Energy Title of America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015

Summary: Energy Title of America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015 This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reauthorize through FY2020 designated energy research, development, and commercial application programs conducted through the Office of Science of the Department of Energy (DOE). The America COMPETES Act is amended to require the Director of Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) to ensure that ARPA-E funding for a project is not available unless the prospective grantee demonstrates sufficient attempts to secure private financing or indicates that the project is not independently commercially viable. Specified information collected by ARPA-E from financial assistance recipients shall be considered privileged, confidential, and exempt from certain federal information disclosure requirements.  The bill authorizes appropriations for FY2016-FY2020 for the Energy Transformation Acceleration Fund.  The bill repeals funding and authorities for the following programs:    the Nuclear Science Talent Expansion Program For Institutions of Higher Education;  Hydrocarbon Systems Science Competitiveness Grants For Institutions of Higher Education;   Discovery Science and Engineering Innovation Institutes;   National Laboratories Centers of Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics secondary school education,   certain Summer Institutes hosted by a National Laboratory; and   a mentoring program under the Department of Energy Science Education Enhancement Act to recruit mentors for women and underrepresented minorities interested in careers in science, engineering, and mathematics.    With respect to the University Nuclear Science and Engineering Support program, DOE shall award grants of up to five years to institutions of higher education with existing academic degree programs in nuclear sciences and related fields, including nuclear chemistry. Funds are authorized for FY2016-FY2020 for the DOE early career awards for science, engineering, and mathematics researchers program, as well as for its distinguished scientist program.  The diversity requirement for awarding grants under the program for early career awards for science, engineering, and mathematics researchers is revised to substitute a required variety of types of National Laboratories in lieu of a variety of types of nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organizations. The Department of Energy Science Education Enhancement Act is amended to direct the Office of Science to coordinate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education programs across all functions of DOE.  The bill amends the America COMPETES Act to: (1) change the criteria for awarding Protecting America's Competitive Edge (PACE) graduate fellowships, and (2) allow such fellowships to cover either full or partial graduate tuition.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Energy Title of 
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
           TITLE I--ENERGY TITLE OF AMERICA COMPETES PROGRAMS

Sec. 101. Basic research.
Sec. 102. Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy.
          TITLE II--ELIMINATION AND CONSOLIDATION OF PROGRAMS

Sec. 201. Elimination of program authorities.
Sec. 202. Repeal of authorizations.
Sec. 203. Consolidation of duplicative program authorities.

           TITLE I--ENERGY TITLE OF AMERICA COMPETES PROGRAMS

SEC. 101. BASIC RESEARCH.

    Section 971(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16311(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(8) $5,271,000,000 for fiscal year 2016;
            ``(9) $5,485,000,000 for fiscal year 2017;
            ``(10) $5,704,000,000 for fiscal year 2018;
            ``(11) $5,932,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; and
            ``(12) $6,178,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.''.

SEC. 102. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-ENERGY.

    Section 5012 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16538) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``subsection (n)(1)'' 
        and inserting ``subsection (o)(1)'';
            (2) in subsection (i), by striking paragraph (1) and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
        Director shall ensure that--
                    ``(A) the activities of ARPA-E are coordinated 
                with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, programs and 
                laboratories within the Department and other relevant 
                research agencies; and
                    ``(B) ARPA-E does not provide funding for a project 
                unless the prospective grantee demonstrates sufficient 
                attempts to secure private financing or indicates that 
                the project is not independently commercially 
                viable.'';
            (3) by redesignating subsection (n) as subsection (o);
            (4) by inserting after subsection (m) the following:
    ``(n) Protection of Information.--The following types of 
information collected by the ARPA-E from recipients of financial 
assistance awards shall be considered privileged and confidential and 
not subject to disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States 
Code:
            ``(1) Plans for commercialization of technologies developed 
        under the award, including business plans, technology-to-market 
        plans, market studies, and cost and performance models.
            ``(2) Investments provided to an awardee from third parties 
        (such as venture capital firms, hedge funds, and private equity 
        firms), including amounts and the percentage of ownership of 
        the awardee provided in return for the investments.
            ``(3) Additional financial support that the awardee--
                    ``(A) plans to or has invested into the technology 
                developed under the award; or
                    ``(B) is seeking from third parties.
            ``(4) Revenue from the licensing or sale of new products or 
        services resulting from research conducted under the award.''; 
        and
            (5) in subsection (o) (as redesignated by paragraph (3))--
                    (A) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A), by striking ``paragraphs (4) and (5)'' and 
                        inserting ``paragraph (4)'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (iii) in subparagraph (E), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting a semicolon; 
                        and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) $291,200,000 for fiscal year 2016;
                    ``(G) $303,600,000 for fiscal year 2017;
                    ``(H) $314,700,000 for fiscal year 2018;
                    ``(I) $327,300,000 for fiscal year 2019; and
                    ``(J) $340,600,000 for fiscal year 2020 .''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (4)(B), by striking ``(c)(2)(D)'' 
                and inserting ``(c)(2)(C)''.

          TITLE II--ELIMINATION AND CONSOLIDATION OF PROGRAMS

SEC. 201. ELIMINATION OF PROGRAM AUTHORITIES.

    (a) Nuclear Science Talent Expansion Program for Institutions of 
Higher Education.--Section 5004 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 
16532) is repealed.
    (b) Hydrocarbon Systems Science Talent Expansion Program for 
Institutions of Higher Education.--
            (1) In general.--Section 5005(e) of the America COMPETES 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 16533(e)) is repealed.
            (2) Conforming amendments.--
                    (A) Section 5005(f) of the America COMPETES Act (42 
                U.S.C. 16533(f)) is amended--
                            (i) by striking paragraph (2);
                            (ii) by striking the subsection designation 
                        and heading and all that follows through 
                        ``There are'' in paragraph (1) and inserting 
                        the following:
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are''; and
                            (iii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) 
                        through (C) as paragraphs (1) through (3), 
                        respectively, and indenting appropriately.
                    (B) Section 5005 of the America COMPETES Act (42 
                U.S.C. 16533) is amended by redesignating subsection 
                (f) as subsection (e).
    (c) Discovery Science and Engineering Innovation Institutes.--
Section 5008 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16535) is repealed.
    (d) Elimination of Duplicative Authority for Education Programs.--
Sections 3181 and 3185 of the Department of Energy Science Education 
Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381l, 42 U.S.C. 7381n) are repealed.
    (e) Mentoring Program.--Section 3195 of the Department of Energy 
Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381r) is repealed.

SEC. 202. REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATIONS.

    (a) Department of Energy Early Career Awards for Science, 
Engineering, and Mathematics Researchers.--Section 5006 of the America 
COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16534) is amended by striking subsection (h).
    (b) Distinguished Scientist Program.--Section 5011 of the America 
COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16537) is amended by striking subsection (j).
    (c) Protecting America's Competitive Edge (PACE) Graduate 
Fellowship Program.--Section 5009 of the America COMPETES Act (42 
U.S.C. 16536) is amended by striking subsection (f).

SEC. 203. CONSOLIDATION OF DUPLICATIVE PROGRAM AUTHORITIES.

    (a) University Nuclear Science and Engineering Support.--Section 
954 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16274) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``nuclear chemistry,'' 
        after ``nuclear engineering,''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as 
                paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) award grants, not to exceed 5 years in duration, to 
        institutions of higher education with existing academic degree 
        programs in nuclear sciences and related fields--
                    ``(A) to increase the number of graduates in 
                nuclear science and related fields;
                    ``(B) to enhance the teaching and research of 
                advanced nuclear technologies;
                    ``(C) to undertake collaboration with industry and 
                National Laboratories; and
                    ``(D) to bolster or sustain nuclear infrastructure 
                and research facilities of institutions of higher 
                education, such as research and training reactors and 
                laboratories;''.
    (b) Consolidation of Department of Energy Early Career Awards for 
Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Researchers Program and 
Distinguished Scientist Program.--
            (1) Funding.--Section 971(c) of the Energy Policy Act of 
        2005 (42 U.S.C. 16311(c)) is amended by adding at the end the 
        following:
            ``(8) For the Department of Energy early career awards for 
        science, engineering, and mathematics researchers program under 
        section 5006 of the America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16534) and 
        the distinguished scientist program under section 5011 of that 
        Act (42 U.S.C. 16537), $150,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
        2016 through 2020, of which not more than 65 percent of the 
        amount made available for a fiscal year under this paragraph 
        may be used to carry out section 5006 or 5011 of that Act.''.
            (2) Department of energy early career awards for science, 
        engineering, and mathematics researchers.--Section 5006 of the 
        America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 16534) is amended--
                    (A) in subsection (b)(1)--
                            (i) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
                        (A)--
                                    (I) by inserting ``average'' before 
                                ``amount''; and
                                    (II) by inserting ``for each year'' 
                                before ``shall'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
                        ``$80,000'' and inserting ``$190,000''; and
                            (iii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                        ``$125,000'' and inserting ``$490,000'';
                    (B) in subsection (c)(1)(C)--
                            (i) in clause (i)--
                                    (I) by striking ``assistant 
                                professor or equivalent title'' and 
                                inserting ``untenured assistant or 
                                associate professor''; and
                                    (II) by inserting ``or'' after the 
                                semicolon at the end;
                            (ii) by striking clause (ii); and
                            (iii) by redesignating clause (iii) as 
                        clause (ii);
                    (C) in subsection (d), by striking ``on a 
                competitive, merit-reviewed basis'' and inserting 
                ``through a competitive process using merit-based peer 
                review.'';
                    (D) in subsection (e)--
                            (i) by striking ``(e)'' and all that 
                        follows through ``To be eligible'' and 
                        inserting the following:
    ``(e) Selection Process and Criteria.--To be eligible''; and
                            (ii) by striking paragraph (2); and
                    (E) in subsection (f)(1), by striking ``nonprofit, 
                nondegree-granting research organizations'' and 
                inserting ``National Laboratories''.
    (c) Science Education Programs.--Section 3164 of the Department of 
Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381a) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) and 
                inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--The Director of the Office of Science 
        (referred to in this subsection as the ``Director'') shall 
        provide for appropriate coordination of science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics education programs across all 
        functions of the Department.
            ``(2) Administration.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Director shall--
                    ``(A) consult with--
                            ``(i) the Assistant Secretary of Energy 
                        with responsibility for energy efficiency and 
                        renewable energy programs; and
                            ``(ii) the Deputy Administrator for Defense 
                        Programs of the National Nuclear Security 
                        Administration; and
                    ``(B) seek to increase the participation and 
                advancement of women and underrepresented minorities at 
                every level of science, technology, engineering, and 
                mathematics education.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (D), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (ii) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as 
                        subparagraph (F); and
                            (iii) by inserting after subparagraph (D) 
                        the following:
                    ``(E) represent the Department as the principal 
                interagency liaison for all coordination activities 
                under the President for science, technology, 
                engineering, and mathematics education programs; and''; 
                and
            (2) in subsection (d)--
                    (A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting the 
                following:
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(2) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of this subparagraph, the Director shall submit a 
        report describing the impact of the activities assisted with 
        the Fund established under paragraph (1) to--
                    ``(A) the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                Technology of the House of Representatives; and
                    ``(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
                of the Senate.''.
    (d) Protecting America's Competitive Edge (PACE) Graduate 
Fellowship Program.--Section 5009 of the America COMPETES Act (42 
U.S.C. 16536) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1) by striking ``, involving'' 
                and all that follows through ``Secretary''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), by striking subparagraph (B) 
                and inserting the following:
                    ``(B) to demonstrate excellent academic performance 
                and understanding of scientific or technical subjects; 
                and'';
            (2) in subsection (d)(1)(B)(i), by inserting ``full or 
        partial'' before ``graduate tuition''; and
            (3) in subsection (e), in the matter preceding paragraph 
        (1), by striking ``Director of Science, Engineering, and 
        Mathematics Education'' and inserting ``Director of the Office 
        of Science.''