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through 2025, to carry out the activities outlined 
in this paragraph. 
SEC. 10375. NATIONAL SECURE DATA SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director, in consultation with 
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and 
the interagency committee established under section 5103 
of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 
(15 U.S.C. 9415), shall establish a demonstration project 
to develop, refine, and test models to inform the full imple-
mentation of the Commission on Evidence-Based Policy-
making recommendation for a governmentwide data linkage 
and access infrastructure for statistical activities conducted 
for statistical purposes, as defined in chapter 35 of title 44, 
United States Code. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than one year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish 
a National Secure Data Service demonstration project. The 
National Secure Data Service demonstration project shall 
be— 
(1) aligned with the principles, best practices, 
and priority actions recommended by the Advisory 
Committee on Data for Evidence Building, to the ex-
tent feasible; and
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(2) operated directly by or via a contract that is 
managed by the National Center for Science and En-
gineering Statistics. 
(c) DATA.—In carrying out this section, the Director 
shall engage with Federal and State agencies to collect, ac-
quire, analyze, report, and disseminate statistical data in 
the United States and other nations to support government-
wide evidence-building activities consistent with the Foun-
dations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018. 
(d) VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION.—Participation in the 
National Secure Data Service demonstration project by 
Federal and State agencies shall be voluntary. 
(e) PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY PROTECTIONS.— 
If the Director issues a management contract under sub-
section (b), the recipient shall be designated as an ‘‘agent’’ 
under subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44, United States 
Code, with all requirements and obligations for protecting 
confidential information delineated in the Confidential In-
formation Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of 2018 
and the Privacy Act of 1974. 
(f) TECHNOLOGY AND PRIVACY STANDARDS.—In car-
rying out this subsection, the Director shall— 
(1) consider application and use only of systems 
and technologies that incorporate protection measures 
to reasonably ensure confidential data and statistical
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products are protected in accordance with obligations 
under subchapter III of chapter 35 of title 44, United 
States Code, including systems and technologies that 
ensure— 
(A) raw data and other sensitive inputs are 
not accessible to recipients of statistical outputs 
from the National Secure Data Service dem-
onstration project; 
(B) no individual entity’s data or informa-
tion is revealed by the National Secure Data 
Service demonstration project platform to any 
other party in an identifiable form; 
(C) no information about the data assets 
used in the National Secure Data Service dem-
onstration project is revealed to any other party, 
except as incorporated into the final statistical 
output; 
(D) the National Secure Data Service dem-
onstration project permits only authorized ana-
lysts to perform statistical queries necessary to 
answer approved project questions, and prohibits 
any other queries; and 
(E) the National Secure Data Service dem-
onstration project conducts privacy risk assess-
ments to minimize the privacy risks to indi-
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
vidual entities whose data has been made avail-
able by a reporting entity, including those pri-
vacy risks that could result from data breaches 
of any system operated by the reporting entity, 
as well as for determining approved project ques-
tions under subparagraph (D) to minimize the 
privacy risks to individuals affected by uses of 
the statistical output; and 
(2) the National Secure Data Service demonstra-
tion project shall implement reasonable measures 
commensurate with the risks to individuals’ privacy 
to achieve the outcomes under subparagraphs (A) 
through (E) of paragraph (1), which may include the 
appropriate application of privacy-enhancing tech-
nologies and appropriate measures to minimize or 
prevent reidentification risks consistent with any ap-
plicable guidance or regulations issued under sub-
chapter III of chapter 35 of title 44, United States 
Code. 
(g) TRANSPARENCY.—The National Secure Data Serv-
ice established under subsection (b) shall maintain a public 
website with up-to-date information on supported projects. 
(h) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the National Secure Data Service
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demonstration project established under subsection (b) shall 
submit a report to Congress that includes— 
(1) a description of policies for protecting data, 
consistent with applicable Federal law; 
(2) a comprehensive description of all completed 
or active data linkage activities and projects; 
(3) an assessment of the effectiveness of the dem-
onstration project for mitigating risks and removing 
barriers to a sustained implementation of the Na-
tional Secure Data Service as recommended by the 
Commission on Evidence-Based Policymaking; and 
(4) if deemed effective by the Director, a plan for 
scaling up the demonstration project to facilitate data 
access for evidence building while ensuring trans-
parency and privacy. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry out 
this subsection $9,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 
through 2027. 
Subtitle G—Directorate for Tech-
nology, Innovation, and Partner-
ships 
SEC. 10381. ESTABLISHMENT. 
There is established within the Foundation the Direc-
torate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships to ad-
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vance research and development, technology development, 
and related solutions to address United States societal, na-
tional, and geostrategic challenges, for the benefit of all 
Americans. 
SEC. 10382. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of the Directorate established under sec-
tion 10381 are to— 
(1) support use-inspired and translational re-
search and accelerate the development and use of fed-
erally funded research; 
(2) strengthen United States competitiveness by 
accelerating the development of key technologies; and 
(3) grow the domestic workforce in key tech-
nology focus areas, and expand the participation of 
United States students and researchers in areas of so-
cietal, national, and geostrategic importance, at all 
levels of education. 
SEC. 10383. ACTIVITIES. 
Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the 
Director shall achieve the purposes described in section 
10382 by making awards through the Directorate that— 
(1) support transformational advances in use-in-
spired and translational research and technology de-
velopment, including through diverse funding mecha-
nisms and models at different scales, to include con-
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vergence accelerators and projects designed to achieve 
specific technology metrics or objectives; 
(2) encourage the translation of research into in-
novations, processes, and products, including by— 
(A) engaging researchers on topics relevant 
to 
United 
States 
societal, 
national, 
and 
geostrategic challenges, including by educating 
researchers on engaging with end users and the 
public; 
(B) advancing novel approaches and reduc-
ing barriers to technology transfer, including 
through intellectual property frameworks between 
academia and industry, nonprofit entities, ven-
ture capital communities, and approaches to 
technology transfer for applications with public 
benefit that may not rely on traditional commer-
cialization tools; and 
(C) establishing partnerships that connect 
researchers and research products to businesses, 
accelerators, and incubators that enable research 
uptake, prototype development and scaling, en-
trepreneurial education, and the formation and 
growth of new companies; 
(3) develop mutually-beneficial research and 
technology development partnerships and collabora-
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tions among institutions of higher education, includ-
ing historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal 
Colleges or Universities, minority-serving institutions, 
emerging research institutions, EPSCoR institutions, 
and nonprofit organizations, labor organizations, 
businesses and other for-profit entities, Federal or 
State agencies, local or Tribal governments, civil soci-
ety organizations, other Foundation directorates, na-
tional labs, field stations and marine laboratories, 
and, as appropriate, international entities and bina-
tional research and development foundations and 
funds, excluding foreign entities of concern; 
(4) partner with other directorates and offices of 
the Foundation for specific projects or research areas 
including— 
(A) to pursue basic questions about natural, 
human, and physical phenomena that could en-
able advances in the challenges and key tech-
nology focus areas under section 10387; 
(B) to study questions that could affect the 
design (including human interfaces), safety, se-
curity, operation, deployment, or the social and 
ethical consequences of technologies and innova-
tions in the challenges and key technology focus 
areas under section 10387, including the develop-
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
ment of technologies and innovations that com-
plement or enhance the abilities of workers and 
impact of specific innovations on domestic jobs 
and equitable opportunity; and 
(C) to further the creation of a domestic 
workforce capable of advancing, using, and 
adapting to the key technology focus areas; 
(5) build capacity and infrastructure for use-in-
spired and translational research at institutions of 
higher education across the United States, including 
by making awards to support administrative activi-
ties that advance development, operation, integration, 
deployment, and sharing of innovation; 
(6) support the education, mentoring, and train-
ing of undergraduate students, graduate students, and 
postdoctoral researchers, to both advance use-inspired 
and translational research and to address workforce 
challenges, through scholarships, fellowships, and 
traineeships; and 
(7) identify social, behavioral, and economic 
drivers and consequences of technological innovations 
that could enable advances in the challenges and key 
technology focus areas under section 10387.
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SEC. 10384. REQUIREMENTS. 
In carrying out the activities under the Directorate, 
the Director shall ensure the programmatic work of the Di-
rectorate and Foundation— 
(1) utilizes the full potential of the United States 
workforce by avoiding undue geographic concentra-
tion of research and development and education fund-
ing across the United States, and encourages broader 
participation in the key technology focus area work-
force by populations historically underrepresented in 
STEM; and 
(2) incorporates a worker perspective through 
participation by labor organizations and workforce 
training organizations. 
SEC. 10385. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall appoint an As-
sistant Director responsible for the management of the Di-
rectorate established under this subtitle, in the same manner 
as other Assistant Directors of the Foundation are ap-
pointed. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Assistant Director shall be 
an individual, who by reason of professional background 
and experience, is specially qualified to— 
(1) advise the Director on all matters pertaining 
to use-inspired and translational research, develop-
ment, and commercialization at the Foundation, in-
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cluding partnership with the private sector and other 
users of Foundation funded research; and 
(2) develop and implement the necessary policies 
and procedures to promote a culture of use-inspired 
and translational research within the Directorate and 
across the Foundation and carry out the responsibil-
ities under subsection (c). 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The responsibilities of the As-
sistant Director shall include— 
(1) advising the Director on all matters per-
taining to use-inspired and translational research 
and development activities at the Foundation, includ-
ing effective practices for convergence research, and 
the potential impact of Foundation research on 
United States societal, national and geostrategic chal-
lenges; 
(2) identifying opportunities for and facilitating 
coordination and collaboration, where appropriate, on 
use-inspired and translational research, development, 
adoption, and commercialization— 
(A) among the offices, directorates, and di-
visions within the Foundation; and 
(B) between the Foundation and stake-
holders in academia, the private sector, includ-
ing non-profit entities, labor organizations, Fed-
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
eral or State agencies, and international entities, 
as appropriate; 
(3) ensuring that the activities carried out under 
this subtitle do not substantially and unnecessarily 
duplicate activities supported by other parts of the 
Foundation or other relevant Federal agencies; 
(4) approving all new programs within the Di-
rectorate; 
(5) developing and testing diverse merit-review 
models and mechanisms for selecting and providing 
awards for use-inspired and translational research 
and development at different scales, from individual 
investigator awards to large multi-institution collabo-
rations; 
(6) assessing the success of programs; 
(7) administering awards to achieve the purposes 
described in section 10382; and 
(8) performing other such duties pertaining to 
the purposes in section 10382 as are required by the 
Director. 
(d) RELATIONSHIP TO THE DIRECTOR.—The Assistant 
Director shall report to the Director. 
(e) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROGRAMS.—No other 
directorate within the Foundation shall report to the Assist-
ant Director.
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SEC. 10386. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In accordance with the Federal Ad-
visory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) the Director shall 
establish an advisory committee to assess, and make rec-
ommendations regarding, the activities carried out under 
this subtitle. 
(b) MEMBERSHIP.—The advisory committee members 
shall— 
(1) be individuals with relevant experience or ex-
pertise, including individuals from industry and na-
tional labs, educators, academic subject matter ex-
perts, including individuals with knowledge of key 
technology focus areas and their impact on United 
States national security and geostrategic leadership, 
the technical and social dimensions of science and 
technology, technology transfer experts, labor organi-
zations, representatives of civil society, and other non-
governmental organizations; and 
(2) consist of at least 10 members broadly rep-
resentative of stakeholders, including no less than 3 
members from the private sector, none of whom shall 
be an employee of the Federal Government, and no 
less than 1 member with significant expertise in 
United States national security and economic com-
petitiveness.
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Committee’s responsibil-
ities shall include— 
(1) reviewing and advising on activities carried 
out under this subtitle; 
(2) proposing strategies for fulfilling the pur-
poses in section 10382; 
(3) proposing potential areas of research, par-
ticularly as relevant to United States societal, na-
tional, and geostrategic challenges; and 
(4) other relevant issues as determined by the 
Director. 
SEC. 10387. CHALLENGES AND FOCUS AREAS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In consultation with the Assistant 
Director, the Board, and the interagency working group es-
tablished under subtitle F of title VI, the Director shall 
identify, and annually review and update as appropriate, 
a list of— 
(1) not more than 5 United States societal, na-
tional, and geostrategic challenges that may be ad-
dressed by technology to guide activities under this 
subtitle; and 
(2) not more than 10 key technology focus areas 
to guide activities under this subtitle.
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(b) INITIAL LIST
OF SOCIETAL, NATIONAL, AND 
GEOSTRATEGIC CHALLENGES.—The initial list of societal, 
national, and geostrategic challenges are the following: 
(1) United States national security. 
(2) United States manufacturing and industrial 
productivity. 
(3) United States workforce development and 
skills gaps. 
(4) Climate change and environmental sustain-
ability. 
(5) Inequitable access to education, opportunity, 
or other services. 
(c) INITIAL
LIST
OF
KEY
TECHNOLOGY
FOCUS 
AREAS.—The initial list of key technology focus areas are 
the following: 
(1) Artificial intelligence, machine learning, au-
tonomy, and related advances. 
(2) High performance computing, semiconduc-
tors, and advanced computer hardware and software. 
(3) Quantum information science and tech-
nology. 
(4) Robotics, automation, and advanced manu-
facturing. 
(5) Natural and anthropogenic disaster preven-
tion or mitigation.
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(6) Advanced communications technology and 
immersive technology. 
(7) Biotechnology, medical technology, genomics, 
and synthetic biology. 
(8) Data storage, data management, distributed 
ledger technologies, and cybersecurity, including bio-
metrics. 
(9) Advanced energy and industrial efficiency 
technologies, such as batteries and advanced nuclear 
technologies, including but not limited to for the pur-
poses of electric generation (consistent with section 15 
of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 
U.S.C. 1874). 
(10) Advanced materials science, including com-
posites 2D materials, other next-generation materials, 
and related manufacturing technologies. 
(d) RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN UNITED STATES SOCI-
ETAL, NATIONAL, AND GEOSTRATEGIC CHALLENGES AND 
KEY TECHNOLOGY FOCUS AREAS.— 
(1) In updating the list under subsection (a)(1), 
the Director shall evaluate national and global tech-
nology trends. 
(2) In updating the list under subsection (a)(2), 
the Director shall consider the impact of the selected
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technologies on United States societal, national, and 
geostrategic challenges. 
(3) The list under subsection (a)(2) may, but is 
not required to, align directly with the list under sub-
section (a)(1). 
(4) Nothing under this section shall prevent the 
Director from making limited investments in tech-
nologies or areas not identified in subsection (a)(1) or 
subsection (a)(2). 
(e) REVIEW AND UPDATES.—The Director, in coordi-
nation with the interagency working group established 
under subtitle F of title VI and in consultation with the 
Director of National Intelligence and the Director of the 
Federal Bureau of Investigation, shall annually review and 
update as appropriate, the list of key technology focus areas 
for purposes of this division. As part of the annual review, 
the Director— 
(1) shall consider input from relevant industries 
and stakeholders; 
(2) may consider the challenges and rec-
ommendations identified in the reports required by 
sections 206 and 206B of the National Science and 
Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act 
of 1976, as added by section 10611 and 10613 of this 
division and in other relevant reports, such as tech-
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
nology and global trend reports from the defense and 
intelligence communities; 
(3) shall consider the potential impact of the key 
technology focus areas on addressing societal, na-
tional, and geostrategic challenges; and 
(4) subject to the limitation under subsection (a), 
may add or delete key technology focus areas in light 
of shifting national needs or competitive threats to the 
United States (including for reasons of the United 
States or other countries having advanced or fallen 
behind in a technological area). 
(f) REPORTING.—At the conclusion of the annual re-
view and update process required by subsection (e), the Di-
rector, in consultation with other Federal research agencies, 
as appropriate, shall deliver a report to Congress detail-
ing— 
(1) the key technology focus areas and rationale 
for their selection; 
(2) the societal, national, and geostrategic chal-
lenges and rationale for their selection; 
(3) the role of the Foundation in advancing the 
key technology focus areas; 
(4) the impact, including to the academic re-
search community, of any changes to the key tech-
nology focus areas; and
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(5) the activities and partnerships between the 
Directorate and the private sector. 
(g) DETAILED DESCRIPTION.—The National Science 
Foundation shall, in coordination with the Office of Man-
agement and Budget, submit as part of their annual budget 
requests to Congress, a detailed description of the activities 
to be funded under this subtitle, including an explanation 
of how the requested funding is complementary and not re-
dundant of programs, efforts, and infrastructure under-
taken or supported by other relevant Federal agencies. 
(h) NATIONAL ACADEMIES.—Not later than 5 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
contract with the National Academies to conduct a review 
of the key technology focus areas and the societal, national, 
and geostrategic challenges, including— 
(1) an assessment of their selection process; 
(2) an assessment of their relevance to the pur-
poses of the Directorate, including to solving chal-
lenges with social, economic, health, scientific, and 
national security implications; 
(3) a review of whether Federal investment in 
the key technology focus areas have resulted in new 
domestic manufacturing capacity and job creation; 
(4) an assessment of any critical, new emerging 
areas;
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(5) an assessment of Federal investments in edu-
cation and workforce development to support the key 
technology focus areas; and 
(6) an assessment of relative balance in leader-
ship in addressing the key technology focus areas be-
tween the United States, allied and partner countries, 
and the People’s Republic of China. 
SEC. 10388. REGIONAL INNOVATION ENGINES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made available to 
the Directorate, the Director shall make awards to eligible 
entities for the planning, establishment, and support of Re-
gional Innovation Engines. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Regional Innova-
tion Engines shall be to— 
(1) advance multidisciplinary, collaborative, use- 
inspired and translational research, technology devel-
opment, in key technology focus areas; 
(2) address regional, national, societal, or 
geostrategic challenges; 
(3) leverage the expertise of multi-disciplinary 
and multi- sector partners, including partners from 
private industry, nonprofit organizations, and civil 
society organizations; and 
(4) support the development of scientific, innova-
tion, entrepreneurial, and STEM educational capac-
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
ity within the region of the Regional Innovation En-
gine to grow and sustain regional innovation. 
(c) USES OF FUNDS.—Funds awarded under this sec-
tion may be used by a Regional Innovation Engine to— 
(1) conduct use-inspired and translational re-
search and technology development to advance inno-
vation in at least one of the key technology focus 
areas and to help solve a compelling regional, na-
tional, societal, or geostrategic challenge; 
(2) further the development, adoption, and com-
mercialization of innovations in key technology focus 
areas, including through support for proof-of-concept 
development, and through partnership with other Fed-
eral agencies and Federal laboratories, industry, in-
cluding startup companies, labor organizations, civil 
society organizations, and State, territorial, local, 
and Tribal governments; 
(3) develop and manage, or facilitate access to, 
test beds and instrumentation, which may include 
fabrication facilities and cyberinfrastructure, to ad-
vance the development, integration, and demonstra-
tion of new, innovative technologies, including hard-
ware or software; 
(4) establish traineeship programs for graduate 
students who pursue degrees and research related to
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
the key technology focus areas leading to a masters or 
doctorate degree by providing funding and other as-
sistance, and opportunities for research experiences in 
government or industry related to the students’ stud-
ies; 
(5) engage in outreach and engagement in the re-
gion to broaden participation in the activities of the 
Regional Innovation Engine; and 
(6) reimburse, in part or in whole, the cost of in-
strumentation, technology transfer, and commer-
cialization activities, including patenting and licens-
ing, and for operations and staff, as the Director de-
termines appropriate. 
(d) SELECTION PROCESS.—In making awards under 
this subtitle, the Director shall consider, in addition to the 
scientific and technical merit of the proposal, the extent to 
which the activities and locations proposed— 
(1) have the potential to create an innovation 
ecosystem, or enhance existing ecosystems and con-
tribute to job creation in a region; 
(2) demonstrate a capacity to engage and part-
ner with multiple types of institutions of higher edu-
cation, industry, labor, nonprofit organizations, civil 
society organizations, other Federal agencies, Federal 
laboratories, State, local, and Tribal governments,
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
and other appropriate organizations, including to in-
form research directions and account for ethical, soci-
etal, safety, and security implications relevant to the 
potential applications of the research; 
(3) demonstrate a capacity to broaden participa-
tion of populations historically underrepresented in 
STEM in the activities of the Regional Innovation 
Engine; and 
(4) demonstrate a plan and capability to prevent 
the inappropriate use or dissemination of the research 
and technology, including research results, data, and 
intellectual property, as appropriate and consistent 
with the requirements of the relevant award. 
(e) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) ELIGIBILITY.—For the purposes of this sec-
tion, an ‘‘eligible entity’’ means an institution of 
higher education, a nonprofit organization, a private 
sector entity, or a consortium thereof. 
(2) PARTNERSHIPS.—To be eligible for an award 
under this section an eligible entity— 
(A) shall include in its proposal partner-
ship with 1 or more institution that is— 
(i) a historically Black college or uni-
versity; 
(ii) a Tribal College or University;
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(iii) a minority-serving institution; 
(iv) an EPSCoR institution; 
(v) an emerging research institution; 
or 
(vi) a community college; 
(B) may include partnership with 1 or 
more— 
(i) additional entities described in 
paragraph (2)(A); 
(ii) 
industry 
entities, 
including 
startups, small businesses, and public-pri-
vate partnerships; 
(iii) economic development organiza-
tions or venture development organizations, 
as such terms are defined in section 28(a) 
of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innova-
tion Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 13701 et seq.), 
as added by section 10621 of this division; 
(iv) National Laboratories; 
(v) Federal laboratories, as defined in 
section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Tech-
nology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3703); 
(vi) Federal research facilities; 
(vii) labor organizations;
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(viii) entities described in paragraph 
(1) or (2) from allied or partner countries; 
(ix) other entities to be vital to the suc-
cess of the program, as determined by the 
Director; 
(x) binational research and develop-
ment foundations and funds, excluding 
those affiliated with foreign entities of con-
cern, as defined in section 10612; and 
(xi) Engineer Research and Develop-
ment Center laboratories of the Army Corps 
of Engineers; and 
(C) shall include as part of its proposal a 
plan for— 
(i) establishing a sustained partner-
ship that is jointly developed and managed, 
draws from the capacities of each institu-
tion, and is mutually beneficial; and 
(ii) documents governance and man-
agement plans, financial contributions from 
non-Federal sources, and plans for owner-
ship and use of any intellectual property. 
(3) PROMOTING
PARTNERSHIPS.—In making 
awards under this section, the Director shall encour-
age applicants for a Regional Innovation Engine that
571 
† HR 4346 EAS2 
include multiple regional partners as described in 
subsection (e)(2). 
(4) GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRIBUTION.—In making 
awards under this section, the Director shall take into 
consideration the extent to which the proposals ex-
pand the geographic distribution of the Regional In-
novation Engines, including by giving special consid-
eration to rural-serving institutions of higher edu-
cation. 
(5) RESOURCE
AVAILABILITY.—The Director 
shall ensure that any eligible entity receiving an 
award under this section shall— 
(A) provide information on relevant cur-
rently existing resources available to the pro-
posing team from all internal and external 
sources, including all partner organizations; and 
(B) include letters of collaboration from 
partner organizations that include information 
on resource contributions committed by such 
partners. 
(f) COLLABORATION WITH REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY 
HUBS.—Each Regional Innovation Engine established 
under this section may collaborate and participate in, as 
appropriate, the activities of any regional technology hub 
designated under section 28 of the Stevenson-Wydler Tech-
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
nology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), as 
added by section 10621. 
(g) DURATION.— 
(1) INITIAL PERIOD.—An award under this sec-
tion shall be for an initial period of 5 years. 
(2) RENEWAL.—An established Regional Innova-
tion Engine may apply for, and the Director may 
award, extended funding for periods of 5 years on a 
merit-reviewed basis. 
(h) 
COMPETITIVE, 
MERIT-REVIEW.—In 
making 
awards under this section, the Director shall— 
(1) use a competitive, merit review process that 
includes peer review by a diverse group of individuals 
with relevant expertise from both the private and pub-
lic sectors; and 
(2) ensure the focus areas of the Regional Inno-
vation Engines do not substantially and unneces-
sarily duplicate the efforts of any other Regional In-
novation Engine or any other similar effort at an-
other Federal agency. 
(i) COLLABORATION.—In making awards under this 
section, the Director may collaborate with Federal depart-
ments and agencies whose missions contribute to or are af-
fected by the technology focus area of the institute.
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
SEC. 10389. TRANSLATION ACCELERATOR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish Trans-
lation Accelerators to further the research, development, and 
commercialization of innovation in the key technology focus 
areas. 
(b) PARTNERSHIPS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Translation Accelerator 
shall be comprised of a partnership including 2 or 
more of the following entities: 
(A) An institution of higher education. 
(B) A for-profit company. 
(C) A nonprofit organization. 
(D) A Federal agency. 
(E) Another entity, if that entity is deter-
mined by the Director to be vital to the success 
of the program. 
(2) 
INSTITUTIONAL
OR
ORGANIZATIONAL 
LEVEL.—The Director shall work to ensure that such 
partnerships exist at the institutional or organization 
level, rather than solely at the principal investigator 
level. 
(3) COST SHARE.—Not less than 25 percent of 
the funding for an institute shall be provided by non- 
Federal entities. 
(4) NUMBER OF CENTERS AND INSTITUTES ES-
TABLISHED.—The Director shall endeavor to establish
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
a balance in the number of Regional Innovation En-
gines and Translation Accelerators. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—From 
within funds authorized for the Directorate for Technology, 
Innovation, and Partnerships, there are authorized to carry 
out the activities under this section and section 10388 
$6,500,000,000 for fiscal years 2023 through 2027. 
SEC. 10390. TEST BEDS. 
(a) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made avail-
able for the Directorate, the Director, in coordination 
with the Director of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology, the Secretary of Energy, and 
other Federal agencies, as determined appropriate by 
the Director, shall establish a program in the Direc-
torate to make awards, on a competitive basis, to in-
stitutions of higher education, nonprofit organiza-
tions, or consortia thereof to establish and operate test 
beds, which may include fabrication facilities and 
cyberinfrastructure, to advance the development, oper-
ation, integration, deployment, and, as appropriate, 
demonstration of new, innovative critical technologies, 
which may include hardware or software. 
(2) COORDINATION.—In establishing new test 
beds under this section, the Director shall ensure co-
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
ordination with other test beds supported by the 
Foundation or other Federal agencies to avoid dupli-
cation and maximize the use of Federal resources. 
(b) PROPOSALS.—An applicant for an award under 
this section shall submit a proposal to the Director, at such 
time, in such manner, and containing such information as 
the Director may reasonably require. The proposal shall, 
at a minimum, describe— 
(1) the technology or technologies that will be the 
focus of the test bed; 
(2) the goals of the work to be done at the test 
bed; 
(3) how the applicant will assemble a workforce 
with the skills needed to operate the test bed; 
(4) how the applicant will ensure broad access to 
the test bed; 
(5) how the applicant will collaborate with firms 
in critical technologies, including through coordinated 
research and development and funding, to ensure that 
work in the test bed will contribute to the commercial 
viability of any technologies and will include collabo-
ration from industry and labor organizations; 
(6) how the applicant will encourage the partici-
pation of inventors and entrepreneurs and the devel-
opment of new businesses;
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(7) how the applicant will increase participation 
by populations that are underrepresented in STEM; 
(8) how the applicant will demonstrate that the 
commercial viability of any new technologies will 
support the creation of high-quality domestic jobs; 
(9) how the test bed will operate after Federal 
funding has ended; 
(10) how the test bed will disseminate lessons 
and other technical information to United States en-
tities or allied or partner country entities in the 
United States; and 
(11) how the applicant plans to take measures to 
prevent the inappropriate use of research results, 
data, and intellectual property, as applicable and 
consistent with the requirements of the award. 
(c) AUTHORIZED USE OF FUNDS.—A recipient of an 
award under this section may, consistent with the purposes 
of this section, use the award for the purchase of equipment 
and for the support of students, faculty and staff, and 
postdoctoral researchers. 
(d) GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY.—In selecting award re-
cipients under this section, the Director shall consider the 
extent to which proposals would expand the geographic di-
versity of test beds.
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
SEC. 10391. PLANNING AND CAPACITY BUILDING AWARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Under the program established in 
section 508 of the America COMPETES Reauthorization 
Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–2) and the activities author-
ized under this section, from amounts made available to 
the Directorate, the Director, in coordination with other 
Federal agencies as determined appropriate by the Director, 
shall make awards, on a competitive basis, to eligible enti-
ties to advance the development, adoption, and commer-
cialization of technologies, consistent with the purposes of 
the Directorate under section 10382. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—To be eligible to receive an 
award under this section, an entity shall be— 
(1) an institution of higher education, which 
may be a community college (or a consortium of such 
institutions); 
(2) a nonprofit organization that is either affili-
ated with an institution of higher education or de-
signed to support technology development or entrepre-
neurship; or 
(3) a consortium that includes— 
(A) an entity described in paragraph (1) or 
(2) as the lead award recipient; and 
(B) one or more additional individuals or 
entities, which shall be—
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(i) an economic development organiza-
tion or similar entity that is focused pri-
marily on improving science, technology, 
innovation, or entrepreneurship; 
(ii) an industry organization or firm 
in a relevant technology or innovation sec-
tor; 
(iii) an industry-experienced executive 
with entrepreneurship experience that is fo-
cused primarily on de-risking technologies 
from both a scientific and a business per-
spective; or 
(iv) an individual or entity with in-
dustry and startup expertise, including a 
mentor network, across relevant technology 
or innovation sectors. 
(c) USE OF FUNDS.—In addition to activities listed 
under section 10383, an eligible entity receiving an award 
under this section may use funds to— 
(1) identify academic research with the potential 
for technology transfer and commercialization, par-
ticularly as relevant to the purposes of the Directorate 
under section 10382; 
(2) ensure the availability of staff, including 
technology transfer professionals, entrepreneurs in
579 
† HR 4346 EAS2 
residence, and other mentors as required to accom-
plish the purpose of this section; 
(3) help offset the costs of patenting and licens-
ing research products, both domestically and inter-
nationally; 
(4) revise institution policies, including policies 
related to intellectual property and faculty entrepre-
neurship, and taking other necessary steps to imple-
ment relevant best practices for academic technology 
transfer; 
(5) develop local, regional, and national partner-
ships among institutions of higher education and be-
tween institutions of higher education and private 
sector entities and other relevant organizations, in-
cluding investors, with the purpose of building net-
works, expertise, and other capacity to identify prom-
ising research that may have potential market value 
and enable researchers to pursue further development 
and transfer of their ideas into possible commercial or 
other use; 
(6) develop seminars, courses, and other edu-
cational opportunities for students, post-doctoral re-
searchers, faculty, and other relevant staff at institu-
tions of higher education to increase awareness and 
understanding of entrepreneurship, patenting, busi-
580 
† HR 4346 EAS2 
ness planning, research security, and other areas rel-
evant to technology transfer, and connect students 
and researchers to relevant resources, including men-
tors in the private sector; and 
(7) create, support, or fund entities or competi-
tions to allow entrepreneurial students and faculty to 
illustrate the commercialization potential of their 
ideas, including through venture funds of institution 
of higher education. 
(d) LIMITATIONS ON FUNDING.— 
(1) Awards made under this section shall be at 
least 3 years in duration and shall not exceed 
$1,000,000 per fiscal year. 
(2) Awards made under this section shall not 
support the development or operation of capital in-
vestment funds. 
(e) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity seeking funding 
under this section shall submit an application to the Direc-
tor at such time, in such manner, and containing such in-
formation and assurances as such Director may require. 
The application shall include, at a minimum, a description 
of— 
(1) how the eligible entity submitting an appli-
cation plans to sustain the proposed activities beyond 
the duration of the award;
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(2) the steps the applicant will take to enable 
technology transfer and adoption and why such steps 
are likely to be effective; 
(3) how the applicant will encourage the train-
ing and participation of students and potential entre-
preneurs and the transition of research results to 
practice, including the development of new businesses; 
(4) as relevant, potential steps to drive economic 
growth in a particular region, by collaborating with 
industry, venture capital entities, non-profit organi-
zations, and State and local governments within that 
region; and 
(5) background information that the Director de-
termines is relevant to demonstrate the success of the 
innovation and entrepreneurship support models pro-
posed by the applicant to commercialize technologies. 
(f) COLLABORATIVE INNOVATION RESOURCE CENTER 
PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Director shall make 
awards under this section to eligible entities to estab-
lish collaborative innovation resource centers that 
promote regional technology transfer and technology 
development activities available to more than one in-
stitution of higher education and to other entities in 
a region.
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that re-
ceives an award under this subsection shall use award 
funds to carry out one or more of the following activi-
ties, to the benefit of the region in which the center 
is located: 
(A) Providing start-ups and small business 
concerns (as defined in section 3 of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)) within the region 
with access to facilities, scientific infrastructure, 
personnel, and other assets as required for tech-
nology maturation. 
(B) Supporting entrepreneurial training for 
start-up and small business personnel. 
(3) Providing engineering and entrepreneurial 
experiences and hands-on training for students en-
rolled in participating institutions of higher edu-
cation. 
(g) REPORTING ON COMMERCIALIZATION METRICS.— 
The Director shall establish— 
(1) metrics related to commercialization for an 
award under this section; and 
(2) a reporting schedule for recipients of such 
awards that takes into account both short- and long- 
term goals of the programs under this section.
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(h) GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY.—The Director shall en-
sure regional and geographic diversity in issuing awards 
under this section. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—From 
within funds authorized for the Directorate for Technology, 
Innovation, and Partnerships, there are authorized to carry 
out the activities under this section $3,100,000,000 for fiscal 
years 2023 through 2027. 
SEC. 10392. ENTREPRENEURIAL FELLOWSHIPS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director, acting through the 
Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships, 
shall award fellowships to scientists and engineers to help 
develop leaders capable of maturing promising ideas and 
technologies from lab to market or other use and forge con-
nections between academic research and the government, in-
dustry, financial sectors, and other end users. 
(b) APPLICATION.—An applicant for a fellowship 
under this section shall submit to the Director an applica-
tion at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information as the Director may require. At a minimum, 
the Director shall require that applicants— 
(1) have completed a doctoral degree in a STEM 
field no more than 5 years prior to the date of the 
application, or have otherwise demonstrated signifi-
cant postbaccalaureate scientific research experience
584 
† HR 4346 EAS2 
and are considered early career, according to require-
ments established by the Director; and 
(2) have included in the application a proposal 
for how the fellow will be embedded in a host institu-
tion’s research environment. 
(c) OUTREACH.—The Director shall conduct program 
outreach to recruit fellowship applicants— 
(1) from diverse research institutions; 
(2) from all regions of the country; and 
(3) from groups historically underrepresented in 
STEM fields. 
(d) ADMINISTRATION
AGREEMENTS.—The Director 
may enter into an agreement with a qualified third-party 
entity to administer the fellowships, subject to the provi-
sions of this section. 
(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Director a total of 
$125,000,000 for fiscal years 2023 through 2027, to carry 
out the activities outlined in this section. 
SEC. 10393. SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director, acting through the 
Directorate, shall fund undergraduate scholarships (includ-
ing at community colleges), graduate fellowships and 
traineeships, and postdoctoral awards in the key technology 
focus areas.
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—The Director may carry out 
subsection (a) by making awards— 
(1) directly to students; and 
(2) to institutions of higher education or con-
sortia of institutions of higher education, including 
those institutions or consortia involved in operating 
Regional Innovation Engines established under sec-
tion 10388. 
(c) BROADENING PARTICIPATION.—In carrying out 
this section, the Director shall take steps to increase the par-
ticipation of populations that are underrepresented in 
STEM, which may include— 
(1) establishing or augmenting programs tar-
geted at populations that are underrepresented in 
STEM; 
(2) supporting traineeships or other relevant 
programs at historically Black colleges and univer-
sities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and minority- 
serving institutions; 
(3) enabling low-income populations to pursue 
associate, undergraduate, or graduate level degrees in 
STEM; 
(4) addressing current and expected gaps in the 
availability or skills of the STEM workforce, or ad-
dressing needs of the STEM workforce, including by
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
increasing educational capacity at institutions and 
by prioritizing awards to United States citizens, per-
manent residents, and individuals that will grow the 
domestic workforce; and 
(5) addressing geographic diversity in the STEM 
workforce. 
(d) ENCOURAGING INNOVATION.—In carrying out this 
section, the Director shall encourage innovation in graduate 
education, including through encouraging institutions of 
higher education to offer graduate students opportunities to 
gain experience in industry or Government as part of their 
graduate training, and through support for students in pro-
fessional master’s programs related to the key technology 
focus areas or to the societal, national, and geostrategic 
challenges. 
(e) AREAS OF FUNDING SUPPORT.—Subject to the 
availability of funds to carry out this section, the Director 
shall— 
(1) issue— 
(A) postdoctoral awards, 
(B) graduate fellowships and traineeships, 
inclusive of the NSF Research Traineeships and 
fellowships awarded under the Graduate Re-
search Fellowship Program; and
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(C) scholarships, including undergraduate 
scholarships, research experiences, and intern-
ships, including— 
(i) scholarships to attend community 
colleges; and 
(ii) research experiences and intern-
ships under sections 513, 514, and 515 of 
the America COMPETES Reauthorization 
Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–5; 1862p–6; 
1862p–7); 
(2) ensure that not less than 10 percent of the 
funds made available to carry out this section are 
used to support additional awards that focus on com-
munity college training, education, and teaching pro-
grams that increase the participation of populations 
that are historically underrepresented in STEM, in-
cluding technical programs through programs such as 
the Advanced Technological Education program; and 
(3) if funds remain after carrying out para-
graphs (1) and (2) make awards to institutions of 
higher education to enable the institutions to fund the 
development and establishment of new or specialized 
programs of study for graduate, undergraduate, or 
technical college students and the evaluation of the ef-
fectiveness of those programs of study.
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(f) LOW-INCOME SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Director shall award 
scholarships to low-income individuals to enable such 
individuals to pursue associate, undergraduate, or 
graduate level degrees in STEM fields. 
(2) ELIGIBILITY.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible to receive 
a scholarship under this subsection, an indi-
vidual— 
(i) must be a citizen of the United 
States, a national of the United States (as 
defined in section 1101(a) of title 8), an 
alien admitted as a refugee under section 
1157 of title 8, or an alien lawfully admit-
ted to the United States for permanent resi-
dence; 
(ii) shall prepare and submit to the 
Director an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Director may require; and 
(iii) shall certify to the Director that 
the individual intends to use amounts re-
ceived under the scholarship to enroll or 
continue enrollment at an institution of 
higher education (as defined in section
589 
† HR 4346 EAS2 
1001(a) of title 20) in order to pursue an 
associate, undergraduate, or graduate level 
degree in STEM fields designated by the 
Director. 
(B) 
ABILITY.—Awards 
of 
scholarships 
under this subsection shall be made by the Direc-
tor solely on the basis of the ability of the appli-
cant, except that in any case in which 2 or more 
applicants for scholarships are deemed by the 
Director to be possessed of substantially equal 
ability, and there are not sufficient scholarships 
available to award one to each of such appli-
cants, the available scholarship or scholarships 
shall be awarded to the applicants in a manner 
that will tend to result in a geographically wide 
distribution throughout the United States recipi-
ents’ places of permanent residence. 
(3) SCHOLARSHIP AMOUNT AND RENEWAL.—Sec-
tion 414(d) of the American Competitiveness and 
Workforce Improvement Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 
1869c) is amended in paragraph (3) by— 
(A) striking ‘‘, except that the Director shall 
not award a scholarship in an amount exceeding 
$10,000 per year’’; and
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(B) striking ‘‘4 years’’ and inserting ‘‘5 
years’’. 
(4) AUTHORIZATION.—Of amounts authorized 
for the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and 
Partnerships, $100,000,000 shall be authorized to 
carry out this subsection. 
(g) EXISTING PROGRAMS.—The Director may use or 
augment existing STEM education programs of the Foun-
dation and leverage education or entrepreneurial partners 
to carry out this section. 
SEC. 10394. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AWARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made available for 
the Directorate, the Director shall make awards, on a com-
petitive basis, for research and technology development 
within the key technology focus areas, including invest-
ments that advance solutions to the challenges under section 
10387. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the awards under this 
section shall be to accelerate technological advances and 
technology adoption in the key technology focus areas. 
(c) RECIPIENTS.—Recipients of funds under this sec-
tion may include institutions of higher education, research 
institutions, non-profit organizations, private sector enti-
ties, consortia, or other entities as defined by the Director.
591 
† HR 4346 EAS2 
(d) METRICS.—The Director may set metrics, includ-
ing goals and deadlines, for the development and dem-
onstration of technology as determined in the terms of the 
award, and may use such metrics to determine whether an 
award recipient shall be eligible for continued or follow-on 
funding. 
(e) SHORT TERM TECHNOLOGY DEPLOYMENT.—The 
Director shall also make awards, including through the 
SBIR and STTR programs (as defined in section 9(e) of 
the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638(e)), to expedite 
short-term technology deployment within a period of no 
longer than 24 months. 
(f) SELECTION CRITERIA.—In selecting recipients for 
an award under this section, the Director shall consider, 
at a minimum— 
(1) the relevance of the project to the challenges 
and the key technology focus areas under section 
10387, and the potential of the project to result in 
transformational advances for such challenges and the 
key technology focus areas; 
(2) the current status of similar technology, the 
limits of current practice, and the novelty and risks 
of the proposed project;
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(3) the ethical, societal, safety, and security im-
plications relevant to the application of the tech-
nology; 
(4) the appropriateness of quantitative goals and 
metrics for evaluating the project and a plan for eval-
uating those metrics; and 
(5) the path for developing and, as appropriate, 
commercializing the technology into products and 
processes in the United States. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—From 
within funds authorized for the Directorate for Technology, 
Innovation, and Partnerships, there are authorized to carry 
out the activities under this section $1,000,000,000 for fiscal 
years 2023 through 2027. 
SEC. 10395. SCALING INNOVATIONS IN PREK–12 STEM EDU-
CATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Taking into consideration the rec-
ommendations under section 10311(a)(4) of subtitle B, the 
Director shall make awards, on a competitive, merit-re-
viewed basis, to establish multidisciplinary Centers for 
Transformative Education Research and Translation (in 
this section referred to as ‘‘Centers’’) to support research 
and development on widespread and sustained implementa-
tion of STEM education innovations.
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(b) ELIGIBILITY.—The entity seeking an award for a 
Center under this section must be an institution of higher 
education, a nonprofit organization, or a consortium of 
such institutions or organizations, which may include a 
STEM ecosystem . 
(c) APPLICATION.—An eligible entity under subsection 
(b) seeking an award under this section shall submit an 
application to the Director at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Director may re-
quire. The application shall include, at a minimum, a de-
scription of how the proposed Center will be used to— 
(1) establish partnerships among academic insti-
tutions, local or State educational agencies, and other 
relevant stakeholders in supporting programs and ac-
tivities to facilitate the widespread and sustained im-
plementation of promising, evidence-based STEM 
education practices, models, programs, curriculum, 
and technologies; 
(2) support enhanced STEM education infra-
structure, including cyberlearning technologies, to fa-
cilitate the widespread adoption of promising, evi-
dence-based practices; 
(3) support research and development on scaling 
practices, partnerships, and alternative models to cur-
rent approaches, including approaches sensitive to the
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
unique combinations of capabilities, resources, and 
needs of varying localities, educators, and learners; 
(4) include a focus on the learning needs of 
under-resourced schools and learners in low-resource 
or underachieving local educational agencies in urban 
and rural communities and the development of high- 
quality curriculum that engages these learners in the 
knowledge and practices of STEM fields; 
(5) include a focus on the learning needs and 
unique challenges facing students with disabilities; 
(6) support research, development, or education 
on one or more of the key technology focus areas; 
(7) support research and development on scaling 
practices and models to support and sustain highly- 
qualified STEM educators in urban and rural com-
munities; and 
(8) at the discretion of the Director, any other 
requirements recommended in the study commissioned 
under section 10311(a) of subtitle B. 
(d) ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS.—In making an 
award under this section, the Director may also consider 
the extent to which the proposed Center will— 
(1) leverage existing collaborations, tools, and 
strategies supported by the Foundation, including 
NSF INCLUDES and the Convergence Accelerators;
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(2) support research on and the development and 
scaling of innovative approaches to distance learning 
and education for various student populations; 
(3) support education innovations that leverage 
new technologies or deepen understanding of the im-
pact of technology on educational systems; and 
(4) include a commitment from local or State 
education administrators to making the proposed re-
forms and activities a priority. 
(e) PARTNERSHIP.—In carrying out the program 
under this section, the Director shall explore opportunities 
to partner with the Department of Education, including 
through jointly funding activities under this section. 
(f) DURATION.—Each award made under this section 
shall be for a duration of no more than 5 years. 
(g) ANNUAL MEETING.—The Director shall encourage 
and facilitate an annual meeting of the Centers, as appro-
priate, to foster collaboration among the Centers and to fur-
ther disseminate the results of the Centers’ supported activi-
ties. 
(h) EXISTING PROGRAMS.—The Director may use ex-
isting NSF programs to establish and execute this section. 
(i) REPORT.—Not later than 5 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to Congress
596 
† HR 4346 EAS2 
and make widely available to the public a report that in-
cludes— 
(1) a description of the focus and proposed goals 
of each Center; 
(2) an assessment, based on a common set of 
benchmarks and tools, of the Centers’ success in help-
ing to promote scalable solutions in PreK–12 STEM 
education; and 
(3) any recommendations for administrative and 
legislative action that could optimize the effectiveness 
of the Centers established under this section. 
SEC. 10396. AUTHORITIES. 
In addition to existing authorities available to the 
Foundation, the Director may exercise the following au-
thorities in carrying out the activities under this subtitle: 
(1) AWARDS.—In carrying out this subtitle, the 
Director may provide awards in the form of grants, 
contracts, cooperative agreements, cash prizes, and 
other transactions. 
(2) PROGRAM DIRECTORS.— 
(A) DESIGNATION.—The Director may des-
ignate individuals to serve as program directors 
for the programs established within the Direc-
torate pursuant to the responsibilities established
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
under subparagraph (B). The Director shall en-
sure that program directors— 
(i) have expertise in one or more of the 
challenges and key technology focus areas 
under section 10387; and 
(ii) come from a variety of back-
grounds, including industry, and from a 
variety of institutions of higher education. 
(B) RESPONSIBILITIES.—A program direc-
tor of a program of the Directorate, in consulta-
tion with the Assistant Director, shall be respon-
sible for— 
(i) establishing research and develop-
ment goals for the program, including 
through the convening of workshops, confer-
ring with a broad range of stakeholders and 
outside experts, taking into account relevant 
expert reports, and publicizing the goals of 
the program to the public and private sec-
tors; 
(ii) surveying a wide range of institu-
tions of higher education, nonprofit organi-
zations, and private entities to identify 
emerging trends in the challenges and key 
technology focus areas under section 10387,
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
and, as appropriate, soliciting proposals 
from such entities to conduct research in 
areas of particular promise that the private 
sector is the not likely to undertake inde-
pendently. 
(iii) facilitating research collaborations 
in the challenges and key technology focus 
areas under section 10387, including con-
necting academic researchers with potential 
end-users of technology, including industry, 
labor organizations, nonprofit organiza-
tions, civil society organizations, and other 
relevant organizations; 
(iv) reviewing applications for projects 
submitted under section 10394 according to 
the Merit Review Criteria established by the 
Director for such projects and described in 
the Foundation’s Proposal and Award Poli-
cies and Procedures Guide, and any such 
additional criteria as determined by the Di-
rector; and 
(v) monitoring the progress of projects 
supported under the program and taking 
into account input from relevant experts
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
and stakeholders, recommending program 
updates as needed. 
(C) SELECTION CRITERIA.—Program direc-
tors may use diverse merit review models for se-
lection of award recipients under section 10394, 
including internal review and different models 
that use peer review. 
(D) TERMS.—Program directors of the Di-
rectorate may be appointed by the Director for 
a limited term, renewable at the discretion of the 
Director. 
(3) EXPERTS IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.— 
(A) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.—The Founda-
tion may carry out a program of personnel man-
agement authority provided under subparagraph 
(B) in order to facilitate recruitment of eminent 
experts in science or engineering for research and 
development projects and to enhance the admin-
istration and management of the Foundation. 
(B) PERSONNEL
MANAGEMENT
AUTHOR-
ITY.—Under the program under subparagraph 
(A), the Foundation may— 
(i) without regard to any provision of 
title 5, United States Code, governing the 
appointment of employees in the competi-
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
tive service, appoint individuals to a total 
of not more than 70 positions in the Foun-
dation, of which not more than 5 such posi-
tions may be positions of administration or 
management of the Foundation; 
(ii) prescribe the rates of basic pay for 
positions to which employees are appointed 
under clause (i)— 
(I) in the case of employees ap-
pointed pursuant to clause (i) to any 
of 5 positions designated by the Foun-
dation for purposes of this clause, at 
rates not in excess of a rate equal to 
150 percent of the maximum rate of 
basic pay authorized for positions at 
level I of the Executive Schedule under 
section 5312 of title 5, United States 
Code; and 
(II) in the case of any other em-
ployee appointed pursuant to clause 
(i), at rates not in excess of the max-
imum rate of basic pay authorized for 
senior-level positions under section 
5376 of title 5, United States Code; 
and
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(iii) pay any employee appointed 
under subparagraph (A), other than an em-
ployee appointed to a position designated as 
described in clause (ii)(I), payments in ad-
dition to basic pay within the limit appli-
cable to the employee under subparagraph 
(D). 
(C) LIMITATION
ON
TERM
OF
APPOINT-
MENT.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 
in clause (ii), the service of an employee 
under an appointment under subparagraph 
(B)(i) may not exceed 4 years. 
(ii) EXTENSION.—The Director may, 
in the case of a particular employee under 
the program under subparagraph (A), ex-
tend the period to which service is limited 
under clause (i) by up to 2 years if the Di-
rector determines that such action is nec-
essary to promote the efficiency of the Foun-
dation. 
(D) MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF ADDITIONAL PAY-
MENTS
PAYABLE.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of this subsection or section 5307 of 
title 5, United States Code, no additional pay-
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ments may be paid to an employee under sub-
paragraph (B)(iii) in any calendar year if, or to 
the extent that, the employee’s total annual com-
pensation in such calendar year will exceed the 
maximum amount of total annual compensation 
payable at the salary set in accordance with sec-
tion 104 of title 3, United States Code. 
(4) HIGHLY QUALIFIED EXPERTS IN NEEDED OC-
CUPATIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Foundation may 
carry out a program using the authority pro-
vided in subparagraph (B) in order to attract 
highly qualified experts in needed occupations, 
as determined by the Foundation. Individuals 
hired by the Director through such authority 
may include individuals with expertise in busi-
ness creativity, innovation management, design 
thinking, entrepreneurship, venture capital, and 
related fields. 
(B) AUTHORITY.—Under the program, the 
Foundation may— 
(i) appoint personnel from outside the 
civil service and uniformed services (as such 
terms are defined in section 2101 of title 5, 
United States Code) to positions in the
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Foundation without regard to any provi-
sion of title 5, United States Code, gov-
erning the appointment of employees in the 
competitive service; 
(ii) prescribe the rates of basic pay for 
positions to which employees are appointed 
under clause (i) at rates not in excess of the 
maximum rate of basic pay authorized for 
senior-level positions under section 5376 of 
title 5, United States Code; and 
(iii) pay any employee appointed 
under clause (i) payments in addition to 
basic pay within the limits applicable to the 
employee under subparagraph (D). 
(C) LIMITATION
ON
TERM
OF
APPOINT-
MENT.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided 
in clause (ii), the service of an employee 
under an appointment made pursuant to 
this subsection may not exceed 5 years. 
(ii) 
EXTENSION.—The 
Foundation 
may, in the case of a particular employee, 
extend the period to which service is limited 
under clause (i) by up to 1 additional year 
if the Foundation determines that such ac-
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tion is necessary to promote the Founda-
tion’s national security missions. 
(D) LIMITATIONS
ON
ADDITIONAL
PAY-
MENTS.— 
(i) TOTAL AMOUNT.—The total amount 
of the additional payments paid to an em-
ployee under this subsection for any 12- 
month period may not exceed the maximum 
amount of total compensation payable at 
the salary set in accordance with section 
104 of title, United States Code. 
(ii) ELIGIBILITY FOR PAYMENTS.—An 
employee appointed under this subsection is 
not eligible for any bonus, monetary award, 
or other monetary incentive for service, ex-
cept for payments authorized under this 
subsection. 
(E) LIMITATION
ON
NUMBER
OF
HIGHLY 
QUALIFIED
EXPERTS.—The number of highly 
qualified experts appointed and retained by the 
Foundation under sub (B)(i) shall not exceed 70 
at any time. 
(F) SAVINGS
PROVISIONS.—In the event 
that the Foundation terminates the program 
under this paragraph, in the case of an employee
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who, on the day before the termination of the 
program, is serving in a position pursuant to an 
appointment under this paragraph— 
(i) the termination of the program does 
not terminate the employee’s employment in 
that position before the expiration of the 
lesser of— 
(I) the period for which the em-
ployee was appointed; or 
(II) the period to which the em-
ployee’s service is limited under sub-
paragraph (C), including any exten-
sion made under this paragraph before 
the termination of the program; and 
(ii) the rate of basic pay prescribed for 
the position under this paragraph may not 
be reduced as long as the employee con-
tinues to serve at an acceptable level of per-
formance in the position without a break in 
service. 
(5) ADDITIONAL HIRING AUTHORITY.—To the ex-
tent needed to carry out the duties under paragraph 
(1)(A), the Director is authorized to utilize hiring au-
thorities under section 3372 of title 5, United States 
Code, to staff the Foundation with employees from
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other Federal agencies, State and local governments, 
Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, institutions 
of higher education, and other organizations, as de-
scribed in that section, in the same manner and sub-
ject to the same conditions, that apply to such indi-
viduals utilized to accomplish other missions of the 
Foundation. 
(6) NATIONAL ACADEMY OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRA-
TION.— 
(A) STUDY.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director 
shall contract with the National Academy of 
Public Administration to conduct a study on the 
organizational and management structure of the 
Foundation, to— 
(i) evaluate and make recommenda-
tions to efficiently and effectively implement 
the Directorate for Technology, Innovation, 
and Partnerships; and 
(ii) evaluate and make recommenda-
tions to ensure coordination of the Direc-
torate for Technology, Innovation, and 
Partnerships with other directorates and of-
fices of the Foundation and other Federal 
agencies.
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(B) REVIEW.—Upon completion of the 
study under subparagraph (A), the Foundation 
shall review the recommendations from the Na-
tional Academy of Public Administration and 
provide a briefing to Congress on the plans of the 
Foundation to implement any such recommenda-
tions. 
(7) PROVIDING AUTHORITY TO DISSEMINATE IN-
FORMATION.—Section 11 of the National Science 
Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1870) is amend-
ed— 
(A) in subsection (j), by striking ‘‘and’’ 
after the semicolon; 
(B) in subsection (k), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(l) to provide for the widest practicable and appro-
priate dissemination of information within the United 
States concerning the Foundation’s activities and the re-
sults of those activities.’’. 
SEC. 10397. COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the activities of the 
Directorate, the Director shall coordinate and collaborate 
as appropriate with the Secretary of Energy, the Director 
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and
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the heads of other Federal research agencies, as appropriate, 
to further the goals of this subtitle. 
(b) AVOID DUPLICATION.—The Director shall ensure, 
to the greatest extent practicable, that activities carried out 
by the Directorate are not duplicative of activities sup-
ported by other parts of the Foundation or other relevant 
Federal agencies. In carrying out the activities prescribed 
by this division, the Director shall coordinate with the 
interagency working group established under subtitle F of 
title VI and heads of other Federal research agencies to en-
sure these activities enhance and complement, but do not 
constitute unnecessary duplication of effort and to ensure 
the responsible stewardship of funds. 
(c) EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES.—After completion of 
the studies regarding emerging technologies conducted by 
the Secretary of Commerce under title XV of division FF 
of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 
116–260), the Director shall consider the results of such 
studies in carrying out the activities of the Directorate. 
SEC. 10398. ETHICAL, LEGAL, AND SOCIETAL CONSIDER-
ATIONS. 
The Director shall engage, as appropriate, experts in 
the social dimensions of science and technology and set up 
formal avenues for public input, as appropriate, to ensure 
that ethical, legal, and societal considerations are taken into
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account in the priorities and activities of the Directorate, 
including in the selection of the challenges and key tech-
nology focus areas under section 10387 and the award-mak-
ing process, and throughout all stages of supported projects. 
SEC. 10399. REPORTS AND ROADMAPS. 
(a) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Director shall provide to 
the relevant authorizing and appropriations committees of 
Congress an annual report describing projects supported by 
the Directorate during the previous year. 
(b) ROADMAP.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director shall provide to the 
relevant authorizing and appropriations committees of 
Congress a roadmap describing the strategic vision that the 
Directorate will use to guide investment decisions over the 
following 3 years. 
(c) REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act and every 3 years thereafter, the 
Director, in consultation with the heads of relevant Federal 
agencies, shall prepare and submit to Congress— 
(1) a strategic vision for the next 5 years for the 
Directorate, including a description of how the Foun-
dation will increase funding for research and edu-
cation for populations underrepresented in STEM 
and geographic areas; and
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(2) a description of the planned activities of the 
Directorate to secure federally funded science and 
technology pursuant to section 1746 of the National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (Pub-
lic Law 116–92; 42 U.S.C. 6601 note) and section 
223 of William M. (Mac) Thornberry National De-
fense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public 
Law 116–283) and the requirements under subtitle D 
of this title and subtitle E of title VI . 
(d) SELECTION CRITERIA REPORT.—Not later than 24 
months after the establishment of the Directorate, the Direc-
tor shall prepare and submit a report to Congress regarding 
the use of alternative methods for the selection of award re-
cipients and the distribution of funding to recipients, as 
compared to the traditional peer review process. 
SEC. 10399A. EVALUATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—After the Directorate has been in 
operation for 6 years, the Director shall enter into an agree-
ment with the National Academies to provide an evaluation 
of how well the Directorate is achieving the purposes identi-
fied in section 10382. 
(b) INCLUSIONS.—The evaluation shall include— 
(1) an assessment of the impact of Directorate 
activities on the Foundation’s primary science mis-
sion;
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(2) an assessment of the Directorate’s impact on 
the challenges and key technology focus areas under 
section 10387; 
(3) an assessment of efforts to ensure coordina-
tion between the Directorate and other Federal agen-
cies, and with external entities; 
(4) a description of lessons learned from oper-
ation of the Directorate; and 
(5) recommended funding levels for the Direc-
torate; 
(c) AVAILABILITY.—On completion of the evaluation, 
the evaluation shall be made available to Congress and the 
public. 
Subtitle H—Administrative 
Amendments 
SEC. 10399D. SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM CAREERS. 
Section 3(c) of the Supporting Veterans in STEM Ca-
reers Act (42 U.S.C. 1862t) is amended by striking ‘‘an-
nual’’ and inserting ‘‘biennial’’. 
SEC. 10399E. SUNSHINE ACT COMPLIANCE. 
Section 15(a) of the National Science Foundation Au-
thorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n–5(a)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) so that paragraph (3) reads as follows:
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‘‘(3) COMPLIANCE REVIEW.—The Inspector Gen-
eral of the Foundation shall conduct a review of the 
compliance by the Board with the requirements de-
scribed in paragraph (2) as necessary based on a tri-
ennial risk assessment. Any review deemed necessary 
shall examine the proposed and actual content of 
closed meetings and determine whether the closure of 
the meetings was consistent with section 552b of title 
5, United States Code.’’; and 
(2) by striking paragraphs (4) and (5) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(4) MATERIALS
RELATING
TO
CLOSED
POR-
TIONS OF MEETING.—To facilitate the risk assessment 
required under paragraph (3) of this subsection, and 
any subsequent review conducted by the Inspector 
General, the Office of the National Science Board 
shall maintain the General Counsel’s certificate, the 
presiding officer’s statement, and a transcript or re-
cording of any closed meeting, for at least 3 years 
after such meeting.’’. 
SEC. 10399F. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING INDICATORS RE-
PORT SUBMISSION. 
Section 4(j)(1) of the National Science Foundation Act 
of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(j)(1)) is amended by striking 
‘‘January 15’’ and inserting ‘‘March 15’’.
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TITLE IV—BIOECONOMY 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 10401. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) INITIATIVE.—The term ‘‘Initiative’’ means 
the National Engineering Biology Research and De-
velopment Initiative established under section 10402. 
(2) OMICS.—The term ‘‘omics’’ refers to the col-
lective technologies used to explore the roles, relation-
ships, and actions of the various types of molecules 
that make up the cells and systems of an organism 
and the systems level analysis of their functions. 
SEC. 10402. NATIONAL ENGINEERING BIOLOGY RESEARCH 
AND DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President, acting through the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall implement 
a National Engineering Biology Research and Development 
Initiative to advance societal well-being, national security, 
sustainability, and economic productivity and competitive-
ness through the following: 
(1) Advancing areas of research at the intersec-
tion of the biological, physical, chemical, data, and 
computational and information sciences and engi-
neering to accelerate scientific understanding and 
technological innovation in engineering biology.
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(2) Advancing areas of biomanufacturing re-
search to optimize, standardize, scale, and deliver new 
products and solutions. 
(3) Supporting social and behavioral sciences 
and economics research that advances the field of en-
gineering biology and contributes to the development 
and public understanding of new products, processes, 
and technologies. 
(4) Improving the understanding of engineering 
biology of the scientific and lay public and sup-
porting greater evidence-based public discourse about 
its benefits and risks. 
(5) Supporting research relating to the risks and 
benefits of engineering biology, including under sub-
section (d). 
(6) Supporting the development of novel tools 
and technologies to accelerate scientific understanding 
and technological innovation in engineering biology. 
(7) Expanding the number of researchers, edu-
cators, and students and a retooled workforce with en-
gineering biology training, including from tradition-
ally underrepresented and underserved populations. 
(8) Accelerating the translation and commer-
cialization of engineering biology and biomanufac-
turing research and development by the private sector.
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(9) Improving the interagency planning and co-
ordination of Federal Government activities related to 
engineering biology. 
(b) INITIATIVE ACTIVITIES.—The activities of the Ini-
tiative shall include the following: 
(1) Sustained support for engineering biology re-
search and development through the following: 
(A) Grants to fund the work of individual 
investigators and teams of investigators, includ-
ing interdisciplinary teams. 
(B) Projects funded under joint solicitations 
by a collaboration of not fewer than two agencies 
participating in the Initiative. 
(C) Interdisciplinary research centers that 
are organized to investigate basic research ques-
tions, carry out technology development and 
demonstration activities, and increase under-
standing of how to scale up engineering biology 
processes, including biomanufacturing. 
(2) Sustained support for databases and related 
tools, including the following: 
(A) Support for the establishment, curation, 
and 
maintenance 
of 
curated 
genomics, 
epigenomics, and other relevant omics databases, 
including plant, animal, and microbial data-
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bases, that are available to researchers to carry 
out engineering biology research in a manner 
that does not compromise national security or 
the privacy or security of information within 
such databases. 
(B) Development of standards for such 
databases, including for curation, interoper-
ability, and protection of privacy and security. 
(C) Support for the development of com-
putational tools, including artificial intelligence 
tools, that can accelerate research and innova-
tion using such databases. 
(D) An inventory and assessment of all 
Federal government omics databases to identify 
opportunities to improve the utility of such data-
bases, as appropriate and in a manner that does 
not compromise national security or the privacy 
and security of information within such data-
bases, and inform investment in such databases 
as critical infrastructure for the engineering biol-
ogy research enterprise. 
(3) Sustained support for the development, opti-
mization, and validation of novel tools and tech-
nologies to enable the dynamic study of molecular 
processes in situ, including through the following:
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(A) Research conducted at Federal labora-
tories. 
(B) Grants to fund the work of investigators 
at institutions of higher education and other 
nonprofit research institutions. 
(C) Incentivized development of retooled in-
dustrial sites across the country that foster a 
pivot to modernized engineering biology initia-
tives. 
(D) Awards under the Small Business Inno-
vation Research Program and the Small Busi-
ness Technology Transfer Program (as described 
in section 9 of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 638)). 
(4) Support for education and training of under-
graduate and graduate students in engineering biol-
ogy, biomanufacturing, bioprocess engineering, and 
computational science applied to engineering biology 
and in the related ethical, legal, environmental, safe-
ty, security, and other societal domains. 
(5) Support for a national network of testbeds 
based on open standards, interfaces, and processes, in-
cluding by repurposing existing facilities such as 
those specified in paragraph (3)(C), that would enable 
scale up of laboratory engineering biology research.
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(6) Activities to develop robust mechanisms for 
documenting and quantifying the outputs and eco-
nomic benefits of engineering biology. 
(7) Activities to accelerate the translation and 
commercialization of new products, processes, and 
technologies by carrying out the following: 
(A) Identifying precompetitive research op-
portunities. 
(B) Facilitating public-private partnerships 
in engineering biology research and development, 
including to address barriers to scaling up inno-
vations in engineering biology. 
(C) Connecting researchers, graduate stu-
dents, and postdoctoral fellows with entrepre-
neurship education and training opportunities. 
(D) Supporting proof of concept activities 
and the formation of startup companies includ-
ing through programs such as the Small Busi-
ness Innovation Research Program and the 
Small Business Technology Transfer Program. 
(c) EXPANDING PARTICIPATION.—The Initiative shall 
include, to the maximum extent practicable, outreach to 
primarily undergraduate and historically Black colleges 
and universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and mi-
nority-serving institutions about Initiative opportunities,
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
potential safety and security implications of engineer-
ing biology research, as appropriate. 
(3) Ensuring that input from Federal and non- 
Federal experts on the ethical, legal, environmental, 
safety, security, and other appropriate societal issues 
related to engineering biology is integrated into the 
Initiative. 
(4) Ensuring, through the agencies and depart-
ments that participate in the Initiative, that public 
input and outreach are integrated into the Initiative 
by the convening of regular and ongoing public dis-
cussions through mechanisms such as workshops, con-
sensus conferences, and educational events, as appro-
priate. 
(5) Complying with all applicable provisions of 
Federal law. 
SEC. 10403. INITIATIVE COORDINATION. 
(a) INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE.—The President, acting 
through the Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall 
designate an interagency committee to coordinate activities 
of the Initiative as appropriate, which shall be co-chaired 
by the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The Direc-
tor of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall se-
lect an additional co-chairperson from among the members 
of the interagency committee. The interagency committee
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shall oversee the planning, management, and coordination 
of the Initiative. The interagency committee shall carry out 
the following: 
(1) Provide for interagency coordination of Fed-
eral engineering biology research, development, and 
other activities undertaken pursuant to the Initiative. 
(2) Establish and periodically update goals and 
priorities for the Initiative. 
(3) Develop, not later than 12 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, and update every 
five years thereafter, a strategic plan submitted to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the 
Committee on Agriculture, and the Committee on En-
ergy and Commerce of the House of Representatives 
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, 
and Forestry, the Committee on Small Business and 
Entrepreneurship, and the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate that— 
(A) guides the activities of the Initiative for 
purposes of meeting the goals and priorities es-
tablished under (and updated pursuant to) para-
graph (2); and 
(B) describes—
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(i) the Initiative’s support for long- 
term funding for interdisciplinary engineer-
ing biology research and development; 
(ii) the Initiative’s support for edu-
cation and public outreach activities; 
(iii) the Initiative’s support for re-
search and other activities on ethical, legal, 
environmental, safety, security, and other 
appropriate societal issues related to engi-
neering biology, including— 
(I) an applied biorisk manage-
ment research plan; 
(II) recommendations for inte-
grating security into biological data 
access and international reciprocity 
agreements; 
(III) recommendations for manu-
facturing restructuring to support en-
gineering biology research, develop-
ment, and scaling-up initiatives; and 
(IV) an evaluation of existing bio-
security governance policies, guidance, 
and directives for the purposes of cre-
ating an adaptable, evidence-based 
framework to respond to emerging bio-
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security challenges created by advances 
in engineering biology; 
(iv) how the Initiative will contribute 
to moving results out of the laboratory and 
into application for the benefit of society 
and United States competitiveness; and 
(v) how the Initiative will measure 
and track the contributions of engineering 
biology to United States economic growth 
and other societal indicators. 
(4) Develop a national genomic sequencing strat-
egy to ensure engineering biology research fully 
leverages plant, animal, and microbe biodiversity, as 
appropriate and in a manner that does not com-
promise economic competitiveness, national security, 
or the privacy or security of human genetic informa-
tion, to enhance long-term innovation and competi-
tiveness in engineering biology in the United States. 
(5) Develop a plan to utilize Federal programs, 
such as the Small Business Innovation Research Pro-
gram and the Small Business Technology Transfer 
Program (as described in section 9 of the Small Busi-
ness Act (15 U.S.C. 638)), in support of the activities 
described in section 10402(b)(3).
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(6) In carrying out this section, take into consid-
eration the recommendations of the advisory com-
mittee established under section 10404, the results of 
the workshop convened under section 10402, existing 
reports on related topics, and the views of academic, 
State, industry, and other appropriate groups. 
(b) QUINQUENNIAL REPORT.—Beginning with fiscal 
year 2023 and every five years thereafter for ten years, the 
interagency committee shall prepare and submit to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, the 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and 
the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of 
the Senate a report that includes the following: 
(1) A summarized agency budget in support of 
the Initiative for the current fiscal year, including a 
breakout of spending for each agency participating in 
the Program, and for the development and acquisition 
of any research facilities and instrumentation. 
(2) An assessment of how Federal agencies are 
implementing the plan described in subsection (a)(3), 
including the following:
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(A) A description of the amount and num-
ber of awards made under the Small Business 
Innovation Research Program and the Small 
Business Technology Transfer Program (as de-
scribed in section 9 of the Small Business Act 
(15 U.S.C. 638)) in support of the Initiative. 
(B) A description of the amount and num-
ber of projects funded under joint solicitations by 
a collaboration of not fewer than two agencies 
participating in the Initiative. 
(C) A description of effects of newly-funded 
projects by the Initiative. 
(c) INITIATIVE COORDINATION OFFICE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The President shall establish 
an Initiative Coordination Office, with a Director 
and full-time staff, which shall— 
(A) provide technical and administrative 
support to the interagency committee and the ad-
visory committee established under subsection (a) 
and section 10404; 
(B) serve as the point of contact on Federal 
engineering biology activities for government or-
ganizations, academia, industry, professional so-
cieties, State governments, interested citizen
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groups, and others to exchange technical and 
programmatic information; 
(C) oversee interagency coordination of the 
Initiative, including by encouraging and sup-
porting joint agency solicitation and selection of 
applications for funding of activities under the 
Initiative, as appropriate; 
(D) conduct public outreach, including dis-
semination of findings and recommendations of 
the advisory committee, as appropriate; 
(E) serve as the coordinator of ethical, legal, 
environmental, safety, security, and other appro-
priate societal input; and 
(F) promote access to, and early applica-
tion of, the technologies, innovations, and exper-
tise derived from Initiative activities to agency 
missions and systems across the Federal Govern-
ment, and to United States industry, including 
startup companies. 
(2) FUNDING.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy, in coordination with 
each participating Federal department and agency, 
as appropriate, shall develop and annually update an 
estimate of the funds necessary to carry out the ac-
tivities of the Initiative Coordination Office and sub-
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mit such estimate with an agreed summary of con-
tributions from each agency to Congress as part of the 
President’s annual budget request to Congress. 
(3) TERMINATION.—The Initiative Coordination 
Office established under this subsection shall termi-
nate on the date that is 10 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(d) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section 
may be construed to alter the policies, processes, or practices 
of individual Federal agencies in effect on the day before 
the date of the enactment of this Act relating to the conduct 
of biomedical research and advanced development, includ-
ing the solicitation and review of extramural research pro-
posals. 
SEC. 10404. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON ENGINEERING BIOL-
OGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The agency co-chair of the inter-
agency committee established under section 10403 shall, in 
consultation with the Office of Science and Technology Pol-
icy, designate or establish an advisory committee on engi-
neering biology research and development (in this section 
referred to as the ‘‘advisory committee’’) to be composed of 
not fewer than 12 members, including representatives of re-
search and academic institutions, industry, and nongovern-
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mental entities, who are qualified to provide advice on the 
Initiative. 
(b) ASSESSMENT.—The advisory committee shall as-
sess the following: 
(1) The current state of United States competi-
tiveness in engineering biology, including the scope 
and scale of United States investments in engineering 
biology research and development in the international 
context. 
(2) Current market barriers to commercializa-
tion of engineering biology products, processes, and 
tools in the United States. 
(3) Progress made in implementing the Initia-
tive. 
(4) The need to revise the Initiative. 
(5) The balance of activities and funding across 
the Initiative. 
(6) Whether the strategic plan developed or up-
dated by the interagency committee established under 
section 10403 is helping to maintain United States 
leadership in engineering biology. 
(7) Whether ethical, legal, environmental, safety, 
security, and other appropriate societal issues are 
adequately addressed by the Initiative.
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(c) REPORTS.—Beginning not later than two years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act and not less fre-
quently than once every five years thereafter, the advisory 
committee shall submit to the President, the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce, and the Committee on Agriculture of the 
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on Ag-
riculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate, a report 
on the following: 
(1) The findings of the advisory committee’s as-
sessment under subsection (b). 
(2) The advisory committee’s recommendations 
for ways to improve the Initiative. 
(d) APPLICATION OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE 
ACT.—Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act 
(5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the advisory committee. 
(e) TERMINATION.—The advisory committee estab-
lished under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date that 
is 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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SEC. 10405. EXTERNAL REVIEW OF ETHICAL, LEGAL, ENVI-
RONMENTAL, SAFETY, SECURITY, AND SOCI-
ETAL ISSUES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than six months after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National 
Science Foundation shall seek to enter into an agreement 
with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and 
Medicine to conduct a review, and make recommendations 
with respect to, the ethical, legal, environmental, safety, se-
curity, and other appropriate societal issues related to engi-
neering biology research and development. The review shall 
include the following: 
(1) An assessment of the current research on such 
issues. 
(2) A description of the research needs relating 
to such issues. 
(3) Recommendations on how the Initiative can 
address the research needs identified pursuant to 
paragraph (2). 
(4) Recommendations on how researchers en-
gaged in engineering biology can best incorporate 
considerations of such issues into the development of 
research proposals and the conduct of research. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The agreement entered 
into under subsection (a) shall require the National Acad-
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emies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to, not later 
than two years after the date of the enactment of this Act— 
(1) submit to the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology and the Committee on Agriculture of 
the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Com-
mittee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate a report containing the findings and rec-
ommendations of the review conducted under sub-
section (a); and 
(2) make a copy of such report available on a 
publicly accessible website. 
SEC. 10406. AGENCY ACTIVITIES. 
(a) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—As part of the 
Initiative, the National Science Foundation shall carry out 
the following: 
(1) Support research in engineering biology and 
biomanufacturing through individual grants, collabo-
rative grants, and through interdisciplinary research 
centers. 
(2) Support research on the environmental, legal, 
ethical, and social implications of engineering biol-
ogy. 
(3) Provide support for research instrumenta-
tion, equipment, and cyberinfrastructure for engineer-
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ing biology disciplines, including support for re-
search, development, optimization, and validation of 
novel technologies to enable the dynamic study of mo-
lecular processes in situ. 
(4) Support curriculum development and re-
search experiences for secondary, undergraduate, and 
graduate students in engineering biology and bio-
manufacturing, including through support for grad-
uate fellowships and traineeships in engineering biol-
ogy. 
(5) Award grants, on a competitive basis, to en-
able institutions to support graduate students and 
postdoctoral fellows who perform some of their engi-
neering biology research in an industry setting. 
(b) DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.— 
(1) NATIONAL
INSTITUTE
OF
STANDARDS
AND 
TECHNOLOGY.—As part of the Initiative, the Director 
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
shall carry out the following: 
(A) Advance the development of standard 
reference materials and measurements, including 
to promote interoperability between new compo-
nent technologies and processes for engineering 
biology and biomanufacturing discovery, innova-
tion, and production processes.
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(B) Establish new data tools, techniques, 
and processes necessary to advance engineering 
biology and biomanufacturing. 
(C) Provide access to user facilities with ad-
vanced or unique equipment, services, materials, 
and other resources to industry, institutions of 
higher education, nonprofit organizations, and 
government agencies to perform research and 
testing. 
(D) Provide technical expertise to inform 
the potential development of guidelines or safe-
guards for new products, processes, and systems 
of engineering biology. 
(2) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD-
MINISTRATION.—As part of the initiative, the Admin-
istrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration shall carry out the following: 
(A) Conduct and support research in omics 
and associated bioinformatic sciences and de-
velop tools and products to improve ecosystem 
stewardship, monitoring, management, assess-
ments. and forecasts, consistent with the mission 
of the agency.
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(B) Collaborate with other agencies to un-
derstand potential environmental threats and 
safeguards related to engineering biology. 
(c) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.—As part of the Initia-
tive, the Secretary of Energy shall carry out the following: 
(1) Conduct and support research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application activities 
in engineering biology, including in the areas of syn-
thetic biology, advanced biofuel and bioproduct devel-
opment, biobased materials, and environmental reme-
diation. 
(2) Support the development, optimization and 
validation of novel, scalable tools and technologies to 
enable the dynamic study of molecular processes in 
situ. 
(3) Provide access to user facilities with ad-
vanced or unique equipment, services, materials, and 
other resources, including secure access to high-per-
formance computing, as appropriate, to industry, in-
stitutions of higher education, nonprofit organiza-
tions, and government agencies to perform research 
and testing;. 
(4) Strengthen collaboration between the Office of 
Science and the Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy Office to help transfer fundamental research
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results to industry and accelerate commercial appli-
cations. 
(d) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.—As part of the Ini-
tiative, the Secretary of Defense shall carry out the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Conduct and support research and develop-
ment in engineering biology and associated data and 
information sciences. 
(2) Support curriculum development and re-
search experiences in engineering biology and associ-
ated data and information sciences across the mili-
tary education system, including the service acad-
emies, professional military education, and military 
graduate education. 
(3) Assess risks of potential national security 
and economic security threats relating to engineering 
biology. 
(e) NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRA-
TION.—As part of the Initiative, the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration shall carry out the following: 
(1) Conduct and support research in engineering 
biology, including in synthetic biology, and related to 
Earth and space sciences, aeronautics, space tech-
nology, and space exploration and experimentation,
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consistent with the priorities established in the Na-
tional Academies’ decadal surveys. 
(2) Award grants, on a competitive basis, that 
enable institutions to support graduate students and 
postdoctoral fellows who perform some of their engi-
neering biology research in an industry setting. 
(f) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.—As part of the 
Initiative, the Secretary of Agriculture shall support re-
search and development in engineering biology through the 
Agricultural Research Service, the National Institute of 
Food and Agriculture programs and grants, and the Office 
of the Chief Scientist. 
(g) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.—As part 
of the Initiative, the Environmental Protection Agency shall 
support research on how products, processes, and systems 
of engineering biology will affect or can protect the environ-
ment. 
(h) DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERV-
ICES.—As part of the Initiative, the Secretary of Health 
and Human Services, as appropriate and consistent with 
activities of the Department of Health and Human Services 
in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this 
Act, shall carry out the following:
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(1) Support research and development to ad-
vance the understanding and application of engineer-
ing biology for human health. 
(2) Support relevant interdisciplinary research 
and coordination. 
(3) Support activities necessary to facilitate 
oversight of relevant emerging biotechnologies. 
SEC. 10407. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this title may be construed to require public 
disclosure of information that is exempt from mandatory 
disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United States Code. 
TITLE V—BROADENING 
PARTICIPATION IN SCIENCE 
Subtitle A—STEM Opportunities 
SEC. 10501. FEDERAL RESEARCH AGENCY POLICIES FOR 
CAREGIVERS. 
(a) OSTP GUIDANCE.—Not later than 12 months after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director, in con-
sultation with the heads of relevant agencies, shall provide 
guidance to each Federal research agency to establish poli-
cies that— 
(1) apply to all— 
(A) research awards granted by such agen-
cy; and
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(B) principal investigators of such research 
and their trainees, including postdoctoral re-
searchers and graduate students, who have 
caregiving responsibilities, including care for a 
newborn or newly adopted child and care for an 
immediate family member who has a disability 
or a serious health condition; and 
(2) provide, to the extent feasible— 
(A) flexibility in timing for the initiation of 
approved research awards granted by such agen-
cy; 
(B) no-cost extensions of such research 
awards; 
(C) award supplements, as appropriate, to 
research awards to sustain research activities 
conducted under such awards; and 
(D) any other appropriate accommodations 
at the discretion of the director of each such 
agency. 
(b) UNIFORMITY OF GUIDANCE.—In providing guid-
ance under subsection (a), the Director shall encourage uni-
formity, to the extent practicable, and consistency in the 
policies established pursuant to such guidance across all 
Federal research agencies.
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(c) ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICIES.—Consistent, to the 
extent practicable, with the guidance under subsection (a), 
Federal research agencies shall— 
(1) maintain or develop and implement policies 
for individuals described in paragraph (1)(B) of such 
subsection; and 
(2) broadly disseminate in easily accessible for-
mats such policies to current and potential award re-
cipients. 
(d) DATA ON USAGE.—Federal research agencies shall 
consider— 
(1) collecting data, including demographic data 
that can be disaggregated by sex, geographic location, 
and socioeconomic indicators, which may include em-
ployment status, occupation, educational attainment, 
parental education, and income, on the usage of the 
policies under subsection (c), at both institutions of 
higher education and Federal laboratories; and 
(2) reporting such data on an annual basis to 
the Director in such form as required by the Director. 
SEC. 10502. COLLECTION AND REPORTING OF DATA ON 
FEDERAL RESEARCH AWARDS. 
(a) COLLECTION OF DATA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Federal research agency 
shall collect, as practicable, with respect to all appli-
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cations for merit-reviewed research and development 
awards made by such agency, standardized record- 
level annual information on demographics, primary 
field, award type, institution type, review rating, 
budget request, funding outcome, and awarded budget. 
(2) UNIFORMITY
AND
STANDARDIZATION.—The 
Director, in consultation with the heads of each Fed-
eral research agency, shall establish, and update as 
necessary, a policy to ensure uniformity and stand-
ardization of the data collection required under para-
graph (1). 
(3) RECORD-LEVEL DATA.— 
(A) REQUIREMENT.—Beginning not later 
than two years after the issuance of the policy 
under paragraph (2) to Federal research agen-
cies, and on an annual basis thereafter, each 
Federal research agency shall submit to the Na-
tional Center for Science and Engineering Sta-
tistics record-level data collected under para-
graph (1) in the form required by the Director 
of the National Science Foundation. 
(B) PREVIOUS DATA.—As part of the first 
submission under subparagraph (A), each Fed-
eral research agency, to the extent practicable, 
shall also submit comparable record-level data, if
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it is available to the agency, for the five years 
preceding the date of such submission, or an 
analysis for why such data cannot be provided. 
(b) REPORTING OF DATA.—The Director of the Na-
tional Science Foundation shall publish statistical sum-
mary data, as practicable, collected under this section, 
disaggregated and cross-tabulated by race, ethnicity, sex, so-
cioeconomic indicators, which may include employment sta-
tus, occupation, educational attainment, parental edu-
cation, and income, geographic location, and years since 
completion of doctoral degree, including in conjunction with 
the National Science Foundation’s report required by sec-
tion 37 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportuni-
ties Act (42 U.S.C. 1885d; Public Law 96–516). 
SEC. 10503. POLICIES FOR REVIEW OF FEDERAL RESEARCH 
AWARDS. 
(a) ASSESSMENT
OF
POLICIES.—Federal research 
agencies shall regularly assess, and update as necessary, 
policies, and practices to remove or reduce cultural and in-
stitutional barriers limiting the recruitment, retention, and 
success of groups historically underrepresented in STEM re-
search careers, including policies and practices relevant to 
the unbiased review of Federal research applications.
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(b) CONSIDERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES.—In carrying 
out the requirements under subsection (a), Federal research 
agencies shall— 
(1) review current levels of participation of 
groups historically underrepresented in STEM in 
peer-review panels and consider approaches for ex-
panding their participation; 
(2) analyze the data collected under section 
10502, including funding rates of proposals from all 
groups, including those historically underrepresented 
in STEM; 
(3) collect and disseminate best practices to re-
move or reduce cultural and institutional barriers 
limiting the recruitment, retention, and success of 
groups historically underrepresented in STEM re-
search careers; and 
(4) implement evidence-based policies and prac-
tices to achieve the goals of this section. 
SEC. 10504. COLLECTION OF DATA ON DEMOGRAPHICS OF 
FACULTY. 
(a) COLLECTION OF DATA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act and at least 
every five years thereafter, the Director of the Na-
tional Science Foundation shall carry out a survey to
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collect data from award recipients on the demo-
graphics of STEM faculty, by broad fields of STEM, 
at different types of institutions of higher education 
that receive Federal research funding. 
(2) SURVEY
CONSIDERATIONS.—To the extent 
practicable, the Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall survey, by sex, race, socioeconomic 
indicators, which may include employment status, oc-
cupation, educational attainment, parental education, 
and income, geographic location, ethnicity, citizen-
ship status, and years since completion of doctoral de-
gree— 
(A) the number and percentage of faculty; 
(B) the number and percentage of faculty at 
each rank; 
(C) the number and percentage of faculty 
who are in nontenure-track positions, including 
teaching and research; 
(D) the number and percentage of faculty 
who are reviewed for promotion, including ten-
ure, and the percentage of that number who are 
promoted, including being awarded tenure; 
(E) faculty years in rank; 
(F) the number and percentage of faculty to 
leave tenure-track positions;
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(G) the number and percentage of faculty 
hired, by rank; and 
(H) the number and percentage of faculty 
in leadership positions. 
(b) EXISTING SURVEYS.—The Director of the National 
Science Foundation, may, in modifying or expanding exist-
ing Federal surveys of higher education (as necessary)— 
(1) take into account the considerations under 
subsection (a)(2) by collaborating with statistical cen-
ters at other Federal agencies; or 
(2) make an award to an institution of higher 
education or nonprofit organization (or consortia 
thereof) to take such considerations into account. 
(c) REPORTING DATA.—The Director of the National 
Science Foundation shall publish statistical summary data 
collected under this section, including as part of the Na-
tional Science Foundation’s report required by section 37 
of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act 
(42 U.S.C. 1885d; Public Law 96–516). 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the Na-
tional Science Foundation $4,000,000 in each of fiscal 
years 2023 through 2025 to develop and carry out the ini-
tial survey required under subsection (a).
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SEC. 10505. CULTURAL AND INSTITUTIONAL BARRIERS TO 
EXPANDING THE ACADEMIC AND FEDERAL 
STEM WORKFORCE. 
(a) BEST PRACTICES.— 
(1) DEVELOPMENT
OF
GUIDANCE.—Not later 
than 12 months after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Director, in consultation with the interagency 
working group on inclusion in STEM and utilizing 
existing guidance already developed by Federal re-
search agencies where applicable, shall broadly dis-
seminate to entities that receive Federal research 
funding best practices for— 
(A) conducting periodic climate surveys of 
STEM departments and divisions, with a par-
ticular focus on identifying and addressing any 
cultural or institutional barriers to the recruit-
ment, retention, or advancement of groups his-
torically underrepresented in STEM studies and 
careers; and 
(B) providing educational opportunities, in-
cluding workshops, for STEM professionals to 
learn about current research on effective prac-
tices for unbiased recruitment, evaluation, and 
promotion of undergraduate and graduate stu-
dents and research personnel.
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(2) ESTABLISHMENT
OF
POLICIES.—Consistent 
with the guidance developed under paragraph (1)— 
(A) The Director of the National Science 
Foundation, in consultation with the heads of 
Federal research agencies, shall develop a policy 
that— 
(i) applies to, at a minimum, doctoral 
degree granting institutions that receive 
Federal research funding; and 
(ii) requires each such institution, not 
later than 3 years after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, and to the extent prac-
ticable, to report to the Director of the Na-
tional Science Foundation on activities and 
policies developed and implemented based 
on the guidance disseminated under para-
graph (1); and 
(B) each Federal research agency with a 
Federal laboratory shall maintain or develop 
and implement practices and policies for the 
purposes described in paragraph (1) for such 
laboratory and, not later than three years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, each Fed-
eral laboratory shall report to the head of such 
agency on such practices and policies.
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than four years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of 
the National Science Foundation shall submit a report to 
Congress that includes a summary and analysis of the types 
and frequency of activities and policies developed and car-
ried out under subsection (a) based on the reports submitted 
under paragraph (2) of such subsection. 
SEC. 10506. EXISTING ACTIVITIES. 
A Federal research agency may satisfy requirements 
under this subtitle through activities and programs in exist-
ence as of the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 10507. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
Not later than four years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Director shall submit to Congress a 
report that includes the following: 
(1) A description and evaluation of the status 
and usage of policies implemented pursuant to section 
10505 at all Federal research agencies, including any 
recommendations for revising or expanding such poli-
cies. 
(2) With respect to efforts to remove or reduce 
cultural and institutional barriers limiting the re-
cruitment, retention, and success of groups histori-
cally underrepresented in academic and government 
STEM research careers under section 10505—
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(A) what steps all Federal research agencies 
have taken to implement policies and practices 
to further such efforts; 
(B) a description of any significant updates 
to the policies for review of Federal research 
awards required under such section; and 
(C) any evidence of the impact of such poli-
cies on the review or awarding of Federal re-
search awards; and 
(3) A description and evaluation of the status of 
institution of higher education and Federal labora-
tory policies and practices required under section 
10505, including any recommendations for revising 
or expanding such policies. 
SEC. 10508. MERIT REVIEW. 
Nothing in this subtitle may be construed as altering 
any intellectual or broader impacts criteria at Federal re-
search agencies for evaluating award applications. 
SEC. 10509. DETERMINATION OF BUDGETARY EFFECTS. 
The budgetary effects of this subtitle, for the purpose 
of complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 
2010, shall be determined by reference to the latest state-
ment titled ‘‘Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation’’ for 
this subtitle, submitted for printing in the Congressional 
Record by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee,
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provided that such statement has been submitted prior to 
the vote on passage. 
SEC. 10510. DEFINITION. 
In this subtitle, the term ‘‘Director’’ means the Direc-
tor of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. 
Subtitle B—Rural STEM Education 
Research 
SEC. 10511. DEFINITION. 
In this subtitle, the term ‘‘Director’’ means the Direc-
tor of the National Science Foundation. 
SEC. 10512. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RURAL STEM 
ACTIVITIES. 
(a) PREPARING RURAL STEM EDUCATORS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Director shall make 
awards on a merit- reviewed, competitive basis to in-
stitutions of higher education or nonprofit organiza-
tions (or a consortium thereof) for research and devel-
opment activities to advance innovative approaches to 
support and sustain high-quality STEM teaching in 
rural schools. 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Awards made under this 
subsection shall be used for the research and de-
velopment activities referred to in paragraph (1), 
which may include—
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(i) engaging rural educators, prin-
cipals, or other school leaders of students in 
prekindergarten through grade 12 in profes-
sional learning opportunities to enhance 
STEM 
knowledge, 
including 
computer 
science, and develop best practices; 
(ii) supporting research on effective 
STEM teaching and school leadership prac-
tices in rural settings, including the use of 
rubrics and mastery- based grading prac-
tices to assess student performance when 
employing the transdisciplinary teaching 
approach for STEM disciplines; 
(iii) designing and developing pre-serv-
ice and in-service training resources to as-
sist such rural educators, principals, and 
other 
school 
leaders 
in 
adopting 
transdisciplinary teaching practices across 
STEM courses; 
(iv) coordinating with local partners to 
adapt STEM teaching practices to leverage 
local, natural, and community assets in 
order to support in-place learning in rural 
areas;
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(v) providing hands-on training and 
research opportunities for rural educators 
described in clause (i) at Federal labora-
tories or institutions of higher education, or 
in industry; 
(vi) developing training and best prac-
tices for educators who teach multiple grade 
levels within a STEM discipline; 
(vii) designing and implementing pro-
fessional development courses and experi-
ences, including mentoring, for rural edu-
cators, principals, and other school leaders 
described in clause (i) that combine face-to- 
face and online experiences; and 
(viii) any other activity the Director 
determines will accomplish the goals of this 
paragraph. 
(B) RURAL
STEM
COLLABORATIVE.—The 
Director shall establish a pilot program of re-
gional cohorts in rural areas that will provide 
peer support, mentoring, and hands-on research 
experiences for rural STEM educators, prin-
cipals, and other school leaders of students in 
prekindergarten through grade 12, in order to 
build an ecosystem of cooperation among edu-
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
cators, principals, other school leaders, research-
ers, academia, and local industry. 
(b) BROADENING PARTICIPATION
OF RURAL STU-
DENTS IN STEM.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Director shall make 
awards on a merit- reviewed, competitive basis to in-
stitutions of higher education or nonprofit organiza-
tions (or a consortium thereof) for— 
(A) research and development of program-
ming to identify the barriers rural students face 
in accessing high-quality STEM education; and 
(B) development of innovative solutions to 
improve the participation and advancement of 
rural students in prekindergarten through grade 
12 in STEM studies. 
(2) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Awards made under this 
subsection shall be used for the research and de-
velopment activities referred to in paragraph (1), 
which may include— 
(i) developing partnerships with com-
munity colleges to offer advanced STEM 
course work, including computer science, to 
rural high school students;
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(ii) supporting research on effective 
STEM practices in rural settings; 
(iii) 
implementing 
a 
school-wide 
STEM approach, including preparation 
and support for principals and other school 
leaders; 
(iv) improving the Foundation’s Ad-
vanced Technology Education program’s co-
ordination and engagement with rural com-
munities; 
(v) collaborating with existing commu-
nity partners and networks, such as the Co-
operative Extension System services and ex-
tramural research programs of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture and youth serving orga-
nizations like 4-H, after school STEM pro-
grams, and summer STEM programs, to le-
verage community resources and develop 
place-based programming; 
(vi) connecting rural school districts 
and institutions of higher education, to im-
prove precollegiate STEM education and 
engagement; 
(vii) supporting partnerships that offer 
hands- on inquiry-based science activities,
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including coding, and access to lab re-
sources for students studying STEM in pre-
kindergarten through grade 12 in a rural 
area; 
(viii) evaluating the role of broadband 
connectivity and its associated impact on 
the STEM and technology literacy of rural 
students; 
(ix) building capacity to support ex-
tracurricular STEM programs in rural 
schools, including mentor-led engagement 
programs, STEM programs held during 
non-school 
hours, 
STEM 
networks, 
makerspaces, coding activities, and competi-
tions; 
(x) creating partnerships with local in-
dustries and local educational agencies to 
tailor STEM curricula and educational ex-
periences to the needs of a particular local 
or regional economy; and 
(xi) any other activity the Director de-
termines will accomplish the goals of this 
paragraph. 
(c) APPLICATION.—An applicant seeking an award 
under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit an application at
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
such time, in such manner, and containing such informa-
tion as the Director may require. The application may in-
clude the following: 
(1) A description of the target population to be 
served by the research activity or activities for which 
such award is sought. 
(2) A description of the process for recruitment 
and selection of students, educators, principals, and 
other school leaders, or schools from rural areas to 
participate in such activity or activities. 
(3) A description of how such activity or activi-
ties may inform efforts to promote the engagement 
and achievement of rural students in prekindergarten 
through grade 12 in STEM studies. 
(4) In the case of a proposal consisting of a part-
nership or partnerships with one or more rural 
schools and one or more researchers, a plan for estab-
lishing a sustained partnership that is jointly devel-
oped and managed, draws from the capacities of each 
partner, and is mutually beneficial. 
(d) PARTNERSHIPS.—In making awards under sub-
section (a) or (b), the Director shall— 
(1) encourage applicants which, for the purpose 
of the activity or activities funded through the award, 
include or partner with a nonprofit organization or
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an institution of higher education (or a consortium 
thereof) that has extensive experience and expertise in 
increasing the participation of rural students in pre-
kindergarten through grade 12 in STEM; 
(2) encourage applicants which, for the purpose 
of the activity or activities funded through the award, 
include or partner with a consortium of rural schools 
or rural school districts; and 
(3) encourage applications which, for the pur-
pose of the activity or activities funded through the 
award, include commitments from school principals, 
other school leaders, and administrators to making re-
forms and activities proposed by the applicant a pri-
ority. 
(e) EVALUATIONS.—All proposals for awards under 
subsections (a) and (b) shall include an evaluation plan 
that includes the use of outcome-oriented measures to assess 
the impact and efficacy of the award. Each recipient of an 
award under this subsection shall include results from these 
evaluative activities in annual and final projects. 
(f) ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.— 
(1) EVALUATION REQUIRED.—The Director shall 
evaluate the portfolio of awards made under sub-
sections (a) and (b). Such evaluation shall—
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(A) use a common set of benchmarks and 
tools to assess the results of research conducted 
under such awards and identify best practices; 
and 
(B) to the extent practicable, integrate the 
findings of research resulting from the activity 
or activities funded through such awards with 
the findings of other research on rural students’ 
pursuit of degrees or careers in STEM. 
(2) REPORT ON EVALUATIONS.—Not later than 
180 days after the completion of the evaluation under 
paragraph (1), the Director shall submit to Congress 
and make widely available to the public a report that 
includes— 
(A) the results of the evaluation; and 
(B) any recommendations for administra-
tive and legislative action that could optimize 
the effectiveness of the awards made under this 
subsection. 
(g) REPORT BY COMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPORTUNI-
TIES IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.—As part of the first 
report required by section 36(e) of the Science and Engi-
neering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885c(e)) 
transmitted to Congress after the date of enactment of this 
division, the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science
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and Engineering, in consultation with the Chief Diversity 
Officer of the National Science Foundation, shall include— 
(1) a description of past and present policies 
and activities of the Foundation to encourage full 
participation of students in rural communities in 
science, mathematics, engineering, and computer 
science fields; 
(2) an assessment of trends in participation of 
rural students in prekindergarten through grade 12 
in Foundation activities; and 
(3) an assessment of the policies and activities of 
the Foundation, along with proposals for new strate-
gies or the broadening of existing successful strategies 
towards facilitating the goal of increasing participa-
tion of rural students in prekindergarten through 
grade 12 in Foundation activities. 
(h) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this subsection, 
the Director shall, for purposes of enhancing program effec-
tiveness and avoiding duplication of activities, consult, co-
operate, and coordinate with the programs and policies of 
other relevant Federal agencies. 
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Director—
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(1) $8,000,000 to carry out the activities under 
subsection (a) for each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2027; and 
(2) $12,000,000 to carry out the activities under 
subsection (b) for each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2027. 
SEC. 10513. OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONLINE EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall make competi-
tive awards to institutions of higher education or nonprofit 
organizations (or a consortium thereof, which may include 
a private sector partner) to conduct research on online 
STEM education courses for rural communities. 
(b) RESEARCH AREAS.—The research areas eligible for 
funding under this subsection shall include— 
(1) evaluating the learning and achievement of 
rural students in prekindergarten through grade 12 
in STEM subjects; 
(2) understanding how computer-based and on-
line professional development courses and mentor ex-
periences can be integrated to meet the needs of edu-
cators, principals, and other school leaders of rural 
students in prekindergarten through grade 12; 
(3) combining computer-based and online STEM 
education and training with mentoring and other ap-
plied learning arrangements;
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(4) leveraging online programs to supplement 
STEM studies for rural students that need physical 
and academic accommodation; and 
(5) any other activity the Director determines 
will accomplish the goals of this subsection. 
(c) EVALUATIONS.—All proposals for awards under 
this section shall include an evaluation plan that includes 
the use of outcome-oriented measures to assess the impact 
and efficacy of the award. Each recipient of an award 
under this subsection shall include results from these eval-
uative activities in annual and final projects. 
(d) ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.— 
(1) EVALUATION REQUIRED.—The Director shall 
evaluate the portfolio of awards made under this sub-
section. Such evaluation shall— 
(A) use a common set of benchmarks and 
tools to assess the results of research conducted 
under such awards and identify best practices; 
and 
(B) to the extent practicable, integrate find-
ings from activities carried out pursuant to re-
search conducted under this section, with respect 
to the pursuit of careers and degrees in STEM, 
with those activities carried out pursuant to
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other research on serving rural students and 
communities. 
(2) REPORT ON EVALUATIONS.—Not later than 
180 days after the completion of the evaluation under 
paragraph (1), the Director shall submit to Congress 
and make widely available to the public a report that 
includes— 
(A) the results of the evaluation; and 
(B) any recommendations for administra-
tive and legislative action that could optimize 
the effectiveness of the awards made under this 
section. 
(e) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
Director shall, for purposes of enhancing program effective-
ness and avoiding duplication of activities, consult, cooper-
ate, and coordinate with the programs and policies of other 
relevant Federal agencies. 
SEC. 10514. NATIONAL ACADEMIES EVALUATION. 
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 12 months after the date 
of enactment of this division, the Director shall enter into 
an agreement with the National Academies under which the 
National Academies agree to conduct an evaluation and as-
sessment that— 
(1) evaluates the quality and quantity of current 
Federal programming and research directed at exam-
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ining STEM education for students in prekinder-
garten through grade 12 and workforce development 
in rural areas; 
(2) in coordination with the Federal Commu-
nications Commission, assesses the impact that the 
scarcity of broadband connectivity in rural commu-
nities, 
and 
the 
affordability 
of 
broadband 
connectivity, have on STEM and technical literacy 
for students in prekindergarten through grade 12 in 
rural areas; 
(3) assesses the core research and data needed to 
understand the challenges rural areas are facing in 
providing quality STEM education and workforce de-
velopment; 
(4) makes recommendations for action at the 
Federal, State, and local levels for improving STEM 
education, including online STEM education, for stu-
dents in prekindergarten through grade 12 and work-
force development in rural areas; and 
(5) makes recommendations to inform the imple-
mentation of programs in sections 10512 and 10513 
(lll-LOG262) and (lll-LOG263). 
(b) REPORT TO DIRECTOR.—The agreement entered 
into under subsection (a) shall require the National Acad-
emies, not later than 24 months after the date of enactment
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of this division, to submit to the Director a report on the 
study conducted under such paragraph, including the Na-
tional Academies’ findings and recommendations. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Director to carry out 
this section $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2023. 
SEC. 10515. GAO REVIEW. 
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this division, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall conduct a study on the engagement of rural popu-
lations in Federal STEM education programs and submit 
to Congress a report that includes— 
(1) an assessment of how Federal STEM edu-
cation programs are serving rural populations; 
(2) a description of initiatives carried out by 
Federal agencies that are targeted at supporting 
STEM education in rural areas; 
(3) an assessment of what is known about the 
impact and effectiveness of Federal investments in 
STEM education programs that are targeted to rural 
areas; and 
(4) an assessment of challenges that State and 
Federal STEM education programs face in reaching 
rural population centers.
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SEC. 10516. NIST ENGAGEMENT WITH RURAL COMMU-
NITIES. 
(a) PRIZE COMPETITION.—Pursuant to section 24 of 
the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 
(15 U.S.C. 3719), the Secretary of Commerce shall carry 
out a program to award prizes competitively to stimulate 
research and development of creative technologies to support 
the deployment of affordable and reliable broadband 
connectivity in rural communities, including unserved 
rural communities. 
(b) PLAN
FOR DEPLOYMENT
IN RURAL COMMU-
NITIES.—Each proposal submitted pursuant to subsection 
(a) shall include a proposed plan for deployment of the tech-
nology that is the subject of such proposal. 
(c) PRIZE AMOUNT.—In carrying out the program 
under subsection (a), the Secretary may award not more 
than a total of $5,000,000 to one or more winners of the 
prize competition. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date 
on which a prize is awarded under the prize competition, 
the Secretary shall submit to the relevant committees of 
Congress a report that describes the winning proposal of 
the prize competition. 
(e) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the program 
under this section, the Secretary shall consult with the Fed-
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eral Communications Commission and the heads of relevant 
departments and agencies of the Federal Government. 
Subtitle C—MSI STEM Achievement 
SEC. 10521. GAO REVIEW. 
Not later than three years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 
States shall report to Congress— 
(1) an inventory of competitive funding pro-
grams and initiatives carried out by Federal research 
agencies that are targeted to HBCUs, TCUs, and 
MSIs or partnerships with HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs; 
(2) an assessment of Federal research agency 
outreach activities to increase the participation and 
competitiveness of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs in the 
funding programs and initiatives identified in para-
graph (1); and 
(3) recommendations of the Comptroller General 
to increase the participation of and the rate of success 
of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs in competitive funding 
programs offered by Federal research agencies. 
SEC. 10522. AGENCY RESPONSIBILITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In consultation with outside stake-
holders and the heads of Federal research agencies and the 
Interagency Working Group on Inclusion in STEM, the Di-
rector of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall
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develop a uniform set of policy guidelines for Federal re-
search agencies to carry out a sustained program of out-
reach activities to increase clarity, transparency, and ac-
countability for Federal research agency investments in 
STEM education and research activities at HBCUs, TCUs, 
and MSIs, including such institutions in rural areas. 
(b) OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.—In developing policy 
guidelines under subsection (a) the Director of the Office 
of Science and Technology Policy shall include guidelines 
that require each Federal research agency— 
(1) to designate a liaison for HBCUs, TCUs, 
and MSIs responsible for— 
(A) enhancing direct communication with 
HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs to increase the Fed-
eral research agency’s understanding of the ca-
pacity and needs of such institutions and to 
raise awareness of available Federal funding op-
portunities at such institutions; 
(B) coordinating programs, activities, and 
initiatives while accounting for the capacity and 
needs of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs; 
(C) tracking Federal research agency invest-
ments in and engagement with HBCUs, TCUs, 
and MSIs; and
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(D) reporting progress toward increasing 
participation of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs in 
award programs; 
(2) to the extent practicable, to produce an an-
nual summary of funding opportunities and proposal 
deadlines targeted at HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs, in-
cluding for grants, contracts, subcontracts, and coop-
erative agreements; 
(3) to the extent practicable, identifying in an-
nual budget requests potential areas for collaboration 
with HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs in the relevant fiscal 
year, including relating to potential meetings and 
workshops; 
(4) to investigate proposal structures that sup-
port broader participation by emerging research in-
stitutions, including HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs; 
(5) to conduct on-site reviews of research facili-
ties at HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs, as practicable, and 
make recommendations regarding strategies for be-
coming more competitive in research; 
(6) to hold geographically accessible or virtual 
workshops on research priorities of the Federal re-
search agency and on how to write competitive award 
proposals and how to bolster award management ca-
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pacity for the entire award lifecycle, from application 
to completion; 
(7) to ensure opportunities for HBCUs, TCUs, 
and MSIs to directly communicate with Federal re-
search agency officials responsible for managing com-
petitive award programs in order to receive feedback 
on research ideas and proposals, including guidance 
on the Federal research agency’s merit review process; 
and 
(8) to foster mutually beneficial public-private 
collaboration among Federal research agencies, indus-
try, Federal laboratories, academia, and nonprofit or-
ganizations to— 
(A) identify alternative sources of funding 
for STEM education and research at HBCUs, 
TCUs, and MSIs; 
(B) provide access to high-quality, relevant 
research experiences for students and faculty of 
HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs; 
(C) expand the professional networks of stu-
dents and faculty of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs; 
(D) broaden STEM educational opportuni-
ties for students and faculty of HBCUs, TCUs, 
and MSIs; and
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(E) support the transition of students of 
HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs into the STEM work-
force; 
(c) STRATEGIC PLAN.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of 
the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in col-
laboration with the head of each Federal research 
agency, shall submit to Congress a report containing 
a strategic plan which reflects the plans of each Fed-
eral research agency to increase the capacity of 
HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs to compete effectively for 
grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements and to 
encourage HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs to participate in 
Federal programs. 
(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing a strategic 
plan under paragraph (1), the Director and the head 
of each Federal research agency shall consider the fol-
lowing: 
(A) Issuing new or expanding existing 
funding 
opportunities 
targeted 
to 
HBCUs, 
TCUs, and MSIs. 
(B) Modifying existing research and devel-
opment program solicitations to incentivize effec-
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
tive partnerships with HBCUs, TCUs, and 
MSIs. 
(C) Offering planning grants for HBCUs, 
TCUs, and MSIs to develop or equip grant of-
fices with the requisite depth of knowledge to sub-
mit competitive grant proposals and manage 
awarded grants. 
(D) Offering additional training programs, 
including individualized and timely guidance to 
grant officers, faculty, and postdoctoral research-
ers at HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs to ensure their 
understanding of the requirements for an effec-
tive grant proposal. 
(E) Other approaches for making current 
competitive funding models more accessible for 
underresourced HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs. 
(d) REPORT ON POLICY GUIDELINES.—Not later than 
two years after the date of the enactment of this Act and 
every five years thereafter, the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall report to Congress on 
the implementation by Federal research agencies of the pol-
icy guidelines developed under this section. 
(e) REPORT ON COORDINATION OF FEDERAL STEM 
EDUCATION.—Subsection (d) of section 101(d) of the Amer-
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ica COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
6621) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (7) by striking ‘‘and’’; 
(2) in paragraph (8) by striking the period at 
the end; 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(9) an account of Federal research agency in-
vestments in HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs, including, to 
the degree practicable, data on the level of participa-
tion of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs as prime recipients, 
contractors, subrecipients, or subcontractors of an 
award, or reasonable estimates thereof; and 
‘‘(10) a description of material changes to the 
implementation of section 10522 of the Research and 
Development, Competition, and Innovation Act.’’. 
SEC. 10523. RESEARCH AT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUN-
DATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall make awards, 
on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education 
or nonprofit organizations (or consortia thereof) to— 
(1) conduct research described in subsection (b) 
with respect to HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs; and 
(2) identify and broadly disseminate effective 
models for programs and practices at HBCUs, TCUs, 
and MSIs that promote the education and workforce
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preparation of minority students pursuing STEM 
studies and careers in which such students are under-
represented. 
(b) RESEARCH.—Research described in this subsection 
is research on the contribution of HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs 
to the education and training of underrepresented minority 
students in STEM fields and to the meeting of national 
STEM workforce needs, including relating to the following: 
(1) The diversity with respect to local context, 
cultural 
differences, 
and 
institutional 
structure 
among HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs and any associated 
impact on education and research endeavors. 
(2) Effective practices at HBCUs, TCUs, and 
MSIs and associated outcomes on student recruit-
ment, retention, and advancement in STEM fields, 
including the ability for students to compete for fel-
lowships, employment, and advancement in the work-
force. 
(3) Contributions made by HBCUs, TCUs, and 
MSIs to local, regional, and national workforces. 
(4) The challenges and opportunities for HBCUs, 
TCUs, and MSIs in attaining the resources needed for 
integrating effective practices in STEM education, in-
cluding providing research experiences for underrep-
resented minority students.
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(5) The access of students at HBCUs, TCUs, and 
MSIs to STEM infrastructure and any associated 
outcomes for STEM competency. 
(6) Models of STEM curriculum, learning, and 
teaching successful at HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs for 
increasing participation, retention, and success of 
underrepresented minority students. 
(7) Successful or promising partnerships between 
HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs and other institutions of 
higher education, private sector and nonprofit organi-
zations, Federal laboratories, and international re-
search institutions. 
(c) RESEARCH EXPERIENCES.—Awards under this 
section may fund the development or expansion of opportu-
nities for the exchange of students and faculty to conduct 
research, facilitate professional development, and provide 
mentorship, including through partnerships with institu-
tions of higher education that are not HBCUs, TCUs, or 
MSIs, private sector and nonprofit organizations, Federal 
laboratories, and international research institutions. 
SEC. 10524. CAPACITY-BUILDING PROGRAM FOR DEVEL-
OPING UNIVERSITIES. 
(a) AWARDS.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Director shall make 
awards, on a competitive basis, to eligible institutions
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
described in subsection (b) to support the mission of 
the Foundation and to build institutional research ca-
pacity at eligible institutions. 
(2) ADMINISTRATION.—The Director may ad-
minister separate competitions for each category of el-
igible institution described in subparagraphs (A) 
through (C) of subsection (b)(1) in order to ensure 
fair competition for institutions with significantly 
different research capacities. 
(b) ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS.—To be eligible to receive 
an award under this subsection, an entity— 
(1) shall be— 
(A) a historically Black college or univer-
sity; 
(B) a Tribal College or University; 
(C) a minority-serving institution; 
(D) an institution of higher education with 
an established STEM capacity-building program 
focused on Native Hawaiians and Alaska Na-
tives; or 
(E) consortia thereof; 
(2) shall— 
(A) have not more than $50,000,000 in an-
nual federally financed research and development 
expenditures for science and engineering as re-
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
ported through the National Science Foundation 
Higher Education Research and Development 
Survey; or 
(B) not be an institution classified as hav-
ing very high research activity by the Carnegie 
Classification of Institutions of Higher Edu-
cation. 
(c) PARTNERSHIPS.—In making awards under this 
section, the Director shall— 
(1) encourage entities that are consortia of eligi-
ble institutions to submit proposals and require such 
proposals to include a plan for establishing a sus-
tained partnership that is jointly developed and man-
aged, draws from the capacities of each institution, 
and is mutually beneficial; 
(2) encourage proposals submitted in partner-
ship with the private sector, nonprofit organizations, 
Federal laboratories, and international research insti-
tutions, as appropriate; 
(3) require proposals described in paragraphs (1) 
and (2) to include a plan to strengthen the adminis-
trative and research capacity of the partnering 
HBCUs, TCUs, or MSIs to lead future proposals. 
(d) VERY HIGH RESEARCH ACTIVITY STATUS HIS-
TORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES
AND UNIVERSITIES PRO-
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
GRAM.—Awards under this section may be used to enable 
HBCUs which have high research activity status to achieve 
very high research activity status, as classified under the 
Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Edu-
cation, by enabling— 
(1) faculty professional development; 
(2) stipends for graduate and undergraduate stu-
dents, and postdoctoral scholars; 
(3) acquisition of laboratory equipment and in-
strumentation; and 
(4) other activities as necessary to build research 
capacity. 
(e) PROPOSALS.—To receive an award under this sub-
section, an eligible institution shall submit an application 
to the Director at such time, in such manner, and con-
taining such information as the Director may require, in-
cluding— 
(1) a plan that describes how the eligible institu-
tion will establish or expand research office capacity 
and how such award would be used to— 
(A) conduct an assessment of capacity- 
building and research infrastructure needs of an 
eligible institution;
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(B) enhance institutional resources to pro-
vide administrative research development sup-
port to faculty at an eligible institution; 
(C) bolster the institutional research com-
petitiveness of an eligible institution to support 
awards made by the Foundation; 
(D) support the acquisition of instrumenta-
tion necessary to build research capacity at an 
eligible institution in research areas directly as-
sociated with the Foundation; 
(E) increase capability of an eligible insti-
tution to move technology into the marketplace; 
(F) increase engagement with industry to 
execute research through the SBIR and STTR 
programs (as such terms are defined in section 
9(e) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 
638(e)) and direct contracts at an eligible insti-
tution; 
(G) enhance STEM curriculum and re-
search training opportunities at the under-
graduate, graduate, and postdoctoral levels at an 
eligible institution; 
(H) further faculty development initiatives 
and strengthen institutional research training
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
infrastructure, capacity, and competitiveness of 
an eligible institution; 
(I) address plans and prospects for long- 
term sustainability of institutional enhance-
ments at an eligible institution resulting from 
the award including, if applicable, how the 
award may be leveraged by an eligible institu-
tion to build a broader base of support; and 
(J) develop and implement mechanisms for 
institutions of higher education to partner with 
HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs on STEM education, 
including the facilitation of student exchanges, 
course and resource sharing, collaboration, and 
matriculation of students to either institution’s 
graduate programs, mentoring programs for stu-
dents and junior faculty, joint research projects, 
and student access to graduate education; and 
(2) as relevant, a plan, which shall be updated 
every three years, that describes the institution’s 
strategy to achieve very high research activity status, 
including making investments with institutional and 
non-Federal funds, to achieve that status within a 
decade of the grant award, to the extent practicable. 
(f) MSI CENTERS OF INNOVATION.—Awards under 
this section may fund the establishment of not more than
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five MSI Centers of Innovation to leverage successes of 
HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs in STEM education and research 
training of underrepresented minority students as models 
for other institutions, including both HBCUs, TCUs, and 
MSIs and institutions of higher education that are not 
HBCUs, TCUs, or MSIs. Such centers will be located on 
campuses of selected HBCUs, TCUs, or MSIs, and serve as 
incubators to allow institutions of higher education to ex-
periment, pilot, evaluate, and scale up promising practices. 
(g) AWARDS.—Awards made under this subsection 
shall be for periods of three years and may be extended for 
periods of not more than five years. 
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the Director $200,000,000 
for fiscal year 2023 and $250,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2024 through 2027 to carry out the activities in this 
section and section 10523. 
(i) REPORT ON IMPROVING THE RESEARCH CAPACITY 
AT HIGH RESEARCH ACTIVITY HISTORICALLY BLACK COL-
LEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the National 
Science and Technology Council shall prepare and 
submit a report that—
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
(A) identifies challenges and barriers to 
Federal research and development awards for 
high research activity status HBCUs; and 
(B) identifies recommendations for Federal 
research agencies to sustainably boost the re-
search capacity of high research activity status 
HBCUs through awards-making authorities. 
(2) REPORT SUBMISSION.—The National Science 
and Technology Council shall transmit the report re-
quired under paragraph (1) to the Director, the Ad-
ministrator of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Sec-
retary of Commerce, the Secretary of Defense, the Sec-
retary of Energy, the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, and the heads of other such agencies 
as determined relevant by the National Science and 
Technology Council. 
(3) INFORMATION FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 
The National Science and Technology Council may 
secure directly from a Federal department or agency 
such information as the National Science and Tech-
nology Council considers necessary to prepare the re-
port required under paragraph (1). Upon a request 
from the National Science and Technology Council, 
the head of a Federal department or agency shall fur-
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
nish such information as is requested to the National 
Science and Technology Council. 
SEC. 10525. TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) AWARDS TO BROADEN TRIBAL COLLEGE AND UNI-
VERSITY
STUDENT
PARTICIPATION
IN
COMPUTER 
SCIENCE.—Section 525 of the America COMPETES Reau-
thorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–13) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) AWARDS TO BROADEN TRIBAL COLLEGE AND 
UNIVERSITY
STUDENT
PARTICIPATION
IN
COMPUTER 
SCIENCE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director, as part of the 
program authorized under this section, shall make 
awards on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to eli-
gible entities to increase the participation of Tribal 
populations in computer science and computational 
thinking education programs to enable students to de-
velop skills and competencies in coding, problem-solv-
ing, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSE.—Awards made under this sub-
section shall support— 
‘‘(A) research and development needed to 
bring computer science and computational think-
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ing courses and degrees to Tribal Colleges or 
Universities; 
‘‘(B) research and development of instruc-
tional materials needed to integrate computer 
science and computational thinking into pro-
grams that are culturally relevant to students at-
tending Tribal Colleges or Universities; 
‘‘(C) research, development and evaluation 
of distance education for computer science and 
computational thinking courses and degree pro-
grams for students attending Tribal Colleges and 
Universities; and 
‘‘(D) other activities consistent with the ac-
tivities described in paragraphs (1) through (4) 
of subsection (b), as determined by the Director. 
‘‘(3) PARTNERSHIPS.—A Tribal College or Uni-
versity seeking an award under this subsection, or 
consortia thereof, may partner with an institution of 
higher education or nonprofit organization with dem-
onstrated expertise in academic program development. 
‘‘(4) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this sub-
section, the Director shall consult and cooperate with 
the programs and policies of other relevant Federal 
agencies to avoid duplication with and enhance the 
effectiveness of the program under this subsection.
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
‘‘(5) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Direc-
tor $2,000,000 in each of fiscal years 2023 through 
2027 to carry out this subsection.’’. 
(b) EVALUATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than two years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director 
shall evaluate the award program authorized under 
section 525 of the America COMPETES Reauthoriza-
tion Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–13), as amended 
by subsection (a). 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In conducting the evalua-
tion under paragraph (1), the Director shall, as prac-
ticable— 
(A) use a common set of benchmarks and 
assessment tools to identify best practices and 
materials developed or demonstrated by the re-
search conducted pursuant to award programs 
under section 525 of the America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p– 
13), as amended by subsection (a); 
(B) include an assessment of the effective-
ness of such award programs in expanding ac-
cess to high quality STEM education, research,
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
and outreach at Tribal Colleges or Universities, 
as applicable; 
(C) assess the number of students who par-
ticipated in such award programs; and 
(D) assess the percentage of students par-
ticipating in such award programs who success-
fully complete their education programs. 
(3) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date on which the evaluation under paragraph (1) is 
completed, the Director shall submit to Congress and 
make available to the public, a report on the results 
of the evaluation, including any recommendations for 
legislative action that could optimize the effectiveness 
of the award program authorized under section 525 of 
the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
2010, as amended by subsection (a). 
SEC. 10526. DEFINITIONS. 
In this subtitle: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means the 
Director of the National Science Foundation. 
(2) HBCU.—The term ‘‘HBCU’’ has the mean-
ing given the term ‘‘part B institution’’ in section 
322 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1061).
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(3) MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTION.—The term 
‘‘minority serving institution’’ or ‘‘MSI’’ means His-
panic-Serving Institutions as defined in section 502 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1101a); Alaska Native Serving Institutions and Na-
tive Hawaiian-Serving Institutions as defined in sec-
tion 317 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1059d); and Predominantly Black Institu-
tions, Asian American and Native American Pacific 
Islander-Serving Institutions, and Native American- 
Serving Nontribal Institutions as defined in section 
371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1067q(c)). 
(4) TCU.—The term ‘‘TCU’’ has the meaning 
given the term ‘‘Tribal College or University’’ in sec-
tion 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1059c). 
Subtitle D—Combating Sexual 
Harassment in Science 
SEC. 10531. FINDINGS. 
Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) According to the report issued by the Na-
tional Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medi-
cine in 2018 entitled ‘‘Sexual Harassment of Women:
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Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’’— 
(A) sexual harassment is pervasive in insti-
tutions of higher education; 
(B) the most common type of sexual harass-
ment is gender harassment; 
(C) 58 percent of individuals in the aca-
demic workplace experience sexual harassment, 
the second highest rate when compared to the 
military, the private sector, and Federal, State, 
and local government; 
(D) women who are members of racial or 
ethnic minority groups are more likely to experi-
ence sexual harassment and to feel unsafe at 
work than White women, White men, or men 
who are members of such groups; 
(E) the training for each individual who 
has a Doctor of Philosophy in the science, tech-
nology, engineering, and mathematics fields is 
estimated to cost approximately $500,000; and 
(F) attrition of an individual so trained re-
sults in a loss of talent and money. 
(2) According to a 2017 University of Illinois 
study, among astronomers and planetary scientists, 
18 percent of women who are members of racial or
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ethnic minority groups and 12 percent of White 
women skipped professional events because they did 
not feel safe attending. 
(3) Reporting procedures with respect to sexual 
harassment are inconsistent among Federal research 
agencies and have varying degrees of accessibility. 
(4) There is not adequate communication among 
Federal research agencies and between such agencies 
and recipients regarding reports of sexual harass-
ment, which has resulted in harassers receiving Fed-
eral funding after moving to a different institution. 
SEC. 10532. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this subtitle is to increase under-
standing of the causes and consequences of sex-based and 
sexual harassment, as discussed in the report issued by the 
National Academies in 2018 entitled ‘‘Sexual Harassment 
of Women: Climate, Culture, and Consequences in Academic 
Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’’, and to advance evi-
dence-based approaches to reduce the prevalence and nega-
tive impact of such harassment. 
SEC. 10533. DEFINITION. 
In this subtitle, the term ‘‘Director’’ means the Direc-
tor of the National Science Foundation.
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SEC. 10534. RESEARCH AWARDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall make awards, 
on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher education 
or nonprofit organizations (or consortia of such institutions 
or organizations)— 
(1) to expand research efforts to better under-
stand the factors contributing to, and consequences of, 
sex-based and sexual harassment affecting individuals 
in the STEM workforce, including students and 
trainees; and 
(2) to examine approaches to reduce the inci-
dence and negative consequences of such harassment. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Activities funded by an award 
under this section may include— 
(1) research on the sex-based and sexual harass-
ment experiences of individuals, including in racial 
and ethnic minority groups, disabled individuals, for-
eign nationals, sexual-minority individuals, and oth-
ers; 
(2) development and assessment of policies, pro-
cedures, trainings, and interventions, with respect to 
sex-based and sexual harassment, conflict manage-
ment, and ways to foster respectful and inclusive cli-
mates;
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(3) research on approaches for remediating the 
negative impacts and outcomes of such harassment on 
individuals experiencing such harassment; 
(4) support for institutions of higher education 
or nonprofit organizations to develop, adapt, imple-
ment, and assess the impact of innovative, evidence- 
based strategies, policies, and approaches to policy 
implementation to prevent and address sex-based and 
sexual harassment; 
(5) research on alternatives to the power dynam-
ics, hierarchical, and dependent relationships, includ-
ing but not limited to the mentor-mentee relationship, 
in academia that have been shown to create higher 
levels of risk for and lower levels of reporting of sex- 
based and sexual harassment; and 
(6) establishing a center for the ongoing compila-
tion, management, and analysis of organizational cli-
mate survey data. 
SEC. 10535. RESPONSIBLE CONDUCT GUIDE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into 
an agreement with the National Academies to update the 
report entitled ‘‘On Being a Scientist: A Guide to Respon-
sible Conduct in Research’’ issued by the National Acad-
emies. The report, as so updated, shall include—
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(1) updated professional standards of conduct in 
research; 
(2) promising practices for preventing, address-
ing, and mitigating the negative impact of sex-based 
and sexual harassment, to include— 
(A) standards of treatment individuals can 
expect to receive under updated standards of con-
duct; 
(B) evidence-based practices for fostering a 
climate intolerant of sex-based, sexual, and other 
forms of harassment; 
(C) methods, including bystander interven-
tion, for identifying and addressing incidents of 
such harassment; and 
(D) professional standards for mentorship 
and teaching with an emphasis on power diffu-
sion mechanisms and preventing such harass-
ment; and 
(3) promising practices for mitigating potential 
security risks that threaten research security. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the effec-
tive date of the agreement under subsection (a), the National 
Academies, as part of such agreement, shall submit to the 
Director and the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology of the House of Representatives and the Committee
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on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
the report referred to in such subparagraph, as updated 
pursuant to such subparagraph. 
SEC. 10536. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy, acting through the National Science 
and Technology Council, shall establish or designate an 
interagency working group for the purpose of coordinating 
Federal research agency efforts to reduce the prevalence of 
sex-based and sexual harassment involving award per-
sonnel. In coordination with the working group on inclu-
sion in STEM fields established under section 308 of the 
American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 
6626) and the Safe Inclusive Research Environments Sub-
committee of the National Science and Technology Council, 
and in consultation with representatives from each Federal 
research agency, the Office for Civil Rights at the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services, the Office for Civil 
Rights at the Department of Education, and the Equal Em-
ployment Opportunity Commission, the working group 
shall— 
(1) not later than 90 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, submit to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on 
Education and Labor, and the Committee on Energy
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and Commerce of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation and the Committee on Health, Education, 
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate an inventory of 
Federal research agency policies, procedures, and re-
sources dedicated to preventing and responding to re-
ports of sex-based and sexual harassment; 
(2) not later than 6 months after the date on 
which the inventory is submitted under paragraph 
(1)— 
(A) in consultation with outside stake-
holders, develop a consistent set of policy guide-
lines for Federal research agencies; and 
(B) submit a report to the committees re-
ferred to in paragraph (1) containing such 
guidelines; 
(3) encourage and monitor efforts of Federal re-
search agencies to develop or maintain and imple-
ment policies based on the guidelines developed under 
paragraph (2); 
(4) not later than 1 year after the date on which 
the inventory under paragraph (1) is submitted, and 
every 5 years thereafter, the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall report to Con-
gress on the implementation by Federal research
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agencies of the policy guidelines developed under 
paragraph (2); and 
(5) update such policy guidelines as needed. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In developing policy guidelines 
under subsection (a)(2), the Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy shall include guidelines that require, 
to the extent practicable— 
(1) recipients to submit to the Federal research 
agency or agencies from which the recipients receive 
funding reports relating to— 
(A) any decision made to launch a formal 
investigation of sex-based or sexual harassment, 
including bullying, retaliation, or hostile work-
ing conditions by, or of, award personnel; 
(B) administrative action, related to an al-
legation against award personnel of any such 
harassment, as set forth in organizational poli-
cies or codes of conduct, statutes, regulations, or 
executive orders, that affects the ability of award 
personnel or their trainees to carry out the ac-
tivities of the award; 
(C) the total number of investigations with 
no findings or determinations of misconduct in-
cluding such harassment;
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(D) findings or determinations of such har-
assment, as set forth in organizational policies 
or codes of conduct, statutes, regulations, or Ex-
ecutive orders by, or of, award personnel, includ-
ing the final disposition of a matter involving a 
violation of organizational policies and proc-
esses, to include the exhaustion of permissible ap-
peals, or a determination of a sexual offense in 
a court of law, or any other disciplinary action 
taken; 
(2) the sharing, updating, and archiving of re-
ports of sex- based and sexual harassment from re-
cipients submitted under paragraph (1) with relevant 
Federal research agencies, on a yearly basis and by 
agency request; and 
(3) consistency among Federal research agencies 
with regard to the policies and procedures for receiv-
ing reports submitted pursuant to paragraph (1). 
(4) FERPA.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall ensure that such 
guidelines and requirements are consistent with the 
requirements of section 444 of the General Education 
Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g) (commonly referred 
to as the ‘‘Family Educational Rights and Privacy 
Act of 1974’’).
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(5) PRIVACY PROTECTIONS.—The Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy shall ensure 
that such guidelines and requirements— 
(A) do not infringe upon the privacy rights 
of individuals associated with reports submitted 
to Federal research agencies; and 
(B) do not require recipients to provide in-
terim reports to Federal research agencies. 
(c) CONSIDERATIONS.—In carrying out subsection 
(a)(2), the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall consider issuing guidelines that require or 
incent— 
(1) recipients to periodically assess their organi-
zational climate, which may include the use of cli-
mate surveys, focus groups, or exit interviews; 
(2) recipients to publish on a publicly available 
internet website the results of assessments conducted 
pursuant to paragraph (1), disaggregated by sex and, 
if practicable, race, ethnicity, disability status, and 
sexual orientation, and in a manner that does not in-
clude personally identifiable information; 
(3) recipients to make public on an annual basis 
the number of reports of sex-based and sexual harass-
ment at that institution or organization;
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(4) recipients to regularly assess and improve 
policies, procedures, and interventions to reduce the 
prevalence of and improve the reporting of sex-based 
and sexual harassment; 
(5) each entity applying for a research and de-
velopment award certify that a code of conduct is in 
place for maintaining a healthy and welcoming work-
place for award personnel and posted on their public 
website; 
(6) each recipient and Federal research agency to 
have in place mechanisms for addressing the needs of 
individuals who have experienced sex-based and sex-
ual harassment, including those individuals seeking 
to reintegrate at the recipient entity; and 
(7) recipients to work to create a climate intoler-
ant of sex- based and sexual harassment and that val-
ues and promotes diversity and inclusion. 
(d) FEDERAL
RESEARCH
AGENCY
IMPLEMENTA-
TION.—Not later than 270 days after receiving the guide-
lines under paragraph (a)(2), each Federal research agency 
shall— 
(1) develop or maintain and implement policies 
with respect to sex-based and sexual harassment that 
are consistent with policy guidelines under subsection 
(a)(2) and that protect the privacy of all parties in-
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volved in any report and investigation of sex-based or 
sexual harassment, to the maximum extent prac-
ticable; and 
(2) broadly disseminate such policies to current 
and potential recipients of research and development 
awards made by such agency. 
SEC. 10537. NATIONAL ACADEMIES ASSESSMENT. 
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act, the Director shall enter into an agreement with 
the National Academies to undertake a study and issue a 
report on the influence of sex-based and sexual harassment 
in institutions of higher education on the career advance-
ment of individuals in the STEM workforce. The study shall 
assess— 
(1) the state of research on sex-based and sexual 
harassment in such workforce; 
(2) whether research demonstrates a decrease in 
the prevalence of sex-based and sexual harassment in 
such workforce; 
(3) the progress made with respect to imple-
menting recommendations promulgated in the Na-
tional Academies consensus study report entitled 
‘‘Sexual Harassment of Women: Climate, Culture, 
and Consequences in Academic Sciences, Engineering, 
and Medicine’’;
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(4) where to focus future efforts with respect to 
decreasing the prevalence of sex-based and sexual har-
assment in such institutions, including specific rec-
ommendations; and 
(5) other recommendations and issues, as the Na-
tional Academies determines appropriate. 
SEC. 10538. GAO STUDY. 
Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of 
this division, the Comptroller General of the United States 
shall— 
(1) complete a study that assesses the degree to 
which Federal research agencies have implemented the 
policy guidelines developed under section 10536(a)(2) 
and the effectiveness of that implementation; and 
(2) submit a report to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate on the results of such 
study, 
including 
recommendations 
on 
potential 
changes to practices and policies to improve those 
guidelines and that implementation. 
SEC. 10539. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director 
to carry out this subtitle, $32,500,000.
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TITLE 
VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 
PROVISIONS 
Subtitle A—Supporting Early- 
career Researchers 
SEC. 10601. EARLY-CAREER RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Science Foundation may establish a 2-year pilot program 
to make awards to highly qualified early-career investiga-
tors to carry out an independent research program at the 
institution of higher education or participating Federal re-
search facility chosen by such investigator, to last for a pe-
riod not greater than two years. 
(b) SELECTION PROCESS.—The Director of the Na-
tional Science Foundation shall select recipients under sub-
section (a) from among citizens, nationals, and lawfully ad-
mitted permanent resident aliens of the United States. 
(c) OUTREACH.—The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall conduct program outreach to recruit fel-
lowship applicants— 
(1) from all regions of the country; 
(2) from historically underrepresented popu-
lations in the fields of science, technology, engineer-
ing, and mathematics; and
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(3) who graduate from or intend to carry out re-
search at a variety of types of institutions of higher 
education, including— 
(A) historically Black colleges and univer-
sities; 
(B) Tribal Colleges and Universities; 
(C) minority-serving institutions; 
(D) institutions of higher education that are 
not among the top 50 institutions in annual 
Federal funding for research; and 
(E) EPSCoR institutions. 
(d) SPECIAL CONSIDERATION.—The Director of the 
National Science Foundation shall give special consider-
ation and priority to an application from an individual 
who graduated from or is intending to carry out research 
at an institution of the type specified in subsection (c)(3). 
(e) REPORTS FROM FELLOWS.—Not later than 180 
days after the end of the pilot program under this section, 
each early-career investigator who receives an award under 
the pilot program shall submit to the Director of the Na-
tional Science Foundation a report that describes how the 
early-career investigator used the award funds. 
(f) REPORT FROM THE DIRECTOR.—Not later than 90 
days after the conclusion of the second year of the pilot pro-
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gram, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall 
submit to Congress a report that includes the following: 
(1) A summary of the uses of award funds under 
this section and the impact of the pilot program 
under this section. 
(2) Statistical summary data on fellowship 
awardees disaggregated by race, ethnicity, sex, geog-
raphy, age, years since completion of doctoral degree, 
and institution type. 
(3) If determined effective, a plan for permanent 
implementation of the pilot program. 
SEC. 10602. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Director 
of the National Science Foundation $250,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2023 through 2024 to carry out the activities 
in this subtitle. 
Subtitle B—National Science and 
Technology Strategy 
SEC. 10611. NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRAT-
EGY. 
Section 206 of the National Science and Technology 
Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 
6615) is amended to read as follows:
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‘‘SEC. 206. NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRAT-
EGY. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31 of the 
year immediately after the calendar year in which a review 
under section 206B is completed, the Director of the Office 
of Science and Technology Policy shall, in coordination 
with the National Science and Technology Council, develop 
and submit to Congress a comprehensive national science 
and technology strategy of the United States to meet na-
tional research and development objectives for the following 
4-year period (in this section referred to as ‘the national 
science and technology strategy’). 
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In developing each national 
science and technology strategy described in subsection (a), 
the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
shall— 
‘‘(1) consider— 
‘‘(A) the recommendations and priorities 
developed by the review under section 206B; 
‘‘(B) the most recently published interim or 
final national security strategy report submitted 
pursuant to section 108 of the National Security 
Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3043); 
‘‘(C) other relevant national plans, reports, 
and strategies; and
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‘‘(D) the strategic plans of relevant Federal 
departments and agencies; and 
‘‘(2) include a description of— 
‘‘(A) strategic objectives and research prior-
ities necessary to maintain and advance— 
‘‘(i) the leadership of the United States 
in science and technology, including in the 
key technology focus areas, including near- 
term, medium-term, and long-term eco-
nomic competitiveness; and 
‘‘(ii) the leadership of the United 
States in technologies required to address 
societal and national challenges, including 
a transition to a circular economy; 
‘‘(B) programs, policies, and activities that 
the President recommends across all Federal de-
partments and agencies to achieve the strategic 
objectives and research priorities described in 
subparagraph (A); 
‘‘(C) plans to promote sustainability prac-
tices and strategies for increasing jobs in the 
United States; 
‘‘(D) global trends in science and tech-
nology, including potential threats to the leader-
ship of the United States in science and tech-
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nology and opportunities for international col-
laboration in science and technology; and 
‘‘(E) plans to foster the development of 
international partnerships to reinforce domestic 
policy actions, build new markets, engage in col-
laborative research, and create an international 
environment that reflects United States values 
and protects United States interests. 
‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall consult as necessary 
with the Office of Management and Budget and other ap-
propriate elements of the Executive Office of the President 
to ensure that the recommendations and priorities delin-
eated in the science and technology strategy are incor-
porated in the development of annual budget requests. 
‘‘(d) BI-ANNUAL BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.—The Di-
rector of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
provide on a bi-annual basis, after each release of the na-
tional science and technology strategy, a briefing to the rel-
evant congressional committees, which may include updates 
on the following: 
‘‘(1) The status and development of the national 
science and technology strategy, including any sig-
nificant changes.
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‘‘(2) The implementation of the national science 
and technology strategy. 
‘‘(3) Any other information about the national 
science and technology strategy, as determined by the 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Pol-
icy. 
‘‘(e) PUBLICATION.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall, consistent with the 
protection of national security and other sensitive matters 
to the maximum extent practicable, make each national 
science and technology strategy publicly available on an 
internet website of the Office. Each report may include a 
classified annex if the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy determines such is appropriate. 
‘‘(f) TERMINATION.—This section terminates on the 
date that is ten years after the date of the enactment of 
this section.’’. 
SEC. 10612. STRATEGY AND REPORT ON THE NATION’S ECO-
NOMIC SECURITY, SCIENCE, RESEARCH, AND 
INNOVATION TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL SE-
CURITY STRATEGY. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) FOREIGN COUNTRY OF CONCERN.—The term 
‘‘foreign country of concern’’ means the People’s Re-
public of China, the Democratic People’s Republic of
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Korea, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic 
of Iran, or any other country determined to be a 
country of concern by the Department of State. 
(2) FOREIGN ENTITY OF CONCERN.—The term 
‘‘foreign entity of concern’’ means a foreign entity 
that is— 
(A) designated as a foreign terrorist organi-
zation by the Secretary of State under section 
219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1189(a)); 
(B) included on the list of specially des-
ignated nationals and blocked persons main-
tained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of 
the Department of the Treasury (commonly 
known as the SDN list); 
(C) owned by, controlled by, or subject to 
the jurisdiction or direction of a government of 
a foreign country that is a covered nation (as 
such term is defined in section 4872 of title 10, 
United States Code); 
(D) alleged by the Attorney General to have 
been involved in activities for which a conviction 
was obtained under—
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(i) chapter 37 of title 18, United States 
Code (commonly known as the Espionage 
Act); 
(ii) section 951 or 1030 of title 18, 
United States Code; 
(iii) chapter 90 of title 18, United 
States Code (commonly known as the Eco-
nomic Espionage Act of 1996); 
(iv) the Arms Export Control Act (22 
U.S.C. 2751 et seq.); 
(v) section 224, 225, 226, 227, or 236 
of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 
U.S.C. 2274, 2275, 2276, 2277, and 2284); 
(vi) the Export Control Reform Act of 
2018 (50 U.S.C. 4801 et seq.); or 
(vii) the International Emergency Eco-
nomic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.); 
or 
(E) determined by the Secretary of Com-
merce, in consultation with the Secretary of De-
fense and the Director of National Intelligence, 
to be engaged in unauthorized conduct that is 
detrimental to the national security or foreign 
policy of the United States.
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(3) NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY.—The term 
‘‘national security strategy’’ means the national secu-
rity strategy required under section 108 of the Na-
tional Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3043). 
(b) STRATEGY AND REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after 
the transmission of each national security strategy 
under section 108(a) of the National Security Act of 
1947 (50 U.S.C. 3043(a)), the President, acting 
through the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, shall, in coordination with the Na-
tional Science and Technology Council, the National 
Security Council, the Director of the National Eco-
nomic Council, and the heads of such other relevant 
Federal agencies as the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy considers appropriate 
and in consultation with such nongovernmental part-
ners as the Director of the Office of Science and Tech-
nology Policy considers appropriate— 
(A) review such strategy, including the na-
tional defense strategy under subsection (g) of 
section 113 of title 10, United States Code, and 
the national science and technology strategy 
under section 206 of the National Science and 
Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities
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Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6615), programs, and re-
sources as the Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy determines pertain to 
United States’ national competitiveness in 
science, technology, research, innovation, and 
technology transfer activities, including pat-
enting and licensing, that support the national 
security strategy; 
(B) develop or revise a national strategy to 
improve the national competitiveness of United 
States science, technology, research, and innova-
tion to support the national security strategy; 
and 
(C) submit to Congress— 
(i) a report on the findings of the Di-
rector of the Office of Science and Tech-
nology Policy with respect to the review 
conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A); 
and 
(ii) the strategy developed or revised 
pursuant to subparagraph (B). 
(2) TERMINATION.—This subsection terminates 
on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act. 
(c) ELEMENTS.—
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(1) REPORT.—Each report submitted under sub-
section (b)(1)(C)(i) shall include the following: 
(A) An assessment of the efforts of the 
United States Government to preserve United 
States leadership in key emerging technologies 
and prevent United States strategic competitors 
from leveraging advanced technologies to gain 
strategic military or economic advantages over 
the United States. 
(B) An assessment of public and private in-
vestment in science and technology relevant to 
national security purposes, and the implications 
of such for the geostrategic position of the United 
States. 
(C) A description of the prioritized eco-
nomic security interests and objectives. 
(D) An assessment of global trends in 
science and technology, including potential 
threats to the national security of the United 
States in science and technology. 
(E) An assessment of the national debt and 
its implications for the economic and national 
security of the United States. 
(F) An assessment of how regional innova-
tion capacity efforts in STEM fields are contrib-
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uting and could contribute to the national secu-
rity the United States, including programs run 
by State and local governments. 
(G) An assessment of the following: 
(i) Workforce needs for competitiveness 
in technology areas identified in the na-
tional security strategy. 
(ii) Any efforts needed to expand path-
ways into technology fields to achieve the 
goals of the national security strategy. 
(H) An assessment of barriers to the devel-
opment, evolution, or competitiveness of start- 
ups, small and mid-sized business entities, and 
industries that are critical to national security. 
(I) An assessment of the effectiveness of the 
Federal Government, federally funded research 
and development centers, and national labora-
tories in supporting and promoting the tech-
nology commercialization and technology trans-
fer of technologies critical to national security. 
(J) An assessment of manufacturing capac-
ity, logistics, and supply chain dynamics of 
major export sectors that are critical to national 
security, including access to a skilled workforce,
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physical infrastructure, and broadband network 
infrastructure. 
(K) An assessment of how the Federal Gov-
ernment is increasing the participation of under-
represented populations in science, research, in-
novation, and manufacturing. 
(L) An assessment of public-private part-
nerships in technology commercialization in sup-
port of national security, including— 
(i) the structure of current defense tech-
nology research and commercialization ar-
rangements with regard to public-private 
partnerships; and 
(ii) the extent to which intellectual 
property developed with Federal defense 
funding— 
(I) is being used to manufacture 
in the United States rather than in 
other countries; and 
(II) is being used by foreign busi-
ness entities that are majority owned 
or controlled (as such term is defined 
in section 800.208 of title 31, Code of 
Federal Regulations, or a successor reg-
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ulation), or minority owned greater 
than 25 percent by— 
(aa) any governmental orga-
nization of a foreign country of 
concern; or 
(bb) any other entity that 
is— 
(AA) known to be owned 
or controlled by any govern-
mental organization of a for-
eign country of concern; or 
(BB) organized under, 
or otherwise subject to, the 
laws of a foreign country of 
concern. 
(M) Recommendations to enhance the abil-
ity of the Federal Government to recruit into 
Federal service and retain in such service indi-
viduals with critical skills relevant to national 
security. 
(N) Recommendations for policies to protect 
United States leadership and the allies of the 
United States in critical areas relevant to na-
tional security through targeted export controls,
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investment screening, and counterintelligence ac-
tivities. 
(O) Informed by the interagency process es-
tablished under section 1758 of the Export Con-
trol Reform Act of 2018, a technology annex, 
which may be classified, describing an integrated 
and enduring approach to the identification, 
prioritization, development, and fielding of 
emerging technologies relevant to national secu-
rity. 
(2) STRATEGY.—Each strategy submitted under 
subsection (b)(1)(C)(ii) shall, to the extent practicable, 
include the following: 
(A) A plan to utilize available tools to ad-
dress or minimize the leading threats and chal-
lenges and to take advantage of the leading op-
portunities, particularly in regards to tech-
nologies central to international competition in 
science and technology relevant to national secu-
rity purposes, including the following: 
(i) Specific objectives, tasks, metrics, 
and milestones for each relevant Federal 
agency. 
(ii) Strategic objectives and priorities 
necessary to maintain the leadership of the
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United States in science and technology rel-
evant to national security purposes, includ-
ing near-term, medium-term, and long-term 
research priorities. 
(iii) Specific plans to safeguard re-
search and technology funded, as appro-
priate, in whole or in part, by the Federal 
Government, including in technologies crit-
ical to national security, from theft or 
exfiltration by foreign entities of concern. 
(iv) Specific plans to support public 
and private sector investment in research, 
technology 
development, 
education 
and 
workforce development, and domestic manu-
facturing supportive of the national security 
of the United States and to foster the use of 
public-private partnerships. 
(v) A description of the following: 
(I) How the strategy submitted 
under subsection (b)(1)(C)(ii) supports 
the national security strategy. 
(II) How the strategy submitted 
under such subsection is integrated and 
coordinated with the most recent—
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(aa) national defense strat-
egy under subsection (g) of section 
113 of title 10, United States 
Code; and 
(bb) national science and 
technology strategy under section 
206 of the National Science and 
Technology Policy, Organization, 
and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 
U.S.C. 6615). 
(vi) A plan to encourage the govern-
ments of countries that are allies or part-
ners of the United States to cooperate with 
the execution of such strategy, where appro-
priate. 
(vii) A plan for strengthening the in-
dustrial base of the United States. 
(viii) A plan to remove or update over-
ly burdensome or outdated Federal regula-
tions, as appropriate. 
(ix) A plan— 
(I) to further incentivize industry 
participation in public-private part-
nerships for the purposes of accel-
erating technology research and com-
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mercialization in support of national 
security, including alternate ways of 
accounting for in-kind contributions 
and valuing partially manufactured 
products; 
(II) to ensure that intellectual 
property developed with Federal fund-
ing is commercialized in the United 
States; and 
(III) to ensure, to the maximum 
appropriate extent, that intellectual 
property developed with Federal fund-
ing is not being used by foreign busi-
ness entities that are majority owned 
or controlled (as such term is defined 
in section 800.208 of title 31, Code of 
Federal Regulations, or a successor reg-
ulation), or minority owned greater 
than 25 percent by— 
(aa) any governmental orga-
nization of a foreign country of 
concern; or 
(bb) any other entity that 
is—
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(AA) known to be owned 
or controlled by any govern-
mental organization of a for-
eign country of concern; or 
(BB) organized under, 
or otherwise subject to, the 
laws of a foreign country of 
concern. 
(x) An identification of additional re-
sources, administrative action, or legislative 
action recommended to assist with the im-
plementation of such strategy. 
(d) RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FUNDING.—The 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
shall, as the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy considers necessary, consult with the Director of the 
Office of Management and Budget and with the heads of 
such other elements of the Executive Office of the President 
as the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Pol-
icy considers appropriate to ensure the recommendations 
and priorities with respect to research and development 
funding relevant to national security, as expressed in the 
most recent report and strategy submitted under subsection 
(b)(1)(C) are incorporated into the development of annual 
budget requests for Federal research agencies.
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(e) PUBLICATION.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall, consistent with the 
protection of national security and other sensitive matters 
and to the maximum extent practicable, make each report 
submitted under subsection (b)(1)(C)(i) publicly available 
on an internet website of the Office of Science and Tech-
nology Policy. Each such report may include a classified 
annex if the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy determines such is appropriate. 
SEC. 10613. QUADRENNIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RE-
VIEW. 
The National Science and Technology Policy, Organi-
zation, and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) 
is amended by inserting after section 206 the following new 
section: 
‘‘SEC. 206B. QUADRENNIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RE-
VIEW. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) QUADRENNIAL
REVIEWS
REQUIRED.—Not 
later than December 31, 2023, and every four years 
thereafter, the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall complete a review of the 
science and technology enterprise of the United States 
(in this section referred to as the ‘quadrennial science 
and technology review’).
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‘‘(2) SCOPE.—The quadrennial science and tech-
nology review shall be a comprehensive examination 
of the science and technology strategy of the United 
States, including recommendations for maintaining 
global leadership in science and technology and ad-
vancing science and technology to address the societal 
and national challenges and guidance regarding the 
coordination of programs, assets, capabilities, budget, 
policies, and authorities across all Federal research 
and development programs. 
‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—The Director of the Office 
of Science and Technology Policy shall conduct each 
quadrennial science and technology review in con-
sultation with the following: 
‘‘(A) The National Science and Technology 
Council. 
‘‘(B) The President’s Council of Advisors on 
Science and Technology. 
‘‘(C) The National Science Board. 
‘‘(D) The National Security Council. 
‘‘(E) The heads of other relevant Federal 
agencies. 
‘‘(F) Other relevant governmental and non-
governmental entities, including representatives 
from industry, institutions of higher education,
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
nonprofit organizations, Members of Congress, 
and other policy experts. 
‘‘(4) COORDINATION.—The Director of the Office 
of Science and Technology Policy shall ensure that 
each quadrennial science and technology review is co-
ordinated with other relevant statutorily required re-
views, and to the maximum extent practicable incor-
porates information and recommendations from exist-
ing reviews to avoid duplication. 
‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—In each quadrennial science and 
technology review, the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy shall— 
‘‘(1) provide an integrated view of, and rec-
ommendations for, science and technology policy 
across the Federal Government, while considering eco-
nomic and national security and other societal and 
national challenges; 
‘‘(2) assess and recommend priorities for re-
search, development, and demonstration programs to 
maintain United States leadership in science and 
technology, including in manufacturing and indus-
trial innovation; 
‘‘(3) assess and recommend priorities for re-
search, development, and demonstration programs to 
address societal and national challenges;
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‘‘(4) assess the global competition in science and 
technology and identify potential threats to the lead-
ership of the United States in science and technology 
and opportunities for international collaboration; 
‘‘(5) assess and make recommendations on the 
science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and 
computer science workforce of the United States; 
‘‘(6) assess and make recommendations to im-
prove regional innovation across the United States; 
‘‘(7) identify and assess sectors critical for the 
long-term resilience of United States innovation lead-
ership across design, manufacturing, supply chains, 
and markets; 
‘‘(8) assess and make recommendations to im-
prove translation of basic and applied research and 
the enhancement of technology transfer of federally 
funded research; 
‘‘(9) identify, assess, and make recommendations 
to address science and technology gaps that would not 
be met without Federal investment; 
‘‘(10) review administrative and legislative poli-
cies and funding opportunities that affect private sec-
tor science and technology activities, and identify and 
make recommendations regarding policies that main-
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tain and grow the participation and competitiveness 
of small- and medium-sized businesses; 
‘‘(11) assess and identify the infrastructure and 
tools needed to maintain the leadership of the United 
States in science and technology and address other so-
cietal and national challenges; and 
‘‘(12) review administrative or legislative poli-
cies that affect the science and technology enterprise 
and identify and make recommendations regarding 
policies that hinder research and development in the 
United States. 
‘‘(c) REPORTING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31 
of the year in which a quadrennial science and tech-
nology review is conducted, the Director of the Office 
of Science and Technology Policy shall submit to Con-
gress a report relating to such review. 
‘‘(2) PUBLICATION.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall, consistent with 
the protection of national security and other sensitive 
matters to the maximum extent practicable, make 
each report submitted under paragraph (1) publicly 
available on an internet website of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy. Each report may in-
clude a classified annex if the Director of the Office
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† HR 4346 EAS2 
of Science and Technology Policy determines such ap-
propriate. 
‘‘(d) TERMINATION.—This section shall terminate on 
the date that is ten years after the date of the enactment 
of this section.’’. 
Subtitle C—Regional Innovation 
SEC. 10621. REGIONAL INNOVATION CAPACITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
Innovation Act of 1980 (Public Law 96–480; 15 U.S.C. 
3701 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating section 28 as section 30; 
and 
(2) by inserting after section 27 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 28. REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION HUB 
PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’ means— 
‘‘(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation, the Committee on Environ-
ment and Public Works, and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate; and
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‘‘(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology and the Committee on Appropria-
tions of the House of Representatives. 
‘‘(2) COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICES.—The 
term ‘cooperative extension services’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 1404 of the Food and Agri-
culture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103). 
‘‘(3) SITE
CONNECTIVITY
INFRASTRUCTURE.— 
The term ‘site connectivity infrastructure’ means lo-
calized driveways and access roads to a facility as 
well as hookups to the new facility for drinking 
water, waste water, broadband, and other basic infra-
structure services already present in the area. 
‘‘(4) VENTURE DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION.— 
The term ‘venture development organization’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 27(a) of the Ste-
venson-Wydler Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722(a)). 
‘‘(5) COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL IN-
STITUTION.—The term ‘community development fi-
nancial institution’ has the meaning given in section 
103 of the Community Development Banking and Fi-
nancial Institutions Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4702). 
‘‘(6) MINORITY DEPOSITORY INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘minority depository institution’ means an enti-
ty that is—