[House Report 117-254]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress    }                                      {      Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session       }                                      {     117-254

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



 
                    REGIONAL INNOVATION ACT OF 2021

                                _______
                                

 February 28, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

    Ms. Johnson of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                  Technology, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                             MINORITY VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 4588]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom 
was referred the bill (H.R. 4588) to amend the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to establish a regional 
technology and innovation hub program, and for other purposes, 
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an 
amendment and recommends that the bill as amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
   I.  Amendment......................................................2
  II.  Purpose of the Bill...........................................15
 III.  Background and Need for the Legislation.......................15
  IV.  Committee Hearings............................................15
   V.  Committee Consideration and Votes.............................16
  VI.  Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill.......................17
 VII.  Section-By-Section Analysis (By Title and Section)............17
 VIII. Committee Views...............................................18

  IX.  Cost Estimate.................................................19
   X.  Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate.....................19
  XI.  Compliance with Public Law 104-4 (Unfunded Mandates)..........22
 XII.  Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations..............22
 XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives.........22

 XIV.  Federal Advisory Committee Statement..........................23
  XV.  Duplication of Federal Programs...............................23
 XVI.  Earmark Identification........................................23
 XVII. Applicability to the Legislative Branch.......................23

 XVIII Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law........23
    .
 XIX.  Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, As Reported.........23
  XX.  Proceedings of Committee Markup...............................43
 XXI.  Minority Views...............................................124

                              I. Amendment

    The amendment is as follows:
  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 ``Regional Innovation 
Act of 2021''.
  (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Regional Innovation Capacity.
Sec. 3. Regional Clean Energy Innovation Program.
Sec. 4. Critical technology and innovation analytics program.

SEC. 2. REGIONAL INNOVATION CAPACITY.

  (a) In General.--The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (Public Law 96-480; 15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended--
          (1) by redesignating section 28 as section 29; and
          (2) by inserting after section 27 the following:

``SEC. 28. REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION HUB PROGRAM.

  ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
          ``(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
                  ``(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation, the Committee on Environment and Public 
                Works, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                Senate; and
                  ``(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
                and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives.
          ``(2) Cooperative extension services.--The term `cooperative 
        extension services' has the meaning given the term in section 
        1404 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
          ``(3) Historically black colleges and universities.--The term 
        `historically Black colleges and universities' has the meaning 
        given the term `part B institution' in section 322 of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061);
          ``(4) Labor organization.--The term `labor organization' has 
        the meaning given the term in section 2(5) of the National 
        Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152(5)), except that such term 
        shall also include--
                  ``(A) any organization composed of labor 
                organizations, such as a labor union federation or a 
                State or municipal labor body; and
                  ``(B) any organization which would be included in the 
                definition for such term under such section (5) but for 
                the fact that the organization represents--
                          ``(i) individuals employed by the United 
                        States, any wholly owned Government 
                        corporation, any Federal Reserve Bank, or any 
                        State or political subdivision thereof;
                          ``(ii) individuals employed by persons 
                        subject to the Railway Labor Act (45 U.S.C. 151 
                        et seq.); or
                          ``(iii) individuals employed as agricultural 
                        laborers.
          ``(5) Manufacturing extension center.--The term 
        `manufacturing extension center' has the meaning given the term 
        `Center' in section 25(a) of the National Institute of 
        Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(a)).
          ``(6) Manufacturing usa institute.--The term `Manufacturing 
        USA institute' means a Manufacturing USA institute described in 
        section 34(d) of the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s(d)).
          ``(7) Minority-serving institution.--The term `minority-
        serving institution' means a Hispanic-serving institution, an 
        Alaska Native-serving institution, a Native Hawaiian-serving 
        institutions, a Predominantly Black Institution, an Asian 
        American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving 
        institution, or a Native American-serving nontribal institution 
        as described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
          ``(8) Site connectivity infrastructure.--The term `site 
        connectivity infrastructure' means localized driveways and 
        access roads to a facility as well as hookups to the new 
        facility for drinking water, waste water, broadband, and other 
        basic infrastructure services already present in the area.
          ``(9) State.--The term `state' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 27(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Act of 1980 (15 
        U.S.C. 3722(a)).
          ``(10) Tribal college or university.--The term `Tribal 
        College or University' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1059c).
          ``(11) Venture development organization.--The term `venture 
        development organization' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 27(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
        3722(a)).
          ``(12) Community development financial institution.--The term 
        `community development financial institution' has the meaning 
        given in section 103 of the Community Development Banking and 
        Financial Institutions Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4702).
          ``(13) Minority depository institution.--The term `minority 
        depository institution' means an entity that is--
                  ``(A) a minority depository institution, as defined 
                in section 308 of the Financial Institutions Reform, 
                Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. 1463 
                note); or
                  ``(B) considered to be a minority depository 
                institution by--
                          ``(i) the appropriate Federal banking agency; 
                        or
                          ``(ii) the National Credit Union 
                        Administration, in the case of an insured 
                        credit union.
  ``(b) Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program.--
          ``(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, the Secretary shall carry out a program--
                  ``(A) to encourage new and constructive collaboration 
                among local, State, and Federal government entities, 
                institutions of higher education, the private sector, 
                economic development organizations, labor 
                organizations, worker cooperative membership 
                associations, State or local employee ownership and 
                cooperative development centers, nonprofit 
                organizations, and community organizations to promote 
                inclusive regional innovation initiatives;
                  ``(B) to support eligible consortia in the 
                development and implementation of regional innovation 
                strategies;
                  ``(C) to designate eligible consortia as regional 
                technology and innovation hubs and facilitate 
                activities by consortia designated as regional 
                technology and innovation hubs in implementing their 
                regional innovation strategies--
                          ``(i) to enable United States leadership in 
                        technology and innovation sectors critical to 
                        national and economic security;
                          ``(ii) to support regional economic 
                        development and resilience, including in small 
                        cities and rural areas, and promote increased 
                        geographic diversity of innovation across the 
                        United States;
                          ``(iii) to promote the benefits of technology 
                        development and innovation for all Americans, 
                        including underserved communities and 
                        vulnerable communities;
                          ``(iv) to support domestic job creation and 
                        broad-based economic growth; and
                          ``(v) to improve the pace of market 
                        readiness, industry maturation, and overall 
                        commercialization of innovative research;
                  ``(D) to ensure that the regional technology and 
                innovation hubs address the intersection of emerging 
                technologies and either regional challenges or national 
                challenges; and
                  ``(E) to conduct ongoing research, evaluation, 
                analysis, and dissemination of best practices for 
                regional development and competitiveness in technology 
                and innovation.
          ``(2) Awards.--The Secretary shall carry out the program 
        required by paragraph (1) through the award of the following:
                  ``(A) Strategy development grants or cooperative 
                agreements to eligible consortia under subsection (e).
                  ``(B) Strategy implementation grants or cooperative 
                agreements to regional technology and innovation hubs 
                under subsection (f).
  ``(c) Eligible Consortia.--For purposes of this section, an eligible 
consortium is a consortium that--
          ``(1) includes 1 or more of each of the following--
                  ``(A) institutions of higher education, which may 
                include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 
                Tribal Colleges and Universities, and minority-serving 
                institutions;
                  ``(B) State, local, or Tribal governments or other 
                political subdivisions of a State, including State and 
                local agencies, or a consortia thereof;
                  ``(C) industry or firms in relevant technology or 
                innovation sectors;
                  ``(D) labor organizations or workforce training 
                organizations, which may include State and local 
                workforce development boards as established under 
                section 101 and 107 of the Workforce Investment and 
                Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111; 3122); and
                  ``(E) organizations that contribute to increasing the 
                participation of underserved populations in science, 
                technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and
          ``(2) may include 1 or more--
                  ``(A) economic development entities with relevant 
                expertise, including a district organization (as 
                defined in section 300.3 of title 13, Code of Federal 
                Regulations, or successor regulation);
                  ``(B) economic development organizations or similar 
                entities that are focused primarily on improving 
                science, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, or 
                access to capital;
                  ``(C) venture development organizations;
                  ``(D) worker cooperative membership associations and 
                state or local employee ownership and cooperative 
                development centers;
                  ``(E) financial institutions and investment funds, 
                including community development financial institutions 
                and minority depository institutions;
                  ``(F) elementary schools and secondary schools, 
                including area career and technical education schools 
                (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career 
                and Technical Education Act of 2006 (29 U.S.C. 2302);
                  ``(G) National Laboratories (as defined in section 2 
                of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801));
                  ``(H) Federal laboratories;
                  ``(I) Manufacturing extension centers;
                  ``(J) Manufacturing USA institutes;
                  ``(K) transportation planning organizations;
                  ``(L) a cooperative extension services; and
                  ``(M) organizations that represent the perspectives 
                of underserved communities in economic development 
                initiatives.
  ``(d) Designation of Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs.--
          ``(1) In general.--In carrying out subsection (b)(1)(C), the 
        Secretary shall use a competitive, merit-review process to 
        designate not fewer than 10 eligible consortia as regional 
        technology and innovation hubs.
          ``(2) Geographic distribution.--In conducting the competitive 
        process under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure 
        geographic distribution in the designation of regional 
        technology and innovation hubs by--
                  ``(A) focusing on localities that are not leading 
                technology centers;
                  ``(B) ensuring that not fewer than one third of 
                eligible consortia designated as regional technology 
                and innovation hubs significantly benefit a rural or 
                other underserved community;
                  ``(C) ensuring that at least one eligible consortium 
                designated as a regional technology and innovation hub 
                is headquartered in a State that is eligible to receive 
                funding from the Established Program to Stimulate 
                Competitive Research of the National Science 
                Foundation; and
                  ``(D) ensuring that at least one eligible consortium 
                designated as a regional technology and innovation hub 
                is headquartered in a region that has a high density of 
                institutions of higher education serving populations 
                historically underrepresented in STEM, including 
                historically Black Colleges and Universities and 
                minority-serving institutions.
          ``(3) Relation to certain grant awards.--The Secretary shall 
        not require an eligible consortium to receive a grant or 
        cooperative agreement under subsection (e) in order to be 
        designated as a regional technology and innovation hub under 
        paragraph (1) of this subsection.
  ``(e) Strategy Development Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use a competitive, 
        merit-review process to award grants or cooperative agreements 
        to eligible consortia for the development of regional 
        innovation strategies.
          ``(2) Number of recipients.--The Secretary shall award a 
        grant or cooperative agreement under paragraph (1) to not fewer 
        than 20 eligible consortia.
          ``(3) Geographic diversity and representation.--
                  ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out 
                paragraph (1) in a manner that ensures geographic 
                diversity and representation from communities of 
                differing populations.
                  ``(B) Awards to rural communities and underserved 
                communities.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
                Secretary shall award not fewer than one-half of the 
                grants and cooperative agreements under such paragraph 
                to eligible consortia that significantly benefit a 
                rural state, rural community, or other underserved 
                community.
          ``(4) Use of funds.--The amount of a grant or cooperative 
        agreement awarded under paragraph (1) shall be as follows:
                  ``(A) To coordinate locally defined planning 
                processes, across jurisdictions and agencies, relating 
                to developing a comprehensive regional technology 
                strategy.
                  ``(B) To identify regional partnerships for 
                developing and implementing a comprehensive regional 
                technology strategy.
                  ``(C) To conduct or update assessments to determine 
                regional needs and capabilities.
                  ``(D) To develop or update goals and strategies to 
                implement an existing comprehensive regional plan.
                  ``(E) To identify or implement planning and local 
                zoning and other code changes necessary to implement a 
                comprehensive regional technology strategy.
                  ``(F) To develop or update goals for ensuring that 
                any new regional technology strategy mitigates and does 
                not exacerbate economic or social inequities in a 
                region.
          ``(5) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of an 
        effort carried out using a grant or cooperative agreement 
        awarded under this subsection may not exceed 80 percent--
                  ``(A) where in-kind contributions may be used for all 
                or part of the non-Federal share, but Federal funding 
                from other government sources may not count towards the 
                non-Federal share;
                  ``(B) except in the case of an eligible consortium 
                that represents all or part of a rural or other 
                underserved community, the Federal share may be up to 
                90 percent of the total cost, subject to subparagraph 
                (A); and
                  ``(C) except in the case of an eligible consortium 
                that is led by a Tribal government, the Federal share 
                may be up to 100 percent of the total cost of the 
                project.
  ``(f) Strategy Implementation Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use a competitive, 
        merit-review process to award grants or cooperative agreements 
        to regional technology and innovation hubs for the 
        implementation of regional innovation strategies, including 
        regional strategies for infrastructure and site development, in 
        support of the regional innovation and technology and 
        innovation hub's plans and programs. The Secretary should 
        determine the size and number of awards based on appropriations 
        available to ensure the success of regional technology and 
        innovation hubs as outlined in subsection (h).
          ``(2) Use of funds.--Financial assistance awarded under 
        paragraph (1) to a regional technology and innovation hub may 
        be used by the regional technology and innovation hub to 
        support any of the following activities, consistent with the 
        most current regional innovation strategy of the regional 
        technology and innovation hub:
                  ``(A) Workforce development activities.--Workforce 
                development activities, including activities relating 
                to the following:
                          ``(i) The creation of partnerships between 
                        industry, workforce, nonprofit, and educational 
                        institutions to create and align technical 
                        training and educational programs.
                          ``(ii) The design, development, and updating 
                        of educational and training curriculum tied to 
                        demonstrated regional workforce needs.
                          ``(iii) The procurement of facilities and 
                        equipment, as required to train a technical 
                        workforce.
                          ``(iv) The development and execution of 
                        programs to rapidly award certificates or 
                        credentials recognized by regional industries 
                        or other organizations.
                          ``(v) The matching of regional employers with 
                        a potential new entrant, underemployed, 
                        underrepresented, or incumbent workforce.
                          ``(vi) The expansion of successful training 
                        programs at a scale required by the region 
                        served by the regional technology and 
                        innovation hub, including through the use of 
                        online education.
                          ``(vii) The development and expansion of 
                        programs with the goal of increasing the 
                        participation of persons historically 
                        underrepresented in STEM in the workforce 
                        development plans of the regional technology 
                        and innovation hub.
                  ``(B) Business and entrepreneur development 
                activities.--Business and entrepreneur development 
                activities, including activities relating to the 
                following:
                          ``(i) The development and growth of local 
                        regional businesses and the training of 
                        entrepreneurs.
                          ``(ii) The support of technology 
                        commercialization, including funding for 
                        activities relevant for advancing high growth 
                        potential ventures such as acceleration, 
                        incubation and other relevant programming.
                          ``(iii) The development of local and regional 
                        capital networks and consortia to attract 
                        necessary private funding to businesses and 
                        entrepreneurs in the region.
                          ``(iv) The development of local and regional 
                        networks for business and entrepreneur 
                        mentorship.
                          ``(v) The expansion of employee and worker 
                        ownership and participation in business 
                        decisionmaking, including through coordination 
                        and collaboration with worker cooperative 
                        membership associations and existing local and 
                        state employee ownership and cooperative 
                        development centers, or the creation of such 
                        centers where they do not yet exist, in order 
                        to provide information, technical assistance, 
                        access to financing, and training to startups, 
                        contractors, and businesses that are 
                        considering employee ownership as a model, and 
                        to facilitate the creation of and conversion to 
                        employee-owned startups, businesses, and 
                        cooperatives.
                  ``(C) Technology development and maturation 
                activities.--Technology maturation activities, 
                including activities relating to the following:
                          ``(i) The development and deployment of 
                        technologies in sectors critical to the region 
                        served by the regional technology and 
                        innovation hub or to national and economic 
                        security, including industry-university 
                        research cooperation, proof of concept, 
                        prototype development, and testing.
                          ``(ii) The development of programming to 
                        support the creation and transfer of 
                        intellectual property into private use, such as 
                        through startup creation.
                          ``(iii) The provision of facilities for 
                        technology maturation, including incubators for 
                        collaborative development of technologies by 
                        private sector, academic, nonprofit, and other 
                        entities.
                          ``(iv) Activities to provide or ensure access 
                        to capital for new business and cooperative 
                        formation and business expansion, or 
                        preservation of existing businesses through 
                        conversion to employee ownership and 
                        cooperatives, including by attracting new 
                        private, public, and philanthropic investment 
                        and by establishing local and regional venture 
                        and loan funds, community development financial 
                        institutions, and minority depository 
                        institutions.
                  ``(D) Infrastructure-related activities.--The 
                building of facilities and site connectivity 
                infrastructure necessary to carry out activities 
                described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), including 
                activities relating to the following:
                          ``(i) Establishing a center with required 
                        tools and instrumentation for workforce 
                        development.
                          ``(ii) Establishing a facility for technology 
                        development, demonstration, and testing.
                          ``(iii) Establishing collaborative incubators 
                        to support technology commercialization and 
                        entrepreneur training.
          ``(3) Term.--
                  ``(A) Initial performance period.--The term of an 
                initial grant or cooperative agreement awarded under 
                this subsection shall be for a period that the 
                Secretary deems appropriate for the proposed activities 
                but not less than 2 years.
                  ``(B) Subsequent performance period.--The Secretary 
                may renew a grant or cooperative agreement awarded to a 
                regional technology and innovation hub under paragraph 
                (1) for such period as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate, if the Secretary determines that the 
                regional technology and innovation hub has made 
                satisfactory progress towards the metrics agreed to 
                under subsection (j).
                  ``(C) Flexible approach.--In renewing a grant or 
                cooperative agreement under subparagraph (B), the 
                Secretary and the eligible consortium may agree to new 
                or additional uses of funds in order to meet changes in 
                the needs of the region.
          ``(4) Limitation on amount of awards.--
                  ``(A) Initial performance period.--The amount of an 
                initial grant or cooperative agreements awarded to a 
                regional technology and innovation hub under paragraph 
                (3)(A) shall be no more than $150,000,000.
                  ``(B) Subsequent performance period.--Upon renewal of 
                a grant or cooperative agreement under paragraph 
                (3)(B), the Secretary may award funding in the amount 
                that the Secretary considers appropriate, ensuring that 
                no single regional technology and innovation hub 
                receives more than 15 percent of the aggregate amount 
                of the grants and cooperative agreements awarded under 
                this subsection.
          ``(5) Matching required.--
                  ``(A) Initial performance period.--Except in the case 
                of a regional technology and innovation hub described 
                in subparagraph (C), the total amount of all grants 
                awarded to a regional technology and innovation hub 
                under this subsection in phase one shall not exceed 90 
                percent of the total operating costs of the regional 
                technology and innovation hub during the initial 
                performance period.
                  ``(B) Subsequent performance period.--Except in the 
                case of a regional technology and innovation hub 
                described in subparagraph (C), the total amount of all 
                grants awarded to a regional technology and innovation 
                hub in subsequent performance periods shall not exceed 
                75 percent of the total operating costs of the regional 
                technology and innovation hub in each year of the grant 
                or cooperative agreement.
                  ``(C) Rural communities or underserved communities 
                and indian tribes.--
                          ``(i) In general.--The total Federal 
                        financial assistance awarded in a given year to 
                        a regional technology and innovation hub under 
                        this subsection shall not exceed amounts as 
                        follows:
                                  ``(I) In the case of a regional 
                                technology and innovation hub that 
                                primarily serves a rural community or 
                                other underserved community, in a 
                                fiscal year, 90 percent of the total 
                                funding of the regional technology and 
                                innovation hub in that fiscal year.
                                  ``(II) In the case of a regional 
                                technology and innovation hub that is 
                                led by a Tribal government, in a fiscal 
                                year, 100 percent of the total funding 
                                of the regional technology and 
                                innovation hub in that fiscal year.
                          ``(ii) Minimum threshold of rural 
                        representation.--For purposes of clause (i)(I), 
                        the Secretary shall establish a minimum 
                        threshold of rural representation and other 
                        underserved community representation in the 
                        regional technology and innovation hub.
                  ``(D) In-kind contributions.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph, in-kind contributions may be used for part 
                of the non-Federal share of the total funding of a 
                regional technology and innovation hub in a fiscal 
                year.
          ``(6) Grants for infrastructure.--Any grant or cooperative 
        agreement awarded under this subsection to support the 
        construction of facilities and site connectivity infrastructure 
        shall be awarded pursuant to section 201 of the Public Works 
        and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141) and 
        subject to the provisions of such Act, except that subsection 
        (b) of such section and sections 204 and 301 of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 3144; 3161) shall not apply.
          ``(7) Relation to certain grant awards.--The Secretary shall 
        not require a regional technology and innovation hub to receive 
        a grant or cooperative agreement under subsection (e) in order 
        to receive a grant or cooperative agreement under this 
        subsection.
  ``(g) Applications.--An eligible consortium seeking designation as a 
regional technology and innovation hub under subsection (d) or a grant 
or cooperative agreement under subsection (e) or (f) shall submit to 
the Secretary an application therefore at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may specify.
  ``(h) Considerations for Designation and Award of Strategy 
Implementation Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--In selecting an 
eligible consortium that submitted an application under subsection (g) 
for designation under subsection (d) or for a grant or cooperative 
agreement under subsection (f), the Secretary shall consider the 
following:
          ``(1) The potential of the eligible consortium to advance the 
        research, development, deployment, and domestic manufacturing 
        of technologies in a technology or innovation sector critical 
        to national and economic security.
          ``(2) The likelihood of positive regional economic effect, 
        including increasing the number of high wage domestic jobs, 
        creating new economic opportunities for economically 
        disadvantaged and underrepresented populations, promoting 
        employee and worker ownership, and advancing models of local 
        and cooperative economic development that build and retain 
        wealth in the region.
          ``(3) How the eligible consortium plans to integrate with and 
        leverage the resources of 1 or more federally funded research 
        and development centers, National Laboratories, Federal 
        laboratories, Manufacturing USA institutes, Hollings 
        Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers, or other Federal 
        entities.
          ``(4) How the eligible consortium will engage with the 
        private sector, including small- and medium-sized businesses 
        and cooperatives, and employee-owned businesses and 
        cooperatives, to commercialize new technologies and improve the 
        resiliency and sustainability of domestic supply chains in a 
        technology or innovation sector critical to national and 
        economic security.
          ``(5) How the eligible consortium will carry out workforce 
        development and skills acquisition programming, including 
        through partnerships with entities that include State and local 
        workforce development boards, institutions of higher education, 
        including community colleges, historically Black colleges and 
        universities, Tribal colleges and universities, and minority-
        serving institutions, labor organizations, worker cooperative 
        membership associations, state or local employee ownership and 
        cooperative development centers, workforce development 
        programs, and other related activities authorized by the 
        Secretary, to support the development of a skilled technical 
        workforce for the regional technology and innovation hub.
          ``(6) How the eligible consortium will improve or expand 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education 
        programs and opportunities in the identified region in 
        elementary and secondary school and higher education 
        institutions located in the identified region.
          ``(7) How the eligible consortium plans to develop 
        partnerships with venture development organizations, community 
        development financial institutions and minority depository 
        institutions, and sources of private investment in support of 
        private sector activity, including launching new or expanding 
        existing companies.
          ``(8) How the eligible consortium plans to organize the 
        activities of regional partners across sectors in support of a 
        regional technology and innovation hub.
          ``(9) How the eligible consortium plans to procure as many 
        goods, services, food, and supplies as is practicable from 
        locally-owned, employee-owned, minority-owned, and women-owned 
        businesses and cooperatives in conducting hub activities, and 
        how individual consortium members, as applicable, plan to do 
        the same.
          ``(10) How the consortium plans to collaborate with local and 
        community development financial institutions and minority 
        depository institutions to expand the supply of such 
        procurement options, including by creating business plans and 
        plans for financing businesses and cooperatives that do not yet 
        exist, and how the consortium plans to encourage entities 
        created as a result of hub activities to follow such practices.
          ``(11) How the eligible consortium will ensure that growth in 
        technology and innovation sector produces opportunity across 
        the identified region, including for economically 
        disadvantaged, minority, and rural populations, including 
        consideration of how the eligible consortium takes into account 
        the relevant impact of regional status and plans for--
                  ``(A) available affordable housing stock and housing 
                policies;
                  ``(B) local and regional transportation systems;
                  ``(C) high speed internet access; and
                  ``(D) primary and secondary education.
          ``(12) How much the regions educational institutions are 
        committed to aligning their activities, including research and 
        education, as appropriate, to a region's economic strengths and 
        areas of focus.
          ``(13) The likelihood efforts served by the consortium will 
        be sustained once Federal support ends.
  ``(i) Coordination and Collaboration.--
          ``(1) Coordination with regional innovation program.--The 
        Secretary shall ensure the activities under this section do not 
        duplicate activities or efforts under section 27.
          ``(2) Coordination among hubs.--The Secretary shall ensure 
        eligible consortia that receive a grant or cooperative 
        agreement under this section coordinate and share best 
        practices for regional economic development.
          ``(3) Coordination with programs of the national institute of 
        standards and technology.--The Secretary shall coordinate the 
        activities of regional technology and innovation hubs 
        designated under this section, the Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership, and the Manufacturing USA Program, as 
        the Secretary considers appropriate, to maintain the 
        effectiveness of a manufacturing extension center or a 
        Manufacturing USA institute.
          ``(4) Coordination with department of energy programs.--The 
        Secretary shall, in collaboration with the Secretary of Energy, 
        coordinate the activities and selection of regional technology 
        and innovation hubs designated under this section, as the 
        Secretaries consider appropriate, to maintain the effectiveness 
        of activities at the Department of Energy and the National 
        Laboratories.
          ``(5) Interagency collaboration.--In designating regional 
        technology and innovation hubs under subsection (d) and 
        awarding grants or cooperative agreements under subsection (f), 
        the Secretary--
                  ``(A) shall collaborate with Federal departments and 
                agencies whose missions contribute to the goals of the 
                regional technology and innovation hub, and relevant 
                interagency initiatives such as the Interagency Working 
                Group for Cooperative Development;
                  ``(B) shall consult with the Director of the National 
                Science Foundation for the purpose of ensuring that the 
                regional technology and innovation hubs are aligned 
                with relevant science, technology, and engineering 
                expertise; and
                  ``(C) may accept funds from other Federal agencies to 
                support grants, cooperative agreements, and activities 
                under this section.
  ``(j) Performance Measurement, Transparency, and Accountability.--
          ``(1) Metrics, standards, and assessment.--For each grant and 
        cooperative agreement awarded under subsection (f) for a 
        regional technology and innovation hub, the Secretary shall--
                  ``(A) in consultation with the regional technology 
                and innovation hub, develop metrics, which may include 
                metrics relating to domestic job creation, patent 
                awards, increases in research funding, business 
                formation and expansion, and participation of 
                individuals or communities historically 
                underrepresented in STEM, to assess the effectiveness 
                of the activities funded in making progress toward the 
                purposes set forth under subsection (b)(1);
                  ``(B) establish standards for the performance of the 
                regional technology and innovation hub that are based 
                on the metrics developed under subparagraph (A); and
                  ``(C) prior to any award made under a subsequent 
                performance period in subsection (f) and every 2 years 
                thereafter until Federal financial assistance under 
                this section for the regional technology and innovation 
                hub is discontinued, conduct an assessment of the 
                regional technology and innovation hub to confirm 
                whether the performance of the regional technology and 
                innovation hub is meeting the standards for performance 
                established under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.
          ``(2) Final reports by recipients of strategy implementation 
        grants and cooperative agreements.--
                  ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall require each 
                eligible consortium that receives a grant or 
                cooperative agreement under subsection (f) for 
                activities of a regional technology and innovation hub, 
                as a condition of receipt of such grant or cooperative 
                agreement, to submit to the Secretary, not later than 
                120 days after the last day of the term of the grant or 
                cooperative agreement, a report on the activities of 
                the regional technology and innovation hub supported by 
                the grant or cooperative agreement.
                  ``(B) Contents of report.--Each report submitted by 
                an eligible consortium under subparagraph (A) shall 
                include the following:
                          ``(i) A detailed description of the 
                        activities carried out by the regional 
                        technology and innovation hub using the grant 
                        or cooperative agreement described in 
                        subparagraph (A), including the following:
                                  ``(I) A description of each project 
                                the regional technology and innovation 
                                hub completed using such grant or 
                                cooperative agreement.
                                  ``(II) An explanation of how each 
                                project described in subclause (I) 
                                achieves a specific goal under this 
                                section in the region of the regional 
                                technology and innovation hub with 
                                respect to--
                                          ``(aa) the resiliency and 
                                        sustainability of a supply 
                                        chain;
                                          ``(bb) research, development, 
                                        and deployment of a critical 
                                        technology;
                                          ``(cc) workforce training and 
                                        development;
                                          ``(dd) domestic job creation;
                                          ``(ee) entrepreneurship and 
                                        company formation, including 
                                        the number of businesses 
                                        created or preserved through 
                                        employee ownership and 
                                        cooperative development;
                                          ``(ff) commercialization;
                                          ``(gg) access to private 
                                        capital; or
                                          ``(hh) participation of 
                                        individuals or communities 
                                        historically underrepresented 
                                        in STEM.
                          ``(ii) A discussion of any obstacles 
                        encountered by the regional technology and 
                        innovation hub in the implementation of the 
                        regional technology and innovation hub and how 
                        the regional technology and innovation hub 
                        overcame those obstacles.
                          ``(iii) An evaluation of the success of the 
                        projects of the regional technology and 
                        innovation hub using the performance standards 
                        and measures established under paragraph (1), 
                        including an evaluation of the planning process 
                        and how the project contributes to carrying out 
                        the regional innovation strategy of the 
                        regional technology and innovation hub.
                          ``(iv) The effectiveness of the regional 
                        technology and innovation hub in ensuring that, 
                        in the region of the regional technology and 
                        innovation hub, growth in technology and 
                        innovation sectors produces broadly shared 
                        opportunity across the region, including for 
                        economic disadvantaged and underrepresented 
                        populations and rural areas.
                          ``(v) Information regarding such other 
                        matters as the Secretary may require.
          ``(3) Interim reports by recipients of grants and cooperative 
        agreements.--In addition to requiring submittal of final 
        reports under paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary may require a 
        regional technology and innovation hub described in such 
        paragraph to submit to the Secretary such interim reports as 
        the Secretary considers appropriate.
          ``(4) Annual reports to congress.--Not less frequently than 
        once each year, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
        committees of Congress an annual report on the results of the 
        assessments conducted by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(C) 
        during the period covered by the report.
  ``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary--
          ``(1) $50,000,000 to award grants and cooperative agreements 
        under subsection (e) for the period of fiscal years 2022 
        through 2026;
          ``(2) $2,000,000,000 to award grants and cooperative 
        agreements under subsection (f) for the period of fiscal years 
        2022 and 2023; and
          ``(3) $4,800,000,000 to award grants and cooperative 
        agreements under subsection (f) for the period of fiscal years 
        2024 through 2026.
  ``(l) Administration.--The Secretary may use funds made available to 
carry out this section for administrative costs under this section.''.
  (b) Initial Designations and Awards.--
          (1) Competition required.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of the enactment of this section, subject to the 
        availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Commerce shall 
        commence a competition under subsection (d)(1) of section 28 of 
        the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 
        U.S.C. 3723) as added by subsection (a).
          (2) Designation and award.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of the enactment of this section, if the Secretary has 
        received at least 1 application under subsection (g) of section 
        28 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 
        (15 U.S.C. 3723) from an eligible consortium whom the Secretary 
        considers suitable for designation under subsection (d)(1) of 
        such section, the Secretary shall--
                  (A) designate at least 1 regional technology and 
                innovation hub under subsection (d)(1) of such section; 
                and
                  (B) award a grant or cooperative agreement under 
                subsection (f)(1) of such section to each regional 
                technology and innovation hub designated pursuant to 
                subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.

SEC. 3. REGIONAL CLEAN ENERGY INNOVATION PROGRAM.

  Subtitle C of title IX of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 
2007 is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 936. REGIONAL CLEAN ENERGY INNOVATION PROGRAM.

  ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
          ``(1) Regional clean energy innovation partnership.--The term 
        `regional clean energy innovation partnership' means a group of 
        one or more persons, including a covered consortium, who 
        perform a collection of activities that are coordinated by such 
        covered consortium to carry out the purposes of the program 
        under subsection (c) in a region of the United States.
          ``(2) Covered consortium.--The term `covered consortium' 
        means an individual or group of individuals in partnership with 
        a government entity, including a State, local, or tribal 
        government or unit of such government, and at least 2 or more 
        of the following additional entities--
                  ``(A) an institution of higher education or a 
                consortium of institutions of higher education;
                  ``(B) a workforce training provider, including 
                vocational schools and community colleges;
                  ``(C) a private sector entity;
                  ``(D) a nonprofit organization;
                  ``(E) a community group;
                  ``(F) a labor group;
                  ``(G) a National Laboratory;
                  ``(H) a venture development organization;
                  ``(I) a community development financial institution 
                or minority depository institution;
                  ``(J) a worker cooperative membership association or 
                state or local employee ownership or cooperative 
                development center;
                  ``(K) an organization focused on clean energy 
                technology innovation or entrepreneurship;
                  ``(L) a business accelerator or incubator;
                  ``(M) a private sector entity or group of entities, 
                including a trade or industry association;
                  ``(N) an economic development organization;
                  ``(O) a manufacturing facility or organization;
                  ``(P) a clean energy incubator or accelerator;
                  ``(Q) a multi-institutional collaboration; or
                  ``(R) any other entity that the Secretary determines 
                to be relevant.
          ``(3) Program.--The term `program' means the Regional Clean 
        Energy Innovation Program authorized in subsection (b).
  ``(b) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a Regional Clean 
Energy Innovation Program, a research, development, demonstration, and 
commercial application program designed to enhance the economic, 
environmental, and energy security of the United States and accelerate 
the pace of innovation of diverse clean energy technologies through the 
formation or support of regional clean energy innovation partnerships 
that--
          ``(1) account for the diverse domestic energy resources 
        available throughout the United States;
          ``(2) are responsive to the needs of industry, workforce, 
        policy landscape, and clean energy innovation capabilities of 
        the region in which such partnership is located;
          ``(3) enhance and accelerate clean energy innovation;
          ``(4) are located in diverse geographic regions of the United 
        States, including United States territories; and
          ``(5) maximize the opportunities for cooperation between 
        institutes of higher education, industry, State and local 
        governments, and nonprofit research institutions with shared 
        areas of energy expertise.
  ``(c) Purposes of the Program.--The purposes of the Program 
established under subsection (b) are to--
          ``(1) improve the competitiveness of United States' clean 
        energy technology research, development, demonstration, and 
        commercial application; and
          ``(2) support the development of tools and technologies best 
        suited for use in diverse regions of the United States, 
        including in rural, tribal, and low-income communities.
  ``(d) Regional Clean Energy Innovation Partnerships.--
          ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall competitively award 
        grants to covered consortia to establish or support regional 
        clean energy innovation partnerships that achieve the purposes 
        of the Program in subsection (c).
          ``(2) Permissible activities.--Grants awarded under this 
        subsection shall be used for activities determined appropriate 
        by the Secretary to achieve the purposes of the Program in 
        subsection (c), including--
                  ``(A) facilitating the commercial application of 
                clean energy products, processes, and services, 
                including through research, development, demonstration, 
                or technology transfer;
                  ``(B) planning among participants of a regional clean 
                energy innovation partnership to improve the strategic 
                and cost-effective coordination of the partnership;
                  ``(C) improving stakeholder involvement in the 
                development of goals and activities of a regional clean 
                energy innovation partnership;
                  ``(D) assessing different incentive mechanisms for 
                clean energy development and commercial application in 
                the region;
                  ``(E) hosting events and conferences; and
                  ``(F) establishing and updating roadmaps to measure 
                progress on relevant goals, such as those relevant to 
                metrics developed under subsection (g).
          ``(3) Applications.--Each application submitted to the 
        Secretary under paragraph (1) may include--
                  ``(A) a list of members and roles of members of the 
                covered consortia, as well as any other stakeholders 
                supporting the activities of the regional clean energy 
                innovation partnership;
                  ``(B) a description of the proposed outcomes of the 
                regional clean energy innovation partnership;
                  ``(C) an assessment of the relevant clean energy 
                innovation assets needed in a region to achieve 
                proposed outcomes, such as education and training 
                programs, research facilities, infrastructure or site 
                development, access to capital, manufacturing 
                capabilities, or other assets;
                  ``(D) a description of proposed activities that the 
                regional clean energy innovation partnership plans to 
                undertake and how the proposed activities will achieve 
                the purposes described in subsection (c) and the 
                proposed outcomes in subparagraph (B);
                  ``(E) a description of the geographical region that 
                will engage in the regional clean energy innovation 
                partnership;
                  ``(F) a plan for attracting additional funds and 
                identification of funding sources from non-Federal 
                sources to deliver the proposed outcomes of the 
                regional clean energy innovation partnership;
                  ``(G) a plan for partnering and collaborating with 
                community development financial institutions and 
                minority depository institutions, labor and community 
                groups, worker cooperative membership associations, 
                local and state employee ownership and cooperative 
                development centers, and other local institutions in 
                order to promote employee, community, and public 
                ownership in the clean energy sector, and advance 
                models of local economic development that build and 
                retain wealth in the region;
                  ``(H) a plan for sustaining activities of the 
                regional clean energy innovation partnership after 
                funds received under this program have been expended; 
                and
                  ``(I) a proposed budget, including financial 
                contributions from non-Federal sources.
          ``(4) Considerations.--In selecting covered consortia for 
        funding under the Program, the Secretary shall, to the maximum 
        extent practicable--
                  ``(A) give special consideration to applications 
                fromrural, tribal, and low-income communities; and
                  ``(B) ensure that there is geographic diversity among 
                the covered consortia selected to receive funding.
          ``(5) Award amount.--Grants given out under this Program 
        shall be in an amount not greater than $10,000,000, with the 
        total grant award in any year less than that in the previous 
        year.
          ``(6) Cost share.--For grants that are disbursed over the 
        course of three or more years, the Secretary shall require, as 
        a condition of receipt of funds under this section, that a 
        covered consortium provide not less than 50 percent of the 
        funding for the activities of the regional clean energy 
        partnership under this section for years 3, 4, and 5.
          ``(7) Duration.--Each grant under paragraph shall be for a 
        period of not longer than 5 years.
          ``(8) Renewal.--A grant awarded under this section may be 
        renewed for a period of not more than 5 years, subject to a 
        rigorous merit review based on the progress of a regional clean 
        energy innovation partnership towards achieving the purposes of 
        the program in subsection (c) and the metrics developed under 
        subsection (g).
          ``(9) Termination.--Consistent with the existing authorities 
        of the Department, the Secretary may terminate grant funding 
        under this subsection to covered consortia during the 
        performance period if the Secretary determines that the 
        regional clean energy innovation partnership is 
        underperforming.
          ``(10) Administrative costs.--The Secretary may allow a 
        covered consortium that receives funds under this section to 
        allocate a portion of the funding received to be used for 
        administrative or indirect costs.
          ``(11) Funding.--The Secretary may accept funds from other 
        Federal agencies to support funding and activities under this 
        section.
  ``(e) Planning Funds.--The Secretary may competitively award grants 
in an amount no greater than $2,000,000 for a period not longer than 2 
years to an entity consisting of a government entity, including a 
State, local, or tribal government or unit of such government or any 
entity listed under subsection (a)(2) to plan a regional clean energy 
innovation partnership or establish a covered consortium for the 
purpose of applying for funds under subsection (b).
  ``(f) Information Sharing.--As part of the program, the Secretary 
shall support the gathering, analysis, and dissemination of information 
on best practices for developing and operating successful regional 
clean energy innovation partnerships.
  ``(g) Metrics.--In evaluating a grant renewals under subsection 
(d)(8), the Secretary shall work with program evaluation experts to 
develop and make publicly available metrics to assess the progress of a 
regional clean energy innovation partnership towards achieving the 
purposes of the program in subsection (c). Such metrics may include--
          ``(1) the number and quality of--
                  ``(A) new clean energy companies created in the 
                region as a result of activities carried out under the 
                regional clean energy innovation partnership, including 
                those created or preserved through employee ownership 
                and cooperative development;
                  ``(B) new or expanded workforce development or 
                training programs; and
                  ``(C) support services provided to clean energy 
                technology developers in the region;
          ``(2) changes in clean energy employment in the region as a 
        result of activities carried out under the regional clean 
        energy innovation partnership; and
          ``(3) the amount of capital investment in clean energy 
        companies in the region as a result of activities carried out 
        under the regional clean energy innovation partnership grant.
  ``(h) Coordination.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary shall 
coordinate with, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, the activities 
carried out under this section with the activities of--
          ``(1) other research entities of the Department, including 
        the National Laboratories, the Office of Science, the Advanced 
        Research Projects Agency-Energy, the Office of Technology 
        Transitions, Energy Innovation Hubs, and Energy Frontier 
        Research Centers; and
          ``(2) relevant programs at other Federal agencies, 
        including--
                  ``(A) the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 
                under the Economic Development Administration, 
                including the Regional Innovation Program under section 
                27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
                1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722);
                  ``(B) the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                Partnership Program under section 25 of the National 
                Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
                278k);
                  ``(C) the Manufacturing USA Program under section 34 
                of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
                Act (15 U.S.C. 278s);
                  ``(D) the Defense Manufacturing Communities Support 
                Program under section 846 of the John S. McCain 
                National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 
                (10 U.S.C. 2501 note);
                  ``(E) the Office of Economic Adjustment at the 
                Department of Defense; and
                  ``(F) Rural Development at the United States 
                Department of Agriculture.
  ``(i) Conflicts of Interest.--In carrying out the program, the 
Secretary shall maintain conflict of interest procedures, consistent 
with the conflict of interest procedures of the Department.
  ``(j) Evaluation by Comptroller General.--Not later than 3 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 3 years 
thereafter, the Comptroller General 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 evaluation 
on the operation of the program during the most recent 3-year period, 
including--
          ``(1) an assessment of the progress made towards achieving 
        the purposes specified in subsection (c) based on the metrics 
        developed under subsection (g);
          ``(2) the short-term and long-term metrics used to determine 
        the success of the program under subsection (g), and any 
        changes recommended to the metrics used;
          ``(3) the regional clean energy innovation partnerships 
        established or supported by covered consortia that have 
        received grants under subsection (d); and
          ``(4) any recommendations on how the program may be improved.
  ``(k) National Laboratories.--In supporting technology transfer 
activities at the National Laboratories, the Secretary shall encourage 
partnerships with entities that are located in the same region or State 
as the National Laboratory.
  ``(l) Security.--In carrying out the activities under this section, 
the Secretary shall ensure proper security controls are in place to 
protect sensitive information, as appropriate.
  ``(m) No Funds for Construction.--No funds provided to the Department 
of Energy under this section shall be used for construction.
  ``(n) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $50,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.

SEC. 4. CRITICAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION ANALYTICS PROGRAM.

  (a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce shall carry out a program 
of data collection and analysis of technology and innovation sectors 
critical to realizing national objectives, including national security, 
economic prosperity, and social welfare.
  (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program shall be--
          (1) To serve as a central Federal clearinghouse for the 
        collection, interpretation, analysis, and dissemination of 
        objective data on the nation's technology, innovation, and 
        advanced manufacturing capacity;
          (2) To improve assessment of the nation's research, 
        technology, and manufacturing assistance programs, including 
        the regional innovation programs established in section 27 and 
        28 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 
        (Public Law 96-480; 15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.);
          (3) To assess U.S. competitiveness in technology and 
        innovation sectors; and
          (4) To support national policy and decision making in both 
        the public and private sectors to ensure United States 
        leadership in technology and innovation sectors critical to 
        national security, economic prosperity and social welfare.
  (c) Activities.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall--
          (1) collect, acquire, analyze, report, and disseminate data 
        related to critical technology, innovation, and production 
        capacity in the United States and other nations that is 
        relevant and useful to practitioners, researchers, 
        policymakers, and the public, including data on--
                  (A) regional technology and innovation capacity, 
                including research and development activity, 
                entrepreneurship, intellectual property generation, 
                company formation, advanced technology capital 
                equipment investment, and technology transfer;
                  (B) supply chains, including domestic and 
                international production capacity, inter-firm 
                transactions, and resiliency for select end-products 
                and their intermediate inputs;
                  (C) the skilled technical and production workforce 
                required in different critical technology and 
                innovation sectors;
                  (D) the participation of individuals and communities 
                historically underrepresented in STEM; and
                  (E) any other area the Secretary determines 
                appropriate;
          (2) Request from any person or entity information, data, and 
        reports as may be required to carry out the purposes of this 
        Act;
          (3) support research using the data it collects, and on 
        methodologies in areas related to the activities carried out 
        under the program; and
          (4) conduct other activities deemed by the Secretary to be 
        critical for the development of analytic capabilities, 
        statistics, datasets, and metrics related to critical 
        technologies and innovation.
  (d) Other Transactions Authorities.--In carrying out this section, 
the Secretary may enter into and perform such contracts, including 
cooperative research and development arrangements and grants and 
cooperative agreements or other transactions, as may be necessary in 
the conduct of the work of the program and on such terms as the 
Secretary considers appropriate.
  (e) Coordination.--The Secretary shall collaborate with Federal 
statistical agencies, as appropriate, to carry out the purposes of this 
section, including by entering into cooperative data sharing agreements 
that comply with all laws and regulations applicable to the disclosure 
and use of data.
  (f) Consultation.--In conducting the activities required under 
subsection (c), the Secretary shall solicit input from relevant 
stakeholders on critical technology and sector needs, practices, and 
goals related to creating statistics, metrics, data sets, and modeling.
  (g) Administration.--The Secretary may carry out this program through 
existing programs and bureaus of the Department of Commerce, as 
appropriate.
  (h) Access to Federal Data.--In carrying out subsection (c), the 
Secretary shall be given access to all information, data, or reports 
that the Secretary determines necessary to carry out this Section by 
any Federal agency upon written request and subject to any statutory or 
regulatory restrictions.
          (1) Existing instruments.--Where practicable, the Secretary 
        should incorporate data collection into existing survey 
        instruments.
  (i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary $100,000,000 to conduct activities under 
this section for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

                        II. Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of the bill is to authorize the Department of 
Commerce and the Department of Energy to create regional 
innovation programs related to their respective missions from 
FY22 to FY26. Through support for regional innovation 
initiatives and development of U.S. analytical assessment 
capabilities for critical technologies, this legislation would 
boost both U.S. competitiveness and shared prosperity from U.S. 
advanced technology industries.

              III. Background and Need for the Legislation

    The Federal government has long played a supportive role in 
regional innovation, both directly and indirectly, through 
funding research at universities, location of Federal R&D 
facilities, co-funding construction of research parks, and its 
purchase power (i.e., military procurement). Congress created 
authorities and programs in the America COMPETES Act in 2007 
(P.L. 110-69) and the America COMPETES Reauthorization of 2010 
(P.L. 111-358) to boost regional and local innovation economies 
across the United States. Most notably, in the 2010 Act (P.L. 
111-358) the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology led 
the authorization for a new Regional Innovation Program (Sec. 
603), now known as Build to Scale, and a new Office of 
Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Sec. 601) at the Economic 
Development Administration (EDA).
    However, in recent decades, U.S. high-tech industries and 
the economic growth they bring have become increasingly 
concentrated in a relatively small number of cities and 
regions. As economic growth has become more concentrated, so 
too have Federal R&D dollars. The discrepancy in the gains from 
science and technology funding and the industries of the future 
have also played a role in deepening social and economic 
disparities across the United States. There is a renewed focus 
among policymakers about reinvesting in the U.S. research 
enterprise to boost competitiveness. As part of this 
discussion, policymakers are considering proposals to improve 
and expand Federal regional innovation initiatives and to help 
build capacity in science and technology in diverse regions 
across the country.
    Additionally, inadequate data and analytic capacity has 
weakened U.S. decision-making regarding critical technologies, 
supply chains, and infrastructure. While existing surveys, such 
as the Annual Survey of Manufactures, provide yearly glimpses 
of U.S. capabilities, these surveys are not helpful when 
tracking supply chains during a rapidly evolving crisis, such 
as the COVID-19 pandemic. Existing surveys also fail to 
adequately track critical technology development and federal 
investments across different geographic regions of the country. 
As a result, U.S. policymakers in the Executive and Legislative 
branches of government lack a mechanism to understand the full 
scope of Federal R&D investments and how these investments 
impact U.S. innovation and competitiveness in regions across 
the country.

                         IV. Committee Hearings

    Pursuant to House rule XIII, clause 3(c)(6), the following 
hearings as having been used to develop or consider the 
legislation:
    On July 17, 2020, the Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing 
entitled, ``From Lab to Market: Accelerating our Progress 
toward Economic Recovery and a Clean Energy Future.'' The 
purpose of the hearing was to examine technology transfer 
activities at the Department of Energy (DOE) and their 
potential contributions to economic recovery from the current 
COVID-19 pandemic, including regional clean energy innovation 
initiatives. The hearing witnesses included Ms. Jetta Wong, 
President, JLW Advising and Former Director, Office of 
Technology Transitions, U.S. Department of Energy; Ms. Jennifer 
States, Director for Blue Economy, DNV GL and Project Director, 
Washington Maritime Blue; Ms. Farah Benahmed, Climate and 
Energy Policy Advisor, Third Way; Dr. Emily Reichert, Chief 
Executive Officer, Greentown Labs; and Dr. Lee Cheatham, 
Director of Technology Deployment and Outreach, Pacific 
Northwest National Laboratory.
    On April 15, 2021, the Science, Space, and Technology 
Committee held a hearing entitled, ``Reimagining Our Innovation 
Future.'' The purpose of the hearing was to examine the current 
outlook for U.S. leadership in science and technology and 
discuss how new investments and new, inclusive models of 
partnership in science and technology can be leveraged to 
ensure continued leadership and address economic, security, 
environmental, public health, and other societal challenges 
from the local to the global level. The hearing witnesses 
included Mr. Norm Augustine; Dr. Frances H. Arnold, Linus 
Pauling Professor of Chemical Engineering, Bioengineering and 
Biochemistry at the California Institute of Technology; The 
Honorable Ernest J. Moniz, President and Chief Executive 
Officer of the Energy Futures Initiative and Former Secretary 
of the U.S. Department of Energy; and Dr. Farnam Jahanian, 
President of Carnegie Mellon University.
    On June 9, 2021 the Research and Technology Subcommittee 
held a hearing entitled, ``Building Regional Innovation 
Economies.'' The purpose of this hearing is to explore the role 
of the Department of Commerce, and particularly the Economic 
Development Agency (EDA), in supporting the development of 
regional innovation economies, and the opportunities for and 
challenges to expanding this role, including in partnership 
with Federal science agencies. Hearing witnesses include Mr. 
Dan Berglund, President and CEO, SSTI; Professor Erica R.H. 
Fuchs, Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie 
Mellon University; Ms. Paula Nas, Director, Office of Economic 
Development, University of Michigan-Flint; Hon. Elizabeth Hutt 
Pollard, Secretary of Science and Innovation, State of 
Oklahoma.

                  V. Committee Consideration and Votes

    On July 21, 2021, Representative Susan Wild (D-PA), 
Representative Jim Baird (R-IN), Representative Jamaal Bowman 
(D-NY), Representative Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH), and 
Representative Ro Khanna (D-CA), introduced H.R. 4588, the 
Regional Innovation Act of 2021. The bill was referred to the 
House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
    On July 27, 2021, the Full Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology met to consider the bill. Chairwoman Johnson offered 
an amendment that made technical changes to the bill and added 
minor clarifying language in response to stakeholder feedback 
and Committee Member priorities. The amendment was agreed to on 
a voice vote. Mr. Bowman offered an amendment to add community 
development financial institutions, minority depository 
institutions, and cooperatives to the list of eligible entities 
for the program, as well as a focus for local procurement of 
goods and services. The amendment was agreed to on a voice 
vote. Ms. Stansbury offered an amendment to add a program for 
data collection and analysis of technology and innovation 
sectors critical to realizing national objectives at the 
Department of Commerce. The amendment was agreed to on a voice 
vote.

              VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill

    Establishes a program at the Department of Commerce to 
create regional technology and innovation hubs across the 
country which would bring together consortia consisting of 
local and state governments, universities, industry, labor 
organizations, and other groups to promote innovation and 
shared prosperity in a region. Supports grants and cooperative 
agreements to create regional innovation strategies or to 
implement those strategies. Implementation funds can be used 
for workforce, entrepreneurship, and technology development, as 
well as infrastructure-related activities to develop regions 
into innovation economies.
    Establishes a program at the Department of Energy to 
provide funding to consortia consisting of local and state 
energy offices, economic development organizations, and other 
relevant entities, such as universities, to develop and execute 
plans to link economic development with clean energy innovation 
activities.
    Establishes a data analytics program at the Department of 
Commerce focused on critical technologies, innovation, and 
production capacity.

        VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (By Title and Section)


Sec. 1. Short title; Table of Contents

Sec. 2. Regional innovation capacity

    This section amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
Innovation Act of 1980 to include a regional technology and 
innovation hub program at the Department of Commerce.
          (a) Definitions--Provides definitions used in this 
        section.
          (b) Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program--
        Requires the Secretary of Commerce to establish a 
        regional technology and innovation hubs program 
        consisting of strategy development and strategy 
        implementation grants or cooperative agreements and 
        describes the purposes of the program.
          (c) Eligible Consortia--Provides direction regarding 
        eligibility for the program.
          (d) Designation of Regional Technology and Innovation 
        Hubs--Requires the Secretary to use a competitive 
        process to designate not fewer than 10 eligible 
        consortia as regional hubs, and provides direction 
        regarding geographic distribution and inclusion of 
        underserved communities.
          (e) Strategy Development Grants and Cooperative 
        Agreements--provides direction for strategy development 
        grants, including requirements for geographic 
        distribution, use of funds, and cost-share.
          (f) Strategy Implementation Grants and Cooperative 
        Agreements--provides direction for strategy 
        implementation grants; describes allowable uses of 
        funds; establishes two tiers of awards and a maximum 
        allowable grant size of $150 million for tier 1 and 15% 
        of the total program for tier 2; establishes cost-share 
        requirements based on tier and type of consortium.
          (g) Applications--Requires the Secretary to establish 
        specific application requirements.
          (h) Considerations for Designation and Award of 
        Strategy Implementation Grants and Cooperative 
        Agreements--Provides guidance to the Secretary 
        regarding selection criteria.
          (i) Coordination and Collaboration--Requires the 
        Secretary to ensure coordination among Hubs and between 
        the program and other relevant Federal programs, 
        including MEP and Manufacturing USA.
          (j) Performance Measurement, Transparency, and 
        Accountability--Requires the Secretary to develop 
        performance, transparency and accountability criteria 
        for recipients and reporting requirements for the 
        program.
          (k) Authorization of Appropriations--Authorizes 
        nearly $7 billion for the program from fiscal years 
        2022 through 2026.
          (l) Administration--Allows the Secretary to use funds 
        for program administration.

Sec. 3. Regional clean energy innovation program

    This section amends the Energy Independence and Security 
Act of 2007 to authorize a Regional Clean Energy Innovation 
Program at DOE to establish regional partnerships that promote 
the economic development of diverse geographic areas of the 
United States by supporting clean energy innovation. Awards are 
capped at $10 million over 5 years and requires a cost-share of 
50% in years 3, 4, and 5, of the grant, with an optional 
renewal for an additional 5 years. This section also authorizes 
grants in the amount of $2 million for government entities, in 
partnership with other entities, to conduct planning activities 
to setup a regional clean energy innovation partnership.

Sec. 4. Critical technology and innovation analytics program

    This section directs the Secretary of Commerce to create a 
program of data collection and analysis of technology and 
innovation sectors critical to realizing national objects, such 
as national security, economic prosperity, and social welfare. 
The section authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to access data 
across the Federal government and to coordinate these 
activities with Federal statistical agencies, as appropriate. 
This section authorizes $100 million for the program from 
fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

                         VIII. Committee Views

    Underserved Communities--The Committee encourages the 
Secretary of Commerce to adopt a definition for the term 
``underserved communities'' to include communities that have 
been systematically denied a full opportunity to participate in 
aspects of economic, social, and civic life. The Committee 
intends for the term ``underserved communities'' to encompass 
both underserved populations, in particular racial and ethnic 
minority communities, including those living in low-income, 
formerly redlined areas, and underserved geographies, such as 
Tribal Lands and rural communities.
    Leading Technology Centers--The Committee intends the 
Secretary of Commerce to exclude ``leading technology centers'' 
from consideration for grants and cooperative agreements 
awarded under Section 2. The Committee encourages the Secretary 
of Commerce to develop a definition of ``leading technology 
centers'' based on the innovation capacity and advanced 
technology industries of a region or locality, using metrics 
such as the amount of Federal and non-Federal resources flowing 
into that region or locality. The Committee expects the 
Secretary of Commerce to offer clear guidance on the definition 
and metrics used to establish it. The Committee does not intend 
``leading technology centers'' to include mid-level technology 
centers.
    Leveraging Critical Technology Expertise--The Committee 
notes that relevant expertise in critical technologies and 
innovation is spread across many different agencies and 
programs, including the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, the National Science Foundation, and more. The 
Committee encourages the Secretary of Commerce to leverage the 
critical technology expertise of individuals across the federal 
science and technology enterprise, including through the use of 
detailees or other intergovernmental exchange programs.
    Interagency Coordination--The Committee encourages the 
Secretary of Commerce to work with the heads of other relevant 
agencies, including the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
at the White House, the Department of Labor, the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development, the Department of 
Transportation, and the Small Business Association, to consider 
a holistic approach to the creation of regional technology and 
innovation hubs under Section 2, addressing related challenges 
such as access to high-speed internet and housing, as well as 
the creation of regional transportation systems.

                           IX. Cost Estimate

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the 
estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax 
expenditures or revenues contained in the cost estimate 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974.

              X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                 Washington, DC, February 24, 2022.
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Madam Chairwoman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4588, the Regional 
Innovation Act of 2021.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Jon Sperl.
            Sincerely,
                                         Phillip L. Swagel,
                                                          Director.
    Enclosure.

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    

    The bill would:
           Authorize appropriations for the Department 
        of Commerce and Department of Energy
           Require the two departments to award grants 
        to regional consortia to promote economic development 
        and technological innovation
           Require the Department of Commerce to 
        collect and analyze data related to technology and 
        production capacity in critical sectors, and to perform 
        other activities in support of technology research
    Estimated budgetary effects would mainly stem from:
           Spending of amounts authorized to be 
        appropriated in the act for grants and activities 
        administered by the two departments
    Bill summary: H.R. 4588 would authorize appropriations for 
programs at the Departments of Commerce (DOC) and Energy (DOE) 
related to economic development and technological innovation.
    Estimated Federal cost: The estimated budgetary effect of 
H.R. 4588 is shown in Table 1. The costs of the legislation 
fall within budget functions 270 (energy), 370 (commerce and 
housing credit), and 450 (community and regional development).

                               TABLE 1.--ESTIMATED BUDGETARY EFFECTS OF H.R. 4588
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   By fiscal year, millions of dollars--
                                                         -------------------------------------------------------
                                                            2022     2023     2024     2025     2026   2022-2026
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 Increases in Spending Subject to Appropriation
 
DOC Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs:
    Authorizationa......................................    2,000        0    4,800        0        0      6,800
    Estimated Outlays...................................        0      160      650    1,200    1,470      3,480
DOC Critical Technology and Innovation Analytics
 Program:
    Authorizationb......................................      100        0        0        0        0        100
    Estimated Outlays...................................        4        8       16       20       22         70
DOC Strategy Development Grants:
    Authorizationb......................................       50        0        0        0        0         50
    Estimated Outlays...................................        3       12       19       13        3         50
DOE Regional Clean Energy Partnerships:
    Authorization.......................................       50       50       50       50       50        250
    Estimated Outlays...................................        3       13       27       40       47        130
GAO Evaluations:
    Estimated Authorization.............................        *        *        *        *        *          1
    Estimated Outlays...................................        *        *        *        *        *          1
    Total Changes:
        Estimated Authorization.........................    2,200       50    4,850       50       50      7,201
        Estimated Outlays...............................       10      193      712    1,273    1,542      3,731
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enacting the bill would increase direct spending by less than $500,000 in every year and over the 2022-2031
  period.
Components may not sum to totals because of rounding; DOC = Department of Commerce, DOE = Department of Energy,
  GAO = Government Accountability Office; * = between zero and $500,000.
aThe bill would authorize the appropriation of $2 billion over the 2022-2023 period and $4.8 billion over the
  2024-2026 period but does not specify how much would be authorized in each year. This estimate shows the full
  amount in the first year of each period.
bThe bill would authorize the appropriation of $100 million and $50 million over the 2022-2026 period for two
  DOC programs but does not specify how much would be authorized in each year. This estimate shows the full
  amount in 2022.

    Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the 
legislation will be enacted in fiscal year 2022 and that the 
amounts specified in the bill will be appropriated. Estimated 
outlays are based on historical spending patterns for similar 
programs and activities. Assuming the appropriation of those 
amounts, CBO estimates that implementing the bill would cost 
$3.7 billion over 2022-2026 period and $7.2 billion over the 
2022-2031 period.
    Department of Commerce: H.R. 4588 would authorize 
appropriations for two new programs that would be administered 
by DOC. Those authorizations would be for a period of fiscal 
years and the bill does not specify the amounts for any year in 
those periods. This estimate shows the total authorized amount 
in the first fiscal year of each period.
    Under the bill, DOC would administer a Regional Technology 
and Innovation Hub Program under which the agency would award 
grants to private entities, nonprofit and labor organizations, 
institutions of higher education, and state and local 
governments that participate in regional consortia focused on 
economic development and technology innovation. In addition, 
DOC would administer a program to collect and analyze data 
related to technology innovation and production capacity in 
critical sectors.
    Over the 2022-2026 period, the bill would authorize the 
following amounts for the Department of Commerce:
           $6.8 billion ($2.0 billion over the 2022-
        2023 period and $4.8 billion over the 2024-2026 period) 
        for grants to eligible entities participating in 
        innovation hubs to cover the costs of infrastructure 
        projects and activities related to workforce, business, 
        and technology development;
           $100 million to collect data, develop 
        analytic capabilities, and support technology research 
        in industry sectors critical to national objectives, 
        such as national security, economic prosperity, and 
        social welfare; and
           $50 million for grants to leading hub 
        entities to develop strategies, plans, and studies, as 
        well as to facilitate necessary changes to local zoning 
        codes and other laws.
    Department of Energy: H.R. 4588 also would authorize the 
appropriation of $50 million annually over the 2022-2026 
period, totaling $250 million, for DOE to establish a regional 
clean energy innovation program. Under the program, DOE would 
award grants to groups of state and local governments, 
institutions of higher education, and other entities to form 
regional partnerships and accelerate the innovation and 
commercial application of clean energy technologies.
    Government Accountability Office: H.R. 4588 would require 
the Government Accountability Office to evaluate the 
effectiveness of the Regional Clean Energy Innovation Program 
and report to the Congress every three years. Based on the cost 
of similar activities, CBO estimates that conducting those 
evaluations would cost $1 million over the 2022-2026 period and 
$2 million over the 2022-2031 period.
    Pay-As-You-Go considerations: The Statutory Pay-As-You-Go 
Act of 2010 establishes budget-reporting and enforcement 
procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or 
revenues. Sections 2 and 3 of H.R. 4588 would authorize DOC and 
DOE, respectively, to accept funding from other federal 
agencies to support grants and other activities required under 
the bill. Those provisions could affect direct spending if DOC 
or DOE receives previously appropriated amounts that otherwise 
are not expected to be spent within the 2022-2031 period under 
current law. CBO estimates that the net changes in outlays that 
are subject to those pay-as-you-go procedures would be less 
than $500,000 in every year and over the 2022-2031 period.
    Increase in long-term deficits: CBO estimates that enacting 
H.R. 4588 would not increase on-budget deficits by more than $5 
billion in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods 
beginning in 2032.
    Mandates: None.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal costs: Aaron Krupkin 
(Department of Energy), David Hughes and Jon Sperl (Department 
of Commerce); Mandates: Rachel Austin.
    Estimate reviewed by: Justin Humphrey, Chief, Finance, 
Housing, and Education Cost Estimates Unit; Susan Willie, 
Chief, Natural and Physical Resources Cost Estimates Unit; H. 
Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis; Theresa 
Gullo, Director of Budget Analysis.

                     XI. Federal Mandates Statement

    H.R. 4588 contains no unfunded mandates.

         XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    The Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in the body of this report.

      XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives

    The goals and objectives of H.R. 4588 is to authorize the 
Department of Commerce and the Department of Energy to create 
regional innovation programs related to their respective 
missions for fiscal years (FY) 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. 
Through support for regional innovation initiatives and 
development of U.S. analytical assessment capabilities for 
critical technologies, this legislation would boost both U.S. 
competitiveness and shared prosperity from our advanced 
technology industries.

               XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement

    H.R. 4588 does not authorize an advisory committee.

                  XV. Duplication of Federal Programs

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision 
of H.R. 4588 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the 
federal government known to be duplicative of another federal 
program, including any program that was included in a report to 
Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or the 
most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.

                      XVI. Earmark Identification

    Pursuant to clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the 
Committee finds that H.R. 4588 contains no earmarks, limited 
tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits.

             XVII. Applicability to the Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that H.R. 4588 does not relate to the 
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services 
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of 
the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-1).

     XVIII. Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law

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

       XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

           STEVENSON-WYDLER TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ACT OF 1980




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
SEC. 28. REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION HUB PROGRAM.

  (a) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
                  (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation, the Committee on Environment 
                and Public Works, and the Committee on 
                Appropriations of the Senate; and
                  (B) the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                Technology and the Committee on Appropriations 
                of the House of Representatives.
          (2) Cooperative extension services.--The term 
        ``cooperative extension services'' has the meaning 
        given the term in section 1404 of the Food and 
        Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103).
          (3) Historically black colleges and universities.--
        The term ``historically Black colleges and 
        universities'' has the meaning given the term ``part B 
        institution'' in section 322 of the Higher Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061);
          (4) Labor organization.--The term ``labor 
        organization'' has the meaning given the term in 
        section 2(5) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 
        U.S.C. 152(5)), except that such term shall also 
        include--
                  (A) any organization composed of labor 
                organizations, such as a labor union federation 
                or a State or municipal labor body; and
                  (B) any organization which would be included 
                in the definition for such term under such 
                section (5) but for the fact that the 
                organization represents--
                          (i) individuals employed by the 
                        United States, any wholly owned 
                        Government corporation, any Federal 
                        Reserve Bank, or any State or political 
                        subdivision thereof;
                          (ii) individuals employed by persons 
                        subject to the Railway Labor Act (45 
                        U.S.C. 151 et seq.); or
                          (iii) individuals employed as 
                        agricultural laborers.
          (5) Manufacturing extension center.--The term 
        ``manufacturing extension center'' has the meaning 
        given the term ``Center'' in section 25(a) of the 
        National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
        U.S.C. 278k(a)).
          (6) Manufacturing usa institute.--The term 
        ``Manufacturing USA institute'' means a Manufacturing 
        USA institute described in section 34(d) of the 
        National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
        U.S.C. 278s(d)).
          (7) Minority-serving institution.--The term 
        ``minority-serving institution'' means a Hispanic-
        serving institution, an Alaska Native-serving 
        institution, a Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, a 
        Predominantly Black Institution, an Asian American and 
        Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution, 
        or a Native American-serving nontribal institution as 
        described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
          (8) Site connectivity infrastructure.--The term 
        ``site connectivity infrastructure'' means localized 
        driveways and access roads to a facility as well as 
        hookups to the new facility for drinking water, waste 
        water, broadband, and other basic infrastructure 
        services already present in the area.
          (9) State.--The term ``state'' has the meaning given 
        such term in section 27(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Act 
        of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722(a)).
          (10) Tribal college or university.--The term ``Tribal 
        College or University'' has the meaning given such term 
        in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
        U.S.C. 1059c).
          (11) Venture development organization.--The term 
        ``venture development organization'' has the meaning 
        given such term in section 27(a) of the Stevenson-
        Wydler Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722(a)).
          (12) Community development financial institution.--
        The term ``community development financial 
        institution'' has the meaning given in section 103 of 
        the Community Development Banking and Financial 
        Institutions Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4702).
          (13) Minority depository institution.--The term 
        ``minority depository institution'' means an entity 
        that is--
                  (A) a minority depository institution, as 
                defined in section 308 of the Financial 
                Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement 
                Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. 1463 note); or
                  (B) considered to be a minority depository 
                institution by--
                          (i) the appropriate Federal banking 
                        agency; or
                          (ii) the National Credit Union 
                        Administration, in the case of an 
                        insured credit union.
  (b) Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program.--
          (1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, the Secretary shall carry out a 
        program--
                  (A) to encourage new and constructive 
                collaboration among local, State, and Federal 
                government entities, institutions of higher 
                education, the private sector, economic 
                development organizations, labor organizations, 
                worker cooperative membership associations, 
                State or local employee ownership and 
                cooperative development centers, nonprofit 
                organizations, and community organizations to 
                promote inclusive regional innovation 
                initiatives;
                  (B) to support eligible consortia in the 
                development and implementation of regional 
                innovation strategies;
                  (C) to designate eligible consortia as 
                regional technology and innovation hubs and 
                facilitate activities by consortia designated 
                as regional technology and innovation hubs in 
                implementing their regional innovation 
                strategies--
                          (i) to enable United States 
                        leadership in technology and innovation 
                        sectors critical to national and 
                        economic security;
                          (ii) to support regional economic 
                        development and resilience, including 
                        in small cities and rural areas, and 
                        promote increased geographic diversity 
                        of innovation across the United States;
                          (iii) to promote the benefits of 
                        technology development and innovation 
                        for all Americans, including 
                        underserved communities and vulnerable 
                        communities;
                          (iv) to support domestic job creation 
                        and broad-based economic growth; and
                          (v) to improve the pace of market 
                        readiness, industry maturation, and 
                        overall commercialization of innovative 
                        research;
                  (D) to ensure that the regional technology 
                and innovation hubs address the intersection of 
                emerging technologies and either regional 
                challenges or national challenges; and
                  (E) to conduct ongoing research, evaluation, 
                analysis, and dissemination of best practices 
                for regional development and competitiveness in 
                technology and innovation.
          (2) Awards.--The Secretary shall carry out the 
        program required by paragraph (1) through the award of 
        the following:
                  (A) Strategy development grants or 
                cooperative agreements to eligible consortia 
                under subsection (e).
                  (B) Strategy implementation grants or 
                cooperative agreements to regional technology 
                and innovation hubs under subsection (f).
  (c) Eligible Consortia.--For purposes of this section, an 
eligible consortium is a consortium that--
          (1) includes 1 or more of each of the following--
                  (A) institutions of higher education, which 
                may include Historically Black Colleges and 
                Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, 
                and minority-serving institutions;
                  (B) State, local, or Tribal governments or 
                other political subdivisions of a State, 
                including State and local agencies, or a 
                consortia thereof;
                  (C) industry or firms in relevant technology 
                or innovation sectors;
                  (D) labor organizations or workforce training 
                organizations, which may include State and 
                local workforce development boards as 
                established under section 101 and 107 of the 
                Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (29 
                U.S.C. 3111; 3122); and
                  (E) organizations that contribute to 
                increasing the participation of underserved 
                populations in science, technology, innovation, 
                and entrepreneurship; and
          (2) may include 1 or more--
                  (A) economic development entities with 
                relevant expertise, including a district 
                organization (as defined in section 300.3 of 
                title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, or 
                successor regulation);
                  (B) economic development organizations or 
                similar entities that are focused primarily on 
                improving science, technology, innovation, 
                entrepreneurship, or access to capital;
                  (C) venture development organizations;
                  (D) worker cooperative membership 
                associations and state or local employee 
                ownership and cooperative development centers;
                  (E) financial institutions and investment 
                funds, including community development 
                financial institutions and minority depository 
                institutions;
                  (F) elementary schools and secondary schools, 
                including area career and technical education 
                schools (as defined in section 3 of the Carl D. 
                Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 
                2006 (29 U.S.C. 2302);
                  (G) National Laboratories (as defined in 
                section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
                U.S.C. 15801));
                  (H) Federal laboratories;
                  (I) Manufacturing extension centers;
                  (J) Manufacturing USA institutes;
                  (K) transportation planning organizations;
                  (L) a cooperative extension services; and
                  (M) organizations that represent the 
                perspectives of underserved communities in 
                economic development initiatives.
  (d) Designation of Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs.--
          (1) In general.--In carrying out subsection 
        (b)(1)(C), the Secretary shall use a competitive, 
        merit-review process to designate not fewer than 10 
        eligible consortia as regional technology and 
        innovation hubs.
          (2) Geographic distribution.--In conducting the 
        competitive process under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
        shall ensure geographic distribution in the designation 
        of regional technology and innovation hubs by--
                  (A) focusing on localities that are not 
                leading technology centers;
                  (B) ensuring that not fewer than one third of 
                eligible consortia designated as regional 
                technology and innovation hubs significantly 
                benefit a rural or other underserved community;
                  (C) ensuring that at least one eligible 
                consortium designated as a regional technology 
                and innovation hub is headquartered in a State 
                that is eligible to receive funding from the 
                Established Program to Stimulate Competitive 
                Research of the National Science Foundation; 
                and
                  (D) ensuring that at least one eligible 
                consortium designated as a regional technology 
                and innovation hub is headquartered in a region 
                that has a high density of institutions of 
                higher education serving populations 
                historically underrepresented in STEM, 
                including historically Black Colleges and 
                Universities and minority-serving institutions.
          (3) Relation to certain grant awards.--The Secretary 
        shall not require an eligible consortium to receive a 
        grant or cooperative agreement under subsection (e) in 
        order to be designated as a regional technology and 
        innovation hub under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
  (e) Strategy Development Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use a 
        competitive, merit-review process to award grants or 
        cooperative agreements to eligible consortia for the 
        development of regional innovation strategies.
          (2) Number of recipients.--The Secretary shall award 
        a grant or cooperative agreement under paragraph (1) to 
        not fewer than 20 eligible consortia.
          (3) Geographic diversity and representation.--
                  (A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry 
                out paragraph (1) in a manner that ensures 
                geographic diversity and representation from 
                communities of differing populations.
                  (B) Awards to rural communities and 
                underserved communities.--In carrying out 
                paragraph (1), the Secretary shall award not 
                fewer than one-half of the grants and 
                cooperative agreements under such paragraph to 
                eligible consortia that significantly benefit a 
                rural state, rural community, or other 
                underserved community.
          (4) Use of funds.--The amount of a grant or 
        cooperative agreement awarded under paragraph (1) shall 
        be as follows:
                  (A) To coordinate locally defined planning 
                processes, across jurisdictions and agencies, 
                relating to developing a comprehensive regional 
                technology strategy.
                  (B) To identify regional partnerships for 
                developing and implementing a comprehensive 
                regional technology strategy.
                  (C) To conduct or update assessments to 
                determine regional needs and capabilities.
                  (D) To develop or update goals and strategies 
                to implement an existing comprehensive regional 
                plan.
                  (E) To identify or implement planning and 
                local zoning and other code changes necessary 
                to implement a comprehensive regional 
                technology strategy.
                  (F) To develop or update goals for ensuring 
                that any new regional technology strategy 
                mitigates and does not exacerbate economic or 
                social inequities in a region.
          (5) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of 
        an effort carried out using a grant or cooperative 
        agreement awarded under this subsection may not exceed 
        80 percent--
                  (A) where in-kind contributions may be used 
                for all or part of the non-Federal share, but 
                Federal funding from other government sources 
                may not count towards the non-Federal share;
                  (B) except in the case of an eligible 
                consortium that represents all or part of a 
                rural or other underserved community, the 
                Federal share may be up to 90 percent of the 
                total cost, subject to subparagraph (A); and
                  (C) except in the case of an eligible 
                consortium that is led by a Tribal government, 
                the Federal share may be up to 100 percent of 
                the total cost of the project.
  (f) Strategy Implementation Grants and Cooperative 
Agreements.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary shall use a 
        competitive, merit-review process to award grants or 
        cooperative agreements to regional technology and 
        innovation hubs for the implementation of regional 
        innovation strategies, including regional strategies 
        for infrastructure and site development, in support of 
        the regional innovation and technology and innovation 
        hub's plans and programs. The Secretary should 
        determine the size and number of awards based on 
        appropriations available to ensure the success of 
        regional technology and innovation hubs as outlined in 
        subsection (h).
          (2) Use of funds.--Financial assistance awarded under 
        paragraph (1) to a regional technology and innovation 
        hub may be used by the regional technology and 
        innovation hub to support any of the following 
        activities, consistent with the most current regional 
        innovation strategy of the regional technology and 
        innovation hub:
                  (A) Workforce development activities.--
                Workforce development activities, including 
                activities relating to the following:
                          (i) The creation of partnerships 
                        between industry, workforce, nonprofit, 
                        and educational institutions to create 
                        and align technical training and 
                        educational programs.
                          (ii) The design, development, and 
                        updating of educational and training 
                        curriculum tied to demonstrated 
                        regional workforce needs.
                          (iii) The procurement of facilities 
                        and equipment, as required to train a 
                        technical workforce.
                          (iv) The development and execution of 
                        programs to rapidly award certificates 
                        or credentials recognized by regional 
                        industries or other organizations.
                          (v) The matching of regional 
                        employers with a potential new entrant, 
                        underemployed, underrepresented, or 
                        incumbent workforce.
                          (vi) The expansion of successful 
                        training programs at a scale required 
                        by the region served by the regional 
                        technology and innovation hub, 
                        including through the use of online 
                        education.
                          (vii) The development and expansion 
                        of programs with the goal of increasing 
                        the participation of persons 
                        historically underrepresented in STEM 
                        in the workforce development plans of 
                        the regional technology and innovation 
                        hub.
                  (B) Business and entrepreneur development 
                activities.--Business and entrepreneur 
                development activities, including activities 
                relating to the following:
                          (i) The development and growth of 
                        local regional businesses and the 
                        training of entrepreneurs.
                          (ii) The support of technology 
                        commercialization, including funding 
                        for activities relevant for advancing 
                        high growth potential ventures such as 
                        acceleration, incubation and other 
                        relevant programming.
                          (iii) The development of local and 
                        regional capital networks and consortia 
                        to attract necessary private funding to 
                        businesses and entrepreneurs in the 
                        region.
                          (iv) The development of local and 
                        regional networks for business and 
                        entrepreneur mentorship.
                          (v) The expansion of employee and 
                        worker ownership and participation in 
                        business decisionmaking, including 
                        through coordination and collaboration 
                        with worker cooperative membership 
                        associations and existing local and 
                        state employee ownership and 
                        cooperative development centers, or the 
                        creation of such centers where they do 
                        not yet exist, in order to provide 
                        information, technical assistance, 
                        access to financing, and training to 
                        startups, contractors, and businesses 
                        that are considering employee ownership 
                        as a model, and to facilitate the 
                        creation of and conversion to employee-
                        owned startups, businesses, and 
                        cooperatives.
                  (C) Technology development and maturation 
                activities.--Technology maturation activities, 
                including activities relating to the following:
                          (i) The development and deployment of 
                        technologies in sectors critical to the 
                        region served by the regional 
                        technology and innovation hub or to 
                        national and economic security, 
                        including industry-university research 
                        cooperation, proof of concept, 
                        prototype development, and testing.
                          (ii) The development of programming 
                        to support the creation and transfer of 
                        intellectual property into private use, 
                        such as through startup creation.
                          (iii) The provision of facilities for 
                        technology maturation, including 
                        incubators for collaborative 
                        development of technologies by private 
                        sector, academic, nonprofit, and other 
                        entities.
                          (iv) Activities to provide or ensure 
                        access to capital for new business and 
                        cooperative formation and business 
                        expansion, or preservation of existing 
                        businesses through conversion to 
                        employee ownership and cooperatives, 
                        including by attracting new private, 
                        public, and philanthropic investment 
                        and by establishing local and regional 
                        venture and loan funds, community 
                        development financial institutions, and 
                        minority depository institutions.
                  (D) Infrastructure-related activities.--The 
                building of facilities and site connectivity 
                infrastructure necessary to carry out 
                activities described in subparagraphs (A), (B), 
                and (C), including activities relating to the 
                following:
                          (i) Establishing a center with 
                        required tools and instrumentation for 
                        workforce development.
                          (ii) Establishing a facility for 
                        technology development, demonstration, 
                        and testing.
                          (iii) Establishing collaborative 
                        incubators to support technology 
                        commercialization and entrepreneur 
                        training.
          (3) Term.--
                  (A) Initial performance period.--The term of 
                an initial grant or cooperative agreement 
                awarded under this subsection shall be for a 
                period that the Secretary deems appropriate for 
                the proposed activities but not less than 2 
                years.
                  (B) Subsequent performance period.--The 
                Secretary may renew a grant or cooperative 
                agreement awarded to a regional technology and 
                innovation hub under paragraph (1) for such 
                period as the Secretary considers appropriate, 
                if the Secretary determines that the regional 
                technology and innovation hub has made 
                satisfactory progress towards the metrics 
                agreed to under subsection (j).
                  (C) Flexible approach.--In renewing a grant 
                or cooperative agreement under subparagraph 
                (B), the Secretary and the eligible consortium 
                may agree to new or additional uses of funds in 
                order to meet changes in the needs of the 
                region.
          (4) Limitation on amount of awards.--
                  (A) Initial performance period.--The amount 
                of an initial grant or cooperative agreements 
                awarded to a regional technology and innovation 
                hub under paragraph (3)(A) shall be no more 
                than $150,000,000.
                  (B) Subsequent performance period.--Upon 
                renewal of a grant or cooperative agreement 
                under paragraph (3)(B), the Secretary may award 
                funding in the amount that the Secretary 
                considers appropriate, ensuring that no single 
                regional technology and innovation hub receives 
                more than 15 percent of the aggregate amount of 
                the grants and cooperative agreements awarded 
                under this subsection.
          (5) Matching required.--
                  (A) Initial performance period.--Except in 
                the case of a regional technology and 
                innovation hub described in subparagraph (C), 
                the total amount of all grants awarded to a 
                regional technology and innovation hub under 
                this subsection in phase one shall not exceed 
                90 percent of the total operating costs of the 
                regional technology and innovation hub during 
                the initial performance period.
                  (B) Subsequent performance period.--Except in 
                the case of a regional technology and 
                innovation hub described in subparagraph (C), 
                the total amount of all grants awarded to a 
                regional technology and innovation hub in 
                subsequent performance periods shall not exceed 
                75 percent of the total operating costs of the 
                regional technology and innovation hub in each 
                year of the grant or cooperative agreement.
                  (C) Rural communities or underserved 
                communities and indian tribes.--
                          (i) In general.--The total Federal 
                        financial assistance awarded in a given 
                        year to a regional technology and 
                        innovation hub under this subsection 
                        shall not exceed amounts as follows:
                                  (I) In the case of a regional 
                                technology and innovation hub 
                                that primarily serves a rural 
                                community or other underserved 
                                community, in a fiscal year, 90 
                                percent of the total funding of 
                                the regional technology and 
                                innovation hub in that fiscal 
                                year.
                                  (II) In the case of a 
                                regional technology and 
                                innovation hub that is led by a 
                                Tribal government, in a fiscal 
                                year, 100 percent of the total 
                                funding of the regional 
                                technology and innovation hub 
                                in that fiscal year.
                          (ii) Minimum threshold of rural 
                        representation.--For purposes of clause 
                        (i)(I), the Secretary shall establish a 
                        minimum threshold of rural 
                        representation and other underserved 
                        community representation in the 
                        regional technology and innovation hub.
                  (D) In-kind contributions.--For purposes of 
                this paragraph, in-kind contributions may be 
                used for part of the non-Federal share of the 
                total funding of a regional technology and 
                innovation hub in a fiscal year.
          (6) Grants for infrastructure.--Any grant or 
        cooperative agreement awarded under this subsection to 
        support the construction of facilities and site 
        connectivity infrastructure shall be awarded pursuant 
        to section 201 of the Public Works and Economic 
        Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141) and subject to 
        the provisions of such Act, except that subsection (b) 
        of such section and sections 204 and 301 of such Act 
        (42 U.S.C. 3144; 3161) shall not apply.
          (7) Relation to certain grant awards.--The Secretary 
        shall not require a regional technology and innovation 
        hub to receive a grant or cooperative agreement under 
        subsection (e) in order to receive a grant or 
        cooperative agreement under this subsection.
  (g) Applications.--An eligible consortium seeking designation 
as a regional technology and innovation hub under subsection 
(d) or a grant or cooperative agreement under subsection (e) or 
(f) shall submit to the Secretary an application therefore at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
the Secretary may specify.
  (h) Considerations for Designation and Award of Strategy 
Implementation Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--In selecting 
an eligible consortium that submitted an application under 
subsection (g) for designation under subsection (d) or for a 
grant or cooperative agreement under subsection (f), the 
Secretary shall consider the following:
          (1) The potential of the eligible consortium to 
        advance the research, development, deployment, and 
        domestic manufacturing of technologies in a technology 
        or innovation sector critical to national and economic 
        security.
          (2) The likelihood of positive regional economic 
        effect, including increasing the number of high wage 
        domestic jobs, creating new economic opportunities for 
        economically disadvantaged and underrepresented 
        populations, promoting employee and worker ownership, 
        and advancing models of local and cooperative economic 
        development that build and retain wealth in the region.
          (3) How the eligible consortium plans to integrate 
        with and leverage the resources of 1 or more federally 
        funded research and development centers, National 
        Laboratories, Federal laboratories, Manufacturing USA 
        institutes, Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
        Partnership centers, or other Federal entities.
          (4) How the eligible consortium will engage with the 
        private sector, including small- and medium-sized 
        businesses and cooperatives, and employee-owned 
        businesses and cooperatives, to commercialize new 
        technologies and improve the resiliency and 
        sustainability of domestic supply chains in a 
        technology or innovation sector critical to national 
        and economic security.
          (5) How the eligible consortium will carry out 
        workforce development and skills acquisition 
        programming, including through partnerships with 
        entities that include State and local workforce 
        development boards, institutions of higher education, 
        including community colleges, historically Black 
        colleges and universities, Tribal colleges and 
        universities, and minority-serving institutions, labor 
        organizations, worker cooperative membership 
        associations, state or local employee ownership and 
        cooperative development centers, workforce development 
        programs, and other related activities authorized by 
        the Secretary, to support the development of a skilled 
        technical workforce for the regional technology and 
        innovation hub.
          (6) How the eligible consortium will improve or 
        expand science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics education programs and opportunities in the 
        identified region in elementary and secondary school 
        and higher education institutions located in the 
        identified region.
          (7) How the eligible consortium plans to develop 
        partnerships with venture development organizations, 
        community development financial institutions and 
        minority depository institutions, and sources of 
        private investment in support of private sector 
        activity, including launching new or expanding existing 
        companies.
          (8) How the eligible consortium plans to organize the 
        activities of regional partners across sectors in 
        support of a regional technology and innovation hub.
          (9) How the eligible consortium plans to procure as 
        many goods, services, food, and supplies as is 
        practicable from locally-owned, employee-owned, 
        minority-owned, and women-owned businesses and 
        cooperatives in conducting hub activities, and how 
        individual consortium members, as applicable, plan to 
        do the same.
          (10) How the consortium plans to collaborate with 
        local and community development financial institutions 
        and minority depository institutions to expand the 
        supply of such procurement options, including by 
        creating business plans and plans for financing 
        businesses and cooperatives that do not yet exist, and 
        how the consortium plans to encourage entities created 
        as a result of hub activities to follow such practices.
          (11) How the eligible consortium will ensure that 
        growth in technology and innovation sector produces 
        opportunity across the identified region, including for 
        economically disadvantaged, minority, and rural 
        populations, including consideration of how the 
        eligible consortium takes into account the relevant 
        impact of regional status and plans for--
                  (A) available affordable housing stock and 
                housing policies;
                  (B) local and regional transportation 
                systems;
                  (C) high speed internet access; and
                  (D) primary and secondary education.
          (12) How much the regions educational institutions 
        are committed to aligning their activities, including 
        research and education, as appropriate, to a region's 
        economic strengths and areas of focus.
          (13) The likelihood efforts served by the consortium 
        will be sustained once Federal support ends.
  (i) Coordination and Collaboration.--
          (1) Coordination with regional innovation program.--
        The Secretary shall ensure the activities under this 
        section do not duplicate activities or efforts under 
        section 27.
          (2) Coordination among hubs.--The Secretary shall 
        ensure eligible consortia that receive a grant or 
        cooperative agreement under this section coordinate and 
        share best practices for regional economic development.
          (3) Coordination with programs of the national 
        institute of standards and technology.--The Secretary 
        shall coordinate the activities of regional technology 
        and innovation hubs designated under this section, the 
        Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and the 
        Manufacturing USA Program, as the Secretary considers 
        appropriate, to maintain the effectiveness of a 
        manufacturing extension center or a Manufacturing USA 
        institute.
          (4) Coordination with department of energy 
        programs.--The Secretary shall, in collaboration with 
        the Secretary of Energy, coordinate the activities and 
        selection of regional technology and innovation hubs 
        designated under this section, as the Secretaries 
        consider appropriate, to maintain the effectiveness of 
        activities at the Department of Energy and the National 
        Laboratories.
          (5) Interagency collaboration.--In designating 
        regional technology and innovation hubs under 
        subsection (d) and awarding grants or cooperative 
        agreements under subsection (f), the Secretary--
                  (A) shall collaborate with Federal 
                departments and agencies whose missions 
                contribute to the goals of the regional 
                technology and innovation hub, and relevant 
                interagency initiatives such as the Interagency 
                Working Group for Cooperative Development;
                  (B) shall consult with the Director of the 
                National Science Foundation for the purpose of 
                ensuring that the regional technology and 
                innovation hubs are aligned with relevant 
                science, technology, and engineering expertise; 
                and
                  (C) may accept funds from other Federal 
                agencies to support grants, cooperative 
                agreements, and activities under this section.
  (j) Performance Measurement, Transparency, and 
Accountability.--
          (1) Metrics, standards, and assessment.--For each 
        grant and cooperative agreement awarded under 
        subsection (f) for a regional technology and innovation 
        hub, the Secretary shall--
                  (A) in consultation with the regional 
                technology and innovation hub, develop metrics, 
                which may include metrics relating to domestic 
                job creation, patent awards, increases in 
                research funding, business formation and 
                expansion, and participation of individuals or 
                communities historically underrepresented in 
                STEM, to assess the effectiveness of the 
                activities funded in making progress toward the 
                purposes set forth under subsection (b)(1);
                  (B) establish standards for the performance 
                of the regional technology and innovation hub 
                that are based on the metrics developed under 
                subparagraph (A); and
                  (C) prior to any award made under a 
                subsequent performance period in subsection (f) 
                and every 2 years thereafter until Federal 
                financial assistance under this section for the 
                regional technology and innovation hub is 
                discontinued, conduct an assessment of the 
                regional technology and innovation hub to 
                confirm whether the performance of the regional 
                technology and innovation hub is meeting the 
                standards for performance established under 
                subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.
          (2) Final reports by recipients of strategy 
        implementation grants and cooperative agreements.--
                  (A) In general.--The Secretary shall require 
                each eligible consortium that receives a grant 
                or cooperative agreement under subsection (f) 
                for activities of a regional technology and 
                innovation hub, as a condition of receipt of 
                such grant or cooperative agreement, to submit 
                to the Secretary, not later than 120 days after 
                the last day of the term of the grant or 
                cooperative agreement, a report on the 
                activities of the regional technology and 
                innovation hub supported by the grant or 
                cooperative agreement.
                  (B) Contents of report.--Each report 
                submitted by an eligible consortium under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
                          (i) A detailed description of the 
                        activities carried out by the regional 
                        technology and innovation hub using the 
                        grant or cooperative agreement 
                        described in subparagraph (A), 
                        including the following:
                                  (I) A description of each 
                                project the regional technology 
                                and innovation hub completed 
                                using such grant or cooperative 
                                agreement.
                                  (II) An explanation of how 
                                each project described in 
                                subclause (I) achieves a 
                                specific goal under this 
                                section in the region of the 
                                regional technology and 
                                innovation hub with respect 
                                to--
                                          (aa) the resiliency 
                                        and sustainability of a 
                                        supply chain;
                                          (bb) research, 
                                        development, and 
                                        deployment of a 
                                        critical technology;
                                          (cc) workforce 
                                        training and 
                                        development;
                                          (dd) domestic job 
                                        creation;
                                          (ee) entrepreneurship 
                                        and company formation, 
                                        including the number of 
                                        businesses created or 
                                        preserved through 
                                        employee ownership and 
                                        cooperative 
                                        development;
                                          (ff) 
                                        commercialization;
                                          (gg) access to 
                                        private capital; or
                                          (hh) participation of 
                                        individuals or 
                                        communities 
                                        historically 
                                        underrepresented in 
                                        STEM.
                          (ii) A discussion of any obstacles 
                        encountered by the regional technology 
                        and innovation hub in the 
                        implementation of the regional 
                        technology and innovation hub and how 
                        the regional technology and innovation 
                        hub overcame those obstacles.
                          (iii) An evaluation of the success of 
                        the projects of the regional technology 
                        and innovation hub using the 
                        performance standards and measures 
                        established under paragraph (1), 
                        including an evaluation of the planning 
                        process and how the project contributes 
                        to carrying out the regional innovation 
                        strategy of the regional technology and 
                        innovation hub.
                          (iv) The effectiveness of the 
                        regional technology and innovation hub 
                        in ensuring that, in the region of the 
                        regional technology and innovation hub, 
                        growth in technology and innovation 
                        sectors produces broadly shared 
                        opportunity across the region, 
                        including for economic disadvantaged 
                        and underrepresented populations and 
                        rural areas.
                          (v) Information regarding such other 
                        matters as the Secretary may require.
          (3) Interim reports by recipients of grants and 
        cooperative agreements.--In addition to requiring 
        submittal of final reports under paragraph (2)(A), the 
        Secretary may require a regional technology and 
        innovation hub described in such paragraph to submit to 
        the Secretary such interim reports as the Secretary 
        considers appropriate.
          (4) Annual reports to congress.--Not less frequently 
        than once each year, the Secretary shall submit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress an annual report on 
        the results of the assessments conducted by the 
        Secretary under paragraph (1)(C) during the period 
        covered by the report.
  (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to 
be appropriated to the Secretary--
          (1) $50,000,000 to award grants and cooperative 
        agreements under subsection (e) for the period of 
        fiscal years 2022 through 2026;
          (2) $2,000,000,000 to award grants and cooperative 
        agreements under subsection (f) for the period of 
        fiscal years 2022 and 2023; and
          (3) $4,800,000,000 to award grants and cooperative 
        agreements under subsection (f) for the period of 
        fiscal years 2024 through 2026.
  (l) Administration.--The Secretary may use funds made 
available to carry out this section for administrative costs 
under this section.

SEC. [28.]  29. STEM APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS.

  (a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce may carry out a 
grant program to identify the need for skilled science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics (referred to in this 
section as ``STEM'') workers and to expand STEM apprenticeship 
programs.
  (b) Eligible Recipient Defined.--In this section, the term 
``eligible recipient'' means--
          (1) a State;
          (2) an Indian tribe;
          (3) a city or other political subdivision of a State;
          (4) an entity that--
                  (A) is a nonprofit organization, an 
                institution of higher education, a public-
                private partnership, a science or research 
                park, a Federal laboratory, or an economic 
                development organization or similar entity; and
                  (B) has an application that is supported by a 
                State, a political subdivision of a State, or a 
                native organization; or
          (5) a consortium of any of the entities described in 
        paragraphs (1) through (5).
  (c) Needs Assessment Grants.--The Secretary of Commerce may 
provide a grant to an eligible recipient to conduct a needs 
assessment to identify--
          (1) the unmet need of a region's employer base for 
        skilled STEM workers;
          (2) the potential of STEM apprenticeships to address 
        the unmet need described in paragraph (1); and
          (3) any barriers to addressing the unmet need 
        described in paragraph (1).
  (d) Apprenticeship Expansion Grants.--The Secretary of 
Commerce may provide a grant to an eligible recipient that has 
conducted a needs assessment as described in subsection (c)(1) 
to develop infrastructure to expand STEM apprenticeship 
programs.
                              ----------                              


              ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY ACT OF 2007




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
TITLE IX--INTERNATIONAL ENERGY PROGRAMS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Subtitle C--Miscellaneous Provisions

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 936. REGIONAL CLEAN ENERGY INNOVATION PROGRAM.

  (a) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) Regional clean energy innovation partnership.--
        The term ``regional clean energy innovation 
        partnership'' means a group of one or more persons, 
        including a covered consortium, who perform a 
        collection of activities that are coordinated by such 
        covered consortium to carry out the purposes of the 
        program under subsection (c) in a region of the United 
        States.
          (2) Covered consortium.--The term ``covered 
        consortium'' means an individual or group of 
        individuals in partnership with a government entity, 
        including a State, local, or tribal government or unit 
        of such government, and at least 2 or more of the 
        following additional entities--
                  (A) an institution of higher education or a 
                consortium of institutions of higher education;
                  (B) a workforce training provider, including 
                vocational schools and community colleges;
                  (C) a private sector entity;
                  (D) a nonprofit organization;
                  (E) a community group;
                  (F) a labor group;
                  (G) a National Laboratory;
                  (H) a venture development organization;
                  (I) a community development financial 
                institution or minority depository institution;
                  (J) a worker cooperative membership 
                association or state or local employee 
                ownership or cooperative development center;
                  (K) an organization focused on clean energy 
                technology innovation or entrepreneurship;
                  (L) a business accelerator or incubator;
                  (M) a private sector entity or group of 
                entities, including a trade or industry 
                association;
                  (N) an economic development organization;
                  (O) a manufacturing facility or organization;
                  (P) a clean energy incubator or accelerator;
                  (Q) a multi-institutional collaboration; or
                  (R) any other entity that the Secretary 
                determines to be relevant.
          (3) Program.--The term ``program'' means the Regional 
        Clean Energy Innovation Program authorized in 
        subsection (b).
  (b) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a Regional 
Clean Energy Innovation Program, a research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application program designed to 
enhance the economic, environmental, and energy security of the 
United States and accelerate the pace of innovation of diverse 
clean energy technologies through the formation or support of 
regional clean energy innovation partnerships that--
          (1) account for the diverse domestic energy resources 
        available throughout the United States;
          (2) are responsive to the needs of industry, 
        workforce, policy landscape, and clean energy 
        innovation capabilities of the region in which such 
        partnership is located;
          (3) enhance and accelerate clean energy innovation;
          (4) are located in diverse geographic regions of the 
        United States, including United States territories; and
          (5) maximize the opportunities for cooperation 
        between institutes of higher education, industry, State 
        and local governments, and nonprofit research 
        institutions with shared areas of energy expertise.
  (c) Purposes of the Program.--The purposes of the Program 
established under subsection (b) are to--
          (1) improve the competitiveness of United States' 
        clean energy technology research, development, 
        demonstration, and commercial application; and
          (2) support the development of tools and technologies 
        best suited for use in diverse regions of the United 
        States, including in rural, tribal, and low-income 
        communities.
  (d) Regional Clean Energy Innovation Partnerships.--
          (1) In general.--The Secretary shall competitively 
        award grants to covered consortia to establish or 
        support regional clean energy innovation partnerships 
        that achieve the purposes of the Program in subsection 
        (c).
          (2) Permissible activities.--Grants awarded under 
        this subsection shall be used for activities determined 
        appropriate by the Secretary to achieve the purposes of 
        the Program in subsection (c), including--
                  (A) facilitating the commercial application 
                of clean energy products, processes, and 
                services, including through research, 
                development, demonstration, or technology 
                transfer;
                  (B) planning among participants of a regional 
                clean energy innovation partnership to improve 
                the strategic and cost-effective coordination 
                of the partnership;
                  (C) improving stakeholder involvement in the 
                development of goals and activities of a 
                regional clean energy innovation partnership;
                  (D) assessing different incentive mechanisms 
                for clean energy development and commercial 
                application in the region;
                  (E) hosting events and conferences; and
                  (F) establishing and updating roadmaps to 
                measure progress on relevant goals, such as 
                those relevant to metrics developed under 
                subsection (g).
          (3) Applications.--Each application submitted to the 
        Secretary under paragraph (1) may include--
                  (A) a list of members and roles of members of 
                the covered consortia, as well as any other 
                stakeholders supporting the activities of the 
                regional clean energy innovation partnership;
                  (B) a description of the proposed outcomes of 
                the regional clean energy innovation 
                partnership;
                  (C) an assessment of the relevant clean 
                energy innovation assets needed in a region to 
                achieve proposed outcomes, such as education 
                and training programs, research facilities, 
                infrastructure or site development, access to 
                capital, manufacturing capabilities, or other 
                assets;
                  (D) a description of proposed activities that 
                the regional clean energy innovation 
                partnership plans to undertake and how the 
                proposed activities will achieve the purposes 
                described in subsection (c) and the proposed 
                outcomes in subparagraph (B);
                  (E) a description of the geographical region 
                that will engage in the regional clean energy 
                innovation partnership;
                  (F) a plan for attracting additional funds 
                and identification of funding sources from non-
                Federal sources to deliver the proposed 
                outcomes of the regional clean energy 
                innovation partnership;
                  (G) a plan for partnering and collaborating 
                with community development financial 
                institutions and minority depository 
                institutions, labor and community groups, 
                worker cooperative membership associations, 
                local and state employee ownership and 
                cooperative development centers, and other 
                local institutions in order to promote 
                employee, community, and public ownership in 
                the clean energy sector, and advance models of 
                local economic development that build and 
                retain wealth in the region;
                  (H) a plan for sustaining activities of the 
                regional clean energy innovation partnership 
                after funds received under this program have 
                been expended; and
                  (I) a proposed budget, including financial 
                contributions from non-Federal sources.
          (4) Considerations.--In selecting covered consortia 
        for funding under the Program, the Secretary shall, to 
        the maximum extent practicable--
                  (A) give special consideration to 
                applications fromrural, tribal, and low-income 
                communities; and
                  (B) ensure that there is geographic diversity 
                among the covered consortia selected to receive 
                funding.
          (5) Award amount.--Grants given out under this 
        Program shall be in an amount not greater than 
        $10,000,000, with the total grant award in any year 
        less than that in the previous year.
          (6) Cost share.--For grants that are disbursed over 
        the course of three or more years, the Secretary shall 
        require, as a condition of receipt of funds under this 
        section, that a covered consortium provide not less 
        than 50 percent of the funding for the activities of 
        the regional clean energy partnership under this 
        section for years 3, 4, and 5.
          (7) Duration.--Each grant under paragraph shall be 
        for a period of not longer than 5 years.
          (8) Renewal.--A grant awarded under this section may 
        be renewed for a period of not more than 5 years, 
        subject to a rigorous merit review based on the 
        progress of a regional clean energy innovation 
        partnership towards achieving the purposes of the 
        program in subsection (c) and the metrics developed 
        under subsection (g).
          (9) Termination.--Consistent with the existing 
        authorities of the Department, the Secretary may 
        terminate grant funding under this subsection to 
        covered consortia during the performance period if the 
        Secretary determines that the regional clean energy 
        innovation partnership is underperforming.
          (10) Administrative costs.--The Secretary may allow a 
        covered consortium that receives funds under this 
        section to allocate a portion of the funding received 
        to be used for administrative or indirect costs.
          (11) Funding.--The Secretary may accept funds from 
        other Federal agencies to support funding and 
        activities under this section.
  (e) Planning Funds.--The Secretary may competitively award 
grants in an amount no greater than $2,000,000 for a period not 
longer than 2 years to an entity consisting of a government 
entity, including a State, local, or tribal government or unit 
of such government or any entity listed under subsection (a)(2) 
to plan a regional clean energy innovation partnership or 
establish a covered consortium for the purpose of applying for 
funds under subsection (b).
  (f) Information Sharing.--As part of the program, the 
Secretary shall support the gathering, analysis, and 
dissemination of information on best practices for developing 
and operating successful regional clean energy innovation 
partnerships.
  (g) Metrics.--In evaluating a grant renewals under subsection 
(d)(8), the Secretary shall work with program evaluation 
experts to develop and make publicly available metrics to 
assess the progress of a regional clean energy innovation 
partnership towards achieving the purposes of the program in 
subsection (c). Such metrics may include--
          (1) the number and quality of--
                  (A) new clean energy companies created in the 
                region as a result of activities carried out 
                under the regional clean energy innovation 
                partnership, including those created or 
                preserved through employee ownership and 
                cooperative development;
                  (B) new or expanded workforce development or 
                training programs; and
                  (C) support services provided to clean energy 
                technology developers in the region;
          (2) changes in clean energy employment in the region 
        as a result of activities carried out under the 
        regional clean energy innovation partnership; and
          (3) the amount of capital investment in clean energy 
        companies in the region as a result of activities 
        carried out under the regional clean energy innovation 
        partnership grant.
  (h) Coordination.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary 
shall coordinate with, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, 
the activities carried out under this section with the 
activities of--
          (1) other research entities of the Department, 
        including the National Laboratories, the Office of 
        Science, the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, 
        the Office of Technology Transitions, Energy Innovation 
        Hubs, and Energy Frontier Research Centers; and
          (2) relevant programs at other Federal agencies, 
        including--
                  (A) the Office of Innovation and 
                Entrepreneurship under the Economic Development 
                Administration, including the Regional 
                Innovation Program under section 27 of the 
                Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
                1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722);
                  (B) the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                Partnership Program under section 25 of the 
                National Institute of Standards and Technology 
                Act (15 U.S.C. 278k);
                  (C) the Manufacturing USA Program under 
                section 34 of the National Institute of 
                Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s);
                  (D) the Defense Manufacturing Communities 
                Support Program under section 846 of the John 
                S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act 
                for Fiscal Year 2019 (10 U.S.C. 2501 note);
                  (E) the Office of Economic Adjustment at the 
                Department of Defense; and
                  (F) Rural Development at the United States 
                Department of Agriculture.
  (i) Conflicts of Interest.--In carrying out the program, the 
Secretary shall maintain conflict of interest procedures, 
consistent with the conflict of interest procedures of the 
Department.
  (j) Evaluation by Comptroller General.--Not later than 3 
years after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 3 
years thereafter, the Comptroller General 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 evaluation on the operation of the 
program during the most recent 3-year period, including--
          (1) an assessment of the progress made towards 
        achieving the purposes specified in subsection (c) 
        based on the metrics developed under subsection (g);
          (2) the short-term and long-term metrics used to 
        determine the success of the program under subsection 
        (g), and any changes recommended to the metrics used;
          (3) the regional clean energy innovation partnerships 
        established or supported by covered consortia that have 
        received grants under subsection (d); and
          (4) any recommendations on how the program may be 
        improved.
  (k) National Laboratories.--In supporting technology transfer 
activities at the National Laboratories, the Secretary shall 
encourage partnerships with entities that are located in the 
same region or State as the National Laboratory.
  (l) Security.--In carrying out the activities under this 
section, the Secretary shall ensure proper security controls 
are in place to protect sensitive information, as appropriate.
  (m) No Funds for Construction.--No funds provided to the 
Department of Energy under this section shall be used for 
construction.
  (n) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to 
be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section 
$50,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


                          XXI. Minority Views

    It is the additional view of the minority that the 
activities authorized in this Act should be funded through the 
annual appropriations process, and that funding those 
activities should be balanced with the other innovation 
priorities of the Economic Development Administration (EDA) and 
the other agencies and programs of the Department of Commerce. 
The minority also recognizes that additional administrative 
capacity at the EDA will likely be required to carry out a new 
program of this size and scope, and that the Department should 
appropriately staff the EDA and scale up the programs to ensure 
they are adequately managed and effectively carried out.
                                   Rep. Frank Lucas,
                                           Ranking Member.

                                  [all]