IB 
Union Calendar No. 314 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3293 
[Report No. 114–412] 
To provide for greater accountability in Federal funding for scientific re-
search, to promote the progress of science in the United States that 
serves that national interest. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 29, 2015 
Mr. SMITH of Texas (for himself, Mr. LIPINSKI, Mr. LUCAS, Mr. GRAYSON, 
Mrs. COMSTOCK, Mr. MOOLENAAR, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. KNIGHT, 
Mr. BRIDENSTINE, Mr. WESTERMAN, Mr. BABIN, Mr. BROOKS of Ala-
bama, Mr. LOUDERMILK, Mr. JOHNSON of Ohio, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. 
NEUGEBAUER, Mr. POSEY, Mr. PALMER, Mr. ABRAHAM, and Mr. 
NEWHOUSE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology 
FEBRUARY 2, 2016 
Additional sponsors: Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. ROUZER, and Mr. 
HENSARLING 
FEBRUARY 2, 2016 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union 
and ordered to be printed 
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A BILL 
To provide for greater accountability in Federal funding for 
scientific research, to promote the progress of science 
in the United States that serves that national interest. 
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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 ‘‘Scientific Research in 
the National Interest Act’’. 
SEC. 2. GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY IN FEDERAL FUNDING 
FOR RESEARCH. 
(a) STANDARD FOR AWARD OF GRANTS.—The Na-
tional Science Foundation shall award Federal funding for 
basic research and education in the sciences through a new 
research grant or cooperative agreement only if an affirm-
ative determination is made by the Foundation under sub-
section (b) and written justification relating thereto is 
published under subsection (c). 
(b) DETERMINATION.—A determination referred to 
in subsection (a) is a justification by the responsible Foun-
dation official as to how the research grant or cooperative 
agreement promotes the progress of science in the United 
States, consistent with the Foundation mission as estab-
lished in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 
U.S.C. 1861 et seq.), and further— 
(1) is worthy of Federal funding; and 
(2) is in the national interest, as indicated by 
having the potential to achieve— 
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(A) increased economic competitiveness in 
the United States; 
(B) advancement of the health and welfare 
of the American public; 
(C) development of an American STEM 
workforce that is globally competitive; 
(D) increased public scientific literacy and 
public engagement with science and technology 
in the United States; 
(E) increased partnerships between aca-
demia and industry in the United States; 
(F) support for the national defense of the 
United States; or 
(G) promotion of the progress of science 
for the United States. 
(c) WRITTEN
JUSTIFICATION.—Public announce-
ment of each award of Federal funding described in sub-
section (a) shall include a written justification from the 
responsible Foundation official as to how a grant or coop-
erative agreement meets the requirements of subsection 
(b). 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—A determination under sub-
section (b) shall be made after a research grant or cooper-
ative agreement proposal has satisfied the Foundation’s 
reviews for Merit and Broader Impacts. Nothing in this 
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section shall be construed as altering the Foundation’s in-
tellectual merit or broader impacts criteria for evaluating 
grant applications. 
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Union Calendar No. 314 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 3293 
[Report No. 114–412] 
A BILL 
To provide for greater accountability in Federal 
funding for scientific research, to promote the 
progress of science in the United States that 
serves that national interest. 
FEBRUARY 2, 2016 
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
State of the Union and ordered to be printed 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
21:27 Feb 02, 2016
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PO 00000
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