I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2950 
To provide for a fundamental research program for the application of ad-
vanced computing practices to materials science challenges at the Depart-
ment of Energy, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 30, 2021 
Mr. WEBER of Texas (for himself and Mr. LUCAS) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To provide for a fundamental research program for the appli-
cation of advanced computing practices to materials 
science challenges at the Department of Energy, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Computing Advance-
ments for Materials Science Act’’ or the ‘‘CAMS Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS AND CHEMISTRY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 303 of the Department of 
Energy Research and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18641) 
is amended by— 
(1) redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as 
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and 
(2) inserting after subsection (c) the following: 
‘‘(d) COMPUTATIONAL
MATERIALS
AND
CHEM-
ISTRY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall support 
a program of fundamental research for the applica-
tion of advanced computing practices to foundational 
and emerging research problems in chemistry and 
materials science. 
‘‘(2) COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS AND CHEM-
ISTRY SCIENCE CENTERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the 
activities authorized under paragraph (1), the 
Director shall select and establish up to four 
computational materials and chemistry science 
centers to develop open-source, robust, and vali-
dated computational codes and user-friendly 
software, coupled with innovative use of experi-
mental and theoretical data, to enable the de-
sign, discovery, and development of new mate-
rials and chemical systems including chemical 
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catalysis research and development. These cen-
ters shall also focus on overcoming challenges 
and maximizing the benefits of exascale and 
other high performance computing systems. 
‘‘(B) SELECTION.—The Director shall se-
lect centers under paragraph (1) on a competi-
tive, merit-reviewed basis. The Director shall 
consider applications from the National Labora-
tories, institutes of higher education, multi-in-
stitutional collaborations, and other appropriate 
entities. 
‘‘(C) DURATION.—A center established 
under this subsection shall receive support for 
a period of not more than 5 years, subject to 
the availability of appropriations. 
‘‘(D) RENEWAL.—Upon the expiration of 
any period of support of a center under this 
paragraph, the Director may renew support for 
the center, on a merit-reviewed basis, for a pe-
riod of not more than 5 years. 
‘‘(E) TERMINATION.—Consistent with the 
existing authorities of the Department, the Di-
rector may terminate an underperforming cen-
ter for cause during the performance period. 
‘‘(3) MATERIALS RESEARCH DATABASE.— 
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‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Director shall 
support the development of a web-based plat-
form to provide access to a database of com-
puted information on known and predicted ma-
terials properties and computational tools to ac-
celerate breakthroughs in materials discovery 
and design. 
‘‘(B) PROGRAM.—In carrying out this 
paragraph, the Director shall— 
‘‘(i) conduct cooperative research with 
industry, academia, and other research in-
stitutions to facilitate the design of novel 
materials; 
‘‘(ii) leverage existing high perform-
ance computing systems to conduct high- 
throughput calculations, and develop com-
putational and data mining algorithms for 
the prediction of material properties; 
‘‘(iii) advance understanding, pre-
diction, and manipulation of materials; 
‘‘(iv) strengthen the foundation for 
new technologies and advanced manufac-
turing; and 
‘‘(v) drive the development of ad-
vanced materials for applications that span 
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the Department’s missions in energy, envi-
ronment, and national security. 
‘‘(C) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this 
section, the Director shall leverage programs 
and activities across the Department.’’. 
(b) FUNDING.—Out of funds authorized to be appro-
priated for the Basic Energy Sciences program of the Of-
fice of Science at the Department of Energy, there shall 
be made available to the Secretary to carry out activities 
under this subsection $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
years 2022 through 2031. 
Æ 
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