[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Pages 8491-8505]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           TEXT OF AMENDMENTS

  SA 4670. Mr. NELSON (for himself and Mr. Gardner) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 4607 submitted by Mr. 
McCain to the bill S. 2943, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2017 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 1, between lines 3 and 4, insert the following:

     SEC. 829B. COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT AND PHASE OUT OF ROCKET 
                   ENGINES FROM THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THE 
                   EVOLVED EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE PROGRAM FOR 
                   SPACE LAUNCH OF NATIONAL SECURITY SATELLITES.

       (a) Ineffectiveness of Superseded Requirements.--Sections 
     1036 and 1037 shall have no force or effect, and the 
     amendments proposed to be made by section 1037 shall not be 
     made.
       (b) In General.--Any competition for a contract for the 
     provision of launch services for the evolved expendable 
     launch vehicle program shall be open for award to all 
     certified providers of evolved expendable launch vehicle-
     class systems.
       (c) Award of Contracts.--In awarding a contract under 
     subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense--
       (1) subject to paragraph (2) and subsection (d), and 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law, may, during the 
     period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and 
     ending on December 31, 2022, award the contract to a provider 
     of launch services that intends to use any certified launch 
     vehicle in its inventory without regard to the country of 
     origin of the rocket engine that will be used on that launch 
     vehicle; and
       (2) may only award contracts utilizing an engine designed 
     or manufactured in the Russian Federation for phase 1(a) and 
     phase 2 evolved expendable launch vehicle procurements.
       (d) Limitation.--The total number of rocket engines 
     designed or manufactured in the Russian Federation and used 
     on launch vehicles for the evolved expendable launch vehicle 
     program shall not exceed 18.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 4671. Mr. NELSON (for himself and Mr. Gardner) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2943, to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2017 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for 
defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which 
was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Strike sections 1036 and 1037 and insert the following:

     SEC. 1036. COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT AND PHASE OUT OF ROCKET 
                   ENGINES FROM THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN THE 
                   EVOLVED EXPENDABLE LAUNCH VEHICLE PROGRAM FOR 
                   SPACE LAUNCH OF NATIONAL SECURITY SATELLITES.

       (a) In General.--Any competition for a contract for the 
     provision of launch services for the evolved expendable 
     launch vehicle program shall be open for award to all 
     certified providers of evolved expendable launch vehicle-
     class systems.
       (b) Award of Contracts.--In awarding a contract under 
     subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense--
       (1) subject to paragraph (2) and subsection (c), and 
     notwithstanding any other provision of law, may, during the 
     period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and 
     ending on December 31, 2022, award the contract to a provider 
     of launch services that intends to use any certified launch 
     vehicle in its inventory without regard to the country of 
     origin of the rocket engine that will be used on that launch 
     vehicle; and
       (2) may only award contracts utilizing an engine designed 
     or manufactured in the Russian Federation for phase 1(a) and 
     phase 2

[[Page 8492]]

     evolved expendable launch vehicle procurements.
       (c) Limitation.--The total number of rocket engines 
     designed or manufactured in the Russian Federation and used 
     on launch vehicles for the evolved expendable launch vehicle 
     program shall not exceed 18.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 4672. Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. Vitter) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 4253 submitted by 
Mrs. Shaheen (for herself and Mr. Vitter) and intended to be proposed 
to the bill S. 2943, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2017 
for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

         In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted, insert the 
     following:
       DIVISION F--SBIR AND STTR REAUTHORIZATION AND IMPROVEMENTS

     SEC. 6001. SHORT TITLE.

       This division may be cited as the ``SBIR and STTR 
     Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016''.
                 TITLE LXI--REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAMS

     SEC. 6101. PERMANENCY OF SBIR PROGRAM AND STTR PROGRAM.

       (a) SBIR.--Section 9(m) of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 638(m)) is amended--
       (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Termination'' 
     and inserting ``SBIR Program Authorization''; and
       (2) by striking ``terminate on September 30, 2017'' and 
     inserting ``be in effect for each fiscal year''.
       (b) STTR.--Section 9(n)(1)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 638(n)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ``through fiscal 
     year 2017''.
   TITLE LXII--ENHANCED SMALL BUSINESS ACCESS TO FEDERAL INNOVATION 
                              INVESTMENTS

     SEC. 6201. ALLOCATION INCREASES AND TRANSPARENCY IN BASE 
                   CALCULATION.

       (a) SBIR.--Section 9(f) of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 638(f)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``expend'' and inserting ``obligate for expenditure'';
       (B) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (C) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``in fiscal year 2017 
     and each fiscal year thereafter,'' and inserting ``in each of 
     fiscal years 2017 through 2021''; and
       (D) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following:
       ``(J) for a Federal agency other than the Department of 
     Defense, the National Science Foundation, or the Department 
     of Health and Human Services--
       ``(i) not less than 3.4 percent of the extramural budget 
     for research or research and development of the Federal 
     agency in fiscal year 2022;
       ``(ii) not less than 3.6 percent of such extramural budget 
     in fiscal year 2023;
       ``(iii) not less than 3.8 percent of such extramural budget 
     in fiscal year 2024;
       ``(iv) not less than 4 percent of such extramural budget in 
     fiscal year 2025;
       ``(v) not less than 4.2 percent of such extramural budget 
     in fiscal year 2026;
       ``(vi) not less than 4.4 percent of such extramural budget 
     in fiscal year 2027; and
       ``(vii) not less than 4.54 percent of such extramural 
     budget in fiscal year 2028 and each fiscal year thereafter;
       ``(K) for the Department of Defense--
       ``(i) not less than 2.6 percent of the budget for research, 
     development, test, and evaluation of the Department of 
     Defense in fiscal year 2022;
       ``(ii) not less than 2.7 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2023;
       ``(iii) not less than 2.8 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2024;
       ``(iv) not less than 2.9 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2025;
       ``(v) not less than 3 percent of such budget in fiscal year 
     2026;
       ``(vi) not less than 3.1 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2027;
       ``(vii) not less than 3.2 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2028;
       ``(viii) not less than 3.3 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2029;
       ``(ix) not less than 3.4 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2030; and
       ``(x) not less than 3.5 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2031 and each fiscal year thereafter; and
       ``(L) for the National Science Foundation and the 
     Department of Health and Human Services, for fiscal year 2022 
     and each fiscal year thereafter, the lesser of--
       ``(i) the percentage of the extramural budget for research 
     or research and development of the National Science 
     Foundation or the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     respectively, equal to the sum of--

       ``(I) the percentage in effect under this paragraph for the 
     National Science Foundation or the Department of Health and 
     Human Services, respectively, for the previous fiscal year; 
     and
       ``(II)(aa) 0.04 percent; or
       ``(bb) if the extramural budget for research or research 
     and development of the National Science Foundation or the 
     Department of Health and Human Services, respectively, for 
     the fiscal year is not less than 103 percent of such 
     extramural budget for the previous fiscal year, 0.2 percent; 
     or

       ``(ii) 4.5 percent of the extramural budget for research or 
     research and development of the National Science Foundation 
     or the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     respectively,'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ``(or for the 
     Department of Defense, an amount of the budget for basic 
     research of the Department of Defense)'' after ``research''; 
     and
       (3) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``(or for the Department 
     of Defense an amount of the budget for research, development, 
     test, and evaluation of the Department of Defense)'' after 
     ``of the agency''.
       (b) STTR.--Section 9(n)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 638(n)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A)--
       (A) by striking ``expend'' and inserting ``obligate for 
     expenditure''; and
       (B) by striking ``not less than the percentage of that 
     extramural budget specified in subparagraph (B)'' and 
     inserting ``for a Federal agency other than the Department of 
     Defense, the National Science Foundation, or the Department 
     of Health and Human Services, not less than the percentage of 
     that extramural budget specified in subparagraph (B), for the 
     Department of Defense, not less than the percentage of the 
     budget for research, development, test, and evaluation of the 
     Department of Defense specified in subparagraph (B), and for 
     the National Science Foundation and the Department of Health 
     and Human Services, not less than the percentage of that 
     extramural budget specified in subparagraph (C)'';
       (2) in subparagraph (B)--
       (A) in the subparagraph heading, by inserting ``other than 
     for nsf and hhs'' after ``amounts'';
       (B) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``the 
     extramural budget required to be expended by an agency'' and 
     inserting ``the extramural budget, for a Federal agency other 
     than the Department of Defense, the National Science 
     Foundation, or the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     and of the budget for research, development, test, and 
     evaluation, for the Department of Defense, required to be 
     obligated for expenditure with small business concerns'';
       (C) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (D) in clause (v), by striking ``fiscal year 2016 and each 
     fiscal year thereafter.'' and inserting ``each of fiscal 
     years 2016 through 2021;''; and
       (E) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(vi) 0.5 percent for fiscal year 2022;
       ``(vii) 0.55 percent for fiscal year 2023;
       ``(viii) 0.6 percent for fiscal year 2024;
       ``(ix) 0.65 percent for fiscal year 2025;
       ``(x) 0.7 percent for fiscal year 2026;
       ``(xi) 0.75 percent for fiscal year 2027;
       ``(xii) 0.8 percent for fiscal year 2028;
       ``(xiii) 0.85 percent for fiscal year 2029;
       ``(xiv) 0.9 percent for fiscal year 2030; and
       ``(xv) 0.95 percent for fiscal year 2031 and each fiscal 
     year thereafter.''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) Expenditure amounts for nsf and hhs.--The percentage 
     of the extramural budget required to be expended by the 
     National Science Foundation and the Department of Health and 
     Human Services in accordance with subparagraph (A) shall be--
       ``(i) for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021, 0.45 
     percent; and
       ``(ii) for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year 
     thereafter, the lesser of--

       ``(I) the percentage of the extramural budget for research 
     or research and development of the National Science 
     Foundation or the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     respectively, equal to the sum of--

       ``(aa) the percentage in effect under this paragraph for 
     the National Science Foundation or the Department of Health 
     and Human Services, respectively, for the previous fiscal 
     year; and
       ``(bb)(AA) 0 percent; or
       ``(BB) if the extramural budget for research or research 
     and development of the National Science Foundation or the 
     Department of Health and Human Services, respectively, for 
     the fiscal year is not less than 103 percent of such 
     extramural budget for the previous fiscal year, 0.05 percent; 
     or

       ``(II) 0.95 percent of the extramural budget for research 
     or research and development of the National Science 
     Foundation or the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     respectively.''.

     SEC. 6202. REGULAR OVERSIGHT OF AWARD AMOUNTS.

       (a) Elimination of Automatic Inflation Adjustments.--
     Section 9(j) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(j)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)(D), by inserting ``through fiscal year 
     2016'' after ``every year''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) 2016 modifications for dollar value of awards.--Not 
     later than 120 days after the date of enactment of the SBIR 
     and STTR Reauthorization and Improvement Act of

[[Page 8493]]

     2016, the Administrator shall modify the policy directives 
     issued under this subsection to--
       ``(A) eliminate the annual adjustments for inflation of the 
     dollar value of awards described in paragraph (2)(D); and
       ``(B) clarify that Congress intends to review the dollar 
     value of awards every 3 fiscal years.''.
       (b) Sense of Congress Regarding Regular Review of the Award 
     Sizes.--It is the sense of Congress that for fiscal year 
     2019, and every third fiscal year thereafter, Congress should 
     evaluate whether the maximum award sizes under the Small 
     Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business 
     Technology Transfer Program under section 9 of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) should be adjusted and, if so, 
     take appropriate action to direct that such adjustments be 
     made under the policy directives issued under subsection (j) 
     of such section.
       (c) Clarification of Sequential Phase II Awards.--Section 
     9(ff) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(ff)) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Clarification of sequential phase ii awards.--The 
     head of a Federal agency shall ensure that any sequential 
     Phase II award is made in accordance with the limitations on 
     award sizes under subsection (aa).
       ``(4) Cross-agency sequential phase ii awards.--A small 
     business concern that receives a sequential Phase II SBIR or 
     Phase II STTR award for a project from a Federal agency is 
     eligible to receive an additional sequential Phase II award 
     that continues work on that project from another Federal 
     agency.''.
              TITLE LXIII--COMMERCIALIZATION IMPROVEMENTS

     SEC. 6301. PERMANENCY OF THE COMMERCIALIZATION PILOT PROGRAM 
                   FOR CIVILIAN AGENCIES.

       Section 9(gg) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(gg)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Pilot 
     Program'' and inserting ``Commercialization Development 
     Awards'';
       (2) by striking paragraphs (2), (7), and (8);
       (3) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) as 
     paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5), respectively;
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(6) Definitions.--In this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `commercialization development program' 
     means a program established by a covered Federal agency under 
     paragraph (1); and
       ``(B) the term `covered Federal agency'--
       ``(i) means a Federal agency participating in the SBIR 
     program or the STTR program; and
       ``(ii) does not include the Department of Defense.''; and
       (5) by striking ``pilot program'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``commercialization development program''.

     SEC. 6302. ENFORCEMENT OF NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS GOAL FOR 
                   FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

       Section 9(h) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(h)) 
     is amended to read as follows:
       ``(h) National Small Business Goal for Federal Research and 
     Development.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation with 
     Federal agencies, shall establish a Governmentwide goal for 
     each fiscal year, which shall be not less than 10 percent, 
     for the percentage of the amounts made available for research 
     or research and development that shall be obligated for 
     funding agreements--
       ``(A) with small business concerns; or
       ``(B) that will facilitate the development of research and 
     development small business concerns.
       ``(2) Agency goals.--
       ``(A) In general.--The head of each Federal agency which 
     has a budget for research or research and development in 
     excess of $20,000,000, in consultation with the 
     Administrator, shall establish a goal for the Federal agency 
     for each fiscal year that is appropriate to the mission of 
     the Federal agency for the percentage of such budget that 
     shall be obligated for funding agreements--
       ``(i) with small business concerns; or
       ``(ii) that will facilitate the development of research and 
     development small business concerns.
       ``(B) Limitation.--The head of a Federal agency may not 
     establish a percentage goal under subparagraph (A) for a 
     fiscal year that is less than the percentage goal that was 
     established under subparagraph (A) for the Federal agency for 
     the previous fiscal year.''.

     SEC. 6303. TRACKING RAPID INNOVATION FUND AWARDS IN ANNUAL 
                   CONGRESSIONAL REPORT.

       Section 9(b)(7) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     638(b)(7)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in subparagraph (G), by adding ``and'' at the end; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(H) information regarding awards under the Rapid 
     Innovation Program under section 1073 of the Ike Skelton 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 
     (Public Law 111-383; 124 Stat. 4366; 10 U.S.C. 2359 note), 
     including--
       ``(i) the number and dollar amount of awards made under the 
     Rapid Innovation Program to business concerns receiving an 
     award under the SBIR program or the STTR program;
       ``(ii) the proportion of awards under the Rapid Innovation 
     Program made to business concerns receiving an award under 
     the SBIR program or the STTR program;
       ``(iii) the proportion of awards under the Rapid Innovation 
     Program made to small business concerns; and
       ``(iv) a projection of the effect on the number of awards 
     under the Rapid Innovation Program if amounts to carry out 
     the program were made available as a fixed allocation of the 
     amount appropriated to the Department of Defense for 
     research, development, test, and evaluation, excluding 
     amounts appropriated for the defense universities;''.

     SEC. 6304. PROTECTING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(tt) Protecting Innovative Technologies.--
       ``(1) Cost-reimbursement contracts.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B)(ii), the 
     cost of seeking protection for intellectual property, 
     including a trademark, copyright, or patent, that was created 
     through work performed under an STTR award that uses a cost-
     reimbursement contract or an SBIR award that uses a cost-
     reimbursement contract is allowable as an indirect cost under 
     that award.
       ``(B) Clarification of patent costs.--
       ``(i) In general.--A Federal agency shall not directly or 
     indirectly inhibit, through the policies, directives, or 
     practices of the Federal agency, an otherwise eligible small 
     business concern performing under an award described in 
     subparagraph (A) from recovering patent costs incurred as 
     requirements under that award, including--

       ``(I) the costs of preparing--

       ``(aa) invention disclosures;
       ``(bb) reports; and
       ``(cc) other documents;

       ``(II) the costs for searching the art to the extent 
     necessary to make the invention disclosures;
       ``(III) other costs in connection with the filing and 
     prosecution of a United States patent application where title 
     or royalty-free license is to be conveyed to the Federal 
     Government; and
       ``(IV) general counseling services relating to patent 
     matters, including advice on patent laws, regulations, 
     clauses, and employee agreements.

       ``(ii) Recovery limitations.--The patent costs described in 
     clause (i) shall be allowable for technology developed under 
     a--

       ``(I) Phase I award, as indirect costs in an amount not 
     greater than $5,000;
       ``(II) Phase II award, as indirect costs in an amount not 
     greater than $15,000; and
       ``(III) Phase III award in which the Federal Government has 
     government purpose rights (as defined in section 227.7103-5 
     of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations).

       ``(2) Firm fixed-price contracts.--An otherwise eligible 
     small business concern performing under an STTR award that 
     uses a firm fixed-price contract or an SBIR award that uses a 
     firm fixed-price contract may recover fair and reasonable 
     costs arising from seeking protection for intellectual 
     property, including a trademark, copyright, or patent, that 
     was created through work performed under that award.''.

     SEC. 6305. ANNUAL GAO AUDIT OF COMPLIANCE WITH 
                   COMMERCIALIZATION GOALS.

       Section 9(nn) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(nn)) 
     is amended to read as follows:
       ``(nn) Annual GAO Report on Government Compliance With 
     Goals, Incentives, and Phase III Preference.--Not later than 
     1 year after the date of enactment of the SBIR and STTR 
     Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016, and every year 
     thereafter until the date that is 5 years after the date of 
     enactment of the SBIR and STTR Reauthorization and 
     Improvement Act of 2016, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall submit to the Committee on Small Business 
     and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small 
     Business of the House of Representatives a report that--
       ``(1) discusses the status of the compliance of Federal 
     agencies with the requirements or authorities established 
     under--
       ``(A) subsection (h), relating to the establishment by 
     certain Federal agencies of a goal for funding agreements for 
     research and research and development with small business 
     concerns;
       ``(B) subsection (y)(5)(A), relating to the requirement for 
     the Department of Defense to establish goals for the 
     transition of Phase III technologies in subcontracting plans;
       ``(C) subsection (y)(5)(B), relating to the requirement for 
     the Department of Defense to establish procedures for a prime 
     contractor to report the number and dollar amount of 
     contracts with small business concerns for Phase III SBIR 
     projects or STTR projects of the prime contractor; and
       ``(D) subsection (y)(6), relating to the requirement for 
     the Department of Defense to set a goal to increase the 
     number of Phase II SBIR and STTR contracts that transition 
     into programs of record or fielded systems;
       ``(2) includes, for a Federal agency that is in compliance 
     with a requirement described

[[Page 8494]]

     under paragraph (1), a description of how the Federal agency 
     achieved compliance; and
       ``(3) includes a list, organized by Federal agency, of 
     small business concerns that have asserted that--
       ``(A) the Government or prime contractor--
       ``(i) did not protect the intellectual property of the 
     small business concern in accordance with data rights under 
     the SBIR or STTR award; or
       ``(ii) issued a Phase III SBIR or STTR award conditional on 
     relinquishing data rights;
       ``(B) the Federal agency solicited bids for a contract, or 
     provided funding to an entity other than the small business 
     concern receiving the SBIR or STTR award, that was for work 
     that derived from, extended, or completed efforts made under 
     prior funding agreements under the SBIR program or STTR 
     program;
       ``(C) the Government or prime contractor did not comply 
     with the SBIR and STTR policy directives and the small 
     business concern filed a comment or complaint to the Office 
     of the National Ombudsman or appealed to the Administrator 
     for intervention; or
       ``(D) the Federal agency did not comply with subsection 
     (g)(12) or (o)(16) requiring timely notice to the 
     Administrator of any case or controversy before any Federal 
     judicial or administrative tribunal concerning the SBIR 
     program or the STTR program of the Federal agency.''.

     SEC. 6306. CLARIFYING THE PHASE III PREFERENCE.

       Section 9(r) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(r)) 
     is amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (4);
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4), and 
     transferring such paragraph to after paragraph (3); and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) Phase iii award direction for agencies and prime 
     contractors.--To the greatest extent practicable, Federal 
     agencies and Federal prime contractors shall issue Phase III 
     awards relating to technology, including sole source awards 
     and awards under the Defense Research and Development Rapid 
     Innovation Program under section 1073 of the Ike Skelton 
     National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 
     (Public Law 111-383; 124 Stat. 4366; 10 U.S.C. 2359 note), to 
     the SBIR and STTR award recipients that developed the 
     technology.''.

     SEC. 6307. IMPROVEMENTS TO TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.

       Section 9(q) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(q)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and 
     Business'' after ``Technical'';
       (2) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
       (i) by striking ``a vendor selected under paragraph (2)'' 
     and inserting ``1 or more vendors selected under paragraph 
     (2)(A)'';
       (ii) by inserting ``and business'' before ``assistance 
     services''; and
       (iii) by inserting ``assistance with product sales, 
     intellectual property protections, market research, market 
     validation, and development of regulatory plans and 
     manufacturing plans,'' after ``technologies,''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``, including 
     intellectual property protections'' before the period at the 
     end;
       (3) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``Each agency may select a vendor to assist 
     small business concerns to meet'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(A) In general.--Each agency may select 1 or more vendors 
     from which small business concerns may obtain assistance in 
     meeting''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) Selection by small business concern.--A small 
     business concern may, by contract or otherwise, select 1 or 
     more vendors to assist the small business concern in meeting 
     the goals listed in paragraph (1).''; and
       (4) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``paragraph (2)'' each place 
     it appears;
       (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$5,000 per year'' 
     each place it appears and inserting ``$6,500 per project'';
       (C) in subparagraph (B)--
       (i) by striking ``$5,000 per year'' each place it appears 
     and inserting ``$35,000 per project''; and
       (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``which shall be in 
     addition to the amount of the recipient's award'' and 
     inserting ``which may, as determined appropriate by the head 
     of the Federal agency, be included as part of the recipient's 
     award or be in addition to the amount of the recipient's 
     award'';
       (D) in subparagraph (C)--
       (i) by inserting ``or business'' after ``technical'';
       (ii) by striking ``the vendor'' and inserting ``a vendor''; 
     and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following: ``Business-
     related services aimed at improving the commercialization 
     success of a small business concern may be obtained from an 
     entity, such as a public or private organization or an agency 
     of or other entity established or funded by a State that 
     facilitates or accelerates the commercialization of 
     technologies or assists in the creation and growth of private 
     enterprises that are commercializing technology.'';
       (E) in subparagraph (D)--
       (i) by inserting ``or business'' after ``technical'' each 
     place it appears; and
       (ii) in clause (i)--

       (I) by striking ``the vendor'' and inserting ``1 or more 
     vendors''; and
       (II) by striking ``provides'' and inserting ``provide''; 
     and

       (F) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(E) Multiple award recipients.--The Administrator shall 
     establish a limit on the amount of technical and business 
     assistance services that may be received or purchased under 
     subparagraph (B) by small business concerns with respect to 
     multiple Phase II SBIR or STTR awards for a fiscal year.''.

     SEC. 6308. EXTENSION OF PHASE 0 PROOF OF CONCEPT PARTNERSHIP 
                   PILOT.

       Section 9(jj) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(jj)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (6) by striking ``The Director'' and 
     inserting ``Not later than February 1, 2019, the Director''; 
     and
       (2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``2017'' and inserting 
     ``2019''.
            TITLE LXIV--PROGRAM DIVERSIFICATION INITIATIVES

     SEC. 6401. REGIONAL SBIR STATE COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE PILOT 
                   PROGRAM.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (mm)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``2017'' and inserting ``2021'';
       (ii) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (iii) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (iv) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(K) funding for improvements that increase commonality 
     across data systems, reduce redundancy, and improve data 
     oversight and accuracy.''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) SBIR and sttr programs; fast program.--
       ``(A) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term `covered 
     Federal agency' means a Federal agency that--
       ``(i) is required to conduct an SBIR program; and
       ``(ii) elects to use the funds allocated to the SBIR 
     program of the Federal agency for the purposes described in 
     paragraph (1).
       ``(B) Requirement.--Each covered Federal agency shall 
     transfer an amount equal to 15 percent of the funds that are 
     used for the purposes described in paragraph (1) to the 
     Administration--
       ``(i) for the Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative 
     Pilot Program established under subsection (uu);
       ``(ii) for the Federal and State Technology Partnership 
     Program established under section 34; and
       ``(iii) to support the Office of the Administration that 
     administers the SBIR program and the STTR program, subject to 
     agreement from other agencies about how the funds will be 
     used, in carrying out those programs and the programs 
     described in clauses (i) and (ii).
       ``(8) Pilot program.--
       ``(A) In general.--Of amounts provided to the 
     Administration under paragraph (7), not less than $5,000,000 
     shall be used to provide awards under the Regional SBIR State 
     Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program established under 
     subsection (uu) for each fiscal year in which the program is 
     in effect.
       ``(B) Disbursement flexibility.--The Administration may use 
     any unused funds made available under subparagraph (A) as of 
     April 1 of each fiscal year for awards to carry out clauses 
     (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (7)(B) after providing written 
     notice to--
       ``(i) the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 
     and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
       ``(ii) the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives.''; and
       (2) by adding after subsection (tt), as added by section 
     6304 of this Act, the following:
       ``(uu) Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot 
     Program.--
       ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `eligible entity' means--
       ``(i) a research institution; and
       ``(ii) a small business concern;
       ``(B) the term `eligible State' means--
       ``(i) a State that the Administrator determines is in the 
     bottom half of States, based on the average number of annual 
     SBIR program awards made to companies in the State for the 
     preceding 3 years for which the Administration has applicable 
     data; and
       ``(ii) an EPSCoR State that--

       ``(I) is a State described in clause (i); or
       ``(II) is--

       ``(aa) not a State described in clause (i); and
       ``(bb) invited to participate in a regional collaborative;
       ``(C) the term `EPSCoR State' means a State that 
     participates in the Experimental Program to Stimulate 
     Competitive Research of the National Science Foundation, as 
     established under section 113 of the National Science 
     Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g);

[[Page 8495]]

       ``(D) the term `FAST program' means the Federal and State 
     Technology Partnership Program established under section 34;
       ``(E) the term `pilot program' means the Regional SBIR 
     State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program established 
     under paragraph (2);
       ``(F) the term `regional collaborative' means a 
     collaborative consisting of eligible entities that are 
     located in not less than 3 eligible States; and
       ``(G) the term `State' means any State of the United 
     States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
     Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.
       ``(2) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish a 
     pilot program, to be known as the Regional SBIR State 
     Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program, under which the 
     Administrator shall provide awards to regional collaboratives 
     to address the needs of small business concerns in order to 
     be more competitive in the proposal and selection process for 
     awards under the SBIR program and the STTR program and to 
     increase technology transfer and commercialization.
       ``(3) Goals.--The goals of the pilot program are--
       ``(A) to create regional collaboratives that allow eligible 
     entities to work cooperatively to leverage resources to 
     address the needs of small business concerns;
       ``(B) to grow SBIR program and STTR program cooperative 
     research and development and commercialization through 
     increased awards under those programs;
       ``(C) to increase the participation of States that have 
     historically received a lower level of awards under the SBIR 
     program and the STTR program;
       ``(D) to utilize the strengths and advantages of regional 
     collaboratives to better leverage resources, best practices, 
     and economies of scale in a region for the purpose of 
     increasing awards and increasing the commercialization of the 
     SBIR program and STTR projects;
       ``(E) to increase the competitiveness of the SBIR program 
     and the STTR program;
       ``(F) to identify sources of outside funding for applicants 
     for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program, 
     including venture capitalists, angel investor groups, private 
     industry, crowd funding, and special loan programs; and
       ``(G) to offer increased one-on-one engagements with 
     companies and entrepreneurs for SBIR program and STTR program 
     education, assistance, and successful outcomes.
       ``(4) Application.--
       ``(A) In general.--A regional collaborative that desires to 
     participate in the pilot program shall submit to the 
     Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, 
     and containing such information as the Administrator may 
     require.
       ``(B) Inclusion of lead eligible entities and 
     coordinator.--A regional collaborative shall include in an 
     application submitted under subparagraph (A)--
       ``(i) the name of each lead eligible entity from each 
     eligible State in the regional collaborative, as designated 
     under paragraph (5)(A); and
       ``(ii) the name of the coordinator for the regional 
     collaborative, as designated under paragraph (6).
       ``(C) Avoidance of duplication.--A regional collaborative 
     shall include in an application submitted under subparagraph 
     (A) an explanation as to how the activities of the regional 
     collaborative under the pilot program would differ from other 
     State and Federal outreach activities in each eligible State 
     in the regional collaborative.
       ``(5) Lead eligible entity.--
       ``(A) In general.--Each eligible State in a regional 
     collaborative shall designate 1 eligible entity located in 
     the eligible State to serve as the lead eligible entity for 
     the eligible State.
       ``(B) Authorization by governor.--Each lead eligible entity 
     designated under subparagraph (A) shall be authorized to act 
     as the lead eligible entity by the Governor of the applicable 
     eligible State.
       ``(C) Responsibilities.--Each lead eligible entity 
     designated under subparagraph (A) shall be responsible for 
     administering the activities and program initiatives 
     described in paragraph (7) in the applicable eligible State.
       ``(6) Regional collaborative coordinator.--Each regional 
     collaborative shall designate a coordinator from amongst the 
     eligible entities located in the eligible States in the 
     regional collaborative, who shall serve as the interface 
     between the regional collaborative and the Administration 
     with respect to measuring cross-State collaboration and 
     program effectiveness and documenting best practices.
       ``(7) Use of funds.--Each regional collaborative that is 
     provided an award under the pilot program may, in each 
     eligible State in which an eligible entity of the regional 
     collaborative is located--
       ``(A) establish an initiative under which first-time 
     applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR 
     program are reviewed by experienced, national experts in the 
     United States, as determined by the lead eligible entity 
     designated under paragraph (5)(A);
       ``(B) engage national mentors on a frequent basis to work 
     directly with applicants for an award under the SBIR program 
     or the STTR program, particularly during Phase II, to assist 
     with the process of preparing and submitting a proposal;
       ``(C) create and make available an online mechanism to 
     serve as a resource for applicants for an award under the 
     SBIR program or the STTR program to identify and connect with 
     Federal labs, prime government contractor companies, other 
     industry partners, and regional industry cluster 
     organizations;
       ``(D) conduct focused and concentrated outreach efforts to 
     increase participation in the SBIR program and the STTR 
     program by small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     women, small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     veterans, small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (as 
     defined in section 8(d)(3)(C)), and historically black 
     colleges and universities;
       ``(E) administer a structured program of training and 
     technical assistance--
       ``(i) to prepare applicants for an award under the SBIR 
     program or the STTR program--

       ``(I) to compete more effectively for Phase I and Phase II 
     awards; and
       ``(II) to develop and implement a successful 
     commercialization plan;

       ``(ii) to assist eligible States focusing on transition and 
     commercialization to win Phase III awards from public and 
     private partners;
       ``(iii) to create more competitive proposals to increase 
     awards from all Federal sources, with a focus on awards under 
     the SBIR program and the STTR program; and
       ``(iv) to assist first-time applicants by providing small 
     grants for proof of concept research; and
       ``(F) assist applicants for an award under the SBIR program 
     or the STTR program to identify sources of outside funding, 
     including venture capitalists, angel investor groups, private 
     industry, crowd funding, and special loan programs.
       ``(8) Award amount.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall provide an award 
     to each eligible State in which an eligible entity of a 
     regional collaborative is located in an amount that is not 
     more than $300,000 to carry out the activities described in 
     paragraph (7).
       ``(B) Limitation.--
       ``(i) In general.--An eligible State may not receive an 
     award under both the FAST program and the pilot program for 
     the same year.
       ``(ii) Rule of construction.--Nothing in clause (i) shall 
     be construed to prevent an eligible State from applying for 
     an award under the FAST program and the pilot program for the 
     same year.
       ``(9) Duration of award.--An award provided under the pilot 
     program shall be for a period of not more than 1 year, and 
     may be renewed by the Administrator for 1 additional year.
       ``(10) Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate on 
     September 30, 2021.
       ``(11) Report.--Not later than February 1, 2021, the 
     Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business 
     and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small 
     Business of the House of Representatives a report on the 
     pilot program, which shall include--
       ``(A) an assessment of the pilot program and the 
     effectiveness of the pilot program in meeting the goals 
     described in paragraph (3);
       ``(B) an assessment of the best practices, including an 
     analysis of how the pilot program compares to the FAST 
     program and a single-State approach; and
       ``(C) recommendations as to whether any aspect of the pilot 
     program should be extended or made permanent.''.

     SEC. 6402. FEDERAL AND STATE TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

       Section 34 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657d) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (h)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2001 through 2005'' and 
     inserting ``2017 through 2021''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``fiscal years 2001 
     through 2005'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2017 
     through 2021''; and
       (2) in subsection (i), by striking ``September 30, 2005'' 
     and inserting ``September 30, 2021''.
          TITLE LXV--OVERSIGHT AND SIMPLIFICATION INITIATIVES

     SEC. 6501. DATA REALIGNMENT AND MODERNIZATION.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended by adding after subsection (uu), as added by section 
     6401 of this Act, the following:
       ``(vv) SBIR and STTR Interagency Policy Committee.--
       ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `Committee' means the SBIR and STTR 
     Interagency Policy Committee established under paragraph (2);
       ``(B) the term `participating Federal agency' means a 
     Federal agency with an SBIR program or an STTR program; and
       ``(C) the term `phase' means Phase I, Phase II, and Phase 
     III.
       ``(2) Establishment.--There is established an interagency 
     committee to be known as the `SBIR and STTR Interagency 
     Policy Committee'.
       ``(3) Membership.--The Committee shall include--

[[Page 8496]]

       ``(A) 4 representatives from each participating Federal 
     agency, of which--
       ``(i) 1 shall have expertise with respect to the SBIR 
     program and STTR program of the Federal agency;
       ``(ii) 1 shall have expertise with respect to the broader 
     research and development missions and programs of the Federal 
     agency;
       ``(iii) 1 shall have expertise with respect to marketplace 
     commercialization or to the transition of technologies to 
     support the missions of the Federal agency; and
       ``(iv) 1 shall have expertise with respect to the 
     information technology systems of the Federal agency; and
       ``(B) 2 representatives from the Administration, of which--
       ``(i) 1 shall serve as chairperson of the Committee; and
       ``(ii) 1 shall be from the Information Technology 
     Development Team of the Office of Investment and Innovation 
     of the Administration.
       ``(4) Working groups.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall establish working 
     groups as necessary to ensure consistency and clarity between 
     the participating Federal agencies.
       ``(B) Data realignment and modernization working group.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Committee shall establish a data 
     alignment and modernization working group, which shall review 
     the recommendations made in the report to Congress by the 
     Office of Science and Technology of the Administration 
     entitled `SBIR/STTR TechNet Public & Government Databases', 
     dated September 15, 2014, and the practices of participating 
     Federal agencies to--

       ``(I) determine how to collect data on achievements by 
     small business concerns in each phase of the SBIR program and 
     the STTR program and ensure collection and dissemination of 
     such data in a timely, efficient, and uniform manner;
       ``(II) establish a uniform baseline for metrics that 
     support improving the solicitation, contracting, funding, and 
     execution of program management in the SBIR program and the 
     STTR program;
       ``(III) normalize formatting and database usage across 
     participating Federal agencies; and
       ``(IV) determine the feasibility of developing a common 
     system across all participating Federal agencies and the 
     paperwork requirements under such a common system.

       ``(ii) Membership.--Each member of the Committee shall 
     serve as a member of the data alignment and modernization 
     working group.
       ``(5) Implementation.--Not later than September 31, 2018, 
     the Committee shall brief the Committee on Small Business and 
     Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small 
     Business of the House of Representatives on the solutions 
     identified by the working group under paragraph (4) and 
     resources needed to execute the solutions.''.

     SEC. 6502. IMPLEMENTATION OF OUTSTANDING REAUTHORIZATION 
                   PROVISIONS.

       (a) In General.--Section 9(mm) of the Small Business Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 638(mm)), as amended by section 6401(1) of this 
     Act, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (3)'' and 
     inserting ``paragraphs (3) and (9)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(9) Suspension of funding.--
       ``(A) For federal agencies.--
       ``(i) In general.--For fiscal years 2018 and 2019, any 
     Federal agency that has not implemented each provision of law 
     described in clause (ii)--

       ``(I) shall continue to provide amounts to the 
     Administration in accordance with paragraph (7)(B); and
       ``(II) may not use any additional amounts as described in 
     paragraph (1) until 30 days after the date on which the 
     Federal agency submits to the Committee on Small Business and 
     Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small 
     Business of the House of Representatives documentation 
     demonstrating that the Federal agency has implemented and is 
     in compliance with each provision of law described in clause 
     (ii).

       ``(ii) Provisions.--The provisions of law described in this 
     subparagraph are the following:

       ``(I) Subsection (r)(4), relating to Phase III preferences.
       ``(II) Paragraphs (5) and (6) of subsection (y), relating 
     to insertion goals.
       ``(III) Subsection (g)(4)(B), relating to shortening the 
     decision time for SBIR awards.
       ``(IV) Subsection (o)(4)(B), relating to shortening the 
     decision time for STTR awards.
       ``(V) Subsection (v), relating to reducing paperwork and 
     compliance burdens.

       ``(B) For administration.--For fiscal years 2018 and 2019, 
     if the Administration is not in compliance with subsection 
     (b)(7), relating to annual reports to Congress, the 
     Administration may not use amounts received under paragraph 
     (7)(B) of this subsection for a purpose described in clause 
     (iii) of such paragraph (7)(B).''.
       (b) Clarification of Reporting Requirement.--Section 
     9(b)(7) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(b)(7)) is 
     amended in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``not less than annually'' and inserting ``not later than 
     December 31 of each year''.

     SEC. 6503. STRENGTHENING OF THE REQUIREMENT TO SHORTEN THE 
                   APPLICATION REVIEW AND DECISION TIME.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (g)(4), by striking subparagraph (B) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(B) make a final decision on each proposal submitted 
     under the SBIR program--
       ``(i) for the Department of Health and Human Services, not 
     later than 1 year after the date on which the applicable 
     solicitation closes, with a goal to reduce the review and 
     decision time to less than 10 months by September 30, 2019;
       ``(ii) for the Department of Agriculture and the National 
     Science Foundation, not later than 6 months after the date on 
     which the applicable solicitation closes; or
       ``(iii) for any other Federal agency--
       ``(I) not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
     applicable solicitation closes; or
       ``(II) if the Administrator authorizes an extension with 
     respect to a solicitation, not later than 90 days after the 
     date that would otherwise be applicable to the Federal agency 
     under subclause (I);''; and
       (2) in subsection (o)(4), by striking subparagraph (B) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(B) make a final decision on each proposal submitted 
     under the STTR program--
       ``(i) for the Department of Health and Human Services, not 
     later than 1 year after the date on which the applicable 
     solicitation closes, with a goal to reduce the review and 
     decision time to less than 10 months by September 30, 2019;
       ``(ii) for the Department of Agriculture and the National 
     Science Foundation, not later than 6 months after the date on 
     which the applicable solicitation closes; or
       ``(iii) for any other Federal agency--
       ``(I) not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
     applicable solicitation closes; or
       ``(II) if the Administrator authorizes an extension with 
     respect to a solicitation, not later than 90 days after the 
     date that would otherwise be applicable to the Federal agency 
     under subclause (I);''.

     SEC. 6504. CONTINUED GAO OVERSIGHT OF ALLOCATION COMPLIANCE 
                   AND ACCURACY IN FUNDING BASE CALCULATIONS.

       Section 5136(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2012 (15 U.S.C. 638 note) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``until the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment 
     of this Act'' and insert ``until the date on which the 
     Comptroller General of the United States submits the report 
     relating to fiscal year 2019'';
       (2) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraph (C) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(C) assess whether the change in the base funding for the 
     Department of Defense as required by subparagraphs (J) and 
     (K) of section 9(f)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     638(f)(1))--
       ``(i) improves transparency for determining whether the 
     Department is complying with the allocation requirements;
       ``(ii) reduces the burden of calculating the allocations; 
     and
       ``(iii) improves the compliance of the Department with the 
     allocation requirements; and''; and
       (3) in paragraph (2) by striking ``under subparagraph (B)'' 
     and inserting ``under subparagraphs (B) and (C)''.

     SEC. 6505. COORDINATION BETWEEN AGENCIES ON COMMERCIALIZATION 
                   ASSISTANCE.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (j), as amended by section 6202(a) of 
     this Act, by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) Coordination of commercialization assistance.--Not 
     later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this 
     paragraph, the Administrator shall modify the policy 
     directive issued pursuant to this subsection to clarify that 
     a small business concern receiving training through the 
     Innovation Corps program with administrative funds made 
     available under subsection (mm) shall not receive 
     discretionary business assistance funds for the same or 
     similar activities as allowed under subsection (q).''; and
       (2) in subsection (p), by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) Coordination of commercialization assistance.--Not 
     later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this 
     paragraph, the Administrator shall modify the policy 
     directive issued pursuant to this subsection to clarify that 
     a small business concern receiving training through the 
     Innovation Corps program with administrative funds made 
     available under subsection (mm) shall not receive 
     discretionary business assistance funds for the same or 
     similar activities as allowed under subsection (q).''.
           TITLE LXVI--PARTICIPATION BY WOMEN AND MINORITIES

     SEC. 6601. SBA COORDINATION ON INCREASING OUTREACH FOR WOMEN 
                   AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.

       Section 9(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(b)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and

[[Page 8497]]

       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(10) to coordinate with participating agencies on efforts 
     to increase outreach and awards under each of the SBIR and 
     STTR programs to small business concerns owned and controlled 
     by women and socially and economically disadvantaged small 
     business concerns, as defined in section 8(a)(4).''.

     SEC. 6602. FEDERAL AGENCY OUTREACH REQUIREMENTS FOR WOMEN AND 
                   MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (g)--
       (A) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(13) implement an outreach program to small business 
     concerns for the purpose of enhancing its SBIR program, under 
     which the Federal agency shall--
       ``(A) provide outreach to small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by women and socially and economically 
     disadvantaged small business concerns, as defined in section 
     8(a)(4); and
       ``(B) establish goals for outreach by the Federal agency to 
     the small business concerns described in subparagraph (A).''; 
     and
       (2) in subsection (o)(14), by striking ``SBIR program;'' 
     and inserting ``SBIR program, under which the Federal agency 
     shall--
       ``(A) provide outreach to small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by women and socially and economically 
     disadvantaged small business concerns, as defined in section 
     8(a)(4); and
       ``(B) establish goals for outreach by the Federal agency to 
     the small business concerns described in subparagraph (A).''.

     SEC. 6603. STTR POLICY DIRECTIVE MODIFICATION.

       Section 9(p) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(p)), 
     as amended by section 6505 of this Act, is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(5) Additional modifications.--Not later than 120 days 
     after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the 
     Administrator shall modify the policy directive issued 
     pursuant to this subsection to provide for enhanced outreach 
     efforts to increase the participation of small business 
     concerns owned and controlled by women and socially and 
     economically disadvantaged small business concerns, as 
     defined in section 8(a)(4), in technological innovation and 
     in STTR programs.''.

     SEC. 6604. INTERAGENCY SBIR/STTR POLICY COMMITTEE.

       Section 5124 of the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 
     (Public Law 112-81; 125 Stat. 1837) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
       ``(d) Meetings.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Interagency SBIR/STTR Policy 
     Committee shall meet not less than twice per year to carry 
     out the duties under subsection (c).
       ``(2) Outreach and technical assistance activities.--If the 
     Interagency SBIR/STTR Policy Committee meets to discuss 
     outreach and technical assistance activities to increase the 
     participation of small business concerns that are 
     underrepresented in the SBIR and STTR programs, the Committee 
     shall invite to the meeting--
       ``(A) a representative of the Minority Business Development 
     Agency; and
       ``(B) relevant stakeholders that work to advance the 
     interests of--
       ``(i) small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     women, as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 632); and
       ``(ii) socially and economically disadvantaged small 
     business concerns, as defined in section 8(a)(4) of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(4)).''.

     SEC. 6605. DIVERSITY AND STEM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PILOT 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of 
     the Small Business Administration;
       (2) the term ``covered STEM intern'' means a student at, or 
     recent graduate from, an institution of higher education 
     serving as an intern--
       (A) whose course of study studied is focused on the STEM 
     fields; and
       (B) who is a woman or a person from an underrepresented 
     population in the STEM fields;
       (3) the term ``eligible entity'' means a small business 
     concern that--
       (A) is receiving amounts under an award under the SBIR 
     program or the STTR program of a Federal agency on the date 
     on which the Federal agency awards a grant to the small 
     business concern under subsection (b); and
       (B) provides internships for covered STEM interns;
       (4) the terms ``Federal agency'', ``SBIR'', and ``STTR'' 
     have the meanings given those terms under section 9(e) of the 
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(e));
       (5) the term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
     meaning given the term under section 101(a) of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a));
       (6) the term ``person from an underrepresented population 
     in the STEM fields'' means a person from a group that is 
     underrepresented in the population of STEM students, as 
     determined by the Administrator;
       (7) the term ``pilot program'' means the Diversity and STEM 
     Workforce Development Pilot Program established under 
     subsection (b);
       (8) the term ``recent graduate'', relating to a woman or a 
     person from an underrepresented population in the STEM 
     fields, means that the woman or person from an 
     underrepresented population in the STEM fields earned an 
     associate degree, baccalaureate degree, or postbaccalaureate 
     from an institution of higher education during the 1-year 
     period beginning on the date of the internship;
       (9) the term ``small business concern'' has the meaning 
     given the term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 632); and
       (10) the term ``STEM fields'' means the fields of science, 
     technology, engineering, and math.
       (b) Pilot Program for Internships for Women and People From 
     Underrepresented Populations.--The Administrator shall 
     establish a Diversity and STEM Workforce Development Pilot 
     Program to encourage the business community to provide 
     workforce development opportunities for covered STEM interns, 
     under which a Federal agency participating in the SBIR 
     program or STTR program may make a grant to 1 or more 
     eligible entities for the costs of internships for covered 
     STEM interns.
       (c) Amount and Use of Grants.--
       (1) Amount.--A grant under subsection (b)--
       (A) may not be in an amount of more than $15,000 per fiscal 
     year; and
       (B) shall be in addition to the amount of the award to the 
     recipient under the SBIR program or the STTR program.
       (2) Use.--Not less than 90 percent of the amount of a grant 
     under subsection (b) shall be used by the eligible entity to 
     provide stipends or other similar payments to interns.
       (d) Evaluation.--Not later than January 31 of the first 
     calendar year after the third fiscal year during which the 
     Administrator carries out the pilot program, the 
     Administrator shall submit to Congress--
       (1) data on the results of the pilot program, such as the 
     number and demographics of the covered STEM interns 
     participating in an internship funded under the pilot program 
     and the amount spent on such internships; and
       (2) an assessment of whether the pilot program helped the 
     SBIR program and STTR program achieve the congressional 
     objective of fostering and encouraging the participation of 
     women and persons from underrepresented populations in the 
     STEM fields.
       (e) Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate after 
     the end of the fourth fiscal year during which the 
     Administrator carries out the pilot program.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     the pilot program.
                     TITLE LXVII--TECHNICAL CHANGES

     SEC. 6701. UNIFORM REFERENCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 
                   HUMAN SERVICES.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (cc), by striking ``National Institutes 
     of Health'' and inserting ``Department of Health and Human 
     Services''; and
       (2) in subsection (dd)(1)(A), by striking ``Director of the 
     National Institutes of Health'' and inserting ``Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services''.

     SEC. 6702. FLEXIBILITY FOR PHASE II AWARD INVITATIONS.

       Section 9(e)(4)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     638(e)(4)(B)) is amended in the matter preceding clause (i)--
       (1) by striking ``, which shall not include any invitation, 
     pre-screening, or pre-selection process for eligibility for 
     Phase II,''; and
       (2) by inserting ``in which eligibility for an award shall 
     not be based only on an invitation, pre-screening, or pre-
     selection process and'' before ``in which awards''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 4673. Mr. TOOMEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 4609 submitted by Mr. Alexander and intended to be 
proposed to the bill S. 2943, to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
year 2017 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for 
military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of 
Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, 
and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as 
follows:

       Strike page 1 line 2 through page 15 line 2 and insert:

     SEC. 578. BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR EMPLOYEES OF AGENCIES AND 
                   SCHOOLS PROVIDING ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
                   EDUCATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPENDENTS.

       (a) Background Checks.--Commencing not later than two years 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, each covered 
     local educational agency and each Department of Defense 
     domestic dependent elementary and secondary school 
     established pursuant to section 2164 of title 10, United 
     States Code,

[[Page 8498]]

     shall have in effect policies and procedures that--
       (1) require that a criminal background check be conducted 
     for each school employee of the agency or school, 
     respectively, that includes--
       (A) a search of the State criminal registry or repository 
     of the State in which the school employee resides;
       (B) a search of State-based child abuse and neglect 
     registries and databases of the State in which the school 
     employee resides;
       (C) a Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint check 
     using the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification 
     System; and
       (D) a search of the National Sex Offender Registry 
     established under section 119 of the Adam Walsh Child 
     Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16919);
       (2) prohibit the employment of a school employee as a 
     school employee at the agency or school, respectively, if 
     such employee--
       (A) refuses to consent to a criminal background check under 
     paragraph (1);
       (B) makes a false statement in connection with such 
     criminal background check;
       (C) has been convicted of a felony consisting of--
       (i) murder;
       (ii) child abuse or neglect;
       (iii) a crime against children, including child 
     pornography;
       (iv) spousal abuse;
       (v) a crime involving rape or sexual assault;
       (vi) kidnapping;
       (vii) arson; or
       (viii) physical assault, battery, or a drug-related 
     offense, committed on or after the date that is five years 
     before the date of such employee's criminal background check 
     under paragraph (1); or
       (D) has been convicted of any other crime that is a violent 
     or sexual crime against a minor;
       (3) require that each criminal background check conducted 
     under paragraph (1) be periodically repeated or updated in 
     accordance with policies established by the covered local 
     educational agency or the Department of Defense (in the case 
     of a Department of Defense domestic dependent elementary and 
     secondary school established pursuant to section 2164 of 
     title 10, United States Code);
       (4) upon request, provide each school employee who has had 
     a criminal background check under paragraph (1) with a copy 
     of the results of the criminal background check;
       (5) provide for a timely process, by which a school 
     employee of the school or agency may appeal, but which does 
     not permit the employee to be employed as a school employee 
     during such appeal, the results of a criminal background 
     check conducted under paragraph (1) which prohibit the 
     employee from being employed as a school employee under 
     paragraph (2) to--
       (A) challenge the accuracy or completeness of the 
     information produced by such criminal background check; and
       (B) establish or reestablish eligibility to be hired or 
     reinstated as a school employee by demonstrating that the 
     information is materially inaccurate or incomplete, and has 
     been corrected; and
       (6) allow the covered local educational agency or school, 
     as the case may be, to share the results of a school 
     employee's criminal background check recently conducted under 
     paragraph (1) with another local educational agency that is 
     considering such school employee for employment as a school 
     employee.
       (b) Fees for Background Checks.--The Attorney General, 
     attorney general of a State, or other State law enforcement 
     official may charge reasonable fees for conducting a criminal 
     background check under subsection (a)(1), but such fees shall 
     not exceed the actual costs for the processing and 
     administration of the criminal background check.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Covered local educational agency.--The term `covered 
     local educational agency' means a local educational agency 
     that receives funds--
       (A) under subsection (b) or (d) of section 8003, or section 
     8007, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 7703, 7707), as such sections are in effect before 
     the effective date for title VII of the Every Student 
     Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95); or
       (B) under subsection (b) or (d) of section 7003, or section 
     7007, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 7703, 7707), beginning on the effective date of 
     such title VII.
       (2) School employee.--The term `school employee' means--
       (A) a person who--
       (i) is an employee of, or is seeking employment with--
       (I) a covered local educational agency; or
       (II) a Department of Defense domestic dependent elementary 
     and secondary school established pursuant to section 2164 of 
     title 10, United States Code, such elementary and secondary 
     school; and
       (ii) as a result of such employment, has (or will have) a 
     job duty that results in unsupervised access to elementary 
     school or secondary school students; or
       (B)(i) any person, or an employee of any person, who has a 
     contract or agreement to provide services to a covered local 
     educational agency or a Department of Defense domestic 
     dependent elementary and secondary school established 
     pursuant to section 2164 of title 10, United States Code; and
       (ii) such person or employee, as a result of such contract 
     or agreement, has a job duty that results in unsupervised 
     access to elementary school or secondary school students.

     SEC. 578A. PROHIBITION ON AIDING AND ABETTING SEXUAL ABUSE.

                                 ______
                                 
  SA 4674. Mr. TOOMEY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to 
amendment SA 4608 submitted by Mr. Alexander (for himself and Mrs. 
Murray) and intended to be proposed to the bill S. 2943, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2017 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       Strike page 1 line 2 through page 6 line 15 and insert:

     SEC. 578. BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR EMPLOYEES OF AGENCIES AND 
                   SCHOOLS PROVIDING ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY 
                   EDUCATION FOR DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEPENDENTS.

       (a) Background Checks.--Commencing not later than two years 
     after the date of the enactment of this Act, each covered 
     local educational agency and each Department of Defense 
     domestic dependent elementary and secondary school 
     established pursuant to section 2164 of title 10, United 
     States Code, shall have in effect policies and procedures 
     that--
       (1) require that a criminal background check be conducted 
     for each school employee of the agency or school, 
     respectively, that includes--
       (A) a search of the State criminal registry or repository 
     of the State in which the school employee resides;
       (B) a search of State-based child abuse and neglect 
     registries and databases of the State in which the school 
     employee resides;
       (C) a Federal Bureau of Investigation fingerprint check 
     using the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification 
     System; and
       (D) a search of the National Sex Offender Registry 
     established under section 119 of the Adam Walsh Child 
     Protection and Safety Act of 2006 (42 U.S.C. 16919);
       (2) prohibit the employment of a school employee as a 
     school employee at the agency or school, respectively, if 
     such employee--
       (A) refuses to consent to a criminal background check under 
     paragraph (1);
       (B) makes a false statement in connection with such 
     criminal background check;
       (C) has been convicted of a felony consisting of--
       (i) murder;
       (ii) child abuse or neglect;
       (iii) a crime against children, including child 
     pornography;
       (iv) spousal abuse;
       (v) a crime involving rape or sexual assault;
       (vi) kidnapping;
       (vii) arson; or
       (viii) physical assault, battery, or a drug-related 
     offense, committed on or after the date that is five years 
     before the date of such employee's criminal background check 
     under paragraph (1); or
       (D) has been convicted of any other crime that is a violent 
     or sexual crime against a minor;
       (3) require that each criminal background check conducted 
     under paragraph (1) be periodically repeated or updated in 
     accordance with policies established by the covered local 
     educational agency or the Department of Defense (in the case 
     of a Department of Defense domestic dependent elementary and 
     secondary school established pursuant to section 2164 of 
     title 10, United States Code);
       (4) upon request, provide each school employee who has had 
     a criminal background check under paragraph (1) with a copy 
     of the results of the criminal background check;
       (5) provide for a timely process, by which a school 
     employee of the school or agency may appeal, but which does 
     not permit the employee to be employed as a school employee 
     during such appeal, the results of a criminal background 
     check conducted under paragraph (1) which prohibit the 
     employee from being employed as a school employee under 
     paragraph (2) to--
       (A) challenge the accuracy or completeness of the 
     information produced by such criminal background check; and
       (B) establish or reestablish eligibility to be hired or 
     reinstated as a school employee by demonstrating that the 
     information is materially inaccurate or incomplete, and has 
     been corrected; and
       (6) allow the covered local educational agency or school, 
     as the case may be, to share the results of a school 
     employee's criminal background check recently conducted under 
     paragraph (1) with another local educational agency that is 
     considering

[[Page 8499]]

     such school employee for employment as a school employee.
       (b) Fees for Background Checks.--The Attorney General, 
     attorney general of a State, or other State law enforcement 
     official may charge reasonable fees for conducting a criminal 
     background check under subsection (a)(1), but such fees shall 
     not exceed the actual costs for the processing and 
     administration of the criminal background check.
       (c) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Covered local educational agency.--The term ``covered 
     local educational agency'' means a local educational agency 
     that receives funds--
       (A) under subsection (b) or (d) of section 8003, or section 
     8007, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 7703, 7707), as such sections are in effect before 
     the effective date for title VII of the Every Student 
     Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95); or
       (B) under subsection (b) or (d) of section 7003, or section 
     7007, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 7703, 7707), beginning on the effective date of 
     such title VII.
       (2) School employee.--The term ``school employee'' means--
       (A) a person who--
       (i) is an employee of, or is seeking employment with--
       (I) a covered local educational agency; or
       (II) a Department of Defense domestic dependent elementary 
     and secondary school established pursuant to section 2164 of 
     title 10, United States Code, such elementary and secondary 
     school; and
       (ii) as a result of such employment, has (or will have) a 
     job duty that results in unsupervised access to elementary 
     school or secondary school students; or
       (B)(i) any person, or an employee of any person, who has a 
     contract or agreement to provide services to a covered local 
     educational agency or a Department of Defense domestic 
     dependent elementary and secondary school established 
     pursuant to section 2164 of title 10, United States Code; and
       (ii) such person or employee, as a result of such contract 
     or agreement, has a job duty that results in unsupervised 
     access to elementary school or secondary school students.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 4675. Mr. BENNET submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 2943, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2017 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle E of title XVI, add the following:

     SEC. 1667. INCREASED FUNDING FOR CERTAIN MISSILE DEFENSE 
                   ACTIVITIES.

       (a) Procurement, Defense-wide.--The amount authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal year 2017 for the Department of 
     Defense by section 101 is hereby increased by $290,000,000, 
     with the amount of increase to be available for procurement, 
     Defense-wide, as specified in the funding table in section 
     4101 and available for procurement for the following:
       (1) Iron Dome, $20,000,000.
       (2) David's Sling Weapon System, $150,000,000.
       (3) Arrow 3 Upper Tier, $120,000,000.
       (b) RDT&E, Defense-wide.--The amount authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal year 2017 for the Department of 
     Defense by section 201 is hereby increased by $29,900,000, 
     with the amount of increase to be available for research, 
     development, test, and evaluation, Defense-wide, as specified 
     in the funding table in section 4201 and available for 
     research, development, test, and evaluation for the 
     following:
       (1) David's Sling Weapon System, $19,300,000.
       (2) Arrow 3 Upper Tier, $4,100,000.
       (3) Base Arrow, $6,500,000.
       (c) Construction of Increase.--Amounts available under 
     subsection (a) for procurement for items specified in 
     subsection (a), and amounts available under subsection (b) 
     for research, development, test, and evaluation for items 
     specified in subsection (b), are in addition to any other 
     amounts available for such purposes for such items in this 
     Act.
       (d) Offset.--
       (1) O&M, navy.--The amount authorized to be appropriated 
     for fiscal year 2017 for the Department of Defense by section 
     301 is hereby decreased by $24,900,000, with the amount of 
     decrease to be applied against amounts available for 
     Operation and Maintenance, Navy, for Enterprise Information 
     as specified in the funding table in section 4301.
       (2) O&M, defense-wide.--The amount authorized to be 
     appropriated for fiscal year 2017 for the Department of 
     Defense by section 301 is hereby decreased by $295,000,000, 
     with the amount of decrease to be applied against savings 
     otherwise available for Operation and Maintenance, Defense-
     wide, as specified in the funding table in section 4301 for 
     purposes, and in amounts, as follows:
       (A) Foreign currency savings, $200,000,000.
       (B) Bulk fuel overestimation, $95,000,000.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 4676. Mr. VITTER (for himself and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted an 
amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 4253 submitted by 
Mrs. Shaheen (for herself and Mr. Vitter) and intended to be proposed 
to the bill S. 2943, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2017 
for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted, insert the 
     following:

       DIVISION F--SBIR AND STTR REAUTHORIZATION AND IMPROVEMENTS

     SEC. 6001. SHORT TITLE.

       This division may be cited as the ``SBIR and STTR 
     Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016''.

                 TITLE LXI--REAUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAMS

     SEC. 6101. PERMANENCY OF SBIR PROGRAM AND STTR PROGRAM.

       (a) SBIR.--Section 9(m) of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 638(m)) is amended--
       (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Termination'' 
     and inserting ``SBIR Program Authorization''; and
       (2) by striking ``terminate on September 30, 2017'' and 
     inserting ``be in effect for each fiscal year''.
       (b) STTR.--Section 9(n)(1)(A) of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 638(n)(1)(A)) is amended by striking ``through fiscal 
     year 2017''.

   TITLE LXII--ENHANCED SMALL BUSINESS ACCESS TO FEDERAL INNOVATION 
                              INVESTMENTS

     SEC. 6201. ALLOCATION INCREASES AND TRANSPARENCY IN BASE 
                   CALCULATION.

       (a) SBIR.--Section 9(f) of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 638(f)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``expend'' and inserting ``obligate for expenditure'';
       (B) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (C) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``in fiscal year 2017 
     and each fiscal year thereafter,'' and inserting ``in each of 
     fiscal years 2017 through 2021''; and
       (D) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the following:
       ``(J) for a Federal agency other than the Department of 
     Defense, the National Science Foundation, or the Department 
     of Health and Human Services--
       ``(i) not less than 3.4 percent of the extramural budget 
     for research or research and development of the Federal 
     agency in fiscal year 2022;
       ``(ii) not less than 3.6 percent of such extramural budget 
     in fiscal year 2023;
       ``(iii) not less than 3.8 percent of such extramural budget 
     in fiscal year 2024;
       ``(iv) not less than 4 percent of such extramural budget in 
     fiscal year 2025;
       ``(v) not less than 4.2 percent of such extramural budget 
     in fiscal year 2026;
       ``(vi) not less than 4.4 percent of such extramural budget 
     in fiscal year 2027; and
       ``(vii) not less than 4.54 percent of such extramural 
     budget in fiscal year 2028 and each fiscal year thereafter;
       ``(K) for the Department of Defense--
       ``(i) not less than 2.6 percent of the budget for research, 
     development, test, and evaluation of the Department of 
     Defense in fiscal year 2022;
       ``(ii) not less than 2.7 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2023;
       ``(iii) not less than 2.8 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2024;
       ``(iv) not less than 2.9 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2025;
       ``(v) not less than 3 percent of such budget in fiscal year 
     2026;
       ``(vi) not less than 3.1 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2027;
       ``(vii) not less than 3.2 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2028;
       ``(viii) not less than 3.3 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2029;
       ``(ix) not less than 3.4 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2030; and
       ``(x) not less than 3.5 percent of such budget in fiscal 
     year 2031 and each fiscal year thereafter; and
       ``(L) for the National Science Foundation and the 
     Department of Health and Human Services, for fiscal year 2022 
     and each fiscal year thereafter, the lesser of--
       ``(i) the percentage of the extramural budget for research 
     or research and development of the National Science 
     Foundation or the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     respectively, equal to the sum of--

       ``(I) the percentage in effect under this paragraph for the 
     National Science Foundation or the Department of Health and 
     Human Services, respectively, for the previous fiscal year; 
     and
       ``(II)(aa) 0.04 percent; or
       ``(bb) if the extramural budget for research or research 
     and development of the National Science Foundation or the 
     Department of

[[Page 8500]]

     Health and Human Services, respectively, for the fiscal year 
     is not less than 103 percent of such extramural budget for 
     the previous fiscal year, 0.2 percent; or

       ``(ii) 4.5 percent of the extramural budget for research or 
     research and development of the National Science Foundation 
     or the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     respectively,'';
       (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by inserting ``(or for the 
     Department of Defense, an amount of the budget for basic 
     research of the Department of Defense)'' after ``research''; 
     and
       (3) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``(or for the Department 
     of Defense an amount of the budget for research, development, 
     test, and evaluation of the Department of Defense)'' after 
     ``of the agency''.
       (b) STTR.--Section 9(n)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 638(n)(1)) is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A)--
       (A) by striking ``expend'' and inserting ``obligate for 
     expenditure''; and
       (B) by striking ``not less than the percentage of that 
     extramural budget specified in subparagraph (B)'' and 
     inserting ``for a Federal agency other than the Department of 
     Defense, the National Science Foundation, or the Department 
     of Health and Human Services, not less than the percentage of 
     that extramural budget specified in subparagraph (B), for the 
     Department of Defense, not less than the percentage of the 
     budget for research, development, test, and evaluation of the 
     Department of Defense specified in subparagraph (B), and for 
     the National Science Foundation and the Department of Health 
     and Human Services, not less than the percentage of that 
     extramural budget specified in subparagraph (C)'';
       (2) in subparagraph (B)--
       (A) in the subparagraph heading, by inserting ``other than 
     for nsf and hhs'' after ``amounts'';
       (B) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``the 
     extramural budget required to be expended by an agency'' and 
     inserting ``the extramural budget, for a Federal agency other 
     than the Department of Defense, the National Science 
     Foundation, or the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     and of the budget for research, development, test, and 
     evaluation, for the Department of Defense, required to be 
     obligated for expenditure with small business concerns'';
       (C) in clause (iv), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (D) in clause (v), by striking ``fiscal year 2016 and each 
     fiscal year thereafter.'' and inserting ``each of fiscal 
     years 2016 through 2021;''; and
       (E) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(vi) 0.5 percent for fiscal year 2022;
       ``(vii) 0.55 percent for fiscal year 2023;
       ``(viii) 0.6 percent for fiscal year 2024;
       ``(ix) 0.65 percent for fiscal year 2025;
       ``(x) 0.7 percent for fiscal year 2026;
       ``(xi) 0.75 percent for fiscal year 2027;
       ``(xii) 0.8 percent for fiscal year 2028;
       ``(xiii) 0.85 percent for fiscal year 2029;
       ``(xiv) 0.9 percent for fiscal year 2030; and
       ``(xv) 0.95 percent for fiscal year 2031 and each fiscal 
     year thereafter.''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(C) Expenditure amounts for nsf and hhs.--The percentage 
     of the extramural budget required to be expended by the 
     National Science Foundation and the Department of Health and 
     Human Services in accordance with subparagraph (A) shall be--
       ``(i) for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2021, 0.45 
     percent; and
       ``(ii) for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year 
     thereafter, the lesser of--

       ``(I) the percentage of the extramural budget for research 
     or research and development of the National Science 
     Foundation or the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     respectively, equal to the sum of--

       ``(aa) the percentage in effect under this paragraph for 
     the National Science Foundation or the Department of Health 
     and Human Services, respectively, for the previous fiscal 
     year; and
       ``(bb)(AA) 0 percent; or
       ``(BB) if the extramural budget for research or research 
     and development of the National Science Foundation or the 
     Department of Health and Human Services, respectively, for 
     the fiscal year is not less than 103 percent of such 
     extramural budget for the previous fiscal year, 0.05 percent; 
     or

       ``(II) 0.95 percent of the extramural budget for research 
     or research and development of the National Science 
     Foundation or the Department of Health and Human Services, 
     respectively.''.

     SEC. 6202. REGULAR OVERSIGHT OF AWARD AMOUNTS.

       (a) Elimination of Automatic Inflation Adjustments.--
     Section 9(j) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(j)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (2)(D), by inserting ``through fiscal year 
     2016'' after ``every year''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) 2016 modifications for dollar value of awards.--Not 
     later than 120 days after the date of enactment of the SBIR 
     and STTR Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016, the 
     Administrator shall modify the policy directives issued under 
     this subsection to--
       ``(A) eliminate the annual adjustments for inflation of the 
     dollar value of awards described in paragraph (2)(D); and
       ``(B) clarify that Congress intends to review the dollar 
     value of awards every 3 fiscal years.''.
       (b) Sense of Congress Regarding Regular Review of the Award 
     Sizes.--
       (1) In general.--It is the sense of Congress that for 
     fiscal year 2019, and every third fiscal year thereafter, 
     Congress should evaluate whether the maximum award sizes 
     under the Small Business Innovation Research Program and the 
     Small Business Technology Transfer Program under section 9 of 
     the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) should be adjusted 
     and, if so, take appropriate action to direct that such 
     adjustments be made under the policy directives issued under 
     subsection (j) of such section.
       (2) Policy considerations.--In reviewing adjustments to the 
     maximum award sizes, Congress should take into consideration 
     the balance of number of awards to size of awards, the 
     missions of Federal agencies, and the technology needed to 
     support national goals.
       (c) Clarification of Sequential Phase II Awards.--Section 
     9(ff) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(ff)) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) Clarification of sequential phase ii awards.--The 
     head of a Federal agency shall ensure that any sequential 
     Phase II award is made in accordance with the limitations on 
     award sizes under subsection (aa).
       ``(4) Cross-agency sequential phase ii awards.--A small 
     business concern that receives a sequential Phase II SBIR or 
     Phase II STTR award for a project from a Federal agency is 
     eligible to receive an additional sequential Phase II award 
     that continues work on that project from another Federal 
     agency.''.

              TITLE LXIII--COMMERCIALIZATION IMPROVEMENTS

     SEC. 6301. PERMANENCY OF THE COMMERCIALIZATION PILOT PROGRAM 
                   FOR CIVILIAN AGENCIES.

       Section 9(gg) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(gg)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Pilot 
     Program'' and inserting ``Commercialization Development 
     Awards'';
       (2) by striking paragraphs (2), (7), and (8);
       (3) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) as 
     paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5), respectively;
       (4) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(6) Definitions.--In this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `commercialization development program' 
     means a program established by a covered Federal agency under 
     paragraph (1); and
       ``(B) the term `covered Federal agency'--
       ``(i) means a Federal agency participating in the SBIR 
     program or the STTR program; and
       ``(ii) does not include the Department of Defense.''; and
       (5) by striking ``pilot program'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``commercialization development program''.

     SEC. 6302. ENFORCEMENT OF NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS GOAL FOR 
                   FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

       Section 9(h) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(h)) 
     is amended to read as follows:
       ``(h) National Small Business Goal for Federal Research and 
     Development.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Administrator, in consultation with 
     Federal agencies, shall establish a Governmentwide goal for 
     each fiscal year, which shall be not less than 10 percent, 
     for the percentage of the amounts made available for research 
     or research and development that shall be obligated for 
     funding agreements--
       ``(A) with small business concerns; or
       ``(B) that will facilitate the development of research and 
     development small business concerns.
       ``(2) Agency goals.--
       ``(A) In general.--The head of each Federal agency which 
     has a budget for research or research and development in 
     excess of $20,000,000, in consultation with the 
     Administrator, shall establish a goal for the Federal agency 
     for each fiscal year that is appropriate to the mission of 
     the Federal agency for the percentage of such budget that 
     shall be obligated for funding agreements--
       ``(i) with small business concerns; or
       ``(ii) that will facilitate the development of research and 
     development small business concerns.
       ``(B) Limitation.--The head of a Federal agency may not 
     establish a percentage goal under subparagraph (A) for a 
     fiscal year that is less than the percentage goal that was 
     established under subparagraph (A) for the Federal agency for 
     the previous fiscal year.''.

     SEC. 6303. PROTECTING INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(tt) Protecting Innovative Technologies.--
       ``(1) Cost-reimbursement contracts.--
       ``(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B)(ii), the 
     cost of seeking protection for intellectual property, 
     including a trademark, copyright, or patent, that was created 
     through work performed under an STTR award that uses a cost-
     reimbursement contract or an SBIR award that uses a cost-
     reimbursement contract is allowable as an indirect cost under 
     that award.

[[Page 8501]]

       ``(B) Clarification of patent costs.--
       ``(i) In general.--A Federal agency shall not directly or 
     indirectly inhibit, through the policies, directives, or 
     practices of the Federal agency, an otherwise eligible small 
     business concern performing under an award described in 
     subparagraph (A) from recovering patent costs incurred as 
     requirements under that award, including--

       ``(I) the costs of preparing--

       ``(aa) invention disclosures;
       ``(bb) reports; and
       ``(cc) other documents;

       ``(II) the costs for searching the art to the extent 
     necessary to make the invention disclosures;
       ``(III) other costs in connection with the filing and 
     prosecution of a United States patent application where title 
     or royalty-free license is to be conveyed to the Federal 
     Government; and
       ``(IV) general counseling services relating to patent 
     matters, including advice on patent laws, regulations, 
     clauses, and employee agreements.

       ``(ii) Recovery limitations.--The patent costs described in 
     clause (i) shall be allowable for technology developed under 
     a--

       ``(I) Phase I award, as indirect costs in an amount not 
     greater than $5,000;
       ``(II) Phase II award, as indirect costs in an amount not 
     greater than $15,000; and
       ``(III) Phase III award in which the Federal Government has 
     government purpose rights (as defined in section 227.7103-5 
     of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations).

       ``(2) Firm fixed-price contracts.--An otherwise eligible 
     small business concern performing under an STTR award that 
     uses a firm fixed-price contract or an SBIR award that uses a 
     firm fixed-price contract may recover fair and reasonable 
     costs arising from seeking protection for intellectual 
     property, including a trademark, copyright, or patent, that 
     was created through work performed under that award.''.

     SEC. 6304. ANNUAL GAO AUDIT OF COMPLIANCE WITH 
                   COMMERCIALIZATION GOALS.

       Section 9(nn) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(nn)) 
     is amended to read as follows:
       ``(nn) Annual GAO Report on Government Compliance With 
     Goals, Incentives, and Phase III Preference.--Not later than 
     1 year after the date of enactment of the SBIR and STTR 
     Reauthorization and Improvement Act of 2016, and every year 
     thereafter until the date that is 5 years after the date of 
     enactment of the SBIR and STTR Reauthorization and 
     Improvement Act of 2016, the Comptroller General of the 
     United States shall submit to the Committee on Small Business 
     and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small 
     Business of the House of Representatives a report that--
       ``(1) discusses the status of the compliance of Federal 
     agencies with the requirements or authorities established 
     under--
       ``(A) subsection (h), relating to the establishment by 
     certain Federal agencies of a goal for funding agreements for 
     research and research and development with small business 
     concerns;
       ``(B) subsection (y)(5)(A), relating to the requirement for 
     the Department of Defense to establish goals for the 
     transition of Phase III technologies in subcontracting plans;
       ``(C) subsection (y)(5)(B), relating to the requirement for 
     the Department of Defense to establish procedures for a prime 
     contractor to report the number and dollar amount of 
     contracts with small business concerns for Phase III SBIR 
     projects or STTR projects of the prime contractor; and
       ``(D) subsection (y)(6), relating to the requirement for 
     the Department of Defense to set a goal to increase the 
     number of Phase II SBIR and STTR contracts that transition 
     into programs of record or fielded systems;
       ``(2) includes, for a Federal agency that is in compliance 
     with a requirement described under paragraph (1), a 
     description of how the Federal agency achieved compliance; 
     and
       ``(3) includes a list, organized by Federal agency, of 
     small business concerns that have asserted to an appropriate 
     Federal agency that--
       ``(A) the Government or prime contractor--
       ``(i) did not protect the intellectual property of the 
     small business concern in accordance with data rights under 
     the SBIR or STTR award; or
       ``(ii) issued a Phase III SBIR or STTR award conditional on 
     relinquishing data rights;
       ``(B) the Federal agency solicited bids for a contract, or 
     provided funding to an entity other than the small business 
     concern receiving the SBIR or STTR award, that was for work 
     that derived from, extended, or completed efforts made under 
     prior funding agreements under the SBIR program or STTR 
     program;
       ``(C) the Government or prime contractor did not comply 
     with the SBIR and STTR policy directives and the small 
     business concern filed a comment or complaint to the Office 
     of the National Ombudsman or appealed to the Administrator 
     for intervention; or
       ``(D) the Federal agency did not comply with subsection 
     (g)(12) or (o)(16) requiring timely notice to the 
     Administrator of any case or controversy before any Federal 
     judicial or administrative tribunal concerning the SBIR 
     program or the STTR program of the Federal agency.''.

     SEC. 6305. CLARIFYING THE PHASE III PREFERENCE.

       Section 9(r) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(r)) 
     is amended--
       (1) by striking paragraph (4);
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (4), and 
     transferring such paragraph to after paragraph (3); and
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) Phase iii award direction for agencies and prime 
     contractors.--To the greatest extent practicable, Federal 
     agencies and Federal prime contractors shall issue Phase III 
     awards relating to technology, including sole source awards, 
     to the SBIR and STTR award recipients that developed the 
     technology.''.

     SEC. 6306. IMPROVEMENTS TO TECHNICAL AND BUSINESS ASSISTANCE.

       Section 9(q) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(q)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and 
     Business'' after ``Technical'';
       (2) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A)--
       (i) by striking ``a vendor selected under paragraph (2)'' 
     and inserting ``1 or more vendors selected under paragraph 
     (2)(A)'';
       (ii) by inserting ``and business'' before ``assistance 
     services''; and
       (iii) by inserting ``assistance with product sales, 
     intellectual property protections, market research, market 
     validation, and development of regulatory plans and 
     manufacturing plans,'' after ``technologies,''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``, including 
     intellectual property protections'' before the period at the 
     end;
       (3) in paragraph (2)--
       (A) by striking ``Each agency may select a vendor to assist 
     small business concerns to meet'' and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(A) In general.--Each agency may select 1 or more vendors 
     from which small business concerns may obtain assistance in 
     meeting''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(B) Selection by small business concern.--A small 
     business concern may, by contract or otherwise, select 1 or 
     more vendors to assist the small business concern in meeting 
     the goals listed in paragraph (1).''; and
       (4) in paragraph (3)--
       (A) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``paragraph (2)'' each place 
     it appears;
       (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$5,000 per year'' 
     each place it appears and inserting ``$6,500 per project'';
       (C) in subparagraph (B)--
       (i) by striking ``$5,000 per year'' each place it appears 
     and inserting ``$35,000 per project''; and
       (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``which shall be in 
     addition to the amount of the recipient's award'' and 
     inserting ``which may, as determined appropriate by the head 
     of the Federal agency, be included as part of the recipient's 
     award or be in addition to the amount of the recipient's 
     award'';
       (D) in subparagraph (C)--
       (i) by inserting ``or business'' after ``technical'';
       (ii) by striking ``the vendor'' and inserting ``a vendor''; 
     and
       (iii) by adding at the end the following: ``Business-
     related services aimed at improving the commercialization 
     success of a small business concern may be obtained from an 
     entity, such as a public or private organization or an agency 
     of or other entity established or funded by a State that 
     facilitates or accelerates the commercialization of 
     technologies or assists in the creation and growth of private 
     enterprises that are commercializing technology.'';
       (E) in subparagraph (D)--
       (i) by inserting ``or business'' after ``technical'' each 
     place it appears; and
       (ii) in clause (i)--

       (I) by striking ``the vendor'' and inserting ``1 or more 
     vendors''; and
       (II) by striking ``provides'' and inserting ``provide''; 
     and

       (F) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(E) Multiple award recipients.--The Administrator shall 
     establish a limit on the amount of technical and business 
     assistance services that may be received or purchased under 
     subparagraph (B) by small business concerns with respect to 
     multiple Phase II SBIR or STTR awards for a fiscal year.''.

     SEC. 6307. EXTENSION OF PHASE 0 PROOF OF CONCEPT PARTNERSHIP 
                   PILOT.

       Section 9(jj) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(jj)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (6) by striking ``The Director'' and 
     inserting ``Not later than February 1, 2019, the Director''; 
     and
       (2) in paragraph (7), by striking ``2017'' and inserting 
     ``2019''.

            TITLE LXIV--PROGRAM DIVERSIFICATION INITIATIVES

     SEC. 6401. REGIONAL SBIR STATE COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE PILOT 
                   PROGRAM.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (mm)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``2017'' and inserting ``2021'';
       (ii) in subparagraph (I), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (iii) in subparagraph (J), by striking the period and 
     inserting ``; and''; and

[[Page 8502]]

       (iv) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(K) funding for improvements that increase commonality 
     across data systems, reduce redundancy, and improve data 
     oversight and accuracy.''; and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(7) SBIR and sttr programs; fast program.--
       ``(A) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term `covered 
     Federal agency' means a Federal agency that--
       ``(i) is required to conduct an SBIR program; and
       ``(ii) elects to use the funds allocated to the SBIR 
     program of the Federal agency for the purposes described in 
     paragraph (1).
       ``(B) Requirement.--Each covered Federal agency shall 
     transfer an amount equal to 15 percent of the funds that are 
     used for the purposes described in paragraph (1) to the 
     Administration--
       ``(i) for the Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative 
     Pilot Program established under subsection (uu);
       ``(ii) for the Federal and State Technology Partnership 
     Program established under section 34; and
       ``(iii) to support the Office of the Administration that 
     administers the SBIR program and the STTR program, subject to 
     agreement from other agencies about how the funds will be 
     used, in carrying out those programs and the programs 
     described in clauses (i) and (ii).
       ``(8) Pilot program.--
       ``(A) In general.--Of amounts provided to the 
     Administration under paragraph (7), not less than $5,000,000 
     shall be used to provide awards under the Regional SBIR State 
     Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program established under 
     subsection (uu) for each fiscal year in which the program is 
     in effect.
       ``(B) Disbursement flexibility.--The Administration may use 
     any unused funds made available under subparagraph (A) as of 
     April 1 of each fiscal year for awards to carry out clauses 
     (ii) and (iii) of paragraph (7)(B) after providing written 
     notice to--
       ``(i) the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 
     and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and
       ``(ii) the Committee on Small Business and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the House of Representatives.''; and
       (2) by adding after subsection (tt), as added by section 
     6303 of this Act, the following:
       ``(uu) Regional SBIR State Collaborative Initiative Pilot 
     Program.--
       ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `eligible entity' means--
       ``(i) a research institution; and
       ``(ii) a small business concern;
       ``(B) the term `eligible State' means--
       ``(i) a State that the Administrator determines is in the 
     bottom half of States, based on the average number of annual 
     SBIR program awards made to companies in the State for the 
     preceding 3 years for which the Administration has applicable 
     data; and
       ``(ii) an EPSCoR State that--

       ``(I) is a State described in clause (i); or
       ``(II) is--

       ``(aa) not a State described in clause (i); and
       ``(bb) invited to participate in a regional collaborative;
       ``(C) the term `EPSCoR State' means a State that 
     participates in the Experimental Program to Stimulate 
     Competitive Research of the National Science Foundation, as 
     established under section 113 of the National Science 
     Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g);
       ``(D) the term `FAST program' means the Federal and State 
     Technology Partnership Program established under section 34;
       ``(E) the term `pilot program' means the Regional SBIR 
     State Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program established 
     under paragraph (2);
       ``(F) the term `regional collaborative' means a 
     collaborative consisting of eligible entities that are 
     located in not less than 3 eligible States; and
       ``(G) the term `State' means any State of the United 
     States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
     Rico, and any territory or possession of the United States.
       ``(2) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish a 
     pilot program, to be known as the Regional SBIR State 
     Collaborative Initiative Pilot Program, under which the 
     Administrator shall provide awards to regional collaboratives 
     to address the needs of small business concerns in order to 
     be more competitive in the proposal and selection process for 
     awards under the SBIR program and the STTR program and to 
     increase technology transfer and commercialization.
       ``(3) Goals.--The goals of the pilot program are--
       ``(A) to create regional collaboratives that allow eligible 
     entities to work cooperatively to leverage resources to 
     address the needs of small business concerns;
       ``(B) to grow SBIR program and STTR program cooperative 
     research and development and commercialization through 
     increased awards under those programs;
       ``(C) to increase the participation of States that have 
     historically received a lower level of awards under the SBIR 
     program and the STTR program;
       ``(D) to utilize the strengths and advantages of regional 
     collaboratives to better leverage resources, best practices, 
     and economies of scale in a region for the purpose of 
     increasing awards and increasing the commercialization of the 
     SBIR program and STTR projects;
       ``(E) to increase the competitiveness of the SBIR program 
     and the STTR program;
       ``(F) to identify sources of outside funding for applicants 
     for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR program, 
     including venture capitalists, angel investor groups, private 
     industry, crowd funding, and special loan programs; and
       ``(G) to offer increased one-on-one engagements with 
     companies and entrepreneurs for SBIR program and STTR program 
     education, assistance, and successful outcomes.
       ``(4) Application.--
       ``(A) In general.--A regional collaborative that desires to 
     participate in the pilot program shall submit to the 
     Administrator an application at such time, in such manner, 
     and containing such information as the Administrator may 
     require.
       ``(B) Inclusion of lead eligible entities and 
     coordinator.--A regional collaborative shall include in an 
     application submitted under subparagraph (A)--
       ``(i) the name of each lead eligible entity from each 
     eligible State in the regional collaborative, as designated 
     under paragraph (5)(A); and
       ``(ii) the name of the coordinator for the regional 
     collaborative, as designated under paragraph (6).
       ``(C) Avoidance of duplication.--A regional collaborative 
     shall include in an application submitted under subparagraph 
     (A) an explanation as to how the activities of the regional 
     collaborative under the pilot program would differ from other 
     State and Federal outreach activities in each eligible State 
     in the regional collaborative.
       ``(5) Lead eligible entity.--
       ``(A) In general.--Each eligible State in a regional 
     collaborative shall designate 1 eligible entity located in 
     the eligible State to serve as the lead eligible entity for 
     the eligible State.
       ``(B) Authorization by governor.--Each lead eligible entity 
     designated under subparagraph (A) shall be authorized to act 
     as the lead eligible entity by the Governor of the applicable 
     eligible State.
       ``(C) Responsibilities.--Each lead eligible entity 
     designated under subparagraph (A) shall be responsible for 
     administering the activities and program initiatives 
     described in paragraph (7) in the applicable eligible State.
       ``(6) Regional collaborative coordinator.--Each regional 
     collaborative shall designate a coordinator from amongst the 
     eligible entities located in the eligible States in the 
     regional collaborative, who shall serve as the interface 
     between the regional collaborative and the Administration 
     with respect to measuring cross-State collaboration and 
     program effectiveness and documenting best practices.
       ``(7) Use of funds.--Each regional collaborative that is 
     provided an award under the pilot program may, in each 
     eligible State in which an eligible entity of the regional 
     collaborative is located--
       ``(A) establish an initiative under which first-time 
     applicants for an award under the SBIR program or the STTR 
     program are reviewed by experienced, national experts in the 
     United States, as determined by the lead eligible entity 
     designated under paragraph (5)(A);
       ``(B) engage national mentors on a frequent basis to work 
     directly with applicants for an award under the SBIR program 
     or the STTR program, particularly during Phase II, to assist 
     with the process of preparing and submitting a proposal;
       ``(C) create and make available an online mechanism to 
     serve as a resource for applicants for an award under the 
     SBIR program or the STTR program to identify and connect with 
     Federal labs, prime government contractor companies, other 
     industry partners, and regional industry cluster 
     organizations;
       ``(D) conduct focused and concentrated outreach efforts to 
     increase participation in the SBIR program and the STTR 
     program by small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     women, small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     veterans, small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     socially and economically disadvantaged individuals (as 
     defined in section 8(d)(3)(C)), and historically black 
     colleges and universities;
       ``(E) administer a structured program of training and 
     technical assistance--
       ``(i) to prepare applicants for an award under the SBIR 
     program or the STTR program--

       ``(I) to compete more effectively for Phase I and Phase II 
     awards; and
       ``(II) to develop and implement a successful 
     commercialization plan;

       ``(ii) to assist eligible States focusing on transition and 
     commercialization to win Phase III awards from public and 
     private partners;
       ``(iii) to create more competitive proposals to increase 
     awards from all Federal sources, with a focus on awards under 
     the SBIR program and the STTR program; and
       ``(iv) to assist first-time applicants by providing small 
     grants for proof of concept research; and
       ``(F) assist applicants for an award under the SBIR program 
     or the STTR program to

[[Page 8503]]

     identify sources of outside funding, including venture 
     capitalists, angel investor groups, private industry, crowd 
     funding, and special loan programs.
       ``(8) Award amount.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Administrator shall provide an award 
     to each eligible State in which an eligible entity of a 
     regional collaborative is located in an amount that is not 
     more than $300,000 to carry out the activities described in 
     paragraph (7).
       ``(B) Limitation.--
       ``(i) In general.--An eligible State may not receive an 
     award under both the FAST program and the pilot program for 
     the same year.
       ``(ii) Rule of construction.--Nothing in clause (i) shall 
     be construed to prevent an eligible State from applying for 
     an award under the FAST program and the pilot program for the 
     same year.
       ``(9) Duration of award.--An award provided under the pilot 
     program shall be for a period of not more than 1 year, and 
     may be renewed by the Administrator for 1 additional year.
       ``(10) Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate on 
     September 30, 2021.
       ``(11) Report.--Not later than February 1, 2021, the 
     Administrator shall submit to the Committee on Small Business 
     and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small 
     Business of the House of Representatives a report on the 
     pilot program, which shall include--
       ``(A) an assessment of the pilot program and the 
     effectiveness of the pilot program in meeting the goals 
     described in paragraph (3);
       ``(B) an assessment of the best practices, including an 
     analysis of how the pilot program compares to the FAST 
     program and a single-State approach; and
       ``(C) recommendations as to whether any aspect of the pilot 
     program should be extended or made permanent.''.

     SEC. 6402. FEDERAL AND STATE TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.

       Section 34 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 657d) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (h)--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``2001 through 2005'' and 
     inserting ``2017 through 2021''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``fiscal years 2001 
     through 2005'' and inserting ``each of fiscal years 2017 
     through 2021''; and
       (2) in subsection (i), by striking ``September 30, 2005'' 
     and inserting ``September 30, 2021''.

          TITLE LXV--OVERSIGHT AND SIMPLIFICATION INITIATIVES

     SEC. 6501. DATA REALIGNMENT AND MODERNIZATION.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended by adding after subsection (uu), as added by section 
     6401 of this Act, the following:
       ``(vv) SBIR and STTR Interagency Policy Committee.--
       ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--
       ``(A) the term `Committee' means the SBIR and STTR 
     Interagency Policy Committee established under paragraph (2);
       ``(B) the term `participating Federal agency' means a 
     Federal agency with an SBIR program or an STTR program; and
       ``(C) the term `phase' means Phase I, Phase II, and Phase 
     III.
       ``(2) Establishment.--There is established an interagency 
     committee to be known as the `SBIR and STTR Interagency 
     Policy Committee'.
       ``(3) Membership.--The Committee shall include--
       ``(A) 4 representatives from each participating Federal 
     agency, of which--
       ``(i) 1 shall have expertise with respect to the SBIR 
     program and STTR program of the Federal agency;
       ``(ii) 1 shall have expertise with respect to the broader 
     research and development missions and programs of the Federal 
     agency;
       ``(iii) 1 shall have expertise with respect to marketplace 
     commercialization or to the transition of technologies to 
     support the missions of the Federal agency; and
       ``(iv) 1 shall have expertise with respect to the 
     information technology systems of the Federal agency; and
       ``(B) 2 representatives from the Administration, of which--
       ``(i) 1 shall serve as chairperson of the Committee; and
       ``(ii) 1 shall be from the Information Technology 
     Development Team of the Office of Investment and Innovation 
     of the Administration.
       ``(4) Working groups.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Committee shall establish working 
     groups as necessary to ensure consistency and clarity between 
     the participating Federal agencies.
       ``(B) Data realignment and modernization working group.--
       ``(i) In general.--The Committee shall establish a data 
     alignment and modernization working group, which shall review 
     the recommendations made in the report to Congress by the 
     Office of Science and Technology of the Administration 
     entitled `SBIR/STTR TechNet Public & Government Databases', 
     dated September 15, 2014, and the practices of participating 
     Federal agencies to--

       ``(I) determine how to collect data on achievements by 
     small business concerns in each phase of the SBIR program and 
     the STTR program and ensure collection and dissemination of 
     such data in a timely, efficient, and uniform manner;
       ``(II) establish a uniform baseline for metrics that 
     support improving the solicitation, contracting, funding, and 
     execution of program management in the SBIR program and the 
     STTR program;
       ``(III) normalize formatting and database usage across 
     participating Federal agencies; and
       ``(IV) determine the feasibility of developing a common 
     system across all participating Federal agencies and the 
     paperwork requirements under such a common system.

       ``(ii) Membership.--Each member of the Committee shall 
     serve as a member of the data alignment and modernization 
     working group.
       ``(5) Implementation.--Not later than September 31, 2018, 
     the Committee shall brief the Committee on Small Business and 
     Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small 
     Business of the House of Representatives on the solutions 
     identified by the working group under paragraph (4) and 
     resources needed to execute the solutions.''.

     SEC. 6502. IMPLEMENTATION OF OUTSTANDING REAUTHORIZATION 
                   PROVISIONS.

       (a) In General.--Section 9(mm) of the Small Business Act 
     (15 U.S.C. 638(mm)), as amended by section 6401(1) of this 
     Act, is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (3)'' and 
     inserting ``paragraphs (3) and (9)''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(9) Suspension of funding.--
       ``(A) For federal agencies.--
       ``(i) In general.--For fiscal years 2018 and 2019, any 
     Federal agency that has not implemented each provision of law 
     described in clause (ii)--

       ``(I) shall continue to provide amounts to the 
     Administration in accordance with paragraph (7)(B); and
       ``(II) may not use any additional amounts as described in 
     paragraph (1) until 30 days after the date on which the 
     Federal agency submits to the Committee on Small Business and 
     Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the Committee on Small 
     Business of the House of Representatives documentation 
     demonstrating that the Federal agency has implemented and is 
     in compliance with each provision of law described in clause 
     (ii).

       ``(ii) Provisions.--The provisions of law described in this 
     subparagraph are the following:

       ``(I) Subsection (r)(4), relating to Phase III preferences.
       ``(II) Paragraphs (5) and (6) of subsection (y), relating 
     to insertion goals.
       ``(III) Subsection (g)(4)(B), relating to shortening the 
     decision time for SBIR awards.
       ``(IV) Subsection (o)(4)(B), relating to shortening the 
     decision time for STTR awards.
       ``(V) Subsection (v), relating to reducing paperwork and 
     compliance burdens.

       ``(B) For administration.--For fiscal years 2018 and 2019, 
     if the Administration is not in compliance with subsection 
     (b)(7), relating to annual reports to Congress, the 
     Administration may not use amounts received under paragraph 
     (7)(B) of this subsection for a purpose described in clause 
     (iii) of such paragraph (7)(B).''.
       (b) Clarification of Reporting Requirement.--Section 
     9(b)(7) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(b)(7)) is 
     amended in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
     ``not less than annually'' and inserting ``not later than 
     December 31 of each year''.

     SEC. 6503. STRENGTHENING OF THE REQUIREMENT TO SHORTEN THE 
                   APPLICATION REVIEW AND DECISION TIME.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (g)(4), by striking subparagraph (B) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(B) make a final decision on each proposal submitted 
     under the SBIR program--
       ``(i) for the Department of Health and Human Services, not 
     later than 1 year after the date on which the applicable 
     solicitation closes, with a goal to reduce the review and 
     decision time to less than 10 months by September 30, 2019;
       ``(ii) for the Department of Agriculture and the National 
     Science Foundation, not later than 6 months after the date on 
     which the applicable solicitation closes; or
       ``(iii) for any other Federal agency--
       ``(I) not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
     applicable solicitation closes; or
       ``(II) if the Administrator authorizes an extension with 
     respect to a solicitation, not later than 90 days after the 
     date that would otherwise be applicable to the Federal agency 
     under subclause (I);''; and
       (2) in subsection (o)(4), by striking subparagraph (B) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(B) make a final decision on each proposal submitted 
     under the STTR program--
       ``(i) for the Department of Health and Human Services, not 
     later than 1 year after the date on which the applicable 
     solicitation closes, with a goal to reduce the review and 
     decision time to less than 10 months by September 30, 2019;
       ``(ii) for the Department of Agriculture and the National 
     Science Foundation, not later than 6 months after the date on 
     which the applicable solicitation closes; or

[[Page 8504]]

       ``(iii) for any other Federal agency--
       ``(I) not later than 90 days after the date on which the 
     applicable solicitation closes; or
       ``(II) if the Administrator authorizes an extension with 
     respect to a solicitation, not later than 90 days after the 
     date that would otherwise be applicable to the Federal agency 
     under subclause (I);''.

     SEC. 6504. CONTINUED GAO OVERSIGHT OF ALLOCATION COMPLIANCE 
                   AND ACCURACY IN FUNDING BASE CALCULATIONS.

       Section 5136(a) of the National Defense Authorization Act 
     for Fiscal Year 2012 (15 U.S.C. 638 note) is amended--
       (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``until the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment 
     of this Act'' and insert ``until the date on which the 
     Comptroller General of the United States submits the report 
     relating to fiscal year 2019'';
       (2) in paragraph (1), by striking subparagraph (C) and 
     inserting the following:
       ``(C) assess whether the change in the base funding for the 
     Department of Defense as required by subparagraphs (J) and 
     (K) of section 9(f)(1) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     638(f)(1))--
       ``(i) improves transparency for determining whether the 
     Department is complying with the allocation requirements;
       ``(ii) reduces the burden of calculating the allocations; 
     and
       ``(iii) improves the compliance of the Department with the 
     allocation requirements; and''; and
       (3) in paragraph (2) by striking ``under subparagraph (B)'' 
     and inserting ``under subparagraphs (B) and (C)''.

     SEC. 6505. COORDINATION BETWEEN AGENCIES ON COMMERCIALIZATION 
                   ASSISTANCE.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (j), as amended by section 6202(a) of 
     this Act, by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) Coordination of commercialization assistance.--Not 
     later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this 
     paragraph, the Administrator shall modify the policy 
     directive issued pursuant to this subsection to clarify that 
     a small business concern receiving training through the 
     Innovation Corps program with administrative funds made 
     available under subsection (mm) shall not receive 
     discretionary business assistance funds for the same or 
     similar activities as allowed under subsection (q).''; and
       (2) in subsection (p), by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) Coordination of commercialization assistance.--Not 
     later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this 
     paragraph, the Administrator shall modify the policy 
     directive issued pursuant to this subsection to clarify that 
     a small business concern receiving training through the 
     Innovation Corps program with administrative funds made 
     available under subsection (mm) shall not receive 
     discretionary business assistance funds for the same or 
     similar activities as allowed under subsection (q).''.

           TITLE LXVI--PARTICIPATION BY WOMEN AND MINORITIES

     SEC. 6601. SBA COORDINATION ON INCREASING OUTREACH FOR WOMEN 
                   AND MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.

       Section 9(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(b)) 
     is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(10) to coordinate with participating agencies on efforts 
     to increase outreach and awards under each of the SBIR and 
     STTR programs to small business concerns owned and controlled 
     by women and socially and economically disadvantaged small 
     business concerns, as defined in section 8(a)(4).''.

     SEC. 6602. FEDERAL AGENCY OUTREACH REQUIREMENTS FOR WOMEN AND 
                   MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (g)--
       (A) in paragraph (11), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(13) implement an outreach program to small business 
     concerns for the purpose of enhancing its SBIR program, under 
     which the Federal agency shall--
       ``(A) provide outreach to small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by women and socially and economically 
     disadvantaged small business concerns, as defined in section 
     8(a)(4); and
       ``(B) establish goals for outreach by the Federal agency to 
     the small business concerns described in subparagraph (A).''; 
     and
       (2) in subsection (o)(14), by striking ``SBIR program;'' 
     and inserting ``SBIR program, under which the Federal agency 
     shall--
       ``(A) provide outreach to small business concerns owned and 
     controlled by women and socially and economically 
     disadvantaged small business concerns, as defined in section 
     8(a)(4); and
       ``(B) establish goals for outreach by the Federal agency to 
     the small business concerns described in subparagraph (A).''.

     SEC. 6603. STTR POLICY DIRECTIVE MODIFICATION.

       Section 9(p) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(p)), 
     as amended by section 6505 of this Act, is amended by adding 
     at the end the following:
       ``(5) Additional modifications.--Not later than 120 days 
     after the date of enactment of this paragraph, the 
     Administrator shall modify the policy directive issued 
     pursuant to this subsection to provide for enhanced outreach 
     efforts to increase the participation of small business 
     concerns owned and controlled by women and socially and 
     economically disadvantaged small business concerns, as 
     defined in section 8(a)(4), in technological innovation and 
     in STTR programs.''.

     SEC. 6604. INTERAGENCY SBIR/STTR POLICY COMMITTEE.

       Section 5124 of the SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011 
     (Public Law 112-81; 125 Stat. 1837) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
       (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following:
       ``(d) Meetings.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Interagency SBIR/STTR Policy 
     Committee shall meet not less than twice per year to carry 
     out the duties under subsection (c).
       ``(2) Outreach and technical assistance activities.--If the 
     Interagency SBIR/STTR Policy Committee meets to discuss 
     outreach and technical assistance activities to increase the 
     participation of small business concerns that are 
     underrepresented in the SBIR and STTR programs, the Committee 
     shall invite to the meeting--
       ``(A) a representative of the Minority Business Development 
     Agency; and
       ``(B) relevant stakeholders that work to advance the 
     interests of--
       ``(i) small business concerns owned and controlled by 
     women, as defined in section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 632); and
       ``(ii) socially and economically disadvantaged small 
     business concerns, as defined in section 8(a)(4) of the Small 
     Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637(a)(4)).''.

     SEC. 6605. DIVERSITY AND STEM WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PILOT 
                   PROGRAM.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section--
       (1) the term ``Administrator'' means the Administrator of 
     the Small Business Administration;
       (2) the term ``covered STEM intern'' means a student at, or 
     recent graduate from, an institution of higher education 
     serving as an intern--
       (A) whose course of study studied is focused on the STEM 
     fields; and
       (B) who is a woman or a person from an underrepresented 
     population in the STEM fields;
       (3) the term ``eligible entity'' means a small business 
     concern that--
       (A) is receiving amounts under an award under the SBIR 
     program or the STTR program of a Federal agency on the date 
     on which the Federal agency awards a grant to the small 
     business concern under subsection (b); and
       (B) provides internships for covered STEM interns;
       (4) the terms ``Federal agency'', ``SBIR'', and ``STTR'' 
     have the meanings given those terms under section 9(e) of the 
     Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(e));
       (5) the term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
     meaning given the term under section 101(a) of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a));
       (6) the term ``person from an underrepresented population 
     in the STEM fields'' means a person from a group that is 
     underrepresented in the population of STEM students, as 
     determined by the Administrator;
       (7) the term ``pilot program'' means the Diversity and STEM 
     Workforce Development Pilot Program established under 
     subsection (b);
       (8) the term ``recent graduate'', relating to a woman or a 
     person from an underrepresented population in the STEM 
     fields, means that the woman or person from an 
     underrepresented population in the STEM fields earned an 
     associate degree, baccalaureate degree, or postbaccalaureate 
     from an institution of higher education during the 1-year 
     period beginning on the date of the internship;
       (9) the term ``small business concern'' has the meaning 
     given the term under section 3 of the Small Business Act (15 
     U.S.C. 632); and
       (10) the term ``STEM fields'' means the fields of science, 
     technology, engineering, and math.
       (b) Pilot Program for Internships for Women and People From 
     Underrepresented Populations.--The Administrator shall 
     establish a Diversity and STEM Workforce Development Pilot 
     Program to encourage the business community to provide 
     workforce development opportunities for covered STEM interns, 
     under which a Federal agency participating in the SBIR 
     program or STTR program may make a grant to 1 or more 
     eligible entities for the costs of internships for covered 
     STEM interns.
       (c) Amount and Use of Grants.--
       (1) Amount.--A grant under subsection (b)--
       (A) may not be in an amount of more than $15,000 per fiscal 
     year; and
       (B) shall be in addition to the amount of the award to the 
     recipient under the SBIR program or the STTR program.

[[Page 8505]]

       (2) Use.--Not less than 90 percent of the amount of a grant 
     under subsection (b) shall be used by the eligible entity to 
     provide stipends or other similar payments to interns.
       (d) Evaluation.--Not later than January 31 of the first 
     calendar year after the third fiscal year during which the 
     Administrator carries out the pilot program, the 
     Administrator shall submit to Congress--
       (1) data on the results of the pilot program, such as the 
     number and demographics of the covered STEM interns 
     participating in an internship funded under the pilot program 
     and the amount spent on such internships; and
       (2) an assessment of whether the pilot program helped the 
     SBIR program and STTR program achieve the congressional 
     objective of fostering and encouraging the participation of 
     women and persons from underrepresented populations in the 
     STEM fields.
       (e) Termination.--The pilot program shall terminate after 
     the end of the fourth fiscal year during which the 
     Administrator carries out the pilot program.
       (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out 
     the pilot program.

                     TITLE LXVII--TECHNICAL CHANGES

     SEC. 6701. UNIFORM REFERENCE TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND 
                   HUMAN SERVICES.

       Section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (cc), by striking ``National Institutes 
     of Health'' and inserting ``Department of Health and Human 
     Services''; and
       (2) in subsection (dd)(1)(A), by striking ``Director of the 
     National Institutes of Health'' and inserting ``Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services''.

     SEC. 6702. FLEXIBILITY FOR PHASE II AWARD INVITATIONS.

       Section 9(e)(4)(B) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
     638(e)(4)(B)) is amended in the matter preceding clause (i)--
       (1) by striking ``, which shall not include any invitation, 
     pre-screening, or pre-selection process for eligibility for 
     Phase II,''; and
       (2) by inserting ``in which eligibility for an award shall 
     not be based only on an invitation, pre-screening, or pre-
     selection process and'' before ``in which awards''.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 4677. Mr. McCAIN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 2943, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 
2017 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military 
construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, 
to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for 
other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       On page 508, strike line 10 and all that follows through 
     ``(d) Training.--'' on line 15 and insert the following:
       Section 2332 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following new subsection:
       ``(e) Training.--
       On page 901, strike lines 8 and 9.
       On page 1018, strike line 13 and all that follows through 
     ``(e) Repeal.--'' on line 24 and insert the following:
       (d) Repeal.--
       On page 1064, line 23, strike ``conducting one or more of 
     the following'' and insert ``building the capacity of such 
     country or countries to conduct one or more of the 
     following''.
       On page 1124, beginning on line 14, strike ``Generally.--'' 
     and all that follows through ``Subject'' on line 15 and 
     insert the following: ``Generally.--Subject''.
       On page 1124, strike lines 19 through 21.
       On page 1129, line 11, insert ``available'' before 
     ``unobligated''.
       On page 1129, line 15, insert ``Such funds transferred in 
     to the fund shall retain its original period of 
     availability.'' after ``subsection (a).''.
       On page 1129, line 20, insert ``available'' before 
     ``unobligated''.
       Strike section 2812.
                                 ______
                                 
  SA 4678. Mr. REID (for himself and Mr. Heller) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2943, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2017 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was 
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       At the end of subtitle I of title X, add the following:

     SEC. 1097. REPORT.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Class iii gaming.--The term ``class III gaming'' has 
     the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Gaming 
     Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2703).
       (2) Exclusivity clause.--The term ``exclusivity clause'' 
     means a provision that requires a Tribe to pay to a State a 
     percentage of gross gaming revenue only if the State does not 
     change the law of the State to permit commercial gaming 
     activity by any other person.
       (b) Report.--Not later than 120 calendar days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior 
     shall submit to the Committee on Indian Affairs of the Senate 
     and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
     Representatives a report on--
       (1) the number of Tribal-State compacts, and amendments to 
     such compacts, that contain exclusivity clauses that may be 
     impacted by a determination of the Secretary of the Interior 
     to approve a compact or compact amendment that could have the 
     effect of advancing commercial gaming activity on non-Indian 
     land where such activity is owned or operated, directly or 
     indirectly, by 1 or more Indian tribe; and
       (2) the extent to which gaming regulations and laws in 
     States where class III gaming occurs on Indian land pursuant 
     to a Tribal-State compact, approved under the Indian Gaming 
     Regulatory Act (25 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.), meets or exceeds 
     standards established in that Act or regulations issued by 
     the National Indian Gaming Commission.
       (c) Consultation.--The Secretary of the Interior shall 
     consult with Indian tribes, State governments, and commercial 
     gaming enterprises before issuing the report required under 
     subsection (b).

                          ____________________