IB
Union Calendar No. 252
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 2051
[Report No. 107–422]
To provide for the establishment of regional plant genome and gene expression
research and development centers.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 5, 2001
Mr. SMITH of Michigan introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Science
APRIL 30, 2002
Additional sponsor: Mrs. BONO
APRIL 30, 2002
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee of the Whole House
on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on June 5, 2001]
A BILL
To provide for the establishment of regional plant genome
and gene expression research and development centers.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. CENTERS.
The National Science Foundation is authorized to
make grants for the establishment of regional plant ge-
nome and gene expression research and development cen-
ters, the purpose of which shall be to—
(1) develop capabilities in basic plant genome
research;
(2)
extend
basic
plant
genomics
research
through plant breeding programs and accelerate its
application to the development and testing of new
varieties of enhanced food crops and crops that can
be used as alternative energy sources;
(3)
develop
alternative
uses
of
agricultural
crops; and
(4) serve as centers for scientific and safety in-
formation on plant genomics.
SEC. 2. GRANT AWARDS.
Grant awards under this Act shall be made through
an open, peer-reviewed competition. When making awards,
the National Science Foundation shall ensure that as
many different agronomic environments as possible are
represented.
SEC. 3. MATCHING FUNDS.
The National Science Foundation shall not provide
under this Act more than 50 percent of the cost of estab-
lishing any research and development center.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Na-
tional Science Foundation $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2002
and $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2003 to carry out this Act.
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of the
National Science Foundation;
(2) the term ‘‘institution of higher education’’
has the meaning given such term in section 101 of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001); and
(3) the term ‘‘nonprofit organization’’ means a
nonprofit research institute or a nonprofit association
with experience and capability in plant biotechnology
research as determined by the Director.
SEC. 2. MATCHING FUNDS.
The Director may establish matching fund require-
ments for grantees to receive grants under this Act.
SEC. 3. PLANT GENOME AND GENE EXPRESSION RESEARCH
CENTERS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall award grants to
consortia of institutions of higher education or nonprofit
organizations (or both) to establish regional plant genome
and gene expression research centers. Grants shall be
awarded under this section on a merit-reviewed, competi-
tive basis. When making awards, the Director shall, to the
extent practicable, ensure that the program created by this
section examines as many different agricultural environ-
ments as possible.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the centers established
pursuant to subsection (a) shall be to conduct research in
plant genomics and plant gene expression. A center’s activi-
ties may include—
(1) basic plant genomics research and genomics
applications, including those related to cultivation of
crops in extreme environments and to cultivation of
crops with reduced reliance on fertilizer;
(2) basic research that will contribute to the de-
velopment or use of innovative plant-derived products;
(3) basic research on alternative uses for plants
and plant materials, including the use of plants as
renewable feedstock for alternative energy production
and nonpetroleum-based industrial chemicals and
precursors; and
(4) basic research and dissemination of informa-
tion on the ecological and other consequences of ge-
netically engineered plants.
SEC. 4. PARTNERSHIPS FOR PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY IN
THE DEVELOPING WORLD.
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The Director shall award
grants to institutions of higher education, nonprofit organi-
zations, or consortia of such entities to establish research
partnerships for supporting the development of plant bio-
technology targeted to the needs of the developing world. The
Director, by means of outreach, shall encourage inclusion
of Historically Black Colleges or Universities, Hispanic-
serving institutions, or tribal colleges or universities in con-
sortia that enter into such partnerships.
(2) In order to be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, an institution of higher education or eligible non-
profit organization (or consortium thereof) shall enter into
a partnership with one or more research institutions in one
or more developing nations and may also include for-profit
companies involved in plant biotechnology.
(3) Grants under this section shall be awarded on a
merit-reviewed competitive basis.
(b) PURPOSE.—Grants awarded under this section
shall be used for support of research in plant biotechnology
targeted to the needs of the developing world. Such activities
may include—
(1) basic genomic research on crops grown in the
developing world;
(2) basic research in plant biotechnology that
will advance and expedite the development of im-
proved cultivars, including those that are pest-resist-
ant, produce increased yield, reduce the need for fer-
tilizers, or increase tolerance to stress;
(3) basic research that could lead to the develop-
ment of technologies to produce pharmaceutical com-
pounds such as vaccines and medications in plants
that can be grown in the developing world; and
(4) research on the impact of plant biotechnology
on the social, political, economic, and environmental
conditions in countries in the developing world.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Na-
tional Science Foundation $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2002,
$13,500,000 for fiscal year 2003, and $13,500,000 for fiscal
year 2004 to carry out this Act.
Amend the title so as to read: ‘‘A bill to authorize
the National Science Foundation to establish regional
centers for the purpose of plant genome and gene expres-
sion research and development and international research
partnerships for the advancement of plant biotechnology
in the developing world.’’.
Union Calendar No. 252
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 2051
[Report No. 107–422]
A BILL
To provide for the establishment of regional plant
genome and gene expression research and devel-
opment centers.
APRIL 30, 2002
Reported with amendments, committed to the Committee
of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and or-
dered to be printed