National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1995

Summary: TABLE OF CONTENTS: 
     Title I:  National Science Foundation Authorization 
     Title II:  General Provisions 
National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1995 - 
Title I: National Science Foundation Authorization
 - Authorizes appropriations to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for FY 1996 through 1998. 
Authorizes FY 1996 through 1998 appropriations for a NSF pilot grant program to consortia of Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) institutions and non-EPSCoR institutions. 
Requires the Director of NSF to design and implement a pilot program to develop interactive telecommunications systems at tribally-controlled community colleges.  Obligates specified funds for consultation and representation expenses. 
Sets forth certain reprogramming provisions. 
Title II:  General Provisions
 - Amends the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 to direct NSF to include in its annual report to the President a strategic plan defining its goals, criteria, and procedures. 
Makes administrative amendments to the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 and the National Science Foundation Authorization Act, 1976. 
Subjects temporary NSF employees to financial disclosure requirements.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 1995.''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act--
            (1) the term ``Director'' means the Director of the 
        Foundation;
            (2) the term ``Foundation'' means the National Science 
        Foundation; and
            (3) the term ``United States'' means the several States, 
        the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the 
        Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
        Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession 
        of the United States.

           TITLE I--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AUTHORIZATION

SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Findings.--The Congress finds that--
            (1) the programs of the Foundation are important for the 
        Nation to strengthen basic research and develop human resources 
        in science and engineering and that those programs should be 
        funded at an adequate level;
            (2) the primary mission of the Foundation continues to be 
        the support of basic scientific research and science education 
        and the support of research fundamental to the engineering 
        process and engineering education;
            (3) the Foundation's efforts to contribute to the economic 
        competitiveness of the United States should be in accord with 
        that primary mission; and
            (4) it is in the national interest that all states and 
        regions of the country, including the Nation's rural and 
        sparsely populated states and regions, be encouraged to 
        contribute and participate in the federal science and 
        technology enterprise.
    (b) Authorizations.--For each of fiscal years 1996, 1997, and 1998, 
there are authorized to be appropriated to the Foundation the following 
amounts for the accounts listed:
            (1) Research and Related Activities, $2,294,000,000 (of 
        which $19,000,000 are authorized to be used for joint 
        activities between the Foundation's research directorates and 
        the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, 
        including the pilot program authorized by section 102 of this 
        Act).
            (2) Education and Human Resources Activities, $599,000,000 
        (of which $37,000,000 are authorized to be used for the 
        Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research).
            (3) Major Research Equipment, $70,000,000.
            (4) Academic Research Facilities Modernization, 
        $100,000,000.
            (5) Salaries and Expenses, $127,310,000.
            (6) Office of Inspector General, $4,500,000.
            (7) Headquarters Relocation, $5,200,000.

SEC. 102. PILOT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE PARTNERSHIPS FOR RESEARCH.

    (a) In General.--For each of fiscal years 1996, 1997, and 1998, 
there are authorized $10 million for the initiation of a pilot program 
at the Foundation to fund grants for science research and outreach 
proposals submitted by consortia of research institutions led by 
institutions from states eligible to compete in the Foundation's 
existing Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research 
(EPSCoR). The program shall be aimed at encouraging EPSCoR institutions 
to enter into consortia with non-EPSCoR institutions, including private 
sector institutions, to develop grant proposals to support research, 
science education, community outreach, technology transfer, and any 
other activities consistent with the goals and missions of the 
Foundation.
    (b) Grants.--The grants shall be awarded by the Foundation to such 
consortia on a competitive, peer-reviewed basis. In its selection 
process, the Foundation shall give favorable consideration to proposals 
involving in-kind or financial contributions from non-federal sources, 
including state and local governments, consortium members, other 
research institutions, or industry, but cost-sharing shall not be a 
required feature of a proposal. In establishing requirements for the 
grant proposals, the Foundation shall require that the funds granted to 
a consortium must be administered by a member thereof that is an 
institution from an EPSCoR State and shall further require that such 
institution have primary responsibility for the management and 
oversight of the activities funded by the grant award.
    (c) Implementation of Program.--The Foundation shall implement the 
pilot program in a manner that will complement the Foundation's 
existing EPSCoR program and advance the common goal of both programs to 
enhance the capability of quality research groups and institutions in 
rural and sparsely populated States to contribute to the vast federal 
research enterprise. Projects may be funded for up to three years 
through grants awarded under this program, with the potential for 
another two-year extension following the review and approval of the 
Foundation. At the time of the Foundation's budget submission to 
Congress for fiscal year 1997, the Foundation shall provide to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on 
Labor and Human Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Science of 
the House of Representatives a strategic plan for the implementation of 
the pilot program authorized in this section.

SEC. 103. SUPPORT FOR COMPUTING ACTIVITIES AT TRIBAL COLLEGES.

    The Director of the National Science foundation shall design and 
implement a pilot program to provide financial assistance, through 
competitive selection processes, to States in which are located 2 or 
more tribally-controlled community colleges. The objective of the pilot 
program shall be to establish interactive telecommunications systems 
among such tribally-controlled community colleges in such States in 
order to assist the tribal community in education, job training, and 
other appropriate activities.

SEC. 104. CONSULTATION AND REPRESENTATION EXPENSES.

    From appropriations made under authorizations provided in this Act, 
not more than $10,000 may be used in each fiscal year for official 
consultation, representation, or other extraordinary expenses at the 
discretion of the Director. The determination of the Director shall be 
final and conclusive upon the accounting officers of the Government.

SEC. 105. REPROGRAMMING.

    (a) $500,000 or Less.--In any given fiscal year, the Director may 
transfer appropriated funds among the subcategories of Research and 
Related Activities, so long as the net funds transferred to or from any 
subcategory do not exceed $500,000.
    (b) Greater Than $500,000.--The Director may propose transfers to 
or from any subcategory exceeding $500,000. An explanation of any 
proposed transfer under this subsection must be transmitted in writing 
to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives, and the 
Committees on Labor and Human Resources and Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. The proposed transfer may be made only 
when 30 calendar days have passed after transmission of such written 
explanation.

                      TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 201. ANNUAL REPORT.

    Section 3(f) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 
U.S.C. 1862(f)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(f) The Foundation shall provide an annual report to the 
President which shall be submitted by the Director to the Congress at 
the time of the President's annual budget submission. The report 
shall--
            ``(1) contain a strategic plan, or an update to a previous 
        strategic plan, which--
                    ``(A) defines for a three-year period the overall 
                goals for the Foundation and specific goals for each 
                major activity of the Foundation, including each 
                scientific directorate, the education directorate, and 
                the polar programs office; and
                    ``(B) describe how the identified goals relate to 
                national needs and will exploit new opportunities in 
                science and technology;
            ``(2) identify the criteria and describe the procedures 
        which the Foundation will use to assess progress toward 
        achieving the goals identified in accordance with paragraph 
        (1);
            ``(3) review the activities of the Foundation during the 
        preceding year which have contributed toward achievement of 
        goals identified in accordance with paragraph (1) and summarize 
        planned activities for the coming three years in the context of 
        the identified goals, with particular emphasis on the 
        Foundation's planned contributions to major multi-agency 
        research and education initiatives;
            ``(4) contain such recommendations as the Foundation 
        considers appropriate; and
            ``(5) include information on the acquisition and 
        disposition by the Foundation of any patents and patent 
        rights.''.

SEC. 202. ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS.

    (a) National Science Foundation Act of 1950 Amendments.--The 
National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.) is 
amended--
            (1) by redesignating the subsection (k) of section 4 (42 
        U.S.C. 1863(k)) that was added by section 108 of the National 
        Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 as subsection (l); 
        and
            (2) by striking ``Atomic Energy Commission'' in section 
        15(a) (42 U.S.C. 1874(a)) and inserting ``Secretary of 
        Energy''.
    (b) National Science Foundation Authorization Act, 1976 
Amendments.--Section 6(a) of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act, 1976 (42 U.S.C. 1881a(a)) is amended by striking 
``social,'' the first place it appears.
    (c) Technical Amendment.--The second subsection (g) of section 3 of 
the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1862(g)) is 
repealed.

SEC. 203. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

    Persons temporarily employed by or at the Foundation shall be 
subject to the same financial disclosure requirements and related 
sanctions under the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 as are permanent 
employees of the Foundation in equivalent positions.