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104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3709

To promote the growth of science and technology in the United States.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 25, 1996

Mr. BROWN of California introduced the following bill; which was referred to

the Committee on Science

A BILL

To promote the growth of science and technology in the

United States.

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 ‘‘Opportunities in

5 Science and Technology Act of 1996’’.

6 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

7 The Congress finds that—

8 (1) a citizenry knowledgeable in science and

9 technology is a necessity as the United States enters

10 the twenty-first century;
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1 (2) the Nation’s nonprofit science-technology

2 centers provide an important resource in enhancing

3 scientific literacy;

4 (3) the Nation’s junior or community colleges

5 can be an effective means of fostering knowledge of

6 science and technology both for full-time students

7 and for the wider community; and

8 (4) the provision of resources for the acquisition

9 and upgrading of facilities and equipment for foster10 ing knowledge of science and technology at nonprofit

11 institutions is in the national interest.

12 SEC. 3. PROGRAM TO SUPPORT INSTRUCTIONAL EQUIP13 MENT AND FACILITIES FOR SCIENCE AND

14 TECHNOLOGY.

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Na16 tional Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director

17 of the National Science Foundation, and the Secretary of

18 Energy shall establish a joint program of competitive,

19 merit-reviewed awards in support of instructional equip20 ment and facilities for science and technology.

21 (b) AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—The program estab22 lished under subsection (a) shall make awards annually

23 for the purpose of providing and upgrading facilities and

24 equipment at nonprofit institutions engaged in fostering
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1 knowledge of science and technology. Awards made under

2 this section shall be subject to the following limitations:

3 (1) No funds shall be used for salaries, or for

4 expenses not directly related to fostering knowledge

5 of science and technology.

6 (2) At least 25 percent of the funds provided

7 annually shall be for grants to junior or community

8 colleges.

9 (3) At least 25 percent of the funds provided

10 annually shall be for science-technology centers.

11 (4) At least 25 percent of the funds provided

12 annually shall be provided for—

13 (A) the purchase of audiovisual equipment,

14 interactive displays, and other equipment; and

15 (B) the development or acquisition of ma16 terials, to be used in fostering knowledge of

17 science and technology.

18 (c) ADMINISTRATION.—The joint program estab19 lished under subsection (a) shall annually issue announce20 ments of opportunity for awards. The National Aero21 nautics and Space Administration, the National Science

22 Foundation, and the Department of Energy shall jointly

23 establish and publish the criteria for selection of awards

24 under the program. Responses to the announcements shall

25 be evaluated and ranked by a review committee whose
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1 members shall be selected by the Administrator of the Na2 tional Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director

3 of the National Science Foundation, and the Secretary of

4 Energy.

5 (d) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section—

6 (1) the term ‘‘informal science education’’

7 means those aspects of science education that occur

8 outside the school classroom, usually voluntary, rec9 reational, and interdisciplinary in nature, that are

10 not directed by a specific curriculum;

11 (2) the term ‘‘junior or community college’’ has

12 the meaning given such term in section 312(e) of the

13 Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(e));

14 (3) the term ‘‘science’’ means all physical, bio15 logical, and social sciences, mathematics, and engi16 neering; and

17 (4) the term ‘‘science-technology center’’, which

18 may include museums, planetariums, libraries, and

19 zoos, means a nonprofit institution open to the gen20 eral public providing interactive exhibits, demonstra21 tions, and informal science education designed to—

22 (A) further public understanding of science

23 and technology; and

24 (B) illustrate how such science and tech25 nology interacts with society,
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1 and such institutions may also be involved in formal

2 educational activities.

3 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the

4 purpose of carrying out this Act, there are authorized to

5 be appropriated $20,000,000 for fiscal year 1997,

6 $24,000,000 for fiscal year 1998, and $30,000,000 for fis7 cal year 1999, with such amounts, to the extent prac8 ticable, to be equally divided among the National Aero9 nautics and Space Administration, the National Science

10 Foundation, and the Department of Energy.

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