[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1398 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1398
To extend, improve, and consolidate energy research and development
programs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 20, 2015
Mr. Alexander (for himself, Mr. Coons, Ms. Murkowski, Ms. Cantwell, Mr.
Gardner, Mrs. Feinstein, and Mr. Heinrich) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and
Natural Resources
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To extend, improve, and consolidate energy research and development
programs, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Energy Title of
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--ENERGY TITLE OF AMERICA COMPETES PROGRAMS
Sec. 101. Basic research.
Sec. 102. Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.
TITLE II--ELIMINATION AND CONSOLIDATION OF PROGRAMS
Sec. 201. Elimination of program authorities.
Sec. 202. Repeal of authorizations.
Sec. 203. Consolidation of duplicative program authorities.
TITLE I--ENERGY TITLE OF AMERICA COMPETES PROGRAMS
SEC. 101. BASIC RESEARCH.
Section 971(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16311(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) $5,271,000,000 for fiscal year 2016;
``(9) $5,485,000,000 for fiscal year 2017;
``(10) $5,704,000,000 for fiscal year 2018;
``(11) $5,932,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; and
``(12) $6,178,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.''.
SEC. 102. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-ENERGY.
Section 5012 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16538) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``subsection (n)(1)''
and inserting ``subsection (o)(1)'';
(2) in subsection (i), by striking paragraph (1) and
inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--To the maximum extent practicable, the
Director shall ensure that--
``(A) the activities of ARPA-E are coordinated
with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, programs and
laboratories within the Department and other relevant
research agencies; and
``(B) ARPA-E does not provide funding for a project
unless the prospective grantee demonstrates sufficient
attempts to secure private financing or indicates that
the project is not independently commercially
viable.'';
(3) by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o);
(4) by inserting after subsection (m) the following:
``(n) Protection of Information.--The following types of
information collected by the ARPA-E from recipients of financial
assistance awards shall be considered privileged and confidential and
not subject to disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States
Code:
``(1) Plans for commercialization of technologies developed
under the award, including business plans, technology-to-market
plans, market studies, and cost and performance models.
``(2) Investments provided to an awardee from third parties
(such as venture capital firms, hedge funds, and private equity
firms), including amounts and the percentage of ownership of
the awardee provided in return for the investments.
``(3) Additional financial support that the awardee--
``(A) plans to or has invested into the technology
developed under the award; or
``(B) is seeking from third parties.
``(4) Revenue from the licensing or sale of new products or
services resulting from research conducted under the award.'';
and
(5) in subsection (o) (as redesignated by paragraph (3))--
(A) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``paragraphs (4) and (5)'' and
inserting ``paragraph (4)'';
(ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking the
period at the end and inserting a semicolon;
and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) $291,200,000 for fiscal year 2016;
``(G) $303,600,000 for fiscal year 2017;
``(H) $314,700,000 for fiscal year 2018;
``(I) $327,300,000 for fiscal year 2019; and
``(J) $340,600,000 for fiscal year 2020 .''; and
(B) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``(c)(2)(D)''
and inserting ``(c)(2)(C)''.
TITLE II--ELIMINATION AND CONSOLIDATION OF PROGRAMS
SEC. 201. ELIMINATION OF PROGRAM AUTHORITIES.
(a) Nuclear Science Talent Expansion Program for Institutions of
Higher Education.--Section 5004 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C.
16532) is repealed.
(b) Hydrocarbon Systems Science Talent Expansion Program for
Institutions of Higher Education.--
(1) In general.--Section 5005(e) of the America COMPETES
Act (42 U.S.C. 16533(e)) is repealed.
(2) Conforming amendments.--
(A) Section 5005(f) of the America COMPETES Act (42
U.S.C. 16533(f)) is amended--
(i) by striking paragraph (2);
(ii) by striking the subsection designation
and heading and all that follows through
``There are'' in paragraph (1) and inserting
the following:
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are''; and
(iii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A)
through (C) as paragraphs (1) through (3),
respectively, and indenting appropriately.
(B) Section 5005 of the America COMPETES Act (42
U.S.C. 16533) is amended by redesignating subsection
(f) as subsection (e).
(c) Discovery Science and Engineering Innovation Institutes.--
Section 5008 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16535) is repealed.
(d) Elimination of Duplicative Authority for Education Programs.--
Sections 3181 and 3185 of the Department of Energy Science Education
Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381l, 42 U.S.C. 7381n) are repealed.
(e) Mentoring Program.--Section 3195 of the Department of Energy
Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381r) is repealed.
SEC. 202. REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATIONS.
(a) Department of Energy Early Career Awards for Science,
Engineering, and Mathematics Researchers.--Section 5006 of the America
COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16534) is amended by striking subsection (h).
(b) Distinguished Scientist Program.--Section 5011 of the America
COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16537) is amended by striking subsection (j).
(c) Protecting America's Competitive Edge (PACE) Graduate
Fellowship Program.--Section 5009 of the America COMPETES Act (42
U.S.C. 16536) is amended by striking subsection (f).
SEC. 203. CONSOLIDATION OF DUPLICATIVE PROGRAM AUTHORITIES.
(a) University Nuclear Science and Engineering Support.--Section
954 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16274) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``nuclear chemistry,''
after ``nuclear engineering,''; and
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as
paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) award grants, not to exceed 5 years in duration, to
institutions of higher education with existing academic degree
programs in nuclear sciences and related fields--
``(A) to increase the number of graduates in
nuclear science and related fields;
``(B) to enhance the teaching and research of
advanced nuclear technologies;
``(C) to undertake collaboration with industry and
National Laboratories; and
``(D) to bolster or sustain nuclear infrastructure
and research facilities of institutions of higher
education, such as research and training reactors and
laboratories;''.
(b) Consolidation of Department of Energy Early Career Awards for
Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Researchers Program and
Distinguished Scientist Program.--
(1) Funding.--Section 971(c) of the Energy Policy Act of
2005 (42 U.S.C. 16311(c)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(8) For the Department of Energy early career awards for
science, engineering, and mathematics researchers program under
section 5006 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16534) and
the distinguished scientist program under section 5011 of that
Act (42 U.S.C. 16537), $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2016 through 2020, of which not more than 65 percent of the
amount made available for a fiscal year under this paragraph
may be used to carry out section 5006 or 5011 of that Act.''.
(2) Department of energy early career awards for science,
engineering, and mathematics researchers.--Section 5006 of the
America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16534) is amended--
(A) in subsection (b)(1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A)--
(I) by inserting ``average'' before
``amount''; and
(II) by inserting ``for each year''
before ``shall'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``$80,000'' and inserting ``$190,000''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``$125,000'' and inserting ``$490,000'';
(B) in subsection (c)(1)(C)--
(i) in clause (i)--
(I) by striking ``assistant
professor or equivalent title'' and
inserting ``untenured assistant or
associate professor''; and
(II) by inserting ``or'' after the
semicolon at the end;
(ii) by striking clause (ii); and
(iii) by redesignating clause (iii) as
clause (ii);
(C) in subsection (d), by striking ``on a
competitive, merit-reviewed basis'' and inserting
``through a competitive process using merit-based peer
review.'';
(D) in subsection (e)--
(i) by striking ``(e)'' and all that
follows through ``To be eligible'' and
inserting the following:
``(e) Selection Process and Criteria.--To be eligible''; and
(ii) by striking paragraph (2); and
(E) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``nonprofit,
nondegree-granting research organizations'' and
inserting ``National Laboratories''.
(c) Science Education Programs.--Section 3164 of the Department of
Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381a) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and
inserting the following:
``(1) In general.--The Director of the Office of Science
(referred to in this subsection as the ``Director'') shall
provide for appropriate coordination of science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics education programs across all
functions of the Department.
``(2) Administration.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Director shall--
``(A) consult with--
``(i) the Assistant Secretary of Energy
with responsibility for energy efficiency and
renewable energy programs; and
``(ii) the Deputy Administrator for Defense
Programs of the National Nuclear Security
Administration; and
``(B) seek to increase the participation and
advancement of women and underrepresented minorities at
every level of science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics education.''; and
(B) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (D), by striking
``and'' at the end;
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as
subparagraph (F); and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph (D)
the following:
``(E) represent the Department as the principal
interagency liaison for all coordination activities
under the President for science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics education programs; and'';
and
(2) in subsection (d)--
(A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the
following:
``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this subparagraph, the Director shall submit a
report describing the impact of the activities assisted with
the Fund established under paragraph (1) to--
``(A) the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives; and
``(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
of the Senate.''.
(d) Protecting America's Competitive Edge (PACE) Graduate
Fellowship Program.--Section 5009 of the America COMPETES Act (42
U.S.C. 16536) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``, involving''
and all that follows through ``Secretary''; and
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (B)
and inserting the following:
``(B) to demonstrate excellent academic performance
and understanding of scientific or technical subjects;
and'';
(2) in subsection (d)(1)(B)(i), by inserting ``full or
partial'' before ``graduate tuition''; and
(3) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding paragraph
(1), by striking ``Director of Science, Engineering, and
Mathematics Education'' and inserting ``Director of the Office
of Science.''
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