I 
114TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1119 
To improve the efficiency of Federal research and development, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 26, 2015 
Mrs. COMSTOCK (for herself, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. 
SMITH of Texas, and Mr. LIPINSKI) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To improve the efficiency of Federal research and 
development, 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 ‘‘Research and Develop-
ment Efficiency Act’’. 
SEC. 2. REGULATORY EFFICIENCY. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) high and increasing administrative burdens 
and costs in Federal research administration, par-
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ticularly in the higher education sector where most 
federally sponsored research is performed, are erod-
ing funds available to carry out basic scientific re-
search; 
(2) progress has been made over the last decade 
in streamlining the pre-award grant application 
process through Grants.gov, the Federal Govern-
ment’s website portal; 
(3) post-award administrative costs have grown 
as Federal research agencies have continued to im-
pose agency-unique compliance and reporting re-
quirements on researchers and research institutions; 
(4) facilities and administration costs at re-
search universities can exceed 50 percent of the total 
value of Federal research grants, and it is estimated 
that nearly 30 percent of the funds invested annu-
ally in federally funded research is consumed by pa-
perwork and other administrative processes required 
by Federal agencies; and 
(5) it is a matter of critical importance to 
American competitiveness that administrative costs 
of federally funded research be streamlined so that 
a higher proportion of taxpayer dollars flow into di-
rect research activities. 
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(b) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy shall establish a working 
group under the authority of the National Science and 
Technology Council, to include the Office of Management 
and Budget. The working group shall be responsible for 
reviewing Federal regulations affecting research and re-
search universities and making recommendations on how 
to— 
(1) harmonize, streamline, and eliminate dupli-
cative Federal regulations and reporting require-
ments; and 
(2) minimize the regulatory burden on United 
States institutions of higher education performing 
federally funded research while maintaining account-
ability for Federal tax dollars. 
(c) STAKEHOLDER INPUT.—In carrying out the re-
sponsibilities under subsection (b), the working group 
shall take into account input and recommendations from 
non-Federal stakeholders, including federally funded and 
nonfederally funded researchers, institutions of higher 
education, scientific disciplinary societies and associations, 
nonprofit research institutions, industry, including small 
businesses, federally funded research and development 
centers, and others with a stake in ensuring effectiveness, 
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efficiency, and accountability in the performance of sci-
entific research. 
(d) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for 3 
years, the Director shall report to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate on what steps have been 
taken to carry out the recommendations of the working 
group established under subsection (b). 
Æ 
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