Technology Administration Act of 1998

Summary: Technology Administration Act of 1998 -    Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (NISTA) to provide for the extension of Federal financial assistance to Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology under the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program after the sixth year of operation.  Permits a Center to receive additional funding if it has received a positive evaluation through an independent review at least every two years after such sixth year. Limits the proportion of funding that a Center may receive from the Government after the sixth year to one-third of its capital and annual operating and maintenance costs under the Program. 
(Sec. 3) Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 respecting the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award to:  (1) expand the list of categories for awards to include health care providers and education providers; and (2) permit a third award to be made in a subcategory in any year if the Secretary of Commerce determines that it is merited and can be given at no additional cost to the Government. 
(Sec. 4) Amends NISTA to require notice of any reprogramming of funds to be provided to the House Committee on Science and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation concurrently with any such notice provided to the Appropriations Committees.  Requires the Secretary to provide 15 days' notice to all such committees before any major reorganization of any program, project, or activity of the Institute. 
(Sec. 5) Expresses the sense of the Congress regarding correcting and developing contingency plans for year 2000 date-related computer problems of the Institute. 
(Sec. 6) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Director of the Institute should donate educationally useful Federal equipment to schools to enhance science and mathematic programs.   Mandates annual reports to the President. 
(Sec. 7) Establishes within the Institute a summer teacher science and technology enhancement program to provide for the professional development of mathematics and science school teachers. 
(Sec. 8) Establishes within the Department of Commerce an Office of Space Commercialization to be the principal unit for the coordination of space-related issues, programs, and initiatives within the Department. 
(Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to establish, for FY 1999, the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology (EPSCOT) to strengthen the technological competitiveness of States that have historically received less Federal research and development funds than those received by a majority of the States.  Directs the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, to:  (1) enter into arrangements for the coordination of EPSCOT through the State committees established under the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) of the National Science Foundation; and (2) cooperate with any State science and technology council established under EPSCoR and representatives of small business firms and other technology-based businesses.  Requires a specified report. 
(Sec. 10) Establishes Environmental Technology as a separate nomination category with respect to the National Technology Medal. 
(Sec. 11) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should provide support for the International Arctic Research Center that is similar to support provided for Antarctic research.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Technology Administration Act of 
1998''.

SEC. 2. MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM CENTER EXTENSION.

    Section 25(c)(5) of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(c)(5)) is amended by striking ``, which 
are designed'' and all that follows through ``operation of a Center.'' 
and inserting in lieu thereof ``. After the sixth year, a Center may 
receive additional financial support under this section if it has 
received a positive evaluation through an independent review, under 
procedures established by the Institute. Such an independent review 
shall be required at least every two years after the sixth year of 
operation. Funding received for a fiscal year under this section after 
the sixth year of operation shall not exceed one third of the capital 
and annual operating and maintenance costs of the Center under the 
program.''.

SEC. 3. MALCOLM BALDRIGE QUALITY AWARD.

    (a) Additional Awards.--Section 17(c)(3) of the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711a(c)(3)) is amended by 
inserting ``, unless the Secretary determines that a third award is 
merited and can be given at no additional cost to the Federal 
Government'' after ``in any year''.
    (b) Categories.--Section 17(c)(1) of the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711a(c)(1)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:
            ``(D) Health care providers.
            ``(E) Education providers.''.

SEC. 4. NOTICE.

    (a) Redesignation.--Section 31 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act is redesignated as section 32.
    (b) Notice.--The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act 
(15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 30 the 
following new section:


                                 ``notice

    ``Sec. 31. (a) Notice of Reprogramming.--If any funds authorized 
for carrying out this Act are subject to a reprogramming action that 
requires notice to be provided to the Appropriations Committees of the 
House of Representatives and the Senate, notice of such action shall 
concurrently be provided to the Committee on Science of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate.
    ``(b) Notice of Reorganization.--
        ``(1) Requirement.--The Secretary shall provide notice to the 
    Committees on Science and Appropriations of the House of 
    Representatives, and the Committees on Commerce, Science, and 
    Transportation and Appropriations of the Senate, not later than 15 
    days before any major reorganization of any program, project, or 
    activity of the Institute.
        ``(2) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the term 
    `major reorganization' means any reorganization of the Institute 
    that involves the reassignment of more than 25 percent of the 
    employees of the Institute.''.

SEC. 5. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS ON THE YEAR 2000 PROBLEM.

    With the year 2000 fast approaching, it is the sense of the 
Congress that the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
should--
        (1) give high priority to correcting all 2-digit date-related 
    problems in its computer systems to ensure that those systems 
    continue to operate effectively in the year 2000 and beyond; and
        (2) develop contingency plans for those systems that the 
    Institute is unable to correct in time.

SEC. 6. ENHANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS PROGRAMS.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section--
        (1) Educationally useful federal equipment.--The term 
    ``educationally useful Federal equipment'' means computers and 
    related peripheral tools and research equipment that is appropriate 
    for use in schools.
        (2) School.--The term ``school'' means a public or private 
    educational institution that serves any of the grades of 
    kindergarten through grade 12.
    (b) Sense of the Congress.--
        (1) In general.--It is the sense of the Congress that the 
    Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
    should, to the greatest extent practicable and in a manner 
    consistent with applicable Federal law (including Executive Order 
    No. 12999), donate educationally useful Federal equipment to 
    schools in order to enhance the science and mathematics programs of 
    those schools.
        (2) Reports.--
            (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the 
        Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
        shall prepare and submit to the President a report. The 
        President shall submit the report to Congress at the same time 
        as the President submits a budget request to Congress under 
        section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code.
            (B) Contents of report.--The report prepared by the 
        Director under this paragraph shall describe any donations of 
        educationally useful Federal equipment to schools made during 
        the period covered by the report.

SEC. 7. TEACHER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ENHANCEMENT INSTITUTE PROGRAM.

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
271 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 19 the following:
    ``Sec. 19A. (a) The Director shall establish within the Institute a 
teacher science and technology enhancement program to provide for 
professional development of mathematics and science teachers of 
elementary, middle, and secondary schools (as those terms are defined 
by the Director), including providing for the improvement of those 
teachers with respect to the understanding of science and the impacts 
of science on commerce.
    ``(b) In carrying out the program under this section, the Director 
shall focus on the areas of--
        ``(1) scientific measurements;
        ``(2) tests and standards development;
        ``(3) industrial competitiveness and quality;
        ``(4) manufacturing;
        ``(5) technology transfer; and
        ``(6) any other area of expertise of the Institute that the 
    Director determines to be appropriate.
    ``(c) The Director shall develop and issue procedures and selection 
criteria for participants in the program.
    ``(d) The program under this section shall be conducted on an 
annual basis during the summer months, during the period of time when a 
majority of elementary, middle, and secondary schools have not 
commenced a school year.
    ``(e) The program shall provide for teachers' participation in 
activities at the laboratory facilities of the Institute, or shall 
utilize other means of accomplishing the goals of the program as 
determined by the Director, which may include the Internet, video 
conferencing and recording, and workshops and conferences.''.

SEC. 8. OFFICE OF SPACE COMMERCIALIZATION.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established within the Department of 
Commerce an Office of Space Commercialization (referred to in this 
section as the ``Office'').
    (b) Director.--The Office shall be headed by a Director, who shall 
be a senior executive and shall be compensated at a level in the Senior 
Executive Service under section 5382 of title 5, United States Code, as 
determined by the Secretary of Commerce.
    (c) Functions of the Office; Duties of the Director.--The Office 
shall be the principal unit for the coordination of space-related 
issues, programs, and initiatives within the Department of Commerce. 
The primary responsibilities of the Director, in carrying out the 
functions of the Office, shall include--
        (1) promoting commercial provider investment in space 
    activities by collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information 
    on space markets, and conducting workshops and seminars to increase 
    awareness of commercial space opportunities;
        (2) assisting United States commercial providers in the efforts 
    of those providers to conduct business with the United States 
    Government;
        (3) acting as an industry advocate within the executive branch 
    of the Federal Government to ensure that the Federal Government 
    meets the space-related requirements of the Federal Government, to 
    the fullest extent feasible, using commercially available space 
    goods and services;
        (4) ensuring that the United States Government does not compete 
    with United States commercial providers in the provision of space 
    hardware and services otherwise available from United States 
    commercial providers;
        (5) promoting the export of space-related goods and services;
        (6) representing the Department of Commerce in the development 
    of United States policies and in negotiations with foreign 
    countries to ensure free and fair trade internationally in the area 
    of space commerce; and
        (7) seeking the removal of legal, policy, and institutional 
    impediments to space commerce.

SEC. 9. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COMPETITIVE TECHNOLOGY.

    Section 5 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 
(15 U.S.C. 3704) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Experimental Program To Stimulate Competitive Technology.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Under 
    Secretary, shall establish for fiscal year 1999 a program to be 
    known as the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive 
    Technology (referred to in this subsection as the `program'). The 
    purpose of the program shall be to strengthen the technological 
    competitiveness of those States that have historically received 
    less Federal research and development funds than those received by 
    a majority of the States.
        ``(2) Arrangements.--In carrying out the program, the 
    Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, shall--
            ``(A) enter into such arrangements as may be necessary to 
        provide for the coordination of the program through the State 
        committees established under the Experimental Program to 
        Stimulate Competitive Research of the National Science 
        Foundation; and
            ``(B) cooperate with--
                ``(i) any State science and technology council 
            established under the program under subparagraph (A); and
                ``(ii) representatives of small business firms and 
            other appropriate technology-based businesses.
        ``(3) Grants and cooperative agreements.--In carrying out the 
    program, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, may 
    make grants or enter into cooperative agreements to provide for--
            ``(A) technology research and development;
            ``(B) technology transfer from university research;
            ``(C) technology deployment and diffusion; and
            ``(D) the strengthening of technological capabilities 
        through consortia comprised of--
                ``(i) technology-based small business firms;
                ``(ii) industries and emerging companies;
                ``(iii) universities; and
                ``(iv) State and local development agencies and 
            entities.
        ``(4) Requirements for making awards.--
            ``(A) In general.--In making awards under this subsection, 
        the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, shall ensure 
        that the awards are awarded on a competitive basis that 
        includes a review of the merits of the activities that are the 
        subject of the award.
            ``(B) Matching requirement.--The non-Federal share of the 
        activities (other than planning activities) carried out under 
        an award under this subsection shall be not less than 25 
        percent of the cost of those activities.
        ``(5) Criteria for states.--The Secretary, acting through the 
    Under Secretary, shall establish criteria for achievement by each 
    State that participates in the program. Upon the achievement of all 
    such criteria, a State shall cease to be eligible to participate in 
    the program.
        ``(6) Coordination.--To the extent practicable, in carrying out 
    this subsection, the Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary, 
    shall coordinate the program with other programs of the Department 
    of Commerce.
        ``(7) Report.--
            ``(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
        the enactment of the Technology Administration Act of 1998, the 
        Under Secretary shall prepare and submit a report that meets 
        the requirements of this paragraph to the Secretary. Upon 
        receipt of the report, the Secretary shall transmit a copy of 
        the report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
        Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science of 
        the House of Representatives.
            ``(B) Requirements for report.--The report prepared under 
        this paragraph shall contain with respect to the program--
                ``(i) a description of the structure and procedures of 
            the program;
                ``(ii) a management plan for the program;
                ``(iii) a description of the merit-based review process 
            to be used in the program;
                ``(iv) milestones for the evaluation of activities to 
            be assisted under the program in fiscal year 1999;
                ``(v) an assessment of the eligibility of each State 
            that participates in the Experimental Program to Stimulate 
            Competitive Research of the National Science Foundation to 
            participate in the program under this subsection; and
                ``(vi) the evaluation criteria with respect to which 
            the overall management and effectiveness of the program 
            will be evaluated.''.

SEC. 10. NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY MEDAL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY.

    In the administration of section 16 of the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711), Environmental 
Technology shall be established as a separate nomination category with 
appropriate unique criteria for that category.

SEC. 11. INTERNATIONAL ARCTIC RESEARCH CENTER.

    The Congress finds that the International Arctic Research Center is 
an internationally-supported effort to conduct important weather and 
climate studies, and other research projects of benefit to the United 
States. It is, therefore, the sense of the Congress that, as with 
similar research conducted in the Antarctic, the United States should 
provide similar support for this important effort.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.