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[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2272 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.2272

                       One Hundred Tenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America

                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday,
            the fourth day of January, two thousand and seven

                                 An Act

 
To invest in innovation through research and development, and to improve 
                the competitiveness of the United States.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``America COMPETES Act'' or the 
``America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in 
Technology, Education, and Science Act''.

SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title.
Sec. 2. Table of contents.

   TITLE I--OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY; GOVERNMENT-WIDE 
                                 SCIENCE

Sec. 1001. National Science and Technology Summit.
Sec. 1002. Study on barriers to innovation.
Sec. 1003. National Technology and Innovation Medal.
Sec. 1004. Semiannual Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
          Days.
Sec. 1005. Study of service science.
Sec. 1006. President's Council on Innovation and Competitiveness.
Sec. 1007. National coordination of research infrastructure.
Sec. 1008. Sense of Congress on innovation acceleration research.
Sec. 1009. Release of scientific research results.

         TITLE II--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

Sec. 2001. NASA's contribution to innovation.
Sec. 2002. Aeronautics.
Sec. 2003. Basic research enhancement.
Sec. 2004. Aging workforce issues program.
Sec. 2005. Sense of Congress regarding NASA's undergraduate student 
          research program.
Sec. 2006. Use of International Space Station National Laboratory to 
          support math and science education and competitiveness.

        TITLE III--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

Sec. 3001. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 3002. Amendments to the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
          of 1980.
Sec. 3003. Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
Sec. 3004. Institute-wide planning report.
Sec. 3005. Report by Visiting Committee.
Sec. 3006. Meetings of Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology.
Sec. 3007. Collaborative manufacturing research pilot grants.
Sec. 3008. Manufacturing Fellowship Program.
Sec. 3009. Procurement of temporary and intermittent services.
Sec. 3010. Malcolm Baldrige awards.
Sec. 3011. Report on National Institute of Standards and Technology 
          efforts to recruit and retain early career science and 
          engineering researchers.
Sec. 3012. Technology Innovation Program.
Sec. 3013. Technical amendments to the National Institute of Standards 
          and Technology Act and other technical amendments.
Sec. 3014. Retention of depreciation surcharge.
Sec. 3015. Post-doctoral fellows.

                TITLE IV--OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC PROGRAMS

Sec. 4001. Ocean and atmospheric Research and development Program.
Sec. 4002. NOAA ocean and atmospheric Science education Programs.
Sec. 4003. NOAA's contribution to innovation.

                      TITLE V--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Sec. 5001. Short title.
Sec. 5002. Definitions.
Sec. 5003. Science, engineering, and mathematics education at the 
          Department of Energy.
Sec. 5004. Nuclear science talent expansion program for institutions of 
          higher education.
Sec. 5005. Hydrocarbon systems science talent expansion program for 
          institutions of higher education.
Sec. 5006. Department of Energy early career awards for science. 
          engineering, and mathematics researchers.
Sec. 5007. Authorization of appropriations for Department of Energy for 
          basic research.
Sec. 5008. Discovery science and engineering innovation institutes.
Sec. 5009. Protecting America's Competitive Edge (PACE) graduate 
          fellowship program.
Sec. 5010. Sense of Congress regarding certain recommendations and 
          reviews.
Sec. 5011. Distinguished scientist program.
Sec. 5012. Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy.

                           TITLE VI--EDUCATION

Sec. 6001. Findings.
Sec. 6002. Definitions.

                     Subtitle A--Teacher Assistance

               Part I--Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow

Sec. 6111. Purpose.
Sec. 6112. Definitions.
Sec. 6113. Programs for baccalaureate degrees in science, technology, 
          engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign languages, with 
          concurrent teacher certification.
Sec. 6114. Programs for master's degrees in science, technology, 
          engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language 
          education.
Sec. 6115. General provisions.
Sec. 6116. Authorization of appropriations.

  Part II--Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Programs

Sec. 6121. Purpose.
Sec. 6122. Definitions.
Sec. 6123. Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Programs.

 Part III--Promising Practices in Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
                          Mathematics Teaching

Sec. 6131. Promising practices.

                         Subtitle B--Mathematics

Sec. 6201. Math Now for elementary school and middle school students 
          program.
Sec. 6202. Summer term education programs.
Sec. 6203. Math skills for secondary school students.
Sec. 6204. Peer review of State applications.

            Subtitle C--Foreign Language Partnership Program

Sec. 6301. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 6302. Definitions.
Sec. 6303. Program authorized.
Sec. 6304. Authorization of appropriations.

               Subtitle D--Alignment of Education Programs

Sec. 6401. Alignment of secondary school graduation requirements with 
          the demands of 21st century postsecondary endeavors and 
          support for P-16 education data systems.

      Subtitle E--Mathematics and Science Partnership Bonus Grants

Sec. 6501. Mathematics and science partnership bonus grants.
Sec. 6502. Authorization of appropriations.

                 TITLE VII--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

Sec. 7001. Definitions.
Sec. 7002. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 7003. Reaffirmation of the merit-review process of the National 
          Science Foundation.
Sec. 7004. Sense of the Congress regarding the mathematics and science 
          partnership programs of the Department of Education and the 
          National Science Foundation.
Sec. 7005. Curricula.
Sec. 7006. Centers for research on learning and education improvement.
Sec. 7007. Interdisciplinary research.
Sec. 7008. Postdoctoral research fellows.
Sec. 7009. Responsible conduct of research.
Sec. 7010. Reporting of research results.
Sec. 7011. Sharing research results.
Sec. 7012. Funding for successful science, technology, engineering, and 
          mathematics education programs.
Sec. 7013. Cost sharing.
Sec. 7014. Additional reports.
Sec. 7015. Administrative amendments.
Sec. 7016. National Science Board reports.
Sec. 7017. Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act of 1986 amendment.
Sec. 7018. Meeting critical national science needs.
Sec. 7019. Research on innovation and inventiveness.
Sec. 7020. Cyberinfrastructure.
Sec. 7021. Pilot program of grants for new investigators.
Sec. 7022. Broader impacts merit review criterion.
Sec. 7023. Donations.
Sec. 7024. High-performance computing and networking.
Sec. 7025. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics talent 
          expansion program.
Sec. 7026. Laboratory science pilot program.
Sec. 7027. Study on laboratory equipment donations for schools.
Sec. 7028. Mathematics and Science Education Partnerships amendments.
Sec. 7029. National Science Foundation teacher institutes for the 21st 
          century.
Sec. 7030. Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program.
Sec. 7031. Encouraging participation.
Sec. 7032. National Academy of Sciences report on diversity in science, 
          technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
Sec. 7033. Hispanic-serving institutions undergraduate program.
Sec. 7034. Professional science master's degree programs.
Sec. 7035. Sense of Congress on communications training for scientists.
Sec. 7036. Major research instrumentation.
Sec. 7037. Limit on proposals.

                     TITLE VIII--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 8001. Collection of data relating to trade in services.
Sec. 8002. Sense of the Senate regarding small business growth and 
          capital markets.
Sec. 8003. Government Accountability Office review of activities, 
          grants, and programs.
Sec. 8004. Sense of the Senate regarding anti-competitive tax policy.
Sec. 8005. Study of the provision of online degree programs.
Sec. 8006. Sense of the Senate regarding deemed exports.
Sec. 8007. Sense of the Senate regarding capital markets.
Sec. 8008. Accountability and transparency of activities authorized by 
          this Act.

   TITLE I--OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY; GOVERNMENT-WIDE 
                                SCIENCE

SEC. 1001. NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President shall convene a National Science 
and Technology Summit to examine the health and direction of the United 
States' science, technology, engineering, and mathematics enterprises. 
The Summit shall include representatives of industry, small business, 
labor, academia, State government, Federal research and development 
agencies, non-profit environmental and energy policy groups concerned 
with science and technology issues, and other nongovernmental 
organizations, including representatives of science, technology, and 
engineering organizations and associations that represent individuals 
identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
    (b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
conclusion of the Summit, the President shall submit to Congress a 
report on the results of the Summit. The report shall identify key 
research and technology challenges and recommendations, including 
recommendations to increase the representation of individuals 
identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in science, engineering, 
and technology enterprises, for areas of investment for Federal 
research and technology programs to be carried out during the 5-year 
period beginning on the date the report is issued.
    (c) Annual Evaluation.--Beginning with the President's budget 
submission for the fiscal year following the conclusion of the National 
Science and Technology Summit and for each of the following 4 budget 
submissions, the Analytical Perspectives component of the budget 
document that describes the Research and Development budget priorities 
shall include a description of how those priorities relate to the 
conclusions and recommendations of the Summit contained in the report 
required under subsection (b).

SEC. 1002. STUDY ON BARRIERS TO INNOVATION.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall enter into a contract with the National Academy 
of Sciences to conduct and complete a study to identify, and to review 
methods to mitigate, new forms of risk for businesses beyond 
conventional operational and financial risk that affect the ability to 
innovate, including studying and reviewing--
        (1) incentive and compensation structures that could 
    effectively encourage long-term value creation and innovation;
        (2) methods of voluntary and supplemental disclosure by 
    industry of intellectual capital, innovation performance, and 
    indicators of future valuation;
        (3) means by which government could work with industry to 
    enhance the legal and regulatory framework to encourage the 
    disclosures described in paragraph (2);
        (4) practices that may be significant deterrents to United 
    States businesses engaging in innovation risk-taking compared to 
    foreign competitors;
        (5) costs faced by United States businesses engaging in 
    innovation compared to foreign competitors, including the burden 
    placed on businesses by high and rising health care costs;
        (6) means by which industry, trade associations, and 
    universities could collaborate to support research on management 
    practices and methodologies for assessing the value and risks of 
    longer term innovation strategies;
        (7) means to encourage new, open, and collaborative dialogue 
    between industry associations, regulatory authorities, management, 
    shareholders, labor, and other concerned interests to encourage 
    appropriate approaches to innovation risk-taking;
        (8) incentives to encourage participation among institutions of 
    higher education, especially those in rural and underserved areas, 
    to engage in innovation;
        (9) relevant Federal regulations that may discourage or 
    encourage innovation;
        (10) all provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 
    including tax provisions, compliance costs, and reporting 
    requirements, that discourage innovation;
        (11) the extent to which Federal funding promotes or hinders 
    innovation; and
        (12) the extent to which individuals are being equipped with 
    the knowledge and skills necessary for success in the 21st century 
    workforce, as measured by--
            (A) elementary school and secondary school student academic 
        achievement on the State academic assessments required under 
        section 1111(b)(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
        Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311 (b)(3)), especially in mathematics, 
        science, and reading, identified by ethnicity, race, and 
        gender;
            (B) the rate of student entrance into institutions of 
        higher education, identified by ethnicity, race, and gender, by 
        type of institution, and barriers to access to institutions of 
        higher education;
            (C) the rates of--
                (i) students successfully completing postsecondary 
            education programs, identified by ethnicity, race, and 
            gender; and
                (ii) certificates, associate degrees, and baccalaureate 
            degrees awarded in the fields of science, technology, 
            engineering, and mathematics, identified by ethnicity, 
            race, and gender; and
            (D) access to, and availability of, high quality job 
        training programs.
    (b) Report Required.--Not later than 1 year after entering into the 
contract required by subsection (a) and 4 years after entering into 
such contract, the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to 
Congress a report on the study conducted under such subsection.
    (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Office of Science and Technology Policy $1,000,000 
for fiscal year 2008 for the purpose of carrying out the study required 
under this section.

SEC. 1003. NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION MEDAL.

    Section 16 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711) is amended--
        (1) in the section heading, by striking ``national medal'' and 
    inserting ``national technology and innovation medal''; and
        (2) in subsection (a), by striking ``Technology Medal'' and 
    inserting ``Technology and Innovation Medal''.

SEC. 1004. SEMIANNUAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS 
              DAYS.

    It is the sense of Congress that the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy should--
        (1) encourage all elementary and middle schools to observe a 
    Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Day twice in 
    every school year for the purpose of bringing in science, 
    technology, engineering, and mathematics mentors to provide hands-
    on lessons to excite and inspire students to pursue the science, 
    technology, engineering, and mathematics fields (including 
    continuing education and career paths);
        (2) initiate a program, in consultation with Federal agencies 
    and departments, to provide support systems, tools (from existing 
    outreach offices), and mechanisms to allow and encourage Federal 
    employees with scientific, technological, engineering, or 
    mathematical responsibilities to reach out to local classrooms on 
    such Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Days to 
    instruct and inspire school children, focusing on real life 
    science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-related 
    applicable experiences along with hands-on demonstrations in order 
    to demonstrate the advantages and direct applications of studying 
    the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields; and
        (3) promote Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
    Days involvement by private sector and institutions of higher 
    education employees, including partnerships with scientific, 
    engineering, and mathematical professional organizations 
    representing individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the 
    Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 
    1885b), in a manner similar to the Federal employee involvement 
    described in paragraph (2).

SEC. 1005. STUDY OF SERVICE SCIENCE.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that, in order 
to strengthen the competitiveness of United States enterprises and 
institutions and to prepare the people of the United States for high-
wage, high-skill employment, the Federal Government should better 
understand and respond strategically to the emerging management and 
learning discipline known as service science.
    (b) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall, through the National Academy of Sciences, conduct a study 
and report to Congress on how the Federal Government should support, 
through research, education, and training, the emerging management and 
learning discipline known as service science.
    (c) Outside Resources.--In conducting the study under subsection 
(b), the National Academy of Sciences shall consult with leaders from 
2- and 4-year institutions of higher education, as defined in section 
101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), leaders 
from corporations, and other relevant parties.
    (d) Service Science Defined.--In this section, the term ``service 
science'' means curricula, training, and research programs that are 
designed to teach individuals to apply scientific, engineering, and 
management disciplines that integrate elements of computer science, 
operations research, industrial engineering, business strategy, 
management sciences, and social and legal sciences, in order to 
encourage innovation in how organizations create value for customers 
and shareholders that could not be achieved through such disciplines 
working in isolation.

SEC. 1006. PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON INNOVATION AND COMPETITIVENESS.

    (a) In General.--The President shall establish a President's 
Council on Innovation and Competitiveness.
    (b) Duties.--The duties of the Council shall include--
        (1) monitoring implementation of public laws and initiatives 
    for promoting innovation, including policies related to research 
    funding, taxation, immigration, trade, and education that are 
    proposed in this Act or in any other Act;
        (2) providing advice to the President with respect to global 
    trends in competitiveness and innovation and allocation of Federal 
    resources in education, job training, and technology research and 
    development considering such global trends in competitiveness and 
    innovation;
        (3) in consultation with the Director of the Office of 
    Management and Budget, developing a process for using metrics to 
    assess the impact of existing and proposed policies and rules that 
    affect innovation capabilities in the United States;
        (4) identifying opportunities and making recommendations for 
    the heads of executive agencies to improve innovation, monitoring, 
    and reporting on the implementation of such recommendations;
        (5) developing metrics for measuring the progress of the 
    Federal Government with respect to improving conditions for 
    innovation, including through talent development, investment, and 
    infrastructure improvements; and
        (6) submitting to the President and Congress an annual report 
    on such progress.
    (c) Membership and Coordination.--
        (1) Membership.--The Council shall be composed of the Secretary 
    or head of each of the following:
            (A) The Department of Commerce.
            (B) The Department of Defense.
            (C) The Department of Education.
            (D) The Department of Energy.
            (E) The Department of Health and Human Services.
            (F) The Department of Homeland Security.
            (G) The Department of Labor.
            (H) The Department of the Treasury.
            (I) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
            (J) The Securities and Exchange Commission.
            (K) The National Science Foundation.
            (L) The Office of the United States Trade Representative.
            (M) The Office of Management and Budget.
            (N) The Office of Science and Technology Policy.
            (O) The Environmental Protection Agency.
            (P) The Small Business Administration.
            (Q) Any other department or agency designated by the 
        President.
        (2) Chairperson.--The Secretary of Commerce shall serve as 
    Chairperson of the Council.
        (3) Coordination.--The Chairperson of the Council shall ensure 
    appropriate coordination between the Council and the National 
    Economic Council, the National Security Council, and the National 
    Science and Technology Council.
        (4) Meetings.--The Council shall meet on a semi-annual basis at 
    the call of the Chairperson and the initial meeting of the Council 
    shall occur not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment 
    of this Act.
    (d) Development of Innovation Agenda.--
        (1) In general.--The Council shall develop a comprehensive 
    agenda for strengthening the innovation and competitiveness 
    capabilities of the Federal Government, State governments, 
    academia, and the private sector in the United States.
        (2) Contents.--The comprehensive agenda required by paragraph 
    (1) shall include the following:
            (A) An assessment of current strengths and weaknesses of 
        the United States investment in research and development.
            (B) Recommendations for addressing weaknesses and 
        maintaining the United States as a world leader in research and 
        development and technological innovation, including strategies 
        for increasing the participation of individuals identified in 
        section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
        Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
            (C) Recommendations for strengthening the innovation and 
        competitiveness capabilities of the Federal Government, State 
        governments, academia, and the private sector in the United 
        States.
        (3) Advisors.--
            (A) Recommendation.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, the National Academy of Sciences, 
        in consultation with the National Academy of Engineering, the 
        Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council, shall 
        develop and submit to the President a list of 50 individuals 
        that are recommended to serve as advisors to the Council during 
        the development of the comprehensive agenda required by 
        paragraph (1). The list of advisors shall include appropriate 
        representatives from the following:
                (i) The private sector of the economy.
                (ii) Labor.
                (iii) Various fields including information technology, 
            energy, engineering, high-technology manufacturing, health 
            care, and education.
                (iv) Scientific organizations.
                (v) Academic organizations and other nongovernmental 
            organizations working in the area of science or technology.
                (vi) Nongovernmental organizations, such as 
            professional organizations, that represent individuals 
            identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and 
            Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 
            1885b) in the areas of science, engineering, technology, 
            and mathematics.
            (B) Designation.--Not later than 30 days after the date 
        that the National Academy of Sciences submits the list of 
        recommended individuals to serve as advisors, the President 
        shall designate 50 individuals to serve as advisors to the 
        Council.
            (C) Requirement to consult.--The Council shall develop the 
        comprehensive agenda required by paragraph (1) in consultation 
        with the advisors.
        (4) Initial submission and updates.--
            (A) Initial submission.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Council shall submit to 
        Congress and the President the comprehensive agenda required by 
        paragraph (1).
            (B) Updates.--At least once every 2 years, the Council 
        shall update the comprehensive agenda required by paragraph (1) 
        and submit each such update to Congress and the President.
    (e) Optional Assignment.--Notwithstanding subsection (a) and 
paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c), the President may designate 
an existing council to carry out the requirements of this section.

SEC. 1007. NATIONAL COORDINATION OF RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) Identification and Prioritization of Deficiencies in Federal 
Research Facilities.--Each year the Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy shall, through the National Science and 
Technology Council, identify and prioritize the deficiencies in 
research facilities and major instrumentation located at Federal 
laboratories and national user facilities at academic institutions that 
are widely accessible for use by researchers in the United States. In 
prioritizing such deficiencies, the Director shall consider research 
needs in areas relevant to the specific mission requirements of Federal 
agencies.
    (b) Planning for Acquisition, Refurbishment, and Maintenance of 
Research Facilities and Major Instrumentation.--The Director shall, 
through the National Science and Technology Council, coordinate the 
planning by Federal agencies for the acquisition, refurbishment, and 
maintenance of research facilities and major instrumentation to address 
the deficiencies identified under subsection (a).
    (c) Report.--The Director shall submit to Congress each year, 
together with documents submitted to Congress in support of the budget 
of the President for the fiscal year beginning in such year (as 
submitted pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code), a 
report, current as of the fiscal year ending in the year before such 
report is submitted, setting forth the following:
        (1) A description of the deficiencies in research 
    infrastructure identified in accordance with subsection (a).
        (2) A list of projects and budget proposals of Federal research 
    facilities, set forth by agency, for major instrumentation 
    acquisitions that are included in the budget proposal of the 
    President.
        (3) An explanation of how the projects and instrumentation 
    acquisitions described in paragraph (2) relate to the deficiencies 
    and priorities identified pursuant to subsection (a).

SEC. 1008. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON INNOVATION ACCELERATION RESEARCH.

    (a) Sense of Congress on Support and Promotion of Innovation in the 
United States.--It is the sense of Congress that each Federal research 
agency should strive to support and promote innovation in the United 
States through high-risk, high-reward basic research projects that--
        (1) meet fundamental technological or scientific challenges;
        (2) involve multidisciplinary work; and
        (3) involve a high degree of novelty.
    (b) Sense of Congress on Setting Annual Funding Goals for Basic 
Research.--It is the sense of Congress that each Executive agency that 
funds research in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 
should set a goal of allocating an appropriate percentage of the annual 
basic research budget of such agency to funding high-risk, high-reward 
basic research projects described in subsection (a).
    (c) Report.--Each Executive agency described in subsection (b) 
shall submit to Congress each year, together with documents submitted 
to Congress in support of the budget of the President for the fiscal 
year beginning in such year (as submitted pursuant to section 1105 of 
title 31, United States Code), a report describing whether a funding 
goal as described in subsection (b) has been established, and if such a 
goal has been established, the following:
        (1) A description of such funding goal.
        (2) Whether such funding goal is being met by the agency.
        (3) A description of activities supported by amounts allocated 
    in accordance with such funding goal.
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Basic research.--The term ``basic research'' has the 
    meaning given such term in the Office of Management and Budget 
    Circular No. A-11.
        (2) Executive agency.--The term ``Executive agency'' has the 
    meaning given such term in section 105 of title 5, United States 
    Code.

SEC. 1009. RELEASE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH RESULTS.

    (a) Principles.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, in consultation with the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget and the heads of all Federal civilian agencies 
that conduct scientific research, shall develop and issue an 
overarching set of principles to ensure the communication and open 
exchange of data and results to other agencies, policymakers, and the 
public of research conducted by a scientist employed by a Federal 
civilian agency and to prevent the intentional or unintentional 
suppression or distortion of such research findings. The principles 
shall encourage the open exchange of data and results of research 
undertaken by a scientist employed by such an agency and shall be 
consistent with existing Federal laws, including chapter 18 of title 
35, United States Code (commonly known as the ``Bayh-Dole Act''). The 
principles shall also take into consideration the policies of peer-
reviewed scientific journals in which Federal scientists may currently 
publish results.
    (b) Implementation.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall ensure that all civilian Federal agencies that 
conduct scientific research develop specific policies and procedures 
regarding the public release of data and results of research conducted 
by a scientist employed by such an agency consistent with the 
principles established under subsection (a). Such polices and 
procedures shall--
        (1) specifically address what is and what is not permitted or 
    recommended under such policies and procedures;
        (2) be specifically designed for each such agency;
        (3) be applied uniformly throughout each such agency; and
        (4) be widely communicated and readily accessible to all 
    employees of each such agency and the public.

        TITLE II--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

SEC. 2001. NASA'S CONTRIBUTION TO INNOVATION.

    (a) Participation in Interagency Activities.--The National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration shall be a full participant in any 
interagency effort to promote innovation and economic competitiveness 
through near-term and long-term basic scientific research and 
development and the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics education, consistent with the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration's mission, including authorized activities.
    (b) Historic Foundation.--In order to carry out the participation 
described in subsection (a), the Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration shall build on the historic role 
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in stimulating 
excellence in the advancement of physical science and engineering 
disciplines and in providing opportunities and incentives for the 
pursuit of academic studies in science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics.
    (c) Balanced Science Program and Robust Authorization Levels.--The 
balanced science program authorized by section 101(d) of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 16611) shall be an element of the contribution by the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration to such interagency programs.
    (d) Sense of Congress on Contribution of Appropriately Funded 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration.--It is the sense of 
Congress that a robust National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
funded at the levels authorized for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 under 
sections 202 and 203 of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16631 and 16632) 
and at appropriate levels in subsequent fiscal years--
        (1) can contribute significantly to innovation in, and the 
    competitiveness of, the United States;
        (2) would enable a fair balance among science, aeronautics, 
    education, exploration, and human space flight programs; and
        (3) would allow full participation in any interagency efforts 
    to promote innovation and economic competitiveness.
    (e) Annual Report.--
        (1) Requirement.--The Administrator shall submit to Congress 
    and the President an annual report describing the activities 
    conducted pursuant to this section, including a description of the 
    goals and the objective metrics upon which funding decisions were 
    made.
        (2) Content.--Each report submitted pursuant to paragraph (1) 
    shall include, with regard to science, technology, engineering, and 
    mathematics education programs, at a minimum, the following:
            (A) A description of each program.
            (B) The amount spent on each program.
            (C) The number of students or teachers served by each 
        program.
    (f) Assessment Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a 
report on its plan for instituting assessments of the effectiveness of 
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics education programs in 
improving student achievement, including with regard to challenging 
State achievement standards.

SEC. 2002. AERONAUTICS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
aeronautics research and development program of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration has been an important contributor 
to innovation and to the competitiveness of the United States and the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration should maintain its 
capabilities to advance the state of aeronautics.
    (b) Cooperation With Other Agencies on Aeronautics Activities.--The 
Administrator shall coordinate, as appropriate, the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration's aeronautics activities with 
relevant programs in the Department of Transportation, the Department 
of Defense, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Homeland 
Security, including the activities of the Joint Planning and 
Development Office established under section 709 of the Vision 100-
Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108-176; 117 Stat. 
2582).

SEC. 2003. BASIC RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration, the Director of the National Science Foundation, 
the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of 
Commerce shall, to the extent practicable, coordinate basic research 
activities related to physical sciences, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics.
    (b) Basic Research Defined.--In this section, the term ``basic 
research'' has the meaning given such term in Office of Management and 
Budget Circular No. A-11.

SEC. 2004. AGING WORKFORCE ISSUES PROGRAM.

    It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration should implement a program to 
address aging work force issues in aerospace that--
        (1) documents technical and management experiences before 
    senior people leave the National Aeronautics and Space 
    Administration, including--
            (A) documenting lessons learned;
            (B) briefing organizations;
            (C) providing opportunities for archiving lessons in a 
        database; and
            (D) providing opportunities for near-term retirees to 
        transition out early from their primary assignment in order to 
        document their career lessons learned and brief new employees 
        prior to their separation from the National Aeronautics and 
        Space Administration;
        (2) provides incentives for retirees to return and teach new 
    employees about their career lessons and experiences; and
        (3) provides for the development of an award to recognize and 
    reward outstanding senior employees for their contributions to 
    knowledge sharing.

SEC. 2005. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING NASA'S UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT 
              RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    It is the sense of Congress that in order to generate interest in 
careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and to 
help train the next generation of space and aeronautical scientists, 
technologists, engineers, and mathematicians the Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration should utilize the 
existing Undergraduate Student Research Program of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration to support basic research projects 
on subjects of relevance to the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration that--
        (1) are to be carried out primarily by undergraduate students; 
    and
        (2) combine undergraduate research with other research 
    supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

SEC. 2006. USE OF INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION NATIONAL LABORATORY TO 
              SUPPORT MATH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION AND COMPETITIVENESS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that the 
International Space Station National Laboratory offers unique 
opportunities for educational activities and provides a unique resource 
for research and development in science, technology, and engineering, 
which can enhance the global competitiveness of the United States.
    (b) Development of Educational Projects.--The Administrator of the 
National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall develop a detailed 
plan for implementation of 1 or more education projects that utilize 
the resources offered by the International Space Station. In developing 
any detailed plan according to this paragraph, the Administrator shall 
make use of the findings and recommendations of the International Space 
Station National Laboratory Education Concept Development Task Force.
    (c) Development of Research Plans for Competitiveness 
Enhancement.--The Administrator shall develop a detailed plan for 
identification and support of research to be conducted aboard the 
International Space Station, which offers the potential for enhancement 
of United States competitiveness in science, technology, and 
engineering. In developing any detailed plan pursuant to this 
subsection, the Administrator shall consult with agencies and entities 
with which cooperative agreements have been reached regarding 
utilization of International Space Station National Laboratory 
facilities.

       TITLE III--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

SEC. 3001. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Scientific and Technical Research and Services.--
        (1) Laboratory activities.--There are authorized to be 
    appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for the scientific and 
    technical research and services laboratory activities of the 
    National Institute of Standards and Technology--
            (A) $502,100,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (B) $541,900,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
            (C) $584,800,000 for fiscal year 2010.
        (2) Construction and maintenance.--There are authorized to be 
    appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for construction and 
    maintenance of facilities of the National Institute of Standards 
    and Technology--
            (A) $150,900,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (B) $86,400,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
            (C) $49,700,000 for fiscal year 2010.
    (b) Industrial Technology Services.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce for Industrial Technology 
Services activities of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology--
        (1) $210,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, of which--
            (A) $100,000,000 shall be for the Technology Innovation 
        Program under section 28 of the National Institute of Standards 
        and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n), of which at least 
        $40,000,000 shall be for new awards; and
            (B) $110,000,000 shall be for the Manufacturing Extension 
        Partnership program under sections 25 and 26 of the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 
        278l), of which not more than $1,000,000 shall be for the 
        competitive grant program under section 25(f) of such Act;
        (2) $253,500,000 for fiscal year 2009, of which--
            (A) $131,500,000 shall be for the Technology Innovation 
        Program under section 28 of the National Institute of Standards 
        and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n), of which at least 
        $40,000,000 shall be for new awards; and
            (B) $122,000,000 shall be for the Manufacturing Extension 
        Partnership Program under sections 25 and 26 of the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 
        278l), of which not more than $4,000,000 shall be for the 
        competitive grant program under section 25(f) of such Act; and
        (3) $272,300,000 for fiscal year 2010, of which--
            (A) $140,500,000 shall be for the Technology Innovation 
        Program under section 28 of the National Institute of Standards 
        and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n), of which at least 
        $40,000,000 shall be for new awards; and
            (B) $131,800,000 shall be for the Manufacturing Extension 
        Partnership Program under sections 25 and 26 of the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 
        278l), of which not more than $4,000,000 shall be for the 
        competitive grant program under section 25(f) of such Act.

SEC. 3002. AMENDMENTS TO THE STEVENSON-WYDLER TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ACT 
              OF 1980.

    (a) In General.--Section 5 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3704) is amended--
        (1) by striking subsections (a) through (e);
        (2) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (a);
        (3) in subsection (a), as redesignated by paragraph (2)--
            (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``The Secretary, acting 
        through the Under Secretary, shall establish for fiscal year 
        1999'' and inserting ``Beginning in fiscal year 1999, the 
        Secretary shall establish'';
            (B) by striking ``, acting through the Under Secretary,'' 
        each place it appears;
            (C) by redesignating paragraph (6) as subsection (b);
            (D) by striking paragraph (7); and
            (E) in the subsection heading, by striking ``Experimental 
        Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology'' and inserting 
        ``Program Establishment'';
        (4) in subsection (b), as redesignated by paragraph (3)(C), by 
    striking ``this subsection'' and inserting ``subsection (a)''; and
        (5) in the section heading by striking ``commerce and 
    technological innovation'' and inserting ``experimental program to 
    stimulate competitive technology''.
    (b) Construction.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall not 
be construed to eliminate the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology or the National Technical Information Service.
    (c) Conforming Amendments.--
        (1) Title 5, united states code.--Section 5314 of title 5, 
    United States Code, is amended by striking ``Under Secretary of 
    Commerce for Technology.''.
        (2) National institute of standards and technology.--The 
    National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 271 
    et seq.) is amended--
            (A) in section 2 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 272)--
                (i) in subsection (b), by striking ``and, if 
            appropriate, through other officials,''; and
                (ii) in subsection (c), by striking ``and, if 
            appropriate, through other appropriate officials,''; and
            (B) in section 5 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 274), by striking 
        ``The Director shall have the general'' and inserting ``The 
        Director shall report directly to the Secretary and shall have 
        the general''.
        (3) Definitions.--Section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
    Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703) is amended--
            (A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (3); and
            (B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (13) as 
        paragraphs (1) through (11), respectively.
        (4) Functions of secretary.--Section 11(g)(1) of such Act (15 
    U.S.C. 3710(g)(1)) is amended by striking ``through the Under 
    Secretary, and''.
        (5) Repeal of authorization.--Section 21(a) of such Act (15 
    U.S.C. 3713(a)) is amended--
            (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``sections 5, 11(g), and 
        16'' and inserting ``sections 11(g) and 16''; and
            (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$500,000 is authorized 
        only for the purpose of carrying out the requirements of the 
        Japanese technical literature program established under section 
        5(d) of this Act;''.
        (6) High-performance computing act of 1991.--Section 208 of the 
    High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5528) is amended 
    by striking subsection (c) and redesignating subsection (d) as 
    subsection (c).
        (7) Assistive technology act of 1998.--Section 6(b)(4)(B)(v) of 
    the Assistive Technology Act of 1998 (29 U.S.C. 3005(b)(4)(B)(v)) 
    is amended by striking ``the Technology Administration of the 
    Department of Commerce,'' and inserting ``the National Institute of 
    Standards and Technology,''.

SEC. 3003. MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP.

    (a) Clarification of Eligible Contributions in Connection With 
Regional Centers Responsible for Implementing the Objectives of the 
Program.--Paragraph (3) of section 25(c) of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(c)(3)) is amended to read 
as follows:
    ``(3)(A) Any nonprofit institution, or group thereof, or consortia 
of nonprofit institutions, including entities existing on August 23, 
1988, may submit to the Secretary an application for financial support 
under this subsection, in accordance with the procedures established by 
the Secretary and published in the Federal Register under paragraph 
(2).
    ``(B) In order to receive assistance under this section, an 
applicant for financial assistance under subparagraph (A) shall provide 
adequate assurances that non-Federal assets obtained from the applicant 
and the applicant's partnering organizations will be used as a funding 
source to meet not less than 50 percent of the costs incurred for the 
first 3 years and an increasing share for each of the last 3 years. For 
purposes of the preceding sentence, the costs incurred means the costs 
incurred in connection with the activities undertaken to improve the 
management, productivity, and technological performance of small- and 
medium-sized manufacturing companies.
    ``(C) In meeting the 50 percent requirement, it is anticipated that 
a Center will enter into agreements with other entities such as private 
industry, universities, and State governments to accomplish 
programmatic objectives and access new and existing resources that will 
further the impact of the Federal investment made on behalf of small- 
and medium-sized manufacturing companies. All non-Federal costs, 
contributed by such entities and determined by a Center as 
programmatically reasonable and allocable under MEP program procedures 
are includable as a portion of the Center's contribution.
    ``(D) Each applicant under subparagraph (A) shall also submit a 
proposal for the allocation of the legal rights associated with any 
invention which may result from the proposed Center's activities.''.
    (b) Manufacturing Center Evaluation.--Paragraph (5) of section 
25(c) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278k(c)(5)) is amended by inserting ``A Center that has not 
received a positive evaluation by the evaluation panel shall be 
notified by the panel of the deficiencies in its performance and shall 
be placed on probation for one year, after which time the panel shall 
reevaluate the Center. If the Center has not addressed the deficiencies 
identified by the panel, or shown a significant improvement in its 
performance, the Director shall conduct a new competition to select an 
operator for the Center or may close the Center.'' after ``at declining 
levels.''.
    (c) Federal Share.--Section 25 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) is amended by striking 
subsection (d) and inserting the following:
    ``(d) Acceptance of Funds.--
        ``(1) In general.--In addition to such sums as may be 
    appropriated to the Secretary and Director to operate the Centers 
    program, the Secretary and Director also may accept funds from 
    other Federal departments and agencies and under section 2(c)(7) 
    from the private sector for the purpose of strengthening United 
    States manufacturing.
        ``(2) Allocation of funds.--
            ``(A) Funds accepted from other federal departments or 
        agencies.--The Director shall determine whether funds accepted 
        from other Federal departments or agencies shall be counted in 
        the calculation of the Federal share of capital and annual 
        operating and maintenance costs under subsection (c).
            ``(B) Funds accepted from the private sector.--Funds 
        accepted from the private sector under section 2(c)(7), if 
        allocated to a Center, shall not be considered in the 
        calculation of the Federal share under subsection (c) of this 
        section.''.
    (d) MEP Advisory Board.--Such section 25 is further amended by 
adding at the end the following:
    ``(e) MEP Advisory Board.--
        ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the Institute 
    a Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board (in this 
    subsection referred to as the `MEP Advisory Board').
        ``(2) Membership.--
            ``(A) In general.--The MEP Advisory Board shall consist of 
        10 members broadly representative of stakeholders, to be 
        appointed by the Director. At least 2 members shall be employed 
        by or on an advisory board for the Centers, and at least 5 
        other members shall be from United States small businesses in 
        the manufacturing sector. No member shall be an employee of the 
        Federal Government.
            ``(B) Term.--Except as provided in subparagraph (C) or (D), 
        the term of office of each member of the MEP Advisory Board 
        shall be 3 years.
            ``(C) Classes.--The original members of the MEP Advisory 
        Board shall be appointed to 3 classes. One class of 3 members 
        shall have an initial term of 1 year, one class of 3 members 
        shall have an initial term of 2 years, and one class of 4 
        members shall have an initial term of 3 years.
            ``(D) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy 
        occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his 
        predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder 
        of such term.
            ``(E) Serving consecutive terms.--Any person who has 
        completed two consecutive full terms of service on the MEP 
        Advisory Board shall thereafter be ineligible for appointment 
        during the one-year period following the expiration of the 
        second such term.
        ``(3) Meetings.--The MEP Advisory Board shall meet not less 
    than 2 times annually, and provide to the Director--
            ``(A) advice on Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
        programs, plans, and policies;
            ``(B) assessments of the soundness of Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership plans and strategies; and
            ``(C) assessments of current performance against 
        Manufacturing Extension Partnership program plans.
        ``(4) Federal advisory committee act.--In discharging its 
    duties under this subsection, the MEP Advisory Board shall function 
    solely in an advisory capacity, in accordance with the Federal 
    Advisory Committee Act.
        ``(5) Report.--The MEP Advisory Board shall transmit an annual 
    report to the Secretary for transmittal to Congress within 30 days 
    after the submission to Congress of the President's annual budget 
    request in each year. Such report shall address the status of the 
    program established pursuant to this section and comment on the 
    relevant sections of the programmatic planning document and updates 
    thereto transmitted to Congress by the Director under subsections 
    (c) and (d) of section 23.''.
    (e) Manufacturing Extension Center Competitive Grant Program.--Such 
section 25 is further amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(f) Competitive Grant Program.--
        ``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish, within the 
    Centers program under this section and section 26 of this Act, a 
    program of competitive awards among participants described in 
    paragraph (2) for the purposes described in paragraph (3).
        ``(2) Participants.--Participants receiving awards under this 
    subsection shall be the Centers, or a consortium of such Centers.
        ``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the program under this 
    subsection is to develop projects to solve new or emerging 
    manufacturing problems as determined by the Director, in 
    consultation with the Director of the Centers program, the 
    Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory Board, and small and 
    medium-sized manufacturers. One or more themes for the competition 
    may be identified, which may vary from year to year, depending on 
    the needs of manufacturers and the success of previous 
    competitions. These themes shall be related to projects associated 
    with manufacturing extension activities, including supply chain 
    integration and quality management, and including the transfer of 
    technology based on the technological needs of manufacturers and 
    available technologies from institutions of higher education, 
    laboratories, and other technology producing entities, or extend 
    beyond these traditional areas.
        ``(4) Applications.--Applications for awards under this 
    subsection shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, and 
    containing such information as the Director shall require, in 
    consultation with the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Advisory 
    Board.
        ``(5) Selection.--Awards under this subsection shall be peer 
    reviewed and competitively awarded. The Director shall select 
    proposals to receive awards--
            ``(A) that utilize innovative or collaborative approaches 
        to solving the problem described in the competition;
            ``(B) that will improve the competitiveness of industries 
        in the region in which the Center or Centers are located; and
            ``(C) that will contribute to the long-term economic 
        stability of that region.
        ``(6) Program contribution.--Recipients of awards under this 
    subsection shall not be required to provide a matching 
    contribution.''.

SEC. 3004. INSTITUTE-WIDE PLANNING REPORT.

    Section 23 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278i) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Three-Year Programmatic Planning Document.--Concurrent with 
the submission to Congress of the President's annual budget request in 
the first year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the 
Director shall submit to Congress a 3-year programmatic planning 
document for the Institute, including programs under the Scientific and 
Technical Research and Services, Industrial Technology Services, and 
Construction of Research Facilities functions.
    ``(d) Annual Update on Three-Year Programmatic Planning Document.--
Concurrent with the submission to the Congress of the President's 
annual budget request in each year after the date of enactment of this 
subsection, the Director shall submit to Congress an update to the 3-
year programmatic planning document submitted under subsection (c), 
revised to cover the first 3 fiscal years after the date of that 
update.''.

SEC. 3005. REPORT BY VISITING COMMITTEE.

    Section 10(h)(1) of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278(h)(1)) is amended--
        (1) by striking ``on or before January 31 in each year'' and 
    inserting ``not later than 30 days after the submittal to Congress 
    of the President's annual budget request in each year''; and
        (2) by adding to the end the following: ``Such report also 
    shall comment on the programmatic planning document and updates 
    thereto submitted to Congress by the Director under subsections (c) 
    and (d) of section 23.''.

SEC. 3006. MEETINGS OF VISITING COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.

    Section 10(d) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278(d)) is amended by striking ``quarterly'' and 
inserting ``twice each year''.

SEC. 3007. COLLABORATIVE MANUFACTURING RESEARCH PILOT GRANTS.

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act is amended--
        (1) by redesignating the first section 32 (15 U.S.C. 271 note) 
    as section 34 and moving it to the end of the Act; and
        (2) by inserting before the section moved by paragraph (1) the 
    following new section:

``SEC. 33. COLLABORATIVE MANUFACTURING RESEARCH PILOT GRANTS.

    ``(a) Authority.--
        ``(1) Establishment.--The Director shall establish a pilot 
    program of awards to partnerships among participants described in 
    paragraph (2) for the purposes described in paragraph (3). Awards 
    shall be made on a peer-reviewed, competitive basis.
        ``(2) Participants.--Such partnerships shall include at least--
            ``(A) 1 manufacturing industry partner; and
            ``(B) 1 nonindustry partner.
        ``(3) Purpose.--The purpose of the program under this section 
    is to foster cost-shared collaborations among firms, educational 
    institutions, research institutions, State agencies, and nonprofit 
    organizations to encourage the development of innovative, 
    multidisciplinary manufacturing technologies. Partnerships 
    receiving awards under this section shall conduct applied research 
    to develop new manufacturing processes, techniques, or materials 
    that would contribute to improved performance, productivity, and 
    competitiveness of United States manufacturing, and build lasting 
    alliances among collaborators.
    ``(b) Program Contribution.--Awards under this section shall 
provide for not more than one-third of the costs of a partnership. Not 
more than an additional one-third of such costs may be obtained 
directly or indirectly from other Federal sources.
    ``(c) Applications.--Applications for awards under this section 
shall be submitted in such manner, at such time, and containing such 
information as the Director shall require. Such applications shall 
describe at a minimum--
        ``(1) how each partner will participate in developing and 
    carrying out the research agenda of the partnership;
        ``(2) the research that the grant would fund; and
        ``(3) how the research to be funded with the award would 
    contribute to improved performance, productivity, and 
    competitiveness of the United States manufacturing industry.
    ``(d) Selection Criteria.--In selecting applications for awards 
under this section, the Director shall consider at a minimum--
        ``(1) the degree to which projects will have a broad impact on 
    manufacturing;
        ``(2) the novelty and scientific and technical merit of the 
    proposed projects; and
        ``(3) the demonstrated capabilities of the applicants to 
    successfully carry out the proposed research.
    ``(e) Distribution.--In selecting applications under this section 
the Director shall ensure, to the extent practicable, a distribution of 
overall awards among a variety of manufacturing industry sectors and a 
range of firm sizes.
    ``(f) Duration.--In carrying out this section, the Director shall 
run a single pilot competition to solicit and make awards. Each award 
shall be for a 3-year period.''.

SEC. 3008. MANUFACTURING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

    Section 18 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-1) is amended--
        (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``The Director is 
    authorized''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Manufacturing Fellowship Program.--
        ``(1) Establishment.--To promote the development of a robust 
    research community working at the leading edge of manufacturing 
    sciences, the Director shall establish a program to award--
            ``(A) postdoctoral research fellowships at the Institute 
        for research activities related to manufacturing sciences; and
            ``(B) senior research fellowships to established 
        researchers in industry or at institutions of higher education 
        who wish to pursue studies related to the manufacturing 
        sciences at the Institute.
        ``(2) Applications.--To be eligible for an award under this 
    subsection, an individual shall submit an application to the 
    Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
    information as the Director may require.
        ``(3) Stipend levels.--Under this subsection, the Director 
    shall provide stipends for postdoctoral research fellowships at a 
    level consistent with the National Institute of Standards and 
    Technology Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program, and senior 
    research fellowships at levels consistent with support for a 
    faculty member in a sabbatical position.''.

SEC. 3009. PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMITTENT SERVICES.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology may procure the temporary or intermittent 
services of experts or consultants (or organizations thereof) in 
accordance with section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, to 
assist with urgent or short-term research projects.
    (b) Extent of Authority.--A procurement under this section may not 
exceed 1 year in duration, and the Director shall procure no more than 
200 experts and consultants per year.
    (c) Sunset.--This section shall cease to be effective after 
September 30, 2010.
    (d) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the 
Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a 
report on whether additional safeguards would be needed with respect to 
the use of authorities granted under this section if such authorities 
were to be made permanent.

SEC. 3010. MALCOLM BALDRIGE AWARDS.

    Section 17(c)(3) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711a(c)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(3) In any year, not more than 18 awards may be made under this 
section to recipients who have not previously received an award under 
this section, and no award shall be made within any category described 
in paragraph (1) if there are no qualifying enterprises in that 
category.''.

SEC. 3011. 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 the enactment of this 
Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
shall submit 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--
        (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. 3012. TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    (a) Repeal of Advanced Technology Program.--Section 28 of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n) is 
repealed.
    (b) Establishment of Technology Innovation Program.--The National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is 
amended by inserting after section 27 the following:

``SEC. 28. TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--There is established within the Institute a 
program linked to the purpose and functions of the Institute, to be 
known as the `Technology Innovation Program' for the purpose of 
assisting United States businesses and institutions of higher education 
or other organizations, such as national laboratories and nonprofit 
research institutions, to support, promote, and accelerate innovation 
in the United States through high-risk, high-reward research in areas 
of critical national need.
    ``(b) External Funding.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Director shall award competitive, merit-
    reviewed grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to--
            ``(A) eligible companies that are small-sized businesses or 
        medium-sized businesses; or
            ``(B) joint ventures.
        ``(2) Single company awards.--No award given to a single 
    company shall exceed $3,000,000 over 3 years.
        ``(3) Joint venture awards.--No award given to a joint venture 
    shall exceed $9,000,000 over 5 years.
        ``(4) Federal cost share.--The Federal share of a project 
    funded by an award under the program shall not be more than 50 
    percent of total project costs.
        ``(5) Prohibitions.--Federal funds awarded under this program 
    may be used only for direct costs and not for indirect costs, 
    profits, or management fees of a contractor. Any business that is 
    not a small-sized or medium-sized business may not receive any 
    funding under this program.
    ``(c) Award Criteria.--The Director shall only provide assistance 
under this section to an entity--
        ``(1) whose proposal has scientific and technical merit and may 
    result in intellectual property vesting in a United States entity 
    that can commercialize the technology in a timely manner;
        ``(2) whose application establishes that the proposed 
    technology has strong potential to address critical national needs 
    through transforming the Nation's capacity to deal with major 
    societal challenges that are not currently being addressed, and 
    generate substantial benefits to the Nation that extend 
    significantly beyond the direct return to the applicant;
        ``(3) whose application establishes that the research has 
    strong potential for advancing the state-of-the-art and 
    contributing significantly to the United States science and 
    technology knowledge base;
        ``(4) whose proposal explains why Technology Innovation Program 
    support is necessary, including evidence that the research will not 
    be conducted within a reasonable time period in the absence of 
    financial assistance under this section;
        ``(5) whose application demonstrates that reasonable efforts 
    have been made to secure funding from alternative funding sources 
    and no other alternative funding sources are reasonably available 
    to support the proposal; and
        ``(6) whose application explains the novelty of the technology 
    and demonstrates that other entities have not already developed, 
    commercialized, marketed, distributed, or sold similar 
    technologies.
    ``(d) Competitions.--The Director shall solicit proposals at least 
annually to address areas of critical national need for high-risk, 
high-reward projects.
    ``(e) Intellectual Property Rights Ownership.--
        ``(1) In general.--Title to any intellectual property developed 
    by a joint venture from assistance provided under this section may 
    vest in any participant in the joint venture, as agreed by the 
    members of the joint venture, notwithstanding section 202 (a) and 
    (b) of title 35, United States Code. The United States may reserve 
    a nonexclusive, nontransferable, irrevocable paid-up license, to 
    have practice for or on behalf of the United States in connection 
    with any such intellectual property, but shall not in the exercise 
    of such license publicly disclose proprietary information related 
    to the license. Title to any such intellectual property shall not 
    be transferred or passed, except to a participant in the joint 
    venture, until the expiration of the first patent obtained in 
    connection with such intellectual property.
        ``(2) Licensing.--Nothing in this subsection shall be construed 
    to prohibit the licensing to any company of intellectual property 
    rights arising from assistance provided under this section.
        ``(3) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the term 
    `intellectual property' means an invention patentable under title 
    35, United States Code, or any patent on such an invention, or any 
    work for which copyright protection is available under title 17, 
    United States Code.
    ``(f) Program Operation.--Not later than 9 months after the date of 
the enactment of this section, the Director shall promulgate 
regulations--
        ``(1) establishing criteria for the selection of recipients of 
    assistance under this section;
        ``(2) establishing procedures regarding financial reporting and 
    auditing to ensure that awards are used for the purposes specified 
    in this section, are in accordance with sound accounting practices, 
    and are not funding existing or planned research programs that 
    would be conducted within a reasonable time period in the absence 
    of financial assistance under this section; and
        ``(3) providing for appropriate dissemination of Technology 
    Innovation Program research results.
    ``(g) Annual Report.--The Director shall submit annually to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives 
a report describing the Technology Innovation Program's activities, 
including a description of the metrics upon which award funding 
decisions were made in the previous fiscal year, any proposed changes 
to those metrics, metrics for evaluating the success of ongoing and 
completed awards, and an evaluation of ongoing and completed awards. 
The first annual report shall include best practices for management of 
programs to stimulate high-risk, high-reward research.
    ``(h) Continuation of ATP Grants.--The Director shall, through the 
Technology Innovation Program, continue to provide support originally 
awarded under the Advanced Technology Program, in accordance with the 
terms of the original award and consistent with the goals of the 
Technology Innovation Program.
    ``(i) Coordination With Other State and Federal Technology 
Programs.--In carrying out this section, the Director shall, as 
appropriate, coordinate with other senior State and Federal officials 
to ensure cooperation and coordination in State and Federal technology 
programs and to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts.
    ``(j) Acceptance of Funds From Other Federal Agencies.--In addition 
to amounts appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary and 
the Director may accept funds from other Federal agencies to support 
awards under the Technology Innovation Program. Any award under this 
section which is supported with funds from other Federal agencies shall 
be selected and carried out according to the provisions of this 
section. Funds accepted from other Federal agencies shall be included 
as part of the Federal cost share of any project funded under this 
section.
    ``(k) TIP Advisory Board.--
        ``(1) Establishment.--There is established within the Institute 
    a TIP Advisory Board.
        ``(2) Membership.--
            ``(A) In general.--The TIP Advisory Board shall consist of 
        10 members appointed by the Director, at least 7 of whom shall 
        be from United States industry, chosen to reflect the wide 
        diversity of technical disciplines and industrial sectors 
        represented in Technology Innovation Program projects. No 
        member shall be an employee of the Federal Government.
            ``(B) Term.--Except as provided in subparagraph (C) or (D), 
        the term of office of each member of the TIP Advisory Board 
        shall be 3 years.
            ``(C) Classes.--The original members of the TIP Advisory 
        Board shall be appointed to 3 classes. One class of 3 members 
        shall have an initial term of 1 year, one class of 3 members 
        shall have an initial term of 2 years, and one class of 4 
        members shall have an initial term of 3 years.
            ``(D) Vacancies.--Any member appointed to fill a vacancy 
        occurring prior to the expiration of the term for which his 
        predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder 
        of such term.
            ``(E) Serving consecutive terms.--Any person who has 
        completed 2 consecutive full terms of service on the TIP 
        Advisory Board shall thereafter be ineligible for appointment 
        during the 1-year period following the expiration of the second 
        such term.
        ``(3) Purpose.--The TIP Advisory Board shall meet not less than 
    2 times annually, and provide the Director--
            ``(A) advice on programs, plans, and policies of the 
        Technology Innovation Program;
            ``(B) reviews of the Technology Innovation Program's 
        efforts to accelerate the research and development of 
        challenging, high-risk, high-reward technologies in areas of 
        critical national need;
            ``(C) reports on the general health of the program and its 
        effectiveness in achieving its legislatively mandated mission; 
        and
            ``(D) guidance on investment areas that are appropriate for 
        Technology Innovation Program funding;
        ``(4) Advisory capacity.--In discharging its duties under this 
    subsection, the TIP Advisory Board shall function solely in an 
    advisory capacity, in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
    Committee Act.
        ``(5) Annual report.--The TIP Advisory Board shall transmit an 
    annual report to the Secretary for transmittal to the Congress not 
    later than 30 days after the submission to Congress of the 
    President's annual budget request in each year. Such report shall 
    address the status of the Technology Innovation Program and comment 
    on the relevant sections of the programmatic planning document and 
    updates thereto transmitted to Congress by the Director under 
    subsections (c) and (d) of section 23.
    ``(l) Definitions.--In this section--
        ``(1) the term `eligible company' means a small-sized or 
    medium-sized business that is incorporated in the United States and 
    does a majority of its business in the United States, and that 
    either--
            ``(A) is majority owned by citizens of the United States; 
        or
            ``(B) is owned by a parent company incorporated in another 
        country and the Director finds that--
                ``(i) the company's participation in the Technology 
            Innovation Program would be in the economic interest of the 
            United States, as evidenced by--

                    ``(I) investments in the United States in research 
                and manufacturing;
                    ``(II) significant contributions to employment in 
                the United States; and
                    ``(III) agreement with respect to any technology 
                arising from assistance provided under this section to 
                promote the manufacture within the United States of 
                products resulting from that technology; and

                ``(ii) the company is incorporated in a country which--

                    ``(I) affords to United States-owned companies 
                opportunities, comparable to those afforded to any 
                other company, to participate in any joint venture 
                similar to those receiving funding under this section;
                    ``(II) affords to United States-owned companies 
                local investment opportunities comparable to those 
                afforded any other company; and
                    ``(III) affords adequate and effective protection 
                for intellectual property rights of United States-owned 
                companies;

        ``(2) the term `high-risk, high-reward research' means research 
    that--
            ``(A) has the potential for yielding transformational 
        results with far-ranging or wide-ranging implications;
            ``(B) addresses critical national needs within the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology's areas of technical 
        competence; and
            ``(C) is too novel or spans too diverse a range of 
        disciplines to fare well in the traditional peer-review 
        process;
        ``(3) the term `institution of higher education' has the 
    meaning given that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act 
    of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001);
        ``(4) the term `joint venture' means a joint venture that--
            ``(A) includes either--
                ``(i) at least 2 separately owned for-profit companies 
            that are both substantially involved in the project and 
            both of which are contributing to the cost-sharing required 
            under this section, with the lead entity of the joint 
            venture being one of those companies that is a small-sized 
            or medium-sized business; or
                ``(ii) at least 1 small-sized or medium-sized business 
            and 1 institution of higher education or other 
            organization, such as a national laboratory or nonprofit 
            research institute, that are both substantially involved in 
            the project and both of which are contributing to the cost-
            sharing required under this section, with the lead entity 
            of the joint venture being either that small-sized or 
            medium-sized business or that institution of higher 
            education; and
            ``(B) may include additional for-profit companies, 
        institutions of higher education, and other organizations, such 
        as national laboratories and nonprofit research institutes, 
        that may or may not contribute non-Federal funds to the 
        project; and
        ``(5) the term `TIP Advisory Board' means the advisory board 
    established under subsection (k).''.
    (c) Transition.--Notwithstanding the repeal made by subsection (a), 
the Director shall carry out section 28 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n) as such section was in 
effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, with 
respect to applications for grants under such section submitted before 
such date, until the earlier of--
        (1) the date that the Director promulgates the regulations 
    required under section 28(f) of the National Institute of Standards 
    and Technology Act, as added by subsection (b); or
        (2) December 31, 2007.

SEC. 3013. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS 
              AND TECHNOLOGY ACT AND OTHER TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Research Fellowships.--Section 18 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-l) is amended by striking 
``up to 1 per centum of the'' and inserting ``up to 1.5 percent of 
the''.
    (b) Financial Agreements Clarification.--Section 2(b)(4) of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
272(b)(4)) is amended by inserting ``and grants and cooperative 
agreements,'' after ``arrangements,''.
    (c) Outdated Specifications.--
        (1) Redefinition of the metric system.--Section 3570 of the 
    Revised Statutes of the United States (derived from section 2 of 
    the Act of July 28, 1866, entitled ``An Act to authorize the Use of 
    the Metric System of Weights and Measures'' (15 U.S.C. 205; 14 
    Stat. 339)) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 3570. METRIC SYSTEM DEFINED.

    ``The metric system of measurement shall be defined as the 
International System of Units as established in 1960, and subsequently 
maintained, by the General Conference of Weights and Measures, and as 
interpreted or modified for the United States by the Secretary of 
Commerce.''.
        (2) Repeal of redundant and obsolete authority.--The Act of 
    July 21, 1950, entitled, ``An Act To redefine the units and 
    establish the standards of electrical and photometric 
    measurements.'' (15 U.S.C. 223 and 224) is hereby repealed.
        (3) Standard time.--Section 1 of the Act of March 19, 1918, 
    (commonly known as the ``Calder Act'') (15 U.S.C. 261) is amended--
            (A) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``For the 
        purpose'';
            (B) by striking the second sentence and the extra period 
        after it and inserting ``Except as provided in section 3(a) of 
        the Uniform Time Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 260a), the standard 
        time of the first zone shall be Coordinated Universal Time 
        retarded by 4 hours; that of the second zone retarded by 5 
        hours; that of the third zone retarded by 6 hours; that of the 
        fourth zone retarded by 7 hours; that of the fifth zone 
        retarded 8 hours; that of the sixth zone retarded by 9 hours; 
        that of the seventh zone retarded by 10 hours; that of the 
        eighth zone retarded by 11 hours; and that of the ninth zone 
        shall be Coordinated Universal Time advanced by 10 hours.''; 
        and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Coordinated Universal Time Defined.--In this section, the 
term `Coordinated Universal Time' means the time scale maintained 
through the General Conference of Weights and Measures and interpreted 
or modified for the United States by the Secretary of Commerce in 
coordination with the Secretary of the Navy.''.
        (4) Idaho time zone.--Section 3 of the Act of March 19, 1918, 
    (commonly known as the ``Calder Act'') (15 U.S.C. 264) is amended 
    by striking ``third zone'' and inserting ``fourth zone''.
    (d) Non-Energy Inventions Program.--Section 27 of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278m) is repealed.

SEC. 3014. RETENTION OF DEPRECIATION SURCHARGE.

    Section 14 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278d) is amended--
        (1) by inserting ``(a) In General.--'' before ``Within''; and
        (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Retention of Fees.--The Director is authorized to retain all 
building use and depreciation surcharge fees collected pursuant to OMB 
Circular A-25. Such fees shall be collected and credited to the 
Construction of Research Facilities Appropriation Account for use in 
maintenance and repair of the Institute's existing facilities.''.

SEC. 3015. POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS.

    Section 19 of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278g-2) is amended by striking ``nor more than 60 new 
fellows'' and inserting ``nor more than 120 new fellows''.

                TITLE IV--OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC PROGRAMS

SEC. 4001. OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, in consultation with the Director of the National 
Science Foundation and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration, shall establish a coordinated program of 
ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, and atmospheric research and development, 
in collaboration with academic institutions and other nongovernmental 
entities, that shall focus on the development of advanced technologies 
and analytical methods that will promote United States leadership in 
ocean and atmospheric science and competitiveness in the applied uses 
of such knowledge.

SEC. 4002. NOAA OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration shall conduct, develop, support, promote, 
and coordinate formal and informal educational activities at all levels 
to enhance public awareness and understanding of ocean, coastal, Great 
Lakes, and atmospheric science and stewardship by the general public 
and other coastal stakeholders, including underrepresented groups in 
ocean and atmospheric science and policy careers. In conducting those 
activities, the Administrator shall build upon the educational programs 
and activities of the agency.
    (b) NOAA Science Education Plan.--The Administrator, appropriate 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration programs, ocean 
atmospheric science and education experts, and interested members of 
the public shall develop a science education plan setting forth 
education goals and strategies for the Administration, as well as 
programmatic actions to carry out such goals and priorities over the 
next 20 years, and evaluate and update such plan every 5 years.
    (c) Construction.--Nothing in this section may be construed to 
affect the application of section 438 of the General Education 
Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232a) or sections 504 and 508 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794 and 794d).

SEC. 4003. NOAA'S CONTRIBUTION TO INNOVATION.

    (a) Participation in Interagency Activities.--The National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration shall be a full participant in any 
interagency effort to promote innovation and economic competitiveness 
through near-term and long-term basic scientific research and 
development and the promotion of science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics education, consistent with the agency mission, including 
authorized activities.
    (b) Historic Foundation.--In order to carry out the participation 
described in subsection (a), the Administrator of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration shall build on the historic role of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in stimulating 
excellence in the advancement of ocean and atmospheric science and 
engineering disciplines and in providing opportunities and incentives 
for the pursuit of academic studies in science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics.

                     TITLE V--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

SEC. 5001. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Protecting America's Competitive 
Edge Through Energy Act'' or the ``PACE-Energy Act''.

SEC. 5002. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
        (1) Department.--The term ``Department'' means the Department 
    of Energy.
        (2) Institution of higher education.--The term ``institution of 
    higher education'' has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) 
    of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
        (3) National laboratory.--The term ``National Laboratory'' has 
    the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 
    2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).
        (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
    Energy.

SEC. 5003. SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION AT THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

    (a) Science Education Programs.--Section 3164 of the Department of 
Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381a) is amended--
        (1) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and (d) as 
    subsections (c), (d), and (f), respectively;
        (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following:
    ``(b) Organization of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics 
Education Programs.--
        ``(1) Director of science, engineering, and mathematics 
    education.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
    Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Science (referred 
    to in this subsection as the `Under Secretary'), shall appoint a 
    Director of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education 
    (referred to in this subsection as the `Director') with the 
    principal responsibility for administering science, engineering, 
    and mathematics education programs across all functions of the 
    Department.
        ``(2) Qualifications.--The Director shall be an individual, who 
    by reason of professional background and experience, is specially 
    qualified to advise the Under Secretary on all matters pertaining 
    to science, engineering, and mathematics education at the 
    Department.
        ``(3) Duties.--The Director shall--
            ``(A) oversee all science, engineering, and mathematics 
        education programs of the Department;
            ``(B) represent the Department as the principal interagency 
        liaison for all science, engineering, and mathematics education 
        programs, unless otherwise represented by the Secretary or the 
        Under Secretary;
            ``(C) prepare the annual budget and advise the Under 
        Secretary on all budgetary issues for science, engineering, and 
        mathematics education programs of the Department;
            ``(D) increase, to the maximum extent practicable, the 
        participation and advancement of women and underrepresented 
        minorities at every level of science, technology, engineering, 
        and mathematics education; and
            ``(E) perform other such matters relating to science, 
        engineering, and mathematics education as are required by the 
        Secretary or the Under Secretary.
        ``(4) Staff and other resources.--The Secretary shall assign to 
    the Director such personnel and other resources as the Secretary 
    considers necessary to permit the Director to carry out the duties 
    of the Director.
        ``(5) Assessment.--
            ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall offer to enter into 
        a contract with the National Academy of Sciences under which 
        the National Academy, not later than 5 years after, and not 
        later than 10 years after, the date of enactment of this 
        paragraph, shall assess the performance of the science, 
        engineering, and mathematics education programs of the 
        Department.
            ``(B) Considerations.--An assessment under this paragraph 
        shall be conducted taking into consideration, where applicable, 
        the effect of science, engineering, and mathematics education 
        programs of the Department on student academic achievement in 
        science and mathematics.
        ``(6) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized to 
    be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this 
    subsection.''; and
        (3) by striking subsection (d) (as redesignated by paragraph 
    (1)) and inserting the following:
    ``(d) Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Fund.--The 
Secretary shall establish a Science, Engineering, and Mathematics 
Education Fund, using not less than 0.3 percent of the amount made 
available to the Department for research, development, demonstration, 
and commercial application for each fiscal year, to carry out sections 
3165, 3166, and 3167.
    ``(e) Annual Plan for Allocation of Education Funding.--The 
Secretary shall submit to Congress as part of the annual budget 
submission for a fiscal year a report describing the manner in which 
the Department has complied with subsection (d) for the prior fiscal 
year and the manner in which the Department proposes to comply with 
subsection (d) during the following fiscal year, including--
        ``(1) the total amount of funding for research, development, 
    demonstration, and commercial application activities for the 
    corresponding fiscal year;
        ``(2) the amounts set aside for the Science, Engineering, and 
    Mathematics Education Fund under subsection (d) from funding for 
    research activities, development activities, demonstration 
    activities, and commercial application activities for the 
    corresponding fiscal year; and
        ``(3) a description of how the funds set aside under subsection 
    (d) were allocated for the prior fiscal year and will be allocated 
    for the following fiscal year.''.
    (b) Consultation.--The Secretary shall--
        (1) consult with the Secretary of Education and the Director of 
    the National Science Foundation regarding activities authorized 
    under subpart B of the Department of Energy Science Education 
    Enhancement Act (as added by subsection (d)(3)) to improve science 
    and mathematics education; and
        (2) otherwise make available to the Secretary of Education 
    reports associated with programs authorized under that section.
    (c) Definition.--Section 3168 of the Department of Energy Science 
Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381d) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
        ``(5) National laboratory.--The term `National Laboratory' has 
    the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 
    2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).''.
    (d) Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Programs.--The 
Department of Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381 
et seq.) is amended--
        (1) by inserting after section 3162 (42 U.S.C. 7381) the 
    following:

             ``Subpart A--Science Education Enhancement'';

        (2) in section 3169 (42 U.S.C. 7381e), by striking ``part'' and 
    inserting ``subpart''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following:

 ``Subpart B--Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education Programs

``SEC. 3170. DEFINITIONS.

    ``In this subpart:
        ``(1) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of 
    Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education.
        ``(2) National laboratory.--The term `National Laboratory' has 
    the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 
    2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).

 ``CHAPTER 1--PILOT PROGRAM OF GRANTS TO SPECIALTY SCHOOLS FOR SCIENCE 
                            AND MATHEMATICS

``SEC. 3171. PILOT PROGRAM OF GRANTS TO SPECIALTY SCHOOLS FOR SCIENCE 
              AND MATHEMATICS.

    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish a pilot 
program of grants to States to help establish or expand public, 
statewide specialty secondary schools that provide comprehensive 
science and mathematics (including technology and engineering) 
education to improve the academic achievement of students in science 
and mathematics.
    ``(b) Definition of Specialty School for Science and Mathematics.--
In this chapter, the term `specialty school for science and 
mathematics' means a public secondary school (including a school that 
provides residential services to students) that--
        ``(1) serves students residing in the State in which the school 
    is located; and
        ``(2) offers to those students a high-quality, comprehensive 
    science and mathematics (including technology and engineering) 
    curriculum designed to improve the academic achievement of students 
    in science and mathematics.
    ``(c) Pilot Program Authorized.--
        ``(1) In general.--From the amounts authorized under subsection 
    (i), the Secretary, acting through the Director and in consultation 
    with the Director of the National Science Foundation, shall award 
    grants, on a competitive basis, to States in order to provide 
    assistance to the States for the costs of establishing or expanding 
    public, statewide specialty schools for science and mathematics.
        ``(2) Resources.--The Director shall ensure that appropriate 
    resources of the Department, including the National Laboratories, 
    are available to schools funded under this section in order to--
            ``(A) increase experiential, hands-on learning 
        opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics for students attending such schools; and
            ``(B) provide ongoing professional development 
        opportunities for teachers employed at such schools.
        ``(3) Assistance.--Consistent with sections 3165 and 3166, the 
    Director shall make available from funds authorized in this section 
    to carry out a program using scientific and engineering staff of 
    the National Laboratories, during which the staff--
            ``(A) assists teachers in teaching courses at the schools 
        funded under this section;
            ``(B) uses National Laboratory scientific equipment in 
        teaching the courses; and
            ``(C) uses distance education and other technologies to 
        provide assistance described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) to 
        schools funded under this section that are not located near the 
        National Laboratories.
        ``(4) Restrictions.--
            ``(A) Maximum number of funded specialty schools per 
        state.--No State shall receive funding for more than 1 
        specialty school for science and mathematics for a fiscal year.
            ``(B) Maximum amount and duration of grants.--A grant 
        awarded to a State for a specialty school for science and 
        mathematics under this section--
                ``(i) shall not exceed $2,000,000 for a fiscal year; 
            and
                ``(ii) shall not be provided for more than 3 fiscal 
            years.
    ``(d) Federal and Non-Federal Shares.--
        ``(1) Federal share.--The Federal share of the costs described 
    in subsection (c)(1) shall not exceed 33 percent.
        ``(2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of the costs 
    described in subsection (c)(1) shall be--
            ``(A) not less than 67 percent; and
            ``(B) provided from non-Federal sources, in cash or in 
        kind, fairly evaluated, including services.
    ``(e) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, a State shall submit to the Director an application at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director 
may require that describes--
        ``(1) the process by which and selection criteria with which 
    the State will select and designate a school as a specialty school 
    for science and mathematics in accordance with this section;
        ``(2) how the State will ensure that funds made available under 
    this section are used to establish or expand a specialty school for 
    science and mathematics--
            ``(A) in accordance with the activities described in 
        subsection (g); and
            ``(B) that has the capacity to improve the academic 
        achievement of all students in all core academic subjects, and 
        particularly in science and mathematics;
        ``(3) how the State will measure the extent to which the school 
    increases student academic achievement on State academic 
    achievement standards in science, mathematics, and, to the maximum 
    extent applicable, technology and engineering;
        ``(4) the curricula and materials to be used in the school;
        ``(5) the availability of funds from non-Federal sources for 
    the costs of the activities authorized under this section; and
        ``(6) how the State will use technical assistance and support 
    from the Department, including the National Laboratories, and other 
    entities with experience and expertise in science, technology, 
    engineering, and mathematics education, including institutions of 
    higher education.
    ``(f) Distribution.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
Director shall--
        ``(1) ensure a wide, equitable distribution among States that 
    propose to serve students from urban and rural areas; and
        ``(2) provide equal consideration to States without National 
    Laboratories.
    ``(g) Uses of Funds.--
        ``(1) Requirement.--A State that receives a grant under this 
    section shall use the funds made available through the grant to--
            ``(A) employ proven strategies and methods for improving 
        student learning and teaching in science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics;
            ``(B) integrate into the curriculum of the school 
        comprehensive science and mathematics education, including 
        instruction and assessments in science, mathematics, and to the 
        extent applicable, technology and engineering that are aligned 
        with the academic content and student academic achievement 
        standards of the State, within the meaning of section 1111 of 
        the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        6311);
            ``(C) create opportunities for enhanced and ongoing 
        professional development for teachers that improves the 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics content 
        knowledge of the teachers; and
            ``(D) design and implement hands-on laboratory experiences 
        to help prepare students to pursue postsecondary studies in 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields.
        ``(2) Special rule.--Grant funds under this section may be used 
    for activities described in paragraph (1) only if the activities 
    are directly relating to improving student academic achievement in 
    science, mathematics, and to the extent applicable, technology and 
    engineering.
    ``(h) Evaluation and Report.--
        ``(1) State evaluation and report.--
            ``(A) Evaluation.--Each State that receives a grant under 
        this section shall develop and carry out an evaluation and 
        accountability plan for the activities funded through the grant 
        that measures the impact of the activities, including 
        measurable objectives for improved student academic achievement 
        on State science, mathematics, and, to the maximum extent 
        applicable, technology and engineering assessments.
            ``(B) Report.--The State shall submit to the Director a 
        report containing the results of the evaluation and 
        accountability plan.
        ``(2) Report to congress.--Not later than 2 years after the 
    date of enactment of the PACE-Energy Act, the Director shall submit 
    a report detailing the impact of the activities assisted with funds 
    made available under this section to--
            ``(A) the Committee on Science and Technology of the House 
        of Representatives;
            ``(B) the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the 
        Senate; and
            ``(C) the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
        Pensions of the Senate.
    ``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
        ``(1) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
        ``(2) $22,500,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
        ``(3) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.

         ``CHAPTER 2--EXPERIENTIAL-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

``SEC. 3175. EXPERIENTIAL-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES.

    ``(a) Internships Authorized.--
        ``(1) In general.--From the amounts authorized under subsection 
    (f), the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall establish a 
    summer internship program for middle school and secondary school 
    students that shall--
            ``(A) provide the students with internships at the National 
        Laboratories;
            ``(B) promote experiential, hands-on learning in science, 
        technology, engineering, or mathematics; and
            ``(C) be of at least 2 weeks in duration.
        ``(2) Residential services.--The Director may provide 
    residential services to students participating in the internship 
    program authorized under paragraph (1).
    ``(b) Selection Criteria.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Director shall establish criteria to 
    determine the sufficient level of academic preparedness necessary 
    for a student to be eligible for an internship under this section.
        ``(2) Participation.--The Director shall ensure the 
    participation of students from a wide distribution of States, 
    including States without National Laboratories.
        ``(3) Student achievement.--The Director may consider the 
    academic achievement of middle and secondary school students in 
    determining eligibility under this section, in accordance with 
    paragraphs (1) and (2).
    ``(c) Priority.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Director shall give priority for an 
    internship under this section to a student who meets the 
    eligibility criteria described in subsection (b) and who attends a 
    school--
            ``(A)(i) in which not less than 30 percent of the children 
        enrolled in the school are from low-income families; or
            ``(ii) that is designated with a school locale code of 41, 
        42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary of Education; and
            ``(B) for which there is--
                ``(i) a high percentage of teachers who are not 
            teaching in the academic subject areas or grade levels in 
            which the teachers were trained to teach;
                ``(ii) a high teacher turnover rate; or
                ``(iii) a high percentage of teachers with emergency, 
            provisional, or temporary certification or licenses.
        ``(2) Coordination.--The Director shall consult with the 
    Secretary of Education in order to determine whether a student 
    meets the priority requirements of this subsection.
    ``(d) Outreach and Experiential-Based Programs for Minority 
Students.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, 
    in cooperation with Hispanic-serving institutions, historically 
    Black colleges and universities, tribally controlled colleges and 
    universities, Alaska Native- and Native Hawaiian-serving 
    institutions, and other minority-serving institutions and nonprofit 
    entities with substantial experience relating to outreach and 
    experiential-based learning projects, shall establish outreach and 
    experiential-based learning programs that will encourage 
    underrepresented minority students in kindergarten through grade 12 
    to pursue careers in science, engineering, and mathematics.
        ``(2) Community involvement.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
    the programs established under paragraph (1) involve, to the 
    maximum extent practicable--
            ``(A) participation by parents and educators; and
            ``(B) the establishment of partnerships with business 
        organizations and appropriate Federal, State, and local 
        agencies.
        ``(3) Distribution.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
    programs established under paragraph (1) are located in diverse 
    geographic regions of the United States, to the maximum extent 
    practicable.
    ``(e) Evaluation and Accountability Plan.--The Director shall 
develop an evaluation and accountability plan for the activities funded 
under this chapter that objectively measures the impact of the 
activities.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $7,500,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2008 through 2010.

 ``CHAPTER 3--NATIONAL LABORATORIES CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE, 
           TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION

``SEC. 3181. NATIONAL LABORATORIES CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE, 
              TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION.

    ``(a) Definition of High-Need Public Secondary School.--In this 
section, the term `high-need public secondary school' means a secondary 
school--
        ``(1) with a high concentration of low-income individuals (as 
    defined in section 1707 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
    Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6537)); or
        ``(2) designated with a school locale code of 41, 42, or 43, as 
    determined by the Secretary of Education.
    ``(b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish at each of the 
National Laboratories a program to support a Center of Excellence in 
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (referred to in this 
section as a `Center of Excellence') in at least 1 high-need public 
secondary school located in the region served by the National 
Laboratory to provide assistance in accordance with subsection (f).
    ``(c) Collaboration.--
        ``(1) In general.--To comply with subsection (g), each high-
    need public secondary school selected as a Center of Excellence and 
    the National Laboratory shall form a partnership with a school, 
    department, or program of education at an institution of higher 
    education.
        ``(2) Nonprofit entities.--The partnership may include a 
    nonprofit entity with demonstrated experience and effectiveness in 
    science or mathematics, as agreed to by other members of the 
    partnership.
    ``(d) Selection.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, 
    shall establish criteria to guide the National Laboratories in 
    selecting the sites for Centers of Excellence.
        ``(2) Process.--A National Laboratory shall select a site for a 
    Center of Excellence through an open, widely-publicized, and 
    competitive process.
    ``(e) Goals.--The Secretary shall establish goals and performance 
assessments for each Center of Excellence authorized under subsection 
(b).
    ``(f) Assistance.--Consistent with sections 3165 and 3166, the 
Director shall make available necessary assistance for a program 
established under this section through the use of scientific and 
engineering staff of a National Laboratory, including the use of 
staff--
        ``(1) to assist teachers in teaching a course at a Center of 
    Excellence in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics; 
    and
        ``(2) to use National Laboratory scientific equipment in the 
    teaching of the course.
    ``(g) Special Rules.--A Center of Excellence in a region shall 
ensure--
        ``(1) provision of clinical practicum, student teaching, or 
    internship experiences for science, technology, and mathematics 
    teacher candidates as part of the teacher preparation program of 
    the Center of Excellence;
        ``(2) provision of supervision and mentoring for teacher 
    candidates in the teacher preparation program; and
        ``(3) to the maximum extent practicable, provision of 
    professional development for veteran teachers in the public 
    secondary schools in the region.
    ``(h) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall consider the results of 
performance assessments required under subsection (e) in determining 
the contract award fee of a National Laboratory management and 
operations contractor.
    ``(i) Plan.--The Director shall--
        ``(1) develop an evaluation and accountability plan for the 
    activities funded under this section that objectively measures the 
    impact of the activities; and
        ``(2) disseminate information obtained from those measurements.
    ``(j) No Effect on Similar Programs.--Nothing in this section 
displaces or otherwise affects any similar program being carried out as 
of the date of enactment of this section at any National Laboratory 
under any other provision of law.

                     ``CHAPTER 4--SUMMER INSTITUTES

``SEC. 3185. SUMMER INSTITUTES.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
        ``(1) Eligible partner.--The term `eligible partner' means--
            ``(A) the science, engineering, or mathematics department 
        at an institution of higher education, acting in coordination 
        with a school, department, or program of education at an 
        institution of higher education that provides training for 
        teachers and principals; or
            ``(B) a nonprofit entity with expertise in providing 
        professional development for science, technology, engineering, 
        or mathematics teachers.
        ``(2) Summer institute.--The term `summer institute' means an 
    institute, operated during the summer, that--
            ``(A) is hosted by a National Laboratory or an eligible 
        partner;
            ``(B) is operated for a period of not less than 2 weeks;
            ``(C) includes, as a component, a program that provides 
        direct interaction between students and faculty, including 
        personnel of 1 or more National Laboratories who have 
        scientific expertise;
            ``(D) provides for follow-up training, during the academic 
        year, that is conducted in the classroom; and
            ``(E) provides hands-on science, technology, engineering, 
        or mathematics laboratory experience for not less than 2 days.
    ``(b) Summer Institute Programs Authorized.--
        ``(1) Programs at the national laboratories.--The Secretary, 
    acting through the Director, shall establish or expand programs of 
    summer institutes at each of the National Laboratories to provide 
    additional training to strengthen the science, technology, 
    engineering, and mathematics teaching skills of teachers employed 
    at public schools for kindergarten through grade 12, in accordance 
    with the activities authorized under paragraphs (3) and (4).
        ``(2) Programs with eligible partners.--
            ``(A) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Director, shall identify and provide assistance as described in 
        subparagraph (C) to eligible partners to establish or expand 
        programs of summer institutes that provide additional training 
        to strengthen the science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics teaching skills of teachers employed at public 
        schools for kindergarten through grade 12, in accordance with 
        paragraphs (3) and (4).
            ``(B) Selection criteria.--In identifying eligible partners 
        under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall require that 
        partner institutions describe--
                ``(i) how the partner institution has the capability to 
            administer the program in accordance with this section, 
            which may include a description of any existing programs at 
            the institution of the applicant that are targeted at 
            education of science and mathematics teachers and the 
            number of teachers graduated annually from the programs; 
            and
                ``(ii) how the partner institution will assist the 
            National Laboratory in carrying out the activities 
            described in paragraphs (3) and (4).
            ``(C) Assistance.--Consistent with sections 3165 and 3166, 
        the Director shall make available funds authorized under this 
        section to carry out a program using scientific and engineering 
        staff of the National Laboratories, during which the staff--
                ``(i) assists in providing training to teachers at 
            summer institutes; and
                ``(ii) uses National Laboratory scientific equipment in 
            the training.
        ``(3) Required activities.--Funds authorized under this section 
    shall be used for--
            ``(A) creating opportunities for enhanced and ongoing 
        professional development for teachers that improves the 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics content 
        knowledge of the teachers;
            ``(B) training to improve the ability of science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers to translate 
        content knowledge and recent developments in pedagogy into 
        classroom practice, including training to use curricula that 
        are--
                ``(i) based on scientific research; and
                ``(ii) aligned with challenging State academic content 
            standards;
            ``(C) training on the use and integration of technology in 
        the classrooms; and
            ``(D) supplemental and follow-up professional development 
        activities as described in subsection (a)(2)(D).
        ``(4) Additional uses of funds.--Funds authorized under this 
    section may be used for--
            ``(A) training and classroom materials to assist in 
        carrying out paragraph (3);
            ``(B) expenses associated with scientific and engineering 
        staff at the National Laboratories assisting in providing 
        training to teachers at summer institutes;
            ``(C) instruction in the use and integration of data and 
        assessments to inform and instruct classroom practice; and
            ``(D) stipends and travel expenses for teachers 
        participating in the program.
    ``(c) Priority.--To the maximum extent practicable, the Director 
shall ensure that each summer institute program authorized under 
subsection (b) provides training to--
        ``(1) teachers from a wide range of school districts;
        ``(2) teachers from high-need school districts; and
        ``(3) teachers from groups underrepresented in the fields of 
    science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching, 
    including women and members of minority groups.
    ``(d) Coordination and Consultation.--The Director shall consult 
and coordinate with the Secretary of Education and the Director of the 
National Science Foundation regarding the implementation of the 
programs authorized under subsection (b).
    ``(e) Evaluation and Accountability Plan.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Director shall develop an evaluation and 
    accountability plan for the activities funded under this section 
    that measures the impact of the activities.
        ``(2) Contents.--The evaluation and accountability plan shall 
    include--
            ``(A) measurable objectives to increase the number of 
        science, technology, and mathematics teachers who participate 
        in the summer institutes involved; and
            ``(B) measurable objectives for improved student academic 
        achievement on State science, mathematics, and to the maximum 
        extent applicable, technology and engineering assessments.
        ``(3) Report to congress.--The Secretary shall submit to 
    Congress with the annual budget submission of the Secretary a 
    report on how the activities assisted under this section improve 
    the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teaching 
    skills of participating teachers.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
        ``(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
        ``(2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
        ``(3) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.

           ``CHAPTER 5--NATIONAL ENERGY EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT

``SEC. 3191. NATIONAL ENERGY EDUCATION DEVELOPMENT.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, acting through the Director and 
in consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation, 
shall establish a program to coordinate and make available to teachers 
and students web-based kindergarten through high school science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics education resources relating 
to the science and energy mission of the Department, including existing 
instruction materials and protocols for classroom laboratory 
experiments.
    ``(b) Energy Education.--The materials and other resources required 
under subsection (a) shall include instruction relating to--
        ``(1) the science of energy;
        ``(2) the sources of energy;
        ``(3) the uses of energy in society; and
        ``(4) the environmental consequences and benefits of all energy 
    sources and uses.
    ``(c) Dissemination.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, 
shall take all steps necessary, such as through participation in 
education association conferences, to advertise the program authorized 
under this section to K-12 teachers and science education coordinators 
across the United States.
    ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
        ``(1) $500,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
        ``(2) such sums as necessary for each fiscal year thereafter.

                      ``CHAPTER 6--ADMINISTRATION

``SEC. 3195. MENTORING PROGRAM.

    ``(a) In General.--As part of the programs established under 
chapters 1, 3, and 4, the Director shall establish a program to recruit 
and provide mentors for women and underrepresented minorities who are 
interested in careers in science, engineering, and mathematics.
    ``(b) Pairing.--The program shall pair mentors with women and 
minorities who are in programs of study at specialty schools for 
science and mathematics, Centers of Excellence, and summer institutes 
established under chapters 1, 3, and 4, respectively.
    ``(c) Program Evaluation.--The Secretary shall annually--
        ``(1) use metrics to evaluate the success of the programs 
    established under subsection (a); and
        ``(2) submit to Congress a report that describes the results of 
    each evaluation.''.

SEC. 5004. NUCLEAR SCIENCE TALENT EXPANSION PROGRAM FOR INSTITUTIONS OF 
              HIGHER EDUCATION.

    (a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
        (1) to address the decline in the number of and resources 
    available to nuclear science programs at institutions of higher 
    education; and
        (2) to increase the number of graduates with degrees in nuclear 
    science, an area of strategic importance to the economic 
    competitiveness and energy security of the United States.
    (b) Definition of Nuclear Science.--In this section, the term 
``nuclear science'' includes--
        (1) nuclear science;
        (2) nuclear engineering;
        (3) nuclear chemistry;
        (4) radio chemistry; and
        (5) health physics.
    (c) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish, in accordance 
with this section, a program to expand and enhance institution of 
higher education nuclear science educational capabilities.
    (d) Nuclear Science Program Expansion Grants for Institutions of 
Higher Education.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award up to 3 competitive 
    grants for each fiscal year to institutions of higher education 
    that establish new academic degree programs in nuclear science.
        (2) Priority.--In evaluating grants under this subsection, the 
    Secretary shall give priority to proposals that involve 
    partnerships with a National Laboratory or other eligible nuclear-
    related entity, as determined by the Secretary.
        (3) Criteria.--Criteria for a grant awarded under this 
    subsection shall be based on--
            (A) the potential to attract new students to the program;
            (B) academic rigor; and
            (C) the ability to offer hands-on learning opportunities.
        (4) Duration and amount.--
            (A) Duration.--A grant under this subsection may be up to 5 
        years in duration.
            (B) Amount.--An institution of higher education that 
        receives a grant under this subsection shall be eligible for up 
        to $1,000,000 for each year of the grant period.
        (5) Use of funds.--An institution of higher education that 
    receives a grant under this subsection may use the grant to--
            (A) recruit and retain new faculty;
            (B) develop core and specialized course content;
            (C) encourage collaboration between faculty and researchers 
        in the nuclear science field; and
            (D) support outreach efforts to recruit students.
    (e) Nuclear Science Competitiveness Grants for Institutions of 
Higher Education.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award up to 5 competitive 
    grants for each fiscal year to institutions of higher education 
    with existing academic degree programs that produce graduates in 
    nuclear science.
        (2) Criteria.--Criteria for a grant awarded under this 
    subsection shall be based on the potential for increasing the 
    number and academic quality of graduates in the nuclear sciences 
    who enter into careers in nuclear-related fields.
        (3) Duration and amount.--
            (A) Duration.--A grant under this subsection may be up to 5 
        years in duration.
            (B) Amount.--An institution of higher education that 
        receives a grant under this subsection shall be eligible for up 
        to $500,000 for each year of the grant period.
        (4) Use of funds.--An institution of higher education that 
    receives a grant under this subsection may use the grant to--
            (A) increase the number of graduates in nuclear science 
        that enter into careers in the nuclear science field;
            (B) enhance the teaching of advanced nuclear technologies;
            (C) aggressively pursue collaboration opportunities with 
        industry and National Laboratories;
            (D) bolster or sustain nuclear infrastructure and research 
        facilities of the institution of higher education, such as 
        research and training reactors or laboratories; and
            (E) provide tuition assistance and stipends to 
        undergraduate and graduate students.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
        (1) Nuclear science program expansion grants for institutions 
    of higher education.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
    carry out subsection (d)--
            (A) $3,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (B) $6,500,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
            (C) $9,500,000 for fiscal year 2010.
        (2) Nuclear science competitiveness grants for institutions of 
    higher education.--There are authorized to be appropriated to carry 
    out subsection (e)--
            (A) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (B) $5,500,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
            (C) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.

SEC. 5005. HYDROCARBON SYSTEMS SCIENCE TALENT EXPANSION PROGRAM FOR 
              INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

    (a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
        (1) to address the decline in the number of and resources 
    available to hydrocarbon systems science programs at institutions 
    of higher education; and
        (2) to increase the number of graduates with degrees in 
    hydrocarbon systems science, an area of strategic importance to the 
    economic competitiveness and energy security of the United States.
    (b) Definition of Hydrocarbon Systems Science.--In this section:
        (1) In general.--The term ``hydrocarbon systems science'' means 
    a science involving natural gas or other petroleum exploration, 
    development, or production.
        (2) Inclusions.--The term ``hydrocarbon systems science'' 
    includes--
            (A) petroleum or reservoir engineering;
            (B) environmental geoscience;
            (C) petrophysics;
            (D) geophysics;
            (E) geochemistry;
            (F) petroleum geology;
            (G) ocean engineering;
            (H) environmental engineering; and
            (I) computer science, as computer science relates to a 
        science described in this subsection.
    (c) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish, in accordance 
with this section, a program to expand and enhance institution of 
higher education hydrocarbon systems science educational capabilities.
    (d) Hydrocarbon Systems Science Program Expansion Grants for 
Institutions of Higher Education.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award up to 3 competitive 
    grants for each fiscal year to institutions of higher education 
    that establish new academic degree programs in hydrocarbon systems 
    science.
        (2) Eligibility.--In evaluating grants under this subsection, 
    the Secretary shall give priority to proposals that involve 
    partnerships with the National Laboratories, including the National 
    Energy Technology Laboratory, or other hydrocarbon systems 
    scientific entities, as determined by the Secretary.
        (3) Criteria.--Criteria for a grant awarded under this 
    subsection shall be based on--
            (A) the potential to attract new students to the program;
            (B) academic rigor; and
            (C) the ability to offer hands-on learning opportunities.
        (4) Duration and amount.--
            (A) Duration.--A grant under this subsection may be up to 5 
        years in duration.
            (B) Amount.--An institution of higher education that 
        receives a grant under this subsection shall be eligible for up 
        to $1,000,000 for each year of the grant period.
        (5) Use of funds.--An institution of higher education that 
    receives a grant under this subsection may use the grant to--
            (A) recruit and retain new faculty;
            (B) develop core and specialized course content;
            (C) encourage collaboration between faculty and researchers 
        in the hydrocarbon systems science field; and
            (D) support outreach efforts to recruit students.
    (e) Hydrocarbon Systems Science Competitiveness Grants for 
Institutions of Higher Education.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award up to 5 competitive 
    grants for each fiscal year to institutions of higher education 
    with existing academic degree programs that produce graduates in 
    hydrocarbon systems science.
        (2) Criteria.--Criteria for a grant awarded under this 
    subsection shall be based on the potential for increasing the 
    number and academic quality of graduates in hydrocarbon systems 
    sciences who enter into careers in natural gas and other petroleum 
    exploration, development, and production related fields.
        (3) Duration and amount.--
            (A) Duration.--A grant under this subsection may be up to 5 
        years in duration.
            (B) Amount.--An institution of higher education that 
        receives a grant under this subsection shall be eligible for up 
        to $500,000 for each year of the grant period.
        (4) Use of funds.--An institution of higher education that 
    receives a grant under this subsection may use the grant to--
            (A) increase the number of graduates in the hydrocarbon 
        systems sciences that enter into careers in the natural gas and 
        other petroleum exploration, development, and production 
        science fields;
            (B) enhance the teaching of advanced natural gas and other 
        petroleum exploration, development, and production 
        technologies;
            (C) aggressively pursue collaboration opportunities with 
        industry and the National Laboratories, including the National 
        Energy Technology Laboratory;
            (D) bolster or sustain natural gas and other petroleum 
        exploration, development, and production infrastructure and 
        research facilities of the institution of higher education, 
        such as research and training or laboratories; and
            (E) provide tuition assistance and stipends to 
        undergraduate and graduate students.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
        (1) Hydrocarbon systems science program expansion grants for 
    institutions of higher education.--There are authorized to be 
    appropriated to carry out subsection (d)--
            (A) $3,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (B) $6,500,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
            (C) $9,500,000 for fiscal year 2010.
        (2) Hydrocarbon systems science competitiveness grants for 
    institutions of higher education.--There are authorized to be 
    appropriated to carry out subsection (e)--
            (A) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (B) $5,500,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
            (C) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.

SEC. 5006. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY EARLY CAREER AWARDS FOR SCIENCE. 
              ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS RESEARCHERS.

    (a) Grant Awards.--The Director of the Office of Science of the 
Department (referred to in this section as the ``Director'') shall 
carry out a program to award grants to scientists and engineers at an 
early career stage at institutions of higher education and 
organizations described in subsection (c) to conduct research in fields 
relevant to the mission of the Department.
    (b) Amount and Duration.--
        (1) Amount.--The amount of a grant awarded under this section 
    shall be--
            (A) not less than $80,000; and
            (B) not more than $125,000.
        (2) Duration.--The term of a grant awarded under this section 
    shall be not more than 5 years.
    (c) Eligibility.--
        (1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
    section, an individual shall, as determined by the Director--
            (A) subject to paragraph (2), have completed a doctorate or 
        other terminal degree not more than 10 years before the date on 
        which the proposal for a grant is submitted under subsection 
        (e)(1);
            (B) have demonstrated promise in a science, engineering, or 
        mathematics field relevant to the missions of the Department; 
        and
            (C) be employed--
                (i) in a tenure track-position as an assistant 
            professor or equivalent title at an institution of higher 
            education in the United States;
                (ii) at an organization in the United States that is a 
            nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organization such as 
            a museum, observatory, or research laboratory; or
                (iii) as a scientist at a National Laboratory.
        (2) Waiver.--Notwithstanding paragraph (1)(A), the Director may 
    determine that an individual who has completed a doctorate more 
    than 10 years before the date of submission of a proposal under 
    subsection (e)(1) is eligible to receive a grant under this section 
    if the individual was unable to conduct research for a period of 
    time because of extenuating circumstances, including military 
    service or family responsibilities, as determined by the Director.
    (d) Selection.--Grant recipients shall be selected on a 
competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
    (e) Selection Process and Criteria.--
        (1) Proposal.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
    section, an individual shall submit to the Director a proposal at 
    such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
    Director may require.
        (2) Evaluation.--In evaluating the proposals submitted under 
    paragraph (1), the Director shall take into consideration, at a 
    minimum--
            (A) the intellectual merit of the proposed project;
            (B) the innovative or transformative nature of the proposed 
        research;
            (C) the extent to which the proposal integrates research 
        and education, including undergraduate education in science and 
        engineering disciplines; and
            (D) the potential of the applicant for leadership at the 
        frontiers of knowledge.
    (f) Diversity Requirement.--
        (1) In general.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
    Director shall endeavor to ensure that the grant recipients 
    represent a variety of types of institutions of higher education 
    and nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organizations.
        (2) Requirement.--In support of the goal described in paragraph 
    (1), the Director shall broadly disseminate information regarding 
    the deadlines applicable to, and manner in which to submit, 
    proposals for grants under this section, including by conducting 
    outreach activities for--
            (A) part B institutions, as defined in section 322 of the 
        Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061); and
            (B) minority institutions, as defined in section 365 of 
        that Act (20 U.S.C. 1067k).
    (g) Report on Recruiting and Retaining Early Career Science and 
Engineering Researchers at National Laboratories.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
    enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the Committee 
    on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
    Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report 
    describing efforts of the Director to recruit and retain young 
    scientists and engineers at early career stages at the National 
    Laboratories.
        (2) Inclusions.--The report under paragraph (1) shall include--
            (A) a description of applicable Department and National 
        Laboratory policies and procedures, including policies and 
        procedures relating to financial incentives, awards, 
        promotions, time reserved for independent research, access to 
        equipment or facilities, and other forms of recognition, 
        designed to attract and retain young scientists and engineers;
            (B) an evaluation of the impact of the incentives described 
        in subparagraph (A) on--
                (i) the careers of young scientists and engineers at 
            the National Laboratories; and
                (ii) the quality of the research at the National 
            Laboratories and in Department programs;
            (C) a description of barriers, if any, that exist with 
        respect to efforts to recruit and retain young scientists and 
        engineers, including the limited availability of full-time 
        equivalent positions, legal and procedural requirements, and 
        pay grading systems; and
            (D) the amount of funding devoted to efforts to recruit and 
        retain young researchers, and the source of the funds.
    (h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary, acting through the Director, to carry 
out this section $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 
2010.

SEC. 5007. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR 
              BASIC RESEARCH.

    Section 971(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
16311(b)) is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
        (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
    inserting ``; and''; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(4) $5,814,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.''.

SEC. 5008. DISCOVERY SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INNOVATION INSTITUTES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary shall establish distributed, 
multidisciplinary institutes (referred to in this section as 
``Institutes'') centered at National Laboratories to apply fundamental 
science and engineering discoveries to technological innovations 
relating to--
        (1) the missions of the Department; and
        (2) the global competitiveness of the United States.
    (b) Topical Areas.--The Institutes shall support scientific and 
engineering research and education activities on critical emerging 
technologies determined by the Secretary to be essential to global 
competitiveness, including activities relating to--
        (1) sustainable energy technologies;
        (2) multiscale materials and processes;
        (3) micro- and nano-engineering;
        (4) computational and information engineering; and
        (5) genomics and proteomics.
    (c) Partnerships.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary 
shall establish partnerships between the Institutes and--
        (1) institutions of higher education--
            (A) to train undergraduate and graduate science and 
        engineering students;
            (B) to develop innovative undergraduate and graduate 
        educational curricula; and
            (C) to conduct research within the topical areas described 
        in subsection (b); and
        (2) private industry to develop innovative technologies within 
    the topical areas described in subsection (b).
    (d) Grants.--
        (1) In general.--For each fiscal year, the Secretary may select 
    not more than 3 Institutes to receive a grant under this section.
        (2) Merit-based selection.--The selection of Institutes under 
    paragraph (1) shall be--
            (A) merit-based; and
            (B) made through an open, competitive selection process.
        (3) Term.--An Institute shall receive a grant under this 
    section for not more than 3 fiscal years.
    (e) Review.--The Secretary shall offer to enter into an agreement 
with the National Academy of Sciences under which the Academy shall, by 
not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act--
        (1) review the performance of the Institutes under this 
    section; and
        (2) submit to Congress and the Secretary a report describing 
    the results of the review.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to provide grants to each Institute selected under this 
section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2010.

SEC. 5009. PROTECTING AMERICA'S COMPETITIVE EDGE (PACE) GRADUATE 
              FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.

    (a) Definition of Eligible Student.--In this section, the term 
``eligible student'' means a student who attends an institution of 
higher education that offers a doctoral degree in a field relevant to a 
mission area of the Department.
    (b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a graduate 
fellowship program for eligible students pursuing a doctoral degree in 
a mission area of the Department.
    (c) Selection.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall award fellowships to 
    eligible students under this section through a competitive merit 
    review process, involving written and oral interviews, that will 
    result in a wide distribution of awards throughout the United 
    States, as determined by the Secretary.
        (2) Criteria.--The Secretary shall establish selection criteria 
    for awarding fellowships under this section that require an 
    eligible student--
            (A) to pursue a field of science or engineering of 
        importance to a mission area of the Department;
            (B) to demonstrate to the Secretary--
                (i) the capacity of the eligible student to understand 
            technical topics relating to the fellowship that can be 
            derived from the first principles of the technical topics;
                (ii) imagination and creativity;
                (iii) leadership skills in organizations or 
            intellectual endeavors, demonstrated through awards and 
            past experience; and
                (iv) excellent verbal and communication skills to 
            explain, defend, and demonstrate an understanding of 
            technical subjects relating to the fellowship; and
            (C) to be a citizen or legal permanent resident of the 
        United States.
    (d) Awards.--
        (1) Amount.--A fellowship awarded under this section shall--
            (A) provide an annual living stipend; and
            (B) cover--
                (i) graduate tuition at an institution of higher 
            education described in subsection (a); and
                (ii) incidental expenses associated with curricula and 
            research at the institution of higher education (including 
            books, computers, and software).
        (2) Duration.--A fellowship awarded under this section shall be 
    up to 3 years duration within a 5-year period.
        (3) Portability.--A fellowship awarded under this section shall 
    be portable with the eligible student.
    (e) Administration.--The Secretary, acting through the Director of 
Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Education--
        (1) shall administer the program established under this 
    section; and
        (2) may enter into a contract with a nonprofit entity to 
    administer the program, including the selection and award of 
    fellowships.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
        (1) $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
        (2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, including nonexpiring 
    fellowships for the preceding fiscal year; and
        (3) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, including nonexpiring 
    fellowships for preceding fiscal years.

SEC. 5010. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING CERTAIN RECOMMENDATIONS AND 
              REVIEWS.

    It is the sense of Congress that--
        (1) the Department of Energy should implement the 
    recommendations contained in the report of the Government 
    Accountability Office numbered 04-639; and
        (2) the Secretary of Energy should annually conduct reviews in 
    accordance with title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 
    U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) of at least 2 recipients of grants provided by 
    the Department of Energy.

SEC. 5011. DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST PROGRAM.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to promote scientific 
and academic excellence through collaborations between institutions of 
higher education and National Laboratories.
    (b) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program to 
support the joint appointment of distinguished scientists by 
institutions of higher education and National Laboratories.
    (c) Qualifications.--To be eligible for appointment as a 
distinguished scientist under this section, an individual, by reason of 
professional background and experience, shall be able to bring 
international recognition to the appointing institution of higher 
education or National Laboratory in the field of scientific endeavor of 
the individual.
    (d) Selection.--A distinguished scientist appointed under this 
section shall be selected through an open, competitive process.
    (e) Appointment.--
        (1) Institution of higher education.--An appointment by an 
    institution of higher education under this section shall be filled 
    within the tenure allotment of the institution of higher education, 
    at a minimum rank of professor.
        (2) National laboratory.--An appointment by a National 
    Laboratory under this section shall be at the rank of the highest 
    grade of distinguished scientist or technical staff of the National 
    Laboratory.
    (f) Duration.--An appointment under this section shall--
        (1) be for a term of 6 years; and
        (2) consist of 2 3-year funding allotments.
    (g) Use of Funds.--Funds made available under this section may be 
used for--
        (1) the salary of the distinguished scientist and support 
    staff;
        (2) undergraduate, graduate, and post-doctoral appointments;
        (3) research-related equipment;
        (4) professional travel; and
        (5) such other requirements as the Secretary determines to be 
    necessary to carry out the purpose of the program.
    (h) Review.--
        (1) In general.--The appointment of a distinguished scientist 
    under this section shall be reviewed at the end of the first 3-year 
    allotment for the distinguished scientist through an open peer-
    review process to determine whether the appointment is meeting the 
    purpose of this section under subsection (a).
        (2) Funding.--Funding of the appointment of the distinguished 
    scientist for the second 3-year allotment shall be determined based 
    on the review conducted under paragraph (1).
    (i) Cost Sharing.--To be eligible for assistance under this 
section, an appointing institution of higher education shall pay at 
least 50 percent of the total costs of the appointment.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section--
        (1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
        (2) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
        (3) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.

SEC. 5012. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY--ENERGY.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) ARPA-E.--The term ``ARPA-E'' means the Advanced Research 
    Projects Agency--Energy established by subsection (b).
        (2) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
    ARPA-E appointed under subsection (d).
        (3) Fund.--The term ``Fund'' means the Energy Transformation 
    Acceleration Fund established under subsection (m)(1).
    (b) Establishment.--There is established the Advanced Research 
Projects Agency--Energy within the Department to overcome the long-term 
and high-risk technological barriers in the development of energy 
technologies.
    (c) Goals.--
        (1) In general.--The goals of ARPA-E shall be--
            (A) to enhance the economic and energy security of the 
        United States through the development of energy technologies 
        that result in--
                (i) reductions of imports of energy from foreign 
            sources;
                (ii) reductions of energy-related emissions, including 
            greenhouse gases; and
                (iii) improvement in the energy efficiency of all 
            economic sectors; and
            (B) to ensure that the United States maintains a 
        technological lead in developing and deploying advanced energy 
        technologies.
        (2) Means.--ARPA-E shall achieve the goals established under 
    paragraph (1) through energy technology projects by--
            (A) identifying and promoting revolutionary advances in 
        fundamental sciences;
            (B) translating scientific discoveries and cutting-edge 
        inventions into technological innovations; and
            (C) accelerating transformational technological advances in 
        areas that industry by itself is not likely to undertake 
        because of technical and financial uncertainty.
    (d) Director.--
        (1) Appointment.--There shall be in the Department of Energy a 
    Director of ARPA-E, who shall be appointed by the President, by and 
    with the advice and consent of the Senate.
        (2) Qualifications.--The Director shall be an individual who, 
    by reason of professional background and experience, is especially 
    qualified to advise the Secretary on, and manage research programs 
    addressing, matters pertaining to long-term and high-risk 
    technological barriers to the development of energy technologies.
        (3) Relationship to secretary.--The Director shall report to 
    the Secretary.
        (4) Relationship to other programs.--No other programs within 
    the Department shall report to the Director.
    (e) Responsibilities.--The responsibilities of the Director shall 
include--
        (1) approving all new programs within ARPA-E;
        (2) developing funding criteria and assessing the success of 
    programs through the establishment of technical milestones;
        (3) administering the Fund through awards to institutions of 
    higher education, companies, research foundations, trade and 
    industry research collaborations, or consortia of such entities, 
    which may include federally-funded research and development 
    centers, to achieve the goals described in subsection (c) through 
    targeted acceleration of--
            (A) novel early-stage energy research with possible 
        technology applications;
            (B) development of techniques, processes, and technologies, 
        and related testing and evaluation;
            (C) research and development of manufacturing processes for 
        novel energy technologies; and
            (D) coordination with nongovernmental entities for 
        demonstration of technologies and research applications to 
        facilitate technology transfer; and
        (4) terminating programs carried out under this section that 
    are not achieving the goals of the programs.
    (f) Personnel.--
        (1) Program managers.--
            (A) In general.--The Director shall designate employees to 
        serve as program managers for each of the programs established 
        pursuant to the responsibilities established for ARPA-E under 
        subsection (e).
            (B) Responsibilities.--A program manager of a program shall 
        be responsible for--
                (i) establishing research and development goals for the 
            program, including through the convening of workshops and 
            conferring with outside experts, and publicizing the goals 
            of the program to the public and private sectors;
                (ii) soliciting applications for specific areas of 
            particular promise, especially areas that the private 
            sector or the Federal Government are not likely to 
            undertake alone;
                (iii) building research collaborations for carrying out 
            the program;
                (iv) selecting on the basis of merit, with advice under 
            subsection (j) as appropriate, each of the projects to be 
            supported under the program after considering--

                    (I) the novelty and scientific and technical merit 
                of the proposed projects;
                    (II) the demonstrated capabilities of the 
                applicants to successfully carry out the proposed 
                project;
                    (III) the consideration by the applicant of future 
                commercial applications of the project, including the 
                feasibility of partnering with 1 or more commercial 
                entities; and
                    (IV) such other criteria as are established by the 
                Director;

                (v) monitoring the progress of projects supported under 
            the program; and
                (vi) recommending program restructure or termination of 
            research partnerships or whole projects.
            (C) Term.--The term of a program manager shall be 3 years 
        and may be renewed.
        (2) Hiring and management.--
            (A) In general.--The Director shall have the authority to--
                (i) make appointments of scientific, engineering, and 
            professional personnel without regard to the civil service 
            laws; and
                (ii) fix the compensation of such personnel at a rate 
            to be determined by the Director.
            (B) Number.--The Director shall appoint not less than 70, 
        and not more than 120, personnel under this section.
            (C) Private recruiting firms.--The Secretary, or the 
        Director serving as an agent of the Secretary, may contract 
        with private recruiting firms for the hiring of qualified 
        technical staff to carry out this section.
            (D) Additional staff.--The Director may use all authorities 
        in existence on the date of enactment of this Act that are 
        provided to the Secretary to hire administrative, financial, 
        and clerical staff as necessary to carry out this section.
    (g) Reports and Roadmaps.--
        (1) Annual report.--As part of the annual budget request 
    submitted for each fiscal year, the Director shall provide to the 
    relevant authorizing and appropriations committees of Congress a 
    report describing projects supported by ARPA-E during the previous 
    fiscal year.
        (2) Strategic vision roadmap.--Not later than October 1, 2008, 
    and October 1, 2011, the Director shall provide to the relevant 
    authorizing and appropriations committees of Congress a roadmap 
    describing the strategic vision that ARPA-E will use to guide the 
    choices of ARPA-E for future technology investments over the 
    following 3 fiscal years.
    (h) Coordination and Nonduplication.--
        (1) In general.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
    Director shall ensure that the activities of ARPA-E are coordinated 
    with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, programs and 
    laboratories within the Department and other relevant research 
    agencies.
        (2) Technology transfer coordinator.--To the extent 
    appropriate, the Director may coordinate technology transfer 
    efforts with the Technology Transfer Coordinator appointed under 
    section 1001 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16391).
    (i) Federal Demonstration of Technologies.--The Secretary shall 
make information available to purchasing and procurement programs of 
Federal agencies regarding the potential to demonstrate technologies 
resulting from activities funded through ARPA-E.
    (j) Advice.--
        (1) Advisory committees.--The Director may seek advice on any 
    aspect of ARPA-E from--
            (A) an existing Department of Energy advisory committee; 
        and
            (B) a new advisory committee organized to support the 
        programs of ARPA-E and to provide advice and assistance on--
                (i) specific program tasks; or
                (ii) overall direction of ARPA-E.
        (2) Additional sources of advice.--In carrying out this 
    section, the Director may seek advice and review from--
            (A) the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and 
        Technology; and
            (B) any professional or scientific organization with 
        expertise in specific processes or technologies under 
        development by ARPA-E.
    (k) ARPA-E Evaluation.--
        (1) In general.--After ARPA-E has been in operation for 4 
    years, the Secretary shall offer to enter into a contract with the 
    National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy shall 
    conduct an evaluation of how well ARPA-E is achieving the goals and 
    mission of ARPA-E.
        (2) Inclusions.--The evaluation shall include--
            (A) the recommendation of the National Academy of Sciences 
        on whether ARPA-E should be continued or terminated; and
            (B) a description of lessons learned from operation of 
        ARPA-E.
        (3) Availability.--On completion of the evaluation, the 
    evaluation shall be made available to Congress and the public.
    (l) Existing Authorities.--The authorities granted by this section 
are--
        (1) in addition to existing authorities granted to the 
    Secretary; and
        (2) are not intended to supersede or modify any existing 
    authorities.
    (m) Funding.--
        (1) Fund.--There is established in the Treasury of the United 
    States a fund, to be known as the ``Energy Transformation 
    Acceleration Fund'', which shall be administered by the Director 
    for the purposes of carrying out this section.
        (2) Authorization of appropriations.--Subject to paragraphs (4) 
    and (5), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Director 
    for deposit in the Fund, without fiscal year limitation--
            (A) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; and
            (B) such sums as are necessary for each of fiscal years 
        2009 and 2010.
        (3) Separate budget and appropriation.--
            (A) Budget request.--The budget request for ARPA-E shall be 
        separate from the rest of the budget of the Department.
            (B) Appropriations.--Appropriations to the Fund shall be 
        separate and distinct from the rest of the budget for the 
        Department.
        (4) Limitation.--No amounts may be appropriated for ARPA-E for 
    fiscal year 2008 unless the amount appropriated for the activities 
    of the Office of Science of the Department for fiscal year 2008 
    exceeds the amount appropriated for the Office for fiscal year 
    2007, as adjusted for inflation in accordance with the Consumer 
    Price Index published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the 
    Department of Labor.
        (5) Allocation.--Of the amounts appropriated for a fiscal year 
    under paragraph (2)--
            (A) not more than 50 percent of the amount shall be used to 
        carry out subsection (e)(3)(D);
            (B) at least 2.5 percent of the amount shall be used for 
        technology transfer and outreach activities; and
            (C) no funds may be used for construction of new buildings 
        or facilities during the 5-year period beginning on the date of 
        enactment of this Act.

                          TITLE VI--EDUCATION

SEC. 6001. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
        (1) A well-educated population is essential to retaining 
    America's competitiveness in the global economy.
        (2) The United States needs to build on and expand the impact 
    of existing programs by taking additional, well-coordinated steps 
    to ensure that all students are able to obtain the knowledge the 
    students need to obtain postsecondary education and participate 
    successfully in the workforce or the Armed Forces.
        (3) The next steps must be informed by independent information 
    on the effectiveness of current programs in science, technology, 
    engineering, mathematics, and critical foreign language education, 
    and by identification of best practices that can be replicated.
        (4) Teacher preparation and elementary school and secondary 
    school programs and activities must be aligned with the 
    requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
    (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) and the requirements of the Higher 
    Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.).
        (5) The ever increasing knowledge and skill demands of the 21st 
    century require that secondary school preparation and requirements 
    be better aligned with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed 
    in postsecondary education and the workforce, and States need 
    better data systems to track educational achievement from 
    prekindergarten through baccalaureate degrees.

SEC. 6002. DEFINITIONS.

    (a) ESEA Definitions.--Unless otherwise specified in this title, 
the terms used in this title have the meanings given the terms in 
section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 7801).
    (b) Other Definitions.--In this title:
        (1) Critical foreign language.--The term ``critical foreign 
    language'' means a foreign language that the Secretary determines, 
    in consultation with the heads of such Federal departments and 
    agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate, is critical to 
    the national security and economic competitiveness of the United 
    States.
        (2) Institution of higher education.--The term ``institution of 
    higher education'' has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) 
    of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
        (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
    Education.
        (4) Scientifically valid research.--The term ``scientifically 
    valid research'' includes applied research, basic research, and 
    field-initiated research in which the rationale, design, and 
    interpretation are soundly developed in accordance with accepted 
    principles of scientific research.

                     Subtitle A--Teacher Assistance

              PART I--TEACHERS FOR A COMPETITIVE TOMORROW

SEC. 6111. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this part is--
        (1) to develop and implement programs to provide integrated 
    courses of study in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, 
    or critical foreign languages, and teacher education, that lead to 
    a baccalaureate degree in science, technology, engineering, 
    mathematics, or a critical foreign language, with concurrent 
    teacher certification;
        (2) to develop and implement 2- or 3-year part-time master's 
    degree programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, 
    or critical foreign language education for teachers in order to 
    enhance the teachers' content knowledge and pedagogical skills; and
        (3) to develop programs for professionals in science, 
    technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language 
    education that lead to a master's degree in teaching that results 
    in teacher certification.

SEC. 6112. DEFINITIONS.

    In this part:
        (1) Children from low-income families.--The term ``children 
    from low-income families'' means children described in section 
    1124(c)(1)(A) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
    (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)(1)(A)).
        (2) Eligible recipient.--The term ``eligible recipient'' means 
    an institution of higher education that receives grant funds under 
    this part on behalf of a department of science, technology, 
    engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language, or on 
    behalf of a department or school with a competency-based degree 
    program (in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a 
    critical foreign language) that includes teacher certification, for 
    use in carrying out activities assisted under this part.
        (3) High-need local educational agency.--The term ``high-need 
    local educational agency'' means a local educational agency or 
    educational service agency--
            (A)(i) that serves not fewer than 10,000 children from low-
        income families;
            (ii) for which not less than 20 percent of the children 
        served by the agency are children from low-income families; or
            (iii) with a total of less than 600 students in average 
        daily attendance at the schools that are served by the agency 
        and all of whose schools are designated with a school locale 
        code of 41, 42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary; and
            (B)(i) for which there is a high percentage of teachers 
        providing instruction in academic subject areas or grade levels 
        for which the teachers are not highly qualified; or
            (ii) for which there is a high teacher turnover rate or a 
        high percentage of teachers with emergency, provisional, or 
        temporary certification or licensure.
        (4) Highly qualified.--The term ``highly qualified'' has the 
    meaning given such term in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
    Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801) and, with respect 
    to special education teachers, in section 602 of the Individuals 
    with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401).
        (5) Partnership.--The term ``partnership'' means a partnership 
    that--
            (A) shall include--
                (i) an eligible recipient;
                (ii)(I)(aa) a department within the eligible recipient 
            that provides a program of study in science, technology, 
            engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language; 
            and
                (bb) a school, department, or program of education 
            within the eligible recipient, or a 2-year institution of 
            higher education that has a teacher preparation offering or 
            a dual enrollment program with the eligible recipient; or
                (II) a department or school within the eligible 
            recipient with a competency-based degree program (in 
            science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a 
            critical foreign language) that includes teacher 
            certification; and
                (iii) not less than 1 high-need local educational 
            agency and a public school or a consortium of public 
            schools served by the agency; and
            (B) may include a nonprofit organization that has a 
        demonstrated record of providing expertise or support to meet 
        the purposes of this part.
        (6) Teaching skills.--The term ``teaching skills'' means the 
    ability to--
            (A) increase student achievement and learning and increase 
        a student's ability to apply knowledge;
            (B) effectively convey and explain academic subject matter;
            (C) employ strategies grounded in the disciplines of 
        teaching and learning that--
                (i) are based on scientifically valid research;
                (ii) are specific to academic subject matter; and
                (iii) focus on the identification of students' specific 
            learning needs, particularly students with disabilities, 
            students who are limited English proficient, students who 
            are gifted and talented, and students with low literacy 
            levels, and the tailoring of academic instruction to such 
            needs;
            (D) conduct ongoing assessment of student learning;
            (E) effectively manage a classroom; and
            (F) communicate and work with parents and guardians, and 
        involve parents and guardians in their children's education.

SEC. 6113. PROGRAMS FOR BACCALAUREATE DEGREES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, 
              ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, OR CRITICAL FOREIGN LANGUAGES, 
              WITH CONCURRENT TEACHER CERTIFICATION.

    (a) Program Authorized.--From the amounts made available to carry 
out this section under section 6116(1) and not reserved under section 
6115(d) for a fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to award grants, 
on a competitive basis, to eligible recipients to enable partnerships 
served by the eligible recipients to develop and implement programs to 
provide courses of study in science, technology, engineering, 
mathematics, or critical foreign languages that--
        (1) are integrated with teacher education; and
        (2) lead to a baccalaureate degree in science, technology, 
    engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language with 
    concurrent teacher certification.
    (b) Application.--Each eligible recipient desiring a grant under 
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time 
and in such manner as the Secretary may require. Each application 
shall--
        (1) describe the program for which assistance is sought;
        (2) describe how a department of science, technology, 
    engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language 
    participating in the partnership will ensure significant 
    collaboration with a teacher preparation program in the development 
    of undergraduate degrees in science, technology, engineering, 
    mathematics, or a critical foreign language, with concurrent 
    teacher certification, including providing student teaching and 
    other clinical classroom experiences or how a department or school 
    participating in the partnership with a competency-based degree 
    program has ensured, in the development of a baccalaureate degree 
    program in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a 
    critical foreign language, the provision of concurrent teacher 
    certification, including providing student teaching and other 
    clinical classroom experiences;
        (3) describe the high-quality research, laboratory, or 
    internship experiences, integrated with coursework, that will be 
    provided under the program;
        (4) describe how members of groups that are underrepresented in 
    the teaching of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or 
    critical foreign languages will be encouraged to participate in the 
    program;
        (5) describe how program participants will be encouraged to 
    teach in schools determined by the partnership to be most in need, 
    and the assistance in finding employment in such schools that will 
    be provided;
        (6) describe the ongoing activities and services that will be 
    provided to graduates of the program;
        (7) describe how the activities of the partnership will be 
    coordinated with any activities funded through other Federal 
    grants, and how the partnership will continue the activities 
    assisted under the program when the grant period ends;
        (8) describe how the partnership will assess the content 
    knowledge and teaching skills of the program participants; and
        (9) provide any other information the Secretary may reasonably 
    require.
    (c) Priority.--Priority shall be given to applications whose 
primary focus is on placing participants in high-need local educational 
agencies.
    (d) Authorized Activities.--
        (1) In general.--Each eligible recipient receiving a grant 
    under this section shall use the grant funds to enable a 
    partnership to develop and implement a program to provide courses 
    of study in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a 
    critical foreign language that--
            (A) are integrated with teacher education programs that 
        promote effective teaching skills; and
            (B) lead to a baccalaureate degree in science, technology, 
        engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language with 
        concurrent teacher certification.
        (2) Program requirements.--The program shall--
            (A) provide high-quality research, laboratory, or 
        internship experiences for program participants;
            (B) provide student teaching or other clinical classroom 
        experiences that--
                (i) are integrated with coursework; and
                (ii) lead to the participants' ability to demonstrate 
            effective teaching skills;
            (C) if implementing a program in which program participants 
        are prepared to teach science, technology, engineering, 
        mathematics, or critical foreign language courses, include 
        strategies for improving student literacy;
            (D) encourage the participation of individuals who are 
        members of groups that are underrepresented in the teaching of 
        science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical 
        foreign languages;
            (E) encourage participants to teach in schools determined 
        by the partnership to be most in need, and actively assist the 
        participants in finding employment in such schools;
            (F) offer training in the use of and integration of 
        educational technology;
            (G) collect data regarding and evaluate, using measurable 
        objectives and benchmarks, the extent to which the program 
        succeeded in--
                (i) increasing the percentage of highly qualified 
            mathematics, science, or critical foreign language 
            teachers, including increasing the percentage of such 
            teachers teaching in those schools determined by the 
            partnership to be most in need;
                (ii) improving student academic achievement in 
            mathematics, science, and where applicable, technology and 
            engineering;
                (iii) increasing the number of students in secondary 
            schools enrolled in upper level mathematics, science, and, 
            where available, technology and engineering courses; and
                (iv) increasing the numbers of elementary school and 
            secondary school students enrolled in and continuing in 
            critical foreign language courses;
            (H) collect data on the employment placement and retention 
        of all graduates of the program, including information on how 
        many graduates are teaching and in what kinds of schools;
            (I) provide ongoing activities and services to graduates of 
        the program who teach elementary school or secondary school, 
        by--
                (i) keeping the graduates informed of the latest 
            developments in their respective academic fields; and
                (ii) supporting the graduates of the program who are 
            employed in schools in the local educational agency 
            participating in the partnership during the initial years 
            of teaching through--

                    (I) induction programs;
                    (II) promotion of effective teaching skills; and
                    (III) providing opportunities for regular 
                professional development; and

            (J) develop recommendations to improve the school, 
        department, or program of education participating in the 
        partnership.
    (e) Annual Report.--Each eligible recipient receiving a grant under 
this section shall collect and report to the Secretary annually such 
information as the Secretary may reasonably require, including--
        (1) the number of participants in the program;
        (2) information on the academic majors of participating 
    students;
        (3) the race, gender, income, and disability status of program 
    participants;
        (4) the placement of program participants as teachers in 
    schools determined by the partnership to be most in need;
        (5) the extent to which the program succeeded in meeting the 
    objectives and benchmarks described in subsection (d)(2)(G); and
        (6) the data collected under subparagraphs (G) and (H) of 
    subsection (d)(2).
    (f) Technical Assistance.--From the funds made available under 
section 6116(1), the Secretary may provide technical assistance to an 
eligible recipient developing a baccalaureate degree program with 
concurrent teacher certification, including technical assistance 
provided through a grant or contract awarded on a competitive basis to 
an institution of higher education or a technical assistance center.
    (g) Compliance With FERPA.--Any activity under this section shall 
be carried out in compliance with section 444 of the General Education 
Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g) (commonly known as the Family 
Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974).
    (h) Induction Program Defined.--In this section, the term 
``induction program'' means a formalized program for new teachers 
during not less than the teachers' first 2 years of teaching that is 
designed to provide support for, and improve the professional 
performance and advance the retention in the teaching field of, 
beginning teachers. Such program shall promote effective teaching 
skills and shall include the following components:
        (1) High-quality teacher mentoring.
        (2) Periodic, structured time for collaboration with teachers 
    in the same department or field, as well as time for information-
    sharing among teachers, principals, administrators, and 
    participating faculty in the partner institution.
        (3) The application of empirically based practice and 
    scientifically valid research on instructional practices.
        (4) Opportunities for new teachers to draw directly upon the 
    expertise of teacher mentors, faculty, and researchers to support 
    the integration of empirically based practice and scientifically 
    valid research with practice.
        (5) The development of skills in instructional and behavioral 
    interventions derived from empirically based practice and, where 
    applicable, scientifically valid research.
        (6) Faculty who--
            (A) model the integration of research and practice in the 
        classroom; and
            (B) assist new teachers with the effective use and 
        integration of technology in the classroom.
        (7) Interdisciplinary collaboration among exemplary teachers, 
    faculty, researchers, and other staff who prepare new teachers on 
    the learning process and the assessment of learning.
        (8) Assistance with the understanding of data, particularly 
    student achievement data, and the data's applicability in classroom 
    instruction.
        (9) Regular evaluation of the new teacher.

SEC. 6114. PROGRAMS FOR MASTER'S DEGREES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, 
              ENGINEERING, MATHEMATICS, OR CRITICAL FOREIGN LANGUAGE 
              EDUCATION.

    (a) Program Authorized.--From the amounts made available to carry 
out this section under section 6116(2) and not reserved under section 
6115(d) for a fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to award grants, 
on a competitive basis, to eligible recipients to enable the 
partnerships served by the eligible recipients to develop and 
implement--
        (1) 2- or 3-year part-time master's degree programs in science, 
    technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language 
    education for teachers in order to enhance the teacher's content 
    knowledge and teaching skills; or
        (2) programs for professionals in science, technology, 
    engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign language that lead 
    to a 1-year master's degree in teaching that results in teacher 
    certification.
    (b) Application.--Each eligible recipient desiring a grant under 
this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time 
and in such manner as the Secretary may require. Each application shall 
describe--
        (1) how a department of science, technology, engineering, 
    mathematics, or a critical foreign language will ensure significant 
    collaboration with a school, department, or program of education in 
    the development of the master's degree programs authorized under 
    subsection (a), or how a department or school with a competency-
    based degree program has ensured, in the development of a master's 
    degree program, the provision of rigorous studies in science, 
    technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign 
    language that enhance the teachers' content knowledge and teaching 
    skills;
        (2) the role of the local educational agency in the partnership 
    in developing and administering the program and how feedback from 
    the local educational agency, school, and participants will be used 
    to improve the program;
        (3) how the program will help increase the percentage of highly 
    qualified mathematics, science, or critical foreign language 
    teachers, including increasing the percentage of such teachers 
    teaching in schools determined by the partnership to be most in 
    need;
        (4) how the program will--
            (A) improve student academic achievement in mathematics, 
        science, and, where applicable, technology and engineering and 
        increase the number of students taking upper-level courses in 
        such subjects; or
            (B) increase the numbers of elementary school and secondary 
        school students enrolled and continuing in critical foreign 
        language courses;
        (5) how the program will prepare participants to become more 
    effective science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or 
    critical foreign language teachers;
        (6) how the program will prepare participants to assume 
    leadership roles in their schools;
        (7) how teachers (or science, technology, engineering, 
    mathematics, or critical foreign language professionals) who are 
    members of groups that are underrepresented in the teaching of 
    science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign 
    languages and teachers from schools determined by the partnership 
    to be most in need will be encouraged to apply for and participate 
    in the program;
        (8) the ongoing activities and services that will be provided 
    to graduates of the program;
        (9) how the partnership will continue the activities assisted 
    under the grant when the grant period ends;
        (10) how the partnership will assess, during the program, the 
    content knowledge and teaching skills of the program participants; 
    and
        (11) methods to ensure applicants to the master's degree 
    program for professionals in science, technology, engineering, 
    mathematics, or a critical foreign language demonstrate advanced 
    knowledge in the relevant subject.
    (c) Authorized Activities.--Each eligible recipient receiving a 
grant under this section shall use the grant funds to develop and 
implement a 2- or 3-year part-time master's degree program in science, 
technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language 
education for teachers in order to enhance the teachers' content 
knowledge and teaching skills, or programs for professionals in 
science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical foreign 
language that lead to a 1-year master's degree in teaching that results 
in teacher certification. The program shall--
        (1) promote effective teaching skills so that program 
    participants become more effective science, technology, 
    engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language teachers;
        (2) prepare teachers to assume leadership roles in their 
    schools by participating in activities such as teacher mentoring, 
    development of curricula that integrate state of the art 
    applications of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or 
    critical foreign language into the classroom, working with school 
    administrators in establishing in-service professional development 
    of teachers, and assisting in evaluating data and assessments to 
    improve student academic achievement;
        (3) use high-quality research, laboratory, or internship 
    experiences for program participants that are integrated with 
    coursework;
        (4) provide student teaching or clinical classroom experience;
        (5) if implementing a program in which participants are 
    prepared to teach science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or 
    critical foreign language courses, provide strategies for improving 
    student literacy;
        (6) align the content knowledge in the master's degree program 
    with challenging student academic achievement standards and 
    challenging academic content standards established by the State in 
    which the program is conducted;
        (7) encourage the participation of--
            (A) individuals who are members of groups that are 
        underrepresented in the teaching of science, technology, 
        engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign languages;
            (B) members of the Armed Forces who are transitioning to 
        civilian life; and
            (C) teachers teaching in schools determined by the 
        partnership to be most in need;
        (8) offer tuition assistance, based on need, as appropriate;
        (9) create opportunities for enhanced and ongoing professional 
    development for teachers that improves the science, technology, 
    engineering, mathematics, and critical foreign language content 
    knowledge and teaching skills of such teachers; and
        (10) evaluate and report on the impact of the program, in 
    accordance with subsection (d).
    (d) Evaluation and Report.--Each eligible recipient receiving a 
grant under this section shall evaluate, using measurable objectives 
and benchmarks, and provide an annual report to the Secretary 
regarding, the extent to which the program assisted under this section 
succeeded in the following:
        (1) Increasing the number and percentage of science, 
    technology, engineering, mathematics, or critical foreign language 
    teachers who have a master's degree and meet 1 or more of the 
    following requirements:
            (A) Are teaching in schools determined by the partnership 
        to be most in need, and taught in such schools prior to 
        participation in the program.
            (B) Are teaching in schools determined by the partnership 
        to be most in need, and did not teach in such schools prior to 
        participation in the program.
            (C) Are members of a group underrepresented in the teaching 
        of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or a critical 
        foreign language.
        (2) Bringing professionals in science, technology, engineering, 
    mathematics, or a critical foreign language into the field of 
    teaching.
        (3) Retaining teachers who participate in the program.

SEC. 6115. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

    (a) Duration of Grants.--The Secretary shall award each grant under 
this part for a period of not more than 5 years.
    (b) Matching Requirement.--Each eligible recipient that receives a 
grant under this part shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an 
amount equal to 50 percent of the amount of the grant (which may be 
provided in cash or in kind) to carry out the activities supported by 
the grant.
    (c) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this part 
shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal or State 
funds.
    (d) Evaluation.--From amounts made available for any fiscal year 
under section 6116, the Secretary shall reserve such sums as may be 
necessary--
        (1) to provide for the conduct of an annual independent 
    evaluation, by grant or by contract, of the activities assisted 
    under this part, which shall include an assessment of the impact of 
    the activities on student academic achievement; and
        (2) to prepare and submit an annual report on the results of 
    the evaluation described in paragraph (1) to the Committee on 
    Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the Committee 
    on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, and the 
    Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of 
    Representatives.

SEC. 6116. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$276,200,000 for fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may be necessary 
for each of the 2 succeeding fiscal years, of which--
        (1) $151,200,000 shall be available to carry out section 6113 
    for fiscal year 2008 and each succeeding fiscal year; and
        (2) $125,000,000 shall be available to carry out section 6114 
    for fiscal year 2008 and each succeeding fiscal year.

  PART II--ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS

SEC. 6121. PURPOSE.

    It is the purpose of this part--
        (1) to raise academic achievement through Advanced Placement 
    and International Baccalaureate programs by increasing, by 70,000, 
    over a 4-year period beginning in 2008, the number of teachers 
    serving high-need schools who are qualified to teach Advanced 
    Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, 
    science, and critical foreign languages;
        (2) to increase, to 700,000 per year, the number of students 
    attending high-need schools who--
            (A) take and score a 3, 4, or 5 on an Advanced Placement 
        examination in mathematics, science, or a critical foreign 
        language administered by the College Board; or
            (B) achieve a passing score on an examination administered 
        by the International Baccalaureate Organization in such a 
        subject;
        (3) to increase the availability of, and enrollment in, 
    Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in 
    mathematics, science, and critical foreign languages, and pre-
    Advanced Placement or pre-International Baccalaureate courses in 
    such subjects, in high-need schools; and
        (4) to support statewide efforts to increase the availability 
    of, and enrollment in, Advanced Placement or International 
    Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, and critical foreign 
    languages, and pre-Advanced Placement or pre-International 
    Baccalaureate courses in such subjects, in high-need schools.

SEC. 6122. DEFINITIONS.

    In this part:
        (1) Advanced placement or international baccalaureate course.--
    The term ``Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate 
    course'' means--
            (A) a course of college-level instruction provided to 
        secondary school students, terminating in an examination 
        administered by the College Board or the International 
        Baccalaureate Organization, or another such examination 
        approved by the Secretary; or
            (B) another highly rigorous, evidence-based, postsecondary 
        preparatory program terminating in an examination administered 
        by another nationally recognized educational organization that 
        has a demonstrated record of effectiveness in assessing 
        secondary school students, or another such examination approved 
        by the Secretary.
        (2) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means--
            (A) a State educational agency;
            (B) a local educational agency; or
            (C) a partnership consisting of--
                (i) a national, regional, or statewide nonprofit 
            organization, with expertise and experience in providing 
            Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate services; 
            and
                (ii) a State educational agency or local educational 
            agency.
        (3) Low-income student.--The term ``low-income student'' has 
    the meaning given the term ``low-income individual'' in section 
    1707(3) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
    U.S.C. 6537(3)).
        (4) High concentration of low-income students.--The term ``high 
    concentration of low-income students'' has the meaning given the 
    term in section 1707(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
    Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6537(2)).
        (5) High-need local educational agency.--The term ``high-need 
    local educational agency'' means a local educational agency or 
    educational service agency described in 6112(3)(A).
        (6) High-need school.--The term ``high-need school'' means a 
    secondary school--
            (A) with a pervasive need for Advanced Placement or 
        International Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, or 
        critical foreign languages, or for additional Advanced 
        Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in such a 
        subject; and
            (B)(i) with a high concentration of low-income students; or
            (ii) designated with a school locale code of 41, 42, or 43, 
        as determined by the Secretary.

SEC. 6123. ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Program Authorized.--From the amounts appropriated under 
subsection (l), the Secretary is authorized to award grants, on a 
competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable the eligible entities 
to carry out the authorized activities described in subsection (g).
    (b) Duration of Grants.--The Secretary may award grants under this 
section for a period of not more than 5 years.
    (c) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the activities 
carried out under this section with the activities carried out under 
section 1705 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 6535).
    (d) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the Secretary 
shall give priority to eligible entities that are part of a statewide 
strategy for increasing--
        (1) the availability of Advanced Placement or International 
    Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, and critical foreign 
    languages, and pre-Advanced Placement or pre-International 
    Baccalaureate courses in such subjects, in high-need schools; and
        (2) the number of students who participate in Advanced 
    Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, 
    science, and critical foreign language in high-need schools, and 
    take and score a 3, 4, or 5 on an Advanced Placement examination in 
    such a subject, or pass an examination administered by the 
    International Baccalaureate Organization in such a subject in such 
    schools.
    (e) Equitable Distribution.--The Secretary, to the extent 
practicable, shall--
        (1) ensure an equitable geographic distribution of grants under 
    this section among the States; and
        (2) promote an increase in participation in Advanced Placement 
    or International Baccalaureate mathematics, science, and critical 
    foreign language courses and examinations in all States.
    (f) Application.--
        (1) In general.--Each eligible entity desiring a grant under 
    this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
    time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
    Secretary may reasonably require.
        (2) Contents.--The application shall, at a minimum, include a 
    description of--
            (A) the goals and objectives for the project, including--
                (i) increasing the number of teachers serving high-need 
            schools who are qualified to teach Advanced Placement or 
            International Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, 
            science, or critical foreign languages;
                (ii) increasing the number of qualified teachers 
            serving high-need schools who are teaching Advanced 
            Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in 
            mathematics, science, or critical foreign languages to 
            students in the high-need schools;
                (iii) increasing the number of Advanced Placement or 
            International Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, 
            science, and critical foreign languages that are available 
            to students attending high-need schools; and
                (iv) increasing the number of students attending a 
            high-need school, particularly low-income students, who 
            enroll in and pass--

                    (I) Advanced Placement or International 
                Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, or 
                critical foreign languages; and
                    (II) pre-Advanced Placement or pre-International 
                Baccalaureate courses in such a subject (where provided 
                in accordance with subparagraph (B));

            (B) how the eligible entity will ensure that students have 
        access to courses, including pre-Advanced Placement and pre-
        International Baccalaureate courses, that will prepare the 
        students to enroll and succeed in Advanced Placement or 
        International Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, or 
        critical foreign languages;
            (C) how the eligible entity will provide professional 
        development for teachers assisted under this section;
            (D) how the eligible entity will ensure that teachers 
        serving high-need schools are qualified to teach Advanced 
        Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in 
        mathematics, science, or critical foreign languages;
            (E) how the eligible entity will provide for the 
        involvement of business and community organizations and other 
        entities, including institutions of higher education, in the 
        activities to be assisted; and
            (F) how the eligible entity will use funds received under 
        this section, including how the eligible entity will evaluate 
        the success of its project.
    (g) Authorized Activities.--
        (1) In general.--Each eligible entity that receives a grant 
    under this section shall use the grant funds to carry out 
    activities designed to increase--
            (A) the number of qualified teachers serving high-need 
        schools who are teaching Advanced Placement or International 
        Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, or critical 
        foreign languages; and
            (B) the number of students attending high-need schools who 
        enroll in, and pass, the examinations for such Advanced 
        Placement or International Baccalaureate courses.
        (2) Permissive activities.--The activities described in 
    paragraph (1) may include--
            (A) teacher professional development, in order to expand 
        the pool of teachers in the participating State, local 
        educational agency, or high-need school who are qualified to 
        teach Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses 
        in mathematics, science, or critical foreign languages;
            (B) pre-Advanced Placement or pre-International 
        Baccalaureate course development and professional development;
            (C) coordination and articulation between grade levels to 
        prepare students to enroll and succeed in Advanced Placement or 
        International Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, or 
        critical foreign languages;
            (D) purchase of instructional materials;
            (E) activities to increase the availability of, and 
        participation in, online Advanced Placement or International 
        Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, and critical 
        foreign languages;
            (F) reimbursing low-income students attending high-need 
        schools for part or all of the cost of Advanced Placement or 
        International Baccalaureate examination fees;
            (G) carrying out subsection (j), relating to collecting and 
        reporting data;
            (H) in the case of a State educational agency that receives 
        a grant under this section, awarding subgrants to local 
        educational agencies to enable the local educational agencies 
        to carry out authorized activities described in subparagraphs 
        (A) through (G); and
            (I) providing salary increments or bonuses to teachers 
        serving high-need schools who--
                (i) become qualified to teach, and teach, Advanced 
            Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in 
            mathematics, science, or a critical foreign language; or
                (ii) increase the number of low-income students, who 
            take Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate 
            examinations in mathematics, science, or a critical foreign 
            language with the goal of successfully passing such 
            examinations.
    (h) Matching Requirement.--
        (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), each eligible entity 
    that receives a grant under this section shall provide, toward the 
    cost of the activities assisted under the grant, from non-Federal 
    sources, an amount equal to 200 percent of the amount of the grant, 
    except that an eligible entity that is a high-need local 
    educational agency shall provide an amount equal to not more than 
    100 percent of the amount of the grant.
        (2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive all or part of the 
    matching requirement described in paragraph (1) for any fiscal year 
    for an eligible entity described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of 
    section 6122(2), if the Secretary determines that applying the 
    matching requirement to such eligible entity would result in 
    serious hardship or an inability to carry out the authorized 
    activities described in subsection (g).
    (i) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this 
section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal and 
non-Federal funds available to carry out the activities described in 
subsection (g).
    (j) Collecting and Reporting Requirements.--
        (1) Report.--Each eligible entity receiving a grant under this 
    section shall collect and report to the Secretary annually such 
    data on the results of the grant as the Secretary may reasonably 
    require, including data regarding--
            (A) the number of students enrolling in Advanced Placement 
        or International Baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, 
        or a critical foreign language, and pre-Advanced Placement or 
        pre-International Baccalaureate courses in such a subject, by 
        the grade the student is enrolled in, and the distribution of 
        grades those students receive;
            (B) the number of students taking Advanced Placement or 
        International Baccalaureate examinations in mathematics, 
        science, or a critical foreign language, and the distribution 
        of scores on those examinations by the grade the student is 
        enrolled in at the time of the examination;
            (C) the number of teachers receiving training in teaching 
        Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in 
        mathematics, science, or a critical foreign language who will 
        be teaching such courses in the next school year;
            (D) the number of teachers becoming qualified to teach 
        Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in 
        mathematics, science, or a critical foreign language; and
            (E) the number of qualified teachers who are teaching 
        Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses in 
        mathematics, science, or critical foreign languages to students 
        in a high-need school.
        (2) Reporting of data.--Each eligible entity receiving a grant 
    under this section shall report data required under paragraph (1)--
            (A) disaggregated by subject area;
            (B) in the case of student data, disaggregated in the same 
        manner as information is disaggregated under section 
        1111(h)(1)(C)(i) of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act 
        of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(h)(1)(C)(i)); and
            (C) to the extent feasible, in a manner that allows 
        comparison of conditions before, during, and after the project.
    (k) Evaluation and Report.--From the amount made available for any 
fiscal year under subsection (l), the Secretary shall reserve such sums 
as may be necessary--
        (1) to conduct an annual independent evaluation, by grant or by 
    contract, of the program carried out under this section, which 
    shall include an assessment of the impact of the program on student 
    academic achievement; and
        (2) to prepare and submit an annual report on the results of 
    the evaluation described in paragraph (1) to the Committee on 
    Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, the Committee 
    on Education and Labor of the House of Representatives, and the 
    Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of 
    Representatives.
    (l) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $75,000,000 for fiscal year 
2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 2 succeeding 
fiscal years.

PART III--PROMISING PRACTICES IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
                          MATHEMATICS TEACHING

SEC. 6131. PROMISING PRACTICES.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to establish an expert 
panel to provide information on promising practices for strengthening 
teaching and learning in science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics at the elementary school and secondary school levels. The 
panel shall build on prior Federal efforts, such as efforts by the 
National Mathematics Advisory Panel, and shall synthesize scientific 
evidence pertaining to the improvement of science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics teaching and learning.
    (b) National Panel on Promising Practices in K-12 STEM Teaching and 
Learning.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall enter into a contract with 
    the Center for Education of the National Academy of Sciences to 
    establish and convene, not later than 1 year after the date of 
    enactment of this Act, an expert panel to--
            (A) identify promising practices for improving teaching and 
        student achievement in science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics in kindergarten through grade 12; and
            (B) examine and synthesize the scientific evidence 
        pertaining to the improvement of science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics teaching and learning.
        (2) Composition of national panel.--The National Academy of 
    Sciences shall ensure that the panel established under paragraph 
    (1) represents scientists, engineers, mathematicians, 
    technologists, computer and information technology experts, 
    educators, principals, researchers with expertise in teaching and 
    learning (including experts in cognitive science), and others with 
    relevant expertise. The National Academy of Sciences shall ensure 
    that the panel includes the following:
            (A) Representation of teachers and principals directly 
        involved in teaching science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics in kindergarten through grade 12.
            (B) Representation of teachers and principals from diverse 
        demographic groups and geographic areas, including urban, 
        suburban, and rural schools.
            (C) Representation of teachers and principals from public 
        and private schools.
        (3) Qualification of members.--The members of the panel 
    established under paragraph (1) shall be individuals who have 
    expertise and experience relating to--
            (A) existing science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics education programs;
            (B) developing and improving science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics curricula content;
            (C) improving the academic achievement of students who are 
        below grade level in science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics fields; and
            (D) research on teaching or learning.
    (c) Authorized Activities of National Panel.--The panel established 
under subsection (b) shall identify--
        (1) promising practices in the effective teaching and learning 
    of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics topics in 
    kindergarten through grade 12;
        (2) promising training and professional development techniques 
    designed to help teachers increase their skills and expertise in 
    improving student achievement in science, technology, engineering, 
    and mathematics in kindergarten through grade 12;
        (3) critical skills and skills progressions needed to enable 
    students to acquire competence in science, technology, engineering, 
    and mathematics and readiness for advanced secondary school and 
    college level science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
    coursework;
        (4) processes by which students with varying degrees of prior 
    academic achievement and backgrounds learn effectively in the 
    science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields; and
        (5) areas in which existing data about promising practices in 
    science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education are 
    insufficient.
    (d) Report.--The panel established under subsection (b) shall 
prepare a written report for the Secretary that presents the findings 
of the panel pursuant to this section and includes recommendations, 
based on the findings of the panel, to strengthen science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics teaching and learning in kindergarten 
through grade 12.
    (e) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall disseminate the report 
under subsection (d) to the public, State educational agencies, and 
local educational agencies, and shall make the information in such 
report available, in an easy to understand format, on the website of 
the Department.
    (f) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Promising 
Practices.--
        (1) Reliability and measurement.--The promising practices in 
    the teaching of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
    in elementary schools and secondary schools collected under this 
    section shall be--
            (A) reliable, valid, and grounded in scientifically valid 
        research;
            (B) inclusive of the critical skills and skill progressions 
        needed for students to acquire competence in science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics;
            (C) reviewed regularly to assess effectiveness; and
            (D) reviewed in the context of State academic assessments 
        and student academic achievement standards.
        (2) Students with diverse learning needs.--In identifying 
    promising practices under this section, the panel established under 
    subsection (b) shall take into account the needs of students with 
    diverse learning needs, particularly students with disabilities and 
    students who are limited English proficient.
    (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $1,200,000 for fiscal year 2008.

                        Subtitle B--Mathematics

SEC. 6201. MATH NOW FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS 
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to enable all students 
to reach or exceed grade-level academic achievement standards and to 
prepare the students to enroll in and pass algebra courses by--
        (1) improving instruction in mathematics for students in 
    kindergarten through grade 9 through the implementation of 
    mathematics programs and the support of comprehensive mathematics 
    initiatives that are research-based and reflect a demonstrated 
    record of effectiveness; and
        (2) providing targeted help to low-income students who are 
    struggling with mathematics and whose achievement is significantly 
    below grade level.
    (b) Definition of Eligible Local Educational Agency.--In this 
section, the term ``eligible local educational agency'' means a high-
need local educational agency (as defined in section 6112(3)) serving 1 
or more schools--
        (1) with significant numbers or percentages of students whose 
    mathematics skills are below grade level;
        (2) that are not making adequate yearly progress in mathematics 
    under section 1111(b)(2) of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
    Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)); or
        (3) in which students are receiving instruction in mathematics 
    from teachers who do not have mathematical content knowledge or 
    expertise in the teaching of mathematics.
    (c) Program Authorized.--
        (1) In general.--From the amounts appropriated under subsection 
    (k) for any fiscal year, the Secretary is authorized to award 
    grants, on a competitive basis, for a period of 3 years, to State 
    educational agencies to enable the State educational agencies to 
    award grants to eligible local educational agencies to carry out 
    the activities described in subsection (e) for students in any of 
    the grades kindergarten through grade 9.
        (2) Priority.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
    Secretary shall give priority to applications for projects that 
    will implement statewide strategies for improving mathematics 
    instruction and raising the mathematics achievement of students, 
    particularly students in grades 4 through 8.
    (d) State Uses of Funds.--
        (1) In general.--Each State educational agency that receives a 
    grant under this section for a fiscal year--
            (A) shall expend not more than a total of 10 percent of the 
        grant funds to carry out the activities described in paragraph 
        (2) or (3) for the fiscal year; and
            (B) shall use not less than 90 percent of the grant funds 
        to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible local 
        educational agencies to enable the eligible local educational 
        agencies to carry out the activities described in subsection 
        (e) for the fiscal year.
        (2) Mandatory uses of funds.--A State educational agency shall 
    use the grant funds made available under paragraph (1)(A) to carry 
    out each of the following activities:
            (A) Planning and administration.--Planning and 
        administration, including--
                (i) evaluating applications from eligible local 
            educational agencies using peer review teams described in 
            subsection (f)(1)(D);
                (ii) administering the distribution of grants to 
            eligible local educational agencies; and
                (iii) assessing and evaluating, on a regular basis, 
            eligible local educational agency activities assisted under 
            this section, with respect to whether the activities have 
            been effective in increasing the number of students--

                    (I) making progress toward meeting grade-level 
                mathematics achievement; and
                    (II) meeting or exceeding grade-level mathematics 
                achievement.

            (B) Reporting.--Annually providing the Secretary with a 
        report on the implementation of this section as described in 
        subsection (i).
        (3) Permissive uses of funds; technical assistance.--
            (A) In general.--A State educational agency may use the 
        grant funds made available under paragraph (1)(A) for 1 or more 
        of the following technical assistance activities that assist an 
        eligible local educational agency, upon request by the eligible 
        local educational agency, in accomplishing the tasks required 
        to design and implement a project under this section, including 
        assistance in--
                (i) implementing mathematics programs or comprehensive 
            mathematics initiatives that are research-based and reflect 
            a demonstrated record of effectiveness;
                (ii) evaluating and selecting diagnostic and classroom 
            based instructional mathematics assessments; and
                (iii) identifying eligible professional development 
            providers to conduct the professional development 
            activities described in subsection (e)(1)(B).
            (B) Guidance.--The technical assistance described in 
        subparagraph (A) shall be guided by researchers with expertise 
        in the pedagogy of mathematics, mathematicians, and mathematics 
        educators from high-risk, high-achievement schools and eligible 
        local educational agencies.
    (e) Local Uses of Funds.--
        (1) Mandatory uses of funds.--Each eligible local educational 
    agency receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant 
    funds to carry out each of the following activities for students in 
    any of the grades kindergarten through grade 9:
            (A) To implement mathematics programs or comprehensive 
        mathematics initiatives--
                (i) for students in the grades of a participating 
            school as identified in the application submitted under 
            subsection (f)(2)(B); and
                (ii) that are research-based and reflect a demonstrated 
            record of effectiveness.
            (B) To provide professional development and instructional 
        leadership activities for teachers and, if appropriate, for 
        administrators and other school staff, on the implementation of 
        comprehensive mathematics initiatives designed--
                (i) to improve the achievement of students performing 
            significantly below grade level;
                (ii) to improve the mathematical content knowledge of 
            the teachers, administrators, and other school staff;
                (iii) to increase the use of effective instructional 
            practices; and
                (iv) to monitor student progress.
            (C) To conduct continuous progress monitoring, which may 
        include the adoption and use of assessments that--
                (i) measure student progress and identify areas in 
            which students need help in learning mathematics; and
                (ii) reflect mathematics content that is consistent 
            with State academic achievement standards in mathematics 
            described in section 1111(b) of the Elementary and 
            Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)).
        (2) Permissive uses of funds.--An eligible local educational 
    agency may use grant funds under this section to--
            (A) adopt and use mathematics instructional materials and 
        assessments;
            (B) implement classroom-based assessments, including 
        diagnostic or formative assessments;
            (C) provide remedial coursework and interventions for 
        students, which may be provided before or after school;
            (D) provide small groups with individualized instruction in 
        mathematics;
            (E) conduct activities designed to improve the content 
        knowledge and expertise of teachers, such as the use of a 
        mathematics coach, enrichment activities, and interdisciplinary 
        methods of mathematics instruction; and
            (F) collect and report performance data.
    (f) Applications.--
        (1) State educational agency.--Each State educational agency 
    desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to 
    the Secretary at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may 
    require. Each application shall include--
            (A) an assurance that the core mathematics instructional 
        program, supplemental instructional materials, and intervention 
        programs used by the eligible local educational agencies for 
        the project, are research-based and reflect a demonstrated 
        record of effectiveness and are aligned with State academic 
        achievement standards;
            (B) an assurance that eligible local educational agencies 
        will meet the requirements described in paragraph (2);
            (C) an assurance that local applications will be evaluated 
        using a peer review process;
            (D) a description of the qualifications of the peer review 
        teams, which shall consist of--
                (i) researchers with expertise in the pedagogy of 
            mathematics;
                (ii) mathematicians; and
                (iii) mathematics educators serving high-risk, high-
            achievement schools and eligible local educational 
            agencies; and
            (E) an assurance that the State has a process to safeguard 
        against conflicts of interest consistent with subsection (j)(2) 
        and section 6204 for individuals providing technical assistance 
        on behalf of the State educational agency or participating in 
        the State peer review process under this subtitle.
        (2) Eligible local educational agency.--Each eligible local 
    educational agency desiring a grant under this section shall submit 
    an application to the State educational agency at such time and in 
    such manner as the State educational agency may require. Each 
    application shall include--
            (A) an assurance that the eligible local educational agency 
        will provide assistance to 1 or more schools that are--
                (i) served by the eligible local educational agency; 
            and
                (ii) described in section 6201(b);
            (B) a description of the grades, and of the schools, that 
        will be served;
            (C) information, on an aggregate basis, on each school to 
        be served by the project, including such demographic, 
        socioeconomic, and mathematics achievement data as the State 
        educational agency may request;
            (D) a description of the core mathematics instructional 
        program, supplemental instructional materials, and intervention 
        programs or strategies that will be used for the project, 
        including an assurance that the programs or strategies are 
        research-based and reflect a demonstrated record of 
        effectiveness and are aligned with State academic achievement 
        standards;
            (E) a description of the activities that will be carried 
        out under the grant, including a description of the 
        professional development that will be provided to teachers, 
        and, if appropriate, administrators and other school staff, and 
        a description of how the activities will support achievement of 
        the purpose of this section;
            (F) an assurance that the eligible local educational agency 
        will report to the State educational agency all data on student 
        academic achievement that is necessary for the State 
        educational agency's report under subsection (i);
            (G) a description of the eligible entity's plans for 
        evaluating the impact of professional development and 
        leadership activities in mathematics on the content knowledge 
        and expertise of teachers, administrators, or other school 
        staff; and
            (H) any other information the State educational agency may 
        reasonably require.
    (g) Prohibitions.--
        (1) In general.--In implementing this section, the Secretary 
    shall not--
            (A) endorse, approve, or sanction any mathematics 
        curriculum designed for use in any school; or
            (B) engage in oversight, technical assistance, or 
        activities that will require the adoption of a specific 
        mathematics program or instructional materials by a State, 
        local educational agency, or school.
        (2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subtitle shall be 
    construed to authorize or permit the Department of Education, or a 
    Department of Education contractor, to mandate, direct, control, or 
    suggest the selection of a mathematics curriculum, supplemental 
    instructional materials, or program of instruction by a State, 
    local educational agency, or school.
    (h) Matching Requirements.--
        (1) State educational agency.--A State educational agency that 
    receives a grant under this section shall provide, from non-Federal 
    sources, an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount of the grant, 
    in cash or in kind, to carry out the activities supported by the 
    grant, of which not more than 20 percent of such 50 percent may be 
    provided by local educational agencies within the State.
        (2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive all of or a portion of the 
    matching requirement described in paragraph (1) for any fiscal 
    year, if the Secretary determines that--
            (A) the application of the matching requirement will result 
        in serious hardship for the State educational agency; or
            (B) providing a waiver best serves the purpose of the 
        program assisted under this section.
    (i) Program Performance and Accountability.--
        (1) Information.--Each State educational agency receiving a 
    grant under this section shall collect and report to the Secretary 
    annually such information on the results of the grant as the 
    Secretary may reasonably require, including information on--
            (A) mathematics achievement data that show the progress of 
        students participating in projects under this section 
        (including, to the extent practicable, comparable data from 
        students not participating in such projects), based primarily 
        on the results of State, school district wide, or classroom-
        based, assessments, including--
                (i) specific identification of those schools and 
            eligible local educational agencies that report the largest 
            gains in mathematics achievement; and
                (ii) evidence on whether the State educational agency 
            and eligible local educational agencies within the State 
            have--

                    (I) significantly increased the number of students 
                achieving at grade level or above in mathematics;
                    (II) significantly increased the percentages of 
                students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of 
                the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II)) who are achieving at grade 
                level or above in mathematics;
                    (III) significantly increased the number of 
                students making significant progress toward meeting 
                grade-level mathematics achievement standards; and
                    (IV) successfully implemented this section;

            (B) the percentage of students in the schools served by the 
        eligible local educational agency who enroll in algebra courses 
        and the percentage of such students who pass algebra courses; 
        and
            (C) the progress made in increasing the quality and 
        accessibility of professional development and leadership 
        activities in mathematics, especially activities resulting in 
        greater content knowledge and expertise of teachers, 
        administrators, and other school staff, except that the 
        Secretary shall not require such information until after the 
        third year of a grant awarded under this section.
        (2) Reporting and disaggregation.--The information required 
    under paragraph (1) shall be--
            (A) reported in a manner that allows for a comparison of 
        aggregated score differentials of student academic achievement 
        before (to the extent feasible) and after implementation of the 
        project assisted under this section; and
            (B) disaggregated in the same manner as information is 
        disaggregated under section 1111(h)(1)(C)(i) of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        6311(h)(1)(C)(i)).
        (3) Privacy protection.--The data in the report shall be 
    reported in a manner that--
            (A) protects the privacy of individuals; and
            (B) complies with the requirements of section 444 of the 
        General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g) (commonly 
        known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 
        1974).
    (j) Evaluation and Technical Assistance.--
        (1) Evaluation.--
            (A) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct an annual 
        independent evaluation, by grant or by contract, of the program 
        assisted under this section, which shall include an assessment 
        of the impact of the program on student academic achievement 
        and teacher performance, and may use funds available to carry 
        out this section to conduct the evaluation.
            (B) Report.--The Secretary shall annually submit, to the 
        Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and to the 
        Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, a report on the 
        results of the evaluation.
            (C) Limitations.--
                (i) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
            organization selected to carry out the independent 
            evaluation under subparagraph (A) does not hold a contract 
            or subcontract to implement any aspect of the program under 
            this section.
                (ii) Subcontractors.--Any contract entered into under 
            subparagraph (A) shall prohibit the organization conducting 
            the evaluation from subcontracting with any entity that 
            holds a contract or subcontract for any aspect of the 
            implementation of this section.
                (iii) Waiver.--Subject to clause (iv), the Secretary 
            may waive the application of clause (i) or (ii), or both, 
            in accordance with the requirements under section 9.503 of 
            title 48, Code of Federal Regulations, if the Secretary 
            determines that their application in a particular situation 
            would not be in the Federal Government's interest.
                (iv) Special rule regarding waivers.--No organization 
            or subcontractor under this paragraph shall receive a 
            waiver that allows the organization or subcontractor to 
            evaluate any aspect of the program under this section that 
            the organization or subcontractor was involved in 
            implementing.
        (2) Technical assistance.--
            (A) In general.--The Secretary may use funds made available 
        under paragraph (3) to provide technical assistance to 
        prospective applicants and to eligible local educational 
        agencies receiving a grant under this section.
            (B) Conflicts of interest.--If the Secretary carries out 
        subparagraph (A) through any contracts, the Secretary, in 
        consultation with the Office of the General Counsel of the 
        Department, shall ensure that each contract requires the 
        contractor to--
                (i) screen for conflicts of interest when hiring 
            individuals to carry out the responsibilities under the 
            contract;
                (ii) include the requirement of clause (i) in any 
            subcontracts the contractor enters into under the contract; 
            and
                (iii) establish and follow a schedule for carrying out 
            clause (i) and subparagraph (C) and reporting to the 
            Secretary on the contractor's actions under those 
            provisions.
            (C) Screening process.--Subject to subparagraph (D), the 
        screening process described in subparagraph (B)(i) shall--
                (i) include, at a minimum, a review of--

                    (I) each individual performing duties under the 
                contract or subcontract for connections to any State's 
                program under this section;
                    (II) such individual's potential financial 
                interests in, or other connection to, products, 
                activities, or services that might be purchased by a 
                State educational agency or local educational agency in 
                the course of the agency's implementation of the 
                program under this section; and
                    (III) such individual's connections to teaching 
                methodologies that might require the use of specific 
                products, activities, or services; and

                (ii) ensure that individuals performing duties under 
            the contract do not maintain significant financial 
            interests in products, activities, or services supported 
            under this section.
            (D) Waiver.--
                (i) In general.--The Secretary may, in consultation 
            with the Office of the General Counsel of the Department, 
            waive the requirements of subparagraph (C).
                (ii) Report.--The Secretary shall--

                    (I) establish criteria for the waivers under clause 
                (i); and
                    (II) report any waivers under clause (i), and the 
                criteria under which such waivers are allowed, to the 
                Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
                Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.

            (E) Information dissemination.--
                (i) In general.--If the Secretary enters into contracts 
            to provide technical assistance under subparagraph (A), and 
            if a contractor enters into subcontracts for that purpose, 
            each such contract and subcontract shall require the 
            provider of technical assistance to clearly separate 
            technical assistance provided under the contract or 
            subcontract from information provided, or activities 
            engaged in, as part of the normal operations of the 
            contractor or subcontractor.
                (ii) Methods of compliance.--Efforts to comply with 
            clause (i) may include the creation of separate webpages 
            for the purpose of fulfilling a contract or subcontract 
            entered into under subparagraph (A).
        (3) Reservation of funds.--The Secretary may reserve not more 
    than 2.5 percent of funds appropriated under subsection (k) for a 
    fiscal year to carry out this subsection.
    (k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $95,000,000 for fiscal year 
2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 2 succeeding 
fiscal years.

SEC. 6202. SUMMER TERM EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to create 
opportunities for summer learning by providing students with access to 
summer learning in mathematics, technology, and problem-solving to 
ensure that students do not experience learning losses over the summer 
and to remedy, reinforce, and accelerate the learning of mathematics 
and problem-solving.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an 
    entity that--
            (A) desires to participate in a summer learning grant 
        program under this section by providing summer learning 
        opportunities described in subsection (d)(4)(A)(ii) to eligible 
        students; and
            (B) is--
                (i) a high-need local educational agency; or
                (ii) a consortium consisting of a high-need local 
            educational agency and 1 or more of the following entities:

                    (I) Another local educational agency.
                    (II) A community-based youth development 
                organization with a demonstrated record of 
                effectiveness in helping students learn.
                    (III) An institution of higher education.
                    (IV) An educational service agency.
                    (V) A for-profit educational provider, nonprofit 
                organization, science center, museum, or summer 
                enrichment camp, that has been approved by the State 
                educational agency to provide the summer learning 
                opportunity described in subsection (d)(4)(A)(ii).

        (2) Eligible student.--The term ``eligible student'' means a 
    student who--
            (A) is eligible for a free lunch under the Richard B. 
        Russell National School Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.); and
            (B) is served by a local educational agency identified by 
        the State educational agency in the application described in 
        subsection (c)(2).
        (3) High-need local educational agency.--The term ``high-need 
    local educational agency'' has the meaning given the term in 
    section 6112.
    (c) Demonstration Grant Program.--
        (1) Program authorized.--
            (A) In general.--From the funds appropriated under 
        subsection (f) for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall carry out 
        a demonstration grant program in which the Secretary awards 
        grants, on a competitive basis, to State educational agencies 
        to enable the State educational agencies to pay the Federal 
        share of summer learning grants for eligible students.
            (B) Number of grants.--For each fiscal year, the Secretary 
        shall award not more than 5 grants under this section.
        (2) Application.--A State educational agency that desires to 
    receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to 
    the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
    information as the Secretary may require. Such application shall 
    identify the areas in the State where the summer learning grant 
    program will be offered and the local educational agencies that 
    serve such areas.
        (3) Award basis.--
            (A) Special consideration.--In awarding grants under this 
        section, the Secretary shall give special consideration to a 
        State educational agency that agrees, to the extent possible, 
        to enter into agreements with eligible entities that are 
        consortia described in subsection (b)(1)(B)(ii) and that 
        proposes to target services to children in grades kindergarten 
        through grade 8.
            (B) Geographic distribution.--In awarding grants under this 
        section, the Secretary shall take into consideration an 
        equitable geographic distribution of the grants.
    (d) Summer Learning Grants.--
        (1) Use of grants for summer learning grants.--
            (A) In general.--Each State educational agency that 
        receives a grant under subsection (c) for a fiscal year shall 
        use the grant funds to provide summer learning grants for the 
        fiscal year to eligible students in the State who desire to 
        attend a summer learning opportunity offered by an eligible 
        entity that enters into an agreement with the State educational 
        agency under paragraph (4)(A).
            (B) Amount; federal and non-federal shares.--
                (i) Amount.--The amount of a summer learning grant 
            provided under this section shall be--

                    (I) for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2011, 
                $1,600; and
                    (II) for fiscal year 2012, $1,800.

                (ii) Federal share.--The Federal share of each summer 
            learning grant shall be not more than 50 percent of the 
            amount of the summer learning grant determined under clause 
            (i).
                (iii) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share of each 
            summer learning grant shall be not less than 50 percent of 
            the amount of the summer learning grant determined under 
            clause (i), and shall be provided from non-Federal sources.
        (2) Designation of summer scholars.--Eligible students who 
    receive summer learning grants under this section shall be known as 
    ``summer scholars''.
        (3) Selection of summer learning opportunity.--
            (A) Dissemination of information.--A State educational 
        agency that receives a grant under subsection (c) shall 
        disseminate information about summer learning opportunities and 
        summer learning grants to the families of eligible students in 
        the State.
            (B) Application.--The parents of an eligible student who 
        are interested in having their child participate in a summer 
        learning opportunity and receive a summer learning grant shall 
        submit an application to the State educational agency that 
        includes a ranked list of preferred summer learning 
        opportunities.
            (C) Process.--A State educational agency that receives an 
        application under subparagraph (B) shall--
                (i) process such application;
                (ii) determine whether the eligible student shall 
            receive a summer learning grant;
                (iii) coordinate the assignment of eligible students 
            receiving summer learning grants with summer learning 
            opportunities; and
                (iv) if demand for a summer learning opportunity 
            exceeds capacity, the State educational agency shall 
            prioritize applications to low-achieving eligible students.
            (D) Flexibility.--A State educational agency may assign a 
        summer scholar to a summer learning opportunity program that is 
        offered in an area served by a local educational agency that is 
        not the local educational agency serving the area where such 
        scholar resides.
            (E) Requirement of acceptance.--An eligible entity shall 
        accept, enroll, and provide the summer learning opportunity of 
        such entity to, any summer scholar assigned to such summer 
        learning opportunity by a State educational agency pursuant to 
        this subsection.
        (4) Agreement with eligible entity.--
            (A) In general.--A State educational agency shall enter 
        into an agreement with one or more eligible entities offering a 
        summer learning opportunity, under which--
                (i) the State educational agency shall agree to make 
            payments to the eligible entity, in accordance with 
            subparagraph (B), for a summer scholar; and
                (ii) the eligible entity shall agree to provide the 
            summer scholar with a summer learning opportunity that--

                    (I) provides a total of not less than the 
                equivalent of 30 full days of instruction (or not less 
                than the equivalent of 25 full days of instruction, if 
                the equivalent of an additional 5 days is devoted to 
                field trips or other enrichment opportunities) to the 
                summer scholar;
                    (II) employs small-group, research-based 
                educational programs, materials, curricula, and 
                practices;
                    (III) provides a curriculum that--

                        (aa) emphasizes mathematics, technology, 
                    engineering, and problem-solving through 
                    experiential learning opportunities;
                        (bb) is primarily designed to increase the 
                    numeracy and problem-solving skills of the summer 
                    scholar; and
                        (cc) is aligned with State academic content 
                    standards and goals of the local educational agency 
                    serving the summer scholar;

                    (IV) measures student progress to determine the 
                gains made by summer scholars in the summer learning 
                opportunity, and disaggregates the results of such 
                progress for summer scholars by race and ethnicity, 
                economic status, limited English proficiency status, 
                and disability status, in order to determine the 
                opportunity's impact on each subgroup of summer 
                scholars;
                    (V) collects daily attendance data on each summer 
                scholar;
                    (VI) provides professional development 
                opportunities for teachers to improve their practice in 
                teaching numeracy, and in integrating problem-solving 
                techniques into the curriculum; and
                    (VII) meets all applicable Federal, State, and 
                local civil rights laws.

            (B) Amount of payment.--
                (i) In general.--Except as provided in clause (ii), a 
            State educational agency shall make a payment to an 
            eligible entity for a summer scholar in the amount 
            determined under paragraph (1)(B)(i).
                (ii) Adjustment.--In the case in which a summer scholar 
            does not attend the full summer learning opportunity, the 
            State educational agency shall reduce the amount provided 
            to the eligible entity pursuant to clause (i) by a 
            percentage that is equal to the percentage of the summer 
            learning opportunity not attended by such scholar.
        (5) Administrative costs.--A State educational agency or 
    eligible entity receiving funding under this section may use not 
    more than 5 percent of such funding for administrative costs 
    associated with carrying out this section.
    (e) Evaluations; Report; Website.--
        (1) Evaluation and assessment.--For each year that an eligible 
    entity enters into an agreement under subsection (d)(4), the 
    eligible entity shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a report 
    on the activities and outcomes of each summer learning opportunity 
    that enrolled a summer scholar, including--
            (A) information on the design of the summer learning 
        opportunity;
            (B) the alignment of the summer learning opportunity with 
        State standards; and
            (C) data from assessments of student mathematics and 
        problem-solving skills for the summer scholars and on the 
        attendance of the scholars, disaggregated by the subgroups 
        described in subsection (d)(4)(A)(ii)(IV).
        (2) Report.--For each year funds are appropriated under 
    subsection (f) for this section, the Secretary shall prepare and 
    submit a report to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
    Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and Labor of 
    the House of Representatives on the summer learning grant programs, 
    including the effectiveness of the summer learning opportunities in 
    improving student achievement and learning.
        (3) Summer learning grants website.--The Secretary shall make 
    accessible, on the Department of Education website, information for 
    parents and school personnel on successful programs and curricula, 
    and best practices, for summer learning opportunities.
    (f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for fiscal year 2008 and each of the 2 succeeding fiscal years.

SEC. 6203. MATH SKILLS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS.

    (a) Purposes.--The purposes of this section are--
        (1) to provide assistance to State educational agencies and 
    local educational agencies in implementing effective research-based 
    mathematics programs for students in secondary schools, including 
    students with disabilities and students with limited English 
    proficiency;
        (2) to improve instruction in mathematics for students in 
    secondary school through the implementation of mathematics programs 
    and the support of comprehensive mathematics initiatives that are 
    based on the best available evidence of effectiveness;
        (3) to provide targeted help to low-income students who are 
    struggling with mathematics and whose achievement is significantly 
    below grade level; and
        (4) to provide in-service training for mathematics coaches who 
    can assist secondary school teachers to utilize research-based 
    mathematics instruction to develop and improve students' 
    mathematical abilities and knowledge, and assist teachers in 
    assessing and improving student academic achievement.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) Eligible local educational agency.--The term ``eligible 
    local educational agency'' means a local educational agency that is 
    eligible to receive funds, and that is receiving funds, under part 
    A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
    (20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.).
        (2) Mathematics coach.--The term ``mathematics coach'' means a 
    certified or licensed teacher, with a demonstrated effectiveness in 
    teaching mathematics to students with specialized needs in 
    mathematics and improving student academic achievement in 
    mathematics, a command of mathematical content knowledge, and the 
    ability to work with classroom teachers to improve the teachers' 
    instructional techniques to support mathematics improvement, who 
    works on site at a school--
            (A) to train teachers to better assess student learning in 
        mathematics;
            (B) to train teachers to assess students' mathematics 
        skills and identify students who need remediation; and
            (C) to provide or assess remedial mathematics instruction, 
        including for--
                (i) students in after-school and summer school 
            programs;
                (ii) students requiring additional instruction;
                (iii) students with disabilities; and
                (iv) students with limited English proficiency.
    (c) Program Authorized.--
        (1) In general.--From funds appropriated under subsection (o) 
    for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall establish a program, in 
    accordance with the requirements of this section, that will provide 
    grants on a competitive basis to State educational agencies to 
    award grants and subgrants to eligible local educational agencies 
    for the purpose of establishing mathematics programs to improve the 
    overall mathematics performance of secondary school students in the 
    State.
        (2) Length of grant.--A grant to a State educational agency 
    under this section shall be awarded for a period of 3 years.
    (d) Reservation of Funds by the Secretary.--From amounts 
appropriated under subsection (o) for a fiscal year, the Secretary may 
reserve--
        (1) not more than 3 percent of such amounts to fund national 
    activities in support of the programs assisted under this section, 
    such as research and dissemination of best practices, except that 
    the Secretary may not use the reserved funds to award grants 
    directly to local educational agencies; and
        (2) not more than \1/2\ of 1 percent of such amounts for the 
    Bureau of Indian Education of the Department of the Interior to 
    carry out the services and activities described in subsection 
    (k)(3) for Indian children.
    (e) Grant Formulas.--
        (1) Competitive grants to state educational agencies.--From 
    amounts appropriated under subsection (o) and not reserved under 
    subsection (d), the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive 
    basis, to State educational agencies to enable the State 
    educational agencies to provide subgrants to eligible local 
    educational agencies to establish mathematics programs for the 
    purpose of improving overall mathematics performance among students 
    in secondary school in the State.
        (2) Minimum grant.--The Secretary shall ensure that the minimum 
    grant made to any State educational agency under this section shall 
    be not less than $500,000.
    (f) Applications.--In order to receive a grant under this section, 
a State educational agency shall submit an application to the Secretary 
at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such information as 
the Secretary may require. Each such application shall meet the 
following conditions:
        (1) A State educational agency shall not include the 
    application for assistance under this section in a consolidated 
    application submitted under section 9302 of the Elementary and 
    Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7842).
        (2) The State educational agency's application shall include 
    assurances that such application and any technical assistance 
    provided by the State will be guided by a peer review team, which 
    shall consist of--
            (A) researchers with expertise in the pedagogy of 
        mathematics;
            (B) mathematicians; and
            (C) mathematics educators serving high-risk, high-
        achievement schools and eligible local educational agencies.
        (3) The State educational agency shall include an assurance 
    that the State has a process to safeguard against conflicts of 
    interest consistent with subsection (m)(2) and section 6204 for 
    individuals providing technical assistance on behalf of the State 
    educational agency or participating in the State peer review 
    process under this subtitle.
        (4) The State educational agency will participate, if 
    requested, in any evaluation of the State educational agency's 
    program under this section.
        (5) The State educational agency's application shall include a 
    program plan that contains a description of the following:
            (A) How the State educational agency will assist eligible 
        local educational agencies in implementing subgrants, including 
        providing ongoing professional development for mathematics 
        coaches, teachers, paraprofessionals, and administrators.
            (B) How the State educational agency will help eligible 
        local educational agencies identify high-quality screening, 
        diagnostic, and classroom-based instructional mathematics 
        assessments.
            (C) How the State educational agency will help eligible 
        local educational agencies identify high-quality research-based 
        mathematics materials and programs.
            (D) How the State educational agency will help eligible 
        local educational agencies identify appropriate and effective 
        materials, programs, and assessments for students with 
        disabilities and students with limited English proficiency.
            (E) How the State educational agency will ensure that 
        professional development funded under this section--
                (i) is based on mathematics research;
                (ii) will effectively improve instructional practices 
            for mathematics for secondary school students;
                (iii) will improve student academic achievement in 
            mathematics; and
                (iv) is coordinated with professional development 
            activities funded through other programs, including section 
            2113 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
            (20 U.S.C. 6613).
            (F) How funded activities will help teachers and other 
        instructional staff to implement research-based components of 
        mathematics instruction and improve student academic 
        achievement.
            (G) The subgrant process the State educational agency will 
        use to ensure that eligible local educational agencies 
        receiving subgrants implement programs and practices based on 
        mathematics research.
            (H) How the State educational agency will build on and 
        promote coordination among mathematics programs in the State to 
        increase overall effectiveness in improving mathematics 
        instruction and student academic achievement, including for 
        students with disabilities and students with limited English 
        proficiency.
            (I) How the State educational agency will regularly assess 
        and evaluate the effectiveness of the eligible local 
        educational agency activities funded under this section.
    (g) State Use of Funds.--Each State educational agency receiving a 
grant under this section shall--
        (1) establish a peer review team comprised of researchers with 
    expertise in the pedagogy of mathematics, mathematicians, and 
    mathematics educators from high-risk, high-achievement schools, to 
    provide guidance to eligible local educational agencies in 
    selecting or developing and implementing appropriate, research-
    based mathematics programs for secondary school students;
        (2) use 80 percent of the grant funds received under this 
    section for a fiscal year to fund high-quality applications for 
    subgrants to eligible local educational agencies having 
    applications approved under subsection (k); and
        (3) use 20 percent of the grant funds received under this 
    section--
            (A) to carry out State-level activities described in the 
        application submitted under subsection (f);
            (B) to provide--
                (i) technical assistance to eligible local educational 
            agencies; and
                (ii) high-quality professional development to teachers 
            and mathematics coaches in the State;
            (C) to oversee and evaluate subgrant services and 
        activities undertaken by the eligible local educational 
        agencies as described in subsection (k)(3); and
            (D) for administrative costs, of which not more than 5 
        percent of the grant funds may be used for planning, 
        administration, and reporting.
    (h) Notice to Eligible Local Educational Agencies.--Each State 
educational agency receiving a grant under this section shall provide 
notice to all eligible local educational agencies in the State about 
the availability of subgrants under this section.
    (i) Prohibitions.--
        (1) In general.--In implementing this section, the Secretary 
    shall not--
            (A) endorse, approve, or sanction any mathematics 
        curriculum designed for use in any school; or
            (B) engage in oversight, technical assistance, or 
        activities that will require the adoption of a specific 
        mathematics program or instructional materials by a State, 
        local educational agency, or school.
        (2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
    construed to authorize or permit the Secretary, Department of 
    Education, or a Department of Education contractor, to mandate, 
    direct, control, or suggest the selection of a mathematics 
    curriculum, supplemental instructional materials, or program of 
    instruction by a State, local educational agency, or school.
    (j) Supplement Not Supplant.--Each State educational agency 
receiving a grant under this section shall use the grant funds to 
supplement, not supplant, State funding for activities authorized under 
this section or for other educational activities.
    (k) Subgrants to Eligible Local Educational Agencies.--
        (1) Application.--
            (A) In general.--Each eligible local educational agency 
        desiring a subgrant under this subsection shall submit an 
        application to the State educational agency in the form and 
        according to the schedule established by the State educational 
        agency.
            (B) Contents.--In addition to any information required by 
        the State educational agency, each application under 
        subparagraph (A) shall demonstrate how the eligible local 
        educational agency will carry out the following required 
        activities:
                (i) Development or selection and implementation of 
            research-based mathematics assessments.
                (ii) Development or selection and implementation of 
            research-based mathematics programs, including programs for 
            students with disabilities and students with limited 
            English proficiency.
                (iii) Selection of instructional materials based on 
            mathematics research.
                (iv) High-quality professional development for 
            mathematics coaches and teachers based on mathematics 
            research.
                (v) Evaluation and assessment strategies.
                (vi) Reporting.
                (vii) Providing access to research-based mathematics 
            materials.
            (C) Consortia.--Consistent with State law, an eligible 
        local educational agency may apply to the State educational 
        agency for a subgrant as a member of a consortium of local 
        educational agencies if each member of the consortium is an 
        eligible local educational agency.
        (2) Award basis.--
            (A) Priority.--A State educational agency awarding 
        subgrants under this subsection shall give priority to eligible 
        local educational agencies that--
                (i) are among the local educational agencies in the 
            State with the lowest graduation rates, as described in 
            section 1111(b)(2)(C)(vi) of the Elementary and Secondary 
            Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(C)(vi)); and
                (ii) have the highest number or percentage of students 
            who are counted under section 1124(c) of the Elementary and 
            Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6333(c)).
            (B) Amount of grants.--Subgrants under this subsection 
        shall be of sufficient size and scope to enable eligible local 
        educational agencies to fully implement activities assisted 
        under this subsection.
        (3) Local use of funds.--Each eligible local educational agency 
    receiving a subgrant under this subsection shall use the subgrant 
    funds to carry out, at the secondary school level, the following 
    services and activities:
            (A) Hiring mathematics coaches and providing professional 
        development for mathematics coaches--
                (i) at a level to provide effective coaching to 
            classroom teachers;
                (ii) to work with classroom teachers to better assess 
            student academic achievement in mathematics;
                (iii) to work with classroom teachers to identify 
            students with mathematics problems and, where appropriate, 
            refer students to available programs for remediation and 
            additional services;
                (iv) to work with classroom teachers to diagnose and 
            remediate mathematics difficulties of the lowest-performing 
            students, so that those teachers can provide intensive, 
            research-based instruction, including during after-school 
            and summer sessions, geared toward ensuring that those 
            students can access and be successful in rigorous academic 
            coursework; and
                (v) to assess and organize student data on mathematics 
            and communicate that data to school administrators to 
            inform school reform efforts.
            (B) Reviewing, analyzing, developing, and, where possible, 
        adapting curricula to make sure mathematics skills are taught 
        within other core academic subjects.
            (C) Providing mathematics professional development for all 
        relevant teachers in secondary school, as necessary, that 
        addresses both remedial and higher level mathematics skills for 
        students in the applicable curriculum.
            (D) Providing professional development for teachers, 
        administrators, and paraprofessionals serving secondary schools 
        to help the teachers, administrators, and paraprofessionals 
        improve student academic achievement in mathematics.
            (E) Procuring and implementing programs and instructional 
        materials based on mathematics research, including software and 
        other education technology related to mathematics instruction 
        with demonstrated effectiveness in improving mathematics 
        instruction and student academic achievement.
            (F) Building on and promoting coordination among 
        mathematics programs in the eligible local educational agency 
        to increase overall effectiveness in--
                (i) improving mathematics instruction; and
                (ii) increasing student academic achievement, including 
            for students with disabilities and students with limited 
            English proficiency.
            (G) Evaluating the effectiveness of the instructional 
        strategies, teacher professional development programs, and 
        other interventions that are implemented under the subgrant.
            (H) Measuring improvement in student academic achievement, 
        including through progress monitoring or other assessments.
        (4) Supplement not supplant.--Each eligible local educational 
    agency receiving a subgrant under this subsection shall use the 
    subgrant funds to supplement, not supplant, the eligible local 
    educational agency's funding for activities authorized under this 
    section or for other educational activities.
        (5) New services and activities.--Subgrant funds provided under 
    this subsection may be used only to provide services and activities 
    authorized under this section that were not provided on the day 
    before the date of enactment of this Act.
        (6) Evaluations.--Each eligible local educational agency 
    receiving a grant under this subsection shall participate, as 
    requested by the State educational agency or the Secretary, in 
    reviews and evaluations of the programs of the eligible local 
    educational agency and the effectiveness of such programs, and 
    shall provide such reports as are requested by the State 
    educational agency and the Secretary.
    (l) Matching Requirements.--
        (1) State educational agency requirements.--A State educational 
    agency that receives a grant under this section shall provide, from 
    non-Federal sources, an amount equal to 50 percent of the amount of 
    the grant, in cash or in-kind, to carry out the activities 
    supported by the grant, of which not more than 20 percent of such 
    50 percent may be provided by local educational agencies within the 
    State.
        (2) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive all or a portion of the 
    matching requirements described in paragraph (1) for any fiscal 
    year, if the Secretary determines that--
            (A) the application of the matching requirement will result 
        in serious hardship for the State educational agency; or
            (B) providing a waiver best serves the purpose of the 
        program assisted under this section.
    (m) Evaluation and Technical Assistance.--
        (1) Evaluation.--
            (A) In general.--The Secretary shall conduct an annual 
        independent evaluation, by grant or by contract, of the program 
        assisted under this section, which shall include an assessment 
        of the impact of the program on student academic achievement 
        and teacher performance, and may use funds available to carry 
        out this section to conduct the evaluation.
            (B) Report.--The Secretary shall annually submit to the 
        Committee on Education and Labor and the Committee on 
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and to the 
        Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the 
        Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, a report on the 
        results of the evaluation.
            (C) Limitations.--
                (i) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that the 
            organization selected to carry out the independent 
            evaluation under subparagraph (A) does not hold a contract 
            or subcontract to implement any aspect of the program under 
            this section.
                (ii) Subcontractors.--Any contract entered into under 
            subparagraph (A) shall prohibit the organization conducting 
            the evaluation from subcontracting with any entity that 
            holds a contract or subcontract for any aspect of the 
            implementation of this section.
                (iii) Waiver.--Subject to clause (iv), the Secretary 
            may waive the application of clause (i) or (ii), or both, 
            in accordance with the requirements under section 9.503 of 
            title 48, Code of Federal Regulations, if the Secretary 
            determines that their application in a particular situation 
            would not be in the Federal Government's interest.
                (iv) Special rule regarding waivers.--No organization 
            or subcontractor under this paragraph shall receive a 
            waiver that allows the organization or subcontractor to 
            evaluate any aspect of the program under this section that 
            the organization or subcontractor was involved in 
            implementing.
        (2) Technical assistance.--
            (A) In general.--The Secretary may use funds made available 
        under paragraph (3) to provide technical assistance to 
        prospective applicants and to State educational agencies and 
        eligible local educational agencies receiving grants or 
        subgrants under this section.
            (B) Conflicts of interest.--If the Secretary carries out 
        subparagraph (A) through any contracts, the Secretary, in 
        consultation with the Office of the General Counsel of the 
        Department, shall ensure that each contract requires the 
        contractor to--
                (i) screen for conflicts of interest when hiring 
            individuals to carry out the responsibilities under the 
            contract;
                (ii) include the requirement of clause (i) in any 
            subcontracts the contractor enters into under the contract; 
            and
                (iii) establish and follow a schedule for carrying out 
            clause (i) and subparagraph (C) and reporting to the 
            Secretary on the contractor's actions under those 
            provisions.
            (C) Screening process.--Subject to subparagraph (D), the 
        screening process described in subparagraph (B)(i) shall--
                (i) include, at a minimum, a review of--

                    (I) each individual performing duties under the 
                contract or subcontract for connections to any State's 
                program under this section;
                    (II) such individual's potential financial 
                interests in, or other connection to, products, 
                activities, or services that might be purchased by a 
                State educational agency or local educational agency in 
                the course of the agency's implementation of the 
                program under this section; and
                    (III) such individual's connections to teaching 
                methodologies that might require the use of specific 
                products, activities, or services; and

                (ii) ensure that individuals performing duties under 
            the contract do not maintain significant financial 
            interests in products, activities, or services supported 
            under this section.
            (D) Waiver.--
                (i) In general.--The Secretary may, in consultation 
            with the Office of the General Counsel of the Department, 
            waive the requirements of subparagraph (C).
                (ii) Report.--The Secretary shall--

                    (I) establish criteria for the waivers under clause 
                (i); and
                    (II) report any waivers under clause (i), and the 
                criteria under which such waivers are allowed, to the 
                Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
                Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
                Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.

            (E) Information dissemination.--
                (i) In general.--If the Secretary enters into contracts 
            to provide technical assistance under subparagraph (A), and 
            if a contractor enters into subcontracts for that purpose, 
            each such contract and subcontract shall require the 
            provider of technical assistance to clearly separate 
            technical assistance provided under the contract or 
            subcontract from information provided, or activities 
            engaged in, as part of the normal operations of the 
            contractor or subcontractor.
                (ii) Methods of compliance.--Efforts to comply with 
            clause (i) may include the creation of separate webpages 
            for the purpose of fulfilling a contract or subcontract 
            entered into under subparagraph (A).
        (3) Reservation of funds.--The Secretary may reserve not more 
    than 2.5 percent of funds appropriated under subsection (o) for a 
    fiscal year to carry out this subsection.
    (n) Program Performance and Accountability.--
        (1) Information.--Each State educational agency receiving a 
    grant under this section shall collect and report to the Secretary 
    annually such information on the results of the grant as the 
    Secretary may reasonably require, including information on--
            (A) mathematics achievement data that show the progress of 
        students participating in projects under this section 
        (including, to the extent practicable, comparable data from 
        students not participating in such projects), based primarily 
        on the results of State, school districtwide, or classroom-
        based monitoring reports or assessments, including--
                (i) specific identification of those schools and 
            eligible local educational agencies that report the largest 
            gains in mathematics achievement; and
                (ii) evidence on whether the State educational agency 
            and eligible local educational agencies within the State 
            have--

                    (I) significantly increased the number of students 
                achieving at the proficient or advanced level on the 
                State student academic achievement standards in 
                mathematics under section 1111(b)(1)(D)(ii) of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6311(b)(1)(D)(ii));
                    (II) significantly increased the percentages of 
                students described in section 1111(b)(2)(C)(v)(II) of 
                the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6311(b)(2)(C)(v)(II)) who are achieving 
                proficiency or advanced levels on such State academic 
                content standards in mathematics;
                    (III) significantly increased the number of 
                students making significant progress toward meeting 
                such State academic content and achievement standards 
                in mathematics; and
                    (IV) successfully implemented this section;

            (B) the percentage of students in the schools served by the 
        eligible local educational agency who enroll in advanced 
        mathematics courses in grades 9 through 12, including the 
        percentage of such students who pass such courses; and
            (C) the progress made in increasing the quality and 
        accessibility of professional development and leadership 
        activities in mathematics, especially activities resulting in 
        greater content knowledge and expertise of teachers, 
        administrators, and other school staff, except that the 
        Secretary shall not require such information until after the 
        third year of a grant awarded under this section.
        (2) Reporting and disaggregation.--The information required 
    under paragraph (1) shall be--
            (A) reported in a manner that allows for a comparison of 
        aggregated score differentials of student academic achievement 
        before (to the extent feasible) and after implementation of the 
        project assisted under this section; and
            (B) disaggregated in the same manner as information is 
        disaggregated under section 1111(h)(1)(C)(i) of the Elementary 
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        6311(h)(1)(C)(i)).
    (o) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $95,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 
and each of the 2 succeeding fiscal years.

SEC. 6204. PEER REVIEW OF STATE APPLICATIONS.

    (a) Peer Review of State Applications.--The Secretary shall 
establish peer review panels to review State educational agency 
applications submitted pursuant to sections 6201 and 6203 and shall 
consider the recommendation of the peer review panels in deciding 
whether to approve the applications.
    (b) Screening.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a process 
    through which individuals on the peer review panels who review 
    State applications under sections 6201 and 6203 (referred to in 
    this section as ``reviewers'') are screened for potential conflicts 
    of interest.
        (2) Screening requirements.--The screening process described in 
    paragraph (1) shall, subject to paragraph (3)--
            (A) be reviewed and approved by the Office of the General 
        Counsel of the Department;
            (B) include, at a minimum, a review of each reviewer's--
                (i) professional connection to any State's program 
            under such sections, including a disclosure of any 
            connection to publishers, entities, private individuals, or 
            organizations related to such State's program;
                (ii) potential financial interest in products, 
            activities, or services that might be purchased by a State 
            educational agency or local educational agency in the 
            course of the agency's implementation of the programs under 
            such sections; and
                (iii) professional connections to teaching 
            methodologies that might require the use of specific 
            products, activities, or services; and
            (C) ensure that reviewers do not maintain significant 
        financial interests in products, activities, or services 
        supported under such sections.
        (3) Waiver.--
            (A) In general.--The Secretary may, in consultation with 
        the Office of the General Counsel of the Department, waive the 
        requirements of paragraph (2)(C).
            (B) Report of waivers.--The Secretary shall--
                (i) establish criteria for the waivers permitted under 
            subparagraph (A); and
                (ii) report any waivers allowed under subparagraph (A), 
            and the criteria under which such waivers are allowed, to 
            the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
            Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
            Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
    (c) Guidance.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop procedures for, 
    and issue guidance regarding, how reviewers will review 
    applications submitted under sections 6201 and 6203 and provide 
    feedback to State educational agencies and recommendations to the 
    Secretary. The Secretary shall also develop guidance for how the 
    Secretary will review those recommendations and make final 
    determinations of approval or disapproval of those applications.
        (2) Requirements.--Such procedures shall, at a minimum--
            (A) create a transparent process through which review 
        panels provide clear, consistent, and publicly available 
        documentation and explanations in support of all 
        recommendations, including the final reviews of the individual 
        reviewers, except that a final review shall not reveal any 
        personally identifiable information about the reviewer;
            (B) ensure that a State educational agency has the 
        opportunity for direct interaction with any review panel that 
        reviewed the agency's application under section 6201 or 6203 
        when revising that application as a result of feedback from the 
        panel, including the disclosure of the identities of the 
        reviewers;
            (C) require that any review panel and the Secretary clearly 
        and consistently document that all required elements of an 
        application under section 6201 or 6203 are included before the 
        application is approved; and
            (D) create a transparent process through which the 
        Secretary clearly, consistently, and publicly documents 
        decisions to approve or disapprove applications under such 
        sections and the reasons for those decisions.

            Subtitle C--Foreign Language Partnership Program

SEC. 6301. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Congress makes the following findings:
        (1) The United States faces a shortage of skilled professionals 
    with higher levels of proficiency in foreign languages and area 
    knowledge critical to the Nation's security.
        (2) Given the Nation's economic competitiveness interests, it 
    is crucial that our Nation expand the number of Americans who are 
    able to function effectively in the environments in which critical 
    foreign languages are spoken.
        (3) Students' ability to become proficient in foreign languages 
    can be addressed by starting language learning at a younger age and 
    expanding opportunities for continuous foreign language education 
    from elementary school through postsecondary education.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of this subtitle is to significantly 
increase--
        (1) the opportunities to study critical foreign languages and 
    the context in which the critical foreign languages are spoken; and
        (2) the number of American students who achieve the highest 
    level of proficiency in critical foreign languages.

SEC. 6302. DEFINITIONS.

    In this subtitle:
        (1) Eligible recipient.--The term ``eligible recipient'' means 
    an entity mutually agreed upon by a partnership that shall receive 
    grant funds under this subtitle on behalf of the partnership for 
    use in carrying out the activities assisted under this subtitle.
        (2) Partnership.--The term ``partnership'' means a partnership 
    that--
            (A) shall include--
                (i) an institution of higher education; and
                (ii) 1 or more local educational agencies; and
            (B) may include 1 or more entities that support the 
        purposes of this subtitle.
        (3) Superior level of proficiency.--The term ``superior level 
    of proficiency'' means level 3, the professional working level, as 
    measured by the Federal Interagency Language Roundtable (ILR) or by 
    other generally recognized measures of superior standards.

SEC. 6303. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.

    (a) Program Authorized.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants to 
    eligible recipients to enable partnerships served by the eligible 
    recipients to establish articulated programs of study in critical 
    foreign languages that will enable students to advance successfully 
    from elementary school through postsecondary education and achieve 
    higher levels of proficiency in a critical foreign language.
        (2) Duration.--A grant awarded under paragraph (1) shall be for 
    a period of not more than 5 years, of which 2 years may be for 
    planning and development. A grant may be renewed for not more than 
    2 additional 5-year periods, if the Secretary determines that the 
    partnership's program is effective and the renewal will best serve 
    the purposes of this subtitle.
    (b) Applications.--
        (1) In general.--Each eligible recipient desiring a grant under 
    this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
    time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
    Secretary may require.
        (2) Contents.--Each application shall--
            (A) identify each local educational agency partner, 
        including contact information and letters of commitment, and 
        describe the responsibilities of each member of the 
        partnership, including--
                (i) how each of the partners will be involved in 
            planning, developing, and implementing--

                    (I) program curriculum and materials; and
                    (II) teacher professional development;

                (ii) what resources each of the partners will provide; 
            and
                (iii) how the partners will contribute to ensuring the 
            continuity of student progress from elementary school 
            through the postsecondary level;
            (B) describe how an articulated curriculum for students 
        will be developed and implemented, which may include the use 
        and integration of technology into such curriculum;
            (C) identify target proficiency levels for students at 
        critical benchmarks (such as grades 4, 8, and 12), and describe 
        how progress toward those proficiency levels will be assessed 
        at the benchmarks, and how the program will use the results of 
        the assessments to ensure continuous progress toward achieving 
        a superior level of proficiency at the postsecondary level;
            (D) describe how the partnership will--
                (i) ensure that students from a program assisted under 
            this subtitle who are beginning postsecondary education 
            will be assessed and enabled to progress to a superior 
            level of proficiency;
                (ii) address the needs of students already at, or near, 
            the superior level of proficiency, which may include 
            diagnostic assessments for placement purposes, customized 
            and individualized language learning opportunities, and 
            experimental and interdisciplinary language learning; and
                (iii) identify and describe how the partnership will 
            work with institutions of higher education outside the 
            partnership to provide participating students with multiple 
            options for postsecondary education consistent with the 
            purposes of this subtitle;
            (E) describe how the partnership will support and continue 
        the program after the grant has expired, including how the 
        partnership will seek support from other sources, such as State 
        and local governments, foundations, and the private sector; and
            (F) describe what assessments will be used or, if 
        assessments not available, how assessments will be developed.
    (c) Uses of Funds.--Grant funds awarded under this subtitle--
        (1) shall be used to plan, develop, and implement programs at 
    the elementary school level through postsecondary education, 
    consistent with the purpose of this subtitle, including--
            (A) the development of curriculum and instructional 
        materials; and
            (B) recruitment of students; and
        (2) may be used for--
            (A) teacher recruitment (including recruitment from other 
        professions and recruitment of native-language speakers in the 
        community) and professional development directly related to the 
        purposes of this subtitle at the elementary school through 
        secondary school levels;
            (B) development of appropriate assessments;
            (C) opportunities for maximum language exposure for 
        students in the program, such as the creation of immersion 
        environments (such as language houses, language tables, 
        immersion classrooms, and weekend and summer experiences) and 
        special tutoring and academic support;
            (D) dual language immersion programs;
            (E) scholarships and study-abroad opportunities, related to 
        the program, for postsecondary students and newly recruited 
        teachers who have advanced levels of proficiency in a critical 
        foreign language, except that not more than 20 percent of the 
        grant funds provided to an eligible recipient under this 
        section for a fiscal year may be used to carry out this 
        subparagraph;
            (F) activities to encourage community involvement to assist 
        in meeting the purposes of this subtitle;
            (G) summer institutes for students and teachers;
            (H) bridge programs that allow dual enrollment for 
        secondary school students in institutions of higher education;
            (I) programs that expand the understanding and knowledge of 
        historic, geographic, and contextual factors within countries 
        with populations who speak critical foreign languages, if such 
        programs are carried out in conjunction with language 
        instruction;
            (J) research on, and evaluation of, the teaching of 
        critical foreign languages;
            (K) data collection and analysis regarding the results of--
                (i) various student recruitment strategies;
                (ii) program design; and
                (iii) curricular approaches;
            (L) the impact of the strategies, program design, and 
        curricular approaches described in subparagraph (K) on 
        increasing--
                (i) the number of students studying critical foreign 
            languages; and
                (ii) the proficiency of the students in the critical 
            foreign languages; and
            (M) distance learning projects for critical foreign 
        language learning.
    (d) Matching Requirement.--
        (1) In general.--An eligible recipient that receives a grant 
    under this subtitle shall provide, toward the cost of carrying out 
    the activities supported by the grant, from non-Federal sources, an 
    amount equal to--
            (A) 20 percent of the amount of the grant payment for the 
        first fiscal year for which a grant payment is made;
            (B) 30 percent of the amount of the grant payment for the 
        second such fiscal year;
            (C) 40 percent of the amount of the grant payment for the 
        third such fiscal year; and
            (D) 50 percent of the amount of the grant payment for each 
        of the fourth and fifth such fiscal years.
        (2) Non-federal share.--The non-Federal share required under 
    paragraph (1) may be provided in cash or in-kind.
        (3) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive all or part of the 
    matching requirement of paragraph (1), for any fiscal year, if the 
    Secretary determines that--
            (A) the application of the matching requirement will result 
        in serious hardship for the partnership; or
            (B) the waiver will best serve the purposes of this 
        subtitle.
    (e) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this 
subtitle shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal and 
non-Federal funds available to carry out the activities described in 
subsection (c).
    (f) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall enter into a 
contract to establish a technical assistance center to provide 
technical assistance to partnerships developing critical foreign 
language programs assisted under this subtitle. The center shall--
        (1) assist the partnerships in the development of critical 
    foreign language instructional materials and assessments; and
        (2) disseminate promising foreign language instructional 
    practices.
    (g) Program Evaluation.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary may reserve not more than 5 
    percent of the total amount appropriated for this subtitle for any 
    fiscal year to annually evaluate the programs under this subtitle.
        (2) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and annually submit, 
    to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
    Senate, the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
    Representatives, and the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate 
    and House of Representatives, a report--
            (A) on the results of any program evaluation conducted 
        under this subsection; and
            (B) that includes best practices on the teaching and 
        learning of foreign languages based on the findings from the 
        evaluation.

SEC. 6304. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    For the purpose of carrying out this subtitle, there are authorized 
to be appropriated $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, and such sums as 
may be necessary for each of the 2 succeeding fiscal years.

              Subtitle D--Alignment of Education Programs

SEC. 6401. ALIGNMENT OF SECONDARY SCHOOL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS WITH 
              THE DEMANDS OF 21ST CENTURY POSTSECONDARY ENDEAVORS AND 
              SUPPORT FOR P-16 EDUCATION DATA SYSTEMS.

    (a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section--
        (1) to promote more accountability with respect to preparation 
    for higher education, the 21st century workforce, and the Armed 
    Forces, by aligning--
            (A) student knowledge, student skills, State academic 
        content standards and assessments, and curricula, in elementary 
        and secondary education, especially with respect to 
        mathematics, science, reading, and, where applicable, 
        engineering and technology; with
            (B) the demands of higher education, the 21st century 
        workforce, and the Armed Forces;
        (2) to support the establishment or improvement of statewide P-
    16 education data systems that--
            (A) assist States in improving the rigor and quality of 
        State academic content standards and assessments;
            (B) ensure students are prepared to succeed in--
                (i) academic credit-bearing coursework in higher 
            education without the need for remediation;
                (ii) the 21st century workforce; or
                (iii) the Armed Forces; and
        (3) enable States to have valid and reliable information to 
    inform education policy and practice.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
        (1) P-16 education.--The term ``P-16 education'' means the 
    educational system from preschool through the conferring of a 
    baccalaureate degree.
        (2) Statewide partnership.--The term ``statewide partnership'' 
    means a partnership that--
            (A) shall include--
                (i) the Governor of the State or the designee of the 
            Governor;
                (ii) the heads of the State systems for public higher 
            education, or, if such a position does not exist, not less 
            than 1 representative of a public degree-granting 
            institution of higher education;
                (iii) a representative of the agencies in the State 
            that administer Federal or State-funded early childhood 
            education programs;
                (iv) not less than 1 representative of a public 
            community college;
                (v) not less than 1 representative of a technical 
            school;
                (vi) not less than 1 representative of a public 
            secondary school;
                (vii) the chief State school officer;
                (viii) the chief executive officer of the State higher 
            education coordinating board;
                (ix) not less than 1 public elementary school teacher 
            employed in the State;
                (x) not less than 1 early childhood educator in the 
            State;
                (xi) not less than 1 public secondary school teacher 
            employed in the State;
                (xii) not less than 1 representative of the business 
            community in the State; and
                (xiii) not less than 1 member of the Armed Forces; and
            (B) may include other individuals or representatives of 
        other organizations, such as a school administrator, a faculty 
        member at an institution of higher education, a member of a 
        civic or community organization, a representative from a 
        private institution of higher education, a dean or similar 
        representative of a school of education at an institution of 
        higher education or a similar teacher certification or 
        licensure program, or the State official responsible for 
        economic development.
    (c) Grants Authorized.--The Secretary is authorized to award 
grants, on a competitive basis, to States to enable each such State to 
work with a statewide partnership--
        (1) to promote better alignment of content knowledge 
    requirements for secondary school graduation with the knowledge and 
    skills needed to succeed in postsecondary education, the 21st 
    century workforce, or the Armed Forces; or
        (2) to establish or improve a statewide P-16 education data 
    system.
    (d) Period of Grants; Non-Renewability.--
        (1) Grant period.--The Secretary shall award a grant under this 
    section for a period of not more than 3 years.
        (2) Non-renewability.--The Secretary shall not award a State 
    more than 1 grant under this section.
    (e) Authorized Activities.--
        (1) Grants for p-16 alignment.--Each State receiving a grant 
    under subsection (c)(1)--
            (A) shall use the grant funds for--
                (i) identifying and describing the content knowledge 
            and skills students who enter institutions of higher 
            education, the workforce, and the Armed Forces need to have 
            in order to succeed without any remediation based on 
            detailed requirements obtained from institutions of higher 
            education, employers, and the Armed Forces;
                (ii) identifying and making changes that need to be 
            made to a State's secondary school graduation requirements, 
            academic content standards, academic achievement standards, 
            and assessments preceding graduation from secondary school 
            in order to align the requirements, standards, and 
            assessments with the knowledge and skills necessary for 
            success in academic credit-bearing coursework in 
            postsecondary education, in the 21st century workforce, and 
            in the Armed Forces without the need for remediation;
                (iii) convening stakeholders within the State and 
            creating a forum for identifying and deliberating on 
            education issues that--

                    (I) involve preschool through grade 12 education, 
                postsecondary education, the 21st century workforce, 
                and the Armed Forces; and
                    (II) transcend any single system of education's 
                ability to address; and

                (iv) implementing activities designed to ensure the 
            enrollment of all elementary school and secondary school 
            students in rigorous coursework, which may include--

                    (I) specifying the courses and performance levels 
                necessary for acceptance into institutions of higher 
                education; and
                    (II) developing or providing guidance to local 
                educational agencies within the State on the adoption 
                of curricula and assessments aligned with State 
                academic content standards, which assessments may be 
                used as measures of student academic achievement in 
                secondary school as well as for entrance or placement 
                at institutions of higher education, including through 
                collaboration with institutions of higher education in, 
                or State educational agencies serving, other States; 
                and

            (B) may use the grant funds for--
                (i) developing and making available specific 
            opportunities for extensive professional development for 
            teachers, paraprofessionals, principals, and school 
            administrators, including collection and dissemination of 
            effective teaching practices to improve instruction and 
            instructional support mechanisms;
                (ii) identifying changes in State academic content 
            standards, academic achievement standards, and assessments 
            for students in grades preceding secondary school in order 
            to ensure such standards and assessments are appropriately 
            aligned and adequately reflect the content needed to 
            prepare students to enter secondary school;
                (iii) developing a plan to provide remediation and 
            additional learning opportunities for students who are 
            performing below grade level to ensure that all students 
            will have the opportunity to meet secondary school 
            graduation requirements;
                (iv) identifying and addressing teacher certification 
            needs; or
                (v) incorporating 21st century learning skills into the 
            State plan, which skills shall include critical thinking, 
            problem solving, communication, collaboration, global 
            awareness, and business and financial literacy.
        (2) Grants for statewide p-16 education data systems.--
            (A) Establishment of system.--Each State that receives a 
        grant under subsection (c)(2) shall establish a statewide P-16 
        education longitudinal data system that--
                (i) provides each student, upon enrollment in a public 
            elementary school or secondary school in the State, with a 
            unique identifier, such as a bar code, that--

                    (I) does not permit a student to be individually 
                identified by users of the system; and
                    (II) is retained throughout the student's 
                enrollment in P-16 education in the State; and

                (ii) meets the requirements of subparagraphs (B) 
            through (E).
            (B) Improvement of existing system.--Each State that 
        receives a grant under subsection (c)(2) for the improvement of 
        a statewide P-16 education data system may employ, coordinate, 
        or revise an existing statewide data system to establish a 
        statewide longitudinal P-16 education data system that meets 
        the requirements of subparagraph (A), if the statewide 
        longitudinal P-16 education data system produces valid and 
        reliable data.
            (C) Privacy and access to data.--
                (i) In general.--Each State that receives a grant under 
            subsection (c)(2) shall implement measures to--

                    (I) ensure that the statewide P-16 education data 
                system meets the requirements of section 444 of the 
                General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g) 
                (commonly known as the Family Educational Rights and 
                Privacy Act of 1974);
                    (II) limit the use of information in the statewide 
                P-16 education data system by institutions of higher 
                education and State or local educational agencies or 
                institutions to the activities set forth in paragraph 
                (1) or State law regarding education, consistent with 
                the purposes of this subtitle;
                    (III) prohibit the disclosure of personally 
                identifiable information except as permitted under 
                section 444 of the General Education Provisions Act and 
                any additional limitations set forth in State law;
                    (IV) keep an accurate accounting of the date, 
                nature, and purpose of each disclosure of personally 
                identifiable information in the statewide P-16 
                education data system, a description of the information 
                disclosed, and the name and address of the person, 
                agency, institution, or entity to whom the disclosure 
                is made, which accounting shall be made available on 
                request to parents of any student whose information has 
                been disclosed;
                    (V) notwithstanding section 444 of the General 
                Education Provisions Act, require any non-governmental 
                party obtaining personally identifiable information to 
                sign a data use agreement prior to disclosure that--

                        (aa) prohibits the party from further 
                    disclosing the information;
                        (bb) prohibits the party from using the 
                    information for any purpose other than the purpose 
                    specified in the agreement; and
                        (cc) requires the party to destroy the 
                    information when the purpose for which the 
                    disclosure was made is accomplished;

                    (VI) maintain adequate security measures to ensure 
                the confidentiality and integrity of the statewide P-16 
                education data system, such as protecting a student 
                record from identification by a unique identifier;
                    (VII) where rights are provided to parents under 
                this clause, provide those rights to the student 
                instead of the parent if the student has reached the 
                age of 18 or is enrolled in a postsecondary educational 
                institution; and
                    (VIII) ensure adequate enforcement of the 
                requirements of this clause.

                (ii) Use of unique identifiers.--

                    (I) Governmental use of unique identifiers.--It 
                shall be unlawful for any Federal, State, or local 
                governmental agency to use the unique identifiers 
                employed in the statewide P-16 education data systems 
                for any purpose other than as authorized by Federal or 
                State law regarding education, or to deny any 
                individual any right, benefit, or privilege provided by 
                law because of such individual's refusal to disclose 
                the individual's unique identifier.
                    (II) Regulations.--Not later than 180 days after 
                the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
                promulgate regulations governing the use by 
                governmental and non-governmental entities of the 
                unique identifiers employed in statewide P-16 education 
                data systems, including, where necessary, regulations 
                requiring States desiring grants for statewide P-16 
                education data systems under this section to implement 
                specified measures, with the goal of safeguarding 
                individual privacy to the maximum extent practicable 
                consistent with the uses of the information authorized 
                in this Act or other Federal or State law regarding 
                education.

            (D) Required elements of a statewide p-16 education data 
        system.--The State shall ensure that the statewide P-16 
        education data system includes the following elements:
                (i) Preschool through grade 12 education and 
            postsecondary education.--With respect to preschool through 
            grade 12 education and postsecondary education--

                    (I) a unique statewide student identifier that does 
                not permit a student to be individually identified by 
                users of the system;
                    (II) student-level enrollment, demographic, and 
                program participation information;
                    (III) student-level information about the points at 
                which students exit, transfer in, transfer out, drop 
                out, or complete P-16 education programs;
                    (IV) the capacity to communicate with higher 
                education data systems; and
                    (V) a State data audit system assessing data 
                quality, validity, and reliability.

                (ii) Preschool through grade 12 education.--With 
            respect to preschool through grade 12 education--

                    (I) yearly test records of individual students with 
                respect to assessments under section 1111(b) of the 
                Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
                U.S.C. 6311(b));
                    (II) information on students not tested by grade 
                and subject;
                    (III) a teacher identifier system with the ability 
                to match teachers to students;
                    (IV) student-level transcript information, 
                including information on courses completed and grades 
                earned; and
                    (V) student-level college readiness test scores.

                (iii) Postsecondary education.--With respect to 
            postsecondary education, data that provide--

                    (I) information regarding the extent to which 
                students transition successfully from secondary school 
                to postsecondary education, including whether students 
                enroll in remedial coursework; and
                    (II) other information determined necessary to 
                address alignment and adequate preparation for success 
                in postsecondary education.

            (E) Functions of the statewide p-16 education data 
        system.--In implementing the statewide P-16 education data 
        system, the State shall--
                (i) identify factors that correlate to students' 
            ability to successfully engage in and complete 
            postsecondary-level general education coursework without 
            the need for prior developmental coursework;
                (ii) identify factors to increase the percentage of 
            low-income and minority students who are academically 
            prepared to enter and successfully complete postsecondary-
            level general education coursework; and
                (iii) use the data in the system to otherwise inform 
            education policy and practice in order to better align 
            State academic content standards, and curricula, with the 
            demands of postsecondary education, the 21st century 
            workforce, and the Armed Forces.
    (f) Application.--
        (1) In general.--Each State desiring a grant under this section 
    shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such 
    manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may 
    reasonably require.
        (2) Application contents.--Each application submitted under 
    this section shall specify whether the State application is for the 
    conduct of P-16 education alignment activities, or the 
    establishment or improvement of a statewide P-16 education data 
    system. The application shall include, at a minimum, the following:
            (A) A description of the activities and programs to be 
        carried out with the grant funds and a comprehensive plan for 
        carrying out the activities.
            (B) A description of how the concerns and interests of the 
        larger education community, including parents, students, 
        teachers, teacher educators, principals, and preschool 
        administrators will be represented in carrying out the 
        authorized activities described in subsection (e).
            (C) In the case of a State applying for funding for P-16 
        education alignment, a description of how the State will 
        provide assistance to local educational agencies in 
        implementing rigorous State academic content standards, 
        substantive curricula, remediation, and acceleration 
        opportunities for students, as well as other changes determined 
        necessary by the State.
            (D) In the case of a State applying for funding to 
        establish or improve a statewide P-16 education data system--
                (i) a description of the privacy protection and 
            enforcement measures that the State has implemented or will 
            implement pursuant to subsection (e)(2)(C), and assurances 
            that these measures will be in place prior to the 
            establishment or improvement of the statewide P-16 
            education data system; and
                (ii) an assurance that the State will continue to fund 
            the statewide P-16 education data system after the end of 
            the grant period.
    (g) Supplement Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this 
section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, other Federal, 
State, and local funds available to carry out the authorized activities 
described in subsection (e).
    (h) Matching Requirement.--Each State that receives a grant under 
this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal 
to 100 percent of the amount of the grant, in cash or in kind, to carry 
out the activities supported by the grant.
    (i) Rule of Construction.--
        (1) No raw data requirement.--Nothing in this section shall be 
    construed to require States to provide raw data to the Secretary.
        (2) Private or home schools.--Nothing in this section shall be 
    construed to affect any private school that does not receive funds 
    or services under this Act or any home school, whether or not the 
    home school is treated as a home school or a private school under 
    State law, including imposing new requirements for students 
    educated through a home school seeking admission to institutions of 
    higher education.
    (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section $120,000,000 for fiscal year 
2008 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009.

      Subtitle E--Mathematics and Science Partnership Bonus Grants

SEC. 6501. MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE PARTNERSHIP BONUS GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--From amounts appropriated under section 6502, the 
Secretary shall award a grant--
        (1) for each of the school years 2007-2008 through 2010-2011, 
    to each of the 3 elementary schools, and each of the 3 secondary 
    schools, each of which has a high concentration of low income 
    students as defined in section 1707(2) of the Elementary and 
    Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6537(2)), in each State 
    whose students demonstrate the most improvement in mathematics, as 
    measured by the improvement in the students' average score on the 
    State's assessments in mathematics for the school year for which 
    the grant is awarded, as compared to the school year preceding the 
    school year for which the grant is awarded; and
        (2) for each of the school years 2008-2009 through 2010-2011, 
    to each of the 3 elementary schools, and each of the 3 secondary 
    schools, each of which has a high concentration of low income 
    students as defined in section 1707(2) of the Elementary and 
    Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6537(2)), in each State 
    whose students demonstrate the most improvement in science, as 
    measured by the improvement in the students' average score on the 
    State's assessments in science for the school year for which the 
    grant is awarded, as compared to the school year preceding the 
    school year for which the grant is awarded.
    (b) Grant Amount.--The amount of each grant awarded under this 
section shall be $50,000.

SEC. 6502. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subtitle 
such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2008 and each of the 2 
succeeding fiscal years.

                 TITLE VII--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

SEC. 7001. DEFINITIONS.

    In this title:
        (1) Basic research.--The term ``basic research'' has the 
    meaning given such term in the Office of Management and Budget 
    circular No. A-11.
        (2) Board.--The term ``Board'' means the National Science Board 
    established under section 2 of the National Science Foundation Act 
    of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861).
        (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of the 
    Foundation.
        (4) Elementary school.--The term ``elementary school'' has the 
    meaning given such term in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
    Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
        (5) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National 
    Science Foundation.
        (6) Institution of higher education.--The term ``institution of 
    higher education'' has the meaning given such term in section 
    101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
        (7) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has the 
    meaning given such term in section 9101 of the Elementary and 
    Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).

SEC. 7002. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Fiscal Year 2008.--
        (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
    Foundation $6,600,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
        (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under 
    paragraph (1)--
            (A) $5,156,000,000 shall be made available for research and 
        related activities, of which--
                (i) $115,000,000 shall be made available for the Major 
            Research Instrumentation program;
                (ii) $165,400,000 shall be made available for the 
            Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program;
                (iii) $61,600,000 shall be made available for the 
            Research Experiences for Undergraduates program;
                (iv) $120,000,000 shall be made available for the 
            Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research;
                (v) $47,300,000 shall be made available for the 
            Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship 
            program;
                (vi) $9,000,000 shall be made available for the 
            Graduate Research Fellowship program; and
                (vii) $10,000,000 shall be made available for the 
            professional science master's degree program under section 
            7034;
            (B) $896,000,000 shall be made available for education and 
        human resources, of which--
                (i) $100,000,000 shall be for Mathematics and Science 
            Education Partnerships established under section 9 of the 
            National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 
            U.S.C. 1862n);
                (ii) $89,800,000 shall be for the Robert Noyce 
            Scholarship Program established under section 10 of the 
            National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 
            U.S.C. 1862n-1);
                (iii) $40,000,000 shall be for the Science, 
            Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Talent Expansion 
            Program established under section 8(7) of the National 
            Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law 
            107-368);
                (iv) $52,000,000 shall be for the Advanced 
            Technological Education program established by section 3(a) 
            of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 
            (Public Law 102-476);
                (v) $27,100,000 shall be made available for the 
            Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship 
            program; and
                (vi) $96,600,000 shall be made available for the 
            Graduate Research Fellowship program;
            (C) $245,000,000 shall be made available for major research 
        equipment and facilities construction;
            (D) $285,600,000 shall be made available for agency 
        operations and award management;
            (E) $4,050,000 shall be made available for the Office of 
        the National Science Board; and
            (F) $12,350,000 shall be made available for the Office of 
        Inspector General.
    (b) Fiscal Year 2009.--
        (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
    Foundation $7,326,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
        (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under 
    paragraph (1)--
            (A) $5,742,300,000 shall be made available for research and 
        related activities, of which--
                (i) $123,100,000 shall be made available for the Major 
            Research Instrumentation program;
                (ii) $183,600,000 shall be made available for the 
            Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program;
                (iii) $68,400,000 shall be made available for the 
            Research Experiences for Undergraduates program;
                (iv) $133,200,000 shall be made available for the 
            Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research;
                (v) $52,500,000 shall be made available for the 
            Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship 
            program;
                (vi) $10,000,000 shall be made available for the 
            Graduate Research Fellowship program; and
                (vii) $12,000,000 shall be made available for the 
            professional science master's degree program under section 
            7034;
            (B) $995,000,000 shall be made available for education and 
        human resources, of which--
                (i) $111,000,000 shall be for Mathematics and Science 
            Education Partnerships established under section 9 of the 
            National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 
            U.S.C. 1862n);
                (ii) $115,000,000 shall be for the Robert Noyce 
            Scholarship Program established under section 10 of the 
            National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 
            U.S.C. 1862n-1);
                (iii) $50,000,000 shall be for the Science, 
            Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Talent Expansion 
            Program established under section 8(7) of the National 
            Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law 
            107-368);
                (iv) $57,700,000 shall be for the Advanced 
            Technological Education program as established by section 
            3(a) of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 
            (Public Law 102-476);
                (v) $30,100,000 shall be made available for the 
            Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship 
            program; and
                (vi) $107,200,000 shall be made available for the 
            Graduate Research Fellowship program;
            (C) $262,000,000 shall be made available for major research 
        equipment and facilities construction;
            (D) $309,760,000 shall be made available for agency 
        operations and award management;
            (E) $4,190,000 shall be made available for the Office of 
        the National Science Board; and
            (F) $12,750,000 shall be made available for the Office of 
        Inspector General.
    (c) Fiscal Year 2010.--
        (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
    Foundation $8,132,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
        (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized under 
    paragraph (1)--
            (A) $6,401,000,000 shall be made available for research and 
        related activities, of which--
                (i) $131,700,000 shall be made available for the Major 
            Research Instrumentation program;
                (ii) $203,800,000 shall be made available for the 
            Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program;
                (iii) $75,900,000 shall be made available for the 
            Research Experiences for Undergraduates program;
                (iv) $147,800,000 shall be made available for the 
            Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research;
                (v) $58,300,000 shall be made available for the 
            Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship 
            program;
                (vi) $11,100,000 shall be made available for the 
            Graduate Research Fellowship program; and
                (vii) $15,000,000 shall be made available for the 
            professional science master's degree program under section 
            7034;
            (B) $1,104,000,000 shall be made available for education 
        and human resources, of which--
                (i) $123,200,000 shall be for Mathematics and Science 
            Education Partnerships established under section 9 of the 
            National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 
            U.S.C. 1862n);
                (ii) $140,500,000 shall be for the Robert Noyce 
            Scholarship Program established under section 10 of the 
            National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 
            U.S.C. 1862n-1);
                (iii) $55,000,000 shall be for the Science, 
            Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology Talent Expansion 
            Program established under section 8(7) of the National 
            Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (Public Law 
            107-368);
                (iv) $64,000,000 shall be for the Advanced 
            Technological Education program as established by section 
            3(a) of the Scientific and Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 
            (Public Law 102-476);
                (v) $33,400,000 shall be made available for the 
            Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship 
            program; and
                (vi) $119,000,000 shall be made available for the 
            Graduate Research Fellowship program;
            (C) $280,000,000 shall be made available for major research 
        equipment and facilities construction;
            (D) $329,450,000 shall be made available for agency 
        operations and award management;
            (E) $4,340,000 shall be made available for the Office of 
        the National Science Board; and
            (F) $13,210,000 shall be made available for the Office of 
        Inspector General.

SEC. 7003. REAFFIRMATION OF THE MERIT-REVIEW PROCESS OF THE NATIONAL 
              SCIENCE FOUNDATION.

    Nothing in this title or title I, or the amendments made by this 
title or title I, shall be interpreted to require or recommend that the 
Foundation--
        (1) alter or modify its merit-review system or peer-review 
    process; or
        (2) exclude the awarding of any proposal by means of the merit-
    review or peer-review process.

SEC. 7004. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING THE MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE 
              PARTNERSHIP PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND 
              THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.

    It is the sense of the Congress that--
        (1) although the mathematics and science education partnership 
    program at the Foundation and the mathematics and science 
    partnership program at the Department of Education practically 
    share the same name, the 2 programs are intended to be 
    complementary, not duplicative;
        (2) the Foundation partnership programs are innovative, model 
    reform initiatives that move promising ideas in education from 
    research into practice to improve teacher quality, develop 
    challenging curricula, and increase student achievement in 
    mathematics and science, and Congress intends that the Foundation 
    peer-reviewed partnership programs found to be effective should be 
    put into wider practice by dissemination through the Department of 
    Education partnership programs; and
        (3) the Director and the Secretary of Education should have 
    ongoing collaboration to ensure that the 2 components of this 
    priority effort for mathematics and science education continue to 
    work in concert for the benefit of States and local practitioners 
    nationwide.

SEC. 7005. CURRICULA.

    Nothing in this title, or the amendments made by this title, shall 
be construed to limit the authority of State governments or local 
school boards to determine the curricula of their students.

SEC. 7006. CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON LEARNING AND EDUCATION IMPROVEMENT.

    (a) Funding for Centers.--The Director shall continue to carry out 
the program of Centers for Research on Learning and Education 
Improvement as established in section 11 of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-2).
    (b) Eligibility for Centers.--Section 11 of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-2) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``or eligible nonprofit 
    organizations'' after ``institutions of higher education'';
        (2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``or an eligible 
    nonprofit organization'' after ``institution of higher education''; 
    and
        (3) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ``of such institutions'' 
    and inserting ``thereof''.

SEC. 7007. INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH.

    (a) In General.--The Board shall evaluate the role of the 
Foundation in supporting interdisciplinary research, including through 
the Major Research Instrumentation program, the effectiveness of the 
Foundation's efforts in providing information to the scientific 
community about opportunities for funding of interdisciplinary research 
proposals, and the process through which interdisciplinary proposals 
are selected for support. The Board shall also evaluate the 
effectiveness of the Foundation's efforts to engage undergraduate 
students in research experiences in interdisciplinary settings, 
including through the Research in Undergraduate Institutions program 
and the Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Board shall provide the results of its evaluation under 
subsection (a), including a recommendation for the proportion of the 
Foundation's research and related activities funding that should be 
allocated for interdisciplinary research, to the Committee on Science 
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.

SEC. 7008. POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWS.

    (a) Mentoring.--The Director shall require that all grant 
applications that include funding to support postdoctoral researchers 
include a description of the mentoring activities that will be provided 
for such individuals, and shall ensure that this part of the 
application is evaluated under the Foundation's broader impacts merit 
review criterion. Mentoring activities may include career counseling, 
training in preparing grant applications, guidance on ways to improve 
teaching skills, and training in research ethics.
    (b) Reports.--The Director shall require that annual reports and 
the final report for research grants that include funding to support 
postdoctoral researchers include a description of the mentoring 
activities provided to such researchers.

SEC. 7009. RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH.

    The Director shall require that each institution that applies for 
financial assistance from the Foundation for science and engineering 
research or education describe in its grant proposal a plan to provide 
appropriate training and oversight in the responsible and ethical 
conduct of research to undergraduate students, graduate students, and 
postdoctoral researchers participating in the proposed research 
project.

SEC. 7010. REPORTING OF RESEARCH RESULTS.

    The Director shall ensure that all final project reports and 
citations of published research documents resulting from research 
funded, in whole or in part, by the Foundation, are made available to 
the public in a timely manner and in electronic form through the 
Foundation's Web site.

SEC. 7011. SHARING RESEARCH RESULTS.

    An investigator supported under a Foundation award, whom the 
Director determines has failed to comply with the provisions of section 
734 of the Foundation Grant Policy Manual, shall be ineligible for a 
future award under any Foundation supported program or activity. The 
Director may restore the eligibility of such an investigator on the 
basis of the investigator's subsequent compliance with the provisions 
of section 734 of the Foundation Grant Policy Manual and with such 
other terms and conditions as the Director may impose.

SEC. 7012. FUNDING FOR SUCCESSFUL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
              MATHEMATICS EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    (a) Evaluation of Programs.--The Director shall, on an annual 
basis, evaluate all of the Foundation's grants that are scheduled to 
expire within 1 year and--
        (1) that have the primary purpose of meeting the objectives of 
    the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunity Act (42 U.S.C. 1885 
    et seq.); or
        (2) that have the primary purpose of providing teacher 
    professional development.
    (b) Continuation of Funding.--For grants that are identified under 
subsection (a) and that are determined by the Director to be successful 
in meeting the objectives of the initial grant solicitation, the 
Director may extend the duration of those grants for not more than 3 
additional years beyond their scheduled expiration without the 
requirement for a recompetition.
    (c) Report to Congress.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director shall 
submit a report to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House 
of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate that--
        (1) lists the grants that have been extended in duration by the 
    authority provided under this section; and
        (2) provides any recommendations the Director may have 
    regarding the extension of the authority provided under this 
    section to programs other than those specified in subsection (a).

SEC. 7013. COST SHARING.

    (a) In General.--The Board shall evaluate the impact of its policy 
to eliminate cost sharing for research grants and cooperative 
agreements for existing programs that were developed around industry 
partnerships and historically required industry cost sharing, such as 
the Engineering Research Centers and Industry/University Cooperative 
Research Centers. The Board shall also consider the impact that the 
cost sharing policy has on initiating new programs for which industry 
interest and participation are sought.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Board shall report to the Committee on Science and 
Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 
Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, on the 
results of the evaluation under subsection (a).

SEC. 7014. ADDITIONAL REPORTS.

    (a) Report on Funding for Major Facilities.--
        (1) Preconstruction funding.--The Board shall evaluate the 
    appropriateness of the requirement that funding for detailed design 
    work and other preconstruction activities for major research 
    equipment and facilities come exclusively from the sponsoring 
    research division rather than being available, at least in part, 
    from the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction 
    account.
        (2) Maintenance and operation costs.--The Board shall evaluate 
    the appropriateness of the Foundation's policies for allocation of 
    costs for, and oversight of, maintenance and operation of major 
    research equipment and facilities.
        (3) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
    enactment of this Act, the Board shall report on the results of the 
    evaluations under paragraphs (1) and (2) and on any recommendations 
    for modifying the current policies related to allocation of funding 
    for major research equipment and facilities to the Committee on 
    Science and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
    House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Commerce, 
    Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Health, Education, 
    Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
    Senate.
    (b) Inclusion of Polar Facilities Upgrades in Major Research 
Equipment and Facilities Construction Plan.--Section 201(a)(2)(D) of 
the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 
1862l(a)(2)(D)) is amended by inserting ``and for major upgrades of 
facilities in support of Antarctic research programs'' after 
``facilities construction account''.
    (c) Report on Education Programs Within the Research 
Directorates.--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 the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report cataloging all 
elementary school and secondary school, informal, and undergraduate 
educational programs and activities supported through appropriations 
for Research and Related Activities. The report shall display the 
programs and activities by directorate, along with estimated funding 
levels for the fiscal years 2006, 2007, and 2008, and shall provide a 
description of the goals of each program and activity. The report shall 
also describe how the programs and activities relate to or are 
coordinated with the programs supported by the Education and Human 
Resources Directorate.
    (d) Report on Research in Undergraduate Institutions Program.--The 
Director shall transmit to Congress, as part of the President's fiscal 
year 2011 budget submission under section 1105 of title 31, United 
States Code, a report listing the funding success rates and 
distribution of awards for the Research in Undergraduate Institutions 
program, by type of institution based on the highest academic degree 
conferred by the institution, for fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010.
    (e) Annual Plan for Allocation of Education and Human Resources 
Funding.--
        (1) In general.--Not later than 60 days after the date of 
    enactment of legislation providing for the annual appropriation of 
    funds for the Foundation, the Director shall submit to the 
    Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on 
    Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and to the 
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee 
    on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on 
    Appropriations of the Senate, a plan for the allocation of 
    education and human resources funds authorized by this title for 
    the corresponding fiscal year, including any funds from within the 
    research and related activities account used to support activities 
    that have the primary purpose of improving education or broadening 
    participation.
        (2) Specific requirements.--The plan shall include a 
    description of how the allocation of funding--
            (A) will affect the average size and duration of education 
        and human resources grants supported by the Foundation;
            (B) will affect trends in research support for the 
        effective instruction of science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics;
            (C) will affect the kindergarten through grade 20 pipeline 
        for the study of science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics; and
            (D) will encourage the interest of individuals identified 
        in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
        Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics, and help prepare such 
        individuals to pursue postsecondary studies in these fields.

SEC. 7015. ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS.

    (a) Triannual Audit of the Office of the National Science Board.--
Section 15(a) of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 
2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-5) is amended--
        (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``an annual audit'' and 
    inserting ``an audit every three years'';
        (2) in paragraph (4), by striking ``each year'' and inserting 
    ``every third year''; and
        (3) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following:
        ``(5) Materials relating to closed portions of meetings.--To 
    facilitate the audit required under paragraph (3) of this 
    subsection, the Office of the National Science Board shall maintain 
    the General Counsel's certificate, the presiding officer's 
    statement, and a transcript or recording of any closed meeting, for 
    at least 3 years after such meeting.''.
    (b) Limited Term Personnel for the National Science Board.--
Subsection (g) of section 4 of the National Science Foundation Act of 
1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(g)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(g) The Board may, with the concurrence of a majority of its 
members, permit the appointment of a staff consisting of not more than 
5 professional staff members, technical and professional personnel on 
leave of absence from academic, industrial, or research institutions 
for a limited term, and such operations and support staff members as 
may be necessary. Such staff shall be appointed by the Chairman and 
assigned at the direction of the Board. The professional members and 
limited term technical and professional personnel of such staff may be 
appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States 
Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and the 
provisions of chapter 51 of such title relating to classification, and 
shall be compensated at a rate not exceeding the maximum rate payable 
under section 5376 of such title, as may be necessary to provide for 
the performance of such duties as may be prescribed by the Board in 
connection with the exercise of its powers and functions under this 
Act. Section 14(a)(3) shall apply to each limited term appointment of 
technical and professional personnel under this subsection. Each 
appointment under this subsection shall be subject to the same security 
requirements as those required for personnel of the Foundation 
appointed under section 14(a).''.
    (c) Increase in Number of Waterman Awards to Three.--Section 6(c) 
of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act, 1976 (42 U.S.C. 
1881a) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(c) Not more than three awards may be made under this section in 
any one fiscal year.''.

SEC. 7016. NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD REPORTS.

    Paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 4(j) of the National Science 
Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(j)(1) and (2)) are amended by 
striking ``, for submission to'' and ``for submission to'', 
respectively, and inserting ``and''.

SEC. 7017. PROGRAM FRAUD CIVIL REMEDIES ACT OF 1986 AMENDMENT.

    Section 3801(a)(1) of title 31, United States Code (commonly known 
as the ``Program Fraud Civil Remedies Act of 1986'') is amended--
        (1) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' after the 
    semicolon;
        (2) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``and'' after the 
    semicolon; and
        (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(E) the National Science Foundation.''.

SEC. 7018. MEETING CRITICAL NATIONAL SCIENCE NEEDS.

    (a) In General.--In addition to any other criteria, the Director 
shall include consideration of the degree to which awards and research 
activities that otherwise qualify for support by the Foundation may 
assist in meeting critical national needs in innovation, 
competitiveness, safety and security, the physical and natural 
sciences, technology, engineering, social sciences, and mathematics.
    (b) Priority Treatment.--The Director shall give priority in the 
selection of awards and the allocation of Foundation resources to 
proposed research activities, and grants funded under the Foundation's 
Research and Related Activities Account, that can be expected to make 
contributions in physical or natural science, technology, engineering, 
social sciences, or mathematics, or that enhance competitiveness, 
innovation, or safety and security in the United States.
    (c) Limitation.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
restrict or bias the grant selection process against funding other 
areas of research deemed by the Foundation to be consistent with its 
mandate nor to change the core mission of the Foundation.

SEC. 7019. RESEARCH ON INNOVATION AND INVENTIVENESS.

    In carrying out its research programs on science policy and on the 
science of learning, the Foundation may support research on the process 
of innovation and the teaching of inventiveness.

SEC. 7020. CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE.

    In order to continue and expand efforts to ensure that research 
institutions throughout the Nation can fully participate in research 
programs of the Foundation and collaborate with colleagues throughout 
the Nation, the Director, not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, shall develop and publish a plan that--
        (1) describes the current status of broadband access for 
    scientific research purposes at institutions in EPSCoR-eligible 
    States, at institutions in rural areas, and at minority serving 
    institutions; and
        (2) outlines actions that can be taken to ensure that such 
    connections are available to enable participation in those 
    Foundation programs that rely heavily on high-speed networking and 
    collaborations across institutions and regions.

SEC. 7021. PILOT PROGRAM OF GRANTS FOR NEW INVESTIGATORS.

    (a) In General.--The Director shall carry out a pilot program to 
award 1-year grants to individuals to assist them in improving research 
proposals that were previously submitted to the Foundation but not 
selected for funding.
    (b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this 
section, an individual--
        (1) may not have previously received funding as the principal 
    investigator of a research grant from the Foundation; and
        (2) shall have submitted a proposal to the Foundation, which 
    may include a proposal submitted to the Research in Undergraduate 
    Institutions program, that was rated excellent under the 
    Foundation's competitive merit review process.
    (c) Selection Process.--The Director shall make awards under this 
section based on the advice of the program officers of the Foundation.
    (d) Use of Funds.--Grants awarded under this section shall be used 
to enable an individual to resubmit an updated research proposal for 
review by the Foundation through the agency's competitive merit review 
process. Uses of funds made available under this section may include 
the generation of new data and the performance of additional analysis.
    (e) Program Administration.--The Director shall carry out this 
section through the Small Grants for Exploratory Research program.
    (f) National Science Board Review.--The Board shall conduct a 
review and assessment of the pilot program under this section, 
including the number of new investigators funded, the distribution of 
awards by type of institution of higher education, and the success rate 
upon resubmittal of proposals by new investigators funded through such 
pilot program. Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Board shall summarize its findings and any 
recommendations regarding changes to, the termination of, or the 
continuation of the pilot program in a report to the Committee on 
Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.

SEC. 7022. BROADER IMPACTS MERIT REVIEW CRITERION.

    (a) In General.--Among the types of activities that the Foundation 
shall consider as appropriate for meeting the requirements of its 
broader impacts criterion for the evaluation of research proposals are 
partnerships between academic researchers and industrial scientists and 
engineers that address research areas identified as having high 
importance for future national economic competitiveness, such as 
nanotechnology.
    (b) Report on Broader Impacts Criterion.--Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall transmit to 
Congress a report on the impact of the broader impacts grant criterion 
used by the Foundation. The report shall--
        (1) identify the criteria that each division and directorate of 
    the Foundation uses to evaluate the broader impacts aspects of 
    research proposals;
        (2) provide a breakdown of the types of activities by division 
    that awardees have proposed to carry out to meet the broader 
    impacts criterion;
        (3) provide any evaluations performed by the Foundation to 
    assess the degree to which the broader impacts aspects of research 
    proposals were carried out and how effective they have been at 
    meeting the goals described in the research proposals;
        (4) describe what national goals, such as improving 
    undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
    education, improving kindergarten through grade 12 science and 
    mathematics education, promoting university-industry collaboration, 
    and broadening participation of underrepresented groups, the 
    broader impacts criterion is best suited to promote; and
        (5) describe what steps the Foundation is taking and should 
    take to use the broader impacts criterion to improve undergraduate 
    science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.

SEC. 7023. DONATIONS.

    Section 11(f) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 
U.S.C. 1870(f)) is amended by inserting before the semicolon ``, except 
that funds may be donated for specific prize competitions for `basic 
research' as defined in the Office of Management and Budget Circular 
No. A-11''.

SEC. 7024. HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING AND NETWORKING.

    (a) High-Performance Computing Act of 1991.--
        (1) Amendments.--Title I of the High-Performance Computing Act 
    of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511 et seq.) is amended--
            (A) in the title heading, by striking ``AND THE NATIONAL 
        RESEARCH AND EDUCATION NETWORK'' and inserting ``RESEARCH AND 
        DEVELOPMENT'';
            (B) in section 101(a) (15 U.S.C. 5511(a))--
                (i) by striking subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph 
            (1) and inserting the following:
        ``(A) provide for long-term basic and applied research on high-
    performance computing, including networking;
        ``(B) provide for research and development on, and 
    demonstration of, technologies to advance the capacity and 
    capabilities of high-performance computing and networking systems, 
    and related software;
        ``(C) provide for sustained access by the research community 
    throughout the United States to high-performance computing and 
    networking systems that are among the most advanced in the world in 
    terms of performance in solving scientific and engineering 
    problems, including provision for technical support for users of 
    such systems;
        ``(D) provide for widely dispersed efforts to increase software 
    availability, productivity, capability, security, portability, and 
    reliability;
        ``(E) provide for high-performance networks, including 
    experimental testbed networks, to enable research and development 
    on, and demonstration of, advanced applications enabled by such 
    networks;
        ``(F) provide for computational science and engineering 
    research on mathematical modeling and algorithms for applications 
    in all fields of science and engineering;
        ``(G) provide for the technical support of, and research and 
    development on, high-performance computing systems and software 
    required to address Grand Challenges;
        ``(H) provide for educating and training additional 
    undergraduate and graduate students in software engineering, 
    computer science, computer and network security, applied 
    mathematics, library and information science, and computational 
    science; and
        ``(I) provide for improving the security of computing and 
    networking systems, including Federal systems, including providing 
    for research required to establish security standards and practices 
    for these systems.'';
                (ii) by striking paragraph (2) and redesignating 
            paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs (2) and (3), 
            respectively;
                (iii) in paragraph (2), as redesignated by clause 
            (ii)--

                    (I) by striking subparagraph (B);
                    (II) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) and (C) as 
                subparagraphs (D) and (F), respectively;
                    (III) by inserting before subparagraph (D), as 
                redesignated by subclause (II), the following:

        ``(A) establish the goals and priorities for Federal high-
    performance computing research, development, networking, and other 
    activities;
        ``(B) establish Program Component Areas that implement the 
    goals established under subparagraph (A), and identify the Grand 
    Challenges that the Program should address;
        ``(C) provide for interagency coordination of Federal high-
    performance computing research, development, networking, and other 
    activities undertaken pursuant to the Program;''; and

                    (IV) by inserting after subparagraph (D), as 
                redesignated by subclause (II) of this clause, the 
                following:

        ``(E) develop and maintain a research, development, and 
    deployment roadmap covering all States and regions for the 
    provision of high-performance computing and networking systems 
    under paragraph (1)(C); and''; and
                (iv) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated by clause 
            (ii) of this subparagraph--

                    (I) by striking ``paragraph (3)(A)'' and inserting 
                ``paragraph (2)(D)'';
                    (II) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as 
                follows:

        ``(A) provide a detailed description of the Program Component 
    Areas, including a description of any changes in the definition of 
    or activities under the Program Component Areas from the preceding 
    report, and the reasons for such changes, and a description of 
    Grand Challenges addressed under the Program;'';

                    (III) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``specific 
                activities'' and all that follows through ``the 
                Network'' and inserting ``each Program Component 
                Area'';
                    (IV) in subparagraph (D), by inserting ``, and for 
                each Program Component Area,'' after ``participating in 
                the Program'';
                    (V) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``applies;'' 
                and inserting ``applies; and'';
                    (VI) by striking subparagraph (E) and redesignating 
                subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (E); and
                    (VII) in subparagraph (E), as redesignated by 
                subclause (VI), by inserting ``and the extent to which 
                the Program incorporates the recommendations of the 
                advisory committee established under subsection (b)'' 
                after ``for the Program'';

            (C) by striking subsection (b) of section 101 (15 U.S.C. 
        5511) and inserting the following:
    ``(b) Advisory Committee.--(1) The President shall establish an 
advisory committee on high-performance computing, consisting of 
geographically dispersed non-Federal members, including representatives 
of the research, education, and library communities, network and 
related software providers, and industry representatives in the Program 
Component Areas, who are specially qualified to provide the Director 
with advice and information on high-performance computing. The 
recommendations of the advisory committee shall be considered in 
reviewing and revising the Program. The advisory committee shall 
provide the Director with an independent assessment of--
        ``(A) progress made in implementing the Program;
        ``(B) the need to revise the Program;
        ``(C) the balance between the components of the Program, 
    including funding levels for the Program Component Areas;
        ``(D) whether the research and development undertaken pursuant 
    to the Program is helping to maintain United States leadership in 
    high-performance computing, networking technology, and related 
    software; and
        ``(E) other issues identified by the Director.
    ``(2) In addition to the duties outlined in paragraph (1), the 
advisory committee shall conduct periodic evaluations of the funding, 
management, coordination, implementation, and activities of the 
Program. The advisory committee shall report not less frequently than 
once every 2 fiscal years to the Committee on Science and Technology of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate on its findings and recommendations. 
The first report shall be due within 1 year after the date of enactment 
of the America COMPETES Act.
    ``(3) Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act shall not 
apply to the advisory committee established under this subsection.''; 
and
            (D) in section 101(c) (15 U.S.C. 5511(c))--
                (i) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``Program or'' and 
            inserting ``Program Component Areas or''; and
                (ii) in paragraph (2), by striking ``subsection 
            (a)(3)(A)'' and inserting ``subsection (a)(2)(D)''.
        (2) Definitions.--Section 4 of the High-Performance Computing 
    Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5503) is amended--
            (A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``and multidisciplinary 
        teams of researchers'' after ``high-performance computing 
        resources'';
            (B) in paragraph (3)--
                (i) by striking ``scientific workstations,'';
                (ii) by striking ``(including vector supercomputers and 
            large scale parallel systems)'';
                (iii) by striking ``and applications'' and inserting 
            ``applications''; and
                (iv) by inserting ``, and the management of large data 
            sets'' after ``systems software'';
            (C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``packet switched'';
            (D) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (5);
            (E) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (6) and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (F) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(7) `Program Component Areas' means the major subject areas 
    under which related individual projects and activities carried out 
    under the Program are grouped.''.
        (3) Conforming amendment.--Section 1(26) of the Act entitled 
    ``An Act to prevent the elimination of certain reports'', approved 
    November 28, 2001 (31 U.S.C. 3113 note) is amended--
            (A) by striking ``101(a)(3)'' and inserting ``101(a)(2)''; 
        and
            (B) by striking ``(15 U.S.C. 5511(a)(3))'' and inserting 
        ``(15 U.S.C. 5511(a)(2))''.
    (b) Advanced Information and Communications Technology Research.--
        (1) In general.--As part of the Program described in title I of 
    the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511 et 
    seq.), the Foundation shall support basic research related to 
    advanced information and communications technologies that will 
    contribute to enhancing or facilitating the availability and 
    affordability of advanced communications services for all people of 
    the United States. Areas of research to be supported may include 
    research on--
            (A) affordable broadband access, including wireless 
        technologies;
            (B) network security and reliability;
            (C) communications interoperability;
            (D) networking protocols and architectures, including 
        resilience to outages or attacks;
            (E) trusted software;
            (F) privacy;
            (G) nanoelectronics for communications applications;
            (H) low-power communications electronics;
            (I) implementation of equitable access to national advanced 
        fiber optic research and educational networks in noncontiguous 
        States; and
            (J) such other related areas as the Director finds 
        appropriate.
        (2) Centers.--The Director shall award multiyear grants, 
    subject to the availability of appropriations and on a merit-
    reviewed competitive basis, to institutions of higher education, 
    nonprofit research institutions affiliated with institutions of 
    higher education, or consortia of either type of institution to 
    establish multidisciplinary Centers for Communications Research. 
    The purpose of the Centers shall be to generate innovative 
    approaches to problems in information and communications technology 
    research, including the research areas described in paragraph (1). 
    Institutions of higher education, nonprofit research institutions 
    affiliated with institutions of higher education, or consortia 
    receiving such grants may partner with 1 or more government 
    laboratories, for-profit entities, or other institutions of higher 
    education or nonprofit research institutions.
        (3) Funding allocation.--The Director shall increase funding 
    for the basic research activities described in paragraph (1), which 
    shall include support for the Centers described in paragraph (2), 
    in proportion to the increase in the total amount appropriated to 
    the Foundation for research and related activities for the fiscal 
    years 2008 through 2010.
        (4) Report to congress.--The Director shall transmit to 
    Congress, as part of the President's annual budget submission under 
    section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, a report on the 
    amounts allocated for support of research under this subsection for 
    the fiscal year during which such report is submitted and the 
    levels proposed for the fiscal year with respect to which the 
    budget submission applies.

SEC. 7025. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS TALENT 
              EXPANSION PROGRAM.

    (a) Amendments.--Section 8(7) of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 is amended--
        (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``competitive, merit-
    based'' and all that follows through ``in recent years.'' and 
    inserting ``competitive, merit-based multiyear grants for eligible 
    applicants to improve undergraduate education in science, 
    technology, engineering, and mathematics through--
            ``(i) the creation of programs to increase the number of 
        students studying toward and completing associate's or 
        bachelor's degrees in science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics, particularly in fields that have faced declining 
        enrollment in recent years; and
            ``(ii) the creation of not more than 5 centers (in this 
        paragraph referred to as `Centers') to increase the number of 
        students completing undergraduate courses in science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics, including the number 
        of nonmajors, and to improve student academic achievement in 
        those courses, by developing--
                ``(I) undergraduate educational material, including 
            curricula and courses of study;
                ``(II) teaching methods for undergraduate courses; and
                ``(III) methods to improve the professional development 
            of professors and teaching assistants who teach 
            undergraduate courses.
    Grants made under clause (ii) shall be awarded jointly through the 
    Education and Human Resources Directorate and at least 1 research 
    directorate of the Foundation.'';
        (2) by amending subparagraph (B) to read as follows:
        ``(B) In selecting projects under subparagraph (A)(i), the 
    Director shall strive to increase the number of students studying 
    toward and completing associate's or bachelor's degrees, 
    concentrations, or certificates in science, technology, 
    engineering, or mathematics by giving priority to programs that 
    heavily recruit individuals who are--
            ``(i) individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the 
        Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1885a or 1885b); or
            ``(ii) graduates of a public secondary school that--
                ``(I) is among the highest 25 percent of schools served 
            by the local educational agency that serves the school, in 
            terms of the percentage of students from families with 
            incomes below the poverty line, as defined in section 
            673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 
            9902(2)), applicable to a family of the size involved; or
                ``(II) is designated with a school locale code of 41, 
            42, or 43, as determined by the Secretary of Education.'';
        (3) by striking subparagraph (C) and inserting the following:
        ``(C)(i) The types of projects the Foundation may support under 
    subparagraph (A)(i) include those programs that--
            ``(I) promote high quality--
                ``(aa) interdisciplinary teaching;
                ``(bb) undergraduate-conducted research;
                ``(cc) mentor relationships for students, especially 
            underrepresented minority and female science, technology, 
            engineering, and mathematics students;
                ``(dd) bridge programs that enable students at 
            community colleges to matriculate directly into 
            baccalaureate science, technology, engineering, or 
            mathematics programs;
                ``(ee) internships carried out in partnership with 
            industry;
                ``(ff) innovative uses of digital technologies, 
            particularly at institutions of higher education that serve 
            high numbers or percentages of economically disadvantaged 
            students; and
                ``(gg) bridge programs that enable underrepresented 
            minority and female secondary school students to obtain 
            extra science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
            instruction prior to entering an institution of higher 
            education;
            ``(II) finance summer internships for science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics undergraduate students; and
            ``(III) conduct outreach programs that provide secondary 
        school students and their science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics teachers opportunities to increase the students' 
        and teachers' exposure to engineering and technology.
        ``(ii) The types of activities the Foundation may support under 
    subparagraph (A)(ii) include--
            ``(I) creating model curricula and laboratory programs;
            ``(II) developing and demonstrating research-based 
        instructional methods and technologies;
            ``(III) developing methods to train graduate students and 
        faculty to be more effective teachers of undergraduates;
            ``(IV) conducting programs to disseminate curricula, 
        instructional methods, or training methods to faculty at the 
        grantee institutions and at other institutions;
            ``(V) conducting assessments of the effectiveness of the 
        Center at accomplishing the goals described in subparagraph 
        (A)(ii); and
            ``(VI) conducting any other activities the Director 
        determines will accomplish the goals described in subparagraph 
        (A)(ii).'';
        (4) in subparagraph (D)(i), by striking ``under this 
    paragraph'' and inserting ``under subparagraph (A)(i)'';
        (5) in subparagraph (D)(ii), by striking ``under this 
    paragraph'' and inserting ``under subparagraph (A)(i)'';
        (6) after subparagraph (D)(iii), by adding at the end the 
    following:
        ``(iv) A grant under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be awarded for 
    up to 5 years.'';
        (7) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``under this paragraph'' 
    both places it appears and inserting ``under subparagraph (A)(i)'';
        (8) by redesignating subparagraph (F) as subparagraph (J); and
        (9) by inserting after subparagraph (E) the following:
        ``(F) Grants awarded under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be 
    carried out by a department or departments of science, technology, 
    engineering, or mathematics at institutions of higher education (or 
    a consortia thereof), which may partner with the department, 
    college, or school of education at the institution. Applications 
    for awards under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be submitted to the 
    Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
    information as the Director may require. At a minimum, the 
    application shall include--
            ``(i) a description of the activities to be carried out by 
        the Center;
            ``(ii) a plan for disseminating programs related to the 
        activities carried out by the Center to faculty at the grantee 
        institution and at other institutions;
            ``(iii) an estimate of the number of faculty, graduate 
        students (if any), and undergraduate students who will be 
        affected by the activities carried out by the Center; and
            ``(iv) a plan for assessing the effectiveness of the Center 
        at accomplishing the goals described in subparagraph (A)(ii).
        ``(G) In evaluating the applications submitted under 
    subparagraph (F), the Director shall consider, at a minimum--
            ``(i) the ability of the applicant to effectively carry out 
        the proposed activities, including the dissemination activities 
        described in subparagraph (C)(ii)(IV); and
            ``(ii) the extent to which the faculty, staff, and 
        administrators of the applicant institution are committed to 
        improving undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics education.
        ``(H) In awarding grants under subparagraph (A)(ii), the 
    Director shall ensure that a wide variety of science, technology, 
    engineering, and mathematics fields and types of institutions of 
    higher education, including 2-year colleges and minority-serving 
    institutions, are covered, and that--
            ``(i) at least 1 Center is housed at a Doctoral/Research 
        University as defined by the Carnegie Foundation for the 
        Advancement of Teaching; and
            ``(ii) at least 1 Center is focused on improving 
        undergraduate education in an interdisciplinary area.
        ``(I) The Director shall convene an annual meeting of the 
    awardees under this paragraph to foster collaboration and to 
    disseminate the results of the Centers and the other activities 
    funded under this paragraph.''.
    (b) Report on Data Collection.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall transmit to Congress 
a report on how the Director is determining whether current grant 
recipients in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics 
Talent Expansion Program are making satisfactory progress as required 
by section 8(7)(D)(ii) of the National Science Foundation Authorization 
Act of 2002 and what funding actions have been taken as a result of the 
Director's determinations.

SEC. 7026. LABORATORY SCIENCE PILOT PROGRAM.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
        (1) To remain competitive in science and technology in the 
    global economy, the United States must increase the number of 
    students graduating from high school prepared to pursue 
    postsecondary education in science, technology, engineering, and 
    mathematics.
        (2) There is broad agreement in the scientific community that 
    learning science requires direct involvement by students in 
    scientific inquiry and that laboratory experience is so integral to 
    the nature of science that it must be included in every science 
    program for every science student.
        (3) In America's Lab Report, the National Research Council 
    concluded that the current quality of laboratory experiences is 
    poor for most students and that educators and researchers do not 
    agree on how to define high school science laboratories or on their 
    purpose, hampering the accumulation of research on how to improve 
    laboratories.
        (4) The National Research Council found that schools with 
    higher concentrations of non-Asian minorities and schools with 
    higher concentrations of poor students are less likely to have 
    adequate laboratory facilities than other schools.
        (5) The Government Accountability Office reported that 49.1 
    percent of schools where the minority student population is greater 
    than 50.5 percent reported not meeting functional requirements for 
    laboratory science well or at all.
        (6) 40 percent of those college students who left the science 
    fields reported some problems related to high school science 
    preparation, including lack of laboratory experience and no 
    introduction to theoretical or to analytical modes of thought.
        (7) It is in the national interest for the Federal Government 
    to invest in research and demonstration projects to improve the 
    teaching of laboratory science in the Nation's high schools.
    (b) Grant Program.--Section 8(8) of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2002 is amended--
        (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (F) as clauses 
    (i) through (vi), respectively;
        (2) by inserting ``(A)'' before ``A program of competitive''; 
    and
        (3) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(B) In accordance with subparagraph (A)(v), the Director 
    shall establish a research pilot program designated as 
    `Partnerships for Access to Laboratory Science' to award grants to 
    partnerships to improve laboratories and provide instrumentation as 
    part of a comprehensive program to enhance the quality of science, 
    technology, engineering, and mathematics instruction at the 
    secondary school level. Grants under this subparagraph may be used 
    for--
            ``(i) professional development and training for teachers 
        aligned with activities supported under section 2123 of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        6623);
            ``(ii) purchase, rental, or leasing of equipment, 
        instrumentation, and other scientific educational materials;
            ``(iii) development of instructional programs designed to 
        integrate the laboratory experience with classroom instruction 
        and to be consistent with State mathematics and science and, to 
        the extent applicable, technology and engineering, academic 
        achievement standards;
            ``(iv) training in laboratory safety for school personnel;
            ``(v) design and implementation of hands-on laboratory 
        experiences to encourage the interest of individuals identified 
        in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
        Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) in science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics and help prepare such 
        individuals to pursue postsecondary studies in these fields; 
        and
            ``(vi) assessment of the activities funded under this 
        subparagraph.
        ``(C) Grants may be made under subparagraph (B) only to a 
    partnership--
            ``(i) for a project that includes significant teacher 
        preparation and professional development components; or
            ``(ii) that establishes that appropriate teacher 
        preparation and professional development is being addressed, or 
        has been addressed, through other means.
        ``(D) Grants awarded under subparagraph (B) shall be to a 
    partnership that--
            ``(i) includes a 2-year or 4-year degree granting 
        institution of higher education;
            ``(ii) includes a high need local educational agency (as 
        defined in section 201 of the Higher Education Act of 1965);
            ``(iii) includes a business or eligible nonprofit 
        organization; and
            ``(iv) may include a State educational agency, other public 
        agency, National Laboratory, or community-based organization.
        ``(E) The Federal share of the cost of activities carried out 
    using amounts from a grant under subparagraph (B) shall not exceed 
    40 percent.
        ``(F) The Director shall require grant recipients under 
    subparagraph (B) to submit a report to the Director on the results 
    of the project supported by the grant.''.
    (c) Report.--The Director shall evaluate the effectiveness of 
activities carried out under the research pilot projects funded by the 
grant program established pursuant to the amendment made by subsection 
(b) in improving student achievement in science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics. A report documenting the results of that 
evaluation shall be submitted to the Committee on Science and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate not later than 5 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act. The report shall identify best 
practices and materials developed and demonstrated by grant awardees.
    (d) Sunset.--The provisions of this section shall cease to have 
force or effect on the last day of fiscal year 2010.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--From the amounts authorized 
under subsections (a)(2)(B), (b)(2)(B), and (c)(2)(B) of section 7002, 
there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section and 
the amendments made by this section $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, 
and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 2 succeeding fiscal 
years.

SEC. 7027. STUDY ON LABORATORY EQUIPMENT DONATIONS FOR SCHOOLS.

    Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Director shall transmit a report to Congress examining the extent to 
which institutions of higher education and entities in the private 
sector are donating used laboratory equipment to elementary schools and 
secondary schools. The Director, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Education, shall survey institutions of higher education and entities 
in the private sector to determine--
        (1) how often, how much, and what type of equipment is donated;
        (2) what criteria or guidelines the institutions and entities 
    are using to determine what types of equipment can be donated, what 
    condition the equipment should be in, and which schools receive the 
    equipment;
        (3) whether the institutions and entities provide any support 
    to, or follow-up with the schools; and
        (4) how appropriate donations can be encouraged.

SEC. 7028. MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS AMENDMENTS.

    Section 9 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 
2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)(2)(A), by striking ``a State educational 
    agency'' and inserting ``the department, college, or program of 
    education at an institution of higher education, a State 
    educational agency,'';
        (2) by striking subparagraph (B) of subsection (a)(3) and 
    inserting the following:
            ``(B) offering professional development programs, 
        including--
                ``(i) teacher institutes for the 21st century, as 
            described in paragraph (10); and
                ``(ii) academic year institutes or workshops that--

                    ``(I) are designed to strengthen the capabilities 
                of mathematics and science teachers; and
                    ``(II) may include professional development 
                activities to prepare mathematics and science teachers 
                to teach challenging mathematics, science, and 
                technology college-preparatory courses;'';

        (3) in subsection (a)(3)(C)--
            (A) by inserting ``and laboratory experiences'' after 
        ``technology''; and
            (B) by inserting ``and laboratory'' after ``provide 
        technical'';
        (4) in subsection (a)(3)(I), by inserting ``including the use 
    of induction programs, as defined in section 6113(h) of the America 
    COMPETES Act, for teachers in their first 2 years of teaching,'' 
    after ``and science,'';
        (5) by striking subparagraph (K) of section (a)(3) and 
    inserting the following:
            ``(K) developing science, technology, engineering, and 
        mathematics educational programs and materials and conducting 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics enrichment 
        programs for students, including after-school programs and 
        summer programs, with an emphasis on including and serving 
        students described in subsection (b)(2)(G);'';
        (6) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following:
        ``(8) Mentors for teachers and students of challenging 
    courses.--Partnerships carrying out activities to prepare 
    mathematics and science teachers to teach challenging mathematics, 
    science, and technology college-preparatory courses in accordance 
    with paragraph (3)(B) shall encourage companies employing 
    scientists, technologists, engineers, or mathematicians to provide 
    mentors to teachers and students and provide for the coordination 
    of such mentoring activities.
        ``(9) Innovation.--Activities carried out in accordance with 
    paragraph (3)(H) may include the development and dissemination of 
    curriculum tools that will help foster inventiveness and 
    innovation.'';
        (7) in subsection (b)(2)--
            (A) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as 
        subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
            (B) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following:
            ``(E) the extent to which the evaluation described in 
        paragraph (1)(E) will be independent and based on objective 
        measures;'';
        (8) by striking paragraph (2) of subsection (c) and inserting 
    the following:
        ``(2) Report on evaluations.--Not later than 4 years after the 
    date of enactment of the America COMPETES Act, the Director shall 
    transmit a report summarizing the evaluations required under 
    subsection (b)(1)(E) of grants received under this program and 
    describing any changes to the program recommended as a result of 
    these evaluations to the Committee on Science and Technology and 
    the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
    Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
    Transportation and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
    Pensions of the Senate. Such report shall be made widely available 
    to the public.''; and
        (9) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this section--
        ``(1) the term `mathematics and science teacher' means a 
    science, technology, engineering, or mathematics teacher at the 
    elementary school or secondary school level; and
        ``(2) the term `science', in the context of elementary and 
    secondary education, includes technology and pre-engineering.''.

SEC. 7029. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION TEACHER INSTITUTES FOR THE 21ST 
              CENTURY.

    Section 9(a) of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act 
of 2002 (as amended by section 7028) (42 U.S.C. 1862n(a)) is further 
amended by adding at the end the following:
        ``(10) Teacher institutes for the 21st century.--
            ``(A) In general.--Teacher institutes for the 21st century 
        carried out in accordance with paragraph (3)(B) shall--
                ``(i) be carried out in conjunction with a school 
            served by the local educational agency in the partnership;
                ``(ii) be science, technology, engineering, and 
            mathematics focused institutes that provide professional 
            development to elementary school and secondary school 
            teachers;
                ``(iii) serve teachers who--

                    ``(I) are considered highly qualified (as defined 
                in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965);
                    ``(II) teach high-need subjects in science, 
                technology, engineering, or mathematics; and
                    ``(III) teach in high-need schools (as described in 
                section 1114(a)(1) of the Elementary and Secondary 
                Education Act of 1965);

                ``(iv) focus on the priorities developed by the 
            Director in consultation with a broad group of relevant 
            educational organizations;
                ``(v) be content-based and build on school year 
            curricula that are experiment-oriented, content-based, and 
            grounded in current research;
                ``(vi) ensure that the pedagogy component is designed 
            around specific strategies that are relevant to teaching 
            the subject and content on which teachers are being 
            trained, which may include training teachers in the 
            essential components of reading instruction for adolescents 
            in order to improve student reading skills within the 
            subject areas of science, technology, engineering, and 
            mathematics;
                ``(vii) be a multiyear program that is conducted for a 
            period of not less than 2 weeks per year;
                ``(viii) provide for direct interaction between 
            participants in and faculty of the teacher institute;
                ``(ix) have a component that includes the use of the 
            Internet;
                ``(x) provide for followup training in the classroom 
            during the academic year for a period of not less than 3 
            days, which may or may not be consecutive, for participants 
            in the teacher institute, except that for teachers in rural 
            local educational agencies, the followup training may be 
            provided through the Internet;
                ``(xi) provide teachers participating in the teacher 
            institute with travel expense reimbursement and classroom 
            materials related to the teacher institute, and may include 
            providing stipends as necessary; and
                ``(xii) establish a mechanism to provide supplemental 
            support during the academic year for teacher institute 
            participants to apply the knowledge and skills gained at 
            the teacher institute.
            ``(B) Optional members of the partnership.--In addition to 
        the partnership requirement under paragraph (2), an institution 
        of higher education or eligible nonprofit organization (or 
        consortium) desiring a grant for a teacher institute for the 
        21st century may also partner with a teacher organization, 
        museum, or educational partnership organization.''.

SEC. 7030. ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

    Section 10 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 
2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-1) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 10. ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Scholarship Program.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Director shall carry out a program to 
    award grants to eligible entities to recruit and train mathematics 
    and science teachers and to provide scholarships and stipends to 
    individuals participating in the program. Such program shall be 
    known as the `Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program'.
        ``(2) Merit review.--Grants shall be provided under this 
    section on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
        ``(3) Use of grants.--A grant provided under this section shall 
    be used by the eligible entity--
            ``(A) to develop and implement a program to recruit and 
        prepare undergraduate students majoring in science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics at the eligible entity (and 
        participating institutions of higher education of the 
        consortium, if applicable) to become qualified as mathematics 
        and science teachers, through--
                ``(i) administering scholarships in accordance with 
            subsection (c);
                ``(ii) offering academic courses and early clinical 
            teaching experiences designed to prepare students 
            participating in the program to teach in elementary schools 
            and secondary schools, including such preparation as is 
            necessary to meet requirements for teacher certification or 
            licensing;
                ``(iii) offering programs to students participating in 
            the program, both before and after the students receive 
            their baccalaureate degree, to enable the students to 
            become better mathematics and science teachers, to fulfill 
            the service requirements of this section, and to exchange 
            ideas with others in the students' fields; and
                ``(iv) providing summer internships for freshman and 
            sophomore students participating in the program; or
            ``(B) to develop and implement a program to recruit and 
        prepare science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 
        professionals to become qualified as mathematics and science 
        teachers, through--
                ``(i) administering stipends in accordance with 
            subsection (d);
                ``(ii) offering academic courses and clinical teaching 
            experiences designed to prepare stipend recipients to teach 
            in elementary schools and secondary schools served by a 
            high need local educational agency, including such 
            preparation as is necessary to meet requirements for 
            teacher certification or licensing; and
                ``(iii) offering programs to stipend recipients, both 
            during and after matriculation in the program for which the 
            stipend is received, to enable recipients to become better 
            mathematics and science teachers, to fulfill the service 
            requirements of this section, and to exchange ideas with 
            others in the students' fields.
        ``(4) Eligibility requirement.--
            ``(A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
        this section, an eligible entity shall ensure that specific 
        faculty members and staff from the science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics departments and specific education 
        faculty of the eligible entity (and participating institutions 
        of higher education of the consortium, if applicable) are 
        designated to carry out the development and implementation of 
        the program.
            ``(B) Inclusion of master teachers.--An eligible entity 
        (and participating institutions of higher education of the 
        consortium, if applicable) receiving a grant under this section 
        may also include master teachers in the development of the 
        pedagogical content of the program and in the supervision of 
        students participating in the program in their clinical 
        teaching experiences.
            ``(C) Active participants.--No eligible entity (or 
        participating institution of higher education of the 
        consortium, if applicable) shall be eligible for a grant under 
        this section unless faculty from the science, technology, 
        engineering, and mathematics departments of the eligible entity 
        (and participating institutions of higher education of the 
        consortium, if applicable) are active participants in the 
        program.
        ``(5) Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the 
    Director shall ensure that the eligible entities (and participating 
    institutions of higher education of the consortia, if applicable) 
    represent a variety of types of institutions of higher education. 
    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--
            ``(A) 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
            ``(B) minority institutions, as defined in section 365(3) 
        of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3)).
        ``(6) Supplement not supplant.--Grant funds provided under this 
    section shall be used to supplement, and not supplant, other 
    Federal or State funds available for the type of activities 
    supported by the grant.
    ``(b) Selection Process.--
        ``(1) Application.--An eligible entity seeking funding under 
    this section shall submit an application to the Director at such 
    time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
    Director may require. The application shall include, at a minimum--
            ``(A) in the case of an applicant that is submitting an 
        application on behalf of a consortium of institutions of higher 
        education, a description of the participating institutions of 
        higher education and the roles and responsibilities of each 
        such institution;
            ``(B) a description of the program that the applicant 
        intends to operate, including the number of scholarships and 
        summer internships or the size and number of stipends the 
        applicant intends to award, the type of activities proposed for 
        the recruitment of students to the program, and the selection 
        process that will be used in awarding the scholarships or 
        stipends;
            ``(C) evidence that the applicant has the capability to 
        administer the program in accordance with the provisions of 
        this section, which may include a description of any existing 
        programs at the applicant eligible entity (and participating 
        institutions of higher education of the consortium, if 
        applicable) that are targeted to the education of mathematics 
        and science teachers and the number of teachers graduated 
        annually from such programs;
            ``(D) a description of the academic courses and clinical 
        teaching experiences required under subparagraphs (A)(ii) and 
        (B)(ii) of subsection (a)(3), as applicable, including--
                ``(i) a description of the undergraduate program that 
            will enable a student to graduate within 5 years with a 
            major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 
            and to obtain teacher certification or licensing;
                ``(ii) a description of the clinical teaching 
            experiences proposed; and
                ``(iii) evidence of agreements between the applicant 
            and the schools or local educational agencies that are 
            identified as the locations at which clinical teaching 
            experiences will occur;
            ``(E) a description of the programs required under 
        subparagraphs (A)(iii) and (B)(iii) of subsection (a)(3), 
        including activities to assist new teachers in fulfilling the 
        teachers' service requirements under this section;
            ``(F) an identification of the applicant eligible entity's 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics faculty and 
        its education faculty (and such faculty of participating 
        institutions of higher education of the consortium, if 
        applicable) who will carry out the development and 
        implementation of the program as required under subsection 
        (a)(4); and
            ``(G) a description of the process the applicant will use 
        to fulfill the requirements of subsection (f).
        ``(2) Review of applications.--In evaluating the applications 
    submitted under paragraph (1), the Director shall consider, at a 
    minimum--
            ``(A) the ability of the applicant (and the participating 
        institutions of higher education of the consortium, if 
        applicable) to effectively carry out the program;
            ``(B) the extent to which the applicant's science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics faculty and its 
        education faculty (and such faculty of participating 
        institutions of higher education of the consortium, if 
        applicable) have worked or will work collaboratively to design 
        new or revised curricula that recognize the specialized 
        pedagogy required to teach science, technology, engineering, 
        and mathematics effectively in elementary schools and secondary 
        schools;
            ``(C) the extent to which the applicant (and the 
        participating institutions of higher education of the 
        consortium, if applicable) is committed to making the program a 
        central organizational focus;
            ``(D) the degree to which the proposed programming will 
        enable scholarship or stipend recipients to become successful 
        mathematics and science teachers;
            ``(E) the number and academic qualifications of the 
        students who will be served by the program; and
            ``(F) the ability of the applicant (and the participating 
        institutions of higher education of the consortium, if 
        applicable) to recruit students who would otherwise not pursue 
        a career in teaching in elementary schools or secondary schools 
        and students who are individuals identified in section 33 or 34 
        of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 
        U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
    ``(c) Scholarship Requirements.--
        ``(1) In general.--Scholarships under this section shall be 
    available only to students who--
            ``(A) are majoring in science, technology, engineering, or 
        mathematics; and
            ``(B) have attained at least junior status in a 
        baccalaureate degree program.
        ``(2) Selection.--Individuals shall be selected to receive 
    scholarships primarily on the basis of academic merit, with 
    consideration given to financial need and to the goal of promoting 
    the participation of individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of 
    the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 
    1885a or 1885b).
        ``(3) Amount.--The Director shall establish for each year the 
    amount to be awarded for scholarships under this section for that 
    year, which shall be not less than $10,000 per year, except that no 
    individual shall receive for any year more than the cost of 
    attendance at that individual's institution. Full-time students may 
    receive annual scholarships through the completion of a 
    baccalaureate degree program, not to exceed a maximum of 3 years. 
    Part-time students may receive scholarships that are prorated 
    according to such students' enrollment status, not to exceed 6 
    years of scholarship support.
        ``(4) Service obligation.--If an individual receives a 
    scholarship under this section, such individual shall be required 
    to complete, within 8 years after graduation from the baccalaureate 
    degree program for which the scholarship was awarded, 2 years of 
    service as a mathematics or science teacher for each full 
    scholarship award received, with a maximum service requirement of 6 
    years. Service required under this paragraph shall be performed in 
    a high need local educational agency.
    ``(d) Stipends.--
        ``(1) In general.--Stipends under this section shall be 
    available only to science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 
    professionals who, while receiving the stipend, are enrolled in a 
    program established under subsection (a)(3)(B).
        ``(2) Selection.--Individuals shall be selected to receive 
    stipends under this section primarily on the basis of academic 
    merit and professional achievement, with consideration given to 
    financial need and to the goal of promoting the participation of 
    individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and 
    Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b).
        ``(3) Amount and duration.--Stipends under this section shall 
    be not less than $10,000 per year, except that no individual shall 
    receive for any year more than the cost of attendance at such 
    individual's institution. Individuals may receive a maximum of 1 
    year of stipend support, except that if an individual is enrolled 
    in a part-time program, such amount shall be prorated according to 
    the length of the program.
        ``(4) Service obligation.--If an individual receives a stipend 
    under this section, such individual shall be required to complete, 
    within 4 years after graduation from the program for which the 
    stipend was awarded, 2 years of service as a mathematics or science 
    teacher. Service required under this paragraph shall be performed 
    in a high need local educational agency.
    ``(e) Conditions of Support.--As a condition of acceptance of a 
scholarship or stipend under this section, a recipient of a scholarship 
or stipend shall enter into an agreement with the eligible entity--
        ``(1) accepting the terms of the scholarship or stipend 
    pursuant to subsection (c) or subsection (d);
        ``(2) agreeing to provide the eligible entity with annual 
    certification of employment and up-to-date contact information and 
    to participate in surveys conducted by the eligible entity as part 
    of an ongoing assessment program; and
        ``(3) establishing that if the service obligation required 
    under this section is not completed, all or a portion of the 
    scholarship or stipend received under this section shall be repaid 
    in accordance with subsection (g).
    ``(f) Collection for Noncompliance.--
        ``(1) Monitoring compliance.--An eligible entity receiving a 
    grant under this section shall, as a condition of participating in 
    the program, enter into an agreement with the Director to monitor 
    the compliance of scholarship or stipend recipients with their 
    respective service requirements.
        ``(2) Collection of repayment.--
            ``(A) In general.--In the event that a scholarship or 
        stipend recipient is required to repay the scholarship or 
        stipend under subsection (g), the eligible entity shall--
                ``(i) be responsible for determining the repayment 
            amounts and for notifying the recipient and the Director of 
            the amount owed; and
                ``(ii) collect such repayment amount within a period of 
            time as determined under the agreement described in 
            paragraph (1), or the repayment amount shall be treated as 
            a loan in accordance with subparagraph (C).
            ``(B) Returned to treasury.--Except as provided in 
        subparagraph (C), any such repayment shall be returned to the 
        Treasury of the United States.
            ``(C) Retain percentage.--An eligible entity may retain a 
        percentage of any repayment the eligible entity collects to 
        defray administrative costs associated with the collection. The 
        Director shall establish a single, fixed percentage that will 
        apply to all eligible entities.
    ``(g) Failure to Complete Service Obligation.--
        ``(1) General rule.--If an individual who has received a 
    scholarship or stipend under this section--
            ``(A) fails to maintain an acceptable level of academic 
        standing in the educational institution in which the individual 
        is enrolled, as determined by the Director;
            ``(B) is dismissed from such educational institution for 
        disciplinary reasons;
            ``(C) withdraws from the program for which the award was 
        made before the completion of such program;
            ``(D) declares that the individual does not intend to 
        fulfill the service obligation under this section; or
            ``(E) fails to fulfill the service obligation of the 
        individual under this section,
    such individual shall be liable to the United States as provided in 
    paragraph (2).
        ``(2) Amount of repayment.--
            ``(A) Less than one year of service.--If a circumstance 
        described in paragraph (1) occurs before the completion of 1 
        year of a service obligation under this section, the total 
        amount of awards received by the individual under this section 
        shall be repaid or such amount shall be treated as a loan to be 
        repaid in accordance with subparagraph (C).
            ``(B) More than one year of service.--If a circumstance 
        described in subparagraph (D) or (E) of paragraph (1) occurs 
        after the completion of 1 year of a service obligation under 
        this section--
                ``(i) for a scholarship recipient, the total amount of 
            scholarship awards received by the individual under this 
            section, reduced by the ratio of the number of years of 
            service completed divided by the number of years of service 
            required, shall be repaid or such amount shall be treated 
            as a loan to be repaid in accordance with subparagraph (C); 
            and
                ``(ii) for a stipend recipient, one-half of the total 
            amount of stipends received by the individual under this 
            section shall be repaid or such amount shall be treated as 
            a loan to be repaid in accordance with subparagraph (C).
            ``(C) Repayments.--The loans described under subparagraphs 
        (A) and (B) shall be payable to the Federal Government, 
        consistent with the provisions of part B or D of title IV of 
        the Higher Education Act of 1965, and shall be subject to 
        repayment in accordance with terms and conditions specified by 
        the Director (in consultation with the Secretary of Education) 
        in regulations promulgated to carry out this paragraph.
        ``(3) Exceptions.--The Director may provide for the partial or 
    total waiver or suspension of any service or payment obligation by 
    an individual under this section whenever compliance by the 
    individual with the obligation is impossible or would involve 
    extreme hardship to the individual, or if enforcement of such 
    obligation with respect to the individual would be unconscionable.
    ``(h) Data Collection.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under 
this section shall supply to the Director any relevant statistical and 
demographic data on scholarship and stipend recipients the Director may 
request, including information on employment required under this 
section.
    ``(i) Definitions.--In this section--
        ``(1) the term `cost of attendance' has the meaning given such 
    term in section 472 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
    1087ll);
        ``(2) the term `eligible entity' means--
            ``(A) an institution of higher education; or
            ``(B) an institution of higher education that receives 
        grant funds on behalf of a consortium of institutions of higher 
        education;
        ``(3) the term `fellowship' means an award to an individual 
    under section 10A;
        ``(4) the term `high need local educational agency' has the 
    meaning given such term in section 201 of the Higher Education Act 
    of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021);
        ``(5) the term `mathematics and science teacher' means a 
    science, technology, engineering, or mathematics teacher at the 
    elementary school or secondary school level;
        ``(6) the term `scholarship' means an award under subsection 
    (c);
        ``(7) the term `science, technology, engineering, or 
    mathematics professional' means a person who holds a baccalaureate, 
    master's, or doctoral degree in science, technology, engineering, 
    or mathematics, and is working in or had a career in such field or 
    a related area; and
        ``(8) the term `stipend' means an award under subsection (d).
    ``(j) Mathematics and Science Scholarship Gift Fund.--In accordance 
with section 11(f) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 
U.S.C. 1870(f)), the Director is authorized to accept donations from 
the private sector to supplement but not supplant scholarships, 
stipends, internships, or fellowships associated with programs under 
this section or section 10A.
    ``(k) Assessment of Teacher Service and Retention.--Not later than 
4 years after the date of enactment of the America COMPETES Act, the 
Director shall transmit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology 
of the House of Representatives a report on the effectiveness of the 
programs carried out under this section and section 10A. The report 
shall include the proportion of individuals receiving scholarships, 
stipends, or fellowships under the program who--
        ``(1) fulfill the individuals' service obligation required 
    under this section or section 10A;
        ``(2) remain in the teaching profession beyond the individuals' 
    service obligation; and
        ``(3) remain in the teaching profession in a high need local 
    educational agency beyond the individuals' service obligation.
    ``(l) Evaluation.--Not less than 2 years after the date of 
enactment of the America COMPETES Act, the Director, in consultation 
with the Secretary of Education, shall conduct an evaluation to 
determine whether the scholarships, stipends, and fellowships 
authorized under this section and section 10A have been effective in 
increasing the numbers of high-quality mathematics and science teachers 
teaching in high need local educational agencies and whether there 
continue to exist significant shortages of such teachers in high need 
local educational agencies.

``SEC. 10A. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION TEACHING FELLOWSHIPS AND MASTER 
              TEACHING FELLOWSHIPS.

    ``(a) In General.--
        ``(1) Grants.--
            ``(A) In general.--As part of the Robert Noyce Teacher 
        Scholarship Program established under section 10, the Director 
        shall establish a separate program to award grants to eligible 
        entities to enable such entities to administer fellowships in 
        accordance with this section.
            ``(B) Definitions.--The terms used in this section have the 
        meanings given the terms in section 10.
        ``(2) Fellowships.--Fellowships under this section shall be 
    available only to--
            ``(A) science, technology, engineering, or mathematics 
        professionals, who shall be referred to as `National Science 
        Foundation Teaching Fellows' and who, in the first year of the 
        fellowship, are enrolled in a master's degree program leading 
        to teacher certification or licensing; and
            ``(B) mathematics and science teachers, who shall be 
        referred to as `National Science Foundation Master Teaching 
        Fellows' and who possess a master's degree in their field.
    ``(b) Eligibility.--In order to be eligible to receive a grant 
under this section, an eligible entity shall enter into a partnership 
that shall include--
        ``(1) a department within an institution of higher education 
    participating in the partnership that provides an advanced program 
    of study in mathematics and science;
        ``(2)(A) a school or department within an institution of higher 
    education participating in the partnership that provides a teacher 
    preparation program; or
        ``(B) a 2-year institution of higher education that has a 
    teacher preparation offering or a dual enrollment program with an 
    institution of higher education participating in the partnership;
        ``(3) not less than 1 high need local educational agency and a 
    public school or a consortium of public schools served by the 
    agency; and
        ``(4) 1 or more nonprofit organizations that have a 
    demonstrated record of capacity to provide expertise or support to 
    meet the purposes of this section.
    ``(c) Use of Grants.--Grants awarded under this section shall be 
used by the eligible entity (and participating institutions of higher 
education of the consortium, if applicable) to develop and implement a 
program for National Science Foundation Teaching Fellows or National 
Science Foundation Master Teaching Fellows, through--
        ``(1) administering fellowships in accordance with this 
    section, including providing the teaching fellowship salary 
    supplements described in subsection (f);
        ``(2) in the case of National Science Foundation Teaching 
    Fellowships--
            ``(A) offering academic courses and clinical teaching 
        experiences leading to a master's degree and designed to 
        prepare individuals to teach in elementary schools and 
        secondary schools, including such preparation as is necessary 
        to meet the requirements for certification or licensing; and
            ``(B) offering programs both during and after matriculation 
        in the program for which the fellowship is received to enable 
        fellows to become highly effective mathematics and science 
        teachers, including mentoring, training, induction, and 
        professional development activities, to fulfill the service 
        requirements of this section, including the requirements of 
        subsection (e), and to exchange ideas with others in their 
        fields; and
        ``(3) in the case of National Science Foundation Master 
    Teaching Fellowships--
            ``(A) offering academic courses and leadership training to 
        prepare individuals to become master teachers in elementary 
        schools and secondary schools; and
            ``(B) offering programs both during and after matriculation 
        in the program for which the fellowship is received to enable 
        fellows to become highly effective mathematics and science 
        teachers, including mentoring, training, induction, and 
        professional development activities, to fulfill the service 
        requirements of this section, including the requirements of 
        subsection (e), and to exchange ideas with others in their 
        fields.
    ``(d) Selection Process.--
        ``(1) Merit review.--Grants shall be awarded under this section 
    on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
        ``(2) Applications.--An eligible entity desiring a grant under 
    this section shall submit an application to the Director at such 
    time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
    Director may require. The application shall include, at a minimum--
            ``(A) in the case of an applicant that is submitting an 
        application on behalf of a consortium of institutions of higher 
        education, a description of the participating institutions of 
        higher education and the roles and responsibilities of each 
        such institution;
            ``(B) a description of the program that the applicant 
        intends to operate, including the number of fellowships the 
        applicant intends to award, the type of activities proposed for 
        the recruitment of students to the program, and the amount of 
        the teaching fellowship salary supplements to be provided in 
        accordance with subsection (f);
            ``(C) evidence that the applicant has the capability to 
        administer the program in accordance with the provisions of 
        this section, which may include a description of any existing 
        programs at the applicant eligible entity (and participating 
        institutions of higher education of the consortium, if 
        applicable) that are targeted to the education of mathematics 
        and science teachers and the number of teachers graduated 
        annually from such programs;
            ``(D) in the case of National Science Foundation Teaching 
        Fellowships, a description of--
                ``(i) the selection process that will be used in 
            awarding fellowships, including a description of the 
            rigorous measures to be used, including the rigorous, 
            nationally recognized assessments to be used, in order to 
            determine whether individuals applying for fellowships have 
            advanced content knowledge of science, technology, 
            engineering, or mathematics;
                ``(ii) the academic courses and clinical teaching 
            experiences described in subsection (c)(2)(A), including--

                    ``(I) a description of an educational program that 
                will enable a student to obtain a master's degree and 
                teacher certification or licensing within 1 year; and
                    ``(II) evidence of agreements between the applicant 
                and the schools or local educational agencies that are 
                identified as the locations at which clinical teaching 
                experiences will occur;

                ``(iii) a description of the programs described in 
            subsection (c)(2)(B), including activities to assist 
            individuals in fulfilling their service requirements under 
            this section;
            ``(E) evidence that the eligible entity will provide the 
        teaching supplements required under subsection (f); and
            ``(F) a description of the process the applicant will use 
        to fulfill the requirements of section 10(f).
        ``(3) Criteria.--In evaluating the applications submitted under 
    paragraph (2), the Director shall consider, at a minimum--
            ``(A) the ability of the applicant (and participating 
        institutions of higher education of the consortium, if 
        applicable) to effectively carry out the program and to meet 
        the requirements of subsection (f);
            ``(B) the extent to which the mathematics, science, or 
        engineering faculty and the education faculty at the eligible 
        entity (and participating institutions of higher education of 
        the consortium, if applicable) have worked or will work 
        collaboratively to design new or revised curricula that 
        recognizes the specialized pedagogy required to teach science, 
        technology, engineering, and mathematics effectively in 
        elementary schools and secondary schools;
            ``(C) the extent to which the applicant (and participating 
        institutions of higher education of the consortium, if 
        applicable) is committed to making the program a central 
        organizational focus;
            ``(D) the degree to which the proposed programming will 
        enable participants to become highly effective mathematics and 
        science teachers and prepare such participants to assume 
        leadership roles in their schools, in addition to their regular 
        classroom duties, including serving as mentor or master 
        teachers, developing curriculum, and assisting in the 
        development and implementation of professional development 
        activities;
            ``(E) the number and quality of the individuals that will 
        be served by the program; and
            ``(F) in the case of the National Science Foundation 
        Teaching Fellowship, the ability of the applicant (and 
        participating institutions of higher education of the 
        consortium, if applicable) to recruit individuals who would 
        otherwise not pursue a career in teaching and individuals 
        identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering 
        Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1855a or 1855b).
        ``(4) Selection of fellows.--
            ``(A) In general.--Individuals shall be selected to receive 
        fellowships under this section primarily on the basis of--
                ``(i) professional achievement;
                ``(ii) academic merit;
                ``(iii) content knowledge of science, technology, 
            engineering, or mathematics, as demonstrated by their 
            performance on an assessment in accordance with paragraph 
            (2)(D)(i); and
                ``(iv) in the case of National Science Foundation 
            Master Teaching Fellows, demonstrated success in improving 
            student academic achievement in science, technology, 
            engineering, or mathematics.
            ``(B) Promoting participation of certain individuals.--
        Among individuals demonstrating equivalent qualifications, 
        consideration may be given to the goal of promoting the 
        participation of individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of 
        the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1885a or 1885b).
    ``(e) Duties of National Science Foundation Teaching Fellows and 
Master Teaching Fellows.--A National Science Foundation Teaching Fellow 
or a National Science Foundation Master Teaching Fellow, while 
fulfilling the service obligation under subsection (g) and in addition 
to regular classroom activities, shall take on a leadership role within 
the school or local educational agency in which the fellow is employed, 
as defined by the partnership according to such fellow's expertise, 
including serving as a mentor or master teacher, developing curricula, 
and assisting in the development and implementation of professional 
development activities.
    ``(f) Teaching Fellowship Salary Supplements.--
        ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under 
    this section shall provide salary supplements to individuals who 
    participate in the program under this section during the period of 
    their service obligation under subsection (g). A local educational 
    agency through which the service obligation is fulfilled shall 
    agree not to reduce the base salary normally paid to an individual 
    solely because such individual receives a salary supplement under 
    this subsection.
        ``(2) Amount and duration.--
            ``(A) Amount.--Salary supplements provided under paragraph 
        (1) shall be not less than $10,000 per year, except that, in 
        the case of a National Science Foundation Teaching Fellow, 
        while enrolled in the master's degree program as described in 
        subsection (c)(2)(A), such fellow shall receive not more than 
        the cost of attendance at such fellow's institution.
            ``(B) Support while enrolled in master's degree program.--A 
        National Science Foundation Teaching Fellow may receive a 
        maximum of 1 year of fellowship support while enrolled in a 
        master's degree program as described in subsection (c)(2)(A), 
        except that if such fellow is enrolled in a part-time program, 
        such amount shall be prorated according to the length of the 
        program.
            ``(C) Duration of support.--An eligible entity receiving a 
        grant under this section shall provide teaching fellowship 
        salary supplements through the period of the fellow's service 
        obligation under subsection (g).
    ``(g) Service Obligation.--An individual awarded a fellowship under 
this section shall serve as a mathematics or science teacher in an 
elementary school or secondary school served by a high need local 
educational agency for--
        ``(1) in the case of a National Science Foundation Teaching 
    Fellow, 4 years, to be fulfilled within 6 years of completing the 
    master's program described in subsection (c)(2)(A); and
        ``(2) in the case of a National Science Foundation Master 
    Teaching Fellow, 5 years, to be fulfilled within 7 years of the 
    start of participation in the program under subsection (c)(3).
    ``(h) Matching Requirement.--
        ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity receiving a grant under 
    this section shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount 
    equal to 50 percent of the amount of the grant (which may be 
    provided in cash or in-kind) to carry out the activities supported 
    by the grant.
        ``(2) Waiver.--The Director may waive all or part of the 
    matching requirement described in paragraph (1) for any fiscal year 
    for an eligible entity receiving a grant under this section, if the 
    Director determines that applying the matching requirement would 
    result in serious hardship or inability to carry out the authorized 
    activities described in this section.
    ``(i) Conditions of Support; Collection for Noncompliance; Failure 
to Complete Service Obligation; Data Collection.--
        ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), 
    subsections (e), (f), (g), and (h) of section 10 shall apply to 
    eligible entities and recipients of fellowships under this section, 
    as applicable, in the same manner as such subsections apply to 
    eligible entities and recipients of scholarships and stipends under 
    section 10, as applicable.
        ``(2) Amount of repayment.--If a circumstance described in 
    subparagraph (D) or (E) of section 10(g)(1) occurs after the 
    completion of 1 year of a service obligation under this section--
            ``(A) for a National Science Foundation Teaching Fellow, 
        the total amount of fellowship award received by the individual 
        under this section while enrolled in the master's degree 
        program, reduced by one-fourth of the total amount for each 
        year of service completed, plus one-half of the total teaching 
        fellowship salary supplements received by such individual under 
        this section, shall be repaid or such amount shall be treated 
        as a loan to be repaid in accordance with section 10(g)(1)(C); 
        and
            ``(B) for a National Science Foundation Master Teaching 
        Fellow, the total amount of teaching fellowship salary 
        supplements received by the individual under this section, 
        reduced by one-half, shall be repaid or such amount shall be 
        treated as a loan to be repaid in accordance with section 
        10(g)(1)(C).''.

SEC. 7031. ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION.

    (a) Community College Program.--Section 3 of the Scientific and 
Advanced-Technology Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 1862i) is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)(3)--
            (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
            (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking the semicolon and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(C) encourage participation of individuals identified in 
        section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
        Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b);''; and
        (2) in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following:
        ``(3) Mentor training grants.--The Director shall--
            ``(A) establish a program to encourage and make grants 
        available to institutions of higher education that award 
        associate degrees to recruit and train individuals from the 
        fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to 
        mentor students who are described in section 33 or 34 of the 
        Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 
        1885a or 1885b) in order to assist those students in 
        identifying, qualifying for, and entering higher-paying 
        technical jobs in those fields; and
            ``(B) make grants available to associate-degree-granting 
        colleges to carry out the program identified in subsection 
        (A).''.
    (b) Evaluation and Report.--The Director shall establish metrics to 
evaluate the success of the programs established by the Foundation for 
encouraging individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science 
and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b) to 
study and prepare for careers in science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics, including programs that provide for mentoring for such 
individuals. The Director shall carry out evaluations based on the 
metrics developed and report to Congress annually on the findings and 
conclusions of the evaluations.

SEC. 7032. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES REPORT ON DIVERSITY IN SCIENCE, 
              TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS FIELDS.

    (a) In General.--The Director shall enter into an arrangement with 
the National Academy of Sciences for a report, to be transmitted to the 
Congress not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
about barriers to increasing the number of underrepresented minorities 
in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields and to 
identify strategies for bringing more underrepresented minorities into 
the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics workforce.
    (b) Specific Requirements.--The Director shall ensure that the 
report described in subsection (a) addresses--
        (1) social and institutional factors that shape the decisions 
    of minority students to commit to education and careers in the 
    science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields;
        (2) specific barriers preventing greater minority student 
    participation in the science, technology, engineering, and 
    mathematics fields;
        (3) primary focus points for policy intervention to increase 
    the recruitment and retention of underrepresented minorities in the 
    future workforce of the United States;
        (4) programs already underway to increase diversity in the 
    science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, and their 
    level of effectiveness;
        (5) factors that make such programs effective, and how to 
    expand and improve upon existing programs;
        (6) the role of minority-serving institutions in the 
    diversification of the workforce of the United States in these 
    fields and how that role can be supported and strengthened; and
        (7) how the public and private sectors can better assist 
    minority students in their efforts to join the workforce of the 
    United States in these fields.

SEC. 7033. HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Director is authorized to establish a new 
program to award grants on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to 
Hispanic-serving institutions (as defined in section 502 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a)) to enhance the quality of 
undergraduate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
education at such institutions and to increase the retention and 
graduation rates of students pursuing associate's or baccalaureate 
degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
    (b) Program Components.--Grants awarded under this section shall 
support--
        (1) activities to improve courses and curriculum in science, 
    technology, engineering, and mathematics;
        (2) faculty development;
        (3) stipends for undergraduate students participating in 
    research; and
        (4) other activities consistent with subsection (a), as 
    determined by the Director.
    (c) Instrumentation.--Funding for instrumentation is an allowed use 
of grants awarded under this section.

SEC. 7034. PROFESSIONAL SCIENCE MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMS.

    (a) Clearinghouse.--
        (1) Development.--The Director shall establish a clearinghouse, 
    in collaboration with 4-year institutions of higher education 
    (including applicable graduate schools and academic departments), 
    and industries and Federal agencies that employ science-trained 
    personnel, to share program elements used in successful 
    professional science master's degree programs and other advanced 
    degree programs related to science, technology, engineering, and 
    mathematics.
        (2) Availability.--The Director shall make the clearinghouse of 
    program elements developed under paragraph (1) available to 
    institutions of higher education that are developing professional 
    science master's degree programs.
    (b) Programs.--
        (1) Programs authorized.--The Director shall award grants to 4-
    year institutions of higher education to facilitate the 
    institutions' creation or improvement of professional science 
    master's degree programs that may include linkages between 
    institutions of higher education and industries that employ 
    science-trained personnel, with an emphasis on practical training 
    and preparation for the workforce in high-need fields.
        (2) Application.--A 4-year institution of higher education 
    desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to 
    the Director at such time, in such manner, and accompanied by such 
    information as the Director may require. The application shall 
    include--
            (A) a description of the professional science master's 
        degree program that the institution of higher education will 
        implement;
            (B) a description of how the professional science master's 
        degree program at the institution of higher education will 
        produce individuals for the workforce in high-need fields;
            (C) the amount of funding from non-Federal sources, 
        including from private industries, that the institution of 
        higher education shall use to support the professional science 
        master's degree program; and
            (D) an assurance that the institution of higher education 
        shall encourage students in the professional science master's 
        degree program to apply for all forms of Federal assistance 
        available to such students, including applicable graduate 
        fellowships and student financial assistance under titles IV 
        and VII of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et 
        seq., 1133 et seq.).
        (3) Preferences.--The Director shall give preference in making 
    awards to 4-year institutions of higher education seeking Federal 
    funding to create or improve professional science master's degree 
    programs, to those applicants--
            (A) located in States with low percentages of citizens with 
        graduate or professional degrees, as determined by the Bureau 
        of the Census, that demonstrate success in meeting the unique 
        needs of the corporate, non-profit, and government communities 
        in the State, as evidenced by providing internships for 
        professional science master's degree students or similar 
        partnership arrangements; or
            (B) that secure more than two-thirds of the funding for 
        such professional science master's degree programs from sources 
        other than the Federal Government.
        (4) Number of grants; time period of grants.--
            (A) Number of grants.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriated funds, the Director shall award grants under 
        paragraph (1) to a maximum of 200 4-year institutions of higher 
        education.
            (B) Time period of grants.--Grants awarded under this 
        section shall be for one 3-year term. Grants may be renewed 
        only once for a maximum of 2 additional years.
        (5) Evaluation and reports.--
            (A) Development of performance benchmarks.--Prior to the 
        start of the grant program, the Director, in collaboration with 
        4-year institutions of higher education (including applicable 
        graduate schools and academic departments), and industries and 
        Federal agencies that employ science-trained personnel, shall 
        develop performance benchmarks to evaluate the pilot programs 
        assisted by grants under this section.
            (B) Evaluation.--For each year of the grant period, the 
        Director, in consultation with 4-year institutions of higher 
        education (including applicable graduate schools and academic 
        departments), and industries and Federal agencies that employ 
        science-trained personnel, shall complete an evaluation of each 
        program assisted by grants under this section. Any program that 
        fails to satisfy the performance benchmarks developed under 
        subparagraph (A) shall not be eligible for further funding.
            (C) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the completion 
        of an evaluation described in subparagraph (B), the Director 
        shall submit a report to Congress that includes--
                (i) the results of the evaluation; and
                (ii) recommendations for administrative and legislative 
            action that could optimize the effectiveness of the pilot 
            programs, as the Director determines to be appropriate.

SEC. 7035. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING FOR SCIENTISTS.

    (a) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that 
institutions of higher education receiving awards under the Integrative 
Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program of the Foundation 
should, among the activities supported under these awards, train 
graduate students in the communication of the substance and importance 
of their research to nonscientist audiences.
    (b) Report to Congress.--Not later than 3 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall transmit a report to the 
Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, 
describing the training programs described in subsection (a) provided 
to graduate students who participated in the Integrative Graduate 
Education and Research Traineeship program. The report shall include 
data on the number of graduate students trained and a description of 
the types of activities funded.

SEC. 7036. MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION.

    (a) Award Amount.--The minimum amount of an award under the Major 
Research Instrumentation program shall be $100,000. The maximum amount 
of an award under the program shall be $4,000,000 except if the total 
amount appropriated for the program for a fiscal year exceeds 
$125,000,000, in which case the maximum amount of an award shall be 
$6,000,000.
    (b) Use of Funds.--In addition to the acquisition of 
instrumentation and equipment, funds made available by awards under the 
Major Research Instrumentation program may be used to support the 
operations and maintenance of such instrumentation and equipment.
    (c) Cost Sharing.--
        (1) In general.--An institution of higher education receiving 
    an award under the Major Research Instrumentation program shall 
    provide at least 30 percent of the cost from private or non-Federal 
    sources.
        (2) Exceptions.--Institutions of higher education that are not 
    Ph.D.-granting institutions are exempt from the cost sharing 
    requirement in paragraph (1), and the Director may reduce or waive 
    the cost sharing requirement for--
            (A) institutions--
                (i) that are not ranked among the top 100 institutions 
            receiving Federal research and development funding, as 
            documented by the statistical data published by the 
            Foundation; and
                (ii) for which the proposed project will make a 
            substantial improvement in the institution's capabilities 
            to conduct leading edge research, to provide research 
            experiences for undergraduate students using leading edge 
            facilities, and to broaden the participation in science and 
            engineering research by individuals identified in section 
            33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities 
            Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b); and
            (B) consortia of institutions of higher education that 
        include at least one institution that is not a Ph.D.-granting 
        institution.

SEC. 7037. LIMIT ON PROPOSALS.

    (a) Policy.--For programs supported by the Foundation that require 
as part of the selection process for awards the submission of 
preproposals and that also limit the number of preproposals that may be 
submitted by an institution, the Director shall allow the subsequent 
submission of a full proposal based on each preproposal that is 
determined to have merit following the Foundation's merit review 
process.
    (b) Review and Assessment of Policies.--The Board shall review and 
assess the effects on institutions of higher education of the policies 
of the Foundation regarding the imposition of limitations on the number 
of proposals that may be submitted by a single institution for programs 
supported by the Foundation. The Board shall determine whether current 
policies are well justified and appropriate for the types of programs 
that limit the number of proposal submissions. Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Board shall summarize the 
Board's findings and any recommendations regarding changes to the 
current policy on the restriction of proposal submissions in a report 
to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions of the Senate.

                     TITLE VIII--GENERAL PROVISIONS

SEC. 8001. COLLECTION OF DATA RELATING TO TRADE IN SERVICES.

    (a) Report.--Not later than January 31, 2008, the Secretary of 
Commerce, acting through the Director of the Bureau of Economic 
Analysis, shall report to Congress on the feasibility, annual cost, and 
potential benefits of a program to collect and study data relating to 
export and import of services.
    (b) Program.--The proposed program to be studied under subsection 
(a) shall include requirements that the Secretary annually--
        (1) provide data collection and analysis relating to export and 
    import of services;
        (2) collect and analyze data for service imports and exports in 
    not less than 40 service industry categories, on a State-by-State 
    basis;
        (3) collect data on, and analyze, the employment effects of 
    exports and imports on the service industry; and
        (4) integrate ongoing and planned data collection and analysis 
    initiatives in research and development and innovation.

SEC. 8002. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH AND 
              CAPITAL MARKETS.

    (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
        (1) the United States has the most fair, most transparent, and 
    most efficient capital markets in the world, in part due to its 
    strong securities statutory and regulatory scheme;
        (2) it is of paramount importance for the continued growth of 
    the economy of the Nation, that our capital markets retain their 
    leading position in the world;
        (3) small businesses are vital participants in United States 
    capital markets, and play a critical role in future economic growth 
    and high-wage job creation;
        (4) section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has greatly 
    enhanced the quality of corporate governance and financial 
    reporting for public companies and increased investor confidence;
        (5) the Securities and Exchange Commission (referred to in this 
    section as the ``Commission'') and the Public Company Accounting 
    Oversight Board (referred to in this section as the ``PCAOB'') have 
    both determined that the current auditing standard implementing 
    section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has imposed 
    unnecessary and unintended cost burdens on small and mid-sized 
    public companies;
        (6) the Commission and the PCAOB are now near completion of a 
    2-year process intended to revise the auditing standard in order to 
    provide more efficient and effective regulation; and
        (7) the Chairman of the Commission recently has said, with 
    respect to section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, 
    ``We don't need to change the law, we need to change the way the 
    law is implemented. It is the implementation of the law that has 
    caused the excessive burden, not the law itself. That's an 
    important distinction. I don't believe these important investor 
    protections, which are even now only a few years old, should be 
    opened up for amendment, or that they need to be.''.
    (b) Sense of the Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that the 
Commission and the PCAOB should complete promulgation of the final 
rules implementing section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (15 
U.S.C. 7262).

SEC. 8003. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES, 
              GRANTS, AND PROGRAMS.

    Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Comptroller General of the United States shall submit a report to 
Congress that--
        (1) assesses and evaluates the effectiveness of a 
    representative sample of the new or expanded programs and 
    activities (including programs and activities carried out under 
    grants) required to be carried out under this Act; and
        (2) includes such recommendations as the Comptroller General 
    determines are appropriate to ensure effectiveness of, or 
    improvements to, the programs and activities, including termination 
    of programs or activities.

SEC. 8004. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING ANTI-COMPETITIVE TAX POLICY.

    It is the sense of the Senate that Federal funds should not be 
provided to any organization or entity that advocates against a United 
States tax policy that is internationally competitive.

SEC. 8005. STUDY OF THE PROVISION OF ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Education shall enter into an arrangement 
with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study and provide a 
report to the Secretary, the Secretary of Commerce, and Congress. The 
study shall consider the mechanisms and supports needed for an 
institution of higher education (as defined in section 7001) or 
nonprofit organization to develop and maintain a program to provide 
free access to online educational content as part of a degree program, 
especially in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or foreign 
languages, without using Federal funds, including funds provided under 
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.) 
The study shall consider whether such a program could be developed and 
managed by such institution of higher education or nonprofit 
organization and sustained through private funding. The study shall 
examine how such program can--
        (1) build on existing online programs, including making use of 
    existing online courses;
        (2) modify or expand traditional course content for online 
    educational content;
        (3) develop original course content for online courses and 
    degree programs;
        (4) provide necessary laboratory experience for science, 
    technology, and engineering courses;
        (5) be accepted for full credit by other institutions of higher 
    education; and
        (6) provide credentials that would be recognized by employers, 
    enabling program participants to attain employment.
    (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary 
for fiscal year 2008.

SEC. 8006. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING DEEMED EXPORTS.

    It is the sense of the Senate that--
        (1) the policies of the United States Government relating to 
    deemed exports should safeguard the national security of the United 
    States and protect fundamental research;
        (2) the Department of Commerce has established the Deemed 
    Export Advisory Committee to develop recommendations for improving 
    current controls on deemed exports; and
        (3) the President and Congress should consider the 
    recommendations of the Deemed Export Advisory Committee in the 
    development and implementation of export control policies.

SEC. 8007. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING CAPITAL MARKETS.

    It is the sense of the Senate that--
        (1) Congress, the President, regulators, industry leaders, and 
    other stakeholders should take the necessary steps to reclaim the 
    preeminent position of the United States in the global financial 
    services marketplace;
        (2) the Federal and State financial regulatory agencies should, 
    to the maximum extent possible--
            (A) coordinate activities on significant policy matters, so 
        as not to impose regulations that may have adverse unintended 
        consequences on innovativeness with respect to financial 
        products, instruments, and services, or that impose regulatory 
        costs that are disproportionate to their benefits; and
            (B) at the same time, ensure that the regulatory framework 
        overseeing the United States capital markets continues to 
        promote and protect the interests of investors in those 
        markets; and
        (3) given the complexity of the financial services marketplace, 
    Congress should exercise vigorous oversight over Federal regulatory 
    and statutory requirements affecting the financial services 
    industry and consumers, with the goal of eliminating excessive 
    regulation and problematic implementation of existing laws and 
    regulations, while ensuring that necessary investor protections are 
    not compromised.

SEC. 8008. ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY OF ACTIVITIES AUTHORIZED BY 
              THIS ACT.

    (a) Prohibited Use of Funds.--A grant or contract funded by amounts 
authorized by this Act may not be used for the purpose of defraying the 
costs of a banquet or conference that is not directly and 
programmatically related to the purpose for which the grant or contract 
was awarded. A directly and programmatically related banquet or 
conference includes a banquet or conference held in connection with 
planning, training, assessment, review, or other routine purposes 
related to a project funded by the grant or contract. Records of the 
total costs related to, and justifications for, all banquets and 
conferences shall be reported to the appropriate Department, 
Administration, or Foundation. Not later than 60 days after receipt of 
such records, the appropriate Department, Administration, or Foundation 
shall make the records available to the public.
    (b) Conflict of Interest Statement.--Any person awarded a grant or 
contract funded by amounts authorized by this Act shall submit a 
statement to the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, the 
Secretary of Education, the Administrator, or the Director, as 
appropriate, certifying that no funds derived from the grant or 
contract will be made available through a subcontract or in any other 
manner to another person who has a financial interest or other conflict 
of interest in the person awarded the grant or contract, unless such 
conflict is previously disclosed and approved in the process of 
entering into a contract or awarding a grant. Not later than 60 days 
after receipt of the certification, the appropriate Secretary, 
Administrator, or Director shall make all documents received that 
relate to the certification available to the public.
    (c) Application to Federal Grants and Contracts.--Subsections (a) 
and (b) shall take effect 360 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act.
    (d) Exception.--Subsections (a) and (b) shall not apply to grants 
or contracts authorized under sections 6201 and 6203.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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