimum--
       (A) a 4-day summer institute; and
       (B) 4 days on campus each year for 4 years.
       (5) To provide stipends to teachers who satisfactorily 
     complete the Advanced Placement or International 
     Baccalaureate or pre-Advanced Placement or pre-International 
     Baccalaureate training.
       (6) To provide a bonus to a teacher who has satisfactorily 
     completed the Advanced Placement or International 
     Baccalaureate or pre-Advanced Placement or pre-International 
     Baccalaureate training for each student of the teacher who 
     passes an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate 
     examination in mathematics and science.
       (7) To provide test preparation sessions for students 
     taking Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate 
     examinations in mathematics and science.
       (8) To reimburse students half of the cost of the Advanced 
     Placement or International Baccalaureate mathematics and 
     science examination fees.
       (9) To provide scholarships to students who pass the 
     Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate mathematics 
     and science examinations.
       (g) Evaluation and Accountability Plan.--
       (1) In general.--Each eligible recipient receiving a grant 
     under this section shall develop an evaluation and 
     accountability plan for activities assisted under this 
     section that includes rigorous objectives that measure the 
     impact of activities assisted under this section.
       (2) Contents.--The plan developed pursuant to paragraph (1) 
     shall include--
       (A) the number of students served by the eligible recipient 
     who are taking pre-Advanced Placement or pre-International 
     Baccalaureate courses in mathematics and science;
       (B) the number of students served by the eligible recipient 
     who are taking Advanced Placement or International 
     Baccalaureate courses in mathematics and science;
       (C) the number of students served by the eligible recipient 
     who take Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate 
     mathematics and science examinations;
       (D) the number of students served by the eligible 
     recipients who pass Advanced Placement or International 
     Baccalaureate mathematics and science examinations; and
       (E) the number of teachers trained in Advanced Placement or 
     International Baccalaureate and pre-Advanced Placement or 
     pre-International Baccalaureate mathematics and science 
     programs.
       (h) Matching Requirements for Grants.--Each eligible 
     recipient receiving a grant under this section shall provide, 
     from non-Federal sources (in cash or in kind), an amount 
     equal to 100 percent of the amount of the grant for each year 
     of the grant, of which not less than 25 percent shall come 
     from State sources.
       (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       (1) $241,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (2) $341,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (3) $453,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (4) $596,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
       (5) $731,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.

 CHAPTER 4--NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE TEACHING 
                               MATERIALS

     SEC. 161. NATIONAL CLEARINGHOUSE ON MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE 
                   TEACHING MATERIALS.

       (a) Purpose.--The purpose of the this section is to 
     strengthen the skills of mathematics and science teachers by 
     establishing a national clearinghouse of proven effective 
     kindergarten through grade 12 mathematics and science 
     teaching materials.
       (b) Effective Mathematics and Science Teaching Materials.--
     The Secretary is authorized to convene, not later than 1 year 
     after the date of enactment of this Act, a national panel to 
     collect proven effective kindergarten through grade 12 
     mathematics and science teaching materials, or to support the 
     development of new materials where no effective models exist.
       (c) Composition of National Panel.--
       (1) Consultation.--The Secretary shall appoint members to 
     the panel after consultation with the National Academy of 
     Sciences of the National Academies.
       (2) Selection.--The Secretary shall ensure that the panel 
     broadly represents scientists, practitioners, educators, 
     representatives from entities with expertise in education, 
     mathematics, and science, and parents. The Secretary shall 
     ensure that the panel includes the following:
       (A) A majority representation of educators and parents 
     directly involved in the kindergarten through grade 12 
     education process.
       (B) Proportionate representation of educators and parents 
     from all demographic areas, including urban, suburban and 
     rural schools.
       (C) Proportionate representation of educators and parents 
     from public and private schools.
       (3) Qualifications of members.--The members of the panel 
     shall be individuals who have substantial knowledge or 
     experience relating to--
       (A) education, mathematics, or science policy or programs; 
     or
       (B) education, mathematics, or science curricula content 
     development.
       (d) Authorized Activities of National Panel.--The panel 
     shall--
       (1) identify proven effective kindergarten through grade 12 
     mathematics and science teaching materials;
       (2) identify the need for new mathematics and science 
     teaching materials, and support the development of such new 
     materials through contracts and cooperative agreements; and
       (3) establish a national clearinghouse of information on 
     effective kindergarten through grade 12 mathematics and 
     science teaching materials.
       (e) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall disseminate 
     information related to the clearinghouse to State educational 
     agencies, and otherwise make available and accessible to 
     local educational agencies and schools the teaching materials 
     collected by the panel in the form of a searchable online 
     database or Internet web site.

[[Page 227]]

       (f) Mathematics and Science Teaching Materials.--
       (1) Reliability and measurement.--The kindergarten through 
     grade 12 mathematics and science teaching materials collected 
     under this section shall be--
       (A) reliable, valid, and grounded in scientific theory and 
     research in existence as of the date of the collection of 
     materials;
       (B) reviewed regularly to assess effectiveness; and
       (C) developed in careful consideration of State academic 
     assessments and student academic achievement standards.
       (2) Students with diverse learning needs.--The teaching 
     materials shall include relevant materials for students with 
     diverse learning needs, particularly for students with 
     disabilities and students with limited English proficiency.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2007 and $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
     2008 through 2011.

           CHAPTER 5--FUTURE AMERICAN-SCIENTIST SCHOLARSHIPS

     SEC. 171. FUTURE AMERICAN-SCIENTIST SCHOLARSHIPS.

       (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to increase 
     the number and percentage of citizens of the United States 
     who earn baccalaureate degrees in mathematics or science 
     (including engineering) by providing 25,000 new competitive 
     merit-based undergraduate scholarships to students who are 
     citizens of the United States, for the purpose of enabling 
     each such student to obtain a baccalaureate degree in 
     mathematics or science at a 4-year institution of higher 
     education.
       (b) Scholarships.--
       (1) In general.--From the amounts authorized under 
     subsection (e), the Secretary shall award the scholarships to 
     eligible students that shall be used by the eligible students 
     to pay for qualifying expenses at the 4-year institution of 
     higher education of the eligible students' choosing.
       (2) Future american-scientist scholarships.--A scholarship 
     awarded under this section shall be called a ``Future 
     American-Scientist Scholarship''.
       (c) Amount; Duration.--
       (1) Amount.--A scholarship award under this section shall 
     be in an amount of not more than $20,000 per year.
       (2) Duration of scholarship.--A scholarship awarded to an 
     eligible student under this section shall be for the number 
     of years necessary for the eligible student to earn a 
     baccalaureate degree in mathematics or science, except that 
     no scholarship under this section shall be awarded for a 
     period of more than 4 years.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Eligible student.--The term ``eligible student'' means 
     a student who--
       (A) is a citizen of the United States;
       (B) is attending a 4-year institution of higher education;
       (C) is enrolled, or will be enrolled at the start of the 
     next academic year, in a course of study at an institution of 
     higher education that leads to a baccalaureate degree in 
     mathematics or science;
       (D) demonstrates aptitude, as determined by the Secretary, 
     in mathematics or science; or
       (E) for each year of a scholarship under this section, 
     demonstrates continued academic achievement and progress, as 
     determined by the Secretary, toward completion of a 
     baccalaureate degree in mathematics or science.
       (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
       (3) Qualified expenses.--The term ``qualified expenses'' 
     means the tuition, books, fees, supplies, and equipment 
     required for a course of instruction leading to a 
     baccalaureate degree in mathematics or science at a 4-year 
     institution of higher education of the eligible student's 
     choosing.
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Energy.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       (1) $375,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (2) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (3) $1,125,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
       (4) $1,500,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2010 
     through 2013.

                CHAPTER 6--GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

     SEC. 181. GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS IN SCIENTIFIC AREAS 
                   OF NATIONAL NEED.

       (a) Fellowships Authorized.--From the amounts appropriated 
     under subsection (e), the Secretary shall establish a 
     fellowship program to provide tuition and financial support 
     for eligible students pursuing master's and doctoral degrees 
     in mathematics or science (including engineering) or other 
     areas of national need.
       (b) Areas of National Need.--The Secretary may establish, 
     on an annual basis, areas of national need important to the 
     mission of the Department of Energy, and may use the areas of 
     national need in determining the specific fields of study to 
     be supported by fellowship awards under this section. In 
     establishing the areas of national need, the Secretary shall 
     consider the results of the survey conducted under section 
     1101 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16411).
       (c) Use and Amount of Awards.--A fellowship award under 
     this section shall be--
       (1) in an amount that is commensurate with the amount of 
     similar graduate research fellowships awarded by the National 
     Science Foundation; and
       (2) used by the eligible student to cover educational 
     expenses and to provide additional financial support.
       (d) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Eligible student.--The term ``eligible student'' means 
     a student who is enrolled in a master's or doctoral degree 
     program in mathematics or science (including engineering) or 
     other areas of national need at an institution of higher 
     education (as defined in section 171).
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Energy.
       (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated under this section--
       (1) $225,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (2) $450,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
       (3) $675,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 through 
     2013.

  Subtitle B--National Science Foundation Early-Career Research Grants

     SEC. 191. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION EARLY-CAREER RESEARCH 
                   GRANTS.

       (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to 
     authorize research grants in the National Science Foundation, 
     for early-career scientists and engineers for purposes of 
     pursuing independent research.
       (b) Definition of Eligible Early-Career Researcher.--In 
     this section, the term ``eligible early-career researcher'' 
     means an individual who--
       (1) completed a doctorate or other terminal degree not more 
     than 10 years before the date of enactment of this Act and 
     has demonstrated promise in the field of science, technology, 
     engineering, or mathematics; or
       (2) has an equivalent professional qualification in the 
     field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
       (c) Grant Program Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--The Director of the National Science 
     Foundation shall award not less than 65 grants per year to 
     outstanding eligible early-career researchers to support the 
     work of such researchers in universities, private industry, 
     or federally-funded research and development centers.
       (2) Application.--An eligible early-career researcher who 
     desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit to 
     the Director of the National Science Foundation an 
     application at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by 
     such information as the Director may require.
       (3) Special consideration.--In awarding grants under this 
     section, the Director of the National Science Foundation 
     shall give special consideration to eligible early-career 
     researchers who have followed alternative career paths such 
     as working part-time or in non-academic settings, or who have 
     taken a significant career break or other leave of absence.
       (4) Duration and amount.--A grant under this section shall 
     be 5 years in duration. An eligible early career-researcher 
     who receives a grant under this section shall receive 
     $100,000 for each year of the grant period.
       (5) Use of funds.--An eligible early career-researcher who 
     receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds 
     for basic research in natural sciences, engineering, 
     mathematics, or computer sciences at a university, private 
     industry, or federally-funded research and development 
     center.
       (6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       (A) $6,500,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (B) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (C) $19,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (D) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
       (E) $32,500,000 for fiscal year 2011.

  TITLE II--SOWING THE SEEDS THROUGH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH

      Subtitle A--Office of Science and Technology Policy Matters

     SEC. 211. COORDINATION OF SCIENCE, MATHEMATICS, AND 
                   ENGINEERING EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

       (a) National Goals.--
       (1) Body for establishment of goals.--The Director of the 
     Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish 
     within the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and 
     Technology a standing subcommittee on education in 
     mathematics, science, and engineering in the Federal 
     Government.
       (2) Responsibility.--The subcommittee established under 
     this subsection shall--
       (A) develop national goals for the support by the Federal 
     Government of education in mathematics, science, and 
     engineering; and
       (B) periodically review and update any goals so developed.
       (3) Public comment.--The Director shall enter into an 
     agreement with the National Academy of Sciences or other 
     appropriate scientific organization to seek public comment on 
     the national goals developed under this subsection.
       (b) Deputy Assistant Director for Science, Mathematics, and 
     Engineering Education Programs.--

[[Page 228]]

       (1) In general.--There shall be in the Office of Science 
     and Technology Policy a Deputy Assistant Director of the 
     Office of Science and Technology Policy for Science, 
     Mathematics, and Engineering Education Programs who shall be 
     appointed by the Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy, acting through the Associate Director for 
     Science of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, from 
     among individuals having the qualifications specified in 
     paragraph (2).
       (2) Qualifications for appointment.--The qualifications of 
     an individual for appointment as Deputy Assistant Director 
     shall include such professional experience and expertise, and 
     such other qualifications, as the Director of the Office of 
     Science and Technology Policy considers appropriate to permit 
     such individual to advise the Director on all matters 
     relating to the education programs of the Executive Branch on 
     mathematics, science, and technology.
       (c) Responsibility.--The Deputy Assistant Director of the 
     Office of Science and Technology Policy for Science, 
     Mathematics, and Engineering Educations Programs shall ensure 
     effective coordination among the departments, agencies, and 
     elements of the Federal Government in the discharge of the 
     education programs of the Executive Branch on mathematics, 
     science, and technology.
       (d) Plan for Coordination of Programs.--
       (1) In general.--In carrying out the responsibility 
     described in subsection (c), the Deputy Assistant Director of 
     the Office of Science and Technology Policy for Science, 
     Mathematics, and Engineering Educations Programs shall 
     develop each year a plan for the coordination of the 
     education programs of the Executive Branch on mathematics, 
     science, and technology during the five fiscal years 
     beginning in the year of such plan.
       (2) Elements.--Each plan developed under this subsection 
     shall include--
       (A) mechanisms for the coordination of the education 
     programs of the Executive Branch on mathematics, science, and 
     technology during the five fiscal years beginning in the year 
     of such plan; and
       (B) recommendations on funding, by agency, of such 
     education programs during each such fiscal year.
       (3) Consistency with national goals.--Each plan developed 
     under this subsection shall be consistent with the most 
     current national goals for the support by the Federal 
     Government of education in mathematics, science, and 
     engineering developed under subsection (a).
       (4) Availability to public.--The Director of the Office of 
     Science and Technology Policy shall take appropriate actions 
     to ensure that each plan developed under this subsection is 
     available to the public.
       (e) Staffing and Other Resources.--The Director of the 
     Office of Science and Technology Policy shall assign the 
     Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering 
     Educations Programs such personnel and other resources as the 
     Director considers appropriate in order to permit the Deputy 
     Assistant Director to carry out the duties of the Deputy 
     Assistant Director under this section.
       (f) Deadlines for Certain Actions.--
       (1) Establishment of subcommittee.--The Director of the 
     Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish the 
     subcommittee required by subsection (a)(1) not later than 30 
     days after the date of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) Appointment of deputy assistant director.--The Director 
     of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, acting 
     through the Associate Director for Science of the Office of 
     Science and Technology Policy, shall make the first 
     appointment to the position of Deputy Assistant Director of 
     the Office of Science and Technology Policy for Science, 
     Mathematics, and Engineering Education Programs under 
     subsection (b)(1) not later than 60 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 212. NATIONAL COORDINATION OFFICE FOR ADVANCED RESEARCH 
                   INSTRUMENTATION AND FACILITIES.

       (a) Establishment.--
       (1) In general.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy shall establish within the Office of 
     Science and Technology Policy an office to be known as the 
     ``National Coordination Office for Advanced Research 
     Instrumentation and Facilities''.
       (2) Head of office.--The head of the National Coordination 
     Office for Advanced Research Instrumentation and Facilities 
     shall be the Director of the National Coordination Office for 
     Advanced Research Instrumentation and Facilities, who shall 
     be appointed by the Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy.
       (3) Staff and other resources.--The Director of the Office 
     of Science and Technology Policy shall assign to the National 
     Coordination Office for Advanced Research Instrumentation and 
     Facilities such personnel and other resources as the Director 
     of the Office of Science and Technology Policy considers 
     appropriate in order to permit the National Coordination 
     Office for Advanced Research Instrumentation and Facilities 
     to carry out its duties under this section.
       (4) Deadline for establishment.--The National Coordination 
     Office for Advanced Research Instrumentation and Facilities 
     shall be established not later than 30 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act.
       (b) Duties.--
       (1) In general.--The National Coordination Office for 
     Advanced Research Instrumentation and Facilities shall 
     coordinate the award by the departments, agencies, and other 
     elements of the Federal Government of grants for advanced 
     research instrumentation and facilities.
       (2) Advanced research instrumentation and facilities.--
       (A) In general.--For purposes of this section, advanced 
     research instrumentation and facilities are specially 
     designed and developed instruments or tools (whether of a 
     physical or nonphysical nature) that are available 
     commercially but are overly expensive for design and 
     development under a single research grant.
       (B) Examples.--Examples of advanced research 
     instrumentation and facilities for purposes of this section 
     include the following:
       (i) Single, stand-alone instruments or instrument suites.
       (ii) Networks.
       (iii) Computational modeling applications.
       (iv) Computer databases.
       (v) Sensor systems.
       (vi) Facilities that house ensembles of interrelated 
     instruments.
       (vii) Instruments assembled from components.
       (3) Discharge of duties.--The Office shall coordinate the 
     award of grants for advanced research instrumentation and 
     facilities under this section in accordance with the 
     strategic implementation plan developed under subsection (c).
       (c) Strategic Implementation Plan.--
       (1) Plan required.--Not later than one year after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of 
     Science and Technology Policy shall, in consultation with the 
     Director of the Office of Management and Budget, develop a 
     plan for the award by the departments, agencies, and other 
     elements of the Federal Government of grants for advanced 
     research instrumentation and facilities during the five-year 
     period beginning on the date of the issuance of the plan.
       (2) Elements.--The plan required by paragraph (1) shall 
     include the following:
       (A) Criteria applicable to the award of grants for advanced 
     research instrumentation and facilities, including criteria 
     applicable to--
       (i) scientific and technical merit;
       (ii) the identification of the strategic requirements of 
     the departments, agencies, and other elements of the Federal 
     Government; and
       (iii) national science and technology needs.
       (B) An assessment of the current and anticipated needs of 
     the departments, agencies, and other elements of the Federal 
     Government for advanced research instrumentation and 
     facilities.
       (C) A report to Congress on the proposed allocation of 
     funds, including amounts authorized to be appropriated by 
     subsection (f), by the departments, agencies, and other 
     elements of the Federal Government for grants for advanced 
     research instrumentation and facilities.
       (3) Public comment.--In developing the plan required by 
     paragraph (1), the Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy shall enter into an agreement with the 
     National Academy of Sciences, or other similar entity, to 
     secure public comments on the plan.
       (d) Recommendations on Agency Funding.--
       (1) In general.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy shall, in consultation with the Director of 
     the National Coordination Office for Advanced Research 
     Instrumentation and Facilities, make recommendations each 
     year to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
     on the amount of funds to be requested for the departments, 
     agencies, and other elements of the Federal Government for 
     the fiscal year beginning in such year for the award of 
     grants for advanced research instrumentation and facilities.
       (2) Purpose.--The purpose of the recommendations under 
     paragraph (1) shall be to advise the Director of the Office 
     of Management and Budget on the amounts to be requested in 
     the budget of the President (as submitted to Congress under 
     section 1105 of title 31, United States Code) for each fiscal 
     year for the award of grants for advanced research 
     instrumentation and facilities.
       (e) Use of Grant Amounts.--Amounts under grants awarded by 
     departments, agencies, and other elements of the Federal 
     Government for advanced research instrumentation and 
     facilities may be used for purposes as follows:
       (1) The purchase and installation of instruments.
       (2) The commissioning of equipment.
       (3) The calibration of instruments.
       (4) The acquisition of parts and materials for construction 
     of instruments.
       (5) Personnel costs of personnel engaged in the development 
     of instruments.
       (6) The operation and maintenance of instruments.

[[Page 229]]

       (7) Such other purposes as the Director of the National 
     Coordination Office for Advanced Research Instrumentation and 
     Facilities considers appropriate.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       (1) In general.--In addition to amounts appropriated under 
     Federal law other than this Act, there is authorized to be 
     appropriated for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012, to 
     carry out this section (including the plan specified in 
     subsection (c))--
       (A) $1,000,000 to the Office of Science and Technology 
     Policy;
       (B) $150,000,000 to the National Science Foundation;
       (C) $87,000,000 to the Department of Defense;
       (D) $152,000,000 to the Office of Science of the Department 
     of Energy; and
       (E) $117,000,000 to the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration.
       (2) Availability.--The amount authorized to be appropriated 
     by this subsection shall remain available until expended.

     SEC. 213. HIGH-RISK, HIGH-PAYOFF RESEARCH.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of 
     Science and Technology Policy shall, in consultation with the 
     Director of the Office of Management and Budget, establish 
     guidelines to ensure that each Federal research agency 
     allocates not less than 8 percent of the funds available to 
     such agency each fiscal year for basic research for high-
     risk, high-payoff research.
       (b) High-Risk, High-Payoff Research.--For purposes of this 
     section, high-risk, high-payoff research is research that--
       (1) has the potential for yielding results with far-ranging 
     or wide-ranging implications; but
       (2) is too novel or spans too diverse a range of 
     disciplines to fare well in the traditional peer review 
     process.
       (c) Guideline Elements.--The guidelines required by 
     subsection (a) shall include provisions on the following:
       (1) Expedited procedures for the approval of the use of 
     funds for high-risk, high-payoff research.
       (2) Annual reports by Federal research agencies on 
     activities relating to high-risk, high-payoff research.
       (3) Criteria to establish the duration of funding for high-
     risk, high-payoff research projects.
       (4) Objectives for high-risk, high-payoff research 
     projects.
       (5) Such other criteria, objectives, or other matters as 
     the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
     considers appropriate.
       (d) Public Comment.--The Director of the Office of Science 
     and Technology Policy shall enter into an agreement with the 
     National Academy of Sciences, or similar entity, to solicit 
     public comment, through a broad media solicitation, on the 
     guidelines required by subsection (a) before the final 
     issuance of such guidelines.
       (e) Review.--The President's Committee of Advisors on 
     Science and Technology shall, not less often than once every 
     two years, conduct a review to determine whether or not 
     Federal research agencies are allocating basic research funds 
     in accordance with the guidelines required by subsection (a).
       (f) Annual Reports to Congress.--
       (1) Reports required.--The Director of the Office of 
     Management and Budget shall, in consultation with the 
     Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, 
     submit to Congress each year a report on the use by Federal 
     research agencies of basic research funds for high-risk, 
     high-payoff research during the preceding fiscal year.
       (2) Time for submittal.--The Director of the Office of 
     Management and Budget shall submit the report required by 
     paragraph (1) for a year together with the budget of the 
     President for the fiscal year beginning in such year (as 
     submitted to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United 
     States Code).
       (g) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Federal research agency.--The term ``Federal research 
     agency'' means a major organizational component of a 
     department or agency of the Federal Government, or other 
     establishment of the Federal Government operating with 
     appropriated funds, that has as its primary purpose the 
     performance of scientific research.
       (2) Major organizational component.--The term ``major 
     organizational component'', with respect to a department, 
     agency, or other establishment of the Federal Government, 
     means a component of the department, agency, or other 
     establishment that is administered by an individual whose 
     rate of basic pay is not less than the rate of basic pay 
     payable under level V of the Executive Schedule under section 
     5316 of title 5, United States Code.

     SEC. 214. PRESIDENT'S INNOVATION AWARD.

       (a) Authority To Award.--
       (1) In general.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy shall, subject to the approval of the 
     President, award each year to one or more individuals an 
     award that recognizes recent innovations in science and 
     engineering in the United States.
       (2) Designation.--The award made under this section shall 
     be known as the ``President's Innovation Award''.
       (3) Presentation.--The presentation of awards made under 
     this section shall be made by the President.
       (b) Selection of Recipients.--
       (1) In general.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy shall identify recipients of the award 
     under this section from among individuals whose achievements 
     are recognized in the most recent document entitled 
     ``Interagency Research and Development Priorities'' published 
     by the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and 
     the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
       (2) Solicitation of recommendations.--In identifying 
     potential recipients of the award under this section, the 
     Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
     solicit recommendations from the heads of Federal agencies 
     and the general public.
       (c) Nature of Award.--The award made under this section 
     shall consist of the following:
       (1) A medal, of such design as the Director of the Office 
     of Science and Technology Policy shall determine (subject to 
     the approval of the President).
       (2) A certificate of recognition.
       (3) A cash prize, in such amount as the Director considers 
     appropriate.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is hereby 
     authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy each fiscal year $1,000,000 for the making 
     of awards under this section.

   Subtitle B--National Aeronautics and Space Administration Matters

     SEC. 221. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION 
                   EARLY-CAREER RESEARCH GRANTS.

       (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to 
     authorize research grants in the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration for early-career scientists and 
     engineers for purposes of pursuing independent research.
       (b) Definition of Eligible Early-Career Researcher.--In 
     this section, the term ``eligible early-career researcher'' 
     means an individual who--
       (1) completed a doctorate or other terminal degree not more 
     than 10 years before the date of enactment of this Act and 
     has demonstrated promise in the field of science, technology, 
     engineering, or mathematics; or
       (2) has an equivalent professional qualification in the 
     field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
       (c) Grant Program Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--The Administrator of the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration shall award not less 
     than 45 grants per year to outstanding eligible early-career 
     researchers to support the work of such researchers in 
     universities, private industry, or federally-funded research 
     and development centers.
       (2) Application.--An eligible early-career researcher who 
     desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit to 
     the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration an application at such time, in such manner, 
     and accompanied by such information as the Administrator may 
     require.
       (3) Special consideration.--In awarding grants under this 
     section, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration shall give special consideration to 
     eligible early-career researchers who have followed 
     alternative career paths such as working part-time or in non-
     academic settings, or who have taken a significant career 
     break or other leave of absence.
       (4) Duration and amount.--A grant under this section shall 
     be 5 years in duration. An eligible early career-researcher 
     who receives a grant under this section shall receive 
     $100,000 for each year of the grant period.
       (5) Use of funds.--An eligible early career-researcher who 
     receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds 
     for basic research in natural sciences, engineering, 
     mathematics, or computer sciences at a university, private 
     industry, or federally-funded research and development 
     center.
       (6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section--
       (A) $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (B) $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (C) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (D) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
       (E) $22,500,000 for fiscal year 2011.

     SEC. 222. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL 
                   AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION FOR BASIC 
                   SCIENCES.

       (a) In General.--There is hereby authorized to be 
     appropriated for the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration for basic sciences for research specified in 
     subsection (b), amounts as follows:
       (1) $2,768,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
       (2) $3,044,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
       (3) $3,349,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
       (4) $3,684,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
       (5) $4,052,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
       (6) $4,457,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
       (7) $4,903,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.
       (b) Covered Research.--The research specified in this 
     subsection is research under programs as follows:
       (1) The Solar System Exploration Research Program.
       (2) The Mars Exploration Research Program.

[[Page 230]]

       (3) The Astronomical Search for Origins Research Program.
       (4) The Structure and Evolution of the Universe Research 
     Program.
       (5) The Earth-Sun Connection Research Program.
       (6) The Earth Systems Science Research Program.
       (7) The Earth Science Applications Research Program.
       (8) The Biological Sciences Research Program.
       (9) The Physical Sciences Research Program.
       (10) The Aeronautics Program.
       (11) Such other basic research programs as the 
     Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration may determine to be appropriate, after 
     notifying the appropriate committees of Congress of the 
     Administrator's intent to make the determination.

                   Subtitle C--Communications Matters

     SEC. 231. SENSE OF SENATE ON POLICIES TO ACCELERATE 
                   DEPLOYMENT OF ACCESS TO BROADBAND INTERNET.

       It is the sense of the Senate that Congress and the Federal 
     Communications Commission should work together to ensure the 
     implementation of regulatory policies that facilitate and 
     accelerate the deployment of access to broadband Internet to 
     order to provide broadband Internet service to as many 
     residences, businesses, and schools as possible in both urban 
     areas and rural areas.

                       Subtitle D--Science Parks

     SEC. 241. DEVELOPMENT OF SCIENCE PARKS.

       (a) Finding.--Section 2 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
     Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701) is amended by adding 
     at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(12) It is in the best interests of the Nation to 
     encourage the formation of science parks to promote the 
     clustering of innovation through high technology 
     activities.''.
       (b) Definition.--Section 4 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 3703) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
       ``(14) `Science park' means a group of interrelated 
     companies and institutions, including suppliers, service 
     providers, institutions of higher education, start-up 
     incubators, and trade associations that cooperate and compete 
     and are located in a specific area whose administration 
     promotes real estate development, technology transfer, and 
     partnerships between such companies and institutions, and 
     does not mean a business or industrial park.
       ``(15) `Business or industrial park' means primarily a for-
     profit real estate venture of businesses or industries which 
     do not necessarily reinforce each other through supply chain 
     or technology transfer mechanisms.
       ``(16) `Science park infrastructure' means facilities that 
     support the daily economic activity of a science park.''.
       (c) Promotion of Development of Science Parks.--Section 
     5(c) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 3704(c)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (14), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (15), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(16) promote the formation of science parks.''.
       (d) Science Parks.--Such Act is further amended by adding 
     at the end the following new section:

     ``SEC. 24. SCIENCE PARKS.

       ``(a) Development of Plans for Construction of Science 
     Parks.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants for the 
     development of feasibility studies and plans for the 
     construction of new or expansion of existing science parks.
       ``(2) Limitation on amount of grants.--The amount of a 
     grant awarded under this subsection may not exceed $750,000.
       ``(3) Award.--
       ``(A) Competition required.--The Secretary shall award any 
     grant under this subsection pursuant to a full and open 
     competition.
       ``(B) Advertising.--The Secretary shall advertise any 
     competition under this paragraph in the Commerce Business 
     Daily.
       ``(C) Selection criteria.--The Secretary shall publish the 
     criteria to be utilized in any competition under this 
     paragraph for the selection of recipients of grants under 
     this subsection. Such criteria shall include requirements 
     relating to--
       ``(i) the number of jobs to be created at the science park 
     each year for a period of 5 years;
       ``(ii) the funding to be required to construct or expand 
     the science park over the first 5 years;
       ``(iii) the amount and type of cost matching by the 
     applicant;
       ``(iv) the types of businesses and research entities 
     expected in the science park and surrounding community;
       ``(v) letters of intent by businesses and research entities 
     to locate in the science park;
       ``(vi) the capacity of the science park for expansion over 
     a period of 25 years;
       ``(vii) the quality of life at the science park for 
     employees at the science park;
       ``(viii) the capability to attract a well trained workforce 
     to the science park;
       ``(ix) the management of the science park;
       ``(x) expected risks in the construction and operation of 
     the science park;
       ``(xi) risk mitigation;
       ``(xii) transportation and logistics;
       ``(xiii) physical infrastructure, including 
     telecommunications; and
       ``(xiv) ability to collaborate with other science parks 
     throughout the world.
       ``(4) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2007 through 
     2012, $7,500,000 to carry out this subsection.
       ``(b) Revolving Loan Program for Development of Science 
     Park Infrastructure.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall make grants to six 
     regional centers for the development of existing science park 
     infrastructure through the operation of revolving loan funds 
     by such centers.
       ``(2) Selection of centers.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall select the regional 
     centers to be awarded grants under this subsection utilizing 
     such criteria as the Secretary shall prescribe.
       ``(B) Criteria.--The criteria prescribed by the Secretary 
     under this paragraph shall include criteria relating to 
     revolving loan funds and revolving loan fund operators under 
     paragraph (4), including--
       ``(i) the qualifications of principal officers;
       ``(ii) non-Federal cost matching requirements; and
       ``(iii) conditions for the termination of loan funds.
       ``(3) Limitation on loan amount.--The amount of any loan 
     for the development of existing science park infrastructure 
     that is funded under this subsection may not exceed 
     $3,000,000.
       ``(4) Revolving loan funds.--
       ``(A) In general.--A regional center receiving a grant 
     under this subsection shall fund the development of existing 
     science park infrastructure through the utilization of a 
     revolving loan fund.
       ``(B) Operation and integrity.--The Secretary shall 
     prescribe regulations to maintain the proper operation and 
     financial integrity of revolving loan funds under this 
     paragraph.
       ``(C) Efficient administration.--The Secretary may--
       ``(i) at the request of a grantee, amend and consolidate 
     grant agreements governing revolving loan funds to provide 
     flexibility with respect to lending areas and borrower 
     criteria;
       ``(ii) assign or transfer assets of a revolving loan fund 
     to a third party for the purpose of liquidation, and a third 
     party may retain assets of the fund to defray costs related 
     to liquidation; and
       ``(iii) take such actions as are appropriate to enable 
     revolving loan fund operators to sell or securitize loans 
     (except that the actions may not include issuance of a 
     Federal guaranty by the Secretary).
       ``(D) Treatment of actions.--An action taken by the 
     Secretary under this paragraph with respect to a revolving 
     loan fund shall not constitute a new obligation if all grant 
     funds associated with the original grant award have been 
     disbursed to the recipient.
       ``(E) Preservation of securities laws.--
       ``(i) Not treated as exempted securities.--No securities 
     issued pursuant to subparagraph (C)(iii) shall be treated as 
     exempted securities for purposes of the Securities Act of 
     1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, unless exempted 
     by rule or regulation of the Securities and Exchange 
     Commission.
       ``(ii) Preservation.--Except as provided in clause (i), no 
     provision of this paragraph or any regulation issued by the 
     Secretary under this paragraph shall supersede or otherwise 
     affect the application of the securities laws (as such term 
     is defined in section 2(a)(47) of the Securities Exchange Act 
     of 1934) or the rules, regulations, or orders of the 
     Securities and Exchange Commission or a self-regulatory 
     organization thereunder.
       ``(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated for each of fiscal years 2007 through 
     2012, $60,000,000 to carry out this subsection.
       ``(c) Loan Guarantees for Science Park Infrastructure.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall guarantee up to 80 
     percent of the loan amount for loans exceeding $10,000,000 
     for projects for the construction of science park 
     infrastructure.
       ``(2) Limitations on guarantee amounts.--The maximum amount 
     of loan principal guaranteed under this subsection may not 
     exceed--
       ``(A) $50,000,000 with respect to any single project; and
       ``(B) $500,000,000 with respect to all projects.
       ``(3) Selection of guarantee recipients.--The Secretary 
     shall select recipients of loan guarantees under this 
     subsection based upon the ability of the recipient to 
     collateralize the loan amount through bonds, equity, 
     property, and other such criteria as the Secretary shall 
     prescribe.
       ``(4) Terms and conditions for loan guarantees.--For 
     purposes of this section, the loans guaranteed shall be 
     subject to such terms and conditions as the Secretary may 
     prescribe, except that--
       ``(A) the final maturity of such loans made or guaranteed 
     shall not exceed (as determined by the Secretary) the lesser 
     of--
       ``(i) 30 years and 32 days; or

[[Page 231]]

       ``(ii) 90 percent of the useful life of any physical asset 
     to be financed by such loan;
       ``(B) no loan made or guaranteed may be subordinated to 
     another debt contracted by the borrower or to any other 
     claims against the borrowers in the case of default;
       ``(C) no loan may be guaranteed unless the Secretary 
     determines that the lender is responsible and that adequate 
     provision is made for servicing the loan on reasonable terms 
     and protecting the financial interest of the United States;
       ``(D) no loan may be guaranteed if the income from such 
     loan is excluded from gross income for purposes of chapter 1 
     of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or if the guarantee 
     provides significant collateral or security, as determined by 
     the Secretary, for other obligations the income from which is 
     so excluded;
       ``(E) any guarantee shall be conclusive evidence that said 
     guarantee has been properly obtained, that the underlying 
     loan qualified for such guarantee, and that, but for fraud or 
     material misrepresentation by the holder, such guarantee 
     shall be presumed to be valid, legal, and enforceable;
       ``(F) the Secretary shall prescribe explicit standards for 
     use in periodically assessing the credit risk of new and 
     existing direct loans or guaranteed loans;
       ``(G) the Secretary must find that there is a reasonable 
     assurance of repayment before extending credit assistance; 
     and
       ``(H) new loan guarantees may not be committed except to 
     the extent that appropriations of budget authority to cover 
     their costs are made in advance, as required in section 504 
     of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990.
       ``(5) Payment of losses.--For purposes of this section--
       ``(A) In general.--If, as a result of a default by a 
     borrower under a guaranteed loan, after the holder thereof 
     has made such further collection efforts and instituted such 
     enforcement proceedings as the Secretary may require, the 
     Secretary determines that the holder has suffered a loss, the 
     Secretary shall pay to such holder the percentage of such 
     loss (not more than 80 percent) specified in the guarantee 
     contract. Upon making any such payment, the Secretary shall 
     be subrogated to all the rights of the recipient of the 
     payment. The Secretary shall be entitled to recover from the 
     borrower the amount of any payments made pursuant to any 
     guarantee entered into under this section.
       ``(B) Enforcement of rights.--The Attorney General shall 
     take such action as may be appropriate to enforce any right 
     accruing to the United States as a result of the issuance of 
     any guarantee under this section.
       ``(C) Forbearance.--Nothing in this section may be 
     construed to preclude any forbearance for the benefit of the 
     borrower which may be agreed upon by the parties to the 
     guaranteed loan and approved by the Secretary, if budget 
     authority for any resulting subsidy costs (as defined under 
     the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990) is available.
       ``(D) Management of property.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law relating to the acquisition, handling, or 
     disposal of property by the United States, the Secretary 
     shall have the right in the Secretary's discretion to 
     complete, recondition, reconstruct, renovate, repair, 
     maintain, operate, or sell any property acquired by the 
     Secretary pursuant to the provisions of this section.
       ``(6) Review.--The Comptroller General of the United States 
     shall, within 2 years of the date of enactment of this 
     section, conduct a review of the subsidy estimates for the 
     loan guarantees under this subsection, and shall submit to 
     Congress a report on the review conducted under this 
     paragraph.
       ``(7) Termination.--No loan may be guaranteed under this 
     subsection after September 30, 2012.
       ``(8) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated--
       ``(A) $35,000,000 for the cost, as defined in section 
     502(5) of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990, of 
     guaranteeing $500,000,000 of loans under this subsection; and
       ``(B) $6,000,000 for administrative expenses for fiscal 
     year 2007 and such sums as necessary thereafter for 
     administrative expenses in subsequent years.
       ``(d) National Academy of Sciences Evaluation.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into an 
     agreement with the National Academy of Sciences under which 
     the Academy shall evaluate, on a tri-annual basis, the 
     activities under this section.
       ``(2) Tri-annual report.--Under the agreement under 
     paragraph (1), the Academy shall submit to the Secretary a 
     report on its evaluation of science park development under 
     that paragraph. Each report may include such recommendations 
     as the Academy considers appropriate for additional 
     activities to promote and facilitate the development of 
     science parks in the United States.
       ``(e) Tri-Annual Report.--Not later than March 31 of every 
     third year, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report 
     on the activities under this section during the preceding 3 
     years, including any recommendations made by the National 
     Academy of Sciences under subsection (d)(2) during such 
     period. Each report may include such recommendations for 
     legislative or administrative action as the Secretary 
     considers appropriate to further promote and facilitate the 
     development of science parks in the United States.
       ``(f) Regulations.--
       ``(1) Regulations.--Consistent with Office of Management 
     and Budget Circular A-129, `Policies for Federal Credit 
     Programs and Non-Tax Receivables', the Secretary shall 
     prescribe regulations to carry out this section.
       ``(2) Deadline.--The Secretary shall prescribe such 
     regulations not later than one year after the date of 
     enactment of this section.''.

 Subtitle E--Authorization of Appropriations for the National Science 
             Foundation for Research and Related Activities

     SEC. 251. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL 
                   SCIENCE FOUNDATION FOR RESEARCH AND RELATED 
                   ACTIVITIES.

       (a) In General.--There is hereby authorized to be 
     appropriated for the National Science Foundation for Research 
     and Related Activities, amounts as follows:
       (1) $4,195,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
       (2) $4,614,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
       (3) $5,076,000,000 for fiscal year 2009
       (4) $5,584,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
       (5) $6,143,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
       (6) $6,757,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
       (7) $7,432,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.
       (b) Limitation on Availability.--Amounts authorized to be 
     appropriated for the National Science Foundation by 
     subsection (a) shall not be available for the United States 
     Solar Program and Integrative Activities of the Foundation.

 TITLE III--ENSURING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST REMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES

 Subtitle A--Visas for Doctorate Students in Mathematics, Engineering, 
                  Technology, or the Physical Sciences

     SEC. 311. FINDINGS.

       Congress finds the following:
       (1) The National Academies, in their congressionally 
     requested report entitled ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm: 
     Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic 
     Future'', recommended that Congress--
       (A) continue to improve visa processing for international 
     students and scholars by providing less complex procedures 
     and continuing to make improvements on issues such as visa 
     categories and duration, travel for scientific meetings, the 
     technology-alert list, reciprocity agreements, and changes in 
     status;
       (B) provide a 1-year automatic visa extension to 
     international students who receive doctorates or the 
     equivalent in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, 
     or other fields of national need at qualified United States 
     institutions to remain in the United States to seek 
     employment;
       (C) provide such students with automatic work permits and 
     expedited residence status if they are offered jobs by 
     employers based in the United States and pass a security 
     screening test;
       (D) institute a new skills-based, preferential immigration 
     option that gives applicants with doctorate-level education 
     and science and engineering skills priority in obtaining 
     United States citizenship; and
       (E) increase the number of H-1B visas by 10,000, which 
     should be allocated for applicants with doctorate degrees in 
     science, or engineering from a United States university; and
       (2) Since the publication of the report by the National 
     Academies, the Senate has passed the Deficit Reduction Act of 
     2005, which authorizes an additional 30,000 H-1B visas per 
     year.

     SEC. 312. SENSE OF THE SENATE.

       It is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the Department of State and the Department of Homeland 
     Security have made significant improvements since 2002 in the 
     efficiency with which visas are processed for--
       (A) students at colleges and universities in the United 
     States; and
       (B) foreign researchers to engage in appropriate scientific 
     research in the United States;
       (2) particular improvements have been made to the MANTIS 
     clearance process, which--
       (A) reduce wait times from more than 70 days to less than 
     15 days; and
       (B) extend the duration of the MANTIS clearance process up 
     to 4 years, as appropriate, to cover the duration of study 
     for foreign students in the United States;
       (3) both departments and related supporting agencies should 
     further improve efficiency and convenience in the granting of 
     visas to foreign students and researchers while protecting 
     national security;
       (4) the departments should extend MANTIS clearance for 
     foreign researchers for the duration of a specified 
     scientific research program while balancing security 
     concerns; and
       (5) other such improvements should include--
       (A) review of the technology-alert list; and
       (B) efforts to better facilitate travel for scientific 
     conferences.

[[Page 232]]



     SEC. 313. VISAS FOR DOCTORATE STUDENTS IN MATHEMATICS, 
                   ENGINEERING, TECHNOLOGY, OR THE PHYSICAL 
                   SCIENCES.

       (a) Creation of New Visa Category.--Section 101(a)(15)(F) 
     of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
     1101(a)(15)(F)) is amended--
       (1) in clause (i)--
       (A) by inserting ``(except for a graduate program described 
     in clause (iv))'' after ``full course of study'';
       (B) by striking ``214(l)'' and inserting ``214(m)''; and
       (C) by striking the comma at the end and inserting a 
     semicolon;
       (2) in clause (ii)--
       (A) by inserting ``or clause (iv)'' after ``clause (i)''; 
     and
       (B) by striking ``, and'' and inserting a semicolon;
       (3) in clause (iii), by inserting ``and'' at the end; and
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(iv) an alien described in clause (i) who has been 
     accepted and plans to attend an accredited graduate program 
     in mathematics, engineering, technology, or the physical 
     sciences in the United States for the purpose of obtaining a 
     doctorate degree;''.
       (b) Requirements for Obtaining an F-4 Visa.--Section 214(m) 
     of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(m)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking the matter preceding paragraph (1) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(m) Nonimmigrant Elementary, Secondary, and Post-
     Secondary School Students.--''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3)(A) An alien who obtains the status of a nonimmigrant 
     under section 101(a)(15)(F)(iv) shall demonstrate an intent 
     to--
       ``(i) return to the country of residence of such alien 
     immediately after the completion or termination of the 
     graduate program qualifying such alien for such status; or
       ``(ii) find employment in the United States related to the 
     field of study of such alien and become a permanent resident 
     of the United States upon the completion of the graduate 
     program, which was the basis for such nonimmigrant status.
       ``(B) A visa issued to an alien under section 
     101(a)(15)(F)(iv) shall be valid--
       ``(i) during the intended period of study in a graduate 
     program described in such section;
       ``(ii) for an additional period, not to exceed 1 year 
     beyond the completion of the graduate program, if the alien 
     is actively pursuing an offer of employment related to the 
     knowledge and skills obtained through the graduate program; 
     and
       ``(iii) for an additional period, not to exceed 6 months, 
     while the alien's application for adjustment of status under 
     section 245(i)(4) is pending.
       ``(C) An alien shall qualify for adjustment of status to 
     that of a person admitted for permanent residence if the 
     alien--
       ``(i) has the status of a nonimmigrant under section 
     101(a)(15)(F)(iv);
       ``(ii) has successfully earned a doctorate degree in 
     mathematics, engineering, technology or the physical sciences 
     at an accredited college or university in the United States; 
     and
       ``(iii) is employed full-time in the United States in a 
     position related to the knowledge and skills gained while 
     pursuing such degree.''.
       (c) Adjustment of Status.--Section 245(i) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1255(i)) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) The Secretary of Homeland Security may adjust the 
     status of an alien who meets the requirements under section 
     214(m)(3) to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 
     residence if the alien--
       ``(A) makes an application for such adjustment;
       ``(B) is eligible to receive an immigrant visa;
       ``(C) is admissible to the United States for permanent 
     residence; and
       ``(D) remits a fee of $1,000 to the Secretary.''.
       (d) Use of Fees.--
       (1) Job training; scholarships.--Section 286(s)(1) of the 
     Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(s)(1)) is 
     amended by inserting ``and 80 percent of the fees collected 
     under section 245(i)(4)'' before the period at the end.
       (2) Fraud prevention and detection.--Section 286(v)(1) of 
     the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1356(v)(1)) is 
     amended by inserting ``and 20 percent of the fees collected 
     under section 245(i)(4)'' before the period at the end.

     SEC. 314. ALIENS NOT SUBJECT TO NUMERICAL LIMITATIONS ON 
                   EMPLOYMENT-BASED IMMIGRANTS.

       (a) In General.--Section 201(b)(1) of the Immigration and 
     Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(1)) is amended by adding at 
     the end the following:
       ``(F) Aliens who have earned an advanced degree in science, 
     technology, engineering, or math and have been working in a 
     related field in the United States under a nonimmigrant visa 
     during the 3-year period preceding their application for an 
     immigrant visa under section 203(b).
       ``(G) Aliens described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of 
     section 203(b)(1)(A) or who have received a national interest 
     waiver under section 203(b)(2)(B).
       ``(H) The immediate relatives of an alien who is admitted 
     as an employment-based immigrant under section 203(b).''.
       (b) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply to any visa application pending on the date of 
     enactment of this Act and any visa application filed on or 
     after such date of enactment.

                       Subtitle B--Patent Reform

     SEC. 321. PATENT REFORM.

       It is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the United States Patent and Trademark Office should be 
     provided with sufficient resources to make intellectual 
     property protection more timely, predictable, and effective;
       (2) the resources described under paragraph (1) should 
     include a 20 percent increase in overall funding to hire and 
     train additional examiners and implement more capable 
     electronic processing; and
       (3) Congress should implement comprehensive patent reform 
     that--
       (A) establishes a first-inventor-to-file system;
       (B) institutes an open review process following the grant 
     of a patent;
       (C) encourages research uses of patented inventions by 
     shielding researchers from infringement liability; and
       (D) reduces barriers to innovation in specific industries 
     with specialized patent needs.

                   TITLE IV--REFORMING DEEMED EXPORTS

     SEC. 401. SENSE OF SENATE ON EXEMPTION OF CERTAIN USES OF 
                   TECHNOLOGY FROM TREATMENT AS EXPORTS.

       (a) Sense of Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that 
     the use of technology by an institution of higher education 
     in the United States should not be treated as an export of 
     such technology for purposes of section 5 of the Export 
     Administration Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. App. 2404) and any 
     regulations prescribed thereunder, as currently in effect 
     pursuant to the provisions of the International Emergency 
     Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.), or any other 
     provision of law, if such technology is so used by such 
     institution for fundamental research.
       (b) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Fundamental research.--The term ``fundamental 
     research'' has the meaning given that term in National 
     Security Decision Directive 189, entitled ``National Policy 
     on Transfer of Scientific, Technical, and Engineering 
     Information'' and dated September 21, 1985.
       (2) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a).

   TITLE V--STRENGTHENING BASIC RESEARCH AT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

     SEC. 501. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EARLY-CAREER RESEARCH GRANTS.

       (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to 
     authorize research grants in the Department of Defense for 
     early-career scientists and engineers for purposes of 
     pursuing independent research.
       (b) Definition of Eligible Early-Career Researcher.--In 
     this section, the term ``eligible early-career researcher'' 
     means an individual who--
       (1) completed a doctorate or other terminal degree not more 
     than 10 years before the date of enactment of this Act and 
     has demonstrated promise in the field of science, technology, 
     engineering, or mathematics; or
       (2) has an equivalent professional qualification in the 
     field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
       (c) Grant Program Authorized.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall award not 
     less than 25 grants per year to outstanding eligible early-
     career researchers to support the work of such researchers in 
     universities, private industry, or federally-funded research 
     and development centers.
       (2) Application.--An eligible early-career researcher who 
     desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit to 
     the Secretary of Defense an application at such time, in such 
     manner, and accompanied by such information as the Secretary 
     may require.
       (3) Special consideration.--In awarding grants under this 
     section, the Secretary of Defense shall give special 
     consideration to eligible early-career researchers who have 
     followed alternative career paths such as working part-time 
     or in non-academic settings, or who have taken a significant 
     career break or other leave of absence.
       (4) Duration and amount.--A grant under this section shall 
     be 5 years in duration. An eligible early career-researcher 
     who receives a grant under this section shall receive 
     $100,000 for each year of the grant period.
       (5) Use of funds.--An eligible early career-researcher who 
     receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds 
     for basic research in natural sciences, engineering, 
     mathematics, or computer sciences at a university, private 
     industry, or federally-funded research and development 
     center.
       (6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section--

[[Page 233]]

       (A) $2,500,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (B) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (C) $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
       (D) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; and
       (E) $12,500,000 for fiscal year 2011.

     SEC. 502. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT 
                   OF DEFENSE FOR BASIC RESEARCH.

       There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for the 
     Department of Defense for basic (6.1) research, amounts for 
     the research, development, test, and evaluation accounts of 
     the Department, and for other accounts of the Department 
     providing funding for such research, in the aggregate as 
     follows:
       (1) $1,616,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
       (2) $1,778,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
       (3) $1,995,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
       (4) $2,151,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
       (5) $2,364,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
       (6) $2,602,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
       (7) $2,862,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.
                                  ____


                                S. 2199

       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 ``Protecting America's 
     Competitive Edge Through Tax Incentives Act of 2006'' or the 
     ``PACE-Finance Act''.

     SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF CREDIT FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) Credit Made Permanent.--
       (1) In general.--Section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986 (relating to credit for increasing research activities) 
     is amended by striking subsection (h).
       (2) Conforming amendment.--Paragraph (1) of section 45C(b) 
     of such Code is amended by striking subparagraph (D).
       (3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection 
     shall apply to amounts paid or incurred after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, in taxable years ending after such 
     date.
       (b) Credit Rate Doubled.--Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 
     41(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is are each 
     amended by striking ``20 percent'' and inserting ``40 
     percent''.
       (c) New Regulations and Guidelines Authorized.--The 
     Secretary of the Treasury shall issue such regulations or 
     guidelines as are necessary--
       (1) to provide uniform conduct of tax audits relating to 
     the credit under section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code of 
     1986, and
       (2) to reflect the changing impact of technology on the 
     character of research and development, such as use of 
     databases provided by external parties and the conduct of 
     research and development through joint ventures.
       (d) Expansion of Credit to Expenses of General 
     Collaborative Research Consortia.--Section 41 of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 is amended--
       (1) by striking ``an energy research consortium'' in 
     subsections (a)(3) and (b)(3)(C)(i) and inserting ``a 
     research consortium'',
       (2) by striking ``energy'' each place it appears in 
     subsection (f)(6)(A),
       (3) by inserting ``or 501(c)(6)'' after ``section 
     501(c)(3)'' in subsection (f)(6)(A)(i)(I), and
       (4) by striking ``Energy research'' in the heading for 
     subsection (f)(6)(A) and inserting ``Research'' .
       (e) Study of Further Expansion of Credit.--Not later than 
     180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of the Treasury shall study and make 
     recommendations in a report to the President, the Committee 
     on Finance of the Senate, and the Committee on Ways and Means 
     of the House of Representatives on the following possible 
     methods of expanding the scope of the credit under section 41 
     of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986:
       (1) Modification of the credit to remove the incremental 
     approach of measuring creditable research and development 
     expenditures for taxpayers with significant and consistent 
     annual research and development expenditures.
       (2) Expansion of qualifying research and development 
     expenditures to include--
       (A) certain employee benefit costs related to qualifying 
     wages,
       (B) 100 percent of contract research costs,
       (C) all expenditures which would qualify for treatment 
     under section 174 of such Code,
       (D) any other costs determined appropriate by the 
     Secretary.
       (3) Reduction or elimination of limitation of credit under 
     section 280C(c) of such Code.
       (f) Effective Date.--Except as otherwise provided, the 
     amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years 
     beginning after December 31, 2005.

     SEC. 3. UNITED STATES-BASED INNOVATION INCENTIVES STUDY.

       (a) Study.--The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation 
     with the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, 
     shall conduct an analysis of the United States tax system and 
     its effect on this country as a location for innovation 
     investment and related activities. The analysis shall include 
     a comparison of the tax policies of other nations relating to 
     long-term innovation investment and an examination of various 
     features of the United States tax system, including--
       (1) the treatment of capital gains, including the 
     appropriate rate for very long-term investments or the 
     appropriate allowance for loss write-offs,
       (2) the overall corporate tax rate, and
       (3) incentives for high-tech manufacturing and research 
     equipment through tax credits and accelerated depreciation.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Treasury shall 
     report on the study and analysis described in subsection (a) 
     to the President, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and 
     the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of 
     Representatives.

     SEC. 4. EMPLOYEE CONTINUING EDUCATION TAX CREDIT.

       (a) In General.--Subpart D of part IV of subchapter A of 
     chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to 
     business related credits) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

     ``SEC. 45N. EMPLOYEE CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT.

       ``(a) Amount of Credit.--
       ``(1) In general.--For purposes of section 38, the employee 
     continuing education credit determined under this section 
     with respect to any employer for any taxable year is the 
     applicable percentage of qualified continuing education costs 
     paid or incurred by the employer during the calendar year 
     ending with or within such taxable year.
       ``(2) Applicable percentage.--For purposes of this section, 
     the applicable percentage is the percentage determined by the 
     Secretary such that the amount of the credit allowable under 
     this section for any calendar year does not exceed 
     $500,000,000.
       ``(b) Qualified Continuing Education Costs.--For purposes 
     of this section, the term `qualified continuing education 
     costs' means costs paid or incurred by an employer for 
     education to maintain or improve knowledge or skills in 
     science or engineering of an employee whose employment 
     requires knowledge or skills in science or engineering.
       ``(c) Regulations.--The Secretary may prescribe such 
     regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out 
     the purposes of this section, including regulations 
     establishing standards for educational courses and programs 
     to which this section applies.''.
       (b) Credit Made Part of General Business Credit.--Section 
     38(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by 
     striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (25), by striking 
     the period at the end of paragraph (26) and inserting ``, 
     and'', and by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(27) the employee continuing education credit determined 
     under section 45N(a).''.
       (c) Denial of Double Benefit.--Section 280C of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new subsection:
       ``(e) Employee Continuing Education Credit.--No deduction 
     shall be allowed for that portion of the expenses otherwise 
     allowable as a deduction for the taxable year which is equal 
     to the amount of the credit determined under section 
     45N(a).''.
       (d) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for subpart 
     D of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new item:

``Sec. 45N. Employee continuing education credit.''.

       (e) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall apply to costs paid or incurred in taxable years 
     beginning after December 31, 2005.

  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Protecting 
America's Competitive Edge (PACE) Act that will enable us to build on 
our existing strengths to help secure America's continued economic 
prosperity in the twenty-first century.
  I want to gratefully acknowledge at the outset that I am introducing 
this legislation with Senator Domenici, Senator Alexander, Senator 
Mikulski, and others. This measure is the product of our combined best 
efforts from both sides of the aisle, and our sole focus has been only 
on what is in the best interests of the Nation as a whole.
  For the last 200 years, our investments in science and technology, 
both public and private, have driven our economic growth and improved 
the quality of life in America. They have generated new knowledge and 
new industries, created new jobs, ensured economic and national 
security, reduced pollution and increased energy efficiency, provided 
better and safer transportation, improved medical care, and increased 
living standards for the American people.
  America's scientists and engineers through their unmatched vitality, 
creativity, and curiosity have helped us not only imagine but invent 
the future. In large measure, their contributions have made this new 
century before us so full of promise--molded by science,

[[Page 234]]

shaped by technology, and powered by knowledge.
  One of the bedrock policies of our Nation's economic security must be 
to sustain our investments in science and technology. Today there is no 
dispute that science, and the technology that flows from it, is duly 
recognized as the piston that drives the economic engine that enriches 
the quality of our lives. 
  Yet today our preeminence is precarious.
  Numerous thoughtful leaders in government, industry, and academia who 
are concerned about sustaining U.S. leadership across the frontiers of 
scientific knowledge are expressing growing uneasiness over troubling 
trends regarding the Nation's future prosperity. They warn we are 
slipping in our world leadership role in science and engineering, and 
losing sight of the importance of long-term investments in creating the 
conditions of prosperity.
  Other nations are coming up fast behind us on the scientific track 
and are pouring resources into their scientific and technological 
infrastructure. There is the distinct possibility that U.S. 
competitiveness in key high-tech areas will fall behind the major 
Pacific Rim countries of India, China, Taiwan, and South Korea.
  Moreover, the focus of our fundamental R&D has shifted away from the 
physical sciences, mathematics, and engineering--the critical areas of 
R&D most closely correlated with innovation and economic growth.
  Many of our foremost research programs that have been curtailed or 
cut back in recent years have been the cornerstone for much of our 
economic progress and spurred the creation of high paying jobs. Budget 
increases have been disproportionately concentrated primarily in two 
departments--Defense and Homeland Security--leaving other vital R&D 
agencies with very modest increases, or with an increase for some 
agencies offset by flat funding, or cuts in others.
  In the name of national security, we have been building a swaying 
tower of insecurity.
  We are on the brink of a new industrial and commercial world order. 
The reality of the twenty-first century global economy is that China, 
India, and other nations once considered economic backwaters have 
discovered how to build strong economies around very sophisticated 
technology.
  On the Pacific Rim, China has increased spending on colleges and 
universities almost tenfold in the last decade, and is doubling the 
proportion of GDP invested in that same period on R&D to promote 
competitiveness and growth. India is raising its funding of science 
agencies by 27 percent, and Japan is increasing its investments in life 
science by 32 percent, while South Korea is upgrading research spending 
by 8.5 percent.
  As our share of the world's technical graduate workforce slips, 
European and Asian universities are churning out ever greater numbers 
of workers in scientific fields. And while young Americans may shy away 
from technical careers because they perceive better opportunities in 
other high-level occupations, there are still sufficient rewards to 
attract ever-increasing numbers of foreign graduate students eager to 
pursue science and engineering degrees. 
  All of these signs, granted, are a cause for concern. Yet none of 
them, however, is a cause for panic. To state the facts frankly is not 
to despair about the future, nor is it to indict the past. Our task 
today is not to fix the blame for yesterday, but to set the proper and 
prudent course for tomorrow.
  These revolutionary changes in the global marketplace for highly 
skilled technical workers are dislodging the long-standing dominance of 
the U.S. scientific enterprise.
  That is causing our comparative advantage in high tech production to 
suffer and, despite the extraordinary power and resilience of our 
economy, signals a lengthy and difficult period of adjustment for 
American industry, its workforce, and ultimately our strong middle 
class standard of living which makes this country great.
  It also flags a pivotal moment in American history--a time of 
national peril, as well as a time of national opportunity.
  What should we do about these international challenges? We have 
absolutely no choice but to emphasize what we do best in this coming 
rivalry. Our most important strengths have always been education and 
innovation. Our can-do spirit of commercializing technological 
innovation has always been America's core competence. We do it far 
better than anyone else--we have done it before, and we can continue to 
excel at it. 
  Last May, Senator Lamar Alexander and I asked the National Academy of 
Sciences to conduct a study to identify ``specific steps our government 
should take to ensure the preeminence of America's scientific and 
technological enterprise to enable us to successfully compete, prosper, 
and be secure in the global community of the 21st century.''
  The Academy assembled an extraordinarily distinguished panel of 
America's best scientific minds, including three Nobel Prize winners, 
business executives, and university leaders and reported their findings 
back to us in October in a sobering report entitled, Rising Above the 
Gathering Storm.
  The National Academy's report proposes four broad recommendations: 1. 
Increase America's talent pool by vastly improving K-12 science and 
mathematics education; 2. sustain and strengthen the Nation's 
traditional commitment to long-term basic research; 3. make the United 
States the most attractive setting in which to study and perform 
research; and 4. ensure that the United States is the premier place in 
the world to innovate. 
  First and foremost, we need to fix our math and science education 
system from kindergarten through high school. We should establish a 
merit-based, 4 year undergraduate scholarship program to annually 
recruit 10,000 students per year to careers teaching math and science 
who then commit to working for at least 4 years in K-12 public schools.
  Using incentives and scholarships, our aim should be to quadruple the 
number of America students enrolled in advanced math and science 
courses to four and a half million by 2010.
  A U.S. high school student has about a 70 percent chance of being 
taught English by a teacher with an English degree, but only a 40 
percent chance of being taught chemistry by a teacher with a degree in 
chemistry. And the situation is worse for middle school students: 70 
percent of them are taught math by a teacher lacking a certificate or 
major in math.
  It takes many years to educate a citizen. There are no short term 
solutions to this problem, and workforce issues rarely respond to quick 
fixes and often span generations.
  That is why there is such a sense of urgency to recruit thousands of 
new math and science teachers in the years ahead through the award of 
competitive scholarships. Additionally, we must strengthen 250,000 
current teachers' math and science teaching skills with enhanced 
training and education by leveraging the expertise of the world's best 
physicists, mathematicians, and engineers to help provide that 
training.
  This legislation will also provide greater opportunities for students 
to take advanced math and science classes by increasing the number of 
students who enroll in Advanced Placement and International 
Baccalaureate science and math courses.
  Second, we must steadily increase our investment by 10 percent each 
year for the next 7 years in long-term basic research, with special 
attention devoted to the physical sciences, engineering, mathematics, 
and information sciences. 
  The Federal Government supports a majority of the Nation's basic 
research and nearly 60 percent of the R&D is performed in U.S. 
universities. At the same time, this investment at universities and 
colleges plays a key role in educating the next generation of 
scientists and engineers and a technically skilled workforce. We ought 
to provide 200 new research grants annually--worth $500,000 each 
payable over 5 years--to the Nation's most outstanding early-career 
researchers.

[[Page 235]]

  Additionally, we should consider creating a revolutionary agency in 
the Energy Department modeled on the highly successful Defense Advanced 
Research Projects Agency to sponsor research to meet the Nation's long-
term energy challenges that industry by itself cannot or will not 
support.
  Just as Olympic-caliber athletes need the finest equipment and 
training protocols to triumph in their events, so do scientists, 
engineers and their students need the most modern research instruments 
and facilities with the best capabilities, the farthest reach, and the 
finest accuracy and resolution. To enable us to push beyond the 
frontiers of our current knowledge, we should create a centralized 
research infrastructure fund of $500 million annually over the next 5 
years to ensure we have the equipment necessary for breakthrough 
scientific discoveries. 
  Third, we must increase the number of U.S. citizens earning science, 
engineering, and math degrees. We must redouble our efforts to 
encourage gifted young American men and women to pursue these high tech 
disciplines which require so much from them and which have so much to 
offer all of our people. We can do so by providing annually 25,000 
competitive undergraduate scholarships in physical sciences, 
engineering, and mathematics, and fund 5,000 new portable graduate 
fellowships in those fields.
  Equally important, we need a global recruitment strategy to attract 
the best and brightest to learn and live in America as part of our high 
tech workforce. Our visa, immigration and export control policies 
desperately need reform. Delays and difficulties in obtaining visas to 
the U.S. are contributing to a declining in-flow of scientific talent.
  We need to ensure the best and brightest come here, stay here, and 
obtain legal residency after college to contribute to our national 
economy instead of being forced back to their home countries to compete 
against us.
  Finally, we need to be able to assure investors that the U.S. is the 
preferred site for investments in new or expanded businesses that 
create the best jobs and provide the best services.
  To spur U.S.-based research and experimentation to meet global 
competition, we need to modernize the patent system, realign our tax 
policies to encourage long-term investments in innovation, and ensure 
the Nation meets the goal of affordable broadband Internet access by 
2007.
  Our patent laws must also be reformed by moving to a first-to-file 
instead of a first-to-invent, thus bringing us into line with the rest 
of the world while reducing expensive litigation. Infrastructure 
planning grants and loan guarantees could also ensure that U.S. science 
parks are competitive with those throughout Asia.
  Additionally, we should eliminate uncertainty by doubling the R&D tax 
credit and making it permanent. Studies document that this tax credit 
encourages as much R&D spending as it costs in foregone revenue--and 
perhaps even twice that amount over the long haul. 
  We face a competitive challenge of historic proportions today due to 
several new factors: The growing number of countries with advanced 
skills, multinational corporations placing their R&D centers, fueled by 
high education and low labor costs, wherever the profits are the 
greatest, and virtually every service being electronically 
communicable.
  It will be difficult to ever match our populous economic competitors 
in the quantity of their scientists and engineers. Ours is an even 
tougher task: to stay far ahead in the quality of our research and to 
keep pioneering scientific fields so cutting edge that others, for the 
most part, cannot duplicate them.
  We can readily meet this challenge and enjoy a prosperous future, 
even though these investments in education and research require 
incurring costs now for benefits later.
  The PACE Act will sustain our vibrant science and technology sector 
and with it our well-being, health, environment, and security.
  It will encourage education at home and attract talented scientists 
and engineers from abroad, as well as nurture a business environment 
that transforms new knowledge into new opportunities for creating high 
quality jobs and reaching shared goals.
  The passage of this farsighted public investment program will ensure 
that the United States is stronger, smarter, and leads the world in 
scientific and technological innovation in the twenty-first century.
  Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, today I join with Senators Domenici, 
Bingaman, Mikulski, and more than 25 other senators, in introducing the 
Protecting America's Competitive Edge (PACE) Act--a package of three 
bills to enhance American brainpower.
  America is now playing in a tougher league. China and India are 
competing for our jobs. The best way to keep those jobs in America is 
to maintain our brainpower edge in science and technology.
  The story of this bill really began last May, when Senator Jeff 
Bingaman and I, with the encouragement of Senate Energy Committee 
Chairman Pete Domenici, asked the National Academies this question: 
``What are the ten top actions, in priority order, that Federal policy 
makers could take over the next decade to help the United States keep 
our advantage in science and technology?''
  To answer the question, the Academies assembled a distinguished panel 
of business, government, and university leaders headed by Norm 
Augustine, former CEO of Lockheed Martin, that included three Nobel 
Prize winners. They took our question seriously. We asked them for 10 
recommendations; they gave us 20 when they released their report in 
October.
  In October, the Energy Committee held a hearing to learn more about 
those recommendations from Mr. Augustine and the Academies. It was the 
first opportunity Congress had to hear the Academies' answer to our 
question.
  Following those hearings, Chairman Domenici, Senator Bingaman, and I 
convened a series of ``homework sessions'' with members of the 
Academies, outside experts, and some officials in the Administration. 
These off-the-record sessions allowed Senators and Administration 
officials to grapple with the Academies' recommendations and consider 
how best to implement them.
  Last November, Norm Augustine led a dinner discussion hosted by 
Senator Frist with about 30 Senators on the report's recommendations 
right here in the Capitol. And then, in December, Senators Domenici, 
Bingaman, and I met with President Bush where he graciously listened to 
our ideas. The President was very engaged and knew these issues well.
  Now, as the Senate begins its session for the year, we are 
introducing this legislation to implement the recommendations of the 
Augustine Report. Next week, when the President addresses the nation in 
his State of the Union address, it is my hope that he will make this a 
focus of the address and his remaining three years in office.
  This bill is all about brainpower and the relationship of brainpower 
to good American jobs.
  The United States produces more than 25 percent of all the wealth in 
the world (in terms of GDP)--but has only 5 percent of the world's 
population. We are a fortunate country indeed. The Academies explain 
this phenomenon in this way: ``. . . as much as 85 percent of measured 
growth in U.S. income per capita is due to technological change.''
  This technological change is the result, in the report's words, of an 
outpouring ``of well trained people and the steady stream of scientific 
and technological innovations they produce.''
  Most of this good fortune comes from the American advantage in 
brainpower: an educated workforce, and our technological innovation. 
The United States has the finest system of colleges and universities on 
earth, attracting more than 500,000 of the brightest foreign students. 
No country has national research laboratories to match ours. Americans 
have won the most Nobel prizes in science and registered the most 
patents. We have invented electricity, the computer chip, and the 
internet.

[[Page 236]]

  As one scientist noted, we don't have science and technology because 
we're rich. We're rich because we have science and technology.
  Yet we worry that America may be losing its brainpower advantage. 
American experts who travel to China, India, Finland, Singapore, 
Ireland, and elsewhere come home saying, ``Watch out.''
  The Augustine Report found that we are right to be worried: Only 6 
percent of American college-age students earn degrees in the natural 
sciences or engineering, trailing students in China and India and a 
dozen other countries, many of which have doubled or tripled their 
degree output over the last decade. For the cost of one chemist or 
engineer in the United States, a company can hire five chemists in 
China or 11 engineers in India. China is spending billions to recruit 
the best Chinese scientists from American universities to return home 
to build up Chinese universities.
  The report also found signs that we are not keeping up: U.S. 12th 
graders performed below the average of 21 countries on tests of general 
knowledge in math. In 2003 only three American companies ranked among 
the top 10 recipients of new U.S. patents. Of 120 new chemical plants 
being built around the world with price tags of $1 billion or more, one 
is in the United States and 50 are in China.
  To maintain America's global leadership in research and development, 
the Augustine Report made twenty wide-ranging and urgent 
recommendations for U.S. schools, universities, research, and economic 
policy that include: Recruit 10,000 new science and math teachers with 
4-year scholarships and train 250,000 current teachers in summer 
institutes. Create a new coordinating office to manage a centralized 
research infrastructure fund of at least $500 million per year. Provide 
30,000 scholarships and graduate fellowships for scientists. Increase 
federal funding for basic research in the physical sciences by 10 
percent a year for 7 years. Give American companies a bigger research 
and development tax credit so they will keep their good jobs here 
instead of move them offshore. Create a new agency in the Department of 
Energy modeled on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to 
conduct breakthrough R&D, that will lessen our dependence on foreign 
sources of energy.
  Some may wince at the price tag--$9 billion in the first year, and 
then it edges upward over the full seven year period. I believe the 
cost is low, relative to the benefits. Maintaining America's brainpower 
advantage will not come on the cheap.
  This year, one third of State and local budgets go to fund education. 
More than 50 percent of American students have a Federal grant or loan 
to help pay for college. The Federal Government spends nearly $30 
billion per year on research at universities and another $34 billion to 
fund 36 national research laboratories.
  Just last year, Congress spent $85 billion to fight the war in Iraq, 
$71 billion for hurricane recovery, and $352 billion to finance the 
national debt. If we fail to invest the funds necessary to keep our 
brainpower advantage, we'll not have an economy capable of producing 
enough money to pay the bills for war, social security, hurricanes, 
Medicaid, and debt.
  The legislation we are introducing today has strong bipartisan 
support. It is our hope President Bush will make it a focus of his 
State of the Union Address and of his remaining 3 years in office--and 
that future candidates for president will make it the center of their 
campaigns. Aside from our national security, there is no greater 
challenge than maintaining our brainpower advantage so we can keep our 
good paying jobs and strengthen our economy. That is the surest way to 
keep America on top.
  I hope my colleagues will join us in this critical effort to protect 
America's competitive edge.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I'd like to thank my colleagues: Senator 
Pete Domenici, Senator Jeff Bingaman and Senator Lamar Alexander for 
their effort in moving this issue. I am so proud of our great 
bipartisan team. I can't say enough about the appreciation that many of 
us in the Senate feel about their initiation of the report, ``Rising 
Above the Gathering Storm,'' which is the basis for our legislation, 
the PACE Act.
  America must remain an innovation economy. This legislation creates 
the building blocks that we need for a smarter America. Our Nation is 
in an amazing race--the race for discovery and new knowledge. The race 
to remain competitive and to foster an innovation society, to create 
new ideas that lead to new breakthroughs, new products and new jobs. 
The innovations that have the power to save lives, create prosperity 
and protect the homeland. The innovation to make America safer, 
stronger and smarter.
  Our legislation is called ``Protecting America's Competitive Edge'' 
Act or PACE. It is divided into 3 sections: Energy, Education and Tax. 
It calls for: getting new ideas by doubling Federal funding for basic 
research in the Department of Energy with special attention going to 
physical sciences, engineering, math and information sciences; getting 
the best minds with scholarships for future math and science teachers 
including $20,000 scholarships from the National Science Foundation 
(NSF) for undergraduate students majoring in math or science along with 
teacher certification; visa reform for foreign science and math 
students so the best and brightest can stay here, creating a new 
student visa for doctoral students studying math and science so they 
can stay in the U.S. longer; and an extension of the R & D tax credit, 
doubling the current R & D credit, from 20 percent to 40 percent, 
expanding the credit to cover all research--since current law only 
allows credit for energy research.
  Why is this so important? Because a country that doesn't innovate, 
stagnates. The whole foundation of American culture and economy is 
based on the concept of discovery and innovation. That's part of our 
culture. When you look at what has made America a superpower, it's our 
innovation and our technology. We have to look at where the new ideas 
are going to come from that are going to generate the new products for 
the 21st century.
  I want America to win the Nobel prizes and the markets. This 
legislation will help to set the framework. It will make sure that 
we're helping our young people with scholarships and new visas, and 
helping our science teachers and those working in science with funding 
and research opportunities. We also are forming partnerships with the 
private sector, and building an innovation-friendly government.
  This is so important to me and I'm going to use my committee 
responsibility and my work and expertise in the United States Senate to 
make it happen. Whether it's my position on the HELP Committee, working 
to pass the education piece, or in my seat as an appropriator and Vice 
Chair on the subcommittee that funds Science. I will work to make sure 
that there is money in the federal checkbook to support these important 
proposals.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. LUGAR:
  S. 2200. A bill to establish a United States-Poland parliamentary 
youth exchange program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Foreign Relations.
  Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise today to offer legislation urging 
the Administration to develop a United States--Poland Parliamentary 
Youth Exchange Program.
  The purpose of this exchange program is to demonstrate to the youth 
of the United States and Poland the benefits of friendly cooperation 
between the U.S. and Poland based on common political and cultural 
values. I have long been an active supporter of the Congress-Bundestag 
Exchange program and am hopeful that this new endeavor will make 
similarly important lasting contributions to the U.S.-Polish 
relationship.
  As a Rhodes Scholar, I had the opportunity to discover international 
education at Pembroke College--my first trip outside of the United 
States. The parameters of my imagination expanded enormously during 
this time, as I gained a sense of how large the world

[[Page 237]]

was, how many talented people there were, and how many opportunities 
one could embrace. Student exchange programs do more than benefit 
individual scholars and advance human knowledge. Such programs expand 
ties between nations, improve international commerce, encourage 
cooperative solutions to global problems, prevent war, and give 
participants a chance to develop a sense of global service and 
responsibility.
  Funding a great foreign exchange program is a sign of both national 
pride and national humility. Implicit in such a program is the view 
that people from other nations view one's country and educational 
system as a beacon of knowledge--as a place where international 
scholars would want to study and live. But it is also an admission that 
a nation does not have all the answers--that our national understanding 
of the world is incomplete. It is an admission that we are just a part 
of a much larger world that has intellectual, scientific, and moral 
wisdom that we need to learn.
  The United States and Poland have enjoyed close bilateral relations 
since the end of the Cold War. Most recently, Poland has been a strong 
supporter of efforts led by the United States to combat global 
terrorism, and has contributed troops to and led coalitions in both 
Afghanistan and Iraq. Poland also cooperates closely with the United 
States on such issues as democratization, human rights, regional 
cooperation in Eastern Europe, and reform of the United Nations. As a 
member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, NATO, and the 
European Union, EU, Poland has demonstrated its commitment to 
democratic values and is a role model in its region.
  I believe that it is important to invest in the youth of the United 
States and Poland in order to strengthen long-lasting ties between both 
societies. After receiving for many years international and U.S. 
financial assistance, Poland is now determined to invest its own 
resources toward funding a U.S.-Poland exchange program. To this end, 
the Polish Foreign Minister unambiguously stated that Poland welcomed 
the opportunity to be an equal partner in funding important efforts.
  I ask my colleagues to support this legislation.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. OBAMA (for himself, Mr. Inouye, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. 
        Lautenberg):
  S. 2201. A bill to amend title 49, United States Code, to modify the 
mediation and implementation requirements of section 40122 regarding 
changes in the Federal Aviation Administration personnel management 
system, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation.
  Mr. OBAMA. Mr. President, in the hours after the terrorist attacks on
9/11, America's air traffic controllers rose to meet the tremendous 
challenges of that day.
  After halting all takeoffs, controllers began clearing the skies over 
America. Under unprecedented conditions, controllers guided 4,500 
planes carrying 350,000 passengers to safe landings. They also rerouted 
more than 1,100 of the 4,500 flights within the first 15 minutes of the 
landing order--about one every second--and cleared the skies over 
America within 2\1/2\ hours.
  That kind of performance was wholly dependent on the caliber and 
training of the world's finest air traffic controllers. And as I come 
to the floor of the Senate today, there are hundreds of pilots flying 
commercial airplanes under an air traffic controller's guidance. Each 
and every day, the lives of thousands of people are in the hands of 
each and every air traffic controller.
  Because what they do is vital to our safety, I became very concerned 
by a letter I received from Illinois air traffic controller Michael 
Hannigan last December. He wrote that ``the air traffic controllers, 
who work aircraft everyday, often six days a week, are not being 
allowed to negotiate in good faith with the Federal Aviation 
Administration.'' And he asked for me to help ``the hard working 
Federal employees that want the protections as a labor union that they 
should have a right to bargain for.''
  What was clear in Michael's plea was the sense that he and his 
colleagues felt that they were being treated unfairly. I looked into it 
and came to the conclusion that if we did not restore a fair 
negotiation procedure, it would threaten agency morale and 
effectiveness.
  The problem is this: lower courts have determined that the FAA 
Administrator currently has the extraordinary authority to impose wages 
and working conditions on her workers without arbitration. In order to 
do that, she merely has to declare an impasse in negotiations and if 
Congress does not set everything else aside and stop her from imposing 
her terms and conditions within 60 days, the Administrator can go ahead 
and act unilaterally. That authority denies air traffic controllers and 
all other FAA employees the opportunity to engage in and conclude 
negotiations in good faith.
  To diffuse the management-labor tension at the agency and bring the 
FAA together, I am introducing ``The FAA Fair Labor Management Dispute 
Resolution Act of 2006''. I am also proud to say that Senator Inouye, 
the co-chair of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation 
Committees; Senator Murray, the ranking member on the Transportation 
Appropriations Subcommittee; and Senator Lautenberg, a member on the 
Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Transportation, are joining me in 
this effort.
  The FAA Fair Labor Management Dispute Resolution Act replaces the FAA 
Administrator's arbitrary authority with neutral binding arbitration in 
the case of an impasse in labor-management negotiations. In 
arbitration, both labor and management would have to make concessions, 
and both would be able to accept the outcome as fair.
  We need this legislation now because the FAA Administrator is engaged 
in contract negotiations with the agency's two largest groups of 
workers--the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) and 
Professional Airways Systems Specialists (PASS). In both cases, 
negotiations have been contentious. And the FAA's workers fear that the 
Administrator is not intent on reaching fair, voluntary agreements 
given her previous negotiations. Indeed, the Administrator has already 
used her authority to impose wages and working conditions without 
arbitration or agreement on NATCA's 11 non-air traffic controller 
bargaining units, and she stands at impasse with four of PASS's five 
bargaining units.
  The Administrator has made three arguments in defense of her actions: 
1. the FAA needs the authority ``to operate more like a business''; 2. 
air traffic controller pay is ``inappropriate given the financial 
circumstances of the airline industry the system serves''; and 3. 
changing the law to send an impasse to binding arbitration would 
essentially ``change the rules of the game during halftime.''
  But the agency's employees point out that the agency is not a 
business driven to cut costs in pursuit of profit, it is a public 
agency with no margin for error. They also argue that the nation's air 
safety should not depend on how well or poorly the airlines are doing 
financially. And, if the rules are unfair, the employees argue they 
should be changed before negotiations conclude.
  Regardless of the merits of each side's positions, if the 
Administrator is able to impose her chosen conditions on air traffic 
controllers, it will have two negative effects on the agency: 1. it 
will lead to an erosion of talent at the agency with vital, retirement-
eligible air traffic controllers interpreting such agency action as an 
invitation to retire; and 2. it will make recruiting needed replacement 
employees that much more difficult.
  I recognize that negotiations between the Administrator and the air 
traffic controllers are difficult. However, it is in the best interest 
of the agency and public safety to have management and labor cooperate 
in contract negotiations and if that is impossible, then no one side 
should be able to impose its views on the other. Only neutral 
arbitration can produce a fair outcome that the entire organization can 
accept.

[[Page 238]]

  More than 2,900 air traffic controllers will be eligible to retire 
this year, and 7,100 controllers could leave the agency within the next 
nine years. Meeting this management challenge will require cooperation 
between labor and management. Moreover, rising tension between the FAA 
Administrator and FAA employees threatens this vital agency's 
effectiveness at every level and, as a result, threatens the safety of 
passengers.
  Again, the legislation we are introducing today would encourage both 
sides in all FAA labor-management negotiations to reach a voluntary 
agreement and in the case of impasse, it would allow the FAA to move 
forward after binding arbitration, bring its workers together, and 
focus on other challenges because no one side will have had arbitrary 
authority.
  The FAA's employees are dedicated, hard working public servants 
responsible for helping ensure the safety of the flying public. It is 
stressful, important work. We must value that work and treat them 
fairly.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. LEAHY (for himself, Mr. Kerry, and Mr. Feingold):
  S. 2202. A bill to provide for ethics reform of the Federal judiciary 
and to instill greater public confidence in the Federal courts; to the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am pleased to introduce the Fair and 
Independent Judiciary Act of 2006 because ensuring a fair and 
independent judiciary is critical to the system of checks and balances 
established in our Constitution. This legislation seeks to preserve the 
public confidence that our Federal courts enjoy, and that our courts 
need to adequately fulfill their constitutional role in our system. 
Revelations that judges and justices are receiving gifts from parties 
that may appear before them or have a financial interest in a 
litigating party undermine the public's trust.
  For the past 4 years, editorial boards across the country have called 
our attention to the appearance of impropriety that occurs when Federal 
judges accept gifts and attend lavish private seminars sponsored by 
well-heeled corporations. I have proposed similar legislation in 
previous Congresses to address the problem of private judicial 
seminars. Last year, despite my ongoing concerns about reports of 
judicial activities that undermine public confidence, I withheld these 
provisions from a judicial pay raise bill. I had hoped that the Federal 
judiciary would engage in self-regulation on these timely and 
substantive ethical issues. Unfortunately, recent press reports show 
continued appearances of impropriety, even by a member of the Supreme 
Court. This legislation does not prohibit judges and justices from 
attending educational seminars. Instead, it simply requires them to 
learn and disclose the private sponsors of the seminars and make that 
information public. Then, they would be allowed to attend the seminars, 
but at the court's expense, instead of having special interests pick up 
their tabs.
  Another issue that threatens to undermine confidence in our judicial 
impartiality was highlighted at the recent hearings for Judge Alito. 
Some judges fail to monitor their financial holdings so that they can 
properly recuse themselves from cases where there may be a conflict of 
interest. One way to be sure that the recusal laws Congress enacted are 
being followed by all Federal judges is to allow more transparency of a 
judge's financial conflicts. This legislation contains a provision to 
improve the public's access to the recusal lists that all judges keep 
within their chambers or clerks' offices.
  Because the public's trust is at stake, it is important to require 
that private seminar providers fully disclose the litigation interests 
of their sponsors and to improve access to judicial conflicts. The 
American people deserve a Federal judiciary that is beyond reproach--in 
appearance, and otherwise. The Fair and Independent Judiciary Act seeks 
to ensure continued public confidence in our Federal courts. I ask 
unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows.

                                S. 2202

         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 ``Federal Judiciary Ethics 
     Reform Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. JUDICIAL EDUCATION FUND.

       (a) Establishment.--Chapter 42 of title 28, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 630. Judicial Education Fund

       ``(a) In this section, the term--
       ``(1) `institution of higher education' has the meaning 
     given under section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a));
       ``(2) `private judicial seminar'--
       ``(A) means a seminar, symposia, panel discussion, course, 
     or a similar event that provides continuing legal education 
     to judges; and
       ``(B) does not include--
       ``(i) seminars that last 1 day or less and are conducted 
     by, and on the campus of, an institute of higher education;
       ``(ii) seminars that last 1 day or less and are conducted 
     by national bar associations or State or local bar 
     associations for the benefit of the bar association 
     membership; or
       ``(iii) seminars of any length conducted by, and on the 
     campus of an institute of higher education or by national bar 
     associations or State or local bar associations, where a 
     judge is a presenter and at which judges constitute less than 
     25 percent of the participants;
       ``(3) `national bar association' means a national 
     organization that is open to general membership to all 
     members of the bar; and
       ``(4) `State or local bar association' means a State or 
     local organization that is open to general membership to all 
     members of the bar in the specified geographic region.
       ``(b) There is established within the United States 
     Treasury a fund to be known as the `Judicial Education Fund' 
     (in this section referred to as the `Fund').
       ``(c) Amounts in the Fund may be made available for the 
     payment of necessary expenses, including reasonable 
     expenditures for transportation, food, lodging, private 
     judicial seminar fees and materials, incurred by a judge or 
     justice in attending a private judicial seminar approved by 
     the Board of the Federal Judicial Center. Necessary expenses 
     shall not include expenditures for recreational activities or 
     entertainment other than that provided to all attendees as an 
     integral part of the private judicial seminar. Any payment 
     from the Fund shall be approved by the Board.
       ``(d) The Board may approve a private judicial seminar 
     after submission of information by the sponsor of that 
     private judicial seminar that includes--
       ``(1) the content of the private judicial seminar 
     (including a list of presenters, topics, and course 
     materials); and
       ``(2) the litigation activities of the sponsor and the 
     presenters at the private judicial seminar (including the 
     litigation activities of the employer of each presenter) on 
     the topic related to those addressed at the private judicial 
     seminar.
       ``(e) If the Board approves a private judicial seminar, the 
     Board shall make the information submitted under subsection 
     (d) relating to the private judicial seminar available to 
     judges and the public by posting the information on the 
     Internet.
       ``(f) The Judicial Conference shall promulgate guidelines 
     to ensure that the Board only approves private judicial 
     seminars that are conducted in a manner so as to maintain the 
     public's confidence in an unbiased and fair-minded judiciary.
       ``(g) There are authorized to be appropriated for deposit 
     in the Fund $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2006, 2007, 
     and 2008, to remain available until expended.''.
       (b) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of 
     sections for chapter 42 of title 28, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

``630. Judicial Education Fund''.

     SEC. 3. PRIVATE JUDICIAL SEMINAR GIFTS PROHIBITED.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section, the term--
       (1) ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning 
     given under section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a));
       (2) ``private judicial seminar''--
       (A) means a seminar, symposia, panel discussion, course, or 
     a similar event that provides continuing legal education to 
     judges; and
       (B) does not include--
       (i) seminars that last 1 day or less and are conducted by, 
     and on the campus of, an institute of higher education;
       (ii) seminars that last 1 day or less and are conducted by 
     national bar associations or State or local bar associations 
     for the benefit of the bar association membership; or
       (iii) seminars of any length conducted by, and on the 
     campus of an institute of higher education or by national bar 
     associations or State or local bar associations, where a

[[Page 239]]

     judge is a presenter and at which judges constitute less than 
     25 percent of the participants.
       (3) ``national bar association'' means a national 
     organization that is open to general membership to all 
     members of the bar; and
       (4) ``State or local bar association'' means a State or 
     local organization that is open to general membership to all 
     members of the bar in the specified geographic region.
       (b) In General.--Not later than 240 days after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Judicial Conference of the United 
     States shall promulgate regulations to apply section 7353(a) 
     of title 5, United States Code, to prohibit the solicitation 
     or acceptance of anything of value in connection with a 
     private judicial seminar.
       (c) Exception.--The prohibition under the regulations 
     promulgated under subsection (b) shall not apply if--
       (1) the judge participates in a private judicial seminar as 
     a speaker, panel participant, or otherwise presents 
     information;
       (2) Federal judges are not the primary audience at the 
     private judicial seminar; and
       (3) the thing of value accepted is--
       (A) reimbursement from the private judicial seminar sponsor 
     of reasonable transportation, food, or lodging expenses on 
     any day on which the judge speaks, participates, or presents 
     information, as applicable;
       (B) attendance at the private judicial seminar on any day 
     on which the judge speaks, participates, or presents 
     information, as applicable; or
       (C) anything excluded from the definition of a gift under 
     regulations of the Judicial Conference of the United States 
     under sections 7351 and 7353 of title 5, United States Code, 
     as in effect on the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 4. RECUSAL LISTS.

       Section 455 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(g)(1) Each justice, judge, and magistrate of the United 
     States shall maintain a list of all financial interests that 
     would require disqualification under subsection (b)(4).
       ``(2) Each list maintained under paragraph (1) shall be 
     made available to the public at the office of the clerk for 
     the court at which a justice, judge, or magistrate is 
     assigned.''
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mrs. CLINTON (for herself and Mr. Nelson of Florida):
  S. 2203. A bill to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to 
eliminate cost-sharing under part D of such title for certain full-
benefit dual eligible individuals; to the Committee on Finance.
  Mrs. CLINTON. Mr. President, today I rise to introduce legislation to 
address yet another serious flaw in the Medicare prescription drug 
benefit that has come to light.
  On January 1, the new Medicare prescription drug benefit went into 
effect. Overnight, millions of seniors and disabled Americans found 
themselves thrown into a confusing and complex transition.
  Some of our poorest and most vulnerable beneficiaries, those in 
assisted living facilities, have found themselves suddenly forced to 
produce copayments to get the medications they need.
  These are beneficiaries with serious mental illnesses who have been 
stabilized on medications, and people with developmental and physical 
disabilities who have little or no incomes and no way to afford the 
medicines that they depend on.
  The bill I am introducing will fix this problem by waiving copayments 
for this group of vulnerable beneficiaries and reimbursing them for any 
copayments they have already been forced to shoulder.
  This is just one of so many problems we have seen plaguing this 
program. The first 26 days of this program have been a disaster for far 
too many seniors and disabled across New York and across the country.
  We have heard reports from our poorest seniors, who were being 
charged hundreds of dollars for drugs. We have heard reports of 
disabled individuals asked to provide doctor's notes certifying a need 
for their medications and of beneficiaries leaving pharmacies without 
the drugs they depend on to keep them healthy.
  As a result of problems with computer systems, phone lines, and the 
inability of Medicare and private plans to provide correct information 
to those on the front lines of care, millions of people around the 
country have faced problems receiving this new benefit.
  I am working on all fronts to help Medicare beneficiaries weather 
this transition. Before this program went into effect, it was clear 
that those dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, our poorest and 
most vulnerable seniors and disabled, would have a particular challenge 
navigating this transition. I was very concerned that many these 
Medicare recipients would walk up to their pharmacy counters on January 
1 and be unable to get their prescriptions filled.
  In anticipation of these problems, I introduced legislation in 
December to keep these Medicare recipients from falling through the 
cracks by stepping up outreach and education to pharmacists and 
providing reimbursement to pharmacists who are charged a transaction 
fee to access beneficiary information through Medicare. I also 
cosponsored legislation to give Medicare beneficiaries more time to 
enroll in the new program.
  And I issued a resource guide, now available in both English and 
Spanish, to help New Yorkers navigate this new program. To date more 
than 75,000 copies of the guide have been distributed.
  Since the new program went into effect, I have repeatedly urged the 
Bush administration to address the problems plaguing this program. And 
last week, I introduced comprehensive legislation along with several of 
my Senate colleagues, that includes my bill to help pharmacists help 
their customers, and makes the other fixes I have been calling for: 
provisions to improve outreach and education, fix problems with drug 
plans transition programs, protect the benefits of seniors who also 
have coverage from a retiree drug plan, and make sure that States and 
low income beneficiaries are reimbursed for excessive costs they have 
been forced to shoulder by the inept implementation of the new benefit.
  We owe it to our seniors and disabled Americans to get this right. 
And I will keep fighting to ensure that we do.

                          ____________________