I
103D CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3254
To authorize appropriations for the National Science Foundation, and for
other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 12, 1993
Mr. BOUCHER (for himself and Mr. BROWN of California) introduced the fol-
lowing bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology
A BILL
To authorize appropriations for the National Science
Foundation, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Science
Foundation Authorization Act of 1993’’.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this Act—
(1) the term ‘‘debt-for-science exchange’’ means
an agreement whereby a portion of a nation’s com-
mercial external debt burden is exchanged by the
holder for a contribution of local currencies or other
assets to support scientific and technological re-
search;
(2) the term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of
the Foundation;
(3) the term ‘‘Foundation’’ means the National
Science Foundation;
(4) the term ‘‘institution of higher education’’
has the meaning given such term in section 1201(a)
of the Higher Education Act of 1965;
(5) the term ‘‘national research facility’’ means
a research facility funded by the Foundation which
is available, subject to appropriate policies allocating
access, for use by all scientists and engineers affili-
ated with research institutions located in the United
States;
(6) the term ‘‘science-technology center’’ has
the meaning given such term in section 231(f) of the
Excellence in Mathematics, Science, and Engineer-
ing Education Act of 1990, and shall include both
newly organized and established science-technology
centers; and
(7) the term ‘‘United States’’ means the several
States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth
of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, American
Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands, and any other territory or possession of the
United States.
TITLE I—NATIONAL SCIENCE
FOUNDATION AUTHORIZATION
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) FINDING.—Congress finds that the programs of
the Foundation are important for the Nation to strength-
en basic research and develop human resources in science
and engineering, and that those programs should be fund-
ed at an adequate level.
(b) FISCAL YEAR 1994.—(1) There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Foundation $3,180,200,000 for
fiscal year 1994, which shall be available for the following
categories:
(A) 
Research 
and 
Related 
Activities,
$2,009,800,000, which shall be available for the fol-
lowing subcategories:
(i) Mathematical and Physical Sciences,
$653,000,000.
(ii) Engineering, $289,000,000, of which
$2,000,000 shall be expended for primary mate-
rials processing research.
(iii) Biological Sciences, $285,000,000.
(iv) Geosciences, $423,000,000.
(v) Computer and Information Science and
Engineering, $261,800,000.
(vi) Social, Behavioral, and Economic
Sciences, $98,000,000.
(B) Education and Human Resources Activi-
ties, $556,100,000.
(C) United States Polar Research Programs,
$163,100,000.
(D) United States Antarctic Logistical Activi-
ties, $65,100,000.
(E) Academic Research Facilities Moderniza-
tion, $250,000,000.
(F) Critical Technologies Institute, $1,000,000.
(G) Salaries and Expenses, $125,800,000.
(H) Office of Inspector General, $4,100,000.
(I) Headquarters Relocation, $5,200,000.
(2) Of the amounts authorized under paragraph (1)
(A) through (C)—
(A) $35,000,000 are authorized for activities
authorized by the Scientific and Advanced-Tech-
nology Act of 1992;
(B) $15,000,000 are authorized for activities
authorized by section 305 of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991;
(C) $16,000,000 are authorized for activities
authorized by section 307 of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991; and
(D) $8,000,000 are authorized for activities au-
thorized by section 309 of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991.
(c) FISCAL YEAR 1995.—(1) There are authorized to
be appropriated to the Foundation $150,000,000 for fiscal
year 1995, which shall be available only for activities au-
thorized by the Academic Research Facilities Moderniza-
tion Act of 1988.
(2) Only if the full amount authorized under para-
graph (1) is appropriated, or if a single appropriations bill
proposes to appropriate the full amount authorized under
paragraph (1) and amounts authorized under this para-
graph, there are authorized to be appropriated to the
Foundation for fiscal year 1995 additional funds to be
available for the following categories:
(A) 
Research 
and 
Related 
Activities,
$2,618,900,000, which shall be available for the fol-
lowing subcategories:
(i) Mathematical and Physical Sciences,
$826,000,000.
(ii) Engineering, $400,000,000, of which
$2,500,000 shall be expended for primary mate-
rials processing research.
(iii) Biological Sciences, $362,000,000.
(iv) Geosciences, $516,000,000.
(v) Computer and Information Science and
Engineering, $386,900,000.
(vi) Social, Behavioral, and Economic
Sciences, $128,000,000.
(B) Education and Human Resources Activi-
ties, $556,100,000.
(C) United States Polar Research Programs,
$180,000,000.
(D) United States Antarctic Logistical Activi-
ties, $67,000,000.
(E) Academic Research Facilities Moderniza-
tion, $100,000,000, in addition to amounts author-
ized under paragraph (1).
(F) Critical Technologies Institute, $1,000,000.
(G) Salaries and Expenses, $127,500,000.
(H) Office of Inspector General, $4,200,000.
(I) Headquarters Relocation, $5,200,000.
(3) Of the amounts authorized under paragraph (2)
(A) through (C)—
(A) $35,000,000 are authorized for activities
authorized by the Scientific and Advanced-Tech-
nology Act of 1992;
(B) $30,000,000 are authorized for activities
authorized by section 305 of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991;
(C) $45,000,000 are authorized for activities
authorized by section 307 of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991; and
(D) $16,000,000 are authorized for activities
authorized by section 309 of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991.
(d) FISCAL YEAR 1996.—(1) There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Foundation $200,000,000 for
fiscal year 1996, which shall be available only for activities
authorized by the Academic Research Facilities Mod-
ernization Act of 1988.
(2) Only if the full amount authorized under para-
graph (1) is appropriated, or if a single appropriations bill
proposes to appropriate the full amount authorized under
paragraph (1) and amounts authorized under this para-
graph, there are authorized to be appropriated to the
Foundation for fiscal year 1996 additional funds to be
available for the following categories:
(A) 
Research 
and 
Related 
Activities,
$2,877,200,000, which shall be available for the fol-
lowing subcategories:
(i) Mathematical and Physical Sciences,
$892,000,000.
(ii) Engineering, $456,000,000, of which
$3,000,000 shall be expended for primary mate-
rials processing research.
(iii) Biological Sciences, $389,200,000.
(iv) Geosciences, $549,000,000.
(v) Computer and Information Science and
Engineering, $448,000,000.
(vi) Social, Behavioral, and Economic
Sciences, $142,500,000.
(B) Education and Human Resources Activi-
ties, $572,800,000.
(C) United States Polar Research Programs,
$205,000,000.
(D) United States Antarctic Logistical Activi-
ties, $68,000,000.
(E) Academic Research Facilities Moderniza-
tion, $50,000,000, in addition to amounts author-
ized under paragraph (1).
(F) Critical Technologies Institute, $1,500,000.
(G) Salaries and Expenses, $132,000,000.
(H) Office of Inspector General, $4,300,000.
(I) Headquarters Relocation, $5,200,000.
(3) Of the amounts authorized under paragraph (2)
(A) through (C)—
(A) $35,000,000 are authorized for activities
authorized by the Scientific Advanced-Technology
Act of 1992;
(B) $50,000,000 are authorized for activities
authorized by section 305 of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991;
(C) $60,000,000 are authorized for activities
authorized by section 307 of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991; and
(D) $22,000,000 are authorized for activities
authorized by section 309 of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991.
(e) MEETING FUNDING GOALS.—In allocating funds
authorized under subsections (b)(1)(A), (c)(2)(A), and
(d)(2)(A), the Foundation shall give priority to meeting
the funding goals established for the Foundation for Presi-
dential research initiatives by the Federal Coordinating
Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology, or any
successor entity which assumes its responsibilities.
SEC. 102. PROPORTIONAL REDUCTION OF RESEARCH AND
RELATED ACTIVITIES AMOUNTS.
If the amount appropriated pursuant to section
101(b)(1)(A), (c)(2)(A), or (d)(2)(A) is less than the
amount authorized under that subparagraph, the amount
authorized for each subcategory under that subparagraph
shall be reduced by the same proportion.
SEC. 103. CONSULTATION AND REPRESENTATION EX-
PENSES.
From appropriations made under authorizations pro-
vided in this Act, not more than $10,000 may be used
in each fiscal year for official consultation, representation,
or other extraordinary expenses at the discretion of the
Director. The determination of the Director shall be final
and conclusive upon the accounting officers of the Govern-
ment.
SEC. 104. TRANSFER OF FUNDS.
For any given fiscal year, the Director may propose
transfers to or from any category described in section 101
up to a maximum of 5 percent of the amount authorized
for that category. An explanation of any such proposed
transfer must be transmitted in writing to the Committee
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives, and the Committees on Labor and Human
Resources and Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate. The proposed transfer may be made only after
30 calendar days have passed after transmission of such
written explanation.
TITLE II—GENERAL PROVISIONS
SEC. 201. ANNUAL REPORT.
Section 3 of the National Science Foundation Act of
1950 (42 U.S.C. 1862) is amended by striking subsection
(f) and inserting in lieu thereof the following new sub-
section:
‘‘(f) The Foundation shall provide an annual report
to the President which shall be submitted by the Director
to the Congress at the time of the President’s annual
budget submission. The report shall—
‘‘(1) contain a strategic plan which—
‘‘(A) defines for a three-year period the
overall goals for the Foundation and specific
goals for each major activity of the Foundation,
including each scientific directorate, the edu-
cation directorate, and the polar programs of-
fice; and
‘‘(B) describes how the identified goals re-
late to national needs and will exploit new op-
portunities in science and technology;
‘‘(2) identify the criteria and describe the proce-
dures which the Foundation will use to assess
progress toward achieving the goals identified in ac-
cordance with paragraph (1);
‘‘(3) review the activities of the Foundation
during the preceding year which have contributed to-
ward achievement of goals identified in accordance
with paragraph (1) and summarize planned activities
for the coming three years in the context of the
identified goals, with particular emphasis on the
Foundation’s planned contributions to major multi-
agency research and education initiatives;
‘‘(4) contain such recommendations as the
Foundation considers appropriate; and
‘‘(5) include information on the acquisition and
disposition by the Foundation of any patents and
patent rights.’’.
SEC. 202. NATIONAL RESEARCH FACILITIES.
(a) FACILITIES PLAN.—The Director shall provide to
Congress annually, at the time of the President’s budget
submission, a plan for construction of, and repair and up-
grades to, national research facilities. The plan shall in-
clude estimates of the cost for such construction, repairs,
and upgrades, and estimates of the cost for the operation
and maintenance of existing and proposed new facilities.
For proposed new construction and for major upgrades
to existing facilities, the plan shall include funding profiles
by fiscal year and milestones for major phases of the con-
struction. The plan shall include cost estimates in the cat-
egories of construction, repair, and upgrades for the year
in which the plan is submitted to Congress and for not
fewer than the succeeding 4 years.
(b) LIMITATION ON OBLIGATION OF UNAUTHORIZED
APPROPRIATIONS.—No funds appropriated for any project
which involves construction of new national research facili-
ties or construction necessary for upgrading the capabili-
ties of existing national research facilities shall be obli-
gated unless the funds are specifically authorized for such
purpose by this Act or any other Act which is not an ap-
propriations Act, or unless the total estimated cost to the
Foundation of the construction project is less than
$50,000,000. This subsection shall not apply to construc-
tion projects approved by the National Science Board
prior to June 30, 1993.
SEC. 203. ELIGIBILITY FOR RESEARCH FACILITY AWARDS.
Section 203(b) of the Academic Research Facilities
Modernization Act of 1988 is amended by striking the
final sentence of paragraph (3) and inserting in lieu there-
of the following: ‘‘The Director shall give priority to insti-
tutions or consortia that have not received such funds in
the preceding 5 years, except that this sentence shall not
apply to previous funding received for the same multiyear
project. The Director shall exclude from consideration for
awards to be made under the Program after fiscal year
1995 any institutions or consortia which received funds,
appropriated for a fiscal year after fiscal year 1994, for
the repair, renovation, construction, or replacement of
academic facilities, from any Federal funding source for
projects that were not subjected to a competitive, merit-
based award process.’’.
SEC. 204. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTICIPATION IN INFORMAL
SCIENCE EDUCATION ACTIVITIES.
No science-technology center shall be disqualified
from competing for funding support under the informal
science education programs included within the Education
and Human Resources activities of the Foundation on the
basis of the geographic location of the center, the size of
the population served by the center, or the date on which
the center commences operation.
SEC. 205. SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING EQUAL OPPORTUNI-
TIES ACT AMENDMENTS.
The Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities
Act (42 U.S.C. 1885 et seq.) is amended—
(1) by amending section 32 to read as follows:
‘‘FINDINGS AND POLICY
‘‘SEC. 32. The national security and economic com-
petitiveness of the United States demand the full develop-
ment and use of the engineering, mathematical, and sci-
entific talents and skills of all its citizens. Past discrimina-
tion, cultural barriers, unequal educational opportunities,
and other factors discourage women, minorities, persons
with disabilities, and other groups from studying and
working in engineering, mathematics, and science. The
Congress declares it is the policy of the United States to
encourage the participation in engineering, mathematics,
and science of members of the groups that are
underrepresented.’’;
(2) in section 33—
(A) by amending the section head to read
as follows:
‘‘EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING’’;
(B) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking
‘‘women’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘women,
minorities, persons with disabilities, and other
underrepresented groups (collectively referred to
in this section as ‘members of underrepresented
groups’)’’;
(C) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘female
students and to increase female student aware-
ness’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘students
who are members of underrepresented groups
and to make those students aware’’;
(D) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘re-
search’’;
(E) by amending paragraph (5) to read as
follows:
‘‘(5) support programs under which scientists
and engineers who are members of underrepresented
groups interact with elementary, secondary, and un-
dergraduate students;’’;
(F) in paragraph (8), by striking ‘‘, to be
known as the National Research Opportunity
Grants, to women scientists’’ and inserting in
lieu thereof ‘‘to scientists and engineers who are
members of underrepresented groups’’;
(G) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘such
women’’ and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘such per-
sons’’;
(H) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (10);
(I) by striking the period at the end of
paragraph (11) and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘;
and’’;
(J) by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(12) support efforts to initiate and expand re-
search opportunities at institutions serving members
of underrepresented groups.
‘‘(c) The Committee shall be responsible for reviewing
and evaluating all Foundation matters relating to partici-
pation in, opportunities for, and advancement in edu-
cation, training, and research in science and engineering
of members of underrepresented groups.’’; and
(8) in section 36(d), as redesignated by para-
graph (6) of this section, by striking ‘‘additional’’.
SEC. 206. ADMINISTRATIVE AMENDMENTS.
(a) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACT OF 1950
AMENDMENTS.—The National Science Foundation Act of
1950 is amended—
(1) in section 4(e) (42 U.S.C. 1863(e)) by
striking the second and third sentences and insert-
ing in lieu thereof the following: ‘‘The Board shall
adopt procedures governing the conduct of its meet-
ings, including definition of a quorum and delivery
of notice of meetings to members of the Board.’’;
(2) in section 5(e) (42 U.S.C. 1864(e)) by
amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
‘‘(2) Any delegation of authority or imposition of con-
ditions under paragraph (1) shall be promptly published
in the Federal Register and reported to the Committees
on Labor and Human Resources and Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives.’’;
(3) in section 14 (42 U.S.C. 1873) by striking
subsection (j); and
(4) in section 15(a) (42 U.S.C. 1874(a)) by
striking ‘‘Atomic Energy Commission’’ and inserting
in lieu thereof ‘‘Secretary of Energy’’.
(b) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AUTHORIZA-
TION
ACT
OF
1988 
AMENDMENTS.—Section
117(a)(1)(B)(v) of the National Science Foundation Au-
thorization Act of 1988 is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(v) from schools established outside the several
States and the District of Columbia by any agency
of the Federal Government for dependents of its em-
ployees.’’.
(c) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION AUTHORIZA-
TION ACT, 1977 AMENDMENT.—Section 8 of the National
Science Foundation Act, 1977, is repealed.
TITLE 
III—ACADEMIC 
RE-
SEARCH 
FACILITIES 
MOD-
ERNIZATION
SEC. 301. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds that—
(1) the deficiencies in the condition of buildings
and equipment used for the conduct of fundamental
research and related education programs at many
universities and colleges which are cited in section
202 of the Academic Research Facilities Moderniza-
tion Act of 1988 are substantially unchanged;
(2) a national effort, involving the participation
of Federal and State governments and the private
sector, is required to make progress in improving the
state of academic research facilities; and
(3) because of the scale of the problem, the
Federal effort to upgrade academic research facili-
ties must involve a coordinated program among all
Federal agencies which sponsor research at academic
institutions.
SEC. 302. FACILITIES MODERNIZATION PLAN.
The Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy, through the Federal Coordinating Council for
Science, Engineering, and Technology, or any successor
entity which assumes its responsibilities, shall develop a
plan for a multiagency Federal program to provide finan-
cial support to institutions of higher education for the re-
pair, renovation, or replacement of obsolete science and
engineering facilities primarily devoted to research. The
plan shall—
(1) include participation by all Federal depart-
ments and agencies which provide substantial Fed-
eral support for research and development activities
at institutions of higher education;
(2) provide estimates of the level of funding re-
quired, by department and agency, and period for
which funding should be provided to relieve substan-
tially the backlog of research facilities needs and to
ensure that, at the conclusion of the period pro-
posed, the facilities available will be satisfactory to
support national research needs;
(3) take into consideration, for determining the
requirements of paragraph (2), ongoing efforts by
Federal departments and agencies, State govern-
ments, and the private sector to upgrade research
facilities;
(4) be designed to address the needs of the cat-
egories of institutions eligible for awards under the
Academic Research Facilities Modernization Act of
1988;
(5) detail administrative procedures and guide-
lines for the implementation of the modernization
program; and
(6) state procedures and data collection steps
which have been implemented to assess the state of
academic research facilities and to measure the rate
of progress in improving the condition of the facili-
ties.
Within 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Pol-
icy shall transmit to the Congress the plan developed
under this section.
SEC. 303. LIMITATION ON OBLIGATION OF UNAUTHORIZED
APPROPRIATIONS.
No funds appropriated to the Foundation for con-
struction of new facilities or construction necessary for up-
grading the capabilities of existing facilities at institutions
eligible for awards under the Academic Research Facilities
Modernization Act of 1988 shall be obligated unless the
funds are awarded in accordance with the requirements
of the Academic Research Facilities Modernization Act of
1988 or are specifically authorized for such purpose by
this Act or any other Act which is not an appropriations
Act.
TITLE IV—INTERNATIONAL
SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION
SEC. 401. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Debt-for-science exchanges can provide an
innovative means to enhance scientific cooperation
with countries whose external debt burden prevents
them from allocating sufficient resources to their sci-
entific and technological infrastructures.
(2) Debt-for-science exchanges have been dem-
onstrated to improve the state of scientific research
and education in several countries, including Bolivia,
Costa Rica, Ecuador, Chile, and Mexico.
SEC. 402. DEBT-FOR-SCIENCE EXCHANGES.
(a) DEBT-FOR-SCIENCE EXCHANGE GRANTS.—The
Director is authorized to make grants to organizations
within the United States, including colleges and univer-
sities, for the purpose of debt-for-science exchanges. Be-
fore making any grant under this section, the Director
shall ascertain that—
(1) funds resulting from the debt-for-science ex-
change will be expended only for purposes of inter-
national cooperative scientific research and develop-
ment projects;
(2) the debt-for-science exchange will make
funds available for such projects which otherwise
would not be available;
(3) the amount of local currency provided as a
result of the debt-for-science exchange will be sub-
stantially greater than the United States dollar pur-
chase price of the debt;
(4) the grantee certifies that the debtor govern-
ment has accepted the terms of the exchange and
that an agreement has been reached to cancel the
commercial debt; and
(5) Federal grants made under this section will
be equally matched by non-Federal contributions to
purchase debt.
(b) INVESTMENT OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.—
Grantees or subgrantees of funds provided under this sec-
tion may retain, without deposit in the Treasury of the
United States and without further appropriation by Con-
gress, interest earned on the proceeds of any resulting
debt-for-science exchange pending disbursements of such
proceeds and interest for approved program purposes,
which may include the establishment of an endowment, the
income of which is used for such purposes.
(c) COORDINATION.—In carrying out subsection (a)
the Director shall coordinate with Federal agencies, such
as the Agency for International Development, that have
expertise in debt exchanges.
SEC. 403. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PARTICIPA-
TION IN BINATIONAL AND MULTINATIONAL
ENDOWED SCIENCE FOUNDATIONS.
The Director, in consultation with appropriate offi-
cials of the United States and foreign countries, may en-
courage and facilitate the establishment of binational and
multinational endowed science foundations, and may par-
ticipate in the operation and governance of such founda-
tions, including serving as a member of or designating
members to the Boards of Governors, if such founda-
tions—
(1) have Boards of Governors whose members
are chosen to represent participating countries and
possess expertise in international scientific coopera-
tion;
(2) have a structure and operational character-
istics determined exclusively by their Boards of Gov-
ernors, consistent with paragraph (3); and
(3) are established and governed in accordance
with charters which include provisions—
(A) to ensure that the funding of the en-
dowment is shared equitably among the partici-
pating nations, appropriate to their economic
resources;
(B) to protect the endowment’s principal
from loss of value due to inflation;
(C) to define the range of scientific and
educational activities to be funded;
(D) to define criteria for application, merit
review, and awarding of funds which encom-
pass, at a minimum, consideration of scientific
merit, strength of collaborative arrangements,
and potential benefit to participants;
(E) to limit administrative costs to those
that are prudent and necessary; and
(F) to engage an independent auditor to
perform an annual organization-wide audit of
such foundations, in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards, and to make the
results of the audit immediately available to the
Director and the Board of Governors.
SEC. 404. REPORT.
Within one year after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Director shall submit to the Congress a strategic
plan for international scientific cooperation activities un-
dertaken by the Foundation which—
(1) describes and evaluates all activities involv-
ing international scientific cooperation currently car-
ried out by the Foundation;
(2) describes how these activities relate to ongo-
ing and prospective Foundation research and edu-
cational activities;
(3) details research activities and geographic
areas where international scientific cooperation has
been most effective and where it has been least ef-
fective;
(4) describes plans for future cooperative inter-
national scientific projects; and
(5) assesses the research activities and geo-
graphic areas where future international scientific
cooperation would be most effective.
Æ
HR 3254 IH——2
HR 3254 IH——3