II 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1684 

To establish a position of Science Laureate of the United States, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 1, 2017 

Ms. HIRONO introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

A BILL 

To establish a position of Science Laureate of the United 

States, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Science Laureates of 

5 the United States Act of 2017’’. 

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND RECOGNITION. 

7 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 

8 (1) Scientific research and advancement has 

9 driven success in the United States and global suc10 cess for centuries. 


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1 (2) Scientific research has saved, improved, and 

2 extended lives, increased the standard of living, ex3 panded economic opportunity, and advanced human 

4 understanding. 

5 (3) Such research holds the promise of con6 tinuing this progress, protecting the environment, 

7 creating jobs, growing the economy through innova8 tive ideas and discoveries, and generally advancing 

9 all mankind. 

10 (4) People in the United States can benefit 

11 when scientific research is conducted and commu12 nicated in a transparent manner to better inform 

13 citizens about the nature and status of such re14 search. 

15 (5) Scientific education is a critical element of 

16 preparing our Nation and our citizens for a tech17 nology-intensive future and ensuring that the United 

18 States remains the world leader in innovation and 

19 high-tech success. 

20 (6) A spokesperson who can embody, dem21 onstrate, and articulate the importance and excite22 ment of scientific research and education will help 

23 improve the current and future state of science to 

24 the benefit of all people in the United States. 


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1 (b) CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION.—Congress rec2 ognizes that science contributes to the economic prosperity 

3 and general welfare of the United States, and that increas4 ing the public’s awareness about the sciences will increase 

5 such benefits. Congress also recognizes that scientists who 

6 are both accomplished in their fields and who foster the 

7 public’s interest in science do a special service to the 

8 United States. 

9 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF SCIENCE LAUREATES OF THE 

10 UNITED STATES. 

11 (a) POSITION ESTABLISHED.—The National Science 

12 Foundation shall establish the position of Science Lau13 reate of the United States to honor the service of sci14 entists. 

15 (b) APPOINTMENT BY NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDA16 TION.—The Science Laureate of the United States shall 

17 be appointed by the National Science Foundation from 

18 among individuals nominated under subsection (c). 

19 (c) NOMINATIONS BY NATIONAL ACADEMY OF

20 SCIENCES.— 

21 (1) AGREEMENT.—The National Science Foun22 dation shall seek to enter into an agreement with the 

23 National Academy of Sciences to perform the serv24 ices covered by this subsection. 

25 (2) NOMINATION.— 


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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—Under an agreement 

2 between the National Science Foundation and 

3 the National Academy of Sciences under this 

4 subsection, the National Academy of Sciences 

5 shall, not less frequently than once each year 

6 and except as provided in subparagraph (D), 

7 nominate three individuals to serve as the 

8 Science Laureate. 

9 (B) BASIS.—Nomination under subpara10 graph (A) shall be on the basis of merit, par11 ticularly the ability of an individual to— 

12 (i) foster and enhance public aware13 ness and interest in science; and 

14 (ii) provide ongoing significant sci15 entific contributions. 

16 (C) VARIETY OF SCIENTIFIC DIS17 CIPLINES.—In nominating individuals under 

18 subparagraph (A), the National Academy of 

19 Sciences shall strive to nominate individuals, in 

20 different years, from different scientific dis21 ciplines, including biology, physics, geosciences, 

22 astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, and other 

23 science disciplines. 

24 (D) EXCEPTION.—The National Academy 

25 of Sciences shall not make any nominations 


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1 under this paragraph for a year if the National 

2 Science Foundation notifies the National Acad3 emy of Sciences that such nominations are un4 necessary because the National Science Foun5 dation intends to extend the term of the current 

6 Science Laureate pursuant to subsection (f). 

7 (d) DUTIES.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—Each Science Laureate shall 

9 engage the public, from time to time, to increase the 

10 public’s awareness about science. 

11 (2) CONTINUATION OF SCIENTIFIC WORK.—A 

12 Science Laureate is encouraged to continue the 

13 Science Laureate’s scientific work. 

14 (3) FACILITATION OF DUTIES.—The National 

15 Science Foundation shall facilitate the duties of a 

16 Science Laureate and the Science Laureate may ac17 cept assistance from the National Academy of 

18 Sciences in carrying out such duties. 

19 (e) LIMITATION.—The Science Laureate position 

20 shall not have the effect of duplicating or superseding the 

21 role of the President’s Science Advisor. 

22 (f) TERM.—Each Science Laureate shall serve a 1- 

23 year term and may be reappointed by the National Science 

24 Foundation for additional terms as the National Science 

25 Foundation considers appropriate. 


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1 (g) COMPENSATION; REIMBURSEMENT.— 

2 (1) COMPENSATION.—Notwithstanding any 

3 other provision of law, a Science Laureate shall 

4 serve without pay and shall not be considered to be 

5 a Federal employee based on such individual’s ap6 pointment as a Science Laureate. 

7 (2) REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL.—The Na8 tional Science Foundation may provide a Science 

9 Laureate with reimbursement for travel expenses in10 curred while performing duties as a Science Lau11 reate, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in 

12 accordance with applicable provisions in the same 

13 manner as persons employed intermittently in the 

14 Government service are allowed expenses under sec15 tion 5703 of title 5, United States Code. 

Æ 


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