![](media/image1.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="1.15625in"}**Legislative
Bulletin...........................................May 21, 2007**

> **Contents:**
>
> **H.R. 698** --- Industrial Bank Holding Company Act of 2007
>
> **H.R. 1722** --- To designate the facility of the United States
> Postal Service located at 601 Banyan Trail in Boca Raton, Florida, as
> the "Leonard W. Herman Post Office"
>
> **H.R. 2078 ---** To designate the facility of the United States
> Postal Service located at 14536 State Route 136 in Cherry Fork, Ohio,
> as the "Staff Sergeant Omer T. 'O.T.' Hawkins Post Office"
>
> **H.R. 2077 ---** To designate the facility of the United States
> Postal Service located at 20805 State Route 125 in Blue Creek, Ohio,
> as the "George B. Lewis Post Office Building"
>
> **H.R. 1425 ---** To designate the facility of the United States
> Postal Service located at 4551 East 52nd Street in Odessa, Texas, as
> the "Staff Sergeant Marvin (Rex) Young Post Office Building"
>
> **H.Res. 53 ---** Recognizing the life of Lamar Hunt and his
> outstanding contributions to the Kansas City Chiefs, the National
> Football League, and the United States
>
> **H.Res. 402 ---** Supporting the goals and ideals of National
> Hurricane Preparedness Week
>
> **H.R. 2272** --- To invest in innovation through research and
> development, and to improve the competitiveness of the United States

**H.R. 698 --- Industrial Bank Holding Company Act of 2007**

**(Gillmor, R-OH)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.R 698 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, May 21, 2007, under a motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 698 would amend current laws to set
limits on which industrial banks would be eligible for federal deposit
insurance and would increase the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's
(FDIC) regulatory power over such institutions.

The legislation would also require certain commercial entities that
control industrial banks to give up ownership if the entity changes
control, begins new commercial activities, moves to a new state, or
acquires a new depository institution.

H.R. 698 would create a new regulatory system for industrial bank
holding companies that would be established and overseen by the FDIC.
The bill would prohibit any commercial company that derives 15 percent
or more of its income from nonfinancial activities from owning an
industrial bank. Any industrial bank that was created by a private
company prior to October 1, 2003 would be able to continue operating as
long as an ownership change did not occur.

The bills would require that any foreign bank wishing to obtain an
industrial bank must get a ruling from the Federal Reserve stating that
the bank is subject to thorough supervision in its home country.

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: According to current law,
commercial companies what are prohibited from owning banks, may own
state-chartered industrial banks in California, Colorado, Minnesota,
Indiana, Utah, Nevada, and Hawaii. Of these seven states, only Utah,
Nevada and Hawaii still allow for the charter of new industrial owned by
private companies.

Although they receive federal deposit insurance, many of these
industrial banks or industrial loan companies (ILCs) operate outside of
the regulatory scope that governs other financial institutions and
prohibits bank ownership by private firms or foreign banks. Proponents
are concerned that this practice violates the "traditional" policy of
separation of banking and commerce and gives a competitive advantage to
non-traditional financial service provider's that own ILCs. Some
conservatives, however, may be concerned about the legislation.

AEI's Peter Wallison, for instance, argues that ILCs are simply used by
companies as a means of making loans and transferring money without
paying fees to a third party. Wal-Mart, the company whose ILC
application spawned much of the controversy, for instance, did not apply
for the authority to take deposits. Wallison contends that banking
requires the taking transferable or withdrawable deposits, something
that ILCs do very seldom. He believes that ILCs are a creation of market
forces and facilitate growth and that restrictions on them benefit other
banks and hurt consumers. According to Wallison, "From its inception,
the 'separation of banking and commerce' has been nothing more than a
means for banks to protect themselves from competition."

Other experts, such as former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan,
disagree with Wallison, claiming that ILCs violate a traditional
financial framework in American and create an artificial advantage for
the companies that own them. Greenspan encouraged Congress to act on
this issue, saying that the ILC exemption "provides the corporate owners
of exempt ILCs a significant competitive advantage over other types of
banking institutions, and creates an unlevel competitive playing field
among banking organizations." Since his retirement, Greenspan has been a
vocal critic of ILCs and urged Congress to undertake the hearings that
preceded this bill.

Prior to hearings on this bill, on March 19, 2007, Wal-Mart formally
withdrew its bid to create an ILC. There is currently a moratorium on
establishing any new ILCs in any of the three states that permit them.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 698 was introduced on January
29, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Financial Services, which
held hearings on April 25, 2007 and amended the bill. On May 2, 2007,
the bill was reported by voice vote and was considered by the full House
of Representatives.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: According to CBO, H.R. 698 would
cost states in the form of potential revenue from future fees and taxes
that would have been paid by future ILCs in the state. Although CBO
cannot predict the amount of revenue that would have been collected,
they report that the loss of revenue would be negligible.

CBO also estimates that the cost of private sector mandates on
commercial companies and foreign banks cannot be estimated and it is
uncertain whether the aggregate direct cost of all the mandates would
exceed the UMRA threshold (\$131 million in 2007).

CBO states the cost of implementing and complying with new regulations
would be minimal because new regulations would be similar to current
practices.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** Yes. It expands the regulatory jurisdiction
of the FDIC and the Federal Reserve to include ILCs and foreign banks.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** Yes. According to CBO, H.R. 698
includes intergovernmental mandates because it would preempt certain
state laws that allow for the establishment of ILCs.

In addition, the bill includes private sector mandates by subjecting
industrial bank holding companies to a new regulatory framework,
prohibit commercial firms from creating new industrial banks, and
prohibit foreign banks from acquiring an industrial bank without
approval from the Federal Reserve and the FDIC.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: The Financial Services
Committee, in House Report 110-155, cites constitutional authority in
Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 (the general welfare) and Clause 3
(interstate commerce).

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.R. 1722 --- To designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 601 Banyan Trail in Boca Raton, Florida, as the
"Leonard W. Herman Post Office" *(Wexler, D-FL )***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.R 1722 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, April 23, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 1722 would designate the facility of the
United States Postal Service located at 601 Banyan Trail in Boca Raton,
Florida, as the "Leonard W. Herman Post Office."

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: Leonard Herman served was a
bombardier in the United States Army during WWII who helped institute
policies for rescuing and supporting concentration camp survivors.
According to the sponsor's office, "Mr. Herman flew in numerous combat
missions over Germany during which his aircraft came under heavy fire
and his heroic actions directly saved the lives of his fellow crewmen.
The heroism he displayed throughout his first tour of duty, when the
chances of survival were slim, earned him the high honors of a Purple
Heart, an Air Medal, three Oak Leaf Clusters, and the Distinguished
Flying Cross."

Leonard and his brother Edward took an active role providing for the
well being of Holocaust survivors that the encountered in Germany
directly after the war. Herman took it upon himself to communicate with
the United States government in an effort to encourage officials to
develop a comprehensive plan for the survivors of German concentration
camps. Through Herman's efforts, President Truman was notified about the
situation on the ground and plans official policies regarding holocaust
survivors were devised.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 1722 was introduced on March
27, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, which marked-up the bill and reported it by voice vote on May 1,
2007.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: A CBO score of H.R. 1722 is
unavailable, but the only costs associated with a post office renaming
are those for sign and map changes, none of which significantly affect
the federal budget.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: Although no committee report
citing constitutional authority is available, Article I, Section 8,
Clause 7 of the Constitution grants Congress the authority to establish
Post Offices and post roads.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.R. 2078 --- To designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 14536 State Route 136 in Cherry Fork, Ohio, as the
"Staff Sergeant Omer T. 'O.T.' Hawkins Post Office" (Schmidt, R-OH)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.R 2078 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, May 21, 2007, under a motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 2078 would designate the facility of the
United States Postal Service located at 14536 State Route 136 in Cherry
Fork, Ohio, as the "Staff Sergeant Omer T. 'O.T.' Hawkins Post Office."

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: Omer T. "O.T." Hawkins, a
Staff Sergeant in the United States Army, was killed by an I.E.D. in
Ramadi, Iraq, on October 14, 2004.

According to the Associated Press, Hawkins, from Cherry Fork, Ohio,
joined the Army just two days after graduating high school in 1991.
Throughout his career, Hawkins distinguished himself and was stationed
with the 44^th^ Engineering Battalion in Camp Howze, Korea, prior to his
assignment in Iraq. On October 14, 2004, his convoy was traveling south
of Ramadi when an improvised explosive device detonated on the side of
the road killing Hawkins and Pfc. Mark A. Barbret. Hawkins was laid to
rest near his home in Cherry Fork.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 2078 was introduced on April
30, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, which took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: A CBO score of H.R. 2078 is
unavailable, but the only costs associated with a post office renaming
are those for sign and map changes, none of which significantly affect
the federal budget.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: Although no committee report
citing constitutional authority is available, Article I, Section 8,
Clause 7 of the Constitution grants Congress the authority to establish
Post Offices and post roads.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.R. 2077 --- To designate the facility of the United States Postal
Service located at 20805 State Route 125 in Blue Creek, Ohio, as the
"George B. Lewis Post Office Building" (Schmidt, R-OH)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.R 2077 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, May 21, 2007, under a motion to suspend the rules
and pass the bill.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 2077 would designate the facility of the
United States Postal Service located at 20805 State Route 125 in Blue
Creek, Ohio, as the "George B. Lewis Post Office Building."

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: According to the sponsor's
office, "George Lewis began his career in public service with the
federal government on February 1, 1946 when he enlisted in the United
States Navy: still a few months short of his 18^th^ birthday. After his
discharge from the Navy, George returned to Adams County to work on the
family cattle farm until September 1, 1950, when he was drafted by the
Army and sent to Korea at age 22. He rose in the ranks quickly earning
the rank of Tank Sergeant. He saw battle on several occasions and earned
several medals and awards for his service.

"George was hired as the Blue Creek Postmaster on November 5, 1955,
where he served ably until his retirement on September 27, 1992. He was
known to all in his community as 'The Blue Creek Postmaster.' George
retired with 40 years of federal government service, 39 with the USPS
and 2 with the Army. George B. Lewis died on October 25, 2000 after a
battle with lung cancer. He was survived by his wife of over 45 years,
Juanita, five children, and 6 grandchildren."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 2077 was introduced on April
30, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, which took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: A CBO score of H.R. 2077 is
unavailable, but the only costs associated with a post office renaming
are those for sign and map changes, none of which significantly affect
the federal budget.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: Although no committee report
citing constitutional authority is available, Article I, Section 8,
Clause 7 of the Constitution grants Congress the authority to establish
Post Offices and post roads.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.R. 1425 ---** **To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 4551 East 52nd Street in Odessa, Texas, as the
"Staff Sergeant Marvin (Rex) Young Post Office Building" (Conaway,
R-TX)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The bill is scheduled for
consideration on Monday, May 21, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 1425 would designate the U.S. Postal
Service facility located at 4551 East 52nd Street in Odessa, Texas, as
the "Staff Sergeant Marvin 'Rex' Young Post Office Building."

**[Addition Information]{.underline}**: Staff Sergeant Marvin "Rex"
Young, of Odessa, Texas, posthumously received the Medal of Honor after
he was killed in action on August 21, 1968, near Ben Cui, Vietnam.

Young joined the Army in Odessa in September 1966. He was trained at
Fort Bliss, Texas, and Fort Polk, Louisiana, before being deployed to
Vietnam on October 20, 1967.

On August 21, 1968, Young was acting as squad leader on a reconnaissance
mission when his unit was attacked by a regiment of the North Vietnamese
Army. According to Young's Medal of Honor citation, "During the initial
exchange of fire the forward platoon was pinned down, sustained several
casualties, and lost its commander. Young assumed command without
hesitation and began organizing his men into defensive positions. Young
was wounded in the arm and leg, but refused any aid. He ordered his men
to continue their retreat, but remained behind to provide covering fire,
sacrificing himself to protect the men from the advancing enemy force."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 1425 was introduced on March 9,
2007, and was referred to the House Committee on Oversight and
Government Reform, which held a mark-up and reported the bill by voice
vote on March 29, 2007.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: A CBO score of H.R. 1425 is
unavailable, but the only costs associated with a post office renaming
are those for sign and map changes, none of which significantly affect
the federal budget.

[**Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of
Government**?]{.underline}: No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: Although no committee report
citing constitutional authority is available, Article I, Section 8,
Clause 7 of the Constitution grants Congress the authority to establish
Post Offices and post roads.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.Res. 53 --- Recognizing the life of Lamar Hunt and his outstanding
contributions to the Kansas City Chiefs, the National Football League,
and the United States *(Cleaver, D-MO)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.Res. 53 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, May 21, 2007, under a motion to suspend the rules
and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 53 would express that Congress:

-   "expresses its deepest condolences to Lamar Hunt\'s wife of 42
    years, Norma, his 4 children, Lamar Jr., Sharon Munson, Clark, and
    Daniel, and his 14 grandchildren; and

-   "recognizes the outstanding contributions that Lamar Hunt made to
    the Kansas City Chiefs, the National Football League, and the United
    States."

The resolution lists several findings, including:

-   "at the age of 27, Lamar Hunt created the American Football League
    and founded the Dallas Texans, which were later renamed the Kansas
    City Chiefs when Hunt relocated the team in 1963;

-   "for 40 years Lamar Hunt owned and was a vital participant in the
    Kansas City Chiefs Football Club and created the Championship Game
    between the American Football League and the National Football
    League that became known as the Super Bowl, a moniker Hunt coined;

-   "Lamar Hunt, a man of unwavering and deep humility, played an
    important role in the design, ongoing development, and direction of
    the modern-day National Football League and served as the driving
    force behind the merger of the American and National football
    leagues in 1970;

-   "Lamar Hunt was also one of the founding investors in the 6-time
    World Champion Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association
    and was the owner of 13 distinctive championship rings from 5
    different professional sports associations, including the American
    Football League and National Football League, Major League Soccer,
    National Basketball Association, North American Soccer League, and
    the United States Soccer 'Open Cup';

-   "Lamar Hunt was selected to 8 Halls of Fame, including the United
    States Soccer Hall of Fame in 1982, the International Tennis Hall of
    Fame in 1993, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 1995, the Texas
    Sports Hall of Fame in 1984, the Texas Business Hall of Fame 1997,
    and the Kansas City Business Hall of Fame 2004;

-   "2 of the projects closest to Lamar Hunt included Southern Methodist
    University, his alma mater where he served as co-chairman of the
    university\'s campaign that raised \$60,000,000 to build a new
    32,000-seat football stadium that opened in 2000 and to which he and
    his wife Norma donated \$5,000,000; and the Heart of a Champion
    Foundation, a nonprofit foundation that he launched in 2001; and

-   "on December 13, 2006, Lamar Hunt succumbed to cancer at the Dallas
    Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas, Texas at the age of 74."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 53 was introduced on January
11, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government
Reform, which held a mark-up on May 1, 2007, and reported the bill by
voice vote.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.Res. 402 --- Supporting the goals and ideals of National Hurricane
Preparedness Week (Mario Diaz-Balart, R-FL)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.Res. 402 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, May 21, 2007, under a motion to suspend the rules
and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 402 would resolve that the House of
Representatives:

-   "supports the goals and ideals of National Hurricane Preparedness
    Week;

-   "encourages the staff of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
    Administration, especially at the National Weather Service and the
    National Hurricane Center, and other appropriate Federal agencies,
    to continue their outstanding work to educate people in the United
    States about hurricane preparedness; and

-   "urges the people of the United States to recognize such a week as
    an opportunity to learn more about the work of the National
    Hurricane Center to forecast hurricanes and to educate citizens
    about the potential risks associated with hurricanes."

The resolution lists several findings, including:

-   "the Atlantic and Central Pacific hurricane season begins June 1 and
    ends November 30, and the East Pacific hurricane season runs from
    May 15 through November 30;

-   "an average of 11 tropical storms develop per year over the Atlantic
    Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico and an average of 6 of
    these storms become hurricanes;

-   "in an average 3-year period roughly 5 hurricanes strike the United
    States coastline, sometimes resulting in multiple deaths, with 2
    typically being 'major' or 'intense' category 3 hurricanes, as
    measured on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale;

-   "experts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
    National Hurricane Center in the National Weather Service agree that
    it is critical to know if you live in a hurricane prone area, to
    know your home's vulnerability to storm surge, flooding, and wind,
    and to develop a written family disaster plan based on this
    knowledge;

-   "the National Hurricane Center recommends that people in
    hurricane-prone areas prepare a personal evacuation plan that
    identifies ahead of time their home's vulnerability to storm surge,
    flooding, and wind; the safest areas in their home for each
    hurricane hazard; several options of places to go if ordered to
    evacuate; and the telephone numbers of these places as well as a
    road map of the local area;

-   "the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration provides more
    detailed information about hurricanes and hurricane preparedness via
    its website http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/; and

-   "a National Hurricane Preparedness Week will be the week of May
    20-26, 2007."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 402 was introduced on May 15,
2007, and referred to the Committee on Science and Technology, which
took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

H.R. 2272 --- 21st Century Competitiveness Act of 2007

*(Gordon, D-TN)*

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The bill is scheduled for
consideration on Monday, May 21, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.

Note: H.R. 2722 is a combination of the following bills. To see the RSC
Legislative Bulletin for each bill, click on the bill number.

-   [H.R.
    1868](http://www.house.gov/hensarling/rsc/doc/LB_050307_NIST.doc) -
    NIST reauthorization; Vote:
    [385-23](http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll301.xml)

-   [H.R.
    1867](http://www.house.gov/hensarling/rsc/doc/LB_050207_NSF.doc) -
    NSF reauthorization; Vote:
    [399-17](http://clerk.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.asp?year=2007&rollnumber=295)

-   [H.R.
    363](http://www.house.gov/hensarling/rsc/doc/LB_042007_sowingscienceseeds.doc) -
    Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act; Vote:
    [397-20](http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll257.xml)

-   [H.R.
    362](http://www.house.gov/hensarling/rsc/doc/LB_042407_10000teachers.doc)
    -10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act;
    Vote: [389-22](http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll254.xml)

-   [H.R.
    1068](http://www.house.gov/hensarling/rsc/doc/LB_031207_suspensions.doc)
    -a bill to amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991; Vote:
    passed by voice vote

**[Summary by Title:]{.underline}**

**Title I - 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math
Scholarship Act (H.R. 362)**

H.R. 2272 would create several new federal programs related to science,
technology, math, and engineering education. The specific provisions of
the title are summarized below.

States the following findings:

-   "The National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of
    Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine were tasked in a
    congressional request to recommend actions that the Federal
    Government could take to enhance the science and technology
    enterprise so that the United States can successfully compete,
    prosper, and be secure in the global community of the 21st century;
    and

-   "The Academies' highest priority recommendation in its report,
    'Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America
    for a Brighter Economic Future', is to improve K-12 mathematics and
    science education, and the Academies' first recommended action item
    is to institute a major scholarship program to recruit and educate
    annually 10,000 mathematics and science teachers."

States the following policy objective:

-   "In carrying out the program under section 104, the National Science
    Foundation shall seek **to increase by up to 10,000 per year the
    number of elementary and secondary mathematics and science
    teachers** in the Nation's schools having both exemplary subject
    knowledge and pedagogical skills" (emphasis added).

Amends the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program in current law,
operated by the National Science Foundation (NSF), which is a
competitive grant program to institutes of higher education. H.R. 2272
amends the program to provide assistance to IHEs that ensure teachers
from both the math and science and the education departments work
together to recruit students to pursue degrees in science, technology,
engineering, and math (STEM), as well as to become certified K-12
teachers. The bill also increases the scholarships provided to students
through this program from \$7,500 to \$10,000. Scholarship recipients
would be required to teach up to six years (based on number of years
receiving the scholarship), and the teaching requirement would be
reduced by one for those who teach in high-need schools. If a student
chose not to fulfill their teaching requirement, the scholarship would
be converted to a loan, which must be repaid by the individual.
**Authorizes \$304 million for this program over the FY 2008 through FY
2010 period.**

Amends the Mathematics and Science Education Partnership program
operated by NSF, authorizing teacher training activities under the
program to prepare teachers to teach certain STEM classes, such as
advanced placement and international baccalaureate courses.

Requires NSF to **establish a new grant program** to provide summer or
academic year teacher institutes or workshops funds to operate one- or
two-week summer teacher institutes with the goal of "reaching the
maximum number of in-service mathematics and science teachers,
particularly elementary and middle school teachers. **Authorizes \$5
million over the FY 2008 through FY 2010 period for the Secretary of
Energy for the Laboratory Science Teacher Professional Development
program.**

Requires NSF to **establish a new grant program** to provide assistance
to IHEs that maintain master's degree programs designed for current
teachers, who will enroll as part-time students and allow participants
to obtain master's degrees within a period of three years.

Requires NSF and the Secretary of Education to establish a national
panel of experts on math and science education to identify K-12 math,
science, and technology teaching materials that have been demonstrated
to be effective.

Requires NSF, through the STEM Talent Expansion program, **to create a
new program** for the creation of centers to develop undergraduate
curriculum, teaching methods for undergraduate courses, and methods to
better train professors and teaching assistants who teach undergraduate
courses to increase the number of students completing these courses in
STEM fields.

Requires NSF to **create a new research pilot program** (the
Partnerships for Access to Laboratory Science), which will fund
partnerships between IHEs, businesses, and high-need public schools, to
improve laboratories as part of a comprehensive program to enhance the
quality of STEM instruction at the high school level. The federal share
of the cost of activities carried out using a grant from this program is
limited to 50 percent. **Authorizes \$5 million in FY 2008, and such
sums as necessary for the following three years for this program.**

Title I contains the text of the motion to recommit H.R. 362, which was
agreed to by the House during consideration of the bill
([408-4](http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll253.xml)*)*. This provision
provides that nothing in the act should be construed to limit the
authority of state governments or local school boards to determine the
curricula of their students.

**Title II - Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research
Act (H.R. 363)**

H.R. 2272 would create several new federal programs to provide funding
for basic science and engineering research. The specific provisions of
the title are summarized below.

-   Requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to **create a new
    grant program** to provide funding to scientists and engineers "at
    the early stage of their careers at institutions of higher
    education" and other nonprofit entities to conduct research in
    fields relevant to the mission of the NSF. According to the bill,
    "the existing Faculty Early Career Development program may be
    designated as the mechanism for awarding such grants." These
    five-year, competitive grants would be at least \$80,000
    annually---at least \$400,000 over five years. Recipients of the
    awards should be employed in a tenure-track position as an assistant
    professor or an equivalent title. Authorizes for each of FY 2008
    through FY 2012, at least 3.5 percent of funds appropriated to the
    NSF for research and related for this new program.

-   Requires the Department of Energy (DoE) to **create a new federal
    grant program** that would provide assistance to the same
    individuals as provided for in the NSF program. These grants would
    also be at least \$80,000 annually---at least \$400,000 over five
    years.

-   Requires the Office of Science at DoE to report to Congress on
    efforts to recruit and retain early career science and engineering
    researchers at DoE national laboratories.

-   Requires NSF to allocate, for FY 2008 through FY 2012, at least 1.5
    percent of funds appropriated for research and related activities,
    to the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship
    program.

-   Requires the President of the United States to "periodically"
    present a Presidential Innovation Award to individuals who develop
    one or more unique scientific or engineering ideas in the national
    interest at the time the innovation occurs. Recipients must be
    either a U.S. citizen or an alien lawfully admitted to the U.S. for
    permanent residence who has met certain requirements.

-   Requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy to create a
    National Coordination Office for Research infrastructure, and
    outlines the duties of the new office.

-   Requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
    to submit a report to Congress on efforts to recruit and retain
    young scientists and engineers at NIST laboratories.

-   Expresses the following sense of Congress regarding NASA funding
    levels purpose:

    -   "a balanced science program as authorized by section 101(d) of
        the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization
        Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-155) contributes significantly to
        innovation in and the economic competitiveness of the United
        States; and

    -   "a robust National Aeronautics and Space Administration, funded
        at the levels authorized under sections 202 and 203 of that Act,
        would offer a balance among science, aeronautics, exploration,
        and human space flight programs, all of which can attract and
        employ scientists, engineers, and technicians across a broad
        range of fields in science, technology, mathematics, and
        engineering."

> The NASA authorized funding levels mentioned above are as follows:
>
> FY 2007- \$17.9 billion; and
>
> FY 2008- \$18.7 billion.
>
> However, NASA's request for FY 2007 was \$16.8 billion.

-   Title II contains the text of the motion to recommit H.R. 363, which
    was agreed to by the House during consideration of the bill [(264 --
    154)](http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll256.xml). This provision
    would give priority to grants that increase energy production
    through coal-to-liquid technology.

**Title III - National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2007
(H.R. 1867)**

H.R. 2272 would authorize funding for the National Science Foundation
(NSF) over the FY 2008 to FY 2010 period. The specific provisions of the
title are summarized below.

-   **Authorizes almost \$21 billion** over three years (FY08-FY10) for
    the National Science Foundation. The following table outlines
    authorizations in the bill for various initiatives and programs.

In millions

  ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------
  **Account**                                                **Cost**

  Research Activities                                        16,400

  *Major Research Instrumentation Program*                   *370*

  Education and Human Resources                              2,800

  *Math and Science Education Partnership*                   *302*

  *Robert Noyce Scholarship Program*                         *304*

  *STEM Talent Expansion Program*                            *159*

  *Advanced Technological Education*                         *166*

  Research Equipment and Facility Construction               787

  Operations and Award Management                            925

  Office of National Science Board                           12

  Office of the Inspector General                            38

  **Total Authorization (FY08- FY10)**                       **20,970**
  ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------

-   **Establishes the Major Research Instrumentation program**, which
    would award grants to institutions of higher education (IHE) for
    acquiring, operating and maintaining instruments and equipment. The
    minimum amount of an award under the program would be \$100,000, but
    not to exceed \$4 million, unless the total amount appropriated for
    the program in a fiscal year exceeds \$125 million, in which case,
    the maximum award could be \$6 million. IHEs would be required to
    provide at least 30 percent of the cost from private or non-federal
    sources, except in certain circumstances in which this cost-sharing
    requirement is waived.

-   Requires NSF to increase funding for the Research Experiences for
    Undergraduates program in proportion to the increase in the total
    amount appropriated to NSF for research and related activities in
    any year for which appropriations are authorized by this
    legislation.

-   Directs NSF to continue to carry out the Centers for Research on
    Learning and Education Improvement. Expands eligibility for centers
    under this program to include certain nonprofit organizations.

-   Directs the National Science Board to evaluate the role of NSF in
    supporting interdisciplinary research and the effectiveness of NSF's
    efforts in providing information to the scientific community about
    opportunities for funding of interdisciplinary research proposals.

-   Requires NSF to establish a new pilot program to award grants to
    individual to "assist them in improving research proposal that were
    previously submitted to NSF, but not selected for funding." Grants
    would be made to individual who have not previously received funding
    as the principal investigator of a research grant from NSE and have
    submitted a proposal to NSF that was rated very good or excellent
    under NSF's competitive merit review process. Directs the National
    Science Board to conduct a review of the program.

-   Requires NSF, in evaluating research proposals under their broader
    impacts criterion, to give special consideration to proposals that
    involve partnerships between academic researchers, industrial
    scientists, and engineers that address research areas that have been
    identified as having high importance for future national economic
    competitiveness, such as nanotechnology.

-   Directs NSF to submit to Congress, a report on the impact of the
    broader impacts grant criterion used by NSF. The report is to
    identify and access the criteria, provide a breakdown of the types
    of activities that grant recipients have proposed to carry out to
    meet the criterion, and describe what national goals (such as
    improving undergraduate STEM education) that the criterion are best
    suited to promote.

-   Directs NSF to require that all grant applications that include
    funding to support postdoctoral researchers, include a description
    of the mentoring activities that will be provided for these
    individuals.

-   Requires that each institution that applies for financial assistance
    from NSF for science and engineering research or education, describe
    in its grant proposal a plan to provide appropriate training and
    oversight in the responsible and ethical conduct of research to
    undergraduate and graduate students, and postdoctoral researchers
    participating in the project.

-   Directs NSF to ensure that all final project reports and citations
    of published research documents resulting from research funded
    through NSF, are made available to the public in a "timely manner"
    and in electronic form through the NSF website.

-   Requires NSF to annually evaluate all of NSF's grants are that
    scheduled to expire within one year and meet certain requirements.
    For grants that are identified to be successful meeting objectives,
    the NSF could **extend the duration of the grants for up to three
    additional years beyond their scheduled expiration without the
    requirement for a recompetition.**

-   Requires the National Science Board to evaluate the impact of its
    policy to eliminate cost sharing for research grants and cooperative
    agreements for existing programs that were developed around industry
    partnerships and historically required industry cost sharing (such
    as the Engineering Research Centers).

-   Requires NSF to submit to congress, a plan for the allocation of
    education and human resources funds authorized by this Act for the
    corresponding fiscal year, including any funds from within the
    research and related activities account used to support activities
    that have the primary purpose of improving education or broadening
    participation.

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-   Increases to three (up from one), the number of awards that may be
    given by NSF through the Alan T. Waterman Award program, which gives
    an award for research or advanced study in the mathematical,
    physical, medical, biological, engineering, behavioral, social, or
    other sciences. The award is a "suitable medal and a grant to
    support further research or study by the recipient."

-   Directs NSF to enter into an arrangement with the National Academy
    of Sciences for a report to congress, about barriers to increasing
    the number of underrepresented minorities in science, technology,
    engineering, and math fields, and to identify strategies for
    bringing more underrepresented minorities into the science,
    technology, engineering, and math workforce.

**Title IV: The Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act
(H.R. 1868-NIST Reauthorization)**

H.R. 2272 would authorize funding the National Institute of Standards
and Technology Act (NIST) over the FY 2008 through FY 2010 period, and
make several changes to the agency. The specific provisions of the title
are summarized below.

-   **Authorizes \$1.5 billion** over three years (FY08-FY10) for the
    Department of Commerce for scientific and technical research and
    services of laboratory activities through NIST.

-   **Authorizes \$24.3 million** over three years (FY08-FY10) for the
    Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program.

-   **Authorizes \$229.9 million** over three years (FY08-FY10) for the
    Secretary of Commerce for NIST construction and maintenance.

-   **Authorizes \$768 million** over three years (FY08-FY10) for
    Industrial Technology Services activities though NIST, of which:

    -   \$402 million is for the Technology Innovation Program
        established by this Act, of which \$135 million is for **new
        grant awards**; and

    -   \$366 million is for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership
        program, of which \$9 million is for a **new grant program**
        established by this Act.

-   Requires the NIST Director to submit to Congress, a three-year
    programmatic planning document for NIST to Congress.

-   Establishes at NIST, a Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
    Advisory Board, which would meet at least twice annually and advise
    the Director of NIST on MEP programs, plans, and policies, as well
    as assess the program's performance.

-   Requires NIST **to establish a new grant program** within MEP to
    give grants to Manufacturing Extension Centers to develop projects
    to solve new or emerging manufacturing problems as determined by
    NIST and other entities, and related to supply chain integration and
    quality management, technological needs of manufacturers, and
    available technologies from institutions of higher education,
    laboratories, and other technology-producing entities.

-   **Establishes a new program** at NIST, the Technology Innovation
    Program (TIP), which would assist small and medium-sized U.S.
    businesses, institutions of higher education (IHE), and other
    organizations such as national laboratories, to accelerate the
    development and application of "challenging, high-risk technologies
    that promise wide-spread benefits for the Nation." Grants made to
    businesses under the program could not exceed \$3 million over three
    years, and the federal share of a project funded by the grant could
    not be more than 50% of total project costs. Grants made to "joint
    ventures" (defined in the bill) under the program, could not exceed
    \$9 million over five years, and the federal share could not exceed
    50% of the total cost.

-   Requires NIST to continue to use the new Technology Innovation
    Program to provide support originally awarded under the Advanced
    Technology Program (ATP), which is repealed by this bill.

-   Allows NIST to accept funds from other federal agencies to support
    grants under TIP.

-   Establishes a TIP Advisory Board, which would meet no less than
    twice annually, and would advise NIST on programs, plans, and
    policies of the program. In addition, the Board would be required to
    review TIP's efforts to assess its economic impact and provides
    recommendations regarding the program. Requires the Board to submit
    an annual report to Congress on the programs progress, within 30
    days of the President's annual budget submission to Congress.

-   Requires NIST **to create a new pilot program** to provide grants to
    partnerships to "foster cost-shared collaborations among firms,
    education institutions, research institutions, state agencies, and
    nonprofit organizations to encourage the development of innovative,
    multi-disciplinary manufacturing technologies." The grants would be
    used to "conduct applied research to develop new manufacturing
    processes, techniques, or materials that would contribute to
    improved performance, productivity, and competitiveness of U.S.
    manufacturing, and build lasting alliances among collaborators."
    These partnerships would include at least one manufacturing industry
    partner and one non-industry partner.

-   Directs NIST **to establish a new program** to give stipends to
    postdoctoral research fellowships at NIST for research activities
    related to manufacturing sciences and to senior research fellowships
    to establish researchers in industry or at IHEs who want to pursue
    studies related to the manufacturing sciences at NIST. The purpose
    of the program is to "promote the development of a robust research
    community working at the leading edge of manufacturing sciences."

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-   Requires the NIST Director to submit to Congress, a three-year
    programmatic planning document for NIST.

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-   Establishes at NIST, a Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP)
    Advisory Board, which would meet at least twice annually and advise
    the Director of NIST on MEP programs, plans, and policies, as well
    as assess the program's performance.

-   Requires NIST **to establish a new grant program** within MEP to
    give grants to Manufacturing Extension Centers to develop projects
    to solve new or emerging manufacturing problems as determined by
    NIST and other entities, and related to supply chain integration and
    quality management, technological needs of manufacturers, and
    available technologies from institutions of higher education,
    laboratories, and other technology-producing entities.

-   **Establishes a new program** at NIST, the Technology Innovation
    Program (TIP), which would assist small and medium-sized U.S.
    businesses, institutions of higher education (IHE), and other
    organizations such as national laboratories, to accelerate the
    development and application of "challenging, high-risk technologies
    that promise wide-spread benefits for the Nation." Grants made to
    businesses under the program could not exceed \$3 million over three
    years, and the federal share of a project funded by the grant could
    not be more than 50% of total project costs. Grants made to "joint
    ventures" (defined in the bill) under the program, could not exceed
    \$9 million over five years, and the federal share could not exceed
    50% of the total cost. (insert IP provisions, page 15)

-   Requires NIST to continue to use the new Technology Innovation
    Program to provide support originally awarded under the Advanced
    Technology Program (ATP), which is repealed by this bill.

-   Allows NIST to accept funds from other federal agencies to support
    grants under TIP.

-   Establishes a TIP Advisory Board, which would meet no less than
    twice annually, and would advise NIST on programs, plans, and
    policies of the program. In addition, the Board would review TIP's
    efforts to assess its economic impact and provides recommendations
    regarding the program. Directs the Board to submit an annual report
    to Congress on the programs progress, within 30 days of the
    President's annual budget submission to Congress.

-   Requires NIST **to create a new pilot program** to provide grants to
    partnerships to "foster cost-shared collaborations among firms,
    education institutions, research institutions, state agencies, and
    nonprofit organizations to encourage the development of innovative,
    multi-disciplinary manufacturing technologies." The grants would be
    used to "conduct applied research to develop new manufacturing
    processes, techniques, or materials that would contribute to
    improved performance, productivity, and competitiveness of U.S.
    manufacturing, and build lasting alliances among collaborators."
    These partnerships would include at least one manufacturing industry
    partner and 1 non-industry partner.

-   Directs NIST **to establish a new program** to give stipends to
    post-doctoral research fellowships at NIST for research activities
    related to manufacturing sciences and to senior research fellowships
    to establish researchers in industry or at IHEs who want to pursue
    studies related to the manufacturing sciences at NIST. The purpose
    of the program is to "promote the development of a robust research
    community working at the leading edge of manufacturing sciences."

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-   Increases to 120 (from 60), the number of new fellows annually
    allowed to participate in a post-doctoral fellowship program
    operated by NIST and the National Academy of Sciences.

-   Authorizes NIST to transfer up to .25 percent of its total
    appropriations in any fiscal year, and funds provided to NIST from
    other federal agencies for the purpose of production of Standard
    Reference Materials, to be transferred to the Working Capital Fund,
    which is a revolving fund at NIST.

-   Amends current law to clarify the definition of the metric system,
    as follows: "the metric system of measurement shall be defined as
    the International System of Units as established in 1960, and
    subsequently maintained, by the General Conference of Weights and
    Measures, and as interpreted or modified for the United States by
    the Secretary of Commerce."

-   Authorizes NIST to issue up to 200 personal service contracts
    annually, to procure the temporary or intermittent services of
    scientific and technical experts and consultants to assist with
    urgent or short-term research projects.

-   Increases to 18 (up from 10), the number of annual awards that can
    be granted under the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award
    Program.

**Title V - A bill to amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991
(H.R. 1068)**

H.R. 2272 would significantly amend the National High-Performance
Computing Program, which is an interagency coordination program run by
the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Specifically, H.R. 2272
would replace the program's existing purpose and goals with the
following:

-   "provide for long-term basic and applied research on
    high-performance computing;

-   "provide for research and development on, and demonstration of,
    technologies to advance the capacity and capabilities of
    high-performance computing and networking systems;

-   "provide for sustained access by the research community in the
    United States to high-performance computing systems that are among
    the most advanced in the world in terms of performance in solving
    scientific and engineering problems, including provision for
    technical support for users of such systems;

-   "provide for efforts to increase software availability,
    productivity, capability, security, portability, and reliability;

-   "provide for high-performance networks, including experimental
    testbed networks, to enable research and development on, and
    demonstration of, advanced applications enabled by such networks;

-   "provide for computational science and engineering research on
    mathematical modeling and algorithms for applications in all fields
    of science and engineering;

-   "provide for the technical support of, and research and development
    on, high-performance computing systems and software required to
    address Grand Challenges;

-   "provide for educating and training additional undergraduate and
    graduate students in software engineering, computer science,
    computer and network security, applied mathematics, library and
    information science, and computational science; and

-   "provide for improving the security of computing and networking
    systems, including Federal systems, including research required to
    establish security standards and practices for these systems."

H.R. 2272 also strikes the program's activities as defined by current
law and establishes the following activities for the program:

-   "establish the goals and priorities for Federal high-performance
    computing research, development, networking, and other activities;

-   "establish Program Component Areas that implement the goals
    established under subparagraph (A) \[listed above\], and identify
    the Grand Challenges that the Program should address;

-   "provide for interagency coordination of Federal high-performance
    computing research, development, networking, and other activities
    undertaken pursuant to the Program; and

-   "develop and maintain a research, development, and deployment
    roadmap for the provision of high-performance computing systems."

H.R. 2272 would direct the President to establish an advisory committee
on high-performance computing consisting of non-federal members,
including representatives of the research, education, and library
communities, network providers, and industry, who are specially
qualified to provide the Director with advice and information on
high-performance computing. The advisory committee is to report to the
Director with an assessment of progress being made in the program and
any recommendations for needed improvements.

**Note:** CBO reports that about **\$1.9 billion was appropriated in
FY2005 for nondefense research and development on high-performance
computing** across six federal agencies. High-performance computers are
defined to include supercomputer systems; high-capacity and highspeed
networks; special purpose and experimental systems, applications, and
systems software; and the management of large data sets. In addition,
the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-194) was a
project of then-Senator Al Gore, Jr.

**[Possible Conservative Concerns]{.underline}: Some conservatives may
be concerned that this bill authorizes [\$23 billion]{.underline} over
five years and creates at [least 20 new programs]{.underline}. In
addition, some conservatives may be concerned that these new programs
are highly duplicative of current federal efforts.** **An October 2005
Government Accountability Office (GAO) study reported that in FY04, 13
federal agencies reported [spending roughly \$2.8 billion on 207
different education programs]{.underline} directly related to science,
technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).**

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 2272 was introduced on May 10,
2007, and referred to the House Committee on Science and Technology,
which took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: There is no CBO estimate available
for H.R. 2272. However, CBO estimates for the smaller bills that
comprise H.R. 2272, it appears as though the bill would authorize at
least \$23 billion.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}**: Yes. The bill creates at least 20 new grant
programs.

**[RSC Staff Contact:]{.underline}** Joelle Cannon;
<joelle.cannon@mail.house.gov>, 202.226.0718.

\###