I 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4186 
To provide for investment in innovation through scientific research and devel-
opment, to improve the competitiveness of the United States, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 10, 2014 
Mr. BUCSHON (for himself and Mr. SMITH of Texas) introduced the following 
bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology, and in addition to the Committee on Small Business, for a period 
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
concerned 
A BILL 
To provide for investment in innovation through scientific 
research and development, to improve the competitiveness 
of the United States, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Frontiers in Innovation, Research, Science, and Tech-
nology Act of 2014’’ or the ‘‘FIRST Act of 2014’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
TITLE I—NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 
Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 102. Findings. 
Sec. 103. Policy objectives. 
Sec. 104. Definitions. 
Sec. 105. Accountability and transparency. 
Sec. 106. Greater accountability in Federal funding for research. 
Sec. 107. Obligation of major research equipment and facilities construction 
funds. 
Sec. 108. Graduate student support. 
Sec. 109. Permissible support. 
Sec. 110. Expanding STEM opportunities. 
Sec. 111. Prohibition. 
Sec. 112. Review of education programs. 
Sec. 113. Recompetition of awards. 
Sec. 114. Sense of the Congress regarding industry investment in STEM edu-
cation. 
Sec. 115. Misrepresentation of research results. 
Sec. 116. Citations supporting research grant applications. 
Sec. 117. Research grant conditions. 
Sec. 118. Computing resources study. 
Sec. 119. Scientific breakthrough prizes. 
Sec. 120. Rotating personnel. 
Sec. 121. Report of the NSB Task Force on Administrative Burden. 
Sec. 122. Sense of Congress regarding Innovation Corps. 
Sec. 123. United States-Israeli cooperation. 
Sec. 124. Sense of Congress regarding agricultural and drug interdisciplinary 
research. 
Sec. 125. Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Ini-
tiative. 
TITLE II—SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
MATHEMATICS 
Sec. 201. Findings; sense of Congress. 
Sec. 202. STEM Education Advisory Panel. 
Sec. 203. Committee on STEM education. 
Sec. 204. STEM Education Coordinating Office. 
TITLE III—OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY 
Sec. 301. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 302. Regulatory efficiency. 
Sec. 303. Public access to research articles and data. 
Sec. 304. Strategic plan for advanced manufacturing research and development. 
Sec. 305. Coordination of international science and technology partnerships. 
Sec. 306. Alternative research funding models. 
Sec. 307. Amendments to prize competitions. 
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TITLE IV—INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER 
Subtitle A—NIST Reauthorization 
Sec. 401. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 402. Standards and conformity assessment and other transaction author-
ity. 
Sec. 403. Visiting Committee on Advanced Technology. 
Sec. 404. Police and security authority. 
Sec. 405. International activities. 
Sec. 406. Education and outreach. 
Sec. 407. Programmatic planning report. 
Sec. 408. Assessments by the National Research Council. 
Sec. 409. Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership. 
Sec. 410. Elimination of obsolete reports. 
Sec. 411. Modifications to grants and cooperative agreements. 
Subtitle B—Innovative Approaches to Technology Transfer 
Sec. 421. Innovative approaches to technology transfer. 
TITLE V—NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
Sec. 501. Short title. 
Sec. 502. Program planning and coordination. 
Sec. 503. Large-scale research in areas of national importance. 
Sec. 504. Cyber-physical systems. 
Sec. 505. Cloud computing services for research. 
Sec. 506. National Coordination Office. 
Sec. 507. Improving networking and information technology education. 
Sec. 508. Conforming and technical amendments. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act— 
(1) the term ‘‘STEM’’ means the subjects of 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; 
and 
(2) the term ‘‘STEM education’’ means edu-
cation in the subjects of STEM, including other aca-
demic subjects that build on these disciplines such 
as computer science and other academic subjects 
that a State identifies as important to the workforce 
of the State. 
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TITLE I—NATIONAL SCIENCE 
FOUNDATION 
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) FISCAL YEAR 2014.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Foundation $7,171,918,000 for 
fiscal year 2014. 
(2) SPECIFIC
ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount 
authorized by paragraph (1)— 
(A) $5,808,918,000 shall be made avail-
able to carry out research and related activities, 
including— 
(i) $742,930,000 for the Biological 
Science Directorate; 
(ii) $940,638,000 for the Computer 
and Information Science and Engineering 
Directorate; 
(iii) $890,170,000 for the Engineering 
Directorate; 
(iv) $1,265,840,000 for the Geo-
sciences Directorate; 
(v) $1,367,940,000 for the Mathe-
matical and Physical Science Directorate; 
(vi) $150,000,000 for the Social, Be-
havioral, and Economics Directorate; 
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(E) $4,300,000 shall be made available for 
the Office of the National Science Board; and 
(F) $15,200,000 shall be made available 
for the Office of Inspector General. 
SEC. 102. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Taxpayer-supported research investments 
administered by the Foundation should serve the na-
tional interest. 
(2) The Foundation has made major contribu-
tions for more than 50 years to strengthen and sus-
tain the Nation’s academic research enterprise. 
(3) The economic strength and national security 
of the United States, and the quality of life of all 
Americans, are grounded in the Nation’s scientific 
and technological capabilities. 
(4) Providing support for basic research is an 
investment in our Nation’s future security and eco-
nomic prosperity. 
(5) Congress applauds the Foundation’s rec-
ognition that wise stewardship of taxpayer dollars is 
necessary to maintain and ensure the public’s trust 
for funding of fundamental scientific and engineer-
ing research. 
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(6) Other nations are increasing their public in-
vestments in basic research in the physical sciences 
in order to boost long-term economic growth. 
(7) Longstanding United States leadership in 
supercomputing, genomics, nanoscience, photonics, 
quantum physics, and other key technological areas 
is jeopardized if United States investments in basic 
research in the natural sciences do not keep pace. 
(8) Redundant regulations and reporting re-
quirements imposed by Federal agencies on research 
institutions and researchers increase costs by tens of 
millions of dollars annually. 
(9) The Foundation carries out important func-
tions by supporting basic research in all science and 
engineering disciplines and in supporting science, 
mathematics, engineering, and technology education 
at all levels. 
(10) The research and education activities of 
the Foundation promote the discovery, integration, 
dissemination, and application of new knowledge in 
service to society and prepare future generations of 
scientists, mathematicians, and engineers who will 
be necessary to ensure America’s leadership in the 
global marketplace. 
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(11) The Foundation should meet the highest 
standards of efficiency, transparency, and account-
ability in its stewardship of public funds. 
(12) The Foundation is charged with the re-
sponsibilities— 
(A) to develop and encourage the pursuit 
of a national policy for the promotion of basic 
research and education in the sciences; 
(B) to initiate, support, and conduct basic 
scientific research and to appraise the impact of 
research on industrial development and the gen-
eral welfare; 
(C) to initiate, support, and conduct sci-
entific research activities in connection with 
matters relating to the national defense, at the 
request of the Secretary of Defense; 
(D) to award scholarships and graduate 
fellowships in the sciences; 
(E) to foster the interchange of scientific 
information among scientists and across sci-
entific disciplines; 
(F) to evaluate scientific research pro-
grams undertaken by agencies of the Federal 
Government, and to correlate the Foundation’s 
scientific research with that undertaken by indi-
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viduals and by public and private research 
groups; 
(G) to communicate effectively to Amer-
ican citizens the relevance of public investments 
in scientific discovery and technological innova-
tion to the Nation’s security, prosperity, and 
welfare; and 
(H) to establish such special commissions 
as the Board considers necessary. 
(13) The emerging global economic, scientific, 
and technical environment challenges long standing 
assumptions about domestic and international policy, 
requiring the Foundation to play a more proactive 
role in sustaining the competitive advantage of the 
United States through superior research capabilities. 
(14) Commercial application of the results of 
Federal investment in basic and computing science 
is consistent with longstanding United States tech-
nology transfer policy for cybersecurity and other 
homeland security applications, because of the ur-
gent needs of commercial, academic, and individual 
users, as well as the Federal and State governments. 
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SEC. 103. POLICY OBJECTIVES. 
In allocating resources made available under this 
title, the Foundation shall have the following policy objec-
tives: 
(1) To renew and maintain the Nation’s inter-
national leadership in science and technology by— 
(A) increasing the national investment in 
general scientific research and increasing inter-
disciplinary investment in strategic areas vital 
to the national interest; 
(B) balancing the Nation’s research port-
folio among the life sciences, mathematics, the 
physical sciences, computer and information 
science, geosciences, engineering, and social, be-
havioral, and economic sciences, all of which are 
important for the continued development of en-
abling technologies necessary for sustained eco-
nomic competitiveness; 
(C) encouraging investments in potentially 
transformative scientific research to benefit our 
Nation and its citizens; 
(D) expanding the pool of scientists and 
engineers in the United States, including among 
segments of the population that have been his-
torically underrepresented in STEM fields; and 
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(E) modernizing the Nation’s research in-
frastructure and establishing and maintaining 
cooperative international relationships with pre-
mier research institutions. 
(2) To increase overall workforce skills by— 
(A) improving the quality of STEM edu-
cation and tools provided both inside and out-
side of the classroom, particularly in kinder-
garten through grade 12; and 
(B) expanding STEM training opportuni-
ties at institutions of higher education. 
(3) To strengthen innovation by expanding the 
focus of competitiveness and innovation at the re-
gional and local level. 
SEC. 104. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Na-
tional Science Board. 
(2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Foundation. 
(3) FOUNDATION.—The term ‘‘Foundation’’ 
means the National Science Foundation established 
under section 2 of the National Science Foundation 
Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861). 
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(4) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
(5) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means one of 
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, or any other territory or 
possession of the United States. 
(6) 
UNITED
STATES.—The 
term 
‘‘United 
States’’ means the several States, the District of Co-
lumbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Vir-
gin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and any 
other territory or possession of the United States. 
SEC. 105. ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) sustained, predictable Federal funding is es-
sential to United States leadership in science and 
technology; 
(2) building understanding of and confidence in 
investments in basic research are essential to public 
support for sustained, predictable Federal funding; 
and 
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(3) the Foundation should commit itself fully to 
transparency and accountability and to clear, con-
sistent public communication regarding the national 
interest for each Foundation-awarded grant and co-
operative agreement. 
SEC. 106. GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY IN FEDERAL FUND-
ING FOR RESEARCH. 
(a) STANDARD FOR AWARD OF GRANTS.—The Foun-
dation shall award Federal funding for basic research and 
education in the sciences through a new research grant 
or cooperative agreement only if an affirmative determina-
tion is made by the Foundation under subsection (b) and 
written justification relating thereto is published under 
subsection (c). 
(b) DETERMINATION.—A determination referred to 
in subsection (a) is a determination by the responsible 
Foundation official as to why the research grant or coop-
erative agreement— 
(1) is worthy of Federal funding; and 
(2) is in the national interest, as indicated by 
having the potential to achieve— 
(A) increased economic competitiveness in 
the United States; 
(B) advancement of the health and welfare 
of the American public; 
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(C) development of a STEM workforce and 
increased public scientific literacy in the United 
States; 
(D) increased partnerships between aca-
demia and industry in the United States; 
(E) support for the national defense of the 
United States; or 
(F) promotion of the progress of science in 
the United States. 
(c) WRITTEN
JUSTIFICATION.—Public announce-
ment of each award of Federal funding described in sub-
section (a) shall include a written justification from the 
responsible Foundation official that a grant or cooperative 
agreement meets the requirements of subsection (b). 
(d) IMPLEMENTATION.—A determination under sub-
section (b) shall be made after a research grant or cooper-
ative agreement proposal has satisfied the Foundation’s 
reviews for Merit and Broader Impacts. Nothing in this 
section shall be construed as altering the Foundation’s in-
tellectual merit or broader impacts criteria for evaluating 
grant applications. 
(e) POLICY.—Not later than 6 months after the date 
of enactment of this Act, the Board shall develop and the 
Director shall implement a policy for carrying out sub-
sections (a), (b), and (c) that provides for educating pro-
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fessional staff at the Foundation and applicants for Foun-
dation research grants on the policies developed. 
(f) NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD REPORT.—Not later 
than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Board shall transmit a report to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Rep-
resentatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate describing plans for im-
plementing subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d). 
(g) ANNUAL REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall ensure 
that this section is properly applied by transmitting 
an annual report to the Board and to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation of the Senate. 
(2) NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD REVIEW.—Not 
later than 30 days after the transmission of an an-
nual report under this subsection, the Board shall 
transmit in writing its review of the findings of the 
Director’s report to the Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology of the House of Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate. 
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SEC. 107. OBLIGATION OF MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT 
AND FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION FUNDS. 
No funds may be obligated for a fiscal year for a con-
struction project for the Foundation that has not com-
menced before the date of enactment of this Act until 30 
days after the report required with respect to each such 
fiscal year under section 14(a)(2) of the National Science 
Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n– 
4(a)(2)) is transmitted to the Congress. 
SEC. 108. GRADUATE STUDENT SUPPORT. 
Section 510(b) of the America COMPETES Reau-
thorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 1869 note) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) EQUAL TREATMENT OF IGERT AND GRF.— 
‘‘(1) RATE OF FUNDING INCREASES.—For any 
fiscal year, the Director may only increase funding 
for the Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship 
program (or any successor thereto) over the previous 
fiscal year’s funding level at the same rate as a cor-
responding funding increase for the Foundation’s 
Integrative Graduate Education and Research 
Traineeship program (or any successor thereto). 
‘‘(2) ESSENTIAL
ELEMENTS
OF
IGERT.—The 
essential elements of the Foundation’s Integrative 
Graduate Education and Research Traineeship pro-
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gram (or any successor thereto) shall be maintained, 
including— 
‘‘(A) collaborative research that transcends 
traditional disciplinary boundaries to solve large 
and complex research problems of significant 
scientific and societal importance; and 
‘‘(B) providing students the opportunity to 
become leaders in the science and engineering 
of the future.’’. 
SEC. 109. PERMISSIBLE SUPPORT. 
A grant made by the Education and Human Re-
sources Directorate to support informal education may be 
used— 
(1) to support the participation of students in 
nonprofit competitions, out-of-school activities, and 
field experiences related to STEM subjects (such as 
robotics, science research, invention, mathematics, 
and technology competitions), including— 
(A) the purchase of parts and supplies 
needed to participate in such competitions; and 
(B) incentives and stipends for teachers 
and instructional leaders who are involved in 
assisting students and preparing students for 
such competitions, if such activities fall outside 
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the regular duties and responsibilities of such 
teachers and instructional leaders; and 
(2) to broaden secondary school students’ ac-
cess to, and interest in, careers that require aca-
demic preparation in STEM subjects. 
SEC. 110. EXPANDING STEM OPPORTUNITIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Within the Directorate for Edu-
cation and Human Resources (or any successor thereto), 
under existing programs targeting broadening participa-
tion such as, but not limited to, Innovative Technology Ex-
periences for Students and Teachers, Advancing Informal 
STEM Learning, and ADVANCE, the Director shall pro-
vide grants on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis for re-
search on programming that engages underrepresented 
students in grades kindergarten through 8 in STEM in 
order to prepare these students to pursue undergraduate 
and graduate degrees or careers in STEM. 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Grants awarded under this 
section shall be used toward research to advance the 
engagement of underrepresented students grades 
kindergarten through 8 in STEM through providing 
before-school, after-school, out-of-school, or summer 
activities, including programs (if applicable to the 
target population) provided in a single-gender envi-
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ronment, that are designed to encourage interest, 
engagement, and skills development of underrep-
resented students in STEM. Such research shall be 
conducted in learning environments that actively 
provide programming to underrepresented students 
in grades kindergarten through 8 in STEM. 
(2) PERMITTED
ACTIVITIES.—Such activities 
may include— 
(A) the provision of programming de-
scribed in subsection (a) for the purpose of re-
search; 
(B) the use of a variety of engagement 
methods, including cooperative and hands-on 
learning; 
(C) exposure of underrepresented youth to 
role models in the fields of STEM and near- 
peer mentors; 
(D) training of informal learning educators 
and youth-serving professionals using evidence- 
based methods consistent with the target stu-
dent population being served; 
(E) education of students on the relevance 
and significance of STEM careers, provision of 
academic advice and assistance, and activities 
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designed to help students make real-world con-
nections to STEM content activities; 
(F) the attendance of underrepresented 
youth at events, competitions, and academic 
programs to provide content expertise and en-
courage career exposure in STEM; 
(G) activities designed to engage parents of 
underrepresented youth; 
(H) innovative strategies to engage under-
represented youth, such as using leadership 
skill outcome measures to encourage youth with 
the confidence to pursue STEM coursework and 
academic study; 
(I) coordination with STEM-rich environ-
ments, including other nonprofit, nongovern-
mental organizations, classroom and out-of- 
classroom settings, institutions of higher edu-
cation, vocational facilities, corporations, muse-
ums, or science centers; and 
(J) the acquisition of instructional mate-
rials or technology-based tools to conduct appli-
cable grant activity. 
(c) APPLICATION.—An applicant seeking funding 
under the section shall submit an application at such time, 
in such manner, and containing such information as may 
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be required. The application shall include, at a minimum, 
the following: 
(1) A description of the target audience to be 
served by the program, including an explanation and 
justification for why the target group ought to be 
considered as underrepresented students in one or 
more of the STEM fields. 
(2) A description of the process for recruitment 
and selection of students. 
(3) A description of how such research activity 
may inform programming that engages underrep-
resented students in grades kindergarten through 8 
in STEM. 
(4) A description of how such research activity 
may inform programming that promotes student 
academic achievement in STEM. 
(5) An evaluation plan that includes, at a min-
imum, the use of outcome-oriented measures to de-
termine the impact and efficacy of programming 
being researched. 
(d) AWARDS.—In awarding grants under this section, 
the Director shall give priority to applicants which, for the 
purpose of grant activity, include or partner with a non-
profit, nongovernmental organization that has extensive 
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experience and expertise in increasing the participation of 
underrepresented students in STEM. 
(e) EVALUATIONS.—Each applicant that receives 
funds under this section shall provide, at the conclusion 
of every year during which the funds are received, an eval-
uation in a form prescribed by the Director. This evalua-
tion shall include both formative and summative evalua-
tion. 
(f) ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.— 
(1) EVALUATION REQUIRED.—Not later than 3 
years after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Director shall evaluate the program established 
under this section. In addition to evaluating the ef-
fectiveness of the program, such evaluation shall— 
(A) use a common set of benchmarks and 
assessment tools to identify best practices and 
materials developed or demonstrated by the re-
search; and 
(B) to the extent practicable, combine the 
research resulting from the grant activity with 
the current research on serving underrep-
resented 
students 
in 
grades 
kindergarten 
through 8. 
(2) REPORT ON EVALUATIONS.—Not later than 
180 days after the completion of the evaluation 
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under paragraph (1), the Director shall submit to 
Congress and make widely available to the public a 
report that includes— 
(A) the results of the evaluation; and 
(B) any recommendations for administra-
tive and legislative action that could optimize 
the effectiveness of the program. 
(g) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this section, the 
Director shall consult, cooperate, and coordinate, to en-
hance program effectiveness and to avoid duplication, with 
the programs and policies of other relevant Federal agen-
cies. 
SEC. 111. PROHIBITION. 
The Foundation may not implement any STEM edu-
cation program and activity changes proposed for the 
Foundation in the budget for fiscal year 2014 transmitted 
to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 112. REVIEW OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall review the edu-
cation programs of the Foundation that are in operation 
as of the date of enactment of this Act to determine— 
(1) whether any of such programs duplicate tar-
get groups, services provided, fields of focus, or ob-
jectives; and 
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(2) how those programs are being evaluated 
and assessed for outcome-oriented effectiveness. 
(b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter as part 
of the annual budget submission to Congress, the Director 
shall complete a report on the review carried out under 
this section and shall submit the report to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
Senate. 
SEC. 113. RECOMPETITION OF AWARDS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— 
(1) the merit-reviewed competition of grant and 
award proposals is a hallmark of the Foundation 
grant and award making process; 
(2) the majority of Foundation-funded multius-
er facilities have transitioned to five-year cooperative 
agreements, and every five years the program officer 
responsible for the facility makes a recommendation 
to the National Science Board as to the renewal, re-
competition, or termination of support for the facil-
ity; and 
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(3) requiring the recompetition of expiring 
awards is based on the conviction that competition 
is most likely to ensure the effective stewardship of 
Foundation funds for supporting research and edu-
cation. 
(b) RECOMPETITION.—The Director shall ensure that 
the system for recompetition of Maintenance and Oper-
ations of facilities, equipment and instrumentation is fair, 
consistent, and transparent and is applied in a manner 
that renews grants and awards in a timely manner. The 
Director shall periodically evaluate whether the criteria of 
the system are being applied in a manner that is trans-
parent, reliable, and valid. 
SEC. 114. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING INDUSTRY 
INVESTMENT IN STEM EDUCATION. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) in order to bolster the STEM workforce 
pipeline, many industry sectors are becoming in-
volved in K–12 initiatives and supporting under-
graduate and graduate work in STEM subject areas 
and fields; 
(2) partnerships with education providers, 
STEM focused competitions, and other opportunities 
have become important aspects of private sector ef-
forts to strengthen the STEM workforce; 
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(3) understanding the work that private sector 
organizations are undertaking in STEM fields 
should inform the Federal Government’s role in 
STEM education; and 
(4) successful private sector STEM initiatives, 
as reflected by measurements of relevant outcomes, 
should be encouraged and supported by the Founda-
tion. 
SEC. 115. MISREPRESENTATION OF RESEARCH RESULTS. 
(a) CERTIFICATION.—As a condition of receiving a 
research grant from the Foundation, a principal investi-
gator shall sign a statement certifying that the findings 
and conclusions of any article authored by such principal 
investigator, using the results of the research conducted 
under the grant, that is published in a peer-reviewed publi-
cation, otherwise made publicly available, or incorporated 
in an application for a research grant or grant extension 
from the Foundation, will contain no falsification or fab-
rication and will be free of any plagiarism. 
(b) INVESTIGATION.—The Inspector General of the 
Foundation shall investigate suspected violations of a cer-
tification signed under subsection (a), and shall submit to 
the Director the results of such investigation, along with 
a recommendation with respect to whether a violation has 
occurred. 
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(c) DETERMINATION.—Based on the results of the in-
vestigation conducted under subsection (b), the Director 
shall make a determination of whether the principal inves-
tigator knowingly violated a certification signed pursuant 
to subsection (a). 
(d) 10-Year BAN.—If the Director determines under 
subsection (c) that a principal investigator knowingly vio-
lated a certification signed pursuant to subsection (a), the 
Foundation shall not, for a period determined by the Di-
rector of no less than 5 years and no more than 10 years, 
provide a research grant or research extension to such 
principal investigator, except as provided in subsection (f). 
(e) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 7 days after 
making a determination under subsection (c), the Director 
shall notify the principal investigator of such determina-
tion in writing. 
(f) APPEAL.—The Director shall establish a process 
by which a principal investigator may, within 30 days after 
receipt of a notification under subsection (e), appeal a de-
termination made under subsection (c) and a ban under 
subsection (d). If the Director concludes that the deter-
mination under subsection (c) was not correct, the Direc-
tor may reduce or eliminate the period of the ban under 
subsection (d) based on information provided in the appeal 
process under this subsection. A ban may not be reduced 
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under this subsection to a period less than 5 years, unless 
it is eliminated. 
(g) PUBLICATION.—The Director shall not make 
publicly available any determination made under sub-
section (c) that a knowing violation has occurred until 
after the later of the expiration of the 30-day period de-
scribed in subsection (f) or the end of an appeal process 
under subsection (f). At such time, the Director shall 
make publicly available any such determination, which 
shall include the name of the principal investigator. 
SEC. 116. CITATIONS SUPPORTING RESEARCH GRANT AP-
PLICATIONS. 
The portion of a peer-reviewed research grant appli-
cation to the Foundation supporting the credentials of the 
principal investigator may not include more than 5 cita-
tions to articles published by the principal investigator in 
a peer-reviewed publication. The Foundation may not con-
sider more than 5 citations to such articles in determining 
whether to award such a research grant. 
SEC. 117. RESEARCH GRANT CONDITIONS. 
The Foundation shall establish procedures to ensure 
that— 
(1) a research grant awarded by the Founda-
tion to a principal investigator does not duplicate the 
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scientific aims and scope of any grant awarded to 
the same investigator by another Federal agency; 
(2) a principal investigator includes in any ap-
plication for a research grant awarded by the Foun-
dation a list of all Federal research funding received 
by the principal investigator, as well as any funding 
that is being requested as of that time; 
(3) unpublished research results used to sup-
port a grant proposal made to the Foundation do 
not include any knowing misrepresentations of data; 
(4) principal investigators who have received 
more than 5 years of Foundation funding at any 
point in their careers, other than graduate and post- 
doctoral traineeship awards, are only awarded addi-
tional research grants by the Foundation if they will 
be contributing original, creative, and transformative 
research under the grant; and 
(5) principal investigators who receive Founda-
tion research grant funding under more than one 
grant at the same time have sufficient resources to 
conduct the proposed research under each of those 
grants appropriately under the terms of the grant. 
SEC. 118. COMPUTING RESOURCES STUDY. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit to the 
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Congress a report detailing the results of a study on the 
use of scientific computing resources funded by the Foun-
dation at institutions of higher education. Such study shall 
assess— 
(1) efficiencies that can be achieved by using 
shared scientific computing resources for projects 
that have similar scientific computing requirements 
or projects where specialized software solutions could 
be shared with other practitioners in the scientific 
community; 
(2) efficiencies that can be achieved by using 
shared hardware that can be cost effectively pro-
cured from cloud computing services; 
(3) efficiencies that can be achieved by using 
shared software from an open source repository or 
platform; and 
(4) cost savings that could be achieved by po-
tential sharing of scientific computing resources 
across all Foundation grants. 
SEC. 119. SCIENTIFIC BREAKTHROUGH PRIZES. 
The Director shall place a high priority on designing 
and administering pilot programs for scientific break-
through prizes, in conjunction with private entities, that 
are consistent with Office of Science and Technology Pol-
icy guidelines. Breakthrough prizes shall center around 
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technological breakthroughs that are of strategic impor-
tance to the Nation, and have the capacity to spur new 
economic growth. 
SEC. 120. ROTATING PERSONNEL. 
The Director shall ensure that the cost to the Foun-
dation of employing individuals who are not permanent 
employees of the Foundation, including individuals em-
ployed pursuant to the Intergovernmental Personnel Act 
of 1970 (42 U.S.C. 4701 note), does not exceed 110 per-
cent of the cost of employing permanent employees of the 
Foundation to perform the same functions. 
SEC. 121. REPORT OF THE NSB TASK FORCE ON ADMINIS-
TRATIVE BURDEN. 
The National Science Board Task Force on Adminis-
trative Burden shall provide a report to Congress on its 
activities, findings, and recommendations not later than 
90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 122. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING INNOVATION 
CORPS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) the Foundation’s Innovation Corps (I- 
Corps) was established to foster a national innova-
tion ecosystem by encouraging institutions, sci-
entists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to identify and 
explore the innovation and commercial potential of 
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Foundation-funded research well beyond the labora-
tory; 
(2) the Foundation’s I-Corps includes invest-
ment in entrepreneurship and commercialization 
education, training, and mentoring, ultimately lead-
ing to the practical deployment of technologies, 
products, processes, and services that improve the 
Nation’s competitiveness, promote economic growth, 
and benefit society; and 
(3) by building networks of entrepreneurs, edu-
cators, mentors, institutions, and collaborations, and 
supporting specialized education and training, I- 
Corps is at the leading edge of a strong, lasting 
foundation for an American innovation ecosystem. 
SEC. 123. UNITED STATES-ISRAELI COOPERATION. 
Section 917(a) of the Energy Independence and Se-
curity Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(a)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of paragraph 
(6); 
(2) by striking the period at the end of para-
graph (7) and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) the National Science Foundation of the 
United States should collaborate with the Israel 
Science Foundation.’’. 
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SEC. 124. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING AGRICUL-
TURAL AND DRUG INTERDISCIPLINARY RE-
SEARCH. 
It is the sense of Congress that the Foundation 
should support— 
(1) basic science research in the plant sciences 
that will identify and preserve valuable plant genes; 
and 
(2) interdisciplinary research to understand im-
portant basic research problems in the plant 
sciences. 
SEC. 125. BRAIN RESEARCH THROUGH ADVANCING INNO-
VATIVE NEUROTECHNOLOGIES INITIATIVE. 
The Foundation shall support research activities re-
lated to the Brain Research through Advancing Innovative 
Neurotechnologies Initiative. 
TITLE 
II—SCIENCE, 
TECH-
NOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND 
MATHEMATICS 
SEC. 201. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) According to the National Science Board’s 
Science and Engineering Indicators, the science and 
engineering workforce has shown sustained growth 
for more than half a century, and workers with 
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science and engineering degrees tend to earn more 
than comparable workers in other fields. 
(2) According to the Program for International 
Student Assessment 2012 results, America lags be-
hind many other nations in STEM education. Amer-
ican students rank 21st in science and 26th in 
mathematics. 
(3) Junior Achievement USA and ING recently 
found a decrease of 25 percent in the percentage of 
teenage students interested in STEM careers. 
(4) According to a 2007 report from the De-
partment of Labor, industries and firms dependent 
on a strong science and mathematics workforce have 
launched a variety of programs that target K–12 
students and undergraduate and graduate students 
in STEM fields. 
(5) The Federal Government spends nearly $3 
billion annually on STEM education related program 
and activities, but encouraging STEM education ac-
tivities beyond the scope of the Federal Government, 
including privately sponsored competitions and pro-
grams in our schools, is crucial to the future tech-
nical and economic competitiveness of the United 
States. 
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(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that— 
(1) more effective coordination and adoption of 
performance measurement based on objective out-
comes for federally supported STEM programs is 
needed; 
(2) leveraging private and nonprofit invest-
ments in STEM education will be essential to 
strengthening the Federal STEM portfolio; 
(3) strengthening the Federal STEM portfolio 
may require program consolidations and termi-
nations, but such changes should be based on evi-
dence with stakeholder input; 
(4) the President’s fiscal year 2014 budget pro-
posal did not adequately explain proposed program 
consolidations and terminations in the Federal 
STEM portfolio, nor did it elicit stakeholder input 
and outside expertise, resulting in the need for Con-
gress to limit the Administration’s implementation 
of that proposal; and 
(5) coordinating STEM programs and activities 
across the Federal Government in order to limit du-
plication and engage stakeholders in STEM pro-
grams and related activities for which objective out-
comes can be measured will bolster results of Fed-
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eral STEM education programs, improve the return 
on taxpayers’ investments in STEM education pro-
grams, and in turn strengthen the United States 
economy. 
SEC. 202. STEM EDUCATION ADVISORY PANEL. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President shall establish 
or designate a STEM Education Advisory Panel that in-
corporates key stakeholders from the education and indus-
try sectors within the President’s Council of Advisors on 
Science and Technology. 
(b) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Advisory Panel estab-
lished or designated by the President under subsection (a) 
shall consist primarily of members from academic institu-
tions and industry and shall include in-school, out-of- 
school, and informal educational practitioners. Members 
of the Advisory Panel shall be qualified to provide advice 
and information on STEM education research, develop-
ment, training, implementation, interventions, professional 
development, or workforce needs or concerns. In selecting 
or designating an Advisory Panel, the President may also 
seek and give consideration to recommendations from the 
Congress, industry, the scientific community (including 
the National Academy of Sciences, scientific professional 
societies, and academia), State and local governments, and 
other appropriate organizations. 
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(c) DUTIES.—The Advisory Panel shall advise the 
President, the committee on STEM education established 
under the National Science and Technology Council, and 
the STEM Education Coordinating Office on matters re-
lating to STEM education, and shall each year provide 
general guidance to every Federal agency with STEM edu-
cation programs or activities, including in the preparation 
of requests for appropriations for activities related to 
STEM education. The Advisory Panel shall also assess— 
(1) trends and developments in STEM edu-
cation; 
(2) progress made in STEM education both in-
side and outside of the classroom; 
(3) criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of 
Federal STEM education programs and activities; 
(4) ways to encourage public private-partner-
ships to strengthen STEM education; 
(5) ways to leverage private and nonprofit in-
vestments and utilize expertise resulting from 
STEM-related competitions to help build the STEM 
education and workforce pipeline; 
(6) ways to incorporate workforce needs into 
Federal STEM education programs; 
(7) the management, coordination, implementa-
tion, and activities of the STEM Education Coordi-
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nating Office and the committee on STEM edu-
cation established under the National Science and 
Technology Council; and 
(8) whether societal and workforce concerns are 
adequately addressed by current Federal STEM 
education programs and activities. 
(d) REPORTS.—The Advisory Panel shall report, not 
less frequently than once every 2 fiscal years, to the Presi-
dent and Congress on its assessments under subsection 
(c) and its recommendations for ways to improve Federal 
STEM education programs. The first report under this 
subsection shall be submitted within 1 year after the date 
of enactment of this Act. 
(e) TRAVEL EXPENSES
OF NON-FEDERAL MEM-
BERS.—Non-Federal members of the Advisory Panel, 
while attending meetings of the Advisory Panel or while 
otherwise serving at the request of the head of the Advi-
sory Panel away from their homes or regular places of 
business, may be allowed travel expenses, including per 
diem in lieu of subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 
of title 5, United States Code, for individuals in the Gov-
ernment serving without pay. Nothing in this subsection 
shall be construed to prohibit members of the Advisory 
Panel who are officers or employees of the United States 
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from being allowed travel expenses, including per diem in 
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with existing law. 
SEC. 203. COMMITTEE ON STEM EDUCATION. 
Section 101(b) of the America COMPETES Reau-
thorization Act of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621(b)) is amended 
to read as follows: 
‘‘(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The committee described 
in subsection (a) shall develop recommendations for the 
STEM Education Coordinating office to consider. These 
recommendations shall focus on— 
‘‘(1) priority areas for Federal funding in 
STEM education, which may include student en-
gagement, student retention, informal education, 
and teaching; 
‘‘(2) access to innovations and expertise derived 
from agency activities across the Federal Govern-
ment; 
‘‘(3) significant links among K–12 education, 
higher education, and industry; and 
‘‘(4) the teaching of innovation and entrepre-
neurship as part of STEM education activities.’’. 
SEC. 204. STEM EDUCATION COORDINATING OFFICE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director of the National 
Science Foundation shall establish within the Directorate 
for Education and Human Resources a STEM Education 
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