I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3717 
To provide for the establishment of a grant program to support United 
States-Israel cooperation for neuroscience-related research and related 
technological innovation, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
OCTOBER 8, 2015 
Mr. FATTAH introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To provide for the establishment of a grant program to 
support United States-Israel cooperation for neuro-
science-related research and related technological innova-
tion, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘U.S.–Israel Global 
Neuroscience Partnership Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
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(1) It is in the highest national security inter-
ests of the United States to develop neuroscience-re-
lated research and neurotechnology. 
(2) The State of Israel is a steadfast ally of the 
United States. 
(3) The four existing bilateral research and de-
velopment (in this Act referred to as ‘‘R&D’’) foun-
dations are successful tools for implementation of di-
verse programmatic R&D cooperation and include— 
(A) the United States-Israel Binational In-
dustrial Research and Development Founda-
tion; 
(B) the United States-Israel Binational 
Science Foundation; 
(C) the United States-Israel Binational 
Agricultural Research and Development Foun-
dation; and 
(D) the United States-Israel Science & 
Technology Foundation. 
(4) Given this proven success, it is in the eco-
nomic interest of the United States to develop closer 
research, high-technology and innovation ties with 
Israel in strategic areas of mutual interest. 
(5) Both governments agreed to reach an um-
brella Science & Technology Agreement under which 
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existing R&D and Innovation funding programs can 
operate jointly on common priorities, in order to in-
tensify, further and deepen the science and tech-
nology (in this Act referred to as ‘‘S&T’’) and inno-
vation links between the United States and Israel 
beyond the existing bilateral foundations operations. 
The United States Department of State is drafting 
this Agreement. Congress supports this agreement 
and its implementation through Federal R&D and 
innovation programs. 
(6) The State of Israel has a centralized mecha-
nism for policy and funding industrial R&D within 
the Ministry of Economy’s Industrial R&D Adminis-
tration, known as the Office of the Chief Scientist 
(in this Act referred to as ‘‘OCS’’). The OCS is the 
State of Israel’s national authority in charge of pol-
icy and budgeting of industrial R&D and innovation. 
(7) The U.S.–Israel Joint Economic Develop-
ment Group, a binational economic dialogue between 
both governments (in this Act referred to as 
‘‘JEDG’’) to further enhance cooperation between 
the United States and Israel, requested the United 
States-Israel Science & Technology Foundation map 
and identify mechanisms of research and develop-
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ment in neuroscience and neurotechnology that can 
support further collaboration between the countries. 
(8) Israeli scientists and engineers are at the 
forefront of research and development in the field of 
neuroscience. 
(9) Israel Brain Technologies is a nonprofit or-
ganization whose mission is to turn Israel into a 
global brain technology and research leader by— 
(A) supporting applied brain research; 
(B) accelerating brain technology develop-
ment; 
(C) creating and fostering a community 
around neurotechnology; and 
(D) attracting key stakeholders to partner 
and support brain technology in Israel. 
(10) Enhanced cooperation between the United 
States and Israel for the purpose of research and de-
velopment of neuroscience that would be in the na-
tional interests of both countries. 
(b) BILATERAL INDUSTRIAL R&D AND INNOVATION 
PROGRAMS.— 
(1) Congress supports the expansion of U.S.– 
Israel industry driven R&D with Federal and State 
entities through innovation linkages to promote eco-
nomic growth and job creation. 
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(2) It is in the best interest of the United 
States to hold a regular dialogue with Israel’s OCS 
aiming to identify potential synergies and coordi-
nating bilateral cooperation between R&D programs 
supported by the Federal Government and the Gov-
ernment of Israel detailing pathways to partnership 
with the OCS, and Israel’s Ministry of Science, 
Technology, and Space (in this Act referred to as 
‘‘MOST’’). 
SEC. 3. GRANTS FOR NEUROSCIENCE-RELATED RESEARCH. 
(a) AUTHORITY.—The Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, acting through the Director of the Na-
tional Institutes of Health, in consultation with their gov-
ernment counterparts at OCS and MOST, shall award 
grants to eligible entities for neuroscience-related research 
and related technological innovation. 
(b) APPLICATION.— 
(1) SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS.—To receive 
a grant under this section, an eligible entity shall 
submit an application to the Secretary containing 
such information and assurances as the Secretary, in 
consultation with the OCS and MOST, may require. 
(2) SELECTION OF ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The 
Secretary, in consultation with the Directors of the 
OCS and MOST, may review any application sub-
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mitted by any eligible entity and select any eligible 
entity meeting criteria established by the Secretary, 
in consultation with the Advisory Committee, for a 
grant under this section. 
(c) RELATION TO SBIR AND STTR PROGRAMS.— 
The Secretary shall carry out this section through the 
Small Business Innovation Research (‘‘SBIR’’) and Small 
Business Technology Transfer (‘‘STTR’’) programs of the 
National Institutes of Health. 
(d) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—The amount of each grant 
awarded for a fiscal year under this section shall be deter-
mined by the Secretary, in consultation with the OCS and 
MOST. 
(e) PRIVATE FUNDS.—The Secretary may accept 
contributions of funds from private sources to carry out 
this Act. 
(f) REPORT.—Not later than 180 days after receiving 
a grant under this section, each recipient shall submit a 
report to the Secretary— 
(1) documenting how the recipient used the 
grant funds; and 
(2) evaluating the level of success of each 
project funded by the grant. 
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SEC. 
4. 
U.S.–ISRAEL 
NEUROSCIENCE 
ADVISORY 
COM-
MITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 
National Institutes of Health a U.S.–Israel Neuroscience 
Advisory Committee. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Advisory Committee shall advise 
the Secretary on— 
(1) criteria for the recipients of grants awarded 
under section 3(a); and 
(2) the total amount of grant money to be 
awarded to all grantees selected by the Secretary, in 
consultation with the OCS and MOST. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) COMPOSITION.—The Advisory Committee 
shall be composed of— 
(A) 3 members appointed by the Director 
of the National Institutes of Health; and 
(B) in addition to the members appointed 
under subparagraph (A), 3 members who shall 
be Israeli citizens, appointed by the Director of 
the National Institutes of Health after con-
sultation with appropriate officials in the Israeli 
Government. 
(2) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENTS.—The ini-
tial appointments under paragraph (1) shall be 
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made not later than 60 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(3) TERM.—Each member of the Advisory 
Committee shall be appointed for a term of 4 years. 
(4) VACANCIES.—A vacancy on the Advisory 
Committee shall be filled in the manner in which the 
original appointment was made. 
(5) BASIC PAY.— 
(A) COMPENSATION.—A member of the 
Advisory Committee shall serve without pay. 
(B) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of 
the Advisory Committee shall receive travel ex-
penses, including per diem in lieu of subsist-
ence, in accordance with applicable provisions of 
subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 
States Code. 
(6) QUORUM.—Three members of the Advisory 
Committee shall constitute a quorum. 
(7) CHAIRPERSON.—The Chairperson of the 
Advisory Committee shall be designated by the Di-
rector of the National Institutes of Health from 
among the members appointed by the Director at 
the time of the appointment. 
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(8) MEETINGS.—The Advisory Committee shall 
meet at least once annually at the call of the Chair-
person. 
(d) TERMINATION.—Section 14(a)(2)(B) of the Fed-
eral Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not 
apply to the Advisory Committee. 
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Advi-
sory Committee’’ means the U.S.–Israel Neuro-
science Advisory Committee established by section 
4(a). 
(2) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti-
ty’’ means a joint venture that— 
(A) is comprised of— 
(i) Israeli and United States private 
business entities; 
(ii) Israeli academic persons and 
United States academic persons; 
(iii) one or more Israeli private busi-
ness entities and one or more United 
States academic persons; or 
(iv) one or more United States private 
business entities and one or more Israeli 
academic persons; 
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(B) carries out an eligible project; and 
(C) is selected by the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the OCS or MOST, using the cri-
teria established by the Secretary, in consulta-
tion with the Advisory Committee. 
(3) ELIGIBLE
PROJECT.—The term ‘‘eligible 
project’’ means a project to encourage cooperation 
between the United States and Israel on neuro-
science-related research and related technological in-
novation. 
(4) ISRAELI
ACADEMIC
PERSON.—The term 
‘‘Israeli academic person’’ means— 
(A) an institution of higher education that 
is located in Israel; 
(B) a subsidiary or affiliate of such an in-
stitution that is located in Israel; or 
(C) an individual who— 
(i) conducts research for such an in-
stitution, subsidiary, or affiliate as an em-
ployee or contractor; and 
(ii) resides and works in Israel. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services. 
(6) UNITED STATES ACADEMIC PERSON.—The 
term ‘‘United States academic person’’ means— 
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(A) an institution of higher education that 
is located in the United States; 
(B) a subsidiary or affiliate of such an in-
stitution that is located in the United States; or 
(C) an individual who— 
(i) conducts research for such an in-
stitution, subsidiary, or affiliate as an em-
ployee or contractor; and 
(ii) resides and works in the United 
States. 
SEC. 6. TERMINATION. 
The grant program authorized under section 3 and 
the Advisory Committee shall terminate upon the expira-
tion of the 7-year period which begins on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
The Secretary is authorized to expend not more than 
$20,000,000 to carry out this Act for each of fiscal years 
2016 through 2022. 
Æ 
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