444 
(2) ROADMAP.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall pro-
vide 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. 
(p) EVALUATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—After the Directorate has 
been in operation for 6 years, the National Science 
Board shall evaluate how well the Directorate is 
achieving the purposes identified in subsection (b), 
including an assessment of the impact of Directorate 
activities on the Foundation’s primary science mis-
sion. 
(2) INCLUSIONS.—The evaluation shall in-
clude— 
(A) a recommendation on whether the Di-
rectorate should be continued or terminated; 
and 
(B) a description of lessons learned from 
operation of the Directorate. 
(3) AVAILABILITY.—On completion of the eval-
uation, the evaluation shall be made available to 
Congress and the public.
445 
SEC. 10309. ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS. 
(a) SUPPORTING VETERANS IN STEM CAREERS.— 
Section 3(c) of the Supporting Veterans in STEM Careers 
Act is amended by striking ‘‘annual’’ and inserting ‘‘bien-
nial’’. 
(b) SUNSHINE ACT COMPLIANCE.—Section 15 of the 
National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 
is amended— 
(1) so that paragraph (3) reads as follows: 
‘‘(3) COMPLIANCE
REVIEW.—The Inspector 
General of the Foundation shall conduct a review of 
the compliance by the Board with the requirements 
described in paragraph (2) as necessary based on a 
triennial risk assessment. Any review deemed nec-
essary shall examine the proposed and actual con-
tent 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 assess-
ment required under paragraph (3) of this sub-
section, and any subsequent review conducted by the 
Inspector General, the Office of the National Science 
Board shall maintain the General Counsel’s certifi-
446 
cate, the presiding officer’s statement, and a tran-
script or recording of any closed meeting, for at 
least 3 years after such meeting.’’. 
(c) 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’’. 
(d) OTHER REQUIREMENTS.—All laborers and me-
chanics employed by contractors or subcontractors in the 
performance of construction, alteration or repair work as-
sisted in whole or in part under this title shall be paid 
wages at rates not less than those prevailing on projects 
of a similar character in the locality as determined by the 
Secretary of Labor in accordance with subchapter IV of 
chapter 31 of title 40, United States Code. With respect 
to the labor standards specified in this section, the Sec-
retary of Labor shall have the authority and functions set 
forth in Reorganization Plan Numbered 14 of 1950 (64 
Stat. 1267; 5 U.S.C. App.) and section 3145 of title 40, 
United States Code. 
SEC. 10310. MICROGRAVITY UTILIZATION POLICY. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that space technology and the utilization of the 
microgravity environment for science, engineering, and
447 
technology development is critical to long-term competi-
tiveness with near-peer competitors, including China. 
(b) POLICY.—To the greatest extent appropriate, the 
National Science Foundation (in this section referred to 
as the ‘‘Foundation’’) shall facilitate access to the micro-
gravity environment for awardees of funding from the 
Foundation, including in private sector platforms, for the 
development of science, engineering, and technology. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Foundation 
shall provide to the appropriate committees of Congress 
a report on the Foundation’s plan for facilitating awardee 
access to the microgravity environment. 
SEC. 10311. RECOGNITION OF THE ARECIBO OBSERVATORY. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) The Department of Defense began devel-
oping the Arecibo Observatory located in Barrio 
Esperanza, Arecibo, Puerto Rico, during the 1950s, 
and its characteristic instrument, a large radio tele-
scope of 305 meters in diameter was completed in 
1963. 
(2) The facility was later owned by the National 
Science Foundation, and supported by the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration and various 
university partners.
448 
(3) The Arecibo Observatory’s 305-meter fixed 
spherical radio telescope, was the world’s largest sin-
gle-dish radio telescope until the Five-Hundred- 
Meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope located in 
Gizhou, China, began observing in 2016. 
(4) The 305-meter radio telescope made unpar-
alleled contributions to the fields of radio astronomy, 
planetary, and atmospheric sciences, and played a 
role in inspiring thousands of students in Puerto 
Rico, the Nation, and the world to pursue careers in 
STEM fields through the Arecibo Observatory Edu-
cation and Public Outreach Programs. 
(5) The radio telescope significantly advanced 
the field of radio astronomy, including the first indi-
rect detection of gravitational waves, the first detec-
tion of extrasolar planets, innumerable contributions 
to the field of time domain astronomy and the study 
of the interstellar medium, and played a key role in 
the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. 
(6) The Arecibo Observatory had the best plan-
etary radar system in the world, used by the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration for 
near-Earth object detection and was an essential 
part of the agency’s planetary defense program.
449 
(7) The planetary radar at the Arecibo Observ-
atory has contributed fundamentally and signifi-
cantly to the knowledge of the solar system. 
(8) The Arecibo Observatory’s Incoherent Scat-
ter Radar and supporting facilities have provided 
fundamental understanding of the ionosphere and 
upper atmosphere, and the interface between the at-
mosphere and space that protects the planet from 
solar wind, meteors, and other potential threats. 
(9) December 1, 2021, marks the 1-year anni-
versary of the uncontrolled collapse sustained by the 
radio telescope after a series of cable failures in 
tower 4. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Congress— 
(1) acknowledges the loss of the Arecibo Ob-
servatory’s radio telescope due to its collapse and its 
implications for the loss of a unique world-class mul-
tidisciplinary science facility which conducted re-
search in the areas of space and atmospheric 
sciences, radar astronomy and planetary sciences, 
astronomy, and astrophysics; 
(2) acknowledges that the uncontrolled collapse 
of the 305-meter radio telescope represents a loss of 
astronomical observation capabilities, scientific re-
450 
search and development, planetary defense capabili-
ties, and applied science capabilities for the United 
States; 
(3) recognizes the rich scientific, educational, 
and economic benefits that the Arecibo Telescope 
has made to the people of Puerto Rico, the Nation, 
and the world; 
(4) recognizes the work and contributions made 
by the thousands of dedicated staff who have sup-
ported the Arecibo Observatory for close to 6 dec-
ades; 
(5) commends the National Science Foundation 
for convening a virtual workshop in June 2021, to 
explore ideas for future scientific and educational ac-
tivities at the Arecibo Observatory; and 
(6) encourages the National Science Founda-
tion, the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration, and other agencies to explore opportunities 
for strengthening and expanding the role of the Are-
cibo Observatory in Puerto Rico through education, 
outreach, and diversity programs, and future re-
search capabilities and technology at the site. 
SEC. 10312. HANDS-ON LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN STEM 
EDUCATION. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
451 
(1) ESEA TERMS.—The terms ‘‘elementary 
school’’, ‘‘high school’’, ‘‘secondary school’’, and 
‘‘State’’ have the meanings given the terms in sec-
tion 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(2) 
ELIGIBLE
NONPROFIT
PROGRAM.—The 
term ‘‘eligible nonprofit program’’— 
(A) means a nonprofit program serving 
prekindergarten, elementary school, or sec-
ondary school students; and 
(B) includes a program described in sub-
paragraph (A) that covers the continuum of 
education from prekindergarten through high 
school and is available in every State. 
(3) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the National Science Foundation. 
(4) STEM.—The term ‘‘STEM’’ means science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are 
to— 
(1) provide effective, compelling, and engaging 
means for teaching and reinforcing fundamental 
STEM concepts and inspiring the youth of the 
United States to pursue careers in STEM-related 
fields;
452 
(2) expand the STEM workforce pipeline by de-
veloping and training students for careers in United 
States STEM fields; and 
(3) broaden participation in the STEM work-
force by underrepresented population groups. 
(c) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall, subject 
to the availability of appropriations for such pur-
poses, make awards to eligible nonprofit programs 
for supporting hands-on learning opportunities in 
STEM education, including via after-school activities 
and innovative learning opportunities such as robot-
ics competitions and for the purposes of evaluating 
the impact of such programs on STEM learning and 
disseminating the results of such evaluations. 
(2) PRIORITY.—In making awards under the 
program, the Director shall give priority to eligible 
nonprofit programs serving students that attend ele-
mentary schools or secondary schools (including high 
schools) that— 
(A) are implementing comprehensive sup-
port and improvement activities or targeted 
support and improvement activities under para-
graph (1) or (2) of section 1111(d) of the Ele-
453 
mentary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 
(20 U.S.C. 6311(d)); or 
(B) serve high percentages of students who 
are eligible for a free or reduced price lunch 
under the Richard B. Russell National School 
Lunch Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq.) (which, in 
the case of a high school, may be calculated 
using comparable data from the schools that 
feed into the high school). 
TITLE IV—BIOECONOMY 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
SEC. 10401. FINDINGS. 
The Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) Cellular and molecular processes may be 
used, mimicked, or redesigned to develop new prod-
ucts, processes, and systems that improve societal 
well-being, strengthen national security, and con-
tribute to the economy. 
(2) Engineering biology relies on a workforce 
with a diverse and unique set of skills combining the 
biological, 
physical, 
chemical, 
and 
information 
sciences and engineering. 
(3) Long-term research and development is nec-
essary to create breakthroughs in engineering biol-
ogy. Such research and development requires govern-
454 
ment investment as many of the benefits are too dis-
tant or uncertain for industry to support alone. 
(4) Research is necessary to inform evidence- 
based governance of engineering biology and to sup-
port the growth of the engineering biology industry. 
(5) The Federal Government has an obligation 
to ensure that ethical, legal, environmental, safety, 
security, and societal implications of its science and 
technology research and investment follows policies 
of responsible innovation and fosters public trans-
parency. 
(6) The Federal Government can play an im-
portant role by facilitating the development of tools 
and technologies to further advance engineering biol-
ogy, including user facilities, by facilitating public- 
private partnerships, by supporting risk research, 
and by facilitating the commercial application in the 
United States of research funded by the Federal 
Government. 
(7) The United States led the development of 
the science and engineering techniques that created 
the field of engineering biology, but due to increas-
ing international competition, the United States is 
at risk of losing its competitive advantage if it does 
not strategically invest the necessary resources.
455 
(8) A National Engineering Biology Initiative 
can serve to establish new research directions and 
technology goals, improve interagency coordination 
and planning processes, drive technology transfer to 
the private sector, and help ensure optimal returns 
on the Federal investment. 
SEC. 10402. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) 
BIOMANUFACTURING.—The 
term 
‘‘bio-
manufacturing’’ means the utilization of biological 
systems to develop new and advance existing prod-
ucts, tools, and processes at commercial scale. 
(2) ENGINEERING BIOLOGY.—The term ‘‘engi-
neering biology’’ means the application of engineer-
ing design principles and practices to biological sys-
tems, including molecular and cellular systems, to 
advance fundamental understanding of complex nat-
ural systems and to enable novel or optimize func-
tions and capabilities. 
(3) INITIATIVE.—The term ‘‘Initiative’’ means 
the National Engineering Biology Research and De-
velopment 
Initiative 
established 
under 
section 
10403. 
(4) OMICS.—The term ‘‘omics’’ refers to the 
collective technologies used to explore the roles, rela-
456 
tionships, and actions of the various types of mol-
ecules that make up the cells and systems of an or-
ganism and the systems level analysis of their func-
tions. 
SEC. 10403. 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 Develop-
ment Initiative to advance societal well-being, national se-
curity, sustainability, and economic productivity and com-
petitiveness through— 
(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; 
(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 
engineering biology and contributes to the develop-
ment and public understanding of new products, 
processes, and technologies;
457 
(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 
subsection (d); 
(6) supporting the development of novel tools 
and technologies to accelerate scientific under-
standing and technological innovation in engineering 
biology; 
(7) expanding the number of researchers, edu-
cators, and students and a retooled workforce with 
engineering biology training, including from tradi-
tionally underrepresented and underserved popu-
lations; 
(8) accelerating the translation and commer-
cialization of engineering biology and biomanufac-
turing research and development by the private sec-
tor; and 
(9) improving the interagency planning and co-
ordination of Federal Government activities related 
to engineering biology. 
(b) INITIATIVE ACTIVITIES.—The activities of the 
Initiative shall include—
458 
(1) sustained support for engineering biology 
research and development through— 
(A) grants to fund the work of individual 
investigators and teams of investigators, includ-
ing interdisciplinary teams; 
(B) projects funded under joint solicita-
tions by a collaboration of no fewer than two 
agencies participating in the Initiative; and 
(C) interdisciplinary research centers that 
are organized to investigate basic research 
questions, carry out technology development 
and demonstration activities, and increase un-
derstanding of how to scale up engineering biol-
ogy processes, including biomanufacturing; 
(2) sustained support for databases and related 
tools, including— 
(A) 
support 
for 
the 
establishment, 
curation, and maintenance of curated genomics, 
epigenomics, and other relevant omics data-
bases, including plant, animal, and microbial 
databases, that are available to researchers to 
carry out engineering biology research in a 
manner that does not compromise national se-
curity or the privacy or security of information 
within such databases;
459 
(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; and 
(D) an inventory and assessment of all 
Federal government omics databases to identify 
opportunities to improve the utility of such 
databases, as appropriate and in a manner that 
does not compromise national security or the 
privacy and security of information within such 
databases, and inform investment in such data-
bases as critical infrastructure for the engineer-
ing biology 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— 
(A) research conducted at Federal labora-
tories; 
(B) grants to fund the work of investiga-
tors at institutions of higher education and 
other nonprofit research institutions;
460 
(C) incentivized development of retooled in-
dustrial sites across the country that foster a 
pivot to modernized engineering biology initia-
tives; and 
(D) awards under the Small Business In-
novation 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); 
(4) support for education and training of un-
dergraduate and graduate students in engineering 
biology, biomanufacturing, bioprocess engineering, 
and computational science applied to engineering bi-
ology and in the related ethical, legal, environmental, 
safety, security, and other societal domains; 
(5) support for a national network of testbeds 
based on open standards, interfaces, and processes, 
including by repurposing existing facilities such as 
those in paragraph 3(C), that would enable scale up 
of laboratory engineering biology research; 
(6) activities to develop robust mechanisms for 
documenting and quantifying the outputs and eco-
nomic benefits of engineering biology; and
461 
(7) activities to accelerate the translation and 
commercialization of new products, processes, and 
technologies by— 
(A) identifying precompetitive research op-
portunities; 
(B) facilitating public-private partnerships 
in engineering biology research and develop-
ment, including to address barriers to scaling 
up innovations in engineering biology; 
(C) connecting researchers, graduate stu-
dents, and postdoctoral fellows with entrepre-
neurship education and training opportunities; 
and 
(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 minority-serving institu-
tions about Initiative opportunities, and shall encourage 
the development of research collaborations between re-
search-intensive universities and primarily undergraduate 
and minority-serving institutions.
462 
(d) ETHICAL, LEGAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, SAFETY, 
SECURITY, AND SOCIETAL ISSUES.—Initiative activities 
shall take into account ethical, legal, environmental, safe-
ty, security, and other appropriate societal issues by— 
(1) supporting research, including in the social 
sciences, and other activities addressing ethical, 
legal, environmental, and other appropriate societal 
issues related to engineering biology, including inte-
grating research on such topics with the research 
and development in engineering biology, and encour-
aging the dissemination of the results of such re-
search, including through interdisciplinary engineer-
ing biology research centers described in subsection 
(b)(1); 
(2) supporting research and other activities re-
lated to the safety and security implications of engi-
neering biology, including outreach to increase 
awareness among Federal researchers and Federally- 
funded researchers at institutions of higher edu-
cation about potential safety and security implica-
tions of engineering 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
466 
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 
strategy 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 
Program and the Small Business Technology Trans-
fer Program as described in section 9 of the Small 
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 638), in support of the ac-
tivities described in section 10403(b)(3); and 
(6) in carrying out this section, take into con-
sideration the recommendations of the advisory com-
mittee established under section 10405, the results 
of the workshop convened under section 10406, ex-
isting reports on related topics, and the views of aca-
467 
demic, State, industry, and other appropriate 
groups. 
(b) QUINQUENNIAL REPORT.—Beginning with fiscal 
year 2022 and ending in fiscal year 2028, not later than 
90 days after submission of the President’s annual budget 
request and every fifth fiscal year thereafter, the Inter-
agency Committee shall prepare and submit to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Com-
mittee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and For-
estry of the Senate a report that includes— 
(1) a summarized agency budget in support of 
the Initiative for the fiscal year to which such budg-
et request applies, for the following 2 fiscal years, 
for the then current fiscal year, including a breakout 
of spending for each agency participating in the Pro-
gram, and for the development and acquisition of 
any research facilities and instrumentation; and 
(2) an assessment of how Federal agencies are 
implementing the plan described in subsection 
(a)(3), including— 
(A) a description of the amount and num-
ber of awards made under the Small Business 
Innovation Research Program and the Small
468 
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 no fewer than 2 agencies 
participating in the Initiative; and 
(C) a description of the effect of the newly 
funded projects by the Initiative. 
(c) INITIATIVE 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 
advisory committee established under section 
10405; 
(B) serve as the point of contact on Fed-
eral engineering biology activities for govern-
ment organizations, academia, industry, profes-
sional societies, State governments, interested 
citizen groups, and others to exchange technical 
and programmatic information; 
(C) oversee interagency coordination of the 
Initiative, including by encouraging and sup-
469 
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 established under sec-
tion 10405, as appropriate; 
(E) serve as the coordinator of ethical, 
legal, environmental, safety, security, and other 
appropriate societal input; and 
(F) promote access to, and early applica-
tion of, the technologies, innovations, and ex-
pertise derived from Initiative activities to agen-
cy missions and systems across the Federal 
Government, and to United States industry, in-
cluding 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-
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.
470 
(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 sec-
tion shall 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 devel-
opment, including the solicitation and review of extra-
mural research proposals. 
SEC. 10405. ADVISORY COMMITTEE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The agency co-chair of the inter-
agency committee established in section 10404 shall, in 
consultation with the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy, designate or establish an advisory committee on 
engineering biology research and development (in this sec-
tion referred to as the ‘‘advisory committee’’) to be com-
posed of not fewer than 12 members, including representa-
tives of research and academic institutions, industry, and 
nongovernmental entities, who are qualified to provide ad-
vice on the Initiative. 
(b) ASSESSMENT.—The advisory committee shall as-
sess—
471 
(1) the current state of United States competi-
tiveness in engineering biology, including the scope 
and scale of United States investments in engineer-
ing biology research and development in the inter-
national 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 10404 is helping to maintain United 
States leadership in engineering biology; and 
(7) whether ethical, legal, environmental, safety, 
security, and other appropriate societal issues are 
adequately addressed by the Initiative. 
(c) REPORTS.—Beginning not later than 2 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, and not less fre-
quently than once every 5 years thereafter, the advisory 
committee shall submit to the President, the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on
472 
Agriculture of the House of Representatives, and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the 
Senate, a report on— 
(1) the findings of the advisory committee’s as-
sessment under subsection (b); and 
(2) the advisory committee’s recommendations 
for ways to improve the Initiative. 
(d) APPLICATION
OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COM-
MITTEE ACT.—Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Com-
mittee 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. 
SEC. 10406. EXTERNAL REVIEW OF ETHICAL, LEGAL, ENVI-
RONMENTAL, SAFETY, SECURITY, AND SOCI-
ETAL ISSUES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 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 recommenda-
tions with respect to, the ethical, legal, environmental,
473 
safety, security, and other appropriate societal issues re-
lated to engineering biology research and development. 
The review shall include— 
(1) an assessment of the current research on 
such issues; 
(2) a description of the research gaps relating 
to such issues; 
(3) recommendations on how the Initiative can 
address the research needs identified pursuant to 
paragraph (2); and 
(4) recommendations on how researchers en-
gaged in engineering biology can best incorporate 
considerations of ethical, legal, environmental, safe-
ty, security, and other societal issues into the devel-
opment of research proposals and the conduct of re-
search. 
(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The agreement entered 
into under subsection (a) shall require the National Acad-
emies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to, not later 
than 2 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 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
474 
of the Senate a report containing the findings and 
recommendations of the review conducted under sub-
section (a); and 
(2) make a copy of such report available on a 
publicly accessible website. 
SEC. 10407. AGENCY ACTIVITIES. 
(a) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—As part of 
the Initiative, the National Science Foundation shall— 
(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 
biology; 
(3) provide support for research instrumenta-
tion, equipment, and cyberinfrastructure for engi-
neering biology disciplines, including support for re-
search, development, optimization and validation of 
novel technologies to enable the dynamic study of 
molecular processes in situ; 
(4) support curriculum development and re-
search experiences for secondary, undergraduate, 
and graduate students in engineering biology and 
biomanufacturing, including through support for
475 
graduate fellowships and traineeships in engineering 
biology; and 
(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 Direc-
tor of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology shall— 
(A) advance the development of standard 
reference materials and measurements, includ-
ing to promote interoperability between new 
component technologies and processes for engi-
neering biology and biomanufacturing discovery, 
innovation, and production processes; 
(B) create new data tools, techniques, and 
processes necessary to advance engineering biol-
ogy and biomanufacturing; 
(C) provide access to user facilities with 
advanced or unique equipment, services, mate-
rials, and other resources to industry, institu-
tions of higher education, nonprofit organiza-
476 
tions, and government agencies to perform re-
search and testing; and 
(D) provide technical expertise to inform 
the potential development of guidelines or safe-
guards for new products, processes, and sys-
tems of engineering biology. 
(2) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD-
MINISTRATION.—As part of the initiative, the Ad-
ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration shall— 
(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 mis-
sion of the agency; and 
(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 Ini-
tiative, the Secretary of Energy shall— 
(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 de-
477 
velopment, biobased materials, and environmental 
remediation; 
(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; and 
(4) strengthen collaboration between the Office 
of Science and the Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy Office to help transfer fundamental research 
results to industry and accelerate commercial appli-
cations. 
(d) NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINIS-
TRATION.—As part of the Initiative, the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration shall— 
(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,
478 
consistent with the priorities established in the Na-
tional Academies’ decadal surveys; and 
(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. 
(e) DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.—As part of the 
Initiative, the Secretary of Agriculture shall support re-
search and development in engineering biology, including 
in synthetic biology, alternative proteins, and biomaterials, 
through the Agricultural Research Service, the National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture programs, and the Of-
fice of the Chief Scientist. 
(f) ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION
AGENCY.—As 
part of the Initiative, the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy shall support research on how products, processes, and 
systems of engineering biology will affect or can protect 
the environment. 
(g) 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 Serv-
ices in effect on the day before the date of the enactment 
of this Act, shall—
479 
(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; and 
(3) support activities necessary to facilitate 
oversight of relevant emerging biotechnologies. 
SEC. 10408. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this title shall be construed to require 
public disclosure of information that is exempt from man-
datory disclosure under section 552 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
TITLE V—BROADENING 
PARTICIPATION IN SCIENCE 
Subtitle A—STEM Opportunities 
SEC. 10501. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Many reports over the past decade have 
found that it is critical to our Nation’s economic 
leadership and global competitiveness that the 
United States educates and trains more scientists 
and engineers. 
(2) Research shows that women and minorities 
who are interested in STEM careers are dispropor-
480 
tionately lost at nearly every educational transition 
and at every career milestone. 
(3) The National Center for Science and Engi-
neering Statistics at the National Science Founda-
tion collects, compiles, analyzes, and publishes data 
on the demographics of STEM degrees and STEM 
jobs in the United States. 
(4) Women now earn nearly 37 percent of all 
STEM bachelor’s degrees, but major variations per-
sist among fields. In 2017, women earned only 20 
percent of all bachelor’s degrees awarded in engi-
neering and 19 percent of bachelor’s degrees award-
ed in computer sciences. Based on Bureau of Labor 
Statistics data, jobs in computing occupations are 
expected to account for nearly 60 percent of the pro-
jected annual growth of newly created STEM job 
openings from 2016 to 2026. 
(5) In 2017, underrepresented minority groups 
comprised 39 percent of the college-age population 
of the United States, but only 18 percent of stu-
dents who earned bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields. 
The Higher Education Research Institute at the 
University of California, Los Angeles, found that, 
while freshmen from underrepresented minority 
groups express an interest in pursuing a STEM un-
481 
dergraduate degree at the same rate as all other 
freshmen, only 22.1 percent of Latino students, 18.4 
percent of African-American students, and 18.8 per-
cent of Native American students studying in STEM 
fields complete their degree within 5 years, com-
pared to approximately 33 percent of White students 
and 42 percent of Asian students who complete their 
degree within 5 years. 
(6) In some STEM fields, including the com-
puter sciences, women persist at about the same rate 
through doctorate degrees. In other STEM fields, 
women persist through doctorate degrees at a lower 
rate. In mathematics, women earn just 26 percent of 
doctorate degrees compared with 42 percent of un-
dergraduate degrees. Overall, women earned 38 per-
cent of STEM doctorate degrees in 2016. The rate 
of minority students earning STEM doctorate de-
grees in physics is 9 percent, compared with 15 per-
cent for bachelor’s degree. Students from underrep-
resented minority groups accounted for only 11.5 
percent of STEM doctorate degrees awarded in 
2016. 
(7) The representation of women in STEM 
drops significantly from the doctorate degree level to 
the faculty level. Overall, women hold only 26 per-
482 
cent of all tenured and tenure-track positions and 27 
percent of full professor positions in STEM fields in 
our Nation’s universities and 4-year colleges. Black 
and Hispanic faculty together hold about 6.8 percent 
of all tenured and tenure-track positions and 7.5 
percent of full professor positions. Many of the num-
bers in the American Indian or Alaskan Native and 
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander cat-
egories for different faculty ranks were too small for 
the National Science Foundation to report publicly 
without potentially compromising confidential infor-
mation about the individuals being surveyed. 
(8) The representation of women is especially 
low at our Nation’s top research universities. Even 
in the biological sciences, in which women now earn 
more than 50 percent of the doctorates and passed 
the 25 percent level 37 years ago, women make up 
only 25 percent of the full professors at the approxi-
mately 100 most research-intensive universities in 
the United States. In the physical sciences and 
mathematics, women make up only 11 percent of full 
professors, in computer sciences only 10 percent, 
and across engineering fields only 7 percent. The 
data suggest that approximately 6 percent of all ten-
ure-track STEM faculty members at the most re-
483 
search-intensive universities are from underrep-
resented minority groups, but in some fields the 
numbers are too small to report publicly. 
(9) By 2050, underrepresented minorities will 
comprise 52 percent of the college-age population of 
the United States. If the percentage of female stu-
dents and students from underrepresented minority 
groups earning bachelor’s degrees in STEM fields 
does not significantly increase, the United States 
will face an acute shortfall in the overall number of 
students who earn degrees in STEM fields just as 
United States companies are increasingly seeking 
students with those skills. With this impending 
shortfall, the United States will almost certainly lose 
its competitive edge in the 21st century global econ-
omy. 
(10) According to a 2014 Association for 
Women in Science survey of over 4,000 scientists 
across the globe, 70 percent of whom were men, 
STEM researchers face significant challenges in 
work-life integration. Researchers in the United 
States were among the most likely to experience a 
conflict between work and their personal life at least 
weekly. One-third of researchers surveyed said that 
ensuring good work-life integration has negatively
484 
impacted their careers, and, of researchers intending 
to leave their current job within the next year, 9 
percent indicated it was because they were unable to 
balance work and life demands. 
(11) Female students and students from under-
represented minority groups at institutions of higher 
education who see few others ‘‘like themselves’’ 
among faculty and student populations often do not 
experience the social integration that is necessary for 
success in all disciplines, including STEM. 
(12) One in five children in the United States 
attend school in a rural community. The data shows 
that rural students are at a disadvantage with re-
spect to STEM readiness. Among STEM-interested 
students, 17 percent of students in rural high 
schools and 18 percent of students in town-located 
high schools meet the ACT STEM Benchmark, com-
pared with 33 percent of students in suburban high 
schools and 27 percent of students in urban high 
schools. 
(13) A substantial body of evidence establishes 
that most people hold implicit biases. Decades of 
cognitive psychology research reveal that most peo-
ple carry prejudices of which they are unaware but 
that nonetheless play a large role in evaluations of
485 
people and their work. Unintentional biases and out-
moded institutional structures are hindering the ac-
cess and advancement of women, minorities, and 
other groups historically underrepresented in STEM. 
(14) Workshops held to educate faculty about 
unintentional biases have demonstrated success in 
raising awareness of such biases. 
(15) In 2012, the Office of Diversity and Equal 
Opportunity of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration (in this subtitle referred to as 
‘‘NASA’’) completed a report that— 
(A) is specifically designed to help NASA 
grant recipients identify why the dearth of 
women in STEM fields continues and to ensure 
that it is not due to discrimination; and 
(B) provides guidance that is usable by all 
institutions of higher education receiving sig-
nificant Federal research funding on how to 
conduct meaningful self-evaluations of campus 
culture and policies. 
(16) The Federal Government provides 55 per-
cent of research funding at institutions of higher 
education and, through its grant-making policies, 
has had significant influence on institution of higher
486 
education policies, including policies related to insti-
tutional culture and structure. 
SEC. 10502. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this subtitle are as follows: 
(1) To ensure that Federal science agencies and 
institutions of higher education receiving Federal re-
search and development funding are fully engaging 
the entire talent pool of the United States. 
(2) To promote research on, and increase un-
derstanding of, the participation and trajectories of 
women, minorities, and other groups historically 
underrepresented in STEM studies and careers, in-
cluding persons with disabilities, older learners, vet-
erans, and rural, poor, and tribal populations, at in-
stitutions of higher education and Federal science 
agencies, including Federal laboratories. 
(3) To raise awareness within Federal science 
agencies, including Federal laboratories, and institu-
tions of higher education about cultural and institu-
tional barriers limiting the recruitment, retention, 
promotion, and other indicators of participation and 
achievement of women, minorities, and other groups 
historically underrepresented in academic and Gov-
ernment STEM research careers at all levels.
487 
(4) To identify, disseminate, and implement 
best practices at Federal science agencies, including 
Federal laboratories, and at institutions of higher 
education to remove or reduce cultural and institu-
tional barriers limiting the recruitment, retention, 
and success of women, minorities, and other groups 
historically underrepresented in academic and Gov-
ernment STEM research careers. 
(5) To provide grants to institutions of higher 
education to recruit, retain, and advance STEM fac-
ulty members from underrepresented minority 
groups and to implement or expand reforms in un-
dergraduate STEM education in order to increase 
the number of students from underrepresented mi-
nority groups receiving degrees in these fields. 
SEC. 10503. FEDERAL SCIENCE AGENCY POLICIES FOR 
CAREGIVERS. 
(a) OSTP GUIDANCE.—Not later than 6 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director, in 
consultation with relevant agencies, shall provide guidance 
to each Federal science agency to establish policies that— 
(1) apply to all— 
(A) research awards granted by such agen-
cy; and
488 
(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 is sick or dis-
abled; and 
(2) provide— 
(A) flexibility in timing for the initiation of 
approved research awards granted by such 
agency; 
(B) no-cost extensions of such research 
awards; 
(C) grant supplements, as appropriate, to 
research awards for research technicians or 
equivalent positions to sustain research activi-
ties 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 
uniformity and consistency in the policies established pur-
suant to such guidance across all Federal science agencies.
489 
(c) ESTABLISHMENT OF POLICIES.—Consistent with 
the guidance under subsection (a), Federal science agen-
cies shall— 
(1) maintain or develop and implement policies 
for individuals described in paragraph (1)(B) of 
such subsection; and 
(2) broadly disseminate such policies to current 
and potential grantees. 
(d) DATA
ON USAGE.—Federal science agencies 
shall— 
(1) collect data on the usage of the policies 
under subsection (c), by gender, at both institutions 
of higher education and Federal laboratories; and 
(2) report such data on an annual basis to the 
Director in such form as required by the Director. 
SEC. 10504. COLLECTION AND REPORTING OF DATA ON 
FEDERAL RESEARCH GRANTS. 
(a) COLLECTION OF DATA.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Each Federal science agency 
shall collect, as practicable, with respect to all appli-
cations for merit-reviewed research and development 
grants to institutions of higher education and Fed-
eral laboratories supported by that agency, the 
standardized record-level annual information on de-
mographics, primary field, award type, institution
490 
type, review rating, budget request, funding out-
come, and awarded budget. 
(2) UNIFORMITY AND STANDARDIZATION.—The 
Director, in consultation with the Director of the 
National Science Foundation, shall establish a policy 
to ensure uniformity and standardization of the data 
collection required under paragraph (1). 
(3) RECORD-LEVEL DATA.— 
(A) REQUIREMENT.—Beginning not later 
than 2 years after the date of the enactment of 
this Act, and on an annual basis thereafter, 
each Federal science agency shall submit to the 
Director of the National Science Foundation 
record-level data collected under paragraph (1) 
in the form required by such Director. 
(B) PREVIOUS DATA.—As part of the first 
submission under subparagraph (A), each Fed-
eral science agency, to the extent practicable, 
shall also submit comparable record-level data 
for the 5 years preceding the date of such sub-
mission. 
(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, gen-