H. R. 4664—21
(E) how the results of the Center’s research can be
incorporated into educational practices, and how the Center
will assess the success of those practices.
(2) REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS.—In evaluating the applica-
tions submitted under paragraph (1), the Director shall con-
sider, at a minimum—
(A) the ability of the applicant to effectively carry
out the research program, including the activities described
in paragraph (1)(E);
(B) the experience of the applicant in conducting
research on the science of teaching and learning and the
capacity of the applicant to foster new multidisciplinary
collaborations;
(C) the capacity of the applicant to attract elementary
school and secondary school teachers from a diverse array
of schools, and with diverse professional experiences, for
participation in Center activities; and
(D) the capacity of the applicant to attract and provide
adequate support for graduate students to pursue research
at the intersection of educational practice and basic
research on human cognition and learning.
(3) AWARDS.—The Director shall ensure, to the extent prac-
ticable, that the Centers funded under this section conduct
research and develop educational practices designed to improve
the educational performance of a broad range of students,
including individuals identified in section 33 or 34 of the Science
and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a
or 1885b).
(c) ANNUAL
CONFERENCE.—The Director shall convene an
annual meeting of the Centers to foster collaboration among the
Centers and to further disseminate the results of the Centers’
activities.
(d) COORDINATION.—The Director shall coordinate with the Sec-
retary of Education in—
(1) disseminating the results of the research conducted
pursuant to grants awarded under this section to elementary
school teachers and secondary school teachers; and
(2) providing programming, guidance, and support to
ensure that such teachers—
(A) understand the implications of the research
disseminated under paragraph (1) for classroom practice;
and
(B) can use the research to improve such teachers’
performance in the classroom.
SEC. 12. DUPLICATION OF PROGRAMS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall review the education pro-
grams of the Foundation that are in operation as of the date
of enactment of this Act to determine whether any of such programs
duplicate the programs authorized under this Act.
(b) IMPLEMENTATION.—As programs authorized under this Act
are implemented, the Director shall—
(1) terminate any duplicative program being carried out
by the Foundation or merge the duplicative program into a
program authorized under this Act; and
(2) not establish any new program that duplicates a pro-
gram that has been implemented pursuant to this Act.
H. R. 4664—22
(c) REPORT.—
(1) REVIEW.—The Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy shall review the education programs of the
Foundation to ensure compliance with the provisions of this
section.
(2) SUBMISSION.—Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter as part of the
annual Office of Science and Technology Policy’s budget submis-
sion to Congress, the Director of the Office of Science and
Technology Policy shall complete a report on the review carried
out under this subsection and shall submit the report to the
Committee on Science and the Committee on Appropriations
of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee
on Appropriations of the Senate.
SEC. 13. MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION.
(a) REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT.—The Director shall conduct a
review and assessment of the major research instrumentation pro-
gram and, not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, submit a report of findings and recommendations to the
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives, the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate,
and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
of the Senate. The report shall include—
(1) estimates of the needs, by major field of science and
engineering and by types of institutions of higher education,
for the types of research instrumentation that are eligible for
acquisition under the guidelines of the major research
instrumentation program;
(2) a description of the distribution of awards and funding
levels by year, by major field of science and engineering, and
by type of institution of higher education for the program,
since the inception of the major research instrumentation pro-
gram; and
(3) an analysis of the impact of the major research
instrumentation program on the research instrumentation
needs that were documented in the Foundation’s 1994 survey
of academic research instrumentation needs.
(b) NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES ASSESSMENT ON INTER-
DISCIPLINARY RESEARCH
AND ADVANCED INSTRUMENTATION CEN-
TERS.—
(1) ASSESSMENT.—Not later than 3 months after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into an
arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to assess
the need for an interagency program to establish and support
fully equipped, state-of-the-art university-based centers for
interdisciplinary 
research 
and 
advanced 
instrumentation
development.
(2) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 15 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall
transmit to the Committee on Science of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate the assessment
conducted by the National Academy of Sciences together with
H. R. 4664—23
the Foundation’s reaction to the assessment authorized under
paragraph (1).
SEC. 14. MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES CONSTRUC-
TION PLAN.
(a) PRIORITIZATION OF PROPOSED MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT
AND FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION.—
(1) DEVELOPMENT OF PRIORITIES.—(A) The Director shall—
(i) develop a list indicating by number the relative
priority for funding under the major research equipment
and facilities construction account that the Director assigns
to each project the Board has approved for inclusion in
a future budget request; and
(ii) submit the list described in clause (i) to the Board
for approval.
(B) The Director shall update the list prepared under
subparagraph (A) each time the Board approves a new project
that would receive funding under the major research equipment
and facilities construction account, as necessary to prepare
reports under paragraph (2), and, from time to time, submit
any updated list to the Board for approval.
(2) ANNUAL
REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, and not later than each June
15 thereafter, the Director shall transmit to the Committee
on Science of the House of Representatives, the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of
the Senate a report containing—
(A) the most recent Board-approved priority list devel-
oped under paragraph (1)(A);
(B) a description of the criteria used to develop such
list; and
(C) a description of the major factors for each project
that determined the ranking of such project on the list,
based on the application of the criteria described pursuant
to subparagraph (B).
(3) CRITERIA.—The criteria described pursuant to para-
graph (2)(B) shall include, at a minimum—
(A) scientific merit;
(B) broad societal need and probable impact;
(C) consideration of the results of formal prioritization
efforts by the scientific community;
(D) readiness of plans for construction and operation;
(E) the applicant’s management and administrative
capacity of large research facilities;
(F) international and interagency commitments; and
(G) the order in which projects were approved by the
Board for inclusion in a future budget request.
(b) FACILITIES PLAN.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 201(a)(1) of the National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 1862l(a)(1))
is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall prepare, and include
as part of the Foundation’s annual budget request to Congress,
a plan for the proposed construction of, and repair and upgrades
to, national research facilities, including full life-cycle cost
information.’’.
H. R. 4664—24
(2) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—Section 201(a)(2) of the National
Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C.
1862l(a)(2)) is amended—
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘(1);’’ and inserting
‘‘(1), including costs for instrumentation development;’’;
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘and’’ after the
semicolon;
(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking ‘‘construction.’’
and inserting ‘‘construction;’’; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(D) for each project funded under the major research
equipment and facilities construction account—
‘‘(i) estimates of the total project cost (from plan-
ning to commissioning); and
‘‘(ii) the source of funds, including Federal funding
identified by appropriations category and non-Federal
funding;
‘‘(E) estimates of the full life-cycle cost of each national
research facility;
‘‘(F) information on any plans to retire national
research facilities; and
‘‘(G) estimates of funding levels for grants supporting
research that will be conducted using each national
research facility.’’.
(3) DEFINITION.—Section 2 of the National Science Founda-
tion Authorization Act of 1998 (42 U.S.C. 1862k note) is
amended—
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (3) through (5) as
paragraphs (4) through (6), respectively; and
(B) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
‘‘(3) FULL LIFE-CYCLE COST.—The term ‘full life-cycle cost’
means all costs of planning, development, procurement,
construction, operations and support, and shut-down costs,
without regard to funding source and without regard to what
entity manages the project or facility involved.’’.
(c) PROJECT
MANAGEMENT.—No national research facility
project funded under the major research equipment and facilities
construction account shall be managed by an individual whose
appointment to the Foundation is temporary.
(d) BOARD APPROVAL
OF MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT
AND
FACILITIES PROJECTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—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 obli-
gated from such account for such project.
(2) REPORT.—Not later than September 15 of each fiscal
year, the Board shall report to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and
the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives
on the conditions of any delegation of authority under section
4 of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C.
1863) that relates to funds appropriated for any project in
the major research equipment and facilities construction
account.
(e) NATIONAL
ACADEMY
OF
SCIENCES
STUDY
ON
MAJOR
RESEARCH EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION.—
H. R. 4664—25
(1) STUDY.—Not later than 3 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into an arrange-
ment with the National Academy of Sciences to perform a
study on setting priorities for a diverse array of disciplinary
and interdisciplinary Foundation-sponsored large research
facility projects.
(2) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 15 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director shall
transmit to the Committee on Science and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the study
conducted by the National Academy of Sciences together with
the Foundation’s reaction to the study authorized under para-
graph (1).
SEC. 15. ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS.
(a) BOARD MEETINGS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Section 4(e) of the National Science
Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(e)) is amended by
striking the second and third sentences and inserting ‘‘The
Board shall adopt procedures governing the conduct of its
meetings, including delivery of notice and a definition of a
quorum, which in no case shall be less than one-half plus
one of the confirmed members of the Board.’’.
(2) OPEN MEETINGS.—The Board and all of its committees,
subcommittees, and task forces (and any other entity consisting
of members of the Board and reporting to the Board) shall
be subject to section 552b of title 5, United States Code.
(3) COMPLIANCE
AUDIT.—The Inspector General of the
Foundation shall conduct an annual audit of the compliance
by the Board with the requirements described in paragraph
(2). The audit shall examine the proposed and actual content
of closed meetings and determine whether the closure of the
meetings was consistent with section 552b of title 5, United
States Code.
(4) REPORT.—Not later than February 15 of each year,
the Inspector General of the Foundation shall transmit to the
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and
Pensions of the Senate the audit required under paragraph
(3) along with recommendations for corrective actions that need
to be taken to achieve fuller compliance with the requirements
described in paragraph (2), and recommendations on how to
ensure public access to the Board’s deliberations.
(b) CONFIDENTIALITY OF CERTAIN INFORMATION.—Section 14(i)
of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1873(i))
is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(i)(1)(A) Information supplied to the Foundation or a contractor
of the Foundation in survey forms, questionnaires, or similar
instruments for purposes of section 3(a)(5) or (6) by an individual,
an industrial or commercial organization, or an educational, aca-
demic, or other nonprofit institution when the institution has
received a pledge of confidentiality from the Foundation, shall not
H. R. 4664—26
be disclosed to the public unless the information has been trans-
formed into statistical or abstract formats that do not allow for
the identification of the supplier.
‘‘(B) Information that has not been transformed into formats
described in subparagraph (A) may be used only for statistical
or research purposes.
‘‘(C) The identities of individuals, organizations, and institu-
tions supplying information described in subparagraph (A) may
not be disclosed to the public.
‘‘(2) In support of functions authorized by section 3(a)(5) or
(6), the Foundation may designate, at its discretion, authorized
persons, including employees of Federal, State, or local agencies
or instrumentalities (including local educational agencies) and
employees of private organizations, to have access, for statistical
or research purposes only, to information collected pursuant to
section 3(a)(5) or (6) that allows for the identification of the supplier.
No such person may—
‘‘(A) publish information collected pursuant to section
3(a)(5) or (6) in such a manner that either an individual,
an industrial or commercial organization, or an educational,
academic, or other nonprofit institution that has received a
pledge of confidentiality from the Foundation can be specifically
identified;
‘‘(B) permit anyone other than individuals authorized by
the Foundation to examine data that allows for such identifica-
tion relating to an individual, an industrial or commercial
organization, or an academic, educational, or other nonprofit
institution that has received a pledge of confidentiality from
the Foundation; or
‘‘(C) knowingly and willfully request or obtain any
nondisclosable information described in paragraph (1) from the
Foundation under false pretenses.
‘‘(3) Violation of this subsection is punishable by a fine of
not more than $10,000, imprisonment for not more than 5 years,
or both.’’.
(c) APPOINTMENT.—Section 4(g) of the National Science Founda-
tion Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(g)) is amended by striking the
second sentence and inserting ‘‘Such staff shall be appointed by
the Chairman and assigned at the direction of the Board.’’.
(d) SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY.—The Director shall not exclude
part-time students from eligibility for scholarships under the Com-
puter Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Scholarship program.
SEC. 16. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES ACT
AMENDMENTS.
Section 32 of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities
Act (42 U.S.C. 1885) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘backgrounds.’’ and
inserting ‘‘backgrounds, including persons with disabilities.’’;
and
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) by inserting ‘‘, including persons with disabilities,’’
after ‘‘backgrounds’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘and minorities’’ each place the term
appears and inserting ‘‘, minorities, and persons with
disabilities’’.
H. R. 4664—27
SEC. 17. UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION REFORM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall award grants, on a
competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to institutions of higher edu-
cation to expand previously implemented reforms of undergraduate
science, mathematics, engineering, or technology education that
have been demonstrated to have been successful in increasing the
number and quality of students studying toward and completing
associate’s or baccalaureate degrees in science, mathematics,
engineering, or technology.
(b) USES OF FUNDS.—Activities supported by grants under this
section may include—
(1) expansion of successful reform efforts beyond a single
course or group of courses to achieve reform within an entire
academic unit;
(2) expansion of successful reform efforts beyond a single
academic unit to other science, mathematics, engineering, or
technology academic units within an institution;
(3) creation of multidisciplinary courses or programs that
formalize collaborations for the purpose of improved student
instruction and research in science, mathematics, engineering,
and technology;
(4) expansion of undergraduate research opportunities
beyond a particular laboratory, course, or academic unit to
engage multiple academic units in providing multidisciplinary
research opportunities for undergraduate students;
(5) expansion of innovative tutoring or mentoring programs
proven to enhance student recruitment or persistence to degree
completion in science, mathematics, engineering, or technology;
(6) improvement of undergraduate science, mathematics,
engineering, and technology education for nonmajors, including
education majors; and
(7) implementation of technology-driven reform efforts,
including the installation of technology to facilitate such reform,
that directly impact undergraduate science, mathematics,
engineering, or technology instruction or research experiences.
(c) SELECTION PROCESS.—
(1) APPLICATIONS.—An institution of higher education
seeking a grant under this section shall submit an application
to the Director at such time, in such manner, and containing
such information as the Director may require. The application
shall include, at a minimum—
(A) a description of the proposed reform effort;
(B) a description of the previously implemented reform
effort that will serve as the basis for the proposed reform
effort and evidence of success of that previous effort,
including data on student recruitment, persistence to
degree completion, and academic achievement;
(C) evidence of active participation in the proposed
project by individuals who were central to the success
of the previously implemented reform effort; and
(D) evidence of institutional support for, and commit-
ment to, the proposed reform effort, including a description
of existing or planned institutional policies and practices
regarding faculty hiring, promotion, tenure, and teaching
assignment that reward faculty contributions to under-
graduate education equal to, or greater than, scholarly
scientific research.
H. R. 4664—28
(2) REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS.—In evaluating applications
submitted under paragraph (1), the Director shall consider
at a minimum—
(A) the evidence of past success in implementing under-
graduate education reform and the likelihood of success
in undertaking the proposed expanded effort;
(B) the extent to which the faculty, staff, and adminis-
trators of the institution are committed to making the
proposed institutional reform a priority of the participating
academic unit;
(C) the degree to which the proposed reform will con-
tribute to change in institutional culture and policy such
that a greater value is placed on faculty engagement in
undergraduate education, as evidenced through promotion
and tenure policies; and
(D) the likelihood that the institution will sustain or
expand the reform beyond the period of the grant.
(3) GRANT
DISTRIBUTION.—The Director shall ensure, to
the extent practicable, that grants awarded under this section
are made to a variety of types of institutions of higher edu-
cation.
SEC. 18. REPORTS.
(a) GRANT SIZE AND DURATION.—Not later than 6 months after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall transmit
to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen-
sions of the Senate a report describing the impact that increasing
the average grant size and duration would have on minority-serving
institutions and on institutions located in States where the Founda-
tion’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
(established under section 113 of the National Science Foundation
Authorization Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g)) is carrying out activi-
ties.
(b) FACULTY.—Not later than 3 months after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Director shall enter into an arrangement
with the National Academy of Sciences to assess gender differences
in the careers of science and engineering faculty. This study shall
build on the Academy’s work on gender differences in the carriers
of doctoral scientists and engineers and examine issues such as
faculty hiring, promotion, tenure, and allocation of resources
including laboratory space. Upon completion, the results of this
study shall be transmitted to the Committee on Science of the
House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
(c) GRANT FUNDING.—Not later than 3 months after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Director shall enter into an agreement
with an appropriate party to assess gender differences in the dis-
tribution of external Federal research and development funding.
This study shall examine differences in amounts requested and
awarded, by gender, in major Federal external grant programs.
Upon completion, the results of this study shall be transmitted
to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
H. R. 4664—29
Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen-
sions of the Senate.
(d) STUDY OF BROADBAND NETWORK ACCESS FOR SCHOOLS AND
LIBRARIES.—
(1) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Director shall conduct a
study of the issues described in paragraph (3), and not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, transmit
to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives,
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor,
and Pensions of the Senate a report including recommendations
to address those issues. Such report shall be updated annually
for 4 additional years.
(2) CONSULTATION.—In preparing the reports under para-
graph (1), the Director shall consult with Federal agencies
and educational entities as the Director considers appropriate.
(3) ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED.—The reports shall—
(A) identify the availability of high-speed, large band-
width capacity access to different demographic groups
served by elementary schools, secondary schools, and
libraries in the United States;
(B) identify how the provision of high-speed, large
bandwidth capacity access to the Internet to such schools
and libraries can be effectively utilized within each school
and library;
(C) consider the effect that specific or regional cir-
cumstances may have on the ability of such institutions
to acquire high-speed, large bandwidth capacity access to
achieve universal connectivity as an effective tool in the
education process; and
(D) include options and recommendations to address
the challenges and issues identified in the reports.
(e) MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTION FUNDING.—
(1) ANNUAL
REPORTING
REQUIRED.—The Director shall
submit an annual report, along with the President’s annual
budget request, to the Committee on Science of the House
of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on the amount
of funding awarded by the Foundation to minority-serving
institutions, including funding received as members of con-
sortia. The report shall include information on such funding
to minority-serving institutions—
(A) expressed as a percentage of funding to all institu-
tions of higher education for each appropriations account
within the Foundation’s budget; and
(B) for the preceding 10 years.
(2) REPORT ON WAYS TO IMPROVE FUNDING.—Within one
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director
shall submit to the Committee on Science of the House of
Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report on
recommendations on how the Foundation can improve funding
to minority-serving institutions.