(3) the qualifications of the individual, team, or 
organization proposing the research activity and the 
adequacy of the research plans; and 
(4) the adequacy of the resources available to 
the individual, team, or organization proposing the 
research activity. 
(c) PUBLICATION.—All research conducted from 
grants awarded under this section by Federal agencies 
shall take into consideration the requirements of peer-re-
viewed scientific journals and encourage the communica-
tion and open exchange of data and results to other agen-
cies, policymakers, and the public. 
SEC. 6. FORENSIC SCIENCE RESEARCH CHALLENGES. 
(a) PRIZES AND CHALLENGES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—A Federal agency may assist 
in satisfying the research needs and priorities identi-
fied in the unified Federal research strategy devel-
oped under section 4(d) by using prizes and chal-
lenges under the America COMPETES Reauthoriza-
tion Act (Public Law 111–358) or under any other 
provision of law, as appropriate. 
(2) PURPOSES.—The purpose of a prize or 
challenge under this section, among other possible 
purposes, may be— 
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(A) to determine or develop the best data 
collection practices or analytical methods to 
evaluate a specific type of forensic data; 
(B) to quantify or improve the efficiency, 
reliability, or accuracy of an analytical method; 
(C) to design new methodologies to inte-
grate evidence collection, documentation, and 
analysis at crime scenes; or 
(D) to address other topics as proposed by 
the forensic science community. 
(b) FORENSIC DATA SETS.—The National Institute 
of Standards and Technology or the Department of Jus-
tice shall provide or contract with a non-Federal party to 
prepare, if necessary for a prize carried out under this 
section, a sufficient set of data or samples, including asso-
ciated digital data that could be shared without limitation 
and physical specimens that could be shared with qualified 
parties, for purposes of a prize or challenge. 
SEC. 7. FORENSIC SCIENCE RESEARCH AT THE NATIONAL 
SCIENCE FOUNDATION. 
(a) GRANTS.—The National Science Foundation 
shall award forensic science basic research grants to im-
prove the foundation and practice of forensic science in 
the United States, consistent with the Foundation’s mis-
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sion and the recommendations in the unified Federal re-
search strategy developed under section 4(d). 
(b) FORENSIC SCIENCE RESEARCH CENTERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the National Fo-
rensic Science Research Initiative, taking into ac-
count the unified Federal research strategy devel-
oped under section 4(d), the Director of the Na-
tional Science Foundation, in collaboration with 
other Federal agencies contributing to research in 
forensic science, shall establish one or more multi-
disciplinary research centers led by public-private 
partnerships between universities, industry, State or 
local entities, and Federal agencies. Each multidisci-
plinary research center shall be created with the fol-
lowing objectives: 
(A) Conducting basic and translational re-
search relevant for forensic science. 
(B) Encouraging the application of the re-
search conducted under subparagraph (A) to 
practical uses. 
(C) Educating undergraduate and grad-
uate students and developing a workforce in 
fields relevant to forensic science. 
(c) EVALUATION.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Science Foundation shall conduct a comprehensive 
evaluation of the Foundation’s full portfolio of foren-
sic science research and education grants every 4 
years— 
(A) to determine whether the research sup-
ported under the grants is contributing to the 
objectives of improving the foundation and 
practice of forensic science in the United 
States; and 
(B) to evaluate the extent to which the re-
search is contributing toward the priorities and 
objectives described in the unified Federal re-
search strategy developed under section 4(d). 
(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—The Director of 
the National Science Foundation shall report to 
Congress the results of each comprehensive evalua-
tion under paragraph (1). 
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science 
Foundation to carry out this section— 
(1) $34,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; 
(2) $37,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; 
(3) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
(4) $43,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 
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(5) $46,000,000 for fiscal year 2021. 
SEC. 8. FORENSIC SCIENCE AND STANDARDS AT NIST. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology shall— 
(1) conduct research supporting the develop-
ment and dissemination of methods, standards, and 
technical guidance for forensic science measure-
ments; 
(2) identify and coordinate the development of 
voluntary consensus forensic science standards, in-
cluding— 
(A) methods, standards, and technical 
guidance, including protocols and best practices, 
for analysis and interpretation; 
(B) technical standards useful in the devel-
opment of products employed by forensic 
science practitioners; 
(C) standard content, terminology, and pa-
rameters to be used in reporting the results and 
interpretation of forensic science measurements, 
tests, and procedures; and 
(D) standards for the interoperability of 
forensic science-related technology and data-
bases; and 
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(3) develop forensic science measurement stand-
ards, standard reference materials, standard ref-
erence data, and other reference materials to sup-
port forensic science disciplines and associated meas-
urements. 
(b) VALIDATION PROGRAM.—In order to ensure the 
scientific integrity of forensic science standards, the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology shall— 
(1) test and validate existing forensic science 
standards, as appropriate; and 
(2) provide independent validation of forensic 
science measurements and methods, as appropriate. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out its responsibil-
ities under subsection (a), the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology, as appropriate, shall consult with, 
and in carrying out its responsibilities under subsection 
(a)(1) may partner or contract with— 
(1) standards development organizations and 
other stakeholders, including the Department of 
Justice and other relevant Federal agencies; and 
(2) testing laboratories, State and local forensic 
science practitioners, and certification and accredita-
tion bodies. 
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(d) PRIORITIZATION.—When prioritizing its respon-
sibilities under subsection (a), the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology shall consider— 
(1) the unified Federal research strategy devel-
oped under section 4(d); and 
(2) the recommendations of the scientific area 
committees established under subsection (g). 
(e) PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT.—The Director 
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
shall ensure that any proposed voluntary consensus stand-
ards, guidelines, or methods developed by the National In-
stitute of Standards and Technology under this section are 
publically available, and that the forensic community has 
an opportunity for public review and comment on vol-
untary consensus standards. 
(f) CENTER OF EXCELLENCE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology shall estab-
lish and operate a competitively selected Center of 
Excellence focusing on measurement sciences, tech-
nology, and standards in forensic science with the 
following objectives: 
(A) To improve the standards of practice 
in the forensic sciences in the United States. 
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(B) To produce research collaborations 
among the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, academia, forensic science practi-
tioners, and industry focused on accelerating in-
novations and new technology development in 
the forensic sciences. 
(C) To fund the development of new 
forensics techniques, including automated test-
ing methodologies, and to help transition these 
techniques to industry and practitioners. 
(D) To evaluate new and existing forensic 
techniques in terms of reliability, cost effective-
ness, and other metrics, as appropriate, and to 
help transition these techniques to industry and 
practitioners. 
(E) To provide training opportunities for 
undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral stu-
dents in measurement science, as is relevant to 
the forensic disciplines. 
(F) To encourage interdisciplinary re-
search in the forensic sciences by leveraging ac-
cess to unique National Institute of Standards 
and Technology facilities and expertise, as ap-
propriate. 
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(G) To broadly disseminate the results of 
the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology forensic science research. 
(2) EVALUATION.—The Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology shall 
conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the Center of 
Excellence every 4 years— 
(A) to determine whether the Center of 
Excellence is achieving the objectives outlined in 
paragraph (1); and 
(B) to evaluate the extent to which the 
Center of Excellence is contributing toward the 
priorities and objectives described in the unified 
Federal research strategy developed under sec-
tion 4(d). 
(3) REPORT REQUIREMENT.—The Director of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
shall report to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the Committee on 
the Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee 
on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives, 
and the Director of the Coordinating Office the re-
sults of each comprehensive evaluation under para-
graph (2). 
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(g) SCIENTIFIC AREA COMMITTEES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology shall estab-
lish scientific area committees to identify gaps in 
and opportunities for standards development in the 
forensic sciences. The scientific area committees 
shall be administered by the Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology. 
(2) DUTIES.—The scientific area committees 
shall be the primary mechanism for identifying and 
coordinating the development of voluntary consensus 
forensic science standards as described in subsection 
(a). The scientific area committees shall submit, for 
consideration by forensic science stakeholders and by 
the Commission established in section 9, rec-
ommendations on these forensic science standards. 
In accomplishing this objective, the scientific area 
committees shall— 
(A) encourage information exchange within 
the forensic science community, to include re-
searchers, practitioners, law enforcement, and 
legal professionals; 
(B) ensure that standards development is 
appropriate to the needs of the forensic science 
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community and relevant to practical applica-
tions; 
(C) take into account existing studies and 
reports; 
(D) by holding public meetings and dis-
seminating work products for public review and 
comment to the extent practicable, support pub-
lic participation in the standards development 
process and the broad adoption of forensic 
science standards; and 
(E) ensure that proposed standards have 
been validated by the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology under section 8(b) 
prior to publication in the Federal Register. 
(3) MEMBERS.—The scientific area committees 
shall have significant representation from forensic 
science practitioners, academic researchers, and stat-
isticians to balance scientific rigor with practical and 
regulatory constraints, and, to the extent prac-
ticable, the majority of the scientific area commit-
tees shall have a minimum representation of 50 per-
cent from forensic science practitioners. Each mem-
ber of a scientific area committee shall have signifi-
cant academic, research, or practical expertise in a 
discipline of forensic science or in another area rel-
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evant to the purpose of the scientific area com-
mittee. 
(4) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.—A 
scientific area committee established under this sub-
section shall not be subject to the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). 
(h) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated out of otherwise avail-
able appropriations to the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology to carry out this section— 
(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2017; 
(2) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2018; 
(3) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2019; 
(4) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2020; and 
(5) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2021. 
SEC. 9. NATIONAL COMMISSION ON FORENSIC SCIENCE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director of the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology and the Attorney 
General, in consultation with the Director of the National 
Science Foundation, shall establish a National Commis-
sion on Forensic Science. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Commission shall— 
(1) provide advice to the Federal agencies im-
plementing the unified Federal research strategy de-
veloped under section 4(d); 
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Science Foundation, shall appoint each member of the 
Commission. The Commission shall include balanced rep-
resentation among— 
(1) independent scientists with expertise in fo-
rensic science disciplines and other related dis-
ciplines, including statistics, social sciences, and en-
gineering; 
(2) forensic science practitioners, including fo-
rensic science experts at Federal, State, local, and 
tribal forensic laboratories; and 
(3) users and parties subject to the use of fo-
rensic evidence in the legal system, including the 
legal community, victim advocate organizations, and 
law enforcement. 
(f) ADMINISTRATION.—The Attorney General shall 
provide administrative support to the Commission. 
SEC. 10. ADOPTION, ACCREDITATION, AND CERTIFICATION. 
The Attorney General shall promote the adoption of 
forensic science standards developed under section 8, in-
cluding— 
(1) by requiring, as appropriate, each labora-
tory under the Department of Justice to adopt the 
forensic science standards; 
(2) by encouraging other Federal forensic lab-
oratories to adopt the forensic science standards; 
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(3) by promoting accreditation and certification 
requirements based on the forensic science stand-
ards; and 
(4) by promoting any recommendations made 
by the Commission for adoption and implementation 
of forensic science standards. 
Æ 
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