IB 
Union Calendar No. 86 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1119 
[Report No. 114–121] 
To improve the efficiency of Federal research and development, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 26, 2015 
Mrs. COMSTOCK (for herself, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. 
SMITH of Texas, and Mr. LIPINSKI) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
MAY 19, 2015 
Reported with an amendment, 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 February 26, 2015] 
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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 ‘‘Research and Develop-
ment Efficiency Act’’. 
SEC. 2. REGULATORY EFFICIENCY. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(1) high and increasing administrative burdens 
and costs in Federal research administration, par-
ticularly in the higher education sector where most 
federally sponsored research is performed, are eroding 
funds available to carry out basic scientific research; 
(2) progress has been made over the last decade 
in streamlining the pre-award grant application 
process through Grants.gov, the Federal Government’s 
website portal; 
(3) post-award administrative costs have grown 
as Federal research agencies have continued to impose 
agency-unique compliance and reporting requirements 
on researchers and research institutions; 
(4) facilities and administration costs at re-
search universities can exceed 50 percent of the total 
value of Federal research grants, and it is estimated 
that nearly 30 percent of the funds invested annually 
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in federally funded research is consumed by paper-
work and other administrative processes required by 
Federal agencies; and 
(5) it is a matter of critical importance to Amer-
ican competitiveness that administrative costs of fed-
erally funded research be streamlined so that a higher 
proportion of taxpayer dollars flow into direct re-
search activities. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy shall establish a working group 
under the authority of the National Science and Technology 
Council, to include the Office of Management and Budget. 
The working group shall be responsible for reviewing Fed-
eral regulations affecting research and research universities 
and making recommendations on how to— 
(1) harmonize, streamline, and eliminate dupli-
cative Federal regulations and reporting require-
ments; 
(2) minimize the regulatory burden on United 
States institutions of higher education performing 
federally funded research while maintaining account-
ability for Federal tax dollars; and 
(3) identify and update specific regulations to 
refocus on performance-based goals rather than on 
process while still meeting the desired outcome. 
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(c) STAKEHOLDER INPUT.—In carrying out the re-
sponsibilities under subsection (b), the working group shall 
take into account input and recommendations from non- 
Federal stakeholders, including federally funded and non-
federally funded researchers, institutions of higher edu-
cation, scientific disciplinary societies and associations, 
nonprofit research institutions, industry, including small 
businesses, federally funded research and development cen-
ters, and others with a stake in ensuring effectiveness, effi-
ciency, and accountability in the performance of scientific 
research. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 3 years, 
the Director shall report to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
of the Senate on what steps have been taken to carry out 
the recommendations of the working group established 
under subsection (b). 
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Union Calendar No. 86 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 1119 
[Report No. 114–121] 
A BILL 
To improve the efficiency of Federal research and 
development, and for other purposes. 
MAY 19, 2015 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:23 May 20, 2015
Jkt 049200
PO 00000
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E:\BILLS\H1119.RH
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