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‘‘(A) support the potential for large re-
search-driven advances in technologies for pro-
duction of biobased industrial products as well 
as associated benefits; and 
‘‘(B) document the need for a focused, in-
tegrated, and innovation-driven research effort 
to provide the appropriate progress in a timely 
manner. 
‘‘(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The term ‘Advi-
sory Committee’ means the Biomass Research and 
Development Technical Advisory Committee estab-
lished by this section. 
‘‘(2) BIOBASED
FUEL.—The term ‘biobased 
fuel’ means any transportation or heating fuel pro-
duced from biomass. 
‘‘(3) BIOBASED PRODUCT.—The term ‘biobased 
product’ means an industrial product (including 
chemicals, materials, and polymers) produced from 
biomass, or a commercial or industrial product (in-
cluding animal feed and electric power) derived in 
connection with the conversion of biomass to fuel. 
‘‘(4) BIOMASS.—The term ‘biomass’ means any 
organic matter that is available on a renewable or 
recurring basis, including agricultural crops and 
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trees, wood and wood wastes and residues, plants 
(including aquatic plants), grasses, residues, fibers, 
and animal wastes, municipal wastes, and other 
waste materials. 
‘‘(5) BOARD.—The term ‘Board’ means the 
Biomass Research and Development Board estab-
lished by this section. 
‘‘(6) DEMONSTRATION.—The term ‘demonstra-
tion’ means demonstration of technology in a pilot 
plant or semi-works scale facility. 
‘‘(7) INITIATIVE.—The term ‘Initiative’ means 
the Biomass Research and Development Initiative 
established under this section. 
‘‘(8) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 102(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1002(a)). 
‘‘(9) NATIONAL LABORATORY.—The term ‘Na-
tional Laboratory’ has the meaning given that term 
in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. 
‘‘(10) POINT OF CONTACT.—The term ‘point of 
contact’ means a point of contact designated under 
this section. 
‘‘(d) COOPERATION AND COORDINATION IN BIOMASS 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.— 
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary of Agri-
culture and the Secretary of Energy shall cooperate 
with respect to, and coordinate, policies and proce-
dures that promote research and development lead-
ing to the production of biobased fuels and biobased 
products. 
‘‘(2) POINTS OF CONTACT.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—To coordinate re-
search and development programs and activities 
relating to biobased fuels and biobased products 
that are carried out by their respective Depart-
ments— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
designate, as the point of contact for the 
Department of Agriculture, an officer of 
the Department of Agriculture appointed 
by the President to a position in the De-
partment before the date of the designa-
tion, by and with the advice and consent of 
the Senate; and 
‘‘(ii) the Secretary of Energy shall 
designate, as the point of contact for the 
Department of Energy, an officer of the 
Department of Energy appointed by the 
President to a position in the Department 
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before the date of the designation, by and 
with the advice and consent of the Senate. 
‘‘(B) DUTIES.—The points of contact shall 
jointly— 
‘‘(i) assist in arranging interlabora-
tory and site-specific supplemental agree-
ments 
for 
research 
and 
development 
projects relating to biobased fuels and 
biobased products; 
‘‘(ii) serve as cochairpersons of the 
Board; 
‘‘(iii) administer the Initiative; and 
‘‘(iv) respond in writing to each rec-
ommendation of the Advisory Committee 
made under subsection (f). 
‘‘(e) BIOMASS
RESEARCH
AND
DEVELOPMENT 
BOARD.— 
‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established 
the Biomass Research and Development Board, 
which shall supersede the Interagency Council on 
Biobased Products and Bioenergy established by Ex-
ecutive Order No. 13134, to coordinate programs 
within and among departments and agencies of the 
Federal Government for the purpose of promoting 
the use of biobased fuels and biobased products by— 
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‘‘(A) maximizing the benefits deriving from 
Federal grants and assistance; and 
‘‘(B) bringing coherence to Federal stra-
tegic planning. 
‘‘(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Board shall consist 
of— 
‘‘(A) the point of contact of the Depart-
ment of Energy designated under subsection 
(d), who shall serve as cochairperson of the 
Board; 
‘‘(B) the point of contact of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture designated under sub-
section (d), who shall serve as cochairperson of 
the Board; 
‘‘(C) a senior officer of each of the Depart-
ment of the Interior, the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency, the National Science Foundation, 
and the Office of Science and Technology Pol-
icy, each of whom shall— 
‘‘(i) be appointed by the head of the 
respective agency; and 
‘‘(ii) have a rank that is equivalent to 
the rank of the points of contact; and 
‘‘(D) at the option of the Secretary of Ag-
riculture and the Secretary of Energy, other 
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members appointed by the Secretaries (after 
consultation with the members described in sub-
paragraphs (A) through (C)). 
‘‘(3) DUTIES.—The Board shall— 
‘‘(A) coordinate research and development 
activities relating to biobased fuels and biobased 
products— 
‘‘(i) between the Department of Agri-
culture and the Department of Energy; 
and 
‘‘(ii) with other departments and 
agencies of the Federal Government; 
‘‘(B) provide recommendations to the 
points of contact concerning administration of 
this title; 
‘‘(C) ensure that— 
‘‘(i) solicitations are open and com-
petitive with awards made annually; and 
‘‘(ii) objectives and evaluation criteria 
of the solicitations are clearly stated and 
minimally prescriptive, with no areas of 
special interest; and 
‘‘(D) ensure that the panel of scientific 
and technical peers assembled under subsection 
(g) to review proposals is composed predomi-
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