[House Report 111-128]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


111th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    111-128

======================================================================



 
      INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION ACT OF 2009

                                _______
                                

  May 21, 2009.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

Mr. Gordon of Tennessee, from the Committee on Science and Technology, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1736]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on Science and Technology, to whom was referred 
the bill (H.R. 1736) to provide for the establishment of a 
committee to identify and coordinate international science and 
technology cooperation that can strengthen the domestic science 
and technology enterprise and support United States foreign 
policy goals, having considered the same, report favorably 
thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as 
amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
   I. Bill............................................................2
  II. Purpose of the Bill.............................................2
 III. Background and Need for the Legislation.........................2
  IV. Hearing Summary.................................................3
   V. Committee Actions...............................................5
  VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill.........................6
 VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (by Title and Section)..............6
VIII. Committee Views.................................................6
  IX. Cost Estimate...................................................7
   X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate.......................7
  XI. Compliance with Public Law 104-4................................7
 XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations................7
XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives...........7
 XIV. Constitutional Authority Statement..............................8
  XV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement............................8
 XVI. Congressional Accountability Act................................8
XVII. Earmark Identification..........................................8
XVIII.Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law..........8

 XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported...........8
  XX. Committee Recommendations.......................................8
 XXI. Exchange of Committee Correspondence............................9
XXII. Proceedings of the Subcommittee Markup.........................11
XXIII.Proceedings of the Full Committee Markup.......................30


                                I. BILL

    The amendment is as follows:
    Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``International Science and Technology 
Cooperation Act of 2009''.

SEC. 2. COORDINATION OF INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
                    PARTNERSHIPS.

  (a) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall establish a committee under the National 
Science and Technology Council with the responsibility to identify and 
coordinate international science and technology cooperation that can 
strengthen the United States science and technology enterprise, improve 
economic and national security, and support United States foreign 
policy goals.
  (b) Committee Leadership.--The committee established under subsection 
(a) shall be co-chaired by senior level officials from the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy and the Department of State.
  (c) Responsibilities.--The committee established under subsection (a) 
shall--
          (1) plan and coordinate interagency international science and 
        technology cooperative research and training activities and 
        partnerships supported or managed by Federal agencies and work 
        with other National Science and Technology Council committees 
        to help plan and coordinate the international component of 
        national science and technology priorities;
          (2) establish Federal priorities and policies for aligning, 
        as appropriate, international science and technology 
        cooperative research and training activities and partnerships 
        supported or managed by Federal agencies with the foreign 
        policy goals of the United States;
          (3) identify opportunities for new international science and 
        technology cooperative research and training partnerships that 
        advance both the science and technology and the foreign policy 
        priorities of the United States;
          (4) in carrying out paragraph (3), solicit input and 
        recommendations from non-Federal science and technology 
        stakeholders, including universities, scientific and 
        professional societies, industry, and relevant organizations 
        and institutions, through workshops and other appropriate 
        venues;
          (5) work with international science and technology 
        counterparts, both non-governmental and governmental (in 
        coordination with the Department of State), to establish and 
        maintain international science and technology cooperative 
        research and training partnerships, as identified under 
        paragraph (3); and
          (6) address broad issues that influence the ability of United 
        States scientists and engineers to collaborate with foreign 
        counterparts, including barriers to collaboration and access to 
        scientific information.
  (d) Report to Congress.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall transmit a report annually to Congress at the 
time of the President's budget request containing a description of the 
priorities and policies established under subsection (c)(2), the 
ongoing and new partnerships established in the previous fiscal year, 
and how stakeholder input, as required under subsection (c)(4), was 
received.

                        II. PURPOSE OF THE BILL

    The purpose of this bill is to provide for the 
establishment of a committee under the National Science and 
Technology Council to identify and coordinate international 
science and technology research and training partnerships that 
can strengthen the U.S. science and technology enterprise, 
improve economic and national security, and support U.S. 
foreign policy goals.

              III. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

    In 2008, the National Science Board (NSB) issued a report, 
``International Science and Engineering Partnerships: A 
Priority for U.S. Foreign Policy and our Nation's Innovation 
Agenda,'' in which the Board made a series of recommendations 
for increased coherence and coordination of federally sponsored 
international science and engineering activities that serve 
both a domestic mission and a foreign policy mission.
    In particular, the NSB called on the White House Office of 
Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to take a more active and 
prominent role both in setting federal priorities for 
international science and engineering cooperation and in 
coordinating efforts across agencies, including by 
reestablishing a Committee on International Science, 
Engineering and Technology (CISET) under the National Science 
and Technology Council (NSTC). Such a Committee existed in the 
1990's under the Clinton Administration.
    CISET's mandate was not defined within any particular area 
of science and technology (S&T). Rather, CISET's role was to 
review the wide range of bilateral and multilateral 
international scientific programs carried out by the technical 
agencies in the U.S. Government, and to identify opportunities 
for international cooperation and interagency coordination in 
response to new needs and opportunities. In particular, CISET 
was charged to: identify, and coordinate international 
cooperation that can strengthen the domestic S&T enterprise and 
promote U.S. economic competitiveness and national security; 
utilize American leadership in S&T to address global issues and 
to support the post-Cold War tenets of U.S. foreign policy--
promoting democracy, maintaining peace, and fostering economic 
growth and sustainable development; and coordinate the 
international aspects of federal R&D funding across the Federal 
agencies.
    The Bush Administration OSTP disbanded CISET in 2001. Dr. 
Marburger, former Director of OSTP, explained in his testimony 
before the Research and Science Education Subcommittee in 2008 
that his approach to coordinating international S&T 
partnerships was to draw together agencies in meetings focused 
on specific science topics such as nanotechnology or genomics, 
or on specific countries such as China or Brazil. The former 
meetings occur naturally in the NSTC context, the latter occur 
on the schedule of high-level bilateral commission meetings to 
review progress under the S&T agreements. But many other 
experts, including all of the witnesses at the March 24, 2009 
hearing before the Subcommittee, argue that significant 
opportunities are missed by this ad hoc approach to 
international S&T cooperation, especially opportunities at the 
intersection of science and diplomacy. The witnesses at the 
March 2009 hearing agreed that a reconstituted CISET could 
serve an important role in ensuring that the international 
component of the national R&D agenda is sufficiently addressed 
and in helping to bring S&T to bear on our foreign policy 
goals.

                          IV. HEARING SUMMARY

    During the 110th Congress, the Subcommittee on Research and 
Science Education of the House Committee on Science and 
Technology held three hearings relevant to H.R. 1736.
    On February 7, 2008, the Honorable Brian Baird presiding, 
the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a 
hearing to review the status of visas and other policies 
governing the entry of foreign students into the United States. 
The witnesses and Members also examined the ongoing impediments 
to implementation of the foreign student and scholar visa 
policies, as well as the impact that such impediments may be 
having on partnerships between U.S. and foreign scientists and 
on the U.S. scientific enterprise. In addition, the 
Subcommittee explored recommendations for changes or 
improvements to existing policy. There were four witnesses: (1) 
Mr. Stephen A. ``Tony'' Edson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Visa Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State; 
(2) Dr. Harvey V. Fineberg, President, Institute of Medicine, 
The National Academies; (3) Dr. Allan E. Goodman, President and 
CEO, Institute of International Education; and (4) Ms. Catheryn 
Cotten, Director, International Office, Duke University.
    On Wednesday, April 2, 2008, the Honorable Brian Baird 
presiding, the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education 
held a hearing to examine the mechanisms by which federal 
priorities are set and inter-agency coordination is achieved 
for international science and technology cooperation, and to 
explore the diplomatic benefits of such cooperation. In 
particular, witnesses discussed the role of OSTP as well as the 
roles of the individual agencies represented. There were five 
witnesses: (1) Dr. John H. Marburger III, Director, Office of 
Science and Technology Policy; (2) Dr. Arden L. Bement, Jr., 
Director, National Science Foundation; (3) Dr. Nina V. 
Fedoroff, Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of 
State; (4) Mr. Jeff Miotke, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State 
for Science, Space and Health, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs; and (5) Mr. 
Michael F. O'Brien, Assistant Administrator for External 
Relations, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
    On Tuesday, July 15, 2008, the Honorable Brian Baird 
presiding, the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education 
held a hearing to examine the role of U.S. non-governmental 
organizations and universities in international science and 
technology cooperation, in particular relative to the role of 
the Federal government, and to explore the diplomatic benefits 
of such cooperation. In addition, the witnesses made 
recommendations for how the U.S. government could strengthen 
the role of science in foreign policy. There were four 
witnesses: (1) Dr. Alan Leshner, Chief Executive Officer, 
American Association for the Advancement of Science; (2) Dr. 
Michael Clegg, Foreign Secretary, National Academy of Sciences; 
(3) Dr. William Wulf, Member of the Board of Directors, 
Civilian Research and Development Foundation; and (4) Dr. James 
Calvin, Interim Vice President for Research, Texas A&M 
University.
    During the 111th Congress, the Subcommittee on Research and 
Science Education of the House Committee on Science and 
Technology held one hearing relevant to H.R. 1736.
    On Tuesday, March 24, 2009, the Honorable Daniel Lipinski 
presiding, the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education 
held a hearing to receive testimony on a draft legislative 
proposal to recreate a committee under the National Science and 
Technology Council for the coordination and planning of 
international science and technology activities and 
partnerships between and among Federal research agencies and 
the Department of State. Witnesses were very supportive of the 
draft legislation and made some specific recommendations for 
improving it further. There were four witnesses: (1) Dr. Jon 
Strauss, Chairman of the National Science Board Task Force on 
International Science; (2) Dr. Norman Neureiter, Director of 
the Center for Science, Technology and Security Policy at the 
American Association for the Advancement of Science; (3) Mr. 
Anthony ``Bud'' Rock, Vice President for Global Engagement at 
Arizona State University; and (4) Dr. Gerald Hane, Managing 
Director of Q-Paradigm.

                          V. COMMITTEE ACTIONS

    As summarized in Section IV of this report, the 
Subcommittee on Research and Science Education heard testimony 
in the 110th Congress relevant to the activities authorized in 
H.R. 1736 at hearings held on February 6, April 2 and July 15, 
2008; the Subcommittee on Research and Science Education heard 
testimony in the 111th Congress relevant to the activities 
authorized in H.R. 1736 at a hearing held on March 24, 2009.
    On March 26, 2009, Representative Brian Baird of the 
Committee on Science and Technology, for himself and 
Representatives Ehlers, Lipinski, Eddie Bernice Johnson of 
Texas, and Carnahan, introduced H.R. 1736, the International 
Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009, to provide for 
the establishment of a committee to identify and coordinate 
international science and technology cooperation that can 
strengthen the domestic science and technology enterprise and 
support United States foreign policy goals.
    The Subcommittee on Research and Science Education met to 
consider H.R. 1736 on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 and considered 
the following amendments to the bill:
    1. Mr. Baird offered an amendment to ensure that the 
committee established under H.R. 1736 work with other NSTC 
committees to help plan and coordinate the international 
component of national S&T priorities; to clarify that the 
committee should work with both non-governmental and 
governmental foreign counterparts, in coordination with the 
Department of State; and to clarify and remove redundancies in 
the reporting requirement for the committee. The amendment was 
agreed to by a voice vote.
    2. Mr. Griffith offered an amendment to add the words 
``improve economic and national security'' to the description 
of the potential benefits of the committee's work. The 
amendment was agreed to by a voice vote.
    3. Mr. Carnahan offered an amendment to require that the 
committee be co-chaired by senior officials from the Department 
of State and OSTP, and to make sure the committee addresses 
broad issues that influence the ability of U.S. scientists to 
collaborate with foreign counterparts, including barriers to 
collaboration. The amendment was agreed to by a voice vote.
    4. Mr. Lipinski offered an amendment to require the 
committee to seek input and recommendations from non-Federal 
S&T stakeholders through workshops and other appropriate 
venues. The amendment was agreed to by a voice vote.
    Mr. Lipinski moved that the Subcommittee favorably report 
the bill, H.R. 1736, as amended, to the full Committee. The 
motion was agreed to by a voice vote.
    The full Committee on Science and Technology met to 
consider H.R. 1736, as amended in Subcommittee, on Wednesday, 
April 29, 2009. No further amendments were offered.
    Mr. Gordon moved that the Committee favorably report the 
bill, H.R. 1736, as amended, to the House with the 
recommendation that the bill, as amended, do pass. The motion 
was agreed to by a voice vote.

              VI. SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE BILL

    H.R. 1736 would require the establishment of a committee 
under the National Science and Technology Council with the 
responsibility to identify and coordinate international science 
and technology cooperation that can strengthen the U.S. S&T 
enterprise, improve economic and national security, and support 
U.S. foreign policy goals. Furthermore, the bill requires that 
the committee report to Congress annually on its activities.

        VII. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS (BY TITLE AND SECTION)

Sec. 1. Short title--The International Science and Technology 
        Cooperation Act of 2009

Sec. 2. Coordination of International Science and Technology 
        Partnerships--Establishes a committee under the National 
        Science and Technology Council to--

           Plan and coordinate international S&T 
        research and education activities and partnerships 
        across the Federal agencies and work with other NSTC 
        committees to help plan the international component of 
        national S&T priorities;
           Establish priorities and policies for 
        aligning, as appropriate, international S&T 
        partnerships with the foreign policy goals of the 
        United States;
           Identify opportunities for new international 
        S&T partnerships that advance both the science and 
        technology and the foreign policy priorities of the 
        United States.
           Solicit input from non-federal S&T 
        stakeholders;
           Work with foreign counterparts (in 
        coordination with the Department of State) to establish 
        and maintain S&T partnerships; and
           Address broad issues that influence the 
        ability of U.S. scientists to collaborate with foreign 
        counterparts, including barriers to collaboration.
    Requires that the committee be co-chaired by senior 
officials from OSTP and the Department of State.
    Finally, requires an annual report to Congress with a 
description of activities carried out in the previous fiscal 
year and of how stakeholder input was received.

                         VIII. COMMITTEE VIEWS

    The Committee intends that the NSTC committee, in setting 
priorities and carrying out its charge, will take into account 
not just Federal offices and programs that support 
international S&T partnerships, but also the role that non-
governmental organizations with expertise in developing and 
maintaining international S&T partnerships, including the 
American Association for the Advancement of Science, the 
National Academies of Science, the Civilian Research and 
Development Foundation, and the U.S. Israel Science and 
Technology Foundation, might play in helping the agencies 
achieve their goals. The Committee also intends for the NSTC 
committee to take full advantage of the wealth of S&T expertise 
at U.S. universities and other non-governmental research 
institutions rather than relying solely on Federal agencies.

                           IX. COST ESTIMATE

    A cost estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of 
the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been timely submitted to 
the Committee on Science and Technology prior to the filing of 
this report and is included in Section X of this report 
pursuant to House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(3).
    H.R. 1736 does not contain new budget authority, credit 
authority, or changes in revenues or tax expenditures. H.R. 
1736 does not authorize additional discretionary funding.

              X. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

H.R. 1736--International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009

    H.R. 1736 would require the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy (OSTP) to create a new committee under the 
National Science and Technology Council. The committee would 
facilitate international research and training activities, 
primarily those to aid U.S. domestic science and technology and 
support U.S. foreign policy goals. Senior-level officials from 
the OSTP and Department of State would co-chair the committee.
    Based on information from the OSTP, CBO estimates that 
implementing H.R. 1736 would cost about $3 million annually, 
subject to the availability of appropriated funds. That amount 
includes the costs to coordinate activities, provide reports, 
and hire new staff for the OSTP. The bill would have no effect 
on direct spending or revenues.
    The legislation contains no intergovernmental or private-
sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act 
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Matthew 
Pickford. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                  XI. COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104-4

    H.R. 1736 contains no unfunded mandates.

         XII. COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

    The oversight findings and recommendations of the Committee 
on Science and Technology are reflected in the body of this 
report.

      XIII. STATEMENT ON GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    Pursuant to clause (3)(c) of House rule XIII, the goals of 
H.R. 1736 are to strengthen interagency coordination of 
international science and technology programs and activities 
that will strengthen the U.S. science and technology 
enterprise, improve economic and national security, and support 
U.S. foreign policy goals.

                XIV. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

    Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United 
States grants Congress the authority to enact H.R. 1736.

                XV. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    H.R. 1736 does not establish nor authorize the 
establishment of any advisory committee.

                 XVI. CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

    The Committee finds that H.R. 1736 does not relate to the 
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services 
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of 
the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-1).

                      XVII. EARMARK IDENTIFICATION

    H.R. 1736 does not contain any congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 
clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of Rule XXI.

     XVIII. STATEMENT ON PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW

    This bill is not intended to preempt any state, local, or 
tribal law.

       XIX. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

    None.

                     XX. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

    On April 29, 2009, the Committee on Science and Technology 
favorably reported the bill, H.R. 1736, as amended, by voice 
vote to the House with the recommendation that the bill, as 
amended, do pass.




  XXII: PROCEEDINGS OF THE MARKUP BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON RESEARCH AND 
     SCIENCE EDUCATION ON H.R. 1736, THE INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND 
                   TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION ACT OF 2009

                              ----------                              


                        TUESDAY, MARCH 31, 2009

                  House of Representatives,
    Subcommittee on Research and Science Education,
                                      Committee on Science,
                                                    Washington, DC.

    The Subcommittee met, pursuant to call, at 2:08 a.m., in 
Room 2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Daniel 
Lipinski [Chair of the Subcommittee] presiding.
    Chair Lipinski. Good afternoon. The Subcommittee will come 
to order. Pursuant to notice, the Subcommittee on Research and 
Science Education meets to consider the following measures, 
H.R. 1709, the STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009, and 
H.R. 1736, the International Science and Technology Cooperation 
Act of 2009.
    We will now proceed with the markup. This afternoon, the 
Subcommittee will consider H.R. 1709, the STEM Education 
Coordination Act of 2009, and H.R. 1736, the International 
Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009.
    The first bill we will consider, H.R. 1709, will improve 
the coordination of STEM education programs at the federal 
agencies, so that federal efforts in STEM education can be 
better focused and more effective. An area we explored in great 
detail in the last Congress was the role the Federal Government 
can play in improving STEM education. One conclusion that came 
up time and time again was that coordination and collaboration 
across the agencies must be improved in order to make the most 
of our tax dollars. H.R. 1709 establishes a mechanism to ensure 
that, through better planning, coordination, and evaluation, we 
are maximizing the impact of federally funded STEM education 
activities. I commend Chair Gordon and Mr. Hall for introducing 
this good bipartisan legislation.
    I also want to thank Dr. Baird for introducing H.R. 1736, 
the International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 
2009 and for all of his work over the last two years that led 
up to this legislation. I would also like to thank Dr. Ehlers 
for his support, passion and work on international science 
cooperation and science diplomacy. We held a hearing 
specifically on a draft version of this bill last week, and the 
feedback from a panel of diverse experts, each with many 
decades of experience, was very positive.
    The shared conclusion was that a committee under OSTP 
devoted to interagency coordination of international science 
and technology partnerships would serve both our domestic 
science and technology agenda and our foreign policy goals. I 
believe that the new Administration gives us a tremendous 
opportunity and a fresh outlook for both science and foreign 
policy, and H.R. 1736 is right at the intersection of those two 
realms. I commend Chair Baird and Dr. Ehlers for this important 
and timely legislation. I thank the Members for their 
participation this morning, and I look forward to a productive 
markup.
    [The prepared statement of Chair Lipinski follows:]
              Prepared Statement of Chair Daniel Lipinski
    This morning the Subcommittee will consider H.R. 1709, the STEM 
Education Coordination Act of 2009, and H.R.1736, the International 
Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009.
    I thank the Members for their participation. The first bill we will 
consider this morning is H.R. 1709, the STEM Education Coordination Act 
of 2009. This legislation will improve the coordination of STEM 
education programs at the federal agencies, so that federal efforts in 
STEM education can be better focused and more effective. An area we 
explored in great detail in the last Congress was the role the Federal 
Government can play in improving STEM education. One conclusion that 
came up time and time again, was that coordination and collaboration 
across the agencies must be improved in order to make the most of our 
tax dollars. H.R. 1709 establishes a mechanism to ensure that, through 
better planning, coordination, and evaluation, we are maximizing the 
impact of federally funded STEM education activities. I commend 
Chairman Gordon and Mr. Hall for introducing this good bipartisan 
legislation.
    The second bill we will consider this morning is this morning is 
H.R. 1736, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 
2009. I want to thank Dr. Baird for introducing this bill and for all 
of his work over the last two years that led up to this legislation. I 
would also like to thank Dr. Ehlers for his support, passion and work 
on international science cooperation and science diplomacy. We held a 
hearing specifically on a draft version of this bill last week and the 
feedback from a panel of diverse experts, each with many decades of 
experience, was very positive. The shared conclusion was that a 
committee under OSTP devoted to interagency coordination of 
international science and technology partnerships would serve both our 
domestic S&T agenda and our foreign policy goals. I believe that the 
new Administration gives us a tremendous opportunity and a fresh 
outlook for both science and foreign policy, and H.R. 1736 is right at 
the intersection of those two realms. I commend Chairman Baird and Dr. 
Ehlers for this important and timely legislation, and I look forward to 
a productive markup.

    Chair Lipinski. Now, I recognize Dr. Ehlers to present his 
opening remarks.
    Mr. Ehlers. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I am pleased we have the 
opportunity to markup these two important pieces of legislation 
today in the Research and Science Education Subcommittee, and I 
thank you for scheduling these bills. It is good to see that we 
are following regular order and are giving these matters the 
appropriate amount of attention they deserve at all levels of 
the Committee process.
    I will reserve a majority of my comments on each individual 
bill until the appropriate time but will open by simply stating 
that I am pleased to be an original co-sponsor of both H.R. 
1709 and H.R. 1736, and I look forward to a productive 
discussion of both measures this afternoon.
    With that, I yield back the remainder of my time.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Ehlers follows:]
         Prepared Statement of Representative Vernon J. Ehlers
    Mr. Chairman, I am pleased that we have the opportunity to markup 
these two important pieces of legislation today in the Research and 
Science Education Subcommittee, and I thank you for scheduling it this 
afternoon. It is good to see that we are following regular order and 
are giving these matters the appropriate amount of attention they 
deserve at all levels of the Committee process.
    I will reserve a majority of my comments on each individual bill 
until the appropriate time, but will open by simply stating that I am 
pleased to be an original co-sponsor of both H.R. 1709 and H.R. 1736 
and look forward to a productive discussion of both measures.
    I yield back the remainder of my time.

    Chair Lipinski. Thank you, Dr. Ehlers. Members may now 
place statements in the record at this point.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Carnahan follows:]
           Prepared Statement of Representative Russ Carnahan
    Mr. Chairman, thank you for hosting today's markup of H.R. 1709, 
the STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009, and H.R. 1736, the 
International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009.
    As a Member of both the Subcommittee on Research and Science 
Education and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, I am extremely 
interested in the coordination of international science and technology 
diplomacy. The United States has a central role in science diplomacy, 
building more positive relationships with other countries through 
science. We also understand that the U.S. can better affect national 
security and economic interests by helping to build and partner with 
technological capacity in other countries.
    Today, I offer an amendment to H.R. 1736 which will add a 
requirement that the committee to coordinate international science and 
technology be co-chaired by senior level officials from the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy and the Department of State. Also, my 
amendment would add language to H.R. 1736 that would require the 
committee to address broad issues that influence the ability of the 
U.S. scientists and engineers to collaborate with foreign counterparts, 
including barriers to collaboration and access to scientific 
information.
    I urge my colleagues to support this amendment to H.R. 1736 and I 
would like to thank the Chairman for the ability to offer the 
amendment.

    Chair Lipinski. We will now consider H.R. 1736, 
International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009.
    I recognize Dr. Baird to talk about his bill.
    Mr. Baird. Mr. Chair, I will be brief as we have a vote on. 
We have had a number of hearings on this topic. Essentially, 
science is one of our key diplomatic tools. This legislation is 
designed to move that forward. Rather than reiterate all that 
it contains, because we had a good hearing on it just a few 
days ago, I will encourage its passage. I have an amendment 
which I will address very briefly, but in the interest of 
passing it, I will conclude at this point. Thank you.
    Chair Lipinski. Thank you, Dr. Baird. Does anyone else wish 
to be recognized? Dr. Ehlers.
    Mr. Ehlers. Thank you, Mr. Chair, just very briefly because 
indeed we do have a vote on, and I think we can speedily 
conclude the business before us, but I just wanted to say the 
distinguished witnesses we heard from last week on this topic 
reiterated what we already know, that the United States has 
much to gain by having in place a well-organized, focused, and 
sustainable commitment to encourage and support international 
science and technology cooperation, and with your permission I 
will enter the remainder of the statement in the record and 
yield back.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Ehlers follows:]
         Prepared Statement of Representative Vernon J. Ehlers
    The distinguished witnesses we heard from last week on this topic 
reiterated what we already know: that the United States has much to 
gain by having in place a well-organized, focused and sustainable 
commitment to encourage and support international science and 
technology cooperation.
    Not only do these international science and technology partnerships 
help to spur U.S. innovation and economic competitiveness, foster 
collaborative solutions to global challenges, and give U.S. scientists 
access to facilities and equipment all over the world, but they also 
serve an important diplomatic role.
    Re-establishing a Committee under the National Science and 
Technology Council of the Office of Science and Technology Policy is a 
step in the right direction to ensure that these international 
partnerships continue in ways that are of benefit to the Nation. It is 
my understanding that we plan to use another Committee's comprehensive 
bill as the vehicle to advance this measure. I encourage you, Mr. 
Chairman, that as we move forward, we proceed carefully, making sure 
that we preserve the jurisdiction of the Science and Technology 
Committee on this matter.
    I look forward to the discussion on the pending amendments and to 
working with you, Mr. Chairman, on ways to continue improving the bill 
as we move to the Full Committee.
    I yield back the balance of my time.

    Chair Lipinski. Thank you, Dr. Ehlers. We are going to move 
and see what we can get done before we move down to the Floor 
to vote, so I ask unanimous consent that the bill is considered 
as read and open to amendment at any point and that the Members 
proceed with the amendments in the order of the roster. Without 
objection, so ordered.
    The first amendment on the roster is a manager's amendment 
authored by the gentleman from Washington,
    Dr. Baird. Are you ready to proceed with your amendment?
    Mr. Baird. I am, sir.
    Chair Lipinski. The Clerk will report the amendment.
    The Clerk. Amendment to H.R. 1736, amendment number 012 
offered by Mr. Baird of Washington.
    Chair Lipinski. I ask unanimous consent to dispense with 
the reading. Without objection, so ordered. I recognize the 
gentleman for five minutes to explain the amendment.
    Mr. Baird. Thank you, Mr. Chair. As mentioned a moment ago, 
we had a panel of distinguished witnesses last week. I thought 
they offered some very useful and constructive suggestions, and 
working on a bipartisan basis and with staff we have offered 
some amendments, some of which are minor, wording changes, 
others of which are substantive matters like recommending that 
the Committee proposed be co-chaired by someone from U.S. AID 
or rather from the State Department and from OSTP. I think that 
is a good recommendation and similar measures as that are 
included in this. And with that I will recommend the passage 
and yield back my time.
    Chair Lipinski. Is there further discussion on the 
amendment?
    Mr. Ehlers. Mr. Chair, I simply want to say that I agree 
with Dr. Baird's amendment, and I believe we should adopt them.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Ehlers follows:]
         Prepared Statement of Representative Vernon J. Ehlers
    I thank Dr. Baird for his thoughtful amendments to this bill. I 
think it is particularly important that other NSTC Committees be 
consulted when it comes to international coordination planning. 
Likewise, I'm pleased to see that he is clarifying that international 
counterparts can be either governmental or non-governmental and that he 
is removing the inventory requirement clauses from the underlying 
measure. I believe these changes strengthen the bill, and I support the 
adoption of this amendment.
    With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

    Chair Lipinski. Thank you, Dr. Ehlers. Any further 
discussion on the amendment? If no, the vote occurs on the 
amendment. All in favor say aye, those opposed say no. The ayes 
have it, and the amendment is agreed to.
    The second amendment on the roster is an amendment offered 
by a gentleman from Alabama, Mr. Griffith. Are you ready to 
proceed with your amendment?
    Mr. Griffith. I have an amendment at the desk, Mr. Chair.
    Chair Lipinski. The Clerk will report the amendment.
    The Clerk. Amendment to H.R. 1736, amendment number 005, 
offered by Mr. Griffith of Alabama.
    Chair Lipinski. I ask unanimous consent to dispense with 
the reading. Without objection, so ordered. I recognize the 
gentleman for five minutes to explain the amendment.
    Mr. Griffith. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and Congressman Baird, 
we appreciate the bill, and Ranking Member Ehlers, we 
appreciate your being here and being supportive.
    As we know, research and science and education is 
absolutely at the top of our list. We recognize that we are 
competing with China, India, and other countries in a race for 
the top as far as scientific education is concerned. This 
legislation, the International Science and Technology 
Cooperation Act, will work to reaffirm our international 
cooperation with other countries. We in the scientific 
community recognize that both negative and positive information 
being shared helps the entire scientific world. I support the 
creation of a Committee to oversee international science and 
technology cooperation. However, we must clearly define the 
role of this Committee which is why I am offering my amendment.
    My amendment will strike ``domestic'' from page 2 line 8 
and insert ``United States'' and also will strike the word 
``enterprise'' from page 2, line 8, and insert ``enterprise, 
improve economic and national security.'' I believe these are 
important changes in this bill as we know how closely economic 
security and national security are linked. I hope other Members 
understand the importance of these changes, and I ask for your 
support for this amendment and I yield back my time.
    Chair Lipinski. I thank the gentleman. Is there any further 
discussion on the amendment? Dr. Ehlers.
    Mr. Ehlers. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I certainly appreciate 
what Mr. Griffith is trying to accomplish with his amendment. 
Economic and national security are certainly fundamental 
beneficiaries of our science and technology, and I would 
support this amendment on those grounds. But I have to say, the 
Science Committee always labors under a problem and that is 
that it is the youngest Committee of the House of 
Representatives. Now, that may seem strange since it is 50 
years old, but since it was last created, it was never given 
the jurisdiction power that I think it should have.
    And so I am afraid if we include this language, we are 
subject to a referral to another committee. I would much prefer 
that we put this in abeyance and handle this amendment when we 
get to the Floor where no one can raise a jurisdictional 
question about it. I am afraid if we do it now we may lose 
control over this and have it referred to another committee.
    So my recommendation would be that we defer on this and 
deal with it later or at least get clarification from the 
parliamentarian on the jurisdictional aspects to make sure that 
this bill does not get waylaid by some other committee at some 
point. I would yield back.
    Chair Lipinski. Thank you, Dr. Ehlers. I understand your 
point, and 50 certainly is young, isn't it, I would think?
    Mr. Ehlers. Especially for me.
    Chair Lipinski. But I respectfully don't agree with the 
issue that you raise, but I would be very happy to work with 
you as we move to Full Committee to make sure that there are no 
problems on this. So I continue to support the amendment, but 
we certainly can work to allay any concerns as we move forward 
on this.
    Is there further discussion on the amendment? If no, the 
vote occurs on the amendment. All in favor say aye, those 
opposed say no. The ayes have it, and the amendment is agreed 
to.
    The third amendment on the roster is an amendment offered 
by the gentleman from Missouri, Mr. Carnahan. Are you ready to 
proceed with your amendment?
    Mr. Carnahan. Yes. I have an amendment at the desk.
    Chair Lipinski. The Clerk will report the amendment.
    The Clerk. Amendment to H.R. 1736, amendment number 009, 
offered by Mr. Carnahan of Missouri.
    Chair Lipinski. I ask unanimous consent to dispense with 
the reading. Without objection, so ordered. I recognize the 
gentleman for five minutes to explain the amendment.
    Mr. Carnahan. Mr. Chair, I will try to do this in one 
minute because we are pressed for time. This does two things, 
simply clarifies the leadership of the Committee established 
under Section (a), that it be co-chaired by senior-level 
officials from the OSTP and the Department of State, and 
secondly it adds language that addresses the broad issues that 
influence the ability of U.S. scientists and engineers to 
collaborate with foreign counterparts to encourage that kind of 
collaboration at the scientific level, and I would move 
adoption of the amendment.
    Chair Lipinski. Thank you, Mr. Carnahan. Is there further 
discussion on the amendment? The Chair recognizes Dr. Ehlers.
    Mr. Ehlers. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I raise the same point as 
I did before and that is the jurisdictional issue. I do support 
the amendment as I did the previous one, and I am confident 
that we can work out this problem. But I prefer that we defer 
adopting the amendment until we have it worked out. So I will 
be opposing this amendment in spite of its merits.
    Chair Lipinski. Well, then I will go ahead with the same 
statement I made on the last amendment. I don't believe we will 
have those issues, but I am certainly happy to work with Dr. 
Ehlers and the Minority to make sure that we work those issues 
out as we move forward.
    Is there further discussion on the amendment? If no, the 
vote occurs on the amendment. All in favor say aye, those 
opposed say no. The ayes have it, and the amendment is agreed 
to.
    The fourth amendment on the roster is an amendment offered 
by the Chair. The Clerk will report the amendment.
    The Clerk. Amendment to H.R. 1736, amendment number 015, 
offered by Mr. Lipinski of Illinois.
    Chair Lipinski. I ask unanimous consent to dispense with 
the reading. Without objection, so ordered. I recognize myself 
for five minutes to explain the amendment.
    I think we can get through before we have to go vote, so I 
will simply say that it is critical, and this point was raised, 
I raised this point during the hearing last week, that we have 
coordination. And we hear from, as we set up this committee, 
that we hear from all the stakeholders involved because we know 
research in science and technology does not move forward just 
at universities, just in industry. From all over we get a lot 
of good work that is done. We need to bring all the 
stakeholders together. So my amendment would ensure that all 
stakeholders in U.S. science and technology enterprise provide 
input to the process in which CISET identifies opportunities 
for new international S&T partnerships to serve both the 
domestic mission and policy goals. It also requires CISET to 
report to Congress on how this input was solicited, and I 
believe this is the best way to move forward and the important 
benefits that come from the universities, industry, non-profits 
and other scientific organizations will help strengthen our 
international collaboration and strengthen our own science and 
technology in this country. And with that, I will yield back.
    [The prepared statement of Chair Lipinski follows:]
              Prepared Statement of Chair Daniel Lipinski
    When we look at collaboration internationally, and the scientific 
communities in other countries look at us, our counterparts anticipate 
that they are building a relationship with the broad, U.S. scientific 
enterprise. When their only partners are the federal agencies, they are 
not accessing the full breadth of opportunities to collaborate with 
U.S. scientists. In addition, if the State Department is the only face 
of scientific partnerships, there is a political dimension that does 
not always favor scientific relationships and may in fact undermine 
efforts to use science as a diplomatic tool.
    My amendment would ensure that all stakeholders in the U.S. S&T 
enterprise can provide input to the process in which CISET identifies 
opportunities for new international S&T partnerships that serve both a 
domestic S&T mission and the foreign policy goals. It would also 
require CISET to report to Congress on how this input was solicited.
    By involving input from the diverse stakeholders in the U.S. 
scientific community, including universities, industry, non-profit 
associations and other scientific organizations, the international 
collaboration is strengthened and our own scientists, engineers and 
businesses benefit from the expertise and resources of their foreign 
counterparts.
    These are important benefits, and I urge my colleagues to support 
this amendment.

    Chair Lipinski. Is there further discussion on the 
amendment? Dr. Ehlers.
    Mr. Ehlers. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I totally agree with you 
that non-governmental stakeholders have input crucial to the 
goals of international science cooperation, and I strongly 
support your amendment and would be pleased to vote for it. I 
yield back.
    Chair Lipinski. Thank you, Dr. Ehlers. Is there further 
discussion on the amendment? If no, the vote occurs on the 
amendment. All in favor say aye, those opposed say no. The ayes 
have it, and the amendment is agreed to.
    Are there any other amendments? If no, then the vote is on 
the bill, H.R. 1736 as amended. All those in favor will say 
aye, all those opposed will say no. In the opinion of the 
Chair, the ayes have it.
    I recognize myself to offer a motion. I move that the 
Subcommittee favorably report H.R. 1736 as amended to the Full 
Committee. Furthermore, I move that the staff be instructed to 
prepare the Subcommittee report and make necessary technical 
and conforming changes to the bill in accordance with the 
recommendations of the Subcommittee.
    The question is on the motion to report the bill favorably. 
Those in favor of the motion will signify by saying aye, 
opposed, no. The ayes have it, and the bill is favorably 
reported. Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid 
upon the table. Members will have two subsequent calendar days 
in which to submit supplemental, Minority, or additional views 
on the measure.
    I want to thank Members for their attendance and very quick 
work that we made of these bills. Dr. Ehlers, you are 
recognized.
    Mr. Ehlers. Just one quick comment. After this performance, 
I think you are ready for NASCAR.
    Chair Lipinski. Thank you very much. I am all set. I want 
to thank everybody, and we have plenty of time to get down to 
vote. This concludes our Subcommittee markup.
    [Whereupon, at 2:34 p.m., the Subcommittee was adjourned.]
                               Appendix:

                              ----------                              


        H.R. 1736, Section-by-Section Analysis, Amendment Roster






                     Section-by-Section Analysis of
            H.R. 1736, International Science and Technology
                        Cooperation Act of 2009

Sec. 1. Short title.

    International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009

Sec. 2. Coordination of International Science and Technology 
                    Partnerships

    Requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), 
through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), to 
establish a committee to coordinate international science and 
technology (S&T) cooperation that can strengthen the domestic S&T 
enterprise and support U.S. foreign policy goals. Specifically, 
requires this committee to plan and coordinate interagency 
international S&T activities and partnerships; establish policies for 
aligning, as appropriate, international research partnerships with U.S. 
foreign policy goals; identify opportunities for new partnerships and 
work with international S&T counterparts to establish those 
partnerships; and establish and maintain an inventory of non-classified 
international research partnerships of a minimum size. Finally, 
requires a report to Congress on any policies established to align 
research partnerships with foreign policy goals and publication of the 
required inventory.




   XXIII: PROCEEDINGS OF THE FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP ON H.R. 1736, THE 
      INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION ACT OF 2009

                              ----------                              


                       WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2009

                  House of Representatives,
                                      Committee on Science,
                                                    Washington, DC.

    The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:03 a.m., in Room 
2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Bart Gordon 
[Chair of the Committee] presiding.
    Chair Gordon. Good morning, everyone. The Committee will 
come to order pursuant to notice. The Committee on Science and 
Technology meets to consider the following measures: H.R. 2020, 
the Networking and Information Technology Research and 
Development Act of 2009, H.R. 1736, the International Science 
and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009, and H.R. 1709, the STEM 
Education Coordination Act of 2009.
    I would like to thank Chair Lipinski and Ranking Member 
Ehlers and other Members of the Research and Science Education 
Subcommittee for their work to improve these bills at the 
Subcommittee level, and I think we should also in abstentia 
thank Jim Wilson. I hope that you will pass it onto him for 
leaving a good legacy to us, which was certainly improved with 
our current staff and Members.
    While the subject matter varies greatly, there is a common 
theme in all three of the bills before us today. They all 
strengthen an interagency coordination process to achieve the 
set of goals that no one agency can achieve on its own. In 
fact, this theme cuts across many of the priorities of the 
Science and Technology Committee of this Congress, beginning 
with the National Nanotechnology Initiative Bill that passed 
the House in February, to the National Water Research and 
Development Initiative Act of 2009, that passed the House by a 
vote of 413 to 10 just last week.
    H.R. 2020, the Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development Act of 2009, continues to improve and 
update a program that was originally created by the Committee 
in the High Performance Competing Act of 1991. The NITRD 
Program, as it is known, involves a collaboration of more than 
a dozen federal research and development agencies for current 
total federal investment of approximately $3.5 billion. This 
may sound like a lot, but the European Union is investing $7 
billion over the next five years in cyber physical systems 
alone. To ensure that we make the most effective use of our own 
resources to remain a leader in these fields, it is critical 
that these many agencies come together to develop common goals 
and well-defined strategies for networking and information 
technology R&D.
    H.R. 2020 strengthens the interagency strategic planning 
process, formally authorizes the National Coordination Office 
that oversees and enforces this process, and requires that a 
wide range of industry and academic stakeholders have input 
into the process. Given how rapidly this field evolves, a 
regular and comprehensive look at the NITRD Program by Congress 
is timely.
    And I want to thank Mr. Hall for introducing this important 
piece of legislation with me, and I urge my colleagues to 
support it.
    H.R. 1736, the International Science and Technology 
Cooperation Act of 2009, would create a committee under the 
National Science and Technology Council to coordinate 
international S&T activities at our federal agencies by 
bringing together the Department of State and the R&D 
activities to focus on the international component of national 
R&D priorities. A similar committee in the 1990s launched some 
important initiatives, most notably in the area of infectious 
diseases.
    It is critical that we don't miss opportunities to leverage 
our resources against those of other nations to tackle today's 
greatest global challenges, including energy and water, and to 
strengthen the contribution of U.S. science and technology to 
our national security. There is no existing entity whose 
primary purpose is to look across the Federal Government for 
such opportunities, and I commend Dr. Baird and Dr. Ehlers for 
introducing this legislation, and I urge my colleagues to 
support it.
    H.R. 1709, the STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009, 
would strengthen and elevate an existing committee under NSTC 
to coordinate STEM education activities across the Federal 
Government. When half the world's workers earn less than $2 a 
day, we cannot compete on numbers. To stay competitive we must 
keep feeding the marketplace with new ideas that lead to new 
U.S. companies and new highly-paying jobs. The foundation for 
this innovative economy is the 21st century skilled workforce.
    The Federal Government can play an important role in STEM 
education at all levels because of the richness of S&T 
resources at our science agencies. It may not surprise you to 
learn that our science agencies have little idea what other 
science agencies are funding in terms of STEM education and 
often don't even communicate between offices within a single 
agency. This is not an acceptable situation. Mr. Hall has 
joined me in introducing this bill because we agree that 
agencies need to be sharing best practices with each other, 
evaluating their programs for effectiveness and generally 
making more efficient and effective use of taxpayers' dollars.
    And I want to thank Mr. Hall and the Chair and Ranking 
Member of the Research and Science Education Subcommittee for 
introducing this bill with me, and I urge my colleagues to 
support it.
    These are three good bipartisan bills that strengthen 
interagency coordination and as President Obama has said in his 
inaugural, make our government smarter. I thank my colleagues 
and staff for their hard work on these bills, and I look 
forward to improving them even further with your amendments 
today.
    And I now recognize Mr. Hall, who will soon be recognizing 
his 49th what, birthday, several times over.
    Mr. Hall. My 39th.
    Chair Gordon. Thirty-ninth. Thirty-ninth.
    Mr. Hall. Thirty-ninth reunion of my 39th birthday.
    Chair Gordon. And I now recognize the spry Mr. Hall for 
his----
    [The prepared statement of Chair Gordon follows:]
                Prepared Statement of Chair Bart Gordon
    Pursuant to notice, the Committee on Science and Technology meets 
to consider the following measures:

      H.R. 2020, the Networking and Information Technology 
        Research and 
        Development Act of 2009;

      H.R. 1736, the International Science and Technology 
        Cooperation Act of 2009; and,

      H.R. 1709, the STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009.

    As I mentioned, the Committee will consider three good bills today.
    I would like to thank Chairman Lipinski and Ranking Member Ehlers 
and other Members of the Research and Science Education Subcommittee 
for their work to improve these bills at the Subcommittee level.
    While the subject matter varies greatly, there is a common theme in 
all three of the bills before us today. They all strengthen an 
interagency coordination process to achieve a set of goals that no one 
agency can achieve on its own.
    In fact, this theme cuts across many of the priorities of the 
Science and Technology Committee this Congress, beginning with the 
National Nanotechnology Initiative bill that passed the House in 
February, to the National Water Research and Development Initiative Act 
of 2009 that passed the House by a vote of 413 to 10 just last week.
    H.R. 2020, the Networking and Information Technology Research and 
Development Act of 2009, continues to improve and update a program that 
was originally created by this committee in the High Performance 
Computing Act of 1991.
    The NITRD Program, as it is known, involves a collaboration of more 
than a dozen federal research and development agencies for a current 
total federal investment of approximately $3.5 billion.
    This may sound like a lot, but the European Union is investing $7 
billion over the next five years in cyberphysical systems alone.
    To ensure that we make the most effective use of our own resources 
to remain a leader in these fields, it is critical that these many 
agencies come together to develop common goals and well defined 
strategies for networking and information technology R&D.
    H.R. 2020 strengthens the interagency strategic planning process, 
formally authorizes the National Coordination Office that oversees and 
enforces this process, and requires that a wide range of industry and 
academic stakeholders have input into the process. Given how rapidly 
this field evolves, a regular and comprehensive look at the NITRD 
program by Congress is timely.
    I thank Mr. Hall for introducing this important piece of 
legislation with me and I urge my colleagues to support it.
    H.R. 1736, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Act 
of 2009, would recreate a committee under the National Science and 
Technology Council (NSTC) to coordinate international S&T activities at 
our federal agencies.
    By bringing together the Department of State and the R&D agencies 
to focus on the international component of national R&D priorities, a 
similar committee in the 1990's launched some important initiatives, 
most notably in the area of infectious diseases.
    It is critical that we don't miss opportunities to leverage our 
resources against those of other nations to tackle today's greatest 
global challenges, including energy and water, and to strengthen the 
contribution of U.S. science and technology to our national security.
    There is no existing entity whose primary purpose is to look across 
the Federal Government for such opportunities. I commend Dr. Baird and 
Dr. Ehlers for introducing this legislation and I urge my colleagues to 
support it.
    H.R. 1709, the STEM Education Coordination Act of 2009, would 
strengthen and elevate an existing committee under NSTC to coordinate 
STEM education activities across the Federal Government.
    When half the world's workers earn less than $2 a day, we cannot 
compete on numbers. To stay competitive, we must keep feeding the 
marketplace with new ideas that lead to new U.S. companies and new 
highly paying jobs. The foundation for this innovation economy is the 
21st century skilled workforce.
    The Federal Government can play an important role in STEM education 
at all levels because of the richness of the S&T resources at our 
science agencies. It may not surprise you to learn that our science 
agencies have little idea what other science agencies are funding in 
terms of STEM education and often don't even communicate between 
offices within a single agency.
    This is not an acceptable situation.
    Mr. Hall joined me in introducing this bill because we agree that 
agencies need to be sharing best practices with each other, evaluating 
their programs for effectiveness, and generally making more efficient 
and effective use of taxpayers' dollars. I thank Mr. Hall, and the 
Chair and Ranking Member of the Research and Science Education 
Subcommittee for introducing this bill with me and I urge my colleagues 
to support it.
    These are three good bipartisan bills that strengthen interagency 
coordination to, as President Obama said in his inaugural, make our 
government ``smarter.'' I thank my colleagues and staff for their hard 
work on these bills and I look forward to improving them even further 
with your amendments today.
    I now recognize Mr. Hall to present his opening remarks.

    Mr. Hall. Good morning, Mr. Chair, and I thank you for 
several reasons. I don't know why I have to thank you because 
it is your duty to schedule this markup, but I still thank you 
for doing it, and whoever wrote this for me thanks you, and 
that means that all of us on this side thank you. So--and you 
thank me, and we are all thanked today.
    It would appear that we are doing a great deal of 
coordinating, and that is true. In addition to authorizing the 
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development, 
the NITRD Program, we are also marking up legislation to 
improve STEM education coordination among the federal agencies 
and a bill to coordinate science and technology initiatives 
that can help foster international cooperation.
    All of these bills do exactly what this committee should be 
doing; ensuring that our government is effectively and 
efficiently using federal science and technology dollars to 
guarantee we stay on top of cutting-edge research, both 
domestically and internationally, while continuing to develop 
the best and brightest STEM workforce for our future.
    I am pleased to join you as an original co-sponsor of H.R. 
2020 and the Federal STEM Education Coordination Act, 2020 and 
1709. I also want to thank you for maintaining regular order 
with both H.R. 1709 and H.R. 1736 and giving everyone the 
opportunity to work on these at Subcommittee level first. That 
is the way you work things out.
    When it comes to STEM education in particular, I think we 
are all better served to have Dr. Ehlers involved in the 
beginning as he brings so much to the table along this line.
    I know that all--both of our staffs have worked diligently 
to get these bills to where we are today, and I look forward to 
a discussion and proposed amendments, and I thank you.
    I yield back.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Hall follows:]
           Prepared Statement of Representative Ralph M. Hall
    Good morning, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you for scheduling this 
markup and for the bipartisan spirit in which the bills before us today 
have been handled. It would appear that we are doing a great deal of 
coordinating today. In addition to authorizing the Networking and 
Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) program, we are 
also marking-up legislation to improve STEM education coordination 
among the federal agencies and a bill to help coordinate science and 
technology initiatives that can help foster international cooperation.
    All of these bills do exactly what this committee should be doing, 
ensuring that our government is effectively and efficiently using 
federal science and technology dollars to guarantee we stay on top of 
cutting edge research both domestically and internationally, while 
continuing to develop the best and brightest STEM workforce for our 
future.
    I am pleased to join you as an original co-sponsor of H.R. 2020, 
the NITRD Authorization Act, and H.R. 1709, the Federal STEM Education 
Coordination Act. I want to also thank you for maintaining regular 
order with both H.R. 1709 and H.R. 1736 and giving everyone the 
opportunity to work on these at the Subcommittee level first. When it 
comes to STEM education, in particular, I think we are all better 
served to have Dr. Ehlers involved from the beginning, as he brings so 
much to the table.
    I know both of our staffs have worked diligently to get these bills 
to where we are today, and I look forward to a discussion of proposed 
amendments.

    Chair Gordon. Thank you, Mr. Hall.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Mitchell follows:]
         Prepared Statement of Representative Harry E. Mitchell
    Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    Today we will mark up the Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development Act, H.R. 2020, the International Science and 
Technology Cooperation Act, H.R. 1736, and the STEM Education 
Coordination Act, H.R. 1709.
    Last Congress, we took a critical step in encouraging students and 
teachers to focus on STEM education in the America COMPETES Act, which 
is now law. Ensuring that our students receive a top level STEM 
education is vital to grow our economy and remain competitive in the 
global economy.
    However, I have heard from STEM teachers in Arizona that they are 
struggling to identify federal resources to help them develop effective 
STEM lesson plans.
    H.R. 1709 would help STEM teachers in Arizona and nationwide by 
establishing a committee to coordinate federal programs and activities 
in support of STEM education through the Office of Science and 
Technology and Policy (OSTP).
    I encourage my colleagues to support this important legislation.
    I yield back.

    Chair Gordon. We will now consider H.R. 1736, the 
International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009. I 
recognize the gentleman from Washington to describe this bill.
    Mr. Baird. I thank the Chair very much, and I want to thank 
my colleagues who have worked very diligently on this, 
particularly Dr. Lipinski, Dr. Ehlers, Ms. Johnson, and Mr. 
Carnahan, and as well as our committee staff.
    Mr. Chair, we have held several hearings on this. As you 
know, it is an issue I am very passionate about as are many in 
the science and the diplomatic community as well. The question 
really is how can we use our substantial scientific and 
technological resources to promote our diplomatic agenda and 
vice versa.
    Bud Rock, who is the Vice President for Global Engagement 
at Arizona State University, has been a vocal advocate of this 
and defines what he refers to as the four Ds of international 
collaboration; discovery, diplomacy, decision making, and 
development. In addition, Norm Neureiter, who has been a leader 
in this field, has said, ``International cooperation in S&T can 
be a highly-effective, soft-power instrument for a constructive 
foreign policy.''
    H.R. 1736, the International Science and Technology 
Cooperation Act would reconstitute a committee on international 
science, engineering, and technology under the National Science 
and Technology Council. A renewed and reinvigorated CISET would 
facilitate the identification and building of international 
partnerships to meet any or all of these objectives by 
strengthening interagency coordination among the technical 
agencies and between the technical agencies and the Department 
of State.
    Specifically, H.R. 1736 would charge CISET with planning 
and coordinating international S&T research and training 
partnerships, identifying opportunities for new international 
partnerships that serve both domestic S&T missions and foreign 
policy goals, and working with international S&T counterparts 
to establish such partnerships.
    Finally, the bill would require an annual report to 
Congress on CISET's activities.
    Again, I want to thank my colleagues and our outstanding 
staff for their work on this. Thank the Chair again and would 
urge passage.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Baird follows:]
            Prepared Statement of Representative Brian Baird
    Thank you, Chairman Gordon. We have held several hearings in the 
last two years exploring various topics around international science 
and technology cooperation and specific mechanisms for facilitating 
partnerships between U.S. and foreign scientists and engineers.
    International S&T cooperation, in addition to strengthening our 
domestic scientific enterprise and economic security, is a valuable 
tool for strengthening our national security, by helping us to achieve 
many different foreign policy objectives in disparate regions around 
the world.
    I would like to borrow from my good friend, Bud Rock who is the 
Vice President for Global Engagement at Arizona State University, and 
who has been vocal advocate for improved science diplomacy. He cites 
four core principles of international scientific collaboration: 
discovery, diplomacy, decision-making, and development. He describes 
these four Ds as follows:

  (1)  Discovery--By discovery, he means the simple acknowledgement 
        that there exists an immeasurable and universal quest and need 
        to advance the frontiers of human understanding.

  (2)  Diplomacy--Diplomacy refers to the recognition that these 
        partnerships and cooperation toward common goals are themselves 
        expressions of broader trust and mutual respect. International 
        S&T partnerships can help build more stable relations among 
        communities and nations by creating a universal culture based 
        on commonly accepted values like objectivity, sharing, 
        integrity, and free inquiry.

  (3)  Decision-making--Mr. Rock describes this as, ``The growing 
        imperative to ensure that policies and actions of governments 
        and individuals (domestically and internationally) are rooted 
        as much as possible in objectivity and informed exchange. 
        National policies informed by global science provide 
        objectivity, transparency, and consistency domestically and 
        across borders.''

  (4)  Development--And, finally, by development, Mr. Rock means, ``The 
        necessity, unchanged for generations, to put these tools of 
        knowledge to work for the lives of those in greatest need and 
        to serve the interests of those whose aspirations are to even 
        greater achievements.''

    Finally, I would like to quote my good friend, Dr. Norman 
Neureiter, another advocate for the importance of international science 
collaboration. In his words, ``International cooperation in S&T can be 
a highly effective soft power instrument of a constructive foreign 
policy . . ..''
    H.R. 1736, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Act 
of 2009, would reconstitute a Committee on International Science, 
Engineering and Technology (CISET) under the National Science and 
Technology Council. A renewed and reinvigorated CISET would facilitate 
the identification and building of international partnerships to meet 
any or all of these objectives by strengthening interagency 
coordination among the technical agencies and between the technical 
agencies and the Department of State.
    Specifically, H.R. 1736 would charge CISET with planning and 
coordinating interagency international S&T research and training 
partnerships; identifying opportunities for new international 
partnerships that serve both our domestic S&T mission and our foreign 
policy goals; working with international S&T counterparts to establish 
such partnerships; and establishing an inventory of international 
partnerships of a minimum size in terms of U.S. investment. Finally, 
the bill would require an annual report to Congress on CISET's 
activities.
    I want to thank my colleagues, Dr. Lipinski, Dr. Ehlers, Ms. 
Johnson, and Mr. Carnahan, for introducing this bill with me and for 
their support in making international science cooperation a priority 
for this committee. H.R. 1736 is an important step forward in bringing 
science and technology to bear on both national and global challenges, 
and I urge my colleagues to support it.

    Chair Gordon. Thank you, Dr. Baird. I think passion was 
certainly the right term. You have spent a great deal of time. 
This is going to be a mark of yours. There will be other marks, 
but this will be one mark in Congress, and not just this bill 
but what you have done in the area. Not only will it help to 
improve relations between countries, but many of the research 
goals we want to attain, particularly in the area of energy, 
are expensive, and it is tough to do them just with one nation 
and here we both share the cost and the intellectual ability. 
So this very good, and I thank you.
    And I now recognize Mr. Hall to present any remarks on the 
bill.
    Mr. Hall. Mr. Chair, as you have said and as has been well 
said, International Science and Technology Cooperation is an 
incredibly important issue and one that presents not only great 
prospects in collaborations for scientific breakthroughs but 
also cultivates promising diplomatic opportunities and 
sometimes even unpredicted challenges.
    I appreciate the work that the Research and Science 
Education Subcommittee has done on this issue, both under the 
leadership of Dr. Baird and Chair Lipinski, and I would like to 
yield the remainder of my time to Dr. Ehlers, the Ranking 
Member.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Hall follows:]
           Prepared Statement of Representative Ralph M. Hall
    Mr. Chairman, international science and technology cooperation is 
an incredibly important issue and one that presents not only great 
prospects and collaborations for scientific breakthroughs, but also 
cultivates promising diplomatic opportunities and, sometimes, 
unpredicted challenges. I appreciate the work that the Research and 
Science Education Subcommittee has done on this issue both under the 
leadership of Dr. Baird and Chairman Lipinski and would like to yield 
the remainder of my time to Dr. Ehlers, the Ranking Member.

    Mr. Ehlers. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
    Many of us may recall in the 1970s and '80s we first began 
using science as part of diplomacy, and that played a key role 
in bringing the Soviet Union and the United States closer 
together and eventually ended with the downfall of the Iron 
Curtain.
    I was surprised when I first came to Congress, and Newt 
Gingrich asked me to write a science policy statement since we 
hadn't had one since 1945, and when I began writing this, 
discovered that there is no one in the State Department who is 
representing science in dealing with other countries.
    Well, we have managed to change that since, but there 
still--it still needs strengthening, and identified in 
coordinating activities within the Federal Government, which 
mutually benefit our scientific enterprise and our foreign 
policy goals as a valuable mission.
    And I am pleased the Full Committee is considering this 
legislation today.
    I would also like to acknowledge the work of the former 
Subcommittee Chair, Mr. Baird, for pursuing avenues that the 
Science and Technology Committee can use to support the 
intersection and expansion of science and diplomacy.
    Today's legislation reestablishes a committee under the 
National Science and Technology Council, designed to coordinate 
and plan international science and technology activities. We 
have worked to ensure that high-level officials from the 
Department of State and the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy will provide the leadership necessary to make such 
collaborations more successful across the Federal Government.
    I look forward to seeing this in action. I also look 
forward to monitoring the fruit of this committee and will 
continue to support this bill as it moves closer to becoming 
law. I think we have a golden opportunity to return to the 
golden age of the '70s and '80s, and really set up good 
cooperative efforts with many nations and bringing all the 
nations together as a resound.
    With that I will yield back.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Ehlers follows:]
         Prepared Statement of Representative Vernon J. Ehlers
    Identifying and coordinating activities within the Federal 
Government which mutually benefit our scientific enterprise and our 
foreign policy goals is a valuable mission, and I am pleased the Full 
Committee is considering this legislation today. I would also like to 
acknowledge the work of the former Subcommittee Chair, Mr. Baird, for 
pursuing avenues that the Science and Technology Committee can use to 
support the intersection and expansion of science and diplomacy.
    Today's legislation re-establishes a committee under the National 
Science and Technology Council designed to coordinate and plan 
international science and technology activities. We have worked to 
ensure that high-level officials from the Department of State and the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy will provide the leadership 
necessary to make such collaborations more successful across the 
Federal Government. I look forward to monitoring the fruit of this 
committee and will continue to support this bill as it moves closer to 
becoming law.

    Chair Gordon. Thank you, Dr. Ehlers. More importantly, 
thank you for your long history in working on this. You know, 
certainly if our Majority and Minority can work together on 
this bill, other countries can work together on important 
items, too. So we have established that. Thank you. You have 
been very important here.
    Does anyone else wish to be recognized.
    Mr. Rohrabacher. Mr. Chair.
    Chair Gordon. Mr. Rohrabacher.
    Mr. Rohrabacher. You got that right. Okay. I would just 
like to underscore the point that Mr. Ehlers has just made 
about cooperation. There are so many areas right now that we 
need to cooperate internationally in terms of the science 
community, and Mr. Baird is very involved with scientific 
research dealing with the oceans, and that is not something we 
should be doing on our own. That should be a joint effort with 
other countries, and we should look to other countries as 
playing an important role in whatever research we have with the 
ocean.
    Most of the people on this committee understand that I have 
a keen interest in near-Earth objects and the fact that there 
may be some asteroid or comet or meteorite that might hit the 
Earth and that we should be prepared for that. And in order to 
accomplish these ends, we need to be working with other 
countries, and I just would like to stress that essential 
point, and that is what this bill is all about. So just wanted 
to add that thought.
    Thank you.
    Chair Gordon. Thank you, Mr. Rohrabacher. I heard Mr. 
Sensenbrenner the other day say that you were a near-Earth 
object.
    Does anyone else wish to be recognized?
    Then I ask unanimous consent the bill is considered as read 
and open to amendment at any point.
    Without objection, so ordered.
    Are there any amendments?
    Mr. Hall. You know, we make Jay Leno look serious.
    Chair Gordon. If no, then the vote is on the bill, H.R. 
1736. All those in favor will say, aye. Opposed, no. In the 
opinion of the Chair the ayes have it.
    I recognize myself for a motion.
    I move that the Committee favorably report H.R. 1736 as 
amended to the House with the recommendation that the bill do 
pass. Furthermore, I move that the staff be instructed to 
prepare the legislative report and make necessary technical and 
conforming changes, and that the Chair take all the necessary 
steps to bring the bill before the House for consideration.
    The question is on the motion to report the bill favorably. 
Those in favor of the motion will signify by saying, aye. 
Opposed, no. The ayes have it, and the bill is favorably 
reported.
    Without objection the motion to reconsider is laid upon the 
table. Members will have two subsequent calendar days in which 
to submit supplemental, minority, or additional views on the 
measure.
    And let me point out to everyone, particularly our newer 
Members, we won't file this bill until next week, and so if any 
of you would like to become co-sponsors of any of these bills, 
we welcome that. I think you should all go home, take credit 
for these. These are good bills, and once again, I hope you are 
not disappointed that we are not arguing and fighting, and you 
know, and having a big rumpus here, but that doesn't mean that 
these aren't good, thoughtful bills. They went to the regular 
order, a law that was taken care of at the Subcommittee level, 
and so, again, we welcome all to be co-sponsors, and I want to 
thank the Members for their attendance.
    This concludes our markup.
    [Whereupon, at 10:51 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.]
                               Appendix:

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                         H.R. 1736 (as amended)






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