119 
(1) Widespread use of standards facilitates 
technology advancement by defining and establishing 
common foundations for product differentiation, 
technological innovation, and other value-added serv-
ices. 
(2) Standards also promote an expanded, more 
interoperable, and efficient marketplace. 
(3) Global cooperation and coordination on 
standards for emerging technologies will be critical 
for having a consistent set of rules to enable market 
competition, preclude barriers to trade, and allow in-
novation to flourish. 
(4) United States position on standardization in 
emerging technologies will be critical to United 
States economic competitiveness. 
(5) NIST is in a unique position to strengthen 
United States leadership in standards development, 
particularly for emerging technologies, to ensure 
continuing United States economic competitiveness 
and national security. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) while United States experts have historically 
been leaders in international standards development 
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activities, there is concern that the United States is 
losing its edge; 
(2) strengthening the unique United States 
public-private partnerships approach to standards 
development is critical to United States economic 
competitiveness; and 
(3) the United States Government should en-
sure cooperation and coordination across Federal 
agencies and partner with private sector stake-
holders to continue to shape international dialogues 
in regard to standards development for emerging 
technologies. 
(c) RESEARCH ACTIVITIES AND ENGAGEMENT.—The 
Secretary, acting through the Director, shall— 
(1) build capacity and training opportunities to 
help create a pipeline of talent and leadership in key 
standards development positions, including stand-
ards education and training related activities tar-
geted at integrating standards content into under-
graduate and graduate curricula in science, engi-
neering, business, public policy, and law; 
(2) partner with private sector entities to sup-
port strategically increased engagement and leader-
ship in the development of international standards 
for digital economy technologies, including partner-
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ing with industry to incentivize private sector part-
ners to develop standards strategies and support en-
gagement and participation in the relevant stand-
ards activities; and 
(3) develop approaches to prioritize standard-
ization for emerging technologies, identify organiza-
tion in which to develop these standards, identify 
leadership positions of interest to the United States, 
and identify key contributors for technical and lead-
ership expertise in these areas. 
SEC. 311. REVIEW OF THE CENTER FOR NEUTRON RE-
SEARCH. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller of the United States shall con-
duct an evaluation of NIST’s Center for Neutron Re-
search, including the following: 
(1) An assessment of what progress NIST has 
made in planning for the future of the Center for 
Neutron Research’s nuclear reactor since the release 
of the 2018 National Academies report, and what 
steps NIST has taken to implement the Academies 
report. 
(2) An analysis of the extent to which NIST’s 
planning efforts align with leading practices. 
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(3) An assessment of the extent to which NIST 
has worked with the Department of Energy to iden-
tify the scientific community’s long-term needs for 
neutron research facilities and discuss the coordina-
tion of future facilities, and how these agencies are 
factoring these needs into their decision-making 
process. 
(4) Recommendations for NIST and the De-
partment of Energy on how best to continue to sup-
port civilian nuclear research reactors. 
SEC. 312. HIRING AND MANAGEMENT. 
(a) DIRECT HIRE AUTHORITY.—The Secretary, act-
ing through the Director, may— 
(1) appoint, without regard to the provisions of 
subchapter I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States 
Code (other than sections 3303, 3328, and 3330e of 
such chapter), qualified candidates to scientific, en-
gineering, and professional positions for carrying out 
research and development functions which require 
the services of specially qualified personnel relating 
to cybersecurity and quantum information science 
and technology and such other areas of national re-
search priorities as the Secretary, acting through the 
Director, may determine; and 
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(2) fix the rate of basic pay of any individual 
appointed under paragraph (1), at a rate not in ex-
cess of the basic rate of pay of the Vice President 
under section 104 of title 3, United States Code, 
without regard to title 5, United States Code. 
(b) LIMITATION.—The Director may appoint not 
more than 10 individuals under subsection (a). 
(c) SUNSET.—The authority under subsection (a) 
shall expire on the date that is 10 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
(d) OTHER
TRANSACTION
AUTHORITY.—Section 
2(b)(4) of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(b)(4)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(4) to enter into and perform such contracts, 
including cooperative research and development ar-
rangements and grants and cooperative agreements 
or other transactions, as may be necessary in the 
conduct of its work and on such terms as it may 
deem appropriate, in furtherance of the purposes of 
this Act;’’. 
SEC. 313. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECH-
NOLOGY FOUNDATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce, act-
ing through the Director, may establish or enter into an 
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