171 
‘‘(2) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘institution of higher education’ has the same 
meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).’’. 
(b) VISITING COMMITTEE ON ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY 
AMENDMENTS.—Section 10 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in subsection (a)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘15 members’’ and inserting 
‘‘at least 15, but not more than 20, members’’; 
and 
(B) by striking ‘‘at least 10’’ and inserting 
‘‘at least 13’’; and 
(2) in subsection (h)(1), by striking ‘‘Program 
established under section 28’’ and inserting ‘‘pro-
grams established under sections 28 and 34’’. 
SEC. 408. 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 
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high-rise buildings or collapsed structures, where conven-
tional radio communication is limited. 
(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; and 
(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. 
(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 such assessment. 
SEC. 409. TIP ADVISORY BOARD. 
Section 28(k)(4) of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278n(k)(4)) is amended to 
read as follows: 
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‘‘(4) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT APPLI-
CABILITY.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In discharging its du-
ties under this subsection, the TIP Advisory 
Board shall function solely in an advisory ca-
pacity, in accordance with the Federal Advisory 
Committee Act. 
‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—Section 14 of the Fed-
eral Advisory Committee Act shall not apply to 
the TIP Advisory Board.’’. 
SEC. 410. UNDERREPRESENTED MINORITIES. 
(a) RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS.—Section 18 of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 
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-
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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. 411. CYBER SECURITY STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES. 
Cyber security standards and guidelines developed by 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology for use 
by United States industry and the public shall be vol-
untary. 
SEC. 412. DEFINITIONS. 
In this title: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means the 
Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology. 
(2) FEDERAL AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Federal agen-
cy’’ has the meaning given such term in section 4 of 
the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703). 
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TITLE V—INNOVATION 
SEC. 501. OFFICE OF INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEUR-
SHIP. 
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 24. 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— 
‘‘(1) developing and advocating policies to accel-
erate innovation and advance the commercialization 
of research and development, including federally fund-
ed 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; 
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‘‘(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 within the Department of Commerce and 
between the Department of Commerce and other Fed-
eral agencies, as appropriate; and 
‘‘(5) any other duties as determined by the Sec-
retary. 
‘‘(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. 502. FEDERAL LOAN GUARANTEES FOR INNOVATIVE 
TECHNOLOGIES IN MANUFACTURING. 
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is further amended by adding 
after section 24, as added by section 501 of this title, the 
following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 25. FEDERAL LOAN GUARANTEES FOR INNOVATIVE 
TECHNOLOGIES IN MANUFACTURING. 
‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program to provide loan guarantees for obligations to 
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small- or medium-sized manufacturers for the use or pro-
duction of innovative technologies. 
‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS.—A loan guarantee may be 
made under such program only for a project that reequips, 
expands, or establishes a manufacturing facility in the 
United States to— 
‘‘(1) use an innovative technology or an innova-
tive process in manufacturing; or 
‘‘(2) manufacture an innovative technology prod-
uct or an integral component of such product. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE BORROWER.—A loan guarantee may be 
made under such 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 (m). 
‘‘(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; 
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‘‘(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; 
‘‘(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. 
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‘‘(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 
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) to— 
‘‘(i) complete, maintain, operate, lease, 
or otherwise dispose of any property ac-
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quired pursuant to such loan guarantee or 
related agreement; or 
‘‘(ii) 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. 
‘‘(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) ACTION BY ATTORNEY GENERAL.— 
‘‘(A) NOTIFICATION.—If the borrower de-
faults on an obligation, the Secretary shall notify 
the Attorney General of the default. 
‘‘(B) RECOVERY.—On notification, the At-
torney General shall take such action as is ap-
propriate to recover the unpaid principal and 
interest. 
‘‘(g) PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST BY SEC-
RETARY.—With respect to any obligation guaranteed under 
this section, the Secretary may enter into a contract to pay, 
and pay, holders of the obligation for and on behalf of the 
borrower from funds appropriated for that purpose the 
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principal and interest payments that become due and pay-
able on the unpaid balance of the obligation if the Secretary 
finds that— 
‘‘(1)(A) the borrower is unable to make the pay-
ments and is not in default; 
‘‘(B) it is in the public interest to permit the 
borrower to continue to pursue the project; and 
‘‘(C) the probable net benefit to the Federal Gov-
ernment in paying the principal and interest will be 
greater than that which would result in the event of 
a default; 
‘‘(2) the amount of the payment that the Sec-
retary is authorized to pay shall be no greater than 
the amount of principal and interest that the bor-
rower is obligated to pay under the obligation being 
guaranteed; and 
‘‘(3) the borrower agrees to reimburse the Sec-
retary for the payment (including interest) on terms 
and conditions that are satisfactory to the Secretary. 
‘‘(h) TERMS
AND CONDITIONS.—A loan guarantee 
under this section shall include such detailed terms and con-
ditions as the Secretary determines appropriate to— 
‘‘(1) protect the interests of the United States in 
the case of default; and 
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‘‘(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. 
‘‘(l) FULL FAITH AND CREDIT.—The full faith and 
credit of the United States is pledged to the payment of 
all loan guarantees issued under this section with respect 
to principal and interest. 
‘‘(m) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall issue final 
regulations before making any loan guarantees under the 
program. Such 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 prod-
uct, to be manufactured, as evidenced by written 
statements of interest from potential purchasers; 
‘‘(2) policies and procedures for selecting and 
monitoring lenders and loan performance; and 
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‘‘(3) any other policies, procedures, or informa-
tion necessary to implement this section. 
‘‘(n) AUDIT.— 
‘‘(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) ANNUAL REVIEW.—The Comptroller General 
shall conduct an annual review of the Secretary’s exe-
cution 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. 
‘‘(o) 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 this section, 
the Secretary shall transmit to the Committee on Science 
and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate a report containing a summary of all activities 
carried out under this section. 
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‘‘(p) COORDINATION AND NONDUPLICATION.—To the 
maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure 
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. 
‘‘(q) 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. 
‘‘(r) 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 this section. 
‘‘(s) 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. 
‘‘(t) 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). 
‘‘(u) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) COST OF LOAN GUARANTEES.—There are 
authorized to be appropriated $50,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2011 through 2015 to provide the cost of 
loan guarantees under this section. 
‘‘(2) PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST.—There are au-
thorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary to carry out subsection (g).’’. 
SEC. 503. REGIONAL INNOVATION PROGRAM. 
The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is further amended by adding 
after section 25, as added by section 502 of this title, the 
following new section: 
‘‘SEC. 26. 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. 
‘‘(b) REGIONAL INNOVATION CLUSTER GRANTS.— 
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‘‘(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. 
‘‘(2) PERMISSIBLE ACTIVITIES.—Grants awarded 
under this subsection may be used for activities deter-
mined appropriate by the Secretary, including the 
following: 
‘‘(A) Feasibility studies. 
‘‘(B) Planning activities. 
‘‘(C) Technical assistance. 
‘‘(D) Developing or strengthening commu-
nication and collaboration between and among 
participants of a regional innovation cluster. 
‘‘(E) Attracting additional participants to 
a regional innovation cluster. 
‘‘(F) Facilitating market development of 
products and services developed by a regional in-
novation cluster, including through demonstra-
tion, deployment, technology transfer, and com-
mercialization activities. 
‘‘(G) Developing relationships between a re-
gional innovation cluster and entities or clusters 
in other regions. 
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‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE RECIPIENT.—For purposes of this 
subsection, the term ‘eligible recipient’ means any of 
the following: 
‘‘(A) A State. 
‘‘(B) An Indian tribe. 
‘‘(C) A city or other political subdivision of 
a State. 
‘‘(D) An entity that— 
‘‘(i) is a nonprofit organization, an in-
stitution of higher education, a public-pri-
vate partnership, or an economic develop-
ment organization or similar entity; and 
‘‘(ii) has an application that is sup-
ported by a State or a political subdivision 
of a State. 
‘‘(E) A consortium of any of the entities 
listed in subparagraphs (A) through (D). 
‘‘(4) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—An eligible recipient 
shall submit an application to the Secretary at 
such time, in such manner, and containing such 
information and assurances as the Secretary 
may require. 
‘‘(B) COMPONENTS.—The application shall 
include, at a minimum, a description of the re-
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‘‘(vi) The likelihood that the partici-
pants in the regional innovation cluster will 
be able to sustain activities once grant 
funds under this subsection have been ex-
pended. 
‘‘(5) COST SHARE.—The Secretary may not pro-
vide more than 50 percent of the total cost of any ac-
tivity funded under this subsection. 
‘‘(6) 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) 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 to— 
‘‘(A) gather, analyze, and disseminate infor-
mation on best practices for regional innovation 
strategies (including regional innovation clus-
ters), including information relating to how in-
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novation, productivity, and economic develop-
ment can be maximized through such strategies; 
‘‘(B) provide technical assistance, including 
through the development of technical assistance 
guides, for the development and implementation 
of regional innovation strategies (including re-
gional innovation clusters); 
‘‘(C) 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) collect and make available data on re-
gional 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 
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‘‘(iii) supply chain product and service 
flows within and between regional innova-
tion clusters. 
‘‘(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) CLUSTER GRANT PROGRAM.—The Secretary 
shall incorporate data and analysis relating to any 
regional innovation cluster supported by a grant 
under subsection (b) into the program established 
under this subsection. 
‘‘(d) 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. 
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‘‘(2) COLLABORATION.—The Secretary shall ex-
plore and pursue collaboration with other Federal 
agencies, including through multiagency funding op-
portunities, on regional innovation strategies. 
‘‘(e) EVALUATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 4 years after 
the date of enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall enter into a contract with an independent enti-
ty, such as the National Academy of Sciences, to con-
duct an evaluation of the program established under 
subsection (a). 
‘‘(2) REQUIREMENTS.—The evaluation shall in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) whether such program is achieving its 
goals; 
‘‘(B) any recommendations for how such 
program may be improved; and 
‘‘(C) a recommendation as to whether such 
program should be continued or terminated. 
‘‘(f) REGIONAL INNOVATION CLUSTER DEFINED.—The 
term ‘regional innovation cluster’ means a geographically 
bounded network of similar, synergistic, or complementary 
entities that— 
‘‘(1) are engaged in or with a particular indus-
try sector; 
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‘‘(2) have active channels for business trans-
actions and communication; 
‘‘(3) share specialized infrastructure, labor mar-
kets, and services; and 
‘‘(4) leverage the region’s unique competitive 
strengths to stimulate innovation and create jobs. 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are nec-
essary for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2015 to carry 
out this section, including such sums as are necessary to 
carry out the evaluation required under subsection (e).’’. 
TITLE VI—DEPARTMENT OF 
ENERGY 
Subtitle A—Office of Science 
SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE. 
This subtitle may be cited as the ‘‘Department of En-
ergy Office of Science Authorization Act of 2010’’. 
SEC. 602. DEFINITIONS. 
Except as otherwise provided, in this subtitle: 
(1) DEPARTMENT.—The term ‘‘Department’’ 
means the Department of Energy. 
(2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means the 
Director of the Office of Science. 
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(3) OFFICE OF SCIENCE.—The term ‘‘Office of 
Science’’ means the Department of Energy Office of 
Science. 
(4) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Energy. 
SEC. 603. MISSION OF THE OFFICE OF SCIENCE. 
(a) MISSION.—The mission of the Office of Science 
shall be the delivery of scientific discoveries, capabilities, 
and major scientific tools to transform the understanding 
of nature and to advance the energy, economic, and na-
tional security of the United States. 
(b) DUTIES.—In support of this mission, the Secretary 
shall carry out, through the Office of Science, programs on 
basic energy sciences, biological and environmental re-
search, advanced scientific computing research, fusion en-
ergy sciences, high energy physics, and nuclear physics 
through activities focused on— 
(1) Science for Discovery to unravel nature’s 
mysteries through the study of subatomic particles, 
atoms, and molecules that make up the materials of 
our everyday world to DNA, proteins, cells, and en-
tire biological systems; 
(2) Science for National Need by— 
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(A) advancing a clean energy agenda 
through research on energy production, storage, 
transmission, efficiency, and use; and 
(B) advancing our understanding of the 
Earth’s climate through research in atmospheric 
and environmental sciences and climate change; 
and 
(3) National Scientific User Facilities to deliver 
the 21st century tools of science, engineering, and 
technology and provide the Nation’s researchers with 
the most advanced tools of modern science including 
accelerators, colliders, supercomputers, light sources 
and neutron sources, and facilities for studying the 
nanoworld. 
(c) SUPPORTING ACTIVITIES.—The activities described 
in subsection (b) shall include providing for relevant facili-
ties and infrastructure, analysis, coordination, and edu-
cation and outreach activities. 
(d) USER FACILITIES.—The Director shall carry out 
the construction, operation, and maintenance of user facili-
ties to support the activities described in subsection (b). As 
practicable, these facilities shall serve the needs of the De-
partment, industry, the academic community, and other 
relevant entities for the purposes of advancing the missions 
of the Department. 
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(e) OTHER AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.—In addition to 
the activities authorized under this subtitle, the Office of 
Science shall carry out such other activities it is authorized 
or required to carry out by law. 
(f) COORDINATION AND JOINT ACTIVITIES.—The De-
partment’s Under Secretary for Science shall ensure the co-
ordination of activities under this subtitle with the other 
activities of the Department, and shall support joint activi-
ties among the programs of the Department. 
(g) DOMESTICALLY SOURCED HARDWARE.— 
(1) PLAN.—The Director shall develop a plan to 
increase the percentage of domestically sourced hard-
ware for planned and ongoing projects of the Depart-
ment of Energy. In developing this plan, the Director 
shall— 
(A) give consideration to technologies that 
the United States does not currently have the ca-
pacity to manufacture and to procurement ac-
tivities that can strengthen United States high- 
technology competitiveness broadly; 
(B) seek opportunities to engage and part-
ner with domestic manufacturers; and 
(C) annually assess levels of domestically 
available goods relevant to planned and ongoing 
projects of the Office of Science. 
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(2) INTERNATIONAL
AGREEMENTS.—This sub-
section shall be applied in a manner consistent with 
United States obligations under international agree-
ments. 
(3) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Direc-
tor shall transmit the plan developed under this sub-
section to the Committee on Energy and Natural Re-
sources of the Senate and the Committee on Science 
and Technology of the House of Representatives, and 
shall transmit any appropriate updates to those com-
mittees. 
(h) MERIT-REVIEWED STUDY.—As part of the Presi-
dent’s annual budget request, the Secretary shall include a 
detailed summary of the degree to which current research 
activities are competitive and merit-reviewed, including a 
list of activities that would have been undertaken in the 
absence of Congressionally-directed projects and an analysis 
of the effects of increasing the proportion of competitive, 
merit-reviewed activities on the strategic objectives of the 
Office of Science. 
SEC. 604. BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES PROGRAM. 
(a) PROGRAM.—As part of the activities authorized 
under section 603, the Director shall carry out a program 
in basic energy sciences, including materials sciences and 
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engineering, chemical sciences, physical biosciences, and 
geosciences, for the purpose of providing the scientific foun-
dations for new energy technologies. 
(b) BASIC ENERGY SCIENCES USER FACILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall carry out 
a program for the construction, operation, and main-
tenance of national user facilities to support the pro-
gram under this section. As practicable, these facili-
ties shall serve the needs of the Department, industry, 
the academic community, and other relevant entities 
to create and examine new materials and chemical 
processes for the purposes of advancing new energy 
technologies and improving the competitiveness of the 
United States. These facilities shall include— 
(A) x-ray light sources; 
(B) neutron sources; 
(C) electron beam microcharacterization 
centers; 
(D) nanoscale science research centers; and 
(E) other facilities the Director considers 
appropriate, consistent with section 603(d). 
(2) FACILITY CONSTRUCTION AND UPGRADES.— 
Consistent with the Office of Science’s project man-
agement practices, the Director shall support con-
struction of— 
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(A) the National Synchrotron Light Source 
II; 
(B) a Second Target Station at the Spall-
ation Neutron Source; and 
(C) an upgrade of the Advanced Photon 
Source to improve brightness and performance. 
(c) ENERGY FRONTIER RESEARCH CENTERS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall carry out 
a grant program to provide awards, on a competitive, 
merit-reviewed basis, to multi-institutional collabora-
tions or other appropriate entities to conduct funda-
mental and use-inspired energy research to accelerate 
scientific breakthroughs related to needs identified 
in— 
(A) the Grand Challenges report of the De-
partment’s Basic Energy Sciences Advisory 
Committee; 
(B) the Basic Energy Sciences Basic Re-
search Needs workshop reports; 
(C) energy-related Grand Challenges for 
Engineering, as described by the National Acad-
emy of Engineering; or 
(D) other relevant reports identified by the 
Director. 
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(2) COLLABORATIONS.—A collaboration receiving 
a grant under this subsection may include multiple 
types of institutions and private sector entities. 
(3) SELECTION AND DURATION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—A collaboration under 
this subsection shall be selected for a period of 5 
years. 
(B) REAPPLICATION.—After the end of the 
period described in subparagraph (A), a grantee 
may reapply for selection for a second period of 
5 years on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis. 
(4) NO FUNDING FOR CONSTRUCTION.—No fund-
ing provided pursuant to this subsection may be used 
for the construction of new buildings or facilities. 
(d) ACCELERATOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.— 
The Director shall carry out research and development on 
advanced accelerator technologies relevant to the develop-
ment of Basic Energy Sciences user facilities, in consulta-
tion with the Office of Science’s High Energy Physics and 
Nuclear Physics programs. 
SEC. 605. BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 
PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—As part of the activities authorized 
under section 603, and coordinated with the activities au-
thorized in section 604, the Director shall carry out a pro-
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gram of research, development, and demonstration in the 
areas of biological systems science and climate and environ-
mental science to support the energy and environmental 
missions of the Department. 
(b) BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS SCIENCE ACTIVITIES.— 
(1) ACTIVITIES.—As part of the activities au-
thorized under subsection (a), the Director shall carry 
out research, development, and demonstration activi-
ties in fundamental, structural, computational, and 
systems biology to increase systems-level under-
standing of complex biological systems, which shall 
include activities to— 
(A) 
accelerate 
breakthroughs 
and 
new 
knowledge that will enable cost-effective sustain-
able production of— 
(i) biomass-based liquid transportation 
fuels, including hydrogen; 
(ii) bioenergy; and 
(iii) biobased products, 
that support the energy and environmental mis-
sions of the Department; 
(B) improve understanding of the global 
carbon cycle, including processes for removing 
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, through 
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photosynthesis and other biological processes, for 
sequestration and storage; and 
(C) understand the biological mechanisms 
used to destroy, immobilize, or remove contami-
nants from subsurface environments. 
(2) RESEARCH PLAN.— 
(A) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Direc-
tor shall prepare and transmit to Congress a re-
search plan describing how the activities author-
ized under this subsection will be undertaken. 
(B) UTILIZATION OF EXISTING PLAN.—In 
developing the plan in subparagraph (A), the 
Director may utilize an existing research plan 
and update such plan to incorporate the activi-
ties identified in paragraph (1). 
(C) UPDATES.—Not later than 3 years after 
the initial report under this paragraph, and at 
least once every 3 years thereafter, the Director 
shall update the research plan and transmit it to 
Congress. 
(3) BIOENERGY RESEARCH CENTERS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the ac-
tivities under paragraph (1), the Director shall 
support at least 3 bioenergy research centers to 
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accelerate basic biological research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application of 
biomass-based liquid transportation fuels, bio-
energy, and biobased products that support the 
energy and environmental missions of the De-
partment and are produced from a variety of re-
gionally diverse feedstocks. 
(B) GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION.—The Di-
rector shall ensure that the bioenergy research 
centers under this paragraph are established in 
geographically diverse locations. 
(C) SELECTION AND DURATION.—A center 
established under subparagraph (A) shall be se-
lected on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis for 
a period of 5 years beginning on the date of es-
tablishment of that center. A center already in 
existence on the date of enactment of this Act 
may continue to receive support for a period of 
5 years beginning on the date of establishment of 
that center. 
(4) ENABLING SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY PLAN.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in con-
sultation with other relevant Federal agencies, 
the academic community, research-based non-
profit entities, and the private sector, shall de-
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velop a comprehensive plan for federally sup-
ported research and development activities that 
will support the energy and environmental mis-
sions of the Department and enable a competi-
tive synthetic biology industry in the United 
States. 
(B) PLAN.—The plan developed under sub-
paragraph (A) shall assess the need to create a 
database for synthetic biology information, the 
need and process for developing standards for bi-
ological parts, components and systems, and the 
need for a federally funded facility that enables 
the discovery, design, development, production, 
and systematic use of parts, components, and 
systems created through synthetic biology. The 
plan shall describe the role of the Federal Gov-
ernment in meeting these needs. 
(C) SUBMISSION TO CONGRESS.—The Sec-
retary shall transmit the plan developed under 
subparagraph (A) to the Congress not later than 
9 months after the date of enactment of this Act. 
(5) COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY AND SYSTEMS BI-
OLOGY KNOWLEDGEBASE.—As part of the activities 
described in paragraph (1), the Director, in collabora-
tion with the Advanced Scientific Computing Re-
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