[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3084 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3084
To invest in innovation through research and development, and to
improve the competitiveness of the United States.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 22, 2016
Mr. Gardner (for himself, Mr. Peters, Mr. Thune, and Mr. Nelson)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To invest in innovation through research and development, and to
improve the competitiveness of the United States.
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 ``American
Innovation and Competitiveness Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Definitions.
TITLE I--MAXIMIZING BASIC RESEARCH
Sec. 101. Reaffirmation of merit-based peer review.
Sec. 102. Transparency and accountability.
Sec. 103. EPSCoR reaffirmation and update.
Sec. 104. Cybersecurity research.
Sec. 105. Networking and information technology research and
development update.
Sec. 106. High-energy physics coordination.
Sec. 107. Laboratory program improvements.
Sec. 108. International activities.
Sec. 109. Standard Reference Data Act update.
Sec. 110. NSF mid-scale project investments.
Sec. 111. Oversight of NSF large-scale research facility projects.
Sec. 112. Conflicts of interest.
Sec. 113. Management of the NSF Antarctic Program.
Sec. 114. NIST campus security.
TITLE II--ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY BURDEN REDUCTION
Sec. 201. Interagency working group on research regulation.
Sec. 202. Scientific and technical collaboration.
Sec. 203. NIST grants and cooperative agreements update.
Sec. 204. Repeal of certain obsolete reports.
Sec. 205. Repeal of certain provisions.
TITLE III--SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH EDUCATION
Sec. 301. Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program update.
Sec. 302. Space grants.
Sec. 303. STEM Education Advisory Panel.
Sec. 304. Committee on STEM Education.
Sec. 305. Grant programs to expand STEM opportunities.
Sec. 306. Centers of excellence for inclusion in STEM.
Sec. 307. NIST education and outreach.
Sec. 308. Presidential awards for excellence in STEM mentoring.
Sec. 309. Working group on inclusion in STEM fields.
Sec. 310. Improving undergraduate STEM experiences.
Sec. 311. Computer science education research.
TITLE IV--LEVERAGING THE PRIVATE SECTOR
Sec. 401. Prize competition authority update.
Sec. 402. Crowdsourcing and citizen science.
Sec. 403. NIST other transaction authority update.
Sec. 404. NIST Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology update.
TITLE V--MANUFACTURING
Sec. 501. Hollings manufacturing extension partnership improvements.
Sec. 502. Federal loan guarantees for innovative technologies in
manufacturing.
TITLE VI--INNOVATION, COMMERCIALIZATION, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
Sec. 601. Innovation corps.
Sec. 602. Translational research grants.
Sec. 603. Optics and photonics technology innovations.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, unless expressly provided otherwise:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives.
(2) Federal science agency.--The term ``Federal science
agency'' has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6623).
(3) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National
Science Foundation.
(4) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(5) NIST.--The term ``NIST'' means the National Institute
of Standards and Technology.
(6) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' has the meaning given the term
in section 2 of the American COMPETES Reauthorization Act of
2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note).
(7) STEM education.--The term ``STEM education'' has the
meaning given the term in section 2 of the STEM Education Act
of 2015 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note).
TITLE I--MAXIMIZING BASIC RESEARCH
SEC. 101. REAFFIRMATION OF MERIT-BASED PEER REVIEW.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts
criteria remain appropriate for evaluating grant proposals, as
concluded by the 2011 National Science Board Task Force on
Merit Review;
(2) evaluating proposals on the basis of the Foundation's
intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria assures that--
(A) proposals funded by the Foundation are of high
quality and advance scientific knowledge; and
(B) the Foundation's overall funding portfolio
addresses societal needs through research findings or
through related activities; and
(3) as evidenced by the Foundation's contributions to
scientific advancement, economic development, human health, and
national security, its peer review and merit review processes
have successfully identified and funded scientifically and
societally relevant research and should be preserved.
(b) Merit Review Criteria.--The Foundation shall maintain the
intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria, among other specific
criteria as appropriate, as the basis for evaluating grant proposals in
the merit review process.
(c) Updates.--If after the date of enactment of this Act a change
is made to the merit review process, the Director shall submit a report
to the appropriate committees of Congress not later than 30 days after
the date of the change.
SEC. 102. TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that the Foundation has improved
transparency and accountability of the outcomes made through the merit
review process.
(b) Guidance.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Foundation shall issue
and periodically update, as appropriate, policy guidance for
both Foundation staff and other Foundation merit review process
participants, clarifying the importance of transparency and
accountability of the outcomes made through the merit review
process.
(2) Requirements.--The guidance under paragraph (1) shall
require that each abstract for a Foundation-funded research
project--
(A) provide a clear justification for any Federal
funds that will be expended, including by--
(i) describing how the project--
(I) reflects the mission statement
of the Foundation; and
(II) addresses both of the National
Science Board-approved merit review
criteria; and
(ii) clearly identifying the research
priorities of the project in a manner that can
be easily understood by both technical and
nontechnical audiences; and
(B) be publicly available at the time of award.
(c) Examination.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the National Science Board shall--
(1) examine the efforts by the Foundation to improve
transparency and accountability in the merit review process;
and
(2) submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a
report on the examination, including any recommendations for
how to further improve transparency and accountability of the
outcomes made through the merit review process.
SEC. 103. EPSCOR REAFFIRMATION AND UPDATE.
(a) Findings.--Section 517(a) of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-9(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1)--
(A) by striking ``The National'' and inserting
``the National''; and
(B) by striking ``education,'' and inserting
``education'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``with 27 States'' and
all that follows through the semicolon at the end and inserting
``with 28 States and jurisdictions, taken together, receiving
only about 12 percent of all National Science Foundation
research funding;'';
(3) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:
``(3) each of the States described in paragraph (2)
receives only a fraction of 1 percent of the Foundation's
research dollars each year;''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(4) first established at the National Science Foundation
in 1979, the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research (referred to in this section as `EPSCoR') assists
States and jurisdictions historically underserved by Federal
research and development funding in strengthening their
research and innovation capabilities;
``(5) the EPSCoR structure requires each participating
State to develop a science and technology plan suited to State
and local research, education, and economic interests and
objectives;
``(6) EPSCoR has been credited with advancing the research
competitiveness of participating States, improving awareness of
science, promoting policies that link scientific investment and
economic growth, and encouraging partnerships between
government, industry, and academia;
``(7) EPSCoR proposals are evaluated through a rigorous and
competitive merit review process to ensure that awarded
research and development efforts meet high scientific
standards; and
``(8) according to the National Academy of Sciences, EPSCoR
has strengthened the national research infrastructure and
enhanced the educational opportunities needed to develop the
science and engineering workforce.''.
(b) Sense of Congress.--
(1) In general.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(A) since maintaining the Nation's scientific and
economic leadership requires the participation of
talented individuals nationwide, EPSCoR investments
into State research and education capacities are in the
Federal interest and should be sustained; and
(B) EPSCoR should maintain its experimental
component by supporting innovative methods for
improving research capacity and competitiveness.
(2) Definition of epscor.--In this subsection, the term
``EPSCoR'' has the meaning given the term in section 502 of the
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p
note).
(c) Award Structure Updates.--Section 517 of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-9) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``(g) Award Structure Updates.--In implementing the mandate to
maximize the impact of Federal EPSCoR support on building competitive
research infrastructure, and based on the inputs and recommendations of
previous EPSCoR reviews, the head of each Federal agency administering
an EPSCoR program shall--
``(1) consider modifications to EPSCoR proposal
solicitation, award type, and project evaluation--
``(A) to more closely align with current agency
priorities and initiatives;
``(B) to focus EPSCoR funding on achieving critical
scientific, infrastructure, and educational needs of
that agency;
``(C) to encourage collaboration between EPSCoR-
eligible institutions and researchers, including with
institutions and researchers in other States and
jurisdictions;
``(D) to improve communication between State and
Federal agency proposal reviewers; and
``(E) to continue to reduce administrative burdens
associated with EPSCoR;
``(2) consider modifications to EPSCoR award structures--
``(A) to emphasize long-term investments in
building research capacity, potentially through the use
of larger, renewable funding opportunities; and
``(B) to allow the agency, States, and
jurisdictions to experiment with new research and
development funding models; and
``(3) consider modifications to the mechanisms used to
monitor and evaluate EPSCoR awards--
``(A) to increase collaboration between EPSCoR-
funded researchers and agency staff, including by
providing opportunities for mentoring young researchers
and for the use of Federal facilities;
``(B) to identify and disseminate best practices;
and
``(C) to harmonize metrics across participating
Federal agencies, as appropriate.''.
(d) Reports.--
(1) Congressional reports.--Section 517 of the America
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p-9), as
amended, is further amended--
(A) by striking subsection (c);
(B) by redesignating subsections (d) through (g) as
subsections (c) through (f), respectively;
(C) in subsection (c), as redesignated--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking
``Experimental Programs to Stimulate
Competitive Research'' and inserting
``EPSCoR''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2)--
(I) in subparagraphs (A), (D), and
(E), by striking ``EPSCoR and Federal
EPSCoR-like programs'' and inserting
``each EPSCoR'';
(II) in subparagraph (E), by
striking ``EPSCoR or Federal EPSCoR-
like programs'' and inserting ``each
EPSCoR''; and
(III) in subparagraph (G), by
striking ``EPSCoR programs'' and
inserting ``each EPSCoR'';
(D) by amending subsection (d), as redesignated, to
read as follows:
``(d) Federal Agency Reports.--Each Federal agency that administers
an EPSCoR shall submit to Congress, as part of its Federal budget
submission--
``(1) a description of the program strategy and objectives;
``(2) a description of the awards made in the previous
fiscal year, including--
``(A) the total amount made available, by State,
under EPSCoR;
``(B) the total amount of agency funding made
available to all institutions and entities within each
EPSCoR State;
``(C) the efforts and accomplishments to more fully
integrate the EPSCoR States in major agency activities
and initiatives;
``(D) the percentage of EPSCoR reviewers from
EPSCoR States; and
``(E) the number of programs or large collaborator
awards involving a partnership of organizations and
institutions from EPSCoR and non-EPSCoR States; and
``(3) an analysis of the gains in academic research quality
and competitiveness, and in science and technology human
resource development, achieved by the program over the last 5
fiscal years.''; and
(E) in subsection (e)(1), as redesignated, by
striking ``Experimental Program to Stimulate
Competitive Research or a program similar to the
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research'' and inserting ``EPSCoR''.
(2) Results of award structure plan.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the EPSCoR Interagency
Coordinating Committee shall brief the appropriate committees
of Congress on the updates made to the award structure under
517(f) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42
U.S.C. 1862p-9(f)), as amended by this subsection.
(e) Definition of EPSCoR.--
(1) In general.--Section 502 of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p note) is amended
by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) EPSCoR.--The term `EPSCoR' means--
``(A) the Established Program to Stimulate
Competitive Research established by the Foundation; or
``(B) a program similar to the Established Program
to Stimulate Competitive Research at another Federal
agency.''.
(2) Technical and conforming amendments.--Section 113 of
the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42
U.S.C. 1862g) is amended--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``experimental''
and inserting ``established'';
(B) in subsection (a), by striking ``an
Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive
Research'' and inserting ``a program to stimulate
competitive research (known as the `Established Program
to Stimulate Competitive Research')''; and
(C) in subsection (b), by striking ``the program''
and inserting ``the Program''.
SEC. 104. CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH.
(a) Foundation Cybersecurity Research.--Section 4(a)(1) of the
Cyber Security Research and Development Act, as amended (15 U.S.C.
7403(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (O), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (P), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(Q) security of election-dedicated voting system
software and hardware; and
``(R) role of the human factor in cybersecurity and
the interplay of computers and humans and the physical
world.''.
(b) NIST Cybersecurity Priorities.--
(1) Critical infrastructure awareness.--The Director of
NIST, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security,
shall continue to raise public awareness of the voluntary,
industry-led cybersecurity standards and best practices for
critical infrastructure developed under section 2(c)(15) of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
272(c)(15)).
(2) Quantum computing.--Under section 2(b) of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(b))
and section 20 of that Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-3), the Director of
NIST shall--
(A) research information systems for future
cybersecurity needs; and
(B) coordinate with relevant stakeholders to
develop a process--
(i) to research and identify or, if
necessary, develop cryptography standards and
guidelines for future cybersecurity needs,
including quantum-resistant cryptography
standards; and
(ii) to provide recommendations to
Congress, Federal agencies, and industry for a
secure and smooth transition to the standards
under clause (i).
(3) Voting.--Section 2(c) of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(c)) is amended--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (16) through (23)
as paragraphs (17) through (24), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (15) the
following:
``(16) perform research to support the development of
voluntary, consensus-based, industry-led standards and
recommendations on the security of computers, computer
networks, and computer data storage used in voting systems to
ensure voters can vote securely and privately.''.
SEC. 105. NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT UPDATE.
(a) Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development.--Section 101(a)(1) of the High-Performance Computing Act
of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting
``In general.--'' before ``The President'';
(2) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(3) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(J) provide for research on the interplay of
computing and people, including social computing and
human-robot interaction;
``(K) provide for research on cyber-physical
systems and improving the methods available for the
design, development, and operation of those systems
that are characterized by high reliability, safety, and
security;
``(L) provide for the understanding of the science,
engineering, policy, and privacy protection related to
networking and information technology;
``(M) provide for the understanding of the human
facets of cyber threats and secure cyber systems;
``(N) provide for the transition of high-
performance computing in hardware, system software,
development tools, and applications into development
and operations; and
``(O) foster public-private collaboration with
government, industry research laboratories, academia,
and nonprofit organizations to maximize research and
development efforts and the benefits of networking and
information technology, including high-performance
computing.''.
(b) Review and Plan.--Section 101 of the High-Performance Computing
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(d) Periodic Reviews.--The heads of the applicable agencies and
departments working through the National Science and Technology Council
and the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development
Program shall--
``(1) not later than 1 year after the date the advisory
committee submits a report under subsection (b)(2), assess the
structure of the Program, including the Program Component Areas
and associated contents and funding levels, taking into
consideration any relevant recommendations of the advisory
committee; and
``(2) ensure that the Program includes foundational and
interdisciplinary information technology research and
development activities.
``(e) Strategic Plans.--
``(1) In general.--The heads of the applicable agencies and
departments, working through the National Science and
Technology Council and the Networking and Information
Technology Research and Development Program shall develop and
implement strategic plans to guide emerging activities in
specific Program Component Areas, as the advisory committee
determines relevant under subsection (b), of Federal networking
and information technology research and development, and to
guide the activities described in subsection (a)(1).
``(2) Updates.--The heads of the applicable agencies and
departments shall update the strategic plans as appropriate.
``(3) Contents.--Each strategic plan shall--
``(A) specify near-term and long-term objectives
for the Program, the anticipated schedule for achieving
the near-term and long-term objectives, and the metrics
to be used for assessing progress toward the near-term
and long-term objectives;
``(B) specify how the near-term and long-term
objectives complement research and development areas in
which academia and the private sector is actively
engaged;
``(C) describe how the heads of the applicable
agencies and departments will support mechanisms for
foundational and interdisciplinary research and
development in networking and information technology,
including through collaborations--
``(i) across Federal agencies and
departments;
``(ii) across Program Component Areas; and
``(iii) with industry, Federal and private
research laboratories, research entities,
universities, institutions of higher education,
relevant nonprofit organizations, and
international partners of the United States;
``(D) describe how the heads of the applicable
agencies and departments will foster the rapid transfer
of research and development results into new
technologies and applications;
``(E) describe how the Program will address long-
term challenges for which solutions require large-
scale, long-term, foundational and interdisciplinary
research and development; and
``(F) place emphasis on innovative and high-risk
projects having the potential for substantial societal
returns on the research investment.
``(4) Private sector efforts.--In developing, implementing,
and updating strategic plans, the heads of the applicable
agencies and departments, working through the National Science
and Technology Council and Networking and Information
Technology Research and Development Program, shall coordinate
with industry, academia, and other interested stakeholders to
ensure, to the extent practicable, that the Federal networking
and information technology research and development activities
carried out under this section do not duplicate the efforts of
the private sector.
``(5) Recommendations.--In developing and updating
strategic plans, the heads of the applicable agencies and
departments shall solicit recommendations and advice from--
``(A) the advisory committee under subsection (b);
and
``(B) a wide range of stakeholders, including
industry, academia, including representatives of
minority serving institutions and community colleges,
National Laboratories, and other relevant organizations
and institutions.
``(f) Reports.--The heads of the applicable agencies and
departments, working through the National Science and Technology
Council and the Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Program, shall submit to the advisory committee, the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives--
``(1) the strategic plans developed under subsection
(e)(1); and
``(2) each update under subsection (e)(2).
``(g) Definition of Applicable Agencies and Departments.--In this
section, the term `applicable agencies and departments' means the
Federal agencies and departments identified in subsection (a)(3)(B) or
designated under clause (xii) of that subsection.''.
(c) Research Coordination.--Section 101(a)(2) of the High-
Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting
``Requirements.--'' before ``The Director''; and
(2) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:
``(C) provide for the coordination of Federal
networking and information technology research,
development, networking, and other activities--
``(i) among the applicable agencies and
departments under the Program; and
``(ii) to the extent practicable, with
other Federal agencies not identified in
subsection (a)(3)(B), other Federal and private
research laboratories, industry, research
entities, universities, institutions of higher
education, relevant nonprofit organizations,
and international partners of the United
States;''.
(d) Budget.--Section 101(a)(3) of the High-Performance Computing
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)(3)) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by inserting
``Contents of annual reports.--'';
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking clauses (i) through
(xi) and inserting the following--
``(i) the Department of Commerce;
``(ii) the Department of Defense;
``(iii) the Department of Education;
``(iv) the Department of Energy;
``(v) the Department of Health and Human
Services;
``(vi) the Department of Homeland Security;
``(vii) the Department of Justice;
``(viii) the Environmental Protection
Agency;
``(ix) the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration;
``(x) the National Archives and Records
Administration;
``(xi) the National Science Foundation; and
``(xii) such other agencies and departments
as the President or the Director considers
appropriate;'';
(3) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``is submitted,'' and
inserting ``is submitted, the levels for the previous fiscal
year,'';
(4) in subparagraph (D)--
(A) by striking ``is submitted,'' and inserting
``is submitted, the levels for the previous fiscal
year,''; and
(B) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(5) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (F);
and
(6) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
``(E) include a description of how the objectives
for each Program Component Area, and the objectives for
activities that involve multiple Program Component
Areas, relate to the objectives of the Program
identified in the strategic plan under subsection
(e);''.
(e) Conforming Amendments to High-Performance Computing Act of
1991.--The High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5501 et
seq.) is amended--
(1) in section 2 (15 U.S.C. 5501)--
(A) in paragraphs (2) and (5), by striking ``high-
performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology, including high-performance
computing,''; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``high-
performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology, including high-performance
computing'';
(2) in section 3 (15 U.S.C. 5502)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and
paragraph (1), by striking ``high-performance
computing'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology'' each place it appears; and
(B) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``high-performance
computing and'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology and''; and
(ii) by striking ``high-performance
computing network'' and inserting ``networking
and information technology'';
(3) in section 4 (15 U.S.C. 5503)--
(A) in paragraphs (2) and (3), by striking ``high-
performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology'';
(B) in paragraph (6), by striking ``National High-
Performance Computing'' and inserting ``Networking and
Information Technology Research and Development''; and
(C) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6),
and (7) as paragraphs (5), (3), (4), (6), and (7),
respectively;
(4) in section 101 (15 U.S.C. 5511)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``national high-
performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology research and development'';
(B) in subsection (a)--
(i) in the heading, by striking ``National
High-Performance Computing'' and inserting
``Networking and Information Technology
Research and Development'';
(ii) in paragraph (1)--
(I) in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking
``National High-Performance Computing''
and inserting ``Networking and
Information Technology Research and
Development'';
(II) in subparagraph (A), by
striking ``high-performance computing,
including networking'' and inserting
``networking and information
technology'';
(III) in subparagraphs (B) and (C),
by striking ``high-performance
computing'' and inserting ``high-end
computing, including high-performance
computing,''; and
(IV) in subparagraph (G), by
striking ``high-performance computing''
and inserting ``networking and
information technology, including high-
performance computing,''; and
(iii) in paragraph (2)--
(I) in subparagraph (A), by
striking ``high-performance computing
research, development, networking'' and
inserting ``networking and information
technology research and development'';
(II) in subparagraph (E), by
striking ``high-performance computing
and networking systems'' and inserting
``high-end computing and networking
systems''; and
(III) in subparagraph (F), by
striking ``high-performance computing''
and inserting ``high-end, including
high-performance computing'';
(C) in subsection (b)(1), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``high-performance
computing'' each place it appears and inserting
``networking and information technology'';
(D) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``Committee
on Science and Technology'' and inserting ``Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology''; and
(E) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking ``high-
performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology'';
(5) in section 201(a) (15 U.S.C. 5521(a)), by striking
``high-performance computing and advanced high-speed computer
networking'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology'';
(6) in section 202(a) (15 U.S.C. 5522(a)), by striking
``high-performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology'';
(7) in section 203 (15 U.S.C. 5523(a))--
(A) by striking ``high-performance computing and
networking'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology''; and
(B) by striking ``high-performance computing
systems'' and inserting ``high-end, including high-
performance computing systems'';
(8) in section 204 (15 U.S.C. 5524)--
(A) in subsection (a)(1)--
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``high-performance computing systems and
networks'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology systems'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``high-performance computing systems in
networks'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology systems''; and
(iii) in subparagraph (C), by striking
``high-performance computing systems'' and
inserting ``networking and information
technology''; and
(B) in subsection (b)--
(i) in the heading, by striking ``High-
performance Computing and Network'' and
inserting ``Network and Information Technology
Security''; and
(ii) by striking ``sensitive information in
Federal computer systems'' and inserting
``agency information and information systems'';
and
(9) in section 207 (15 U.S.C. 5527)--
(A) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ``section
2315(a) of title 10'' and inserting ``section
3552(b)(6)(A) of title 44''; and
(B) in subsection (b), by striking ``high-
performance computing systems'' and inserting
``networking and information technology''.
(f) Additional Technical and Conforming Amendments.--
(1) National networking and information technology
program.--Section 101 of the High-Performance Computing Act of
1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511), as amended, is further amended--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting
``Advisory committee.--'' before ``The
President shall'';
(ii) in paragraph (2), by inserting
``Additional duties.--'' before ``In addition
to''; and
(iii) in paragraph (3), by inserting
``FACA.--'' before ``Section 14''; and
(B) in subsection (c)--
(i) in paragraph (1), by inserting
``Reports.--'' before ``Each Federal''; and
(ii) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``OMB
review.--'' before ``The Office''.
(2) Miscellaneous.--
(A) National science foundation research.--Section
4(b)(5)(K) of the Cyber Security Research and
Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7403(b)(5)(K)) is amended by
striking ``high-performance computing'' and inserting
``networking and information technology''.
(B) National information technology research and
development program.--Section 13202(b) of the American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (42 U.S.C.
17912(b)) is amended by striking ``National High-
Performance Computing Program'' and inserting
``Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Program''.
(C) Federal cybersecurity research and
development.--Section 201(a)(4) of the Cybersecurity
Enhancement Act of 2014 (15 U.S.C. 7431(a)(4)) is
amended by striking ``clauses (i) through (x) of
section 101(a)(3)(B) of the High-Performance Computing
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)(3)(B)) or designated
under clause (xi) of that section'' and inserting
``clauses (i) through (xi) of section 101(a)(3)(B) of
the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5511(a)(3)(B)) or designated under clause (xii) of that
section''.
(D) National research and education network.--
Section 102 of the High-Performance Computing Act of
1991 (15 U.S.C. 5512) is repealed.
(E) Next generation internet.--Section 103 of the
High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5513)
is repealed.
(F) Fostering united states competitiveness in
high-performance computing and related activities.--
Section 208 of the High-Performance Computing Act of
1991 (15 U.S.C. 5528) is repealed.
SEC. 106. HIGH-ENERGY PHYSICS COORDINATION.
(a) In General.--The Physical Science Subcommittee of the National
Science and Technology Council shall define and continue to coordinate
Federal efforts, including activities of relevant advisory committees,
related to high-energy physics research to maximize the efficiency and
effectiveness of United States investment in high-energy physics.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the Physical Science Subcommittee
include--
(1) to advise and assist the Committee on Science and the
National Science and Technology Council on United States
policies, procedures, and plans in the physical sciences,
including high-energy physics; and
(2) to identify emerging opportunities, stimulate
international cooperation, and foster the development of the
physical sciences in the United States, including--
(A) in high-energy physics research, including
underground science and engineering research;
(B) in physical infrastructure and facilities;
(C) in information and analysis; and
(D) in coordination activities.
(c) Responsibilities.--In regard to coordinating Federal efforts
related to high-energy physics research, the Physical Science
Subcommittee shall--
(1) provide recommendations on planning for construction
and stewardship of large facilities participating in high-
energy physics;
(2) provide recommendations on research coordination and
collaboration among the programs and activities of Federal
agencies;
(3) establish goals and priorities for high-energy physics,
underground science, and research and development that will
strengthen United States competitiveness in high-energy
physics;
(4) propose methods for engagement with international,
Federal, and State agencies and Federal laboratories not
represented on the National Science and Technology Council to
identify and reduce regulatory, logistical, and fiscal barriers
that inhibit United States leadership in high-energy physics
and related underground science; and
(5) develop, and update as necessary, a strategic plan to
guide Federal programs and activities in support of high-energy
physics research, including--
(A) the efforts taken in support of subsection (b)
since the last strategic plan;
(B) an evaluation of the current research needs for
maintaining United States leadership in high-energy
physics; and
(C) an identification of future priorities in the
area of high-energy physics.
SEC. 107. LABORATORY PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) In General.--The Director of NIST, acting through the Associate
Director for Laboratory Programs, shall develop and implement a
comprehensive strategic plan for laboratory programs that expands--
(1) interactions with academia, international researchers,
and industry; and
(2) commercial and industrial applications.
(b) Optimizing Commercial and Industrial Applications.--In
accordance with the purpose under section 1(b)(3) of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 271(b)(3)), the
comprehensive strategic plan shall--
(1) include performance metrics for the dissemination of
fundamental research results, measurements, and standards
research results to industry, including manufacturing, and
other interested parties;
(2) document any positive benefits of research on the
competitiveness of the parties described in paragraph (1); and
(3) clarify the current approach to the technology transfer
activities of NIST.
SEC. 108. INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES.
Section 17(a) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278g(a)) is amended to read as follows:
``(a) Financial Assistance to Foreign Nationals.--The Secretary is
authorized, notwithstanding any other provision of law, to expend such
sums, within the limit of appropriated funds, through direct support
for activities of international organizations and foreign national
metrology institutes with which the Institute cooperates to advance
measurement methods, standards, and related basic technologies and, as
the Secretary may deem desirable, through the grant of fellowships or
any other form of financial assistance, to defray the expenses of
foreign nationals not in service to the Government of the United States
while they are performing scientific or engineering work at the
Institute or participating in the exchange of scientific or technical
information at the Institute.''.
SEC. 109. STANDARD REFERENCE DATA ACT UPDATE.
Section 2 of the Standard Reference Data Act (15 U.S.C. 290a) is
amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
``For the purposes of this Act:
``(1) Standard reference data.--The term `standard
reference data' means data that is--
``(A) either--
``(i) quantitative information related to a
measurable physical or chemical property of a
substance or system of substances of known
composition and structure;
``(ii) measurable characteristics of a
physical artifact or artifacts;
``(iii) engineering properties or
performance characteristics of a system; or
``(iv) one or more digital data objects
that serve--
``(I) to calibrate or characterize
the performance of a detection or
measurement system; or
``(II) to interpolate or
extrapolate, or both, data described in
subparagraphs (A) through (C); and
``(B) that is critically evaluated as to its
reliability under section 3 of this Act.
``(2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Commerce.''.
SEC. 110. NSF MID-SCALE PROJECT INVESTMENTS.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Foundation funds major research facilities,
infrastructure, and instrumentation that provide unique
capabilities at the frontiers of science and engineering.
(2) Modern and effective research infrastructure is
critical to maintaining United States leadership in science and
engineering.
(3) Many proposed instruments, equipment, or upgrades to
major research facilities fall between programs currently
funded by the Foundation, creating a gap between Major Research
Instrumentation and Major Research Equipment and Facilities
Construction, including projects that have been identified as
cost-effective additions of high priority to the advancement of
scientific understanding.
(4) The 2010 Astronomy and Astrophysics Decadal Survey
recommended a vigorous mid-scale innovations program.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
addition of a competitive mid-scale funding opportunity that includes
both research, instrument, and infrastructure is essential to the
portfolio of the Foundation and advancing scientific understanding.
(c) Mid-Scale Projects.--
(1) In general.--The Foundation shall evaluate the existing
and future needs, across all disciplines supported by the
Foundation, for mid-scale projects.
(2) Strategy.--The Director of the Foundation shall develop
a strategy to meet the needs identified in paragraph (1).
(3) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Foundation shall
provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of Congress on
the evaluation under paragraph (1) and the strategy under
paragraph (2).
(4) Definition of mid-scale projects.--In this subsection,
the term ``mid-scale projects'' means research,
instrumentation, and infrastructure investments that fall
between the instrumentation funded by the major research
instrumentation program and the very large projects funded by
the major research equipment and facilities construction
program as described in section 507 of the AMERICA Competes
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-358; 124 Stat.
4008).
SEC. 111. OVERSIGHT OF NSF LARGE-SCALE RESEARCH FACILITY PROJECTS.
(a) Facilities Oversight.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Foundation shall
strengthen oversight and accountability over the full life-
cycle of large-scale research facility projects, including
planning, development, procurement, construction, operations,
and support, and shut-down of such facilities, in order to
maximize research investment.
(2) Requirements.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the
Director shall--
(A) prioritize the scientific outcomes of large-
scale research facility projects and the internal
management and financial oversight of the projects;
(B) clarify the roles and responsibilities of all
organizations, including offices, panels, committees,
and directorates, involved in supporting large-scale
research facility projects, including the role of the
Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction
Panel;
(C) establish policies and procedures for the
planning, management, and oversight of large-scale
research facility projects at each phase of the life-
cycle of the project;
(D) ensure that policies for estimating and
managing costs and schedules are consistent with the
best practices described in the Government
Accountability Office Cost Estimating and Assessment
Guide, the Government Accountability Office Schedule
Assessment Guide, and the Office of Management and
Budget Uniform Guidance (2 C.F.R. Part 200);
(E) establish the appropriate project management
and financial management expertise required for
Foundation staff to oversee large-scale research
facility projects effectively, including by improving
project management training and certification; and
(F) coordinate the sharing of the best management
practices and lessons learned from large-scale research
facility projects.
(b) Facilities Full Life-Cycle Costs.--
(1) In general.--Subject to subsection (c)(1), the Director
of the Foundation shall require that any pre-award analysis of
a large-scale research facility includes the development and
consideration of the full life-cycle cost (as defined in
section 2 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act
of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 1862k note)) in accordance with section 14
of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002
(42 U.S.C. 1862n-4).
(2) Criteria.--Section 14(a)(3)(D) of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-
4(a)(3)(D)) is amended to read as follows:
``(D) readiness of plans for construction and
operation, including confidence in the estimates of the
full life-cycle cost (as defined in section 2 of the
National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1998
(42 U.S.C. 1862k note)) and the proposed schedule of
completion;''.
(3) Implementation.--Based on the pre-award analysis
described in paragraph (1), the Director shall include
projected operational costs within the Foundation's out years
as part of the President's yearly budget submissions to
Congress.
(c) Cost Oversight.--
(1) Pre-award analysis.--
(A) In general.--The Director of the Foundation and
the National Science Board may not approve any proposed
large-scale research facility project unless--
(i) an analysis of the proposed budget has
been conducted to ensure the proposal is
complete and reasonable;
(ii) the analysis under clause (i) follows
the Government Accountability Office Cost
Estimating and Assessment Guide;
(iii) except as provided under subparagraph
(C), an analysis of the accounting systems has
been conducted;
(iv) an independent cost estimate of the
construction of the project has been conducted
using the same detailed technical information
as the project proposal estimate to determine
whether the estimate is well-supported and
realistic; and
(v) the Foundation and the National Science
Board has considered the analyses under clauses
(i) and (iii) and the independent cost estimate
under clause (iv) and resolved any major issues
identified therein.
(B) Audits.--A Foundation analysis under
subparagraph (A)(i) may include an audit.
(C) Exception.--The Director, at the Director's
discretion, may waive the requirement under
subparagraph (A)(iii) if a similar analysis of the
accounting systems was conducted in the prior years.
(2) Construction oversight.--The Director shall require for
each large-scale research facility project--
(A) periodic external reviews on project management
and performance;
(B) adequate internal controls, policies, and
procedures, and reliable accounting systems in
preparation for the incurred cost audits under
subparagraph (D);
(C) annual incurred cost submissions of financial
expenditures; and
(D) an incurred cost audit of the project--
(i) at least once during construction at a
time determined based on risk analysis and
length of the award, except that the length of
time between audits may not exceed 3 years; and
(ii) at the completion of the construction
phase.
(3) Operations cost estimate.--The Director shall require
an independent cost estimate of the operational proposal for
each large-scale research facility project.
(d) Contingency.--
(1) In general.--The Foundation shall strengthen internal
controls to improve oversight of contingency on a large-scale
research facility project.
(2) Requirements.--In carrying out paragraph (1), not later
than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Foundation shall--
(A) retain control over a portion of the budget
contingency funds of each awardee;
(B) distribute the retained funds with other
incremental funds as needed; and
(C) track contingency use.
(e) Oversight Implementation Progress.--The Director of the
Foundation shall--
(1) not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, and periodically thereafter until the completion
date, provide a briefing to the appropriate committees of
Congress on the response to or progress made toward
implementation of--
(A) this section;
(B) all of the issues and recommendations
identified in cooperative agreement audit reports and
memoranda issued by the Inspector General of the
National Science Foundation in the last 5 years; and
(C) all of the issues and recommendations
identified by a panel of the National Academy of Public
Administration in the December 2015 report entitled
``National Science Foundation: Use of Cooperative
Agreements to Support Large Scale Investment in
Research''; and
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, notify the appropriate committees of Congress when
the Foundation has implemented the recommendations identified
in a panel of the National Academy of Public Administration
report issued December 2015.
(f) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on
Appropriations of the Senate and the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of
the House of Representatives.
(2) Large-scale research facility project.--The term
``large-scale research facility project'' means a science and
engineering facility project funded by the major research
equipment and facilities construction account, or any successor
thereto.
SEC. 112. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
The Director of the Foundation shall update the policy and
procedure of the Foundation relating to conflicts of interest to
improve documentation and management of any known conflict of interest
of an individual on temporary assignment at the Foundation, including
an individual on assignment under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act
of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.).
SEC. 113. MANAGEMENT OF THE NSF ANTARCTIC PROGRAM.
(a) Review.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Foundation shall
continue to review the efforts by the Foundation to sustain and
strengthen scientific efforts in the face of logistical
challenges for the United States Antarctic Program.
(2) Issues to be examined.--In conducting the review, the
Director shall examine, at a minimum, the following:
(A) Implementation by the Foundation of issues and
recommendations identified by--
(i) the Inspector General of the National
Science Foundation in audit reports and
memoranda on the United States Antarctic
Program in the last 4 years;
(ii) the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue Ribbon
Panel report, More and Better Science in
Antarctica through Increased Logistical
Effectiveness, issued July 23, 2012; and
(iii) the National Research Council report,
Future Science Opportunities in Antarctica and
the Southern Ocean, issued September 2011.
(B) Efforts by the Foundation to track its progress
in addressing the issues and recommendations under
subparagraph (A).
(C) Efforts by the Foundation to address other
opportunities and challenges, including efforts on
scientific research, coordination with other Federal
agencies and international partners, logistics and
transportation, health and safety of participants,
oversight and financial management of awardees and
contractors, and resources and policy challenges.
(b) Briefing.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Director shall brief the appropriate committees of
Congress on the ongoing review, including findings and any
recommendations.
SEC. 114. NIST CAMPUS SECURITY.
(a) Supervisory Authority.--Consistent with the enforcement
authority delegated by the Secretary of Homeland Security under section
1315 of title 40, United States Code, the Department of Commerce Office
of Security shall directly manage the law enforcement and security
programs of NIST through an assigned Director of Security for NIST.
(b) Reports.--The Director of Security for NIST shall provide an
activities and security report on a quarterly basis for the first year
after the date of enactment of this Act, and on an annual basis
thereafter, to the Under Secretary for Standards and Technology.
TITLE II--ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY BURDEN REDUCTION
SEC. 201. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON RESEARCH REGULATION.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Scientific and technological advancement have been the
largest drivers of economic growth in the last 50 years, with
the Federal Government being the largest investor in basic
research.
(2) Federally funded grants are increasingly competitive,
with the Foundation funding only approximately 1 in every 5
grant proposals.
(3) Researchers spend as much as 42 percent of their time
complying with Federal regulations, including administrative
tasks such as applying for grants or meeting reporting
requirements.
(4) The time spent on the activities described in paragraph
(3) affects efficiency and reduces valuable research time.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that
administrative burdens faced by researchers may be reducing the return
on investment of federally funded research and development.
(c) Establishment.--The Director of the Office of Management and
Budget, in coordination with the Office of Science and Technology
Policy, shall establish an interagency working group (referred to in
this section as the ``Working Group'') to reduce administrative burdens
on federally funded researchers while protecting the public interest in
the transparency of and accountability for federally funded activities.
(d) Responsibilities.--
(1) In general.--The Working Group shall--
(A) regularly review relevant, administration-
related regulations imposed on federally funded
researchers; and
(B) recommend those regulations or processes that
may be eliminated, streamlined, or otherwise improved
for the purpose described in subsection (c).
(2) Grant review.--
(A) In general.--The Working Group, in consultation
with the Office of Management and Budget, shall--
(i) conduct a comprehensive review of
Federal science agency grant proposal
documents; and
(ii) develop, to the extent practicable, a
simplified, uniform grant format to be used by
all Federal science agencies.
(B) Considerations.--In developing the uniform
grant format, the Working Group shall consider whether
to implement--
(i) procedures for preliminary project
proposals in advance of peer-review selection;
(ii) increased use of ``Just-In-Time''
procedures for documentation that does not bear
directly on the scientific merit of a proposal;
(iii) simplified initial budget proposals
in advance of peer review selection; and
(iv) detailed budget proposals for
applicants that peer review selection
identifies as likely to be funded.
(3) Centralized researcher profile database.--
(A) Establishment.--The Working Group shall
establish, to the extent practicable, a secure,
centralized database for investigator biosketches,
curriculum vitae, licenses, publications, and other
documents considered relevant by the Working Group.
(B) Considerations.--In establishing the
centralized database under subparagraph (A), the
Working Group shall consider incorporating existing
investigator databases.
(C) Grant proposals.--To the extent practicable,
all grant proposals shall utilize the centralized
researcher profile database established under
subparagraph (A).
(D) Requirements.--Each investigator shall--
(i) be responsible for ensuring the
investigator's profile is current and accurate;
and
(ii) be assigned a unique identifier linked
to the database and accessible to all Federal
funding agencies.
(4) Centralized assurances repository.--The Working Group
shall--
(A) establish a central repository for all of the
assurances required for Federal research grants; and
(B) provide guidance to universities and Federal
science agencies on the use of the centralized
assurances repository.
(5) Comprehensive review.--
(A) In general.--The Working Group, in consultation
with the Office of Management and Budget, shall--
(i) conduct a comprehensive review of the
mandated progress reports for federally funded
research; and
(ii) develop a strategy to simplify
investigator progress reports.
(B) Considerations.--In developing the strategy,
the Working Group shall consider limiting progress
reports to performance outcomes.
(e) Consultation.--In carrying out its responsibilities under
subsection (d)(1), the Working Group shall consult with academic
researchers outside the Federal Government, including--
(1) federally funded researchers;
(2) nonfederally funded researchers;
(3) institutions of higher education and their
representative associations;
(4) scientific and engineering disciplinary societies and
associations;
(5) nonprofit research institutions;
(6) industry, including small businesses;
(7) federally funded research and development centers; and
(8) members of the public with a stake in ensuring
effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability in the
performance of scientific research.
(f) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, and periodically thereafter, the Working Group shall submit
to the appropriate committees of Congress an annual report on its
responsibilities under this section, including recommendations under
subsection (d)(1)(B).
SEC. 202. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COLLABORATION.
(a) Definition of Scientific and Technical Workshop.--In this
section, the term ``scientific and technical workshop'' means a
symposium, seminar, or any other organized, formal gathering where
scientists or engineers working in STEM research and development fields
assemble to coordinate, exchange and disseminate information or to
explore or clarify a defined subject, problem or area of knowledge in
the STEM fields.
(b) Policy.--It is the policy of the United States to encourage
broad dissemination Federal research findings and engagement of Federal
researchers with the scientific and technical community.
(c) Authority.--Laboratory, test center, and field center directors
and other similar heads of offices may approve scientific and technical
workshop attendance if--
(1) that attendance would meet the mission of the
laboratory or test center; and
(2) sufficient laboratory or test center funds are
available for that purpose.
(d) Attendance Policies.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management
and Budget, in consultation with the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy and the heads of other relevant
Federal science agencies, shall revise current policies and
streamline processes, in accordance with the policy under
subsection (b), for attendance at scientific and technical
workshops while ensuring appropriate oversight, accountability,
and transparency.
(2) Considerations.--In revising the policy under paragraph
(1), the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall
consider the goal of adjudicating a request to attend a
scientific and technical workshop not later than 30 days after
the date of the request.
(3) Implementation.--Not later than 90 days after the date
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget revises the
policies under paragraph (1), the head of each Federal science
agency shall update that agency's policies for attendance at
scientific and technical workshops.
(e) NIST Workshops.--Section 2(c) of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(c)), as amended by section
104 of this Act, is further amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (19) through (24) as
paragraphs (22) through (27), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (18) the following:
``(19) host, participate in, and support scientific and
technical workshops (as defined in section 202 of the American
Innovation and Competitiveness Act);
``(20) collect and retain any fees charged by the Secretary
for hosting a scientific and technical workshop described in
paragraph (19);
``(21) notwithstanding title 31 of the United States Code,
use the fees described in paragraph (20) to pay for any related
expenses, including subsistence expenses for participants;''.
SEC. 203. NIST GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS UPDATE.
Section 8(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3706(a)) is amended by striking ``The total amount of
any such grant or cooperative agreement may not exceed 75 percent of
the total cost of the program.''.
SEC. 204. REPEAL OF CERTAIN OBSOLETE REPORTS.
(a) Repeal of Certain Obsolete Reports.--
(1) NIST reports.--
(A) Report on donation of educationally useful
federal equipment to schools.--Section 6(b) of the
Technology Administration Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 272
note) is amended--
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ``(1) In
general.--'' and indenting appropriately; and
(ii) by striking paragraph (2).
(B) Three-year programmatic planning document.--
(i) In general.--Section 23 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15
U.S.C. 278i) is amended by striking subsections
(c) and (d).
(ii) Conforming amendment.--Section
10(h)(1) of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278(h)(1)) is
amended by striking the last sentence.
(2) Multiagency report on innovation acceleration
research.--Section 1008 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C.
6603) is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (c); and
(B) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection
(c).
(3) NSF reports.--
(A) Funding for successful stem education programs;
report to congress.--Section 7012 of the America
COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o-4) is amended by striking
subsection (c).
(B) Encouraging participation; evaluation and
report.--Section 7031 of the America COMPETES Act (42
U.S.C. 1862o-11) is amended by striking subsection (b).
(C) Math and science partnerships program
coordination report.--Section 9(c) of the National
Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C.
1862n(c)) is amended--
(i) by striking paragraph (4); and
(ii) by redesignating paragraph (5) as
paragraph (4).
(b) National Nanotechnology Initiative Reports.--The 21st Century
Nanotechnology Research and Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) is
amended--
(1) by amending section 2(c)(4) (15 U.S.C. 7501(c)(4)) to
read as follows:
``(4) develop, not later than 5 years after the date of the
release of the most-recent strategic plan, and update every 5
years thereafter, a strategic plan to guide the activities
described under subsection (b) that describes--
``(A) the near-term and long-term objectives for
the Program;
``(B) the anticipated schedule for achieving the
near-term objectives;
``(C) the metrics that will be used to assess
progress toward the near-term and long-term objectives;
``(D) how the Program will move results out of the
laboratory and into application for the benefit of
society;
``(E) the Program's support for long-term funding
for interdisciplinary research and development in
nanotechnology; and
``(F) the allocation of funding for interagency
nanotechnology projects;'';
(2) by amending section 4(d) (15 U.S.C. 7503(d)) to read as
follows:
``(d) Reports.--Not later than 4 years after the date of the most
recent assessment under subsection (c), and quadrennially thereafter,
the Advisory Panel shall submit to the President, the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a
report of its assessments under subsection (c) and its recommendations
for ways to improve the Program.''; and
(3) in section 5 (15 U.S.C. 7504)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``triennial'' and
inserting ``quadrennial'';
(B) in subsection (a), in the matter preceding
paragraph (1), by striking ``triennial'' and inserting
``quadrennial'';
(C) in subsection (b), by striking ``triennial''
and inserting ``quadrennial'';
(D) in subsection (c), by striking ``triennial''
and inserting ``quadrennial''; and
(E) by amending subsection (d) to read as follows:
``(d) Report.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date
the first evaluation under subsection (a) is received, and
quadrennially thereafter, the Director of the National
Nanotechnology Coordination Office shall report to the
President its assessments under subsection (c) and its
recommendations for ways to improve the Program.
``(2) Congress.--Not later than 30 days after the date the
President receives the report under paragraph (1), the Director
of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall transmit a
copy of the report to Congress.''.
(c) Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction.--Section
14 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42
U.S.C. 1862n-4) is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
``(a) Prioritization of Proposed Major Research Equipment and
Facilities Construction.--
``(1) Development of priorities.--The Director shall--
``(A) develop a list indicating by number the
relative priority for funding under the major research
equipment and facilities construction account that the
Director assigns to each project the Board has approved
for inclusion in a future budget request; and
``(B) submit the list described in subparagraph (A)
to the Board for approval.
``(2) Updates.--The Director shall update the list prepared
under paragraph (1) each time the Board approves a new project
that would receive funding under the major research equipment
and facilities construction account and periodically submit any
updated list to the Board for approval.'';
(2) by striking subsection (e);
(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as subsections
(b) and (c), respectively; and
(4) by amending subsection (c), as redesignated, to read as
follows:
``(c) Board Approval of Major Research Equipment and Facilities
Projects.--The Board shall explicitly approve any project to be funded
out of the major research equipment and facilities construction account
before any funds may be obligated from such account for such
project.''.
SEC. 205. REPEAL OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS.
(a) Technology Innovation Program.--
(1) In general.--Section 28 of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n) is repealed.
(2) Conforming amendments.--
(A) Additional award criteria.--Section 4226(b) of
the Small Business Act of 2010 (15 U.S.C. 278n note) is
repealed.
(B) Management costs.--Section 2(f) of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
272(f)) is amended by striking ``sections 25, 26, and
28'' and inserting ``sections 25 and 26''.
(C) Annual and other reports to secretary and
congress.--Section 10(h)(1) of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278(h)(1))
is amended by striking ``, including the Program
established under section 28,''.
(b) Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow.--Sections 6111 through
6116 of the America COMPETES Act (20 U.S.C. 9811, 9812, 9813, 9814,
9815, 9816) and the items relating to those sections in the table of
contents under section 2 of that Act (Public Law 110-69; 121 Stat. 572)
are repealed.
TITLE III--SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH EDUCATION
SEC. 301. ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM UPDATE.
Section 10A of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of
2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1a) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(k) STEM Teacher Service and Retention.--
``(1) In general.--The Director shall develop and implement
practices for increasing the proportion of individuals
receiving fellowships under this section who--
``(A) fulfill the service obligation required under
subsection (h); and
``(B) remain in the teaching profession in a high
need local educational agency beyond the service
obligation.
``(2) Practices.--The practices described under paragraph
(1) may include--
``(A) partnering with nonprofit or professional
associations or with other government entities to
provide individuals receiving fellowships under this
section with opportunities for professional
development, including mentorship programs that pair
those individuals with currently employed and recently
retired science, technology, engineering, or
mathematics professionals;
``(B) increasing recruitment from high need
districts;
``(C) establishing a system to better collect,
track, and respond to data on the career decisions of
individuals receiving fellowships under this section;
``(D) conducting research to better understand
factors relevant to teacher service and retention; and
``(E) conducting pilot programs to improve teacher
service and retention.''.
SEC. 302. SPACE GRANTS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the
National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program has been an
important program by which the Federal Government has partnered with
universities, colleges, industry, and other organizations to provide
hands-on STEM experiences, fostering of multidisciplinary space
research, and supporting graduate fellowships in space-related fields,
among other purposes.
(b) Administrative Costs.--Section 40303 of title 51, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Program Administration Costs.--In carrying out the provisions
of this chapter, the Administrator--
``(1) shall maximize appropriated funds for grants and
contracts made under section 40304 in each fiscal year; and
``(2) in each fiscal year, the Administrator shall limit
its program administration costs to no more than 5 percent of
funds appropriated for this program for that fiscal year.
``(e) Reports.--For any fiscal year in which the Administrator
cannot meet the administration cost target under subsection (d)(2), if
the Administration is unable to limit program costs under subsection
(b), the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report, including--
``(1) a description of why the Administrator did not meet
the cost target under subsection (d); and
``(2) the measures the Administrator will take in the next
fiscal year to meet the cost target under subsection (d)
without drawing upon other Federal funding.''.
SEC. 303. STEM EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment this Act, Director of the Foundation, the Secretary of
Education, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration shall jointly establish an advisory panel
(referred to in this section as the ``STEM Education Advisory Panel'')
to advise the Committee on STEM Education of the National Science and
Technology Council (referred to in this section as ``CoSTEM'') on
matters relating to STEM education.
(b) Members.--
(1) In general.--The STEM Education Advisory Panel shall be
composed of not less than 11 members.
(2) Appointment.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
Director of the Foundation, in consultation with the
Secretary of Education and the heads of the Federal
science agencies, shall appoint the members of the STEM
Education Advisory Panel.
(B) Consideration.--In selecting individuals to
appoint under subparagraph (A), the Director of the
Foundation shall seek and give consideration to
recommendations from Congress, industry, the scientific
community, including the National Academy of Sciences,
scientific professional societies, academia, State and
local governments, and such other organizations as the
Director considers appropriate.
(C) Qualifications.--Members shall--
(i) primarily be individuals from academic
institutions, nonprofit organizations, and
industry, including in-school, out-of-school,
and informal education practitioners; and
(ii) be individuals who are qualified to
provide advice and information on STEM
education research, development, training,
implementation, interventions, professional
development, or workforce needs or concerns.
(c) Responsibilities.--
(1) Assessment.--
(A) In general.--The STEM Education Advisory Panel
shall advise CoSTEM and periodically assess its
progress in carrying out its responsibilities under
section 101(b) of the America COMPETES Reauthorization
Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621(b)).
(B) Considerations.--In its advisory role, the STEM
Education Advisory Panel shall consider--
(i) the appropriateness of criteria used by
Federal agencies to evaluate the effectiveness
of Federal STEM education programs and
activities;
(ii) ways to leverage private and nonprofit
STEM investments and encourage public-private
partnerships to strengthen STEM education and
help build the STEM workforce pipeline; and
(iii) how Federal agencies incentivize
colleges and universities to improve retention
of STEM students.
(2) Recommendations.--The STEM Education Advisory Panel
shall make recommendations to improve Federal STEM education
programs and activities based on the assessment under paragraph
(1).
(d) Funding.--The Director of the Foundation, the Secretary of
Education, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration shall jointly make funds available on an
annual basis to support the activities of the STEM Education Advisory
Panel.
(e) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, and every 3 years thereafter, the STEM Education Advisory
Panel shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress, and
CoSTEM a report on its assessment under subsection (c)(1) and
recommendations under subsection (c)(2).
(f) Travel Expenses of Non-Federal Members.--
(1) In general.--Non-Federal members of the STEM Education
Advisory Panel, while attending meetings of the panel or while
otherwise serving at the request of a co-chairperson away from
their homes or regular places of business, may be allowed
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as
authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for
individuals in the Government serving without pay.
(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall
be construed to prohibit members of the STEM Advisory Panel who
are officers or employees of the United States from being
allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, in accordance with existing law.
SEC. 304. COMMITTEE ON STEM EDUCATION.
(a) Responsibilities.--Section 101(b) of the America COMPETES
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (5)(D), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and
inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) collaborate with the STEM Education Advisory Panel
established under section 303 of the American Innovation and
Competitiveness Act and other outside stakeholders to ensure
the engagement of the STEM education community;
``(8) review the measures used by a Federal agency to
evaluate its STEM education activities and programs;
``(9) request and review feedback from States on how the
States are utilizing Federal STEM education programs and
activities; and
``(10) recommend the reform, termination, or consolidation
of Federal STEM education activities and programs, taking into
consideration the recommendations of the STEM Education
Advisory Panel.''.
(b) Reports.--Section 101 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization
Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621) is amended--
(1) by striking ``(c) Report.--'' and inserting ``(d)
Reports.--'';
(2) by striking ``(b) Responsibilities of OSTP.--'' and
inserting ``(c) Responsibilities of OSTP.--''; and
(3) in subsection (d), as redesignated--
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ``; and'' and
inserting a semicolon;
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the period at the
end and inserting ``; and''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(6) a description of all consolidations and terminations
of Federal STEM education programs and activities implemented
in the previous fiscal year, including an explanation for the
consolidations and terminations;
``(7) recommendations for reforms, consolidations, and
terminations of STEM education programs or activities in the
upcoming fiscal year; and
``(8) a description of any significant new STEM education
public-private partnerships.''.
SEC. 305. GRANT PROGRAMS TO EXPAND STEM OPPORTUNITIES.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Economic projections by the Bureau of Labor Statistics
indicate that by 2018, there could be 2.4 million unfilled STEM
jobs.
(2) Women represent slightly more than half the United
States population, and projections indicate that 54 percent of
the population will be a member of a racial or ethnic minority
group by 2050.
(3) Despite representing half the population, women
comprise only about 30 percent of STEM workers according to a
2015 report by the National Center for Science and Engineering
Statistics.
(4) A 2014 National Center for Education Statistics study
found that women and underrepresented minorities leave the STEM
fields at higher rates than their counterparts.
(5) The representation of women in STEM drops significantly
at the faculty level. Overall, women hold only 25 percent of
all tenured and tenure-track positions and 17 percent of full
professor positions in STEM fields in our Nation's universities
and 4-year colleges.
(6) Black and Hispanic faculty together hold about 6.5
percent of all tenured and tenure-track positions and 5 percent
of full professor positions.
(7) Many of the numbers in the American Indian or Alaskan
Native and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander categories
for different faculty ranks were too small for the National
Science Foundation to report publicly without potentially
compromising confidential information about the individuals
being surveyed.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) it is critical to our Nation's economic leadership and
global competitiveness that we educate, train, and retain more
scientists and engineers;
(2) there is currently a disconnect between the
availability of and growing demand for STEM-skilled workers;
(3) women, minorities, and persons with disabilities are
the largest untapped STEM talent pools in the United States;
and
(4) given the shifting demographic landscape, the United
States should encourage full participation of individuals
described in paragraph (3) in STEM fields.
(c) Reaffirmation.--The Director of the Foundation shall continue
to support existing programs designed to broaden participation of
women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in STEM fields.
(d) Program To Broaden Participation in STEM Fields.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Foundation shall award
grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to eligible
entities to increase the participation of women and groups
underrepresented in STEM fields.
(2) Applications.--An applicant seeking a grant under this
section shall submit an application to the Director at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the
Director may require.
(3) Use of funds.--Activities supported by grants under
this section may include the following:
(A) Online workshops.
(B) Mentoring programs that partner science,
technology, engineering, or mathematics professionals
with applicable students.
(C) Internships for applicable undergraduate and
graduate students in STEM fields.
(D) Conducting outreach programs that provide
applicable elementary school and secondary school
students with opportunities to increase their exposure
to STEM fields.
(E) Programs to increase the recruitment and
retention of underrepresented faculty.
(F) Such additional programs as the Director of the
Foundation may consider appropriate.
(e) Grant Program for Grades K Through 8.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Foundation shall award
grants to be used for research to advance the engagement of
students in grades kindergarten through 8 in STEM that are
designed to encourage interest, engagement, and skills
development of students in STEM fields, particularly those who
are members of groups underrepresented in STEM fields.
(2) Use of funds.--Activities supported by grants under
this section may include--
(A) development and implementation of programming
described in paragraph (1) for the purpose of research;
(B) use of a variety of engagement methods,
including cooperative and hands-on learning;
(C) exposure of students who are members of groups
underrepresented in STEM fields to role models,
including near-peers, in STEM fields;
(D) mentors;
(E) training of informal learning educators and
youth-serving professionals using evidence-based
methods consistent with the target student population
being served;
(F) education of students on the relevance and
significance of STEM careers, provision of academic
advice and assistance, and activities designed to help
students make real-world connections to STEM content
activities;
(G) attendance of underrepresented students at
events, competitions, and academic programs to provide
content expertise and encourage career exposure in
STEM;
(H) activities designed to engage parents of
underrepresented students;
(I) innovative strategies to engage
underrepresented students, such as using leadership
skill outcome measures to encourage youth with the
confidence to pursue STEM course work and academic
study;
(J) coordination with STEM-rich environments,
including other nonprofit, nongovernmental
organizations, classroom and out-of classroom settings,
institutions of higher education, vocational
facilities, corporations, museums, or science centers;
and
(K) acquisition of instructional materials or
technology-based tools to conduct applicable grant
activity.
(3) Applications.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), an
applicant seeking a grant under the section shall
submit an application to the Director at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the
Director may require.
(B) Requirements.--The application shall include,
at a minimum, the following:
(i) A description of the target audience to
be served by the program.
(ii) A description of the process for
recruitment and selection of students, as
appropriate.
(iii) A description of how such research
activity may inform programming that engages
underrepresented students in grades
kindergarten through 8 in STEM.
(iv) A description of how such research
activity may inform programming that promotes
student academic achievement in STEM.
(v) An evaluation plan to determine the
impact and efficacy of activities being
researched.
(4) Consideration.--In awarding grants under this section,
the Director shall give consideration to applicants which, for
the purpose of grant activity, include or partner with an
organization that has extensive experience and expertise in
increasing the participation of underrepresented students in
STEM.
(f) Accountability and Dissemination.--
(1) Evaluation.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall
evaluate the grants provided under this section.
(B) Requirements.--In conducting the evaluation
under subparagraph (A), the Director shall--
(i) use a common set of benchmarks and
assessment tools to identify best practices and
materials developed or demonstrated by the
research; and
(ii) to the extent practicable, combine the
research resulting from the grant activity
under subsection (e) with the current research
on serving underrepresented students in grades
kindergarten through 8.
(2) Report on evaluations.--Not later than 180 days after
the completion of the evaluation under paragraph (1), the
Director shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress
and make widely available to the public a report that
includes--
(A) the results of the evaluation; and
(B) any recommendations for administrative and
legislative action that could optimize the
effectiveness of the program.
(g) Coordination.--In carrying out this section, the Director shall
consult, cooperate, and coordinate, to enhance program effectiveness
and to avoid duplication, with the programs and policies of other
relevant Federal agencies.
(h) Definition of Groups Underrepresented in STEM Fields.--In this
section, the term ``groups underrepresented in STEM fields'' has the
meaning given the term ``underrepresented in science and engineering''
in section 637.4(b) of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations.
SEC. 306. CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE FOR INCLUSION IN STEM.
(a) Establishment.--The Director of the Foundation shall carry out
a program to award merit-reviewed, competitive grants to institutions
of higher education, or consortia thereof, to establish not less than 1
Center of Excellence (referred to in this section as the ``Center''),
to collect, maintain, and disseminate information to increase
participation of women and groups underrepresented in STEM fields (as
defined in section 305(d)(4)).
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Center is to promote diversity in
STEM fields by building on the success of the INCLUDES programs,
providing technical assistance, maintaining best practices, and
providing related training at federally funded academic institutions.
(c) Program.--The Director of the Foundation shall establish each
Center through a merit-reviewed, competitive award to an eligible
entity for at least 3, but not more than to 5 years.
(d) Public Domain.--All program information developed, collected,
or maintained by a Center, except for personally identifiable
information, is and shall remain part of the public domain.
(e) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an eligible institution shall prepare and submit to the
Director an application at such a time, in such form, and containing
such information as the Director may require.
(f) Activities.--Activities of a Center may include--
(1) conducting and disseminating research on--
(A) systemic factors and institutional policies
that impede or facilitate the recruitment, retention,
and success of underrepresented groups in STEM fields;
and
(B) best practices for mitigating the systemic
factors and institutional policies that impede
inclusion of underrepresented groups in STEM fields;
(2) collaborating with institutions of higher education,
Federal agencies, industry, and relevant stakeholders to
develop policies and practices to facilitate the recruitment,
retention, and success of underrepresented groups in STEM;
(3) providing educational opportunities for STEM faculty
members, staff, students, trainees, fellows, and administrators
to learn about inclusion in STEM and to improve STEM mentoring;
(4) developing and hosting intra- or interinstitutional
workshops, and providing ongoing support to workshop
participants, to propagate best practices in recruiting,
retaining, and advancing STEM faculty members, staff, students,
trainees, fellows, and administrators from underrepresented
groups at institutions of higher education;
(5) assessing the effectiveness of efforts funded by a
Center or related efforts designed to increase inclusion in
STEM;
(6) assessing how modern STEM learning environments can
increase the inclusion, engagement, and retention of students
in STEM fields, particularly for women and groups
underrepresented in STEM fields; and
(7) such other actions as a Center determines are necessary
to further the inclusion of underrepresented groups in STEM.
SEC. 307. NIST EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.
(a) Repeals.--The National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is amended--
(1) by striking section 18 (15 U.S.C. 278g-1); and
(2) by striking section 19A (15 U.S.C. 278g-2a).
(b) Education and Outreach.--The National Institute of Standards
and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.), as amended, is further
amended by inserting after section 17, the following:
``SEC. 18. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.
``(a) In General.--The Director is authorized to expend funds
appropriated for activities of the Institute in any fiscal year, to
support, promote, and coordinate activities and efforts to enhance
public awareness and understanding of measurement sciences, standards
and technology at the national measurement laboratories and otherwise
in fulfillment of the mission of the Institute. The Director may carry
out activities under this subsection, including education and outreach
activities to the general public, industry and academia in support of
the Institute's mission.
``(b) Hiring.--The Director, in coordination with the Director of
the Office of Personnel Management, may revise the procedures the
Director applies when making appointments to laboratory positions
within the competitive service--
``(1) to ensure corporate memory of and expertise in the
fundamental ongoing work, and on developing new capabilities in
priority areas;
``(2) to maintain high overall technical competence;
``(3) to improve staff diversity;
``(4) to balance emphases on the noncore and core areas; or
``(5) to improve the ability of the Institute to compete in
the marketplace for qualified personnel.
``(c) Volunteers.--
``(1) In general.--The Director may establish a program to
use volunteers in carrying out the programs of the Institute.
``(2) Acceptance of personnel.--The Director may accept,
subject to regulations issued by the Office of Personnel
Management, voluntary service for the Institute for such
purpose if the service--
``(A) is to be without compensation; and
``(B) will not be used to displace any current
employee or act as a substitute for any future full-
time employee of the Institute.
``(3) Federal employee status.--Any individual who provides
voluntary service under this subsection shall not be considered
a Federal employee, except for purposes of chapter 81 of title
5, United States Code (relating to compensation for injury),
and sections 2671 through 2680 of title 28, United States Code
(relating to tort claims).
``(d) Research Fellowships.--
``(1) In general.--The Director may expend funds
appropriated for activities of the Institute in any fiscal
year, as the Director considers appropriate, for awards of
research fellowships and other forms of financial and
logistical assistance, including direct stipend awards to--
``(A) students at institutions of higher learning
within the United States who show promise as present or
future contributors to the mission of the Institute;
and
``(B) United States citizens for research and
technical activities of the Institute, including
programs.
``(2) Selection criteria.--The selection of persons to
receive such fellowships and assistance shall be made on the
basis of ability and of the relevance of the proposed work to
the mission and programs of the Institute.
``(3) Financial and logistical assistance.--Notwithstanding
section 1345 of title 31, United States Code, or any other law
to the contrary, the Director may include as a form of
financial or logistical assistance under this subsection
temporary housing and transportation to and from Institute
facilities.
``(e) Educational Outreach Activities.--The Director may--
``(1) facilitate education programs for undergraduate and
graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, and academic and
industry employees;
``(2) sponsor summer internships for STEM high school
teachers as appropriate;
``(3) develop programs for graduate student internships and
visiting faculty researchers;
``(4) document publications, presentations, and
interactions with visiting researchers and sponsoring interns
as performance metrics for improving and continuing
interactions with those individuals; and
``(5) facilitate laboratory tours and provide presentations
for educational, industry, and community groups.''.
(c) Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program.--Section 19 of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-2) is amended
to read as follows:
``SEC. 19. POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Institute and the National Academy of
Sciences, jointly, shall establish and conduct a post-doctoral
fellowship program, subject to the availability of appropriations.
``(b) Organization.--The post-doctoral fellowship program shall
include not less than 20 nor more than 120 new fellows per fiscal year.
``(c) Evaluations.--In evaluating applications for post-doctoral
fellowships under this section, the Director of the Institute and the
President of the National Academy of Sciences shall give consideration
to the goal of promoting the participation of underrepresented
minorities in research areas supported by the Institute.''.
(d) Savings Clauses.--
(1) Research fellowships and other financial assistance to
students at institutes of higher education.--The repeal made by
subsection (a)(1) of this section shall not affect any award of
a research fellowship or other form of financial assistance
made under section 18 of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-1) before the date of
enactment of this Act. Such award shall continue to be subject
to the requirements to which such funds were subject under that
section before the date of enactment of this Act.
(2) Post-doctoral fellowship program.--The amendment made
by subsection (c) of this section shall not affect any award of
a post-doctoral fellowship or other form of financial
assistance made under section 19 of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-2) before the date
of enactment of this Act. Such awards shall continue to be
subject to the requirements to which such funds were subject
under that section before the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 308. PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN STEM MENTORING.
(a) In General.--The Director of the Foundation shall continue to
administer awards on behalf of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy to recognize outstanding mentoring in STEM fields.
(b) Annual Award Recipients.--The Director of the Foundation shall
provide Congress with a list of award recipients, including the name,
institution, and a brief synopsis of the impact of the mentoring
efforts.
SEC. 309. WORKING GROUP ON INCLUSION IN STEM FIELDS.
(a) Establishment.--The Office of Science and Technology Policy, in
collaboration with Federal departments and agencies, shall establish an
interagency working group to compile and summarize available research
and best practices on how to promote diversity and inclusions in STEM
fields and examine whether barriers exist to promoting diversity and
inclusion within Federal agencies employing scientists and engineers.
(b) Responsibilities.--The working group shall be responsible for
reviewing and assessing research, best practices, and policies across
Federal science agencies related to the inclusion of underrepresented
groups in the Federal STEM workforce, including available research and
best practices on how to promote diversity and inclusion in STEM
fields, including--
(1) policies providing flexibility for scientists and
engineers that are also caregivers, particularly on the timing
of research grants;
(2) policies to address the proper handling of claims of
sexual harassment;
(3) policies to minimize the effects of implicit bias and
other systemic factors in hiring, promotion, evaluation and the
workplace in general; and
(4) other evidence-based strategies that the working group
considers effective for promoting diversity and inclusion in
the STEM fields.
(c) Stakeholder Input.--In carrying out the responsibilities under
section (b), the working group shall solicit and consider input and
recommendations from non-Federal stakeholders, including--
(1) the Council of Advisors on Science and Technology;
(2) federally funded and nonfederally funded researchers,
institutions of higher education, scientific disciplinary
societies, and associations;
(3) nonprofit research institutions;
(4) industry, including small businesses;
(5) federally funded research and development centers;
(6) nongovernmental organizations; and
(7) such other members of the public interested in
promoting a diverse and inclusive Federal STEM workforce.
(d) Public Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and periodically thereafter, the working group
shall publish a report on the review and assessment under subsection
(b), including a summary of available research and best practices, any
recommendations for Federal actions to promote a diverse and inclusive
Federal STEM workforce, and updates on the implementation of previous
recommendations for Federal actions.
(e) Termination of Effectiveness.--The authority provided by
subsection (a) terminates effective on the date that is 10 years after
the date that the working group is established.
SEC. 310. IMPROVING UNDERGRADUATE STEM EXPERIENCES.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that each
Federal science agency should invest in and expand research
opportunities for undergraduate students attending institutions of
higher education during the undergraduate student's first 2 academic
years of postsecondary education.
(b) Identification of Research Programs.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of enactment of this Act, the head of each Federal
agency shall submit to the President recommendations regarding how the
agency could best fulfill the goals described in subsection (a).
(c) Broader Impacts.--Section 526(a)(6) of the America COMPETES Act
of 2010 (Public Law 111-358; 124 Stat. 4019) is amended to read as
follows:
``(6) Improved undergraduate STEM education and
instruction.''.
SEC. 311. COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION RESEARCH.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds that as the lead Federal agency for
building the research knowledge base for computer science education,
the Foundation is well positioned to make investments that will
accelerate ongoing efforts to enable rigorous and engaging computer
science throughout the Nation.
(b) Grant Program.--
(1) In general.--The Director of the Foundation shall award
grants to eligible entities to research computer science
education and computational thinking.
(2) Research.--The research described in paragraph (1) may
include the development or adaptation, piloting or full
implementation, and testing of--
(A) models of preservice preparation for teachers
who will teach computer science and computational
thinking;
(B) scalable and sustainable models of professional
development and ongoing support for the teachers
described in subparagraph (A);
(C) tools and models for teaching and learning
aimed at supporting student success and inclusion in
computing within and across diverse populations,
particularly poor, rural, and tribal populations and
other populations that have been traditionally
underrepresented in computer science and STEM fields;
and
(D) instructional materials and high-quality
learning opportunities for teaching computer science
and, especially in poor, rural, or tribal schools at
the elementary school and middle school levels, for
integrating computational thinking into STEM teaching
and learning.
(c) Collaborations.--In carrying out the grants established in
subsection (b), eligible entities may collaborate and partner with
local or remote schools to support the integration of computing and
computational thinking within kindergarten through grade 12 STEM
curricula and instruction.
(d) Metrics.--The Director of the Foundation shall develop metrics
to measure the success of the grant program funded under this section
in achieving program goals.
(e) Definition of Eligible Entity.--In this section, the term
``eligible entity'' means an institution of higher education or a
nonprofit research organization.
TITLE IV--LEVERAGING THE PRIVATE SECTOR
SEC. 401. PRIZE COMPETITION AUTHORITY UPDATE.
Section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) is amended--
(1) in subsection (c)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``Prizes'' and by inserting ``Prize Competitions'';
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``prize may be one or more of the following''
and inserting ``prize competition may be one or more of
the following types of activities'';
(C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``competition''
after ``prize''; and
(D) in paragraphs (3) and (4), by striking
``prizes'' and inserting ``prize competitions'';
(2) in subsection (f)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``in the Federal Register'' and inserting ``on
a publicly accessible Government website, such as
www.challenge.gov,'';
(B) in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), by inserting
``prize'' before ``competition'' each place it appears;
and
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``prize'' and
inserting ``cash prize purse or non-cash prize award'';
(3) in subsection (g)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``prize'' and inserting ``cash prize purse'';
and
(B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``prize'' before
``competition'';
(4) in subsection (h), by inserting ``prize'' before
``competition'' each place it appears;
(5) in subsection (i)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting ``prize''
before ``competition'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``prize''
before ``competition'' each place it appears;
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph
(4); and
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) Waivers.--
``(A) In general.--An agency may waive the
requirement under paragraph (2).
``(B) List.--The Director shall include a list of
all of the waivers granted under this paragraph during
the preceding fiscal year, including a detailed
explanation of the reason for granting the waiver.'';
(6) in subsection (j)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``prize'' before
``competition'';
(B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
``(2) Licenses.--As appropriate and to further the goals of
a prize competition, the Federal Government may--
``(A) negotiate a license for the use of
intellectual property developed by a registered
participant in a prize competition; or
``(B) require a registered participant in a prize
competition to provide an open license to the public
for the use of the intellectual property if that
requirement is disclosed prior to registration.''; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Electronic consent.--The Federal Government may
obtain consent to the intellectual property and licensing terms
of a prize competition from participants during the online
registration for the prize competition.'';
(7) in subsection (k)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``each
competition'' and inserting ``each prize competition''
each place it appears;
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting ``prize''
before ``competition''; and
(C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``prize'' before
``competitions'' each place it appears;
(8) in subsection (l), by striking ``an agreement with''
and all that follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``a grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other
agreement with a private sector for-profit or nonprofit entity
or State or local government agency to administer the prize
competition, subject to the provisions of this section.'';
(9) in subsection (m)--
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--Support for a prize competition under
this section, including financial support for the design and
administration of a prize competition or funds for a cash prize
purse, may consist of Federal appropriated funds and funds
provided by private sector for-profit and nonprofit entities.
The head of an agency may request and accept funds from other
Federal agencies, State, United States territory, local, or
tribal government agencies, private sector for-profit entities,
and nonprofit entities, to be available to the extent provided
by appropriations Acts, to support such prize competitions. The
head of an agency may not give any special consideration to any
agency or entity in return for a donation.'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``prize awards''
and inserting ``cash prize purses or non-cash prize
awards'';
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as
follows:
``(A) Announcement.--No prize competition may be
announced under subsection (f) until all the funds
needed to pay out the announced amount of the cash
prize purse have been appropriated or committed in
writing by a private or State, United States territory,
local, or tribal government source.''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in the matter preceding clause
(i), by striking ``a prize'' and
inserting ``a cash prize purse or non-
cash prize award'';
(II) in clause (i), by inserting
``competition'' after ``prize''; and
(III) in clause (ii), by inserting
``or State, United States territory,
local, or tribal government'' after
``private''; and
(D) in paragraph (4)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking ``a prize'' and
inserting ``a cash prize purse or a
non-cash prize award''; and
(II) by striking ``Science and
Technology'' and inserting ``Science,
Space, and Technology''; and
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking
``cash prizes'' and inserting ``cash prize
purses or non-cash prize awards'';
(10) in subsection (n)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``Service'' and
inserting ``Services'';
(B) by striking ``the date of the enactment of the
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010'' and
inserting ``the date of enactment of the American
Innovation and Competitiveness Act,''; and
(C) by inserting ``for both for-profit and
nonprofit entities and State, United States territory,
local, and tribal government entities,'' after
``contract vehicle'';
(11) in subsection (o)(1), by striking ``or providing a
prize'' and inserting ``a prize competition or providing a cash
prize purse or non-cash prize award''; and
(12) in subsection (p)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``Annual'' and
inserting ``Biennial'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by striking ``each year'' and inserting
``every other year'';
(ii) by striking ``Science and Technology''
and inserting ``Science, Space, and
Technology''; and
(iii) by striking ``fiscal year'' and
inserting ``2 fiscal years''; and
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``The report for a fiscal
year'' and inserting ``A report'';
(ii) in subparagraph (C)--
(I) in the heading, by striking
``prizes'' and inserting ``prize purses
or non-cash prize awards''; and
(II) by striking ``cash prizes''
each place it appears and inserting
``cash prize purses or non-cash prize
awards''; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(G) Plan.--A description of crosscutting topical
areas and agency-specific mission needs that may be the
strongest opportunities for prize competitions during
the upcoming 2 fiscal years.''.
SEC. 402. CROWDSOURCING AND CITIZEN SCIENCE.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the authority granted to Federal agencies under the
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-
358; 124 Stat. 3982) to pursue the use of incentive prizes and
challenges has yielded numerous benefits;
(2) crowdsourcing and citizen science projects have a
number of additional unique benefits, including accelerating
scientific research, addressing societal needs, providing
hands-on learning in STEM, and connecting members of the public
directly to Federal agency missions and to each other; and
(3) granting Federal agencies the direct, explicit
authority to use crowdsourcing and citizen science will
encourage its appropriate use to advance agency missions and
stimulate and facilitate broader public participation in the
innovation process, yielding numerous benefits to the Federal
Government and citizens who participate in such projects.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Citizen science.--The term ``citizen science'' means a
form of open collaboration in which individuals or
organizations participate voluntarily in the scientific process
in various ways, including--
(A) enabling the formulation of research questions;
(B) creating and refining project design;
(C) conducting scientific experiments;
(D) collecting and analyzing data;
(E) interpreting the results of data;
(F) developing technologies and applications;
(G) making discoveries; and
(H) solving problems.
(2) Crowdsourcing.--The term ``crowdsourcing'' means a
method to obtain needed services, ideas, or content by
soliciting voluntary contributions from a group of individuals
or organizations, especially from an online community.
(3) Participant.--The term ``participant'' means any
individual or other entity that has volunteered in a
crowdsourcing or citizen science project under this section.
(c) Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science.--
(1) In general.--The head of each Federal agency, or the
heads of multiple Federal agencies working cooperatively, may
utilize crowdsourcing and citizen science to conduct activities
designed to advance the mission of the respective Federal
agency or the joint mission of Federal agencies, as applicable.
(2) Voluntary services.--Notwithstanding section 1342 of
title 31, United States Code, the head of a Federal agency may
accept, subject to regulations issued by the Director of the
Office of Personnel Management, services from participants
under this section if such services--
(A) are performed voluntarily as a part of a
crowdsourcing or citizen science project authorized
under paragraph (1);
(B) are not financially compensated for their time;
and
(C) will not be used to displace any employee of
the Federal Government.
(3) Outreach.--The head of each Federal agency engaged in a
crowdsourcing or citizen science project under this section
shall make public and promote such project to encourage broad
participation.
(4) Consent, registration, and terms of use.--
(A) In general.--Each Federal agency is authorized
to determine the appropriate level of consent,
registration, or acknowledgment of the terms of use
that are required from participants in crowdsourcing or
citizen science projects under this section on a per-
project basis.
(B) Disclosures.--In seeking consent, conducting
registration, or developing terms of use for a project
under this subsection, a Federal agency shall disclose
the privacy, intellectual property, data ownership,
compensation, service, program, and other terms of use
to the participant in a clear and reasonable manner.
(C) Mode of consent.--A Federal agency or Federal
agencies, as applicable, may obtain consent
electronically or in written form from participants
under this section.
(5) Protections for human subjects.--Any crowdsourcing or
citizen science project under this section that involves
research involving human subjects shall be subject to part 46
of title 28, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor
regulation).
(6) Data.--
(A) In general.--A Federal agency shall, where
appropriate and to the extent practicable, make data
collected through a crowdsourcing or citizen science
project under this section available to the public, in
a machine readable format, unless prohibited by law.
(B) Notice.--As part of the consent process, the
Federal agency shall notify all participants--
(i) of the expected uses of the data
compiled through the project;
(ii) if the Federal agency will retain
ownership of such data;
(iii) if and how the data and results from
the project would be made available for public
or third party use; and
(iv) if participants are authorized to
publish such data.
(7) Technologies and applications.--Federal agencies shall
endeavor to make technologies, applications, code, and
derivations of such intellectual property developed through a
crowdsourcing or citizen science project under this section
available to the public.
(8) Liability.--Each participant in a crowdsourcing or
citizen science project under this section shall agree--
(A) to assume any and all risks associated with
such participation; and
(B) to waive all claims against the Federal
Government and its related entities, except for claims
based on willful misconduct, for any injury, death,
damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits
(whether direct, indirect, or consequential) arising
from participation in the project.
(9) Scientific integrity.--Federal agencies coordinating
crowdsourcing or citizen science projects under this section
shall make all practicable efforts to ensure that participants
adhere to all relevant scientific integrity or other applicable
ethics policies.
(10) Multisector partnerships.--The head of each Federal
agency engaged in crowdsourcing or citizen science under this
section, or the heads of multiple Federal agencies working
cooperatively, may enter into a contract or other agreement to
share administrative duties for such activities with--
(A) a for-profit or nonprofit private sector
entity, including a private institution of higher
education;
(B) a State, tribal, local, or foreign government
agency, including a public institution of higher
education; or
(C) a public-private partnership.
(11) Funding.--In carrying out crowdsourcing and citizen
science projects under this section, the head of a Federal
agency, or the heads of multiple Federal agencies working
cooperatively--
(A) may use funds appropriated by Congress;
(B) may publicize projects and solicit and accept
funds or in-kind support for such activities from--
(i) other Federal agencies;
(ii) for-profit or nonprofit private sector
entities, including private institutions of
higher education; or
(iii) State, tribal, local, or foreign
government agencies, including public
institutions of higher education; and
(C) may not give any special consideration to any
entity described in subparagraph (B)(ii) in return for
such funds or in-kind support.
(12) Facilitation.--
(A) General services administration assistance.--
The Administrator of the General Services
Administration, in coordination with the Director of
the Office of Personnel Management, shall, at no cost
to Federal agencies, identify and develop relevant
products, training, and services to facilitate the use
of crowdsourcing and citizen science projects under
this section, including by specifying the appropriate
contract vehicles and technology and organizational
platforms to enhance the ability of Federal agencies to
carry out the activities under this section.
(B) Additional guidance.--The head of each Federal
agency engaged in crowdsourcing or citizen science
under this section is encouraged--
(i) to consult any guidance provided by the
Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy, including the Federal
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Toolkit;
(ii) to designate a coordinator for that
Federal agency's crowdsourcing and citizen
science projects; and
(iii) to share best practices with other
Federal agencies, including participation of
staff in the Federal Community of Practice for
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science.
(d) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy shall include, as a component of
a report required under section 24(p) of the Stevenson-Wydler
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719(p)), a report
on the activities carried out under this section.
(2) Information included.--The report required under
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) a summary of each crowdsourcing and citizen
science project conducted by a Federal agency during
the most recently completed 2 fiscal years, including a
description of the proposed goals of each crowdsourcing
and citizen science project;
(B) the participation rates, submission levels,
number of consents, or any other statistic that might
be considered relevant in each crowdsourcing and
citizen science project;
(C) a description of--
(i) the resources (including personnel and
funding) that were used in the execution of
each crowdsourcing and citizen science project;
(ii) the activities for which such
resources were used; and
(iii) how the obligations and expenditures
relating to the project's execution were
allocated among the accounts of the Federal
agency;
(D) a summary of the use of crowdsourcing and
citizen science by all Federal agencies, including
interagency and multisector partnerships; and
(E) any other information that the Director of the
Office of Science and Technology Policy considers
relevant.
(e) Savings Provision.--Nothing in this section may be construed--
(1) to affect the authority to conduct crowdsourcing and
citizen science authorized by any other provision of law; or
(2) to displace Federal Government resources allocated to
the Federal agencies that use crowdsourcing or citizen science
authorized under this section to carry out a project.
SEC. 403. NIST OTHER TRANSACTION AUTHORITY UPDATE.
Section 2(b)(4) of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(b)(4)) is amended to read as follows:
``(4) to enter into and perform such contracts, including
cooperative research and development arrangements, grants,
cooperative agreements, real property leases, or other
transactions, as may be necessary in furtherance of the
purposes of this Act and on such terms as the Director
considers appropriate;''.
SEC. 404. NIST VISITING COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY UPDATE.
Section 10(a) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
Act (15 U.S.C. 278(a)) is amended--
(1) in the second sentence, by striking ``15 members
appointed by the Director, at least 10 of whom'' and ``not
fewer than 9 members appointed by the Director, a majority of
whom''; and
(2) in the third sentence, by striking ``National Bureau of
Standards'' and inserting ``National Institute of Standards and
Technology''.
TITLE V--MANUFACTURING
SEC. 501. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP IMPROVEMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 25 of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 25. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP.
``(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 of the Senate; and
``(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives.
``(2) Area career and technical education school.--The term
`area career and technical education school' has the meaning
given the term in section 3 of the Vocational Education Act of
1963 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
``(3) Center.--The term `Center' means a manufacturing
extension center that--
``(A) is created under subsection (b); and
``(B) is affiliated with an eligible entity that
applies for and is awarded financial support under
subsection (e).
``(4) Community college.--The term `community college'
means an institution of higher education (as defined under
section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001(a))) at which the highest degree that is predominately
awarded to students is an associate's degree.
``(5) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a
United States-based nonprofit institution, or consortium
thereof, an institution of higher education, or a State, United
States territory, local, or tribal government.
``(6) Hollings manufacturing extension partnership or
program.--The term `Hollings Manufacturing Extension
Partnership' or `Program' means the program established under
subsection (b).
``(7) MEP advisory board.--The term `MEP Advisory Board'
means the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board
established under subsection (n).
``(b) Establishment and Purpose.--The Secretary, acting through the
Director and, if appropriate, through other Federal officials, shall
establish a program to provide assistance for the creation and support
of manufacturing extension centers for the transfer of manufacturing
technology and best business practices.
``(c) Objective.--The objective of the Program shall be to enhance
competitiveness, productivity, and technological performance in United
States manufacturing through--
``(1) the transfer of manufacturing technology and
techniques developed at the Institute to Centers and, through
them, to manufacturing companies throughout the United States;
``(2) the participation of individuals from industry,
institutions of higher education, State governments, other
Federal agencies, and, when appropriate, the Institute in
cooperative technology transfer activities;
``(3) efforts to make new manufacturing technology and
processes usable by United States-based small and medium-sized
companies;
``(4) the active dissemination of scientific, engineering,
technical, and management information about manufacturing to
industrial firms, including small and medium-sized
manufacturing companies;
``(5) the utilization, when appropriate, of the expertise
and capability that exists in Federal agencies, other than the
Institute, and federally sponsored laboratories;
``(6) the provision to community colleges and area career
and technical education schools of information about the job
skills needed in manufacturing companies, including small and
medium-sized manufacturing businesses in the regions they
serve;
``(7) the promotion and expansion of certification systems
offered through industry, associations, and community colleges,
when appropriate; and
``(8) the growth in employment and wages at United States-
based small and medium-sized companies.
``(d) Activities.--The activities of a Center shall include--
``(1) the establishment of automated manufacturing systems
and other advanced production technologies, based on Institute-
supported research, for the purpose of demonstrations and
technology transfer;
``(2) the active transfer and dissemination of research
findings and Center expertise to a wide range of companies and
enterprises, particularly small and medium-sized manufacturers;
and
``(3) the facilitation of collaborations and partnerships
between small and medium-sized manufacturing companies,
community colleges, and area career and technical education
schools, to help those entities better understand the specific
needs of manufacturers and to help manufacturers better
understand the skill sets that students learn in the programs
offered by such colleges and schools.
``(e) Financial Assistance.--
``(1) Authorization.--Except as provided in paragraph (2),
the Secretary may provide financial assistance for the creation
and support of a Center through a cooperative agreement with an
eligible entity.
``(2) Cost sharing.--The Secretary may not provide more
than 50 percent of the capital and annual operating and
maintenance funds required to establish and support a Center.
``(3) Rule of construction.--For purposes of paragraph (2),
any amount received by an eligible entity for a Center under a
provision of law other than paragraph (1) shall not be
considered an amount provided under paragraph (1).
``(f) Applications.--
``(1) In general.--An eligible entity shall submit an
application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may require.
``(2) Program description.--The Secretary shall establish
and update, as necessary--
``(A) a description of the Program;
``(B) the application procedures;
``(C) performance metrics;
``(D) criteria for determining qualified
applicants;
``(E) criteria for choosing recipients of financial
assistance from among the qualified applicants;
``(F) procedures for determining allowable cost
share contributions; and
``(G) such other program policy objections and
operational procedures as the Secretary deems
necessary.
``(3) Cost sharing.--
``(A) In general.--To be considered for financial
assistance under this section, an applicant shall
provide adequate assurances that the applicant and if
applicable, the applicant's partnering organizations,
will obtain funding for not less than 50 percent of the
capital and annual operating and maintenance funds
required to establish and support the Center from
sources other than the financial assistance provided
under subsection (e).
``(B) Agreements with other entities.--In meeting
the cost-sharing requirement under subparagraph (A), an
eligible entity may enter into an agreement with one or
more other entities, such as a private industry, an
institution of higher education, or a State, United
States territory, local, or tribal government for the
contribution by that other entity of funding if the
Secretary determines the agreement--
``(i) is programmatically reasonable;
``(ii) will help accomplish programmatic
objectives; and
``(iii) is allocable under Program
procedures under subsection (f)(2).
``(4) Legal rights.--Each applicant shall include in the
application a proposal for the allocation of the legal rights
associated with any intellectual property which may result from
the activities of the Center.
``(5) Merit review of applications.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall subject each
application to merit review.
``(B) Considerations.--In making a decision whether
to approve an application and provide financial
assistance under subsection (e), the Secretary shall
consider, at a minimum--
``(i) the merits of the application,
particularly those portions of the application
regarding technology transfer, training and
education, and adaptation of manufacturing
technologies to the needs of particular
industrial sectors;
``(ii) the quality of service to be
provided;
``(iii) the geographical diversity and
extent of the service area; and
``(iv) the type and percentage of funding
from other sources under paragraph (3).
``(g) Evaluations.--
``(1) Third and eighth year evaluations by panel.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that
each Center is evaluated during its third and eighth
years of operation by an evaluation panel appointed by
the Secretary.
``(B) Composition.--The Secretary shall ensure that
each evaluation panel appointed under subparagraph (A)
is composed of--
``(i) private experts, none of whom are
connected with the Center evaluated by the
panel; and
``(ii) Federal officials.
``(C) Chairperson.--For each evaluation panel
appointed under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall
appoint a chairperson who is an official of the
Institute.
``(2) Fifth year evaluations by secretary.--In the fifth
year of operation of a Center, the Secretary shall conduct a
review of the Center.
``(3) Performance measurement.--In evaluating a Center an
evaluation panel or the Secretary, as applicable, shall measure
the performance of the Center against--
``(A) the objective specified in subsection (c);
``(B) the performance metrics under subsection
(f)(2)(C); and
``(C) such other criterion as deemed appropriate by
the Secretary.
``(4) Positive evaluations.--If an evaluation of a Center
is positive, the Secretary may continue to provide financial
assistance for the Center--
``(A) in the case of an evaluation occurring in the
third year of a Center, through the fifth year of the
Center;
``(B) in the case of an evaluation occurring in the
fifth year of a Center, through the eighth year of the
Center; and
``(C) in the case of an evaluation occurring in the
eighth year of a Center, through the tenth year of the
Center.
``(5) Other than positive evaluations.--
``(A) Probation.--If an evaluation of a Center is
other than positive, the Secretary shall put the Center
on probation during the period beginning on the date
that the Center receives notice under subparagraph
(B)(i) and ending on the date that the reevaluation is
complete under subparagraph (B)(iii).
``(B) Notice and reevaluation.--If a Center
receives an evaluation that is other than positive, the
evaluation panel or Secretary, as applicable, shall--
``(i) notify the Center of the reason,
including any deficiencies in the performance
of the Center identified during the evaluation;
``(ii) assist the Center in remedying the
deficiencies by providing the Center, not less
frequently than once every 3 months, an
analysis of the Center, if considered
appropriate by the panel or Secretary, as
applicable; and
``(iii) reevaluate the Center not later
than 1 year after the date of the notice under
clause (i).
``(C) Continued support during period of
probation.--The Secretary may continue to provide
financial assistance under subsection (e) for a Center
during the probation period.
``(6) Failure to remedy.--
``(A) In general.--If a Center fails to remedy a
deficiency or to show significant improvement in
performance before the end of the probation period
under paragraph (5), the Secretary shall conduct a
competition to select an operator for the Center under
subsection (h).
``(B) Treatment of centers subject to new
competition.--Upon the selection of an operator for a
Center under subsection (h), the Center shall be
considered a new Center and the calculation of the
years of operation of that Center for purposes of
paragraphs (1) through (5) of this subsection and
subsection (h)(1) shall start anew.
``(h) Reapplication Competition for Financial Assistance After 10
Years.--
``(1) In general.--If an eligible entity has operated a
Center under this section for a period of 10 consecutive years,
the Secretary shall conduct a competition to select an eligible
entity to operate the Center in accordance with the process
plan under subsection (i).
``(2) Incumbent eligible entities.--An eligible entity that
has received financial assistance under this section for a
period of 10 consecutive years and that the Secretary
determines is in good standing shall be eligible to compete in
the competition under paragraph (1).
``(3) Treatment of centers subject to reapplication
competition.--Upon the selection of an operator for a Center
under paragraph (1), the Center shall be considered a new
Center and the calculation of the years of operation of that
Center for purposes of paragraphs (1) through (5) of subsection
(g) shall start anew.
``(i) Process Plan.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, the
Secretary shall implement and submit to Congress a plan for how the
Institute will conduct an evaluation, competition, and reapplication
competition under this section.
``(j) Operational Requirements.--
``(1) Protection of confidential information of center
clients.--The following information, if obtained by the Federal
Government in connection with an activity of a Center or the
Program, shall be exempt from public disclosure under section
552 of title 5, United States Code:
``(A) Information on the business operation of any
participant in the Program or of a client of a Center.
``(B) Trade secrets of any client of a Center.
``(k) Oversight Boards.--
``(1) In general.--As a condition on receipt of financial
assistance for a Center under subsection (e), an eligible
entity shall establish a board to oversee the operations of the
Center.
``(2) Standards.--
``(A) In general.--The Director shall establish
appropriate standards for each board described under
paragraph (1).
``(B) Considerations.--In establishing the
standards, the Director shall take into account the
type and organizational structure of an eligible
entity.
``(C) Requirements.--The standards shall address,
at a minimum--
``(i) membership;
``(ii) composition;
``(iii) term limits;
``(iv) conflicts of interest; and
``(v) whether to limit board members
serving on multiple boards under this section.
``(3) Membership.--
``(A) In general.--Each board established under
paragraph (1) shall be composed of members as follows:
``(i) The membership of each board shall be
representative of stakeholders in the region in
which the Center is located.
``(ii) A majority of the members of the
board shall be selected from among individuals
who own or are employed by small or medium-
sized manufacturers.
``(B) Limitation.--A member of a board established
under paragraph (1) may not serve on more than 1 board
established under that paragraph.
``(4) Bylaws.--
``(A) In general.--Each board established under
paragraph (1) shall adopt and submit to the Director
bylaws to govern the operation of the board.
``(B) Conflicts of interest.--Bylaws adopted under
subparagraph (A) shall include policies to minimize
conflicts of interest, including such policies relating
to disclosure of relationships and recusal as may be
necessary to minimize conflicts of interest.
``(l) Acceptance of Funds.--In addition to such sums as may be
appropriated to the Secretary and Director to operate the Program, the
Secretary and Director may also accept funds from other Federal
departments and agencies and from the private sector under section
2(c)(7) of this Act (15 U.S.C. 272(c)(7)), to be available to the
extent provided by appropriations Acts, for the purpose of
strengthening United States manufacturing.
``(m) MEP Advisory Board.--
``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the
Institute a Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board.
``(2) Membership.--
``(A) Composition.--
``(i) In general.--The MEP Advisory Board
shall consist of not fewer than 10 members
appointed by the Director and broadly
representative of stakeholders.
``(ii) Requirements.--Of the members
appointed under clause (i)--
``(I) at least 2 members shall be
employed by or on an advisory board for
a Center; and
``(II) at least 5 other members
shall be from United States small
businesses in the manufacturing sector.
``(iii) Limitation.--No member of the MEP
Advisory Board shall be an employee of the
Federal Government.
``(B) Term.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(C), the term of office of each member of the MEP
Advisory Board shall be 3 years.
``(C) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a
vacancy occurring prior to the expiration of the term
for which his predecessor was appointed shall be
appointed for the remainder of such term.
``(D) Serving consecutive terms.--Any person who
has completed 2 consecutive full terms of service on
the MEP Advisory Board shall thereafter be ineligible
for appointment during the 1-year period following the
expiration of the second such term.
``(3) Meetings.--The MEP Advisory Board shall--
``(A) meet not less than biannually; and
``(B) provide to the Director--
``(i) advice on the activities, plans, and
policies of the Program;
``(ii) assessments of the soundness of the
plans and strategies of the Program; and
``(iii) assessments of current performance
against the plans of the Program.
``(4) FACA applicability.--
``(A) In general.--In discharging its duties under
this subsection, the MEP Advisory Board shall function
solely in an advisory capacity, in accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
``(B) Exception.--Section 14 of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to the MEP
Advisory Board.
``(5) Annual report.--
``(A) In general.--At a minimum, the MEP Advisory
Board shall transmit an annual report to the Secretary
for transmittal to Congress not later than 30 days
after the submission to Congress of the President's
annual budget request in each year.
``(B) Contents.--The report shall address the
status of the Program and describe the relevant
sections of the programmatic planning document and
updates thereto transmitted to Congress by the Director
under subsections (c) and (d) of section 23 (15 U.S.C.
278i).
``(n) Small Manufacturers.--
``(1) Evaluation of obstacles.--As part of the Program, the
Director shall--
``(A) identify obstacles that prevent small
manufacturers from effectively competing in the global
market;
``(B) implement a comprehensive plan to train the
Centers to address the obstacles identified in
paragraph (2); and
``(C) facilitate improved communication between the
Centers to assist such manufacturers in implementing
appropriate, targeted solutions to the obstacles
identified in paragraph (2).
``(2) Development of open access resources.--As part of the
Program, the Secretary shall develop open access resources that
address best practices related to inventory sourcing, supply
chain management, manufacturing techniques, available Federal
resources, and other topics to further the competitiveness and
profitability of small manufacturers.''.
(b) Competitive Awards Program.--The National Institute of
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is amended by
inserting after section 25 the following:
``SEC. 25A. COMPETITIVE AWARDS PROGRAM.
``(a) Establishment.--The Director shall establish within the
Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership under section 25 (15
U.S.C. 278k) and section 26 (15 U.S.C. 278l) a program of competitive
awards among participants described in subsection (b) of this section
for the purposes described in subsection (c).
``(b) Participants.--Participants receiving awards under this
section shall be Centers, or a consortium of Centers.
``(c) Purpose, Themes, and Reimbursement.--
``(1) Purpose.--The purpose of the program established
under subsection (a) is to add capabilities to the Hollings
Manufacturing Extension Partnership, including the development
of projects to solve new or emerging manufacturing problems as
determined by the Director, in consultation with the Director
of the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the MEP
Advisory Board, other Federal agencies, and small and medium-
sized manufacturers.
``(2) Themes.--The Director may identify one or more themes
for a competition carried out under this section, which may
vary from year to year, as the Director considers appropriate
after assessing the needs of manufacturers and the success of
previous competitions.
``(3) Reimbursement.--Centers may be reimbursed for costs
incurred by the Centers under this section.
``(d) Applications.--Applications for awards under this section
shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, and containing such
information as the Director shall require in consultation with the MEP
Advisory Board.
``(e) Selection.--
``(1) Peer review and competitively awarded.--The Director
shall ensure that awards under this section are peer reviewed
and competitively awarded.
``(2) Geographic diversity.--The Director shall endeavor to
have broad geographic diversity among selected proposals.
``(3) Criteria.--The Director shall select applications to
receive awards that the Director determines will achieve one or
more of the following:
``(A) Improve the competitiveness of industries in
the region in which the Center or Centers are located.
``(B) Create jobs or train newly hired employees.
``(C) Promote the transfer and commercialization of
research and technology from institutions of higher
education, national laboratories or other federally
funded research programs, and nonprofit research
institutes.
``(D) Recruit a diverse manufacturing workforce,
including through outreach to women and minorities.
``(E) Such other result as the Director determines
will advance the objective set forth in section 25(c)
(15 U.S.C. 278k) or in section 26 (15 U.S.C. 278l).
``(f) Program Contribution.--Recipients of awards under this
section shall not be required to provide a matching contribution.
``(g) Global Marketplace Projects.--In making an award under this
section, the Director, in consultation with the MEP Advisory Board and
the Secretary, may take into consideration whether an application has
significant potential for enhancing the competitiveness of small and
medium-sized United States manufacturers in the global marketplace.
``(h) Duration.--The duration of an award under this section shall
be for not more than 3 years.
``(i) Definitions.--The terms used in this section have the
meanings given the terms in section 25 (15 U.S.C. 278k).''.
(c) GAO Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States, in
consultation with the MEP Advisory Board (as defined in section 25 of
the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
278k), shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives a report analyzing--
(1) the effectiveness of the changes in the cost share to
Centers under section 25 of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k);
(2) the engagement in services and the characteristics of
services provided by 2 types of Centers, including volume and
type of service; and
(3) whether the cost-sharing ratio has any effect on the
services provided by either type of Center.
(d) Conforming Amendments.--
(1) Definitions.--Section 2199(3) of title 10, United
States Code, is amended--
(A) by striking ``regional center'' and inserting
``manufacturing extension center'';
(B) by inserting ``and best business practices''
before ``referred''; and
(C) by striking ``25(a)'' and inserting ``25(b)''.
(2) Enterprise integration initiative.--Section 3(a) of the
Enterprise Integration Act of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 278g-5(a)) is
amended by inserting ``Hollings'' before ``Manufacturing
Extension Partnership''.
(3) Assistance to state technology programs.--Section 26(a)
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15
U.S.C. 278l(a)) is amended by striking ``Centers program
created'' and inserting ``Hollings Manufacturing Extension
Partnership''.
(e) Savings Provisions.--Notwithstanding the amendments made by
subsections (a) and (b) of this section, the Secretary of Commerce may
carry out section 25 of the National Institute of Standards and
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) as that section was in effect on the
day before the date of enactment of this Act, with respect to existing
grants, agreements, cooperative agreements, or contracts, and with
respect to applications for such items that are received by the
Secretary prior to the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 502. FEDERAL LOAN GUARANTEES FOR INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES IN
MANUFACTURING.
Section 26(o) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3721(o)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(1) In general.--'' before ``To the
maximum'' and indenting appropriately; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Access to capital.--The Secretary, in coordination
with the Small Business Administration and the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, shall identify any gaps
in the access of small or medium-sized manufacturers to capital
for the use or production of innovative technologies that the
program could fill, and develop marketing materials and conduct
outreach to target those gaps.''.
TITLE VI--INNOVATION, COMMERCIALIZATION, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
SEC. 601. INNOVATION CORPS.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The National Science Foundation Innovation Corps
(referred to in this section as the ``I-Corps'') was
established to foster a national innovation ecosystem by
encouraging institutions, scientists, engineers, and
entrepreneurs to identify and explore the innovation and
commercial potential of National Science Foundation-funded
research well beyond the laboratory.
(2) Through I-Corps, the Foundation invests in
entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training, and
mentoring that can ultimately lead to the practical deployment
of technologies, products, processes, and services that improve
the Nation's competitiveness, promote economic growth, and
benefit society.
(3) By building networks of entrepreneurs, educators,
mentors, institutions, and collaborations, and supporting
specialized education and training, I-Corps is at the leading
edge of a strong, lasting foundation for an American innovation
ecosystem.
(4) By translating federally funded research to a
commercial stage more quickly and efficiently, programs like
the I-Corps create new jobs and companies, help solve societal
problems, and provide taxpayers with a greater return on their
investment in research.
(5) The I-Corps program model has a strong record of
success that should be replicated at all Federal science
agencies.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) commercialization of federally funded research can
improve the Nation's competitiveness, grow the economy, and
benefit society;
(2) I-Corps is a useful tool in promoting the
commercialization of federally funded research by training
researchers funded by the Foundation in entrepreneurship and
commercialization;
(3) I-Corps should continue to build a network of
entrepreneurs, educators, mentors, and institutions and support
specialized education and training; and
(4) researchers other than those funded by the Foundation
may also benefit from the education and training described in
paragraph (3).
(c) I-Corps Program.--
(1) In general.--In order to promote a strong, lasting
foundation for the national innovation ecosystem and increase
the positive economic and social impact of federally funded
research, the Director of the Foundation shall set forth
eligibility requirements and carry out a program to award
grants for entrepreneurship and commercialization education,
training, and mentoring.
(2) Expansion of i-corps.--
(A) In general.--The Director--
(i) shall encourage the development and
expansion of I-Corps and other training
programs that focus on professional
development, including education in
entrepreneurship and commercialization; and
(ii) may establish an agreement with
another Federal science agency--
(I) to make researchers, students,
and institutions funded by that agency
eligible to participate in the I-Corps
program; or
(II) to assist that agency with the
design and implementation of its own
program that is similar to the I-Corps
program.
(B) Partnership funding.--In negotiating an
agreement with another Federal science agency under
subparagraph (A)(ii), the Director shall require that
Federal science agency to provide funding for--
(i) the training for researchers, students,
and institutions selected for the I-Corps
program; and
(ii) the locations that Federal science
agency designates as regional and national
infrastructure for science and engineering
entrepreneurship.
(3) Follow-on commercialization grants.--
(A) In general.--Subject to subparagraph (B), the
Director, in consultation with the Director of the
Small Business Innovation Research Program, shall make
funds available for competitive grants, including to I-
Corps participants, to help support--
(i) prototype or proof-of-concept
development; and
(ii) such activities as the Director
considers necessary to build local, regional,
and national infrastructure for science and
engineering entrepreneurship.
(B) Limitation.--Grants under subparagraph (A)
shall be limited to participants with innovations that
because of the early stage of development are not
eligible to participate in a Small Business Innovation
Research Program or a Small Business Technology
Transfer Program.
(4) State and local partnerships.--The Director may engage
in partnerships with State and local governments, economic
development organizations, and nonprofit organizations to
provide access to the I-Corps program to support
entrepreneurship and commercialization education and training
for researchers, students, and institutions under this
subsection.
(5) Reports.--The Director shall submit to the appropriate
committees of Congress a biennial report on I-Corps program
efficacy, including metrics on the effectiveness of the
program. Each Federal science agency participating in the I-
Corps program or that implements a similar program under
paragraph (2)(A) shall contribute to the report.
(6) Definitions.--In this subsection, the terms ``Small
Business Innovation Research Program'' and ``Small Business
Technology Transfer Program'' have the meanings given those
terms in section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638).
SEC. 602. TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH GRANTS.
(a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) commercialization of federally funded research may
benefit society and the economy; and
(2) not-for-profit organizations support the
commercialization of federally funded research by providing
useful business and technical expertise to researchers.
(b) Commercialization Grants Program.--The Director of the
Foundation shall continue to award grants on a competitive, merit-
reviewed basis to eligible entities to promote the commercialization of
federally funded research results.
(c) Use of Funds.--Activities supported by grants under this
section may include--
(1) identifying Foundation-sponsored research and
technologies that have the potential for accelerated
commercialization;
(2) supporting prior or current Foundation-sponsored
investigators in undertaking proof-of-concept work, including
development of prototypes of technologies that are derived from
Foundation-sponsored research and have potential market value;
(3) promoting sustainable partnerships between Foundation-
funded institutions, industry, and other organizations within
academia and the private sector with the purpose of
accelerating the transfer of technology;
(4) developing multidisciplinary innovation ecosystems
which involve and are responsive to specific needs of academia
and industry; and
(5) providing professional development, mentoring, and
advice in entrepreneurship, project management, and technology
and business development to innovators.
(d) Eligibility.--
(1) In general.--The following organizations may be
eligible for grants under this section:
(A) Institutions of higher education.
(B) Public or nonprofit technology transfer
organizations.
(C) A nonprofit organization that partners with an
institution of higher education.
(D) A consortia of two or more of the organizations
described under subparagraphs (A) through (C).
(2) Lead organizations.--Any eligible organization under
paragraph (1) may apply as a lead organization.
(e) Applications.--An eligible entity seeking a grant under this
section shall submit an application to the Director at such time, in
such manner, and containing such information as the Director may
require.
SEC. 603. OPTICS AND PHOTONICS TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS.
(a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The 1998 National Research Council Report, ``Harnessing
Light'' presented a comprehensive overview on the importance of
optics and photonics to various sectors of the United States
economy.
(2) In 2012, in response to increased coordination and
investment by other nations, the National Research Council
released a follow up study recommending a national photonics
initiative to increase collaboration and coordination among
United States industry, Federal and State government, and
academia to identify and further advance areas of photonics
critical to regaining United States competitiveness and
maintaining national security.
(3) Publicly traded companies focused on optics and
photonics in the United States enable more than $3 trillion in
revenue annually.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) optics and photonics research and technologies promote
United States global competitiveness in industry sectors,
including telecommunications and information technology,
energy, healthcare and medicine, manufacturing, and defense;
(2) Federal science agencies, industry, and academia should
seek partnerships with each other to develop basic research in
optics and photonics into more mature technologies and
capabilities; and
(3) each Federal science agency, as appropriate, should--
(A) survey and identify optics and photonics-
related programs within that Federal science agency and
share results with other Federal science agencies for
the purpose of generating multiple applications and
uses;
(B) partner with the private sector and academia to
leverage knowledge and resources to maximize
opportunities for innovation in optics and photonics;
(C) explore research and development opportunities,
including Federal and private sector-sponsored
internships, to ensure a highly trained optics and
photonics workforce in the United States; and
(D) encourage partnerships between academia and
industry to promote improvement in the education of
optics and photonics technicians at the secondary
school level, undergraduate level, and 2-year college
level, including through the Foundation's Advanced
Technological Education program.
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