I 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6490 
To invest in innovation through research and development, and to improve 
the competitiveness of the United States. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
DECEMBER 8, 2016 
Mr. SMITH of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the 
Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, and Education and 
the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speak-
er, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the ju-
risdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To invest in innovation through research and development, 
and to improve the competitiveness of the United States. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘American Innovation and Competitiveness Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents of 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
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TITLE I—MAXIMIZING BASIC RESEARCH 
Sec. 101. Reaffirmation of merit-based peer review. 
Sec. 102. Transparency and accountability. 
Sec. 103. EPSCoR reaffirmation and update. 
Sec. 104. Cybersecurity research. 
Sec. 105. Networking and Information Technology Research and Development 
Update. 
Sec. 106. Physical sciences coordination. 
Sec. 107. Laboratory program improvements. 
Sec. 108. Standard Reference Data Act update. 
Sec. 109. NSF mid-scale project investments. 
Sec. 110. Oversight of NSF major multi-user research facility projects. 
Sec. 111. Personnel oversight. 
Sec. 112. Management of the U.S. Antarctic Program. 
Sec. 113. NIST campus security. 
Sec. 114. Coordination of sustainable chemistry research and development. 
Sec. 115. Misrepresentation of research results. 
Sec. 116. Research reproducibility and replication. 
Sec. 117. Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Ini-
tiative. 
TITLE II—ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY BURDEN 
REDUCTION 
Sec. 201. Interagency working group on research regulation. 
Sec. 202. Scientific and technical collaboration. 
Sec. 203. NIST grants and cooperative agreements update. 
Sec. 204. Repeal of certain obsolete reports. 
Sec. 205. Repeal of certain provisions. 
Sec. 206. Grant subrecipient transparency and oversight. 
Sec. 207. Micro-purchase threshold for procurement solicitations by research in-
stitutions. 
Sec. 208. Coordination of international science and technology partnerships. 
TITLE III—SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH 
EDUCATION 
Sec. 301. Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program update. 
Sec. 302. Space grants. 
Sec. 303. STEM Education Advisory Panel. 
Sec. 304. Committee on STEM Education. 
Sec. 305. Programs to expand STEM opportunities. 
Sec. 306. NIST education and outreach. 
Sec. 307. Presidential awards for excellence in STEM mentoring. 
Sec. 308. Working group on inclusion in STEM fields. 
Sec. 309. Improving undergraduate STEM experiences. 
Sec. 310. Computer science education research. 
Sec. 311. Informal STEM education. 
Sec. 312. Developing STEM apprenticeships. 
Sec. 313. NSF report on broadening participation. 
Sec. 314. NOAA science education programs. 
Sec. 315. Hispanic-serving institutions undergraduate program update. 
TITLE IV—LEVERAGING THE PRIVATE SECTOR 
Sec. 401. Prize competition authority update. 
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Sec. 402. Crowdsourcing and citizen science. 
Sec. 403. NIST director functions update. 
Sec. 404. NIST Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology update. 
TITLE V—MANUFACTURING 
Sec. 501. Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership improvements. 
TITLE VI—INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER 
Sec. 601. Innovation Corps. 
Sec. 602. Translational research grants. 
Sec. 603. Optics and photonics technology innovations. 
Sec. 604. United States Chief Technology Officer. 
Sec. 605. National Research Council study on technology for emergency notifi-
cations on campuses. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act, unless expressly provided otherwise: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
House of Representatives. 
(2) FEDERAL
SCIENCE
AGENCY.—The term 
‘‘Federal science agency’’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 103 of the America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6623). 
(3) FOUNDATION.—The term ‘‘Foundation’’ 
means the National Science Foundation. 
(4) 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)). 
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(5) NIST.—The term ‘‘NIST’’ means the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology. 
(6) STEM.—The term ‘‘STEM’’ has the mean-
ing given the term in section 2 of the America COM-
PETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
6621 note). 
(7) STEM EDUCATION.—The term ‘‘STEM 
education’’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 2 of the STEM Education Act of 2015 (42 
U.S.C. 6621 note). 
TITLE I—MAXIMIZING BASIC 
RESEARCH 
SEC. 101. REAFFIRMATION OF MERIT-BASED PEER REVIEW. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) sustained, predictable Federal funding of 
basic research is essential to United States leader-
ship in science and technology; 
(2) the Foundation’s intellectual merit and 
broader impacts criteria are appropriate for evalu-
ating grant proposals, as concluded by the 2011 Na-
tional Science Board Task Force on Merit Review; 
(3) evaluating proposals on the basis of the 
Foundation’s intellectual merit and broader impacts 
criteria should be used to assure that the Founda-
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tion’s activities are in the national interest as these 
reviews can affirm that— 
(A) the proposals funded by the Founda-
tion are of high quality and advance scientific 
knowledge; and 
(B) the Foundation’s grants address soci-
etal needs through basic research findings or 
through related activities; and 
(4) as evidenced by the Foundation’s contribu-
tions to scientific advancement, economic growth, 
human health, and national security, its peer review 
and merit review processes have identified and fund-
ed scientifically and societally relevant basic research 
and should be preserved. 
(b) MERIT REVIEW CRITERIA.—The Foundation 
shall maintain the intellectual merit and broader impacts 
criteria, among other specific criteria as appropriate, as 
the basis for evaluating grant proposals in the merit re-
view process. 
(c) UPDATES.—If after the date of enactment of this 
Act a change is made to the merit review process, the Di-
rector shall submit a report to the appropriate committees 
of Congress not later than 30 days after the date of the 
change. 
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SEC. 102. TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. 
(a) FINDINGS.— 
(1) Building the understanding of and con-
fidence in investments in basic research is essential 
to public support for sustained, predictable Federal 
funding. 
(2) The Foundation has improved transparency 
and accountability of the outcomes made through 
the merit review process, but additional trans-
parency into individual grants is valuable in commu-
nicating and assuring the public value of federally 
funded research. 
(3) The Foundation should commit to trans-
parency and accountability and to clear, consistent 
public communication regarding the national interest 
for each Foundation-awarded grant and cooperative 
agreement. 
(b) GUIDANCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Founda-
tion shall issue and periodically update, as appro-
priate, policy guidance for both Foundation staff 
and other Foundation merit review process partici-
pants on the importance of transparency and ac-
countability to the outcomes made through the merit 
review process. 
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(2) 
REQUIREMENTS.—The 
guidance 
under 
paragraph (1) shall require that each public notice 
of a Foundation-funded research project justify the 
expenditure of Federal funds by— 
(A) describing how the project— 
(i) reflects the statutory mission of 
the Foundation, as established in the Na-
tional Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 
U.S.C. 1861 et seq.); and 
(ii) addresses the Foundation’s intel-
lectual merit and broader impacts criteria; 
and 
(B) clearly identifying the research goals 
of the project in a manner that can be easily 
understood by both technical and nontechnical 
audiences. 
(c) BROADER IMPACTS REVIEW CRITERION UP-
DATE.—Section 526(a) of the America COMPETES Re-
authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–14(a)) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) GOALS.—The Foundation shall apply a broader 
impacts review criterion to identify and demonstrate 
project support of the following goals: 
‘‘(1) Increasing the economic competitiveness of 
the United States. 
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‘‘(2) Advancing of the health and welfare of the 
American public. 
‘‘(3) Supporting the national defense of the 
United States. 
‘‘(4) Enhancing partnerships between academia 
and industry in the United States. 
‘‘(5) Developing an American STEM workforce 
that is globally competitive through improved pre- 
kindergarten through grade 12 STEM education, 
and teacher development and improved under-
graduate STEM education and instruction. 
‘‘(6) Improving public scientific literacy and en-
gagement with science and technology in the United 
States. 
‘‘(7) Expanding participation of women and in-
dividuals from underrepresented groups in STEM.’’. 
SEC. 103. EPSCOR REAFFIRMATION AND UPDATE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Section 517(a) of the America COM-
PETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p– 
9(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘The National’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘the National’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘education,’’ and inserting 
‘‘education’’; 
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(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘with 27 
States’’ and all that follows through the semicolon at 
the end and inserting ‘‘with 28 States and jurisdic-
tions, taken together, receiving only about 12 per-
cent of all National Science Foundation research 
funding;’’; 
(3) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(3) each of the States described in paragraph 
(2) receives only a fraction of 1 percent of the Foun-
dation’s research dollars each year;’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) first established at the National Science 
Foundation in 1979, the Experimental Program to 
Stimulate Competitive Research (referred to in this 
section as ‘EPSCoR’) assists States and jurisdic-
tions historically underserved by Federal research 
and development funding in strengthening their re-
search and innovation capabilities; 
‘‘(5) the EPSCoR structure requires each par-
ticipating State to develop a science and technology 
plan suited to State and local research, education, 
and economic interests and objectives; 
‘‘(6) EPSCoR has been credited with advancing 
the research competitiveness of participating States, 
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improving awareness of science, promoting policies 
that link scientific investment and economic growth, 
and encouraging partnerships between government, 
industry, and academia; 
‘‘(7) EPSCoR proposals are evaluated through 
a rigorous and competitive merit review process to 
ensure that awarded research and development ef-
forts meet high scientific standards; and 
‘‘(8) according to the National Academy of 
Sciences, EPSCoR has strengthened the national re-
search infrastructure and enhanced the educational 
opportunities needed to develop the science and engi-
neering workforce.’’. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—It is the sense of Congress 
that— 
(A) since maintaining the Nation’s sci-
entific and economic leadership requires the 
participation of talented individuals nationwide, 
EPSCoR investments into State research and 
education capacities are in the Federal interest 
and should be sustained; and 
(B) EPSCoR should maintain its experi-
mental component by supporting innovative 
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methods for improving research capacity and 
competitiveness. 
(2) DEFINITION
OF
EPSCOR.—In this sub-
section, the term ‘‘EPSCoR’’ has the meaning given 
the term in section 502 of the America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p 
note). 
(c) AWARD STRUCTURE UPDATES.—Section 517 of 
the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 
(42 U.S.C. 1862p–9) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(g) AWARD
STRUCTURE
UPDATES.—In imple-
menting the mandate to maximize the impact of Federal 
EPSCoR support on building competitive research infra-
structure, and based on the inputs and recommendations 
of previous EPSCoR reviews, the head of each Federal 
agency administering an EPSCoR program shall— 
‘‘(1) consider modifications to EPSCoR pro-
posal solicitation, award type, and project evalua-
tion— 
‘‘(A) to more closely align with current 
agency priorities and initiatives; 
‘‘(B) to focus EPSCoR funding on achiev-
ing critical scientific, infrastructure, and edu-
cational needs of that agency; 
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‘‘(C) to encourage collaboration between 
EPSCoR-eligible institutions and researchers, 
including with institutions and researchers in 
other States and jurisdictions; 
‘‘(D) to improve communication between 
State and Federal agency proposal reviewers; 
and 
‘‘(E) to continue to reduce administrative 
burdens associated with EPSCoR; 
‘‘(2) consider modifications to EPSCoR award 
structures— 
‘‘(A) to emphasize long-term investments 
in 
building 
research 
capacity, 
potentially 
through the use of larger, renewable funding 
opportunities; and 
‘‘(B) to allow the agency, States, and juris-
dictions to experiment with new research and 
development funding models; and 
‘‘(3) consider modifications to the mechanisms 
used to monitor and evaluate EPSCoR awards— 
‘‘(A) to increase collaboration between 
EPSCoR-funded researchers and agency staff, 
including by providing opportunities for men-
toring young researchers and for the use of 
Federal facilities; 
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‘‘(B) to identify and disseminate best prac-
tices; and 
‘‘(C) to harmonize metrics across partici-
pating Federal agencies, as appropriate.’’. 
(d) REPORTS.— 
(1) CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.—Section 517 of 
the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–9), as amended, is further 
amended— 
(A) by striking subsection (c); 
(B) 
by 
redesignating 
subsections 
(d) 
through (g) as subsections (c) through (f), re-
spectively; 
(C) in subsection (c), as redesignated— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Ex-
perimental Programs to Stimulate Com-
petitive 
Research’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘EPSCoR’’; and 
(ii) in paragraph (2)— 
(I) in subparagraphs (A) and 
(E), by striking ‘‘EPSCoR and Fed-
eral EPSCoR-like programs’’ and in-
serting ‘‘each EPSCoR’’; 
(II) in subparagraph (D), by 
striking ‘‘EPSCoR and other Federal 
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EPSCoR-like programs’’ and inserting 
‘‘each EPSCoR’’; 
(III) in subparagraph (E), by 
striking 
‘‘EPSCoR 
or 
Federal 
EPSCoR-like programs’’ and inserting 
‘‘each EPSCoR’’; and 
(IV) in subparagraph (G), by 
striking ‘‘EPSCoR programs’’ and in-
serting ‘‘each EPSCoR’’; 
(D) by amending subsection (d), as redes-
ignated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(d) FEDERAL AGENCY REPORTS.—Each Federal 
agency that administers an EPSCoR shall submit to Con-
gress, as part of its Federal budget submission— 
‘‘(1) a description of the program strategy and 
objectives; 
‘‘(2) a description of the awards made in the 
previous fiscal year, including— 
‘‘(A) the total amount made available, by 
State, under EPSCoR; 
‘‘(B) the total amount of agency funding 
made available to all institutions and entities 
within each EPSCoR State; 
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‘‘(C) the efforts and accomplishments to 
more fully integrate the EPSCoR States in 
major agency activities and initiatives; 
‘‘(D) the percentage of EPSCoR reviewers 
from EPSCoR States; and 
‘‘(E) the number of programs or large col-
laborator awards involving a partnership of or-
ganizations and institutions from EPSCoR and 
non-EPSCoR States; and 
‘‘(3) an analysis of the gains in academic re-
search quality and competitiveness, and in science 
and 
technology 
human 
resource 
development, 
achieved by the program over the last 5 fiscal 
years.’’; and 
(E) in subsection (e)(1), as redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘Experimental Program to Stimu-
late Competitive Research or a program similar 
to the Experimental Program to Stimulate 
Competitive 
Research’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘EPSCoR’’. 
(2) RESULTS OF AWARD STRUCTURE PLAN.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the EPSCoR Interagency Coordinating 
Committee shall brief the appropriate committees of 
Congress on the updates made to the award struc-
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ture under 517(f) of the America COMPETES Re-
authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–9(f)), 
as amended by this subsection. 
(e) DEFINITION OF EPSCOR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 502 of the America 
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 
U.S.C. 1862p note) is amended by amending para-
graph (2) to read as follows: 
‘‘(2) EPSCOR.—The term ‘EPSCoR’ means— 
‘‘(A) the Established Program to Stimulate 
Competitive Research established by the Foun-
dation; or 
‘‘(B) a program similar to the Established 
Program to Stimulate Competitive Research at 
another Federal agency.’’. 
(2) TECHNICAL
AND
CONFORMING
AMEND-
MENTS.—Section 113 of the National Science Foun-
dation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g) 
is amended— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘EXPERI-
MENTAL’’ and inserting ‘‘ESTABLISHED’’; 
(B) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘an Ex-
perimental Program to Stimulate Competitive 
Research’’ and inserting ‘‘a program to stimu-
late competitive research (known as the ‘Estab-
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lished Program to Stimulate Competitive Re-
search’)’’; and 
(C) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘the pro-
gram’’ and inserting ‘‘the Program’’. 
SEC. 104. CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH. 
(a) FOUNDATION CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH.—Sec-
tion 4(a)(1) of the Cyber Security Research and Develop-
ment Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. 7403(a)(1)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subparagraph (O), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) in subparagraph (P), by striking the period 
at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(Q) security of election-dedicated voting 
system software and hardware; and 
‘‘(R) role of the human factor in cyberse-
curity and the interplay of computers and hu-
mans and the physical world.’’. 
(b) NIST CYBERSECURITY PRIORITIES.— 
(1) CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE AWARENESS.— 
The Director of NIST shall continue to raise public 
awareness of the voluntary, industry-led cybersecu-
rity standards and best practices for critical infra-
structure developed under section 2(c)(15) of the 
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National Institute of Standards and Technology Act 
(15 U.S.C. 272(c)(15)). 
(2) QUANTUM COMPUTING.—Under section 2(b) 
of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(b)) and section 20 of 
that Act (15 U.S.C. 278g–3), the Director of NIST 
shall— 
(A) research information systems for fu-
ture cybersecurity needs; and 
(B) coordinate with relevant stakeholders 
to develop a process— 
(i) to research and identify or, if nec-
essary, develop cryptography standards 
and guidelines for future cybersecurity 
needs, including quantum-resistant cryp-
tography standards; and 
(ii) to provide recommendations to 
Congress, Federal agencies, and industry 
consistent with the National Technology 
Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 
(Public Law 104–113; 110 Stat. 775), for 
a secure and smooth transition to the 
standards under clause (i). 
(3) FEDERAL
INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
RE-
SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.—Section 20(d)(3) of 
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the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278g–3(d)(3)) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(3) conduct research and analysis— 
‘‘(A) to determine the nature and extent of 
information security vulnerabilities and tech-
niques for providing cost-effective information 
security; 
‘‘(B) to review and determine prevalent in-
formation security challenges and deficiencies 
identified by agencies or the Institute, including 
any challenges or deficiencies described in any 
of the annual reports under section 3553 or 
3554 of title 44, United States Code, and in 
any of the reports and the independent evalua-
tions under section 3555 of that title, that may 
undermine the effectiveness of agency informa-
tion security programs and practices; and 
‘‘(C) to evaluate the effectiveness and suf-
ficiency of, and challenges to, Federal agencies’ 
implementation of standards and guidelines de-
veloped under this section and policies and 
standards promulgated under section 11331 of 
title 40, United States Code;’’. 
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(4) VOTING.—Section 2(c) of the National In-
stitute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
272(c)) is amended— 
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (16) 
through (23) as paragraphs (17) through (24), 
respectively; and 
(B) by inserting after paragraph (15) the 
following: 
‘‘(16) perform research to support the develop-
ment of voluntary, consensus-based, industry-led 
standards and recommendations on the security of 
computers, computer networks, and computer data 
storage used in election systems to ensure voters can 
vote securely and privately.’’. 
SEC. 105. NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT UPDATE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Networking and Information Technology Research and 
Development Modernization Act of 2016’’. 
(b) FINDINGS.—Section 2 of the High-Performance 
Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5501) is amended— 
(1) in paragraphs (2) and (5), by striking 
‘‘high-performance computing’’ and inserting ‘‘net-
working and information technology, including high- 
performance computing,’’; and 
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(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘high-per-
formance computing’’ and inserting ‘‘networking and 
information technology, including high-performance 
computing’’. 
(c) PURPOSES.—Section 3 of the High-Performance 
Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5502) is amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘high-performance computing’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘networking and information technology’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1)— 
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph 
(A), by striking ‘‘expanding Federal support for 
research, development, and application of high- 
performance computing’’ and inserting ‘‘sup-
porting Federal research, development, and ap-
plication of networking and information tech-
nology’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘high-performance computing’’ both places it 
appears and inserting ‘‘networking and infor-
mation technology’’; 
(C) by striking subparagraphs (C) and 
(D); 
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (B) 
the following: 
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‘‘(C) stimulate research on and promote 
more rapid development of high-end computing 
systems software and applications software;’’; 
(E) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) 
through (H) as subparagraphs (D) through 
(G), respectively; 
(F) in subparagraph (D), as redesignated, 
by inserting ‘‘high-end’’ after ‘‘the development 
of’’; 
(G) in subparagraphs (E) and (F), as re-
designated, by striking ‘‘high-performance com-
puting’’ each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘networking and information technology’’; and 
(H) in subparagraph (G), as redesignated, 
by striking ‘‘high-performance’’ and inserting 
‘‘high-end’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘high-performance com-
puting and’’ and inserting ‘‘networking and in-
formation technology and’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘high-performance com-
puting network’’ and inserting ‘‘networking and 
information technology’’. 
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(d) DEFINITIONS.—Section 4 of the High-Perform-
ance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5503) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking paragraphs (3) and (5); 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (4), 
(6), and (7) as paragraphs (2), (3), (5), (8), and 
(9), respectively; 
(3) by inserting before paragraph (2), as redes-
ignated, the following: 
‘‘(1) ‘cyber-physical systems’ means physical or 
engineered systems whose networking and informa-
tion technology functions and physical elements are 
deeply integrated and are actively connected to the 
physical world through sensors, actuators, or other 
means to enable safe and effective, real-time per-
formance in safety-critical and other applications;’’; 
(4) in paragraph (3), as redesignated, by strik-
ing ‘‘high-performance computing’’ and inserting 
‘‘networking and information technology’’; 
(5) by inserting after paragraph (3), as redesig-
nated, the following: 
‘‘(4) ‘high-end computing’ means the most ad-
vanced and capable computing systems, including 
their hardware, storage, networking and software, 
encompassing both massive computational capability 
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and large-scale data analytics to solve computational 
problems of national importance that are beyond the 
capability of small- to medium-scale systems, includ-
ing computing formerly known as high-performance 
computing;’’; 
(6) by inserting after paragraph (5), as redesig-
nated, the following: 
‘‘(6) ‘networking and information technology’ 
means high-end computing, communications, and in-
formation technologies, high-capacity and high-speed 
networks, special purpose and experimental systems, 
high-end computing systems software and applica-
tions software, and the management of large data 
sets; 
‘‘(7) ‘participating agency’ means an agency de-
scribed in section 101(a)(3)(C);’’; and 
(7) in paragraph (8), as redesignated, by strik-
ing ‘‘National High-Performance Computing Pro-
gram’’ and inserting ‘‘Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Program’’. 
(e) TITLE I HEADING.—The heading of title I of the 
High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 
5511 et seq.) is amended by striking ‘‘HIGH-PER-
FORMANCE COMPUTING’’ and inserting ‘‘NET-
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WORKING 
AND 
INFORMATION 
TECH-
NOLOGY’’. 
(f) NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.—Section 101 
of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 
U.S.C. 5511) is amended— 
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘NA-
TIONAL
HIGH-PERFORMANCE
COMPUTING 
PROGRAM’’ and inserting ‘‘NETWORKING
AND 
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
RESEARCH
AND 
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM’’; 
(2) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘NATIONAL HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING 
PROGRAM’’ and inserting ‘‘NETWORKING AND 
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
AND 
DEVELOPMENT’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) in the matter preceding subpara-
graph (A), by striking ‘‘National High-Per-
formance Computing Program’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘Networking and Information Tech-
nology Research and Development Pro-
gram’’; 
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(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘high-performance computing, including 
networking’’ and inserting ‘‘networking 
and information technology’’; 
(iii) in subparagraphs (B) and (G), by 
striking ‘‘high-performance’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘high-end’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘high-performance computing and net-
working’’ and inserting ‘‘high-end com-
puting, distributed, and networking’’; 
(v) by amending subparagraph (D) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(D) provide for efforts to increase soft-
ware security and reliability;’’; 
(vi) in subparagraph (H)— 
(I) by inserting ‘‘support and 
guidance’’ after ‘‘provide’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the 
semicolon; 
(vii) in subparagraph (I)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘improving the se-
curity’’ and inserting ‘‘improving the 
security, reliability, and resilience’’; 
and 
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(II) by striking the period at the 
end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(viii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(J) provide for increased understanding 
of the scientific principles of cyber-physical sys-
tems and improve the methods available for the 
design, development, and operation of cyber- 
physical systems that are characterized by high 
reliability, safety, and security; 
‘‘(K) provide for research and development 
on human-computer interactions, visualization, 
and big data; 
‘‘(L) provide for research and development 
on the enhancement of cybersecurity, including 
the human facets of cyber threats and secure 
cyber systems; 
‘‘(M) provide for the understanding of the 
science, engineering, policy, and privacy protec-
tion related to networking and information 
technology; 
‘‘(N) provide for the transition of high-end 
computing hardware, system software, develop-
ment tools, and applications into development 
and operations; and 
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‘‘(O) foster public-private collaboration 
among government, industry research labora-
tories, academia, and nonprofit organizations to 
maximize research and development efforts and 
the benefits of networking and information 
technology, including high-end computing.’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(A) establish the goals and priorities for 
Federal networking and information technology 
research, development, education, and other ac-
tivities;’’; 
(ii) by amending subparagraph (C) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(C) provide for interagency coordination 
of Federal networking and information tech-
nology research, development, education, and 
other activities undertaken pursuant to the Pro-
gram— 
‘‘(i) among the participating agencies; 
and 
‘‘(ii) to the extent practicable, with 
other Federal agencies not described in 
paragraph (3)(C), other Federal and pri-
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vate research laboratories, industry, re-
search entities, institutions of higher edu-
cation, relevant nonprofit organizations, 
and international partners of the United 
States;’’; 
(iii) by amending subparagraph (E) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(E) encourage and monitor the efforts of 
the agencies participating in the Program to al-
locate the level of resources and management 
attention necessary to ensure that the strategic 
plans under subsection (e) are developed and 
executed effectively and that the objectives of 
the Program are met; and’’; and 
(iv) in subparagraph (F), by striking 
‘‘high-performance’’ and inserting ‘‘high- 
end’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs 
(B), (C), (D), and (E) as subparagraphs 
(C), (D), (E), and (G), respectively; 
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph 
(A) the following: 
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‘‘(B) provide a detailed description of the 
nature and scope of research infrastructure des-
ignated as such under the Program;’’; 
(iii) in subparagraph (C), as redesig-
nated— 
(I) by amending clause (i) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(i) the Department of Justice;’’; 
(II) by redesignating clauses (vii) 
through (xi) as clauses (viii) through 
(xii), respectively; 
(III) by inserting after clause (vi) 
the following: 
‘‘(vii) the Department of Homeland 
Security;’’; and 
(IV) by amending clause (viii), as 
redesignated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(viii) the National Archives and 
Records Administration;’’; 
(iv) in subparagraph (D), as redesig-
nated— 
(I) by striking ‘‘is submitted,’’ 
and inserting ‘‘is submitted, the levels 
for the previous fiscal year,’’; and 
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(II) by striking ‘‘each Program 
Component 
Area;’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘each Program Component Area and 
research area supported in accordance 
with section 102;’’; 
(v) by amending subparagraph (E), as 
redesignated, to read as follows: 
‘‘(E) describe the levels of Federal funding 
for each participating agency, and for each Pro-
gram Component Area, for the fiscal year dur-
ing which such report is submitted, the levels 
for the previous fiscal year, and the levels pro-
posed for the fiscal year with respect to which 
the budget submission applies;’’; and 
(vi) by inserting after subparagraph 
(E), as redesignated, the following: 
‘‘(F) include a description of how the ob-
jectives for each Program Component Area, and 
the objectives for activities that involve multiple 
Program Component Areas, relate to the objec-
tives of the Program identified in the strategic 
plans required under subsection (e); and’’; 
(3) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter pre-
ceding subparagraph (A)— 
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(i) 
by 
striking 
‘‘high-performance 
computing’’ both places it appears and in-
serting ‘‘networking and information tech-
nology’’; and 
(ii) after the first sentence, by insert-
ing the following: ‘‘Each chair of the advi-
sory committee shall meet the qualifica-
tions of committee membership and may 
be a member of the President’s Council of 
Advisors on Science and Technology.’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking 
‘‘high-performance computing, networking tech-
nology, and related software’’ and inserting 
‘‘networking and information technology’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) in the second sentence, by striking 
‘‘2’’ and inserting ‘‘3’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Committee on Science 
and Technology’’ and inserting ‘‘Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘The first report shall 
be due within 1 year after the date of en-
actment of the America COMPETES 
Act.’’; 
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(4) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘high- 
performance computing’’ and inserting ‘‘networking 
and information technology’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) PERIODIC REVIEWS.—The heads of the partici-
pating agencies, working through the National Science 
and Technology Council and the Program, shall— 
‘‘(1) periodically assess and update, as appro-
priate, the structure of the Program, including the 
Program Component Areas and associated contents, 
scope, and funding levels, taking into consideration 
any relevant recommendations of the advisory com-
mittee established under subsection (b); and 
‘‘(2) ensure that such agency’s implementation 
of the Program includes foundational, large-scale, 
long-term, and interdisciplinary information tech-
nology research and development activities, including 
activities described in section 102. 
‘‘(e) STRATEGIC PLANS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The heads of the partici-
pating agencies, working through the National 
Science and Technology Council and the Program, 
shall develop and implement strategic plans to 
guide— 
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‘‘(A) emerging activities of Federal net-
working and information technology research 
and development; and 
‘‘(B) the activities described in subsection 
(a)(1). 
‘‘(2) UPDATES.—The heads of the participating 
agencies shall update the strategic plans as appro-
priate. 
‘‘(3) CONTENTS.—Each strategic plan shall— 
‘‘(A) specify near-term and long-term ob-
jectives for the portions of the Program rel-
evant to the strategic plan, the anticipated 
schedule for achieving the near-term and long- 
term objectives, and the metrics to be used for 
assessing progress toward the near-term and 
long-term objectives; 
‘‘(B) specify how the near-term and long- 
term objectives complement research and devel-
opment areas in which academia and the pri-
vate sector are actively engaged; 
‘‘(C) describe how the heads of the partici-
pating agencies will support mechanisms for 
foundational, large-scale, long-term, and inter-
disciplinary information technology research 
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and development and for Grand Challenges, in-
cluding through collaborations— 
‘‘(i) across Federal agencies; 
‘‘(ii) 
across 
Program 
Component 
Areas; and 
‘‘(iii) with industry, Federal and pri-
vate research laboratories, research enti-
ties, institutions of higher education, rel-
evant nonprofit organizations, and inter-
national partners of the United States; 
‘‘(D) describe how the heads of the partici-
pating agencies will foster the rapid transfer of 
research and development results into new tech-
nologies and applications in the national inter-
est, including through cooperation and collabo-
rations with networking and information tech-
nology research, development, and technology 
transition initiatives supported by the States; 
and 
‘‘(E) describe how the portions of the Pro-
gram relevant to the strategic plan will address 
long-term challenges for which solutions require 
foundational, large-scale, long-term, and inter-
disciplinary information technology research 
and development. 
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‘‘(4) PRIVATE
SECTOR
EFFORTS.—In devel-
oping, implementing, and updating strategic plans, 
the heads of the participating agencies, working 
through the National Science and Technology Coun-
cil and the Program, shall coordinate with industry, 
academia, and other interested stakeholders to en-
sure, to the extent practicable, that the Federal net-
working and information technology research and 
development activities carried out under this section 
do not duplicate the efforts of the private sector. 
‘‘(5) RECOMMENDATIONS.—In developing and 
updating strategic plans, the heads of the partici-
pating agencies shall solicit recommendations and 
advice from— 
‘‘(A) the advisory committee under sub-
section (b); 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Science and rel-
evant subcommittees of the National Science 
and Technology Council; and 
‘‘(C) a wide range of stakeholders, includ-
ing industry, academia, National Laboratories, 
and other relevant organizations and institu-
tions. 
‘‘(f) REPORTS.—The heads of the participating agen-
cies, working through the National Science and Tech-
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nology Council and the Program, shall submit to the advi-
sory committee, the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives— 
‘‘(1) the strategic plans developed under sub-
section (e)(1); and 
‘‘(2) each update under subsection (e)(2).’’. 
(g) NATIONAL RESEARCH
AND EDUCATION NET-
WORK.—Section 102 of the High-Performance Computing 
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5512) is repealed. 
(h) NEXT GENERATION INTERNET.—Section 103 of 
the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 
5513) is repealed. 
(i) GRAND CHALLENGES IN AREAS OF NATIONAL IM-
PORTANCE.—Title I of the High-Performance Computing 
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511 et seq.) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 102. GRAND CHALLENGES IN AREAS OF NATIONAL 
IMPORTANCE. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Program shall encourage 
the participating agencies to support foundational, large- 
scale, long-term, interdisciplinary, and interagency infor-
mation technology research and development activities in 
networking and information technology directed toward 
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agency mission areas that have the potential for signifi-
cant contributions to national economic competitiveness 
and for other significant societal benefits. Such activities, 
ranging from basic research to the demonstration of tech-
nical solutions, shall be designed to advance the develop-
ment of fundamental discoveries. The advisory committee 
established under section 101(b) shall make recommenda-
tions to the Program for candidate research and develop-
ment areas for support under this section. 
‘‘(b) CHARACTERISTICS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Research and development 
activities under this section shall— 
‘‘(A) include projects selected on the basis 
of applications for support through a competi-
tive, merit-based process; 
‘‘(B) to the extent practicable, involve col-
laborations among researchers in institutions of 
higher education and industry, and may involve 
nonprofit research institutions and Federal lab-
oratories, as appropriate; 
‘‘(C) to the extent practicable, leverage 
Federal investments through collaboration with 
related State and private sector initiatives; and 
‘‘(D) include a plan for fostering the trans-
fer of research discoveries and the results of 
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technology demonstration activities, including 
from institutions of higher education and Fed-
eral laboratories, to industry for commercial de-
velopment. 
‘‘(2) COST-SHARING.—In selecting applications 
for support, the agencies may give special consider-
ation to projects that include cost sharing from non- 
Federal sources.’’. 
(j) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES.— 
Section 201 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 
1991 (15 U.S.C. 5521) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘(a) GENERAL RESPON-
SIBILITIES.—’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by inserting ‘‘high-end’’ after ‘‘Na-
tional Science Foundation shall provide’’; 
and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘high-performance 
computing’’ and all that follows through 
‘‘networking;’’ and inserting ‘‘networking 
and information technology; and’’; 
(C) by striking paragraphs (2) through 
(4); and 
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(D) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
following: 
‘‘(2) the National Science Foundation shall use 
its existing programs, in collaboration with other 
agencies, as appropriate, to improve the teaching 
and learning of networking and information tech-
nology at all levels of education and to increase par-
ticipation in networking and information technology 
fields, including by individuals identified in sections 
33 and 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a and 1885b).’’; 
and 
(2) by striking subsection (b). 
(k) NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINIS-
TRATION ACTIVITIES.—Section 202 of the High-Perform-
ance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5522) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(a) GENERAL RESPONSIBIL-
ITIES.—’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘high-performance computing’’ 
and inserting ‘‘networking and information tech-
nology’’; and 
(3) by striking subsection (b). 
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(l) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ACTIVITIES.—Section 
203 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 
U.S.C. 5523) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(a) GENERAL RESPONSIBIL-
ITIES.—’’; 
(2) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘high-per-
formance computing and networking’’ and inserting 
‘‘networking and information technology’’; 
(3) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ‘‘high-per-
formance’’ and inserting ‘‘high-end’’; and 
(4) by striking subsection (b). 
(m) DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACTIVITIES.—Sec-
tion 204 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 
(15 U.S.C. 5524) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(1)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘high-performance computing systems and net-
works’’ and inserting ‘‘networking and informa-
tion technology systems and capabilities’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘interoperability 
of 
high-performance 
com-
puting systems in networks and for common 
user interfaces to systems’’ and inserting 
‘‘interoperability and usability of networking 
and information technology systems’’; and 
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(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘high-performance computing’’ and inserting 
‘‘networking and information technology’’; 
(2) in subsection (b)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘HIGH- 
PERFORMANCE COMPUTING
AND NETWORK’’ 
and inserting ‘‘NETWORKING
AND INFORMA-
TION TECHNOLOGY’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘Pursuant to the Com-
puter Security Act of 1987 (Public Law 100– 
235; 101 Stat. 1724), the’’ and inserting 
‘‘The’’; and 
(C) by striking ‘‘sensitive information in 
Federal computer systems’’ and inserting ‘‘Fed-
eral agency information and information sys-
tems’’; and 
(3) by striking subsections (c) and (d). 
(n) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACTIVI-
TIES.—Section 205 of the High-Performance Computing 
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5525) is repealed. 
(o) ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.— 
Section 206 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 
1991 (15 U.S.C. 5526) is repealed. 
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(p) MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.—Section 207 of 
the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 
5527) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)(2), by striking ‘‘para-
graphs (1) through (5) of section 2315(a) of title 
10’’ and inserting ‘‘section 3552(b)(6)(A)(i) of title 
44’’; and 
(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘high-per-
formance computing’’ and inserting ‘‘networking and 
information technology’’. 
(q) REPEAL.—Section 208 of the High-Performance 
Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5528) is repealed. 
(r) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RESEARCH.— 
Section 4(b)(5)(K) of the Cyber Security Research and 
Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7403(b)(5)(K)) is amended 
by striking ‘‘high-performance computing’’ and inserting 
‘‘networking and information technology’’. 
(s) NATIONAL
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
RE-
SEARCH
AND
DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM.—Section 
13202(b) of the America Recovery and Reinvestment Act 
of 2009 (42 U.S.C. 17912(b)) is amended by striking 
‘‘National High-Performance Computing Program’’ and 
inserting ‘‘Networking and Information Technology Re-
search and Development Program’’. 
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(t) FEDERAL CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH AND DE-
VELOPMENT.—Section 201(a)(4) of the Cybersecurity En-
hancement Act of 2014 (15 U.S.C. 7431(a)(4)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) by striking ‘‘clauses (i) through (x)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘clauses (i) through (xi)’’; and 
(2) by striking ‘‘under clause (xi)’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘under clause (xii)’’. 
(u) ADDITIONAL REPEAL.—Section 4 of the Depart-
ment of Energy High-End Computing Revitalization Act 
of 2004 (15 U.S.C. 5543) is repealed. 
SEC. 106. PHYSICAL SCIENCES COORDINATION. 
(a) HIGH-ENERGY PHYSICS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Physical Science Sub-
committee of the National Science and Technology 
Council (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Sub-
committee’’) shall continue to coordinate Federal ef-
forts related to high-energy physics research to 
maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of United 
States investment in high-energy physics. 
(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Sub-
committee include— 
(A) to advise and assist the Committee on 
Science and the National Science and Tech-
nology Council on United States policies, proce-
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dures, and plans in the physical sciences, in-
cluding high-energy physics; and 
(B) to identify emerging opportunities, 
stimulate international cooperation, and foster 
the development of the physical sciences in the 
United States, including— 
(i) in high-energy physics research, in-
cluding related underground science and 
engineering research; 
(ii) in physical infrastructure and fa-
cilities; 
(iii) in information and analysis; and 
(iv) in coordination activities. 
(3) RESPONSIBILITIES.—In regard to coordi-
nating Federal efforts related to high-energy physics 
research, the Subcommittee shall, taking into ac-
count the findings and recommendations of relevant 
advisory committees— 
(A) provide recommendations on planning 
for construction and stewardship of large facili-
ties participating in high-energy physics; 
(B) provide recommendations on research 
coordination and collaboration among the pro-
grams and activities of Federal agencies related 
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to underground science, neutrino research, dark 
energy, and dark matter research; 
(C) establish goals and priorities for high- 
energy physics, related underground science, 
and 
research 
and 
development 
that 
will 
strengthen United States competitiveness in 
high-energy physics; 
(D) propose methods for engagement with 
international, Federal, and State agencies and 
Federal laboratories not represented on the Na-
tional Science and Technology Council to iden-
tify and reduce regulatory, logistical, and fiscal 
barriers that inhibit United States leadership in 
high-energy physics and related underground 
science; and 
(E) develop, and update as necessary, a 
strategic plan to guide Federal programs and 
activities in support of high-energy physics re-
search, including— 
(i) the efforts taken in support of 
paragraph (2) since the last strategic plan; 
(ii) an evaluation of the current re-
search needs for maintaining United States 
leadership in high-energy physics; and 
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(iii) an identification of future prior-
ities in the area of high-energy physics. 
(b) RADIATION BIOLOGY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Subcommittee shall con-
tinue to coordinate Federal efforts related to radi-
ation biology research to maximize the efficiency and 
effectiveness of United States investment in radi-
ation biology. 
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR
RADIATION
BIOL-
OGY.—In regard to coordinating Federal efforts re-
lated to radiation biology research, the Sub-
committee shall— 
(A) advise and assist the National Science 
and Technology Council on policies and initia-
tives in radiation biology, including enhancing 
scientific knowledge of the effects of low dose 
radiation on biological systems to improve radi-
ation risk management methods; 
(B) identify opportunities to stimulate 
international cooperation and leverage research 
and knowledge from sources outside of the 
United States; 
(C) ensure coordination between the De-
partment of Energy Office of Science, Founda-
tion, National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
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tration, National Institutes of Health, Environ-
mental Protection Agency, Department of De-
fense, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and De-
partment of Homeland Security; 
(D) identify ongoing scientific challenges 
for understanding the long-term effects of ion-
izing radiation on biological systems; and 
(E) formulate overall scientific goals for 
the future of low-dose radiation research in the 
United States. 
(c) FUSION ENERGY SCIENCES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Subcommittee shall con-
tinue to coordinate Federal efforts related to fusion 
energy research to maximize the efficiency and effec-
tiveness of United States investment in fusion en-
ergy sciences. 
(2) RESPONSIBILITIES
FOR
FUSION
ENERGY 
SCIENCES.—In regard to coordinating Federal ef-
forts related to fusion energy sciences, the Sub-
committee shall— 
(A) advise and assist the National Science 
and Technology Council on policies and initia-
tives in fusion energy sciences, including en-
hancing scientific knowledge of fusion energy 
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science, plasma physics, and related materials 
sciences; 
(B) identify opportunities to stimulate 
international cooperation and leverage research 
and knowledge from sources outside of the 
United States, including the ITER project; 
(C) ensure coordination between the De-
partment of Energy Office of Science, National 
Nuclear Security Administration, Advanced Re-
search Projects Agency-Energy, National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration, Foundation, 
and Department of Defense regarding fusion 
energy sciences and plasma physics; and 
(D) formulate overall scientific goals for 
the future of fusion energy sciences and plasma 
physics. 
SEC. 107. LABORATORY PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of NIST, acting 
through the Associate Director for Laboratory Programs, 
shall develop and implement a comprehensive strategic 
plan for laboratory programs that expands— 
(1) interactions with academia, international re-
searchers, and industry; and 
(2) commercial and industrial applications. 
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(b) OPTIMIZING COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL AP-
PLICATIONS.—In accordance with the purpose under sec-
tion 1(b)(3) of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 271(b)(3)), the comprehensive 
strategic plan shall— 
(1) include performance metrics for the dissemi-
nation of fundamental research results, measure-
ments, and standards research results to industry, 
including manufacturing, and other interested par-
ties; 
(2) document any positive benefits of research 
on the competitiveness of the interested parties de-
scribed in paragraph (1); 
(3) clarify the current approach to the tech-
nology transfer activities of NIST; and 
(4) consider recommendations from the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences. 
SEC. 108. STANDARD REFERENCE DATA ACT UPDATE. 
Section 2 of the Standard Reference Data Act (15 
U.S.C. 290a) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
‘‘For the purposes of this Act: 
‘‘(1) STANDARD REFERENCE DATA.—The term 
‘standard reference data’ means data that is— 
‘‘(A) either— 
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‘‘(i) quantitative information related 
to a measurable physical, or chemical, or 
biological property of a substance or sys-
tem of substances of known composition 
and structure; 
‘‘(ii) measurable characteristics of a 
physical artifact or artifacts; 
‘‘(iii) engineering properties or per-
formance characteristics of a system; or 
‘‘(iv) one or more digital data objects 
that serve— 
‘‘(I) to calibrate or characterize 
the performance of a detection or 
measurement system; or 
‘‘(II) to interpolate or extrapo-
late, or both, data described in sub-
paragraph (A) through (C); and 
‘‘(B) that is critically evaluated as to its 
reliability under section 3 of this Act. 
‘‘(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘Secretary’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce.’’. 
SEC. 109. NSF MID-SCALE PROJECT INVESTMENTS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
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(1) The Foundation funds major research facili-
ties, infrastructure, and instrumentation that pro-
vide unique capabilities at the frontiers of science 
and engineering. 
(2) Modern and effective research facilities, in-
frastructure, and instrumentation are critical to 
maintaining United States leadership in science and 
engineering. 
(3) The costs of some proposed research instru-
mentation, equipment, and upgrades to major re-
search facilities fall between programs currently 
funded by the Foundation, creating a gap between 
the established parameters of the Major Research 
Instrumentation and Major Research Equipment 
and Facilities Construction programs, including 
projects that have been identified as cost-effective 
additions of high priority to the advancement of sci-
entific understanding. 
(4) The 2010 Astronomy and Astrophysics 
Decadal Survey recommended a mid-scale innova-
tions program. 
(b) MID-SCALE PROJECTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Foundation shall evalu-
ate the existing and future needs, across all dis-
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ciplines supported by the Foundation, for mid-scale 
projects. 
(2) STRATEGY.—The Director of the Founda-
tion shall develop a strategy to address the needs 
identified in paragraph (1). 
(3) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of 
the Foundation shall provide a briefing to the appro-
priate committees of Congress on the evaluation 
under paragraph (1) and the strategy under para-
graph (2). 
(4) DEFINITION OF MID-SCALE PROJECTS.—In 
this subsection, the term ‘‘mid-scale projects’’ means 
research instrumentation, equipment, and upgrades 
to major research facilities or other research infra-
structure investments that exceed the maximum 
award funded by the major research instrumentation 
program and are below the minimum award funded 
by the major research equipment and facilities con-
struction program as described in section 507 of the 
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 
(Public Law 111–358; 124 Stat. 4008). 
SEC. 110. OVERSIGHT OF NSF MAJOR MULTI-USER RE-
SEARCH FACILITY PROJECTS. 
(a) FACILITIES OVERSIGHT.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Founda-
tion shall strengthen oversight and accountability 
over the full life cycle of each major multi-user re-
search facility project, including planning, develop-
ment, procurement, construction, operations, and 
support, and shutdown of the facility, in order to 
maximize research investment. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), the Director shall— 
(A) prioritize the scientific outcomes of a 
major multi-user research facility project and 
the internal management and financial over-
sight of the major multi-user research facility 
project; 
(B) clarify the roles and responsibilities of 
all organizations, including offices, panels, com-
mittees, and directorates, involved in supporting 
a major multi-user research facility project, in-
cluding the role of the Major Research Equip-
ment and Facilities Construction Panel; 
(C) establish policies and procedures for 
the planning, management, and oversight of a 
major multi-user research facility project at 
each phase of the life cycle of the major multi- 
user research facility project; 
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(D) ensure that policies for estimating and 
managing costs and schedules are consistent 
with the best practices described in the Govern-
ment Accountability Office Cost Estimating and 
Assessment Guide, the Government Account-
ability Office Schedule Assessment Guide, and 
the Office of Management and Budget Uniform 
Guidance (2 C.F.R. Part 200); 
(E) establish the appropriate project man-
agement and financial management expertise 
required for Foundation staff to oversee each 
major multi-user research facility project effec-
tively, including by improving project manage-
ment training and certification; 
(F) coordinate the sharing of the best 
management practices and lessons learned from 
each major multi-user research facility project; 
(G) continue to maintain a Large Facilities 
Office to support the research directorates in 
the development, implementation, and oversight 
of each major multi-user research facility 
project, including by— 
(i) serving as the Foundation’s pri-
mary resource for all policy or process 
issues related to the development, imple-
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mentation, and oversight of a major multi- 
user research facility project; 
(ii) serving as a Foundation-wide re-
source on project management, including 
providing expert assistance on nonscientific 
and nontechnical aspects of project plan-
ning, budgeting, implementation, manage-
ment, and oversight; 
(iii) coordinating and collaborating 
with research directorates to share best 
management practices and lessons learned 
from prior major multi-user research facil-
ity projects; and 
(iv) assessing each major multi-user 
research facility project for cost and sched-
ule risk; and 
(H) appoint a senior agency official whose 
responsibility is oversight of the development, 
construction, and operations of major multi- 
user research facilities across the Foundation. 
(b) FACILITIES FULL LIFE CYCLE COSTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsection (c)(1), 
the Director of the Foundation shall require that 
any pre-award analysis of a major multi-user re-
search facility project includes the development and 
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consideration of the full life cycle cost (as defined in 
section 2 of the National Science Foundation Au-
thorization Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 1862k note)) in 
accordance with section 14 of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 
1862n–4). 
(2) IMPLEMENTATION.—Based on the pre- 
award analysis described in paragraph (1), the Di-
rector of the Foundation shall include projected 
operational costs within the Foundation’s out-years 
as part of the President’s annual budget submission 
to Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United 
States Code. 
(c) COST OVERSIGHT.— 
(1) PRE-AWARD ANALYSIS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Director of the 
Foundation and the National Science Board 
may not approve or execute any agreement to 
start construction on any proposed major multi- 
user research facility project unless— 
(i) an external analysis of the pro-
posed budget has been conducted to ensure 
the proposal is complete and reasonable; 
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(ii) the analysis under clause (i) fol-
lows the Government Accountability Office 
Cost Estimating and Assessment Guide; 
(iii) except as provided under sub-
paragraph (C), an analysis of the account-
ing systems has been conducted; 
(iv) an independent cost estimate of 
the construction of the project has been 
conducted using the same detailed tech-
nical information as the project proposal 
estimate to determine whether the estimate 
is well-supported and realistic; and 
(v) the Foundation and the National 
Science Board have considered the anal-
yses under clauses (i) and (iii) and the 
independent cost estimate under clause (iv) 
and resolved any major issues identified 
therein. 
(B) AUDITS.—An external analysis under 
subparagraph (A)(i) may include an audit. 
(C) EXCEPTION.—The Director of the 
Foundation, at the Director’s discretion, may 
waive the requirement under subparagraph 
(A)(iii) if a similar analysis of the accounting 
systems was conducted in the prior years. 
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(2) CONSTRUCTION OVERSIGHT.—The Director 
of the Foundation shall require for each major 
multi-user research facility project— 
(A) periodic external reviews on project 
management and performance; 
(B) adequate internal controls, policies, 
and procedures, and reliable accounting systems 
in preparation for the incurred cost audits 
under subparagraph (D); 
(C) annual incurred cost submissions of fi-
nancial expenditures; and 
(D) an incurred cost audit of the major 
multi-user research facility project in accord-
ance with Government Accountability Office 
Government Auditing Standards— 
(i) at least once during construction 
at a time determined based on risk anal-
ysis and length of the award, except that 
the length of time between audits may not 
exceed 3 years; and 
(ii) at the completion of the construc-
tion phase. 
(3) OPERATIONS COST ANALYSIS.—The Direc-
tor of the Foundation shall require an independent 
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cost analysis of the operational proposal for each 
major multi-user research facility project. 
(d) CONTINGENCY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Founda-
tion shall strengthen internal controls to improve 
oversight of contingency on a major multi-user re-
search facility project. 
(2) REQUIREMENTS.—In carrying out para-
graph (1), the Director of the Foundation shall— 
(A) only include contingency amounts in 
an award in accordance with section 200.433 of 
title 2, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to 
contingency provisions), or any successor regu-
lation; 
(B) retain control over funds budgeted for 
contingency, except that the Director may dis-
burse budgeted contingency funds incrementally 
to the awardee to ensure project stability and 
continuity; 
(C) track contingency use; and 
(D) ensure that contingency amounts allo-
cated to the performance baseline are reason-
able and allowable. 
(e) USE OF FEES.— 
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(1) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of 
Congress that— 
(A) the use of taxpayer-funded award fees 
should be transparent and explicable; and 
(B) the Foundation should implement an 
award fee policy that ensures more trans-
parency and accountability in the funding of 
necessary and appropriate expenses directly re-
lated to the construction and operation of major 
multi-user research facilities. 
(2) REPORTING
AND
RECORDKEEPING.—The 
Director of the Foundation shall establish guidelines 
for awardees regarding inappropriate expenditures 
associated with all fee types used in cooperative 
agreements, including for alcoholic beverages, lob-
bying, meals or entertainment for nonbusiness pur-
poses, nonbusiness travel, and any other purpose the 
Director determines is inappropriate. 
(f) OVERSIGHT IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS.—The 
Director of the Foundation shall— 
(1) not later than 90 days after the date of en-
actment of this Act, and periodically thereafter until 
the completion date, provide a briefing to the appro-
priate committees of Congress on the response to or 
progress made toward implementation of— 
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(A) this section; 
(B) all of the issues and recommendations 
identified in cooperative agreement audit re-
ports and memoranda issued by the Inspector 
General of the Foundation in the last 5 years; 
and 
(C) all of the issues and recommendations 
identified by a panel of the National Academy 
of Public Administration in the December 2015 
report entitled ‘‘National Science Foundation: 
Use of Cooperative Agreements to Support 
Large Scale Investment in Research’’; and 
(2) not later than 1 year after the date of en-
actment of this Act, notify the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress when the Foundation has imple-
mented the recommendations identified in a panel of 
the National Academy of Public Administration re-
port issued December 2015. 
(g) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation and the Committee on Appro-
priations of the Senate and the Committee on 
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Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee 
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. 
(2) MAJOR
MULTI-USER
RESEARCH
FACILITY 
PROJECT.—The term ‘‘ ‘major multi-user research 
facility project’ ’’ means a science and engineering 
facility project that— 
(A) exceeds the lesser of— 
(i) 10 percent of a Directorate’s an-
nual budget; or 
(ii) $100,000,000 in total project 
costs; or 
(B) is funded by the major research equip-
ment and facilities construction account, or any 
successor account. 
SEC. 111. PERSONNEL OVERSIGHT. 
(a) CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.—The Director of the 
Foundation shall update the policy and procedure of the 
Foundation relating to conflicts of interest to improve doc-
umentation and management of any known conflict of in-
terest of an individual on temporary assignment at the 
Foundation, including an individual on assignment under 
the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 
4701 et seq.). 
(b) JUSTIFICATIONS.—The Deputy Director of the 
Foundation shall submit annually to the appropriate com-
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mittees of Congress written justification for each rotator 
employed under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act of 
1970 (42 U.S.C. 4701 et seq.), or other rotator employed, 
by the Foundation that year that is paid at a rate that 
exceeds the maximum rate of pay for the Senior Executive 
Service, including, if applicable, the level of adjustment for 
the certified Senior Executive Service Performance Ap-
praisal System. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Foundation 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 
a report on the Foundation’s efforts to control costs asso-
ciated with employing rotators, including the results of 
and participation in the Foundation’s cost-sharing pilot 
program and the Foundation’s progress in responding to 
the findings and implementing the recommendations of 
the Office of Inspector General of the Foundation related 
to the employment of rotators. 
SEC. 112. MANAGEMENT OF THE U.S. ANTARCTIC PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) REVIEW.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Founda-
tion shall continue to review the efforts by the Foun-
dation to sustain and strengthen scientific efforts in 
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the face of logistical challenges for the United States 
Antarctic Program. 
(2) ISSUES TO BE EXAMINED.—In conducting 
the review, the Director shall examine, at a min-
imum, the following: 
(A) Implementation by the Foundation of 
issues and recommendations identified by— 
(i) the Inspector General of the Na-
tional Science Foundation in audit reports 
and memoranda on the United States Ant-
arctic Program in the last 4 years; 
(ii) the U.S. Antarctic Program Blue 
Ribbon Panel report, More and Better 
Science in Antarctica through Increased 
Logistical Effectiveness, issued July 23, 
2012; and 
(iii) the National Research Council re-
port, Future Science Opportunities in Ant-
arctica and the Southern Ocean, issued 
September 2011. 
(B) Efforts by the Foundation to track its 
progress in addressing the issues and rec-
ommendations under subparagraph (A). 
(C) Efforts by the Foundation to address 
other opportunities and challenges, including ef-
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forts on scientific research, coordination with 
other Federal agencies and international part-
ners, logistics and transportation, health and 
safety of participants, oversight and financial 
management of awardees and contractors, and 
resources and policy challenges. 
(b) BRIEFING.—Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall brief the 
appropriate committees of Congress on the ongoing re-
view, including findings and any recommendations. 
SEC. 113. NIST CAMPUS SECURITY. 
(a) SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY.—The Department of 
Commerce Office of Security shall directly manage the law 
enforcement and site security programs of NIST through 
an assigned Director of Security for NIST without in-
creasing the number of full-time equivalent employees of 
the Department of Commerce, including NIST. 
(b) REPORTS.—The Director of Security for NIST 
shall provide an activities and security report on a quar-
terly basis for the first year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, and on an annual basis thereafter, to the 
Under Secretary for Standards and Technology and the 
appropriate committees of Congress. 
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SEC. 114. COORDINATION OF SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY RE-
SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT. 
(a) IMPORTANCE OF SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY.—It 
is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the science of chemistry is vital to improv-
ing the quality of human life and plays an important 
role in addressing critical global challenges, includ-
ing water quality, energy, health care, and agri-
culture; 
(2) sustainable chemistry can reduce risks to 
human health and the environment, reduce waste, 
improve pollution prevention, promote safe and effi-
cient manufacturing, and promote efficient use of re-
sources in developing new materials, processes, and 
technologies that support viable long-term solutions 
to a significant number of challenges; 
(3) sustainable chemistry can stimulate innova-
tion, encourage new and creative approaches to 
problems, create jobs, and save money; and 
(4) a coordinated effort on sustainable chem-
istry will allow for a greater return on research in-
vestment in this area. 
(b) SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY BASIC RESEARCH.— 
Subject to the availability of appropriated funds, the Di-
rector of the Foundation may continue to carry out the 
Sustainable Chemistry Basic Research program author-
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ized under section 509 of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1862p–3). 
SEC. 115. MISREPRESENTATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS. 
(a) PROHIBITION.—The Director of the Foundation 
may revise the regulations under part 689 of title 45, Code 
of Federal Regulations (relating to research misconduct), 
to ensure that the findings and conclusions of any article 
authored by a principal investigator, using the results of 
research conducted under a Foundation grant, that is pub-
lished in a peer-reviewed publication, made publicly avail-
able, or incorporated in an application for a research grant 
or grant extension from the Foundation, does not contain 
any falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism. 
(b) INTERAGENCY COMMUNICATION.—Upon a find-
ing that research misconduct has occurred, the Founda-
tion shall, in addition to any possible final action under 
section 689.3 of title 45, Code of Federal Regulations, no-
tify other Federal science agencies of the finding. 
SEC. 116. RESEARCH REPRODUCIBILITY AND REPLICA-
TION. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the gold standard of good science is the 
ability of a researcher or research laboratory to re-
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produce a published research finding, including 
methods; 
(2) there is growing concern that some pub-
lished research findings cannot be reproduced or 
replicated, which can negatively affect the public’s 
trust in science; 
(3) there are a complex set of factors affecting 
reproducibility and replication; and 
(4) the increasing interdisciplinary nature and 
complexity of scientific research may be a contrib-
uting factor to issues with research reproducibility 
and replication. 
(b) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 45 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of 
the Foundation shall enter into an agreement with 
the National Research Council— 
(A) to assess research and data reproduc-
ibility and replicability issues in interdiscipli-
nary research; 
(B) to make recommendations for improv-
ing rigor and transparency in scientific re-
search; and 
(C) to submit to the Director of the Foun-
dation a report on the assessment, including its 
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findings and recommendations, not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(2) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 
60 days after the date the Director of the Founda-
tion receives the report under paragraph (1)(C), the 
Director shall submit the report to the appropriate 
committees of Congress, including a response from 
the Director of the Foundation and the Chair of the 
National Science Board as to whether they agree 
with each of the findings and recommendations in 
the report. 
SEC. 117. BRAIN RESEARCH THROUGH ADVANCING INNO-
VATIVE NEUROTECHNOLOGIES INITIATIVE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Foundation shall support re-
search activities related to the interagency Brain Research 
through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initia-
tive. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the Foundation should work in conjunction with 
the Interagency Working Group on Neuroscience estab-
lished by the National Science and Technology Council, 
Committee on Science to determine how to use the data 
infrastructure of the Foundation and other applicable 
Federal science agencies to help neuroscientists collect, 
standardize, manage, and analyze the large amounts of 
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data that result from research attempting to understand 
how the brain functions. 
TITLE II—ADMINISTRATIVE AND 
REGULATORY 
BURDEN 
RE-
DUCTION 
SEC. 201. INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP ON RESEARCH 
REGULATION. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Research and Development Efficiency Act’’. 
(b) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) Scientific and technological advancement 
have been the largest drivers of economic growth in 
the last 50 years, with the Federal Government 
being the largest investor in basic research. 
(2) Substantial and increasing administrative 
burdens and costs in Federal research administra-
tion, particularly in the higher education sector 
where most federally funded research is performed, 
are eroding funds available to carry out basic sci-
entific research. 
(3) Federally funded grants are increasingly 
competitive, with the Foundation funding only ap-
proximately 1 in every 5 grant proposals. 
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(4) Progress has been made over the last dec-
ade in streamlining the pre-award grant application 
process 
through 
the 
Federal 
Government’s 
Grants.gov website. 
(5) Post-award administrative costs have in-
creased as Federal research agencies have continued 
to impose agency-unique compliance and reporting 
requirements on researchers and research institu-
tions. 
(6) Researchers spend as much as 42 percent 
of their time complying with Federal regulations, in-
cluding administrative tasks such as applying for 
grants or meeting reporting requirements. 
(c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) administrative burdens faced by researchers 
may be reducing the return on investment of feder-
ally funded research and development; and 
(2) it is a matter of critical importance to 
United States competitiveness that administrative 
costs of federally funded research be streamlined so 
that a higher proportion of Federal funding is ap-
plied to direct research activities. 
(d) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget, in coordination with the Office 
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of Science and Technology Policy, shall establish an inter-
agency working group (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘Working Group’’) for the purpose of reducing adminis-
trative burdens on federally funded researchers while pro-
tecting the public interest through the transparency of and 
accountability for federally funded activities. 
(e) RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Working Group shall— 
(A) regularly review relevant, administra-
tion-related regulations imposed on federally 
funded researchers; 
(B) recommend those regulations or proc-
esses that may be eliminated, streamlined, or 
otherwise improved for the purpose described in 
subsection (d); 
(C) recommend ways to minimize the regu-
latory burden on United States institutions of 
higher education performing federally funded 
research while maintaining accountability for 
Federal funding; and 
(D) recommend ways to identify and up-
date specific regulations to refocus on perform-
ance-based goals rather than on process while 
achieving the outcome described in subpara-
graph (C). 
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(2) GRANT REVIEW.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Working Group 
shall— 
(i) conduct a comprehensive review of 
Federal science agency grant proposal doc-
uments; and 
(ii) develop, to the extent practicable, 
a simplified, uniform grant format to be 
used by all Federal science agencies. 
(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the 
uniform grant format, the Working Group shall 
consider whether to implement— 
(i) procedures for preliminary project 
proposals in advance of peer-review selec-
tion; 
(ii) increased use of ‘‘Just-In-Time’’ 
procedures for documentation that does 
not bear directly on the scientific merit of 
a proposal; 
(iii) simplified initial budget proposals 
in advance of peer review selection; and 
(iv) detailed budget proposals for ap-
plicants that peer review selection identi-
fies as likely to be funded. 
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(3) CENTRALIZED RESEARCHER PROFILE DATA-
BASE.— 
(A) 
ESTABLISHMENT.—The 
Working 
Group shall establish, to the extent practicable, 
a secure, centralized database for investigator 
biosketches, curriculum vitae, licenses, lists of 
publications, and other documents considered 
relevant by the Working Group. 
(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In establishing the 
centralized profile database under subparagraph 
(A), the Working Group shall consider incor-
porating existing investigator databases. 
(C) GRANT
PROPOSALS.—To the extent 
practicable, all grant proposals shall utilize the 
centralized investigator profile database estab-
lished under subparagraph (A). 
(D) REQUIREMENTS.—Each investigator 
shall— 
(i) be responsible for ensuring the in-
vestigator’s profile is current and accurate; 
and 
(ii) be assigned a unique identifier 
linked to the database and accessible to all 
Federal funding agencies. 
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(4) CENTRALIZED ASSURANCES REPOSITORY.— 
The Working Group shall— 
(A) establish a central repository for all of 
the assurances required for Federal research 
grants; and 
(B) provide guidance to institutions of 
higher education and Federal science agencies 
on the use of the centralized assurances reposi-
tory. 
(5) COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Working Group 
shall— 
(i) conduct a comprehensive review of 
the mandated progress reports for federally 
funded research; and 
(ii) develop a strategy to simplify in-
vestigator progress reports. 
(B) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the 
strategy, the Working Group shall consider lim-
iting progress reports to performance outcomes. 
(f) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out its responsibil-
ities under subsection (e)(1), the Working Group shall 
consult with academic researchers outside the Federal 
Government, including— 
(1) federally funded researchers; 
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(2) nonfederally funded researchers; 
(3) institutions of higher education and their 
representative associations; 
(4) scientific and engineering disciplinary soci-
eties and associations; 
(5) nonprofit research institutions; 
(6) industry, including small businesses; 
(7) federally funded research and development 
centers; and 
(8) members of the public with a stake in en-
suring effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability in 
the performance of scientific research. 
(g) REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 3 
years, the Working Group shall submit to the appropriate 
committees of Congress a report on its responsibilities 
under this section, including a discussion of the consider-
ations described in paragraphs (2)(B), (3)(B), and (5)(B) 
of subsection (e) and recommendations made under sub-
section (e)(1). 
SEC. 202. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL COLLABORATION. 
(a) DEFINITION
OF SCIENTIFIC
AND TECHNICAL 
WORKSHOP.—In this section, the term ‘‘scientific and 
technical workshop’’ means a symposium, seminar, or any 
other organized, formal gathering where scientists or engi-
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neers working in STEM research and development fields 
assemble to coordinate, exchange and disseminate infor-
mation or to explore or clarify a defined subject, problem 
or area of knowledge in the STEM fields. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the United States should encourage broad 
dissemination of Federal research findings and en-
gagement of Federal researchers with the scientific 
and technical community; and 
(2) laboratory, test center, and field center di-
rectors and other similar heads of offices should ap-
prove scientific and technical workshop attendance 
if— 
(A) that attendance would meet the mis-
sion of the laboratory or test center; and 
(B) sufficient laboratory or test center 
funds are available for that purpose. 
(c) ATTENDANCE POLICIES.—Not later than 180 
days after the date of enactment of this Act, the heads 
of the Federal science agencies shall each develop an ac-
tion plan for the implementation of revisions and updates 
to their policies on attendance at scientific and technical 
workshops. 
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(d) NIST WORKSHOPS.—Section 2(c) of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
272(c)), as amended by section 104 of this Act, is further 
amended— 
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (19) through 
(24) as paragraphs (22) through (27), respectively; 
and 
(2) by inserting after paragraph (18) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(19) host, participate in, and support scientific 
and technical workshops (as defined in section 202 
of the American Innovation and Competitiveness 
Act); 
‘‘(20) collect and retain any fees charged by the 
Secretary for hosting a scientific and technical work-
shop described in paragraph (19); 
‘‘(21) notwithstanding title 31 of the United 
States Code, use the fees described in paragraph 
(20) to pay for any related expenses, including sub-
sistence expenses for participants;’’. 
SEC. 203. NIST GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS 
UPDATE. 
Section 8(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology In-
novation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3706(a)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘The total amount of any such grant or coopera-
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tive agreement may not exceed 75 percent of the total cost 
of the program.’’. 
SEC. 204. REPEAL OF CERTAIN OBSOLETE REPORTS. 
(a) REPEAL OF CERTAIN OBSOLETE REPORTS.— 
(1) NIST REPORTS.— 
(A) REPORT
ON
DONATION
OF
EDUCA-
TIONALLY
USEFUL
FEDERAL
EQUIPMENT
TO 
SCHOOLS.—Section 6(b) of the Technology Ad-
ministration Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 272 note) 
is amended— 
(i) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—’’ and indenting appro-
priately; and 
(ii) by striking paragraph (2). 
(B) THREE-YEAR
PROGRAMMATIC
PLAN-
NING DOCUMENT.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—Section 23 of the 
National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act (15 U.S.C. 278i) is amended by 
striking subsections (c) and (d). 
(ii) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Sec-
tion 10(h)(1) of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
278(h)(1)) is amended by striking the last 
sentence. 
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(2) MULTI-AGENCY
REPORT
ON
INNOVATION 
ACCELERATION
RESEARCH.—Section 1008 of the 
America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 6603) is 
amended— 
(A) by striking subsection (c); and 
(B) by redesignating subsection (d) as sub-
section (c). 
(3) NSF REPORTS.— 
(A) FUNDING
FOR
SUCCESSFUL
STEM 
EDUCATION
PROGRAMS; 
REPORT
TO
CON-
GRESS.—Section 7012 of the America COM-
PETES Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o–4) is amended 
by striking subsection (c). 
(B) ENCOURAGING PARTICIPATION; EVAL-
UATION
AND
REPORT.—Section 7031 of the 
America COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o– 
11) is amended by striking subsection (b). 
(C) MATH
AND
SCIENCE
PARTNERSHIPS 
PROGRAM
COORDINATION
REPORT.—Section 
9(c) of the National Science Foundation Au-
thorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n(c)) is 
amended— 
(i) by striking paragraph (4); and 
(ii) by redesignating paragraph (5) as 
paragraph (4). 
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(b) NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE RE-
PORTS.—The 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and 
Development Act (15 U.S.C. 7501 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by amending section 2(c)(4) (15 U.S.C. 
7501(c)(4)) to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) develop, not later than 5 years after the 
date of the release of the most recent strategic plan, 
and update every 5 years thereafter, a strategic plan 
to guide the activities described under subsection (b) 
that describes— 
‘‘(A) the near-term and long-term objec-
tives for the Program; 
‘‘(B) the anticipated schedule for achieving 
the near-term objectives; 
‘‘(C) the metrics that will be used to assess 
progress toward the near-term and long-term 
objectives; 
‘‘(D) how the Program will move results 
out of the laboratory and into application for 
the benefit of society; 
‘‘(E) the Program’s support for long-term 
funding for interdisciplinary research and devel-
opment in nanotechnology; and 
‘‘(F) the allocation of funding for inter-
agency nanotechnology projects;’’; 
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(2) by amending section 4(d) (15 U.S.C. 
7503(d)) to read as follows: 
‘‘(d) REPORTS.—Not later than 4 years after the 
date of the most recent assessment under subsection (c), 
and quadrennially thereafter, the Advisory Panel shall 
submit to the President, the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House 
of Representatives a report on its assessments under sub-
section (c) and its recommendations for ways to improve 
the Program.’’; and 
(3) in section 5 (15 U.S.C. 7504)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘TRI-
ENNIAL’’ and inserting ‘‘QUADRENNIAL’’; 
(B) in subsection (a), in the matter pre-
ceding paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘triennial’’ 
and inserting ‘‘quadrennial’’; 
(C) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘tri-
ennial’’ and inserting ‘‘quadrennial’’; 
(D) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘tri-
ennial’’ and inserting ‘‘quadrennial’’; and 
(E) by amending subsection (d) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(d) REPORT.— 
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 30 days 
after the date the first evaluation under subsection 
(a) is received, and quadrennially thereafter, the Di-
rector of the National Nanotechnology Coordination 
Office shall report to the President its assessments 
under subsection (c) and its recommendations for 
ways to improve the Program. 
‘‘(2) CONGRESS.—Not later than 30 days after 
the date the President receives the report under 
paragraph (1), the Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy shall transmit a copy of the 
report to Congress.’’. 
(c) MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES 
CONSTRUCTION.—Section 14 of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n– 
4) is amended— 
(1) by amending subsection (a) to read as fol-
lows: 
‘‘(a) PRIORITIZATION
OF PROPOSED MAJOR RE-
SEARCH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION.— 
‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT OF PRIORITIES.—The Di-
rector shall— 
‘‘(A) develop a list indicating by number 
the relative priority for funding under the 
major research equipment and facilities con-
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struction account that the Director assigns to 
each project the Board has approved for inclu-
sion in a future budget request; and 
‘‘(B) submit the list described in subpara-
graph (A) to the Board for approval. 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA.—The Director shall include in 
the criteria for developing the list under paragraph 
(1) the readiness of plans for construction and oper-
ation, including confidence in the estimates of the 
full life cycle cost (as defined in section 2 of the Na-
tional Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1998 
(42 U.S.C. 1862k note)) and the proposed schedule 
of completion. 
‘‘(3) UPDATES.—The Director shall update the 
list prepared under paragraph (1) each time the 
Board approves a new project that would receive 
funding under the major research equipment and fa-
cilities construction account and periodically submit 
any updated list to the Board for approval.’’; 
(2) by striking subsection (e); 
(3) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as 
subsections (b) and (c), respectively; and 
(4) by amending subsection (c), as redesig-
nated, to read as follows: 
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‘‘(c) BOARD
APPROVAL
OF
MAJOR
RESEARCH 
EQUIPMENT
AND FACILITIES PROJECTS.—The Board 
shall explicitly approve any project to be funded out of 
the major research equipment and facilities construction 
account before any funds may be obligated from such ac-
count for such project.’’. 
SEC. 205. REPEAL OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS. 
(a) TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 28 of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278n) is repealed. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) ADDITIONAL AWARD CRITERIA.—Sec-
tion 4226(b) of the Small Business Jobs Act of 
2010 (15 U.S.C. 278n note) is repealed. 
(B) MANAGEMENT COSTS.—Section 2(d) of 
the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(d)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘sections 25, 26, and 28’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘sections 25 and 26’’. 
(C) ANNUAL
AND
OTHER
REPORTS
TO 
SECRETARY AND CONGRESS.—Section 10(h)(1) 
of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278(h)(1)) is 
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amended by striking ‘‘, including the Program 
established under section 28,’’. 
(b) TEACHERS FOR A COMPETITIVE TOMORROW.— 
Sections 6111 through 6116 of the America COMPETES 
Act (20 U.S.C. 9811, 9812, 9813, 9814, 9815, 9816) and 
the items relating to those sections in the table of contents 
under section 2 of that Act (Public Law 110–69; 121 Stat. 
572) are repealed. 
SEC. 206. GRANT SUBRECIPIENT TRANSPARENCY AND 
OVERSIGHT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 
date of enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of 
the Foundation shall prepare and submit to the appro-
priate committees of Congress an audit of the Founda-
tion’s policies and procedures governing the monitoring of 
pass-through entities with respect to subrecipients. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The audit shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(1) Information regarding the Foundation’s 
process to oversee— 
(A) the compliance of pass-through entities 
under section 200.331 and subpart F of part 
200 of chapter II of subtitle A of title 2, Code 
of Federal Regulations, and the other require-
ments of that title for subrecipients; 
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(B) whether pass-through entities have 
processes and controls in place regarding finan-
cial compliance of subrecipients, where appro-
priate; and 
(C) whether pass-through entities have 
processes and controls in place to maintain ap-
proved grant objectives for subrecipients, where 
appropriate. 
(2) Recommendations, if necessary, to increase 
transparency and oversight while balancing adminis-
trative burdens. 
SEC. 207. MICRO-PURCHASE THRESHOLD FOR PROCURE-
MENT SOLICITATIONS BY RESEARCH INSTI-
TUTIONS. 
(a) MICRO-PURCHASE THRESHOLD.—The micro-pur-
chase threshold for procurement activities administered 
under sections 6303 through 6305 of title 31, United 
States Code, awarded by the Foundation, the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, or the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology to institutions of 
higher education, or related or affiliated nonprofit entities, 
or to nonprofit research organizations or independent re-
search institutes is— 
(1) $10,000 (as adjusted periodically to account 
for inflation); or 
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(2) such higher threshold as determined appro-
priate by the head of the relevant executive agency 
and consistent with audit findings under chapter 75 
of title 31, United States Code, internal institutional 
risk assessment, or State law. 
(b) UNIFORM GUIDANCE.—The Uniform Guidance 
shall be revised to conform with the requirements of this 
section. For purposes of the preceding sentence, the term 
‘‘Uniform Guidance’’ means the uniform administrative 
requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for 
Federal awards contained in part 200 of title 2 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 208. COORDINATION OF INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE 
AND TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIPS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 
2016’’. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall establish a body 
under the National Science and Technology Council with 
the responsibility to identify and coordinate international 
science and technology cooperation that can strengthen 
the United States science and technology enterprise, im-
prove economic and national security, and support United 
States foreign policy goals. 
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(c) NSTC BODY LEADERSHIP.—The body estab-
lished under subsection (b) shall be co-chaired by senior 
level officials from the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy and the Department of State. 
(d) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The body established under 
subsection (b) shall— 
(1) plan and coordinate interagency inter-
national science and technology cooperative research 
and training activities and partnerships supported or 
managed by Federal agencies; 
(2) work with other National Science and Tech-
nology Council committees to help plan and coordi-
nate the international component of national science 
and technology priorities; 
(3) establish Federal priorities and policies for 
aligning, as appropriate, international science and 
technology cooperative research and training activi-
ties and partnerships supported or managed by Fed-
eral agencies with the foreign policy goals of the 
United States; 
(4) identify opportunities for new international 
science and technology cooperative research and 
training partnerships that advance both the science 
and technology and the foreign policy priorities of 
the United States; 
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(5) in carrying out paragraph (4), solicit input 
and recommendations from non-Federal science and 
technology stakeholders, including institutions of 
higher education, scientific and professional soci-
eties, industry, and other relevant organizations and 
institutions; and 
(6) identify broad issues that influence the abil-
ity of United States scientists and engineers to col-
laborate with foreign counterparts, including bar-
riers to collaboration and access to scientific infor-
mation. 
(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Director of the Of-
fice of Science and Technology Policy shall submit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
Representatives a biennial report on the requirements of 
this section. 
(f) WEBSITE.—The Director shall make each report 
available to the public on the Office of Science and Tech-
nology Policy website. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The body established under sub-
section (b) shall terminate on the date that is 10 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act. 
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(h) ADDITIONAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—The Di-
rector of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
submit, not later than 60 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act and annually thereafter, to the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Com-
mittee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Com-
mittee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives 
a report that lists and describes the details of all foreign 
travel by Office of Science and Technology Policy staff and 
detailees. 
TITLE 
III—SCIENCE, 
TECH-
NOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
MATH EDUCATION 
SEC. 301. ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PRO-
GRAM UPDATE. 
Section 10A of the National Science Foundation Au-
thorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n–1a) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) STEM TEACHER SERVICE AND RETENTION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall develop 
and implement practices for increasing the propor-
tion of individuals receiving fellowships under this 
section who— 
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‘‘(A) fulfill the service obligation required 
under subsection (h); and 
‘‘(B) remain in the teaching profession in 
a high need local educational agency beyond the 
service obligation. 
‘‘(2) 
PRACTICES.—The 
practices 
described 
under paragraph (1) may include— 
‘‘(A) partnering with nonprofit or profes-
sional associations or with other government en-
tities to provide individuals receiving fellowships 
under this section with opportunities for profes-
sional development, including mentorship pro-
grams that pair those individuals with currently 
employed and recently retired science, tech-
nology, engineering, mathematics, or computer 
science professionals; 
‘‘(B) increasing recruitment from high 
need districts; 
‘‘(C) establishing a system to better collect, 
track, and respond to data on the career deci-
sions of individuals receiving fellowships under 
this section; 
‘‘(D) conducting research to better under-
stand factors relevant to teacher service and re-
tention, including factors specifically impacting 
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the retention of teachers who are individuals 
identified in sections 33 and 34 of the Science 
and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 
U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b); and 
‘‘(E) conducting pilot programs to improve 
teacher service and retention.’’. 
SEC. 302. SPACE GRANTS. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that the National Space Grant College and Fellow-
ship Program has been an important program by which 
the Federal Government has partnered with universities, 
colleges, industry, and other organizations to provide 
hands-on STEM experiences, fostering of multidisci-
plinary space research, and supporting graduate fellow-
ships in space-related fields, among other purposes. 
(b) ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.—Section 40303 of title 
51, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(d) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION COSTS.—In car-
rying out the provisions of this chapter, the Adminis-
trator— 
‘‘(1) shall maximize appropriated funds for 
grants and contracts made under section 40304 in 
each fiscal year; and 
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‘‘(2) in each fiscal year, the Administrator shall 
limit its program administration costs to no more 
than 5 percent of funds appropriated for this pro-
gram for that fiscal year. 
‘‘(e) REPORTS.—For any fiscal year in which the Ad-
ministrator cannot meet the administration cost target 
under subsection (d)(2), if the Administration is unable 
to limit program costs under subsection (b), the Adminis-
trator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress a report, including— 
‘‘(1) a description of why the Administrator did 
not meet the cost target under subsection (d); and 
‘‘(2) the measures the Administrator will take 
in the next fiscal year to meet the cost target under 
subsection (d) without drawing upon other Federal 
funding.’’. 
SEC. 303. STEM EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment this Act, the Director of the Foun-
dation, Secretary of Education, Administrator of the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration, and Admin-
istrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration shall jointly establish an advisory panel (referred 
to in this section as the ‘‘STEM Education Advisory 
Panel’’) to advise the Committee on STEM Education of 
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the National Science and Technology Council (referred to 
in this section as ‘‘CoSTEM’’) on matters relating to 
STEM education. 
(b) MEMBERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The STEM Education Advi-
sory Panel shall be composed of not less than 11 
members. 
(2) APPOINTMENT.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Subject to subpara-
graph (B), the Director of the Foundation, in 
consultation with the Secretary of Education 
and the heads of the Federal science agencies, 
shall appoint the members of the STEM Edu-
cation Advisory Panel. 
(B) CONSIDERATION.—In selecting individ-
uals to appoint under subparagraph (A), the 
Director of the Foundation shall seek and give 
consideration to recommendations from Con-
gress, industry, the scientific community, in-
cluding the National Academy of Sciences, sci-
entific professional societies, academia, State 
and local governments, organizations rep-
resenting individuals identified in section 33 or 
section 34 of the Science and Engineering 
Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 
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1885b), and such other organizations as the Di-
rector considers appropriate. 
(C) QUALIFICATIONS.—Members shall— 
(i) primarily be individuals from aca-
demic institutions, nonprofit organizations, 
and industry, including in-school, out-of- 
school, and informal education practi-
tioners; and 
(ii) be individuals who are qualified to 
provide advice and information on STEM 
education research, development, training, 
implementation, interventions, professional 
development, or workforce needs or con-
cerns. 
(c) RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The STEM Education Advi-
sory Panel shall— 
(A) advise CoSTEM; 
(B) periodically assess CoSTEM’s progress 
in carrying out its responsibilities under section 
101(b) of the America COMPETES Reauthor-
ization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621(b)); and 
(C) help identify any need or opportunity 
to update the strategic plan under section 
101(b) of that Act. 
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(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—In its advisory role, the 
STEM Education Advisory Panel shall consider— 
(A) the management, coordination, and im-
plementation of STEM education programs and 
activities across the Federal Government; 
(B) the appropriateness of criteria used by 
Federal agencies to evaluate the effectiveness of 
Federal STEM education programs and activi-
ties; 
(C) whether societal and workforce con-
cerns are adequately addressed by current Fed-
eral STEM education programs and activities; 
(D) how Federal agencies can incentivize 
institutions of higher education to improve re-
tention of STEM students; 
(E) ways to leverage private and nonprofit 
STEM investments and encourage public-pri-
vate partnerships to strengthen STEM edu-
cation and help build the STEM workforce 
pipeline; 
(F) ways to incorporate workforce needs 
into Federal STEM education programs and 
activities, particularly for specific employment 
fields of national interest and employment fields 
experiencing high unemployment rates; 
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(G) ways to better vertically and hori-
zontally integrate Federal STEM education 
programs and activities from pre-kindergarten 
through graduate study and the workforce, and 
from in-school to out-of-school in order to im-
prove transitions for students moving through 
the STEM education and workforce pipelines; 
(H) the extent to which Federal STEM 
education programs and activities are contrib-
uting to recruitment and retention of individ-
uals identified in sections 33 and 34 of the 
Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities 
Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b) in the STEM 
education and workforce pipelines; and 
(I) ways to encourage geographic diversity 
in the STEM education and the workforce pipe-
lines. 
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The STEM Edu-
cation Advisory Panel shall make recommendations 
to improve Federal STEM education programs and 
activities based on each assessment under paragraph 
(1)(B). 
(d) FUNDING.—The Director of the Foundation, the 
Secretary of Education, the Administrator of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Adminis-
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100 
trator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration shall jointly make funds available on an annual 
basis to support the activities of the STEM Education Ad-
visory Panel. 
(e) REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and after each assessment under 
subsection (c)(1)(B), the STEM Education Advisory 
Panel shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress and CoSTEM a report on its assessment under that 
subsection and its recommendations under subsection 
(c)(3). 
(f) TRAVEL EXPENSES
OF NON-FEDERAL MEM-
BERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Non-Federal members of the 
STEM Education Advisory Panel, while attending 
meetings of the panel or while otherwise serving at 
the request of a co-chairperson away from their 
homes or regular places of business, may be allowed 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, 
United States Code, for individuals in the Govern-
ment serving without pay. 
(2) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
subsection shall be construed to prohibit members of 
the STEM Advisory Panel who are officers or em-
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101 
ployees of the United States from being allowed 
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence, in accordance with existing law. 
(g) TERMINATION.—The STEM Education Advisory 
Panel established under subsection (a) shall terminate on 
the date that is 5 years after the date that it is estab-
lished. 
SEC. 304. COMMITTEE ON STEM EDUCATION. 
(a) RESPONSIBILITIES.—Section 101(b) of the Amer-
ica COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 
6621(b)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (5)(D), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(7) collaborate with the STEM Education Ad-
visory Panel established under section 303 of the 
American Innovation and Competitiveness Act and 
other outside stakeholders to ensure the engagement 
of the STEM education community; 
‘‘(8) review the measures used by a Federal 
agency to evaluate its STEM education activities 
and programs; 
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102 
‘‘(9) request and review feedback from States 
on how the States are utilizing Federal STEM edu-
cation programs and activities; and 
‘‘(10) recommend the reform, termination, or 
consolidation of Federal STEM education activities 
and programs, taking into consideration the rec-
ommendations of the STEM Education Advisory 
Panel.’’. 
(b) REPORTS.—Section 101 of the America COM-
PETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621) 
is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘(c) REPORT.—’’ and inserting 
‘‘(d) REPORTS.—’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES
OF 
OSTP.—’’ and inserting ‘‘(c) RESPONSIBILITIES OF 
OSTP.—’’; and 
(3) in subsection (d), as redesignated— 
(A) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘; and’’ 
and inserting a semicolon; 
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(C) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) a description of all consolidations and ter-
minations of Federal STEM education programs 
and activities implemented in the previous fiscal 
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year, including an explanation for the consolidations 
and terminations; 
‘‘(7) recommendations for reforms, consolida-
tions, and terminations of STEM education pro-
grams or activities in the upcoming fiscal year; and 
‘‘(8) a description of any significant new STEM 
education public-private partnerships.’’. 
SEC. 305. PROGRAMS TO EXPAND STEM OPPORTUNITIES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) Economic projections by the Bureau of 
Labor Statistics indicate that by 2018, there could 
be 2,400,000 unfilled STEM jobs. 
(2) Women represent slightly more than half 
the United States population, and projections indi-
cate that 54 percent of the population will be a 
member of a racial or ethnic minority group by 
2050. 
(3) Despite representing half the population, 
women comprise only about 30 percent of STEM 
workers according to a 2015 report by the National 
Center for Science and Engineering Statistics. 
(4) A 2014 National Center for Education Sta-
tistics study found that underrepresented popu-
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lations leave the STEM fields at higher rates than 
their counterparts. 
(5) The representation of women in STEM 
drops significantly at the faculty level. Overall, 
women hold only 25 percent of all tenured and ten-
ure-track positions and 17 percent of full professor 
positions in STEM fields in our Nation’s universities 
and 4-year colleges. 
(6) Black and Hispanic faculty together hold 
about 6.5 percent of all tenured and tenure-track po-
sitions and 5 percent of full professor positions. 
(7) Many of the numbers in the American In-
dian or Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian or 
Other Pacific Islander categories for different fac-
ulty ranks were too small for the Foundation to re-
port publicly without potentially compromising con-
fidential information about the individuals being sur-
veyed. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) it is critical to our Nation’s economic lead-
ership and global competitiveness that the United 
States educate, train, and retain more scientists, en-
gineers, and computer scientists; 
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(2) there is currently a disconnect between the 
availability of and growing demand for STEM- 
skilled workers; 
(3) historically, underrepresented populations 
are the largest untapped STEM talent pools in the 
United States; and 
(4) given the shifting demographic landscape, 
the United States should encourage full participation 
of individuals from underrepresented populations in 
STEM fields. 
(c) REAFFIRMATION.—The Director of the Founda-
tion shall continue to support programs designed to broad-
en participation of underrepresented populations in STEM 
fields. 
(d) GRANTS TO BROADEN PARTICIPATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Founda-
tion shall award grants on a competitive, merit-re-
viewed basis, to eligible entities to increase the par-
ticipation of underrepresented populations in STEM 
fields, including individuals identified in section 33 
or section 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b). 
(2) CENTER OF EXCELLENCE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Grants awarded under 
this subsection may include grants for the es-
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tablishment of a Center of Excellence to collect, 
maintain, and disseminate information to in-
crease participation of underrepresented popu-
lations in STEM fields. 
(B) PURPOSE.—The purpose of a Center 
of Excellence under this subsection is to pro-
mote diversity in STEM fields by building on 
the success of the INCLUDES programs, pro-
viding technical assistance, maintaining best 
practices, and providing related training at fed-
erally funded academic institutions. 
(e) ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.— 
(1) EVALUATION.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Di-
rector of the Foundation shall evaluate the 
grants provided under this section. 
(B) REQUIREMENTS.—In conducting the 
evaluation under subparagraph (A), the Direc-
tor shall— 
(i) use a common set of benchmarks 
and assessment tools to identify best prac-
tices and materials developed or dem-
onstrated by the research; and 
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(ii) to the extent practicable, combine 
the research resulting from the grant activ-
ity under subsection (e) with the current 
research on serving underrepresented stu-
dents in grades kindergarten through 8. 
(2) REPORT ON EVALUATIONS.—Not later than 
180 days after the completion of the evaluation 
under paragraph (1), the Director of the Foundation 
shall submit to the appropriate committees of Con-
gress and make widely available to the public a re-
port that includes— 
(A) the results of the evaluation; and 
(B) any recommendations for administra-
tive and legislative action that could optimize 
the effectiveness of the program. 
(f) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
Director of the Foundation shall consult and cooperate 
with the programs and policies of other relevant Federal 
agencies to avoid duplication with and enhance the effec-
tiveness of the program under this section. 
SEC. 306. NIST EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. 
(a) REPEAL.—The National Institute of Standards 
and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 271 et seq.) is amended 
by striking section 18 (15 U.S.C. 278g–1). 
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108 
(b) EDUCATION AND OUTREACH.—The National In-
stitute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 271 
et seq.), as amended, is further amended by inserting after 
section 17, the following: 
‘‘SEC. 18. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director is authorized to ex-
pend funds appropriated for activities of the Institute in 
any fiscal year, to support, promote, and coordinate activi-
ties and efforts to enhance public awareness and under-
standing of measurement sciences, standards and tech-
nology at the national measurement laboratories and oth-
erwise in fulfillment of the mission of the Institute. The 
Director may carry out activities under this subsection, 
including education and outreach activities to the general 
public, industry and academia in support of the Institute’s 
mission. 
‘‘(b) HIRING.—The Director, in coordination with the 
Director of the Office of Personnel Management, may re-
vise the procedures the Director applies when making ap-
pointments to laboratory positions within the competitive 
service— 
‘‘(1) to ensure corporate memory of and exper-
tise in the fundamental ongoing work, and on devel-
oping new capabilities in priority areas; 
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‘‘(2) to maintain high overall technical com-
petence; 
‘‘(3) to improve staff diversity; 
‘‘(4) to balance emphases on the noncore and 
core areas; or 
‘‘(5) to improve the ability of the Institute to 
compete in the marketplace for qualified personnel. 
‘‘(c) VOLUNTEERS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director may establish 
a program to use volunteers in carrying out the pro-
grams of the Institute. 
‘‘(2) ACCEPTANCE OF PERSONNEL.—The Direc-
tor may accept, subject to regulations issued by the 
Office of Personnel Management, voluntary service 
for the Institute for such purpose if the service— 
‘‘(A) is to be without compensation; and 
‘‘(B) will not be used to displace any cur-
rent employee or act as a substitute for any fu-
ture full-time employee of the Institute. 
‘‘(3) FEDERAL EMPLOYEE STATUS.—Any indi-
vidual who provides voluntary service under this sub-
section shall not be considered a Federal employee, 
except for purposes of chapter 81 of title 5, United 
States Code (relating to compensation for injury), 
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and sections 2671 through 2680 of title 28, United 
States Code (relating to tort claims). 
‘‘(d) RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director may expend 
funds appropriated for activities of the Institute in 
any fiscal year, as the Director considers appro-
priate, for awards of research fellowships and other 
forms of financial and logistical assistance, including 
direct stipend awards to— 
‘‘(A) students at institutions of higher 
learning within the United States who show 
promise as present or future contributors to the 
mission of the Institute; and 
‘‘(B) United States citizens for research 
and technical activities of the Institute, includ-
ing programs. 
‘‘(2) SELECTION
CRITERIA.—The selection of 
persons to receive such fellowships and assistance 
shall be made on the basis of ability and of the rel-
evance of the proposed work to the mission and pro-
grams of the Institute. 
‘‘(3) FINANCIAL
AND
LOGISTICAL
ASSIST-
ANCE.—Notwithstanding section 1345 of title 31, 
United States Code, or any other law to the con-
trary, the Director may include as a form of finan-
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cial or logistical assistance under this subsection 
temporary housing and transportation to and from 
Institute facilities. 
‘‘(e) EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH ACTIVITIES.—The 
Director may— 
‘‘(1) facilitate education programs for under-
graduate and graduate students, postdoctoral re-
searchers, and academic and industry employees; 
‘‘(2) sponsor summer workshops for STEM kin-
dergarten through grade 12 teachers as appropriate; 
‘‘(3) develop programs for graduate student in-
ternships and visiting faculty researchers; 
‘‘(4) document publications, presentations, and 
interactions with visiting researchers and sponsoring 
interns as performance metrics for improving and 
continuing interactions with those individuals; and 
‘‘(5) facilitate laboratory tours and provide 
presentations for educational, industry, and commu-
nity groups.’’. 
(c) POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.—Sec-
tion 19 of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g–2) is amended to read as fol-
lows: 
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‘‘SEC. 19. POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Institute and the National 
Academy of Sciences, jointly, shall establish and conduct 
a post-doctoral fellowship program, subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations. 
‘‘(b) ORGANIZATION.—The post-doctoral fellowship 
program shall include not less than 20 new fellows per 
fiscal year. 
‘‘(c) EVALUATIONS.—In evaluating applications for 
post-doctoral fellowships under this section, the Director 
of the Institute and the President of the National Acad-
emy of Sciences shall give consideration to the goal of pro-
moting the participation of individuals identified in sec-
tions 33 and 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal 
Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b) in research 
areas supported by the Institute.’’. 
(d) SAVINGS CLAUSES.— 
(1) RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS AND OTHER FI-
NANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO STUDENTS AT INSTITUTES 
OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The repeal made by sub-
section (a) of this section shall not affect any award 
of a research fellowship or other form of financial 
assistance made under section 18 of the National In-
stitute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
278g–1) before the date of enactment of this Act. 
Such award shall continue to be subject to the re-
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quirements to which such funds were subject under 
that section before the date of enactment of this Act. 
(2) POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.— 
The amendment made by subsection (c) of this sec-
tion shall not affect any award of a post-doctoral fel-
lowship or other form of financial assistance made 
under section 19 of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g–2) before 
the date of enactment of this Act. Such awards shall 
continue to be subject to the requirements to which 
such funds were subject under that section before 
the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 307. PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE IN 
STEM MENTORING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Foundation 
shall continue to administer awards on behalf of the Office 
of Science and Technology Policy to recognize outstanding 
mentoring in STEM fields. 
(b) ANNUAL AWARD RECIPIENTS.—The Director of 
the Foundation shall provide Congress with a list of award 
recipients, including the name, institution, and a brief syn-
opsis of the impact of the mentoring efforts. 
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SEC. 308. WORKING GROUP ON INCLUSION IN STEM 
FIELDS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, in collaboration with Federal depart-
ments and agencies, shall establish an interagency work-
ing group to compile and summarize available research 
and best practices on how to promote diversity and inclu-
sions in STEM fields and examine whether barriers exist 
to promoting diversity and inclusion within Federal agen-
cies employing scientists and engineers. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The working group shall be 
responsible for reviewing and assessing research, best 
practices, and policies across Federal science agencies re-
lated to the inclusion of individuals identified in sections 
33 and 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportu-
nities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b) in the Federal STEM 
workforce, including available research and best practices 
on how to promote diversity and inclusion in STEM fields, 
including— 
(1) policies providing flexibility for scientists 
and engineers that are also caregivers, particularly 
on the timing of research grants; 
(2) policies to address the proper handling of 
claims of sexual harassment; 
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(3) policies to minimize the effects of implicit 
bias and other systemic factors in hiring, promotion, 
evaluation and the workplace in general; and 
(4) other evidence-based strategies that the 
working group considers effective for promoting di-
versity and inclusion in the STEM fields. 
(c) STAKEHOLDER INPUT.—In carrying out the re-
sponsibilities under section (b), the working group shall 
solicit and consider input and recommendations from non- 
Federal stakeholders, including— 
(1) the Council of Advisors on Science and 
Technology; 
(2) federally funded and nonfederally funded re-
searchers, institutions of higher education, scientific 
disciplinary societies, and associations; 
(3) nonprofit research institutions; 
(4) industry, including small businesses; 
(5) federally funded research and development 
centers; 
(6) nongovernmental organizations; and 
(7) such other members of the public interested 
in promoting a diverse and inclusive Federal STEM 
workforce. 
(d) PUBLIC REPORTS.—Not later than 1 year after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and periodically there-
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after, the working group shall publish a report on the re-
view and assessment under subsection (b), including a 
summary of available research and best practices, any rec-
ommendations for Federal actions to promote a diverse 
and inclusive Federal STEM workforce, and updates on 
the implementation of previous recommendations for Fed-
eral actions. 
(e) TERMINATION.—The interagency working group 
established under subsection (a) shall terminate on the 
date that is 10 years after the date that it is established. 
SEC. 309. IMPROVING UNDERGRADUATE STEM EXPERI-
ENCES. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that each Federal science agency should invest in 
and expand research opportunities for undergraduate stu-
dents attending institutions of higher education during the 
undergraduate students’ first 2 academic years of postsec-
ondary education. 
(b) IDENTIFICATION
OF RESEARCH PROGRAMS.— 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the head of each Federal agency shall submit to the 
President recommendations regarding how the agency 
could best fulfill the goals described in subsection (a). 
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SEC. 310. COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION RESEARCH. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that as the lead Fed-
eral agency for building the research knowledge base for 
computer science education, the Foundation is well posi-
tioned to make investments that will accelerate ongoing 
efforts to enable rigorous and engaging computer science 
throughout the Nation as an integral part of STEM edu-
cation. 
(b) GRANT PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Founda-
tion shall award grants to eligible entities to re-
search computer science education and computa-
tional thinking. 
(2) RESEARCH.—The research described in 
paragraph (1) may include the development or adap-
tation, piloting or full implementation, and testing 
of— 
(A) models of preservice preparation for 
teachers who will teach computer science and 
computational thinking; 
(B) scalable and sustainable models of pro-
fessional development and ongoing support for 
the teachers described in subparagraph (A); 
(C) tools and models for teaching and 
learning aimed at supporting student success 
and inclusion in computing within and across 
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diverse populations, particularly poor, rural, 
and tribal populations and other populations 
that have been historically underrepresented in 
computer science and STEM fields; and 
(D) high-quality learning opportunities for 
teaching computer science and, especially in 
poor, rural, or tribal schools at the elementary 
school and middle school levels, for integrating 
computational thinking into STEM teaching 
and learning. 
(c) COLLABORATIONS.—In carrying out the grants 
established in subsection (b), eligible entities may collabo-
rate and partner with local or remote schools to support 
the integration of computing and computational thinking 
within pre-kindergarten through grade 12 STEM cur-
ricula and instruction. 
(d) METRICS.—The Director of the Foundation shall 
develop metrics to measure the success of the grant pro-
gram funded under this section in achieving program 
goals. 
(e) REPORT.—The Director of the Foundation shall 
report, in the annual budget submission to Congress, on 
the success of the program as measured by the metrics 
in subsection (d). 
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(f) DEFINITION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘eligible entity’’ means an institution of 
higher education or a nonprofit research organization. 
SEC. 311. INFORMAL STEM EDUCATION. 
(a) NATIONAL STEM PARTNERSHIP GRANTS.—Sec-
tion 3(a) of the STEM Education Act of 2015 (42 U.S.C. 
1862q(a)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) a national partnership of institutions in-
volved in informal STEM learning.’’. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—Section 3(b) of the STEM 
Education Act of 2015 (42 U.S.C. 1862q(b)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 
inserting a semicolon; 
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting a semicolon; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(3) fostering on-going partnerships between 
institutions involved in informal STEM learning, in-
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stitutions of higher education, and education re-
search centers; and 
‘‘(4) developing, and making available informal 
STEM education activities and educational mate-
rials.’’. 
SEC. 312. DEVELOPING STEM APPRENTICESHIPS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) The lack of data on the return on invest-
ment for United States employers using registered 
apprenticeships makes it difficult— 
(A) to communicate the value of these pro-
grams to businesses; and 
(B) to expand registered apprenticeships. 
(2) The lack of data on the value and impact 
of employer-provided worker training, which is likely 
substantial, hinders the ability of the Federal Gov-
ernment to formulate policy related to workforce 
training. 
(3) The Secretary of Commerce has initiated— 
(A) the first study on the return on invest-
ment for United States employers using reg-
istered apprenticeships through case studies of 
firms in various sectors, occupations, and geo-
graphic locations to provide the business com-
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munity with data on employer benefits and 
costs; and 
(B) discussions with officials at relevant 
Federal agencies about the need to collect com-
prehensive data on— 
(i) employer-provided worker training; 
and 
(ii) existing tools that could be used 
to collect such data. 
(b) DEVELOPMENT OF APPRENTICESHIP INFORMA-
TION.—The Secretary of Commerce shall continue to re-
search the value to businesses of utilizing apprenticeship 
programs, including— 
(1) evidence of return on investment of appren-
ticeships, including estimates for the average time it 
takes a business to recover the costs associated with 
training apprentices; and 
(2) data from the United States Census Bureau 
and other statistical surveys on employer-provided 
training, including apprenticeships and other on-the- 
job training and industry-recognized certification 
programs. 
(c) DISSEMINATION OF APPRENTICESHIP INFORMA-
TION.—The Secretary of Commerce shall disseminate 
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findings from research on apprenticeships to businesses 
and other relevant stakeholders, including— 
(1) institutions of higher education; 
(2) State and local chambers of commerce; and 
(3) workforce training organizations. 
(d) NEW APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM STUDY.—The 
Secretary of Commerce may collaborate with the Secretary 
of Labor to study approaches for reducing the cost of cre-
ating new apprenticeship programs and hosting appren-
tices for businesses, particularly small businesses, includ-
ing— 
(1) training sharing agreements; 
(2) group training models; and 
(3) pooling resources and best practices. 
(e) ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
ADMINISTRATION 
GRANTS.—The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation 
Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended by add-
ing at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 28. STEM APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce may 
carry out a grant program to identify the need for skilled 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (re-
ferred to in this section as ‘STEM’) workers and to ex-
pand STEM apprenticeship programs. 
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‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘eligible recipient’ means— 
‘‘(1) a State; 
‘‘(2) an Indian tribe; 
‘‘(3) a city or other political subdivision of a 
State; 
‘‘(4) an entity that— 
‘‘(A) is a nonprofit organization, an insti-
tution of higher education, a public-private 
partnership, a science or research park, a Fed-
eral laboratory, or an economic development or-
ganization or similar entity; and 
‘‘(B) has an application that is supported 
by a State, a political subdivision of a State, or 
a native organization; or 
‘‘(5) a consortium of any of the entities de-
scribed in paragraphs (1) through (5). 
‘‘(c) NEEDS ASSESSMENT GRANTS.—The Secretary 
of Commerce may provide a grant to an eligible recipient 
to conduct a needs assessment to identify— 
‘‘(1) the unmet need of a region’s employer 
base for skilled STEM workers; 
‘‘(2) the potential of STEM apprenticeships to 
address the unmet need described in paragraph (1); 
and 
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‘‘(3) any barriers to addressing the unmet need 
described in paragraph (1). 
‘‘(d) APPRENTICESHIP EXPANSION GRANTS.—The 
Secretary of Commerce may provide a grant to an eligible 
recipient that has conducted a needs assessment as de-
scribed in subsection (c)(1) to develop infrastructure to 
expand STEM apprenticeship programs.’’. 
SEC. 313. NSF REPORT ON BROADENING PARTICIPATION. 
Section 204(e) of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1885c(e)) is amend-
ed to read as follows: 
‘‘(e) BIENNIAL REPORT.—Every 2 years, the Com-
mittee shall prepare and submit to the Director a report 
on its activities during the previous 2 years and proposed 
activities for the next 2 years. The Director shall submit 
to Congress the report, unaltered, together with such com-
ments as the Director considers appropriate, including— 
‘‘(1) review data on the participation in Foun-
dation activities of institutions serving populations 
that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines, in-
cluding poor, rural, and tribal populations; and 
‘‘(2) recommendations regarding how the Foun-
dation could improve outreach and inclusion of these 
populations in Foundation activities.’’. 
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SEC. 314. NOAA SCIENCE EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 4002(a) of the America 
COMPETES Act (33 U.S.C. 893a(a)) is amended by 
striking ‘‘agency, with consideration given to the goal of 
promoting the participation of individuals from underrep-
resented groups’’ and inserting ‘‘the agency, with consid-
eration given to the goal of promoting the participation 
of individuals identified in sections 33 and 34 of the 
Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 
U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b)’’. 
(b) 
EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAM
GOALS.—Section 
4002(b)(4) of the America COMPETES Act (33 U.S.C. 
893a(b)(4)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 
the end; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as sub-
paragraph (D); 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(C) are designed considering the unique 
needs of underrepresented groups, translating 
such materials and other resources;’’; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(E) 
are 
promoted 
widely, 
especially 
among individuals identified in sections 33 and 
34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Op-
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portunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a, 1885b); 
and’’. 
(c) METRICS.—Section 4002 of the America COM-
PETES Act (33 U.S.C. 893a) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as 
subsections (e) and (f), respectively; and 
(2) by adding after subsection (c) the following: 
‘‘(d) METRICS.—In executing the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Administration science education plan 
under subsection (c), the Administrator shall maintain a 
comprehensive system for evaluating the Administration’s 
educational programs and activities. In so doing, the Ad-
ministrator shall ensure that such education programs 
have measurable objectives and milestones as well as clear, 
documented metrics for evaluating programs. For each 
such education program or portfolio of similar programs, 
the Administrator shall— 
‘‘(1) encourage the collection of evidence as rel-
evant to the measurable objectives and milestones; 
and 
‘‘(2) ensure that program or portfolio evalua-
tions focus on educational outcomes and not just in-
puts, activities completed, or the number of partici-
pants.’’. 
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SEC. 
315. 
HISPANIC-SERVING 
INSTITUTIONS 
UNDER-
GRADUATE PROGRAM UPDATE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7033(a) of the America 
COMPETES Act (42 U.S.C. 1862o–12(a)) is amended as 
follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall award grants 
on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to Hispanic-serving 
institutions (as defined in section 502 of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1101a)) to enhance the 
quality of undergraduate STEM education at such institu-
tions and to increase the retention and graduation rates 
of students pursuing associate’s or baccalaureate degrees 
in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.’’. 
(b) SAVINGS PROVISION.—The amendment made by 
subsection (a) of this section shall not affect any award 
of a grant or other form of financial assistance made 
under section 7033 of the America COMPETES Act (42 
U.S.C. 1862o–12) before the date of enactment of this 
Act. Such awards shall continue to be subject to the re-
quirements to which such funds were subject under that 
section before the date of enactment of this Act. 
TITLE IV—LEVERAGING THE 
PRIVATE SECTOR 
SEC. 401. PRIZE COMPETITION AUTHORITY UPDATE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Science Prize Competition Act’’. 
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(b) IN GENERAL.—Section 24 of the Stevenson- 
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3719) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (c)— 
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking 
‘‘PRIZES’’ and by inserting ‘‘PRIZE COMPETI-
TIONS’’; 
(B) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘prize may be one or more of the 
following’’ and inserting ‘‘prize competition may 
be one or more of the following types of activi-
ties’’; 
(C) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘com-
petition’’ after ‘‘prize’’; and 
(D) in paragraphs (3) and (4), by striking 
‘‘prizes’’ and inserting ‘‘prize competitions’’; 
(2) in subsection (f)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘in the Federal Register’’ and in-
serting ‘‘on a publicly accessible Government 
website, such as www.challenge.gov,’’; 
(B) in paragraphs (1), (2), and (3), by in-
serting ‘‘prize’’ before ‘‘competition’’; and 
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(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘prize’’ 
and inserting ‘‘cash prize purse or non-cash 
prize award’’; 
(3) in subsection (g)— 
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), 
by striking ‘‘prize’’ and inserting ‘‘cash prize 
purse’’; and 
(B) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘prize’’ 
before ‘‘competition’’; 
(4) in subsection (h), by inserting ‘‘prize’’ be-
fore ‘‘competition’’ each place it appears; 
(5) in subsection (i)— 
(A) in paragraph (1)(B), by inserting 
‘‘prize’’ before ‘‘competition’’; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting 
‘‘prize’’ before ‘‘competition’’ each place it ap-
pears; 
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as 
paragraph (4); and 
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the 
following: 
‘‘(3) WAIVERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An agency may waive 
the requirement under paragraph (2). 
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‘‘(B) LIST.—The Director shall include a 
list of all of the waivers granted under this 
paragraph during the preceding fiscal year, in-
cluding a detailed explanation of the reason for 
granting the waiver.’’; 
(6) in subsection (j)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘prize’’ 
before ‘‘competition’’; and 
(B) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(2) LICENSES.—As appropriate and to further 
the goals of a prize competition, the Federal Govern-
ment may negotiate a license for the use of intellec-
tual property developed by a registered participant 
in a prize competition.’’; 
(7) in subsection (k)— 
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘each 
competition’’ and inserting ‘‘each prize competi-
tion’’ each place it appears; 
(B) in paragraph (2)(A), by inserting 
‘‘prize’’ before ‘‘competition’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘prize’’ 
before ‘‘competitions’’ each place it appears; 
(8) in subsection (l), by striking ‘‘an agreement 
with’’ and all that follows through the period at the 
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end and inserting ‘‘a grant, contract, cooperative 
agreement, or other agreement with a private sector 
for-profit or nonprofit entity or State or local gov-
ernment agency to administer the prize competition, 
subject to the provisions of this section.’’; 
(9) in subsection (m)— 
(A) by amending paragraph (1) to read as 
follows: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Support for a prize com-
petition under this section, including financial sup-
port for the design and administration of a prize 
competition or funds for a cash prize purse, may 
consist of Federal appropriated funds and funds 
provided by private sector for-profit and nonprofit 
entities. The head of an agency may request and ac-
cept funds from other Federal agencies, State, 
United States territory, local, or tribal government 
agencies, private sector for-profit entities, and non-
profit entities, to be available to the extent provided 
by appropriations Acts, to support such prize com-
petitions. The head of an agency may not give any 
special consideration to any agency or entity in re-
turn for a donation.’’; 
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(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘prize 
awards’’ and inserting ‘‘cash prize purses or 
non-cash prize awards’’; 
(C) in paragraph (3)— 
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to 
read as follows: 
‘‘(A) ANNOUNCEMENT.—No prize competi-
tion may be announced under subsection (f) 
until all the funds needed to pay out the an-
nounced amount of the cash prize purse have 
been appropriated or committed in writing by a 
private or State, United States territory, local, 
or tribal government source.’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B)— 
(I) in the matter preceding clause 
(i), by striking ‘‘a prize’’ and inserting 
‘‘a cash prize purse or non-cash prize 
award’’; 
(II) in clause (i), by inserting 
‘‘competition’’ after ‘‘prize’’; and 
(III) in clause (ii), by inserting 
‘‘or State, United States territory, 
local, or tribal government’’ after 
‘‘private’’; and 
(D) in paragraph (4)— 
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(i) in subparagraph (A)— 
(I) by striking ‘‘a prize’’ and in-
serting ‘‘a cash prize purse or a non- 
cash prize award’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘Science and 
Technology’’ and inserting ‘‘Science, 
Space, and Technology’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
‘‘cash prizes’’ and inserting ‘‘cash prize 
purses or non-cash prize awards’’; 
(10) in subsection (n)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘SERVICE’’ 
and inserting ‘‘SERVICES’’; 
(B) by striking ‘‘the date of the enactment 
of the America COMPETES Reauthorization 
Act of 2010,’’ and inserting ‘‘the date of enact-
ment of the American Innovation and Competi-
tiveness Act,’’; and 
(C) by inserting ‘‘for both for-profit and 
nonprofit entities and State, United States ter-
ritory, local, and tribal government entities,’’ 
after ‘‘contract vehicle’’; 
(11) in subsection (o)(1), by striking ‘‘or pro-
viding a prize’’ and inserting ‘‘a prize competition or 
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providing a cash prize purse or non-cash prize 
award’’; and 
(12) in subsection (p)— 
(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘ANNUAL’’ 
and inserting ‘‘BIENNIAL’’; 
(B) in paragraph (1)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘each year’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘every other year’’; 
(ii) by striking ‘‘Science and Tech-
nology’’ and inserting ‘‘Science, Space, and 
Technology’’; and 
(iii) by striking ‘‘fiscal year’’ and in-
serting ‘‘2 fiscal years’’; and 
(C) in paragraph (2)— 
(i) by striking ‘‘The report for a fiscal 
year’’ and inserting ‘‘A report’’; 
(ii) in subparagraph (C)— 
(I) in the heading, by striking 
‘‘PRIZES’’ 
and 
inserting 
‘‘PRIZE 
PURSES
OR
NON-CASH
PRIZE 
AWARDS’’; and 
(II) by striking ‘‘cash prizes’’ 
each place it appears and inserting 
‘‘cash prize purses or non-cash prize 
awards’’; and 
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(iii) by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(G) PLAN.—A description of crosscutting 
topical areas and agency-specific mission needs 
that may be the strongest opportunities for 
prize competitions during the upcoming 2 fiscal 
years.’’. 
SEC. 402. CROWDSOURCING AND CITIZEN SCIENCE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act’’. 
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) the authority granted to Federal agencies 
under the America COMPETES Reauthorization 
Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–358; 124 Stat. 3982) 
to pursue the use of incentive prizes and challenges 
has yielded numerous benefits; 
(2) crowdsourcing and citizen science projects 
have a number of additional unique benefits, includ-
ing accelerating scientific research, increasing cost 
effectiveness to maximize the return on taxpayer dol-
lars, addressing societal needs, providing hands-on 
learning in STEM, and connecting members of the 
public directly to Federal science agency missions 
and to each other; and 
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(3) granting Federal science agencies the direct, 
explicit authority to use crowdsourcing and citizen 
science will encourage its appropriate use to advance 
Federal science agency missions and stimulate and 
facilitate broader public participation in the innova-
tion process, yielding numerous benefits to the Fed-
eral Government and citizens who participate in 
such projects. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CITIZEN
SCIENCE.—The term ‘‘citizen 
science’’ means a form of open collaboration in 
which individuals or organizations participate volun-
tarily in the scientific process in various ways, in-
cluding— 
(A) enabling the formulation of research 
questions; 
(B) creating and refining project design; 
(C) conducting scientific experiments; 
(D) collecting and analyzing data; 
(E) interpreting the results of data; 
(F) developing technologies and applica-
tions; 
(G) making discoveries; and 
(H) solving problems. 
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(2) 
CROWDSOURCING.—The 
term 
‘‘crowdsourcing’’ means a method to obtain needed 
services, ideas, or content by soliciting voluntary 
contributions from a group of individuals or organi-
zations, especially from an online community. 
(3) PARTICIPANT.—The term ‘‘participant’’ 
means any individual or other entity that has volun-
teered in a crowdsourcing or citizen science project 
under this section. 
(d) CROWDSOURCING AND CITIZEN SCIENCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The head of each Federal 
science agency, or the heads of multiple Federal 
science agencies working cooperatively, may utilize 
crowdsourcing and citizen science to conduct 
projects designed to advance the mission of the re-
spective Federal science agency or the joint mission 
of Federal science agencies, as applicable. 
(2) VOLUNTARY
SERVICES.—Notwithstanding 
section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the 
head of a Federal science agency may accept, sub-
ject to regulations issued by the Director of the Of-
fice of Personnel Management, in coordination with 
the Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy, services from participants under this section 
if such services— 
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(A) are performed voluntarily as a part of 
a crowdsourcing or citizen science project au-
thorized under paragraph (1); 
(B) are not financially compensated for 
their time; and 
(C) will not be used to displace any em-
ployee of the Federal Government. 
(3) OUTREACH.—The head of each Federal 
science agency engaged in a crowdsourcing or citizen 
science project under this section shall make public 
and promote such project to encourage broad par-
ticipation. 
(4) CONSENT, REGISTRATION, AND TERMS OF 
USE.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Each Federal science 
agency shall determine the appropriate level of 
consent, registration, or acknowledgment of the 
terms of use that are required from participants 
in crowdsourcing or citizen science projects 
under this section on a per-project basis. 
(B) DISCLOSURES.—In seeking consent, 
conducting registration, or developing terms of 
use for a project under this subsection, a Fed-
eral science agency shall disclose the privacy, 
intellectual property, data ownership, com-
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pensation, service, program, and other terms of 
use to the participant in a clear and reasonable 
manner. 
(C) MODE OF CONSENT.—A Federal agen-
cy or Federal science agencies, as applicable, 
may obtain consent electronically or in written 
form from participants under this section. 
(5) PROTECTIONS
FOR
HUMAN
SUBJECTS.— 
Any crowdsourcing or citizen science project under 
this section that involves research involving human 
subjects shall be subject to part 46 of title 28, Code 
of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulation). 
(6) DATA.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—A Federal science 
agency shall, where appropriate and to the ex-
tent practicable, make data collected through a 
crowdsourcing or citizen science project under 
this section available to the public, in a machine 
readable format, unless prohibited by law. 
(B) NOTICE.—As part of the consent proc-
ess, the Federal science agency shall notify all 
participants— 
(i) of the expected uses of the data 
compiled through the project; 
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(ii) if the Federal science agency will 
retain ownership of such data; 
(iii) if and how the data and results 
from the project would be made available 
for public or third-party use; and 
(iv) if participants are authorized to 
publish such data. 
(7) TECHNOLOGIES AND APPLICATIONS.—Fed-
eral science agencies shall endeavor to make tech-
nologies, applications, code, and derivations of such 
intellectual 
property 
developed 
through 
a 
crowdsourcing or citizen science project under this 
section available to the public. 
(8) 
LIABILITY.—Each 
participant 
in 
a 
crowdsourcing or citizen science project under this 
section shall agree— 
(A) to assume any and all risks associated 
with such participation; and 
(B) to waive all claims against the Federal 
Government and its related entities, except for 
claims based on willful misconduct, for any in-
jury, death, damage, or loss of property, rev-
enue, or profits (whether direct, indirect, or 
consequential) arising from participation in the 
project. 
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(9) RESEARCH MISCONDUCT.—Federal science 
agencies coordinating crowdsourcing or citizen 
science projects under this section shall make all 
practicable efforts to ensure that participants adhere 
to all relevant Federal research misconduct policies 
and other applicable ethics policies. 
(10) 
MULTI-SECTOR
PARTNERSHIPS.—The 
head of each Federal science agency engaged in 
crowdsourcing or citizen science under this section, 
or the heads of multiple Federal science agencies 
working cooperatively, may enter into a contract or 
other agreement to share administrative duties for 
such projects with— 
(A) a for-profit or nonprofit private sector 
entity, including a private institution of higher 
education; 
(B) a State, tribal, local, or foreign govern-
ment agency, including a public institution of 
higher education; or 
(C) a public-private partnership. 
(11) FUNDING.—In carrying out crowdsourcing 
and citizen science projects under this section, the 
head of a Federal science agency, or the heads of 
multiple Federal science agencies working coopera-
tively— 
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(A) may use funds appropriated by Con-
gress; 
(B) may publicize projects and solicit and 
accept funds or in-kind support for such 
projects, to be available to the extent provided 
by appropriations Acts, from— 
(i) other Federal agencies; 
(ii) for-profit or nonprofit private sec-
tor entities, including private institutions 
of higher education; or 
(iii) State, tribal, local, or foreign gov-
ernment agencies, including public institu-
tions of higher education; and 
(C) may not give any special consideration 
to any entity described in subparagraph (B) in 
return for such funds or in-kind support. 
(12) FACILITATION.— 
(A) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION 
ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator of the Gen-
eral Services Administration, in coordination 
with the Director of the Office of Personnel 
Management and the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy, shall, at no cost 
to Federal science agencies, identify and de-
velop relevant products, training, and services 
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to facilitate the use of crowdsourcing and cit-
izen science projects under this section, includ-
ing by specifying the appropriate contract vehi-
cles and technology and organizational plat-
forms to enhance the ability of Federal science 
agencies to carry out the projects under this 
section. 
(B) ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE.—The head of 
each Federal science agency engaged in 
crowdsourcing or citizen science under this sec-
tion may— 
(i) consult any guidance provided by 
the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, including the Federal 
Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Tool-
kit; 
(ii) designate a coordinator for that 
Federal science agency’s crowdsourcing 
and citizen science projects; and 
(iii) share best practices with other 
Federal agencies, including participation of 
staff in the Federal Community of Practice 
for Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science. 
(e) REPORT.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director 
of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall 
include, as a component of an annual report re-
quired under section 24(p) of the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3719(p)), a report on the projects and activities car-
ried out under this section. 
(2) INFORMATION INCLUDED.—The report re-
quired under paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) a summary of each crowdsourcing and 
citizen science project conducted by a Federal 
science agency during the most recently com-
pleted 2 fiscal years, including a description of 
the proposed goals of each crowdsourcing and 
citizen science project; 
(B) an analysis of why the utilization of a 
crowdsourcing or citizen science project summa-
rized in subparagraph (A) was the preferable 
method of achieving the goals described in sub-
paragraph (A) as opposed to other authorities 
available to the Federal science agency, such as 
contracts, grants, cooperative agreements, and 
prize competitions; 
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(C) the participation rates, submission lev-
els, number of consents, and any other statistic 
that might be considered relevant in each 
crowdsourcing and citizen science project; 
(D) a detailed description of— 
(i) the resources, including personnel 
and funding, that were used in the execu-
tion of each crowdsourcing and citizen 
science project; 
(ii) the project activities for which 
such resources were used; and 
(iii) how the obligations and expendi-
tures relating to the project’s execution 
were allocated among the accounts of the 
Federal science agency, including a de-
scription of the amount and source of all 
funds, private, public, and in-kind, contrib-
uted to each crowdsourcing and citizen 
science project; 
(E) 
a 
summary 
of 
the 
use 
of 
crowdsourcing and citizen science by all Federal 
science agencies, including interagency and 
multi-sector partnerships; 
(F) 
a 
description 
of 
how 
each 
crowdsourcing and citizen science project ad-
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vanced the mission of each participating Fed-
eral science agency; 
(G) an identification of each crowdsourcing 
or citizen science project where data collected 
through such project was not made available to 
the public, including the reasons for such ac-
tion; and 
(H) any other information that the Direc-
tor of the Office of Science and Technology Pol-
icy considers relevant. 
(f) SAVINGS PROVISION.—Nothing in this section 
may be construed— 
(1) 
to 
affect 
the 
authority 
to 
conduct 
crowdsourcing and citizen science authorized by any 
other provision of law; or 
(2) to displace Federal Government resources 
allocated to the Federal science agencies that use 
crowdsourcing or citizen science authorized under 
this section to carry out a project. 
SEC. 403. NIST DIRECTOR FUNCTIONS UPDATE. 
Section 2(b) of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 272(b)), as amended by 
section 403 of this Act, is further amended— 
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
striking ‘‘authorized to take’’ and inserting ‘‘author-
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ized to serve as the President’s principal adviser on 
standards policy pertaining to the Nation’s techno-
logical competitiveness and innovation ability and to 
take’’; 
(2) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘compare 
standards’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Federal 
Government’’ and inserting ‘‘facilitate standards-re-
lated information sharing and cooperation between 
Federal agencies’’; and 
(3) in paragraph (13), by striking ‘‘Federal, 
State, and local’’ and all that follows through ‘‘pri-
vate sector’’ and inserting ‘‘technical standards ac-
tivities and conformity assessment activities of Fed-
eral, State, and local governments with private sec-
tor’’. 
SEC. 404. NIST VISITING COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED TECH-
NOLOGY UPDATE. 
Section 10 of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘15 
members appointed by the Director, at least 10 
of whom’’ and ‘‘not fewer than 9 members ap-
pointed by the Director, a majority of whom’’; 
and 
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(B) in the third sentence, by striking ‘‘Na-
tional Bureau of Standards’’ and inserting 
‘‘National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology’’; and 
(2) in subsection (h)(1), by striking ‘‘, including 
the Program established under section 28,’’. 
TITLE V—MANUFACTURING 
SEC. 501. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PART-
NERSHIP IMPROVEMENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘Manufacturing Extension Partnership Improvement 
Act’’. 
(b) IN GENERAL.—Section 25 of the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) 
is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 25. HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PART-
NERSHIP. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’ means— 
‘‘(A) 
the 
Committee 
on 
Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and 
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‘‘(B) the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives. 
‘‘(2) AREA
CAREER
AND
TECHNICAL
EDU-
CATION SCHOOL.—The term ‘area career and tech-
nical education school’ has the meaning given the 
term in section 3 of the Vocational Education Act of 
1963 (20 U.S.C. 2302). 
‘‘(3) CENTER.—The term ‘Center’ means a 
manufacturing extension center that— 
‘‘(A) is created under subsection (b); and 
‘‘(B) is affiliated with an eligible entity 
that applies for and is awarded financial sup-
port under subsection (e). 
‘‘(4) COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—The term ‘com-
munity college’ means an institution of higher edu-
cation (as defined under section 101(a) of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) at 
which the highest degree that is predominately 
awarded to students is an associate’s degree. 
‘‘(5) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible en-
tity’ means a United States-based nonprofit institu-
tion, or consortium thereof, an institution of higher 
education, or a State, United States territory, local, 
or tribal government. 
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‘‘(6) HOLLINGS
MANUFACTURING
EXTENSION 
PARTNERSHIP
OR
PROGRAM.—The term ‘Hollings 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership’ or ‘Program’ 
means the program established under subsection (b). 
‘‘(7) MEP ADVISORY BOARD.—The term ‘MEP 
Advisory Board’ means the Manufacturing Exten-
sion Partnership Advisory Board established under 
subsection (n). 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT
AND PURPOSE.—The Sec-
retary, acting through the Director and, if appropriate, 
through other Federal officials, shall establish a program 
to provide assistance for the creation and support of man-
ufacturing extension centers for the transfer of manufac-
turing technology and best business practices. 
‘‘(c) OBJECTIVE.—The objective of the Program shall 
be to enhance competitiveness, productivity, and techno-
logical performance in United States manufacturing 
through— 
‘‘(1) the transfer of manufacturing technology 
and techniques developed at the Institute to Centers 
and, through them, to manufacturing companies 
throughout the United States; 
‘‘(2) the participation of individuals from indus-
try, institutions of higher education, State govern-
ments, other Federal agencies, and, when appro-
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‘‘(i) the merits of the application, par-
ticularly those portions of the application 
regarding technology transfer, training and 
education, and adaptation of manufac-
turing technologies to the needs of par-
ticular industrial sectors; 
‘‘(ii) the quality of service to be pro-
vided; 
‘‘(iii) the geographical diversity and 
extent of the service area; and 
‘‘(iv) the type and percentage of fund-
ing and in-kind commitment from other 
sources under paragraph (3). 
‘‘(g) EVALUATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) THIRD AND EIGHTH YEAR EVALUATIONS 
BY PANEL.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that each Center is evaluated during its 
third and eighth years of operation by an eval-
uation panel appointed by the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) COMPOSITION.—The Secretary shall 
ensure that each evaluation panel appointed 
under subparagraph (A) is composed of— 
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asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with BILLS