59–006 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 110–39 

SOWING THE SEEDS THROUGH SCIENCE AND 

ENGINEERING RESEARCH ACT 

MARCH 8, 2007.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. GORDON of Tennessee, from the Committee on Science and 

Technology, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 363] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Science and Technology, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 363) to authorize appropriations for basic research and research infrastructure in science and engineering, and 

for support of graduate fellowships, and for other purposes, having 

considered the same, reports favorably thereon with amendments 

and recommends that the bill as amended do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

I. Amendment ................................................................................................. 2 

II. Purpose of the Bill ...................................................................................... 5 

III. Background and Need for the Legislation ................................................ 5 

IV. Hearing Summary ....................................................................................... 6 

V. Committee Actions ...................................................................................... 7 

VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill .................................................. 7 

VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (by Title and Section) .................................. 8 

VIII. Committee Views ........................................................................................ 10 

IX. Cost Estimate .............................................................................................. 12 

X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate ............................................. 12 

XI. Compliance with Public Law 104–4 .......................................................... 14 

XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations ........................... 14 

XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives ...................... 15 

XIV. Constitutional Authority Statement .......................................................... 15 

XV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement ................................................... 15 

XVI. Congressional Accountability Act .............................................................. 15 

XVII. Earmark Identification ............................................................................... 15 

XVIII. Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law ........................ 15 

XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ........................ 15 

XX. Committee Recommendations .................................................................... 15 

XXI. Proceedings of the Full Committee Markup ............................................. 16 

2 

I. AMENDMENT

The amendments are as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering 

Research Act’’. 

SEC. 2. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION EARLY CAREER AWARDS FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCHERS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National Science Foundation shall carry out 

a program to award grants to scientists and engineers at the early stage of their 

careers at institutions of higher education and organizations described in subsection 

(c)(2) to conduct research in fields relevant to the mission of the Foundation. The 

existing Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program may be designated 

as the mechanism for awarding such grants. 

(b) SIZE AND DURATION OF AWARD.—The duration of awards under this section 

shall be 5 years, and the amount per year shall be at least $80,000. 

(c) ELIGIBILITY.—Award recipients shall be individuals who are employed in a tenure-track position as an assistant professor or equivalent title, or who hold an equivalent position, at— (1) an institution of higher education in the United States; or 

(2) an organization in the United States that is a nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organization such as a museum, observatory, or research laboratory. 

(d) SELECTION.—Award recipients shall be selected on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis. 

(e) SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA FOR AWARDS.—An applicant seeking funding under this section shall submit a proposal to the Director at such time, in such 

manner, and containing such information as the Director may require. In evaluating 

the proposals submitted under this section, the Director shall consider, at a minimum—

(1) the intellectual merit of the proposed work; 

(2) the innovative or transformative nature of the proposed research; 

(3) the extent to which the proposal integrates research and education, including undergraduate education in science and engineering disciplines; and 

(4) the potential of the applicant for leadership at the frontiers of knowledge. 

(f) AWARDS.—In awarding grants under this section, the Director shall endeavor 

to ensure that the recipients are from a variety of types of institutions of higher 

education and nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organizations. In support of 

this goal, the Director shall broadly disseminate information about when and how 

to apply for grants under this section, including by conducting outreach to Historically Black Colleges and Universities that are part B institutions as defined in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)) and minority 

institutions (as defined in section 365(3) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3))). 

(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.—For each of the fiscal years 2008 through 

2012, the Director shall allocate at least 3.5 percent of funds appropriated to the 

National Science Foundation for Research and Related Activities to the grants program under this section. 

(h) REPORT.—Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the 

Director shall transmit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House 

of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

of the Senate a report describing the distribution of the institutions from which individuals have participated in the Faculty Early Career Development Program since 

fiscal year 2001 among each of the categories of institutions of higher education defined by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the organizations in subsection (c)(2). 

(i) EVALUATION.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, 

the Director shall transmit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the 

House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report evaluating the impact of the program carried out 

under this section on the ability of young faculty to compete for National Science 

Foundation research grants. 

SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY EARLY CAREER AWARDS FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 

RESEARCHERS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Office of Science of the Department of Energy shall carry out a program to award grants to scientists and engineers at the 

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scribed in subsection (c)(2) to conduct research in fields relevant to the mission of 

the Department. 

(b) SIZE AND DURATION OF AWARD.—The duration of awards under this section 

shall be up to 5 years, and the amount per year shall be at least $80,000. 

(c) ELIGIBILITY.—Award recipients shall be individuals who are employed in a tenure-track position as an assistant professor or equivalent title, or who hold an equivalent position, at—

(1) an institution of higher education in the United States; or 

(2) an organization in the United States that is a nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organization such as a museum, observatory, or research laboratory. 

(d) SELECTION.—Award recipients shall be selected on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis. 

(e) SELECTION PROCESS AND CRITERIA FOR AWARDS.—An applicant seeking funding under this section shall submit a proposal to the Director of the Office of Science 

at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may 

require. In evaluating the proposals submitted under this section, the Director shall 

consider, at a minimum—

(1) the intellectual merit of the proposed work; 

(2) the innovative or transformative nature of the proposed research; 

(3) the extent to which the proposal integrates research and education, including undergraduate education in science and engineering disciplines; and 

(4) the potential of the applicant for leadership at the frontiers of knowledge. 

(f) COLLABORATION WITH NATIONAL LABORATORIES.—In awarding grants under 

this section, the Director shall give priority to proposals in which the proposed work 

includes collaboration with the Department of Energy National Laboratories. 

(g) AWARDS.—In awarding grants under this section, the Director shall endeavor 

to ensure that the recipients are from a variety of types of institutions of higher 

education and nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organizations. In support of 

this goal, the Director shall broadly disseminate information about when and how 

to apply for grants under this section, including by conducting outreach to Historically Black Colleges and Universities that are part B institutions as defined in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)) and minority 

institutions (as defined in section 365(3) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3))). 

(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated 

to the Secretary of Energy to carry out the Director’s responsibilities under this section $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 

(i) REPORT ON RECRUITING AND RETAINING EARLY CAREER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCHERS AT THE NATIONAL LABORATORIES.—Not later than 3 months 

after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science shall 

transmit to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report 

on efforts to recruit and retain young scientists and engineers at the early stages 

of their careers at the Department of Energy National Laboratories. The report 

shall include—

(1) a description of Department of Energy and National Laboratory policies 

and procedures, including financial incentives, awards, promotions, time set 

aside for independent research, access to equipment or facilities, and other 

forms of recognition, designed to attract and retain young scientists and engineers; 

(2) an evaluation of the impact of these incentives on the careers of young 

scientists and engineers at Department of Energy National Laboratories, and 

also on the quality of the research at the National Laboratories and in Department of Energy programs; 

(3) a description of what barriers, if any, exist to efforts to recruit and retain 

young scientists and engineers, including limited availability of full time equivalent positions, legal and procedural requirements, and pay grading systems; and 

(4) the amount of funding devoted to efforts to recruit and retain young researchers and the source of such funds. 

SEC. 4. INTEGRATIVE GRADUATE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH TRAINEESHIP PROGRAM. 

(a) FUNDING.—For each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012, the Director of the 

National Science Foundation shall allocate at least 1.5 percent of funds appropriated 

for Research and Related Activities to the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program. 

(b) COORDINATION.—The Director shall coordinate with Federal departments and 

agencies, as appropriate, to expand the interdisciplinary nature of the Integrative 

Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program. 


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(c) AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT FUNDS FROM OTHER AGENCIES.—The Director is authorized to accept funds from other Federal departments and agencies to carry out 

the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program. 

SEC. 5. PRESIDENTIAL INNOVATION AWARD. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President shall periodically present the Presidential Innovation Award, on the basis of recommendations received from the Director of the 

Office of Science and Technology Policy or on the basis of such other information 

as the President considers appropriate, to individuals who develop one or more 

unique scientific or engineering ideas in the national interest at the time the innovation occurs. 

(b) PURPOSE.—The awards under this section shall be made to— (1) stimulate scientific and engineering advances in the national interest; 

(2) illustrate the linkage between science and engineering and national needs; 

and 

(3) provide an example to students of the contribution they could make to society by entering the science and engineering profession. 

(c) CITIZENSHIP.—An individual is not eligible to receive the award under this section unless at the time such award is made the individual— (1) is a citizen or other national of the United States; or 

(2) is an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence 

who—(A) has filed an application for naturalization in the manner prescribed 

by section 334 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1445); and 

(B) is not permanently ineligible to become a citizen of the United States. 

(d) PRESENTATION.—The presentation of the award shall be made by the President 

with such ceremonies as he may deem proper, including attendance by appropriate 

Members of Congress. 

SEC. 6. NATIONAL COORDINATION OFFICE FOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish a 

National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure. Such Office shall— (1) identify and prioritize the deficiencies in research facilities and major instrumentation located at academic institutions and at national laboratories that 

are available for use by academic researchers; and 

(2) institute and coordinate the planning by Federal agencies for the acquisition, refurbishment, and maintenance of research facilities and major instrumentation required to address the deficiencies identified under paragraph (1). 

In prioritizing the deficiencies identified under paragraph (1), the Office shall consider research needs in areas relevant to the Nation’s economic competitiveness. 

(b) STAFFING.—The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 

appoint individuals to serve in the Office established under subsection (a) from 

among the principal Federal agencies that support research in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering, and shall at a minimum include individuals from the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. 

(c) REPORT.—The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall provide annually a report to Congress at the time of the President’s budget proposal— (1) describing the research infrastructure needs identified in accordance with 

subsection (a); 

(2) listing research facilities projects and budget proposals, by agency, for 

major instrumentation acquisitions that are included in the President’s budget 

proposal; and 

(3) explaining how these facilities projects and instrumentation acquisitions 

relate to the deficiencies and priorities arrived at in accordance with subsection 

(a). 

SEC. 7. RESEARCH ON INNOVATION AND INVENTIVENESS. 

In carrying out its research programs on science policy and on the science of 

learning, the National Science Foundation may support research on the process of 

innovation and the teaching of inventiveness. 

SEC. 8. REPORT ON NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY EFFORTS TO 

RECRUIT AND RETAIN EARLY CAREER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCHERS. 

Not later than 3 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of 

the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall transmit to the Committee 

on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and to the Committee 

on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on efforts to recruit and retain young scientists and engineers at the early stages of their careers 

at the National Institute of Standards and Technology laboratories and joint institutes. The report shall include—


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(1) a description of National Institute of Standards and Technology policies 

and procedures, including financial incentives, awards, promotions, time set 

aside for independent research, access to equipment or facilities, and other 

forms of recognition, designed to attract and retain young scientists and engineers; 

(2) an evaluation of the impact of these incentives on the careers of young 

scientists and engineers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 

and also on the quality of the research at the National Institute of Standards 

and Technology’s laboratories and in the National Institute of Standards and 

Technology’s programs; 

(3) a description of what barriers, if any, exist to efforts to recruit and retain 

young scientists and engineers, including limited availability of full time equivalent positions, legal and procedural requirements, and pay grading systems; and 

(4) the amount of funding devoted to efforts to recruit and retain young researchers and the source of such funds. 

SEC. 9. NASA’S CONTRIBUTION TO INNOVATION. 

(a) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Congress that— (1) 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 

(2) 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. 

(b) PARTICIPATION IN INNOVATION AND COMPETITIVENESS PROGRAMS.—The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall fully participate 

in any interagency efforts to promote innovation and economic competitiveness 

through scientific research and development within the spending levels cited in subsection (a). 

Amend the title so as to read: 

A bill to authorize programs for support of the early career development of science 

and engineering researchers, and for support of graduate fellowships, and for other 

purposes. 

II. PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of the bill is to bolster the research base in the 

United States by strengthening federal investment in the basic research that provides the background knowledge necessary for future technology developments. 

III. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

Science, technology, and global competitiveness 

While the U.S. continues to lead the world in measures of innovation capacity—research and development (R&D) spending, number of scientists and engineers, scientific output, etc.—recent statistics on the level of U.S. support for research relative to other countries indicate that this lead may be slipping. At the same time, 

other nations—particularly emergent nations such as China and 

India—have recognized the importance of innovation to economic 

growth, and are pouring resources into their scientific and technological infrastructure, rapidly building their innovation capacity 

and increasing their ability to compete with the United States in 

the global economy. 

Federal role in innovation 

A number of recent reports have outlined the issues that the 

United States faces as it tries to maintain a position of leadership 

in science and technology and have offered recommendations for 


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what the nation should do to ensure its economic and national security. The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) report, Rising 

Above the Gathering Storm, describes how science and engineering 

are critical to American prosperity, examines how the United 

States is doing relative to other countries in science and technology 

today and makes recommendations on how federal programs in 

support of research and education could be improved to position the 

nation to make the next generation of innovations needed to maintain U.S. competitiveness and security going forward. Other reports 

on this topic include the National Innovation Initiative, from the 

Council on Competitiveness, which emphasizes the need to 

strengthen the innovation infrastructure in the United States to 

ensure future prosperity, and the National Defense Education and 

Innovation Initiative, from the Association of American Universities, which focuses on actions universities and the federal government can take to meet oncoming economic and security challenges. 

This Act focuses on some of the recommendations made in these 

reports that relate to science and technology research funding. It 

strengthens federal support for science and engineering researchers 

at the early stages of their careers, expands the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program at NSF, establishes a Presidential Innovation Award, establishes a coordination 

office for research infrastructure, and authorizes NSF to support 

research on innovation. 

Support for young researchers is essential because they face the 

greatest hurdles in setting up laboratories and obtaining research 

grants, yet they are the ones who are most likely to cross traditional disciplinary boundaries and do innovative or transformative 

work. 

IV. HEARING SUMMARY

During the 109th Congress, the House Committee on Science 

held two hearings relevant to H.R. 363. On Thursday, July 21, 

2005, the Committee on Science held a hearing to examine the relationship between federal science and engineering research and 

education investments and U.S. economic competitiveness. The witnesses were Mr. Nicholas Donofrio, Executive Vice President for Innovation and Technology at IBM Corporation; Mr. John Morgridge, 

Chairman of Cisco Systems, Incorporated, and part-time professor 

at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business; and Dr. William Brody, President of The Johns Hopkins University and cochair of the Council on Competitiveness working group that authored the National Innovation Initiative. 

The witnesses emphasized that the educational system needs to 

provide students with a solid background in science and engineering fields so that the United States has access to a technologicallyliterate workforce. The witnesses also stressed that investments in 

basic university research provide the background knowledge necessary for future technology developments. 

On Thursday, October 20, 2005, the Committee on Science held 

a hearing to receive testimony on the report released by NAS on 

October 12 entitled Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing 

and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. The report, which was requested by Congress, recommends ways to 

strengthen research and education in science and technology. The 


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witnesses were Mr. Norman R. Augustine, retired Chairman and 

CEO of the Lockheed Martin Corporation (Mr. Augustine chaired 

the committee that wrote the report); Dr. P. Roy Vagelos, retired 

Chairman and CEO of Merck & Co. (Dr. Vagelos served on the 

committee that wrote the report), and Dr. William A. Wulf, President of the National Academy of Engineering. 

The witnesses emphasized that solving the problems of global 

economic competition requires significant improvements to America’s K–12 and higher education systems and greater support for 

basic research, including innovative research in cutting-edge fields. 

The witnesses also stressed that the U.S. ability to innovate has 

been the source of U.S. prosperity and security, so future policy decisions should be aimed at generating an environment that supports innovation by creating a vibrant research base, educated 

workforce, and social climate that encourages students to pursue 

science and technology degrees. 

V. COMMITTEE ACTIONS

On January 10, 2007, Rep. Bart Gordon, Chairman of the Committee on Science and Technology, introduced H.R. 363, the Sowing 

the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act, a bill to 

authorize appropriations for basic research and research infrastructure in science and engineering, and for support of graduate fellowships, and for other purposes. 

The Full Committee on Science and Technology met on Wednesday, February 28, 2007, to consider the bill. Mr. Gordon and Mr. 

Hall offered a manager’s amendment in the nature of a substitute 

that 

• removed Section 2, which spelled out authorizations of specific appropriations at the various federal agencies; 

• recast Section 7 as a coordination activity at OSTP; 

• added a section directing NIST to transmit a report to 

Congress on their efforts to recruit and retain young scientists 

and engineers; and 

• added a section expressing the sense of Congress that a 

balanced and robust research program at NASA is a critical 

component of the national innovation agenda. 

The amendment was adopted by a voice vote. The bill was then 

approved by a voice vote. 

Rep. Ralph Hall, ranking minority member of the Committee, 

moved that the Committee favorably report the bill, H.R. 363, to 

the House with the recommendation that the bill do pass, and that 

the staff be instructed to make technical and conforming changes 

to the bill and prepare the legislative report and that the Chairman take all necessary steps to bring the bill before the House for 

consideration. With a quorum present, the motion was agreed to by 

a voice vote. 

VI. SUMMARY OF MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE BILL

This bill 

• authorizes a program at NSF to fund young faculty via 

grants of at least $80,000 per year over five years to help researchers pursue innovative or transformative research and requires that NSF allocate at least 3.5 percent of funds approVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:11 Mar 14, 2007 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR039.XXX HR039

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priated to Research and Related Activities (R&RA) for these 

grants; 

• establishes a similar program at the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science with authorized appropriations of 

$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012; 

• directs NSF to spend at least 1.5 percent of R&RA funds 

on the Integrative Graduate Education and Research 

Traineeship program; 

• establishes a Presidential Innovation Award for individuals who develop unique scientific or engineering breakthroughs in the national interest; 

• establishes at the Office of Science and Technology Policy 

(OSTP) a National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure, charged with identifying and prioritizing deficiencies in 

research facilities and instrumentation in academic institutions 

and in national laboratories; 

• allows NSF to support research on the process of innovation and the teaching of inventiveness; 

• directs NIST and DOE to report to Congress on their efforts to recruit and retain young scientists and engineers; and 

• expresses the sense of Congress that a balanced and robust science program at NASA contributes significantly to innovation and economic competitiveness. 

VII. SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS

Section 1. Short title 

Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research 

Act 

Section 2. National Science Foundation early career awards for 

science and engineering researchers 

Establishes a program at NSF to award grants to scientists and 

engineers at the early stage of their careers at institutions of higher education and research institutions. Allows the existing Faculty 

Early Career Development (CAREER) Program to be designated as 

the mechanism for awarding such grants. Sets the duration of the 

awards to be five years and the amount per year to be at least 

$80,000. Eligible applicants are tenure-track faculty at institutions 

of higher education or the equivalent at research organizations, 

such as observatories. Requires the award recipients to be selected 

on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, based on the intellectual 

merit of the proposed work; the innovative or transformative nature of the proposed research; the extent to which the proposal integrates research and education, including undergraduate education in science and engineering disciplines; and the potential of 

the applicant for leadership at the frontiers of knowledge. Requires 

the Director of NSF to allocate at least 3.5 percent of funds appropriated for R&RA each year to the grants program under this section. 

Requires the Director of NSF to provide to Congress within six 

months a report describing the distribution of the CAREER Program awardees since fiscal year 2001 among different types of institutions. Requires the Director to provide to Congress within two 


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years a report evaluating the impact of the CAREER Program on 

the ability of young faculty to compete for NSF research grants. 

Section 3. Department of Energy early career awards for science and 

engineering researchers 

Establishes at the DOE Office of Science a program to award 

grants to scientists and engineers at the early stage of their careers 

at institutions of higher education and research institutions. Allows 

the awards to be for up to five years and the amount per year to 

be at least $80,000. Eligible applicants are tenure-track faculty at 

institutions of higher education or the equivalent at research organizations, such as observatories. Requires the award recipients to 

be selected via a merit-reviewed competition, based on the intellectual merit of the proposed work; the innovative or transformative 

nature of the proposed research; the extent to which the proposal 

integrates research and education, including undergraduate education in science and engineering disciplines; and the potential of 

the applicant for leadership at the frontiers of knowledge. Requires 

the Director of the Office of Science to give priority to proposals in 

which the proposed work includes collaboration with a National 

Laboratory. Authorizes appropriations for the program of 

$25,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 

Requires the Director of the Office of Science to provide to Congress within three months of enactment a report on efforts to recruit and retain young scientists and engineers at the early stages 

of their careers at the civilian National Laboratories. The report 

shall include a description of incentives for recruitment and retention, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the incentives, a description of barriers to recruitment and retention, and the amount and 

source of funding devoted to recruitment and retention efforts. 

Section 4. Integrative Graduate Education and Research 

Traineeship Program 

Directs NSF to allocate at least 1.5 percent of the amounts appropriated for R&RA to the Integrative Graduate Education and 

Research Traineeship (IGERT) program, which provides support for 

graduate students in fields relevant to national needs. It requires 

NSF to coordinate with other agencies to expand the interdisciplinary nature of the IGERT program and authorizes NSF to accept 

funds from other agencies to carry out the program. 

Section 5. Presidential Innovation Award 

Establishes the Presidential Innovation Award, presented periodically, on the basis of recommendations from the Director of the 

OSTP, to citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. who develop 

unique scientific or engineering ideas judged to stimulate scientific 

and engineering advances in the national interest. 

Section 6. National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure 

Establishes a National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure under OSTP to identify and prioritize deficiencies in research facilities and instrumentation in academic institutions and 

national laboratories. Requires the Director of OSTP to provide an 

annual report to Congress describing a list of infrastructure 

projects proposed for funding. 


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Section 7. Research on innovation and inventiveness 

Authorizes NSF, in carrying out its research programs on science 

policy and the science of learning, to support research on the process of innovation and the teaching of inventiveness. 

Section 8. Report on National Institute of Standards and Technology efforts to recruit and retain early career science and engineering researchers 

Requires the Director of NIST to provide to Congress within 

three months of enactment a report on efforts to recruit and retain 

young scientists and engineers at the early stages of their careers 

at NIST and joint institutes. 

Section 9. NASA’s contribution to innovation 

Expresses the sense of Congress that a balanced science program 

at NASA contributes significantly to innovation and economic competitiveness. Directs the Administrator of NASA to fully participate 

in interagency efforts to promote innovation. 

VIII. COMMITTEE VIEWS

Funding for early career researchers 

A number of reports, including Rising Above the Gathering 

Storm from the NAS, emphasize the importance of funding researchers at the early stages of their careers in science and engineering. The Committee agrees that it is vital to provide support 

that allows young researchers to establish their laboratories and 

begin research projects that test accepted notions about existing 

fields and that launch new fields. The Committee expects that NSF 

will continue its successful CAREER program, and the Act requires 

that, as overall funding for research expands at NSF, funding for 

CAREER grants expand proportionately to ensure that the pipeline 

of researchers remains strong. The Committee expects that DOE 

will build on its existing programs for young investigators to carry 

out the early career program authorized in this Act. The Committee authorizes DOE, in awarding the grants, to favor proposals 

that include collaboration with the DOE National Laboratories. 

The Committee intends that use of DOE facilities, such as light 

sources, particle accelerators, nanoscale science research centers, 

and supercomputers, be considered as collaboration with the laboratories, provided that there is substantial time spent at the facility or considerable interactions with DOE staff associated with 

their use. 

Integrative graduate education and research traineeships 

The Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship 

(IGERT) program has been developed to meet the challenges of 

educating U.S. Ph.D. scientists and engineers who will pursue careers in research and education, with interdisciplinary backgrounds, deep knowledge in chosen disciplines, and technical, professional, and personal skills to become leaders and creative agents 

for change. The program is intended to catalyze a cultural change 

in graduate education, for students, faculty, and institutions, by establishing innovative new models for graduate education and training in a fertile environment for collaborative research that tranVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:11 Mar 14, 2007 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR039.XXX HR039

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scends traditional disciplinary boundaries. It is also intended to facilitate diversity in student participation and preparation, and to 

contribute to a world-class, broadly inclusive, and globally engaged 

science and engineering workforce. The Committee directs that this 

program be sustained and grow along with overall NSF research 

budgets. 

Innovation awards 

The Committee finds that a Presidential Innovation Award can 

stimulate and focus research in selected areas of critical national 

need. An example might be an award given for a specific breakthrough in clean energy technology. The publicity associated with 

this award can help entice and motivate children to study subjects 

that lead to these innovations, can help direct young researchers 

towards solving these pressing national problems, and can help 

sustain the work of the awardees, who are recognized as the most 

successful innovators. 

National coordination office 

Often cutting-edge research requires the development and use of 

complex new instruments or systems of instruments. Because the 

purchase of major facilities and instrumentation cannot be distributed widely and evenly, difficult choices must be made. Such 

choices require careful evaluation, prioritization, oversight, and coordination across federal agencies. The Committee directs that 

OSTP establish an office to set the federal agenda in this area, so 

that federal funding agencies can work together to tackle the highest priority projects. 

Research on innovation and inventiveness 

The Committee expects NSF, in supporting research on the process of invention and the teaching of inventiveness, to involve the 

Directorate for Engineering, the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, 

and Economic Sciences, and the Directorate for Education and 

Human Resources. In addition, the Committee expects that such 

activities might include research aimed at increasing understanding of the creative mind and creative environment, including 

studying the neural, cognitive, and social factors that facilitate or 

inhibit moments of innovation and discovery and the social and 

cognitive processes underlying the development of curiosity and 

problem solving skills; developing measures of inventiveness; 

studying the cultural, social, and geographic contexts of innovation, 

including examining the influence on inventiveness of flexible 

learning environments and the role of parents, teachers, and mentors; and examining what organizational forms and practices, including patents and other governmental policies, facilitate innovation, its transformation into products, and the movement of products to markets. 

NIST report on efforts to recruit and retain early career science and 

engineering researchers 

The report required in Section 8 is designed to provide the Committee with information on how the NIST laboratories are using 

their existing authorities to attract and retain early career researchers with training in fields of national importance. The ComVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:11 Mar 14, 2007 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR039.XXX HR039

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mittee believes that it is necessary to ensure that NIST is able to 

hire and retain young researchers to help replace the growing number of NIST laboratory scientists who are approaching retirement 

eligibility. 

NASA’s contribution to innovation 

The Committee stresses that NASA contributes significantly to 

innovation in and the economic competitiveness of the United 

States. As such, it is imperative that the NASA Administrator be 

a full participant in any interagency activity or discussion related 

to efforts to promote innovation and economic competitiveness. 

IX. COST ESTIMATE

A cost estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the 

Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional 

Budget Act of 1974 has been timely submitted to the Committee on 

Science and Technology prior to the filing of this report and is included in Section X of this report pursuant to House Rule XIII, 

clause 3(c)(3). 

H.R. 363 does not contain new budget authority, credit authority, 

or changes in revenues or tax expenditures. Assuming that the 

sums authorized under the bill are appropriated, H.R. 363 does authorize additional discretionary spending, as described in the Congressional Budget Office report on the bill, which is contained in 

Section X of this report. 

X. CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

MARCH 8, 2007. 

Hon. BART GORDON, 

Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 363, the Sowing the 

Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Daniel Hoople. 

Sincerely, 

PETER R. ORSZAG. 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 363—Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act 

Summary: H.R. 363 would authorize funding for programs within 

the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE) that provide research grants to scientists and engineers 

in the early phases of their careers. The bill also would establish 

the National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure within 

the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The new office 

would be responsible for reviewing and reporting on research infrastructure across the federal government. CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 363 would cost $921 million over the 2008–2012 

period, assuming appropriation of the necessary funds. Enacting 

H.R. 363 would have no effect on direct spending or revenues. 


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H.R. 363 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA); 

the bill would benefit public institutions of higher education. 

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 363 is shown in the following table. The cost 

of this legislation falls within budget functions 250 (general 

science, space, and technology) and 800 (general government). 

By fiscal year, in millions of dollars— 

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 

SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION 

Spending Under Current Law: 

NSF’s Graduate Education and Early Career Programs: 

Estimated Budget Authority a ................................................. 217 0 0 0 0 0 

Estimated Outlays .................................................................. 228 174 76 27 9 0 

Proposed Changes: 

NSF’s Early Career Awards for Science and Engineering Researchers: 

Estimated Authorization Level ................................................ 0 152 155 158 161 164 

Estimated Outlays .................................................................. 0 33 99 135 150 159 

DOE’s Early Career Awards for Science and Engineering Researchers: 

Authorization Level ................................................................. 0 25 25 25 25 25 

Estimated Outlays .................................................................. 0 6 16 22 24 25 

NSF’s Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship 

Program: 

Estimated Authorization Level ................................................ 0 65 66 68 69 70 

Estimated Outlays .................................................................. 0 14 42 58 64 68 

National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure: 

Estimated Authorization Level ................................................ 0 2 2 2 2 2 

Estimated Outlays .................................................................. 0 2 2 2 2 2 

Other Reporting Requirements: 

Estimated Authorization Level ................................................ 0 1 0 0 0 0 

Estimated Outlays .................................................................. 0 1 0 0 0 0 

Total Changes: 

Estimated Authorization Level ....................................... 0 244 247 252 256 260 

Estimated Outlays ......................................................... 0 55 158 216 239 253 

Spending Under H.R. 363: 

Estimated Authorization Level a ...................................................... 217 244 247 252 256 260 

Estimated Outlays ........................................................................... 228 229 234 243 248 253 

a The 2007 level is the amount appropriated for that year for NSF’s graduate education and early center programs. 

Basis of estimate: H.R. 363 would authorize funding for programs that provide support for students and researchers in the 

fields of science and engineering. For those provisions, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 363 would cost $921 million over the 

2008–2012 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary funds. 

For this estimate, CBO assumes that the bill will be enacted in fiscal year 2007 and that spending will follow historical patterns. 

Early career awards for science and engineering researchers 

Section 2 would direct NSF to allocate no less than 3.5 percent 

of amounts appropriated for scientific research (approximately $4.2 

billion in 2007) to award competitive grants to researchers in tenure-track or equivalent positions at institutions of higher education 

or nonprofit research organizations. According to NSF, such a program would be similar to the Faculty Early Career Development 

Program currently in operation. CBO estimates that implementing 

this provision would cost $33 million in 2008 and $576 million over 

the 2008–2012 period to fund this program at the percentage speciVerDate Aug 31 2005 03:10 Mar 14, 2007 Jkt 059006 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR039.XXX HR039

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fied in the bill, and assuming that future NSF appropriations for 

scientific research are adjusted for anticipated inflation. Section 3 would authorize the appropriation of $25 million a year 

over the 2008–2012 period to the DOE Office of Science for the operation of a similar early career grant program. CBO estimates 

that implementing this program would cost $6 million in 2008 and 

$93 million over the 2008–2012 period. DOE has allocated about $1 

million for a similar program in 2007. 

Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program 

Section 4 would direct NSF to allocate no less than 1.5 percent 

of amounts appropriated for scientific research to the Integrative 

Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Program. 

IGERT is an NSF-wide effort to provide funding to universities 

that offer stipend support and tuition allowances to undergraduate 

and graduate students in science and engineering. Currently, NSF 

plans to use about $67 million of science-related funding for this 

activity in 2007. (This is approximately 1.5 percent of NSF’s scientific research budget.) CBO estimates that continuing that level 

of effort for this program over the 2008–2012 period would cost $246 million, assuming adjustments for anticipated inflation. 

National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure 

Section 6 would establish a National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure within the OSTP to review and report on research facilities infrastructure throughout the United States. Using 

information from OSTP and based on similar programs, CBO estimates that the office would require an increase in staff and overall 

administrative expenses of about $2 million annually to coordinate 

and report to the Congress on research infrastructure. 

Other reporting requirements 

H.R. 363 would increase the reporting requirements of the NSF, 

DOE, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The 

majority of the reports specified in the bill would be prepared within three to six months following enactment of the bill and would 

be nonrecurring. CBO estimates this provision would cost about $1 

million in 2008. 

Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 363 contains 

no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in 

UMRA. Public institutions of higher education would benefit from 

research funds and activities authorized in the bill. 

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Daniel Hoople and Matthew Pickford. Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: 

Lisa Ramirez-Branum. Impact on the Private Sector: Craig 

Cammarata. 

Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

XI. COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4

H.R. 363 contains no unfunded mandates. 

XII. COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The oversight findings and recommendations of the Committee 

on Science and Technology are reflected in the body of this report. 


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XIII. STATEMENT ON GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to clause (3)(c) of House rule XIII, the goals of H.R. 363 

are to establish programs to provide grants to researchers just 

starting their careers to conduct innovative or transformative research; to authorize the acquisition of shared scientific equipment 

by institutions of higher education; to authorize a program at NSF 

to fund Integrative Graduate Education and Research 

Traineeships; to establish a Presidential Innovation Award; to create an office at OSTP for coordinating federal funding of research 

facilities and instrumentation; and to authorize research at NSF on 

innovation. 

XIV. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United States 

grants Congress the authority to enact H.R. 363. 

XV. FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

H.R. 363 does not establish nor authorize the establishment of 

any advisory committee. 

XVI. CONGRESSIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

The Committee finds that H.R. 363 does not relate to the terms 

and conditions of employment or access to public services or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104–1). 

XVII. EARMARK IDENTIFICATION

H.R. 363 does not contain any congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9(d), 9(e), 

or 9(f) of rule XXI. 

XVIII. STATEMENT ON PREEMPTION OF STATE, LOCAL, OR TRIBAL LAW

This bill is not intended to preempt any state, local, or tribal law. 

XIX. CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

None. 

XX. COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS

On February 28, 2007, the Committee on Science and Technology 

favorably reported the Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act by a voice vote, and recommended its enactment. 


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XXI. PROCEEDINGS OF THE FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP ON H.R. 363, SOWING THE 

SEEDS THROUGH SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH ACT 

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2007 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, 

Washington, DC. 

The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:05 a.m., in Room 

2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Bart Gordon 

[Chairman of the Committee] presiding. 

Chairman GORDON. Good morning. The Committee on Science 

and Technology will come to order. Pursuant to notice, the Committee on Science and Technology meets to consider the following 

measures: H.R. 363, Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act; H.R. 1068, To amend the High-Performance 

Computing Act of 1991; H.R. 1126, To reauthorize the Steel and 

Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness 

Act of 1988; and H.R. 85, the Energy Technology Transfer. 

Today, we are here to markup these four bipartisan bills. They 

are all good bills and I am happy to support them all. I want to 

note that all of these bills have extensive legislative histories in 

prior Congress. It is not my intention for this committee to regularly markup legislation that has not gone through the Subcommittee hearing process; however, as I noted before, these bills 

were fully vetted in the last Congress and they are ready to go. 

I have said it before and I will say it again. I want this committee to be a Committee of good ideas. Here, we have four good 

ideas and I hope four bills everybody on this committee can get behind and support. 

Now I recognize Mr. Hall to present his opening remarks. 

Mr. HALL. Mr. Chairman, I thank you for calling the markup 

today. We have before us today, as you say, four bills that were 

passed by this Committee in the 109th Congress, and I look forward to their easy passage again today. The continued bipartisan 

support for these bills reflects their broad appeal and the fact that 

they are good bills and they are good for this country. 

The National Academy of Science’s Rising Above the Gathering 

Storm and the President’s American Competitiveness Initiative 

have emphasized the importance of supporting high-risk research, 

young researchers, and research infrastructure in the U.S. to ensure that the next generation of high tech industries and products 

are developed in the United States. 

H.R. 363 is a step in the right direction. I thank the Chairman 

for his willingness to work with us on improving this legislation, 

and recommend a yes vote for the manager’s amendment and for 

the underlying measure. 

As the Chairman has already mentioned, Mrs. Biggert has been 

instrumental in getting a high-performance computing bill through 

the Committee and the full House, for that matter, in two previous 


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Congresses, and I certainly applaud her and Mr. Baird for their 

persistence. I recommend a yes vote on H.R. 1068 and trust the 

Senate will follow suit when it is sent to them once again. 

I am happy to see Mr. Lipinski and Mr. Ehlers continuing former 

Representative Hart’s lead in their continuing effort to reauthorize 

the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology 

Competitiveness Act of 1988. This is another bill that has been 

passed twice by our committee in the full House, and I also recommend a yes vote for H.R. 1126. 

I would also recommend a yes vote for Representative Biggert 

and Representative Miller’s bill, H.R. 85, that will provide for the 

establishment of centers to encourage demonstration and commercial applications of advanced energy methods and technology. As I 

understand, they will be offering an amendment in the nature of 

a substitute that makes technical corrections, which I support as 

well. 

Mr. Chairman, I look forward to these bills moving to the Floor. 

With that, I yield back the balance of my time. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Hall follows:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE RALPH M. HALL

Mr. Chairman, thank you for calling this markup today. We have before us today 

four bills that were passed by this committee in the 109th Congress, and I look forward to their easy passage again today. The continued bipartisan support for these 

bills reflects their broad appeal and the fact that they are good bills that are good 

for the country. 

The National Academy of Science’s Rising above the Gathering Storm and the 

President’s American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI) have emphasized the importance of supporting high-risk research, young researchers, and research infrastructure in the United States to ensure that the next generation of high-tech industries 

and products are developed in the United States. H.R. 363 is a step in the right 

direction. This bill authorizes programs at the National Science Foundation (NSF) 

and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science to provide grants to researchers just starting their careers to conduct high-risk, high-return research at 

the cutting edge of new scientific fields. In addition, it requires NIST to report to 

us on their efforts to recruit and retain young scientists and engineers, and it includes our recognition that NASA should be at the table for any interagency efforts 

to promote innovation and economic competitiveness. I thank the Chairman for his 

willingness to work with us on improving this legislation and recommend a ‘‘yes’’

vote for the managers’ amendment and for the underlying measure. 

As the Chairman has already mentioned, Mrs. Biggert has been instrumental in 

getting this bill through the Committee, and the full House for that matter, in two 

previous Congresses, and I applaud her and Mr. Baird for their persistence. I recommend a ‘‘yes’’ vote on H.R. 1068 and trust the Senate will follow suit when it 

is sent to them once again. 

I am happy to see Mr. Lipinski and Mr. Ehlers continuing former Representative 

Hart’s lead in their continuing effort to reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy 

Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988. This is another bill that 

has been passed twice by our committee, and the full House and I also recommend 

a ‘‘yes’’ vote for H.R. 1126. 

I would also recommend a ‘‘yes’’ vote for Rep. Biggert and Rep. Miller’s bill, H.R. 

85 that will provide for the establishment of centers to encourage demonstration 

and commercial application of advanced energy methods and technologies. I understand they will be offering an amendment in the nature of a substitute that makes 

technical corrections which I will support as well. 

Mr. Chairman, I look forward to these bills moving to the floor and being passed. 

With that I yield back the balance of my time. 

Chairman GORDON. Thank you, Mr. Hall. 

Without objection, Members may place statements in the record. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Mitchell follows:] 


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PREPARED STATEMENT OF REPRESENTATIVE HARRY MITCHELL

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

America needs innovators and leaders if it wants to remain competitive in the 

global economy. This is especially true when it comes to science and engineering. 

Retaining scientists and engineers, however, is often difficult, because they receive such low pay early-on in their careers. 

If we don’t invest early in our future innovators, we will fall behind. 

Spreading technological innovation across existing industry is another indispensable part of maintaining our competitiveness. 

In my view, we should help businesses access both the technology and the research they need to modernize and improve their efficiency. 

Industry standards can also play a role. 

Today, we are considering four bills to address these issues and I look forward 

to working on them. 

I yield back the balance of my time. 

Chairman GORDON. At this point, we will now consider H.R. 363, 

Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act. 

I yield myself five minutes to describe the bill. 

H.R. 363 will implement several important provisions for the National Academy of Science’s report, ‘‘Rising Above the Gathering 

Storm.’’ Let me take just a moment for the new Members on the 

Committee. The Rising Above the Gathering Storm came about 

when Sherry Boehlert, our former Chairman, Lamar Alexander, 

and Jeff Bingaman, made a recommendation to the National Academies that they give us a report on competitiveness in the 21st century. It is my blueprint for this committee. It is an exceptional 

piece of work. Norm Augustine, who was the former Chairman of 

the Lockheed Martin Marietta headed this committee. He will be 

before us in about two weeks to go over it again. I hope that if you 

have not seen it, there is an executive summary. I hope that your 

staffs will make you aware of it. It is something I talk about at 

home all the time. It is something that is really important for the 

country, and very succinct. So you will see a lot of what we are 

doing now is pulling out pieces of that, and if you haven’t had a 

chance, I would hope that you would get a chance to review it. It 

would be good for everybody. 

That report recommends that we, and I am quoting, ‘‘sustain and 

strengthen the Nation’s traditional commitment to long-term basic 

research that has the potential to be transformational, to maintain 

the flow of new ideas that fuel the economy, provide security, and 

enhance the quality of life.’’ The Gathering Storm doesn’t merely 

offer this abstract recommendation, it proposes six specific highpriority action items to realize it. I hope in time we will be able 

to implement all six of those items. 

But H.R. 363 isn’t trying to do all that at once. Here, we have 

identified several action items that address research that fall clearly within the jurisdiction of the Committee that have broad bipartisan support, and that have, for the most part, already passed 

through the Committee in a bill reported during the 109th Congress. In my vision, when this committee notes good ideas with 

broad bipartisan support, we are going to move those ideas forward. We have been strategizing with the Members on both sides 

of the aisle to determine exactly how to structure this bill. In a few 

moments, Mr. Hall and I will present the result of those negotiations as a manager’s amendment to the nature of a substitute. I 

will speak about the details of that amendment when it is offered. 


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I urge my opponent—rather, colleagues, to support this bill—I 

hope there are no opponents here—which invest in our nation’s capacity to innovate. It is through such measures that we are guaranteed a scientific infrastructure to support a continued high 

standard of living in our Nation in the decades ahead. 

I recognize Mr. Hall to present any remarks on the bill. 

Mr. HALL. Mr. Chairman, I will speak a little bit later when this 

lady to my right punches me and says it is time to go. 

But in the meantime, I just want to say when we have Norm Augustine here, I hope all of us really listen to him. I don’t know if 

he is a Democrat or Republican, but I wonder sometimes why we 

can’t have a guy, clean guy, successful guy like him running for 

President on one of the tickets. He really is a great man. He is a 

giver and he has been before these committees. A lot of times, he 

leads almost every effort worthwhile in this country. Norm Augustine is really a great American. 

That is all I have to say. I yield back my time. 

Chairman GORDON. You know, I concur and I really do encourage 

you and the staff members that are here of Members that aren’t 

here yet, to get your Member here today—for this particular meeting with Norm Augustine. You really will be impressed. It is something we can do for our country and it is something you can take 

home, also. 

Does anyone else wish to be recognized? 

Then I ask unanimous consent that the bill is considered as read, 

and open to amendments at any point, and that the Members proceed with the amendments in the order of the roster. 

Without objection, so ordered. 

The first amendment on the roster is a Chairman’s amendment 

offered in the nature of a substitute. I ask unanimous consent that 

the amendment in the nature of a substitute be treated as original 

text for the purposes of amendment under the five-minute rule. 

Without objection, so ordered. 

The Clerk will report the amendment. 

The CLERK. Amendment in the nature of a substitute to H.R. 

363, offered by Mr. Gordon of Tennessee and Mr. Hall of Texas. 

Chairman GORDON. I ask unanimous consent to dispense with 

the reading. Without objection, so ordered. 

I recognize myself for five minutes to explain the substitute 

amendment. 

This amendment in the nature of a substitute which I offered 

with Ranking Member Hall represents the result of a bipartisan 

agreement, and I think agreement sounds better than negotiation, 

because it wasn’t a negotiation, it was an agreement. It incorporates several changes from the original bill as introduced. 

We have eliminated the original Section 2 that spelled out specific authorizations of appropriations for research at various agencies. The Committee will address these matters separately as part 

of reauthorization bills of NIST and the National Science Foundation, and in the future, DOE authorization. The increases for the 

Office of Science at the Department of Energy proposed under the 

American Competitiveness Initiative are covered by the DOE authorization statute that runs through fiscal year 2009. Section 7 

has been recast as a coordinated activity under the auspices of the 

Office of Science and Technology Policy. This section creates a 


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mechanism for assessing, prioritizing, maintaining the Nation’s research facilities and major instrumentation. 

Finally, the amendment adds two additional sections from H.R. 

5356 as reported by the Committee last year. The first directs the 

National Institute of Standards and Technology to report on their 

efforts to recruit new scientists and engineers. The second expresses the sense of Congress that a balanced and robust research 

program at NASA is critical to national competitiveness. The 

amendment retains the programs contained in H.R. 363 as introduced that focus on early career awards to young researchers 

through grant programs at the National Science Foundation and 

DOE. These provisions, as well as provisions expanding the National Science Foundation’s graduate traineeship program are identical to the language in H.R. 5356 approved by the Committee last 

year. This is a bipartisan amendment that authorizes several valuable programs to strengthen basic research in the fields that would 

advance innovation and contribute to the National Competitiveness. 

I urge the approval of this committee, and now, let me tell you 

in English what I was just mentioning there. 

All these bills today by and large either passed this committee 

or passed this committee and the House last time, but because of 

either jurisdictional problems, petty jurisdictional—well, I guess I 

shouldn’t say that—jurisdictional problems either here or in the 

Senate, because there were parts of bigger bills that did not get enacted in law. 

So what we tried to do was slim the bills down so that they are 

basically our jurisdiction. We tried to accommodate the Senate on 

some of their quirks over there, and this again is an effort to try 

to not just talk about things, but really try to get some real competitiveness advantages for the United States. These are small 

bills, but bills we can get passed, and those really—that was the 

function of the various changes that we made. 

The other—since Mr. Hall didn’t discuss it earlier, I think now 

is the time for Mr. Hall, if he had any—if he would like to———

Mr. HALL. Yeah. We might agree on what petty differences 

mean. That is what the other side brings up. 

We have not had any petty differences up to this time, so—H.R. 

363, as the Chairman has said, authorizes programs at the National Science Foundation and at the Department of Energy, Office 

of Science, to provide grants to researchers that are just starting 

their careers to conduct high-risk, high return research at the cutting edge of new scientific fields. In addition, it requires NIST to 

report to us on their efforts to recruit and retain young scientists 

and engineers. It includes our recognition that NASA should be at 

the table for any interagency efforts to promote innovation and economic competitiveness. 

I want to thank the Chairman and his staff. They have worked 

well with our staff. They have had some agreements and disagreements, but they worked all of them out. They have taken some of 

the recommendations we made. We appreciate that, and we look 

forward to passing these bills today and working now and in the 

future as this Chairman gives us leadership. 

Re-yield back to you, sir. 

Chairman GORDON. Thank you. 


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Are there any amendments to the amendment in the nature of 

a substitute? 

If not, the vote occurs on the amendment in the nature of a substitute. All in favor, say aye. Opposed, nay. The ayes have it. 

The vote is on the bill, H.R. 363 as amended. All those in favor, 

say aye. All those opposed will say no. In the opinion of the Chair, 

the ayes have it. 

I recognize Mr. Hall to offer a motion. 

Mr. HALL. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee favorably 

report H.R. 363 as amended to the House with a recommendation 

that the bill do pass. Furthermore, I move that the staff be instructed to prepare the legislative report and make necessary technical and conforming changes, and that the Chairman take all necessary steps to bring the bill before the House for consideration. 

Chairman GORDON. The question is on the motion to report the 

bill favorably. Those in favor of the motion will signify by saying 

aye. Opposed, no. The ayes have it. The bill is favorably reported. 

Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. 

I move that Members have two subsequent calendar days in 

which to submit supplemental, minority, or additional views on the 

measure. 

I move pursuant to Clause I of Rule 22 of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives that the Committee authorizes the Chairman to 

offer such motions as may be necessary in the House to adopt and 

pass H.R. 363, Sowing Seeds Through the Science and Engineering 

Research Act, as amended. Without objection, so ordered. 

Let me finally say that these amendments—and I thank all of 

you for a smooth hearing, smooth markup. We went fairly quick 

today, but the reason is there was a lot of staff work put in before 

this, and I thank the staff for that. I thank the Members for their 

patience, and this is the conclusion of our Committee markup. 

Now let me—Ranking Member Hall has brought to my attention 

that my gavel was a little fast earlier, and so for that reason, I 

would like to ask unanimous consent that Mr. McCaul have an opportunity to both place in the record any statement, as well as 

make an oral statement at this time. 

Mr. MCCAUL. I thank the Chairman for that opportunity, and I 

want to commend the Chairman and Ranking Member for introducing H.R. 363. It is an important bill. As we read the National 

Academy of Science’s report on the Rising Above the Gathering 

Storm, clearly illustrates why we need this legislation. 

I was proud last Congress to have introduced the Research for 

Competitiveness Act, which your bill incorporates many of those 

provisions, so I want to thank you for the opportunity to put this 

before the Committee again, and now that it passed before the 

House Floor, hopefully it will get success this time in this Congress 

on that bill. 

It is a very important bill for teaching young scientists and engineers at our universities, such as the one in my hometown of Austin, University of Texas. So again, I want to commend you for your 

efforts on this important legislation. 

Chairman GORDON. Thank you, Mr. McCaul. 

Yeah, it is fun being able to do something productive, and I hope 

we are going to be able to do that. 


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You know, we are taking, to some extent, the low-hanging fruit 

right now, but to continue this, the Subcommittees have got to get 

to work and get out more good product. I think that after we pass 

these four bills today, that we will probably have passed more legislation into the Congress than any one committee, even the Post 

Office Committee, which is—I am pleased to announce. 

Now let me, if I could, take a brief interlude from the bills, because I would like to announce the appointment of our new Vice 

Chairmen. The Vice Chairman of the Energy and Environment 

Committee will be Ms. Gabrielle Giffords from Arizona; Space and 

Aeronautics, Mr. Charlie Melancon. I guess I just screwed that 

name up about as well as anybody, haven’t I? Okay. Research and 

Science Education will be Mr. Jerry McNerney; Technology and Innovation, Mr. Harry Hall, Investigations and Oversight, Ms. Darlene Hooley. 

And let me also take this opportunity, Mr. Bonner is not here 

right now, but he had asked me the other day about a particular 

Codel, and let me just tell you—I see I got Mr. Ross’s attention—

I am one that thinks congressional travel is a part of the job. I 

think that you can learn more on site than you can by hearing witnesses here, and so we are—we want to try to make that opportunity available to folks. 

Let me—and I welcome anybody’s suggestions or criticism if you 

don’t think this is the way to go, but my thought is this. Just like 

we are trying to take good ideas, sort of narrow them and get them 

through, I think that probably our best Codel travel really will be 

on shorter hops, and the reason for this is, as a practical matter, 

we have less open breaks this time. The—I won’t say more significant, but the bigger committees are going to have access to the big 

planes and so what could very well happen, we could spend a lot 

of staff time planning something and get bumped by Armed Services or somebody else. 

So what I see us trying to do is look for those breaks where we 

are not going to have a Monday—or rather a Friday or a Monday 

vote, leaving on a Thursday night, coming back on Monday or 

Tuesday morning, one-shot sorts of things. I am sure that Dana 

would like to go to Greenland and see those glaciers and hear 

about that. Guyana is not far away, we can go and see what Arian 

is doing there. We are trying to compile a list of sort of one-shot 

places, sort of one tank of gas efforts, and so we welcome any of 

your thoughts. 

I know Joe had asked me about the Paris Air Show. I do not expect that we will be taking that trip for a variety of reasons, partly 

we don’t have time during that, but it is April 16 to 28. Joe has 

an emerging aviation industry developing in his district and I think 

it is very legitimate that he might want to go, and so let me also 

make available to you that if there is something around the country or around the world that you think is important to your district 

and to this committee, then we have the ability to be able to make 

a request through the State Department, and I think you can go 

on your own. So we will be happy to work with you on those things. 

Again, I think that travel is good for the Committee. I also find 

that it is—and Gabrielle was just telling me, she just got back from 

Iraq and had a unique opportunity to talk to my new Senator, Bob 


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Corker, and her—one of her Senators that she didn’t really know 

as well, and feels a new and better relationship. 

Once you travel with Members under these circumstances, particularly with their spouses, it is really sort of hard to be ugly to 

them, you know, later. And I think we want to encourage more of 

that. 

I had the opportunity—and I will call it an opportunity, to go to 

the Antarctic with Jim Sensenbrenner for two weeks. I am a better 

human being for that. 

Mr. HALL. Maybe Jim is, too. 

Chairman GORDON. So I do—I think the trip to the Antarctic is 

the most interesting trip that I have taken since being a Member 

of the Science Committee. It is a long trip in contrast to what we 

were talking, so it is going to take more planning, but we are going 

to put that together during one of the longer breaks and we will 

let you know more about that. 

Yes, sir? The gentleman from Missouri. 

Mr. AKIN. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 

First of all, on that subject, I had a chance to do the Antarctic 

trip as well. It is bar none the best Codel I ever took, most informative, most interesting, and this committee is, as far as I am concerned, the number one in terms of the most fascinating. It was 

very well-run. I agree with you on that. 

If it is okay, I just wanted to also compliment Congressmen Lipinski and Ehlers for the bill that is on the aluminum and steel. 

I think it is one of these win/win, as you are talking about, Mr. 

Chairman, when you have a chance to fund something, but if it 

works, we are going to pay back the government for the funding. 

I mean, it is energy related and it is so important. 

My family was in the steel industry, and it is an absolutely critical piece of legislation. I appreciate your good work. 

[Whereupon, at 11:08 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.] 


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Appendix: 

H.R. 363, AMENDMENT ROSTER, SECTION-BY-SECTION SUMMARY OF

SUBSTITUTE AMENDMENT FOR H.R. 363 


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