49–006 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 114–123 

INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 

COOPERATION ACT OF 2015 

MAY 19, 2015.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. SMITH of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and 

Technology, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 1156] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom was 

referred the bill (H.R. 1156) to authorize the establishment of a 

body under the National Science and Technology Council to identify and coordinate international science and technology cooperation opportunities, having considered the same, report favorably 

thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Committee Statement and Views ........................................................................... 2 

Section-by-Section .................................................................................................... 3 

Explanation of Amendments ................................................................................... 4 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 4 

Application of Law to the Legislative Branch ....................................................... 4 

Statement of Oversight Findings and Recommendations of the Committee ...... 4 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives .................................... 4 

Duplication of Federal Programs ............................................................................ 4 

Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings ..................................................................... 5 

Federal Advisory Committee Act ............................................................................ 5 

Unfunded Mandate Statement ............................................................................... 5 

Earmark Identification ............................................................................................ 5 

Committee Estimate ................................................................................................ 5 

Budget Authority and Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate .................... 5 


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COMMITTEE STATEMENT AND VIEWS

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

H.R. 1156, the International Science and Technology Cooperation 

Act of 2015, is sponsored by Representative Daniel Lipinski (D–IL– 

03), Ranking Member of the Research and Technology Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. 

The purpose of the bill is to authorize the establishment of a body 

under the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to 

identify and coordinate international science and technology cooperation opportunities that can strengthen the U.S. science and 

technology enterprise, improve economic and national security, and 

support U.S. foreign policy goals. The body shall be co-chaired by 

senior level officials from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the U.S. Department of State. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

Science and technology (S&T) research addresses key challenges 

facing our nation, including energy production, public health, national security, and economic development. By collaborating with 

international partners on scientific issues, we strengthen the U.S. 

scientific enterprise and promote the free exchange of ideas with 

other nations. While many federal agencies are engaging with 

international partners on S&T projects, there is a need to coordinate these efforts across the federal government and to identify opportunities for additional collaborations. 

H.R. 1156 directs the NSTC to establish a body that would identify and coordinate the U.S. interagency strategy for international 

S&T cooperation. In addition, the bill requires NSTC to report back 

to Congress on their activities to ensure appropriate oversight. This 

would strengthen the U.S. S&T enterprise, improve economic and 

national security and support U.S. foreign policy goals. 

Interagency coordination will ensure that taxpayer dollars are 

used efficiently and that U.S. priorities are consistently addressed 

when working with international partners on S&T issues. Further, 

this body will make recommendations for improving U.S. engagement in S&T cooperation with global partners so that the U.S. 

maintains its leadership in S&T research and discovery. 

This legislation will improve U.S. participation in international 

S&T efforts, ensure a more efficient use of resources, and help the 

U.S. maintain its leadership in the global science arena. 

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY

In the 113th Congress, Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D–IL–03), the 

Ranking Member of the Research and Technology Subcommittee of 

the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, introduced 

a similar bill (H.R. 5029) on July 8, 2014. On July 14, the bill 

passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote 

of 346–41, and was referred to the Senate on July 15, 2014. 

COMMITTEE VIEWS

Currently, OSTP, together with the U.S. Department of State, already works closely with government science agencies, independent 

research and scientific institutions, and non-governmental organiVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 May 22, 2015 Jkt 049006 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR123.XXX HR123

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zations to promote S&T initiatives and strengthen global science 

cooperation. H.R. 1156 demonstrates the Committee’s support for 

these scientific activities which will enhance cooperative and collaborative efforts between U.S. and international scientists. The 

bill highlights the historical importance of international scientific 

collaboration and the need to proactively engage with the international scientific community. 

H.R. 1156 also attempts to bring some coherence and direction 

to the existing NSTC body by specifying its co-chairs and its responsibilities, including ensuring that the science and technology 

activities align with U.S. foreign policy goals. H.R. 1156 includes 

a reporting requirement by OSTP to the Committee so that it may 

review the body’s work and have better visibility into the internal 

partnerships across agencies as well as a better understanding of 

international science diplomacy. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION

Section 1. Short title 

International Science and Technology Cooperation Act 

Section 2. Coordination of International Science and Technology 

Partnerships 

This section requires the Director of the Office of Science and 

Technology Policy (OSTP) to establish a body under the National 

Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to identify and coordinate 

international science and technology cooperation that can strengthen the U.S. science and technology enterprise, improve economic 

and national security, and support U.S. foreign policy goals. The 

body shall be co-chaired by senior level officials from OSTP and the 

Department of State. The body shall: 

• Plan and coordinate interagency international science and 

technology cooperative research and training activities and 

partnerships supported or managed by Federal agencies and 

work with other NSTC committees to help plan and coordinate 

the international component of national science and technology 

priorities; 

• Establish Federal priorities and policies for aligning, as 

appropriate, international science and technology cooperative 

research and training activities and partnerships supported or 

managed by Federal agencies with the foreign policy goals of 

the United States; 

• Identify opportunities for new international science and 

technology cooperative research and training partnerships that 

advance both the science and technology and the foreign policy 

priorities of the United States; 

• Solicit input and recommendations from non-Federal 

science and technology stakeholders, including universities, scientific and professional societies, industry, and relevant organizations and institutions; and 

• Identify broad issues that influence the ability of U.S. scientists and engineers to collaborate with foreign counterparts, 

including barriers to collaboration and access to scientific information. 


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This section requires the Director of OSTP to submit a report to 

Congress every two years describing the work of the body, the ongoing and new partnerships established since the last report, the 

means by which stakeholder input was received as well as summary views of that input, and the issues influencing U.S. scientists’ 

abilities to collaborate with foreign counterparts. 

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

There were no amendments to this bill. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On March 4, 2015, the Committee met in open session and ordered reported favorably the bill, H.R. 1156 by voice vote, a 

quorum being present. 

APPLICATION OF LAW TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Section 102(b)(3) of Public Law 104–1 requires a description of 

the application of this bill to the legislative branch where the bill 

relates to the terms and conditions of employment or access to public services and accommodations. This bill authorizes the establishment of a body under the National Science and Technology Council 

(NSTC) to identify and coordinate international science and technology cooperation opportunities that can strengthen the U.S. 

science and technology enterprise, improve economic and national 

security, and support U.S. foreign policy goals. As such this bill 

does not relate to employment or access to public services and accommodations. 

STATEMENT OF OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF

THE COMMITTEE

In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause (2)(b)(1) 

of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee’s oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the 

descriptive portions of this report. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee’s performance goals and 

objectives are to demonstrate the Committee’s support for science 

and technology initiatives that will enhance cooperative and collaborative efforts between U.S. and international scientists. 

DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

No provision of H.R. 1156 establishes or reauthorizes a program 

of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another Federal program, a program that was included in any report from the 

Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 

21 of Public Law 111–139, or a program related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. 


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DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS

The Committee estimates that enacting H.R. 1156 does not direct 

the completion of any specific rule makings within the meaning of 

5 U.S.C. 551. 

FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT

The Committee finds that the legislation does not establish or 

authorize the establishment of an advisory committee within the 

definition of 5 U.S.C. App., Section 5(b). 

UNFUNDED MANDATE STATEMENT

Section 423 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act (as amended by Section 101(a)(2) of the Unfunded Mandate 

Reform Act, P.L. 104–4) requires a statement as to whether the 

provisions of the reported include unfunded mandates. In compliance with this requirement the Committee has received a letter 

from the Congressional Budget Office included herein. 

EARMARK IDENTIFICATION

H.R. 1156 does not include any congressional earmarks, limited 

tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule 

XXI. 

COMMITTEE ESTIMATE

Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of the costs that would be incurred in carrying out H.R. 

1156. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B) of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in its 

report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the 

Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of 

the Congressional Budget Act. 

BUDGET AUTHORITY AND CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST

ESTIMATE

With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of 

the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and with respect to requirements 

of clause (3)(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 

1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate for 

H.R. 1156 from the Director of Congressional Budget Office: 

MARCH 12, 2015. 

Hon. LAMAR SMITH, 

Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1156, the International 

Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2015. 


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

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Marin Burnett. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF. 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 1156—International Science and Technology Cooperation Act 

of 2015 

H.R. 1156 would require the Office of Science and Technology 

Policy (OSTP) to create a new committee under the National 

Science and Technology Council. The committee would facilitate 

international research and training activities, primarily those to 

aid U.S. domestic science and technology and to support U.S. foreign policy goals. Senior-level officials from the OSTP and Department of State would co-chair the committee. 

Based on information from the OSTP, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1156 would cost about $3 million annually, subject 

to the availability of appropriated funds. That amount includes the 

costs to coordinate federal agency activities, prepare reports, and 

hire staff for the new committee. The bill would not affect direct 

spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not 

apply. 

The legislation contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 

mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 

would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Marin Burnett. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director 

for Budget Analysis. 

Æ 


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