I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 6291 
To provide for a comprehensive and integrative program to accelerate micro-
electronics research and development at the Department of Energy, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 14, 2021 
Mr. TONKO (for himself and Mr. ELLZEY) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To provide for a comprehensive and integrative program 
to accelerate microelectronics research and development 
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 ‘‘Microelectronics Re-
search for Energy Innovation Act’’ or the ‘‘Micro Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of Energy. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:00 Dec 21, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6291.IH
H6291
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(2) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE AND UNI-
VERSITY.—The term ‘‘historically Black college and 
university’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘part B 
institution’’ in section 322 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061). 
(3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
(4) MINORITY
SERVING
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘‘minority serving institution’’ includes the en-
tities described in any of the paragraphs (1) through 
(7) of section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act 
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)). 
(5) NATIONAL LABORATORY.—The term ‘‘Na-
tional Laboratory’’ has the meaning given the term 
in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15801). 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
(7) TRIBAL COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY.—The 
term ‘‘Tribal College and University’’ has the mean-
ing given in section 316 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c). 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:00 Dec 21, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6291.IH
H6291
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) the coming end of Moore’s Law presents 
major technological challenges and opportunities for 
the United States and important implications for na-
tional security, economic competitiveness, and sci-
entific discovery; 
(2) future progress and innovation in microelec-
tronics, and maintaining a robust domestic micro-
electronics supply chain, will require an approach 
that advances relevant materials science, electronic 
and photonic device technologies, processing and 
packaging technologies, manufacturing technologies, 
circuit, chip, and system architecture, and software 
system and algorithm development in a co-design 
fashion; 
(3) the National Laboratories possess unique 
technical expertise and user facilities that are essen-
tial to overcoming foundational research challenges 
relevant to the topics described in paragraph (2), 
and translating and transferring research outcomes 
to industry; and 
(4) the assets described in paragraph (3) will 
enable the Department to drive advances in micro-
electronics that are essential to meeting future needs 
in areas critical to its mission as well as the future 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:00 Dec 21, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6291.IH
H6291
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
competitiveness of the domestic microelectronics in-
dustry, 
including 
high-performance 
computing, 
emerging data-centric computing approaches, and 
energy-efficient computing; optical sensors, sources, 
and wireless networks; and power electronics and 
electricity delivery systems. 
SEC. 4. MICROELECTRONICS RESEARCH PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
cross-cutting program of research, development, and dem-
onstration of microelectronics relevant to the mission of 
the Department and in the service of the Nation’s global 
competitiveness in the field of microelectronics. 
(b) RESEARCH AREAS.—In carrying out the program 
under subsection (a), the Secretary shall award financial 
assistance to eligible entities under subsection (c) to carry 
out research projects in— 
(1) foundational science areas, including— 
(A) materials sciences, chemical sciences, 
and plasma science synthesis, and fabrication; 
(B) novel microelectronics devices, includ-
ing emerging memory and storage technologies; 
(C) diverse computing architectures and 
paradigms, including analog computing and 
edge computing; 
(D) data-driven modeling and simulation; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:38 Dec 22, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6291.IH
H6291
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(E) integrated sensing, power harvesting, 
and communications; 
(F) component integration and subsystems; 
(G) photonic integration; and 
(H) development of co-design frameworks 
for all stages of microelectronics design, devel-
opment, fabrication, and application; 
(2) methods for leveraging advanced simulation, 
artificial intelligence, and machine learning to en-
hance co-design and discovery in microelectronics; 
(3) in consultation with the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, fabrication and proc-
essing science and metrology associated with micro-
electronics manufacturing, including lithography, 
patterning, surface deposition, etching, and cleaning; 
(4) approaches for optimizing system-level ad-
vanced computing energy efficiency for the electrical 
grid, power electronics, and other energy infrastruc-
ture; 
(5) approaches for enhancing the durability and 
lifetime of radiation-hardened electronics; and 
(6) enhancement of microelectronics security, 
including the development of integrated devices, 
packages, and thermal management for severe envi-
ronments and national security. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:00 Dec 21, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6291.IH
H6291
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The entities eligible to re-
ceive financial assistance under this section include— 
(1) an institution of higher education, including 
historically Black colleges and universities, Tribal 
colleges and universities, and minority serving insti-
tutions; 
(2) a nonprofit research organization; 
(3) a State research agency; 
(4) a National Laboratory; 
(5) a private commercial entity; 
(6) a partnership or consortium of 2 or more 
entities described in paragraphs (1) through (5); and 
(7) any other entities the Secretary deems ap-
propriate. 
(d) TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.—In carrying out the 
program described in subsection (a), the Secretary, in co-
ordination with the Director of the Office of Technology 
Transitions shall support translational research and trans-
fer of microelectronics technologies for the benefit of 
United States economic competitiveness. 
(e) EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.—In carrying out 
the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall sup-
port education and outreach activities to disseminate in-
formation and promote public understanding of microelec-
tronics and the microelectronics workforce. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:00 Dec 21, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6291.IH
H6291
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(f) REPORT.—Not less than 180 days after the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources of the Senate, a report describing the 
goals, priorities, and anticipated outcomes of the program 
described in subsection (a). 
(g) FUNDING.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary to carry out the activities de-
scribed in this section— 
(1) $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; 
(2) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; 
(3) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2024; 
(4) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and 
(5) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2026. 
SEC. 5. MICROELECTRONICS SCIENCE RESEARCH CEN-
TERS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program 
under section 4, the Secretary, acting through the Direc-
tor of the Office of Science, shall establish up to four 
Microelectronics Science Research Centers (referred to in 
this section as ‘‘Centers’’) to conduct mission-driven re-
search to address foundational challenges in the design, 
development, and fabrication of microelectronics and to fa-
cilitate the translation of research results to industry. 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
03:38 Dec 22, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6291.IH
H6291
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(b) ACTIVITIES.—The activities of the Centers au-
thorized under this section shall include research, develop-
ment, and demonstration activities for— 
(1) accelerating the development of new micro-
electronics science and technology, including mate-
rials, devices, circuits, systems, architectures, fab-
rication tools, processes, diagnostics, modeling, syn-
thesis, and metrology; 
(2) advancing the sustainability and energy effi-
ciency of new microelectronics devices, packages, and 
systems; 
(3) application-driven co-design and prototyping 
of novel devices to facilitate laboratory-to-fabrication 
transition; 
(4) advancing knowledge and experimental ca-
pabilities in surface and materials science, plasma 
science, and computational and theoretical methods, 
including artificial intelligence, machine learning, 
multi-scale co-design, and advanced supercomputing 
capabilities to invent and manufacture revolutionary 
microelectronic devices; 
(5) creating technology testbeds for prototyping 
platforms for validation and verification of new ca-
pabilities and sharing of ideas, intellectual property, 
and the unique facilities of the Department; and 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:00 Dec 21, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6291.IH
H6291
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(6) supporting long-term and short-term work-
force development in microelectronics. 
(c) REQUIREMENTS.— 
(1) SELECTION AND DURATION.—The Director 
of the Office of Science shall select Centers on a 
competitive, merit-reviewed basis for a period of not 
more than 5 years, subject to the availability of ap-
propriations, beginning on the date of establishment 
of that Center. 
(2) APPLICATIONS.—An eligible applicant under 
this subsection shall submit to the Director of the 
Office of Science an application at such time, in 
such manner, and containing such information as 
the Director deems appropriate. 
(3) ELIGIBLE
APPLICANTS.—The Director of 
the Office of Science shall consider applications from 
National Laboratories, institutions of higher edu-
cation, research centers, or a consortia thereof, or 
any other entity that the Secretary of Energy deems 
appropriate. 
(4) RENEWAL.—After the end of either period 
described in paragraph (1), the Director of the Of-
fice of Science may renew support for the Center for 
a period of not more than 5 years on a merit-re-
viewed basis. For a Center in operation for 10 years 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:00 Dec 21, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6291.IH
H6291
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
after its previous selection on a competitive, merit- 
reviewed basis, the Director may renew support for 
the center on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis for 
a period of not more than 5 years, and may subse-
quently provide an additional renewal on a merit-re-
viewed basis for a period of not more than 5 years. 
(5) TERMINATION.—Consistent with the exist-
ing authorities of the Department, the Director of 
the Office of Science may terminate an underper-
forming center for cause during the performance pe-
riod. 
(d) TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.—The Director of the 
Office of Science, in coordination with the Director of the 
Office of Technology Transitions, shall implement part-
nerships with industry groups for the purpose of facili-
tating the translation and transfer of research results pro-
duced by the Centers. 
(e) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall— 
(1) establish a coordinating network to coordi-
nate cross-cutting research and foster communica-
tion and collaboration among the Centers; and 
(2) ensure the coordination, and avoid unneces-
sary duplication, of the activities of each Center with 
the activities of— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
17:00 Dec 21, 2021
Jkt 029200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H6291.IH
H6291
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS