[House Report 114-123]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
114th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 114-123
======================================================================
INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION ACT OF 2015
_______
May 19, 2015.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Smith of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 1156]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom
was referred the bill (H.R. 1156) to authorize the
establishment of a body under the National Science and
Technology Council to identify and coordinate international
science and technology cooperation opportunities, having
considered the same, report favorably thereon without amendment
and recommend that the bill do pass.
CONTENTS
Page
Committee Statement and Views.................................... 2
Section-by-Section............................................... 3
Explanation of Amendments........................................ 4
Committee Consideration.......................................... 4
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch..................... 4
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the
Committee...................................................... 4
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives............ 4
Duplication of Federal Programs.................................. 4
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings.............................. 5
Federal Advisory Committee Act................................... 5
Unfunded Mandate Statement....................................... 5
Earmark Identification........................................... 5
Committee Estimate............................................... 5
Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate... 5
Committee Statement and Views
PURPOSE AND SUMMARY
H.R. 1156, the International Science and Technology
Cooperation Act of 2015, is sponsored by Representative Daniel
Lipinski (D-IL-03), Ranking Member of the Research and
Technology Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and
Technology Committee. The purpose of the bill is to authorize
the establishment of a body under the National Science and
Technology Council (NSTC) to identify and coordinate
international science and technology cooperation opportunities
that can strengthen the U.S. science and technology enterprise,
improve economic and national security, and support U.S.
foreign policy goals. The body shall be co-chaired by senior
level officials from the Office of Science and Technology
Policy (OSTP) and the U.S. Department of State.
BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION
Science and technology (S&T) research addresses key
challenges facing our nation, including energy production,
public health, national security, and economic development. By
collaborating with international partners on scientific issues,
we strengthen the U.S. scientific enterprise and promote the
free exchange of ideas with other nations. While many federal
agencies are engaging with international partners on S&T
projects, there is a need to coordinate these efforts across
the federal government and to identify opportunities for
additional collaborations.
H.R. 1156 directs the NSTC to establish a body that would
identify and coordinate the U.S. interagency strategy for
international S&T cooperation. In addition, the bill requires
NSTC to report back to Congress on their activities to ensure
appropriate oversight. This would strengthen the U.S. S&T
enterprise, improve economic and national security and support
U.S. foreign policy goals.
Interagency coordination will ensure that taxpayer dollars
are used efficiently and that U.S. priorities are consistently
addressed when working with international partners on S&T
issues. Further, this body will make recommendations for
improving U.S. engagement in S&T cooperation with global
partners so that the U.S. maintains its leadership in S&T
research and discovery.
This legislation will improve U.S. participation in
international S&T efforts, ensure a more efficient use of
resources, and help the U.S. maintain its leadership in the
global science arena.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY
In the 113th Congress, Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL-03), the
Ranking Member of the Research and Technology Subcommittee of
the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, introduced
a similar bill (H.R. 5029) on July 8, 2014. On July 14, the
bill passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support by a
vote of 346-41, and was referred to the Senate on July 15,
2014.
COMMITTEE VIEWS
Currently, OSTP, together with the U.S. Department of
State, already works closely with government science agencies,
independent research and scientific institutions, and non-
governmental organizations to promote S&T initiatives and
strengthen global science cooperation. H.R. 1156 demonstrates
the Committee's support for these scientific activities which
will enhance cooperative and collaborative efforts between U.S.
and international scientists. The bill highlights the
historical importance of international scientific collaboration
and the need to proactively engage with the international
scientific community.
H.R. 1156 also attempts to bring some coherence and
direction to the existing NSTC body by specifying its co-chairs
and its responsibilities, including ensuring that the science
and technology activities align with U.S. foreign policy goals.
H.R. 1156 includes a reporting requirement by OSTP to the
Committee so that it may review the body's work and have better
visibility into the internal partnerships across agencies as
well as a better understanding of international science
diplomacy.
Section-by-Section
Section 1. Short title
International Science and Technology Cooperation Act
Section 2. Coordination of International Science and Technology
Partnerships
This section requires the Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy (OSTP) to establish a body under the
National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to identify and
coordinate international science and technology cooperation
that can strengthen the U.S. science and technology enterprise,
improve economic and national security, and support U.S.
foreign policy goals. The body shall be co-chaired by senior
level officials from OSTP and the Department of State. The body
shall:
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 NSTC committees to help plan and coordinate the
international component of national science and
technology priorities;
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;
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;
Solicit input and recommendations from non-
Federal science and technology stakeholders, including
universities, scientific and professional societies,
industry, and relevant organizations and institutions;
and
Identify broad issues that influence the
ability of U.S. scientists and engineers to collaborate
with foreign counterparts, including barriers to
collaboration and access to scientific information.
This section requires the Director of OSTP to submit a
report to Congress every two years describing the work of the
body, the ongoing and new partnerships established since the
last report, the means by which stakeholder input was received
as well as summary views of that input, and the issues
influencing U.S. scientists' abilities to collaborate with
foreign counterparts.
Explanation of Amendments
There were no amendments to this bill.
Committee Consideration
On March 4, 2015, the Committee met in open session and
ordered reported favorably the bill, H.R. 1156 by voice vote, a
quorum being present.
Application of Law to the Legislative Branch
Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104-1 requires a
description of the application of this bill to the legislative
branch where the bill relates to the terms and conditions of
employment or access to public services and accommodations.
This bill authorizes the establishment of a body under the
National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to identify and
coordinate international science and technology cooperation
opportunities that can strengthen the U.S. science and
technology enterprise, improve economic and national security,
and support U.S. foreign policy goals. As such this bill does
not relate to employment or access to public services and
accommodations.
Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee
In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of
this report.
Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives
In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, the Committee's performance
goals and objectives are to demonstrate the Committee's support
for science and technology initiatives that will enhance
cooperative and collaborative efforts between U.S. and
international scientists.
Duplication of Federal Programs
No provision of H.R. 1156 establishes or reauthorizes a
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of
another Federal program, a program that was included in any
report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program
related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance.
Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings
The Committee estimates that enacting H.R. 1156 does not
direct the completion of any specific rule makings within the
meaning of 5 U.S.C. 551.
Federal Advisory Committee Act
The Committee finds that the legislation does not establish
or authorize the establishment of an advisory committee within
the definition of 5 U.S.C. App., Section 5(b).
Unfunded Mandate Statement
Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded
Mandate Reform Act, P.L. 104-4) requires a statement as to
whether the provisions of the reported include unfunded
mandates. In compliance with this requirement the Committee has
received a letter from the Congressional Budget Office included
herein.
Earmark Identification
H.R. 1156 does not include any congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in
clause 9 of rule XXI.
Committee Estimate
Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the
Committee of the costs that would be incurred in carrying out
H.R. 1156. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides
that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has
included in its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the
bill prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act.
Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule
XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect
to requirements of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules
of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received
the following cost estimate for H.R. 1156 from the Director of
Congressional Budget Office:
March 12, 2015.
Hon. Lamar Smith,
Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1156, the
International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2015.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Marin
Burnett.
Sincerely,
Douglas W. Elmendorf.
Enclosure.
H.R. 1156--International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2015
H.R. 1156 would require the Office of Science and
Technology Policy (OSTP) to create a new committee under the
National Science and Technology Council. The committee would
facilitate international research and training activities,
primarily those to aid U.S. domestic science and technology and
to support U.S. foreign policy goals. Senior-level officials
from the OSTP and Department of State would co-chair the
committee.
Based on information from the OSTP, CBO estimates that
implementing H.R. 1156 would cost about $3 million annually,
subject to the availability of appropriated funds. That amount
includes the costs to coordinate federal agency activities,
prepare reports, and hire staff for the new committee. The bill
would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-
as-you-go procedures do not apply.
The legislation contains no intergovernmental or private-
sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments.
The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Marin Burnett.
The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
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