H. R. 1385—238
and provide the Director with sufficient prior opportunity to com-
ment on such project.
‘‘(2) Any person responsible for administering any program
of the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans
Affairs, the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, the Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services, or of any other Federal entity, shall,
through the Interagency Committee established by section 203,
consult and cooperate with the Director in carrying out such pro-
gram if the program is related to the purposes of this title.
‘‘(3) The Director shall support, directly or by grant or contract,
a center associated with an institution of higher education, for
research and training concerning the delivery of vocational
rehabilitation services to rural areas.
‘‘(k) The Director shall make grants to institutions of higher
education for the training of rehabilitation researchers, including
individuals with disabilities, with particular attention to research
areas that support the implementation and objectives of this Act
and that improve the effectiveness of services authorized under
this Act.
‘‘INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE
‘‘SEC. 203. (a)(1) In order to promote coordination and coopera-
tion 
among 
Federal 
departments 
and 
agencies 
conducting
rehabilitation research programs, there is established within the
Federal Government an Interagency Committee on Disability
Research (hereinafter in this section referred to as the ‘Committee’),
chaired by the Director and comprised of such members as the
President may designate, including the following (or their des-
ignees): the Director, the Commissioner of the Rehabilitation Serv-
ices Administration, the Assistant Secretary for Special Education
and Rehabilitative Services, the Secretary of Education, the Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs, the Director of the National Institutes
of Health, the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health,
the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration, the Secretary of Transportation, the Assistant Secretary
of the Interior for Indian Affairs, the Director of the Indian Health
Service, and the Director of the National Science Foundation.
‘‘(2) The Committee shall meet not less than four times each
year.
‘‘(b) After receiving input from individuals with disabilities
and the individuals’ representatives, the Committee shall identify,
assess, and seek to coordinate all Federal programs, activities,
and projects, and plans for such programs, activities, and projects
with respect to the conduct of research related to rehabilitation
of individuals with disabilities.
‘‘(c) The Committee shall annually submit to the President
and to the appropriate committees of the Congress a report making
such recommendations as the Committee deems appropriate with
respect to coordination of policy and development of objectives and
priorities for all Federal programs relating to the conduct of
research related to rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities.
‘‘RESEARCH AND OTHER COVERED ACTIVITIES
‘‘SEC. 204. (a)(1) To the extent consistent with priorities estab-
lished in the 5-year plan described in section 202(h), the Director
H. R. 1385—239
may make grants to and contracts with States and public or private
agencies and organizations, including institutions of higher edu-
cation, Indian tribes, and tribal organizations, to pay part of the
cost of projects for the purpose of planning and conducting research,
demonstration projects, training, and related activities, the purposes
of which are to develop methods, procedures, and rehabilitation
technology, that maximize the full inclusion and integration into
society, employment, independent living, family support, and eco-
nomic and social self-sufficiency of individuals with disabilities,
especially individuals with the most significant disabilities, and
improve the effectiveness of services authorized under this Act.
‘‘(2)(A) In carrying out this section, the Director shall emphasize
projects that support the implementation of titles I, III, V, VI,
and VII, including projects addressing the needs described in the
State plans submitted under section 101 or 704 by State agencies.
‘‘(B) Such projects, as described in the State plans submitted
by State agencies, may include—
‘‘(i) medical and other scientific, technical, methodological,
and other investigations into the nature of disability, methods
of analyzing it, and restorative techniques, including basic
research where related to rehabilitation techniques or services;
‘‘(ii) studies and analysis of industrial, vocational, social,
recreational, psychiatric, psychological, economic, and other fac-
tors affecting rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities;
‘‘(iii) studies and analysis of special problems of individuals
who are homebound and individuals who are institutionalized;
‘‘(iv) studies, analyses, and demonstrations of architectural
and engineering design adapted to meet the special needs of
individuals with disabilities;
‘‘(v) studies, analyses, and other activities related to sup-
ported employment;
‘‘(vi) related activities which hold promise of increasing
knowledge and improving methods in the rehabilitation of
individuals with disabilities and individuals with the most
significant disabilities, particularly individuals with disabilities,
and individuals with the most significant disabilities, who are
members of populations that are unserved or underserved by
programs under this Act; and
‘‘(vii) studies, analyses, and other activities related to job
accommodations, including the use of rehabilitation engineering
and assistive technology.
‘‘(b)(1) In addition to carrying out projects under subsection
(a), the Director may make grants under this subsection (referred
to in this subsection as ‘research grants’) to pay part or all of
the cost of the research or other specialized covered activities
described in paragraphs (2) through (18). A research grant made
under any of paragraphs (2) through (18) may only be used in
a manner consistent with priorities established in the 5-year plan
described in section 202(h).
‘‘(2)(A) Research grants may be used for the establishment
and support of Rehabilitation Research and Training Centers, for
the purpose of providing an integrated program of research, which
Centers shall—
‘‘(i) be operated in collaboration with institutions of higher
education or providers of rehabilitation services or other appro-
priate services; and
H. R. 1385—240
‘‘(ii) serve as centers of national excellence and national
or regional resources for providers and individuals with disabil-
ities and the individuals’ representatives.
‘‘(B) The Centers shall conduct research and training activities
by—
‘‘(i) conducting coordinated and advanced programs of
research in rehabilitation targeted toward the production of
new knowledge that will improve rehabilitation methodology
and service delivery systems, alleviate or stabilize disabling
conditions, and promote maximum social and economic
independence of individuals with disabilities, especially promot-
ing the ability of the individuals to prepare for, secure, retain,
regain, or advance in employment;
‘‘(ii) providing training (including graduate, pre-service, and
in-service training) to assist individuals to more effectively
provide rehabilitation services;
‘‘(iii) providing training (including graduate, pre-service,
and in-service training) for rehabilitation research personnel
and other rehabilitation personnel; and
‘‘(iv) serving as an informational and technical assistance
resource to providers, individuals with disabilities, and the
individuals’ representatives, through conferences, workshops,
public education programs, in-service training programs, and
similar activities.
‘‘(C) The research to be carried out at each such Center may
include—
‘‘(i) basic or applied medical rehabilitation research;
‘‘(ii) research regarding the psychological and social aspects
of rehabilitation, including disability policy;
‘‘(iii) research related to vocational rehabilitation;
‘‘(iv) continuation of research that promotes the emotional,
social, educational, and functional growth of children who are
individuals with disabilities;
‘‘(v) continuation of research to develop and evaluate inter-
ventions, policies, and services that support families of those
children and adults who are individuals with disabilities; and
‘‘(vi) continuation of research that will improve services
and policies that foster the productivity, independence, and
social integration of individuals with disabilities, and enable
individuals with disabilities, including individuals with mental
retardation and other developmental disabilities, to live in their
communities.
‘‘(D) Training of students preparing to be rehabilitation person-
nel shall be an important priority for such a Center.
‘‘(E) The Director shall make grants under this paragraph
to establish and support both comprehensive centers dealing with
multiple disabilities and centers primarily focused on particular
disabilities.
‘‘(F) Grants made under this paragraph may be used to provide
funds for services rendered by such a Center to individuals with
disabilities in connection with the research and training activities.
‘‘(G) Grants made under this paragraph may be used to provide
faculty support for teaching—
‘‘(i) rehabilitation-related courses of study for credit; and
‘‘(ii) other courses offered by the Centers, either directly
or through another entity.
H. R. 1385—241
‘‘(H) The research and training activities conducted by such
a Center shall be conducted in a manner that is accessible to
and usable by individuals with disabilities.
‘‘(I) The Director shall encourage the Centers to develop prac-
tical applications for the findings of the research of the Centers.
‘‘(J) In awarding grants under this paragraph, the Director
shall take into consideration the location of any proposed Center
and the appropriate geographic and regional allocation of such
Centers.
‘‘(K) To be eligible to receive a grant under this paragraph,
each such institution or provider described in subparagraph (A)
shall—
‘‘(i) be of sufficient size, scope, and quality to effectively
carry out the activities in an efficient manner consistent with
appropriate Federal and State law; and
‘‘(ii) demonstrate the ability to carry out the training activi-
ties either directly or through another entity that can provide
such training.
‘‘(L) The Director shall make grants under this paragraph for
periods of 5 years, except that the Director may make a grant
for a period of less than 5 years if—
‘‘(i) the grant is made to a new recipient; or
‘‘(ii) the grant supports new or innovative research.
‘‘(M) Grants made under this paragraph shall be made on
a competitive basis. To be eligible to receive a grant under this
paragraph, a prospective grant recipient shall submit an application
to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Director may require.
‘‘(N) In conducting scientific peer review under section 202(f )
of an application for the renewal of a grant made under this
paragraph, the peer review panel shall take into account the past
performance of the applicant in carrying out the grant and input
from individuals with disabilities and the individuals’ representa-
tives.
‘‘(O) An institution or provider that receives a grant under
this paragraph to establish such a Center may not collect more
than 15 percent of the amount of the grant received by the Center
in indirect cost charges.
‘‘(3)(A) Research grants may be used for the establishment
and support of Rehabilitation Engineering Research Centers, oper-
ated by or in collaboration with institutions of higher education
or nonprofit organizations, to conduct research or demonstration
activities, and training activities, regarding rehabilitation tech-
nology, including rehabilitation engineering, assistive technology
devices, and assistive technology services, for the purposes of
enhancing opportunities for better meeting the needs of, and
addressing the barriers confronted by, individuals with disabilities
in all aspects of their lives.
‘‘(B) In order to carry out the purposes set forth in subparagraph
(A), such a Center shall carry out the research or demonstration
activities by—
‘‘(i) developing and disseminating innovative methods of
applying advanced technology, scientific achievement, and
psychological and social knowledge to—
‘‘(I) solve rehabilitation problems and remove environ-
mental barriers through planning and conducting research,