IIB
107TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 2051
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
MAY 15 (legislative day, MAY 9), 2002
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions
AN ACT
To authorize the National Science Foundation to establish
regional centers for the purpose of plant genome and
gene expression research and development and inter-
national research partnerships for the advancement of
plant biotechnology in the developing world.
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of
the National Science Foundation;
(2) the term ‘‘institution of higher education’’
has the meaning given such term in section 101 of
the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001); and
(3) the term ‘‘nonprofit organization’’ means a
nonprofit research institute or a nonprofit associa-
tion with experience and capability in plant bio-
technology research as determined by the Director.
SEC. 2. MATCHING FUNDS.
The Director may establish matching fund require-
ments for grantees to receive grants under this Act.
SEC. 3. PLANT GENOME AND GENE EXPRESSION RESEARCH
CENTERS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall award grants
to consortia of institutions of higher education or non-
profit organizations (or both) to establish regional plant
genome and gene expression research centers. Grants shall
be awarded under this section on a merit-reviewed, com-
petitive basis. When making awards, the Director shall,
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to the extent practicable, ensure that the program created
by this section examines as many different agricultural en-
vironments as possible.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the centers estab-
lished pursuant to subsection (a) shall be to conduct re-
search in plant genomics and plant gene expression. A cen-
ter’s activities may include—
(1) basic plant genomics research and genomics
applications, including those related to cultivation of
crops in extreme environments and to cultivation of
crops with reduced reliance on fertilizer;
(2) basic research that will contribute to the de-
velopment or use of innovative plant-derived prod-
ucts;
(3) basic research on alternative uses for plants
and plant materials, including the use of plants as
renewable feedstock for alternative energy produc-
tion and nonpetroleum-based industrial chemicals
and precursors; and
(4) basic research and dissemination of infor-
mation on the ecological and other consequences of
genetically engineered plants.
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SEC. 4. PARTNERSHIPS FOR PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY IN
THE DEVELOPING WORLD.
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The Director shall award
grants to institutions of higher education, nonprofit orga-
nizations, or consortia of such entities to establish re-
search partnerships for supporting the development of
plant biotechnology targeted to the needs of the developing
world. The Director, by means of outreach, shall encour-
age inclusion of Historically Black Colleges or Univer-
sities, Hispanic-serving institutions, or tribal colleges or
universities in consortia that enter into such partnerships.
(2) In order to be eligible to receive a grant under
this section, an institution of higher education or eligible
nonprofit organization (or consortium thereof) shall enter
into a partnership with one or more research institutions
in one or more developing nations and may also include
for-profit companies involved in plant biotechnology.
(3) Grants under this section shall be awarded on a
merit-reviewed competitive basis.
(b) PURPOSE.—Grants awarded under this section
shall be used for support of research in plant bio-
technology targeted to the needs of the developing world.
Such activities may include—
(1) basic genomic research on crops grown in
the developing world;
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(2) basic research in plant biotechnology that
will advance and expedite the development of im-
proved cultivars, including those that are pest-resist-
ant, produce increased yield, reduce the need for fer-
tilizers, or increase tolerance to stress;
(3) basic research that could lead to the devel-
opment of technologies to produce pharmaceutical
compounds such as vaccines and medications in
plants that can be grown in the developing world;
and
(4) research on the impact of plant bio-
technology on the social, political, economic, and en-
vironmental conditions in countries in the developing
world.
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Na-
tional Science Foundation $9,000,000 for fiscal year
2002, $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2003, and $13,500,000
for fiscal year 2004 to carry out this Act.
Passed the House of Representatives May 14, 2002.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.