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Union Calendar No. 314 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 3293 

[Report No. 114–412] 

To provide for greater accountability in Federal funding for scientific research, to promote the progress of science in the United States that 

serves that national interest. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JULY 29, 2015 

Mr. SMITH of Texas (for himself, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. GRAYSON, 

Mrs. COMSTOCK, Mr. MOOLENAAR, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. KNIGHT, 

Mr. BRIDENSTINE, Mr. WESTERMAN, Mr. BABIN, Mr. BROOKS of Alabama, Mr. LOUDERMILK, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. 

NEUGEBAUER, Mr. POSEY, Mr. PALMER, Mr. ABRAHAM, and Mr. 

NEWHOUSE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 

FEBRUARY 2, 2016 

Additional sponsors: Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. ROUZER, and Mr. 

HENSARLING

FEBRUARY 2, 2016 

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 

and ordered to be printed 


srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
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•HR 3293 RH

A BILL 

To provide for greater accountability in Federal funding for 

scientific research, to promote the progress of science 

in the United States that serves that national interest. 


srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
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•HR 3293 RH

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 ‘‘Scientific Research in 

5 the National Interest Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY IN FEDERAL FUNDING 

7 FOR RESEARCH. 

8 (a) STANDARD FOR AWARD OF GRANTS.—The Na9 tional Science Foundation shall award Federal funding for 

10 basic research and education in the sciences through a new 

11 research grant or cooperative agreement only if an affirm12 ative determination is made by the Foundation under sub13 section (b) and written justification relating thereto is 

14 published under subsection (c). 

15 (b) DETERMINATION.—A determination referred to 

16 in subsection (a) is a justification by the responsible Foun17 dation official as to how the research grant or cooperative 

18 agreement promotes the progress of science in the United 

19 States, consistent with the Foundation mission as estab20 lished in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 

21 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.), and further— 

22 (1) is worthy of Federal funding; and 

23 (2) is in the national interest, as indicated by 

24 having the potential to achieve— 


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•HR 3293 RH

1 (A) increased economic competitiveness in 

2 the United States; 

3 (B) advancement of the health and welfare 

4 of the American public; 

5 (C) development of an American STEM 

6 workforce that is globally competitive; 

7 (D) increased public scientific literacy and 

8 public engagement with science and technology 

9 in the United States; 

10 (E) increased partnerships between aca11 demia and industry in the United States; 

12 (F) support for the national defense of the 

13 United States; or 

14 (G) promotion of the progress of science 

15 for the United States. 

16 (c) WRITTEN JUSTIFICATION.—Public announce17 ment of each award of Federal funding described in sub18 section (a) shall include a written justification from the 

19 responsible Foundation official as to how a grant or coop20 erative agreement meets the requirements of subsection 

21 (b). 

22 (d) IMPLEMENTATION.—A determination under sub23 section (b) shall be made after a research grant or cooper24 ative agreement proposal has satisfied the Foundation’s 

25 reviews for Merit and Broader Impacts. Nothing in this 


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•HR 3293 RH

1 section shall be construed as altering the Foundation’s in2 tellectual merit or broader impacts criteria for evaluating 

3 grant applications. 


srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS
Union Calendar No. 314 

114TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 3293 

[Report No. 114–412] 

A BILL 

To provide for greater accountability in Federal 

serves that national interest. progress of science in the United States that funding for scientific research, to promote the 

FEBRUARY 2, 2016 

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 

State of the Union and ordered to be printed 


srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with BILLS