[House Report 118-74]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


118th Congress    }                                 {     Rept. 118-74
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session      }                                 {           Part 2

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



 
                 DOE AND USDA INTERAGENCY RESEARCH ACT

                                _______
                                

  May 22, 2023.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

   Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on Agriculture, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 1713]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Agriculture, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 1713) to provide for Department of Energy and Department 
of Agriculture joint research and development activities, and 
for other purposes, having considered the same, reports 
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that the 
bill as amended do pass.
    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``DOE and USDA Interagency Research 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE JOINT 
                    RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.

  (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of 
Agriculture (in this section referred to as the ``Secretaries'') shall 
carry out cross-cutting and collaborative research and development 
activities focused on the joint advancement of Department of Energy and 
Department of Agriculture mission requirements and priorities.
  (b) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Secretaries shall carry out and 
coordinate the activities under subsection (a) through the 
establishment of a memorandum of understanding, or other appropriate 
interagency agreement. Such memorandum or agreement shall require the 
use of a competitive, merit-reviewed process, which considers 
applications from Federal agencies, National Laboratories, institutions 
of higher education, nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate 
entities.
  (c) Coordination.--In carrying out the activities under subsection 
(a), the Secretaries may--
          (1) conduct collaborative research over a variety of focus 
        areas, such as--
                  (A) modeling and simulation, machine learning, 
                artificial intelligence, data assimilation, large scale 
                data analytics, and predictive analysis in order to 
                optimize algorithms for purposes related to agriculture 
                and energy, such as life cycle analysis of agricultural 
                or energy systems;
                  (B) fundamental agricultural, biological, 
                computational, and environmental science and 
                engineering, including advanced crop science, crop 
                protection, breeding, and biological pest control, in 
                collaboration with the program authorized under section 
                306 of the Department of Energy Research and Innovation 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 18644);
                  (C) integrated natural resources and the energy-water 
                nexus, including in collaboration with the program 
                authorized under section 1010 of the Energy Act of 2020 
                (enacted as division Z of the Consolidated 
                Appropriations Act, 2021 (42 U.S.C. 16183));
                  (D) advanced biomass, biobased products, and 
                biofuels, including in collaboration with the 
                activities authorized under section 9008(b) of the Farm 
                Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 
                8108(b));
                  (E) diverse feedstocks for economically and 
                environmentally sustainable fuels, including aviation 
                and naval fuels;
                  (F) colocation of agricultural resources and 
                activities and ecosystem services with diverse energy 
                technologies and resources, such as geothermal energy, 
                nuclear energy, solar energy, wind energy, natural gas, 
                hydropower, and energy storage;
                  (G) colocation of agricultural resources and 
                activities with carbon storage and utilization 
                technologies;
                  (H) invasive species management to further the work 
                done by the Federal Interagency Committee for the 
                Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds;
                  (I) long-term and high-risk technological barriers in 
                the development of transformative science and 
                technology solutions in the agriculture and energy 
                sectors, including in collaboration with the program 
                authorized under section 5012 of the America COMPETES 
                Act (42 U.S.C. 16538);
                  (J) grid modernization and grid security;
                  (K) rural technology development, including 
                manufacturing, precision agriculture technologies, and 
                mechanization and automation technologies; and
                  (L) wildfire risks and prevention, including the 
                power sector's role in fire prevention and mitigation 
                and wildfire impacts on energy infrastructure;
          (2) develop methods to accommodate large voluntary 
        standardized and integrated data sets on agricultural, 
        environmental, supply chain, and economic information with 
        variable accuracy and scale;
          (3) promote collaboration, open community-based development, 
        and data and information sharing between Federal agencies, 
        National Laboratories, institutions of higher education, 
        nonprofit institutions, industry partners, and other 
        appropriate entities by providing reliable access to secure 
        data and information that are in compliance with Federal rules 
        and regulations;
          (4) support research infrastructure and workforce development 
        as the Secretaries determine necessary; and
          (5) conduct collaborative research, development, and 
        demonstration of methods and technologies to--
                  (A) improve the efficiency of agriculture operations 
                and processing of agricultural products; and
                  (B) reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with 
                such operations and such processing.
  (d) Agreements.--In carrying out the activities under subsection (a), 
the Secretaries are authorized to--
          (1) carry out reimbursable agreements between the Department 
        of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and other entities in 
        order to maximize the effectiveness of research and 
        development; and
          (2) collaborate with other Federal agencies as appropriate.
  (e) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, a 
report detailing the following:
          (1) Interagency coordination between each Federal agency 
        involved in the research and development activities carried out 
        under this section.
          (2) Potential opportunities to expand the technical 
        capabilities of the Department of Energy and the Department of 
        Agriculture.
          (3) Collaborative research achievements.
          (4) Areas of future mutually beneficial successes.
          (5) Continuation of coordination activities between the 
        Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture.
  (f) Research Security.--The activities authorized under this section 
shall be applied in a manner consistent with subtitle D of title VI of 
the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (enacted 
as division B of the CHIPS Act of 2022 (Public Law 117-167; 42 U.S.C. 
19231 et seq.)).

                           BRIEF EXPLANATION

    This legislation, as reported out of Committee, requires 
the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of Agriculture to 
carry out joint research and development activities to advance 
Departmental priorities.

                            PURPOSE AND NEED

    When adjusted for inflation, public spending on 
agricultural research and development in the United States has 
steadily decreased since 2002. At the same time, our 
competitors have rapidly increased spending on agricultural 
research and development, and we are now being outspent by both 
China and the European Union. For the United States agriculture 
industry to remain competitive, we need to continue investing 
in agricultural research.
    H.R. 1713 would direct the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) 
and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to coordinate on 
research activities that are mutually beneficial to both 
agencies, thereby increasing investments in agricultural 
research. While the bill highlights a variety of research areas 
that could be prioritized through this coordination, including 
crop breeding, biobased products, invasive species management, 
precision agriculture technologies, and mechanization and 
automation technologies, the list of research activities 
identified in H.R. 1713 is not meant to be exhaustive. 
Additionally, the Committee expects any research conducted 
through this collaboration to include a study to ensure there 
are no adverse impacts on the productivity of agriculture or 
the availability of prime farmland.

                           SECTION-BY-SECTION

Section 1. Short title

    DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act.

Section 2. Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture joint 
        research and development activities

    Subsection (a) of section 2 requires the Secretary of 
Energy and the Secretary of Agriculture (``the Secretaries'') 
to carry out joint research and development activities to 
advance Departmental priorities.
    Subsection (b) requires the Secretaries to enter into a 
memorandum of understanding or other appropriate interagency 
agreement to carry out the joint activities required in 
subsection (a).
    Subsection (c) describes the types of collaborative 
research activities that may be undertaken by the Secretaries.
    Subsection (d) authorizes the Secretaries to collaborate 
and enter into reimbursable agreements between the Department 
of Energy, Department of Agriculture, and other entities as 
necessary to maximize the effectiveness of research and 
development efforts.
    Subsection (e) requires the Secretaries to submit a report 
no later than two years after enactment to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Agriculture 
of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy 
and Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, 
Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate. The report must include 
details regarding interagency coordination on research and 
development activities, opportunities for expanding 
Departmental technical capabilities, and collaborative research 
achievements.
    Subsection (f) requires that activities authorized under 
the bill be carried out in a manner consistent with the 
research security requirements in the CHIPS Act.

                        COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

                               I. HEARING

    The topic of interagency collaboration on research 
activities encouraged by H.R. 1713 has been discussed 
continuously during committee activity. On March 23, 2023, the 
Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology of 
the Committee on Agriculture held a hearing titled, ``A Review 
of Title VII: USDA Implementation of Research Programs.'' 
During this hearing, the USDA Under Secretary for Research, 
Education, and Economics--Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young--was 
questioned about how USDA works with other Federal agencies who 
have larger research budgets, like DOE, to ensure investments 
in agricultural research are not limited to USDA.

                           II. FULL COMMITTEE

    On May 11, 2023, the Committee on Agriculture met pursuant 
to notice, with a quorum present, to consider H.R. 1713, DOE 
and USDA Interagency Research Act. Chairman Thompson made an 
opening statement, as did Ranking Member Scott. Without 
objection, H.R. 1713 was placed before the Committee for 
consideration, a first reading of the bill was waived, and it 
was open for amendment at any point. The Subcommittee on 
Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology was discharged from 
further consideration of the legislation.
    Chairman Thompson recognized himself to offer an amendment 
in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 1713, which incorporated 
the amendments that were adopted when the Science, Space, and 
Technology Committee marked up this bill. Without objection, 
the reading of the amendment was waived and the substitute was 
considered as the original text for purposes of amendment.
    Representative Frank Lucas, the sponsor of the legislation, 
was recognized and spoke in support of the legislation, as did 
Chairman Thompson. No further discussion occurred, and without 
objection, the Committee considered the bill. There being no 
further amendments, the Committee moved to report the bill 
favorably. Mrs. Miller of Illinois requested a roll call vote, 
of which the final tally was 53 in favor and 1 opposed.
    At the conclusion of consideration of the bill, Chairman 
Thompson advised Members that pursuant to the Rules of the 
House, Members had until Monday, May 15, 2023 to file any 
supplemental, additional, dissenting, or minority views with 
the Committee. Without objection, staff was given permission to 
make any necessary technical, clarifying, or conforming changes 
to reflect the intent of the Committee.

                            COMMITTEE VOTES

    In compliance with clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of 
Representatives, H.R. 1713 was reported favorably by a recorded 
vote of 53 yays and 1 nays.

                             ROLLCALL NO. 1

    Summary: Roll call vote on reporting the measure favorably 
to the House.
    Offered by: Mr. David Scott
    Result: Agreed to
        YEAS                          NAYS
1. Mr. Thompson                     1. Mrs. Miller of Illinois
2. Mr. Lucas
3. Mr. Austin Scott
4. Mr. Crawford
5. Mr. DesJarlais
6. Mr. LaMalfa
7. Mr. Rouzer
8. Mr. Kelly
9. Mr. Bacon
10. Mr. Bost
11. Mr. Johnson
12. Mr. Baird
13. Mr. Mann
14. Mr. Feenstra
15. Mr. Moore
16. Mrs. Cammack
17. Mr. Finstad
18. Mr. Rose
19. Mr. Jackson of Texas
20. Mr. Molinaro
21. Mrs. De La Cruz
22. Mrs. Langworthy
23. Mr. Duarte
24. Mr. Nunn
25. Mr. Alford
26. Mr. Van Orden
27. Mrs. Chavez DeRemer
28. Mr. Miller of Ohio
29. Mr. David Scott
30. Mr. Costa
31. Mr. McGovern
32. Ms. Adams
33. Ms. Spanberger
34. Mrs. Hayes
35. Ms. Brown
36. Ms. Davids of Kansas
37. Ms. Slotkin
38. Ms. Caraveo
39. Ms. Salinas
40. Ms. Perez
41. Mr. Davis of North Carolina
42. Ms. Tokuda
43. Ms. Budzinski
44. Mr. Sorenson
45. Mr. Vasquez
46. Ms. Crockett
47. Mr. Jackson of Illinois
48. Mr. Casar
49. Ms. Pingree
50. Mr. Carbajal
51. Ms. Craig
52. Mr. Soto
53. Mr. Bishop

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee on Agriculture's 
oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the 
body of this report.

                           EARMARK STATEMENT

    H.R. 1713 does not contain any congressional earmarks, 
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in 
clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the 
House Representatives.

                    PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the objective of 
H.R. 1713 is to coordinate the research activities of the 
Department of Agriculture and the Department of Energy.

                      ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

                APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

    The Committee finds that the legislation 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).

                       FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

    The Committee adopted as its own the estimate of Federal 
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act (Public Law 104-4).

                    DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

    This bill does not establish or reauthorize a program of 
the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another 
Federal program, a program that was included in any report from 
the Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to 
section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program related to a 
program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal 
Domestic Assistance.

           BUDGET ACT COMPLIANCE (SECTIONS 308, 402, AND 423)

    The provisions of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives and section 308(a)(1) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (relating to estimates of new 
budget authority, new spending authority, new credit authority, 
or increased or decreased revenues or tax expenditures) are not 
considered applicable. The estimate and comparison required to 
be prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
under clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives and sections 402 and 423 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 are included in this report.

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


    H.R. 1713 would require the Departments of Agriculture 
(USDA) and Energy (DOE) to collaborate on research and 
development activities that focus on a variety of topics, 
including environmental science, biofuels, energy storage, 
invasive species management, electric grid modernization, and 
rural technology development. The bill also would require USDA 
and DOE to report to the Congress on those efforts.
    Using information from the departments, CBO expects that 
the bill's requirements are largely being met under current 
law. As a result, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1713 
would have an insignificant cost, mostly for the report. Any 
spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated 
funds.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aaron Krupkin. 
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy 
Director of Budget Analysis.
                                         Phillip L. Swagel,
                             Director, Congressional Budget Office.

                                  [all]