SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Sustainable Chemistry 
Research and Development Act of 2019’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) Congress recognized the importance and 
value of sustainable chemistry and the role of the 
Federal Government in section 114 of the American 
Innovation and Competitiveness Act (Public Law 
114–329); 
(2) sustainable chemistry and materials trans-
formation is a key value contributor to business 
competitiveness across many industrial and con-
sumer sectors; 
(3) companies across hundreds of supply chains 
critical to the American economy are seeking to re-
duce costs and open new markets through innova-
tions in manufacturing and materials, and are in 
need of new innovations in chemistry, including sus-
tainable chemistry; 
(4) sustainable chemistry can improve the effi-
ciency with which natural resources are used to meet 
human needs for chemical products while avoiding 
environmental harm, reduce or eliminate the emis-
sions of and exposures to hazardous substances,
minimize the use of resources, and benefit the econ-
omy, people, and the environment; and 
(5) a recent report by the Government Account-
ability Office (GAO–18–307) found that the Federal 
Government could play an important role in helping 
realize the full innovation and market potential of 
sustainable 
chemistry 
technologies, 
including 
through a coordinated national effort on sustainable 
chemistry and standardized tools and definitions to 
support sustainable chemistry research, development, 
demonstration, and commercialization. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL COORDINATING ENTITY FOR SUSTAIN-
ABLE CHEMISTRY. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Of-
fice of Science and Technology Policy shall convene an 
interagency entity (referred to in this Act as the ‘‘Entity’’) 
under the National Science and Technology Council with 
the responsibility to coordinate Federal programs and ac-
tivities in support of sustainable chemistry, including 
those described in sections 5 and 6. 
(b) COORDINATION WITH EXISTING GROUPS.—In 
convening the Entity, the Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy shall consider overlap and possible 
coordination with existing committees, subcommittees, or
other groups of the National Science and Technology 
Council, such as— 
(1) the Committee on Environment; 
(2) the Committee on Technology; 
(3) the Committee on Science; or 
(4) related groups or subcommittees. 
(c) CO-CHAIRS.—The Entity shall be co-chaired by 
the Office of Science and Technology Policy and a rep-
resentative from the Environmental Protection Agency, 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the 
National Science Foundation, or the Department of En-
ergy, as selected by the Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy. 
(d) AGENCY PARTICIPATION.—The Entity shall in-
clude representatives, including subject matter experts, 
from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, the National 
Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the De-
partment of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the 
National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administra-
tion, the Office of Management and Budget, and other re-
lated Federal agencies, as appropriate.
(e) TERMINATION.—The Entity shall terminate on 
the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of 
this Act. 
SEC. 4. ROADMAP FOR SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY. 
(a) ROADMAP.—Not later than 2 years after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Entity shall— 
(1) consult with relevant stakeholders including 
representatives from industry, academia, the Federal 
Government, and international entities to develop 
and update as needed a consensus definition of ‘‘sus-
tainable chemistry’’ to guide the activities under this 
Act; 
(2) develop a working framework of attributes 
characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable 
chemistry, as described in subsection (b); 
(3) assess the state of sustainable chemistry in 
the United States as a key benchmark from which 
progress under the activities described in this Act 
can be measured, including assessing key sectors of 
the United States economy, key technology plat-
forms, commercial priorities, and barriers to innova-
tion; 
(4) coordinate and support Federal research, 
development, demonstration, technology transfer, 
commercialization, education, and training efforts in
sustainable chemistry, including budget coordination 
and support for public-private partnerships, as ap-
propriate; 
(5) identify methods by which the Federal 
agencies can facilitate the development of incentives 
for development, consideration and use of sustain-
able chemistry processes and products, including in-
novative financing mechanisms; 
(6) identify major scientific challenges, road-
blocks, or hurdles to transformational progress in 
improving the sustainability of the chemical sciences; 
and 
(7) identify other opportunities for expanding 
Federal efforts in support of sustainable chemistry. 
(b) CHARACTERIZING AND ASSESSING SUSTAINABLE 
CHEMISTRY.—The Entity shall develop a working frame-
work of attributes characterizing and metrics for assessing 
sustainable chemistry for the purposes of carrying out the 
Act. In developing this framework, the Entity shall— 
(1) seek advice and input from stakeholders as 
described in subsection (c); 
(2) consider existing definitions of or frame-
works characterizing and metrics for assessing sus-
tainable chemistry already in use at Federal agen-
cies;
(3) consider existing definitions of or frame-
works characterizing and metrics for assessing sus-
tainable chemistry already in use by international 
organizations of which the United States is a mem-
ber, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-oper-
ation and Development; and 
(4) consider any other appropriate existing defi-
nitions of or frameworks characterizing and metrics 
for assessing sustainable chemistry. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the duties de-
scribed in subsections (a) and (b), the Entity shall consult 
with stakeholders qualified to provide advice and informa-
tion to guide Federal activities related to sustainable 
chemistry through workshops, requests for information, 
and other mechanisms as necessary. The stakeholders 
shall include representatives from— 
(1) business and industry (including trade asso-
ciations and small- and medium-sized enterprises 
from across the value chain); 
(2) the scientific community (including the Na-
tional Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Med-
icine, scientific professional societies, and academia); 
(3) the defense community;
(4) State, tribal, and local governments, includ-
ing nonregulatory State or regional sustainable 
chemistry programs, as appropriate; 
(5) nongovernmental organizations; and 
(6) other appropriate organizations. 
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Entity shall 
submit a report to the Committee on Environment 
and Public Works, the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Ap-
propriations of the House of Representatives. In ad-
dition to the elements described in subsections (a) 
and (b), the report shall include— 
(A) a summary of federally funded, sus-
tainable chemistry research, development, dem-
onstration, technology transfer, commercializa-
tion, education, and training activities; 
(B) a summary of the financial resources 
allocated to sustainable chemistry initiatives; 
(C) an assessment of the current state of 
sustainable chemistry in the United States, in-
cluding the role that Federal agencies are play-
ing in supporting it; 
(D) an analysis of the progress made to-
ward achieving the goals and priorities of this 
Act, and recommendations for future program 
activities; 
(E) an assessment of the benefits of ex-
panding existing, federally supported, regional 
innovation and manufacturing hubs, centers, 
and institutes to include sustainable chemistry 
and the value of directing the creation of one or 
more dedicated sustainable chemistry centers of 
excellence, hubs, or institutes; and 
(F) an evaluation of steps taken and fu-
ture strategies to avoid duplication of efforts, 
streamline interagency coordination, facilitate 
information sharing, and spread best practices 
among participating agencies. 
(2) SUBMISSION
TO
GAO.—The Entity shall 
also submit the report described in paragraph (1) to 
the Comptroller General of the United States for 
consideration in future Congressional inquiries.
SEC. 5. AGENCY ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINABLE 
CHEMISTRY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The agencies participating in the 
Entity shall carry out activities in support of sustainable 
chemistry, as appropriate to the specific mission and pro-
grams of each agency. 
(b) ACTIVITIES.—The activities described in sub-
section (a) shall— 
(1) incorporate sustainable chemistry into exist-
ing research, development, demonstration, tech-
nology transfer, commercialization, education, and 
training programs, that the agency determines to be 
relevant, including consideration of— 
(A) merit-based competitive grants to indi-
vidual investigators and teams of investigators, 
including, to the extent practicable, early career 
investigators for research and development; 
(B) grants to fund collaborative research 
and development partnerships among univer-
sities, industry, and nonprofit organizations; 
(C) coordination of sustainable chemistry 
research, development, demonstration, and tech-
nology transfer conducted at Federal labora-
tories and agencies;
(D) incentive prize competitions and chal-
lenges in coordination with such existing Fed-
eral agency programs; and 
(E) grants, loans, and loan guarantees to 
aid in the technology transfer and commer-
cialization of sustainable chemicals, materials, 
processes, and products; 
(2) collect and disseminate information on sus-
tainable chemistry research, development, technology 
transfer, and commercialization, including informa-
tion on accomplishments and best practices; 
(3) raise awareness of sustainable chemistry 
concepts through public outreach activities; 
(4) expand the education and training of stu-
dents at all levels of education, professional sci-
entists and engineers, and other professionals in-
volved in all aspects of sustainable chemistry and en-
gineering appropriate to that level of education and 
training, including through— 
(A) partnerships with industry as de-
scribed in section 6; 
(B) support for the integration of sustain-
able chemistry principles into elementary, sec-
ondary, undergraduate, and graduate chemistry 
and chemical engineering curriculum and re-
search training, as appropriate to that level of 
education and training; and 
(C) support for integration of sustainable 
chemistry principles into existing or new profes-
sional development opportunities for profes-
sionals including teachers, faculty, and individ-
uals involved in laboratory research, (product 
development, materials specification and test-
ing, life cycle analysis, and management); 
(5) as relevant to an agency’s programs, exam-
ine methods by which the Federal agencies, in col-
laboration and consultation with the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology, may facilitate the 
development or recognition of validated, standard-
ized tools for performing sustainability assessments 
of chemistry processes or products; 
(6) through programs identified by an agency, 
support (including through technical assistance, par-
ticipation, financial support, communications tools, 
awards, or other forms of support) outreach and dis-
semination of sustainable chemistry advances such 
as non-Federal symposia, forums, conferences, and 
publications in collaboration with, as appropriate, in-
dustry, academia, scientific and professional soci-
eties, and other relevant groups;
(7) provide for public input and outreach to be 
integrated into the activities described in this section 
by the convening of public discussions, through 
mechanisms such as public meetings, consensus con-
ferences, and educational events, as appropriate; 
(8) within each agency, develop metrics to track 
the outputs and outcomes of the programs supported 
by that agency; and 
(9) incentivize or recognize actions that advance 
sustainable chemistry products, processes, or initia-
tives, including through the establishment of a na-
tionally recognized awards program through the En-
vironmental Protection Agency to identify, publicize, 
and celebrate innovations in sustainable chemistry 
and chemical technologies. 
(c) LIMITATIONS.—Financial support provided under 
this section shall— 
(1) be available only for pre-competitive activi-
ties; and 
(2) not be used to promote the sale of a specific 
product, process, or technology, or to disparage a 
specific product, process, or technology. 
(d) AGENCY BUDGET REPORT.—For each of fiscal 
years 2021 through 2030, not later than 90 days after 
submission of the President’s annual budget request, the
Entity shall prepare and submit to the Committee on En-
vironment and Public Works, the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee 
on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Energy 
and Commerce, and the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House of Representatives a report that includes a 
summarized agency budget in support of the activities 
under this Act for the fiscal year to which such budget 
request applies, and for the then current fiscal year, in-
cluding a breakout of spending for each agency partici-
pating in such activities. 
SEC. 6. PARTNERSHIPS IN SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The agencies participating in the 
Entity may facilitate and support, through financial, tech-
nical, or other assistance, the creation of partnerships be-
tween institutions of higher education, nongovernmental 
organizations, consortia, or companies across the value 
chain in the chemical industry, including small- and me-
dium-sized enterprises, to— 
(1) create collaborative sustainable chemistry 
research, development, demonstration, technology 
transfer, and commercialization programs; and 
(2) train students and retrain professional sci-
entists, engineers, and others involved in materials
specification on the use of sustainable chemistry con-
cepts and strategies by methods, including— 
(A) developing or recognizing curricular 
materials and courses for undergraduate and 
graduate levels and for the professional develop-
ment of scientists, engineers, and others in-
volved in materials specification; and 
(B) publicizing the availability of profes-
sional development courses in sustainable chem-
istry and recruiting professionals to pursue 
such courses. 
(b) PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICIPATION.—To be eligi-
ble for support under this section, a partnership in sus-
tainable chemistry shall include at least one private sector 
organization. 
(c) SELECTION
OF PARTNERSHIPS.—In selecting 
partnerships for support under this section, the agencies 
participating in the Entity shall also consider the extent 
to which the applicants are willing and able to dem-
onstrate evidence of support for, and commitment to, the 
goals outlined in the roadmap and report described in sec-
tion 4. 
(d) PROHIBITED USE OF FUNDS.—Financial support 
provided under this section may not be used—
(1) to support or expand a regulatory chemical 
management program at an implementing agency 
under a State law; 
(2) to construct or renovate a building or struc-
ture; or 
(3) to promote the sale of a specific product, 
process, or technology, or to disparage a specific 
product, process, or technology. 
SEC. 7. PRIORITIZATION. 
In carrying out this Act, the Entity shall focus its 
support for sustainable chemistry activities on those that 
achieve, to the highest extent practicable, the goals out-
lined in the Act. 
SEC. 8. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. 
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or 
amend any State law or action with regard to sustainable 
chemistry, as defined by the State. 
Passed the House of Representatives December 9, 
2019. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 2051 
AN ACT 
To provide for Federal coordination of activities 
supporting sustainable chemistry, and for other 
purposes.