[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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