National Institute for the Environment Act

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Institute for the 
Environment Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            (1) An appropriate scientific understanding of the diverse 
        physical, biological, engineering, social, and economic issues 
        that underlie the environmental problems facing the United 
        States is essential to finding environmentally and economically 
        sound solutions to the problems.
            (2) While more than a dozen Federal agencies support 
        environmental research and gather environmental information, 
        there is not a lead Federal agency for environmental research 
        and information.
            (3) The current approach of the Federal Government to 
        developing a scientific understanding of environmental 
        problems, and of applying that understanding to the problems, 
        lacks coherence and often fails to provide information vital to 
        finding sound solutions to the problems.
            (4) The United States needs to improve the scientific basis 
        for decisionmaking by Federal, State, and local governments, 
        and private sector entities, on environmental issues.
            (5) Many environmental issues that will seriously affect 
        the United States in the future are not adequately studied 
        under existing Federal environmental research programs.
            (6) Existing Federal environmental research programs often 
        do not provide adequate information in a timely manner to 
        enable Federal, State, and local governments, and private 
        sector entities, to engage in well-informed decisionmaking on 
        environmental and related issues.
            (7) Existing Federal environmental research programs do not 
        adequately address, link, and integrate research in different 
        disciplinary, interdisciplinary, and multidisciplinary 
        environmental sciences.
            (8) Ongoing study and communication of the existing 
        knowledge about environmental issues, including the assessment 
        of the significance of the knowledge, are needed to strengthen 
        the weak link between scientific knowledge and decisionmaking 
        on environmental issues.
            (9) Easy and effective access, including access by the 
        scientific community, to the many rapidly growing sources of 
        environmental information would improve the effectiveness of 
        research on, and communication about, environmental issues.
            (10) To address the complex environmental problems facing 
        the United States, there is a growing need for more education 
        and training of individuals in disciplinary, interdisciplinary, 
        and multidisciplinary sciences related to the environment.
    (b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to create an 
independent establishment to improve the scientific basis for making 
decisions on environmental issues through support for competitive, 
peer-reviewed, extramural research, ongoing knowledge assessments, data 
and information activities, and education and training on environmental 
issues.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.

    There is established as an independent establishment an institute 
to be known as the ``National Institute for the Environment'' (referred 
to in this Act as the ``Institute''). The mission of the Institute 
shall be to improve the scientific basis for decisionmaking on 
environmental issues.

SEC. 4. DUTIES.

    The Institute shall have the following duties:
            (1) To increase scientific understanding of environmental 
        issues (including environmental resources, systems, and 
        sustainability, and the human dimensions associated with 
        environmental issues) by initiating and supporting credible, 
        extramural, problem-focused, peer-reviewed basic and applied 
        scientific environmental research and other disciplinary, 
        multidisciplinary, and interdisciplinary environmental 
        programs. The support of research and programs under this 
        paragraph may include the provision of financial assistance 
        pursuant to section 8, including grants, contracts, and 
        cooperative agreements.
            (2) To assist decisionmaking on environmental issues by 
        providing ongoing, comprehensive assessments of knowledge of 
        environmental issues. The performance of assessments under this 
        paragraph shall include the following:
                    (A) Summarizing the state of the knowledge.
                    (B) Assessing the implications of the knowledge.
                    (C) Identifying additional research that will 
                provide information needed for decisionmaking by 
                Federal, State, and local governments, and private 
                sector entities, on environmental issues.
                    (D) Analyzing constraints that may affect the 
                conduct of research described in subparagraph (C), 
                including the existence of limited technological, 
                human, and economic resources.
                    (E) Communicating the results of assessments under 
                this paragraph to relevant Federal, State, and local 
                government decisionmakers and the public.
            (3) To serve as the foremost provider and facilitator in 
        the United States of access to current and easy-to-use peer-
        reviewed scientific and technical information about the 
        environment. The provision and facilitation of access to 
        information under this paragraph shall include the following:
                    (A) Providing and facilitating access to credible 
                environmental information (including scientific and 
                technological results of environmental research) for 
                relevant Federal, State, and local government 
                decisionmakers, policy analysts, researchers, resource 
                managers, educators, information professionals 
                (including computer and telecommunications 
                specialists), and the general public.
                    (B) Establishing an electronic network that--
                            (i) uses existing telecommunications 
                        infrastructures to provide single-point access 
                        to environmental information; and
                            (ii) includes existing collections of 
                        environmental information, such as libraries, 
                        specialized information centers, data and 
                        statistical centers, and government and private 
                        sector repositories of regional, event-driven, 
                        or ecosystem information.
                    (C) Identifying and encouraging the effective 
                application of state-of-the-art information 
                technologies to promote the availability and use of, 
                and access to, environmental knowledge.
                    (D) Providing long-term stewardship of the 
                environmental information resources of the United 
                States, including efforts to ensure the continued 
                usefulness of the resources, through the promotion and 
                development of policies and standards for providing 
                access to environmental information, and through the 
                support of relevant research and development.
            (4) To sponsor higher education and training in 
        environmental fields in order to contribute to a greater public 
        understanding of the environment and to ensure that the United 
        States has a core of scientifically educated and trained 
        personnel who possess skills to meet the environmental needs of 
        the United States. The sponsorship of education and training 
        under this paragraph shall include the following:
                    (A) Awarding scholarships, traineeships, and 
                graduate fellowships at appropriate nonprofit 
                institutions of the United States for study and 
                research in natural and social sciences and engineering 
                related to the environment.
                    (B) Supporting curriculum and program development 
                in fields related to the environment.
                    (C) Promoting the involvement of women, minorities, 
                and other underrepresented groups.
            (5) To encourage and support the development and use of 
        methods and technologies that increase scientific and general 
        understanding of the environment and minimize adverse 
        environmental impact.
            (6) To evaluate the status and needs of the various 
        environmental sciences and fields.
            (7) To foster interchange of scientific information about 
        the environment among scientists, Federal, State, and local 
        government decisionmakers, and the public.
            (8) To identify and seek to address emerging environmental 
        issues and all aspects of scientific, technological, and 
        societal aspects of environmental problems.
            (9) To establish research priorities for the Institute for 
        environmental issues of global, national, and regional 
        significance.

SEC. 5. GOVERNING BOARD.

    (a) Establishment.--There shall be a Governing Board for the 
Institute (referred to in this Act as the ``Board'') which shall 
establish the policies and priorities of the Institute.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Board shall be composed of 18 members 
        who shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice 
        and consent of the Senate.
            (2) Representation on the board.--
                    (A) In general.--The members of the Board shall 
                include individuals--
                            (i) who, as scientists and users of 
                        scientific information, are representative of 
                        diverse groups and entities, including States, 
                        academic institutions, businesses, 
                        environmental groups, citizens groups, and 
                        other appropriate organizations;
                            (ii) who have a distinguished record of 
                        service in their fields; and
                            (iii) who, among the scientific members of 
                        the Board, represent the diversity of 
                        scientific fields that study the environment.
                    (B) Selection of certain groups.--In making 
                appointments under this subsection, the President shall 
                seek to provide for representation on the Board of 
                women, minority groups, and individuals recommended by 
                the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy 
                of Engineering, and other groups.
    (c) Terms.--
            (1) Initial terms.--Members initially appointed to the 
        Board shall serve for the following terms:
                    (A) 6 members shall serve for an initial term of 2 
                years.
                    (B) 6 members shall serve for an initial term of 4 
                years.
                    (C) 6 members shall serve for an initial term of 6 
                years.
            (2) Subsequent terms.--On completion of a term referred to 
        in paragraph (1), each member of the Board subsequently 
        appointed or reappointed shall serve for a term of 6 years, 
        with a maximum of 2 consecutive terms for any member appointed 
        under this section.
    (d) Administration.--
            (1) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Board who is not 
        an officer or employee of the United States may receive travel 
        expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in the 
        same manner as travel expenses are allowed under section 5703 
        of title 5, United States Code, for persons serving 
        intermittently in the Government service.
            (2) Prohibition of compensation of federal employees.--
        Members of the Board who are full-time officers or employees of 
        the United States or Members of Congress may not receive 
        additional pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their 
        service on the Board.
    (e) Chairperson.--The Chairperson of the Board shall be designated 
by the President at the time of the appointment. The term of office of 
the Chairperson shall be 6 years.
    (f) Meetings.--The Board shall meet as needed at the call of the 
Chairperson or a majority of the members of the Board, but not less 
than 4 times a year.
    (g) Reports.--The Board shall periodically submit to the President 
reports on such specific environmental policy matters as the Board, the 
President, or Congress determines to be necessary. After receipt of any 
such report, the President shall transmit the report to Congress in a 
timely fashion, together with any comments that the President considers 
to be appropriate.
    (h) Advisory Committees.--The Board may establish such advisory 
committees as the Board considers necessary to carry out this Act.

SEC. 6. STAFF.

    (a) Director.--
            (1) Appointment.--The Director of the Institute shall be 
        appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent 
        of the Senate.
            (2) Authority.--The Director shall exercise all of the 
        authority granted to the Institute by this Act, including any 
        powers and functions delegated to the Director by the Board. 
        All actions taken by the Director pursuant to this Act, or 
        pursuant to the delegation from the Board, shall be final and 
        binding on the Institute. The Director shall formulate programs 
        consistent with the policies of the Institute and in 
        consultation with the Board and any appropriate advisory 
        committee established pursuant to this Act.
            (3) Pay; term of office.--The Director shall receive basic 
        pay at the rate provided for level II of the Executive Schedule 
        under section 5313 of title 5, United States Code, and shall 
        serve for a term of 6 years.
            (4) NSTC membership.--Section 401(b) of the National 
        Science and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act 
        of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6651(b)) is amended by inserting ``, the 
        Director of the National Institute for the Environment,'' after 
        ``the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
        Policy''.
    (b) Assistant Directors.--The President may, on the recommendation 
of the Director, appoint such assistant Directors as the President 
considers necessary to carry out this Act.

SEC. 7. INTERAGENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Establishment.--There is established an Interagency Advisory 
Committee to ensure that the environmental efforts of the Institute and 
other Federal agencies are complementary.
    (b) Duties.--It shall be the duty of the Interagency Advisory 
Committee established under subsection (a) to provide recommendations 
and advice to the Board to help to ensure that--
            (1) the research priorities and agenda of the Institute 
        support, rather than duplicate or compete with, the research 
        agendas of existing Federal agencies;
            (2) the knowledge assessment activities of the Institute 
        incorporate knowledge obtained and possessed by other Federal 
        agencies, and are useful to the agencies;
            (3) information within the databases of other Federal 
        agencies is available for incorporation into the information 
        network of the Institute; and
            (4) the educational programs of the Institute serve the 
        needs of the United States.
    (c) Composition.--
            (1) In general.--The Interagency Advisory Committee 
        established under subsection (a) shall include directors of 
        research (or individuals who hold a comparable position) from 
        Federal agencies that conduct or use substantial quantities of 
        environmental research, including--
                    (A) the Environmental Protection Agency;
                    (B) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration;
                    (C) the National Science Foundation;
                    (D) the Department of Energy;
                    (E) the Department of the Interior; and
                    (F) the Department of Agriculture.
            (2) Ex officio members.--The Director of the Office of 
        Science and Technology Policy (or a designee of the Director) 
        and the Director of the Office of Environmental Quality (or a 
        designee of the Director) shall serve as ex officio members of 
        the Interagency Advisory Committee.
    (d) Duration.--Section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee 
Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2) shall not apply to the Interagency Advisory 
Committee established under subsection (a).

SEC. 8. FUNDING.

    (a) Authority to Provide Financial Assistance.--The Institute may 
enter into contracts and cooperative agreements and provide financial 
assistance, including grants, to carry out the duties of the Institute 
under this Act.
    (b) Persons Eligible to Receive Funding.--Scientists, engineers, 
and other researchers are eligible to receive funding from the 
Institute under subsection (a), except that--
            (1) scientists from Federal agencies shall not be given a 
        preference for funding based on their employment with the 
        Federal Government; and
            (2) the receipt of funding from the Institute shall be 
        subject to any criteria and other requirements that are 
        prescribed by the Institute.
    (c) Receipt of Funds from Other Persons.--The Institute may, 
subject to the approval of the Board, receive funds from other Federal 
agencies and private sector persons to carry out particular projects 
and activities under this Act. Funds received under this subsection 
shall be deposited in the Treasury and shall be made available to the 
Institute to the extent provided in appropriations Acts.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary 
to carry out this Act.

                                 

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Summary: National Institute for the Environment Act - Establishes the National Institute for the Environment to: (1) increase scientific understanding of environmental issues by supporting scientific environmental research and other environmental programs. (2) assist decision-making on environmental issues by providing assessments of knowledge of such issues. (3) serve as the foremost provider of access to current scientific and technical information about the environment, (4) sponsor higher education and training in environmental fields. (5) support the development of methods and technologies that increase understanding of the environment and minimize adverse environmental impact. (6) evaluate the status and needs of the various environmental sciences and fields, (7) foster interchange of scientific information about the environment, (8) address emerging environmental issues and aspects of environmental problems. And (9) establish research priorities for environmental issues. Establishes a Governing Board for the Institute and an Interagency Advisory Committee to ensure that the environmental efforts of the Institute and Federal agencies are complementary. Makes scientists, engineers, and other researchers eligible to receive funding from the Institute. Authorizes appropriations.