IIB 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2051 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 10, 2019 

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 

and Transportation 

AN ACT 

To provide for Federal coordination of activities supporting 

sustainable chemistry, 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, 


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1 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

2 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Sustainable Chemistry 

3 Research and Development Act of 2019’’. 

4 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

5 Congress finds that— 

6 (1) Congress recognized the importance and 

7 value of sustainable chemistry and the role of the 

8 Federal Government in section 114 of the American 

9 Innovation and Competitiveness Act (Public Law 

10 114–329); 

11 (2) sustainable chemistry and materials trans12 formation is a key value contributor to business 

13 competitiveness across many industrial and con14 sumer sectors; 

15 (3) companies across hundreds of supply chains 

16 critical to the American economy are seeking to re17 duce costs and open new markets through innova18 tions in manufacturing and materials, and are in 

19 need of new innovations in chemistry, including sus20 tainable chemistry; 

21 (4) sustainable chemistry can improve the effi22 ciency with which natural resources are used to meet 

23 human needs for chemical products while avoiding 

24 environmental harm, reduce or eliminate the emis25 sions of and exposures to hazardous substances, 


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1 minimize the use of resources, and benefit the econ2 omy, people, and the environment; and 

3 (5) a recent report by the Government Account4 ability Office (GAO–18–307) found that the Federal 

5 Government could play an important role in helping 

6 realize the full innovation and market potential of 

7 sustainable chemistry technologies, including 

8 through a coordinated national effort on sustainable 

9 chemistry and standardized tools and definitions to 

10 support sustainable chemistry research, development, 

11 demonstration, and commercialization. 

12 SEC. 3. NATIONAL COORDINATING ENTITY FOR SUSTAIN13 ABLE CHEMISTRY. 

14 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 

15 the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Of16 fice of Science and Technology Policy shall convene an 

17 interagency entity (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Entity’’) 

18 under the National Science and Technology Council with 

19 the responsibility to coordinate Federal programs and ac20 tivities in support of sustainable chemistry, including 

21 those described in sections 5 and 6. 

22 (b) COORDINATION WITH EXISTING GROUPS.—In 

23 convening the Entity, the Director of the Office of Science 

24 and Technology Policy shall consider overlap and possible 

25 coordination with existing committees, subcommittees, or 


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1 other groups of the National Science and Technology 

2 Council, such as— 

3 (1) the Committee on Environment; 

4 (2) the Committee on Technology; 

5 (3) the Committee on Science; or 

6 (4) related groups or subcommittees. 

7 (c) CO-CHAIRS.—The Entity shall be co-chaired by 

8 the Office of Science and Technology Policy and a rep9 resentative from the Environmental Protection Agency, 

10 the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the 

11 National Science Foundation, or the Department of En12 ergy, as selected by the Director of the Office of Science 

13 and Technology Policy. 

14 (d) AGENCY PARTICIPATION.—The Entity shall in15 clude representatives, including subject matter experts, 

16 from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National 

17 Institute of Standards and Technology, the National 

18 Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the De19 partment of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the 

20 National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease 

21 Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administra22 tion, the Office of Management and Budget, and other re23 lated Federal agencies, as appropriate. 


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1 (e) TERMINATION.—The Entity shall terminate on 

2 the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of 

3 this Act. 

4 SEC. 4. ROADMAP FOR SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY. 

5 (a) ROADMAP.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

6 of enactment of this Act, the Entity shall— 

7 (1) consult with relevant stakeholders including 

8 representatives from industry, academia, the Federal 

9 Government, and international entities to develop 

10 and update as needed a consensus definition of ‘‘sus11 tainable chemistry’’ to guide the activities under this 

12 Act; 

13 (2) develop a working framework of attributes 

14 characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable 

15 chemistry, as described in subsection (b); 

16 (3) assess the state of sustainable chemistry in 

17 the United States as a key benchmark from which 

18 progress under the activities described in this Act 

19 can be measured, including assessing key sectors of 

20 the United States economy, key technology plat21 forms, commercial priorities, and barriers to innova22 tion; 

23 (4) coordinate and support Federal research, 

24 development, demonstration, technology transfer, 

25 commercialization, education, and training efforts in 


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1 sustainable chemistry, including budget coordination 

2 and support for public-private partnerships, as ap3 propriate; 

4 (5) identify methods by which the Federal 

5 agencies can facilitate the development of incentives 

6 for development, consideration and use of sustain7 able chemistry processes and products, including in8 novative financing mechanisms; 

9 (6) identify major scientific challenges, road10 blocks, or hurdles to transformational progress in 

11 improving the sustainability of the chemical sciences; 

12 and 

13 (7) identify other opportunities for expanding 

14 Federal efforts in support of sustainable chemistry. 

15 (b) CHARACTERIZING AND ASSESSING SUSTAINABLE

16 CHEMISTRY.—The Entity shall develop a working frame17 work of attributes characterizing and metrics for assessing 

18 sustainable chemistry for the purposes of carrying out the 

19 Act. In developing this framework, the Entity shall— 

20 (1) seek advice and input from stakeholders as 

21 described in subsection (c); 

22 (2) consider existing definitions of or frame23 works characterizing and metrics for assessing sus24 tainable chemistry already in use at Federal agen25 cies; 


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1 (3) consider existing definitions of or frame2 works characterizing and metrics for assessing sus3 tainable chemistry already in use by international 

4 organizations of which the United States is a mem5 ber, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-oper6 ation and Development; and 

7 (4) consider any other appropriate existing defi8 nitions of or frameworks characterizing and metrics 

9 for assessing sustainable chemistry. 

10 (c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the duties de11 scribed in subsections (a) and (b), the Entity shall consult 

12 with stakeholders qualified to provide advice and informa13 tion to guide Federal activities related to sustainable 

14 chemistry through workshops, requests for information, 

15 and other mechanisms as necessary. The stakeholders 

16 shall include representatives from— 

17 (1) business and industry (including trade asso18 ciations and small- and medium-sized enterprises 

19 from across the value chain); 

20 (2) the scientific community (including the Na21 tional Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Med22 icine, scientific professional societies, and academia); 

23 (3) the defense community; 


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1 (4) State, tribal, and local governments, includ2 ing nonregulatory State or regional sustainable 

3 chemistry programs, as appropriate; 

4 (5) nongovernmental organizations; and 

5 (6) other appropriate organizations. 

6 (d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

7 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 

8 the date of enactment of this Act, the Entity shall 

9 submit a report to the Committee on Environment 

10 and Public Works, the Committee on Commerce, 

11 Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on 

12 Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on 

13 Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on 

14 Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Ap15 propriations of the House of Representatives. In ad16 dition to the elements described in subsections (a) 

17 and (b), the report shall include— 

18 (A) a summary of federally funded, sus19 tainable chemistry research, development, dem20 onstration, technology transfer, commercializa21 tion, education, and training activities; 

22 (B) a summary of the financial resources 

23 allocated to sustainable chemistry initiatives; 

24 (C) an assessment of the current state of 

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1 cluding the role that Federal agencies are play2 ing in supporting it; 

3 (D) an analysis of the progress made to4 ward achieving the goals and priorities of this 

5 Act, and recommendations for future program 

6 activities; 

7 (E) an assessment of the benefits of ex8 panding existing, federally supported, regional 

9 innovation and manufacturing hubs, centers, 

10 and institutes to include sustainable chemistry 

11 and the value of directing the creation of one or 

12 more dedicated sustainable chemistry centers of 

13 excellence, hubs, or institutes; and 

14 (F) an evaluation of steps taken and fu15 ture strategies to avoid duplication of efforts, 

16 streamline interagency coordination, facilitate 

17 information sharing, and spread best practices 

18 among participating agencies. 

19 (2) SUBMISSION TO GAO.—The Entity shall 

20 also submit the report described in paragraph (1) to 

21 the Comptroller General of the United States for 

22 consideration in future Congressional inquiries. 


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1 SEC. 5. AGENCY ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINABLE 

2 CHEMISTRY. 

3 (a) IN GENERAL.—The agencies participating in the 

4 Entity shall carry out activities in support of sustainable 

5 chemistry, as appropriate to the specific mission and pro6 grams of each agency. 

7 (b) ACTIVITIES.—The activities described in sub8 section (a) shall— 

9 (1) incorporate sustainable chemistry into exist10 ing research, development, demonstration, tech11 nology transfer, commercialization, education, and 

12 training programs, that the agency determines to be 

13 relevant, including consideration of— 

14 (A) merit-based competitive grants to indi15 vidual investigators and teams of investigators, 

16 including, to the extent practicable, early career 

17 investigators for research and development; 

18 (B) grants to fund collaborative research 

19 and development partnerships among univer20 sities, industry, and nonprofit organizations; 

21 (C) coordination of sustainable chemistry 

22 research, development, demonstration, and tech23 nology transfer conducted at Federal labora24 tories and agencies; 


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1 (D) incentive prize competitions and chal2 lenges in coordination with such existing Fed3 eral agency programs; and 

4 (E) grants, loans, and loan guarantees to 

5 aid in the technology transfer and commer6 cialization of sustainable chemicals, materials, 

7 processes, and products; 

8 (2) collect and disseminate information on sus9 tainable chemistry research, development, technology 

10 transfer, and commercialization, including informa11 tion on accomplishments and best practices; 

12 (3) raise awareness of sustainable chemistry 

13 concepts through public outreach activities; 

14 (4) expand the education and training of stu15 dents at all levels of education, professional sci16 entists and engineers, and other professionals in17 volved in all aspects of sustainable chemistry and en18 gineering appropriate to that level of education and 

19 training, including through— 

20 (A) partnerships with industry as de21 scribed in section 6; 

22 (B) support for the integration of sustain23 able chemistry principles into elementary, sec24 ondary, undergraduate, and graduate chemistry 

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1 search training, as appropriate to that level of 

2 education and training; and 

3 (C) support for integration of sustainable 

4 chemistry principles into existing or new profes5 sional development opportunities for profes6 sionals including teachers, faculty, and individ7 uals involved in laboratory research, (product 

8 development, materials specification and test9 ing, life cycle analysis, and management); 

10 (5) as relevant to an agency’s programs, exam11 ine methods by which the Federal agencies, in col12 laboration and consultation with the National Insti13 tute of Standards and Technology, may facilitate the 

14 development or recognition of validated, standard15 ized tools for performing sustainability assessments 

16 of chemistry processes or products; 

17 (6) through programs identified by an agency, 

18 support (including through technical assistance, par19 ticipation, financial support, communications tools, 

20 awards, or other forms of support) outreach and dis21 semination of sustainable chemistry advances such 

22 as non-Federal symposia, forums, conferences, and 

23 publications in collaboration with, as appropriate, in24 dustry, academia, scientific and professional soci25 eties, and other relevant groups; 


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1 (7) provide for public input and outreach to be 

2 integrated into the activities described in this section 

3 by the convening of public discussions, through 

4 mechanisms such as public meetings, consensus con5 ferences, and educational events, as appropriate; 

6 (8) within each agency, develop metrics to track 

7 the outputs and outcomes of the programs supported 

8 by that agency; and 

9 (9) incentivize or recognize actions that advance 

10 sustainable chemistry products, processes, or initia11 tives, including through the establishment of a na12 tionally recognized awards program through the En13 vironmental Protection Agency to identify, publicize, 

14 and celebrate innovations in sustainable chemistry 

15 and chemical technologies. 

16 (c) LIMITATIONS.—Financial support provided under 

17 this section shall— 

18 (1) be available only for pre-competitive activi19 ties; and 

20 (2) not be used to promote the sale of a specific 

21 product, process, or technology, or to disparage a 

22 specific product, process, or technology. 

23 (d) AGENCY BUDGET REPORT.—For each of fiscal 

24 years 2021 through 2030, not later than 90 days after 

25 submission of the President’s annual budget request, the 


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1 Entity shall prepare and submit to the Committee on En2 vironment and Public Works, the Committee on Com3 merce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee 

4 on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on 

5 Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Energy 

6 and Commerce, and the Committee on Appropriations of 

7 the House of Representatives a report that includes a 

8 summarized agency budget in support of the activities 

9 under this Act for the fiscal year to which such budget 

10 request applies, and for the then current fiscal year, in11 cluding a breakout of spending for each agency partici12 pating in such activities. 

13 SEC. 6. PARTNERSHIPS IN SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—The agencies participating in the 

15 Entity may facilitate and support, through financial, tech16 nical, or other assistance, the creation of partnerships be17 tween institutions of higher education, nongovernmental 

18 organizations, consortia, or companies across the value 

19 chain in the chemical industry, including small- and me20 dium-sized enterprises, to— 

21 (1) create collaborative sustainable chemistry 

22 research, development, demonstration, technology 

23 transfer, and commercialization programs; and 

24 (2) train students and retrain professional sci25 entists, engineers, and others involved in materials 


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1 specification on the use of sustainable chemistry con2 cepts and strategies by methods, including— 

3 (A) developing or recognizing curricular 

4 materials and courses for undergraduate and 

5 graduate levels and for the professional develop6 ment of scientists, engineers, and others in7 volved in materials specification; and 

8 (B) publicizing the availability of profes9 sional development courses in sustainable chem10 istry and recruiting professionals to pursue 

11 such courses. 

12 (b) PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION.—To be eligi13 ble for support under this section, a partnership in sus14 tainable chemistry shall include at least one private sector 

15 organization. 

16 (c) SELECTION OF PARTNERSHIPS.—In selecting 

17 partnerships for support under this section, the agencies 

18 participating in the Entity shall also consider the extent 

19 to which the applicants are willing and able to dem20 onstrate evidence of support for, and commitment to, the 

21 goals outlined in the roadmap and report described in sec22 tion 4. 

23 (d) PROHIBITED USE OF FUNDS.—Financial support 

24 provided under this section may not be used— 


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1 (1) to support or expand a regulatory chemical 

2 management program at an implementing agency 

3 under a State law; 

4 (2) to construct or renovate a building or struc5 ture; or 

6 (3) to promote the sale of a specific product, 

7 process, or technology, or to disparage a specific 

8 product, process, or technology. 

9 SEC. 7. PRIORITIZATION. 

10 In carrying out this Act, the Entity shall focus its 

11 support for sustainable chemistry activities on those that 

12 achieve, to the highest extent practicable, the goals out13 lined in the Act. 

14 SEC. 8. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 

15 Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or 

16 amend any State law or action with regard to sustainable 

17 chemistry, as defined by the State. 

Passed the House of Representatives December 9, 

2019. 

Attest: CHERYL L. JOHNSON, 

Clerk. 


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