HR 1580 RFS
the impact of unwanted electronic devices on the environ-
ment. 
SEC. 
5. 
ENGINEERING 
CURRICULUM 
DEVELOPMENT 
GRANTS. 
(a) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Administrator, in con-
sultation with the Director of the National Science Foun-
dation, shall award grants to institutions of higher edu-
cation to develop curricula that incorporates the principles 
of environmental design into the development of electronic 
devices— 
(1) for the training of electrical, mechanical, in-
dustrial, manufacturing, materials, and software en-
gineers and other students at the undergraduate and 
graduate level; and 
(2) to support the continuing education of pro-
fessionals in the electronic device manufacturing, de-
sign, refurbishing, or recycling industries. 
(b) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The term ‘‘institution of 
higher education’’, as such term is used with respect to 
eligibility to receive a grant under subsection (a)(2), in-
cludes any institution of higher education under section 
101(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
1001(b)). 
(c) OUTREACH
TO MINORITY SERVING INSTITU-
TIONS.—The Administrator shall conduct outreach to mi-
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nority serving institutions for the purposes of providing 
information on the grants available under this section and 
how to apply for such grants. 
(d) MERIT REVIEW; COMPETITION.—Grants shall be 
awarded under this section on a merit-reviewed, competi-
tive basis. 
(e) USE OF FUNDS.—Grants awarded under this sec-
tion shall be used for activities that enhance the ability 
of an institution of higher education to broaden the under-
graduate and graduate-level engineering curriculum or 
professional continuing education curriculum to include 
environmental engineering design principles and consider-
ation of product lifecycles related to electronic devices and 
increasing the recyclability of such devices. Activities may 
include— 
(1) developing and revising curriculum to in-
clude multidisciplinary elements; 
(2) creating research and internship opportuni-
ties for students through partnerships with industry, 
nonprofit organizations, or government agencies; 
(3) creating and establishing certificate pro-
grams; and 
(4) developing curricula for short courses and 
continuing education for professionals in the envi-
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ronmental design of electronic devices to increase the 
recyclability of such devices. 
(f) APPLICATION.—An institution of higher education 
seeking a grant under this section shall submit an applica-
tion to the Administrator at such time, in such manner, 
and with such information and assurances as the Adminis-
trator may require. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
carry out this section: 
(1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2010. 
(2) $5,150,000 for fiscal year 2011. 
(3) $5,304,000 for fiscal year 2012. 
SEC. 6. ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ALTERNATIVE MA-
TERIALS PHYSICAL PROPERTY DATABASE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish an 
initiative to develop a comprehensive physical property 
database for environmentally friendly alternative materials 
for use in electronic devices. 
(b) PRIORITIES.—The Director, working with the 
electronic device design, manufacturing, or recycling in-
dustries, shall develop a strategic plan to establish prior-
ities and the physical property characterization require-
ments for the database described in subsection (a). 
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(c) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
carry out this section: 
(1) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2010. 
(2) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2011. 
(3) $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2012. 
SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act: 
(1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ-
mental Protection Agency. 
(2) CONSORTIUM.—The term ‘‘consortium’’ 
means a grant applicant or recipient under section 
3(a) that includes— 
(A) at least one institution of higher edu-
cation, nonprofit research institution, or govern-
ment laboratory; and 
(B) at least one for-profit entity, including 
a manufacturer, designer, refurbisher, or recy-
cler of electronic devices or the components of 
such devices. 
(3) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology. 
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(4) ELECTRONIC
DEVICE.—The term ‘‘elec-
tronic device’’ may include computers, computer 
monitors, televisions, laptops, printers, wireless de-
vices, copiers, fax machines, stereos, video gaming 
systems, and the components of such devices. 
(5) 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)). 
(6) MINORITY
SERVING
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘‘minority serving institution’’ means an insti-
tution that is an eligible institution under section 
371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1067q(a)). 
Passed the House of Representatives April 22, 2009. 
Attest: 
LORRAINE C. MILLER, 
Clerk. 
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