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barriers within the Federal government and State 
governments that inhibit United States manufac-
turing; 
(4) facilitate the transfer of intellectual property 
and technology based on federally supported univer-
sity research into commercialization and manufac-
turing; 
(5) identify technological, market, or business 
challenges that may best be addressed by public-pri-
vate partnerships, and are likely to attract both par-
ticipation and primary funding from industry; 
(6) encourage the formation of public-private 
partnerships to respond to those challenges for transi-
tion to United States manufacturing; and 
(7) develop, and update every 5 years, a strategic 
plan to guide Federal programs and activities in sup-
port of advanced manufacturing research and devel-
opment, which shall— 
(A) specify and prioritize near-term and 
long-term research and development objectives, 
the anticipated time frame for achieving the ob-
jectives, and the metrics for use in assessing 
progress toward the objectives; 
(B) specify the role of each Federal agency 
in carrying out or sponsoring research and de-
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velopment to meet the objectives of the strategic 
plan; 
(C) describe how the Federal agencies and 
Federally Funded Research and Development 
Centers supporting advanced manufacturing re-
search and development will foster the transfer of 
research and development results into new man-
ufacturing technologies and United States based 
manufacturing of new products and processes for 
the benefit of society to ensure national, energy, 
and economic security; 
(D) describe how Federal agencies and Fed-
erally Funded Research and Development Cen-
ters supporting advanced manufacturing re-
search and development will strengthen all levels 
of manufacturing education and training pro-
grams to ensure an adequate, well-trained work-
force; 
(E) describe how the Federal agencies and 
Federally Funded Research and Development 
Centers supporting advanced manufacturing re-
search and development will assist small- and 
medium-sized manufacturers in developing and 
implementing new products and processes; and
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(F) 
take 
into 
consideration 
the 
rec-
ommendations of a wide range of stakeholders, 
including representatives from diverse manufac-
turing companies, academia, and other relevant 
organizations and institutions. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall transmit the stra-
tegic plan developed under subsection (b)(7) to the Senate 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and 
the House of Representatives Committee on Science and 
Technology, and shall transmit subsequent updates to those 
committees as appropriate. 
SEC. 103. INTERAGENCY PUBLIC ACCESS COMMITTEE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director shall establish a 
working group under the National Science and Technology 
Council with the responsibility to coordinate Federal 
science agency research and policies related to the dissemi-
nation and long-term stewardship of the results of unclassi-
fied research, including digital data and peer-reviewed 
scholarly publications, supported wholly, or in part, by 
funding from the Federal science agencies. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The working group shall— 
(1) identify the specific objectives and public in-
terests that need to be addressed by any policies co-
ordinated under (a);
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(2) take into account inherent variability among 
Federal science agencies and scientific disciplines in 
the nature of research, types of data, and dissemina-
tion models; 
(3) coordinate the development or designation of 
standards for research data, the structure of full text 
and metadata, navigation tools, and other applica-
tions to maximize interoperability across Federal 
science agencies, across science and engineering dis-
ciplines, and between research data and scholarly 
publications, taking into account existing consensus 
standards, including international standards; 
(4) coordinate Federal science agency programs 
and activities that support research and education on 
tools and systems required to ensure preservation and 
stewardship of all forms of digital research data, in-
cluding scholarly publications; 
(5) work with international science and tech-
nology counterparts to maximize interoperability be-
tween United States based unclassified research data-
bases and international databases and repositories; 
(6) solicit input and recommendations from, and 
collaborate with, non-Federal stakeholders, including 
the public, universities, nonprofit and for-profit pub-
lishers, libraries, federally funded and non federally
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funded research scientists, and other organizations 
and institutions with a stake in long term preserva-
tion and access to the results of federally funded re-
search; 
(7) establish priorities for coordinating the devel-
opment of any Federal science agency policies related 
to public access to the results of federally funded re-
search to maximize the benefits of such policies with 
respect to their potential economic or other impact on 
the science and engineering enterprise and the stake-
holders thereof; 
(8) take into consideration the distinction be-
tween scholarly publications and digital data; 
(9) take into consideration the role that scientific 
publishers play in the peer review process in ensuring 
the integrity of the record of scientific research, in-
cluding the investments and added value that they 
make; and 
(10) examine Federal agency practices and pro-
cedures for providing research reports to the agencies 
charged with locating and preserving unclassified re-
search. 
(c) PATENT OR COPYRIGHT LAW.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to undermine any right under the 
provisions of title 17 or 35, United States Code.
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(d) APPLICATION WITH EXISTING LAW.—Nothing de-
fined in section (b) shall be construed to affect existing law 
with respect to Federal science agencies’ policies related to 
public access. 
(e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
transmit a report to Congress describing— 
(1) the specific objectives and public interest 
identified under (b)(1); 
(2) any priorities established under subsection 
(b)(7); 
(3) the impact the policies described under (a) 
have had on the science and engineering enterprise 
and the stakeholders, including the financial impact 
on research budgets; 
(4) the status of any Federal science agency poli-
cies related to public access to the results of federally 
funded research; and 
(5) how any policies developed or being developed 
by Federal science agencies, as described in subsection 
(a), incorporate input from the non-Federal stake-
holders described in subsection (b)(6). 
(f) FEDERAL SCIENCE AGENCY DEFINED.—For the 
purposes of this section, the term ‘‘Federal science agency’’
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means any Federal agency with an annual extramural re-
search expenditure of over $100,000,000. 
SEC. 104. FEDERAL SCIENTIFIC COLLECTIONS. 
(a) MANAGEMENT OF SCIENTIFIC COLLECTIONS.—The 
Office of Science and Technology Policy shall develop poli-
cies for the management and use of Federal scientific collec-
tions to improve the quality, organization, access, including 
online access, and long-term preservation of such collections 
for the benefit of the scientific enterprise. In developing 
those policies the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
shall consult, as appropriate, with— 
(1) Federal agencies with such collections; and 
(2) representatives of other organizations, insti-
tutions, and other entities not a part of the Federal 
Government that have a stake in the preservation, 
maintenance, and accessibility of such collections, in-
cluding State and local government agencies, institu-
tions of higher education, museums, and other entities 
engaged in the acquisition, holding, management, or 
use of scientific collections. 
(b) CLEARINGHOUSE.—The Office of Science and Tech-
nology Policy, in consultation with relevant Federal agen-
cies, shall ensure the development of an online clearinghouse 
for information on the contents of and access to Federal 
scientific collections.
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(c) DISPOSAL OF COLLECTIONS.—The policies devel-
oped under subsection (a) shall— 
(1) require that, before disposing of a scientific 
collection, a Federal agency shall— 
(A) conduct a review of the research value 
of the collection; and 
(B) consult with researchers who have used 
the collection, and other potentially interested 
parties, concerning— 
(i) the collection’s value for research 
purposes; and 
(ii) possible additional educational 
uses for the collection; and 
(2) include procedures for Federal agencies to 
transfer scientific collections they no longer need to 
researchers at institutions or other entities qualified 
to manage the collections. 
(d) COST PROJECTIONS.—The Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, in consultation with relevant Federal 
agencies, shall develop a common set of methodologies to be 
used by Federal agencies for the assessment and projection 
of costs associated with the management and preservation 
of their scientific collections. 
(e) SCIENTIFIC COLLECTION DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘scientific collection’’ means a set of physical
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specimens, living or inanimate, created for the purpose of 
supporting science and serving as a long-term research 
asset, rather than for their market value as collectibles or 
their historical, artistic, or cultural significance, and, as 
appropriate and feasible, the associated specimen data and 
materials. 
SEC. 105. PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Stevenson-Wydler Technology 
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 24. PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) AGENCY.—The term ‘agency’ means a Fed-
eral agency. 
‘‘(2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘Director’ means the 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Pol-
icy. 
‘‘(3) FEDERAL
AGENCY.—The term ‘Federal 
agency’ has the meaning given under section 4, except 
that term shall not include any agency of the legisla-
tive branch of the Federal Government. 
‘‘(4) HEAD OF AN AGENCY.—The term ‘head of 
an agency’ means the head of a Federal agency. 
‘‘(b) IN GENERAL.—Each head of an agency, or the 
heads of multiple agencies in cooperation, may carry out
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a program to award prizes competitively to stimulate inno-
vation that has the potential to advance the mission of the 
respective agency. 
‘‘(c) PRIZES.—For purposes of this section, a prize 
may be one or more of the following: 
‘‘(1) A point solution prize that rewards and 
spurs the development of solutions for a particular, 
well-defined problem. 
‘‘(2) An exposition prize that helps identify and 
promote a broad range of ideas and practices that 
may not otherwise attract attention, facilitating fur-
ther development of the idea or practice by third par-
ties. 
‘‘(3) Participation prizes that create value dur-
ing and after the competition by encouraging contest-
ants to change their behavior or develop new skills 
that may have beneficial effects during and after the 
competition. 
‘‘(4) Such other types of prizes as each head of 
an agency considers appropriate to stimulate innova-
tion that has the potential to advance the mission of 
the respective agency. 
‘‘(d) TOPICS.—In selecting topics for prize competi-
tions, the head of an agency shall consult widely both with-
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in and outside the Federal Government, and may empanel 
advisory committees. 
‘‘(e) ADVERTISING.—The head of an agency shall wide-
ly advertise each prize competition to encourage broad par-
ticipation. 
‘‘(f) REQUIREMENTS AND REGISTRATION.—For each 
prize competition, the head of an agency shall publish a 
notice in the Federal Register announcing— 
‘‘(1) the subject of the competition; 
‘‘(2) the rules for being eligible to participate in 
the competition; 
‘‘(3) the process for participants to register for 
the competition; 
‘‘(4) the amount of the prize; and 
‘‘(5) the basis on which a winner will be selected. 
‘‘(g) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to win a prize under 
this section, an individual or entity— 
‘‘(1) shall have registered to participate in the 
competition under any rules promulgated by the head 
of an agency under subsection (f); 
‘‘(2) shall have complied with all the require-
ments under this section; 
‘‘(3) in the case of a private entity, shall be in-
corporated in and maintain a primary place of busi-
ness in the United States, and in the case of an indi-
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vidual, whether participating singly or in a group, 
shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the United 
States; and 
‘‘(4) may not be a Federal entity or Federal em-
ployee acting within the scope of their employment. 
‘‘(h) CONSULTATION WITH FEDERAL EMPLOYEES.— 
An individual or entity shall not be deemed ineligible under 
subsection (g) because the individual or entity used Federal 
facilities or consulted with Federal employees during a com-
petition if the facilities and employees are made available 
to all individuals and entities participating in the competi-
tion on an equitable basis. 
‘‘(i) LIABILITY.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— 
‘‘(A) DEFINITION.—In this paragraph, the 
term ‘related entity’ means a contractor or sub-
contractor at any tier, and a supplier, user, cus-
tomer, cooperating party, grantee, investigator, 
or detailee. 
‘‘(B) LIABILITY.—Registered participants 
shall be required to agree to assume any and all 
risks and waive claims against the Federal Gov-
ernment and its related entities, except in the 
case of willful misconduct, for any injury, death, 
damage, or loss of property, revenue, or profits,
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property, trade secrets, or confidential business infor-
mation of the participant. 
‘‘(j) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.— 
‘‘(1) PROHIBITION
ON
THE
GOVERNMENT
AC-
QUIRING
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
RIGHTS.—The 
Federal Government may not gain an interest in in-
tellectual property developed by a participant in a 
competition without the written consent of the partic-
ipant. 
‘‘(2) LICENSES.—The Federal Government may 
negotiate a license for the use of intellectual property 
developed by a participant for a competition. 
‘‘(k) JUDGES.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—For each competition, the 
head of an agency, either directly or through an 
agreement under subsection (l), shall appoint one or 
more qualified judges to select the winner or winners 
of the prize competition on the basis described under 
subsection (f). Judges for each competition may in-
clude individuals from outside the agency, including 
from the private sector. 
‘‘(2) RESTRICTIONS.—A judge may not— 
‘‘(A) have personal or financial interests in, 
or be an employee, officer, director, or agent of
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any entity that is a registered participant in a 
competition; or 
‘‘(B) have a familial or financial relation-
ship with an individual who is a registered par-
ticipant. 
‘‘(3) GUIDELINES.—The heads of agencies who 
carry out competitions under this section shall de-
velop guidelines to ensure that the judges appointed 
for such competitions are fairly balanced and operate 
in a transparent manner. 
‘‘(4) EXEMPTION FROM FACA.—The Federal Ad-
visory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply 
to any committee, board, commission, panel, task 
force, or similar entity, created solely for the purpose 
of judging prize competitions under this section. 
‘‘(l) ADMINISTERING THE COMPETITION.—The head of 
an agency may enter into an agreement with a private, 
nonprofit entity to administer a prize competition, subject 
to the provisions of this section. 
‘‘(m) FUNDING.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Support for a prize competi-
tion under this section, including financial support 
for the design and administration of a prize or funds 
for a monetary prize purse, may consist of Federal 
appropriated funds and funds provided by the private
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sector for such cash prizes. The head of an agency 
may accept funds from other Federal agencies to sup-
port such competitions. The head of an agency may 
not give any special consideration to any private sec-
tor entity in return for a donation. 
‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.—Notwithstanding 
any other provision of law, funds appropriated for 
prize awards under this section shall remain avail-
able until expended. No provision in this section per-
mits obligation or payment of funds in violation of 
section 1341 of title 31, United States Code. 
‘‘(3) AMOUNT OF PRIZE.— 
‘‘(A) ANNOUNCEMENT.—No prize may be 
announced under subsection (f) until all the 
funds needed to pay out the announced amount 
of the prize have been appropriated or committed 
in writing by a private source. 
‘‘(B) INCREASE IN AMOUNT.—The head of 
an agency may increase the amount of a prize 
after an initial announcement is made under 
subsection (f) only if— 
‘‘(i) notice of the increase is provided 
in the same manner as the initial notice of 
the prize; and
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‘‘(ii) the funds needed to pay out the 
announced amount of the increase have been 
appropriated or committed in writing by a 
private source. 
‘‘(4) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT.— 
‘‘(A) NOTICE TO CONGRESS.—No prize com-
petition under this section may offer a prize in 
an amount greater than $50,000,000 unless 30 
days have elapsed after written notice has been 
transmitted to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate and 
the Committee on Science and Technology of the 
House of Representatives. 
‘‘(B) APPROVAL OF HEAD OF AGENCY.—No 
prize competition under this section may result 
in the award of more than $1,000,000 in cash 
prizes without the approval of the head of an 
agency. 
‘‘(n) GENERAL SERVICE ADMINISTRATION ASSIST-
ANCE.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enact-
ment of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
2010, the General Services Administration shall provide 
government wide services to share best practices and assist 
agencies in developing guidelines for issuing prize competi-
tions. The General Services Administration shall develop a
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contract vehicle to provide agencies access to relevant prod-
ucts and services, including technical assistance in struc-
turing and conducting prize competitions to take maximum 
benefit of the marketplace as they identify and pursue prize 
competitions to further the policy objectives of the Federal 
Government. 
‘‘(o) COMPLIANCE WITH EXISTING LAW.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Federal Government 
shall not, by virtue of offering or providing a prize 
under this section, be responsible for compliance by 
registered participants in a prize competition with 
Federal law, including licensing, export control, and 
nonproliferation laws, and related regulations. 
‘‘(2) OTHER PRIZE AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this 
section affects the prize authority authorized by any 
other provision of law. 
‘‘(p) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than March 1 of 
each year, the Director shall submit to the Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology 
of the House of Representatives a report on the activi-
ties carried out during the preceding fiscal year 
under the authority in subsection (b).
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‘‘(2) INFORMATION INCLUDED.—The report for a 
fiscal year under this subsection shall include, for 
each prize competition under subsection (b), the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(A) PROPOSED GOALS.—A description of 
the proposed goals of each prize competition. 
‘‘(B) PREFERABLE METHOD.—An analysis 
of why the utilization of the authority in sub-
section (b) was the preferable method of achiev-
ing the goals described in subparagraph (A) as 
opposed to other authorities available to the 
agency, such as contracts, grants, and coopera-
tive agreements. 
‘‘(C) AMOUNT OF CASH PRIZES.—The total 
amount of cash prizes awarded for each prize 
competition, including a description of amount 
of private funds contributed to the program, the 
sources of such funds, and the manner in which 
the amounts of cash prizes awarded and claimed 
were allocated among the accounts of the agency 
for recording as obligations and expenditures. 
‘‘(D) SOLICITATIONS AND EVALUATION OF 
SUBMISSIONS.—The methods used for the solici-
tation and evaluation of submissions under each 
prize competition, together with an assessment of
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the effectiveness of such methods and lessons 
learned for future prize competitions. 
‘‘(E) RESOURCES.—A description of the re-
sources, including personnel and funding, used 
in the execution of each prize competition to-
gether with a detailed description of the activi-
ties for which such resources were used and an 
accounting of how funding for execution was al-
located among the accounts of the agency for re-
cording as obligations and expenditures. 
‘‘(F) RESULTS.—A description of how each 
prize competition advanced the mission of the 
agency concerned.’’. 
(b) REPEAL
OF
SPACE
ACT
LIMITATION.—Section 
314(a) of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958 
(42 U.S.C. 2459f–1 is amended by striking ‘‘The Adminis-
tration may carry out a program to award prizes only in 
conformity with this section.’’. 
TITLE 
II—NATIONAL 
AERO-
NAUTICS AND SPACE ADMIN-
ISTRATION 
SEC. 201. NASA’S CONTRIBUTION TO INNOVATION AND 
COMPETITIVENESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that a renewed emphasis 
on technology development would enhance current mission
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capabilities and enable future missions, while encouraging 
NASA, private industry, and academia to spur innovation. 
NASA’s Innovative Partnership Program is a valuable 
mechanism to accelerate technology maturation and encour-
age the transfer of technology into the private sector. 
SEC. 202. NASA’S CONTRIBUTION TO EDUCATION. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that NASA is uniquely positioned to interest students in 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, not only 
by the example it sets, but through its education programs. 
(b) EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM GOALS.—NASA shall de-
velop and maintain educational programs— 
(1) to carry out and support research based pro-
grams and activities designed to increase student in-
terest and participation in STEM, including students 
from minority and underrepresented groups; 
(2) to improve public literacy in STEM; 
(3) that employ proven strategies and methods 
for improving student learning and teaching in 
STEM; 
(4) to provide curriculum support materials and 
other resources that— 
(A) are designed to be integrated with com-
prehensive STEM education;
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(B) are aligned with national science edu-
cation standards; 
(C) promote the adoption and implementa-
tion of high-quality education practices that 
build toward college and career-readiness; and 
(5) to create and support opportunities for en-
hanced and ongoing professional development for 
teachers using best practices that improve the STEM 
content and knowledge of the teachers, including 
through programs linking STEM teachers with 
STEM educators at the higher education level. 
SEC. 
203. 
ASSESSMENT 
OF 
IMPEDIMENTS 
TO 
SPACE 
SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING WORKFORCE DE-
VELOPMENT FOR MINORITY AND UNDERREP-
RESENTED GROUPS AT NASA. 
(a) ASSESSMENT.—The Administrator shall enter into 
an arrangement for an independent assessment of any im-
pediments to space science and engineering workforce devel-
opment for minority and underrepresented groups at 
NASA, including recommendations on— 
(1) measures to address such impediments; 
(2) opportunities for augmenting the impact of 
space science and engineering workforce development 
activities and for expanding proven, effective pro-
grams; and
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(3) best practices and lessons learned, as identi-
fied through the assessment, to help maximize the ef-
fectiveness of existing and future programs to increase 
the participation of minority and underrepresented 
groups in the space science and engineering workforce 
at NASA. 
(b) REPORT.—A report on the assessment carried out 
under subsection (a) shall be transmitted to the House of 
Representatives Committee on Science and Technology and 
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Trans-
portation not later than 15 months after the date of enact-
ment of this Act. 
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—To the extent practicable, the 
Administrator shall take all necessary steps to address any 
impediments identified in the assessment. 
SEC. 204. INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION’S CONTRIBU-
TION TO NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS EN-
HANCEMENT. 
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the Con-
gress that the International Space Station represents a val-
uable and unique national asset which can be utilized to 
increase educational opportunities and scientific and tech-
nological innovation which will enhance the Nation’s eco-
nomic security and competitiveness in the global technology 
fields of endeavor. If the period for active utilization of the
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International Space Station is extended to at least the year 
2020, the potential for such opportunities and innovation 
would be increased. Efforts should be made to fully realize 
that potential. 
(b) EVALUATION AND ASSESSMENT OF NASA’S INTER-
AGENCY CONTRIBUTION.—Pursuant to the authority pro-
vided in title II of the America COMPETES Act (Public 
Law 110–69), the Administrator shall evaluate and, where 
possible, expand efforts to maximize NASA’s contribution 
to interagency efforts to enhance science, technology, engi-
neering, and mathematics education capabilities, and to en-
hance the Nation’s technological excellence and global com-
petitiveness. The Administrator shall identify these en-
hancements in the annual reports required by section 
2001(e) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 16611a(e)). 
(c) REPORT TO THE CONGRESS.—Within 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator 
shall provide to the House of Representatives Committee on 
Science and Technology and the Senate Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation a report on the assess-
ment made pursuant to subsection (a). The report shall in-
clude— 
(1) a description of current and potential activi-
ties associated with utilization of the International 
Space Station which are supportive of the goals of
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educational excellence and innovation and competi-
tive enhancement established or reaffirmed by this 
Act, including a summary of the goals supported, the 
number of individuals or organizations participating 
in or benefiting from such activities, and a summary 
of how such activities might be expanded or improved 
upon; 
(2) a description of government and private 
partnerships which are, or may be, established to ef-
fectively utilize the capabilities represented by the 
International Space Station to enhance United States 
competitiveness, innovation and science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics education; and 
(3) a summary of proposed actions or activities 
to be undertaken to ensure the maximum utilization 
of the International Space Station to contribute to 
fulfillment of the goals and objectives of this Act, and 
the identification of any additional authority, assets, 
or funding that would be required to support such ac-
tivities.
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SEC. 205. STUDY OF POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL ORBITAL 
PLATFORM PROGRAM IMPACT ON SCIENCE, 
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHE-
MATICS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1003 of the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
2010 (42 U.S.C. 18421) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1003. STUDY OF POTENTIAL COMMERCIAL ORBITAL 
PLATFORM PROGRAM IMPACT ON SCIENCE, 
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHE-
MATICS. 
‘‘A fundamental and unique capability of NASA is in 
stimulating science, technology, engineering, and mathe-
matics education in the United States. In ensuring max-
imum use of that capability, the Administrator shall carry 
out a study to— 
‘‘(1) identify the benefits of and lessons learned 
from ongoing and previous NASA orbital student pro-
grams including, at a minimum, the Get Away Spe-
cial (GAS) and Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle 
School Students (EarthKAM) programs, on science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics education; 
‘‘(2) assess the potential impacts on science, tech-
nology, engineering, and mathematics education of a 
program that would facilitate the development of sci-
entific and educational payloads involving United
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States students and educators and the flights of those 
payloads on commercially available orbital platforms, 
when available and operational, with the goal of pro-
viding frequent and regular payload launches; 
‘‘(3) identify NASA expertise, such as NASA 
science, engineering, payload development, and pay-
load operations, that could be made available to fa-
cilitate a science, technology, engineering, and mathe-
matics program using commercial orbital platforms; 
and 
‘‘(4) identify the issues that would need to be ad-
dressed before NASA could properly assess the merits 
and feasibility of the program described in paragraph 
(2).’’. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall take effect on October 12, 2010. 
SEC. 206. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) 
ADMINISTRATOR.—The 
term 
‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of NASA. 
(2) NASA.—The term ‘‘NASA’’ means the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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TITLE III—NATIONAL OCEANIC 
AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINIS-
TRATION 
SEC. 301. OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH AND DE-
VELOPMENT PROGRAM. 
Section 4001 of the America COMPETES Act (33 
U.S.C. 893) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 
‘‘The Administrator’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH AND DE-
VELOPMENT PROGRAM.—The Administrator shall imple-
ment programs and activities— 
‘‘(1) to identify emerging and innovative re-
search and development priorities to enhance United 
States competitiveness, support development of new 
economic opportunities based on NOAA research, ob-
servations, monitoring modeling, and predictions that 
sustain ecosystem services; 
‘‘(2) to promote United States leadership in oce-
anic and atmospheric science and competitiveness in 
the applied uses of such knowledge, including for the 
development and expansion of economic opportunities; 
and
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‘‘(3) to advance ocean, coastal, Great Lakes, and 
atmospheric research and development, including po-
tentially transformational research, in collaboration 
with other relevant Federal agencies, academic insti-
tutions, the private sector, and nongovernmental pro-
grams, consistent with NOAA’s mission to under-
stand, observe, and model the Earth’s atmosphere and 
biosphere, including the oceans, in an integrated 
manner. 
‘‘(c) REPORT.—No later than 12 months after the date 
of enactment of the America COMPETES Reauthorization 
Act of 2010, the Administrator, in consultation with the 
National Science Foundation or other such agencies with 
mature transformational research portfolios, shall develop 
and submit a report to the Senate Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation and the House of Representa-
tives Committee on Science and Technology that describes 
NOAA’s strategy for enhancing transformational research 
in its research and development portfolio to increase United 
States competitiveness in oceanic and atmospheric science 
and technology. The report shall— 
‘‘(1) define ‘transformational research’; 
‘‘(2) identify emerging and innovative areas of 
research and development where transformational re-
search has the potential to make significant and revo-
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lutionary advancements in both understanding and 
U.S. science leadership; 
‘‘(3) describe how transformational research pri-
orities are identified and appropriately balanced in 
the context of NOAA’s broader research portfolio; 
‘‘(4) describe NOAA’s plan for developing a com-
petitive peer review and priority-setting process, 
funding mechanisms, performance and evaluation 
measures, and transition-to-operation guidelines for 
transformational research; and 
‘‘(5) describe partnerships with other agencies 
involved in transformational research.’’. 
SEC. 302. OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCE EDU-
CATION PROGRAMS. 
Section 4002 of the America COMPETES Act (33 
U.S.C. 893a) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘the agency.’’ in subsection (a) 
and inserting ‘‘agency, with consideration given to 
the goal of promoting the participation of individuals 
from underrepresented groups in STEM fields and in 
promoting the acquisition and retention of highly 
qualified and motivated young scientists to com-
plement and supplement workforce needs.’’; 
(2) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as 
subsections (c) and (d), respectively;
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(3) by inserting after subsection (a) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(b) EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM GOALS.—The education 
programs developed by NOAA shall, to the extent applica-
ble— 
‘‘(1) carry out and support research based pro-
grams and activities designed to increase student in-
terest and participation in STEM; 
‘‘(2) improve public literacy in STEM; 
‘‘(3) employ proven strategies and methods for 
improving student learning and teaching in STEM; 
‘‘(4) provide curriculum support materials and 
other resources that— 
‘‘(A) are designed to be integrated with 
comprehensive STEM education; 
‘‘(B) are aligned with national science edu-
cation standards; and 
‘‘(C) promote the adoption and implementa-
tion of high-quality education practices that 
build toward college and career-readiness; and 
‘‘(5) create and support opportunities for en-
hanced and ongoing professional development for 
teachers using best practices that improves the STEM 
content and knowledge of the teachers, including
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through programs linking STEM teachers with 
STEM educators at the higher education level.’’; 
(4) by striking ‘‘develop’’ in subsection (c), as re-
designated, and inserting ‘‘maintain’’; and 
(5) by adding at the end thereof the following: 
‘‘(e) STEM DEFINED.—In this section, the term 
‘STEM’ means the academic and professional disciplines 
of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.’’. 
SEC. 303. WORKFORCE STUDY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce, in co-
operation with the Secretary of Education, shall request the 
National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study on the 
scientific workforce in the areas of oceanic and atmospheric 
research and development. The study shall investigate— 
(1) whether there is a shortage in the number of 
individuals with advanced degrees in oceanic and at-
mospheric sciences who have the ability to conduct 
high quality scientific research in physical and chem-
ical oceanography, meteorology, and atmospheric 
modeling, and related fields, for government, non-
profit, and private sector entities; 
(2) what Federal programs are available to help 
facilitate the education of students hoping to pursue 
these degrees;
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(3) barriers to transitioning highly qualified oce-
anic and atmospheric scientists into Federal civil 
service scientist career tracks; 
(4) what institutions of higher education, the 
private sector, and the Congress could do to increase 
the number of individuals with such post bacca-
laureate degrees; 
(5) the impact of an aging Federal scientist 
workforce on the ability of Federal agencies to conduct 
high quality scientific research; and 
(6) what actions the Federal government can 
take to assist the transition of highly qualified sci-
entists into Federal career scientist positions and en-
sure that the experiences of retiring Federal scientists 
are adequately documented and transferred prior to 
retirement from Federal service. 
(b) COORDINATION.—The Secretary of Commerce and 
the Secretary of Education shall consult with the heads of 
other Federal agencies and departments with oceanic and 
atmospheric expertise or authority in preparing the speci-
fications for the study. 
(c) REPORT.—No later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce and 
the Secretary of Education shall transmit a joint report to 
each committee of Congress with jurisdiction over the pro-
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grams described in 4002(b) of the America COMPETES 
Act (33 U.S.C. 893a(b)), as amended by section 302 of this 
Act, detailing the findings and recommendations of the 
study and setting forth a prioritized plan to implement the 
recommendations. 
(d) PROGRAM AND PLAN.—The Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall 
evaluate the National Academy of Sciences study and de-
velop a workforce program and plan to institutionalize the 
Administration’s Federal science career pathways and ad-
dress aging workforce issues. The program and plan shall 
be developed in consultation with the Administration’s co-
operative institutes and other academic partners to identify 
and implement programs and mechanisms to ensure that— 
(1) sufficient highly qualified scientists are able 
to transition into Federal career scientist positions in 
the Administration’s laboratories and programs; and 
(2) the technical and management experiences of 
senior employees are documented and transferred be-
fore leaving Federal service.
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TITLE IV—NATIONAL INSTITUTE 
OF STANDARDS AND TECH-
NOLOGY 
SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Authorization Act of 2010’’. 
SEC. 402. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) FISCAL YEAR 2011.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated 
to 
the 
Secretary 
of 
Commerce 
$918,900,000 for the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology for fiscal year 2011. 
(2) SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount au-
thorized by paragraph (1)— 
(A) $584,500,000 shall be authorized for sci-
entific and technical research and services lab-
oratory activities; 
(B) $124,800,000 shall be authorized for the 
construction and maintenance of facilities; and 
(C) $209,600,000 shall be authorized for in-
dustrial technology services activities, of which— 
(i) $141,100,000 shall be authorized for 
the Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
program under sections 25 and 26 of such 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l), of which not
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more than $5,000,000 shall be for the com-
petitive grant program under section 25(f) 
of such Act; and 
(ii) $10,000,000 shall be authorized for 
the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality 
Award program under section 17 of the Ste-
venson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711a). 
(b) FISCAL YEAR 2012.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated 
to 
the 
Secretary 
of 
Commerce 
$970,800,000 for the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology for fiscal year 2012. 
(2) SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount au-
thorized by paragraph (1)— 
(A) $661,100,000 shall be authorized for sci-
entific and technical research and services lab-
oratory activities; 
(B) $84,900,000 shall be authorized for the 
construction and maintenance of facilities; and 
(C) $224,800,000 shall be authorized for in-
dustrial technology services activities, of which— 
(i) $155,100,000 shall be authorized for 
the Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
program under sections 25 and 26 of such
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Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l), of which not 
more than $5,000,000 shall be for the com-
petitive grant program under section 25(f) 
of such Act; and 
(ii) $10,300,000 shall be authorized for 
the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality 
Award program under section 17 of the Ste-
venson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711a). 
(c) FISCAL YEAR 2013.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated 
to 
the 
Secretary 
of 
Commerce 
$1,039,709,000 for the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology for fiscal year 2013. 
(2) SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount au-
thorized by paragraph (1)— 
(A) $676,700,000 shall be authorized for sci-
entific and technical research and services lab-
oratory activities; 
(B) $121,300,000 shall be authorized for the 
construction and maintenance of facilities; and 
(C) $241,709,000 shall be authorized for in-
dustrial technology services activities, of which— 
(i) $165,100,000 shall be authorized for 
the Manufacturing Extension Partnership
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program under sections 25 and 26 of such 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 278l), of which not 
more than $5,000,000 shall be for the com-
petitive grant program under section 25(f) 
of such Act; and 
(ii) $10,609,000 shall be authorized for 
the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality 
Award program under section 17 of the Ste-
venson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711a). 
SEC. 403. UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR STAND-
ARDS AND TECHNOLOGY. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act is amended by inserting 
after section 3 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 4. UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR STAND-
ARDS AND TECHNOLOGY. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There shall be in the Depart-
ment of Commerce an Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Standards and Technology (in this section referred to as 
the ‘Under Secretary’). 
‘‘(b) APPOINTMENT.—The Under Secretary shall be 
appointed by the President by and with the advice and con-
sent of the Senate.
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‘‘(c) COMPENSATION.—The Under Secretary shall be 
compensated at the rate in effect for level III of the Execu-
tive Schedule under section 5314 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
‘‘(d) DUTIES.—The Under Secretary shall serve as the 
Director of the Institute and shall perform such duties as 
required of the Director by the Secretary under this Act 
or by law. 
‘‘(e) APPLICABILITY.—The individual serving as the 
Director of the Institute on the date of enactment of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Authoriza-
tion Act of 2010 shall also serve as the Under Secretary 
until such time as a successor is appointed under subsection 
(b).’’. 
(b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE.— 
(A) LEVEL
III.—Section 5314 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by inserting be-
fore the item ‘‘Associate Attorney General’’ the 
following: 
‘‘Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards 
and Technology, who also serves as Director of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology.’’. 
(B) LEVEL
IV.—Section 5315 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Di-
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rector, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, Department of Commerce.’’. 
(2) NATIONAL
INSTITUTE
OF
STANDARDS
AND 
TECHNOLOGY ACT.—Section 5 of the National Insti-
tute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
274) is amended by striking the first, fifth, and sixth 
sentences. 
SEC. 404. MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PARTNERSHIP. 
(a) COMMUNITY COLLEGE SUPPORT.—Section 25(a) of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278k(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ after the semicolon in 
paragraph (4); 
(2) by striking ‘‘Institute.’’ in paragraph (5) 
and inserting ‘‘Institute; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(6) providing to community colleges informa-
tion about the job skills needed in small- and me-
dium-sized manufacturing businesses in the regions 
they serve.’’. 
(b) INNOVATIVE SERVICES INITIATIVE.—Section 25 of 
such Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(g) INNOVATIVE SERVICES INITIATIVE.—
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‘‘(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director shall estab-
lish, within the Centers program under this section, 
an innovative services initiative to assist small- and 
medium-sized manufacturers in— 
‘‘(A) reducing their energy usage, green-
house gas emissions, and environmental waste to 
improve profitability; 
‘‘(B) accelerating the domestic commer-
cialization of new product technologies, includ-
ing components for renewable energy and energy 
efficiency systems; and 
‘‘(C) identification of and diversification to 
new markets, including support for transitioning 
to the production of components for renewable 
energy and energy efficiency systems. 
‘‘(2) MARKET DEMAND.—The Director may not 
undertake any activity to accelerate the domestic com-
mercialization of a new product technology under this 
subsection unless an analysis of market demand for 
the new product technology has been conducted.’’. 
(c) REPORTS.—Section 25 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
278k), as amended by subsection (b), is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(h) REPORTS.—
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—In submitting the 3-year 
programmatic planning document and annual up-
dates under section 23, the Director shall include an 
assessment of the Director’s governance of the pro-
gram established under this section. 
‘‘(2) CRITERIA.—In conducting the assessment, 
the Director shall use the criteria established pursu-
ant to the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award 
under section 17(d)(1)(C) of the Stevenson-Wydler 
Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
3711a(d)(1)(C)).’’. 
(d) HOLLINGS MANUFACTURING EXTENSION PART-
NERSHIP PROGRAM COST-SHARING.—Section 25(c) of such 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(c)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(7) Not later than 90 days after the date of en-
actment of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Authorization Act of 2010, the Comp-
troller General shall submit to Congress a report on 
the cost share requirements under the program. The 
report shall— 
‘‘(A) discuss various cost share structures, 
including the cost share structure in place prior 
to such date of enactment, and the effect of such
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cost share structures on individual Centers and 
the overall program; and 
‘‘(B) include recommendations for how best 
to structure the cost share requirement to provide 
for the long-term sustainability of the program.’’. 
‘‘(8) If consistent with the recommendations in 
the report transmitted to Congress under paragraph 
(7), the Secretary shall alter the cost structure re-
quirements specified under paragraph (3)(B) and (5) 
provided that the modification does not increase the 
cost share structure in place before the date of enact-
ment of the America COMPETES Reauthorization 
Act of 2010, or allow the Secretary to provide a Cen-
ter more than 50 percent of the costs incurred by that 
Center.’’. 
(e) ADVISORY BOARD.—Section 25(e)(4) of such Act 
(15 U.S.C. 278k(e)(4)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(4) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT APPLI-
CABILITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In discharging its du-
ties under this subsection, the MEP Advisory 
Board shall function solely in an advisory ca-
pacity, in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act.
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‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—Section 14 of the Fed-
eral Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to 
the MEP Advisory Board.’. 
(f) DESIGNATION OF PROGRAM.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Section 25 of the National In-
stitute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
278k), as amended by subsection (c), is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(i) DESIGNATION.— 
‘‘(1) HOLLINGS
MANUFACTURING
EXTENSION 
PARTNERSHIP.—The program under this section shall 
be known as the ‘Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership’. 
‘‘(2) HOLLINGS
MANUFACTURING
EXTENSION 
CENTERS.—The Regional Centers for the Transfer of 
Manufacturing Technology created and supported 
under subsection (a) shall be known as the ‘Hollings 
Manufacturing Extension Centers’ (in this Act re-
ferred to as the ‘Centers’).’’. 
(2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO CONSOLIDATED 
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005.—Division B of title II of 
the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (Public 
Law 108–447; 118 Stat. 2879; 15 U.S.C. 278k note) 
is amended under the heading ‘‘INDUSTRIAL TECH-
NOLOGY SERVICES’’ by striking ‘‘2007: Provided fur-
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ther, That’’ and all that follows through ‘‘Extension 
Centers.’’ and inserting ‘‘2007.’’. 
(3) TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.— 
(A) Section 25(a) of the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
278k(a)) is amended in the matter preceding 
paragraph (1) by striking ‘‘Regional Centers for 
the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology’’ and 
inserting ‘‘regional centers for the transfer of 
manufacturing technology’’. 
(B) Section 25 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
278k), as amended by subsection (f), is further 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(j) COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEFINED.—In this section, 
the term ‘community college’ means an institution of higher 
education (as defined under section 101(a) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) at which the 
highest degree that is predominately awarded to students 
is an associate’s degree.’’. 
(h) EVALUATION OF OBSTACLES UNIQUE TO SMALL 
MANUFACTURERS.—Section 25 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
278k), as amended by subsection (g), is further amended 
by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(k) EVALUATION OF OBSTACLES UNIQUE TO SMALL 
MANUFACTURERS.—The Director shall—
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‘‘(1) evaluate obstacles that are unique to small 
manufacturers that prevent such manufacturers from 
effectively competing in the global market; 
‘‘(2) implement a comprehensive plan to train 
the Centers to address such obstacles; and 
‘‘(3) facilitate improved communication between 
the Centers to assist such manufacturers in imple-
menting appropriate, targeted solutions to such obsta-
cles.’’. 
(i) NIST ACT AMENDMENT.—Section 25(f)(3) of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278k(f)(3)) is amended by striking ‘‘Director of the 
Centers program,’’ and inserting ‘‘Director of the Hollings 
MEP program,’’. 
SEC. 405. EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION AND TRACKING 
TECHNOLOGIES RESEARCH INITIATIVE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director shall establish a 
research initiative to support the development of emergency 
communication and tracking technologies for use in locat-
ing trapped individuals in confined spaces, such as under-
ground mines, and other shielded environments, such as 
high-rise buildings or collapsed structures, where conven-
tional radio communication is limited.
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(b) ACTIVITIES.—In order to carry out this section, the 
Director shall work with the private sector and appropriate 
Federal agencies to— 
(1) perform a needs assessment to identify and 
evaluate the measurement, technical standards, and 
conformity assessment needs required to improve the 
operation and reliability of such emergency commu-
nication and tracking technologies; 
(2) support the development of technical stand-
ards and conformance architecture to improve the op-
eration and reliability of such emergency communica-
tion and tracking technologies; and 
(3) incorporate and build upon existing reports 
and studies on improving emergency communications. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to Con-
gress and make publicly available a report describing the 
assessment performed under subsection (b)(1) and making 
recommendations about research priorities to address gaps 
in the measurement, technical standards, and conformity 
assessment needs identified by the assessment. 
SEC. 406. BROADENING PARTICIPATION. 
(a) RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS.—Section 18 of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15
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U.S.C. 278g–1) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(c) UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES.—In evalu-
ating applications for fellowships under this section, the Di-
rector shall give consideration to the goal of promoting the 
participation of underrepresented minorities in research 
areas supported by the Institute.’’. 
(b) POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.—Section 
19 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 278g–2) is amended by adding 
at the end the following: ‘‘In evaluating applications for 
fellowships under this section, the Director shall give consid-
eration to the goal of promoting the participation of under-
represented minorities in research areas supported by the 
Institute.’’. 
(c) TEACHER DEVELOPMENT.—Section 19A(c) of such 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278g–2a(c)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: ‘‘The Director shall give special consider-
ation to an application from a teacher from a high-need 
school, as defined in section 200 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021).’’. 
SEC. 407. NIST FELLOWSHIPS. 
(a) POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM.—Sec-
tion 19 of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act (15 U.S.C. 278g–2) is amended by striking ‘‘, 
in conjunction with the National Academy of Sciences,’’.
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(b) RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS.—Section 18(a) of that 
Act (15 USC 278g–1(a)) is amended by striking ‘‘up to 1.5 
percent of the’’. 
(c) COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TECHNOLOGY FELLOW-
SHIP PROGRAM.—Section 5163(d) of the Omnibus Trade 
and Competition Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 1533) is repealed. 
SEC. 408. GREEN MANUFACTURING AND CONSTRUCTION. 
The Director shall carry out a green manufacturing 
and construction initiative— 
(1) to develop accurate sustainability metrics 
and practices for use in manufacturing; 
(2) to advance the development of standards, in-
cluding high performance green building standards, 
and the creation of an information infrastructure to 
communicate sustainability information about sup-
pliers; and 
(3) to move buildings toward becoming high per-
formance green buildings, including improving energy 
performance, service life, and indoor air quality of 
new and retrofitted buildings through validated meas-
urement data. 
SEC. 409. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title:
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(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to the Foundation $7,424,400,000 for fis-
cal year 2011. 
(2) SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount au-
thorized by paragraph (1)— 
(A) $5,974,782,000 shall be made available 
to carry research and related activities; 
(B) $937,850,000 shall be made available 
for education and human resources; 
(C) $164,744,000 shall be made available 
for major research equipment and facilities con-
struction; 
(D) $327,503,000 shall be made available 
for agency operations and award management; 
(E) $4,803,000 shall be made available for 
the Office of the National Science Board; and 
(F) $14,718,000 shall be made available for 
the Office of Inspector General. 
(b) FISCAL YEAR 2012.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to the Foundation $7,800,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2012. 
(2) SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount au-
thorized by paragraph (1)—
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(A) $6,234,281,000 shall be made available 
to carry research and related activities; 
(B) $978,959,000 shall be made available 
for education and human resources; 
(C) $225,544,000 shall be made available 
for major research equipment and facilities con-
struction; 
(D) $341,676,000 shall be made available 
for agency operations and award management; 
(E) $4,808,000 shall be made available for 
the Office of the National Science Board; and 
(F) $14,732,000 shall be made available for 
the Office of Inspector General. 
(c) FISCAL YEAR 2013.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to the Foundation $8,300,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2013. 
(2) SPECIFIC ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount au-
thorized by paragraph (1)— 
(A) $6,637,849,000 shall be made available 
to carry research and related activities; 
(B) $1,041,762,000 shall be made available 
for education and human resources;
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(C) $236,764,000 shall be made available 
for major research equipment and facilities con-
struction; 
(D) $363,670,000 shall be made available 
for agency operations and award management; 
(E) $4,906,000 shall be made available for 
the Office of the National Science Board; and 
(F) $15,049,000 shall be made available for 
the Office of Inspector General. 
SEC. 504. NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD ADMINISTRATIVE 
AMENDMENTS. 
(a) STAFFING AT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD.— 
Section 4(g) of the National Science Foundation Act of 
1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(g)) is amended by striking ‘‘not more 
than 5’’. 
(b) NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD REPORTS.—Section 
4(j)(2) of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 
U.S.C. 1863(j)(2)) is amended by inserting ‘‘within the au-
thority of the Foundation (or otherwise as requested by the 
Congress or the President)’’ after ‘‘individual policy mat-
ters’’. 
(c) BOARD ADHERENCE TO SUNSHINE ACT.—Section 
15(a)(2) of the National Science Foundation Authorization 
Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n–5(a)(2)) is amended—
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(1) by striking ‘‘The Board’’ and inserting ‘‘To 
ensure transparency of the Board’s entire decision- 
making process, including deliberations on Board 
business occurring within its various subdivisions, the 
Board’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘The pre-
ceding requirement will apply to meetings of the full 
Board, whenever a quorum is present; and to meet-
ings of its subdivisions, whenever a quorum of the 
subdivision is present.’’. 
SEC. 505. NATIONAL CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND ENGINEER-
ING STATISTICS. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within the 
Foundation a National Center for Science and Engineering 
Statistics that shall serve as a central Federal clearinghouse 
for the collection, interpretation, analysis, and dissemina-
tion of objective data on science, engineering, technology, 
and research and development. 
(b) DUTIES.—In carrying out subsection (a) of this 
section, the Director, acting through the Center shall— 
(1) collect, acquire, analyze, report, and dissemi-
nate statistical data related to the science and engi-
neering enterprise in the United States and other na-
tions that is relevant and useful to practitioners, re-
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searchers, policymakers, and the public, including 
statistical data on— 
(A) research and development trends; 
(B) the science and engineering workforce; 
(C) 
United 
States 
competitiveness 
in 
science, engineering, technology, and research 
and development; and 
(D) the condition and progress of United 
States STEM education; 
(2) support research using the data it collects, 
and on methodologies in areas related to the work of 
the Center; and 
(3) support the education and training of re-
searchers in the use of large-scale, nationally rep-
resentative data sets. 
(c) STATISTICAL REPORTS.—The Director or the Na-
tional Science Board, acting through the Center, shall issue 
regular, and as necessary, special statistical reports on top-
ics related to the national and international science and 
engineering enterprise such as the biennial report required 
by section 4(j)(1) of the National Science Foundation Act 
of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1863(j)(1)) on indicators of the state 
of science and engineering in the United States.
HR 5116 EAS 
SEC. 506. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION MANUFAC-
TURING RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. 
(a) MANUFACTURING RESEARCH.—The Director shall 
carry out a program to award merit-reviewed, competitive 
grants to institutions of higher education to support funda-
mental research leading to transformative advances in 
manufacturing technologies, processes, and enterprises that 
will support United States manufacturing through im-
proved performance, productivity, sustainability, and com-
petitiveness. Research areas may include— 
(1) nanomanufacturing; 
(2) manufacturing and construction machines 
and equipment, including robotics, automation, and 
other intelligent systems; 
(3) manufacturing enterprise systems; 
(4) advanced sensing and control techniques; 
(5) materials processing; and 
(6) information technologies for manufacturing, 
including predictive and real-time models and sim-
ulations, and virtual manufacturing. 
(b) MANUFACTURING EDUCATION.—In order to help 
ensure a well-trained manufacturing workforce, the Direc-
tor shall award grants to strengthen and expand scientific 
and technical education and training in advanced manu-
facturing, including through the Foundation’s Advanced 
Technological Education program.
HR 5116 EAS 
(2) expansion to an institution-wide program if 
the initial proposal is not for an institution-wide 
program; and 
(3) sustaining any new innovation tools and re-
sources generated from funding under this program. 
(e) LIMITATION.—No funds provided under this section 
may be used to construct or renovate a building or struc-
ture. 
SEC. 509. SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY BASIC RESEARCH. 
The Director shall establish a Green Chemistry Basic 
Research program to award competitive, merit-based grants 
to support research into green and sustainable chemistry 
which will lead to clean, safe, and economical alternatives 
to traditional chemical products and practices. The research 
program shall provide sustained support for green chem-
istry research, education, and technology transfer through— 
(1) merit-reviewed competitive grants to indi-
vidual investigators and teams of investigators, in-
cluding, to the extent practicable, young investigators, 
for research; 
(2) grants to fund collaborative research partner-
ships among universities, industry, and nonprofit or-
ganizations;
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(3) symposia, forums, and conferences to increase 
outreach, collaboration, and dissemination of green 
chemistry advances and practices; and 
(4) education, training, and retraining of under-
graduate and graduate students and professional 
chemists and chemical engineers, including through 
partnerships with industry, in green chemistry 
science and engineering. 
SEC. 510. GRADUATE STUDENT SUPPORT. 
(a) FINDING.—The Congress finds that— 
(1) the Integrative Graduate Education and Re-
search Traineeship program is an important program 
for training the next generation of scientists and engi-
neers in team-based interdisciplinary research and 
problem solving, and for providing them with the 
many additional skills, such as communication skills, 
needed to thrive in diverse STEM careers; and 
(2) the Integrative Graduate Education and Re-
search Traineeship program is no less valuable to the 
preparation and support of graduate students than 
the Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship pro-
gram. 
(b) EQUAL TREATMENT OF IGERT AND GRF.—Be-
ginning in fiscal year 2011, the Director shall increase or, 
if necessary, decrease funding for the Foundation’s Integra-
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tive Graduate Education and Research Traineeship pro-
gram (or any program by which it is replaced) at least 
at the same rate as it increases or decreases funding for 
the Graduate Research Fellowship program. 
(c) SUPPORT FOR GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH 
FROM THE RESEARCH ACCOUNT.—For each of the fiscal 
years 2011 through 2013, at least 50 percent of the total 
Foundation funds allocated to the Integrative Graduate 
Education and Research Traineeship program and the 
Graduate Research Fellowship program shall come from 
funds appropriated for Research and Related Activities. 
(d) COST OF EDUCATION ALLOWANCE FOR GRF PRO-
GRAM.—Section 10 of the National Science Foundation Act 
of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1869) is amended— 
(1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before 
‘‘The Foundation is authorized’’; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(b) AMOUNT.—The Director shall establish for each 
year the amount to be awarded for scholarships and fellow-
ships under this section for that year. Each such scholarship 
and fellowship shall include a cost of education allowance 
of $12,000, subject to any restrictions on the use of cost of 
education allowance as determined by the Director.’’.
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SEC. 511. ROBERT NOYCE TEACHER SCHOLARSHIP PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—Section 10A(h)(1) of 
the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 
(42 U.S.C. 1862n–1a(h)(1)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—An eligible entity receiving a 
grant under this section shall provide, from non-Fed-
eral sources, to carry out the activities supported by 
the grant— 
‘‘(A) in the case of grants in an amount of 
less than $1,500,000, an amount equal to at least 
30 percent of the amount of the grant, at least 
one half of which shall be in cash; and 
‘‘(B) in the case of grants in an amount of 
$1,500,000 or more, an amount equal to at least 
50 percent of the amount of the grant, at least 
one half of which shall be in cash.’’. 
(b) 
RETIRING
STEM 
PROFESSIONALS.—Section 
10A(a)(2)(A) of the National Science Foundation Author-
ization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n–1a(a)(2)(A)) is 
amended by inserting ‘‘including retiring professionals in 
those fields,’’ after ‘‘mathematics professionals,’’. 
SEC. 512 UNDERGRADUATE BROADENING PARTICIPATION 
PROGRAM. 
The Foundation shall continue to support the Histori-
cally Black Colleges and Universities Undergraduate Pro-
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gram, the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation 
program, the Tribal Colleges and Universities Program, 
and Hispanic-serving institutions as separate programs. 
SEC. 513. RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STU-
DENTS. 
The Director shall permit specialized STEM high 
schools conducting research to participate in major data 
collection initiatives from universities, corporations, or gov-
ernment labs under a research grant from the Foundation, 
as part of the research proposal. 
SEC. 514. RESEARCH EXPERIENCES FOR UNDERGRADU-
ATES. 
(a) RESEARCH SITES.—The Director shall award 
grants, on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis, to institu-
tions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, or con-
sortia of such institutions and organizations, for sites des-
ignated by the Director to provide research experiences for 
6 or more undergraduate STEM students for sites des-
ignated at primarily undergraduate institutions of higher 
education and 10 or more undergraduate STEM students 
for all other sites, with consideration given to the goal of 
promoting the participation of individuals identified in 
section 33 or 34 of the Science and Engineering Equal Op-
portunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a or 1885b). The Director 
shall ensure that—
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(1) at least half of the students participating in 
a program funded by a grant under this subsection 
at each site shall be recruited from institutions of 
higher education where research opportunities in 
STEM are limited, including 2-year institutions; 
(2) the awards provide undergraduate research 
experiences in a wide range of STEM disciplines; 
(3) the awards support a variety of projects, in-
cluding independent investigator-led projects, inter-
disciplinary projects, and multi-institutional projects 
(including virtual projects); 
(4) students participating in each program fund-
ed have mentors, including during the academic year 
to the extent practicable, to help connect the students’ 
research experiences to the overall academic course of 
study and to help students achieve success in courses 
of study leading to a baccalaureate degree in a STEM 
field; 
(5) mentors and students are supported with ap-
propriate salary or stipends; and 
(6) student participants are tracked, for employ-
ment and continued matriculation in STEM fields, 
through receipt of the undergraduate degree and for at 
least 3 years thereafter.
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(b) INCLUSION OF UNDERGRADUATES IN STANDARD 
RESEARCH GRANTS.—The Director shall require that every 
recipient of a research grant from the Foundation pro-
posing to include 1 or more students enrolled in certificate, 
associate, or baccalaureate degree programs in carrying out 
the research under the grant shall request support, includ-
ing stipend support, for such undergraduate students as 
part of the research proposal itself rather than as a supple-
ment to the research proposal, unless such undergraduate 
participation was not foreseeable at the time of the original 
proposal. 
SEC. 515. STEM INDUSTRY INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director may award grants, 
on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to institutions of 
higher education, or consortia thereof, to establish or expand 
partnerships with local or regional private sector entities, 
for the purpose of providing undergraduate students with 
integrated internship experiences that connect private sector 
internship 
experiences 
with 
the 
students’ 
STEM 
coursework. The partnerships may also include industry or 
professional associations. 
(b) INTERNSHIP
PROGRAM.—The grants awarded 
under section (a) may include internship programs in the 
manufacturing sector.
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(c) USE OF GRANT FUNDS.—Grants under this section 
may be used— 
(1) to develop and implement hands-on learning 
opportunities; 
(2) to develop curricula and instructional mate-
rials related to industry, including the manufacturing 
sector; 
(3) to perform outreach to secondary schools; 
(4) to develop mentorship programs for students 
with partner organizations; and 
(5) to conduct activities to support awareness of 
career opportunities and skill requirements. 
(d) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this section, 
the Director shall give priority to institutions of higher edu-
cation or consortia thereof that demonstrate significant out-
reach to and coordination with local or regional private 
sector entities and Regional Centers for the Transfer of 
Manufacturing Technology established by section 25(a) of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
U.S.C. 278k(a)) in developing academic courses designed to 
provide students with the skills or certifications necessary 
for employment in local or regional companies. 
(c) OUTREACH TO RURAL COMMUNITIES.—The Foun-
dation shall conduct outreach to institutions of higher edu-
cation and private sector entities in rural areas to encour-
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age those entities to participate in partnerships under this 
section. 
(d) COST-SHARE.—The Director shall require a 50 
percent non-Federal cost-share from partnerships estab-
lished or expanded under this section. 
(e) RESTRICTION.—No Federal funds provided under 
this section may be used— 
(1) for the purpose of providing stipends or com-
pensation to students for private sector internships 
unless private sector entities match 75 percent of such 
funding; or 
(2) as payment or reimbursement to private sec-
tor entities, except for institutions of higher edu-
cation. 
(f) REPORT.—Not less than 3 years after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit a report 
to Congress on the number and total value of awards made 
under this section, the number of students affected by those 
awards, any evidence of the effect of those awards on work-
force preparation and jobs placement for participating stu-
dents, and an economic and ethnic breakdown of the par-
ticipating students.
HR 5116 EAS 
SEC. 516. CYBER-ENABLED LEARNING FOR NATIONAL CHAL-
LENGES. 
The Director shall, in consultation with appropriate 
Federal agencies, identify ways to use cyber-enabled learn-
ing to create an innovative STEM workforce and to help 
retrain and retain our existing STEM workforce to address 
national challenges, including national security and com-
petitiveness, and use technology to enhance or supplement 
laboratory based learning. 
SEC. 517. EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAM TO STIMULATE COM-
PETITIVE RESEARCH. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— 
(1) The National Science Foundation Act of 
1950 stated, ‘‘it shall be an objective of the Founda-
tion to strengthen research and education in the 
sciences and engineering, including independent re-
search by individuals, throughout the United States, 
and to avoid undue concentration of such research 
and education,’’; 
(2) National Science Foundation funding re-
mains highly concentrated, with 27 States and 2 ju-
risdictions, taken together, receiving only about 10 
percent of all NSF research funding; each of these 
States received only a fraction of one percent of Foun-
dation’s research dollars each year;
HR 5116 EAS 
(3) the Nation requires the talent, expertise, and 
research capabilities of all States in order to prepare 
sufficient numbers of scientists and engineers, remain 
globally competitive and support economic develop-
ment. 
(b) CONTINUATION OF PROGRAM.—The Director shall 
continue to carry out EPSCoR, with the objective of helping 
the eligible States to develop the research infrastructure that 
will make them more competitive for Foundation and other 
Federal research funding. The program shall continue to 
increase as the National Science Foundation funding in-
creases. 
(c) CONGRESSIONAL REPORTS.—The Director shall re-
port to the appropriate committees of Congress on an an-
nual basis, using the most recent available data— 
(1) the total amount made available, by State, 
under EPSCoR; 
(2) the amount of co-funding made available to 
EPSCoR States; 
(3) the total amount of National Science Foun-
dation funding made available to all institutions and 
entities within EPSCoR States; and 
(4) efforts and accomplishments to more fully in-
tegrate the 29 EPSCoR jurisdictions in major activi-
ties and initiatives of the Foundation.
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(d) COORDINATION OF EPSCOR AND SIMILAR FED-
ERAL PROGRAMS.— 
(1) ANOTHER FINDING.—The Congress finds that 
a number of Federal agencies have programs, such as 
Experimental Programs to Stimulate Competitive Re-
search and the National Institutes of Health Institu-
tional Development Award program, designed to in-
crease the capacity for and quality of science and 
technology research and training at academic institu-
tions in States that historically have received rel-
atively little Federal research and development fund-
ing. 
(2) COORDINATION
REQUIRED.—The EPSCoR 
Interagency Coordinating Committee, chaired by the 
National Science Foundation, shall— 
(A) 
coordinate 
EPSCoR 
and 
Federal 
EPSCoR-like programs to maximize the impact 
of Federal support for building competitive re-
search infrastructure, and in order to achieve an 
integrated Federal effort; 
(B) coordinate agency objectives with State 
and institutional goals, to obtain continued non- 
Federal support of science and technology re-
search and training;
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(C) develop metrics to assess gains in aca-
demic research quality and competitiveness, and 
in science and technology human resource devel-
opment; 
(D) conduct a cross-agency evaluation of 
EPSCoR and other Federal EPSCoR-like pro-
grams and accomplishments, including manage-
ment, investment, and metric-measuring strate-
gies implemented by the different agencies aimed 
to increase the number of new investigators re-
ceiving peer-reviewed funding, broaden partici-
pation, and empower knowledge generation, dis-
semination, application, and national research 
and development competitiveness; 
(E) coordinate the development and imple-
mentation of new, novel workshops, outreach ac-
tivities, and follow-up mentoring activities 
among EPSCoR or EPSCoR-like programs for 
colleges and universities in EPSCoR States and 
territories in order to increase the number of 
proposals submitted and successfully funded and 
to enhance statewide coordination of EPSCoR 
and Federal EPSCoR-like programs; 
(F) coordinate the development of new, in-
novative solicitations and programs to facilitate
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collaborations, partnerships, and mentoring ac-
tivities among faculty at all levels in non- 
EPSCoR and EPSCoR States and jurisdictions; 
(G) conduct an evaluation of the roles, re-
sponsibilities and degree of autonomy that pro-
gram officers or managers (or the equivalent po-
sition) have in executing EPSCoR programs at 
the different Federal agencies and the impacts 
these differences have on the number of EPSCoR 
State and jurisdiction faculty participating in 
the peer review process and the percentage of suc-
cessful awards by individual EPSCoR State ju-
risdiction and individual researcher; and 
(H) conduct a survey of colleges and univer-
sity faculty at all levels regarding their knowl-
edge and understanding of EPSCoR, and their 
level of interaction with and knowledge about 
their respective State or Jurisdictional EPSCoR 
Committee. 
(3) MEETINGS AND REPORTS.—The Committee 
shall meet at least twice each fiscal year and shall 
submit an annual report to the appropriate commit-
tees of Congress describing progress made in carrying 
out paragraph (2).
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(e) FEDERAL AGENCY REPORTS.—Each Federal agen-
cy that administers an EPSCoR or Federal EPSCoR-like 
program shall submit to the OSTP as part of its Federal 
budget submission— 
(1) a description of the program strategy and ob-
jectives; 
(2) a description of the awards made in the pre-
vious year, including— 
(A) the percentage of reviewers and number 
of new reviewers from EPSCoR States; 
(B) the percentage of new investigators from 
EPSCoR States; 
(C) the number of programs or large col-
laborator awards involving a partnership of or-
ganizations and institutions from EPSCoR and 
non-EPSCoR States; and 
(3) an analysis of the gains in academic research 
quality and competitiveness, and in science and tech-
nology human resource development, achieved by the 
program in the last year. 
(f) NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES STUDY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall contract 
with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a 
study on all Federal agencies that administer an Ex-
perimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Re-
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search or a program similar to the Experimental Pro-
gram to Stimulate Competitive Research. 
(2) MATTERS
TO
BE
ADDRESSED.—The study 
conducted under paragraph (1) shall include the fol-
lowing: 
(A) A delineation of the policies of each 
Federal agency with respect to the awarding of 
grants to EPSCoR States. 
(B) The effectiveness of each program. 
(C) Recommendations for improvements for 
each agency to achieve EPSCoR goals. 
(D) An assessment of the effectiveness of 
EPSCoR States in using awards to develop 
science and engineering research and education, 
and science and engineering infrastructure with-
in their States. 
(E) Such other issues that address the effec-
tiveness of EPSCoR as the National Academy of 
Sciences considers appropriate. 
SEC. 518. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING THE 
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
MATHEMATICS 
TALENT 
EXPANSION 
PRO-
GRAM. 
It is the sense of the Congress that—
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(1) the Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
Mathematics Talent Expansion Program established 
by the National Science Foundation Authorization 
Act of 2002 continues to be an effective program to 
increase the number of students, who are citizens or 
permanent residents of the United States, receiving 
associate or baccalaureate degrees in established or 
emerging fields within science, technology, engineer-
ing, and mathematics, and its authorization con-
tinues; 
(2) the strategies employed continue to strength-
en mentoring and tutoring between faculty and stu-
dents and provide students with information and ex-
posure to potential career pathways in science, tech-
nology, engineering, and mathematics areas; 
(3) this highly competitive program awarded 145 
Program implementation awards and 12 research 
projects in the first 6 years of operations; and 
(4) the Science, Technology, Engineering, and 
Mathematics Talent Expansion Program should con-
tinue to be supported by the National Science Foun-
dation.
HR 5116 EAS 
SEC. 519. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING THE NA-
TIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION’S CONTRIBU-
TIONS TO BASIC RESEARCH AND EDUCATION. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— 
(1) the National Science Foundation is an inde-
pendent Federal agency created by Congress in 1950 
to, among other things, promote the progress of 
science, to advance the national health, prosperity, 
and welfare, and to secure the national defense; 
(2) the Foundation is the funding source for ap-
proximately 20 percent of all federally supported 
basic research conducted by America’s colleges and 
universities, and is the major source of Federal back-
ing for mathematics, computer science and other 
sciences; 
(3) the America COMPETES Act of 2007 helped 
rejuvenate our focus on increasing basic research in-
vestment in the physical sciences, strengthening edu-
cational opportunities in the science, technology, engi-
neering, and mathematics fields and developing a ro-
bust innovation infrastructure; and 
(4) reauthorization of the America COMPETES 
Act should continue a robust investment in basic re-
search and education and preserve the essence of the 
original Act by increasing the investment focus on
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science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
basic research and education as a national priority. 
(b) SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the 
Congress that— 
(1) the National Science Foundation is the finest 
scientific foundation in the world, and is a vital 
agency that must support basic research needed to ad-
vance the United States into the 21st century; 
(2) the National Science Foundation should 
focus Federal research and development resources pri-
marily in the areas of science, technology, engineer-
ing, and mathematics basic research and education; 
and 
(3) the National Science Foundation should 
strive to ensure that federally-supported research is of 
the finest quality, is ground breaking, and answers 
questions or solves problems that are of utmost impor-
tance to society at large. 
SEC. 520. ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND COM-
MERCIALIZATION OF UNIVERSITY RESEARCH. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Any institution of higher education 
(as such term is defined in section 101(A) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) that receives 
National Science Foundation research support and has re-
ceived at least $25,000,000 in total Federal research grants
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confidential, trade secret, or proprietary information on its 
website. 
SEC. 521. STUDY TO DEVELOP IMPROVED IMPACT-ON-SOCI-
ETY METRICS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Within 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall contract with the National Academy of 
Sciences to initiate a study to evaluate, develop, or improve 
metrics for measuring the potential impact-on-society, in-
cluding— 
(1) the potential for commercial applications of 
research studies funded in whole or in part by grants 
of financial assistance from the Foundation or other 
Federal agencies; 
(2) the manner in which research conducted at, 
and individuals graduating from, an institution of 
higher education contribute to the development of new 
intellectual property and the success of commercial 
activities; 
(3) the quality of relevant scientific and inter-
national publications; and 
(4) the ability of such institutions to attract ex-
ternal research funding. 
(b) REPORT.—Within 1 year after initiating the study 
required by subsection (a), the Director shall submit a re-
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port to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the House of Representatives Com-
mittee on Science and Technology setting forth the Direc-
tor’s findings, conclusions, and recommendations. 
SEC. 522. NSF GRANTS IN SUPPORT OF SPONSORED POST- 
DOCTORAL FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS. 
The Director of the National Science Foundation may 
utilize funds appropriated to carry out grants to institu-
tions of higher education (as such term is defined in section 
101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001(a))) to provide financial support for post-graduate re-
search in fields with potential commercial applications to 
match, in whole or in part, any private sector grant of fi-
nancial assistance to any post-doctoral program in such a 
field of study. 
SEC. 523. COLLABORATION IN PLANNING FOR STEWARD-
SHIP OF LARGE-SCALE FACILITIES. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the Foundation should, in its planning for 
construction and stewardship of large facilities, co-
ordinate and collaborate with other Federal agencies, 
including the Department of Energy’s Office of 
Science, to ensure that joint investments may be made 
when practicable;
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(2) in particular, the Foundation should ensure 
that it responds to recommendations by the National 
Academy of Sciences and working groups convened by 
the National Science and Technology Council regard-
ing such facilities and opportunities for partnership 
with other agencies in the design and construction of 
such facilities; and 
(3) for facilities in which research in multiple 
disciplines will be possible, the Director should in-
clude multiple units within the Foundation during 
the planning process. 
SEC. 524. CLOUD COMPUTING RESEARCH ENHANCEMENT. 
(a) RESEARCH FOCUS AREA.—The Director may sup-
port a national research agenda in key areas affected by 
the increased use of public and private cloud computing, 
including— 
(1) new approaches, techniques, technologies, and 
tools for— 
(A) optimizing the effectiveness and effi-
ciency of cloud computing environments; and 
(B) mitigating security, identity, privacy, 
reliability, and manageability risks in cloud- 
based environments, including as they differ 
from traditional data centers;
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(2) new algorithms and technologies to define, 
assess, and establish large-scale, trustworthy, cloud- 
based infrastructures; 
(3) models and advanced technologies to meas-
ure, assess, report, and understand the performance, 
reliability, energy consumption, and other character-
istics of complex cloud environments; and 
(4) advanced security technologies to protect sen-
sitive or proprietary information in global-scale cloud 
environments. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
initiate a review and assessment of cloud computing 
research opportunities and challenges, including re-
search areas listed in subsection (a), as well as related 
issues such as— 
(A) the management and assurance of data 
that are the subject of Federal laws and regula-
tions in cloud computing environments, which 
laws and regulations exist on the date of enact-
ment of this Act; 
(B) misappropriation of cloud services, pi-
racy through cloud technologies, and other 
threats to the integrity of cloud services;
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(C) areas of advanced technology needed to 
enable trusted communications, processing, and 
storage; and 
(D) other areas of focus determined appro-
priate by the Director. 
(2) UNSOLICITED
PROPOSALS.—The Director 
may accept unsolicited proposals that review and as-
sess the issues described in paragraph (1). The pro-
posals may be judged according to existing criteria of 
the National Science Foundation. 
(c) REPORT.—The Director shall provide an annual 
report for not less than 5 consecutive years to Congress on 
the outcomes of National Science Foundation investments 
in cloud computing research, recommendations for research 
focus and program improvements, or other related rec-
ommendations. The reports, including any interim findings 
or recommendations, shall be made publicly available on 
the website of the National Science Foundation. 
(d) NIST SUPPORT.—The Director of the National In-
stitute of Standards and Technology shall— 
(1) collaborate with industry in the development 
of standards supporting trusted cloud computing in-
frastructures, metrics, interoperability, and assur-
ance; and
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(2) support standards development with the in-
tent of supporting common goals. 
SEC. 525. TRIBAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall continue to sup-
port a program to award grants on a competitive, merit- 
reviewed basis to tribal colleges and universities (as defined 
in section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1059c), including institutions described in section 
317 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 1059d), to enhance the quality 
of undergraduate STEM education at such institutions and 
to increase the retention and graduation rates of Native 
American students pursuing associate’s or baccalaureate de-
grees in STEM. 
(b) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—Grants awarded under 
this section shall support— 
(1) activities to improve courses and curriculum 
in STEM; 
(2) faculty development; 
(3) stipends for undergraduate students partici-
pating in research; and 
(4) other activities consistent with subsection (a), 
as determined by the Director. 
(c) INSTRUMENTATION.—Funding provided under this 
section may be used for laboratory equipment and mate-
rials.
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ing, programs, and other institutional resources 
available to the investigator from either their home 
institution or organization or another institution or 
organization with relevant expertise. 
SEC. 527. TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY GRADUATE EDUCATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall award grants, 
on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, to institutions of 
higher education to implement or expand research-based re-
forms in master’s and doctoral level STEM education that 
emphasize preparation for diverse careers utilizing STEM 
degrees, including at diverse types of institutions of higher 
education, in industry, and at government agencies and re-
search laboratories. 
(b) USES OF FUNDS.—Activities supported by grants 
under this section may include— 
(1) creation of multidisciplinary or interdiscipli-
nary courses or programs for the purpose of improved 
student instruction and research in STEM; 
(2) expansion of graduate STEM research oppor-
tunities to include interdisciplinary research opportu-
nities and research opportunities in industry, at Fed-
eral laboratories, and at international research insti-
tutions or research sites; 
(3) development and implementation of future 
faculty training programs focused on improved in-
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struction, mentoring, assessment of student learning, 
and support of undergraduate STEM students; 
(4) support and training for graduate students 
to participate in instructional activities beyond the 
traditional teaching assistantship, and especially as 
part of ongoing educational reform efforts, including 
at pre-K–12 schools, and primarily undergraduate 
institutions; 
(5) creation, improvement, or expansion of inno-
vative graduate programs such as science master’s de-
gree programs; 
(6) development and implementation of semi-
nars, workshops, and other professional development 
activities that increase the ability of graduate stu-
dents to engage in innovation, technology transfer, 
and entrepreneurship; 
(7) development and implementation of semi-
nars, workshops, and other professional development 
activities that increase the ability of graduate stu-
dents to effectively communicate their research find-
ings to technical audiences outside of their own dis-
cipline and to nontechnical audiences; 
(8) expansion of successful STEM reform efforts 
beyond a single academic unit to other STEM aca-
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demic units within an institution or to comparable 
academic units at other institutions; and 
(9) research on teaching and learning of STEM 
at the graduate level related to the proposed reform ef-
fort, including assessment and evaluation of the pro-
posed reform activities and research on scalability 
and sustainability of approaches to reform. 
(c) PARTNERSHIP.—An institution of higher education 
may partner with one or more other nonprofit education 
or research organizations, including scientific and engineer-
ing societies, for the purposes of carrying out the activities 
authorized under this section. 
(d) SELECTION PROCESS.— 
(1) APPLICATIONS.—An institution of higher 
education seeking a grant under this section shall 
submit an application to the Director at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as 
the Director may require. The application shall in-
clude, at a minimum— 
(A) a description of the proposed reform ef-
fort; 
(B) in the case of applications that propose 
an expansion of a previously implemented re-
form effort at the applicant’s institution or at
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other institutions, a description of the previously 
implemented reform effort; 
(C) evidence of institutional support for, 
and commitment to, the proposed reform effort, 
including long-term commitment to implement 
successful strategies from the current reform ef-
fort beyond the academic unit or units included 
in the grant proposal or to disseminate successful 
strategies to other institutions; and 
(D) a description of the plans for assess-
ment and evaluation of the grant proposed re-
form activities. 
(2) REVIEW
OF
APPLICATIONS.—In selecting 
grant recipients under this section, the Director shall 
consider at a minimum— 
(A) the likelihood of success in undertaking 
the proposed effort at the institution submitting 
the application, including the extent to which the 
faculty, staff, and administrators of the institu-
tion are committed to making the proposed insti-
tutional reform a priority of the participating 
academic unit or units; 
(B) the degree to which the proposed reform 
will contribute to change in institutional culture 
and policy such that a greater value is placed on
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preparing graduate students for diverse careers 
utilizing STEM degrees; 
(C) the likelihood that the institution will 
sustain or expand the reform beyond the period 
of the grant; and 
(D) the degree to which scholarly assessment 
and evaluation plans are included in the design 
of the reform effort. 
SUBTITLE B—STEM-TRAINING 
GRANT PROGRAM 
SEC. 551. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this subtitle is to replicate and imple-
ment programs at institutions of higher education that pro-
vide integrated courses of study in science, technology, engi-
neering, or mathematics, and teacher education, that lead 
to a baccalaureate degree in science, technology, engineer-
ing, or mathematics with concurrent teacher certification. 
SEC. 552. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS. 
The Director shall replicate and implement under-
graduate degree programs under this subtitle that— 
(1) are designed to recruit and prepare students 
who pursue a baccalaureate degree in science, tech-
nology, engineering, or mathematics to become cer-
tified as elementary and secondary teachers;
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(2) require the education department (or its 
equivalent) and the departments or division respon-
sible for preparation of science, technology, engineer-
ing, and mathematics majors at an institution of 
higher education to collaborate in establishing and 
implementing the program at that institution; 
(3) require students participating in the pro-
gram to enter the program through a field-based 
course and to continue to complete field-based courses 
supervised by master teachers throughout the pro-
gram; 
(4) hire sufficient teachers so that the ratio of 
students to master teachers in the program does not 
exceed 100 to 1; 
(5) include instruction in the use of scientif-
ically-based instructional materials and methods, as-
sessments, pedagogical content knowledge (including 
the interaction between mathematics and science), the 
use of instructional technology, and how to incor-
porate State and local standards into the classroom 
curriculum; 
(6) restrict to students participating in the pro-
gram those courses that are specifically designed for 
the needs of teachers of science, technology, engineer-
ing, and mathematics; and
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(7) require students participating in the pro-
gram to successfully complete a final evaluation of 
their teaching proficiency, based on their classroom 
teaching performance, conducted by multiple trained 
observers, and a portfolio of their accomplishments. 
SEC. 553. GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish a grant 
program to support programs at institutions of higher edu-
cation to carry out the purpose of this subtitle. 
(b) GEOGRAPHICAL CONSIDERATIONS.—In the admin-
istration of this subtitle, the Director shall take such steps 
as may be necessary to ensure that grants are equitably dis-
tributed across all regions of the United States, taking into 
account population density and other geographic and demo-
graphic considerations. 
(c) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—Subject to the requirements 
of subsection (d), the Director may award grants annually 
on a competitive basis to institutions of higher education 
in the amount of $2,000,000, per institution of which— 
(1) $1,500,000 shall be used— 
(A) to design, implement, and evaluate a 
program that meets the requirements of section 
552; 
(B) to employ master teachers at the insti-
tution to oversee field experiences;
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(4) MENTOR
TEACHER.—The term ‘‘mentor 
teacher’’ means an elementary or secondary school 
classroom teacher who assists with the training of stu-
dents participating in a field-based course. 
(5) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means the 
Director of the National Science Foundation. 
SEC. 556. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director 
to carry out this subtitle $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
2011 through 2013. 
TITLE VI—INNOVATION 
SEC. 601. OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEUR-
SHIP. 
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), as amended by section 106 
of this Act, is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 25. OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEUR-
SHIP. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish an 
Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship to foster innova-
tion and the commercialization of new technologies, prod-
ucts, processes, and services with the goal of promoting pro-
ductivity and economic growth in the United States. 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Office of Innovation and Entrepre-
neurship shall be responsible for—
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‘‘(1) developing policies to accelerate innovation 
and advance the commercialization of research and 
development, including federally funded research and 
development; 
‘‘(2) identifying existing barriers to innovation 
and commercialization, including access to capital 
and other resources, and ways to overcome those bar-
riers, particularly in States participating in the Ex-
perimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Re-
search; 
‘‘(3) providing access to relevant data, research, 
and technical assistance on innovation and commer-
cialization; 
‘‘(4) strengthening collaboration on and coordi-
nation of policies relating to innovation and commer-
cialization, including those focused on the needs of 
small businesses and rural communities, within the 
Department of Commerce, between the Department of 
Commerce and other Federal agencies, and between 
the Department of Commerce and appropriate State 
government agencies and institutions, as appropriate; 
and 
‘‘(5) any other duties as determined by the Sec-
retary.
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‘‘(c) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish an Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepre-
neurship to provide advice to the Secretary on carrying out 
subsection (b).’’. 
SEC. 602. FEDERAL LOAN GUARANTEES FOR INNOVATIVE 
TECHNOLOGIES IN MANUFACTURING. 
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), as amended by section 601, 
is further amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘SEC. 26. FEDERAL LOAN GUARANTEES FOR INNOVATIVE 
TECHNOLOGIES IN MANUFACTURING. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program to provide loan guarantees for obligations to 
small- or medium-sized manufacturers for the use or pro-
duction of innovative technologies. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—A loan guarantee may be 
made under the program only for a project that re-equips, 
expands, or establishes a manufacturing facility in the 
United States— 
‘‘(1) to use an innovative technology or an inno-
vative process in manufacturing; 
‘‘(2) to manufacture an innovative technology 
product or an integral component of such a product; 
or
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‘‘(3) to commercialize an innovative product, 
process, or idea that was developed by research funded 
in whole or in part by a grant from the Federal gov-
ernment. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE BORROWER.—A loan guarantee may be 
made under the program only for a borrower who is a 
small- or medium-sized manufacturer, as determined by the 
Secretary under the criteria established pursuant to sub-
section (l). 
‘‘(d) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT.—A loan guarantee shall 
not exceed an amount equal to 80 percent of the obligation, 
as estimated at the time at which the loan guarantee is 
issued. 
‘‘(e) LIMITATIONS ON LOAN GUARANTEE.—No loan 
guarantee shall be made unless the Secretary determines 
that— 
‘‘(1) there is a reasonable prospect of repayment 
of the principal and interest on the obligation by the 
borrower; 
‘‘(2) the amount of the obligation (when com-
bined with amounts available to the borrower from 
other sources) is sufficient to carry out the project; 
‘‘(3) the obligation is not subordinate to other fi-
nancing;
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‘‘(4) the obligation bears interest at a rate that 
does not exceed a level that the Secretary determines 
appropriate, taking into account the prevailing rate 
of interest in the private sector for similar loans and 
risks; and 
‘‘(5) the term of an obligation requires full re-
payment over a period not to exceed the lesser of— 
‘‘(A) 30 years; or 
‘‘(B) 90 percent of the projected useful life, 
as determined by the Secretary, of the physical 
asset to be financed by the obligation. 
‘‘(f) DEFAULTS.— 
‘‘(1) PAYMENT BY SECRETARY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If a borrower defaults 
(as defined in regulations promulgated by the 
Secretary and specified in the loan guarantee) 
on the obligation, the holder of the loan guar-
antee shall have the right to demand payment of 
the unpaid amount from the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) PAYMENT
REQUIRED.—Within such 
period as may be specified in the loan guarantee 
or related agreements, the Secretary shall pay to 
the holder of the loan guarantee the unpaid in-
terest on and unpaid principal of the obligation 
as to which the borrower has defaulted, unless the
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Secretary finds that there was no default by the 
borrower in the payment of interest or principal 
or that the default has been remedied. 
‘‘(C) FORBEARANCE.—Nothing in this sub-
section precludes any forbearance by the holder 
of the obligation for the benefit of the borrower 
which may be agreed upon by the parties to the 
obligation and approved by the Secretary. 
‘‘(2) SUBROGATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—If the Secretary makes 
a payment under paragraph (1), the Secretary 
shall be subrogated to the rights, as specified in 
the loan guarantee, of the recipient of the pay-
ment or related agreements including, if appro-
priate, the authority (notwithstanding any other 
provision of law)— 
‘‘(i) to complete, maintain, operate, 
lease, or otherwise dispose of any property 
acquired pursuant to such loan guarantee 
or related agreement; or 
‘‘(ii) to permit the borrower, pursuant 
to an agreement with the Secretary, to con-
tinue to pursue the purposes of the project 
if the Secretary determines that such an 
agreement is in the public interest.
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‘‘(B) SUPERIORITY OF RIGHTS.—The rights 
of the Secretary, with respect to any property ac-
quired pursuant to a loan guarantee or related 
agreements, shall be superior to the rights of any 
other person with respect to the property. 
‘‘(3) NOTIFICATION.—If the borrower defaults on 
an obligation, the Secretary shall notify the Attorney 
General of the default. 
‘‘(g) TERMS
AND CONDITIONS.—A loan guarantee 
under this section shall include such detailed terms and con-
ditions as the Secretary determines appropriate— 
‘‘(1) to protect the interests of the United States 
in the case of default; and 
‘‘(2) to have available all the patents and tech-
nology necessary for any person selected, including 
the Secretary, to complete and operate the project. 
‘‘(h) CONSULTATION.—In establishing the terms and 
conditions of a loan guarantee under this section, the Sec-
retary shall consult with the Secretary of the Treasury. 
‘‘(i) FEES.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall charge 
and collect fees for loan guarantees in amounts the 
Secretary determines are sufficient to cover applicable 
administrative expenses.
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‘‘(2) AVAILABILITY.—Fees collected under this 
subsection shall— 
‘‘(A) be deposited by the Secretary into the 
Treasury of the United States; and 
‘‘(B) remain available until expended, sub-
ject to such other conditions as are contained in 
annual appropriations Acts. 
‘‘(3) LIMITATION.—In charging and collecting 
fees under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall take 
into consideration the amount of the obligation. 
‘‘(j) RECORDS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—With respect to a loan guar-
antee under this section, the borrower, the lender, and 
any other appropriate party shall keep such records 
and other pertinent documents as the Secretary shall 
prescribe by regulation, including such records as the 
Secretary may require to facilitate an effective audit. 
‘‘(2) ACCESS.—The Secretary and the Comp-
troller General of the United States, or their duly au-
thorized representatives, shall have access to records 
and other pertinent documents for the purpose of con-
ducting an audit. 
‘‘(k) FULL FAITH AND CREDIT.—The full faith and 
credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of
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all loan guarantees issued under this section with respect 
to principal and interest. 
‘‘(l) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall issue final 
regulations before making any loan guarantees under the 
program. The regulations shall include— 
‘‘(1) criteria that the Secretary shall use to de-
termine eligibility for loan guarantees under this sec-
tion, including— 
‘‘(A) whether a borrower is a small- or me-
dium-sized manufacturer; and 
‘‘(B) whether a borrower demonstrates that 
a market exists for the innovative technology 
product, or the integral component of such a 
product, to be manufactured, as evidenced by 
written statements of interest from potential pur-
chasers; 
‘‘(2) criteria that the Secretary shall use to de-
termine the amount of any fees charged under sub-
section (i), including criteria related to the amount of 
the obligation; 
‘‘(3) policies and procedures for selecting and 
monitoring lenders and loan performance; and 
‘‘(4) any other policies, procedures, or informa-
tion necessary to implement this section. 
‘‘(m) AUDIT.—
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‘‘(1) ANNUAL INDEPENDENT AUDITS.—The Sec-
retary shall enter into an arrangement with an inde-
pendent auditor for annual evaluations of the pro-
gram under this section. 
‘‘(2) COMPTROLLER
GENERAL
REVIEW.—The 
Comptroller General of the United States shall con-
duct a biennial review of the Secretary’s execution of 
the program under this section. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—The results of the independent 
audit under paragraph (1) and the Comptroller Gen-
eral’s review under paragraph (2) shall be provided 
directly to the Committee on Science and Technology 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
‘‘(n) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Concurrent with the 
submission to Congress of the President’s annual budget re-
quest in each year after the date of enactment of the Amer-
ica COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, the Sec-
retary shall transmit to the Committee on Science and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate a report containing a summary of all activities car-
ried out under this section. 
‘‘(o) COORDINATION AND NONDUPLICATION.—To the 
maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure
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that the activities carried out under this section are coordi-
nated with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, other loan 
guarantee programs within the Federal Government. 
‘‘(p) MEP CENTERS.—The Secretary may use centers 
established under section 25 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) to provide 
information about the program established under this sec-
tion and to conduct outreach to potential borrowers, as ap-
propriate. 
‘‘(q) MINIMIZING RISK.—The Secretary shall promul-
gate regulations and policies to carry out this section in 
accordance with Office of Management and Budget Circular 
No. A–129, entitled ‘Policies for Federal Credit Programs 
and Non-Tax Receivables’, as in effect on the date of enact-
ment of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 
2010. 
‘‘(r) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress 
that no loan guarantee shall be made under this section un-
less the borrower agrees to use a federally-approved elec-
tronic employment eligibility verification system to verify 
the employment eligibility of— 
‘‘(1) all persons hired during the contract term 
by the borrower to perform employment duties within 
the United States; and
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‘‘(2) all persons assigned by the borrower to per-
form work within the United States on the project. 
‘‘(s) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COST.—The term ‘cost’ has the meaning 
given such term under section 502 of the Federal 
Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 661a). 
‘‘(2) INNOVATIVE PROCESS.—The term ‘innova-
tive process’ means a process that is significantly im-
proved as compared to the process in general use in 
the commercial marketplace in the United States at 
the time the loan guarantee is issued. 
‘‘(3) INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY.—The term ‘inno-
vative technology’ means a technology that is signifi-
cantly improved as compared to the technology in 
general use in the commercial marketplace in the 
United States at the time the loan guarantee is 
issued. 
‘‘(4) LOAN GUARANTEE.—The term ‘loan guar-
antee’ has the meaning given such term in section 502 
of the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (2 U.S.C. 
661a). The term includes a loan guarantee commit-
ment (as defined in section 502 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
661a)).
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‘‘(5) OBLIGATION.—The term ‘obligation’ means 
the loan or other debt obligation that is guaranteed 
under this section. 
‘‘(6) PROGRAM.—The term ‘program’ means the 
loan guarantee program established in subsection (a). 
‘‘(t) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal 
years 2011 through 2013 to provide the cost of loan guaran-
tees under this section.’’. 
SEC. 603. REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM. 
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.), as amended by section 602, 
is further amended by adding at the end thereof the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘SEC. 27. REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a regional innovation program to encourage and support 
the development of regional innovation strategies, including 
regional innovation clusters and science and research parks. 
‘(b) CLUSTER GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the program es-
tablished under subsection (a), the Secretary may 
award grants on a competitive basis to eligible recipi-
ents for activities relating to the formation and devel-
opment of regional innovation clusters.
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funds under this subsection have been ex-
pended. 
‘‘(C) SPECIAL
CONSIDERATION.—The Sec-
retary shall give special consideration to appli-
cations from regions that contain communities 
negatively impacted by trade. 
‘‘(5) SPECIAL
CONSIDERATION.—The Secretary 
shall give special consideration to an eligible recipient 
who agrees to collaborate with local workforce invest-
ment area boards. 
‘‘(6) COST SHARE.—The Secretary may not pro-
vide more than 50 percent of the total cost of any ac-
tivity funded under this subsection. 
‘‘(7) USE AND APPLICATION OF RESEARCH AND 
INFORMATION
PROGRAM.—To the maximum extent 
practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that activities 
funded under this subsection use and apply any rel-
evant research, best practices, and metrics developed 
under the program established in subsection (c). 
‘‘(c) SCIENCE AND RESEARCH PARK DEVELOPMENT 
GRANTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the program es-
tablished under subsection (a), the Secretary may 
award grants for the development of feasibility studies 
and plans for the construction of new science parks
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or the renovation or expansion of existing science 
parks. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—The 
amount of a grant awarded under this subsection 
may not exceed $750,000. 
‘‘(3) AWARD.— 
‘‘(A) COMPETITION
REQUIRED.—The Sec-
retary shall award grants under this subsection 
pursuant to a full and open competition. 
‘‘(B) GEOGRAPHIC
DISPERSION.—In con-
ducting a competitive process, the Secretary shall 
consider the need to avoid undue geographic con-
centration among any one category of States 
based on their predominant rural or urban char-
acter as indicated by population density. 
‘‘(C) SELECTION CRITERIA.—The Secretary 
shall publish the criteria to be utilized in any 
competition for the selection of recipients of 
grants under this subsection, which shall include 
requirements relating to the— 
‘‘(i) effect the science park will have on 
regional economic growth and development; 
‘‘(ii) number of jobs to be created at 
the science park and the surrounding re-
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gional community each year during its first 
3 years; 
‘‘(iii) funding to be required to con-
struct, renovate or expand the science park 
during its first 3 years; 
‘‘(iv) amount and type of financing 
and access to capital available to the appli-
cant; 
‘‘(v) types of businesses and research 
entities expected in the science park and 
surrounding regional community; 
‘‘(vi) letters of intent by businesses and 
research entities to locate in the science 
park; 
‘‘(vii) capability to attract a well 
trained workforce to the science park; 
‘‘(viii) the management of the science 
park during its first 5 years; 
‘‘(ix) expected financial risks in the 
construction and operation of the science 
park and the risk mitigation strategy; 
‘‘(x) physical infrastructure available 
to the science park, including roads, utili-
ties, and telecommunications;
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‘‘(xi) utilization of energy-efficient 
building technology including nationally 
recognized green building design practices, 
renewable energy, cogeneration, and other 
methods that increase energy efficiency and 
conservation; 
‘‘(xii) consideration to the trans-
formation of military bases affected by the 
base realignment and closure process or the 
redevelopment of existing buildings, struc-
tures, or brownfield sites that are aban-
doned, idled, or underused into single or 
multiple building facilities for science and 
technology companies and institutions; 
‘‘(xiii) ability to collaborate with other 
science parks throughout the world; 
‘‘(xiv) consideration of sustainable de-
velopment practices and the quality of life 
at the science park; and 
‘‘(xv) other such criteria as the Sec-
retary shall prescribe. 
‘‘(4) ALLOCATION CONSTRAINTS.—The Secretary 
may not allocate less than one-third of the total grant 
funding allocated under this section for any fiscal 
year to grants under subsection (b) or this subsection
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without written notification to the Senate Committee 
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 
House of Representatives Committees on Science and 
Technology and on Energy and Commerce. 
‘‘(d) LOAN GUARANTEES FOR SCIENCE PARK INFRA-
STRUCTURE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), the 
Secretary may guarantee up to 80 percent of the loan 
amount for projects for the construction or expansion, 
including renovation and modernization, of science 
park infrastructure. 
‘‘(2) LIMITATIONS ON GUARANTEE AMOUNTS.— 
The maximum amount of loan principal guaranteed 
under this subsection may not exceed— 
‘‘(A) $50,000,000 with respect to any 
single project; and 
‘‘(B) $300,000,000 with respect to all 
projects. 
‘‘(3) SELECTION OF GUARANTEE RECIPIENTS.— 
The Secretary shall select recipients of loan guaran-
tees under this subsection based upon the ability of 
the recipient to collateralize the loan amount through 
bonds, equity, property, and such other things of val-
ues as the Secretary shall deem necessary. Recipients 
of grants under subsection (c) are not eligible for a
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loan guarantee during the period of the grant. To the 
extent that the Secretary determines it to be feasible, 
the Secretary may select recipients of guarantee as-
sistance in accord with a competitive process that 
takes into account the factors set out in subsection 
(c)(3)(C) of this section. 
‘‘(4) TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR LOAN GUAR-
ANTEES.—The loans guaranteed under this subsection 
shall be subject to such terms and conditions as the 
Secretary may prescribe, except that— 
‘‘(A) the final maturity of such loans made 
or guaranteed may not exceed the lesser of— 
‘‘(i) 30 years; or 
‘‘(ii) 90 percent of the useful life of any 
physical asset to be financed by the loan; 
‘‘(B) a loan guaranteed under this sub-
section may not be subordinated to another debt 
contracted by the borrower or to any other 
claims against the borrowers in the case of de-
fault; 
‘‘(C) a loan may not be guaranteed under 
this subsection unless the Secretary determines 
that the lender is responsible and that provision 
is made for servicing the loan on reasonable
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‘‘(ii) submit to Congress a report on 
the review conducted under this paragraph. 
‘‘(7) TERMINATION.—A loan may not be guaran-
teed under this section after September 30, 2013. 
‘‘(8) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There are authorized to be appropriated $7,000,000 
for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2013 for the cost 
(as defined in section 502(5) of the Federal Credit Re-
form Act of 1990) of guaranteeing $300,000,000 in 
loans under this section, such sums to remain avail-
able until expended. 
‘‘(e) REGIONAL INNOVATION RESEARCH AND INFORMA-
TION PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the program es-
tablished under subsection (a), the Secretary shall es-
tablish a regional innovation research and informa-
tion program— 
‘‘(A) to gather, analyze, and disseminate in-
formation on best practices for regional innova-
tion strategies (including regional innovation 
clusters), including information relating to how 
innovation, productivity, and economic develop-
ment can be maximized through such strategies; 
‘‘(B) to provide technical assistance, includ-
ing through the development of technical assist-
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ance guides, for the development and implemen-
tation of regional innovation strategies (includ-
ing regional innovation clusters); 
‘‘(C) to support the development of relevant 
metrics and measurement standards to evaluate 
regional innovation strategies (including re-
gional innovation clusters), including the extent 
to which such strategies stimulate innovation, 
productivity, and economic development; and 
‘‘(D) to collect and make available data on 
regional innovation cluster activity in the 
United States, including data on— 
‘‘(i) the size, specialization, and com-
petitiveness of regional innovation clusters; 
‘‘(ii) the regional domestic product 
contribution, total jobs and earnings by key 
occupations, establishment size, nature of 
specialization, patents, Federal research 
and development spending, and other rel-
evant information for regional innovation 
clusters; and 
‘‘(iii) supply chain product and service 
flows within and between regional innova-
tion clusters.
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‘‘(2) RESEARCH
GRANTS.—The Secretary may 
award research grants on a competitive basis to sup-
port and further the goals of the program established 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(3) DISSEMINATION
OF
INFORMATION.—Data 
and analysis compiled by the Secretary under the 
program established in this subsection shall be made 
available to other Federal agencies, State and local 
governments, and nonprofit and for-profit entities. 
‘‘(4) REGIONAL INNOVATION GRANT PROGRAM.— 
The Secretary shall incorporate data and analysis re-
lating to any grant under subsection (b) or (c) and 
any loan guarantee under subsection (d) into the pro-
gram established under this subsection. 
‘‘(f) INTERAGENCY COORDINATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—To the maximum extent 
practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that the activi-
ties carried out under this section are coordinated 
with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, other pro-
grams at the Department of Commerce or other Fed-
eral agencies. 
‘‘(2) COLLABORATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall ex-
plore and pursue collaboration with other Fed-
eral agencies, including through multiagency
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funding opportunities, on regional innovation 
strategies. 
‘‘(B) SMALL
BUSINESSES.—The Secretary 
shall ensure that such collaboration with Federal 
agencies prioritizes the needs and challenges of 
small businesses. 
‘‘(g) EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 3 years after 
the date of enactment of the America COMPETES 
Reauthorization Act of 2010, the Secretary shall enter 
into a contract with an independent entity, such as 
the National Academy of Sciences, to conduct an eval-
uation of the program established under subsection 
(a). 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The evaluation shall in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) whether the program is achieving its 
goals; 
‘‘(B) any recommendations for how the pro-
gram may be improved; and 
‘‘(C) a recommendation as to whether the 
program should be continued or terminated. 
‘‘(h) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) REGIONAL
INNOVATION
CLUSTER.—The 
term ‘regional innovation cluster’ means a geographi-
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cally bounded network of similar, synergistic, or com-
plementary entities that— 
‘‘(A) are engaged in or with a particular 
industry sector; 
‘‘(B) have active channels for business 
transactions and communication; 
‘‘(C) share specialized infrastructure, labor 
markets, and services; and 
‘‘(D) leverage the region’s unique competi-
tive strengths to stimulate innovation and create 
jobs. 
‘‘(2) SCIENCE PARK.—The term ‘Science park’ 
means a property-based venture, which has— 
‘‘(A) master-planned property and build-
ings designed primarily for private-public re-
search and development activities, high tech-
nology and science-based companies, and re-
search and development support services; 
‘‘(B) a contractual or operational relation-
ship with one or more science- or research-related 
institution of higher education or governmental 
or non-profit research laboratories; 
‘‘(C) a primary mission to promote research 
and development through industry partnerships,
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assisting in the growth of new ventures and pro-
moting innovation-driven economic development; 
‘‘(D) a role in facilitating the transfer of 
technology and business skills between researchers 
and industry teams; and 
‘‘(E) a role in promoting technology-led eco-
nomic development for the community or region 
in which the science park is located. A science 
park may be owned by a governmental or not- 
for-profit entity, but it may enter into partner-
ships or joint ventures with for-profit entities for 
development or management of specific compo-
nents of the park. 
‘‘(3) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means one of the 
several States, the District of Columbia, the Common-
wealth of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, 
American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands, or any other territory or possession 
of the United States. 
‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Except 
as provided in subsection (d)(8), there are authorized to be 
appropriated $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 
through 2013 to carry out this section (other than for loan 
guarantees under subsection (d)).’’.
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of the United States and the United States 
economy. 
(viii) United States export promotion 
and export finance programs relative to ex-
port promotion and export finance pro-
grams of other countries that compete eco-
nomically with the United States, including 
Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, 
Korea, and the United Kingdom, with not-
ing of export promotion and export finance 
programs carried out by such countries that 
are not analogous to any programs carried 
out by the United States. 
(ix) The effectiveness of current policies 
and programs affecting exports, including 
an assessment of Federal trade restrictions 
and State and Federal export promotion ac-
tivities. 
(x) The effectiveness of the Federal 
Government and Federally funded research 
and development centers in supporting and 
promoting 
technology 
commercialization 
and technology transfer. 
(xi) Domestic and international intel-
lectual property policies and practices.
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(xii) Manufacturing capacity, logistics, 
and supply chain dynamics of major export 
sectors, including access to a skilled work-
force, 
physical 
infrastructure, 
and 
broadband network infrastructure. 
(xiii) Federal and State policies relat-
ing to science, technology, and education 
and other relevant Federal and State poli-
cies designed to promote commercial inno-
vation, including immigration policies. 
(C) Development of recommendations on the 
following: 
(i) How the United States should in-
vest in human capital. 
(ii) How the United States should fa-
cilitate entrepreneurship and innovation. 
(iii) How best to develop opportunities 
for locally and regionally driven innovation 
by providing Federal support. 
(iv) How best to strengthen the eco-
nomic infrastructure and industrial base of 
the United States. 
(v) How to improve the international 
competitiveness of the United States. 
(3) CONSULTATION.—
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(A) IN GENERAL.—The study required by 
paragraph (1) shall be conducted in consultation 
with the National Economic Council of the Office 
of Policy Development, such Federal agencies as 
the Secretary considers appropriate, and the In-
novation Advisory Board established under sub-
paragraph (B). The Secretary shall also establish 
a process for obtaining comments from the pub-
lic. 
(B) INNOVATION ADVISORY BOARD.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
establish an Innovation Advisory Board for 
purposes of obtaining advice with respect to 
the conduct of the study required by para-
graph (1). 
(ii) 
COMPOSITION.—The 
Advisory 
Board established under clause (i) shall be 
comprised of 15 members, appointed by the 
Secretary— 
(I) who shall represent all major 
industry sectors; 
(II) a majority of whom should be 
from private industry, including large 
and small firms, representing advanced
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technology sectors and more traditional 
sectors that use technology; and 
(III) who may include economic 
or innovation policy experts, State and 
local government officials active in 
technology-based 
economic 
develop-
ment, and representatives from higher 
education. 
(iii) EXEMPTION
FROM
FACA.—The 
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. 
App.) shall not apply to the advisory board 
established under clause (i). 
(b) STRATEGY.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after 
the completion of the study required by subsection (a), 
the Secretary shall develop, based on the study re-
quired by subsection (a)(1), a national 10-year strat-
egy to strengthen the innovative and competitive ca-
pacity of the Federal Government, State and local 
governments, United States institutions of higher edu-
cation, and the private sector of the United States. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The strategy required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following:
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(A) Actions to be taken by individual Fed-
eral agencies and departments to improve com-
petitiveness. 
(B) Proposed legislative actions for consid-
eration by Congress. 
(C) Annual goals and milestones for the 10- 
year period of the strategy. 
(D) A plan for monitoring the progress of 
the Federal Government with respect to improv-
ing conditions for innovation and the competi-
tiveness of the United States. 
(c) REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Upon the completion of the 
strategy required by subsection (b), the Secretary of 
Commerce shall submit to Congress and the President 
a report on the study conducted under subsection (a) 
and the strategy developed under subsection (b). 
(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by para-
graph (1) shall include the following: 
(A) The findings of the Secretary with re-
spect to the study conducted under subsection 
(a). 
(B) The strategy required by subsection (b).