ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2019

To amend the America COMPETES Act to reauthorize the ARPA–E program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the ARPA–E Reauthorization Act of 2019 2. ARPA–E amendments (a) Establishment Section 5012(b) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(b) development of energy technologies development of transformative science and technology solutions to address the energy and environmental missions of the Department (b) Goals Section 5012(c) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(c) (1) by striking paragraph (1)(A) and inserting the following: (A) to enhance the economic and energy security of the United States through the development of energy technologies that— (i) reduce imports of energy from foreign sources; (ii) reduce energy-related emissions, including greenhouse gases; (iii) improve the energy efficiency of all economic sectors; (iv) provide transformative solutions to improve the management, clean-up, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; and (v) improve the resilience, reliability, and security of infrastructure to produce, deliver, and store energy; and ; and (2) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking energy technology projects advanced technology projects (c) Responsibilities Section 5012(e)(3)(A) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(e)(3)(A) energy (d) Reports and roadmaps Section 5012(h) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(h) (h) Reports and roadmaps (1) Annual report As part of the annual budget request submitted for each fiscal year, the Director shall provide to the relevant authorizing and appropriations committees of Congress a report that— (A) describes projects supported by ARPA–E during the previous fiscal year; (B) describes projects supported by ARPA–E during the previous fiscal year that examine topics and technologies closely related to other activities funded by the Department, and includes an analysis of whether in supporting such projects, the Director is in compliance with subsection (i)(1)(A); and (C) describes current, proposed, and planned projects to be carried out pursuant to subsection (e)(3)(D). (2) Strategic vision roadmap Not later than October 1, 2021, and every four years thereafter, the Director shall provide to the relevant authorizing and appropriations committees of Congress a roadmap describing the strategic vision that ARPA–E will use to guide the choices of ARPA–E for future technology investments over the following 4 fiscal years. . (e) Coordination and nonduplication Section 5012(i)(1) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(i)(1) (1) In general To the maximum extent practicable, the Director shall ensure that— (A) the activities of ARPA–E are coordinated with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, programs and laboratories within the Department and other relevant research agencies; and (B) ARPA–E does not provide funding for a project unless the prospective grantee demonstrates sufficient attempts to secure private financing or indicates that the project is not independently commercially viable. . (f) Evaluation Section 5012(l) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(l) (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) In general Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the ARPA–E Reauthorization Act of 2019, the Secretary is authorized to enter into a contract with the National Academy of Sciences under which the National Academy shall conduct an evaluation of how well ARPA–E is achieving the goals and mission of ARPA–E. ; and (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking shall may (B) in subparagraph (A), by striking the recommendation of the National Academy of Sciences a recommendation (g) Authorization of appropriations Paragraph (2) of section 5012(o) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(o) (2) Authorization of appropriations Subject to paragraph (4), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Director for deposit in the Fund, without fiscal year limitation— (A) $428,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; (B) $497,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; (C) $567,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; (D) $651,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; and (E) $750,000,000 for fiscal year 2024. . (h) Technical amendments Section 5012 of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538 (1) in subsection (g)(3)(A)(iii), by striking subpart subparagraph (2) in subsection (o)(4)(B), by striking (c)(2)(D) (c)(2)(C) June 18, 2020 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed

Summary: ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2019 This bill revises and reauthorizes through FY2024 the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) of the Department of Energy (DOE). The bill expands the goals of ARPA-E to include the development of energy technologies that (1) provide transformative solutions to improve the management, clean-up, and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel; and (2) improve the resilience, reliability, and security of infrastructure to produce, deliver, and store energy. ARPA-E must ensure that it does not provide grants for projects unless the prospective grantees demonstrate sufficient attempts to secure private financing or indicate that the projects are not independently commercially viable. The bill also authorizes DOE to enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to evaluate how well ARPA-E is achieving its goals and missions.