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fields (including continuing education and career
paths);
(2) initiate a program, in consultation with
Federal agencies and departments, to provide support
systems, tools (from existing outreach offices), and
mechanisms to allow and encourage Federal employ-
ees with scientific, technological, engineering, or
mathematical responsibilities to reach out to local
classrooms on such Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics Days to instruct and inspire school
children, focusing on real life science, technology, en-
gineering, and mathematics-related applicable experi-
ences along with hands-on demonstrations in order to
demonstrate the advantages and direct applications of
studying the science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics fields; and
(3) promote Science, Technology, Engineering,
and Mathematics Days involvement by private sector
and institutions of higher education employees, in-
cluding partnerships with scientific, engineering, and
mathematical professional organizations representing
individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the
Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act
(42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b), in a manner similar to
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the Federal employee involvement described in para-
graph (2).
SEC. 1106. STUDY OF SERVICE SCIENCE.
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress
that, in order to strengthen the competitiveness of United
States enterprises and institutions and to prepare the peo-
ple of the United States for high-wage, high-skill employ-
ment, the Federal Government should better understand and
respond strategically to the emerging management and
learning discipline known as service science.
(b) STUDY.—Not later than 270 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy, through the National Academy of
Sciences, shall conduct a study and report to Congress re-
garding how the Federal Government should support,
through research, education, and training, the emerging
management and learning discipline known as service
science.
(c) OUTSIDE RESOURCES.—In conducting the study
under subsection (b), the National Academy of Sciences
shall consult with leaders from 2- and 4-year institutions
of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), leaders
from corporations, and other relevant parties.
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(d) SERVICE SCIENCE DEFINED.—In this section, the
term ‘‘service science’’ means curricula, training, and re-
search programs that are designed to teach individuals to
apply scientific, engineering, and management disciplines
that integrate elements of computer science, operations re-
search, industrial engineering, business strategy, manage-
ment sciences, and social and legal sciences, in order to en-
courage innovation in how organizations create value for
customers and shareholders that could not be achieved
through such disciplines working in isolation.
TITLE II—INNOVATION
PROMOTION
SEC. 1201. PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL ON INNOVATION AND
COMPETITIVENESS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The President shall establish a
President’s Council on Innovation and Competitiveness.
(b) DUTIES.—The Council’s duties shall include—
(1) monitoring implementation of public laws
and initiatives for promoting innovation, including
policies related to research funding, taxation, immi-
gration, trade, and education that are proposed in
this Act or in any other Act;
(2) providing advice to the President with re-
spect to global trends in competitiveness and innova-
tion and allocation of Federal resources in education,
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job training, and technology research and develop-
ment considering such global trends in competitive-
ness and innovation;
(3) in consultation with the Director of the Of-
fice of Management and Budget, developing a process
for using metrics to assess the impact of existing and
proposed policies and rules that affect innovation ca-
pabilities in the United States;
(4) identifying opportunities and making rec-
ommendations for the heads of executive agencies to
improve innovation, monitoring, and reporting on the
implementation of such recommendations;
(5) developing metrics for measuring the progress
of the Federal Government with respect to improving
conditions for innovation, including through talent
development, investment, and infrastructure improve-
ments; and
(6) submitting to the President and Congress an
annual report on such progress.
(c) MEMBERSHIP AND COORDINATION.—
(1) MEMBERSHIP.—The Council shall be com-
posed of the Secretary or head of each of the following:
(A) The Department of Commerce.
(B) The Department of Defense.
(C) The Department of Education.
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(D) The Department of Energy.
(E) The Department of Health and Human
Services.
(F) The Department of Homeland Security.
(G) The Department of Labor.
(H) The Department of the Treasury.
(I) The National Aeronautics and Space
Administration.
(J) The Securities and Exchange Commis-
sion.
(K) The National Science Foundation.
(L) The Office of the United States Trade
Representative.
(M) The Office of Management and Budget.
(N) The Office of Science and Technology
Policy.
(O) The Environmental Protection Agency.
(P) The Small Business Administration.
(Q) Any other department or agency des-
ignated by the President.
(2) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary of Commerce
shall serve as Chairperson of the Council.
(3) COORDINATION.—The Chairperson of the
Council shall ensure appropriate coordination be-
tween the Council and the National Economic Coun-
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cil, the National Security Council, and the National
Science and Technology Council.
(4) MEETINGS.—The Council shall meet on a
semi-annual basis at the call of the Chairperson and
the initial meeting of the Council shall occur not later
than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act.
(d) DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATION AGENDA.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall develop a
comprehensive agenda for strengthening the innova-
tion and competitiveness capabilities of the Federal
Government, State governments, academia, and the
private sector in the United States.
(2) CONTENTS.—The comprehensive agenda re-
quired by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) An assessment of current strengths and
weaknesses of the United States investment in re-
search and development.
(B) Recommendations for addressing weak-
nesses and maintaining the United States as a
world leader in research and development and
technological innovation, including strategies for
increasing the participation of individuals iden-
tified in section 33 or 34 of the Science and En-
gineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C.
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1885a or 1885b) in science, technology, engineer-
ing, and mathematics fields.
(C) Recommendations for strengthening the
innovation and competitiveness capabilities of
the Federal government, State governments, aca-
demia, and the private sector in the United
States.
(3) ADVISORS.—
(A) RECOMMENDATION.—Not later than 30
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
National Academy of Sciences, in consultation
with the National Academy of Engineering, the
Institute of Medicine, and the National Research
Council, shall develop and submit to the Presi-
dent a list of 50 individuals that are rec-
ommended to serve as advisors to the Council
during the development of the comprehensive
agenda required by paragraph (1). The list of
advisors shall include appropriate representa-
tives from the following:
(i) The private sector of the economy.
(ii) Labor.
(iii) Various fields including informa-
tion technology, energy, engineering, high-
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technology manufacturing, health care, and
education.
(iv) Scientific organizations.
(v) Academic organizations and other
nongovernmental organizations working in
the area of science or technology.
(vi) Nongovernmental organizations,
such as professional organizations, that rep-
resent individuals identified in section 33
or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or
1885b) in the areas of science, engineering,
technology, and mathematics.
(B) DESIGNATION.—Not later than 30 days
after the date that the National Academy of
Sciences submits the list of recommended indi-
viduals to serve as advisors, the President shall
designate 50 individuals to serve as advisors to
the Council.
(C) 
REQUIREMENT
TO
CONSULT.—The
Council shall develop the comprehensive agenda
required by paragraph (1) in consultation with
the advisors.
(4) INITIAL SUBMISSION AND UPDATES.—
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(A) INITIAL SUBMISSION.—Not later than 1
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Council shall submit to Congress and the Presi-
dent the comprehensive agenda required by para-
graph (1).
(B) UPDATES.—At least once every 2 years,
the Council shall update the comprehensive agen-
da required by paragraph (1) and submit each
such update to Congress and the President.
(e) TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.—Section 101(b) of the
High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5511(b)) is amended by striking ‘‘an’’ in the first sentence
and inserting ‘‘a distinct’’.
(f) OPTIONAL ASSIGNMENT.—Notwithstanding sub-
section (a) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c),
the President may designate an existing council to carry
out the requirements of this section.
SEC. 1202. INNOVATION ACCELERATION RESEARCH.
(a) PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.—The President, through
the head of each Federal research agency, shall establish a
program, to be known as the Innovation Acceleration Re-
search Program, to support and promote innovation in the
United States through research projects that can yield re-
sults with far-ranging or wide-ranging implications but are
considered too novel or span too diverse a range of dis-
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ciplines to fare well in the traditional peer review process.
Priority in the awarding of grants under this program shall
be given to research projects that—
(1) meet fundamental technology or scientific
challenges;
(2) involve multidisciplinary work; and
(3) involve a high degree of novelty.
(b) DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.—
(1) FUNDING GOALS.—The President shall ensure
that it is the goal of each Executive agency (as de-
fined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code)
that finances research in science, mathematics, engi-
neering, and technology to allocate approximately 8
percent of the agency’s total annual research and de-
velopment budget to funding research, including
grants, under the Innovation Acceleration Research
Program.
(2) ADMINISTRATION.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days
after the date of enactment of this Act, the head
of each Executive agency participating in the In-
novation Acceleration Research Program under
paragraph (1) shall submit to the Director of the
Office of Science and Technology Policy and the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget
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a plan for implementing the research program
within such Executive agency. An implementa-
tion plan may incorporate existing initiatives of
the Executive agencies that promote research in
innovation as described in subsection (a).
(B) REQUIRED METRICS.—
(i) IN
GENERAL.—The head of each
Executive agency submitting an implemen-
tation plan pursuant to subparagraph (A)
shall include metrics upon which grant
funding decisions will be made and metrics
for assessing the success of the grants
awarded.
(ii) METRICS FOR BASIC RESEARCH.—
The metrics developed under clause (i) to
assess basic research programs shall assess
management of the programs and shall not
assess specific scientific outcomes of the re-
search conducted by the programs.
(C) GRANT DURATION AND RENEWALS.—
(i) IN GENERAL.—Any grants issued
by an Executive agency under this section
shall be for a period not to exceed 3 years.
(ii) EVALUATION.—Not later than 90
days prior to the expiration of a grant
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issued under this section, the Executive
agency that approved the grant shall com-
plete an evaluation of the effectiveness of the
grant based on the metrics established pur-
suant to subparagraph (B). In its evalua-
tion, the Executive agency shall consider the
extent to which the program funded by the
grant met the goals of quality improvement
and job creation.
(iii) PUBLICATION
OF
REVIEW.—The
Executive agency shall publish and make
available to the public the review of each
grant approved pursuant to this section.
(iv) FAILURE
TO
MEET
METRICS.—
Any grant that the Executive agency
awarding the grant determines has failed to
satisfy any of the metrics developed pursu-
ant to subparagraph (B), shall not be eligi-
ble for a renewal.
(v) RENEWAL.—A grant issued under
this section that satisfies all of the metrics
developed pursuant to subparagraph (B),
may be renewed once for a period of not
more than 3 years. Additional renewals
may be considered only if the head of the
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Executive agency makes a specific finding
that the program being funded involves a
significant technology or scientific advance
that requires a longer time frame to com-
plete critical research, and the research sat-
isfies all the metrics developed pursuant to
subparagraph (B).
(vi) WAIVER.—The head of the Execu-
tive agency may authorize a waiver of the
requirement of clauses (iv) and (v) related
to satisfying metric requirements if he or
she determines that the grant failed to meet
a small number of metrics and the failure
was not significant for the overall perform-
ance of the grant.
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) FEDERAL
RESEARCH
AGENCY.—The term
‘‘Federal research agency’’ means a major organiza-
tional component of a department or agency of the
Federal Government, or other establishment of the
Federal Government operating with appropriated
funds, that has as its primary purpose the perform-
ance of scientific research.
(2) MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL COMPONENT.—The
term ‘‘major organizational component’’, with respect
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to a department, agency, or other establishment of the
Federal Government, means a component of the de-
partment, agency, or other establishment that is ad-
ministered by an individual whose rate of basic pay
is not less than the rate of basic pay payable under
level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316
of title 5, United States Code.
TITLE 
III—NATIONAL 
AERO-
NAUTICS AND SPACE ADMIN-
ISTRATION
SEC. 1301. NASA’S CONTRIBUTION TO INNOVATION.
(a) PARTICIPATION IN INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIES.—
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall
be a full participant in any interagency effort to promote
innovation and economic competitiveness through near-
term and long-term basic scientific research and develop-
ment and the promotion of science, technology, engineering,
and mathematics education, consistent with the agency mis-
sion, including authorized activities.
(b) HISTORIC FOUNDATION.—In order to carry out the
participation described in subsection (a), the Administrator
of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
shall build on the historic role of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration in stimulating excellence in the
advancement of physical science and engineering dis-
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ciplines and in providing opportunities and incentives for
the pursuit of academic studies in science, technology, engi-
neering, and mathematics.
(c) BALANCED SCIENCE PROGRAM AND ROBUST AU-
THORIZATION LEVELS.—The balanced science program au-
thorized by section 101(d) of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16611) shall be an element of the contribution by the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration to such inter-
agency programs. It is the sense of Congress that a robust
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, funded at
the levels authorized for fiscal years 2007 and 2008 under
sections 202 and 203 of such Act (42 U.S.C. 16631 and
16632) and at appropriate levels in subsequent fiscal years
would enable a fair balance among science, aeronautics,
education, exploration, and human space flight programs
and allow full participation in any interagency efforts to
promote innovation and economic competitiveness.
(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—
(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Administrator shall
submit to Congress and the President an annual re-
port describing the activities conducted pursuant to
this section, including a description of the goals and
the objective metrics upon which funding decisions
were made.
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(2) CONTENT.—Each report submitted pursuant
to paragraph (1) shall include, with regard to science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics education
programs, at a minimum, the following:
(A) A description of each program.
(B) The amount spent on each program.
(C) The number of students or teachers
served by each program.
(D) Measurement of how each program im-
proved student achievement, including with re-
gard to challenging State achievement standards.
SEC. 1302. AERONAUTICS INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration shall
establish within the Administration an Aeronautics
Institute for Research for the purpose of managing the
aeronautics research carried out by the Administra-
tion.
(2) DIRECTOR.—The Institute shall be headed by
a Director with appropriate experience in aeronautics
research and development.
(b) DUTIES.—The Institute shall implement the pro-
grams authorized under title IV of the National Aeronautics
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and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (42
U.S.C. 16701 et seq.).
(c) COOPERATION WITH OTHER AGENCIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Institute shall operate in
conjunction with relevant programs in the Depart-
ment of Transportation, the Department of Defense,
the Department of Commerce, and the Department of
Homeland Security, including the activities of the
Joint Planning and Development Office established
under the Vision 100—Century of Aviation Reauthor-
ization Act (Public Law 108–176; 117 Stat. 2490).
(2) RESOURCES.—The Director of the Institute
may accept assistance, staff, and funding from those
Departments and other Federal agencies. Any such
funding shall be in addition to funds authorized for
aeronautics under the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005
(Public Law 109–155).
(3) OTHER COORDINATION.—The Director of the
Institute may utilize the Next Generation Air Trans-
portation Senior Policy Committee established under
section 710 of the Vision 100—Century of Aviation
Reauthorization Act (Public Law 108–176; 49 U.S.C.
40101 note) to coordinate its programs with other De-
partments and agencies.
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(d) PARTNERSHIPS.—In developing and carrying out
its plans, the Institute shall consult with the public and
ensure the participation of experts from the private sector
including representatives of commercial aviation, general
aviation, aviation labor groups, aviation research and de-
velopment entities, aircraft and air traffic control sup-
pliers, and the space industry.
SEC. 1303. BASIC RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Director of the
National Science Foundation, the Secretary of Energy, the
Secretary of Defense, and Secretary of Commerce shall, to
the extent practicable, coordinate basic and fundamental re-
search activities related to physical sciences, technology, en-
gineering and mathematics.
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF BASIC RESEARCH EXECUTIVE
COUNCIL.—In order to ensure effective application of re-
sources to basic science activity and to facilitate cooperative
basic and fundamental research activities with other gov-
ernmental organizations, the Administrator of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration shall establish with-
in the Administration a Basic Research Executive Council
to oversee the distribution and management of programs
and resources engaged in support of basic research activity.
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(c) MEMBERSHIP.—The membership of the Basic Re-
search Executive Council shall consist of the most senior
agency official representing each of the following areas of
research:
(1) Space Science.
(2) Earth Science.
(3) Life and Microgravity Sciences.
(4) Aeronautical Research.
(d) LEADERSHIP.—The Basic Research Executive
Council shall be chaired by an individual appointed for
that purpose who shall have, as a minimum, a appropriate
graduate degree in a recognizable discipline in the physical
sciences, and appropriate experience in the conduct and
management of basic research activity. The Chairman of
the Council shall report directly to the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(e) SUPPORTING RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL.—The
Chairman of the Basic Research Executive Council shall be
provided with adequate administrative staff support to con-
duct the activity and functions of the Council.
(f) DUTIES.—The Basic Research Executive Council
shall have, at minimum, the following duties:
(1) To establish criteria for the identification of
research activity as basic in nature.
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(2) To establish, in consultation with the Office
of Science and Technology Policy, the National
Science Foundation, the National Academy of
Sciences, the National Institutes of Health, and other
appropriate external organizations, a prioritization
of fundamental research activity to be conducted by
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
to be reviewed and updated on an annual basis, tak-
ing into consideration evolving national research pri-
orities.
(3) To monitor, review, and evaluate all basic
research activity of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration for compliance with basic re-
search priorities established under paragraph (2).
(4) To make recommendations to the Adminis-
trator of the National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration regarding adjustments in the basic research
activities of the Administration to ensure consistency
with the research priorities established under this sec-
tion.
(5) To provide an annual report to the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate and the Committee on Science of the
House of Representatives outlining the activities of
the Council during the preceding year and the status
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of basic research activity within the Administration.
The initial such report, to serve as a baseline docu-
ment, shall be provided within 90 days after the es-
tablishment and initial operations of the Council.
SEC. 1304. AGING WORKFORCE ISSUES PROGRAM.
It is the sense of Congress that the Administrator of
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration should
implement a program to address aging work force issues
in aerospace that—
(1) documents technical and management experi-
ences before senior people leave the Administration,
including—
(A) documenting lessons learned;
(B) briefing organizations;
(C) providing opportunities for archiving
lessons in a database; and
(D) providing opportunities for near-term
retirees to transition out early from their pri-
mary assignment in order to document their ca-
reer lessons learned and brief new employees
prior to their separation from the Administra-
tion;
(2) provides incentives for retirees to return and
teach new employees about their career lessons and
experiences; and
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(3) provides for the development of an award to
recognize and reward outstanding senior employees
for their contributions to knowledge sharing.
SEC. 1305. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.
Section 101(d) of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
16611(d)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon in
paragraph (2)(B);
(2) by striking ‘‘Act.’’ in paragraph (2)(C) and
inserting ‘‘Act; and’’;
(3) by adding at the end of paragraph (2) the
following:
‘‘(D) the number and content of science ac-
tivities which are undertaken in support of
science missions described in subparagraph (A),
and the number and content of science activities
which may be considered as fundamental, or
basic research, whether incorporated within spe-
cific missions or conducted independently of any
specific mission.’’; and
(4) by adding at the end of paragraph (3) the
following:
‘‘(H) How NASA science activities can best
be structured to ensure that basic and funda-
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mental research can be effectively maintained
and coordinated in response to national goals in
competitiveness and innovation, and in contrib-
uting to national scientific, technology, engineer-
ing and mathematics leadership.’’.
SEC. 1306. FISCAL YEAR 2008 BASIC SCIENCE AND RE-
SEARCH FUNDING.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Ad-
ministrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration shall increase funding for basic science and re-
search, including for the Explorer Program, for fiscal year
2008 by $160,000,000 by transferring such amount for such
purpose from accounts of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration. The transfer shall be contingent
upon the availability of unobligated balances to the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration.
TITLE IV—NATIONAL INSTITUTE
OF STANDARDS AND TECH-
NOLOGY
SEC. 1401. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Commerce for the use of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology—
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(1) for fiscal year 2008, $703,611,000, of which
$115,000,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufac-
turing Extension Partnership Program;
(2) for fiscal year 2009, $773,972,000, of which
$122,005,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufac-
turing Extension Partnership Program;
(3) for fiscal year 2010, $851,369,000, of which
$131,766,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufac-
turing Extension Partnership Program; and
(4) for fiscal year 2011, $936,506,000, of which
$142,300,000 shall be used for the Hollings Manufac-
turing Extension Partnership Program.
SEC. 1402. AMENDMENTS TO THE STEVENSON-WYDLER
TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION ACT OF 1980.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 5 of the Stevenson-Wydler
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3704) is re-
pealed.
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—
(1) TITLE
5, UNITED
STATES
CODE.—Section
5314 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by
striking ‘‘Under Secretary of Commerce for Tech-
nology.’’.
(2) DEFINITIONS.—Section 4 of the Stevenson-
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
3703) is amended—
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(A) by striking paragraphs (1) and (3); and
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(2)
through (13) as paragraphs (1) through (11), re-
spectively.
(3) REPEAL OF AUTHORIZATION.—Section 21(a)
of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3713(a)) is amended—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘sections
5, 11(g), and 16’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 11(g)
and 16’’; and
(B) 
in 
paragraph 
(2), 
by 
striking
‘‘$500,000 is authorized only for the purpose of
carrying out the requirements of the Japanese
technical literature program established under
section 5(d) of this Act;’’.
(4) HIGH-PERFORMANCE
COMPUTING
ACT
OF
1991.—Section 208 of the High-Performance Com-
puting Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5528) is amended by
striking subsection (c) and redesignating subsection
(d) as subsection (c).
(5) ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 1998.—Sec-
tion 6(b)(4)(B)(v) of the Assistive Technology Act of
1998 (29 U.S.C. 3005(b)(4)(B)(v)) is amended by
striking ‘‘the Technology Administration of the De-
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partment of Commerce,’’ and inserting ‘‘the National
Institute of Standards and Technology,’’.
SEC. 1403. INNOVATION ACCELERATION.
(a) PROGRAM.—In order to implement section 1202 of
this Act, the Director of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology shall—
(1) establish a program linked to the goals and
objectives of the measurement laboratories, to be
known as the ‘‘Standards and Technology Accelera-
tion Research Program’’, to support and promote in-
novation in the United States through high-risk, high-
reward research; and
(2) set aside, from funds available to the meas-
urement laboratories, an amount equal to not less
than 8 percent of the funds available to the Institute
each fiscal year for such Program.
(b) EXTERNAL FUNDING.—The Director shall ensure
that at least 80 percent of the funds available for such Pro-
gram shall be used to award competitive, merit-reviewed
grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to public or
private entities, including businesses and universities. In
selecting entities to receive such assistance, the Director
shall ensure that the project proposed by an entity has sci-
entific and technical merit and that any resulting intellec-
tual property shall vest in a United States entity that can
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commercialize the technology in a timely manner. Each ex-
ternal project shall involve at least one small or medium-
sized business and the Director shall give priority to joint
ventures between small or medium-sized businesses and edu-
cational institutions. Any grant shall be for a period not
to exceed 3 years.
(c) COMPETITIONS.—The Director shall solicit pro-
posals annually to address areas of national need for high-
risk, high-reward research, as identified by the Director.
(d) ANNUAL REPORT.—Each year the Director shall
issue an annual report describing the program’s activities,
including include a description of the metrics upon which
grant funding decisions were made in the previous fiscal
year, any proposed changes to those metrics, metrics for
evaluating the success of ongoing and completed grants, and
an evaluation of ongoing and completed grants. The first
annual report shall include best practices for management
of programs to stimulate high-risk, high-reward research.
(e) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—No more than 5 per-
cent of the finding available to the program may be used
for administrative expenses.
(f) HIGH-RISK, HIGH-REWARD
RESEARCH
DE-
FINED.—In this section, the term ‘‘high-risk, high-reward
research’’ means research that—
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(1) has the potential for yielding results with
far-ranging or wide-ranging implications;
(2) addresses critical national needs related to
measurement standards and technology; and
(3) is too novel or spans too diverse a range of
disciplines to fare well in the traditional peer review
process.
SEC. 1404. MANUFACTURING EXTENSION.
(a) MANUFACTURING CENTER EVALUATION.—Section
25(c)(5) of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(c)(5)) is amended by inserting
‘‘A Center that has not received a positive evaluation by
the evaluation panel shall be notified by the panel of the
deficiencies in its performance and shall be placed on pro-
bation for one year, after which time the panel shall re-
evaluate the Center. If the Center has not addressed the defi-
ciencies identified by the panel, or shown a significant im-
provement in its performance, the Director shall conduct
a new competition to select an operator for the Center or
may close the Center.’’ after ‘‘at declining levels.’’.
(b) FEDERAL SHARE.—Section 25 of the National In-
stitute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k)
is amended by striking subsection (d) and inserting the fol-
lowing:
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‘‘(d) ACCEPTANCE OF FUNDS.—In addition to such
sums as may be appropriated to the Secretary and Director
to operate the Centers program, the Secretary and Director
also may accept funds from other Federal departments and
agencies and under section 2(c)(7) from the private sector
for the purpose of strengthening United States manufac-
turing. Such funds from the private sector, if allocated to
a Center or Centers, shall not be considered in the calcula-
tion of the Federal share of capital and annual operating
and maintenance costs under subsection (c).’’.
SEC. 1405. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COM-
PETITIVE TECHNOLOGY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National Insti-
tutes of Standards and Technology shall re-establish the Ex-
perimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology.
The purpose of the program shall be to strengthen the tech-
nological competitiveness of those States that have histori-
cally received less Federal research and development funds
than a majority of the States have received.
(b) ARRANGEMENTS.—In carrying out the program,
the Director shall cooperate with State, regional, or local
science and technology-based economic development organi-
zation and with representatives of small business firms and
other appropriate technology-based businesses.
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(c) GRANTS
AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.—In
carrying out the program, the Director may make grants
or enter into cooperative agreements to provide for—
(1) technology research and development;
(2) technology transfer from university research;
(3) technology deployment and diffusion; and
(4) the strengthening of technological and inno-
vation capabilities through consortia comprised of—
(A) technology-based small business firms;
(B) industries and emerging companies;
(C) institutions of higher education includ-
ing community colleges; and
(D) State and local development agencies
and entities.
(d) REQUIREMENTS FOR MAKING AWARDS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—In making awards under this
section, the Director shall ensure that the awards are
awarded on a competitive basis that includes a review
of the merits of the activities that are the subject of
the award, giving special emphasis to those projects
which will increase the participation of women, Na-
tive Americans (including Native Hawaiians and
Alaska Natives), and underrepresented groups in
science and technology.
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(2) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—The non-Federal
share of the activities (other than planning activities)
carried out under an award under this subsection
shall be not less than 50 percent of the cost of those
activities.
(e) CRITERIA FOR STATES.—The Director shall estab-
lish criteria for achievement by each State that participates
in the program. Upon the achievement of all such criteria,
a State shall cease to be eligible to participate in the pro-
gram.
(f) COORDINATION.—To the extent practicable, in car-
rying out this subsection, the Director shall coordinate the
program with other programs of the Department of Com-
merce.
(g) REPORT.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall
prepare and submit to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives
a report that meets the requirements of this sub-
section.
(2) REQUIREMENTS
FOR
REPORT.—The report
required by this subsection shall contain—
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(A) a description of the structure and proce-
dures of the program;
(B) a management plan for the program;
(C) a description of the merit-based review
process to be used in the program;
(D) milestones for the evaluation of activi-
ties to be assisted under the program in fiscal
year 2008;
(E) an assessment of the eligibility of each
State that participates in the Experimental Pro-
gram to Stimulate Competitive Research of the
National Science Foundation to participate in
the program under this subsection; and
(F) the evaluation criteria with respect to
which the overall management and effectiveness
of the program will be evaluated.
SEC. 1406. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE NATIONAL IN-
STITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
ACT AND OTHER TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
(a) RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS.—Section 18 of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15
U.S.C. 278g–1) is amended by striking ‘‘up to 1 per centum
of the’’ in the first sentence.
(b) FINANCIAL AGREEMENTS.—
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(1) CLARIFICATION.—Section 2(b)(4) of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15
U.S.C. 272(b)(4)) is amended by inserting ‘‘and
grants and cooperative agreements,’’ after ‘‘arrange-
ments,’’.
(2) MEMBERSHIPS.—Section 2(c) of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
272(c)) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon in
paragraph (21);
(B) by redesignating paragraph (22) as
paragraph (23); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (21) the
following:
‘‘(22) notwithstanding subsection (b)(4) of this
section, sections 6301 through 6308 of title 31, United
States Code (commonly known as the ‘Grants and Co-
operative Agreements Act’), sections 3551 through
3556 of such title (commonly known as the ‘Competi-
tion in Contracting Act’), and the Federal Acquisi-
tion Regulations set forth in title 48, Code of Federal
Regulations, to expend appropriated funds for Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology mem-
berships in scientific organizations, registration fees
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for attendance at conferences, and sponsorship of con-
ferences in furtherance of technology transfer; and’’.
(c) OUTDATED SPECIFICATIONS.—
(1) REDEFINITION OF METRIC SYSTEM.—Section
2 of the Act of July 28, 1866, entitled ‘‘An Act to au-
thorize the Use of the Metric System of Weights and
Measures’’ (15 U.S.C. 205; 14 Stat. 339) is amended
to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 2. METRIC SYSTEM DEFINED.
‘‘The metric system of measurement shall be defined
as the International System of Units as established in 1960,
and subsequently maintained, by the General Conference of
Weights and Measures, and as interpreted or modified for
the United States by the Secretary of Commerce.’’.
(2) REPEAL OF REDUNDANT AND OBSOLETE AU-
THORITY.—The Act of July 21, 1950, entitled, ‘‘An
Act To redefine the units and establish the standards
of electrical and photometric measurements of 1950’’
(15 U.S.C. 223) is hereby repealed.
(3) IDAHO TIME ZONE.—Section 3 of the Act of
March 19, 1918, (commonly known as the ‘‘Calder
Act’’) (15 U.S.C. 264) is amended—
(A) in the section heading, by striking
‘‘third zone’’ and inserting ‘‘fourth zone’’;
and
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(B) by striking ‘‘third zone’’ and inserting
‘‘fourth zone’’.
(4) STANDARD TIME.—Section 1 of the Act of
March 19, 1918, (commonly known as the ‘‘Calder
Act’’) (15 U.S.C. 261) is amended—
(A) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ be-
fore ‘‘For the purpose’’;
(B) by striking the second sentence and the
extra period after it and inserting ‘‘Except as
provided in section 3(a) of the Uniform Time
Act of 1966 (15 U.S.C. 260a), the standard time
of the first zone shall be Coordinated Universal
Time retarded by 4 hours; that of the second zone
retarded by 5 hours; that of the third zone re-
tarded by 6 hours; that of the fourth zone re-
tarded by 7 hours; that of the fifth zone retarded
8 hours; that of the sixth zone retarded by 9
hours; that of the seventh zone retarded by 10
hours; that of the eighth zone retarded by 11
hours; and that of the ninth zone shall be Coordi-
nated Universal Time advanced by 10 hours.’’;
and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(b) COORDINATED UNIVERSAL TIME DEFINED.—In
this section, the term ‘Coordinated Universal Time’ means
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the time scale maintained through the General Conference
of Weights and Measures and interpreted or modified for
the United States by the Secretary of Commerce in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of the Navy.’’.
(d) NON-ENERGY INVENTIONS PROGRAM.—Section 27
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act
(15 U.S.C. 278m) is repealed.
SEC. 1407. CLARIFICATION OF ELIGIBLE CONTRIBUTIONS
IN CONNECTION WITH REGIONAL CENTERS
RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE OB-
JECTIVES 
OF 
THE 
HOLLINGS 
MANUFAC-
TURING PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.
Paragraph (3) of section 25(c) of the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C.
278k(c)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(3) FINANCIAL SUPPORT.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Any nonprofit institu-
tion, or group thereof, or consortia of nonprofit
institutions, including entities existing on Au-
gust 23, 1988, may submit to the Secretary an
application for financial support under this sub-
section, in accordance with the procedures estab-
lished by the Secretary and published in the Fed-
eral Register under paragraph (2).
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‘‘(B) CENTER CONTRIBUTIONS.—In order to
receive assistance under this section, an appli-
cant for financial assistance under subparagraph
(A) shall provide adequate assurances that non-
Federal assets obtained from the applicant and
the applicant’s partnering organizations will be
used as a funding source to meet not less than
50 percent of the costs incurred for the first 3
years and an increasing share for each of the
last 3 years. For purposes of the preceding sen-
tence, the costs incurred means the costs incurred
in connection with the activities undertaken to
improve the management, productivity, and
technological performance of small- and medium-
sized manufacturing companies.
‘‘(C) AGREEMENTS
WITH
OTHER
ENTI-
TIES.—In meeting the 50 percent requirement, it
is anticipated that a Center will enter into
agreements with other entities such as private
industry, universities, and State governments to
accomplish programmatic objectives and access
new and existing resources that will further the
impact of the Federal investment made on behalf
of small- and medium-sized manufacturing com-
panies. All non-Federal costs, contributed by
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such entities and determined by a Center as pro-
grammatically reasonable and allocable are in-
cludable as a portion of the Center’s contribu-
tion.
‘‘(D) ALLOCATION
OF
LEGAL
RIGHTS.—
Each applicant under subparagraph (A) shall
also submit a proposal for the allocation of any
legal right associated with any invention that
may result from an activity of a Center for
which such applicant receives financial assist-
ance under this section.’’.
TITLE V—OCEAN AND
ATMOSPHERIC PROGRAMS
SEC. 1501. OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH AND DE-
VELOPMENT PROGRAM.
The Administrator of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration, in consultation with the Direc-
tor of the National Science Foundation and the Adminis-
trator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion, shall establish a coordinated program of ocean, coast-
al, Great Lakes, and atmospheric research and development,
in collaboration with academic institutions and other non-
governmental entities, that shall focus on the development
of advanced technologies and analytical methods that will
promote United States leadership in ocean and atmospheric
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science and competitiveness in the applied uses of such
knowledge.
SEC. 1502. NOAA OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE EDU-
CATION PROGRAMS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall conduct, de-
velop, support, promote, and coordinate formal and infor-
mal educational activities at all levels to enhance public
awareness and understanding of ocean, coastal, Great
Lakes, and atmospheric science and stewardship by the gen-
eral public and other coastal stakeholders, including under-
represented groups in ocean and atmospheric science and
policy careers. In conducting those activities, the Adminis-
trator shall build upon the educational programs and ac-
tivities of the agency.
(b) NOAA SCIENCE EDUCATION PLAN.—The Adminis-
trator, appropriate National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration programs, ocean atmospheric science and edu-
cation experts, and interested members of the public shall
develop a science education plan setting forth education
goals and strategies for the Administration, as well as pro-
grammatic actions to carry out such goals and priorities
over the next 20 years, and evaluate and update such plan
every 5 years.
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(c) CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this section may be
construed to affect the application of section 438 of the Gen-
eral Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232a) or sec-
tions 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29
U.S.C. 794 and 794d).
SEC. 1503. NOAA’S CONTRIBUTION TO INNOVATION.
(a) PARTICIPATION IN INTERAGENCY ACTIVITIES.—
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
shall be a full participant in any interagency effort to pro-
mote innovation and economic competitiveness through
near-term and long-term basic scientific research and devel-
opment and the promotion of science, technology, engineer-
ing, and mathematics education, consistent with the agency
mission, including authorized activities.
(b) HISTORIC FOUNDATION.—In order to carry out the
participation described in subsection (a), the Administrator
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
shall build on the historic role of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration in stimulating excellence in
the advancement of ocean and atmospheric science and en-
gineering disciplines and in providing opportunities and
incentives for the pursuit of academic studies in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics.
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SEC. 1504. NOAA ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
(a) REVIEW
OF ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT WITH
NOAA FUNDS.—
(1) REQUIREMENT FOR REVIEW.—The Inspector
General of the Department of Commerce shall conduct
routine, independent reviews of the activities carried
out with grants or other financial assistance made
available by the Administrator of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration. Such reviews
shall include cost-benefit analysis of such activities
and reviews to determine if the goals of such activities
are being accomplished.
(2) AVAILABILITY TO THE PUBLIC.—The Admin-
istrator shall make each review conducted pursuant to
paragraph (1) available to the public through the
website of the Administration not later than 60 days
after the date such review is completed.
(b) PROHIBITION
ON USE
OF NOAA FUNDS
FOR
MEETINGS.—No funds made available by the Adminis-
trator through a grant or contract may be used by the per-
son who received such grant or contract, including any sub-
contractor to such person, for a banquet or conference, other
than a conference related to training or a routine meeting
with officers or employees of the Administration to discuss
an ongoing project or training.
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(c) PROHIBITION ON CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.—Each
person who receives funds from the Administrator through
a grant or contract shall submit to the Administrator a cer-
tification stating that none of such funds will be made
available through a subcontract or in any other manner to
another person who has a financial interest or other conflict
of interest with the person who received such funds from
the Administrator.
DIVISION B—DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY
SEC. 2001. SHORT TITLE.
This division may be cited as the ‘‘Protecting Amer-
ica’s Competitive Edge Through Energy Act’’ or the
‘‘PACE–Energy Act’’.
SEC. 2002. DEFINITIONS.
In this division:
(1) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’
means the Department of Energy.
(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the mean-
ing given in section 101(a) of the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(3) NATIONAL
LABORATORY.—The term ‘‘Na-
tional Laboratory’’ has the meaning given the term in