[House Report 114-120]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


114th Congress    }                                      {       Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                      {      114-120

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

 
  PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 1806) TO PROVIDE FOR 
    TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION THROUGH THE PRIORITIZATION OF FEDERAL 
  INVESTMENT IN BASIC RESEARCH, FUNDAMENTAL SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, AND 
 DEVELOPMENT TO IMPROVE THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE UNITED STATES, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES; PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 2250) 
 MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 
 ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2016, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES; AND PROVIDING FOR 
   CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 2353) TO PROVIDE AN EXTENSION OF 
FEDERAL-AID HIGHWAY, HIGHWAY SAFETY, MOTOR CARRIER SAFETY, TRANSIT, AND 
  OTHER PROGRAMS FUNDED OUT OF THE HIGHWAY TRUST FUND, AND FOR OTHER 
                                PURPOSES

                                _______
                                

May 18, 2015.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

              Mr. Newhouse, from the Committee on Rules, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 271]

    The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration 
House Resolution 271, by a record vote of 9 to 4, report the 
same to the House with the recommendation that the resolution 
be adopted.

                SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE RESOLUTION

    The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 1806, the 
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015, under a 
structured rule. The resolution provides one hour of general 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology. The resolution waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. The resolution makes in order as 
original text for the purpose of amendment an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute consisting of the text of Rules 
Committee Print 114-15 and provides that it shall be considered 
as read. The resolution waives all points of order against that 
amendment in the nature of a substitute. The resolution makes 
in order only those further amendments printed in part A of 
this report. Each such amendment may be offered only in the 
order printed in this report, may be offered only by a Member 
designated in this report, shall be considered as read, shall 
be debatable for the time specified in this report equally 
divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall 
not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a 
demand for division of the question in the House or in the 
Committee of the Whole. The resolution waives all points of 
order against the amendments printed in part A of this report. 
The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions.
    Section 2 of the resolution provides for consideration of 
H.R. 2250, Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2016, under a 
structured rule. The resolution provides one hour of general 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The 
resolution waives all points of order against consideration of 
the bill and provides that the bill shall be considered as 
read. The resolution waives all points of order against 
provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 of 
rule XXI. The resolution makes in order only those amendments 
printed in part B of this report. Each such amendment may be 
offered only in the order printed in this report, may be 
offered only by a Member designated in this report, shall be 
considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified 
in this report equally divided and controlled by the proponent 
and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall 
not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the 
House or in the Committee of the Whole. The resolution waives 
all points of order against the amendments printed in part B of 
this report. The resolution provides one motion to recommit 
with or without instructions.
    Section 3 of the resolution provides for consideration of 
H.R. 2353, the Highway and Transportation Funding Act of 2015, 
under a closed rule. The resolution provides one hour of debate 
equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure. The resolution waives all points of order 
against consideration of the bill. The resolution provides that 
the bill shall be considered as read. The resolution waives all 
points of order against provisions in the bill. The resolution 
provides for one motion to recommit.

                         EXPLANATION OF WAIVERS

    The waiver of all points of order against consideration of 
H.R. 1806 includes a waiver of clause 3(e)(1) of rule XIII 
(``Ramseyer''), requiring a committee report accompanying a 
bill amending or repealing statutes to show, by typographical 
device, parts of statute affected.
    The waiver of all points of order against the amendment in 
the nature of a substitute to H.R. 1806 made in order as 
original text includes a waiver of clause 4 of rule XXI, which 
prohibits reporting a bill or joint resolution carrying an 
appropriation from a committee not having jurisdiction to 
report an appropriation. It is important to note that the Rules 
Committee made in order a manager's amendment offered by Mr. 
Smith that, if adopted, will cure the violation.
    Although the resolution waives all points of order against 
the amendments to H.R. 1806 printed in part A of this report, 
the Committee is not aware of any points of order. The waiver 
is prophylactic in nature.
    The waiver of all points of order against consideration of 
H.R. 2250 includes a waiver of:
           Clause 3(e)(1) of rule XIII (``Ramseyer''), 
        requiring a committee report accompanying a bill 
        amending or repealing statutes to show, by 
        typographical device, parts of statute affected; and
           Section 3(d)(5) of H. Res. 5, which 
        prohibits the consideration of a general appropriation 
        bill, unless it includes a spending reduction account.
    The resolution includes a waiver of points of order against 
provisions in H.R. 2250 for failure to comply with clause 2 of 
rule XXI, which prohibits unauthorized appropriations or 
legislative provisions in an appropriations bill. This waiver 
is necessary because the bill contains unauthorized 
appropriations and legislative provisions.
    Although the resolution waives all points of order against 
the amendments to H.R. 2250 printed in part B of this report, 
the Committee is not aware of any points of order. The waiver 
is prophylactic in nature.
    The waivers 3(e)(1) of rule XIII are provided because the 
submissions provided by the committees were insufficient to 
meet the standards established by the rule in its current form. 
The Committee on Rules continues to work with the House Office 
of Legislative Counsel and committees to determine the steps 
necessary to comply with the updated rule.
    Although the resolution waives all points of order against 
consideration of H.R. 2353, the Committee is not aware of any 
points of order. The waiver is prophylactic in nature.
    Although the resolution waives all points of order against 
provisions in H.R. 2353, the Committee is not aware of any 
points of order. The waiver is prophylactic in nature.

                            COMMITTEE VOTES

    The results of each record vote on an amendment or motion 
to report, together with the names of those voting for and 
against, are printed below:

Rules Committee record vote No. 49

    Motion by Ms. Slaughter to report open rules for H.R. 1806 
and H.R. 2353. Defeated: 4-8

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Majority Members                      Vote               Minority Members               Vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ms. Foxx........................................          Nay   Ms. Slaughter.....................          Yea
Mr. Cole........................................          Nay   Mr. McGovern......................          Yea
Mr. Woodall.....................................          Nay   Mr. Hastings of Florida...........          Yea
Mr. Burgess.....................................          Nay   Mr. Polis.........................          Yea
Mr. Stivers.....................................          Nay
Mr. Collins.....................................          Nay
Mr. Byrne.......................................  ............
Mr. Newhouse....................................          Nay
Mr. Sessions, Chairman..........................          Nay
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rules Committee record vote No. 50

    Motion by Mr. Polis to make in order and provide the 
appropriate waivers for amendment #20, offered by Rep. Polis 
(CO), which prevents funds made available by this act to be 
used by a food services contractor to interfere with, restrain 
or coerce employees in the exercise of right guaranteed in sec. 
7 of the National Labor Relations Act. Defeated: 4-8

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Majority Members                      Vote               Minority Members               Vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ms. Foxx........................................          Nay   Ms. Slaughter.....................          Yea
Mr. Cole........................................          Nay   Mr. McGovern......................          Yea
Mr. Woodall.....................................          Nay   Mr. Hastings of Florida...........          Yea
Mr. Burgess.....................................          Nay   Mr. Polis.........................          Yea
Mr. Stivers.....................................          Nay
Mr. Collins.....................................          Nay
Mr. Byrne.......................................  ............
Mr. Newhouse....................................          Nay
Mr. Sessions, Chairman..........................          Nay
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rules Committee record vote No. 51

    Motion by Ms. Foxx to report the rule. Adopted: 9-4

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Majority Members                      Vote               Minority Members               Vote
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ms. Foxx........................................          Yea   Ms. Slaughter.....................          Nay
Mr. Cole........................................          Yea   Mr. McGovern......................          Nay
Mr. Woodall.....................................          Yea   Mr. Hastings of Florida...........          Nay
Mr. Burgess.....................................          Yea   Mr. Polis.........................          Nay
Mr. Stivers.....................................          Yea
Mr. Collins.....................................          Yea
Mr. Byrne.......................................          Yea
Mr. Newhouse....................................          Yea
Mr. Sessions, Chairman..........................          Yea
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     SUMMARY OF THE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 1806 IN PART A MADE IN ORDER

    1. Smith, Lamar (TX): MANAGER'S Makes technical 
corrections. (10 minutes)
    2. Foster (IL): Strikes section 106 of the underlying bill. 
(10 minutes)
    3. Jackson Lee (TX): Creates state and regional workshops 
to train K-12 teachers in science and technology project-based 
learning to provide instruction in initiating robotics and 
other STEM competition team development programs. Leverages the 
collaboration among higher education, businesses, and local 
private as well as public education agencies to support STEM 
efforts at schools located in areas with 1 percent or more 
above the national unemployment rate. (10 minutes)
    4. Esty (CT): Instructs NSF's I-Corps to support and invest 
in female entrepreneurs. (10 minutes)
    5. Crowley (NY), Serrano (NY), Lujan (NM), Hurd (TX), 
Curbelo (FL): Requires the National Science Foundation to 
establish a STEM grant program for Hispanic-serving 
institutions as authorized in the America COMPETES Act of 2007 
(42 U.S.C. 1862o-12). (10 minutes)
    6. Griffith (VA): Provides for the Speaker of the House and 
Senate Majority Leader to appoint members to congressionally 
created advisory boards. (10 minutes)
    7. Kelly (PA): Increases the authorized funding for the 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership by $5 million, while 
decreasing the authorized funding level for the Office of 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy by $5 million. (10 
minutes)
    8. Lowenthal (CA): Eliminates additional DOE reporting 
requirements and restrictions on sound scientific processes to 
independently verify scientific results. (10 minutes)
    9. Grayson (FL): Authorizes the Energy Innovation Hubs 
Program within the Department of Energy. (10 minutes)
    10. Bonamici (OR), Smith, Adam (WA), Peters, Scott (CA): 
Allows the Department of Energy to continue partnering with the 
Department of Defense to produce biofuels for the military. (10 
minutes)
    11. DeSaulnier (CA), Beyer (VA): Remove ``reductions of 
energy-related emissions, including greenhouse gases'' from 
goals of ARPA-E. (10 minutes)
    12. Johnson, Eddie Bernice (TX): SUBSTITUTE Provides for 
sustained growth and sensible policies across the scientific 
agencies, in keeping with the goals of the original Competes 
legislation. (20 minutes)

     SUMMARY OF THE AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 2250 IN PART B MADE IN ORDER

    1. Ratcliffe (TX): Zeros out $5,700,000 in funding for the 
Open World Leadership Center and applies the savings to the 
spending reduction account. (10 minutes)
    2. Flores (TX): Prohibits any funds for delivering printed 
copies of the Congressional Pictorial Directory. (10 minutes)
    3. Blackburn (TN): Provides for a one percent across the 
board cut. Exempts Capitol Police, Architect of the Capitol, 
and the Sergeant at Arms. (10 minutes)

         PART A--TEXT OF AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 1806 MADE IN ORDER

 1. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Smith of Texas or His 
                   Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 5, line 13, strike ``$834,800,000'' and insert 
``$823,000,000''.
  Page 5, line 15, strike ``$1,050,000,000'' and insert 
``$1,038,000,000''.
  Page 5, line 18, strike ``$1,034,000,000'' and insert 
``$1,010,000,000''.
  Page 6, line 6, strike ``$377,500,000'' and insert 
``$425,300,000''.
  Page 7, line 6, strike ``$834,800,000'' and insert 
``$823,000,000''.
  Page 7, line 8, strike ``$1,050,000,000'' and insert 
``$1,038,000,000''.
  Page 7, line 11, strike ``$1,034,000,000'' and insert 
``$1,010,000,000''.
  Page 7, line 24, strike ``$377,500,000'' and insert 
``$425,300,000''.
  Page 20, line 19, insert ``available'' after ``financial 
resources''.
  Page 21, lines 7 through 11, strike ``The Foundation shall 
also require awardees to report the Foundation, within 30 days 
of receipt, any sources of non-Federal funds received in excess 
of $50,000 during the award period.'' and insert ``The 
Foundation shall also require awardees seeking subsequent 
management fees to report to the Foundation, prior to the 
consideration of such a request, any sources of non-Federal 
funds received in excess of $100,000. This reporting shall 
apply to the period following any initial management fee award 
and for the consideration of any subsequent fee.''.
  Page 21, line 20, strike ``Audits'' and insert ``Review''.
  Page 21, line 21, insert ``or review'' after ``may audit''.
  Page 21, line 22, strike ``paragraph'' and insert 
``subsection''.
  Page 22, line 13, insert ``or social activities'' after 
``meals''.
  Page 22, line 16, insert ``or FAR 31.205-22'' after ``2 
C.F.R. 200.450''.
  Page 29, line 20, strike ``and''.
  Page 29, line 23, strike the period and insert ``; and''.
  Page 29, after line 23, insert the following:
                  (K) efforts to effectively expand, broaden, 
                or scale-up existing activities or programs.
  Page 65, line 23, insert ``, to be available to the extent 
provided by appropriations Acts,'' after ``nonprofit 
entities,''.
  Page 76, line 9, insert ``government,'' after ``industry,''.
  Page 91, line 16, insert ``, to be available to the extent 
provided by appropriations Acts,'' after ``sector,''.
  Page 132, line 19, strike ``and''.
  Page 132, line 23, strike the period and insert ``; and''.
  Page 132, after line 23, insert the following:
          ``(7) detailed proposals for innovation hubs, 
        institutes, and research centers prior to establishment 
        or renewal by the Department, including--
                  ``(A) certification that all hubs, 
                institutes, and research centers will advance 
                the mission of the Department, and prioritize 
                research, development, and demonstration;
                  ``(B) certification that the establishment or 
                renewal of hubs, institutes, or research 
                centers will not diminish funds available for 
                basic research and development within the 
                Office of Science; and
                  ``(C) certification that all hubs, 
                institutes, and research centers established or 
                renewed within the Office of Science are 
                consistent with the mission of the Office of 
                Science as described in section 209(c) of the 
                Department of Energy Organization Act (42 
                U.S.C. 7139(c)).''.
  Page 136, line 14, strike ``and'' the end of paragraph (9).
  Page 136, line 15, redesignate paragraph (10) as paragraph 
(11).
  Page 136, after line 14, insert the following:
          ``(10) technologies to enhance security for 
        electrical transmission and distributions systems; and
  Page 151, lines 9 through 14, strike section 629.
  Page 180, line 20, through page 182, line 3, strike section 
711.
                              ----------                              


 2. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Foster of Illinois or 
                 His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 15, line 13, through page 17, line 9, strike section 
106.
                              ----------                              


3. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Jackson Lee of Texas or 
                 Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 29, line 20, strike ``and''.
  Page 29, line 23, strike the period and insert a semicolon.
  Page 29, after line 23, insert the following:
                  (K) creating State and regional workshops to 
                train K-12 teachers in science and technology 
                project-based learning to provide instruction 
                in how to initiate robotics and other STEM 
                competition team development programs; and
                  (L) encouraging and supporting efforts led by 
                institutions of higher education, businesses, 
                and local public and private educational 
                agencies to establish collaborative efforts to 
                provide K-12 students residing in areas with 
                unemployment rates that exceed the national 
                average by 1 percent or more.
                              ----------                              


4. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Esty of Connecticut or 
                 Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 41, line 7, strike ``and'' after ``society;''.
  Page 41, line 12, strike the period at the end and insert ``; 
and''.
  Page 41, after line 12, insert the following new paragraph:
          (4) I-Corps should continue to promote a strong 
        innovation system by investing in and supporting female 
        entrepreneurs, who are historically underrepresented in 
        entrepreneurial fields, through mentorship, education, 
        and training.
                              ----------                              


5. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Crowley of New York or 
                 His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 45, after line 14, insert the following:

SEC. 127. HISPANIC OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM IN EDUCATION AND SCIENCE.

  Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall 
establish the program described in section 7033 of the America 
COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o-12) for Hispanic-serving 
institutions (as defined in section 502 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a)).
                              ----------                              


6. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Griffith of Virginia or 
                 His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 49, line 2, insert ``The Advisory Panel shall consist of 
15 members, with 3 members appointed by the Speaker of the 
House of Representatives and 2 members appointed by the 
Majority Leader of the Senate.'' after ``other appropriate 
organizations.''.
  Page 171, line 2, insert ``, except that 3 members shall be 
appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and 2 
members shall be appointed by the Majority Leader of the 
Senate. The total number of members of the advisory committee 
shall be 15.'' after ``by the Secretary''.
                              ----------                              


 7. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Kelly of Pennsylvania 
               or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 71, line 21, strike ``$933,700,000'' and insert 
``$938,700,000''.
  Page 72, line 6, strike ``$130,000,000'' and insert 
``$135,000,000''.
  Page 72, line 8, strike ``$125,000,000'' and insert 
``$130,000,000''.
  Page 72, line 19, strike ``$933,700,000'' and insert 
``$938,700,000''.
  Page 73, line 3, strike ``$130,000,000'' and insert 
``$135,000,000''.
  Page 73, line 5, strike ``$125,000,000'' and insert 
``$130,000,000''.
  Page 178, line 4, strike ``$1,198,500,000'' and insert 
``$1,193,500,000''.
                              ----------                              


8. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Lowenthal of California 
               or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 114, line 23, through page 115, line 18, strike 
subsections (b) through (d).
                              ----------                              


 9. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Grayson of Florida or 
                 His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 133, before line 19, insert the following new section:

SEC. 604. ENERGY INNOVATION HUBS.

  (a) Authorization of Program.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary of Energy shall carry 
        out a program to enhance the Nation's economic, 
        environmental, and energy security by making awards to 
        consortia for establishing and operating Energy 
        Innovation Hubs to conduct and support, whenever 
        practicable at one centralized location, 
        multidisciplinary, collaborative research, development, 
        and demonstration of advanced energy technologies.
          (2) Technology development focus.--The Secretary 
        shall designate for each Hub a unique advanced energy 
        technology focus.
          (3) Coordination.--The Secretary shall ensure the 
        coordination of, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, 
        the activities of Hubs with those of other Department 
        of Energy research entities, including the National 
        Laboratories, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-
        Energy, Energy Frontier Research Centers, and within 
        industry.
  (b) Consortia.--
          (1) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive an award 
        under this section for the establishment and operation 
        of a Hub, a consortium shall--
                  (A) be composed of no fewer than 2 qualifying 
                entities; and
                  (B) operate subject to an agreement entered 
                into by its members that documents--
                          (i) the proposed partnership 
                        agreement, including the governance and 
                        management structure of the Hub;
                          (ii) measures to enable cost-
                        effective implementation of the program 
                        under this section;
                          (iii) a proposed budget, including 
                        financial contributions from non-
                        Federal sources;
                          (iv) a plan for managing intellectual 
                        property rights; and
                          (v) an accounting structure that 
                        enables the Secretary to ensure that 
                        the consortium has complied with the 
                        requirements of this section.
          (2) Application.--A consortium seeking to establish 
        and operate a Hub under this section, acting through a 
        prime applicant, shall transmit to the Secretary an 
        application at such time, in such form, and accompanied 
        by such information as the Secretary shall require, 
        including a detailed description of the elements of the 
        consortium agreement required under paragraph (1)(B). 
        If the consortium members will not be located at one 
        centralized location, such application shall include a 
        communications plan that ensures close coordination and 
        integration of the Hub's activities.
  (c) Selection and Schedule.--The Secretary shall select 
consortia for awards for the establishment and operation of 
Hubs through competitive selection processes. In selecting 
consortia, the Secretary shall consider the information a 
consortium must disclose according to subsection (b), as well 
as any existing facilities a consortium will provide for Hub 
activities. Awards made to a Hub shall be for a period not to 
exceed 5 years, subject to the availability of appropriations, 
after which the award may be renewed, subject to a rigorous 
merit review. A Hub already in existence on the date of 
enactment of this Act may continue to receive support for a 
period of 5 years, subject to the availability of 
appropriations, beginning on the date of establishment of that 
Hub.
  (d) Hub Operations.--
          (1) In general.--Each Hub shall conduct or provide 
        for multidisciplinary, collaborative research, 
        development, and demonstration of advanced energy 
        technologies within the technology development focus 
        designated under subsection (a)(2). Each Hub shall--
                  (A) encourage collaboration and communication 
                among the member qualifying entities of the 
                consortium and awardees by conducting 
                activities whenever practicable at one 
                centralized location;
                  (B) develop and publish on the Department of 
                Energy's website proposed plans and programs;
                  (C) submit an annual report to the Secretary 
                summarizing the Hub's activities, including 
                detailing organizational expenditures, and 
                describing each project undertaken by the Hub; 
                and
                  (D) monitor project implementation and 
                coordination.
          (2) Conflicts of interest.--
                  (A) Procedures.--Hubs shall maintain conflict 
                of interest procedures, consistent with those 
                of the Department of Energy, to ensure that 
                employees and consortia designees for Hub 
                activities who are in decisionmaking capacities 
                disclose all material conflicts of interest, 
                and avoid such conflicts.
                  (B) Disqualification and revocation.--The 
                Secretary may disqualify an application or 
                revoke funds distributed to a Hub if the 
                Secretary discovers a failure to comply with 
                conflict of interest procedures established 
                under subparagraph (A).
          (3) Prohibition on construction.--
                  (A) In general.--No funds provided pursuant 
                to this section may be used for construction of 
                new buildings or facilities for Hubs. 
                Construction of new buildings or facilities 
                shall not be considered as part of the non-
                Federal share of a Hub cost-sharing agreement.
                  (B) Test bed and renovation exception.--
                Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the 
                use of funds provided pursuant to this section, 
                or non-Federal cost share funds, for research 
                or for the construction of a test bed or 
                renovations to existing buildings or facilities 
                for the purposes of research if the Secretary 
                determines that the test bed or renovations are 
                limited to a scope and scale necessary for the 
                research to be conducted.
  (e) Termination.--Consistent with the existing authorities of 
the Department, the Secretary may terminate an underperforming 
Hub for cause during the performance period.
  (f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
          (1) Advanced energy technology.--The term ``advanced 
        energy technology'' means--
                  (A) an innovative technology--
                          (i) that produces energy from solar, 
                        wind, geothermal, biomass, tidal, wave, 
                        ocean, or other renewable energy 
                        resources;
                          (ii) that produces nuclear energy;
                          (iii) for carbon capture and 
                        sequestration;
                          (iv) that enables advanced vehicles, 
                        vehicle components, and related 
                        technologies that result in significant 
                        energy savings;
                          (v) that generates, transmits, 
                        distributes, utilizes, or stores energy 
                        more efficiently than conventional 
                        technologies, including through Smart 
                        Grid technologies; or
                          (vi) that enhances the energy 
                        independence and security of the United 
                        States by enabling improved or expanded 
                        supply and production of domestic 
                        energy resources, including coal, oil, 
                        and natural gas;
                  (B) research, development, and demonstration 
                activities necessary to ensure the long-term, 
                secure, and sustainable supply of energy 
                critical elements; or
                  (C) another innovative energy technology area 
                identified by the Secretary.
          (2) Hub.--The term ``Hub'' means an Energy Innovation 
        Hub established or operating in accordance with this 
        section, including any Energy Innovation Hub existing 
        as of the date of enactment of this Act.
          (3) Qualifying entity.--The term ``qualifying 
        entity'' means--
                  (A) an institution of higher education;
                  (B) an appropriate State or Federal entity, 
                including the Department of Energy Federally 
                Funded Research and Development Centers;
                  (C) a nongovernmental organization with 
                expertise in advanced energy technology 
                research, development, demonstration, or 
                commercial application; or
                  (D) any other relevant entity the Secretary 
                considers appropriate.
                              ----------                              


10. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Bonamici of Oregon or 
                 Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 162, lines 3 through 5, strike subsection (d).
                              ----------                              


    11. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative DeSaulnier of 
          California or His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 174, lines 18 through 24, strike paragraph (1).
                              ----------                              


 12. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Johnson of Texas or 
                 Her Designee, Debatable for 20 Minutes

  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

  (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``America 
Competes Reauthorization Act of 2015''.
  (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is 
as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

                  TITLE I--OSTP; GOVERNMENTWIDE SCIENCE

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

Sec. 101. Federal research and development funding.
Sec. 102. National Science and Technology Council amendments.
Sec. 103. Review of Federal regulations and reporting requirements.
Sec. 104. Amendments to prize competitions.
Sec. 105. Coordination of international science and technology 
          partnerships.
Sec. 106. Scientific and technical conferences.

  Subtitle B--Reauthorization of the National Nanotechnology Initiative

Sec. 111. Short title.
Sec. 112. National Nanotechnology Program amendments.
Sec. 113. Societal dimensions of nanotechnology.
Sec. 114. Nanotechnology education.
Sec. 115. Technology transfer.
Sec. 116. Signature initiatives in areas of national importance.
Sec. 117. Nanomanufacturing research.
Sec. 118. Definitions.

                     Subtitle C--Engineering Biology

Sec. 121. Short title.
Sec. 122. Findings.
Sec. 123. Definitions.
Sec. 124. National Engineering Biology Research and Development Program.
Sec. 125. Advisory Committee.
Sec. 126. External review of ethical, legal, environmental, and societal 
          issues.
Sec. 127. Agency activities.

                 TITLE II--STEM EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY

                Subtitle A--STEM Education and Workforce

Sec. 201. Sense of Congress.
Sec. 202. Coordination of Federal STEM education.
Sec. 203. Grand challenges in education research.
Sec. 204. National Research Council report on STEAM education.
Sec. 205. Engaging Federal scientists and engineers in STEM education.

              Subtitle B--Broadening Participation in STEM

Sec. 211. Short title.
Sec. 212. Purpose.
Sec. 213. Federal science agency policies for caregivers.
Sec. 214. Collection and reporting of data on Federal research grants.
Sec. 215. Policies for review of Federal research grants.
Sec. 216. Collection of data on demographics of faculty.
Sec. 217. Cultural and institutional barriers to expanding the academic 
          and Federal STEM workforce.
Sec. 218. Research and dissemination at the National Science Foundation.
Sec. 219. Report to Congress.
Sec. 220. National Science Foundation support for increasing diversity 
          among STEM faculty at institutions of higher education.
Sec. 221. National Science Foundation support for broadening 
          participation in undergraduate STEM education.
Sec. 222. Definitions.

                 TITLE III--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

Sec. 301. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 302. Findings and sense of Congress on support for all fields of 
          science and engineering.
Sec. 303. National Science Foundation merit review.
Sec. 304. Management and oversight of large facilities.
Sec. 305. Support for potentially transformative research.
Sec. 306. Strengthening institutional research partnerships.
Sec. 307. Innovation Corps.
Sec. 308. Definitions.

                       Subtitle B--STEM Education

Sec. 321. National Science Board report on consolidation of STEM 
          education activities at the Foundation.
Sec. 322. Models for graduate student support.
Sec. 323. Undergraduate STEM education reform.
Sec. 324. Advanced manufacturing education.
Sec. 325. STEM education partnerships.
Sec. 326. Noyce scholarship program amendments.
Sec. 327. Informal STEM education.
Sec. 328. Research and development to support improved K-12 learning.

        TITLE IV--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

Sec. 401. Short title.
Sec. 402. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 403. Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
Sec. 404. National Academies review.
Sec. 405. Improving NIST collaboration with other agencies.
Sec. 406. Miscellaneous provisions.

                           TITLE V--INNOVATION

Sec. 501. Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
Sec. 502. Federal loan guarantees for innovative technologies in 
          manufacturing.
Sec. 503. Innovation voucher pilot program.
Sec. 504. Federal Acceleration of State Technology Commercialization 
          Pilot Program.

                     TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

                      Subtitle A--Office of Science

Sec. 601. Short title.
Sec. 602. Definitions.
Sec. 603. Mission of the Office of Science.
Sec. 604. Basic energy sciences program.
Sec. 605. Biological and environmental research.
Sec. 606. Advanced scientific computing research program.
Sec. 607. Fusion energy research.
Sec. 608. High energy physics program.
Sec. 609. Nuclear physics program.
Sec. 610. Science laboratories infrastructure program.
Sec. 611. Authorization of appropriations.

                           Subtitle B--ARPA-E

Sec. 621. Short title.
Sec. 622. ARPA-E amendments.

                      Subtitle C--Energy Innovation

Sec. 641. Energy Innovation Hubs.
Sec. 642. Participation in the Innovation Corps program.
Sec. 643. Technology transfer.
Sec. 644. Funding competitiveness for institutions of higher education 
          and other nonprofit institutions.
Sec. 645. Under Secretary for Science and Energy.
Sec. 646. Special hiring authority for scientific, engineering, and 
          project management personnel.

                 TITLE I--OSTP; GOVERNMENTWIDE SCIENCE

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

SEC. 101. FEDERAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.

  Congress finds the following:
          (1) The predominant driver of gross domestic product 
        growth over the past half century has been scientific 
        and technological advancement.
          (2) Investments in research and development have also 
        delivered significant benefits for national security, 
        health, energy security, education, and the personal 
        well-being of all Americans.
          (3) Virtually every new technological product is 
        traceable to a research discovery, often one pursued 
        with no application in mind.
          (4) Nondefense Federal research and development 
        accounts for only 1.7 percent of the Federal budget. 
        Federal basic research accounts for only 1 percent of 
        the budget.
          (5) There is a deficit between what America is 
        investing and what it should be investing to remain 
        competitive, not only in research but in technology 
        transfer, innovation, and job creation, thereby causing 
        America's highly successful science and technology 
        enterprise to atrophy.
          (6) Many research and development initiatives, due to 
        the long time periods required to achieve completion, 
        have benefited from stable and predictable investments 
        and from multiyear financial planning.
          (7) The Federal science agencies should receive 
        sustained and steady growth in funding for research and 
        development activities, including basic research, 
        across a wide range of disciplines, including physical, 
        geological, and life sciences, mathematics, 
        engineering, and social, behavioral, and economic 
        sciences.

SEC. 102. NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL AMENDMENTS.

  Section 401 of the National Science and Technology Policy, 
Organization, and Priorities Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 6651) is 
amended--
          (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Federal 
        Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and 
        Technology'' and inserting ``National Science and 
        Technology Council'';
          (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``and Energy 
        Research and Development Administration'' and inserting 
        ``Department of Energy, and any other agency designated 
        by the President''; and
          (3) in subsection (e)--
                  (A) by striking ``engineering, and 
                technology'' and inserting ``engineering, 
                technology, innovation, and STEM education'';
                  (B) in paragraph (1), by striking 
                ``engineering, and technological'' and 
                inserting ``engineering, technological, 
                innovation, and STEM education'';
                  (C) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) 
                as paragraphs (4) and (5), respectively; and
                  (D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
                following new paragraph:
          ``(3) address research needs identified under 
        paragraph (2) through appropriate funding mechanisms, 
        which may include solicitations involving 2 or more 
        agencies and public-private partnerships;''.

SEC. 103. REVIEW OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

  (a) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall establish or designate a working group 
under the National Science and Technology Council with the 
responsibility of reviewing Federal regulatory and reporting 
requirements across Federal agencies that affect the conduct of 
United States research in an effort to reduce regulatory 
burdens and to eliminate and harmonize duplicative regulatory 
and reporting requirements.
  (b) Responsibilities.--The working group established or 
designated under subsection (a) shall--
          (1) periodically review all Federal regulations and 
        reporting requirements that affect the conduct of 
        United States research to--
                  (A) identify ways to harmonize overlapping or 
                duplicative research regulations and reporting 
                requirements across Federal agencies;
                  (B) evaluate such regulations and reporting 
                requirements in relationship to the risks the 
                requirements seek to address to determine if 
                the benefits of the requirements are 
                commensurate with the costs to the progress of 
                science or to the taxpayer;
                  (C) identify any regulations that are applied 
                to scientific researchers or to research-
                performing institutions for which exemptions 
                could be reasonably applied or for which 
                adjustments could be made to better fit those 
                regulations to diverse research environments; 
                and
                  (D) identify any specific regulations which 
                could be refocused on performance-based goals 
                rather than on process while still meeting the 
                desired outcome;
          (2) examine the extent to which agencies' guidance 
        documents adhere with the most recently updated version 
        of the Office of Management and Budget's Agency Good 
        Guidance Practices bulletin; and
          (3) develop and update at least once every 3 years a 
        strategic plan for streamlining Federal regulations and 
        reporting requirements that affect the conduct of 
        United States research that contains, at a minimum--
                  (A) a priority list of research-related 
                regulations, reporting requirements, and agency 
                guidance to be harmonized, streamlined, 
                updated, or eliminated; and
                  (B) a plan, including a timeline, for 
                implementing the regulatory and reporting 
                reforms identified in subparagraph (A).
  (c) Stakeholder Input.--In carrying out the responsibilities 
under subsection (b), including the development of the 
strategic plan under subsection (b)(3), the working group 
established or designated under subsection (a) shall take into 
account input and recommendations from non-Federal 
stakeholders, including federally funded and nonfederally 
funded researchers, institutions of higher education, 
scientific disciplinary societies and associations, nonprofit 
research institutions, industry, including small businesses, 
federally funded research and development centers, and others 
with a stake in ensuring effectiveness, efficiency, and 
accountability in the performance of scientific research.
  (d) Responsibilities of OSTP.--The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy, in collaboration with the Office 
of Management and Budget Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, shall encourage and monitor the efforts of the 
participating agencies to ensure that the strategic plan is 
developed under subsection (b)(3) and that appropriate steps 
are taken by the agencies to effectively implement the 
recommendations, achieve the objectives, and to adhere to the 
timeline in the strategic plan.
  (e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy shall transmit the priority list and 
strategic plan developed under subsection (b)(3) to the 
Congress. The Director shall further provide a report annually 
to the Congress, to be submitted not later than 60 days after 
the submission of the President's annual budget request, on the 
progress toward implementation of the regulatory reforms 
outlined in the strategic plan.

SEC. 104. AMENDMENTS TO PRIZE COMPETITIONS.

  Section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (c)--
                  (A) by inserting ``competition'' after 
                ``section, a prize'';
                  (B) by inserting ``types'' after 
                ``following''; and
                  (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``prizes'' 
                and inserting ``prize competitions'';
          (2) in subsection (f)--
                  (A) by striking ``in the Federal Register'' 
                and inserting ``on a publicly accessible 
                Government website, such as 
                www.challenge.gov,''; and
                  (B) in paragraph (4), by striking ``prize'' 
                and inserting ``cash prize purse'';
          (3) in subsection (g), by striking ``prize'' and 
        inserting ``cash prize purse'';
          (4) in subsection (h), by inserting ``prize'' before 
        ``competition'' both places it appears;
          (5) in subsection (i)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting 
                ``prize'' before ``competition'';
                  (B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting 
                ``prize'' before ``competition'' both places it 
                appears;
                  (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
                paragraph (4); and
                  (D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
                following new paragraph:
          ``(3) Waiver.--An agency may waive the requirement 
        under paragraph (2). The annual report under subsection 
        (p) shall include a list of such waivers granted during 
        the preceding fiscal year, along with an explanation of 
        the reasons for granting the waivers.'';
          (6) in subsection (j) by amending paragraph (2) to 
        read as follows:
          ``(2) Intellectual property.--
                  ``(A) Licenses.--The Federal Government may 
                negotiate a license for the use of intellectual 
                property developed by a participant for a prize 
                competition.
                  ``(B) Other conditions.--A Federal agency or 
                agencies in cooperation may require 
                participants to agree in advance to a specific 
                approach to intellectual property as a 
                condition for eligibility to participate in a 
                prize competition.'';
          (7) in subsection (k)--
                  (A) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting 
                ``prize'' before ``competition''; and
                  (B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``prize'' 
                before ``competitions'' both places it appears;
          (8) in subsection (l), by striking all after ``may 
        enter into'' and inserting ``a grant, contract, 
        cooperative agreement, or other agreement with a 
        private sector for-profit or nonprofit entity to 
        administer the prize competition, subject to the 
        provisions of this section.'';
          (9) in subsection (m)--
                  (A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
                follows:
          ``(1) In general.--Support for a prize competition 
        under this section, including financial support for the 
        design and administration of a prize competition or 
        funds for a cash prize purse, may consist of Federal 
        appropriated funds and funds provided by private sector 
        for-profit and nonprofit entities. The head of an 
        agency may accept funds from other Federal agencies, 
        private sector for-profit entities, and nonprofit 
        entities, to be available to the extent provided by 
        appropriations Acts, to support such prize 
        competitions. The head of an agency may not give any 
        special consideration to any private sector for-profit 
        or nonprofit entity in return for a donation.'';
                  (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``prize 
                awards'' and inserting ``cash prize purses'';
                  (C) in paragraph (3)(A)--
                          (i) by striking ``No prize'' and 
                        inserting ``No prize competition''; and
                          (ii) by striking ``the prize'' and 
                        inserting ``the cash prize purse'';
                  (D) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ``a 
                prize'' and inserting ``a cash prize purse'';
                  (E) in paragraph (3)(B)(i), by inserting 
                ``competition'' after ``prize'';
                  (F) in paragraph (4)(A), by striking ``a 
                prize'' and inserting ``a cash prize purse''; 
                and
                  (G) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``cash 
                prizes'' and inserting ``cash prize purses'';
          (10) in subsection (n), by inserting ``for both for-
        profit and nonprofit entities,'' after ``contract 
        vehicle'';
          (11) in subsection (o)(1), by striking ``or providing 
        a prize'' and insert ``a prize competition or providing 
        a cash prize purse''; and
          (12) in subsection (p)--
                  (A) in the heading, by striking ``Annual 
                Report'' and inserting ``Biennial Report'';
                  (B) in paragraph (1)--
                          (i) by striking ``of each year'' and 
                        inserting ``of each odd-numbered 
                        year''; and
                          (ii) by striking ``preceding fiscal 
                        year'' and inserting ``preceding 2 
                        fiscal years''; and
                  (C) in paragraph (2)--
                          (i) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``cash prizes'' both places it occurs 
                        and inserting ``cash prize purses''; 
                        and
                          (ii) by adding at the end the 
                        following new subparagraph:
                  ``(G) Plan.--A description of crosscutting 
                topical areas and agency-specific mission needs 
                that may be the strongest opportunities for 
                prize competitions during the upcoming 2 fiscal 
                years.''.

SEC. 105. COORDINATION OF INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
                    PARTNERSHIPS.

  (a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the 
``International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 
2015''.
  (b) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall establish a body under the National 
Science and Technology Council (NSTC) 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.
  (c) NSTC Body Leadership.--The body established under 
subsection (b) shall be co-chaired by senior level officials 
from the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the 
Department of State.
  (d) Responsibilities.--The body established under subsection 
(b) 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; and
          (5) identify 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.
  (e) Report to Congress.--The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall transmit a report, to be 
updated annually, to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives, and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
Senate. The report shall also be made available to the public 
on the reporting agency's website. The report shall contain a 
description of--
          (1) the priorities and policies established under 
        subsection (d)(2);
          (2) the ongoing and new partnerships established 
        since the last update to the report;
          (3) the means by which stakeholder input was 
        received, as well as summary views of stakeholder 
        input; and
          (4) the issues influencing the ability of United 
        States scientists and engineers to collaborate with 
        foreign counterparts.

SEC. 106. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CONFERENCES.

  (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
          (1) Cooperative research and development activities, 
        including collaboration between domestic and 
        international government, industry, and academic 
        science and engineering organizations, are important to 
        promoting innovation and knowledge creation.
          (2) Scientific and technical conferences and trade 
        events support the sharing of information, processes, 
        and data within the scientific and engineering 
        communities.
          (3) In hosting and attending scientific and technical 
        conferences and trade events, Federal agencies--
                  (A) gain greater access to top researchers 
                and to new and potentially transformative 
                ideas;
                  (B) keep abreast of developments relevant to 
                their respective missions, as is relevant for 
                future program planning;
                  (C) help disseminate Federal research 
                results;
                  (D) provide opportunities both for employee 
                professional development and for recruiting new 
                employees;
                  (E) participate in scientific peer review; 
                and
                  (F) support the reputation, visibility, and 
                leadership both of the specific agency and of 
                the United States.
          (4) For those Federal agencies that provide financial 
        support for external research and development 
        activities, participation in scientific and technical 
        conferences can help ensure that funds are directed 
        toward the most promising ideas, thereby maximizing the 
        Federal investment.
  (b) Policy.--To the extent practicable given budget, 
security, and other constraints, the National Science 
Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
and the Department of Energy, in addition to the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, should support Federal 
employee and contractor attendance at scientific and technical 
conferences and trade events as relevant both to employee and 
contractor duties and to the agency's mission.
  (c) Oversight.--Consistent with other relevant law, the 
Federal agencies, through appropriate oversight, shall aim to 
minimize the costs to the Federal Government related to 
conference and trade event attendance, through methods such 
as--
          (1) ensuring that related fees collected by the 
        Federal agency help offset total costs to the Federal 
        Government;
          (2) developing or maintaining procedures for 
        investigating unexpected increases in related costs; 
        and
          (3) strengthening policies and training relevant to 
        conference and trade event planning and participation.

 Subtitle B--Reauthorization of the National Nanotechnology Initiative

SEC. 111. SHORT TITLE.

  This subtitle may be cited as the ``National Nanotechnology 
Initiative Amendments Act of 2015''.

SEC. 112. NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY PROGRAM AMENDMENTS.

  The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act 
(15 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) is amended--
          (1) in section 2--
                  (A) in subsection (c), by amending paragraph 
                (4) to read as follows:
          ``(4) develop, and update every 3 years thereafter, a 
        strategic plan to guide the activities described under 
        subsection (b) that specifies near-term and long-term 
        objectives for the Program, the anticipated timeframe 
        for achieving the near-term objectives, and the metrics 
        to be used for assessing progress toward the 
        objectives, and that describes--
                  ``(A) how the Program will move results out 
                of the laboratory and into applications for the 
                benefit of society, including through 
                cooperation and collaborations with 
                nanotechnology research, development, and 
                technology transition initiatives supported by 
                the States; and
                  ``(B) proposed research in areas of national 
                importance in accordance with the requirements 
                of section 116 of the National Nanotechnology 
                Initiative Amendments Act of 2015;'';
                  (B) in subsection (d)--
                          (i) by redesignating paragraphs (1) 
                        through (5) as paragraphs (2) through 
                        (6), respectively;
                          (ii) by inserting before paragraph 
                        (2), as redesignated by clause (i), the 
                        following:
          ``(1) the Program budget, for the previous fiscal 
        year, for each agency that participates in the Program, 
        and for each program component area;''; and
                          (iii) by amending paragraph (6), as 
                        redesignated by clause (i), to read as 
                        follows:
          ``(6) an assessment of how Federal agencies are 
        implementing the plan described in subsection (c)(7) 
        and a description of the amount of Small Business 
        Innovative Research and Small Business Technology 
        Transfer Research funds supporting the plan.''; and
                  (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                subsection:
  ``(e) Standards Setting.--The agencies participating in the 
Program shall support the activities of committees involved in 
the development of standards for nanotechnology and may 
reimburse the travel costs of scientists and engineers who 
participate in activities of such committees.'';
          (2) in section 3--
                  (A) by amending subsection (b)(1) to read as 
                follows:
  ``(b) Funding.--
          ``(1) In general.--The operation of the National 
        Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall be supported 
        by funds from each agency participating in the Program.
          ``(2) Proportion.--The portion of such Office's total 
        budget provided by each agency for each fiscal year 
        shall be in the same proportion as the agency's share 
        of the total budget for the Program for the previous 
        fiscal year, as specified in the report required under 
        section 2(d)(1).
          ``(3) Exception.--The Director of the National 
        Nanotechnology Coordination Office may establish a 
        minimum contribution or other exception to the 
        requirement in paragraph (2) for participating agencies 
        whose share of the total budget for the Program is 
        below a threshold level, to be set by the Director.''; 
        and
                  (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subsection:
  ``(d) Public Information.--
          ``(1) Database.--
                  ``(A) In general.--The National 
                Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall 
                develop and maintain a database accessible by 
                the public of projects funded under at least 
                the Environmental, Health, and Safety program 
                component area, or any successor program 
                component area, including, to the extent 
                practicable, a description of each project, its 
                source of funding by agency, and its funding 
                history.
                  ``(B) Organization.--Projects shall be 
                grouped by major objective as defined by the 
                research plan required under section 113(b) of 
                the National Nanotechnology Initiative 
                Amendments Act of 2015.
          ``(2) Accessible facilities.--
                  ``(A) In general.--The National 
                Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall 
                develop, maintain, and publicize information on 
                nanotechnology facilities supported under the 
                Program, and may include information on 
                nanotechnology facilities supported by the 
                States, that are accessible for use by 
                individuals from academic institutions and from 
                industry.
                  ``(B) Websites.--The National Nanotechnology 
                Coordination Office shall maintain active web 
                links to the websites for each of these 
                facilities and shall work with each facility 
                supported under the Program to ensure that each 
                facility publishes on its respective website 
                updated information on the terms and conditions 
                for the use of the facility, a description of 
                the capabilities of the instruments and 
                equipment available for use at the facility, 
                and a description of the technical support 
                available to assist users of the facility.'';
          (3) in section 4--
                  (A) in subsection (a), by adding at the end 
                the following: ``The co-chairs of the Advisory 
                Panel shall meet the qualifications of Panel 
                membership required in subsection (b) and may 
                be members of the President's Council of 
                Advisors on Science and Technology. The 
                Advisory Panel shall include members having 
                specific qualifications tailored to enable it 
                to carry out the requirements of subsection 
                (c)(6).'';
                  (B) in subsection (c)--
                          (i) by striking paragraph (1); and
                          (ii) by redesignating paragraphs (2) 
                        through (7) as paragraphs (1) through 
                        (6), respectively; and
                  (C) by amending subsection (d) to read as 
                follows:
  ``(d) Reports.--The Advisory Panel shall report not less 
frequently than every 3 years, and, to the extent practicable, 
1 year following each of the National Research Council 
triennial reviews required under section 5, to the President on 
its assessments under subsection (c) and its recommendations 
for ways to improve the Program. The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall transmit a copy of each 
report under this subsection to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, 
and other appropriate committees of the Congress.'';
          (4) by amending section 5 to read as follows:

``SEC. 5. TRIENNIAL EXTERNAL REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY 
                    PROGRAM.

  ``(a) In General.--The Director of the National 
Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall enter into an 
arrangement with the National Research Council of the National 
Academy of Sciences to conduct a triennial review of the 
Program. The Director shall ensure that the arrangement with 
the National Research Council is concluded in order to allow 
sufficient time for the reporting requirements of subsection 
(b) to be satisfied. Each triennial review shall include an 
evaluation of the--
          ``(1) research priorities and technical content of 
        the Program, including whether the balance of funding 
        among program component areas, as designated according 
        to section 2(c)(2), is appropriate;
          ``(2) Program's scientific and technological 
        accomplishments and its success in transferring 
        technology to the private sector; and
          ``(3) adequacy of the Program's activities addressing 
        ethical, legal, environmental, and other appropriate 
        societal concerns, including human health concerns.
  ``(b) Priority Reports.--If the Director of the National 
Nanotechnology Coordination Office, working with the National 
Research Council and with input from the Advisory Panel, 
determines that a more narrowly focused review of the Program 
is in the best interests of the Program, the Director may enter 
into such an arrangement with the National Research Council in 
lieu of a full review as required under subsection (a), but not 
more often than every second triennial review.
  ``(c) Evaluation To Be Transmitted to Congress.--The National 
Research Council shall document the results of each triennial 
review carried out in accordance with this section in a report 
that includes any recommendations for changes to the Program's 
objectives, technical content, or other policy or Program 
changes. Each report shall be submitted to the Director of the 
National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, who shall transmit 
it to the Advisory Panel, the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.''; and
          (5) in section 10--
                  (A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
                follows:
          ``(2) Nanotechnology.--The term `nanotechnology' 
        means the science and technology that will enable one 
        to understand, measure, model, image, manipulate, and 
        manufacture at the nanoscale, aimed at creating 
        materials, devices, and systems with fundamentally new 
        properties or functions.''; and
                  (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
          ``(7) Nanoscale.--The term `nanoscale' means one or 
        more dimensions of between approximately 1 and 100 
        nanometers.''.

SEC. 113. SOCIETAL DIMENSIONS OF NANOTECHNOLOGY.

  (a) Coordinator for Environmental, Health, and Safety 
Research.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall designate an associate director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy or other appropriate senior 
government official as the Coordinator for Environmental, 
Health, and Safety Research. The Coordinator shall be 
responsible for oversight of the coordination, planning, and 
budget prioritization of research and other activities related 
to environmental, health, safety, and other appropriate 
societal concerns related to nanotechnology. The 
responsibilities of the Coordinator shall include--
          (1) ensuring that a research plan for the 
        environmental, health, and safety research activities 
        required under subsection (b) is developed, updated, 
        and implemented and that the plan is responsive to the 
        recommendations of the Advisory Panel established under 
        section 4(a) of the 21st Century Nanotechnology 
        Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7503(a)); and
          (2) encouraging and monitoring the efforts of the 
        agencies participating in the Program to allocate the 
        level of resources and management attention necessary 
        to ensure that the environmental, health, safety, and 
        other appropriate societal concerns related to 
        nanotechnology are addressed under the Program.
  (b) Research Plan.--
          (1) In general.--The Coordinator for Environmental, 
        Health, and Safety Research shall convene and chair a 
        panel comprised of representatives from the agencies 
        funding research activities under the Environmental, 
        Health, and Safety program component area of the 
        Program, or any successor program component area, and 
        from such other agencies as the Coordinator considers 
        necessary to develop, periodically update, and 
        coordinate the implementation of a research plan for 
        this program component area. Such panel may be a 
        subgroup of the Nanoscale Science, Engineering, and 
        Technology Subcommittee of the National Science and 
        Technology Council. In developing and updating the 
        plan, the panel convened by the Coordinator shall 
        solicit and be responsive to recommendations and advice 
        from--
                  (A) the Advisory Panel established under 
                section 4(a) of the 21st Century Nanotechnology 
                Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 
                7503(a)); and
                  (B) the agencies responsible for 
                environmental, health, and safety regulations 
                associated with the production, use, and 
                disposal of nanoscale materials and products.
          (2) Development of standards.--The plan required 
        under paragraph (1) shall include a description of how 
        the Program will help to ensure the development of--
                  (A) standards related to nomenclature 
                associated with engineered nanoscale materials;
                  (B) engineered nanoscale standard reference 
                materials for environmental, health, and safety 
                testing; and
                  (C) standards related to methods and 
                procedures for detecting, measuring, 
                monitoring, sampling, and testing engineered 
                nanoscale materials for environmental, health, 
                and safety impacts.
          (3) Components of plan.--The plan required under 
        paragraph (1) shall, with respect to activities 
        described in paragraphs (1) and (2)--
                  (A) specify near-term research objectives and 
                long-term research objectives;
                  (B) specify milestones associated with each 
                near-term objective and the estimated time and 
                resources required to reach each milestone;
                  (C) with respect to subparagraphs (A) and 
                (B), describe the role of each agency carrying 
                out or sponsoring research in order to meet the 
                objectives specified under subparagraph (A) and 
                to achieve the milestones specified under 
                subparagraph (B); and
                  (D) specify the funding allocated to each 
                major objective of the plan and the source of 
                funding by agency for the current fiscal year.
          (4) Transmittal to congress.--Not later than 6 months 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the plan 
        required under paragraph (1) shall be transmitted to 
        the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
        of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and 
        Technology of the House of Representatives.
          (5) Updating and appending to report.--The plan 
        required under paragraph (1) shall be updated at least 
        every 3 years and may be submitted as part of the 
        report required under section 2(c)(4) of the 21st 
        Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 
        U.S.C. 7501(c)(4)).

SEC. 114. NANOTECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.

  (a) Undergraduate Education Programs.--The Program shall 
support efforts to introduce nanoscale science, engineering, 
and technology into undergraduate science and engineering 
education through a variety of interdisciplinary approaches. 
Activities supported may include--
          (1) development of courses of instruction or modules 
        to existing courses;
          (2) faculty professional development; and
          (3) acquisition of equipment and instrumentation 
        suitable for undergraduate education and research in 
        nanotechnology.
  (b) Interagency Coordination of Education.--The Committee 
established under section 2(c) of the 21st Century 
Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(c)) 
shall coordinate, as appropriate, with the Committee 
established under section 101 of the America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621) to prioritize, 
plan, and assess the educational activities supported under the 
Program.
  (c) Societal Dimensions in Nanotechnology Education 
Activities.--Activities supported under the Education and 
Societal Dimensions program component area, or any successor 
program component area, that involve informal, precollege, or 
undergraduate nanotechnology education shall include education 
regarding the environmental, health and safety, and other 
societal aspects of nanotechnology.
  (d) Remote Access to Nanotechnology Facilities.--
          (1) In general.--Agencies supporting nanotechnology 
        research facilities as part of the Program shall 
        require the entities that operate such facilities to 
        allow access via the Internet, and support the costs 
        associated with the provision of such access, by 
        secondary school students and teachers, to instruments 
        and equipment within such facilities for educational 
        purposes. The agencies may waive this requirement for 
        cases when particular facilities would be inappropriate 
        for educational purposes or the costs for providing 
        such access would be prohibitive.
          (2) Procedures.--The agencies identified in paragraph 
        (1) shall require the entities that operate such 
        nanotechnology research facilities to establish and 
        publish procedures, guidelines, and conditions for the 
        submission and approval of applications for the use of 
        the facilities for the purpose identified in paragraph 
        (1) and shall authorize personnel who operate the 
        facilities to provide necessary technical support to 
        students and teachers.

SEC. 115. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.

  (a) Prototyping.--
          (1) Access to facilities.--In accordance with section 
        2(b)(7) of 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and 
        Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(b)(7)), the agencies 
        supporting nanotechnology research facilities as part 
        of the Program shall provide access to such facilities 
        to companies for the purpose of assisting the companies 
        in the development of prototypes of nanoscale products, 
        devices, or processes (or products, devices, or 
        processes enabled by nanotechnology) for determining 
        proof of concept. The agencies shall publicize the 
        availability of these facilities and encourage their 
        use by companies as provided for in this section. The 
        agencies may waive this requirement for academic 
        facilities for which the costs of providing such access 
        would be prohibitive.
          (2) Procedures.--The agencies identified in paragraph 
        (1)--
                  (A) shall establish and publish procedures, 
                guidelines, and conditions for the submission 
                and approval of applications for use of 
                nanotechnology facilities;
                  (B) shall publish descriptions of the 
                capabilities of facilities available for use 
                under this subsection, including the 
                availability of technical support; and
                  (C) may waive recovery, require full 
                recovery, or require partial recovery of the 
                costs associated with use of the facilities for 
                projects under this subsection.
          (3) Selection and criteria.--
                  (A) In general.--In cases when less than full 
                cost recovery is required pursuant to paragraph 
                (2)(C), projects provided access to 
                nanotechnology facilities in accordance with 
                this subsection shall be selected through a 
                competitive, merit-based process, and the 
                criteria for the selection of such projects 
                shall include at a minimum the readiness of the 
                project for technology demonstration.
                  (B) Special consideration.--The agencies may 
                give special consideration in selecting 
                projects to applications that are relevant to 
                important national needs or requirements.
  (b) Collaboration With Industry.--The Program shall 
coordinate with industry from all industrial sectors that would 
benefit from applications of nanotechnology by--
          (1) enhancing communication of information related to 
        nanotechnology innovation, including information about 
        research, education and training, manufacturing issues, 
        and market-driven needs;
          (2) advancing and accelerating the creation of new 
        products and manufacturing processes derived from 
        discovery at the nanoscale by working with industry, 
        including small and medium-sized manufacturers;
          (3) developing innovative methods for transferring 
        nanotechnology products and processes from Federal 
        agencies to industry; and
          (4) facilitating industry-led partnerships between 
        the Program and industry sectors, including regional 
        partnerships.
  (c) Coordination With State, Regional, and Local 
Initiatives.--Section 2(b)(5) of the 21st Century 
Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 
7501(b)(5)) is amended to read as follows:
          ``(5) ensuring United States global leadership in the 
        development and application of nanotechnology, 
        including through the coordination and leveraging of 
        Federal investments with nanotechnology research, 
        development, and technology transition initiatives 
        supported by the States and regions across the 
        country;''.

SEC. 116. SIGNATURE INITIATIVES IN AREAS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.

  (a) In General.--The Program shall include support for 
nanotechnology research and development activities directed 
toward topical and application areas that have the potential 
for significant contributions to national economic 
competitiveness and for other significant societal benefits. 
The activities supported shall be designed to advance the 
development of research discoveries by demonstrating technical 
solutions to important national challenges. The Advisory Panel 
shall make recommendations to the Program for candidate 
research and development areas for support under this section.
  (b) Characteristics.--
          (1) In general.--Research and development activities 
        under this section shall--
                  (A) include projects selected on the basis of 
                applications for support through a competitive, 
                merit-based process;
                  (B) involve collaborations among researchers 
                in academic institutions and industry, and may 
                involve nonprofit research institutions and 
                Federal laboratories, as appropriate;
                  (C) when possible, leverage Federal 
                investments through collaboration with related 
                State initiatives; and
                  (D) include a plan for fostering the transfer 
                of research discoveries and the results of 
                technology demonstration activities to industry 
                for commercial development.
          (2) Joint solicitations.--Projects supported under 
        this section shall include projects for which 
        determination of the requirements for applications, 
        review and selection of applications for support, and 
        subsequent funding of projects shall be carried out by 
        a collaboration of no fewer than 2 agencies 
        participating in the Program. In selecting applications 
        for support, agencies may, as appropriate, give special 
        consideration to projects that include cost sharing 
        from non-Federal sources.
          (3) Interdisciplinary research centers.--Research and 
        development activities under this section may be 
        supported through interdisciplinary nanotechnology 
        research centers, as authorized by section 2(b)(4) of 
        the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and 
        Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501(b)(4)), that are 
        organized to investigate basic research questions and 
        carry out technology demonstration activities in areas 
        such as those identified in subsection (a).
  (c) Report.--Reports required under section 2(d) of the 21st 
Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 
7501(d)) shall include a description of research and 
development areas supported in accordance with this section.

SEC. 117. NANOMANUFACTURING RESEARCH.

  (a) Research Areas.--The Program shall include research on--
          (1) the development of instrumentation and tools 
        required for the rapid characterization of nanoscale 
        materials and for monitoring of nanoscale manufacturing 
        processes; and
          (2) approaches and techniques for scaling the 
        synthesis of new nanoscale materials to achieve 
        industrial-level production rates.
  (b) Green Nanotechnology.--Interdisciplinary research centers 
supported under the Program in accordance with section 2(b)(4) 
of the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act 
(15 U.S.C. 7501(b)(4)) that are focused on nanomanufacturing 
research shall include as part of the activities of such 
centers--
          (1) research on methods and approaches to develop 
        environmentally benign nanoscale products and nanoscale 
        manufacturing processes, taking into consideration 
        relevant findings and results of research supported 
        under the Environmental, Health, and Safety program 
        component area, or any successor program component 
        area;
          (2) fostering the transfer of the results of such 
        research to industry; and
          (3) providing for the education of scientists and 
        engineers through interdisciplinary studies in the 
        principles and techniques for the design and 
        development of environmentally benign nanoscale 
        products and processes.

SEC. 118. DEFINITIONS.

  In this subtitle, terms that are defined in section 10 of the 
21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 
U.S.C. 7509) have the meaning given those terms in that 
section.

                    Subtitle C--Engineering Biology

SEC. 121. SHORT TITLE.

  This subtitle may be cited as the ``Engineering Biology 
Research and Development Act of 2015''.

SEC. 122. FINDINGS.

  The Congress makes the following findings:
          (1) Cellular and molecular processes may be used, 
        mimicked, or redesigned to develop new products, 
        processes, and systems that improve societal well-
        being, strengthen national security, and contribute to 
        the economy.
          (2) Engineering biology relies on scientists and 
        engineers with a diverse and unique set of skills 
        combining the biological, physical, and information 
        sciences and engineering.
          (3) Long-term research and development is necessary 
        to create breakthroughs in engineering biology. Such 
        research and development requires government investment 
        as the benefits are too distant or uncertain for 
        industry to support alone.
          (4) The Federal Government can play an important role 
        by facilitating the development of tools and 
        technologies to further advance engineering biology, 
        including multiple user facilities that the Federal 
        Government is uniquely able to support.
          (5) Since other countries are investing significant 
        resources in engineering biology, the United States is 
        at risk of losing its competitive lead in this emerging 
        area if it does not invest the necessary resources and 
        have a national strategy.
          (6) A National Engineering Biology Initiative can 
        serve to establish new research directions and 
        technology goals, improve interagency coordination and 
        planning processes, drive technology transfer, and help 
        ensure optimal returns on the Federal investment.

SEC. 123. DEFINITIONS.

  In this subtitle--
          (1) the term ``Advisory Committee'' means the 
        advisory committee designated under section 125;
          (2) the term ``biomanufacturing'' means the 
        manufacturing of products using biological 
        manufacturing technologies;
          (3) the term ``engineering biology'' means the 
        science and engineering of cellular and molecular 
        processes to advance fundamental understanding of 
        complex natural systems and to develop new and advance 
        existing products, processes, and systems that will 
        contribute significantly to societal well-being, 
        national security, and the economy;
          (4) the term ``Interagency Committee'' means the 
        interagency committee designated under section 124(e); 
        and
          (5) the term ``Program'' means the National 
        Engineering Biology Research and Development Program 
        established under section 124.

SEC. 124. NATIONAL ENGINEERING BIOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
                    PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--The President shall implement a National 
Engineering Biology Research and Development Program to advance 
societal well-being, national security, and economic 
productivity and competitiveness through--
          (1) advancing areas of research at the intersection 
        of the biological, physical, and information sciences 
        and engineering;
          (2) supporting social science research that advances 
        the field of engineering biology and contributes to the 
        adoption of new products, processes, and technologies;
          (3) expanding the number of researchers, educators, 
        and students with engineering biology training;
          (4) accelerating the translation and 
        commercialization of engineering biology research and 
        development by the private sector; and
          (5) improving the interagency planning and 
        coordination of Federal Government activities related 
        to engineering biology.
  (b) Program Activities.--The activities of the Program shall 
include--
          (1) sustained support for engineering biology 
        research and development through--
                  (A) grants to individual investigators and 
                interdisciplinary teams of investigators;
                  (B) projects funded under joint solicitations 
                by a collaboration of no fewer than two 
                agencies participating in the Program; and
                  (C) interdisciplinary research centers that 
                are organized to investigate basic research 
                questions and carry out technology development 
                and demonstration activities;
          (2) education and training of undergraduate and 
        graduate students in research at the intersection of 
        biological, physical, and information sciences and 
        engineering;
          (3) activities to develop robust mechanisms for 
        tracking and quantifying the outputs and economic 
        benefits of engineering biology; and
          (4) activities to accelerate the translation and 
        commercialization of new products, processes, and 
        technologies by--
                  (A) identifying precompetitive research 
                opportunities;
                  (B) facilitating public-private partnerships 
                in engineering biology research and 
                development;
                  (C) connecting researchers, graduate 
                students, and postdoctoral fellows with 
                entrepreneurship education and training 
                opportunities; and
                  (D) supporting proof of concept activities 
                and the formation of startup companies 
                including through programs such as the Small 
                Business Innovation Research Program and the 
                Small Business Technology Transfer Program.
  (c) Expanding Participation.--The Program shall include, to 
the maximum extent practicable, outreach to primarily 
undergraduate and minority-serving institutions about Program 
opportunities, and shall encourage the development of research 
collaborations between research-intensive universities and 
primarily undergraduate and minority-serving institutions.
  (d) Ethical, Legal, Environmental, and Societal Issues.--
Program activities shall take into account ethical, legal, 
environmental, and other appropriate societal issues, including 
the need for safeguards and monitoring systems to protect 
society against the unintended release of engineered materials 
produced, by--
          (1) supporting research, including in the social 
        sciences, and other activities addressing ethical, 
        legal, environmental, and other appropriate societal 
        issues related to engineering biology, including 
        integrating research on these topics with the research 
        and development in engineering biology, and ensuring 
        that the results of such research are widely 
        disseminated, including through interdisciplinary 
        engineering biology research centers described in 
        subsection (b)(1)(C); and
          (2) ensuring, through the agencies and departments 
        that participate in the Program, that public input and 
        outreach are integrated into the Program by the 
        convening of regular and ongoing public discussions 
        through mechanisms such as citizen panels, consensus 
        conferences, and educational events, as appropriate.
  (e) Interagency Committee.--The President shall designate an 
interagency committee on engineering biology, which shall 
include representatives from the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, the National Science Foundation, the 
Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, the Environmental Protection Agency, and any other 
agency that the President considers appropriate. The Director 
of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall select a 
chairperson from among the members of the Interagency 
Committee. The Interagency Committee shall oversee the 
planning, management, and coordination of the Program. The 
Interagency Committee shall--
          (1) provide for interagency coordination of Federal 
        engineering biology research, development, and other 
        activities undertaken pursuant to the Program;
          (2) establish and periodically update goals and 
        priorities for the Program;
          (3) develop, not later than 12 months after the date 
        of enactment of this subtitle, and update every 5 
        years, a strategic plan to guide the activities of the 
        Program and meet the goals and priorities established 
        under paragraph (2) and describe--
                  (A) the Program's support for long-term 
                funding for interdisciplinary engineering 
                biology research and development;
                  (B) the Program's support for education and 
                public outreach activities;
                  (C) the Program's support for research and 
                other activities on ethical, legal, 
                environmental, and other appropriate societal 
                issues related to engineering biology; and
                  (D) how the Program will move results out of 
                the laboratory and into application for the 
                benefit of society and United States 
                competitiveness;
          (4) propose an annually coordinated interagency 
        budget for the Program that will ensure the maintenance 
        of a robust engineering biology research and 
        development portfolio and ensure that the balance of 
        funding across the Program is sufficient to meet the 
        goals and priorities established for the Program;
          (5) develop a plan to utilize Federal programs, such 
        as the Small Business Innovation Research Program and 
        the Small Business Technology Transfer Program, in 
        support of the goals described in subsection (b)(4); 
        and
          (6) in carrying out its responsibilities under this 
        section, take into consideration the recommendations of 
        the Advisory Committee, the results of the workshop 
        convened under section 126, existing reports on related 
        topics, and the views of academic, State, industry, and 
        other appropriate groups.
  (f) Annual Report.--The Interagency Committee shall prepare 
an annual report, to be submitted to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate not later than 90 days after submission of the 
President's annual budget request, that includes--
          (1) the Program budget for the fiscal year to which 
        such budget request applies, and for the then current 
        fiscal year, including a breakout of spending for each 
        agency participating in the Program, and for the 
        development and acquisition of any research facilities 
        and instrumentation; and
          (2) an assessment of how Federal agencies are 
        implementing the plan described in subsection (e)(5), 
        and a description of the amount and number of Small 
        Business Innovation Research and Small Business 
        Technology Transfer awards made in support of the 
        Program.

SEC. 125. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

  (a) In General.--The President shall designate an advisory 
committee on engineering biology research and development with 
at least 12 members, including representatives of research and 
academic institutions, industry, and nongovernmental entities, 
who are qualified to provide advice on the Program.
  (b) Assessment.--The Advisory Committee shall assess--
          (1) progress made in implementing the Program;
          (2) the need to revise the Program;
          (3) the balance of activities and funding across the 
        Program;
          (4) whether the Program priorities and goals 
        developed by the Interagency Committee are helping to 
        maintain United States leadership in engineering 
        biology;
          (5) the management, coordination, implementation, and 
        activities of the Program; and
          (6) whether ethical, legal, environmental, and other 
        appropriate societal issues are adequately addressed by 
        the Program.
  (c) Reports.--The Advisory Committee shall report within 3 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, and thereafter 
not less frequently than once every 5 years, to the President, 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate, on its findings of the assessment 
carried out under this section and its recommendations for ways 
to improve the Program.
  (d) Federal Advisory Committee Act Application.--Section 14 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 
apply to the Advisory Committee.

SEC. 126. EXTERNAL REVIEW OF ETHICAL, LEGAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, AND 
                    SOCIETAL ISSUES.

  (a) In General.--Not later than 12 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall enter into an agreement with the National 
Academies to convene a workshop to review the ethical, legal, 
environmental, and other appropriate societal issues related to 
engineering biology research and development. The goals of the 
workshop shall be to--
          (1) assess the current research on such issues;
          (2) evaluate the research gaps relating to such 
        issues; and
          (3) provide recommendations on how the Program can 
        address the research needs identified.
  (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
Science Foundation shall transmit to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a summary report containing the findings of the workshop 
convened under this section.

SEC. 127. AGENCY ACTIVITIES.

  (a) National Science Foundation.--As part of the Program, the 
National Science Foundation shall--
          (1) support basic research at the intersection of the 
        biological, physical, and information sciences and 
        engineering through individual grants and through 
        interdisciplinary research centers;
          (2) support research on the environmental and social 
        effects of engineering biology;
          (3) provide research instrumentation support for 
        engineering biology disciplines; and
          (4) award grants, on a competitive basis, to enable 
        institutions to support graduate students and 
        postdoctoral fellows who perform some of their 
        engineering biology research in an industry setting.
  (b) Department of Commerce.--As part of the Program, the 
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
shall--
          (1) establish a bioscience research program to 
        advance the development of standard reference materials 
        and measurements and to create new data tools, 
        techniques, and processes necessary to advance 
        engineering biology and biomanufacturing;
          (2) provide access to user facilities with advanced 
        or unique equipment, services, materials, and other 
        resources to industry, institutions of higher 
        education, nonprofit organizations, and government 
        agencies to perform research and testing; and
          (3) provide technical expertise to inform the 
        development of guidelines and safeguards for new 
        products, processes, and systems of engineering 
        biology.
  (c) Department of Energy.--As part of the Program, the 
Secretary of Energy shall--
          (1) conduct and support basic research, development, 
        demonstration, and commercial application activities in 
        engineering biology disciplines, including in the areas 
        of synthetic biology, advanced biofuel development, 
        biobased materials, and environmental remediation; and
          (2) provide access to user facilities with advanced 
        or unique equipment, services, materials, and other 
        resources, as appropriate, to industry, institutions of 
        higher education, nonprofit organizations, and 
        government agencies to perform research and testing.
  (d) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.--As part 
of the Program, the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration shall--
          (1) conduct and support basic and applied research in 
        engineering biology fields, including in the field of 
        synthetic biology, and related to Earth and space 
        sciences, aeronautics, space technology, and space 
        exploration and experimentation, consistent with the 
        priorities established in the National Academies' 
        decadal surveys; and
          (2) award grants, on a competitive basis, that enable 
        institutions to support graduate students and 
        postdoctoral fellows who perform some of their 
        engineering biology research in an industry setting.
  (e) Environmental Protection Agency.--As part of the Program, 
the Environmental Protection Agency shall support research on 
how products, processes, and systems of engineering biology 
will affect the environment.

                 TITLE II--STEM EDUCATION AND DIVERSITY

                Subtitle A--STEM Education and Workforce

SEC. 201. SENSE OF CONGRESS.

  It is the sense of Congress that the National Science and 
Technology Council's Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM), 
established under section 101 of the America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621), has taken 
important initial steps toward developing and implementing a 
strategic plan for Federal investments in STEM education, but 
that more work must be done to solicit and take into account 
views and experience from stakeholders who help implement or 
are the beneficiaries of Federal STEM programs across the 
Nation. It is further the sense of Congress that science 
mission agencies such as the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, and the Department of Energy are essential 
partners in contributing to the goals and implementation of a 
Federal STEM strategic plan because such agencies have unique 
scientific and technological facilities as well as highly 
trained scientists who are eager and able to contribute to 
improved STEM learning outcomes in their own communities.

SEC. 202. COORDINATION OF FEDERAL STEM EDUCATION.

  Section 101 of America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 
(42 U.S.C. 6621) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (b)(5)--
                  (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
                through (D) as subparagraphs (B) through (E), 
                respectively; and
                  (B) by inserting before subparagraph (B), as 
                so redesigned by subparagraph (A) of this 
                paragraph, the following new subparagraph:
                  ``(A) have as its primary goal to leverage 
                the limited STEM education funding and other 
                assets, including intellectual capital, 
                invested by Federal STEM agencies for maximum 
                benefit to student learning;'';
          (2) by striking the second subsection (b);
          (3) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection 
        (f);
          (4) by inserting after subsection (b), the following 
        new subsections:
  ``(c) Coordinator for STEM Education.--The Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy shall designate an 
associate director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy as the Coordinator for STEM Education. When an 
appropriate associate director is not available, the Director 
may designate another appropriate senior government official as 
the Coordinator for STEM Education. The Coordinator shall chair 
the committee established under subsection (a). The Coordinator 
shall, with the assistance of appropriate senior officials from 
other Committee on STEM Education agencies, ensure that the 
requirements of this section are satisfied.
  ``(d) Stakeholder Input.--
          ``(1) Interagency consolidation.--For all agency 
        proposals to consolidate or transfer budgets or 
        functions for STEM education programs or activities 
        between agencies, at the time of submission of such 
        proposals to Congress, the Director shall report to 
        Congress on activities undertaken by the Office of 
        Science and Technology Policy or by relevant agencies 
        to take into consideration relevant input from the STEM 
        Education Advisory Panel established under subsection 
        (e) and other relevant education stakeholders.
          ``(2) Intraagency consolidation.--For all agency 
        proposals to internally consolidate or terminate STEM 
        education programs with budgets exceeding $10,000,000, 
        at the time of submission of such proposals to 
        Congress, the head of the relevant agency shall report 
        to Congress on activities to solicit and take into 
        consideration input on such proposals from the STEM 
        Education Advisory Panel established under subsection 
        (e) and other relevant education stakeholders.
  ``(e) STEM Education Advisory Panel.--
          ``(1) In general.--The President shall establish or 
        designate a STEM Education Advisory Panel. The cochairs 
        of the Advisory Panel shall meet the qualifications of 
        Panel membership required in paragraph (2) and may be 
        members of the President's Council of Advisors on 
        Science and Technology.
          ``(2) Qualifications.--The Advisory Panel established 
        or designated by the President under this subsection 
        shall consist of members from academic institutions, 
        industry, informal education providers, nonprofit STEM 
        education organizations, foundations, and local and 
        State educational agencies. Members of the Advisory 
        Panel shall be qualified to provide advice on Federal 
        STEM education programs, best practices in STEM 
        education, assessment of STEM education programs, STEM 
        education standards, industry needs for STEM graduates, 
        and public-private STEM education partnerships.
          ``(3) Duties.--The Advisory Panel shall advise the 
        President and the committee established under 
        subsection (a) on implementing the Federal STEM 
        education strategic plan required under subsection 
        (b)(5) and coordinating Federal STEM programs with 
        nongovernmental STEM initiatives and State and local 
        educational agencies.
          ``(4) Report.--The Advisory Panel shall report, not 
        more than 1 year after enactment of the America 
        Competes Reauthorization Act of 2015, on options for 
        evidence-based implementation of the Federal STEM 
        strategic plan required under subsection (b)(5), 
        including options for designating certain agencies as 
        coordinating leads for different priority investment 
        areas, timelines for implementation, and specific 
        management, budget, policy, or other steps that 
        agencies must take to effectively implement the 
        strategic plan.
          ``(5) Sunset.--The authorization for the Advisory 
        Panel established under this subsection shall expire 3 
        years after the date of enactment of the America 
        Competes Reauthorization Act of 2015.''; and
          (5) in subsection (f), as so redesignated by 
        paragraph (3) of this section--
                  (A) by inserting ``progress made in 
                implementing'' after ``describing'';
                  (B) by striking paragraph (3); and
                  (C) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) 
                as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively.

SEC. 203. GRAND CHALLENGES IN EDUCATION RESEARCH.

  (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation and the Secretary of Education shall collaborate 
in--
          (1) identifying, prioritizing, and developing 
        strategies to address grand challenges in research and 
        development, including assessment, on the teaching and 
        learning of STEM at the pre-K-12 level, in formal and 
        informal settings, for diverse learning populations, 
        including individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of 
        the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b); and
          (2) ensuring the dissemination and promoting the 
        utilization of the results of such research and 
        development.
  (b) Stakeholder Input.--In identifying the grand challenges 
under subsection (a), the Director and the Secretary shall--
          (1) take into consideration critical research gaps 
        identified in existing reports, including reports by 
        the National Academies, on the teaching and learning of 
        STEM at the pre-K-12 level in formal and informal 
        settings; and
          (2) solicit input from a wide range of stakeholders, 
        including officials from State educational agencies and 
        local educational agencies, STEM teachers, STEM 
        education researchers, scientific and engineering 
        societies, STEM faculty at institutions of higher 
        education, informal STEM education providers, 
        businesses with a large STEM workforce, and other 
        stakeholders in the teaching and learning of STEM at 
        the pre-K-12 level, and may enter into an arrangement 
        with the National Research Council for these purposes.
  (c) Topics To Consider.--In identifying the grand challenges 
under subsection (a), the Director and the Secretary shall, at 
a minimum, consider research and development on--
          (1) scalability, sustainability, and replication of 
        successful STEM activities, programs, and models, in 
        formal and informal environments;
          (2) model systems that support improved teaching and 
        learning of STEM across entire local educational 
        agencies and States, including rural areas, and 
        encompassing and integrating the teaching and learning 
        of STEM in formal and informal venues;
          (3) implementation of new State mathematics and 
        science standards;
          (4) what makes a STEM teacher effective and STEM 
        teacher professional development effective, including 
        development of tools and methodologies to measure STEM 
        teacher effectiveness;
          (5) cyber-enabled and other technology tools for 
        teaching and learning, including massive open online 
        courses;
          (6) STEM teaching and learning in informal 
        environments, including development of tools and 
        methodologies for assessing STEM teaching and learning 
        in informal environments; and
          (7) how integrating engineering with mathematics and 
        science education may--
                  (A) improve student learning of mathematics 
                and science;
                  (B) increase student interest and persistence 
                in STEM; or
                  (C) improve student understanding of 
                engineering design principles and of the built 
                world.
  (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 12 months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director and the Secretary 
shall report to Congress with a description of--
          (1) the grand challenges identified pursuant to this 
        section;
          (2) the role of each agency in supporting research 
        and development activities to address the grand 
        challenges;
          (3) the common metrics that will be used to assess 
        progress toward meeting the grand challenges;
          (4) plans for periodically updating the grand 
        challenges;
          (5) how the agencies will disseminate and promote the 
        utilization of the results of research and development 
        activities carried out under this section to STEM 
        education practitioners, to other Federal agencies that 
        support STEM programs and activities, and to non-
        Federal funders of STEM education; and
          (6) how the agencies will support implementation of 
        best practices identified by the research and 
        development activities.

SEC. 204. NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL REPORT ON STEAM EDUCATION.

  (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
          (1) the Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
        Mathematics (STEM) Talent Expansion Program set an 
        important goal of increasing the number of students 
        graduating with associate or baccalaureate degrees in 
        the STEM fields, and this should continue to be a focus 
        of that program;
          (2) to further the goal of the STEM Talent Expansion 
        Program, as well as STEM education promotion programs 
        across the Federal Government, innovative approaches 
        are needed to enhance STEM education in the United 
        States;
          (3) STEAM, which is the integration of arts and 
        design, broadly defined, into Federal STEM programming, 
        research, and innovation activities, is a method-
        validated approach to maintaining the competitiveness 
        of the United States in both workforce and innovation 
        and to increasing and broadening students' engagement 
        in the STEM fields;
          (4) STEM graduates need more than technical skills to 
        thrive in the 21st century workforce; they also need to 
        be creative, innovative, collaborative, and able to 
        think critically;
          (5) STEAM should be recognized as providing value to 
        STEM research and education programs across Federal 
        agencies, without supplanting the focus on the 
        traditional STEM disciplines;
          (6) Federal agencies should work cooperatively on 
        interdisciplinary initiatives to support the 
        integration of arts and design into STEM, and current 
        interdisciplinary programs should be strengthened;
          (7) Federal agencies should allow for STEAM 
        activities under current and future grant-making and 
        other activities; and
          (8) Federal agencies should clarify that, where 
        appropriate, data collection, surveys, and reporting on 
        STEM activities and grant-making should examine 
        activities that involve cross-disciplinary learning 
        that integrates specialized skills and expertise from 
        both art and science.
  (b) National Research Council Workshop.--The National Science 
Foundation shall enter into an arrangement with the National 
Research Council to conduct a workshop on the integration of 
arts and design with STEM education. The workshop shall include 
a discussion of--
          (1) how the perspectives and experience of artists 
        and designers may contribute to the advancement of 
        science, engineering, and innovation, for example 
        through the development of visualization aids for large 
        experimental and computational data sets;
          (2) how arts and design-based education experiences 
        might support formal and informal STEM education at the 
        pre-K-12 level, particularly in fostering creativity 
        and risk taking, and encourage more students to pursue 
        STEM studies, including students from groups 
        historically underrepresented in STEM;
          (3) how the teaching of design principles can be 
        better integrated into undergraduate engineering and 
        other STEM curricula, including in the first two years 
        of undergraduate studies, to enhance student capacity 
        for creativity and innovation and improve student 
        retention, including students from groups historically 
        underrepresented in STEM; and
          (4) what additional steps, if any, Federal science 
        agencies should take to promote the inclusion of arts 
        and design principles in their respective STEM programs 
        and activities in order to improve student STEM 
        learning outcomes, increase the recruitment and 
        retention of students into STEM studies and careers, 
        and increase innovation in the United States.
  (c) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the National Research Council shall 
submit a report to Congress providing a summary description of 
the discussion and findings from the workshop required under 
subsection (b).

SEC. 205. ENGAGING FEDERAL SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS IN STEM EDUCATION.

  The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
shall develop guidance for Federal agencies to increase 
opportunities and training, as appropriate, for Federal 
scientists and engineers to participate in STEM engagement 
activities through their respective agencies and in their 
communities.

              Subtitle B--Broadening Participation in STEM

SEC. 211. SHORT TITLE.

  This subtitle may be cited as the ``STEM Opportunities Act of 
2015''.

SEC. 212. PURPOSE.

  (a) In General.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, acting through the Federal science agencies, 
shall carry out programs and activities with the purpose of 
ensuring that Federal science agencies and institutions of 
higher education receiving Federal research and development 
funding are fully engaging their entire talent pool.
  (b) Purposes.--The purposes of this subtitle are as follows:
          (1) To promote research on and increase understanding 
        of the participation and trajectories of women and 
        underrepresented minorities in STEM careers at 
        institutions of higher education and Federal science 
        agencies, including Federal laboratories.
          (2) To raise awareness within Federal science 
        agencies, including Federal laboratories, and 
        institutions of higher education about cultural and 
        institutional barriers limiting the recruitment, 
        retention, promotion, and other indicators of 
        participation and achievement of women and 
        underrepresented minorities in academic and Government 
        STEM research careers at all levels.
          (3) To identify, disseminate, and implement best 
        practices at Federal science agencies, including 
        Federal laboratories, and at institutions of higher 
        education to remove or reduce cultural and 
        institutional barriers limiting the recruitment, 
        retention, and success of women and underrepresented 
        minorities in academic and Government STEM research 
        careers.
          (4) To provide grants to institutions of higher 
        education to recruit, retain, and advance STEM faculty 
        members from underrepresented minority groups and to 
        implement or expand reforms in undergraduate STEM 
        education in order to increase the number of students 
        from underrepresented minority groups receiving degrees 
        in these fields.

SEC. 213. FEDERAL SCIENCE AGENCY POLICIES FOR CAREGIVERS.

  (a) OSTP Guidance.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy shall provide guidance to Federal science 
agencies to establish policies that--
          (1) apply to all--
                  (A) intramural and extramural research 
                awards; and
                  (B) primary investigators who have caregiving 
                responsibilities, including care for a newborn 
                or newly adopted child and care for an 
                immediate family member who is sick or 
                disabled; and
          (2) provide--
                  (A) flexibility in timing for the initiation 
                of approved research awards;
                  (B) no-cost extensions of research awards;
                  (C) grant supplements as appropriate to 
                research awards for research technicians or 
                equivalent to sustain research activities; and
                  (D) any other appropriate accommodations at 
                the discretion of the head of each agency.
  (b) Uniformity of Guidance.--In providing such guidance, the 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
encourage uniformity and consistency in the policies across all 
agencies.
  (c) Establishment of Policies.--Consistent with the guidance 
provided under this section, Federal science agencies shall 
maintain or develop and implement policies for caregivers and 
shall broadly disseminate such policies to current and 
potential grantees.
  (d) Data on Usage.--Federal science agencies shall--
          (1) collect data on the usage of the policies under 
        subsection (c), by gender, at both institutions of 
        higher education and Federal laboratories; and
          (2) report such data on an annual basis to the 
        Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
        in such form as required by the Director.

SEC. 214. COLLECTION AND REPORTING OF DATA ON FEDERAL RESEARCH GRANTS.

  (a) Collection of Data.--
          (1) In general.--Each Federal science agency shall 
        collect standardized record-level annual information on 
        demographics, primary field, award type, budget 
        request, funding outcome, and awarded budget for all 
        applications for merit-reviewed research and 
        development grants to institutions of higher education 
        and Federal laboratories supported by that agency.
          (2) Uniformity and standardization.--The Director of 
        the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
        establish a policy to ensure uniformity and 
        standardization of the data collection required under 
        paragraph (1).
          (3) Record-level data.--
                  (A) Requirement.--On an annual basis, 
                beginning with the deadline under subparagraph 
                (C), each Federal science agency shall submit 
                to the Director of the National Science 
                Foundation record-level data collected under 
                paragraph (1) in the form required by such 
                Director.
                  (B) Previous data.--As part of the first 
                submission under subparagraph (A), each Federal 
                science agency, to the extent practicable, 
                shall also submit comparable record-level data 
                for the 5 years preceding the deadline under 
                subparagraph (C).
                  (C) Deadline.--The deadline under this 
                paragraph is 2 years after the date of 
                enactment of this Act.
  (b) Reporting of Data.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall publish statistical summary data collected 
under this section, disaggregated and cross-tabulated by race, 
ethnicity, gender, age, and years since completion of doctoral 
degree, including in conjunction with the National Science 
Foundation's report required by section 37 of the Science and 
Technology Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885d; Public Law 
96-516).

SEC. 215. POLICIES FOR REVIEW OF FEDERAL RESEARCH GRANTS.

  (a) In General.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, in collaboration with the Director of the 
National Science Foundation, shall identify information and 
best practices useful for educating program officers and 
members of standing peer review committees at Federal science 
agencies about--
          (1) research on implicit bias based on gender, race, 
        or ethnicity; and
          (2) methods to minimize the effect of such bias in 
        the review of extramural and intramural Federal 
        research grants.
  (b) Guidance to All Federal Science Agencies.--The Director 
of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
disseminate the information and best practices identified in 
subsection (a) to all Federal science agencies and provide 
guidance as necessary on policies to implement such practices 
within each agency.
  (c) Establishment of Policies.--Consistent with the guidance 
provided in subsection (b), Federal science agencies shall 
maintain or develop and implement policies and practices to 
minimize the effects of implicit bias in the review of 
extramural and intramural Federal research grants.
  (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall report to Congress on what 
steps all Federal science agencies have taken to implement 
policies and practices to minimize the effects of bias in the 
review of extramural and intramural Federal research grants.

SEC. 216. COLLECTION OF DATA ON DEMOGRAPHICS OF FACULTY.

  (a) Collection of Data.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, and at least every 5 
        years thereafter, the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall carry out a survey to collect 
        institution-level data on the demographics of STEM 
        faculty, by broad fields of STEM, at different types of 
        institutions of higher education.
          (2) Considerations.--To the extent practicable, the 
        Director of the National Science Foundation shall 
        consider, by gender, race, ethnicity, citizenship 
        status, age, and years since completion of doctoral 
        degree--
                  (A) the number and percentage of faculty;
                  (B) the number and percentage of faculty at 
                each rank;
                  (C) the number and percentage of faculty who 
                are in nontenure-track positions, including 
                teaching and research;
                  (D) the number and percentage of faculty who 
                are reviewed for promotion, including tenure, 
                and the percentage of that number who are 
                promoted, including being awarded tenure;
                  (E) faculty years in rank;
                  (F) the number and percentage of faculty to 
                leave tenure-track positions;
                  (G) the number and percentage of faculty 
                hired, by rank; and
                  (H) the number and percentage of faculty in 
                leadership positions.
  (b) Existing Surveys.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation--
          (1) may carry out the requirements under subsection 
        (a) by collaborating with statistical centers at other 
        Federal agencies to modify or expand, as necessary, 
        existing Federal surveys of higher education; or
          (2) may award a grant or contract to an institution 
        of higher education or other nonprofit organization to 
        design and carry out the requirements under subsection 
        (a).
  (c) Reporting Data.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall publish statistical summary data collected 
under this section, including as part of the National Science 
Foundation's report required by section 37 of the Science and 
Technology Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885d; Public Law 
96-516).
  (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Director of the National Science 
Foundation $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 
2018 to develop and carry out the initial survey required in 
subsection (a).

SEC. 217. CULTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS TO EXPANDING THE ACADEMIC 
                    AND FEDERAL STEM WORKFORCE.

  (a) Best Practices at Institutions of Higher Education.--
          (1) Development of guidance.--Not later than 6 months 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director 
        of the National Science Foundation shall develop 
        written guidance for institutions of higher education 
        on the best practices for--
                  (A) conducting periodic campus culture 
                surveys of STEM departments, with a particular 
                focus on identifying any cultural or 
                institutional barriers to or successful 
                enablers for the recruitment, retention, 
                promotion, and other indicators of 
                participation and achievement, of women and 
                underrepresented minorities in STEM degree 
                programs and academic STEM careers; and
                  (B) providing educational opportunities, 
                including workshops as described in subsection 
                (c), for STEM faculty and administrators to 
                learn about current research on implicit bias 
                in recruitment, evaluation, and promotion of 
                faculty in STEM and recruitment and evaluation 
                of undergraduate and graduate students in STEM 
                degree programs.
          (2) Existing guidance.--In developing the guidance in 
        paragraph (1), the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation shall utilize guidance already developed by 
        the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the 
        Department of Energy, and the Department of Education.
          (3) Dissemination of guidance.--The Director of the 
        National Science Foundation shall broadly disseminate 
        the guidance developed in paragraph (1) to institutions 
        of higher education that receive Federal research 
        funding.
          (4) Reports to the national science foundation.--The 
        Director of the National Science Foundation shall 
        develop a policy that--
                  (A) applies to, at a minimum, the 
                institutions classified under the Indiana 
                University Center for Postsecondary Research 
                Carnegie Classification on January 1, 2015, as 
                a doctorate-granting university with a very 
                high level of research activity; and
                  (B) requires each institution identified in 
                subparagraph (A), not later than 3 years after 
                the date of enactment of this Act, to report to 
                the Director of the National Science Foundation 
                on activities and policies developed and 
                implemented based on the guidance provided in 
                paragraph (1).
  (b) Best Practices at Federal Laboratories.--
          (1) Development of guidance.--Not later than 6 months 
        after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director 
        of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
        develop written guidance for Federal laboratories to 
        develop and implement practices and policies to--
                  (A) conduct periodic laboratorywide culture 
                surveys of research personnel at all levels, 
                with a particular focus on identifying any 
                cultural or institutional barriers to the 
                recruitment, retention, and success of women 
                and underrepresented minorities in STEM careers 
                at Federal laboratories; and
                  (B) provide educational opportunities, 
                including workshops as described in subsection 
                (c), for STEM research personnel to learn about 
                current research in implicit bias in 
                recruitment, evaluation, and promotion of 
                research personnel at Federal laboratories.
          (2) Establishment of policies.--Consistent with the 
        guidance provided in paragraph (1), Federal science 
        agencies with Federal laboratories shall maintain or 
        develop and implement policies for their respective 
        Federal laboratories.
  (c) Workshops To Address Cultural Barriers To Expanding the 
Academic and Federal STEM Workforce.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 6 months after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the 
        National Science Foundation shall recommend a uniform 
        policy for Federal science agencies to carry out a 
        program of workshops that educate STEM department 
        chairs at institutions of higher education, senior 
        managers at Federal laboratories, and other federally 
        funded researchers about methods that minimize the 
        effects of implicit bias in the career advancement, 
        including hiring, tenure, promotion, and selection for 
        any honor based in part on the recipient's research 
        record, of academic and Federal STEM researchers.
          (2) Interagency coordination.--The Director of the 
        National Science Foundation shall ensure that workshops 
        supported under this subsection are coordinated across 
        Federal science agencies and jointly supported as 
        appropriate.
          (3) Minimizing costs.--To the extent practicable, 
        workshops shall be held in conjunction with national or 
        regional STEM disciplinary meetings to minimize costs 
        associated with participant travel.
          (4) Priority fields for academic participants.--In 
        considering the participation of STEM department chairs 
        and other academic researchers, the Director of the 
        National Science Foundation shall prioritize workshops 
        for the broad fields of STEM in which the national rate 
        of representation of women among tenured or tenure-
        track faculty or non-faculty researchers at doctorate-
        granting institutions of higher education is less than 
        25 percent, according to the most recent data available 
        from the National Center for Science and Engineering 
        Statistics.
          (5) Organizations eligible to carry out workshops.--
        Federal science agencies may carry out the program of 
        workshops under this subsection by making grants to 
        eligible organizations. In addition to any other 
        organizations made eligible by the Federal science 
        agencies, the following organizations are eligible for 
        grants under this subsection:
                  (A) Nonprofit scientific and professional 
                societies and organizations that represent one 
                or more STEM disciplines.
                  (B) Nonprofit organizations that have the 
                primary mission of advancing the participation 
                of women or underrepresented minorities in 
                STEM.
          (6) Characteristics of workshops.--The workshops 
        shall have the following characteristics:
                  (A) Invitees to workshops shall include at 
                least--
                          (i) the chairs of departments in the 
                        relevant STEM discipline or disciplines 
                        from at least the top 50 institutions 
                        of higher education, as determined by 
                        the amount of Federal research and 
                        development funds obligated to each 
                        institution of higher education in the 
                        prior year based on data available from 
                        the National Science Foundation; and
                          (ii) in the case of Federal 
                        laboratories, individuals with 
                        personnel management responsibilities 
                        comparable to those of an institution 
                        of higher education department chair.
                  (B) Activities at the workshops shall include 
                research presentations and interactive 
                discussions or other activities that increase 
                the awareness of the existence of implicit bias 
                in recruitment, hiring, tenure review, 
                promotion, and other forms of formal 
                recognition of individual achievement for 
                faculty and other federally funded STEM 
                researchers and shall provide strategies to 
                overcome such bias.
                  (C) Research presentations and other workshop 
                programs, as appropriate, shall include a 
                discussion of the unique challenges faced by 
                underrepresented subgroups, including minority 
                women, minority men, and first generation 
                minority graduates in research.
                  (D) Workshop programs shall include 
                information on best practices for mentoring 
                undergraduate and graduate women and 
                underrepresented minority students.
          (7) Data on workshops.--Any proposal for funding by 
        an organization seeking to carry out a workshop under 
        this subsection shall include a description of how such 
        organization will--
                  (A) collect data on the rates of attendance 
                by invitees in workshops, including information 
                on the home institution and department of 
                attendees, and the rank of faculty attendees;
                  (B) conduct attitudinal surveys on workshop 
                attendees before and after the workshops; and
                  (C) collect follow-up data on any relevant 
                institutional policy or practice changes 
                reported by attendees not later than 1 year 
                after attendance in such a workshop.
          (8) Report to nsf.--Organizations receiving funding 
        to carry out workshops under this subsection shall 
        report the data required in paragraph (7) to the 
        Director of the National Science Foundation in such 
        form as required by such Director.
  (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 4 years after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
Science Foundation shall submit a report to Congress that 
includes--
          (1) a summary and analysis of the types and frequency 
        of activities and policies developed and carried out 
        under subsection (a) based on the reports submitted 
        under paragraph (4) of such subsection; and
          (2) a description and evaluation of the status and 
        effectiveness of the program of workshops required 
        under subsection (c), including a summary of any data 
        reported under paragraph (8) of such subsection.
  (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Director of the National Science 
Foundation $2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 
2020 to carry out this section.

SEC. 218. RESEARCH AND DISSEMINATION AT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE 
                    FOUNDATION.

  (a) In General.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall award research grants and carry out 
dissemination activities consistent with the purposes of this 
subtitle, including--
          (1) research grants to analyze the record-level data 
        collected under section 214 and section 216, consistent 
        with policies to ensure the privacy of individuals 
        identifiable by such data;
          (2) research grants to study best practices for work-
        life accommodation;
          (3) research grants to study the impact of policies 
        and practices that are implemented under this subtitle 
        or that are otherwise consistent with the purposes of 
        this subtitle;
          (4) collaboration with other Federal science agencies 
        and professional associations to exchange best 
        practices, harmonize work-life accommodation policies 
        and practices, and overcome common barriers to work-
        life accommodation; and
          (5) collaboration with institutions of higher 
        education in order to clarify and catalyze the adoption 
        of a coherent and consistent set of work-life 
        accommodation policies and practices.
  (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Director of the National Science 
Foundation $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 
2020 to carry out this section.

SEC. 219. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

  Not later than 4 years after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall submit a report to Congress that includes--
          (1) a description and evaluation of the status and 
        usage of caregiver policies at all Federal science 
        agencies, including any recommendations for revising or 
        expanding such policies;
          (2) a description of any significant updates to the 
        policies for review of Federal research grants required 
        under section 215, and any evidence of the impact of 
        such policies on the review or awarding of Federal 
        research grants; and
          (3) a description and evaluation of the status of 
        Federal laboratory policies and practices required 
        under section 217(b), including any recommendations for 
        revising or expanding such policies.

SEC. 220. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SUPPORT FOR INCREASING DIVERSITY 
                    AMONG STEM FACULTY AT INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER 
                    EDUCATION.

  (a) Grants.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall award grants to institutions of higher education (or 
consortia thereof) for the development of innovative reform 
efforts designed to increase the recruitment, retention, and 
advancement of individuals from underrepresented minority 
groups in academic STEM careers.
  (b) Merit Review; Competition.--Grants shall be awarded under 
this section on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis.
  (c) Use of Funds.--Activities supported by grants under this 
section may include--
          (1) institutional assessment activities, such as data 
        analyses and policy review, in order to identify and 
        address specific issues in the recruitment, retention, 
        and advancement of faculty members from 
        underrepresented minority groups;
          (2) implementation of institution-wide improvements 
        in workload distribution, such that faculty members 
        from underrepresented minority groups are not 
        disadvantaged in the amount of time available to focus 
        on research, publishing papers, and engaging in other 
        activities required to achieve tenure status and run a 
        productive research program;
          (3) development and implementation of training 
        courses for administrators and search committee members 
        to ensure that candidates from underrepresented 
        minority groups are not subject to implicit biases in 
        the search and hiring process;
          (4) development and hosting of intra- or inter-
        institutional workshops to propagate best practices in 
        recruiting, retaining, and advancing faculty members 
        from underrepresented minority groups;
          (5) professional development opportunities for 
        faculty members from underrepresented minority groups;
          (6) activities aimed at making undergraduate STEM 
        students from underrepresented minority groups aware of 
        opportunities for academic careers in STEM fields;
          (7) activities to identify and engage exceptional 
        graduate students from underrepresented minority groups 
        at various stages of their studies and to encourage 
        them to enter academic careers; and
          (8) other activities consistent with subsection (a), 
        as determined by the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation.
  (d) Selection Process.--
          (1) Application.--An institution of higher education 
        (or consortia thereof) seeking funding under this 
        section shall submit an application to the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation at such time, in such 
        manner, and containing such information and assurances 
        as such Director may require. The application shall 
        include, at a minimum, a description of--
                  (A) the reform effort that is being proposed 
                for implementation by the institution of higher 
                education;
                  (B) any available evidence of specific 
                difficulties in the recruitment, retention, and 
                advancement of faculty members from 
                underrepresented minority groups in STEM 
                academic careers within the institution of 
                higher education submitting an application, and 
                how the proposed reform effort would address 
                such issues;
                  (C) how the institution of higher education 
                submitting an application plans to sustain the 
                proposed reform effort beyond the duration of 
                the grant; and
                  (D) how the success and effectiveness of the 
                proposed reform effort will be evaluated and 
                assessed in order to contribute to the national 
                knowledge base about models for catalyzing 
                institutional change.
          (2) Review of applications.--In selecting grant 
        recipients under this section, the Director of the 
        National Science Foundation shall consider, at a 
        minimum--
                  (A) the likelihood of success in undertaking 
                the proposed reform effort at the institution 
                of higher education submitting the application, 
                including the extent to which the 
                administrators of the institution are committed 
                to making the proposed reform effort a 
                priority;
                  (B) the degree to which the proposed reform 
                effort will contribute to change in 
                institutional culture and policy such that 
                greater value is placed on the recruitment, 
                retention, and advancement of faculty members 
                from underrepresented minority groups;
                  (C) the likelihood that the institution of 
                higher education will sustain or expand the 
                proposed reform effort beyond the period of the 
                grant; and
                  (D) the degree to which evaluation and 
                assessment plans are included in the design of 
                the proposed reform effort.
          (3) Grant distribution.--The Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall ensure, to the extent 
        practicable, that grants awarded under this section are 
        made to a variety of types of institutions of higher 
        education.
  (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Director of the National Science 
Foundation $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 
2020 to carry out this section.

SEC. 221. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION SUPPORT FOR BROADENING 
                    PARTICIPATION IN UNDERGRADUATE STEM EDUCATION.

  (a) Grants.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
shall award grants to institutions of higher education (or 
consortia thereof) to implement or expand research-based 
reforms in undergraduate STEM education for the purpose of 
recruiting and retaining students from minority groups who are 
underrepresented in STEM fields, with a priority focus on 
natural science and engineering fields.
  (b) Merit Review; Competition.--Grants shall be awarded under 
this section on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis.
  (c) Use of Funds.--Activities supported by grants under this 
section may include--
          (1) implementation or expansion of innovative, 
        research-based approaches to broaden participation of 
        underrepresented minority groups in STEM fields;
          (2) implementation or expansion of bridge, cohort, 
        tutoring, or mentoring programs designed to enhance the 
        recruitment and retention of students from 
        underrepresented minority groups in STEM fields;
          (3) implementation or expansion of outreach programs 
        linking institutions of higher education and K-12 
        school systems in order to heighten awareness among 
        pre-college students from underrepresented minority 
        groups of opportunities in college-level STEM fields 
        and STEM careers;
          (4) implementation or expansion of faculty 
        development programs focused on improving retention of 
        undergraduate STEM students from underrepresented 
        minority groups;
          (5) implementation or expansion of mechanisms 
        designed to recognize and reward faculty members who 
        demonstrate a commitment to increasing the 
        participation of students from underrepresented 
        minority groups in STEM fields;
          (6) expansion of successful reforms aimed at 
        increasing the number of STEM students from 
        underrepresented minority groups beyond a single course 
        or group of courses to achieve reform within an entire 
        academic unit, or expansion of successful reform 
        efforts beyond a single academic unit to other STEM 
        academic units within an institution of higher 
        education;
          (7) expansion of opportunities for students from 
        underrepresented minority groups to conduct STEM 
        research in industry, at Federal laboratories, and at 
        international research institutions or research sites;
          (8) provision of stipends for students from 
        underrepresented minority groups participating in 
        research;
          (9) development of research collaborations between 
        research-intensive universities and primarily 
        undergraduate minority-serving institutions;
          (10) support for graduate students and postdoctoral 
        fellows from underrepresented minority groups to 
        participate in instructional or assessment activities 
        at primarily undergraduate institutions, including 
        primarily undergraduate minority-serving institutions 
        and two-year institutions of higher education; and
          (11) other activities consistent with subsection (a), 
        as determined by the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation.
  (d) Selection Process.--
          (1) Application.--An institution of higher education 
        (or consortium thereof) seeking a grant under this 
        section shall submit an application to the Director of 
        the National Science Foundation at such time, in such 
        manner, and containing such information and assurances 
        as such Director may require. The application shall 
        include, at a minimum--
                  (A) a description of the proposed reform 
                effort;
                  (B) a description of the research findings 
                that will serve as the basis for the proposed 
                reform effort or, in the case of applications 
                that propose an expansion of a previously 
                implemented reform, a description of the 
                previously implemented reform effort, including 
                data about the recruitment, retention, and 
                academic achievement of students from 
                underrepresented minority groups;
                  (C) evidence of an institutional commitment 
                to, and support for, the proposed reform 
                effort, including a long-term commitment to 
                implement successful strategies from the 
                current reform beyond the academic unit or 
                units included in the grant proposal;
                  (D) a description of existing or planned 
                institutional policies and practices regarding 
                faculty hiring, promotion, tenure, and teaching 
                assignment that reward faculty contributions to 
                improving the education of students from 
                underrepresented minority groups in STEM; and
                  (E) how the success and effectiveness of the 
                proposed reform effort will be evaluated and 
                assessed in order to contribute to the national 
                knowledge base about models for catalyzing 
                institutional change.
          (2) Review of applications.--In selecting grant 
        recipients under this section, the Director of the 
        National Science Foundation shall consider, at a 
        minimum--
                  (A) the likelihood of success of the proposed 
                reform effort at the institution submitting the 
                application, including the extent to which the 
                faculty, staff, and administrators of the 
                institution are committed to making the 
                proposed institutional reform a priority of the 
                participating academic unit or units;
                  (B) the degree to which the proposed reform 
                effort will contribute to change in 
                institutional culture and policy such that 
                greater value is placed on faculty engagement 
                in the retention of students from 
                underrepresented minority groups;
                  (C) the likelihood that the institution will 
                sustain or expand the proposed reform effort 
                beyond the period of the grant; and
                  (D) the degree to which evaluation and 
                assessment plans are included in the design of 
                the proposed reform effort.
          (3) Priority.--For applications that include an 
        expansion of existing reforms beyond a single academic 
        unit, the Director of the National Science Foundation 
        shall give priority to applications for which a senior 
        institutional administrator, such as a dean or other 
        administrator of equal or higher rank, serves as the 
        principal investigator.
          (4) Grant distribution.--The Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall ensure, to the extent 
        practicable, that grants awarded under this section are 
        made to a variety of types of institutions of higher 
        education, including two-year and minority-serving 
        institutions of higher education.
  (e) Education Research.--
          (1) In general.--All grants made under this section 
        shall include an education research component that will 
        support the design and implementation of a system for 
        data collection and evaluation of proposed reform 
        efforts in order to build the knowledge base on 
        promising models for increasing recruitment and 
        retention of students from underrepresented minority 
        groups in STEM education at the undergraduate level 
        across a diverse set of institutions.
          (2) Dissemination.--The Director of the National 
        Science Foundation shall coordinate with relevant 
        Federal agencies in disseminating the results of the 
        research under this subsection to ensure that best 
        practices in broadening participation in STEM education 
        at the undergraduate level are made readily available 
        to all institutions of higher education, other Federal 
        agencies that support STEM programs, non-Federal 
        funders of STEM education, and the general public.
  (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Director of the National Science 
Foundation $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 
2020 to carry out this section.

SEC. 222. DEFINITIONS.

  (a) This Subtitle.--In this subtitle:
          (1) Federal laboratory.--The term ``Federal 
        laboratory'' has the meaning given such term in section 
        4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
        1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703).
          (2) Federal science agency.--The term ``Federal 
        science agency'' means any Federal agency with at least 
        $100,000,000 in research and development expenditures 
        in fiscal year 2014.
          (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
          (4) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics, including 
        other academic subjects that build on these disciplines 
        such as computer science.
  (b) National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002.--
Section 4 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act 
of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n note) is amended--
          (1) by redesignating paragraph (16) as paragraph 
        (17); and
          (2) by inserting after paragraph (15) the following 
        new paragraph:
          ``(16) STEM.--The term `STEM' means science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics, including 
        other academic subjects that build on these disciplines 
        such as computer science.''.

                 TITLE III--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

                     Subtitle A--General Provisions

SEC. 301. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  (a) Fiscal Year 2016.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Foundation $7,723,550,000 for 
        fiscal year 2016.
          (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized 
        under paragraph (1)--
                  (A) $6,186,300,000 shall be made available 
                for research and related activities;
                  (B) $962,570,000 shall be made available for 
                education and human resources;
                  (C) $200,310,000 shall be made available for 
                major research equipment and facilities 
                construction;
                  (D) $354,840,000 shall be made available for 
                agency operations and award management;
                  (E) $4,370,000 shall be made available for 
                the Office of the National Science Board, 
                including salaries and compensation for members 
                of the Board and staff appointed under section 
                4 of the National Science Foundation Act of 
                1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863), travel and training 
                costs for members of the Board and such staff, 
                general and Board operating expenses, 
                representational expenses for the Board, 
                honorary awards made by the Board, Board 
                reports (other than the report entitled 
                ``Science and Engineering Indicators''), and 
                contracts; and
                  (F) $15,160,000 shall be made available for 
                the Office of Inspector General.
  (b) Fiscal Year 2017.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Foundation $8,099,010,000 for 
        fiscal year 2017.
          (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized 
        under paragraph (1)--
                  (A) $6,495,620,000 shall be made available 
                for research and related activities;
                  (B) $1,010,700,000 shall be made available 
                for education and human resources;
                  (C) $200,000,000 shall be made available for 
                major research equipment and facilities 
                construction;
                  (D) $372,580,000 shall be made available for 
                agency operations and award management;
                  (E) $4,500,000 shall be made available for 
                the Office of the National Science Board, 
                including salaries and compensation for members 
                of the Board and staff appointed under section 
                4 of the National Science Foundation Act of 
                1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863), travel and training 
                costs for members of the Board and such staff, 
                general and Board operating expenses, 
                representational expenses for the Board, 
                honorary awards made by the Board, Board 
                reports (other than the report entitled 
                ``Science and Engineering Indicators''), and 
                contracts; and
                  (F) $15,610,000 shall be made available for 
                the Office of Inspector General.
  (c) Fiscal Year 2018.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Foundation $8,493,560,000 for 
        fiscal year 2018.
          (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized 
        under paragraph (1)--
                  (A) $6,820,400,000 shall be made available 
                for research and related activities;
                  (B) $1,061,230,000 shall be made available 
                for education and human resources;
                  (C) $200,000,000 shall be made available for 
                major research equipment and facilities 
                construction;
                  (D) $391,210,000 shall be made available for 
                agency operations and award management;
                  (E) $4,640,000 shall be made available for 
                the Office of the National Science Board, 
                including salaries and compensation for members 
                of the Board and staff appointed under section 
                4 of the National Science Foundation Act of 
                1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863), travel and training 
                costs for members of the Board and such staff, 
                general and Board operating expenses, 
                representational expenses for the Board, 
                honorary awards made by the Board, Board 
                reports (other than the report entitled 
                ``Science and Engineering Indicators''), and 
                contracts; and
                  (F) $16,080,000 shall be made available for 
                the Office of Inspector General.
  (d) Fiscal Year 2019.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Foundation $8,907,820,000 for 
        fiscal year 2019.
          (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized 
        under paragraph (1)--
                  (A) $7,161,420,000 shall be made available 
                for research and related activities;
                  (B) $1,114,300,000 shall be made available 
                for education and human resources;
                  (C) $200,000,000 shall be made available for 
                major research equipment and facilities 
                construction;
                  (D) $410,770,000 shall be made available for 
                agency operations and award management;
                  (E) $4,780,000 shall be made available for 
                the Office of the National Science Board, 
                including salaries and compensation for members 
                of the Board and staff appointed under section 
                4 of the National Science Foundation Act of 
                1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863), travel and training 
                costs for members of the Board and such staff, 
                general and Board operating expenses, 
                representational expenses for the Board, 
                honorary awards made by the Board, Board 
                reports (other than the report entitled 
                ``Science and Engineering Indicators''), and 
                contracts; and
                  (F) $16,570,000 shall be made available for 
                the Office of Inspector General.
  (e) Fiscal Year 2020.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Foundation $9,342,790,000 for 
        fiscal year 2020.
          (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized 
        under paragraph (1)--
                  (A) $7,519,490,000 shall be made available 
                for research and related activities;
                  (B) $1,170,010,000 shall be made available 
                for education and human resources;
                  (C) $200,000,000 shall be made available for 
                major research equipment and facilities 
                construction;
                  (D) $431,310,000 shall be made available for 
                agency operations and award management;
                  (E) $4,920,000 shall be made available for 
                the Office of the National Science Board, 
                including salaries and compensation for members 
                of the Board and staff appointed under section 
                4 of the National Science Foundation Act of 
                1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863), travel and training 
                costs for members of the Board and such staff, 
                general and Board operating expenses, 
                representational expenses for the Board, 
                honorary awards made by the Board, Board 
                reports (other than the report entitled 
                ``Science and Engineering Indicators''), and 
                contracts; and
                  (F) $17,060,000 shall be made available for 
                the Office of Inspector General.

SEC. 302. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS ON SUPPORT FOR ALL FIELDS OF 
                    SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.

  (a) Findings.--Congress finds that the Foundation's 
investments in social, behavioral, and economic research have 
addressed challenges, including--
          (1) in medicine, matching organ donors to patients, 
        leading to a dramatic growth in paired kidney 
        transplants;
          (2) in policing, implementing predictive models that 
        help to yield significant reductions in crime;
          (3) in resource allocation, developing the theories 
        underlying the Federal Communications Commission 
        spectrum auction, which has generated over 
        $60,000,000,000 in revenue;
          (4) in disaster preparation and recovery, identifying 
        barriers to effective disaster evacuation strategies;
          (5) in national defense, assisting United States 
        troops in cross-cultural communication and in 
        identifying threats; and
          (6) in areas such as economics, education, 
        cybersecurity, transportation, and national defense, 
        supporting informed decisionmaking in foreign and 
        domestic policy.
  (b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that in 
order to achieve its mission ``to promote the progress of 
science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and 
welfare; to secure the national defense'' the Foundation must 
continue to support unfettered, competitive, merit-reviewed 
basic research across all fields of science and engineering, 
including the social, behavioral, and economic sciences.

SEC. 303. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION MERIT REVIEW.

  (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
          (1) the Foundation's Intellectual Merit and Broader 
        Impacts criteria remain appropriate for evaluating 
        grant proposals, as concluded by the 2011 National 
        Science Board Task Force on Merit Review;
          (2) evaluating proposals on the basis of the 
        Foundation's Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts 
        criteria ensures that--
                  (A) proposals funded by the Foundation are of 
                high quality and advance scientific knowledge; 
                and
                  (B) the Foundation's overall funding 
                portfolio addresses societal needs through 
                research findings or through related 
                activities; and
          (3) as evidenced by the Foundation's contributions to 
        scientific advancement, economic development, human 
        health, and national security, its peer review and 
        merit review processes have successfully identified and 
        funded scientifically and societally relevant research, 
        remain the gold standard for the world, and must be 
        preserved.
  (b) Criteria.--The Foundation shall maintain the Intellectual 
Merit and Broader Impacts criteria as the basis for evaluating 
grant proposals in the merit review process.

SEC. 304. MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT OF LARGE FACILITIES.

  (a) Large Facilities Office.--The Director shall maintain a 
Large Facilities Office within the Foundation. The functions of 
the Large Facilities Office shall be to support the research 
directorates in the development and implementation of major 
research facilities, including by--
          (1) serving as the Foundation's primary resource for 
        all policy or process issues related to the development 
        and implementation of major research facilities;
          (2) serving as a Foundation-wide resource on project 
        management, including providing expert assistance on 
        nonscientific and nontechnical aspects of project 
        planning, budgeting, implementation, management, and 
        oversight; and
          (3) coordinating and collaborating with research 
        directorates to share best management practices and 
        lessons learned from prior projects.
  (b) Oversight of Large Facilities.--The Director shall 
appoint a senior agency official within the Office of the 
Director whose primary responsibility is oversight of major 
research facilities. The duties of this official shall 
include--
          (1) oversight of the development, construction, and 
        operation of major research facilities across the 
        Foundation;
          (2) in collaboration with the directors of the 
        research directorates and other senior agency officials 
        as appropriate, ensuring that the requirements of 
        section 14(a) of the National Science Foundation 
        Authorization Act of 2002 are satisfied;
          (3) serving as a liaison to the National Science 
        Board for approval and oversight of major research 
        facilities; and
          (4) periodically reviewing and updating as necessary 
        Foundation policies and guidelines for the development 
        and construction of major research facilities.
  (c) Policies for Costing Large Facilities.--
          (1) In general.--The Director shall ensure that the 
        Foundation's policies for developing and managing major 
        research facility construction costs are consistent 
        with the best practices described in the March 2009 
        General Accountability Office Report GAO-09-3SP.
          (2) Report.--Not later than 12 months after the date 
        of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to 
        Congress a report describing the Foundation's policies 
        for developing and managing major research facility 
        construction costs, including a description of any 
        aspects of the policies that diverge from the best 
        practices recommended in General Accountability Office 
        Report GAO-09-3SP.

SEC. 305. SUPPORT FOR POTENTIALLY TRANSFORMATIVE RESEARCH.

  (a) In General.--The Director shall establish and 
periodically update grant solicitation, merit review, and 
funding policies and mechanisms designed to identify and 
provide support for high-risk, high-reward basic research 
proposals.
  (b) Policies and Mechanisms.--Such policies and mechanisms 
may include--
          (1) development of solicitations specifically for 
        high-risk, high-reward basic research;
          (2) establishment of review panels for the primary 
        purpose of selecting high-risk, high-reward proposals;
          (3) development of guidance to standard review panels 
        to encourage the identification and consideration of 
        high-risk, high-reward proposals; and
          (4) support for workshops and other conferences with 
        the primary purpose of identifying new opportunities 
        for high-risk, high-reward basic research, especially 
        at interdisciplinary interfaces.
  (c) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
``high-risk, high-reward basic research'' means research driven 
by ideas that have the potential to radically change our 
understanding of an important existing scientific or 
engineering concept, or leading to the creation of a new 
paradigm or field of science or engineering, and that is 
characterized by its challenge to current understanding or its 
pathway to new frontiers.

SEC. 306. STRENGTHENING INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS.

  (a) In General.--For any Foundation research grant, in an 
amount greater than $5,000,000, to be carried out through a 
partnership that includes one or more minority-serving 
institutions or predominantly undergraduate institutions and 
one or more institutions described in subsection (b), the 
Director shall award funds directly, according to the budget 
justification described in the grant proposal, to at least two 
of the institutions of higher education in the partnership, 
including at least one minority-serving institution or one 
predominantly undergraduate institution, to ensure a strong and 
equitable partnership.
  (b) Institutions.--The institutions referred to in subsection 
(a) are institutions of higher education that are among the 100 
institutions receiving, over the 3-year period immediately 
preceding the awarding of grants, the highest amount of 
research funding from the Foundation.
  (c) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall provide a report to 
Congress on institutional research partnerships identified in 
subsection (a) funded in the 2 previous fiscal years and make 
any recommendations for how such partnerships can continue to 
be strengthened.

SEC. 307. INNOVATION CORPS.

  (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
          (1) the National Science Foundation's Innovation 
        Corps (I-Corps) was established to foster a national 
        innovation ecosystem by encouraging institutions, 
        scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to identify 
        and explore the innovation and commercial potential of 
        Foundation-funded research well beyond the laboratory;
          (2) the Foundation's I-Corps includes investments in 
        entrepreneurship and commercialization education, 
        training, and mentoring, ultimately leading to the 
        practical deployment of technologies, products, 
        processes, and services that improve the Nation's 
        competitiveness, promote economic growth, and benefit 
        society; and
          (3) by building networks of entrepreneurs, educators, 
        mentors, institutions, and collaborations, and 
        supporting specialized education and training, I-Corps 
        is at the leading edge of a strong, lasting foundation 
        for an American innovation ecosystem.
  (b) Program.--
          (1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a 
        program to award grants for entrepreneurship and 
        commercialization education to Foundation-funded 
        researchers to increase the economic and social impact 
        of federally funded research.
          (2) Purposes.--The purpose of the program shall be to 
        increase the capacity of STEM researchers and students 
        to successfully engage in entrepreneurial activities 
        and to help transition the results of federally funded 
        research into the marketplace by--
                  (A) identifying STEM research that can lead 
                to the practical deployment of technologies, 
                products, processes, and services that improve 
                the Nation's economic competitiveness;
                  (B) bringing STEM researchers and students 
                together with entrepreneurs, venture 
                capitalists, and other industry representatives 
                experienced in commercialization of new 
                technologies;
                  (C) supporting entrepreneurship and 
                commercialization education and training for 
                faculty, students, postdoctoral fellows, and 
                other STEM researchers; and
                  (D) promoting the development of regional and 
                national networks of entrepreneurs, venture 
                capitalists, and other industry representatives 
                who can serve as mentors to researchers and 
                students at Foundation-funded institutions 
                across the country.
          (3) Additional use of funds.--Grants awarded under 
        this subsection may be used to help support--
                  (A) prototype and proof-of-concept 
                development for the funded project; and
                  (B) additional activities needed to build a 
                national infrastructure for STEM 
                entrepreneurship.
          (4) Other federal agencies.--The Director may 
        establish agreements with other Federal agencies that 
        fund scientific research to make researchers funded by 
        those agencies eligible to participate in the 
        Foundation's Innovation Corps program.

SEC. 308. DEFINITIONS.

  For purposes of this title:
          (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the 
        Director of the Foundation.
          (2) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the 
        National Science Foundation.
          (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 101(a) of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
          (4) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics, including 
        other academic subjects that build on these disciplines 
        such as computer science.

                       Subtitle B--STEM Education

SEC. 321. NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD REPORT ON CONSOLIDATION OF STEM 
                    EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AT THE FOUNDATION.

  (a) In General.--The National Science Board shall review and 
evaluate the appropriateness of the Foundation's portfolio of 
STEM education programs and activities at the pre-K-12 and 
undergraduate levels, including informal education, taking into 
account the mission of the Foundation and the 2013 Federal STEM 
Education 5-Year Strategic Plan.
  (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the National Science Board shall submit 
to Congress a report summarizing their findings and including--
          (1) an analysis of how well the Foundation's 
        portfolio of STEM education programs is contributing to 
        the mission of the Foundation;
          (2) an analysis of how well STEM education programs 
        and activities are coordinated and best practices are 
        shared across the Foundation;
          (3) an analysis of how well the Foundation's 
        portfolio of STEM education programs is aligned with 
        and contributes to priority STEM education investment 
        areas described in the 2013 Federal STEM Education 5-
        Year Strategic Plan;
          (4) any Board recommendations regarding internal 
        reorganization, including consolidation, of the 
        Foundation's STEM education programs and activities, 
        taking into account both the mission of the Foundation 
        and the 2013 Federal STEM Education 5-Year Strategic 
        Plan;
          (5) any Board recommendations regarding the 
        Foundation's role in helping to implement the Federal 
        STEM Education 5-Year Strategic Plan, including 
        opportunities for the Foundation to more effectively 
        partner and collaborate with other Federal agencies; 
        and
          (6) any additional Board recommendations regarding 
        specific management, policy, budget, or other steps the 
        Foundation should take to increase effectiveness and 
        accountability across its portfolio of STEM education 
        programs and activities.

SEC. 322. MODELS FOR GRADUATE STUDENT SUPPORT.

  (a) In General.--The Director shall enter into an agreement 
with the National Research Council to convene a workshop or 
roundtable to examine models of Federal support for STEM 
graduate students, including the Foundation's Graduate Research 
Fellowship program and comparable fellowship programs at other 
agencies, traineeship programs, and the research assistant 
model.
  (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the workshop or roundtable shall 
be to compare and evaluate the extent to which each of these 
models helps to prepare graduate students for diverse careers 
utilizing STEM degrees, including at diverse types of 
institutions of higher education, in industry, and at 
government agencies and research laboratories, and to make 
recommendations regarding--
          (1) how current Federal programs and models, 
        including programs and models at the Foundation, can be 
        improved;
          (2) the appropriateness of the current distribution 
        of funding among the different models at the Foundation 
        and across the agencies; and
          (3) the appropriateness of creating a new education 
        and training program for graduate students distinct 
        from programs that provide direct financial support, 
        including the grants authorized in section 527 of the 
        America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
        1862p-15).
  (c) Criteria.--At a minimum, in comparing programs and 
models, the workshop or roundtable participants shall consider 
the capacity of such programs or models to provide students 
with knowledge and skills--
          (1) to become independent, creative, successful 
        researchers;
          (2) to participate in large interdisciplinary 
        research projects, including in an international 
        context;
          (3) to adhere to the highest standards for research 
        ethics;
          (4) to become high-quality teachers utilizing the 
        most currently available evidence-based pedagogy;
          (5) in oral and written communication, to both 
        technical and nontechnical audiences;
          (6) in innovation, entrepreneurship, and business 
        ethics; and
          (7) in program management.
  (d) Graduate Student Input.--The participants in the workshop 
or roundtable shall include current or recent STEM graduate 
students.
  (e) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the National Research Council shall 
submit to Congress a summary report of the findings and 
recommendations of the workshop or roundtable convened under 
this section.

SEC. 323. UNDERGRADUATE STEM EDUCATION REFORM.

  Section 17 of the National Science Foundation Authorization 
Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-6) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 17. UNDERGRADUATE STEM EDUCATION REFORM.

  ``(a) In General.--The Director, through the Directorate for 
Education and Human Resources, shall award grants, on a 
competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to institutions of higher 
education (or to consortia thereof) and to other eligible 
nonprofit organizations to reform undergraduate STEM education 
for the purpose of increasing the number and quality of 
students studying toward and completing baccalaureate degrees 
in STEM and improving the STEM learning outcomes for all 
undergraduate students.
  ``(b) Interdirectorate Working Group on Undergraduate STEM 
Education.--In carrying out the requirements of this section, 
the Directorate for Education and Human Resources shall 
collaborate and coordinate with the Research Directorates, 
including through the establishment of an interdirectorate 
working group on undergraduate STEM education reform, in order 
to identify and implement new and expanded opportunities for 
collaboration between STEM disciplinary researchers and 
education researchers on the reform of undergraduate STEM 
education.
  ``(c) Grants.--Research and development supported by grants 
under this section may encompass a single discipline, multiple 
disciplines, or interdisciplinary education at the 
undergraduate level, and may include--
          ``(1) research foundational to the improvement of 
        teaching, learning, and retention;
          ``(2) development, implementation, and assessment of 
        innovative, research-based approaches to transforming 
        teaching, learning, and retention; and
          ``(3) scaling of successful efforts on learning and 
        learning environments, broadening participation, 
        workforce preparation, employing emerging technologies, 
        or other reforms in STEM education, including expansion 
        of successful STEM reform efforts beyond a single 
        course or group of courses to achieve reform within an 
        entire academic unit, or expansion of successful reform 
        efforts beyond a single academic unit to other STEM 
        academic units within an institution or to comparable 
        academic units at other institutions.
  ``(d) Selection Process.--
          ``(1) Applications.--An institution of higher 
        education or other eligible nonprofit organization 
        seeking a grant under this section shall submit an 
        application to the Director at such time, in such 
        manner, and containing such information as the Director 
        may require. In addition to a description of the 
        proposed research, development, or scaling effort, 
        including a description of the research findings that 
        will serve as the basis for the proposed effort, 
        applications shall include, at a minimum--
                  ``(A) evidence of institutional support for, 
                and commitment to, the proposed effort, 
                including long-term commitment to implement and 
                scale successful strategies resulting from the 
                current effort;
                  ``(B) a description of existing or planned 
                institutional policies and practices regarding 
                faculty hiring, promotion, tenure, and teaching 
                assignment that reward faculty contributions to 
                undergraduate STEM education; and
                  ``(C) a description of the plans for 
                assessment and evaluation of the effort, 
                including evidence of participation by 
                individuals with experience in assessment and 
                evaluation of teaching and learning programs.
          ``(2) Review of applications.--In selecting grant 
        recipients for funding under this section, the Director 
        shall consider, as appropriate to the scale of the 
        proposed effort--
                  ``(A) the likelihood of success in 
                undertaking the proposed effort at the 
                institution submitting the application, 
                including the extent to which the faculty, 
                staff, and administrators of the institution 
                are committed to making undergraduate STEM 
                education reform a priority of the 
                participating academic unit or units;
                  ``(B) the degree to which the proposed effort 
                will contribute to change in institutional 
                culture and policy such that a greater value is 
                placed on faculty engagement in undergraduate 
                education;
                  ``(C) the likelihood that the institution 
                will sustain or expand the effort beyond the 
                period of the grant; and
                  ``(D) the degree to which the proposed effort 
                will contribute to the systematic accumulation 
                of knowledge on STEM education.
          ``(3) Priority.--The Director shall give priority to 
        proposals focused on the first 2 years of undergraduate 
        education, including STEM education at 2-year 
        institutions of higher education.
          ``(4) Grant distribution.--The Director shall ensure, 
        to the extent practicable, that grants awarded under 
        this section are made to a variety of types of 
        institutions of higher education.''.

SEC. 324. ADVANCED MANUFACTURING EDUCATION.

  Section 506(b) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-1(b)) is amended to read as follows:
  ``(b) Advanced Manufacturing Education.--The Director shall 
award grants, on a competitive, merit reviewed basis, to 
community colleges for the development and implementation of 
innovative advanced manufacturing education reforms to ensure 
an adequate and well-trained advanced manufacturing workforce. 
Activities supported by grants under this subsection may 
include--
          ``(1) the development or expansion of educational 
        materials, courses, curricula, strategies, and methods 
        that will lead to improved advanced manufacturing 
        degree or certification programs, including the 
        integration of industry standards and workplace 
        competencies into the curriculum;
          ``(2) the development and implementation of faculty 
        professional development programs that enhance a 
        faculty member's capabilities and teaching skills in 
        advanced manufacturing, including efforts to understand 
        current advanced manufacturing technologies and 
        practices;
          ``(3) the establishment of centers that provide 
        models and leadership in advanced manufacturing 
        education and serve as regional or national 
        clearinghouses for educational materials and methods, 
        including in rural areas;
          ``(4) activities to enhance the recruitment and 
        retention of students into certification and degree 
        programs in advanced manufacturing, including the 
        provision of improved mentoring and internship 
        opportunities;
          ``(5) the establishment of partnerships with private 
        sector entities to ensure the development of an 
        advanced manufacturing workforce with the skills 
        necessary to meet regional economic needs; and
          ``(6) other activities as determined appropriate by 
        the Director.''.

SEC. 325. STEM EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS.

  Section 9 of the National Science Foundation Authorization 
Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n) is amended--
          (1) in the section heading, by striking ``MATHEMATICS 
        AND SCIENCE'' and inserting ``STEM'';
          (2) by striking ``mathematics and science'' each 
        place it appears in subsections (a) and (b) and 
        inserting ``STEM'';
          (3) by striking ``mathematics or science'' each place 
        it appears in subsection (a)(3) and (4)(A) and 
        inserting ``STEM'';
          (4) by striking ``mathematics, science, or 
        engineering'' in subsection (a)(2)(B) and inserting 
        ``STEM'';
          (5) by striking ``mathematics, science, and 
        technology'' in subsection (a)(3)(B)(ii)(II) and (8) 
        and inserting ``STEM'';
          (6) by striking ``professional mathematicians, 
        scientists, and engineers'' in subsection (a)(3)(F) and 
        inserting ``STEM professionals'';
          (7) by striking ``mathematicians, scientists, and 
        engineers'' in subsection (a)(3)(J) and (M) and 
        inserting ``STEM professionals'';
          (8) by striking ``scientists, technologists, 
        engineers, or mathematicians'' in subsection (a)(8) and 
        inserting ``STEM professionals'';
          (9) by striking ``science, technology, engineering, 
        and mathematics'' each place it appears in subsection 
        (a)(3)(K) and (10) and inserting ``STEM'';
          (10) by striking ``science, technology, engineering, 
        or mathematics'' in subsection (a)(10)(A)(ii)(II) and 
        inserting ``STEM'';
          (11) by striking ``science, mathematics, engineering, 
        and technology'' each place it appears in subsection 
        (a)(5) and inserting ``STEM'';
          (12) by striking ``science, mathematics, engineering, 
        or technology'' in subsection (a)(5) and inserting 
        ``STEM'';
          (13) by striking ``mathematics, science, engineering, 
        and technology'' in subsection (b)(1) and (2) and 
        inserting ``STEM''; and
          (14) by striking subsection (d).

SEC. 326. NOYCE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AMENDMENTS.

  Section 10A of the National Science Foundation Authorization 
Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1a) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by inserting ``or 
        bachelor's'' after ``master's'';
          (2) in subsection (c)--
                  (A) by striking ``and'' at the end of 
                paragraph (2)(B);
                  (B) in paragraph (3), by--
                          (i) inserting ``for teachers with 
                        master's degrees in their field'' after 
                        ``Teaching Fellowships''; and
                          (ii) by striking the period at the 
                        end of subparagraph (B) and inserting 
                        ``; and''; and
                  (C) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
          ``(4) in the case of National Science Foundation 
        Master Teaching Fellowships for teachers with 
        bachelor's degrees in their field--
                  ``(A) offering academic courses leading to a 
                master's degree and leadership training to 
                prepare individuals to become master teachers 
                in elementary and secondary schools; and
                  ``(B) offering programs both during and after 
                matriculation in the program for which the 
                fellowship is received to enable fellows to 
                become highly effective mathematics and science 
                teachers, including mentoring, training, 
                induction, and professional development 
                activities, to fulfill the service requirements 
                of this section, including the requirements of 
                subsection (e), and to exchange ideas with 
                others in their fields.'';
          (3) in subsection (e), by striking ``subsection (g)'' 
        and inserting ``subsection (h)''; and
          (4) by adding after subsection (f) the following new 
        subsection:
  ``(g) Support for Master Teaching Fellows While Enrolled in a 
Master's Degree Program.--A National Science Foundation Master 
Teacher Fellow may receive a maximum of 1 year of fellowship 
support while enrolled in a master's degree program as 
described in subsection (c)(4)(A), except that if such fellow 
is enrolled in a part-time program, such amount shall be 
prorated according to the length of the program.''.

SEC. 327. INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION.

  (a) Grants.--The Director, through the Directorate for 
Education and Human Resources, shall continue to award 
competitive, merit-reviewed grants to support--
          (1) research and development of innovative out-of-
        school STEM learning and emerging STEM learning 
        environments in order to improve STEM learning outcomes 
        and engagement in STEM; and
          (2) research that advances the field of informal STEM 
        education.
  (b) Uses of Funds.--Activities supported by grants under this 
section may encompass a single STEM discipline, multiple STEM 
disciplines, or integrative STEM initiatives and shall 
include--
          (1) research and development that improves our 
        understanding of learning and engagement in informal 
        environments, including the role of informal 
        environments in broadening participation in STEM; and
          (2) design and testing of innovative STEM learning 
        models, programs, and other resources for informal 
        learning environments to improve STEM learning outcomes 
        and increase engagement for K-12 students, K-12 
        teachers, and the general public, including design and 
        testing of the scalability of models, programs, and 
        other resources.

SEC. 328. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO SUPPORT IMPROVED K-12 LEARNING.

  (a) In General.--The Director, acting through the Directorate 
for Education and Human Resources, shall award competitive, 
merit-reviewed grants to support research and development on 
alignment, implementation, impact, and ongoing improvement of 
standards and equivalent learning expectations used by States 
in mathematics, science, and, as appropriate, other State-based 
STEM standards.
  (b) Research Areas.--In making awards under this section, the 
Director shall consider proposals for research and development, 
including, as appropriate, large-scale research and 
development, of--
          (1) resources, including virtual resources such as 
        web portals, for content, professional development, and 
        research results;
          (2) teacher education and professional development;
          (3) learning progressions;
          (4) assessments;
          (5) metrics for evaluating the impact of standards; 
        and
          (6) other areas of research and development that are 
        likely to contribute to the alignment, implementation, 
        impact, and ongoing improvement of standards in STEM 
        subjects.

        TITLE IV--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.

  This title may be cited as the ``National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Authorization Act of 2015''.

SEC. 402. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  (a) Fiscal Year 2016.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce 
        $1,119,700,000 for the National Institute of Standards 
        and Technology for fiscal year 2016.
          (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized 
        by paragraph (1)--
                  (A) $754,700,000 shall be authorized for 
                scientific and technical research and services 
                laboratory activities;
                  (B) $59,000,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                  (C) $306,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                industrial technology services activities, of 
                which--
                          (i) $141,000,000 shall be authorized 
                        for the Hollings Manufacturing 
                        Extension Partnership under section 25 
                        of the National Institute of Standards 
                        and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) and 
                        the program under section 26 of such 
                        Act (15 U.S.C. 278l), of which not more 
                        than $20,000,000 shall be for the 
                        competitive grant program under section 
                        25(f) of such Act; and
                          (ii) $150,000,000 shall be authorized 
                        for the Network for Manufacturing 
                        Innovation Program established under 
                        section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
                        278s).
  (b) Fiscal Year 2017.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce 
        $1,174,390,000 for the National Institute of Standards 
        and Technology for fiscal year 2017.
          (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized 
        by paragraph (1)--
                  (A) $792,440,000 shall be authorized for 
                scientific and technical research and services 
                laboratory activities;
                  (B) $61,950,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                  (C) $320,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                industrial technology services activities, of 
                which--
                          (i) $160,000,000 shall be authorized 
                        for the Hollings Manufacturing 
                        Extension Partnership under section 25 
                        of the National Institute of Standards 
                        and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) and 
                        the program under section 26 of such 
                        Act (15 U.S.C. 278l), of which not more 
                        than $20,000,000 shall be for the 
                        competitive grant program under section 
                        25(f) of such Act; and
                          (ii) $150,000,000 shall be authorized 
                        for the Network for Manufacturing 
                        Innovation Program established under 
                        section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
                        278s).
  (c) Fiscal Year 2018.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce 
        $1,207,100,000 for the National Institute of Standards 
        and Technology for fiscal year 2018.
          (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized 
        by paragraph (1)--
                  (A) $832,060,000 shall be authorized for 
                scientific and technical research and services 
                laboratory activities;
                  (B) $65,050,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                  (C) $310,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                industrial technology services activities, of 
                which--
                          (i) $160,000,000 shall be authorized 
                        for the Hollings Manufacturing 
                        Extension Partnership under section 25 
                        of the National Institute of Standards 
                        and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) and 
                        the program under section 26 of such 
                        Act (15 U.S.C. 278l), of which not more 
                        than $20,000,000 shall be for the 
                        competitive grant program under section 
                        25(f) of such Act; and
                          (ii) $150,000,000 shall be authorized 
                        for the Network for Manufacturing 
                        Innovation Program established under 
                        section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
                        278s).
  (d) Fiscal Year 2019.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce 
        $1,251,960,000 for the National Institute of Standards 
        and Technology for fiscal year 2019.
          (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized 
        by paragraph (1)--
                  (A) $873,660,000 shall be authorized for 
                scientific and technical research and services 
                laboratory activities;
                  (B) $68,300,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                  (C) $310,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                industrial technology services activities, of 
                which--
                          (i) $160,000,000 shall be authorized 
                        for the Hollings Manufacturing 
                        Extension Partnership under section 25 
                        of the National Institute of Standards 
                        and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) and 
                        the program under section 26 of such 
                        Act (15 U.S.C. 278l), of which not more 
                        than $20,000,000 shall be for the 
                        competitive grant program under section 
                        25(f) of such Act; and
                          (ii) $150,000,000 shall be authorized 
                        for the Network for Manufacturing 
                        Innovation Program established under 
                        section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
                        278s).
  (e) Fiscal Year 2020.--
          (1) In general.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce 
        $1,299,060,000 for the National Institute of Standards 
        and Technology for fiscal year 2020.
          (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized 
        by paragraph (1)--
                  (A) $917,340,000 shall be authorized for 
                scientific and technical research and services 
                laboratory activities;
                  (B) $71,710,000 shall be authorized for the 
                construction and maintenance of facilities; and
                  (C) $310,000,000 shall be authorized for 
                industrial technology services activities, of 
                which--
                          (i) $160,000,000 shall be authorized 
                        for the Hollings Manufacturing 
                        Extension Partnership under section 25 
                        of the National Institute of Standards 
                        and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) and 
                        the program under section 26 of such 
                        Act (15 U.S.C. 278l), of which not more 
                        than $20,000,000 shall be for the 
                        competitive grant program under section 
                        25(f) of such Act; and
                          (ii) $150,000,000 shall be authorized 
                        for the Network for Manufacturing 
                        Innovation Program established under 
                        section 34 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
                        278s).

SEC. 403. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP.

  Section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 25. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP.

  ``(a) Establishment and Purpose.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, through the 
        Director shall provide assistance for the creation and 
        support of regional manufacturing extension centers for 
        the transfer of manufacturing technology and best 
        business practices. These centers shall be known as the 
        `Hollings Manufacturing Extension Centers' (in this Act 
        referred to as the `Centers'). The program under this 
        section shall be known as the `Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership'.
          ``(2) Affiliations.--Such Centers shall be affiliated 
        with any United States-based public or nonprofit 
        institution or organization, or group thereof, that 
        applies for and is awarded financial assistance under 
        this section.
          ``(3) Objective.--The objective of the program is to 
        enhance productivity, competitiveness, and 
        technological performance in United States 
        manufacturing through--
                  ``(A) the transfer of manufacturing 
                technology and techniques to Centers and, 
                through them, to manufacturing companies 
                throughout the United States;
                  ``(B) the participation of individuals from 
                industry, institutions of higher education, 
                State governments, other Federal agencies, and, 
                when appropriate, the Institute in cooperative 
                technology transfer activities;
                  ``(C) efforts to make new manufacturing 
                technology and processes usable by United 
                States-based small and medium-sized companies;
                  ``(D) the active dissemination of scientific, 
                engineering, technical, and management 
                information about manufacturing to industrial 
                firms, including small and medium-sized 
                manufacturing companies;
                  ``(E) the development of new partnerships, 
                networks, and services that will assist small 
                and medium-sized manufacturing companies expand 
                into new markets, including global markets;
                  ``(F) the utilization, when appropriate, of 
                the expertise and capability that exists in 
                Federal laboratories other than the Institute; 
                and
                  ``(G) the provision to community colleges and 
                area career and technical education schools of 
                information about the job skills needed in 
                small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses 
                in the regions they serve.
  ``(b) Activities.--The activities of the Centers shall 
include--
          ``(1) the establishment of automated manufacturing 
        systems and other advanced production technologies, 
        based on research by the Institute and other entities, 
        for the purpose of demonstrations and technology 
        transfer;
          ``(2) assistance to Federal agencies in supporting 
        United States-based manufacturing by identifying and 
        providing technical assistance to small and medium-
        sized manufacturers to help them meet Federal agency 
        procurement and acquisition needs;
          ``(3) the active transfer and dissemination of 
        research findings and Center expertise to a wide range 
        of companies and enterprises, particularly small and 
        medium-sized manufacturers; and
          ``(4) the facilitation of collaborations and 
        partnerships between small and medium-sized 
        manufacturing companies and community colleges and area 
        career and technical education schools to help such 
        colleges and schools better understand the specific 
        needs of manufacturers and to help manufacturers better 
        understand the skill sets that students learn in the 
        programs offered by such colleges and schools.
  ``(c) Financial Assistance and Requirements.--
          ``(1) Financial support.--The Secretary may provide 
        financial support to any Center created under 
        subsection (a) for an initial period of 5 years, which 
        may be renewed for an additional 5-year period. The 
        Secretary may provide to a Center up to 50 percent of 
        the capital and annual operating and maintenance funds 
        required to create and maintain such Center.
          ``(2) Regulations.--The Secretary shall implement, 
        review, and update the sections of the Code of Federal 
        Regulations related to this section at least once every 
        5 years.
          ``(3) Application.--
                  ``(A) In general.--Any public or nonprofit 
                institution, or consortium thereof, may submit 
                to the Secretary an application for financial 
                support under this section, in accordance with 
                the procedures established by the Secretary.
                  ``(B) Cost-sharing.--In order to receive 
                assistance under this section, an applicant for 
                financial assistance under subparagraph (A) 
                shall provide adequate assurances that non-
                Federal assets obtained from the applicant and 
                the applicant's partnering organizations will 
                be used as a funding source to meet not less 
                than 50 percent of the costs incurred. For 
                purposes of the preceding sentence, the costs 
                incurred means the costs incurred in connection 
                with the activities undertaken to improve the 
                management, productivity, competitiveness, and 
                technological performance of small and medium-
                sized manufacturing companies.
                  ``(C) Agreements with other entities.--In 
                meeting the 50-percent requirement, it is 
                anticipated that a Center will enter into 
                agreements with other entities such as private 
                industry, institutions of higher education, and 
                State governments to accomplish programmatic 
                objectives and access new and existing 
                resources that will further the impact of the 
                Federal investment made on behalf of small and 
                medium-sized manufacturing companies.
                  ``(D) Legal rights.--Each applicant under 
                subparagraph (A) shall submit a proposal for 
                the allocation of the legal rights associated 
                with any invention that may result from the 
                proposed Center's activities.
          ``(4) Merit review.--The Secretary shall subject each 
        such application to merit review. In making a decision 
        whether to approve such application and provide 
        financial support under this section, the Secretary 
        shall consider, at a minimum, the following:
                  ``(A) The merits of the application, 
                particularly those portions of the application 
                regarding technology transfer, training and 
                education, and adaptation of manufacturing 
                technologies to the needs of particular 
                industrial sectors.
                  ``(B) The quality of service to be provided.
                  ``(C) Geographical diversity and extent of 
                service area.
                  ``(D) The percentage of funding and amount of 
                in-kind commitment from other sources.
          ``(5) Evaluation.--
                  ``(A) In general.--Each Center that receives 
                financial assistance under this section shall 
                be evaluated during its third year of operation 
                by an evaluation panel appointed by the 
                Secretary.
                  ``(B) Composition.--Each such evaluation 
                panel shall be composed of independent experts, 
                none of whom shall be connected with the 
                involved Center, and Federal officials.
                  ``(C) Chair.--An official of the Institute 
                shall chair the panel.
                  ``(D) Performance measurement.--Each 
                evaluation panel shall measure the involved 
                Center's performance against the objectives 
                specified in this section.
                  ``(E) Positive evaluation.--If the evaluation 
                is positive, the Secretary may provide 
                continued funding through the fifth year.
                  ``(F) Corrective action plan.--The Secretary 
                may not provide funding for the remaining years 
                of a Center's operation unless the evaluation 
                is positive. A Center that has not received a 
                positive evaluation by the evaluation panel 
                shall be notified by the panel of the 
                deficiencies in its performance and shall be 
                placed on a corrective action plan and provided 
                the opportunity to address deficiencies unless 
                immediate action is necessary to protect the 
                public interest. The program shall re-evaluate 
                the Center within one year and if the Center 
                has not addressed the deficiencies identified 
                by the panel, or shown a significant 
                improvement in its performance, the Director 
                shall conduct a new competition or may close 
                the Center.
                  ``(G) Additional financial support.--After 
                the fifth year, a Center may receive additional 
                financial support under this section if it has 
                received a positive evaluation through an 
                independent review, under procedures 
                established by the Institute.
                  ``(H) Recompetition.--If a Center has 
                received financial support for 10 consecutive 
                years, the Director shall conduct a new 
                competition. An existing Center may submit an 
                application as part of the new competition.
                  ``(I) Recompetition plan.--Not later than 180 
                days after the date of enactment of the America 
                Competes Reauthorization Act of 2015, the 
                Director shall submit a plan to the Committee 
                on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
                of Representatives and the Committee on 
                Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
                Senate detailing how the program will implement 
                the new competitions required under 
                subparagraph (H). The Director shall consult 
                with the MEP Advisory Board established under 
                subsection (f) in the development and 
                implementation of the plan.
          ``(6) Oversight board.--
                  ``(A) In general.--Each Center that receives 
                financial assistance under this section shall 
                establish an oversight board that is broadly 
                representative of regional stakeholders with a 
                majority of board members drawn from local 
                small and medium-sized manufacturing firms.
                  ``(B) Bylaws and conflict of interest.--Each 
                board under subparagraph (A) shall adopt and 
                submit to the Director bylaws to govern the 
                operation of the board, including a conflict of 
                interest policy to ensure relevant 
                relationships are disclosed and proper recusal 
                procedures are in place.
                  ``(C) Limitation.--Board members may not 
                serve simultaneously on more than one Center's 
                oversight board or serve as a contractor 
                providing services to a Center.
          ``(7) Protection of confidential information.--The 
        Secretary shall ensure that the following are not 
        publically disclosed:
                  ``(A) Confidential information on the 
                business operations of--
                          ``(i) a participant under the 
                        program; or
                          ``(ii) a client of a Center.
                  ``(B) Trade secrets possessed by any client 
                of a Center.
          ``(8) Patent rights.--The provisions of chapter 18 of 
        title 35, United States Code, shall apply, to the 
        extent not inconsistent with this section, to the 
        promotion of technology from research by Centers under 
        this section except for contracts for such specific 
        technology extension or transfer services as may be 
        specified by statute or by the Director.
  ``(d) Reporting and Auditing Requirements.--The Director 
shall establish procedures regarding Center financial reporting 
and auditing to ensure that awards are used for the purposes 
specified in this section and are in accordance with sound 
accounting practices.
  ``(e) Acceptance of Funds.--
          ``(1) In general.--In addition to such sums as may be 
        appropriated to the Secretary and Director to operate 
        the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the 
        Secretary and Director also may accept funds from other 
        Federal departments and agencies and, under section 
        2(c)(7), from the private sector, to be available to 
        the extent provided by appropriations Acts, for the 
        purpose of strengthening United States manufacturing.
          ``(2) Allocation of funds.--
                  ``(A) Funds accepted from other federal 
                departments or agencies.--The Director shall 
                determine whether funds accepted from other 
                Federal departments or agencies shall be 
                counted in the calculation of the Federal share 
                of capital and annual operating and maintenance 
                costs under subsection (c).
                  ``(B) Funds accepted from the private 
                sector.--Funds accepted from the private sector 
                under section 2(c)(7), if allocated to a 
                Center, may not be considered in the 
                calculation of the Federal share under 
                subsection (c) of this section.
  ``(f) MEP Advisory Board.--
          ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the 
        Institute a Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
        Advisory Board (in this subsection referred to as the 
        `MEP Advisory Board').
          ``(2) Membership.--
                  ``(A) In general.--The MEP Advisory Board 
                shall consist of not fewer than 10 members 
                broadly representative of stakeholders, to be 
                appointed by the Director. At least 2 members 
                shall be employed by or on an advisory board 
                for the Centers, at least 1 member shall 
                represent a community college, and at least 5 
                other members shall be from United States small 
                businesses in the manufacturing sector. No 
                member shall be an employee of the Federal 
                Government.
                  ``(B) Term.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (C) or (D), the term of office of 
                each member of the MEP Advisory Board shall be 
                3 years.
                  ``(C) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to 
                fill a vacancy occurring prior to the 
                expiration of the term for which his 
                predecessor was appointed shall be appointed 
                for the remainder of such term.
                  ``(D) Serving consecutive terms.--Any person 
                who has completed two consecutive full terms of 
                service on the MEP Advisory Board shall 
                thereafter be ineligible for appointment during 
                the one-year period following the expiration of 
                the second such term.
          ``(3) Meetings.--The MEP Advisory Board shall meet 
        not less than 2 times annually and shall provide to the 
        Director--
                  ``(A) advice on Hollings Manufacturing 
                Extension Partnership programs, plans, and 
                policies;
                  ``(B) assessments of the soundness of 
                Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
                plans and strategies; and
                  ``(C) assessments of current performance 
                against Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                Partnership program plans.
          ``(4) Federal advisory committee act applicability.--
                  ``(A) In general.--In discharging its duties 
                under this subsection, the MEP Advisory Board 
                shall function solely in an advisory capacity, 
                in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
                Committee Act.
                  ``(B) Exception.--Section 14 of the Federal 
                Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the 
                MEP Advisory Board.
          ``(5) Report.--The MEP Advisory Board shall transmit 
        an annual report to the Secretary for transmittal to 
        Congress within 30 days after the submission to 
        Congress of the President's annual budget request in 
        each year. Such report shall address the status of the 
        program established pursuant to this section and 
        comment on the relevant sections of the programmatic 
        planning document and updates thereto transmitted to 
        Congress by the Director under subsections (c) and (d) 
        of section 23.
  ``(g) Competitive Grant Program.--
          ``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish, 
        within the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
        Partnership, a program of competitive awards among 
        participants described in paragraph (2) for the 
        purposes described in paragraph (3).
          ``(2) Participants.--Participants receiving awards 
        under this subsection shall be the Centers, or a 
        consortium of such Centers.
          ``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the program under this 
        subsection is to add capabilities to the Hollings 
        Manufacturing Extension Partnership, including the 
        development of projects to solve new or emerging 
        manufacturing problems as determined by the Director, 
        in consultation with the Director of the Hollings 
        Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the MEP Advisory 
        Board, and small and medium-sized manufacturers.
          ``(4) Themes.--One or more themes for the competition 
        may be identified, which may vary from year to year, 
        depending on the needs of manufacturers and the success 
        of previous competitions. These themes may include--
                  ``(A) supply chain integration and quality 
                management;
                  ``(B) the creation of partnerships to 
                encourage the development of a workforce with 
                the skills necessary to meet the needs of a 
                region, including the creation of 
                apprenticeship opportunities and the adoption 
                of universally recognized credential programs, 
                as appropriate;
                  ``(C) energy efficiency, including efficient 
                building technologies and environmentally 
                friendly materials, products, and processes;
                  ``(D) enhancing the competitiveness of small 
                and medium-sized manufacturers in the global 
                marketplace;
                  ``(E) the transfer of technology based on the 
                technological needs of manufacturers and 
                available technologies from institutions of 
                higher education, laboratories, and other 
                technology producing entities; and
                  ``(F) areas that extend beyond traditional 
                areas of manufacturing extension activities, 
                including projects related to construction 
                industry modernization.
          ``(5) Reimbursement.--Centers may be reimbursed for 
        costs incurred under the program under this subsection.
          ``(6) Applications.--Applications for awards under 
        this subsection shall be submitted in such manner, at 
        such time, and containing such information as the 
        Director shall require, in consultation with the MEP 
        Advisory Board.
          ``(7) Selection.--Awards under this subsection shall 
        be peer reviewed and competitively awarded. The 
        Director shall endeavor to have broad geographic 
        diversity among selected proposals. The Director shall 
        select proposals to receive awards that will--
                  ``(A) utilize innovative or collaborative 
                approaches to solving the problem described in 
                the competition;
                  ``(B) improve the competitiveness of 
                industries in the region in which the Center or 
                Centers are located; and
                  ``(C) contribute to the long-term economic 
                stability of that region, including the 
                creation of jobs or training employees.
          ``(8) Program contribution.--Recipients of awards 
        under this subsection shall not be required to provide 
        a matching contribution.
          ``(9) Duration.--Awards under this subsection shall 
        last no longer than 5 years.
  ``(h) Innovative Services Initiative.--
          ``(1) Establishment.--The Director, in coordination 
        with the Advanced Manufacturing Office of the 
        Department of Energy, shall establish, within the 
        Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, an 
        innovative services initiative to assist small and 
        medium-sized manufacturers in--
                  ``(A) reducing their energy usage, greenhouse 
                gas emissions, and environmental waste to 
                improve profitability;
                  ``(B) accelerating the domestic 
                commercialization of new product technologies, 
                including components for renewable energy and 
                energy efficiency systems; and
                  ``(C) identifying and diversifying to new 
                markets, including support for transitioning to 
                the production of components for renewable 
                energy and energy efficiency systems.
          ``(2) Market demand.--The Director may not undertake 
        any activity to accelerate the domestic 
        commercialization of a new product technology under 
        this subsection unless an analysis of market demand for 
        the new product technology has been conducted.
  ``(i) Export Assistance to Small and Medium-sized 
Manufacturers.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Director shall--
                  ``(A) evaluate obstacles that are unique to 
                small and medium-sized manufacturers that 
                prevent such manufacturers from effectively 
                competing in the global market;
                  ``(B) implement a comprehensive export 
                assistance initiative through the Centers to 
                help small and medium-sized manufacturers 
                address such obstacles; and
                  ``(C) to the maximum extent practicable, 
                ensure that the activities carried out under 
                this subsection are coordinated with, and do 
                not duplicate the efforts of, other export 
                assistance programs within the Federal 
                Government.
          ``(2) Requirements.--The initiative shall include--
                  ``(A) export assistance counseling;
                  ``(B) the development of partnerships that 
                will provide small and medium-sized 
                manufacturers with greater access to and 
                knowledge of global markets; and
                  ``(C) improved communication between the 
                Centers to assist such manufacturers in 
                implementing appropriate, targeted solutions to 
                such obstacles.
  ``(j) Definitions.--In this section:
          ``(1) Area career and technical education school.--
        The term `area career and technical education school' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 3 of the 
        Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education 
        Improvement Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
          ``(2) Community college.--The term `community 
        college' means an institution of higher education (as 
        defined under section 101(a) of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) at which the highest 
        degree that is predominately awarded to students is an 
        associate's degree.''.

SEC. 404. NATIONAL ACADEMIES REVIEW.

  Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology shall enter into a contract with the National 
Academies to conduct a single, comprehensive review of the 
Institute's laboratory programs. The review shall--
          (1) assess the technical merits and scientific 
        caliber of the research conducted at the laboratories;
          (2) examine the strengths and weaknesses of the 2010 
        laboratory reorganization on the Institute's ability to 
        fulfill its mission;
          (3) evaluate how cross-cutting research and 
        development activities are planned, coordinated, and 
        executed across the laboratories; and
          (4) assess how the laboratories are engaging 
        industry, including the incorporation of industry need, 
        into the research goals and objectives of the 
        Institute.

SEC. 405. IMPROVING NIST COLLABORATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES.

  Section 8 of the National Bureau of Standards Authorization 
Act for Fiscal Year 1983 (15 U.S.C. 275b) is amended--
          (1) in the section heading, by inserting ``and with'' 
        after ``performed for''; and
          (2) by adding at the end the following: ``The 
        Secretary may accept, apply for, use, and spend 
        Federal, State, and non-governmental acquisition and 
        assistance funds to further the mission of the 
        Institute without regard to the source or the period of 
        availability of these funds as well as share personnel, 
        associates, facilities, and property with these partner 
        organizations, with or without reimbursement, upon 
        mutual agreement.''.

SEC. 406. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

  (a) Functions and Activities.--Section 15 of the of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
278e) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``of the Government; and'' and 
        inserting ``of the Government;'';
          (2) by striking ``transportation services for 
        employees of the Institute'' and inserting 
        ``transportation services for employees, associates, or 
        fellows of the Institute''; and
          (3) by striking ``Code.'' and inserting ``Code; and 
        (i) the protection of Institute buildings and other 
        plant facilities, equipment, and property, and of 
        employees, associates, visitors, or other persons 
        located therein or associated therewith, 
        notwithstanding any other provision of law.''.
  (b) Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program.--Section 19 of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
278g-2) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 19. POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

  ``The Director, in conjunction with the National Academy of 
Sciences, shall establish and conduct a post-doctoral 
fellowship program that shall include not less than 20 new 
fellows per fiscal year. In evaluating applications for 
fellowships under this section, the Director shall give 
consideration to the goal of promoting the participation of 
underrepresented minorities in research areas supported by the 
Institute.''.

                          TITLE V--INNOVATION

SEC. 501. OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP.

  Section 25 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3720) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a) by inserting ``with a Director 
        and full-time staff'' after ``Office of Innovation and 
        Entrepreneurship'';
          (2) in subsection (b)--
                  (A) by amending paragraph (3) to read as 
                follows:
          ``(3) providing access to relevant data, research, 
        and technical assistance on innovation and 
        commercialization, including best practices for 
        university-based incubators and accelerators;'';
                  (B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and (5) 
                as paragraphs (6) and (7), respectively; and
                  (C) by inserting the following after 
                paragraph (3):
          ``(4) overseeing the implementation of the loan 
        guarantee programs and the Regional Innovation Program 
        established under sections 26 and 27, respectively;
          ``(5) developing, within 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of the America Competes Reauthorization Act 
        of 2015, and updating at least every 5 years, a 
        strategic plan to guide the activities of the Office of 
        Innovation and Entrepreneurship that shall--
                  ``(A) specify and prioritize near-term and 
                long-term goals, objectives, and policies to 
                accelerate innovation and advance the 
                commercialization of research and development, 
                including federally funded research and 
                development, set forth the anticipated time for 
                achieving the objectives, and identify metrics 
                for use in assessing progress toward such 
                objectives;
                  ``(B) describe how the Department of Commerce 
                is working in conjunction with other Federal 
                agencies to foster innovation and 
                commercialization across the United States; and
                  ``(C) provide a summary of the activities, 
                including the development of metrics to 
                evaluate regional innovation strategies 
                undertaken through the Regional Innovation 
                Research and Information Program established 
                under section 27(e);'';
          (3) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
  ``(c) Advisory Committee.--
          ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish 
        or designate an advisory committee, which shall meet at 
        least twice each fiscal year, to provide advice to the 
        Secretary on carrying out the duties and 
        responsibilities of the Office of Innovation and 
        Entrepreneurship.
          ``(2) Report to congress.--The advisory committee 
        shall prepare a report, to be submitted to the 
        Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate every 3 
        years. The first report shall be submitted not later 
        than 1 year after the date of enactment of the America 
        Competes Reauthorization Act of 2015 and shall 
        include--
                  ``(A) an assessment of the strategic plan 
                developed under subsection (b)(5) and the 
                progress made in implementing the plan and the 
                duties of the Office of Innovation and 
                Entrepreneurship;
                  ``(B) an assessment of how the Office of 
                Innovation and Entrepreneurship is working with 
                other Federal agencies to meet the goals and 
                duties of the office; and
                  ``(C) any recommendations for how the Office 
                of Innovation and Entrepreneurship could be 
                improved.''; and
          (4) by adding at the end the following:
  ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary $5,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2016 through 2020 to carry out this section.''.

SEC. 502. FEDERAL LOAN GUARANTEES FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN 
                    MANUFACTURING.

  Section 26(t) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation 
Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3721(t)) is amended by striking ``fiscal 
years 2011 through 2013'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2016 
through 2020''.

SEC. 503. INNOVATION VOUCHER PILOT PROGRAM.

  Section 25 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3720) as amended by section 501 of this Act, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following:
  ``(e) Innovation Voucher Pilot Program.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship and in 
        conjunction with the States, shall establish an 
        innovation voucher pilot program to accelerate 
        innovative activities and enhance the competitiveness 
        of small and medium-sized manufacturers in the United 
        States. The pilot program shall--
                  ``(A) foster collaborations between small and 
                medium-sized manufacturers and research 
                institutions; and
                  ``(B) enable small and medium-sized 
                manufacturers to access technical expertise and 
                capabilities that will lead to the development 
                of innovative products or manufacturing 
                processes, including through--
                          ``(i) research and development, 
                        including proof of concept, technical 
                        development, and compliance testing 
                        activities;
                          ``(ii) early-stage product 
                        development, including engineering 
                        design services; and
                          ``(iii) technology transfer and 
                        related activities.
          ``(2) Award size.--The Secretary shall competitively 
        award vouchers worth up to $20,000 to small and medium-
        sized manufacturers for use at eligible research 
        institutions to acquire the services described in 
        paragraph (1)(B).
          ``(3) Streamlined procedures.--The Secretary shall 
        streamline and simplify the application, 
        administrative, and reporting procedures for vouchers 
        administered under the program.
          ``(4) Regulations.--Prior to awarding any vouchers 
        under the program, the Secretary shall promulgate 
        regulations--
                  ``(A) establishing criteria for the selection 
                of recipients of awards under this subsection;
                  ``(B) establishing procedures regarding 
                financial reporting and auditing--
                          ``(i) to ensure that awards are used 
                        for the purposes of the program; and
                          ``(ii) that are in accordance with 
                        sound accounting practices; and
                  ``(C) describing any other policies, 
                procedures, or information necessary to 
                implement this subsection, including those 
                intended to streamline and simplify the program 
                in accordance with paragraph (3).
          ``(5) Transfer authority.--The Secretary may transfer 
        funds appropriated to the Department of Commerce to 
        other Federal agencies for the performance of services 
        authorized under this subsection.
          ``(6) Administrative costs.--All of the amounts 
        appropriated to carry out this subsection for a fiscal 
        year shall be used for vouchers awarded under this 
        subsection, except that the Secretary may set aside a 
        percentage of such amounts for eligible research 
        institutions performing the services described in 
        paragraph (1)(B) to defray administrative costs 
        associated with the services. The Secretary shall 
        establish a single, fixed percentage for such purposes 
        that will apply to all eligible research institutions.
          ``(7) Outreach.--The Secretary may use centers 
        established under section 25 of the National Institute 
        of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) to 
        provide information about the program established under 
        this subsection and to conduct outreach to potential 
        applicants, as appropriate.
          ``(8) Reports to congress.--
                  ``(A) Plan.--Not later than 180 days after 
                the date of enactment of the America Competes 
                Reauthorization Act of 2015, the Secretary 
                shall transmit to Congress a plan that will 
                serve as a guide for the activities of the 
                program. The plan shall include a description 
                of the specific objectives of the program and 
                the metrics that will be used in assessing 
                progress toward those objectives.
                  ``(B) Outcomes.--Not later than 3 years after 
                the date of enactment of the America Competes 
                Reauthorization Act of 2015, the Secretary 
                shall transmit to Congress a report 
                containing--
                          ``(i) a summary of the activities 
                        carried out under this subsection;
                          ``(ii) an assessment of the impact of 
                        such activities on the innovative 
                        capacity of small and medium-sized 
                        manufacturers receiving assistance 
                        under the pilot program; and
                          ``(iii) any recommendations for 
                        administrative and legislative action 
                        that could optimize the effectiveness 
                        of the pilot program.
          ``(9) Coordination and nonduplication.--To the 
        maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure 
        that the activities carried out under this subsection 
        are coordinated with, and do not duplicate the efforts 
        of, other programs within the Federal Government.
          ``(10) Eligible research institutions defined.--For 
        the purposes of this subsection, the term `eligible 
        research institution' means--
                  ``(A) an institution of higher education, as 
                such term is defined in section 101(a) of the 
                Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
                1001(a));
                  ``(B) a Federal laboratory;
                  ``(C) a federally funded research and 
                development center; or
                  ``(D) a Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                Center established under section 25 of the 
                National Institute of Standards and Technology 
                Act (15 U.S.C. 278k).
          ``(11) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
        authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
        out the pilot program in this subsection $5,000,000 for 
        each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020.''.

SEC. 504. FEDERAL ACCELERATION OF STATE TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION 
                    PILOT PROGRAM.

  The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 
U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the 
following:

``SEC. 28. FEDERAL ACCELERATION OF STATE TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION 
                    PILOT PROGRAM.

  ``(a) Authority.--
          ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a 
        Federal Acceleration of State Technology 
        Commercialization Pilot Program or FAST 
        Commercialization Pilot Program to award grants to 
        States, or consortia thereof, for the purposes 
        described in paragraph (2). Awards under this section 
        shall be made through a competitive, merit-based 
        process.
          ``(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the program under this 
        section is to advance United States productivity and 
        global competitiveness by accelerating 
        commercialization of innovative technology by 
        leveraging Federal support for State commercialization 
        efforts. The program shall provide matching funds to a 
        State, or consortium thereof, for the acceleration of 
        commercialization activities and the promotion of small 
        manufacturing enterprises in the United States.
  ``(b) Application.--Applications for awards under this 
section shall be submitted in such a manner, at such a time, 
and containing such information as the Secretary shall require, 
including--
          ``(1) a description of the current state of 
        technology commercialization in the State or States, 
        including successes and barriers to commercialization; 
        and
          ``(2) a description of the State's or consortium's 
        plan for increasing commercialization of new 
        technologies, products, processes, and services.
  ``(c) Selection Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish 
criteria for the selection of awardees, which shall consider at 
a minimum a review of efforts during the fiscal year prior to 
submitting an application to--
          ``(1) promote manufacturing; and
          ``(2) commercialize new technologies, products, 
        processes, and services, including activities to 
        translate federally funded research and technologies to 
        small manufacturing enterprises.
  ``(d) Matching Requirement.--A State or consortium receiving 
a grant under this section shall provide non-Federal cash 
contributions in an amount equal to 50 percent of the total 
cost of the project for which the grant is provided.
  ``(e) Coordination and Nonduplication.--In carrying out the 
program under this section, the Secretary shall ensure that 
grants made under the program are coordinated with, and do not 
duplicate, the efforts of other commercialization programs 
within the Federal Government.
  ``(f) Evaluation.--
          ``(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the 
        date of enactment of the America Competes 
        Reauthorization Act of 2015, the Secretary shall enter 
        into a contract with an independent entity, such as the 
        National Academy of Sciences, to conduct an evaluation 
        of the program established under subsection (a).
          ``(2) Requirements.--The evaluation shall--
                  ``(A) assess whether the program is achieving 
                its goals;
                  ``(B) include any recommendations for how the 
                program may be improved; and
                  ``(C) include a recommendation as to whether 
                the program should be continued or terminated.
  ``(g) Definitions.--In this section--
          ``(1) the term `State' has the meaning given that 
        term in section 3 of the Public Works and Economic 
        Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3122); and
          ``(2) the term `commercialization' has the meaning 
        given that term in section 9(e)(10) of the Small 
        Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(e)(10)).
  ``(h) Duration.--Each award shall be for a 5-year period.
  ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
to be appropriated to the Secretary $50,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2016 through 2018 to carry out this section.''.

                     TITLE VI--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

                     Subtitle A--Office of Science

SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.

  This subtitle may be cited as the ``Department of Energy 
Office of Science Authorization Act of 2015''.

SEC. 602. DEFINITIONS.

  Except as otherwise provided, in this subtitle:
          (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the 
        Department of Energy.
          (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the 
        Director of the Office of Science.
          (3) Office of science.--The term ``Office of 
        Science'' means the Department of Energy Office of 
        Science.
          (4) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary'' 
        means the Under Secretary for Science and Energy.
          (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the 
        Secretary of Energy.

SEC. 603. MISSION OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE.

  Section 209 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 
U.S.C. 7139) is amended by adding at the end the following:
  ``(c) Mission.--The mission of the Office of Science shall be 
the delivery of scientific discoveries, capabilities, and major 
scientific tools to transform the understanding of nature and 
to advance the energy, economic, and national security of the 
United States.
  ``(d) Duties.--In support of this mission, the Director shall 
carry out programs, including those in basic energy sciences, 
biological and environmental research, advanced scientific 
computing research, fusion energy sciences, high energy 
physics, and nuclear physics, through activities focused on--
          ``(1) Science for Discovery to unravel nature's 
        mysteries through activities which range from the study 
        of subatomic particles, atoms, and molecules that make 
        up the materials of our everyday world to the study of 
        DNA, proteins, cells, and entire biological systems;
          ``(2) Science for National Need by--
                  ``(A) advancing a clean energy agenda through 
                research on energy production, storage, 
                transmission, efficiency, and use; and
                  ``(B) advancing our understanding of the 
                Earth and its climate through research in 
                atmospheric and environmental sciences and 
                climate change; and
          ``(3) National Scientific User Facilities to deliver 
        the 21st century tools of science, engineering, and 
        technology and provide the Nation's researchers with 
        the most advanced tools of modern science including 
        accelerators, colliders, supercomputers, light sources 
        and neutron sources, and facilities for studying 
        complex molecular systems and the nanoworld.
  ``(e) Supporting Activities.--The activities described in 
subsection (d) shall include providing for relevant facilities 
and infrastructure, programmatic analysis, interagency 
coordination, and workforce development and outreach 
activities.
  ``(f) User Facilities.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Director shall carry out the 
        construction, operation, and maintenance of user 
        facilities, including underground research facilities, 
        to support the activities described in subsection (d). 
        As practicable, these facilities shall serve the needs 
        of the Department, industry, the academic community, 
        and other relevant entities for the purposes of 
        advancing the missions of the Department.
          ``(2) Coordination with other federal agencies.--The 
        Director may form partnerships to enhance the 
        utilization of and ensure access to user facilities, 
        including underground research facilities, by other 
        Federal agencies.
  ``(g) Other Authorized Activities.--In addition to the 
activities authorized under the Department of Energy Office of 
Science Authorization Act of 2015, the Office of Science shall 
carry out other such activities as it is authorized or required 
to carry out by law.
  ``(h) Coordination and Joint Activities With Other Department 
of Energy Programs.--The Under Secretary shall ensure the 
coordination of activities under the Department of Energy 
Office of Science Authorization Act of 2015 with the other 
activities of the Department, and shall support joint 
activities among the programs of the Department.
  ``(i) Domestic Manufacturing Capability for Office of Science 
Facilities Report.--Not later than one year after the date of 
enactment of the Department of Energy Office of Science 
Authorization Act of 2015, the Secretary shall transmit a 
report to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources of the Senate. The report shall--
          ``(1) assess the current ability of domestic 
        manufacturers to meet the procurement requirements for 
        major ongoing projects funded by the Office of Science, 
        including a calculation of the percentage of equipment 
        acquired from domestic manufacturers for this purpose; 
        and
          ``(2) identify steps that can be taken by the Federal 
        Government and by private industry to increase the 
        capability of domestic manufacturers to meet 
        procurement requirements of the Office of Science for 
        major projects.''.

SEC. 604. BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES PROGRAM.

  (a) Program.--As part of the activities authorized under the 
amendment made by section 603, the Director shall carry out a 
program in basic energy sciences, including materials sciences 
and engineering, chemical sciences, physical biosciences, and 
geosciences, for the purpose of providing the scientific 
foundations for new energy technologies and addressing 
scientific grand challenges.
  (b) Basic Energy Sciences User Facilities.--
          (1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a 
        subprogram to support and oversee the construction, 
        operation, and maintenance of national user facilities 
        that support the program under this section. As 
        practicable, these facilities shall serve the needs of 
        the Department, industry, the academic community, and 
        other relevant entities to create and examine new 
        materials and chemical processes for the purposes of 
        advancing new energy technologies and improving the 
        competitiveness of the United States. These facilities 
        shall include--
                  (A) x-ray light sources;
                  (B) neutron sources;
                  (C) nanoscale science research centers; and
                  (D) other facilities the Director considers 
                appropriate, consistent with section 209(f) of 
                the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 
                U.S.C. 7139(f)).
          (2) Facility research and development.--The Director 
        shall carry out research and development on advanced 
        accelerator and storage ring technologies relevant to 
        the Basic Energy Sciences user facilities, in 
        consultation with the Office of Science's High Energy 
        Physics and Nuclear Physics programs.
          (3) Facility construction and upgrades.--Consistent 
        with the Office of Science's project management 
        practices, the Director shall support construction of--
                  (A) an upgrade of the Advanced Photon Source 
                to optimize and enhance beam brightness;
                  (B) a Second Target Station at the Spallation 
                Neutron Source to double user capacity and 
                expand the suite of instruments to meet new 
                scientific challenges;
                  (C) the Linac Coherent Light Source II to 
                expand the x-ray wavelength range, incorporate 
                high repetition rate operation for soft and 
                medium energy x-rays, and increase user 
                capacity of the Linac Coherent Light Source; 
                and
                  (D) an upgrade to the Advanced Light Source 
                to improve brightness and performance.
  (c) Energy Frontier Research Centers.--
          (1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a 
        program to provide awards, on a competitive, merit-
        reviewed basis, to multi-institutional collaborations 
        or other appropriate entities to conduct fundamental 
        and use-inspired energy research to accelerate 
        scientific breakthroughs related to needs identified 
        in--
                  (A) the Grand Challenges report of the 
                Department's Basic Energy Sciences Advisory 
                Committee;
                  (B) the report of the Department's Basic 
                Energy Sciences Advisory Committee entitled 
                ``From Quanta to the Continuum: Opportunities 
                for Mesoscale Science'';
                  (C) the Basic Energy Sciences Basic Research 
                Needs workshop report; or
                  (D) other relevant reports identified by the 
                Director.
          (2) Collaborations.--A collaboration receiving an 
        award under this subsection may include multiple types 
        of institutions and private sector entities.
          (3) Selection and duration.--
                  (A) In general.--A collaboration under this 
                subsection shall be selected for a period of 5 
                years. An Energy Frontier Research Center 
                already in existence and supported by the 
                Director on the date of enactment of this Act 
                may continue to receive support for a period of 
                5 years beginning on the date of establishment 
                of that center.
                  (B) Reapplication.--After the end of the 
                period described in subparagraph (A), an 
                awardee may reapply for selection for a second 
                period of 5 years on a competitive, merit-
                reviewed basis.
                  (C) Termination.--Consistent with the 
                existing authorities of the Department, the 
                Director may terminate an underperforming 
                center for cause during the performance period.
          (4) No funding for construction.--No funding provided 
        pursuant to this subsection may be used for the 
        construction of new buildings or facilities.

SEC. 605. BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH.

  (a) In General.--As part of the activities authorized under 
section 209 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 
U.S.C. 7139), and coordinated with the activities authorized 
under section 604 and section 606, the Director shall carry out 
a program of research and development in the areas of 
biological systems science and climate and environmental 
science, including subsurface science, to support the energy 
and environmental missions of the Department.
  (b) Biological Systems Science Activities.--
          (1) Activities.--As part of the activities authorized 
        under subsection (a), the Director shall carry out 
        research and development activities in fundamental, 
        structural, computational, and systems biology to 
        increase systems-level understanding of the complex 
        biological systems, which shall include activities to--
                  (A) accelerate breakthroughs and new 
                knowledge that will enable cost-effective 
                sustainable production of--
                          (i) biomass-based liquid 
                        transportation fuels;
                          (ii) bioenergy; and
                          (iii) biobased materials;
                  (B) improve understanding of the global 
                carbon cycle, including processes for removing 
                carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, through 
                photosynthesis and other biological processes, 
                for sequestration and storage; and
                  (C) understand the biological mechanisms used 
                to transform, immobilize, or remove 
                contaminants from subsurface environments.
          (2) Bioenergy research centers.--
                  (A) In general.--In carrying out activities 
                under paragraph (1), the Director shall support 
                at least 3 bioenergy research centers to 
                accelerate advanced research and development of 
                biomass-based liquid transportation fuels, 
                bioenergy, or biobased materials that are 
                produced from a variety of regionally diverse 
                feedstocks.
                  (B) Selection and duration.--A center 
                established under subparagraph (A) shall be 
                selected on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis 
                for a period of 5 years beginning on the date 
                of establishment of that center. A center 
                already in existence on the date of enactment 
                of this Act may continue to receive support for 
                a period of 5 years beginning on the date of 
                establishment of that center.
                  (C) Renewal.--After the end of the period 
                described in subparagraph (B), an awardee may 
                apply for a second period of 5 years on a 
                merit-reviewed basis.
                  (D) Termination.--Consistent with the 
                existing authorities of the Department, the 
                Director may terminate an underperforming 
                center for cause during the performance period.
          (3) Low dose radiation research program.--
                  (A) In general.--The Director shall carry out 
                a research program on low dose radiation. The 
                purpose of the program is to enhance the 
                scientific understanding of and reduce 
                uncertainties associated with the effects of 
                exposure to low dose radiation in order to 
                inform improved risk management methods.
                  (B) Definition.--In this paragraph, the term 
                ``low dose radiation'' means a radiation dose 
                of less than 100 millisieverts.
                  (C) Study.--Not later than 60 days after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Director 
                shall enter into an agreement with the National 
                Academies to conduct a study assessing the 
                current status and development of a long-term 
                strategy for low dose radiation research. The 
                study shall be conducted in coordination with 
                Federal agencies that perform ionizing 
                radiation effects research.
                  (D) Contents.--The study performed under 
                subparagraph (C) shall--
                          (i) identify current scientific 
                        challenges for understanding the long-
                        term effects of ionizing radiation;
                          (ii) assess the status of current low 
                        dose radiation research in the United 
                        States and internationally;
                          (iii) formulate overall scientific 
                        goals for the future of low-dose 
                        radiation research in the United 
                        States;
                          (iv) recommend a long-term strategic 
                        and prioritized research agenda to 
                        address scientific research goals for 
                        overcoming the identified scientific 
                        challenges in coordination with other 
                        research efforts;
                          (v) define the essential components 
                        of a research program that would 
                        address this research agenda within the 
                        universities and the National 
                        Laboratories; and
                          (vi) assess the cost-benefit 
                        effectiveness of such a program.
                  (E) 5-year research plan.--Not later than 90 
                days after the completion of the assessment 
                performed under subparagraph (C), the Secretary 
                shall deliver to the Committee on Science, 
                Space, and Technology of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
                Natural Resources of the Senate a five-year 
                research plan that responds to the assessment's 
                findings and recommendations and identifies and 
                prioritizes research needs.
          (4) Repeal.--Section 977 of the Energy Policy Act of 
        2005 (42 U.S.C. 16317) is repealed.
  (c) Climate and Environmental Science Activities.--
          (1) In general.--As part of the activities authorized 
        under subsection (a), and in coordination with 
        activities carried out under subsection (b), the 
        Director shall carry out climate and environmental 
        science research, which shall include activities to--
                  (A) understand, observe, and model the 
                response of Earth's atmosphere and biosphere to 
                increased concentrations of greenhouse gas 
                emissions and any associated changes in 
                climate;
                  (B) understand the processes for 
                immobilization, or removal of, and understand 
                the movement of, energy production-derived 
                contaminants such as radionuclides and heavy 
                metals, and understand the process of 
                sequestration and transformation of carbon 
                dioxide in subsurface environments; and
                  (C) inform potential mitigation and 
                adaptation options for increased concentrations 
                of greenhouse gas emissions and any associated 
                changes in climate.
          (2) Subsurface biogeochemical research.--
                  (A) In general.--As part of the activities 
                described in paragraph (1), the Director shall 
                carry out research to advance a fundamental 
                understanding of coupled physical, chemical, 
                and biological processes for controlling the 
                movement of sequestered carbon and subsurface 
                environmental contaminants.
                  (B) Coordination.--
                          (i) Director.--The Director shall 
                        carry out activities under this 
                        paragraph in accordance with priorities 
                        established by the Under Secretary to 
                        support and accelerate the 
                        decontamination of relevant facilities 
                        managed by the Department.
                          (ii) Under secretary.--The Under 
                        Secretary shall ensure the coordination 
                        of activities of the Department, 
                        including activities under this 
                        paragraph, to support and accelerate 
                        the decontamination of relevant 
                        facilities managed by the Department.
          (3) Climate and earth modeling.--As part of the 
        activities described in paragraph (1), the Director, in 
        collaboration with the Advanced Scientific Computing 
        Research program described in section 606, shall carry 
        out research to develop, evaluate, and use high-
        resolution regional climate, global climate, and Earth 
        models to inform decisions on reducing the impacts of a 
        changing climate. Such modeling shall include, among 
        other critical elements, greenhouse gas emissions, land 
        use, and interaction among human and Earth systems.

SEC. 606. ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING RESEARCH PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--As part of the activities authorized under 
section 209 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 
U.S.C. 7139), the Director shall carry out a research, 
development, demonstration, and commercial application program 
to advance computational and networking capabilities for data-
driven discovery and to analyze, model, simulate, and predict 
complex phenomena relevant to the development of new energy 
technologies and the competitiveness of the United States.
  (b) Coordination.--The Under Secretary shall ensure the 
coordination of the activities of the Department, including 
activities under this section, to determine and meet the 
computational and networking research and facility needs of the 
Office of Science and all other relevant energy technology and 
energy efficiency programs within the Department.
  (c) Research To Support Energy Applications.--
          (1) In general.--As part of the activities authorized 
        under subsection (a), the program shall support 
        research in high-performance computing and networking 
        relevant to energy applications including modeling, 
        simulation, and advanced data analytics for basic and 
        applied energy research programs carried out by the 
        Secretary.
          (2) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to 
        the Congress a plan to integrate and leverage the 
        expertise and capabilities of the program described in 
        subsection (a), as well as other relevant computational 
        and networking research programs and resources 
        supported by the Federal Government, to advance the 
        missions of the Department's applied energy and energy 
        efficiency programs.
  (d) Applied Mathematics and Software Development for High-End 
Computing Systems.--The Director shall carry out activities to 
develop, test, and support mathematics, models, and algorithms 
for complex systems, as well as programming environments, 
tools, languages, and operating systems for high-end computing 
systems (as defined in section 2 of the Department of Energy 
High-End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004 (15 U.S.C. 
5541)).
  (e) Exascale Computing Program.--Section 3 of the Department 
of Energy High-End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004 (15 
U.S.C. 5542) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (a)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``program'' 
                and inserting ``coordinated program across the 
                Department'';
                  (B) by striking ``and'' at the end of 
                paragraph (1);
                  (C) by striking the period at the end of 
                paragraph (2) and inserting ``; and''; and
                  (D) by adding at the end the following new 
                paragraph:
          ``(3) partner with universities, National 
        Laboratories, and industry to ensure the broadest 
        possible application of the technology developed in 
        this program to other challenges in science, 
        engineering, medicine, and industry.'';
          (2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``vector'' and 
        all that follows through ``architectures'' and 
        inserting ``computer technologies that show promise of 
        substantial reductions in power requirements and 
        substantial gains in parallelism of multicore 
        processors, concurrency, memory and storage, bandwidth, 
        and reliability''; and
          (3) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the 
        following:
  ``(d) Exascale Computing Program.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct a 
        coordinated research program to develop exascale 
        computing systems to advance the missions of the 
        Department.
          ``(2) Execution.--The Secretary shall, through 
        competitive merit review, establish two or more 
        National Laboratory-industry-university partnerships to 
        conduct integrated research, development, and 
        engineering of multiple exascale architectures, and--
                  ``(A) conduct mission-related co-design 
                activities in developing such exascale 
                platforms;
                  ``(B) develop those advancements in hardware 
                and software technology required to fully 
                realize the potential of an exascale production 
                system in addressing Department target 
                applications and solving scientific problems 
                involving predictive modeling and simulation 
                and large-scale data analytics and management; 
                and
                  ``(C) explore the use of exascale computing 
                technologies to advance a broad range of 
                science and engineering.
          ``(3) Administration.--In carrying out this program, 
        the Secretary shall--
                  ``(A) provide, on a competitive, merit-
                reviewed basis, access for researchers in 
                United States industry, institutions of higher 
                education, National Laboratories, and other 
                Federal agencies to these exascale systems, as 
                appropriate; and
                  ``(B) conduct outreach programs to increase 
                the readiness for the use of such platforms by 
                domestic industries, including manufacturers.
          ``(4) Reports.--
                  ``(A) Integrated strategy and program 
                management plan.--The Secretary shall submit to 
                Congress, not later than 90 days after the date 
                of enactment of the Department of Energy Office 
                of Science Authorization Act of 2015, a report 
                outlining an integrated strategy and program 
                management plan, including target dates for 
                prototypical and production exascale platforms, 
                interim milestones to reaching these targets, 
                functional requirements, roles and 
                responsibilities of National Laboratories and 
                industry, acquisition strategy, and estimated 
                resources required, to achieve this exascale 
                system capability. The report shall include the 
                Secretary's plan for Departmental organization 
                to manage and execute the Exascale Computing 
                Program, including definition of the roles and 
                responsibilities within the Department to 
                ensure an integrated program across the 
                Department. The report shall also include a 
                plan for ensuring balance and prioritizing 
                across ASCR subprograms in a flat or slow-
                growth budget environment.
                  ``(B) Status reports.--At the time of the 
                budget submission of the Department for each 
                fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit a 
                report to Congress that describes the status of 
                milestones and costs in achieving the 
                objectives of the exascale computing program.
                  ``(C) Exascale merit report.--At least 18 
                months prior to the initiation of construction 
                or installation of any exascale-class computing 
                facility, the Secretary shall transmit a plan 
                to the Congress detailing--
                          ``(i) the proposed facility's cost 
                        projections and capabilities to 
                        significantly accelerate the 
                        development of new energy technologies;
                          ``(ii) technical risks and challenges 
                        that must be overcome to achieve 
                        successful completion and operation of 
                        the facility; and
                          ``(iii) an independent assessment of 
                        the scientific and technological 
                        advances expected from such a facility 
                        relative to those expected from a 
                        comparable investment in expanded 
                        research and applications at terascale-
                        class and petascale-class computing 
                        facilities, including an evaluation of 
                        where investments should be made in the 
                        system software and algorithms to 
                        enable these advances.''.
  (f) Definitions.--Section 2 of the Department of Energy High-
End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004 (15 U.S.C. 5541) is 
amended by striking paragraphs (1) through (5) and inserting 
the following:
          ``(1) Co-design.--The term `co-design' means the 
        joint development of application algorithms, models, 
        and codes with computer technology architectures and 
        operating systems to maximize effective use of high-end 
        computing systems.
          ``(2) Department.--The term `Department' means the 
        Department of Energy.
          ``(3) Exascale.--The term `exascale' means computing 
        system performance at or near 10 to the 18th power 
        floating point operations per second.
          ``(4) High-end computing system.--The term `high-end 
        computing system' means a computing system with 
        performance that substantially exceeds that of systems 
        that are commonly available for advanced scientific and 
        engineering applications.
          ``(5) Leadership system.--The term `Leadership 
        System' means a high-end computing system that is among 
        the most advanced in the world in terms of performance 
        in solving scientific and engineering problems.
          ``(6) Institution of higher education.--The term 
        `institution of higher education' has the meaning given 
        the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
        (42 U.S.C. 15801).
          ``(7) National laboratory.--The term `National 
        Laboratory' has the meaning given the term in section 2 
        of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
          ``(8) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the 
        Secretary of Energy.
          ``(9) Software technology.--The term `software 
        technology' includes optimal algorithms, programming 
        environments, tools, languages, and operating systems 
        for high-end computing systems.''.

SEC. 607. FUSION ENERGY RESEARCH.

  (a) Program.--As part of the activities authorized under 
section 209 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 
U.S.C. 7139) and section 972 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(42 U.S.C. 16312), the Director shall carry out a fusion energy 
sciences research and enabling technology development program 
to effectively address the scientific and engineering 
challenges to building a cost-competitive fusion power plant 
and to establish a competitive fusion power industry in the 
United States. As part of this program, the Director shall 
carry out research activities to expand the fundamental 
understandings of plasmas and matter at very high temperatures 
and densities for fusion applications and for other plasma 
science applications.
  (b) Tokamak Research and Development.--
          (1) In general.--As part of the program described in 
        subsection (a), the Director shall support research and 
        development activities and facility operations to--
                  (A) optimize the tokamak approach to fusion 
                energy; and
                  (B) determine the viability of the tokamak 
                approach to fusion energy to lead to a 
                commercial fusion power plant.
          (2) ITER.--
                  (A) Responsibilities.--The Director shall 
                coordinate and carry out the responsibilities 
                of the United States with respect to the ITER 
                international fusion project pursuant to the 
                Agreement on the Establishment of the 
                International Fusion Energy Organization for 
                the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project.
                  (B) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
                shall submit to Congress a report providing an 
                assessment of--
                          (i) the most recent schedule for ITER 
                        that has been approved by the ITER 
                        Council; and
                          (ii) progress of the ITER Council and 
                        the ITER Director-General toward 
                        implementation of the recommendations 
                        of the Third Biennial International 
                        Organization Management Assessment 
                        Report.
                  (C) Fairness in competition for solicitations 
                for international project activities.--Section 
                33 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 U.S.C. 
                2053) is amended by adding at the end the 
                following: ``For purposes of this section, with 
                respect to international research projects, the 
                term `private facilities or laboratories' shall 
                refer to facilities or laboratories located in 
                the United States.''.
                  (D) Sense of congress.--It is the sense of 
                Congress that the United States should support 
                a robust, diverse program in addition to 
                meeting its commitments to ITER. It is further 
                the sense of Congress that developing the 
                scientific basis for fusion, providing research 
                results key to the success of ITER, and 
                training the next generation of fusion 
                scientists are of critical importance to the 
                United States and should in no way be 
                diminished by participation of the United 
                States in the ITER project.
  (c) Inertial Fusion Energy Research and Development 
Program.--The Secretary shall carry out a program of research 
and technology development in inertial fusion for energy 
applications, including ion beam, laser, and pulsed power 
fusion systems.
  (d) Alternative and Enabling Concepts.--
          (1) In general.--As part of the program described in 
        subsection (a), the Director shall support research and 
        development activities and facility operations at 
        United States universities, national laboratories, and 
        private facilities for a portfolio of alternative and 
        enabling fusion energy concepts that may provide 
        solutions to significant challenges to the 
        establishment of a commercial magnetic fusion power 
        plant, prioritized based on the ability of the United 
        States to play a leadership role in the international 
        fusion research community. Fusion energy concepts and 
        activities explored under this paragraph may include--
                  (A) high magnetic field approaches 
                facilitated by high temperature 
                superconductors;
                  (B) advanced stellarator concepts;
                  (C) non-tokamak confinement configurations 
                operating at low magnetic fields;
                  (D) magnetized target fusion energy concepts;
                  (E) liquid metals to address issues 
                associated with fusion plasma interactions with 
                the inner wall of the encasing device;
                  (F) immersion blankets for heat management 
                and fuel breeding;
                  (G) advanced scientific computing activities: 
                and
                  (H) other promising fusion energy concepts 
                identified by the Director.
          (2) Coordination with arpa-e.--The Under Secretary 
        and the Director shall coordinate with the Director of 
        the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (in this 
        paragraph referred to as ``ARPA-E'') to--
                  (A) assess the potential for any fusion 
                energy project supported by ARPA-E to represent 
                a promising approach to a commercially viable 
                fusion power plant;
                  (B) determine whether the results of any 
                fusion energy project supported by ARPA-E merit 
                the support of follow-on research activities 
                carried out by the Office of Science; and
                  (C) avoid unintentional duplication of 
                activities.
  (e) Fusion Materials Research and Development.--As part of 
the activities authorized in section 978 of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16318), the Director, in coordination 
with the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy of the 
Department, shall carry out research and development activities 
to identify, characterize, and create materials that can endure 
the neutron, plasma, and heat fluxes expected in a commercial 
fusion power plant. As part of the activities authorized under 
subsection (g), the Secretary shall--
          (1) provide an assessment of the need for a facility 
        or facilities that can examine and test potential 
        fusion and next generation fission reactor materials 
        and other enabling technologies relevant to the 
        development of commercial fusion power plants; and
          (2) provide an assessment of whether a single new 
        facility that substantially addresses magnetic fusion, 
        inertial fusion, and next generation fission materials 
        research needs is feasible, in conjunction with the 
        expected capabilities of facilities operational at the 
        time of this assessment.
  (f) General Plasma Science and Applications.--Not later than 
2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
shall provide to Congress an assessment of opportunities in 
which the United States can provide world-leading contributions 
to advancing plasma science and non-fusion energy applications, 
and identify opportunities for partnering with other Federal 
agencies both within and outside of the Department of Energy.
  (g) Identification of Priorities.--
          (1) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall transmit to 
        Congress a report on the Department's proposed fusion 
        energy research and development activities over the 
        following 10 years under at least 3 realistic budget 
        scenarios, including a scenario based on 3 percent 
        annual growth in the non-ITER portion of the budget for 
        fusion energy research and development activities. The 
        report shall--
                  (A) identify specific areas of fusion energy 
                research and enabling technology development in 
                which the United States can and should 
                establish or solidify a lead in the global 
                fusion energy development effort;
                  (B) identify priorities for initiation of 
                facility construction and facility 
                decommissioning under each of those scenarios;
                  (C) provide a roadmap addressing critical 
                scientific challenges to ensure that within 10 
                years after the date of enactment of this Act 
                there is sufficient basis to justify and 
                motivate the initiation of an applied fusion 
                energy development program; and
                  (D) assess the ability of the United States 
                fusion workforce to carry out the activities 
                identified in subparagraphs (A) through (C), 
                including the adequacy of college and 
                university programs to train the leaders and 
                workers of the next generation of fusion energy 
                researchers.
          (2) Process.--In order to develop the report required 
        under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall leverage best 
        practices and lessons learned from the process used to 
        develop the most recent report of the Particle Physics 
        Project Prioritization Panel of the High Energy Physics 
        Advisory Panel. No member of the Fusion Energy Sciences 
        Advisory Committee shall be excluded from participating 
        in developing or voting on final approval of the report 
        required under paragraph (1).

SEC. 608. HIGH ENERGY PHYSICS PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--As part of the activities authorized under 
section 209 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 
U.S.C. 7139), the Director shall carry out a research program 
on the elementary constituents of matter and energy and the 
nature of space and time.
  (b) Energy Frontier Research.--As part of the program 
described in subsection (a), the Director shall carry out 
research using high energy accelerators and advanced detectors 
to create and study interactions of novel particles and 
investigate fundamental forces.
  (c) Neutrino Research.--As part of the program described in 
subsection (a), the Director shall carry out research 
activities on rare decay processes and the nature of the 
neutrino, which may include collaborations with the National 
Science Foundation or international collaborations on relevant 
research projects.
  (d) Dark Energy and Dark Matter Research.--As part of the 
program described in subsection (a), the Director shall carry 
out research activities on the nature of dark energy and dark 
matter. These activities shall be consistent with the research 
priorities identified by the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel 
or the National Academy of Sciences, and may include--
          (1) collaborations with the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, 
        or international collaborations on relevant research 
        projects; and
          (2) the development of space-based, land-based, and 
        underground facilities and experiments.
  (e) Facility Construction and Major Items of Equipment.--
Consistent with the Office of Science's project management 
practices, the Director shall support construction or 
fabrication of--
          (1) an international Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility 
        based in the United States;
          (2) the Muon to Electron Conversion Experiment;
          (3) Second Generation Dark Matter experiments;
          (4) the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument;
          (5) the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope camera;
          (6) upgrades to components of the Large Hadron 
        Collider; and
          (7) other high priority projects recommended in the 
        most recent report of the Particle Physics Project 
        Prioritization Panel of the High Energy Physics 
        Advisory Panel.
  (f) Accelerator Research and Development.--As part of the 
program described in subsection (a), the Director shall carry 
out research and development in advanced accelerator concepts 
and technologies, including laser technologies, to reduce the 
necessary scope and cost for the next generation of particle 
accelerators, in coordination with the Office of Science's 
Basic Energy Sciences and Nuclear Physics programs.
  (g) International Collaboration.--The Director, as 
practicable and in coordination with other appropriate Federal 
agencies as necessary, shall ensure the access of United States 
researchers to the most advanced accelerator facilities and 
research capabilities in the world, including the Large Hadron 
Collider.

SEC. 609. NUCLEAR PHYSICS PROGRAM.

  (a) Program.--As part of the activities authorized under 
section 209 of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 
U.S.C. 7139), the Director shall carry out a research program, 
and support relevant facilities, to discover and understand 
various forms of nuclear matter.
  (b) Facility Construction.--
          (1) In general.--Consistent with the Office of 
        Science's project management practices, the Director 
        shall continue to support the construction of the 
        Facility for Rare Isotope Beams.
          (2) Repeal.--Section 981 of the Energy Policy Act of 
        2005 (42 U.S.C. 16321) is repealed.
  (c) Isotope Development and Production for Research 
Applications.--
          (1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a 
        program for the production of isotopes that the 
        Director determines are needed for research and 
        applications, including--
                  (A) the development of techniques to produce 
                isotopes; and
                  (B) support for infrastructure required for 
                isotope research and production.
          (2) Coordination.--In making the determination 
        described in paragraph (1), the Secretary shall--
                  (A) ensure that isotope production activities 
                do not compete with private industry unless 
                critical national interests necessitate the 
                Federal Government's involvement; and
                  (B) consider any relevant recommendations 
                made by Federal advisory committees, the 
                National Academies, and interagency working 
                groups in which the Department participates.

SEC. 610. SCIENCE LABORATORIES INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM.

  (a) Program.--The Director shall carry out a program to 
improve the safety, efficiency, and mission readiness of 
infrastructure at Office of Science laboratories. The program 
shall include projects to--
          (1) renovate or replace space that does not meet 
        research needs;
          (2) replace facilities that are no longer cost 
        effective to renovate or operate;
          (3) modernize utility systems to prevent failures and 
        ensure efficiency;
          (4) remove excess facilities to allow safe and 
        efficient operations; and
          (5) construct modern facilities to conduct advanced 
        research in controlled environmental conditions.
  (b) Approach.--In carrying out this section, the Director 
shall utilize all available approaches and mechanisms, 
including capital line items, minor construction projects, 
energy savings performance contracts, utility energy service 
contracts, alternative financing, and expense funding, as 
appropriate.
  (c) Definition.--The term ``Office of Science laboratory'' 
means a subset of National Laboratories as defined in section 
2(3) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801) 
consisting of subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), (D), (F), (K), (L), 
(M), (P), and (Q).

SEC. 611. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for 
the activities of the Office of Science--
          (1) $5,339,794,000 for fiscal year 2016;
          (2) $5,606,783,700 for fiscal year 2017;
          (3) $5,887,122,885 for fiscal year 2018;
          (4) $6,181,479,029 for fiscal year 2019; and
          (5) $6,490,552,981 for fiscal year 2020.

                           Subtitle B--ARPA-E

SEC. 621. SHORT TITLE.

  This subtitle may be cited as the ``ARPA-E Reauthorization 
Act of 2015''.

SEC. 622. ARPA-E AMENDMENTS.

  Section 5012 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16538) is 
amended--
          (1) by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o) 
        and inserting after subsection (m) the following new 
        subsection:
  ``(n) Protection of Proprietary Information.--The following 
categories of information collected by the Advanced Research 
Projects Agency-Energy from recipients of financial assistance 
awards shall be considered privileged and confidential and not 
subject to disclosure pursuant to section 552 of title 5, 
United States Code:
          ``(1) Plans for commercialization of technologies 
        developed under the award, including business plans, 
        technology to market plans, market studies, and cost 
        and performance models.
          ``(2) Investments provided to an awardee from third 
        parties, such as venture capital, hedge fund, or 
        private equity firms, including amounts and percentage 
        of ownership of the awardee provided in return for such 
        investments.
          ``(3) Additional financial support that the awardee 
        plans to invest or has invested into the technology 
        developed under the award, or that the awardee is 
        seeking from third parties.
          ``(4) Revenue from the licensing or sale of new 
        products or services resulting from the research 
        conducted under the award.''; and
          (2) in paragraph (2) of subsection (o), as so 
        redesignated by paragraph (1) of this section, by--
                  (A) striking ``and'' at the end of 
                subparagraph (D);
                  (B) striking the period at the end of 
                subparagraph (E) and inserting a semicolon; and
                  (C) adding at the end the following:
                  ``(F) $325,000,000 for fiscal year 2016;
                  ``(G) $341,250,000 for fiscal year 2017;
                  ``(H) $358,312,500 for fiscal year 2018;
                  ``(I) $376,228,125 for fiscal year 2019; and
                  ``(J) $395,039,531 for fiscal year 2020.''.

                     Subtitle C--Energy Innovation

SEC. 641. ENERGY INNOVATION HUBS.

  (a) Authorization of Program.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary of Energy shall carry 
        out a program to enhance the Nation's economic, 
        environmental, and energy security by making awards to 
        consortia for establishing and operating Energy 
        Innovation Hubs to conduct and support, whenever 
        practicable at one centralized location, 
        multidisciplinary, collaborative research, development, 
        demonstration, and commercial application of advanced 
        energy technologies.
          (2) Technology development focus.--The Secretary 
        shall designate for each Hub a unique advanced energy 
        technology focus.
          (3) Coordination.--The Secretary shall ensure the 
        coordination of, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, 
        the activities of Hubs with those of other Department 
        of Energy research entities, including the National 
        Laboratories, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-
        Energy, Energy Frontier Research Centers, and within 
        industry.
  (b) Consortia.--
          (1) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive an award 
        under this section for the establishment and operation 
        of a Hub, a consortium shall--
                  (A) be composed of no fewer than 2 qualifying 
                entities; and
                  (B) operate subject to an agreement entered 
                into by its members that documents--
                          (i) the proposed partnership 
                        agreement, including the governance and 
                        management structure of the Hub;
                          (ii) measures to enable cost-
                        effective implementation of the program 
                        under this section;
                          (iii) a proposed budget, including 
                        financial contributions from non-
                        Federal sources;
                          (iv) a plan for managing intellectual 
                        property rights; and
                          (v) an accounting structure that 
                        enables the Secretary to ensure that 
                        the consortium has complied with the 
                        requirements of this section.
          (2) Application.--A consortium seeking to establish 
        and operate a Hub under this section, acting through a 
        prime applicant, shall transmit to the Secretary an 
        application at such time, in such form, and accompanied 
        by such information as the Secretary shall require, 
        including a detailed description of the elements of the 
        consortium agreement required under paragraph (1)(B). 
        If the consortium members will not be located at one 
        centralized location, such application shall include a 
        communications plan that ensures close coordination and 
        integration of the Hub's activities.
  (c) Selection and Schedule.--The Secretary shall select 
consortia for awards for the establishment and operation of 
Hubs through competitive selection processes. In selecting 
consortia, the Secretary shall consider the information a 
consortium must disclose according to subsection (b), as well 
as any existing facilities a consortium will provide for Hub 
activities. Awards made to a Hub shall be for a period not to 
exceed 5 years, after which the award may be renewed, subject 
to a rigorous merit review. A Hub already in existence on the 
date of enactment of this Act may continue to receive support 
for a period of 5 years beginning on the date of establishment 
of that Hub.
  (d) Hub Operations.--
          (1) In general.--Each Hub shall conduct or provide 
        for multidisciplinary, collaborative research, 
        development, demonstration, and, where appropriate, 
        commercial application of advanced energy technologies 
        within the technology development focus designated 
        under subsection (a)(2). Each Hub shall--
                  (A) encourage collaboration and communication 
                among the member qualifying entities of the 
                consortium and awardees by conducting 
                activities whenever practicable at one 
                centralized location;
                  (B) develop and publish on the Department of 
                Energy's website proposed plans and programs;
                  (C) submit an annual report to the Secretary 
                summarizing the Hub's activities, including 
                detailing organizational expenditures, and 
                describing each project undertaken by the Hub; 
                and
                  (D) monitor project implementation and 
                coordination.
          (2) Conflicts of interest.--
                  (A) Procedures.--Hubs shall maintain conflict 
                of interest procedures, consistent with those 
                of the Department of Energy, to ensure that 
                employees and consortia designees for Hub 
                activities who are in decisionmaking capacities 
                disclose all material conflicts of interest.
                  (B) Disqualification and revocation.--The 
                Secretary may disqualify an application or 
                revoke funds distributed to a Hub if the 
                Secretary discovers a failure to comply with 
                conflict of interest procedures established 
                under subparagraph (A).
          (3) Prohibition on construction.--
                  (A) In general.--No funds provided pursuant 
                to this section may be used for construction of 
                new buildings or facilities for Hubs. 
                Construction of new buildings or facilities 
                shall not be considered as part of the non-
                Federal share of a Hub cost-sharing agreement.
                  (B) Test bed and renovation exception.--
                Nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the 
                use of funds provided pursuant to this section, 
                or non-Federal cost share funds, for research 
                or for the construction of a test bed or 
                renovations to existing buildings or facilities 
                for the purposes of research if the Secretary 
                determines that the test bed or renovations are 
                limited to a scope and scale necessary for the 
                research to be conducted.
  (e) Termination.--Consistent with the existing authorities of 
the Department, the Secretary may terminate an underperforming 
Hub for cause during the performance period.
  (f) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
          (1) Advanced energy technology.--The term ``advanced 
        energy technology'' means--
                  (A) an innovative technology--
                          (i) that produces energy from solar, 
                        wind, geothermal, biomass, tidal, wave, 
                        ocean, or other renewable energy 
                        resources;
                          (ii) that produces nuclear energy;
                          (iii) for carbon capture and 
                        sequestration;
                          (iv) that enables advanced vehicles, 
                        vehicle components, and related 
                        technologies that result in significant 
                        energy savings;
                          (v) that generates, transmits, 
                        distributes, utilizes, or stores energy 
                        more efficiently than conventional 
                        technologies, including through Smart 
                        Grid technologies; or
                          (vi) that enhances the energy 
                        independence and security of the United 
                        States by enabling improved or expanded 
                        supply and production of domestic 
                        energy resources, including coal, oil, 
                        and natural gas;
                  (B) research, development, demonstration, and 
                commercial application activities necessary to 
                ensure the long-term, secure, and sustainable 
                supply of energy critical elements; or
                  (C) another innovative energy technology area 
                identified by the Secretary.
          (2) Energy critical element.--The term ``energy 
        critical element'' means any of a class of chemical 
        elements that have a high risk of a supply disruption 
        and are critical to one or more new, energy-related 
        technologies such that a shortage of such element would 
        significantly inhibit large-scale deployment of 
        technologies that produce, transmit, store, or conserve 
        energy.
          (3) Hub.--The term ``Hub'' means an Energy Innovation 
        Hub established or operating in accordance with this 
        section, including any Energy Innovation Hub existing 
        as of the date of enactment of this Act.
          (4) Qualifying entity.--The term ``qualifying 
        entity'' means--
                  (A) an institution of higher education;
                  (B) an appropriate State or Federal entity, 
                including the Department of Energy Federally 
                Funded Research and Development Centers;
                  (C) a nongovernmental organization with 
                expertise in advanced energy technology 
                research, development, demonstration, or 
                commercial application; or
                  (D) any other relevant entity the Secretary 
                considers appropriate.

SEC. 642. PARTICIPATION IN THE INNOVATION CORPS PROGRAM.

  (a) Agreement.--The Secretary of Energy shall enter into an 
agreement with the Director of the National Science Foundation 
to enable researchers funded by the Department of Energy to 
participate in the Innovation Corps program authorized by 
section 307.
  (b) Authorization.--The Secretary of Energy may also 
establish a Department of Energy Innovation Corps program, 
modeled after the National Science Foundation Innovation Corps 
program, to incorporate experts from the Department of Energy 
National Laboratories in the training curriculum of the 
program.

SEC. 643. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.

  (a) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary 
of Energy shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a 
report which shall include--
          (1) an assessment of the Department's current ability 
        to carry out the goals of section 1001 of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16391), including an 
        assessment of the role and effectiveness of the 
        Director of the Office of Technology Transitions; and
          (2) recommended departmental policy changes and 
        legislative changes to section 1001 of the Energy 
        Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16391) to improve the 
        Department's ability to successfully transfer new 
        energy technologies to the private sector.
  (b) Amendments.--Section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16391) is amended--
          (1) in subsection (e), by striking ``for commercial 
        purposes'' and inserting ``of any sort for commercial 
        purposes, including energy technologies not currently 
        supported by the Department of Energy'';
          (2) by redesignating subsections (f) and (g) as 
        subsections (h) and (i), respectively; and
          (3) by inserting after subsection (e) the following 
        new subsections:
  ``(f) Agreements for Commercializing Technology Pilot 
Program.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out the 
        Agreements for Commercializing Technology pilot program 
        of the Department, as announced by the Secretary on 
        December 8, 2011, in accordance with this subsection.
          ``(2) Terms.--Each agreement entered into pursuant to 
        the pilot program referred to in paragraph (1) shall 
        provide to the contractor of the applicable National 
        Laboratory, to the maximum extent determined to be 
        appropriate by the Secretary, increased authority to 
        negotiate contract terms, such as intellectual property 
        rights, payment structures, performance guarantees, and 
        multiparty collaborations.
          ``(3) Eligibility.--
                  ``(A) In general.--Any director of a National 
                Laboratory may enter into an agreement pursuant 
                to the pilot program referred to in paragraph 
                (1).
                  ``(B) Agreements with non-federal entities.--
                To carry out subparagraph (A) and subject to 
                subparagraph (C), the Secretary shall permit 
                the directors of the National Laboratories to 
                execute agreements with a non-Federal entity, 
                including a non-Federal entity already 
                receiving Federal funding that will be used to 
                support activities under agreements executed 
                pursuant to subparagraph (A), provided that 
                such funding is solely used to carry out the 
                purposes of the Federal award.
                  ``(C) Restriction.--The requirements of 
                chapter 18 of title 35, United States Code 
                (commonly known as the `Bayh-Dole Act') shall 
                apply if--
                          ``(i) the agreement is a funding 
                        agreement (as that term is defined in 
                        section 201 of that title); and
                          ``(ii) at least 1 of the parties to 
                        the funding agreement is eligible to 
                        receive rights under that chapter.
          ``(4) Submission to secretary.--Each affected 
        director of a National Laboratory shall submit to the 
        Secretary, with respect to each agreement entered into 
        under this subsection--
                  ``(A) a summary of information relating to 
                the relevant project;
                  ``(B) the total estimated costs of the 
                project;
                  ``(C) estimated commencement and completion 
                dates of the project; and
                  ``(D) other documentation determined to be 
                appropriate by the Secretary.
          ``(5) Certification.--The Secretary shall require the 
        contractor of the affected National Laboratory to 
        certify that each activity carried out under a project 
        for which an agreement is entered into under this 
        subsection--
                  ``(A) is not in direct competition with the 
                private sector; and
                  ``(B) does not present, or minimizes, any 
                apparent conflict of interest, and avoids or 
                neutralizes any actual conflict of interest, as 
                a result of the agreement under this 
                subsection.
          ``(6) Extension.--The pilot program referred to in 
        paragraph (1) shall be extended until October 31, 2017.
          ``(7) Reports.--
                  ``(A) Overall assessment.--Not later than 60 
                days after the date described in paragraph (6), 
                the Secretary, in coordination with directors 
                of the National Laboratories, shall submit to 
                the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
                of the House of Representatives and the 
                Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of 
                the Senate a report that--
                          ``(i) assesses the overall 
                        effectiveness of the pilot program 
                        referred to in paragraph (1);
                          ``(ii) identifies opportunities to 
                        improve the effectiveness of the pilot 
                        program;
                          ``(iii) assesses the potential for 
                        program activities to interfere with 
                        the responsibilities of the National 
                        Laboratories to the Department; and
                          ``(iv) provides a recommendation 
                        regarding the future of the pilot 
                        program.
                  ``(B) Transparency.--The Secretary, in 
                coordination with directors of the National 
                Laboratories, shall submit to the Committee on 
                Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
                Natural Resources of the Senate an annual 
                report that accounts for all incidences of, and 
                provides a justification for, non-Federal 
                entities using funds derived from a Federal 
                contract or award to carry out agreements 
                pursuant to this subsection.
  ``(g) Inclusion of Technology Maturation in Authorized 
Technology Transfer Activities.--The Secretary shall permit the 
directors of the National Laboratories to use funds authorized 
to support technology transfer, following the standard 
practices of the Department, to carry out technology maturation 
activities to identify and improve potential commercial 
application opportunities and demonstrate applications of 
research and technologies arising from National Laboratory 
activities.''.
  (c) Delegation of Authority for Technology Transfer 
Agreements.--
          (1) Authority.--The Secretary of Energy shall 
        delegate to directors of the National Laboratories 
        signature authority for any technology transfer 
        agreement with a total cost of not more than $500,000, 
        including both National Laboratory contributions and 
        the project recipient cost share contribution, if such 
        an agreement falls within the scope of a strategic plan 
        for the National Laboratory that has been approved by 
        the Department.
          (2) Agreements included.--The agreements to which 
        this subsection applies include--
                  (A) Cooperative Research and Development 
                Agreements; and
                  (B) non-Federal Work for Others Agreements.
          (3) Availability of records.--
                  (A) Not later than 7 days after the date on 
                which the director of a National Laboratory 
                enters into an agreement under this subsection, 
                such director shall submit to the Secretary of 
                Energy for monitoring and review all records of 
                the National Laboratory relating to the 
                agreement.
                  (B) Not later than 30 days after the date on 
                which the director of a specific National 
                Laboratory enters into an agreement under this 
                subsection, the Secretary may terminate the 
                agreement and the authority of any director of 
                such National Laboratory to enter into 
                agreements under this subsection if--
                          (i) all records of the National 
                        Laboratory relating to the agreement 
                        have not been transmitted to the 
                        Secretary in accordance with 
                        subparagraph (A); or
                          (ii) the Secretary determines that 
                        this agreement is inconsistent with the 
                        mission of the Department.
          (4) Limitation.--This subsection does not apply to 
        any agreement with a majority foreign-owned company.
          (5) Sunset.--
                  (A) In general.--This subsection shall apply 
                only during the 4-year period beginning on the 
                date of enactment of this Act.
                  (B) Assessment.--Not later than the date that 
                is 180 days prior to the last day of the period 
                described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
                shall submit to the Committee on Science, 
                Space, and Technology of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
                Natural Resources of the Senate an assessment 
                of the effectiveness of the authority provided 
                to the directors of the National Laboratories 
                under this subsection to accelerate the 
                development of new technologies, and an 
                assessment of any incidences of potential 
                misuse of this authority in the opinion of the 
                Secretary.

SEC. 644. FUNDING COMPETITIVENESS FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION 
                    AND OTHER NONPROFIT INSTITUTIONS.

  Section 988(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16352(b)) is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Except as 
        provided in paragraphs (2) and (3)'' and inserting 
        ``Except as provided in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4)''; 
        and
          (2) by adding at the end the following:
          ``(4) Exemption for institutions of higher education 
        and other nonprofit institutions.--
                  ``(A) In general.--Paragraph (1) shall not 
                apply to a research or development activity 
                performed by an institution of higher education 
                or nonprofit institution (as defined in section 
                4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation 
                Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703)).
                  ``(B) Termination date.--The exemption under 
                subparagraph (A) shall apply during the 6-year 
                period beginning on the date of enactment of 
                this paragraph.''.

SEC. 645. UNDER SECRETARY FOR SCIENCE AND ENERGY.

  (a) In General.--Section 202(b) of the Department of Energy 
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7132(b)) is amended--
          (1) by striking ``Under Secretary for Science'' each 
        place it appears and inserting ``Under Secretary for 
        Science and Energy''; and
          (2) in paragraph (4)--
                  (A) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' 
                at the end;
                  (B) in subparagraph (G), by striking the 
                period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
                and
                  (C) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the 
                following:
                  ``(H) establish appropriate linkages between 
                offices under the jurisdiction of the Under 
                Secretary; and
                  ``(I) perform such functions and duties as 
                the Secretary shall prescribe, consistent with 
                this section.''.
  (b) Conforming Amendments.--
          (1) Section 3164(b)(1) of the Department of Energy 
        Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 
        7381a(b)(1)) is amended by striking ``Under Secretary 
        for Science'' and inserting ``Under Secretary for 
        Science and Energy''.
          (2) Section 641(h)(2) of the United States Energy 
        Storage Competitiveness Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 
        17231(h)(2)) is amended by striking ``Under Secretary 
        for Science'' and inserting ``Under Secretary for 
        Science and Energy''.

SEC. 646. SPECIAL HIRING AUTHORITY FOR SCIENTIFIC, ENGINEERING, AND 
                    PROJECT MANAGEMENT PERSONNEL.

  (a) In General.--The Under Secretary shall have the authority 
to--
          (1) make appointments of scientific, engineering, and 
        professional personnel, without regard to civil service 
        laws, to assist the Department in meeting specific 
        project or research needs;
          (2) fix the basic pay of any employee appointed under 
        this section at a rate to be determined by the Under 
        Secretary at rates not in excess of the Executive 
        Schedule (EX-II) without regard to the civil service 
        laws; and
          (3) pay any employee appointed under this section 
        payments in addition to basic pay, except that the 
        total amount of additional payments paid to an employee 
        under this subsection for any 12-month period shall not 
        exceed the least of the following amounts:
                  (A) $25,000.
                  (B) The amount equal to 25 percent of the 
                annual rate of basic pay of that employee.
                  (C) The amount of the limitation that is 
                applicable for a calendar year under section 
                5307(a)(1) of title 5, United States Code.
  (b) Term.--
          (1) In general.--The term of any employee appointed 
        under this section shall not exceed 3 years.
          (2) Termination.--The Under Secretary shall have the 
        authority to terminate any employee appointed under 
        this section at any time based on performance or 
        changing project or research needs of the Department.

         PART B--TEXT OF AMENDMENTS TO H.R. 2250 MADE IN ORDER

 1. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Ratcliffe of Texas or 
                 His Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  Page 29, line 18, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced 
by $5,700,000)''.
  Page 37, line 15, after the dollar amount, insert 
``(increased by $5,700,000)''.
                              ----------                              


2. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Flores of Texas or His 
                   Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
following:
  Sec. __.  None of the funds made available by this Act may be 
used to deliver a printed copy of the Congressional Pictorial 
Directory to the office of a Member of the House of 
Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident Commissioner 
to the Congress).
                              ----------                              


3. An Amendment To Be Offered by Representative Blackburn of Tennessee 
               or Her Designee, Debatable for 10 Minutes

  At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the 
following:
  Sec. __. (a) Each amount made available by this Act is hereby 
reduced by 1 percent.
  (b) The reduction in subsection (a) shall not apply with 
respect to--
          (1) accounts under the heading ``Capitol Police'';
          (2) ``Architect of the Capitol--Capitol Police 
        Buildings, Grounds and Security''; or
          (3) the amount provided for salaries and expenses of 
        the Office of the Sergeant at Arms under the heading 
        ``House of Representatives--Salaries, Officers and 
        Employees''.

                                  [all]