I 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 4801 

To establish the Global Science Program for Security, Competitiveness, and 

Diplomacy, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 10, 2010 

Mr. BERMAN (for himself, Mr. FORTENBERRY, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. BAIRD, and 

Mr. HOLT) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Committee on Science 

and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 

Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 

the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To establish the Global Science Program for Security, 

Competitiveness, and Diplomacy, 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 ‘‘Global Science Pro5 gram for Security, Competitiveness, and Diplomacy Act 

6 of 2010’’. 

7 SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 

8 Congress finds the following: 


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1 (1) International scientific collaboration pro2 motes the national security and economic competi3 tiveness of the United States. It is therefore a key 

4 foreign policy priority of Congress to support such 

5 collaboration. 

6 (2) During the Cold War, scientific collabora7 tion bolstered relationships with United States allies 

8 and provided helpful engagement with adversaries. 

9 (3) International scientific collaboration today 

10 helps the United States find technical solutions to 

11 key global challenges, promotes economic develop12 ment at home and abroad, improves bilateral rela13 tionships, leverages the capabilities of foreign sci14 entists and engineers, creates technology that im15 proves quality of life, promotes United States values, 

16 and enhances the reputation of the United States in 

17 the world. 

18 (4) The United States faces competition from 

19 other countries in the field of international scientific 

20 collaboration. Forging international networks with 

21 the best individuals and institutions abroad is essen22 tial to advancing long-term United States economic 

23 interests. 

24 (5) Simultaneously, it is of the highest priority 

25 for United States national security to ensure that 


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1 scientists who have been engaged in weapons of 

2 mass destruction (WMD)-related research and engi3 neering are encouraged and supported, in partner4 ship with foreign governments, to engage in produc5 tive civil initiatives. This collaboration and other 

6 international scientific partnerships can be applied 

7 directly to solving pressing problems of global secu8 rity, including global pandemics and climate change. 

9 (6) Ensuring long-term stability and prosperity 

10 in countries vulnerable to terrorist influence requires 

11 promoting effective economic development and build12 ing the capacity of foreign partners to address con13 ditions that give rise to terrorism. International sci14 entific collaboration provides a means to advance 

15 these objectives. 

16 (7) In an era where international skepticism 

17 about United States foreign policy abounds, civil so18 ciety—including scientists and engineers—plays a 

19 critical role in advancing the foreign policy interests 

20 of the United States via engagement with scientists 

21 abroad. Among foreign scientists and engineers, the 

22 United States remains the most attractive destina23 tion in the world for graduate education and career24 long collaboration. 


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1 (8) There are a range of activities, such as col2 laborative research and exchange programs, best 

3 suited to non-government organizations, where inde4 pendence from the United States Government pro5 vides greater flexibility, agility, and, in some cases, 

6 credibility, with foreign scientists. 

7 (9) United States scientists, engineers, and 

8 innovators are an underutilized asset in efforts to 

9 advance United States diplomatic objectives; facili10 tating contact between such individuals and foreign 

11 populations of interest will advance overall United 

12 States foreign policy objectives. 

13 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

14 In this Act: 

15 (1) ELIGIBLE COUNTRY.—The term ‘‘eligible 

16 country’’ means— 

17 (A) a country classified by the World Bank 

18 as either lower-middle-income or low-income 

19 economies; 

20 (B) a country located in the Middle East; 

21 (C) a country with a majority population 

22 of Muslims; or 

23 (D) any other country as determined by 

24 the Secretary of State. 


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1 (2) FEDERAL SCIENCE AGENCY.—The term 

2 ‘‘Federal science agency’’ means any Federal agency 

3 that is responsible for at least two percent of the 

4 total Federal obligation for research and develop5 ment at institutions of higher education, according 

6 to the most recent data available from the National 

7 Science Foundation. 

8 (3) ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘organization’’ 

9 means an educational institution, corporation, part10 nership, firm, or entity exempt from taxation under 

11 section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 

12 and described in section 501(c)(3) of such Code. 

13 SEC. 4. GLOBAL SCIENCE PROGRAM FOR SECURITY, COM14 PETITIVENESS, AND DIPLOMACY. 

15 (a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of State shall 

16 establish a program to be known as the ‘‘Global Science 

17 Program for Security, Competitiveness, and Diplomacy’’ 

18 (referred to in this section and sections 5 and 6 as the 

19 ‘‘Program’’) in accordance with this section and sections 

20 5 and 6. 

21 (b) ACTIVITIES SUPPORTED.—The Program shall 

22 carry out, through the provision of grants, the following 

23 activities: 

24 (1) COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH.— 


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1 (A) IN GENERAL.—Establish global re2 search competitions that will undertake the fol3 lowing: 

4 (i) Address the following global chal5 lenges: ocean acidification, nonprolifera6 tion, multiple drug resistant diseases, 

7 water-borne diseases, development of sus8 tainable renewable energy resources, sani9 tation, food shortage, and water resources. 

10 (ii) Engage former WMD scientists to 

11 assist in their transition to peaceful, civil12 ian research. 

13 (iii) Provide incentives for United 

14 States businesses to undertake programs 

15 employing such scientists for peaceful pur16 poses. 

17 (iv) Foster stronger partnerships and 

18 relations between United States and for19 eign universities in science and technology. 

20 (B) ACTIVITIES.—Such global research 

21 competitions shall include— 

22 (i) grants for not more than five years 

23 of collaborative research and development 

24 projects between United States scientists 


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1 and engineers and scientists and engineers 

2 from eligible countries; and 

3 (ii) grants to enhance existing United 

4 States-based research programs by adding 

5 an international partner from an eligible 

6 country. 

7 (2) INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY BUILDING.— 

8 (A) GOALS.—The goals of such grants 

9 shall be to— 

10 (i) strengthen the research infrastruc11 ture and science and engineering curricula 

12 of institutes of higher learning in eligible 

13 countries; 

14 (ii) engage foreign students early in 

15 their careers with United States scientists 

16 and engineers in order to bring such stu17 dents into the global sphere of science and 

18 foster critical thinking; and 

19 (iii) expand existing scholarship ex20 changes with students from eligible coun21 tries. 

22 (B) RESTRICTIONS.—The following restric23 tions shall apply to the Program: 

24 (i) Funds may not be used for con25 struction of facilities. 


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1 (ii) Not more than 10 percent of each 

2 grant may be used for purchase of equip3 ment. 

4 (iii) No eligible country may receive 

5 more than 10 percent of the funds author6 ized to be appropriated for the Program 

7 for any fiscal year. 

8 (C) ACTIVITIES.—Such grants may in9 clude— 

10 (i) establishing research and education 

11 centers at institutes of higher learning in 

12 eligible countries to carry out the purposes 

13 of this Act; and 

14 (ii) providing equipment and training. 

15 (3) NONPROLIFERATION.— 

16 (A) IN GENERAL.—Conduct research and 

17 training programs that— 

18 (i) engage scientists and engineers 

19 who might otherwise be exploited to par20 ticipate in illicit nuclear or WMD weapons 

21 programs; 

22 (ii) help prevent nuclear and WMD 

23 proliferation; or 

24 (iii) encourage foreign scientists and 

25 engineers, in collaboration with United 


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1 States partners, to develop technologies 

2 and methods to combat WMD terrorism. 

3 (B) ACTIVITIES.—Such research and train4 ing programs may include— 

5 (i) collaborative research competitions 

6 that would provide research grants to for7 eign scientists and engineers with WMD 

8 experience or who could be targeted to par9 ticipate in a WMD or nuclear weapons 

10 program, and United States scientists and 

11 engineers; and 

12 (ii) research and training programs 

13 for personnel of eligible countries who will 

14 be implementing nuclear cooperation agree15 ments with the United States or otherwise 

16 participating in nuclear programs. 

17 (4) GLOBAL VIRTUAL SCIENCE LIBRARY.—To 

18 make grants to organizations that provide online ac19 cess at little or no cost for scientists and engineers 

20 in eligible countries to worldwide science journals. 

21 (c) CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.—Grants awarded pur22 suant to subsection (b) (except for grants awarded pursu23 ant to paragraph (3) of such subsection) shall be competi24 tive, peer-reviewed, and merit-based. 


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1 (d) ADDITIONAL FUNDING.—In applying for a grant, 

2 an organization shall demonstrate how it will seek, to the 

3 maximum extent possible, additional funding from partner 

4 organizations, foreign governments, private businesses, 

5 and other entities, ideally to the level of a full match. 

6 SEC. 5. MANAGEMENT. 

7 (a) POLICY.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State, in 

9 consultation with the Director of the Office of 

10 Science and Technology Policy, shall promulgate 

11 guidelines for review of grant applications to the 

12 Program. 

13 (2) REQUIREMENTS.—The guidelines required 

14 under this subsection shall address, at a minimum, 

15 the following: 

16 (A) Criteria by which grants shall be se17 lected, including a description of diplomatic ob18 jectives of the Program. 

19 (B) Policies to ensure that grants are in 

20 furtherance of United States diplomatic objec21 tives. 

22 (C) The countries and regions to partici23 pate in the Program. 

24 (b) IMPLEMENTATION.— 


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1 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of State shall 

2 coordinate with the Director of the Office of Science 

3 and Technology Policy and the Director of the Na4 tional Science Foundation to administer and imple5 ment the Program, in accordance with the guidelines 

6 promulgated pursuant to subsection (a). 

7 (2) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—The Di8 rector of the National Science Foundation shall per9 form the following activities for the Program: 

10 (A) Subject to the guidelines promulgated 

11 pursuant to subsection (a), develop and issue 

12 solicitations for projects described in section 

13 4(b), or coordinate with other Federal science 

14 agencies to develop and issue solicitations, as 

15 appropriate. 

16 (B) Establish peer review panels comprised 

17 of individuals with demonstrated experience in 

18 relevant fields to— 

19 (i) review proposals for grants; and 

20 (ii) provide recommendations regard21 ing evaluation of such proposals. 

22 (C) Award grants based on the peer review 

23 recommendations. 

24 (D) Administer grants on behalf of the 

25 Program. 


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1 (c) ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS FROM OUTSIDE

2 SOURCES.—The Program may accept funds from outside 

3 sources, including foreign governments, nongovernmental 

4 organizations, and private business entities. 

5 (d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this Act 

6 may be construed to make any grant recipient an agent 

7 or establishment of the United States Government. 

8 (e) ANNUAL REPORT.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than November 30 

10 of each year, the President shall transmit to Con11 gress a report relating to the Program for the pre12 ceding fiscal year. 

13 (2) CONTENTS.—The report required under 

14 paragraph (1) shall include the following informa15 tion: 

16 (A) A comprehensive and detailed report 

17 on all operations, activities, and accomplish18 ments under the Program. 

19 (B) All expenditures of funds from the 

20 Program. 

21 (C) A report on metrics used to gauge suc22 cess of the Program. 


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1 SEC. 6. FUNDING. 

2 (a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro3 priated to the President such sums as may be necessary 

4 to carry out sections 4 and 5. 

5 (b) ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES.—Amounts appro6 priated pursuant to the authorization for appropriations 

7 under subsection (a)— 

8 (1) may be referred to as the ‘‘Global Science 

9 Program for Security, Competitiveness, and Diplo10 macy’’; and 

11 (2) may remain available until expended. 

12 (c) TRANSFER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of State 

13 may transfer funds authorized to be appropriated pursu14 ant to this section to other Federal agencies, including the 

15 National Science Foundation, for the purposes of admin16 istering the Program. The Director of the National 

17 Science Foundation (NSF) may transfer funds trans18 ferred to the NSF, as appropriate, to other Federal 

19 science agencies for the purpose of implementing the Pro20 gram. 

21 SEC. 7. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

22 It is the sense of Congress that— 

23 (1) the Office of the Science and Technology 

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1 partment of State, including greater involvement in 

2 the activities of regional bureaus; and 

3 (2) science is a critical, underutilized resource 

4 for United States diplomacy, and that the activities 

5 of bureaus with oversight over science programs 

6 within the Department should be integrated. 

7 SEC. 8. EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM. 

8 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con9 gress that— 

10 (1) scientific fellows at the Department of State 

11 critically augment the capacity of the Department 

12 and United States embassies to address science and 

13 technology issues; 

14 (2) Federal agencies are reluctant to pay the 

15 costs of scientists detailed to serve in United States 

16 embassies; and 

17 (3) expanding existing fellowship programs will 

18 meet the Department’s needs to enhance the role of 

19 science at United States embassies. 

20 (b) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of State is au21 thorized to establish a program to be known as the ‘‘Em22 bassy Science Fellows Program’’ to serve the following 

23 purposes: 


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1 (1) Pay for the costs of scientists employed at 

2 Federal agencies to serve in the Department of 

3 State for a period of not longer than three years. 

4 (2) Enhance the role scientists play in strength5 ening United States diplomatic efforts. 

6 (3) Ensure the placement of scientists at 

7 United States embassies. 

8 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From 

9 amounts made available to the Diplomatic and Consular 

10 Programs account of the Department of State, there is 

11 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State 

12 such sums as may be necessary to implement the Program 

13 authorized to be established in accordance with subsection 

14 (b). 

15 (d) ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS FROM OUTSIDE

16 SOURCES.—The Embassy Science Fellows Program may 

17 accept funds from outside sources, including foundations, 

18 nongovernmental organizations, and private business enti19 ties. 

20 SEC. 9. JEFFERSON SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM. 

21 (a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con22 gress that— 

23 (1) tenured academic scientists from United 

24 States institutions of higher learning can provide 


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1 critical expertise and inform foreign policy matters 

2 at the Department of State; 

3 (2) United States academic institutions enjoy 

4 an enhanced reputation in the international scientific 

5 community; 

6 (3) the presence of United States scientists at 

7 the Department of State enhances the utility of 

8 science as tool for diplomatic engagement; and 

9 (4) the Jefferson Science Fellows Program au10 thorized to be established pursuant to this section 

11 will provide a successful model for augmenting the 

12 scientific expertise at the Department of State. 

13 (b) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of State is au14 thorized to establish a program to be known as the ‘‘Jef15 ferson Science Fellows Program’’ to serve the following 

16 purposes: 

17 (1) Provide an opportunity for tenured re18 search-active scientists and engineers from the 

19 United States academic community to serve in the 

20 Department of State for one year. 

21 (2) Maintain an ongoing interactive relationship 

22 between United States academic institutions and the 

23 Department of State by utilizing former Jefferson 

24 Fellows as expert consultants for short-term projects 


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1 for at least five years following their fellowship ten2 ure. 

3 (3) Enhance the availability at the Department 

4 of State of up-to-date scientific knowledge relevant 

5 to foreign policy and international relations. 

6 (4) Enhance the use of science as a tool for di7 plomacy at the Department of State. 

8 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From 

9 amounts made available to the Diplomatic and Consular 

10 Programs account of the Department of State, there is 

11 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State 

12 such sums as may be necessary to implement the Jefferson 

13 Science Fellows Program authorized to be established in 

14 accordance with subsection (b). 

15 (d) ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS FROM OUTSIDE

16 SOURCES.—The Jefferson Science Fellows Program may 

17 accept funds from outside sources, including foundations, 

18 nongovernmental organizations, and private business enti19 ties. 

20 SEC. 10. SCIENTIFIC ENVOYS PROGRAM. 

21 (a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary of State shall 

22 establish a program to be known as the ‘‘Scientific Envoys 

23 Program’’. In carrying out the Program, the Secretary 

24 shall appoint scientists and engineers, including Nobel 


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1 Prize Laureates and renowned researchers and professors, 

2 to serve as envoys on behalf of the United States to— 

3 (1) represent the commitment of the United 

4 States to promote, in collaboration with other coun5 tries, the advancement of science and technology; 

6 and 

7 (2) facilitate partnership with eligible countries. 

8 (b) RESTRICTIONS.—The following restrictions shall 

9 apply to the Program: 

10 (1) Of amounts authorized to be appropriated 

11 for the Program, funds may be used to cover only 

12 the travel and per diem costs of envoys appointed by 

13 the Secretary of State. 

14 (2) The total length of travel for any envoy may 

15 not exceed 14 days. 

16 (3) Not more than 12 envoys may be appointed 

17 annually. 

18 (4) An envoy may serve a term of not longer 

19 than 3 years. 

20 (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From 

21 amounts made available to the Exchange and Cultural Af22 fairs account of the Department of State, there is author23 ized to be appropriated to the Secretary of State such 

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1 thorized to be established in accordance with subsection 

2 (a). 

3 SEC. 11. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING SCIENCE-RE4 LATED CONFERENCES, EXCHANGES, AND 

5 PROGRAMS. 

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

7 (1) The United States is a preeminent location 

8 for science-related conferences, exchanges, and pro9 grams. 

10 (2) Such conferences contribute to State and 

11 local economies and provide critical opportunities for 

12 United States scientists to interact with foreign 

13 counterparts. 

14 (3) Recently, the visa process to gain admission 

15 to the United States for such events has become suf16 ficiently onerous to deter foreign visitors whom the 

17 United States should welcome. 

18 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con19 gress that relevant Federal agencies should work to im20 prove the overall visa process to ensure that the United 

21 States remains a central destination for such conferences, 

22 exchanges, and programs. 

Æ 


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