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[House Report 110-289]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    110-289

======================================================================

 
                 21ST CENTURY COMPETITIVENESS ACT, 2007

                                _______
                                

                 August 1, 2007.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Gordon, from the committee of conference, submitted the following

                  Conference Report (H. Rept. 110-289)

    The committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the 
two Houses on the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 
2272), to invest in innovation through research and 
development, and to improve the competitiveness of the United 
States, having met, after full and free conference, have agreed 
to recommend and do recommend to their respective Houses as 
follows:
    That the House recede from its disagreement to the 
amendment of the Senate and agree to the same with an amendment 
as follows:
    In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the Senate 
amendment, insert the following:

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 policies 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 workforce 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 by 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 teacher's 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 paragraphs (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, \1/
                        2\ 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 \1/4\ of the total amount 
                for each year of service completed, plus \1/2\ 
                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 \1/2\, 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 \2/3\ 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.
    And the Senate agree to the same.

                From the Committee on Science and Technology, 
                for consideration of the House bill and the 
                Senate amendment, and modifications committed 
                to conference:
                                   Bart Gordon,
                                   Daniel Lipinski,
                                   Brian Baird,
                                   David Wu,
                                   Nick Lampson,
                                   Mark Udall,
                                   Gabrielle Giffords,
                                   Jerry McNerney,
                                   Vernon J. Ehlers,
                From the Committee on Education and Labor, for 
                consideration of Division C of the Senate 
                amendment, and modifications committed to 
                conference:
                                   George Miller,
                                   Rush Holt,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Jeff Bingaman,
                                   Daniel K. Inouye,
                                   Edward Kennedy,
                                   Joseph Lieberman,
                                   Barbara A. Mikulski,
                                   John F. Kerry,
                                   Bill Nelson,
                                   Pete V. Domenici,
                                   Ted Stevens,
                                   Michael B. Enzi,
                                   Lamar Alexander,
                                   John Ensign,
                                   Norm Coleman,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.
       JOINT EXPLANATORY STATEMENT OF THE COMMITTEE OF CONFERENCE

      The managers on the part of the House and the Senate at 
the conference on the disagreeing votes of the two Houses on 
the amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. 2272) to invest 
in innovation through research and development, and to improve 
the competitiveness of the United States, submit the following 
joint statement to the House and the Senate in explanation of 
the effect of the action agreed upon by the managers and 
recommended in the accompanying conference report:

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

           NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT (SEC. 1001)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1101) 
that would require the President to convene a National Science 
and Technology Summit within 180 days of enactment to evaluate 
the health and direction of the nation's science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics enterprises and to identify key 
research and technology challenges and recommendations for 
research and development investment over the next five years.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes to subsections (a) and (b) and agrees 
to modified text for subsection (c).

              STUDY ON BARRIERS TO INNOVATION (SEC. 1002)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1102) 
that requires the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy (OSTP) to enter into a contract with the 
National Academy of Sciences one year after enactment and four 
years after enactment to conduct a study to identify forms of 
risk that create barriers to innovation. The study is intended 
to review the long-term value of innovation to the business 
community and to identify means to mitigate risks presently 
associated with such innovation activities.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes to the Senate provision with the 
removal of paragraphs (a)(13) and (a)(14).

          NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION MEDAL (SEC. 1003)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1103) 
that amends Section 16 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
Innovation Act of 1980 to rename the ``National Technology 
Medal'' as the ``National Technology and Innovation Medal.''
      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 205) that 
establishes the Presidential Innovation Award to be presented 
periodically, on the basis of recommendations from the director 
of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, to citizens or 
permanent residents of the United States who develop unique 
scientific or engineering ideas judged to stimulate scientific 
and engineering advances in the national interest, to 
illustrate the linkage between science and engineering and 
national needs, and to provide an example to excite the 
interest of students in science or engineering professions.
      The House recedes.

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

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1105) 
that expresses the Sense of Congress that OSTP should encourage 
all elementary and middle schools to observe a Science, 
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Day twice in every 
school year for the purpose of facilitating the interaction 
between science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
mentors and grade school students. This section also expresses 
a Sense of Congress that OSTP should encourage involvement of 
federal employees, the private sector, and institutions of 
higher learning in such days.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes.

                  STUDY OF SERVICE SCIENCE (SEC. 1005)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1106) 
that would express a Sense of Congress that the Federal 
Government should better understand and respond strategically 
to the emerging management and learning discipline known as 
``service science.'' The provision would require the Director 
of OSTP, through the National Academy of Sciences, to conduct a 
study on how the Federal Government should best support service 
science through research, education, and training.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to change the report 
requirement from 270 days to 1 year.

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

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1201) 
that would require the President to establish a President's 
Council on Innovation and Competitiveness to develop a 
comprehensive agenda to promote innovation in the public and 
private sectors. The Council, which could be constituted by 
designating an existing body to perform its functions, would 
include the Secretaries of Commerce, Defense, Education, Health 
and Human Services, Homeland Security, Labor, and Treasury 
along with the heads of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the 
National Science Foundation, the Office of the United States 
Trade Representative, the Office of Management and Budget, the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Environmental 
Protection Agency, the Small Business Administration, and other 
relevant federal agencies involved in innovation. As the 
President's Council on Innovation and Competitiveness develops 
a comprehensive agenda for strengthening innovation and 
competitiveness it should consult with advisors from the 
private sector, labor, scientific organizations, academic 
organizations, and other nongovernmental organizations working 
in the area of science or technology.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes.

      NATIONAL COORDINATION OF RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE (SEC. 1007)

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 206) that 
establishes a National Coordination Office for Research 
Infrastructure under the OSTP to identify and prioritize 
deficiencies in research facilities and instrumentation in 
academic institutions and national laboratories and to make 
recommendations for use of funding authorized. The Office is 
directed to report to Congress annually at the time of the 
Administration's budget proposal.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Conferees agree to modified language that directs the 
Director of the OSTP to 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. The provision also requires 
the Director of OSTP to annually submit to Congress, in support 
of the President's budget, a report setting forth the 
deficiencies in research infrastructure, projects, and budget 
proposals of Federal research facilities for major 
instrumentation acquisitions that are included in the budget 
and an explanation of how the projects and instrumentation 
acquisitions relate to the identified deficiencies and 
priorities.

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

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1202) 
that would require the President, through the head of each 
Federal research agency, to establish the ``Innovation 
Acceleration Research Program'' to support and promote 
innovation in the United States by requiring each department or 
agency that sponsors scientific research to set as a goal 8 
percent of its annual research budget to be directed toward 
innovation acceleration research.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The Conferees agree to a modified provision that 
expresses the Sense of Congress that each Federal research 
agency should strive to support and promote innovation through 
high-risk, high-reward basic research and set a goal of 
allocating an appropriate percentage of its annual basic 
research budget to funding high-risk, high-reward basic 
research projects.

           RELEASE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH RESULTS (SEC. 1009)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1104) 
that would require the Director of OSTP, in consultation with 
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and 
the heads of all Federal civilian agencies that conduct 
scientific research, to develop and issue a set of principles 
for the communication of scientific information by government 
scientists, policy makers, and managers to the public within 90 
days after the date of enactment.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes with a clarifying amendment.

        TITLE II--NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION

             NASA'S CONTRIBUTION TO INNOVATION (SEC. 2001)

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 209) that 
expresses the Sense of the Congress that a balanced and robust 
program in science, aeronautics, exploration, and human space 
flight at NASA, as authorized in the NASA Authorization Act of 
2005, contributes significantly to national innovation and 
competitiveness. It also directs the NASA Administrator to 
participate fully in interagency efforts to promote innovation 
and economic competitiveness through scientific research and 
development.
      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1301) 
that directs that NASA be regarded as a full participant in 
interagency activities to promote competitiveness and 
innovation and to enhance science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics education, provided that such efforts are 
consistent with NASA's mission, including authorized 
activities. It also identifies NASA's balanced science program 
as an essential part of NASA's contribution to innovation in 
and the economic competitiveness of the United States and that 
funding NASA at the levels authorized in the NASA Authorization 
Act of 2005 would enable NASA's programs to contribute to U.S. 
innovation and competitiveness.
      The House recedes with modifications.

                        AERONAUTICS (SEC. 2002)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1302) 
that would consolidate NASA's aeronautics research authorized 
under the NASA Authorization Act of 2005 into an Aeronautics 
Institute for Research within NASA. It would require the 
Institute to cooperate with relevant programs in the Department 
of Transportation, the Department of Defense, the Department of 
Commerce, and the Department of Homeland Security, including 
the Joint Planning and Development Office established under the 
VISION 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act. The 
Aeronautics Institute would be allowed to accept assistance, 
staff, and funding from other federal departments and agencies.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The Conferees agree to modified language that includes a 
Sense of Congress that NASA's aeronautics research and 
development program has been an important contributor to 
innovation and to the competitiveness of the United States, and 
that NASA should maintain its capabilities to advance the state 
of aeronautics. The provision also includes language that 
directs the Administrator to coordinate NASA's aeronautics 
activities with relevant departments and agencies.

                 BASIC RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT (SEC. 2003)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1303) 
that establishes, within NASA, a Basic Research Executive 
council to oversee the distribution and management of programs 
and resources engaged in support of basic research activity 
including the most senior agency official representing the 
space science, earth science, life and microgravity sciences, 
and aeronautical research areas. The duties of the Council will 
be to set criteria for identification of basic research, set 
priority of research activity, review and evaluate research 
activity, make recommendations regarding needed adjustments in 
research activities, and provide annual reports to Congress on 
research activities.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The Conferees agree to strike all but subsection (a) as 
amended.

               AGING WORKFORCE ISSUES PROGRAM (SEC. 2004)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1304) 
that expresses the Sense of Congress that the NASA 
Administrator should implement a program to address aging 
workforce issues in aerospace that would document technical and 
management experiences of senior NASA employees before they 
leave the Administration, provide incentives for retirees to 
return to NASA to teach new NASA employees about their lessons 
and experiences, and provide for the development of an award to 
recognize and reward senior NASA employees for their 
contribution to knowledge sharing.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes.

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

      The Senate amendment contained no provision.
      The House bill contained no provision.
      The Conferees agree to include a provision to express 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 aeronautics 
scientists, technologists, engineers, and mathematicians, the 
Administrator should utilize NASA's existing Undergraduate 
Student Research Program to support basic research projects on 
subjects relevant to NASA.

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

      The Senate amendment contained no provision.
      The House bill contained no provision.
      The Conferees agree to include a provision to express 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. The 
provision also directs the Administrator to develop detailed 
plans for implementing one or more education projects that 
utilize the International Space Station and identifying and 
supporting research to be conducted aboard the International 
Space Station.

Fiscal Year 2008 basic science and research funding

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1306) 
that increases funding for basic science and research, 
including for the Explorer program, for fiscal year 2008 by 
$160 million by transferring such amount for such purpose from 
NASA accounts. The availability of these funds is made 
contingent upon unobligated balances being available to NASA.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.
Conforming amendments
      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1305) 
that would amend Section 101(d) of the NASA Authorization Act 
of 2005 by adding that the assessment undertaken by NASA 
examines the number and content of science activities which may 
be considered as fundamental, or basic research, whether 
incorporated within specific missions or conducted 
independently of any specific mission. In addition, this 
section would require NASA to assess how NASA science 
activities can best be structured to ensure that basic and 
fundamental research can be effectively maintained and 
coordinated in response to national goals in competitiveness 
and innovation.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

       TITLE III--NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

              AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS (SEC. 3001)

      The House bill contained provisions (sec. 411 and 412) 
that authorize appropriations for the next three fiscal years. 
Included in the House provisions were authorizations for 
Science and Technical Research and Services of $470.9 million 
for Laboratory Activities, $7.9 million for the Malcolm 
Baldrige National Quality Award Program, and $93.9 million for 
Construction and Maintenance in FY08; $497.8 million for 
Laboratory Activities, $8.1 million for the Malcolm Baldrige 
National Quality Award Program, and $86.4 million for 
Construction and Maintenance in FY09; and $537.6 million for 
Laboratory Activities, $8.3 million for the Malcolm Baldrige 
National Quality Award Program, and $49.7 million for 
Construction and Maintenance in FY10. In addition, the House 
provision authorizes for Industrial Technology Services: $223 
million for FY08, of which $110 million is for the Technology 
Innovation Program (TIP) of which at least $45 million shall be 
for new awards, and $113 million is for the Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership (MEP) Program of which not more than $1 
million is for the MEP competitive grant program; $263.5 
million for FY09, of which $141.5 million is for the TIP of 
which at least $45 million shall be for new awards, and $122 
million is for the MEP of which not more than $4 million is for 
the MEP competitive grant program; and $282.3 million for FY10, 
of which $150.5 million is for the TIP of which at least $45 
million shall be for new awards, and $131.8 million is for the 
MEP of which not more than $4 million is for the MEP 
competitive grant program.
      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1401) 
that authorized appropriations for the next four fiscal years. 
The Senate provision authorizes $703.6 million in FY08 of which 
$115 million is for the MEP; $774 million in FY09 of which $122 
million is for the MEP; $851.4 million in FY10 of which $131.8 
million is for the MEP; and $936.5 million in FY11 of which 
$142.3 million is for the MEP.
      The Conferees agree to alternate language that authorizes 
NIST appropriations for three years and at sums for Science and 
Technical Research and Services of $502.1 million for 
Laboratory Activities and $150.9 million for Construction and 
Maintenance in FY08; $541.9 million for Laboratory Activities 
and $86.4 million for Construction and Maintenance in FY09; and 
$584.8 million for Laboratory Activities and $49.7 million for 
Construction and Maintenance in FY10. In addition, the 
Conferees authorize for Industrial Technology Services: $210 
million for FY08, of which $100 million is for the Technology 
Innovation Program (TIP) of which at least $40 million shall be 
for new awards, and $110 million is for the Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership (MEP) Program of which not more than $1 
million is for the MEP competitive grant program; $253.5 
million for FY09, of which $131.5 million is for the TIP of 
which at least $40 million shall be for new awards, and $122 
million is for the MEP of which not more than $4 million is for 
the MEP competitive grant program; and $272.3 million for FY10, 
of which $140.5 million is for the TIP of which at least $40 
million shall be for new awards, and $131.8 million is for the 
MEP of which not more than $4 million is for the MEP 
competitive grant program.

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

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1402) 
that eliminates the Technology Administration and the Under 
Secretary of Commerce for Technology at the Department of 
Commerce, and makes conforming amendments.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The Conferees agree to a modified provision that 
restructures the Technology Administration Authority and makes 
appropriate conforming amendments, including clarification that 
the Directors of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology and the National Technical Information Service shall 
report directly to the Secretary of Commerce.
      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1405) 
that re-establishes the Experimental Program to Stimulate 
Competitive Technology (EPSCoT), which was previously managed 
by the Technology Administration, at NIST. In making awards 
under this section the NIST Director is directed to ensure that 
the awards are made on a competitive basis. Special emphasis 
would be given to projects which would increase the 
participation of women, Native Americans (including Native 
Hawaiians and Alaska Natives) and other under-represented 
groups in science and technology. The program has a matching 
requirement of not less than 50 percent.
      The House bill contains no similar provision.
      The Conferees agree to a modified provision that 
transfers the responsibility of the EPSCoT to the Secretary of 
Commerce rather than the Director of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology as in the original Senate provision.

            MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP (SEC. 3003)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1407) 
that would amend paragraph 3 of section 25(c) of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Act to clarify that a MEP 
Center that receives Federal aid must pay for at least 50 
percent of the costs incurred in operating the Center with 
funding from non-Federal sources for the first 3 years and an 
increasing percentage for the last three years in which the 
Center is receiving aid under the program. All non-Federal 
funding that a Center receives from private industry, 
universities, and State governments, may be included as a 
portion of the Center's 50 percent or greater funding 
obligation, if it is determined by the Center to be 
programmatically reasonable and allocable.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes to a modified provision.
      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 423(A)) that 
creates an independent and outside Advisory Board for the MEP 
to assess and provide advice on MEP programs, plans, policies, 
and performance.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.
      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 423(B)) that 
allows the MEP to accept funds from the private sector and 
other Federal departments and agencies. The provision specifies 
that these funds shall not be considered in the calculation of 
the Federal cost-share.
      The Senate amendment contained a similar provision (sec. 
1404(b)) that allows the MEP to accept funds from the private 
sector and other Federal departments and agencies and 
stipulates that any private sector funding would not be 
considered a part of the Federal share in the calculation of 
the Federal cost-share. Funding accepted from other Federal 
departments or agencies may be considered in the calculation of 
the Federal cost share.
      The Conferees agree to a modified provision that allows 
the MEP to accept funds from the private sector and other 
Federal departments and agencies. Any private sector funding 
would not be considered a part of the Federal share in the 
calculation of the Federal cost-share. When funds are accepted 
from other Federal departments or agencies, the provision 
specifies that the Director shall make the determination if 
funds from other Federal departments and agencies shall be 
considered a part of the Federal share in the calculation of 
the Federal cost share.
      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1404(a)) 
that amends section 25(c)(5) of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278(c)(5)) by inserting 
a probationary program for MEP Centers that have not received a 
satisfactory rating. If a Center's performance has not improved 
in one year, the Director would be required to conduct a 
competition to select a new operator for the Center.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes.
      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 423(C)) that 
establishes a competitive grants program for MEP Centers or 
consortia of Centers. The grants are for Centers to conduct 
projects to solve new or emerging manufacturing problems. 
Awardees are not required to provide matching funds.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

               INSTITUTE-WIDE PLANNING REPORT (SEC. 3004)

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 421) that 
requires the Director of NIST to submit a 3-year programmatic 
planning document for NIST to Congress and submit yearly 
updates thereafter.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

                REPORT BY VISITING COMMITTEE (SEC. 3005)

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 422) that 
changes the reporting requirement for the Visiting Committee on 
Advanced Technology to be due 30 days after the budget 
submission and to comment on the NIST Director's 3-year 
planning document.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

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

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 428) that 
reduces the frequency of meetings for the Visiting Committee on 
Advanced Technology from quarterly to twice annually.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

     COLLABORATIVE MANUFACTURING RESEARCH PILOT GRANTS (SEC. 3007)

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 426) that 
establishes a collaborative manufacturing research pilot grant 
program for partnerships between at least one industry and one 
non-industry partner, with the purpose of fostering 
collaboration and conducting applied research on manufacturing. 
The award can be no more than one-third of the cost of the 
partnership, with no more than an additional one-third coming 
from other Federal sources. NIST will run one pilot competition 
and awards will be for three years.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

              MANUFACTURING FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM (SEC. 3008)

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 427) that 
establishes a program of postdoctoral and senior research 
fellowships at NIST in manufacturing sciences.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

     PROCUREMENT OF TEMPORARY AND INTERMITTENT SERVICES (SEC. 3009)

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 449) that 
authorizes NIST to issue up to 200 personal services contracts 
per year to procure the temporary or intermittent services of 
scientific and technical experts and consultants. The authority 
expires in 2010.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

                  MALCOLM BALDRIGE AWARDS (SEC. 3010)

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 450) that 
raises to 18 the limit on the number of annual awards under the 
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Program and removes 
category restrictions.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

  REPORT ON NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY EFFORTS TO 
  RECRUIT AND RETAIN EARLY CAREER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING RESEARCHERS 
                              (SEC. 3011)

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 208) that 
requires the Director of NIST to report on efforts to recruit 
and retain young scientists and engineers at the early stages 
of their careers.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

               TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION PROGRAM (SEC. 3012)

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 424) that 
repeals the existing Advanced Technology Program (ATP) statute 
and creates the Technology Innovation Program (TIP). The 
purpose of TIP is to assist businesses and universities to 
accelerate the development of high-risk technologies that will 
have broad-based economic impact. The TIP will make awards to 
either small- or medium-sized businesses or joint ventures. 
Awards made to single companies can be for no more than $3 
million over three years. Awards made to joint ventures may not 
exceed $9 million over five years. (A joint venture includes 
either two separately owned for-profit companies with the lead 
being a small- or medium-sized business, or at least one small- 
or medium-sized business and one institution of higher 
education.) The Federal share of a project shall not exceed 50 
percent. To participate in the TIP an eligible company must be 
majority owned by U.S. citizens or owned by a parent company 
incorporated in another country provided that the company's 
participation is in U.S. economic interests. The provision 
establishes minimum criteria for the selection of awards based 
upon scientific and technological merit, the project's 
potential for benefits that extend beyond direct return to the 
applicant, the applicant's ability to manage the award 
successfully and an explanation of why TIP support is 
necessary. In the case of joint ventures, language is included 
to ensure that intellectual property is to vest in any 
participant as agreed to by the joint venture participants. The 
provision requires the TIP to continue funding awards made 
under the prior Advanced Technology Program, requires the 
Director to coordinate with other Federal agencies to ensure 
there is no duplication of efforts, and allows the TIP to 
accept funds from other Federal agencies. An Advisory board is 
established to provide independent advice on TIP operations and 
planning.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Conferees agree to accept a modified version of the 
House provision. The modifications clarify that the focus of 
the program is to support, promote, and accelerate innovation 
in the United States through high-risk, high-reward research in 
areas of critical national need, and establish that large 
companies may not receive any TIP funding. The modified version 
also includes a list of award criteria requiring the applicant 
to: establish 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; provide evidence that the 
research will not be conducted within a reasonable time period 
without TIP assistance; demonstrate that reasonable efforts 
were made by the applicant to secure funding from alternative 
sources and that no other alternative funding sources were 
reasonably available; and demonstrate that other entities have 
not already developed, commercialized, marketed, distributed or 
sold similar technologies. In addition, the Director shall 
transmit to Congress an annual report on the program's 
activities. The TIP may accept funds from other Federal 
agencies, and these funds will be included as part of the 
Federal cost share of any TIP project. The section also 
provides a definition of ``high-risk, high-reward research.''

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

      The House bill contained several provisions (sec. 425, 
442, 443, 445, 446, 447, and 448) that make technical 
amendments to the NIST Act. These provisions: raise the 
limitation on the amount NIST can spend on research fellowships 
from 1 percent to 1.5 percent of the total appropriations; 
authorize NIST to enter into grants and cooperative agreements 
in addition to its current authority to enter into contracts 
and cooperative research and development agreements; authorize 
NIST to transfer up to 0.25 percent of its total 
appropriations, and any funds from other agencies given to NIST 
to produce Standard Reference Materials, into the Working 
Capital Fund; repeal an outdated statute requiring the NIST 
Director to establish a program to evaluate non-energy 
inventions; clarify in statute that the metric system used in 
the U.S. is the modern system of metric measurement units; 
eliminate archaic, special-case language related to the 
definition of units of electrical and light measurement; and 
specify that standard time in the U.S. is Coordinated Universal 
Time and fix technical problems in statute with the time zone 
definitions.
      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1406) 
that makes technical amendments to the NIST Act as requested in 
previous years by the President. These provisions: eliminate 
the limitation on the amount NIST can spend on research 
fellowships; authorize NIST to enter in grants and cooperative 
agreements in addition to its current authority to enter in 
contracts and cooperative research and development agreements; 
authorize NIST to purchase memberships in scientific 
organizations and pay registration fees for NIST employees' 
attendance at conferences; clarify in statute that the metric 
system used in the U.S. is the modern system of metric 
measurement units; eliminate archaic, special-case language 
related to the definition of units of electrical and light 
measurement; specify that standard time in the U.S. is 
Coordinated Universal Time and fix technical problems in 
statute with the time zone definitions; and repeal an outdated 
statute requiring the NIST Director to establish a program to 
evaluate non-energy inventions.
      The Senate recedes to sec 425 of the House bill.
      The Conferees agree to include all House and Senate 
provisions, except the Working Capital Fund Transfers (sec. 443 
of the House bill) and the authorization for NIST to purchase 
memberships in scientific organizations and pay registration 
fees for NIST employees' attendance at conferences (sec. 
1406(b)(2) of the Senate amendment).

            RETENTION OF DEPRECIATION SURCHARGE (SEC. 3014)

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 444) that 
allows NIST to retain the building use and depreciation 
surcharge fees that are charged by the General Services 
Administration.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

                   POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS (SEC. 3015)

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 441) that 
raises the cap on the number of post-doctoral fellows that NIST 
can accept each year from 60 to 120.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.
Innovation acceleration
      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1403) 
that establishes an Innovation Acceleration grants program at 
NIST to be known as the ``Standards and Technology Acceleration 
Research Program.'' The purpose of the program is to support 
and promote innovation in the United States through high-risk, 
high-reward research. No less than 8 percent of the funds 
available to NIST are for this program, and they shall be taken 
from the funds available to NIST for Laboratory Activities. At 
least 80 percent of the funds available to the program shall be 
used to award competitive, merit-reviewed grants, cooperative 
agreements or contracts to public or private entities, 
including businesses and universities. The Director is required 
to ensure that any resulting intellectual property from awards 
under the program shall vest in a United States entity that can 
commercialize the technology in a timely manner. Each funded 
project would be required to have a least one small- or medium-
sized business and would receive priority when educational 
institutions are involved. The Director is required to solicit 
proposals annually to address areas of national need for high-
risk, high-reward research. ``High-risk, high-reward research'' 
is defined as research that: (1) has the potential for yielding 
results with far-ranging or wide-ranging implications, (2) 
addresses critical national needs related to measurement 
standards and technology, and (3) is too novel or too 
interdisciplinary to fare well in the traditional peer-review 
process.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.
Manufacturing research database
      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 429) that 
requires NIST to establish a manufacturing research database to 
enable private sector individuals and Federal officials to 
access a broad range of information on manufacturing research 
supported by Federal funding. NIST may charge a nominal fee for 
use of the database. This section authorizes $2 million for 
these activities.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes.

                TITLE IV--OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC PROGRAMS

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

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1501) 
that directs the Administrator of NOAA, in consultation with 
the NASA and the NSF, to establish a coordinated program of 
ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, and atmospheric research, in 
collaboration with academic and nongovernmental entities, that 
is focused on the development of advanced technologies and 
analytic methods to promote U.S. leadership in ocean and 
atmospheric science and competitiveness in the uses of such 
knowledge.
      The House bill contains no similar provision.
      The House recedes.

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

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1502) 
that directs the Administrator of NOAA to develop, conduct, and 
coordinate education activities, built upon existing NOAA 
programs, to increase public awareness of ocean, coastal, Great 
Lakes, and atmospheric science and stewardship. The 
Administrator of NOAA is also directed to develop a science 
education plan for the next twenty years and evaluate and 
update the education plan every five years thereafter.
      The House bill contains no similar provision.
      The House recedes.

             NOAA'S CONTRIBUTION TO INNOVATION (SEC. 4003)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (sec. 1503) 
that directs that NOAA is to be a full participant in 
interagency efforts to promote innovation and economic 
competitiveness, consistent with the agency mission.
      The House contains no similar provision.
      The House recedes.

                     TITLE V--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

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

      The Senate amendment (section 2003) contained a provision 
that would amend the Department of Energy Science Education 
Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381a) to establish a Director of 
Mathematics, Science and Engineering Education, reporting to 
the Undersecretary of Science. The Director would be 
responsible for coordinating Mathematics, Science and 
Engineering Education across the Department of Energy; 
preparing unified budgets; and acting as the interagency 
liaison for this area. The Secretary is directed to establish a 
separate fund to which 0.3 percent of funds made available to 
the Department for research, development, demonstration and 
commercial application activities for each fiscal year are made 
available to carry out activities authorized in this Act.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes to the Senate with an amendment 
requiring along with the Department's annual budget proposal a 
description of how funds were spent from this fund in the prior 
fiscal year and a proposal for how they will be spent in the 
fiscal year of the budget proposal.

   PILOT PROGRAM OF GRANTS TO SPECIALTY SCHOOLS FOR MATHEMATICS AND 
                      SCIENCE (SEC. 5003, CHPT. 1)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision to establish a 
competitive grant program to assist States in establishing or 
expanding public, statewide specialty schools that provide 
comprehensive mathematics, science, engineering and technology 
education. The provision authorized scientific and engineering 
staff of the National Laboratories to assist in teaching 
courses in statewide specialty schools in mathematics and 
science education, and to use National Laboratory scientific 
equipment in the teaching of courses. The Federal share of the 
costs of establishing or expanding public statewide specialty 
schools for mathematics and science would not exceed 50 
percent. The Senate amendment provided $140 million over 4 
years for these schools.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment authorizing a 3-year 
pilot program; setting a cap on the award amount and duration 
for each State; reducing the Federal share; clarifying the 
required uses of funds; and reducing the total authorization to 
$66.5 million over fiscal years 2008 through 2010.
      The conferees intend for all 50 states to be eligible to 
participate in the pilot program, and that schools serve 
students residing in the State where the school is located and 
offer a high quality comprehensive math, science, engineering 
and technology curriculum designed to improve academic 
achievement in those areas. The conferees intend for the 
specialty schools to integrate parental involvement into 
curricula.

     EXPERIENTIAL-BASED LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES (SEC. 5003, CHPT. 2)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision to establish 
summer internships, including internships at the National 
Laboratories, for middle and high school students to promote 
experiential, hands-on learning in math and science. The Senate 
amendment provided $60 million over 4 years for these 
internships.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to reduce the total 
authorization to $22.5 million over fiscal years 2008 through 
2010.
      The conferees do not intend for this provision to 
override any policies of the Department as they pertain to 
liability concerns with hosting minors onsite at the National 
Laboratories.

  NATIONAL LABORATORIES CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, 
       ENGINEERING AND MATHEMATICS EDUCATION (SEC. 5003, CHPT. 3)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision to establish a 
program at each of the National Laboratories to support a 
Center of Excellence in Mathematics and Science at one high 
need public secondary school located in the region of the 
National Laboratory.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment providing the 
National Laboratories flexibility to designate more than 1 
high-need school in the region as a Center of Excellence; 
clarifying the eligibility requirement for partnerships with 
institutions of higher education; and permitting nonprofit 
entities to participate in the partnerships.
      The conferees intend for the institutions of higher 
education and any nonprofit partners in this program to have 
long-standing expertise in teacher training, including pre-
service preparation and postgraduate professional development 
of teachers and other school personnel. In addition, the 
conferees intend that the schools and students throughout the 
region benefit from the Centers of Excellence through the 
distribution of best practices and teacher training at the 
Centers.

                 SUMMER INSTITUTES (SEC. 5003, CHPT. 4)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision to establish 
programs of summer institutes, at both the National 
Laboratories and at eligible partner institutions, including 
universities and certain nonprofits, to strengthen the teaching 
skills of K-12 math and science teachers. The provision gave 
priority to the establishment of summer institutes that provide 
training to teachers from a wide range of high need school 
districts. The Senate amendment provided $190 million over 4 
years for these institutes.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment clarifying the 
definitions of ``eligible partner'' and ``summer institute''; 
establishing selection criteria for eligible partners; 
clarifying the assistance provided by the National Laboratories 
to the eligible partners; specifying the required and allowable 
uses of funds under this program; and reducing the total 
authorization to $60 million over fiscal years 2008 through 
2010.
      The conferees intend for this provision to create two 
programs. The first program would provide funds to the National 
Laboratories to establish or expand existing summer institutes 
on-site. The conferees encourage the National Laboratories to 
leverage the federal contribution by continuing to solicit 
state and local government support along with that of the 
private sector for these summer institutes. The second program 
would allow National Laboratory resources, including staff and 
equipment, to be used to assist eligible partner institutions 
seeking to establish or expand their own summer institutes. 
Provision of such assistance may require travel and other 
expenditures by the National Laboratories. However, the 
conferees do not intend for any of the funds authorized under 
this program to be made available directly to eligible partners 
but that funds shall be made available through the National 
Laboratories to the eligible partner for the costs associated 
with hosting an institute provided that the Department of 
Energy shall ensure adequate oversight of such funds. It is the 
intent of the conferees that the National Laboratory seek 
partnerships in which the National Laboratory contributes 
unique expertise and resources. Under the definition of 
eligible partners the conferees intend for the institution of 
higher education that provides training for teachers and 
principals to have strong and longstanding expertise in teacher 
training, including pre-service preparation and postgraduate 
professional development for teachers and other school 
personnel.

  NUCLEAR SCIENCE TALENT EXPANSION PROGRAM FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER 
EDUCATION (SEC. 5004) AND HYDROCARBON SYSTEMS SCIENCE TALENT EXPANSION 
        PROGRAM FOR INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION (SEC. 5005)

      The Senate bill contained a provision, Section 2003, 
Chapter 5 that would create a program of grants to institutions 
of higher education to create or expand research and education 
programs in nuclear science. The Senate provision placed the 
authority for this program under the newly created Director of 
Mathematics, Science and Engineering Education, a position 
reporting to the Undersecretary for Science. The Senate bill 
provided $139.5 million over 4 years for these grants.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment removing this program 
from the authority of the newly created Director and elevating 
it to the level of the Secretary; giving the Secretary more 
flexibility in determining the duration of grants; creating an 
additional program for hydrocarbon systems sciences; and 
reducing the overall authorizations for the program.
      The conferees believe that the Office of Science and the 
Office of Nuclear Energy have distinct roles in supporting 
nuclear science research and education. Accordingly, the 
conferees do not intend the new program created in this 
provision to be a replacement for the existing University 
Nuclear Science and Engineering Support program authorized in 
Sec. 954 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT). In 
particular, the conferees believe that the Office of Nuclear 
Energy has the responsibility to support university research 
and training reactors and associated infrastructure, as 
described in subsection (d) of Sec. 954. In addition, while 
nuclear sciences has been defined broadly in Sec. 5004 to 
include a range of fields with varying degrees of relevance to 
the nuclear energy mission of the Department, it is the intent 
of the conferees that the Office of Nuclear Energy maintain its 
primary responsibility for supporting research and human 
infrastructure development in areas identified by the Secretary 
as critical to the near term nuclear energy mission. Such 
support may be in the form of fellowships or research grants as 
authorized in Sec. 954 of EPACT, or in the form of 
institutional grants authorized under this Act. The conferees 
believe that the Office of Science should participate in the 
new program only in support of basic sciences, which may 
include fields like separations chemistry that are relevant to 
the long-term nuclear energy research plan. The conferees 
encourage the Secretary to allocate responsibilities under this 
provision accordingly.
      The conferees intend for the program of grants to 
institutions of higher education to create or expand research 
and education programs in hydrocarbon systems science 
authorized in Section 5005 to begin to address the decline in 
resources dedicated to hydrocarbons systems science education 
at institutions of higher education and bolster the number of 
graduates with degrees in hydrocarbon systems science. The 
conferees believe that increasing hydrocarbon systems science 
programs at institutions of higher education will rebuild the 
science and engineering capabilities of the nation in this 
critical energy sector. Programs to educate and create 
graduates of hydrocarbon systems science are needed to replace 
forecasted workforce shortages in this area due to retirements 
of aging hydrocarbon systems science professionals. The 
conferees seek to address this workforce challenge in the 
nation's energy industry.

                    EARLY CAREER GRANTS (SEC. 5006)

      The House bill contained a provision (section 203) to 
award grants to scientists and engineers at the early stage of 
their careers in academia or in nonprofit, non-degree granting 
research organizations to conduct research in fields relevant 
to the mission of the Department, giving priority to grants 
expanding energy production and use through coal-to-liquids 
technology and advanced nuclear reprocessing. The grants 
provide 5 years of research funding support at a minimum of $80 
thousand per year per award and are based upon merit.
      The Senate amendment contained a similar provision 
(section 2004) to award early career grants of not more than 
$100 thousand annually for up to 5 years to scientists and 
engineers within 10 years of completing their doctorate, 
particularly at National Laboratories or other federally funded 
research and development centers.
      The Senate recedes to the House provision with an 
amendment expanding eligibility for early career awards to 
include scientists at the National Laboratories; requiring an 
award ceiling of $125 thousand per year; [and striking the 
priority given to coal-to-liquids technology and advanced 
nuclear reprocessing.]

              OFFICE OF SCIENCE AUTHORIZATION (SEC. 5007)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (section 2006) 
that amended section 971(b) of the Energy Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 
16311(B)) by lowering the authorization for the Office of 
Science in fiscal year 2009 from $5.2 billion to $4.8 billion 
and extending the authorization out to fiscal year 2010 to 
$4.945 billion and fiscal year 2011 to $5.265 billion 
consistent with the President's American Competitiveness 
Initiative.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes to the Senate with an amendment that 
retains the authorization levels for the Office of Science 
found in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and adds an additional 
year of authorization in Fiscal Year 2010, increasing it to 
$5.814 billion.

                DISCOVERY SCIENCE INSTITUTES (SEC. 5008)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (section 2007) 
to select, based upon merit, 3 multidisciplinary institutes 
centered at National Laboratories to apply fundamental science 
and engineering discoveries to technological innovations 
related to missions of the Department and the global 
competitiveness of the United States. The institutes would 
partner with institutions of higher education to train 
engineering students and work with private industry, state and 
local governments and financing entities, such as venture 
capital funds, to transition innovative technologies from the 
institutes to the private sector.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment striking the 
partnership with state and local governments as well as 
financing entities and limiting the funding of any one 
institute to three years in duration.

     PROTECTING AMERICA'S COMPETITIVE EDGE FELLOWSHIPS (SEC. 5009)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (section 2008) 
that would award competitive, merit-based, portable fellowships 
not exceeding 5 years in duration to students pursuing a Ph.D. 
at an institution of higher education in a field relevant to 
the mission of the Department. Selection criteria included that 
the applicants be in the upper 10 percent of their class. 
Funding was authorized based on a fellowship of $40 thousand--
$50 thousand per year, including a stipend, tuition and 
incidentals. The enumerated authorizations were to fund in 
fiscal year 2008 200 fellowships, increasing in fiscal year 
2011 to 700 fellowships. A limit on a fee for a third party 
administrator was placed on the program to approximately 10 
percent of the fellowship program.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment limiting the duration 
of the fellowship to 3 years within a 5 year period; 
eliminating the criterion that applicants be in the upper 10 
percent of their class; removing the cap on administrative 
fees; and reducing the total authorization for the program such 
that the number of fellowships available is approximately 160 
in fiscal year 2008 (assuming the same fellowship amount as 
above), increasing to approximately 430 in fiscal year 2010.

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

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (section 2009) 
requiring the Secretary of Energy to implement the 
recommendations of Government Accountability Report number 04-
639 and annually conduct compliance reviews of at least 2 
recipients of Department grants in order to comply with Title 
IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment expressing a Sense of 
Congress that the Department comply with the recommendations of 
GAO report 04-639 and annually conduct reviews in accordance 
with Title IX of at least 2 grant recipients.

              DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST PROGRAM (SEC. 5011)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (section 2011) 
to establish a program to support the joint appointment of 
distinguished scientists by institutions of higher education 
and National Laboratories. The provision authorized $30 million 
in fiscal year 2008 to support 30 appointments, increasing to 
$100 million in fiscal year 2010 and 2011 to support 100 
appointments at $1 million each, with a requirement for a $1 
million cost-match by the institution of higher education.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment reducing the total 
authorization level to $65 million over fiscal years 2008 
through 2010.
      It is the intent of the conferees that the amounts 
authorized for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2010 support 
appointments at approximately $1 million with an equal or 
greater cost-match by the institution of higher education.

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

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (section 2005) 
that establishes an Advanced Research Projects Authority--
Energy, enabling the Secretary acting through a Director to 
fund projects to overcome long-term and high-risk technological 
barriers to the development of energy technologies. 
Authorization of the authority was established based on such 
sum as necessary to carry out this section for Fiscal Years 
2008 through 2011. An authorization for ARPA-E was previously 
contained in Senate bill S. 2197 in the 109th Congress at $250 
million annually for Fiscal Years 2008 through 2011.
      The House bill contained no such provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment that establishes an 
Advanced Research Projects Agency--Energy, or ARPA-E, whose 
purpose is to fund collaborative research and development to 
overcome long-term or high-risk technological barriers in 
energy technologies that industry by itself will not undertake 
because of technical and financial uncertainty. ARPA-E is to be 
headed by a Director nominated by the President and confirmed 
by the Senate. The conferees expect the President to appoint an 
acting Director who shall have the full authority allowed to 
the Director under this Act, to serve from the time ARPA-E is 
established until the Senate acts to confirm a Director. 
Similar to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency the 
Director is to establish and monitor project milestones, 
initiate research projects quickly, and just as quickly 
terminate or restructure projects if such milestones are not 
achieved. The Director is to utilize the existing authorities 
granted to the Department of Energy by Congress to fund 
projects. Projects should be conducted through teams that 
utilize the talent, resources and facilities found in the 
nation's universities, National Laboratories and the private 
sector. In the case of awards to consortia that include one or 
more of the National Laboratories, the conferees intend that 
the unique, taxpayer-funded resources and facilities of the 
National Laboratories be used to complement the abilities of 
companies, nonprofits, institutions of higher learning, or 
other participants in the consortia. The Director is given 
hiring authority to hire 70 to 120 scientific, engineering 
personnel to act as program managers without regard to civil 
service laws to quickly offer competitive salaries rivaling 
those of industry. Use of this hiring authority is limited to a 
3 year appointment which may be extended. This ensures that 
technical program managers pass through ARPA-E with the intent 
of executing technically challenging projects during their 
tenure, while circulating new talent and ideas through ARPA-E. 
A fund is established in the United States Treasury without 
fiscal year limitation, for ARPA-E, to be included as a 
separate line item in the annual budget request to the 
Congress. Likewise, with this separate fund it is the intent 
that ARPA-E should be a semi-autonomous agency outside the 
Department of Energy bureaucracy, able to react quickly to the 
most challenging energy problems in the 21st century to reduce 
foreign imports of energy, develop revolutionary energy 
efficient and low-emitting technologies, and ensure the United 
States leads the world in energy technology competitiveness. 
The conferees intend that funding for ARPA-E be provided 
through the same appropriations process and subcommittee 
consideration used for other semi-autonomous agencies of the 
Department at the time of enactment of this Act. It is the 
strong intent of the conferees that ARPA-E should not be 
established at the expense of on-going programs at the 
Department of Energy. In particular, the conferees intend that 
ARPA-E be funded to the full extent practicable provided that 
the Office of Science, the National Nuclear Security Agency 
(NNSA), and laboratory directed research and development (LDRD) 
at the National Laboratories maintain the funding levels they 
would have received in the absence of ARPA-E. In this regard, 
the provision contains language specifying that no funds for 
ARPA-E shall be appropriated unless the appropriation for the 
Office of Science increases by inflation over Fiscal Year 2007. 
Authorization of appropriations for ARPA-E is established in FY 
2008 at $300 million and such sums thereafter for fiscal years 
2009 and 2010.
Provisions deleted
            High-Risk, High Reward Research
      The Senate amendment contained a provision (section 2010) 
that required the Secretary of Energy and the Director of the 
United States Geological Survey to establish a grant program to 
conduct high-risk, high-reward research.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes to the House.

          FINAL STATEMENT OF MANAGERS FOR TITLE VI--EDUCATION

                    FINDINGS OF CONGRESS (SEC. 6001)

      The Senate amendment included findings regarding the 
importance of improving education to ensure that the nation 
remains competitive in the global economy.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes.

                        DEFINITIONS (SEC. 6002)

      The Senate amendment provided that, unless otherwise 
specified, all terms used in the division have the same 
meanings given in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary 
Education Act. It also defined critical foreign languages and 
the Secretary.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes.

                     Subtitle A--Teacher Assistance

              Part I--Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow

                          PURPOSE (SEC. 6111)

      The Senate amendment stated that the purposes of this 
Part were: to develop and implement programs to provide 
integrated courses of study in mathematics, science, 
engineering, or critical foreign languages, and teacher 
education that lead to a baccalaureate degree with concurrent 
teacher certification; to develop and implement master's degree 
programs that enhance science, mathematics, technology, or 
critical foreign language teachers' content knowledge and 
pedagogical skills; and to develop master's degree programs in 
education for professionals in science, mathematics or critical 
foreign language fields to become teachers.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to clarify that 
technology and engineering fields should be supported by the 
programs in this Part.

                        DEFINITIONS (SEC. 6112)

      The Senate amendment defined Children from Low-income 
Families, Eligible Recipient, High-Need Local Educational 
Agencies, Highly Qualified, Partnership, and Teaching Skills. 
The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to clarify the 
definition of teaching skills.

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

      The Senate amendment authorized competitive grants that 
enable partnerships to develop and implement programs to 
provide courses of study in mathematics, science, engineering, 
or critical foreign language in ways that are integrated with 
teacher education and that lead to a baccalaureate degree with 
concurrent teacher certification.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to collect data on 
the retention of program graduates, placing a priority on 
applications with a focus on placing participants in high need 
local educational agencies clarifying that technology programs 
also should be supported and to include a rule of construction 
maintaining compliance with section 444 of the General 
Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g).

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

      The Senate amendment authorized competitive grants for 
partnerships to develop and implement 2- or 3-year part-time 
master's degree programs in mathematics, science, technology, 
or critical foreign language education for current teachers to 
improve their content knowledge and pedagogical skills, and 
programs for professionals in mathematics, science, 
engineering, or critical foreign languages that lead to 1-year 
master's degree in teaching that results in teacher 
certification. The partnerships consist of institutions of 
higher education, departments of mathematics, engineering, 
science or critical foreign languages, teacher preparation 
programs and high-need local educational agencies and their 
schools.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment that technology and 
engineering fields should be supported by both programs.

                     GENERAL PROVISIONS (SEC. 6115)

      The Senate amendment includes provisions requiring the 
programs under sections 6113 and 6114 to provide grants for 
five years, require applicants to provide matching funds and 
ensure that grants supplement existing state and federal 
funding. The Secretary is also required to evaluate the 
programs and provide an annual report to Congress.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to change House 
Committee on Education and the Workforce to House Committee on 
Education and Labor.

              AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS (SEC. 6116)

      The Senate amendment authorized $210,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 3 
succeeding fiscal years, of which 57.1 percent will be 
available to carry out section 3113 for fiscal year 2008 and 
each succeeding fiscal year; and 42.9 percent will be available 
to carry out section 3114 for fiscal year 2008 and each 
succeeding fiscal year.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment changing the amounts 
authorize to $276 million for fiscal year 2008 and such sums 
for the two succeeding years, with $151,200,000 for section 
6113 and $125,000,000 for section 6114.

  Part II--Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Programs

                          PURPOSE (SEC. 6121)

      The Senate amendment stated that the purpose of the 
section was to increase the number of students taking Advanced 
Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) classes and 
to increase the number of students passing AP and IB tests, and 
to increase the number of qualified AP and IB teachers serving 
in high-need schools teaching mathematics, science, and 
critical foreign languages.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes.

                        DEFINITIONS (SEC. 6122)

      The Senate amendment defined Advanced Placement or 
International Baccalaureate courses as courses of college-level 
instruction provided to middle or secondary school students, 
terminating in an examination administered by the College Board 
or the International Baccalaureate Organization, or 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.
      The House had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to update the 
definition to include the additional program that may be 
allowed and to strike the reference to middle school students 
from the definition because such students are included in the 
definition of ``secondary school'' students used in this bill.

ADVANCED PLACEMENT AND INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMS (SEC. 6123)

      The Senate amendment authorized competitive grants to 
expand access to AP and IB and pre-AP and pre-IB classes and to 
increase the number of qualified AP and IB teachers in high-
need schools. The Senate amendment outlined allowable uses of 
funds, terms of grants and application requirements. It also 
authorized appropriations of $58,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 
and such sums as may be necessary for each of the three 
succeeding fiscal years.
      The House had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to change the 
reference to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce 
to the House Committee on Education and Labor and to increase 
the authorized appropriation to $65,000,000 for 2008 and such 
sums for each of the next 2 succeeding fiscal years. The 
amendment also places a priority on grant applications that 
increase the number of students in high need schools who 
participate in and pass IB and AP courses.

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

                    PROMISING PRACTICES (SEC. 6131)

      The Senate amendment authorized the Secretary of 
Education to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to 
convene a national panel within a year after the enactment of 
this Act to identify promising practices in the teaching of 
science, technology, engineering and mathematics in elementary 
and secondary education. Scientists, practitioners, teachers, 
principals, and representatives from entities with expertise in 
education, mathematics, and science would participate in the 
panel.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment clarifying the 
provision, including that promising practices identified under 
this program should be grounded in scientifically valid 
research as that term is defined in the Higher Education Act of 
1965. The House amendment also authorizes appropriations of 
$1,200,000 for fiscal year 2008.

                        Subtitle B--Mathematics

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

      The Senate amendment authorized a grant program to 
improve instruction in elementary and middle school mathematics 
and provided targeted help for students struggling with 
mathematics to reach or exceed grade-level academic achievement 
standards. Grants would be awarded to implement mathematics 
instructional materials and interventions, provide professional 
development activities, and monitor the progress of students in 
mathematics. State educational agencies would be awarded grants 
on a competitive basis to enable them to award grants to 
eligible local educational agencies. Priority would be given to 
applications for projects that would implement statewide 
strategies for improving mathematics instruction and raising 
the mathematics achievement of students, particularly those in 
grades 4 through 8. The provision requires a match, but the 
Secretary is given the authority to waive all or part of it in 
cases of serious hardship. The section authorized $146,700,000 
for fiscal year 2008, and such sums as may be necessary for 
each of the three succeeding fiscal years.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to decrease the 
duration of the grants from five years to three years and to 
authorize $95,000,000 in fiscal year 2008 and such sums in the 
succeeding two, not three, years. The amendment also requires 
the Secretary of Education to establish a screening process to 
ensure that those providing technical assistance to states and 
school districts under this program do not have financial 
interests in the products, activities or services that grant 
recipients might purchase with grant funding.

               SUMMER TERM EDUCATION PROGRAMS (SEC. 6202)

      The Senate amendment authorized the Secretary of 
Education to provide grants to support summer learning 
opportunities for low income students in the fields of 
mathematics, technology, and problem-solving to mitigate 
learning losses experienced over the summer. The Senate bill 
authorized such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2008 
through 2012.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to authorize such 
sums as may be necessary to carry out the program for 2008 and 
each of the succeeding two succeeding fiscal years.

         MATH SKILLS FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS (SEC. 6203)

      The Senate amendment authorized the Secretary of 
Education to provide grants supporting the following 
activities: (1) assistance to State and local education 
agencies in implementing research-based mathematics programs 
for students in secondary schools; (2) improving the 
instruction of mathematics programs based on best practices; 
(3) providing targeted help to low-income students who are 
struggling with mathematics; and (4) providing in-service 
training to instructors to improve the teaching of mathematics 
to students.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to decrease the 
duration of the grants from a period of four years to a period 
of three years and to authorize $95,000,000 for fiscal year 
2008 and such sums for the succeeding two, not three, fiscal 
years. The amendment also requires the Secretary of Education 
to establish a screening process that would ensure that those 
providing technical assistance to states and school districts 
under this program do not have financial interests in the 
products, activities or services that recipients could purchase 
with grant funding.

             PEER REVIEW OF STATE APPLICATIONS (SEC. 6204)

      The Senate amendment banned conflict of interests for 
those reviewing grant applications for the Math Now program 
(sec. 3201).
      The House bill had no similar provisions.
      The House recedes with an amendment adding a section 
prohibiting conflicts of interest and establishing a screening 
process for identifying such conflicts under the Math Now and 
Math Skills programs. The amendment requires the Secretary of 
Education to establish peer review panels to review State 
applications and further requires that the Secretary and the 
Office of General Counsel establish a process for screening 
reviewers to prevent conflicts arising from professional 
connections to teaching methodologies, connections to state 
programs, or financial interests. The amendment requires that 
the review process be transparent and that reviewer's reports 
be available to the public but not reveal any personally 
identifiable information about the reviewer. However, State 
educational agencies shall have the opportunity for direct 
interaction with the review panel including the disclosure of 
the identities of the reviewers.

            Subtitle C--Foreign Language Partnership Program

                    FINDINGS AND PURPOSE (SEC. 6301)

      The Senate amendment included findings regarding the 
shortage of skilled professionals with higher levels of 
proficiency in foreign language and the need to provide 
language instruction at younger ages, starting in elementary 
school and carrying through to postsecondary education. The 
Senate amendment stated that the purpose of the subtitle was to 
significantly increase both the opportunities to study critical 
foreign languages programs and the number of students who 
obtain the highest levels of foreign language proficiency.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes.

                        DEFINITIONS (SEC. 6302)

      The Senate amendment contained definitions for eligible 
recipient and superior level of proficiency.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to revise the 
definition of the term `eligible entity' to mean 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 title.

                     PROGRAM AUTHORIZED (SEC. 6303)

      The Senate amendment authorizes a competitive grant 
program to enable institutions of higher education and local 
educational agencies working in partnership to establish 
articulated programs of study in critical foreign languages so 
that students from elementary school through postsecondary 
education can advance their knowledge successfully and achieve 
higher levels of proficiency in a critical foreign language.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to change the 
reference to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce 
to the House Committee on Education and Labor. The amendment 
also requires that the evaluation required by the Senate bill 
identify best practices on teaching and learning of foreign 
languages. The amendment also clarifies that 2 of the 5 years 
of the grant duration may be used for planning and development.

              AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS (SEC. 6304)

      The Senate amendment authorizes $22,000,000 for fiscal 
year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for each of the 
three succeeding fiscal years.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to authorize 
$28,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be 
necessary for each of the succeeding two, not three, fiscal 
years.

              Subtitle D--Alignment of Education Programs

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

      The Senate amendment authorized the Secretary of 
Education to award competitive grants to States to promote 
better alignment of elementary and secondary education with the 
knowledge and skills needed to succeed in academic credit-
bearing coursework in institutions of higher education, in the 
21st century workforce and in the Armed Forces. The Senate 
amendment also authorized competitive grants to support the 
establishment or improvement of statewide P-16 educational 
longitudinal data systems to assist States in improving the 
rigor and quality of content knowledge requirements and 
assessments, ensure that students are prepared to succeed in 
postsecondary endeavors, and enable States to have valid and 
reliable information to inform education policy and practice. 
The Senate amendment authorized $100,000,000 for fiscal year 
2008, and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2009.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to add the 
requirement that access to personally identifiable information 
be limited by the provisions of the General Education 
Provisions Act (20 USC 1232g) and to authorize $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

      MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE PARTNERSHIP BONUS GRANTS (SEC. 6501)

      The Senate amendment directed the Secretary of Education 
to award grants of $50,000 to three elementary and three 
secondary schools, each of which has a high concentration of 
low income students, in each State whose students demonstrate 
the largest improvement in mathematics and science.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes.

              AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS (SEC. 6502)

      The Senate amendment authorized such sums as may be 
necessary for fiscal years 2008-2011 to carry out the 
activities under Title V.
      The House bill had no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment to authorize such 
sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008 and each of the 
two succeeding fiscal years.

                 TITLE VII--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

                        DEFINITIONS (SEC. 7001)

      The House bill contained a provision (sec. 302) that 
defined a number of terms used in this Title.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes with the addition of a definition for 
the term basic research.

        TOTAL AMOUNT AND LENGTH OF NSF AUTHORIZATION (SEC. 7002)

      The House bill contained a provision authorizing total 
appropriations for NSF as follows: $6.5 billion for FY 2008, 
$6.98 billion for FY 2009, and $7.49 billion for FY 2010 (sec. 
303).
      The Senate amendment contained a provision authorizing 
total appropriations as follows: $6.73 billion for FY 2008, 
$7.74 billion for FY 2009, $8.9 billion for FY 2010, and $10.2 
billion for FY 2011 (sec. 4001).
      The Conference substitute provides $6.6 billion for FY 
2008, $7.33 billion for FY 2009, and $8.13 billion for FY 2010, 
which would place NSF on a path to achieve budget doubling in 
approximately 7 years (sec. 7002).
      The conferees intend that the rate of budget increase for 
the education activities supported by NSF keep pace with the 
rate of increase for the research activities for FY 2009 and 
beyond.

    RESEARCH AND RELATED ACTIVITIES (R&RA) AUTHORIZATION (SEC. 7002)

      The House bill contained a provision authorizing 
appropriations for Research and Related Activities (R&RA) as 
follows: $5.08 billion for FY 2008, of which $115 million is 
provided for Major Research Instrumentation (MRI); $5.46 
billion for FY 2009, of which $123.1 million is provided for 
MRI; and $5.86 billion for FY 2010, of which $131.7 million is 
provided for MRI (sec. 303). In addition, the provision 
required NSF to increase funding for Research Experiences for 
Undergraduates (REU) in proportion to appropriations received 
for R&RA (sec. 303(g)); and required NSF to allocate at least 
3.5 percent of appropriations received for R&RA for the CAREER 
program (sec. 202).
      The Senate amendment contained no provision for 
authorizing the overall R&RA budget. However, it contained 
authorization amounts for specified programs: for the 
Professional Science Master's program, it provided $15 million 
for FY 2008, $18 million for FY 2009, and $20 million for each 
of FY 2010 and FY 2011 (sec. 4004); for the EPSCoR program, it 
provided $125 million for FY 2008 and provided for increases 
above that amount in proportion to overall appropriations 
increases in each year thereafter (sec. 4008); and for 
communications technology research, it provided $45 million for 
FY 2008, $50 million for FY 2009, $55 million for FY 2010, and 
$60 million for FY 2011 (sec. 4011).
      The Senate recedes on sections 303(g) and 202 with an 
amendment to authorize specific amounts for REU and CAREER. The 
Conference substitute (sec. 7002) provides the following 
authorizations of appropriations for R&RA:
       $5.156 billion for FY 2008, of which $115 
million is provided for Major Research Instrumentation (MRI), 
$165.4 million for early-career (CAREER) grants, $61.6 million 
for Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU), $120.0 
million for Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive 
Research (EPSCoR), $47.3 million for the R&RA share of the 
Integrated Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) 
program, $9.0 million for the R&RA share of the Graduate 
Research Fellowship (GRF) program, and $10.0 million for the 
Professional Science Masters (PSM) program.
       $5.742 billion for FY 2009, of which $123.1 
million is provided for MRI, $183.6 million for CAREER grants, 
$68.4 million for REU, $133.2 million for EPSCoR, $52.5 million 
for the R&RA share of IGERT, $10.0 million for the R&RA share 
of GRF, and $12.0 million for PSM.
       $6.401 billion for FY 2010, of which $131.7 
million is provided for MRI, $203.8 million for CAREER grants, 
$75.9 million for REU, $147.8 million for EPSCoR, $58.3 million 
for the R&RA share of IGERT, $11.1 million for the R&RA share 
of GRF, and $15.0 million for PSM.

         SUMMARY OF R&RA AUTHORIZATIONS, IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 FY08     FY09     FY10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
R&RA.........................................     5156     5742     6401
MRI..........................................      115    123.1    131.7
CAREER.......................................    165.4    183.6    203.8
REU..........................................     61.6     68.4     75.9
EPSCoR.......................................    120.0    133.2    147.8
IGERT........................................     47.3     52.5     58.3
GRF..........................................      9.0     10.0     11.1
PSM..........................................     10.0     12.0     15.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     EDUCATION AND HUMAN RESOURCES (EHR) AUTHORIZATION (SEC. 7002)

      The House bill contained a provision authorizing 
appropriations for Education and Human Resources (EHR) as 
follows (sec. 303):
       $873 million for FY08, of which $94 million was 
provided for Math and Science Partnerships (MSP), $70 million 
for the Noyce Scholarship Program (Noyce), $44 million for the 
STEM Talent Expansion Program (STEP), and $51.6 million for the 
Advanced Technological Education (ATE) program.
       $934 million for FY09, of which $100.6 million 
was provided for MSP, $101 million for Noyce, $55 million for 
STEP, and $55.2 million for ATE.
       $1.003 billion for FY10, of which $107.6 million 
was provided for MSP, $133 million for Noyce, $60 million for 
STEP, and $59.1 million for ATE.
      In addition, the House bill required NSF to increase 
funding for undergraduate education programs in proportion to 
appropriations received for the entire Foundation (sec. 
303(e)); and required NSF to support activities to create 
informal educational materials relevant to global warming (sec 
303(h)).
      The Senate amendment contained a provision authorizing 
$1050 million for EHR for FY08, with the rate of increase for 
the three subsequent years equal to the rate of increase for 
the entire Foundation (sec. 4002). It also authorized specific 
amounts for the following programs:
       For STEP, provided $40 million for FY08; $45 
million for FY09, $50 million for FY10, and $55 million for 
FY11 (sec. 4005);
       For Noyce, provided $117 million for FY08, $130 
million for FY09, $148 million for FY10, and $200 million for 
FY11 (sec. 4012);
       For the Teacher Institutes for the 21st Century, 
provided $84 million for FY08, $94 million for FY09, $106 
million for FY10, and $140 million for FY11 (sec. 4014)
      The House recedes to the Senate on sections 303(e) and 
(h). The Conference substitute provides (sec. 7002):
       $896.0 million for FY 2008, of which $100.0 
million is provided for MSP, $89.8 million for Noyce, $40.0 
million for STEP, $52.0 million for ATE, $27.1 million for the 
EHR share of the Integrated Graduate Education and Research 
Traineeship (IGERT) program, and $96.6 million for the EHR 
share of the Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program.
       $995.0 million for FY 2009, of which $111.0 
million is provided for MSP, $115.0 million for Noyce, $50.0 
million for STEP, $57.7 million for ATE, $30.1 million for the 
EHR share of the IGERT, and $107.2 million for the EHR share of 
GRF.
       $1.104 billion for FY 2010, of which $123.2 
million is provided for MSP, $140.5 million for Noyce, $55.0 
million for STEP, $64.0 million for ATE, $33.4 million for the 
EHR share of the IGERT, and $119.0 million for the EHR share of 
GRF.
      The conferees intend that a significant proportion of the 
appropriation for the Math and Science Partnerships be used to 
support the Teacher Training Institutes for the 21st Century 
(sec. 7029).

          SUMMARY OF EHR AUTHORIZATIONS, IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 FY08     FY09     FY10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EHR..........................................    896.0    995.0   1104.0
MSP..........................................    100.0    111.0    123.2
Noyce........................................     89.8    115.0    140.5
STEP.........................................     40.0     50.0     55.0
ATE..........................................     52.0     57.7     64.0
IGERT........................................     27.1     30.1     33.4
GRF..........................................     96.6    107.2    119.0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

               OTHER PROGRAMS AUTHORIZATIONS (SEC. 7002)

      The House bill (sec. 303) contained a provision 
authorizing appropriations for other accounts as follows:
       For FY 2008, $245.0 million for Major Research 
Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC), $285.6 million 
for the Agency Operations & Award Management (AOAM), $4.05 
million for the National Science Board (NSB), and $12.35 
million for the Office of the Inspector General (IG).
       For FY 2009, $262.0 million for MREFC, $309.8 
million for the AOAM, $4.12 million for NSB, and $12.72 million 
for the IG.
       For FY 2010, $280.0 million for MREFC, $329.5 
million for the AOAM, $4.25 million for NSB, and $13.1 million 
for the IG.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Conference Substitute provides (sec. 7002):
       For FY 2008, $245.0 million for MREFC, $286.6 
million for AOAM, $4.05 million for NSB, and $12.35 million for 
the IG.
       For FY 2009, $262.0 million for MREFC, $309.8 
million for the AOAM, $4.19 million for NSB, and $12.75 million 
for the IG.
       For FY 2010, $280.0 million for MREFC, $329.5 
million for the AOAM, $4.34 million for NSB, and $13.21 million 
for the IG.

  SUMMARY OF NSF AUTHORIZATIONS OTHER THAN R&RA OR EHR, IN MILLIONS OF
                                 DOLLARS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 FY08     FY09     FY10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
MREFC........................................    245.0    262.0    280.0
AOAM.........................................    285.6    309.8    329.5
NSB..........................................     4.05     4.19     4.34
IG...........................................    12.35    12.75    13.21
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

      The House bill contained no provision.
      The Senate amendment contained a provision clarifying 
that the Act does not change NSF's merit-review system or peer 
review process (sec. 4007).
      The House recedes.

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

      The House bill contained a provision expressing a sense 
of the Congress that the Math and Science Partnerships programs 
at NSF and the Department of Education are complementary and 
not duplicative and that the two agencies should have ongoing 
collaboration to ensure the two programs continue to work in 
concert (sec. 319).
      The Senate amendment contained a provision expressing a 
sense of the Senate with language identical to the House 
provision (sec. 4013).
      The Senate recedes.

                         CURRICULA (SEC. 7005)

      The House bill contained a provision clarifying that 
nothing in the Act limits the authority of state or local 
governments to determine curricula (sec. 124).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

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

      The House bill contained a provision requiring NSF to 
continue funding Centers for Research on Learning and Education 
Improvement (sec. 304).
      Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

                 INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH (SEC. 7007)

      The House bill contained a provision requiring the 
National Science Board to evaluate NSF's role and effectiveness 
in supporting interdisciplinary research and to report to 
Congress on its findings (sec. 305).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

               POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCH FELLOWS (SEC. 7008)

      The House bill contained a provision requiring all 
research proposals that support postdoctoral researchers to 
include a description of the mentoring activities that will be 
provided and to require that this aspect of the proposal be 
evaluated under NSF's ``broader impacts'' criterion (sec. 308). 
It also required that the grant annual and final reports 
describe the mentoring activities that were provided.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

              RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT OF RESEARCH (SEC. 7009)

      The House bill contained a provision requiring 
institutions funded by NSF to provide training in the 
responsible conduct of research to students participating in 
research projects (sec. 309).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.
      The conferees recognize that what constitutes 
``appropriate training'' may not be the same for undergraduate 
students as for graduate students or postdocs. The conferees 
prefer to give NSF maximum flexibility in determining the full 
range of activities that would constitute appropriate training; 
however, the conferees do expect NSF to promptly develop and 
provide written guidelines and/or templates for universities to 
follow so that compliance can be verified by all parties. The 
conferees intend for NSF, when developing guidelines, to 
consider the financial impact that these measures will have on 
institutions and seek to minimize such impacts accordingly.

               REPORTING OF RESEARCH RESULTS (SEC. 7010)

      The House bill contained a provision requiring NSF to 
make available to the public in electronic form final project 
reports and citations to NSF-funded research (sec. 310).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.
      The conferees intend for NSF to provide to the public a 
readily accessible summary of the outcomes of NSF-sponsored 
research projects. In addition to citations to journal 
publications, the conferees intend for NSF to make available 
research project summaries, not including any proprietary or 
otherwise sensitive information.

                  SHARING RESEARCH RESULTS (SEC. 7011)

      The House bill contained a provision making investigators 
who fail to comply with existing NSF policy on sharing of 
research results ineligible for future NSF awards until they 
come into compliance (sec. 311).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.
      In deciding if and when to reinstate eligibility, the 
conferees urge the Director to weigh heavily whether the 
research results being requested were withheld deliberately and 
were critical to a policy decision being made at the time of 
the denied request.

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

      The House bill contained a provision authorizing NSF to 
exempt from re-competition and renew for up to 3 years, with 
the possibility of a second extension of 3 years, grants that 
are for teacher professional development or that have the 
primary purpose of increasing diversity in STEM fields. Such 
grant extensions are to be based on the success of the project 
in meeting the objectives of the initial grant proposal (sec. 
312).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes with an amendment to allow only one 
extension of a grant under this exemption for a total of 3 
years beyond the initial period of support.

                        COST SHARING (SEC. 7013)

      The House bill contained a provision requiring the 
National Science Board to evaluate and report to Congress on 
the impact of its ruling to eliminate all cost-sharing for 
NSF's awards as it affects programs that involve industry 
partnerships and historically have required industry cost 
sharing (sec. 313).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

                     ADDITIONAL REPORTS (SEC. 7014)

      The House bill contained a provision requiring the 
National Science Board to report to Congress on options for 
supporting the cost of detailed design for major research 
facilities construction projects; requiring NSF to include 
plans for polar research facilities in its annual facilities 
report; requiring NSF to report on education programs carried 
out through the research directorates' programs; requiring NSF 
to report on the success rates and distribution of awards by 
type of institution under the Research in Undergraduate 
Institutions program; and requiring NSF to provide an annual 
plan for all its STEM education activities (sec. 315).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

                 ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS (SEC. 7015)

      The House bill contained a provision changing from annual 
to triannual the Inspector General's audit requirement for 
assessing the compliance of the National Science Board with the 
Government in Sunshine Act; authorizing the NSB to employ 
individuals in rotator positions; and authorizing up to 3 
Waterman awards in any year (sec. 316).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

               NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD REPORTS (SEC. 7016)

      The House bill contained a provision requiring certain 
NSB reports to be submitted directly to Congress (sec. 317).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

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

      The Senate amendment contained no provision.
      The House bill contained no provision.
      The Conferees agree to include a provision amending the 
Program Fraud and Civil Remedies Act (PFCRA) to include NSF. 
This provision will authorize the agency to recover funds and 
assess penalties under PFCRA's provisions.

          MEETING CRITICAL NATIONAL SCIENCE NEEDS (SEC. 7018)

      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The Senate amendment contained a provision requiring NSF 
to give priority in making research awards to proposals that 
assist in meeting critical national needs by advancing physical 
or natural science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or 
national competitiveness or innovation and specifying that the 
provision does not inhibit NSF's support for other areas of 
research that are within the agency's mandate or change the 
core mission of NSF (sec. 4006).
      The House recedes with an amendment to add social 
sciences to the list of priority areas for making research 
awards and to add safety and security as areas of critical 
national needs.
      The conferees cite the National Academies ``Rising Above 
the Gathering Storm Report'' on which this Act is based in 
calling attention to the unique contribution of research in the 
social sciences, which have ``increased understanding of the 
nature of competent performance and the principles of knowledge 
organization that underlie people's abilities to solve problems 
in a wide variety of fields, including mathematics and 
science.'' The conferees further agree with the statement in 
the report that ``special investment in physical sciences, 
engineering, mathematics and information sciences does not mean 
that there should be a disinvestment in such important fields 
as the life sciences or the social sciences.'' It is the intent 
of the conferees to ensure support for research in areas that 
will address the critical national needs identified in the 
``Gathering Storm'' report. The conferees do not intend the 
language contained in subsections (a) and (b) of this provision 
to in any way devalue the contributions of other fields or to 
signal any desire on the part of the conferees to disinvest in 
any field currently supported by the Foundation, as is made 
clear in subsection (c).

          RESEARCH ON INNOVATION AND INVENTIVENESS (SEC. 7019)

      The House bill contained a provision authorizing NSF to 
support research on the process of innovation and the teaching 
of inventiveness as part of its research programs on science 
policy and the science of learning (sec. 207).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

                    CYBERINFRASTRUCTURE (SEC. 7020)

      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The Senate amendment contained a provision requiring NSF 
to develop a plan that describes the status of broadband access 
for scientific research purposes for institutions in EPSCoR-
eligible jurisdictions (sec. 4010).
      The House recedes with amendment to expand the report to 
include all rural areas and minority-serving institutions.

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

      The House bill contained a provision establishing a pilot 
program of one-year seed grants for new investigators whose 
research proposals are rated ``excellent'' or ``very good'' but 
who are nevertheless not funded, specifying that grants are to 
support the eligible individuals in generating additional data 
and performing additional analysis to enable them to submit 
strengthened proposals to NSF. The provision also required the 
National Science Board to evaluate the program and report to 
Congress within 3 years with any recommendations regarding the 
pilot program (sec. 306).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes with an amendment authorizing such 
seed grants only for new investigators whose initial, 
unsuccessful proposals are rated ``excellent'' and requiring 
the Board's report to Congress to state explicitly whether the 
pilot program should be continued or terminated.

           BROADER IMPACTS MERIT REVIEW CRITERION (SEC. 7022)

      The House bill contained a provision requiring NSF, in 
applying its ``broader impacts'' criterion in evaluating 
research proposals, to give special consideration to proposals 
involving partnerships with industry and to encourage proposals 
that involve partnerships with industry, including cost-sharing 
by industrial partners (sec. 307).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes with an amendment specifying that NSF 
must consider as appropriate, among other types of possible 
activities for meeting its broader impacts criterion, proposals 
involving partnerships with industry and deleting language in 
the House bill on encouraging proposals involving industry 
partnerships.
      The conferees affirm that the primary mission of NSF is 
to support discovery research, research that asks questions 
about how the world works before any particular problem or 
application has been identified. In specifying that research 
proposals involving partnerships with industry should be 
considered as appropriate for meeting the requirements of the 
``broader impacts'' proposal review criterion, the conferees do 
not intend to de-value other appropriate activities, such as 
promoting learning or broadening participation in STEM fields. 
The conferees simply point out that industry interest and 
involvement in proposed basic research projects is one 
indication of the potential value of the research and may arise 
in areas important to innovation and technological 
competitiveness, such as nanotechnology or information 
technology.

                         DONATIONS (SEC. 7023)

      The House bill contained a provision authorizing NSF to 
accept private funds for specific prize competitions (sec. 
314).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes with amendment to ensure that prizes 
are for ``basic research''.

         HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING AND NETWORKING (SEC. 7024)

      The House bill contained a provision amending the High-
Performance Computing Act of 1991 to clarify the program's 
goals and content; to require a regularly updated plan for the 
development and deployment of high-end computing systems; and 
to reestablish a dedicated external advisory committee for the 
interagency program and specify its responsibilities (sec. 501 
and 502).
      The Senate amendment contained a provision authorizing a 
communications research grant program; establishing a board 
within the NSF to oversee the research program; authorizing 
university-based research centers; and authorizing 
appropriations for the program (sec. 4011).
      The conference agreement accepts the House amendments to 
the 1991 Act with minor language changes. The Senate provision 
is replaced with a requirement for the interagency program 
carried out under the 1991 Act to support communications 
research in areas designated by section 4011 and to report to 
Congress annually on the funding allocated to these areas. NSF 
is directed to increase funding for these research areas in 
proportion to appropriations received for its research and 
related activities account. The House recedes on the centers 
program, and the Senate recedes on creation of the new board.

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

      The House bill contained a provision amending the NSF 
STEM Talent Expansion Program (STEP) to create centers for 
improvement of undergraduate education in STEM fields, 
specifying that centers may support activities to help train 
faculty and graduate students to be more effective teachers and 
to develop more effective educational materials and methods 
targeted for undergraduate instruction (sec. 125).
      The Senate amendment contained a provision amending the 
STEP Program to establish outreach programs for middle and high 
school students and teachers to expand their exposure to 
engineering and technology; provide summer internships for STEM 
undergraduate students; facilitate hiring of STEM faculty; and 
provide programs that bridge the transition to college for 
students from underrepresented groups (sec. 4005).
      The conference agreement amends the STEP Program to 
establish a grant program to create up to 5 centers for the 
improvement of undergraduate STEM education. It also amends the 
current program to make the changes included in the Senate 
amendment, except the provision regarding hiring of faculty.

              LABORATORY SCIENCE PILOT PROGRAM (SEC. 7026)

      The House bill contained a provision establishing a 
``Partnerships for Access to Laboratory Science'' (PALS) 
program at NSF to determine how best to integrate laboratory 
experiences with STEM classroom instruction in secondary 
schools. The provision specified that the pilot program should 
support teacher training, development of instructional 
programs, and acquisition and maintenance of equipment. The 
provision required a 50 percent cost-share from non-Federal 
sources (sec. 128).
      The Senate amendment contained a provision establishing a 
program that is similar to that in the House bill, except that 
it included a sunset provision that would terminate the program 
after FY 2011 and required a 70 percent cost-share from non-
Federal sources (sec. 4015).
      The Senate recedes with an amendment requiring a 60 
percent cost-share from non-Federal sources and including a 
provision to sunset the program after FY 2010.

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

      The House bill contained a provision directing NSF to 
report to Congress on the extent to which institutions of 
higher education are donating used laboratory equipment to 
schools (sec. 129).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes with an amendment to extend the study 
on donations of equipment to include other private sector 
entities.

 MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIPS AMENDMENTS (SEC. 7028)

      The House bill contained a provision amending the Math 
and Science Partnerships program (sec. 121), authorizing the 
development of master's degree programs for in-service 
teachers, after school and summer programs, mentoring programs 
for teachers and students involved in STEM college-preparatory 
courses, and development of curriculum tools for teaching 
innovation. The provision also amended the program by setting 
award size limits and requiring the identification and 
reporting of model projects ready for wider replication. An 
additional provision required NSF to develop a master's degree 
program for in-service teachers through the Math and Science 
Partnerships program (sec. 123).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes with an amendment striking the 
authorization for the master's degree program for teachers, the 
limits on award size, and the requirement for identification 
and reporting of model programs. The House recedes on the 
section 123 provision.
      The conferees strongly support the creation of master's 
degree programs for in-service teachers to improve content 
knowledge in science, technology, engineering and mathematics 
and include a provision to fund such programs in section 6114 
of this bill.

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

      The House bill contained a provision directing NSF to 
establish a grant program to support teacher institutes and 
authorizing grantees under the Teacher Institutes for the 21st 
Century program to carry out summer teacher institutes (sec. 
122).
      The Senate amendment contained a provision authorizing 
the Teacher Institutes for the 21st Century program at NSF to 
provide professional development for math and science teachers 
in high-need schools (sec. 4014).
      The House recedes with an amendment to specify what 
comprise ``high-need subjects'' and to clarify how priorities 
are established for the institutes.

          ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM (SEC. 7030)

      The House bill contained a provision stating as a policy 
objective the education of 10,000 highly qualified K-12 
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) 
teachers each year (sec. 113). The bill also amended and 
expanded the NSF Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program as follows 
(sec. 114): required collaboration between science and 
education faculty to establish STEM teacher education programs, 
required early classroom experiences for teachers in training, 
increased scholarships and stipends to at least $10,000 per 
year, and allowed for up to 3 years of scholarship support, 
beginning with the sophomore year. Further, it replaced the 
requirement for Noyce Scholars to serve their teaching 
obligation in high-need schools with an incentive for teaching 
in such schools; changed from 4 to 5 the number of years within 
which Noyce Scholars must graduate with certification to teach; 
and created a new partnership program for attracting STEM 
professionals to teaching careers and provides for salary 
supplements for such individuals, from non-Federal sources 
through the partnership, during the period of their teaching 
obligation.
      The Senate amendment contained a provision amending and 
expanding the NSF Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program in a way 
similar to the House bill, except: it established NSF Teaching 
Fellowships for attracting accomplished STEM professionals to 
teaching and NSF Master Teaching Fellowships for creating 
master teachers from among current exemplary STEM teachers 
having master's degrees (in each case providing salary 
supplements for the teaching obligation period); required a 50 
percent cost share from non-Federal funds for all types of 
Noyce awards; required that teaching obligations be served in 
high-need schools; and limited scholarships to 2 years (sec. 
4012).
      The conference agreement amends and expands the Noyce 
program: requires collaboration between science and education 
faculty to establish STEM teacher education programs, requires 
early classroom experiences for teachers in training, increases 
scholarships and stipends to at least $10,000 per year, and 
allows for up to 3 years of scholarship support, beginning with 
the junior year. In addition it retains the requirement for 
Noyce Scholars to serve their teaching obligation in high-need 
schools; changes from 4 to 5 the number of years within which 
Noyce Scholars must graduate with certification to teach; and 
creates a new partnership program for attracting STEM 
professionals to teaching careers (NSF Teaching Fellows) and 
for preparing master teachers (NSF Master Teaching Fellows). 
The agreement specifies that annual scholarship, stipend, and 
fellowship awards may be granted on a pro-rated basis to 
students in school part time and that scholarship and stipend 
recipients' service obligation is based on the number of full 
annual scholarships or stipends received, regardless of the 
number of years over which such amounts are pro-rated. For the 
two fellowship programs, the agreement requires 50 percent cost 
sharing from non-federal sources and the provision for salary 
supplements for fellows during the period of their teaching 
obligation. The House recedes on the section 113 provision.
      The agreement also clarifies the process for repayment in 
the event that scholarship, stipend, or fellowship recipients 
fail to maintain good status in the program or fail to meet 
their service requirements. The conferees intend that the 
Director consult with the Secretary of Education in developing 
policies regarding the effective enforcement of the service 
requirement under this section. The conferees note that the 
changes made in the system of repayment collection are intended 
to clarify such system but do not presume the creation of an 
entirely new system of repayment collection.
      The conferees anticipate that the Noyce program will grow 
to become a major source of effective STEM teachers, which is 
the reason for the large increases in authorizations of 
appropriations provided for the program. The conferees have 
required that teachers educated through the Noyce program carry 
out their teaching obligations in high-need schools because 
survey results have documented that such schools have the 
highest percentages of poorly qualified STEM teachers on their 
faculties. This requirement is appropriate during the period of 
initial growth of the Noyce program but the conferees intend 
for this national program to benefit all students. As the scale 
of the program grows and the numbers of teachers educated under 
the program increases substantially, the conferees expect this 
policy to be reviewed in 2 years and when the program is next 
reauthorized to ensure that all children have equal access to 
high-quality teachers with strong subject matter knowledge.
      The conferees note that eligibility for awards under the 
Noyce program includes 2-year colleges and that such 
institutions are specifically included among the institutions 
that may form partnerships for carrying out the NSF Teaching 
Fellowship and NSF Master Teaching Fellowship programs. The 
conferees urge NSF, in soliciting applications for awards under 
the Noyce program, to encourage participation by 2-year 
institutions.

                 ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION (SEC. 7031)

      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The Senate amendment contained a provision establishing 
at 2-year colleges a mentoring program to increase the 
participation of women in STEM fields, including recruiting and 
training of mentors.
      The House recedes with an amendment to place the program 
within the existing NSF Advanced Technological Education 
program.

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

      The House bill contained a provision requiring NSF to 
contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) for a 
report on barriers to and strategies for increasing the 
participation of underrepresented minorities in STEM fields 
(sec. 318).
      The Senate amendment contained a provision with a similar 
requirement as part of a study that the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy is required to conduct through the NAS (sec. 
1102).
      The Senate recedes.

    HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAM (SEC. 7033)

      The House bill contained a provision establishing a 
program to improve STEM undergraduate education at Hispanic-
serving institutions through activities that may include 
improved courses and curriculum, faculty development, and 
support for research experiences for undergraduates (sec. 320).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

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

      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The Senate amendment contained a provision requiring NSF 
to award grants to facilitate the creation or improvement of 
Professional Science Master's degree programs at institutions 
of higher education (sec. 4004).
      The House recedes with an amendment that clarifies that 
such programs may include linkages in the program between 
institutions of higher education and industry and requires such 
programs to describe how they will produce individuals for the 
workforce in high need fields. The conferees intend that the 
term ``high need fields'' take into account needs on a state, 
regional and national basis.

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

      The House bill contained a provision requiring NSF to 
provide supplements, on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to 
holders of IGERT grants to train graduate students in the 
communication of the substance and importance of their research 
to non-scientist audiences and to report to Congress on how the 
funds are used (sec. 321).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes with an amendment to transform the 
provision to a Sense of Congress statement that such 
communications training should be part of the activities 
carried out using IGERT grants. The report to Congress on how 
IGERT grants are used for communications training is retained.

               MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION (SEC. 7036)

      The House bill contained a provision setting a minimum 
and maximum award amount for major research instrumentation 
(MRI) grants, specifying that MRI funds may be used for 
operations and maintenance, and requiring cost-sharing by 
grantees (sec. 303(d)).
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

                     LIMIT ON PROPOSALS (SEC. 7037)

      The House bill contained a provision requiring the 
Director allow submission of a full proposal for each pre-
proposal that is determined to have merit and requiring a 
review and assessment of Foundation policies regarding the 
imposition of limitations on the number of proposals that may 
be submitted by an institution of higher education.
      The Senate amendment contained no similar provision.
      The Senate recedes.

                     TITLE VIII--GENERAL PROVISIONS

    COLLECTION OF DATA RELATING TO TRADE IN SERVICES (SECTION 8001)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (section 5001) 
that established a five year program within the Bureau of 
Economic Analysis to collect and study data relating to export 
and import services.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes to the Senate with an amendment that 
would have the Secretary of Commerce acting through the 
Director of the Bureau of Economic Analysis to prepare a report 
to Congress, no later than January 31, 2008 on the feasibility, 
cost and potential benefits of a program to collect and study 
data relating to the export and import of services.

SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH AND CAPITAL MARKETS 
                             (SECTION 8002)

      The Senate amendment contained a sense of the Senate 
(section 5002) that Securities and Exchange Commission and the 
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board should promulgate 
final rules implementing section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act 
of 2002 (15 U.S.C. 7262).
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes to the Senate provision.

   GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES, GRANTS AND 
                        PROGRAMS (SECTION 8003)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (section 5003) 
that required no later than 3 years after date of enactment 
that the Comptroller General of the United States examine each 
interim report submitted to the Congress under the Act and 
assess or evaluate the effectiveness of the new or expanded 
activities under the Act and include recommendations to improve 
the effectiveness of activities under the Act including 
termination.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes to the Senate with an amendment that 
selects a representative sample of new or expanded activities 
required to be carried out under the Act and includes such 
recommendations as the Comptroller General determines 
appropriate to ensure effectiveness of, or improvements to the 
programs and activities, including termination.

  SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING ANTI-COMPETITIVE TAX POLICY (SECTION 
                                 8004)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (section 5004) 
that notwithstanding any other provision of law, would prohibit 
federal funds to any organization or entity that advocates 
against tax competition or United States tax competitiveness. 
The amendment notes that advocating for effective tax 
information or advocating for effective tax transfer, and 
advocating for income tax treaties is not considered to be 
advocating against tax competition or the United States tax 
competitiveness.
      The House had no similar provision.
      The House recedes to the Senate with an amendment that it 
is a sense of the Senate that Federal funds should not be 
provided to any organization or entity that advocates against 
United States tax policy that is internationally competitive.

    STUDY OF THE PROVISION OF ONLINE DEGREE PROGRAMS (SECTION 8005)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (section 5005) 
that would require the Secretary of Commerce to enter into a 
contract with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a 
feasibility study on creating a national, free online degree 
program that would enable all individuals described under 
section 484(a)(5) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1091(a)(5)) who wish to pursue a degree in a field of 
strategic importance to the United States and where expertise 
is in demand such as mathematics, science and foreign 
languages.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes to the Senate with an amendment that 
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, Secretary of Commerce and Congress 
on the mechanisms and support needed for an institution of 
higher education 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 and mathematics or foreign language 
without using Federal funds including funds provided under 
title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070).

      SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING DEEMED EXPORTS (SECTION 8006)

      The Senate amendment contained a sense of the Senate that 
the Deemed Export Advisory Committee of the Department of 
Commerce develop recommendations for improving current controls 
on deemed exports and that the President and the Congress 
should consider the recommendations of the Committee in 
developing and implementing export control policies.
      The House bill contained no similar provision.
      The House recedes to the Senate provision.

 ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY OF ACTIVITIES AUTHORIZED BY THIS ACT 
                             (SECTION 8008)

      The Senate amendment contained a provision (section 1504) 
that would have required the Inspector General of the 
Department of Commerce to conduct routine independent, publicly 
available reviews of activities carried out with grants and 
other financial assistance made available by the Administrator 
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA. 
The provision would have prohibited NOAA funds under a grant or 
contract to be used by the person who receives the grant or 
contract, including any subcontractor, for a banquet or 
conference, other than a conference relating to the training or 
a routine meeting with officers or employees of the 
Administration to discuss an ongoing project. The provision 
would also require that each person who receives funds from the 
NOAA Administrator through a grant or contract shall submit to 
the Administrator a certification stating that none of such 
funds will be made available through a subcontract in any other 
manner to another person who has a financial interest or other 
conflict with the person who received such funds from the 
Administrator.
      The House bill contains no similar provision.
      The House recedes with an amendment specifying that, 360 
days after enactment of the Act, a grant or contract funded by 
amounts authorized under the Act may not be used to defray the 
costs of a banquet or conference not directly and 
programmatically related to the purpose for which the grant or 
contract was awarded where 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. The amendment also requires that 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 
previously disclosed and approved in the process of entering 
into a contract or awarding a grant. The amendment does not 
apply to sections 6201 and 6203 which contain separate conflict 
of interest provisions.
                From the Committee on Science and Technology, 
                for consideration of the House bill and the 
                Senate amendment, and modifications committed 
                to conference:
                                   Bart Gordon,
                                   Daniel Lipinski,
                                   Brian Baird,
                                   David Wu,
                                   Nick Lampson,
                                   Mark Udall,
                                   Gabrielle Giffords,
                                   Jerry McNerney,
                                   Vernon J. Ehlers,
                From the Committee on Education and Labor, for 
                consideration of Division C of the Senate 
                amendment, and modifications committed to 
                conference:
                                   George Miller,
                                   Rush Holt,
                                 Managers on the Part of the House.

                                   Jeff Bingaman,
                                   Daniel K. Inouye,
                                   Edward Kennedy,
                                   Joseph Lieberman,
                                   Barbara A. Mikulski,
                                   John F. Kerry,
                                   Bill Nelson,
                                   Pete V. Domenici,
                                   Ted Stevens,
                                   Michael B. Enzi,
                                   Lamar Alexander,
                                   John Ensign,
                                   Norm Coleman,
                                Managers on the Part of the Senate.

                                  
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