IB 

Union Calendar No. 349 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6291 

[Report No. 117–452] 

To provide for a comprehensive and integrative program to accelerate microelectronics research and development at the Department of Energy, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

DECEMBER 14, 2021 

Mr. TONKO (for himself and Mr. ELLZEY) introduced the following bill; which 

was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 

AUGUST 19, 2022 

Additional sponsors: Ms. STEVENS, Mr. GIMENEZ, and Ms. WILD

AUGUST 19, 2022 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 

House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on December 14, 2021] 


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A BILL 

To provide for a comprehensive and integrative program 

to accelerate microelectronics research and development 

at the Department of Energy, and for other purposes. 


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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 ‘‘Microelectronics Re5 search for Energy Innovation Act’’ or the ‘‘Micro Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

7 In this Act: 

8 (1) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 

9 means the Department of Energy. 

10 (2) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND UNIVER11 SITY.—The term ‘‘historically Black college and uni12 versity’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘part B in13 stitution’’ in section 322 of the Higher Education Act 

14 of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061). 

15 (3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 

16 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the mean17 ing given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher 

18 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 

19 (4) MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTION.—The term 

20 ‘‘minority serving institution’’ includes the entities 

21 described in any of the paragraphs (1) through (7) of 

22 section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 

23 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)). 

24 (5) NATIONAL LABORATORY.—The term ‘‘Na25 tional Laboratory’’ has the meaning given the term in 


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1 section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 

2 15801). 

3 (6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 

4 the Secretary of Energy. 

5 (7) SKILLED TECHNICAL WORKFORCE.—The 

6 term ‘‘skilled technical workforce’’ has the meaning 

7 given such term in section 4(b) of the Innovations in 

8 Mentoring, Training, and Apprenticeships Act (42 

9 U.S.C. 1862p). 

10 (8) TRIBAL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY.—The 

11 term ‘‘Tribal College and University’’ has the mean12 ing given in section 316 of the Higher Education Act 

13 of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c). 

14 SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 

15 Congress finds that— 

16 (1) the coming end of Moore’s Law presents 

17 major technological challenges and opportunities for 

18 the United States and important implications for na19 tional security, economic competitiveness, and sci20 entific discovery; 

21 (2) future progress and innovation in microelec22 tronics, and maintaining a robust domestic microelec23 tronics supply chain, will require an approach that 

24 advances relevant materials science, electronic and 

25 photonic device technologies, processing and packVerDate Sep 11 2014 17:08 Aug 19, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H6291.RH H6291

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1 aging technologies, manufacturing technologies, cir2 cuit, chip, and system architecture, and software sys3 tem and algorithm development in a co-design fash4 ion; 

5 (3) the National Laboratories possess unique 

6 technical expertise and user facilities that are essen7 tial to overcoming foundational research challenges 

8 relevant to the topics described in paragraph (2), and 

9 translating and transferring research outcomes to in10 dustry; and 

11 (4) the assets described in paragraph (3) will en12 able the Department to drive advances in microelec13 tronics that are essential to meeting future needs in 

14 areas critical to its missions as well as the future 

15 competitiveness of the domestic microelectronics in16 dustry, including high-performance computing, 

17 emerging data-centric computing approaches, and en18 ergy-efficient computing; optical sensors, sources, and 

19 wireless networks; and power electronics and elec20 tricity delivery systems. 

21 SEC. 4. MICROELECTRONICS RESEARCH PROGRAM. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 

23 cross-cutting program of research, development, and dem24 onstration of microelectronics relevant to the mission of the 

25 Department and in the service of the Nation’s global comVerDate Sep 11 2014 17:08 Aug 19, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H6291.RH H6291

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1 petitiveness in the field of microelectronics. In carrying out 

2 this program, the Secretary shall coordinate across all rel3 evant programs and offices of the Department. 

4 (b) RESEARCH AREAS.—In carrying out the program 

5 under subsection (a), the Secretary shall award financial 

6 assistance to eligible entities under subsection (c) to carry 

7 out research projects in— 

8 (1) foundational science areas, including— 

9 (A) materials sciences, chemical sciences, 

10 and plasma science synthesis, and fabrication; 

11 (B) novel microelectronics devices, including 

12 emerging memory and storage technologies; 

13 (C) diverse computing architectures and 

14 paradigms, including analog computing and 

15 edge computing; 

16 (D) data-driven modeling and simulation; 

17 (E) integrated sensing, power harvesting, 

18 and communications; 

19 (F) component integration and subsystems; 

20 (G) photonic integration; and 

21 (H) development of co-design frameworks 

22 for all stages of microelectronics design, develop23 ment, fabrication, and application; 

24 (2) cybersecurity by design to result in trusted 

25 and resilient microelectronics; 


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1 (3) methods for leveraging advanced simulation 

2 and artificial intelligence to enhance co-design and 

3 discovery in microelectronics; 

4 (4) in consultation with the National Institute of 

5 Standards and Technology, fabrication and proc6 essing science and metrology associated with micro7 electronics manufacturing, including lithography, 

8 patterning, surface deposition, etching, and cleaning; 

9 (5) approaches for optimizing system-level en10 ergy efficiency of advanced computing systems, the 

11 electrical grid, power electronics, and other energy in12 frastructure; 

13 (6) approaches for enhancing the durability and 

14 lifetime of radiation-hardened electronics; 

15 (7) enhancement of microelectronics security, in16 cluding the development of integrated devices, pack17 ages, and thermal management for severe environ18 ments and national security; and 

19 (8) in coordination with other relevant initia20 tives at the Department, methods to improve the life21 time, maintenance, decommissioning, recycling, reuse, 

22 and sustainability of microelectronics components 

23 and systems, including technologies and strategies 

24 that reduce the use of energy, water, critical mateVerDate Sep 11 2014 17:08 Aug 19, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H6291.RH H6291

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1 rials, and other commodities that are determined to 

2 be vulnerable to disruption. 

3 (c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The entities eligible to re4 ceive financial assistance under this section include— 

5 (1) an institution of higher education, including 

6 historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal col7 leges and universities, and minority serving institu8 tions; 

9 (2) a nonprofit research organization; 

10 (3) a State research agency; 

11 (4) a National Laboratory; 

12 (5) a private commercial entity; 

13 (6) a partnership or consortium of 2 or more en14 tities described in paragraphs (1) through (5); and 

15 (7) any other entities the Secretary deems appro16 priate. 

17 (d) TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.—In carrying out the 

18 program described in subsection (a), the Secretary, in co19 ordination with the Director of the Office of Technology 

20 Transitions, and in consultation with the private sector, 

21 shall support translational research and transfer of micro22 electronics technologies and identify emerging research and 

23 development needs of industry and government for the ben24 efit of United States economic competitiveness. 


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1 (e) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.—In carrying out the 

2 program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall sup3 port— 

4 (1) workforce development through the existing 

5 authorities and mechanisms available to the Depart6 ment, including internships, fellowships, individual 

7 investigator grants, and other activities the Secretary 

8 deems appropriate; and 

9 (2) education and outreach activities to dissemi10 nate information and promote understanding of 

11 microelectronics and related fields among students at 

12 K-12, undergraduate, and graduate levels. Such ac13 tivities may include educational programming with 

14 an emphasis on experiential and project-based learn15 ing. The Secretary shall consult with the Director of 

16 the National Science Foundation on activities carried 

17 out this paragraph. 

18 (f) OUTREACH.—In carrying out activities under sub19 section (e), the Secretary shall ensure program outreach to 

20 recruit applicants and engage participants from all regions 

21 of the country, especially underserved communities and 

22 groups historically underrepresented in STEM. 

23 (g) REPORT.—Not less than 180 days after the enact24 ment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Com25 mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 


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1 Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural 

2 Resources of the Senate, a report describing the goals, prior3 ities, and anticipated outcomes of the program described in 

4 subsection (a). 

5 (h) FUNDING.—There are authorized to be appro6 priated to the Secretary to carry out the activities described 

7 in this section— 

8 (1) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 

9 (2) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; 

10 (3) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 

11 (4) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and 

12 (5) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2026. 

13 SEC. 5. MICROELECTRONICS SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTERS. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program under 

15 section 4, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the 

16 Office of Science, shall establish up to four Microelectronics 

17 Science Research Centers (referred to in this section as 

18 ‘‘Centers’’) to conduct mission-driven research to address 

19 foundational challenges in the design, development, charac20 terization, prototyping, demonstration, and fabrication of 

21 microelectronics and to facilitate the translation of research 

22 results to industry. 

23 (b) ACTIVITIES.—The activities of the Centers author24 ized under this section shall include research, development, 

25 and demonstration activities for— 


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1 (1) accelerating the development of new micro2 electronics science and technology, including mate3 rials, devices, circuits, systems, architectures, fabrica4 tion tools, processes, diagnostics, modeling, synthesis, 

5 and, in consultation with the National Institute of 

6 Standards and Technology, metrology; 

7 (2) advancing the sustainability and energy effi8 ciency of new microelectronics devices, packages, and 

9 systems; 

10 (3) application-driven co-design and prototyping 

11 of novel devices to facilitate laboratory-to-fabrication 

12 transition; 

13 (4) advancing knowledge and experimental capa14 bilities in surface and materials science, plasma 

15 science, and computational and theoretical methods, 

16 including artificial intelligence, multi-scale co-design, 

17 and advanced supercomputing capabilities to invent 

18 and manufacture revolutionary microelectronic de19 vices; 

20 (5) creating technology testbeds for prototyping 

21 platforms for validation and verification of new capa22 bilities and sharing of ideas, intellectual property, 

23 and the unique facilities of the Department; 

24 (6) supporting development of cybersecurity ca25 pabilities for computing architectures that measurVerDate Sep 11 2014 17:08 Aug 19, 2022 Jkt 029200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H6291.RH H6291

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1 ably improve safety and security, and that are adapt2 able for existing and future applications; and 

3 (7) supporting long-term and short-term work4 force development in microelectronics. 

5 (c) REQUIREMENTS.— 

6 (1) SELECTION AND DURATION.—The Director of 

7 the Office of Science shall select Centers on a competi8 tive, merit-reviewed basis for a period of not more 

9 than 5 years, subject to the availability of appropria10 tions, beginning on the date of establishment of that 

11 Center. 

12 (2) APPLICATIONS.—An eligible applicant under 

13 this subsection shall submit to the Director of the Of14 fice of Science an application at such time, in such 

15 manner, and containing such information as the Di16 rector deems appropriate. 

17 (3) ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS.—The Director of the 

18 Office of Science shall consider applications from— 

19 (A) National Laboratories; 

20 (B) institutions of higher education, includ21 ing historically Black colleges and universities, 

22 Tribal colleges and universities, and minority 

23 serving institutions; 

24 (C) private industry; 

25 (D) research centers; 


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1 (E) consortia of 2 or more of the entities de2 scribed in subparagraphs (A) through (D); and 

3 (F) any other entity that the Secretary of 

4 Energy deems appropriate. 

5 (4) RENEWAL.—After the end of either period de6 scribed in paragraph (1), the Director of the Office of 

7 Science may renew support for the Center for a pe8 riod of not more than 5 years on a merit-reviewed 

9 basis. For a Center in operation for 10 years after its 

10 previous selection on a competitive, merit-reviewed 

11 basis, the Director may renew support for the center 

12 on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis for a period of 

13 not more than 5 years, and may subsequently provide 

14 an additional renewal on a merit-reviewed basis for 

15 a period of not more than 5 years. 

16 (5) TERMINATION.—Consistent with the existing 

17 authorities of the Department, the Director of the Of18 fice of Science may terminate an underperforming 

19 center for cause during the performance period. 

20 (d) TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.—The Director of the Of21 fice of Science, in coordination with the Director of the Of22 fice of Technology Transitions, shall implement partner23 ships with industry groups for the purpose of facilitating 

24 the translation and transfer of research results produced by 

25 the Centers. 


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1 (e) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall— 

2 (1) establish a coordinating network to coordi3 nate cross-cutting research and foster communication 

4 and collaboration among the Centers; and 

5 (2) ensure the coordination, and avoid unneces6 sary duplication, of the activities of each Center with 

7 the activities of— 

8 (A) other research entities of the Depart9 ment, including— 

10 (i) the Nanoscale Science Research 

11 Centers; 

12 (ii) the National Quantum Informa13 tion Science Research Centers; 

14 (iii) the Energy Frontier Research 

15 Centers; 

16 (iv) the Energy Innovation Hubs; 

17 (v) the National Laboratories; and 

18 (vi) other offices of the Department; 

19 (B) the National Semiconductor Technology 

20 Center authorized in title XCIX of division H of 

21 the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National De22 fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 

23 (Public Law 116–283); 

24 (C) institutions of higher education; 

25 (D) industry; and 


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1 (E) research activities carried out by other 

2 Federal agencies. 

3 (f) WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.—Centers established 

4 under this section shall support workforce development 

5 through— 

6 (1) incorporation of undergraduate students, 

7 postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and early ca8 reer researchers, as well as K-12 students through op9 portunities such as dual-enrollment programs and 

10 work-based learning programs, as applicable; 

11 (2) hand-on research and equipment training 

12 programs; 

13 (3) technical training and certificate programs 

14 for the skilled technical workforce; 

15 (4) facilitation of engagement between academic, 

16 industry, and laboratory researchers; and 

17 (5) public outreach activities, including to stu18 dents at K-12, undergraduate, and graduate levels. 

19 Such activities may include educational program20 ming with an emphasis on experiential and project21 based learning. 

22 (g) OUTREACH.—In carrying out activities under sub23 section (e), the Secretary shall ensure program outreach to 

24 recruit applicants and engage participants from all regions 


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1 of the country, especially underserved communities and 

2 groups historically underrepresented in STEM. 

3 (h) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.—The Secretary shall 

4 ensure that the intellectual property and value proposition 

5 created by the Centers are retained within the United 

6 States. 

7 (i) FUNDING.—The Secretary of Energy shall allocate 

8 up to $25,000,000 for each Center established under this 

9 section for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, subject 

10 to the availability of appropriations. 


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Union Calendar No. 349 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6291 

[Report No. 117–452] 

A BILL 

To provide for a comprehensive and integrative profor other purposes. development at the Department of Energy, and gram to accelerate microelectronics research and 

AUGUST 19, 2022 

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Comand ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 


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