SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Endless Frontier Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) For over 70 years, the United States has 
been the unequivocal global leader in scientific and 
technological innovation, and as a result the people 
of the United States have benefitted through good- 
paying jobs, economic prosperity, and a higher qual-
ity of life. 
(A) Today, however, this leadership posi-
tion is being eroded and challenged by foreign 
competitors, some of which are stealing intellec-
tual property and trade secrets of the United 
States and aggressively investing in research 
and commercialization to dominate the key ex-
isting and future technology fields. 
(B) While the United States once led the 
world in the share of our economy invested in 
research, our Nation now ranks 9th globally in 
total research and development and 12th in 
publicly financed research and development. 
(C) While wages for American workers 
rose in parallel with growth in national produc-
tivity from the end of World War II through 
most of the 1970s, since then wage growth has 
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been uneven and labor’s share in national in-
come has declined. 
(2) Without a significant increase in investment 
in research, education, technology transfer, intellec-
tual property, manufacturing, and other core 
strengths of the United States innovation ecosystem, 
it is only a matter of time before the global competi-
tors of the United States overtake the United States 
in terms of technological primacy. The country that 
wins the race in key technologies—such as artificial 
intelligence, quantum computing, advanced commu-
nications, and advanced manufacturing—and uses 
technological innovation to support high-quality jobs 
and incomes will be the superpower of the future. 
(3) The Federal Government must catalyze 
United States innovation by boosting research in-
vestments focused on discovering, creating, commer-
cializing, and demonstrating new technologies and 
manufacturing 
those 
technologies 
domestically 
throughout the country to ensure the leadership of 
the United States in the industries of the future. 
(4) The distribution of innovation jobs and in-
vestment in the United States has become largely 
concentrated in just a few locations, while much of 
the Nation has been left out of growth in the innova-
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tion sector. More than 90 percent of the Nation’s in-
novation sector employment growth in the last 15 
years was generated in just 5 major metropolitan 
areas. The Federal Government must address this 
imbalance in opportunity by— 
(A) dramatically increasing funding for 
science and engineering research and expanding 
partnerships with the private sector to build 
new technology hubs across the country; 
(B) spreading high-quality innovation sec-
tor jobs more broadly; 
(C) increasing the participation of under-
represented populations, engaging workers, and 
collaborating with labor organizations in inno-
vation efforts to tap the talent and potential of 
the entire Nation to ensure the United States 
leads the industries of the future; and 
(D) building regional capacity in such crit-
ical areas as entrepreneurship, access to capital 
and other investment, and supply chain develop-
ment. 
(5) As President Franklin D. Roosevelt stated, 
‘‘[N]ew frontiers of the mind are before us, and if 
they are pioneered with the same vision, boldness, 
and drive with which we have waged this war we can 
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create a fuller and more fruitful employment and a 
fuller and more fruitful life.’’ 
(6) As Vannevar Bush stated in his 1945 re-
port entitled Science, The Endless Frontier, ‘‘New 
products, new industries, and more jobs require con-
tinuous additions to knowledge of the laws of nature, 
and the application of that knowledge to practical 
purposes. Similarly, our defense against aggression 
demands new knowledge so that we can develop new 
and improved weapons. This essential, new knowl-
edge can be obtained only through basic scientific re-
search.’’ 
(7) Since their inception, the National Science 
Foundation and other key Federal agencies, like the 
Department of Energy, have carried out vital work 
supporting basic and applied research to create 
knowledge that is a key driver of the economy of the 
United States and enhances the Nation’s security. 
SEC. 3. IMPROVING TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION RE-
SEARCH AT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUN-
DATION. 
(a) PROVIDING AUTHORITY TO DISSEMINATE INFOR-
MATION.—Section 11 of the National Science Foundation 
Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1870) is amended— 
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(1) in subsection (j), by striking ‘‘and’’ after 
the semicolon; 
(2) in subsection (k), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(l) provide for the widest practicable and appro-
priate dissemination of information within the United 
States concerning the Foundation’s activities and the re-
sults thereof.’’. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF DIRECTORATE FOR TECH-
NOLOGY AND INNOVATION.—The National Science Foun-
dation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) in section 8 (42 U.S.C. 1866), by inserting 
at the end the following: ‘‘Such divisions shall in-
clude the Directorate for Technology and Innovation 
established under section 8A.’’; and 
(2) by inserting after section 8 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 8A. IMPROVING RESEARCH AND ESTABLISHING DI-
RECTORATE FOR TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVA-
TION. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) COMMUNITY COLLEGE.—The term ‘com-
munity college’ has the meaning given the term ‘jun-
ior or community college’ in section 312(f) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1058(f)). 
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‘‘(2) DESIGNATED COUNTRY.—The term ‘des-
ignated country’ means a country that has been ap-
proved and designated in writing by the President 
for purposes of this section, after providing— 
‘‘(A) not less than 30 days of advance noti-
fication and explanation to the relevant con-
gressional committees before the designation; 
and 
‘‘(B) in-person briefings to such commit-
tees, if requested during the 30-day advance no-
tification period described in subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(3) DIRECTORATE.—The term ‘Directorate’ 
means the Directorate for Technology and Innova-
tion established under subsection (b). 
‘‘(4) EMERGING RESEARCH INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘emerging research institution’ means an insti-
tution of higher education with an established under-
graduate student program that has, on average for 
the 3 years prior to an application for an award 
under this section, received less than $35,000,000 in 
Federal research funding. 
‘‘(5) FEDERAL RESEARCH FACILITY.—The term 
‘Federal research facility’ includes a research labora-
tory of the Department of Agriculture and any other 
Federally funded research and development center. 
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‘‘(6) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGE OR UNI-
VERSITY.—The term ‘historically Black college or 
university’ has the meaning given the term ‘part B 
institution’ in section 322 of the Higher Education 
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061)). 
‘‘(7) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.— 
The term ‘institution of higher education’ has the 
meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
‘‘(8) KEY
TECHNOLOGY
FOCUS
AREAS.—The 
term ‘key technology focus areas’ means the areas 
included on the most recent list under subsection 
(d)(2). 
‘‘(9) LABOR ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘labor 
organization’ has the meaning given the term in sec-
tion 2(5) of the National Labor Relations Act (29 
U.S.C. 152(5)), except that such term shall also in-
clude— 
‘‘(A) any organization composed of labor 
organizations, such as a labor union federation 
or a State or municipal labor body; and 
‘‘(B) any organization which would be in-
cluded in the definition for such term under 
such section 2(5) but for the fact that the orga-
nization represents— 
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‘‘(i) individuals employed by the 
United States, any wholly owned Govern-
ment corporation, any Federal Reserve 
Bank, or any State or political subdivision 
thereof; 
‘‘(ii) individuals employed by persons 
subject to the Railway Labor Act (45 
U.S.C. 151 et seq.); or 
‘‘(iii) individuals employed as agricul-
tural laborers. 
‘‘(10) MINORITY-SERVING
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘minority-serving institution’ means an institu-
tion described in section 371(a) of the Higher Edu-
cation Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)). 
‘‘(11) NATIONAL LABORATORY.—The term ‘Na-
tional Laboratory’ has the meaning given the term 
in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15801). 
‘‘(12) RELEVANT
CONGRESSIONAL
COMMIT-
TEES.—The term ‘relevant congressional commit-
tees’ means— 
‘‘(A) the Committee on Armed Services, 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources, the Committee on Appro-
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priations, the Committee on Foreign Relations, 
the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, 
and Pensions, and the Select Committee on In-
telligence of the Senate; and 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Armed Services, 
the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech-
nology, the Committee on Appropriations, the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Perma-
nent Select Committee on Intelligence of the 
House of Representatives. 
‘‘(13) STEM.—The term ‘STEM’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 2 of the America 
COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (Public 
Law 111–358; 42 U.S.C. 6621 note). 
‘‘(14) TRIBAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY.—The 
term ‘Tribal college or university’ has the meaning 
given the term in section 316(b)(3) of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3)). 
‘‘(15) UNDERREPRESENTED
POPULATIONS.— 
The term ‘underrepresented populations’ means 
women, minorities, veterans, tribal populations, per-
sons with disabilities, and other populations that are 
underrepresented in STEM. 
‘‘(b) ESTABLISHMENT OF DIRECTORATE FOR TECH-
NOLOGY AND INNOVATION.— 
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‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days 
after the date of enactment of the Endless Frontier 
Act, the Director shall establish in the Foundation 
a Directorate for Technology and Innovation. The 
Directorate shall carry out the duties and respon-
sibilities described in this section, in order to further 
the following goals: 
‘‘(A) Strengthening the leadership of the 
United States in critical technologies, as de-
scribed as a critical national need in section 
7018 of the America COMPETES Act (42 
U.S.C. 1862o–5), through basic research in the 
key technology focus areas and the commer-
cialization of those technologies to businesses in 
the United States. 
‘‘(B) Addressing and mitigating technology 
challenges integral to the geostrategic position 
of the United States through the activities au-
thorized by this section. 
‘‘(C) Enhancing the competitiveness of the 
United States in the key technology focus areas 
by improving education in the key technology 
focus areas and attracting more students to 
such areas at all levels of education. 
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‘‘(D) Consistent with the mission and oper-
ations of the Foundation, fostering the eco-
nomic and societal impact of Federally funded 
research and development through an acceler-
ated translation of basic advances in the key 
technology focus areas into processes and prod-
ucts, known as technology transfer, that can 
help achieve national goals related to economic 
competitiveness, domestic manufacturing, na-
tional security, shared prosperity, energy and 
the environment, health, education and work-
force development, and transportation. 
‘‘(E) Utilizing the full potential of the 
United States workforce by encouraging broad-
er participation in key technology focus areas 
by underrepresented populations. 
‘‘(F) Ensuring the programmatic work of 
the Directorate and Foundation incorporates a 
workforce perspective from labor organizations 
and workforce training organizations. 
‘‘(2) 
ORGANIZATION
AND
ADMINISTRATIVE 
MATTERS.— 
‘‘(A) PROGRAM MANAGERS.—The employ-
ees of the Directorate may include program 
managers for the key technology focus areas, 
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who may perform a role similar to program 
managers employed by the Defense Advanced 
Research Projects Agency for the oversight and 
selection of programs supported by the Direc-
torate. 
‘‘(B) SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS.—Recipi-
ents of support under the programs and activi-
ties of the Directorate shall be selected by pro-
gram managers or other employees of the Di-
rectorate and the selection criteria for financial 
assistance awards shall include intellectual 
merit and broader impacts, including economic 
impacts on the advanced technology production 
system of the United States. The Directorate 
may use a peer review process or the authorities 
provided under subsection (c), or some com-
bination of such process and authorities, to in-
form the selection of award recipients. 
‘‘(C) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of the Endless 
Frontier Act, the Director shall prepare and 
submit a report to the relevant congressional 
committees regarding the use of alternative 
methods for the selection of recipients and the 
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distribution of funding to recipients as com-
pared to the traditional peer review process. 
‘‘(D) ASSISTANT DIRECTORS.—The Direc-
tor shall appoint an Assistant Director for the 
Directorate, in the same manner as other As-
sistant Directors of the Foundation are ap-
pointed. 
‘‘(3) REPORT.—Not later than 120 days after 
the date of enactment of the Endless Frontier Act, 
the Director shall prepare and submit a report to 
the relevant congressional committees regarding the 
establishment of the Directorate. 
‘‘(c) PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT AUTHORITIES FOR 
THE FOUNDATION.—In addition to the authorities and re-
quirements of section 15, the Director shall have the fol-
lowing authorities: 
‘‘(1) EXPERTS
IN
SCIENCE
AND
ENGINEER-
ING.—The Director shall have the authority to carry 
out a program of personnel management authority 
in the same manner, and subject to the same re-
quirements, as the program of personnel manage-
ment authority authorized for the Director of the 
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency under 
section 1599h of title 10, United States Code, for 
the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. 
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‘‘(2) HIGHLY QUALIFIED EXPERTS IN NEEDED 
OCCUPATIONS.—In addition to the authority pro-
vided under paragraph (1), the Director shall have 
the authority to carry out a program of personnel 
management authority in the same manner, and 
subject to the same requirements, as the program to 
attract highly qualified experts carried out by the 
Secretary of Defense under section 9903 of title 5, 
United States Code. Individuals hired by the Direc-
tor through such authority shall include individuals 
with expertise in business creativity, innovation man-
agement, design thinking, entrepreneurship, venture 
capital, and related fields. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL HIRING AUTHORITY.—To the 
extent needed to carry out the duties in paragraph 
(1), the Director is authorized to utilize hiring au-
thorities under section 3372 of title 5, United States 
Code, to staff the Directorate with employees from 
other Federal agencies, State and local governments, 
Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations, institutions 
of higher education, and other organizations, as de-
scribed in that section, in the same manner and sub-
ject to the same conditions, that apply to such indi-
viduals utilized to accomplish other missions of the 
Foundation. 
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‘‘(d) DUTIES
AND FUNCTIONS
OF
THE DIREC-
TORATE.— 
‘‘(1) DEVELOPMENT
OF
TECHNOLOGY
FOCUS 
OF THE DIRECTORATE.—The Director shall— 
‘‘(A) through the Directorate, advance in-
novation in the key technology focus areas 
through basic and translational research and 
other activities described in this section; 
‘‘(B) develop and implement strategies to 
ensure that the activities of the Directorate are 
directed toward the key technology focus areas 
in order to accomplish the goals described in 
subsection (b)(1) consistent with the most re-
cent report conducted under section 5(b) of the 
Endless Frontier Act; and 
‘‘(C) develop and focus on innovation 
methods, processes, and promising practices 
that can affect the speed and effectiveness of 
innovation processes at scale. 
‘‘(2) KEY TECHNOLOGY FOCUS AREAS.— 
‘‘(A) INITIAL LIST.—The initial key tech-
nology focus areas are— 
‘‘(i) artificial intelligence, machine 
learning, and other software advances; 
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‘‘(ii) high performance computing, 
semiconductors, and advanced computer 
hardware; 
‘‘(iii) quantum computing and infor-
mation systems; 
‘‘(iv) robotics, automation, and ad-
vanced manufacturing; 
‘‘(v) natural and anthropogenic dis-
aster prevention or mitigation; 
‘‘(vi) advanced communications tech-
nology; 
‘‘(vii) biotechnology, medical tech-
nology, genomics, and synthetic biology; 
‘‘(viii) cybersecurity, data storage, and 
data management technologies; 
‘‘(ix) advanced energy, batteries, and 
industrial efficiency; and 
‘‘(x) advanced materials science, engi-
neering, and exploration relevant to the 
other key technology focus areas described 
in this subparagraph. 
‘‘(B) REVIEW OF KEY TECHNOLOGY FOCUS 
AREAS AND SUBSEQUENT LISTS.— 
‘‘(i) ADDING
OR
DELETING
KEY 
TECHNOLOGY
FOCUS
AREAS.—Beginning 
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on the date that is 3 years after the date 
of enactment of the Endless Frontier Act, 
and every 3 years thereafter, the Director, 
in coordination with the Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy, 
the Director of National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, the Secretary 
of Energy, the Secretary of Defense, the 
Director of the National Institutes of 
Health, and, as appropriate, the heads of 
other departments and agencies— 
‘‘(I) shall review the list of key 
technology focus areas; 
‘‘(II) may consider the challenges 
and recommendations identified in the 
report required by section 11 of the 
Endless Frontier Act; and 
‘‘(III) as part of that review, may 
add or delete key technology focus 
areas if societal challenges or the com-
petitive threats to the United States 
have shifted (whether because the 
United States or other nations have 
advanced or fallen behind in a techno-
logical area), subject to clause (ii). 
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‘‘(ii) LIMIT
ON
KEY
TECHNOLOGY 
FOCUS
AREAS.—Not more than 10 key 
technology focus areas shall be included on 
the list of key technology focus areas at 
any time. 
‘‘(iii) UPDATING
FOCUS
AREAS
AND 
DISTRIBUTION.—Prior to completion of 
each review under this subparagraph, the 
Director shall make the list of key tech-
nology focus areas readily available to the 
public and available for public comment, 
including, at a minimum, by publishing the 
list in the Federal Register even if no 
changes are expected to be made to the 
prior list. 
‘‘(iv) EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCE 
WAIVER.—In extraordinary circumstances, 
the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy may grant the Director 
the ability to add or delete key technology 
focus areas without acting in coordination 
as described in clause (i). If such an ability 
is determined to be necessary by the Direc-
tor of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy, the Director and the Director of 
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the Office of Science and Technology Pol-
icy shall not later than 15 days ahead of 
such a waiver being granted submit a de-
tailed description and justification to the 
relevant congressional committees. 
‘‘(3) ACTIVITIES.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the 
duties and functions of the Directorate, the Di-
rector— 
‘‘(i) may make awards in a techno-
logically-neutral manner for key technology 
focus areas to— 
‘‘(I) individual institutions of 
higher education for work at centers 
or by individual researchers or teams 
of researchers; 
‘‘(II) not-for-profit entities; and 
‘‘(III) consortia that— 
‘‘(aa) shall include and be 
led by an institution of higher 
education, or by a not-for-profit 
entity designed to support tech-
nology development, and may in-
clude 1 or more additional insti-
tutions of higher education; 
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‘‘(bb) shall include at least 
one of the following: 
‘‘(AA) 
a 
historically 
Black college or university; 
‘‘(BB) a Tribal College 
or University; 
‘‘(CC) another minor-
ity-serving institution; 
‘‘(DD) an institution 
that participates in the Es-
tablished Program to Stimu-
late Competitive Research 
under section 113 of the Na-
tional Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 1988 
(42 U.S.C. 1862g); 
‘‘(EE) an emerging re-
search institution that is not 
classified as a very high re-
search activity by the Car-
negie Classification of Insti-
tutions of Higher Education 
and that has an under-
graduate enrollment with a 
majority of students who are 
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from underrepresented pop-
ulations; or 
‘‘(FF) 
a 
community 
college; and 
‘‘(cc) may include 1 or 
more— 
‘‘(AA) entities described 
in subclause (I) or (II) and 
industries, 
including 
startups, small businesses, 
and public-private partner-
ships; 
‘‘(BB) economic devel-
opment 
organizations 
or 
venture development organi-
zations, as such term is de-
fined in section 28(a) of the 
Stevenson-Wydler 
Tech-
nology Innovation Act of 
1980; 
‘‘(CC) National Labora-
tories; 
‘‘(DD) Federal labora-
tories, as defined in section 
4 of the Stevenson-Wydler 
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Technology Innovation Act 
of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703); 
‘‘(EE) Federal research 
facilities; 
‘‘(FF) labor organiza-
tions; 
‘‘(GG) 
entities 
de-
scribed in subclause (I) or 
(II) from allied or partner 
countries; 
‘‘(HH) other entities if 
determined by the Director 
to be vital to the success of 
the program; and 
‘‘(II) 
binational 
re-
search 
and 
development 
foundations and funds, ex-
cluding foreign entities of 
concern; 
‘‘(ii) may partner with other direc-
torates of the Foundation for projects or 
research, including— 
‘‘(I) to pursue basic questions 
about natural, human, and physical 
phenomena that could enable ad-
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vances in the key technology focus 
areas; 
‘‘(II) to study questions that 
could affect the design (including 
human interfaces), operation, deploy-
ment, or the social and ethical con-
sequences of technologies in the key 
technology focus areas, including the 
development of technologies that com-
plement or enhance the abilities of 
workers and impact of specific innova-
tions on domestic jobs and equitable 
opportunity; and 
‘‘(III) to further the creation of a 
domestic workforce capable of advanc-
ing, using, and adapting to key tech-
nology focus areas and understanding 
and improving the impact of key tech-
nology focus areas on STEM teaching 
and learning advancing the key tech-
nology focus areas, including engaging 
relevant partners in research and in-
novation programs; 
‘‘(iii) may provide funds to any other 
Federal agencies for intramural or extra-
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mural work in the key technology focus 
areas through research, manufacturing, or 
other means; 
‘‘(iv) may make awards under the 
SBIR and STTR programs (as defined in 
section 9(e) of the Small Business Act (15 
U.S.C. 638(e)); and 
‘‘(v) may enter into and perform such 
contracts, other transactions, or other ar-
rangements, or modifications thereof, as 
may be necessary in the conduct of the 
work of the Directorate and on such terms 
as the Director considers appropriate, in 
furtherance of the purposes of this Act. 
‘‘(B) REPORTS.—Not later than 180 days 
after the date of enactment of the Endless 
Frontier Act, the Director, in coordination with 
the Secretary of State and the Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy, shall 
prepare and submit to the relevant congres-
sional committees— 
‘‘(i) a plan to seek out additional in-
vestments from— 
‘‘(I) certain designated countries; 
and 
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‘‘(II) entities other than institu-
tions of higher education; and 
‘‘(ii) the planned activities of the Di-
rectorate to secure federally funded science 
and technology pursuant to section 1746 of 
the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2020 (Public Law 116–92) 
and section 223 of William M. (Mac) 
Thornberry National Defense Authoriza-
tion Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 
116–283). 
‘‘(C) ANNUAL BRIEFING.—Each year, the 
Director shall formally request a briefing from 
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Com-
merce, the Director of the Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, the Director of National Intel-
ligence, and as appropriate other department or 
agency heads regarding their efforts to preserve 
the United States’ advantages generated by the 
activity of the Directorate. 
‘‘(4) INTERAGENCY COOPERATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out this 
section, the Director and other Federal research 
agencies, in consultation with the United States 
Patent and Trademark Office where appro-
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priate, shall work cooperatively with each other 
to further the goals of this section in the key 
technology focus areas. 
‘‘(B) COORDINATION WITH NIST AND DE-
PARTMENT OF ENERGY.—In making research 
awards under this section, the Director shall, as 
appropriate, work in coordination with the Di-
rector of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology and the Secretary of Energy. 
‘‘(C) COMPTROLLER GENERAL REPORT.— 
Each year, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall prepare and submit a report 
to Congress, and shall simultaneously submit 
the report to the Director and the Director of 
the Office of Science and Technology Policy, de-
scribing the interagency cooperation that oc-
curred during the preceding year pursuant to 
this paragraph, including a list of— 
‘‘(i) any funds provided under para-
graph (3)(A)(ii) to other divisions of the 
Foundation; and 
‘‘(ii) any funds provided under para-
graph (3)(A)(iii) to other Federal research 
agencies. 
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‘‘(5) PROVIDING SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS, 
AND OTHER STUDENT SUPPORT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Director, acting 
through the Directorate, shall fund under-
graduate scholarships (including at community 
colleges), graduate fellowships and traineeships, 
and postdoctoral awards in the key technology 
focus areas. 
‘‘(B) 
IMPLEMENTATION.—The 
Director 
may carry out subparagraph (A) by providing 
funds— 
‘‘(i) for making awards— 
‘‘(I) directly to students; and 
‘‘(II) to institutions of higher 
education or consortia of institutions 
of higher education, including those 
institutions or consortia involved in 
operating university technology cen-
ters established under paragraph (6); 
and 
‘‘(ii) to programs in Federal research 
agencies that have experience awarding 
such scholarships, fellowships, traineeships, 
or postdoctoral awards. 
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‘‘(C) 
BROADENING
PARTICIPATION.—In 
carrying out this paragraph, the Director 
should work to increase the participation of 
underrepresented populations in fields related 
to the key technology focus areas. For that pur-
pose, the Director may take such steps as es-
tablishing or augmenting programs targeted at 
underrepresented populations, and supporting 
traineeships or other relevant programs at insti-
tutions of higher education with high enroll-
ments of underrepresented populations. 
‘‘(D) INNOVATION.—In carrying out this 
paragraph, the Director shall encourage innova-
tion in graduate education, including through 
encouraging institutions of higher education to 
offer graduate students opportunities to gain 
experience in industry or government as part of 
their graduate training, and through support 
for students in professional masters programs 
related to the key technology focus areas. 
‘‘(E) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—The 
Director shall ensure that funds made available 
under this paragraph shall be used to create ad-
ditional support for postsecondary students and 
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shall not displace funding for any other avail-
able support. 
‘‘(6) UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY CENTERS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—From amounts made 
available to the Directorate, the Director shall, 
through a competitive application and selection 
process, make awards to institutions of higher 
education or consortia described in paragraph 
(3)(A)(i)(III) to establish university technology 
centers. 
‘‘(B) USES OF FUNDS.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—A center estab-
lished under an award under subparagraph 
(A)— 
‘‘(I) shall use support provided 
under such subparagraph— 
‘‘(aa) to carry out basic and 
translational research to advance 
innovation in the key technology 
focus areas; and 
‘‘(bb) to further the develop-
ment and commercialization of 
innovations, including inventions, 
in the key technology focus areas, 
including— 
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‘‘(AA) innovations de-
rived from research carried 
out under item (aa), through 
such 
activities 
as 
translational research, proof- 
of-concept development, and 
prototyping, in order to re-
duce the cost, time, and risk 
of commercializing new tech-
nologies; 
‘‘(BB) to promote pat-
enting and commercializa-
tion of inventions derived 
from research carried out 
under item (aa); and 
‘‘(CC) through the use 
of 
public-private 
partner-
ships; and 
‘‘(II) may use support provided 
under such subparagraph— 
‘‘(aa) for the costs of equip-
ment; 
‘‘(bb) for the costs associ-
ated with technology transfer and 
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commercialization, including pat-
enting and licensing; or 
‘‘(cc) for other activities or 
costs necessary to accomplish the 
purposes of this section, includ-
ing for operations and staff. 
‘‘(ii) SUPPORT
OF
REGIONAL
TECH-
NOLOGY
HUBS.—Each center established 
under subparagraph (A) may support and 
participate in, as appropriate, the activities 
of any regional technology hub designated 
under section 28(b)(1)(A) of the Steven-
son-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980. 
‘‘(C) SELECTION
PROCESS.—In selecting 
recipients under this paragraph, the Director 
shall consider— 
‘‘(i) the capacity of the applicant to 
pursue and advance basic and translational 
research; 
‘‘(ii) the extent to which the appli-
cant’s proposed research would be likely to 
advance American competitiveness in 1 or 
more key technology focus areas; 
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‘‘(iii) the extent to which the appli-
cant’s proposal would broaden participa-
tion by underrepresented populations in 
those areas; 
‘‘(iv) the capacity of the applicant to 
engage industry, labor, and other appro-
priate organizations on any advances; 
‘‘(v) whether the applicant’s proposed 
research will, where applicable, contribute 
to growth in domestic manufacturing ca-
pacity and job creation; 
‘‘(vi) the quality of plans for dissemi-
nation of research and technology results, 
in accordance with relevant export control 
laws; 
‘‘(vii) how the applicant will, where 
applicable, encourage the training and par-
ticipation of entrepreneurs and the trans-
lation of research results to practice, in-
cluding the development of new businesses; 
‘‘(viii) how the applicant will encour-
age the participation of inventors and en-
trepreneurs and the development of new 
businesses, where applicable; 
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‘‘(ix) regional and geographic diver-
sity; 
‘‘(x) in the case of a consortium, the 
extent to which the proposal includes insti-
tutions 
listed 
in 
paragraph 
(3)(A)(i)(III)(bb); and 
‘‘(xi) the amount of funds from indus-
try organizations described in subpara-
graph (D)(ii) the applicant would use to-
wards establishing the center under sub-
paragraph (A). 
‘‘(D) REQUIREMENTS.—The Director shall 
ensure that any institution of higher education 
or consortium receiving an award under sub-
paragraph (A) has— 
‘‘(i) the capacity or the ability to ac-
quire the capacity to advance the goals de-
scribed in subsection (b)(1); and 
‘‘(ii) secured contributions for estab-
lishing the center under subparagraph (A) 
from industry organizations in an amount 
not less than 10 percent of the total 
amount of the award the institution or 
consortium would receive under subpara-
graph (A). 
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‘‘(7) MOVING TECHNOLOGY FROM LABORATORY 
TO MARKET.— 
‘‘(A) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Director, in 
coordination with the Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology, shall establish a program in the 
Directorate to make awards, on a competi-
tive basis, to institutions of higher edu-
cation or consortia described in paragraph 
(3)(A)(i)(III)— 
‘‘(I) to build capacity at an insti-
tution of higher education or within 
the consortium and facilitate collabo-
ration with firms in the key tech-
nology focus areas to increase the 
likelihood that new technologies in the 
key technology focus areas will suc-
ceed in the commercial market; and 
‘‘(II) with the goal of promoting 
experiments with a range of models 
that institutions of higher education 
or consortia could use to— 
‘‘(aa) 
enable 
new 
tech-
nologies and inventions to mature 
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to the point where the tech-
nologies are more likely to suc-
ceed in the commercial market 
and promote the creation of high- 
quality jobs in the United States; 
and 
‘‘(bb) reduce the risks to 
commercial success for new tech-
nologies and inventions earlier in 
their development. 
‘‘(ii) USE FOR TRAINING.—An award 
under this subparagraph for a purpose de-
scribed in subclause (I) or (II) of clause (i) 
may also enable the institution of higher 
education or consortium to provide train-
ing and support to scientists, engineers, 
and inventors who are interested in re-
search, technology transfer, and commer-
cialization, including patenting and licens-
ing, if the use is included in the proposal 
submitted under subparagraph (B). 
‘‘(B) PROPOSALS.—An institution of high-
er education or consortium desiring an award 
under this paragraph shall submit a proposal to 
the Director at such time, in such manner, and 
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containing such information as the Director 
may require. The proposal shall include a de-
scription of— 
‘‘(i) the broader impact of the pro-
posal; 
‘‘(ii) the steps the applicant is study-
ing or will take to enable technology trans-
fer to reduce the risks for commercializa-
tion for new technologies, including how 
the applicant will collaborate with firms in 
the key technology focus areas; 
‘‘(iii) why such steps are likely to be 
effective; 
‘‘(iv) how such steps differ from pre-
vious efforts to reduce the risks for com-
mercialization for new technologies; 
‘‘(v) whether the commercial viability 
of any new technologies will promote the 
creation of high-quality jobs in the United 
States; 
‘‘(vi) how the applicant will, where ap-
plicable, encourage the participation of in-
ventors and entrepreneurs and the develop-
ment of new businesses; and 
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‘‘(vii) how the applicant will, where 
applicable, encourage the training and par-
ticipation of entrepreneurs and the trans-
lation of research results to practice, in-
cluding the development of new businesses. 
‘‘(C) USE OF FUNDS.—A recipient of an 
award under this paragraph shall use award 
funds to reduce the risks for commercialization 
for new technologies, which may include— 
‘‘(i) creating and funding competitions 
to allow entrepreneurial ideas from institu-
tions of higher education or consortia de-
scribed in paragraph (3)(A)(i)(III) to illus-
trate their commercialization potential; 
‘‘(ii) facilitating relationships among 
local and national business leaders, includ-
ing investors, and potential entrepreneurs 
to encourage successful commercialization; 
‘‘(iii) creating or supporting entities 
that could enable researchers to further de-
velop new technology, through patient cap-
ital investment, advice, staff support, or 
other means; 
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‘‘(iv) providing facilities for start-up 
companies where technology maturation 
could occur; 
‘‘(v) covering legal and other fees as-
sociated with technology transfer and com-
mercialization, including patenting and li-
censing; and 
‘‘(vi) revising institution policies, in-
cluding policies related to intellectual prop-
erty and faculty entrepreneurship, to ac-
complish the goals of this paragraph. 
‘‘(D) REPORTING ON COMMERCIALIZATION 
BASED ON METRICS.—The Director shall estab-
lish— 
‘‘(i) metrics related to commercializa-
tion for an award under this paragraph; 
and 
‘‘(ii) a reporting schedule for recipi-
ents of such awards that takes into ac-
count both short- and long-term goals of 
the program under this paragraph. 
‘‘(8) TEST BEDS.— 
‘‘(A) PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Director, in 
coordination with the Director of the Na-
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tional Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology, shall establish a program in the 
Directorate to make awards, on a competi-
tive basis, to institutions of higher edu-
cation or consortia described in paragraph 
(3)(A)(i)(III) to establish and operate test 
beds and fabrication facilities to advance 
the operation, integration, deployment, 
and, as appropriate, manufacturing of new, 
innovative technologies in the key tech-
nology focus areas, which may include 
hardware or software. The goal of such 
test beds and facilities shall be to accel-
erate the movement of innovative tech-
nologies 
into 
the 
commercial 
market 
through the private sector. 
‘‘(ii) COORDINATION.—In establishing 
the program under clause (i), the Director 
shall ensure coordination in establishing 
new test beds under this paragraph with 
other test beds supported by the Founda-
tion or established under Manufacturing 
USA to avoid duplication and maximize 
the use of Federal resources. 
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‘‘(B) PROPOSALS.—A proposal submitted 
under this paragraph shall, at a minimum, de-
scribe— 
‘‘(i)(I) the technology or technologies 
that will be the focus of the test bed or 
fabrication facility; 
‘‘(II) the goals of the work to be done 
at the test bed or facility; and 
‘‘(III) the expected schedule for com-
pleting that work; 
‘‘(ii) how the applicant will assemble a 
workforce with the skills needed to operate 
the test bed or facility; 
‘‘(iii) how the applicant will ensure 
broad access to the facility; 
‘‘(iv) how the applicant will collabo-
rate with firms in the key technology focus 
areas, including through coordinated re-
search and development and funding, to 
ensure that work in the test bed or facility 
will contribute to the commercial viability 
of any technologies and will include col-
laboration from industry and labor organi-
zations; 
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‘‘(v) how the applicant will encourage 
the participation of inventors and entre-
preneurs and the development of new busi-
nesses; 
‘‘(vi) how the applicant will increase 
participation by underrepresented popu-
lations; 
‘‘(vii) how the applicant will dem-
onstrate that the commercial viability of 
any new technologies will support the cre-
ation of high-quality domestic jobs; 
‘‘(viii) how the test bed or facility will 
operate after Federal funding has ended; 
and 
‘‘(ix) how the test bed will disseminate 
lessons and other technical information to 
United States firms or allied or partner 
country firms in the United States. 
‘‘(C) AWARDS.—Awards made under this 
paragraph shall be for 7 years, with the possi-
bility of 5-year extensions. 
‘‘(D) AUTHORIZED
USE
OF
FUNDS.—An 
awardee under this paragraph may, in order to 
achieve the purposes described in subparagraph 
(A)(i), use the award for the purchase of equip-
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ment, the support of graduate students and 
postdoctoral researchers, and the salaries of 
staff. 
‘‘(E) RESULTS.—An awardee under this 
paragraph may publish and share with the pub-
lic the results of the work conducted under this 
paragraph. 
‘‘(F) INTERAGENCY
SEMI-ANNUAL
MEET-
INGS.—The Director, the Director of the Na-
tional Institute of Standards and Technology, 
and the heads of other departments and agen-
cies, or their designees, with test bed related eq-
uities shall hold an annual meeting to coordi-
nate their respective test bed related invest-
ments, future years plan, and other appropriate 
matters, to avoid conflicts and duplication of ef-
forts. Upon request by Congress, Congress shall 
be briefed on the results of the meetings. 
‘‘(9) INAPPLICABILITY.—Section 5(e)(1) shall 
not apply to grants, contracts, awards, or other ar-
rangements made under this section. 
‘‘(e) AREAS OF FUNDING SUPPORT.—Subject to the 
availability of funds to carry out this section, the Director 
shall endeavor, for each fiscal year, to use— 
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‘‘(1) not less than 35 percent of funds provided 
to the Directorate for such year to carry out sub-
section (d)(6); 
‘‘(2) not less than 15 percent of such funds to 
carry out the purpose of subsection (d)(5)— 
‘‘(A) with the goal of awarding, across the 
key technology focus areas— 
‘‘(i) not fewer than 1,000 postdoctoral 
awards; 
‘‘(ii) not fewer than 2,000 graduate 
fellowships and traineeships; and 
‘‘(iii) not fewer than 1,000 under-
graduate scholarships, including scholar-
ships to attend community colleges; 
‘‘(B) of which not less than 10 percent of 
the funds designated under this paragraph shall 
be used to support additional awards to focus 
on community college training, education, and 
teaching programs that increase the participa-
tion of underrepresented populations in science, 
technology, engineering, and mathematics, in-
cluding technical programs through programs 
such as the Advanced Technological Education 
program; 
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‘‘(C) of which not less than 20 percent of 
the funds designated under this paragraph shall 
be used to support awards for post-doctorate 
fellowships, 
graduate 
fellowships 
and 
traineeships, and undergraduate scholarships 
through institutions of higher education, and 
other institutions, located in jurisdictions that 
participate in the Established Program to Stim-
ulate Competitive Research under section 113 
of the National Science Foundation Authoriza-
tion Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g); and 
‘‘(D) if funds remain after carrying out 
subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), awards to in-
stitutions of higher education to enable the in-
stitutions to fund the development and estab-
lishment of new or specialized courses of edu-
cation for graduate, undergraduate, or technical 
college students; 
‘‘(3) not less than 5 percent of such funds to 
carry out subsection (d)(7); 
‘‘(4) not less than 10 percent of such funds to 
carry out subsection (d)(8); 
‘‘(5) not less than 15 percent of such funds to 
carry out research and related activities pursuant to 
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subclauses (I) and (II) of subsection (d)(3)(A)(ii); 
and 
‘‘(6) not less than 20 percent of such funds to 
support research in the key technology focus areas 
through the Established Program to Stimulate Com-
petitive Research under section 113 of the National 
Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988 (42 
U.S.C. 1862g). 
‘‘(f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR AWARD RECIPI-
ENTS AND APPLICANTS.—The Director may— 
‘‘(1) coordinate with other Federal agencies to 
establish interagency and multidisciplinary teams to 
provide technical assistance to recipients of, and pro-
spective applicants for, awards under this section; 
‘‘(2) by Federal interagency agreement and not-
withstanding any other provision of law, transfer 
funds available to carry out this section to the head 
of another Federal agency to facilitate and support 
the provision of such technical assistance; and 
‘‘(3) enter into contracts with third parties to 
provide such technical assistance. 
‘‘(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS AND LIM-
ITATIONS.— 
‘‘(1) AUTHORIZATION FOR THE OFFICE OF IN-
SPECTOR
GENERAL.—From any amounts appro-
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priated for the Foundation for a fiscal year, there is 
authorized to be appropriated for necessary expenses 
of the Office of Inspector General of the Foundation 
an amount of not less than $10,000,000 in any fis-
cal year appropriation for the Foundation, for over-
sight of the programs and activities established 
under this section in accordance with the Inspector 
General Act of 1978. 
‘‘(2) SUPPLEMENT AND NOT SUPPLANT.—The 
amounts authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this section shall supplement, and not supplant, any 
other amounts already appropriated to the Founda-
tion or Office of Inspector General of the Founda-
tion, except with respect to transfers described in 
paragraph (3). 
‘‘(3) TRANSFER OF FUNDS AUTHORITY.—For 
fiscal years 2022 through 2024, the Director shall 
transfer any funds appropriated to the Directorate 
to any other directorate or office of the Foundation 
for activities directly related to the key technology 
focus areas. 
‘‘(4) NO NEW AWARDS.—The Director shall not 
make any new awards for the activities described in 
this section for any fiscal year in which the total 
amount appropriated to the Foundation (not includ-
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ing amounts appropriated for the Directorate) is less 
than the total amount appropriated to the Founda-
tion (not including such amounts), adjusted by the 
rate of inflation, for the previous fiscal year. 
‘‘(5) NO
FUNDS
FOR
CONSTRUCTION.—No 
funds provided under this section shall be used for 
construction. 
‘‘(h) RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this 
section or any other amendments made to this Act by the 
Endless Frontier Act shall be construed to alter the mis-
sion of any directorate of the Foundation existing prior 
to the date of enactment of such Act, or to alter the award 
selection methods or criteria used by such directorates.’’. 
(c) CHIEF
DIVERSITY
OFFICER.—The National 
Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq.), 
as amended by subsection (b), is further amended by in-
serting after section 8A the following: 
‘‘SEC. 8B. CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER. 
‘‘(a) CHIEF DIVERSITY OFFICER.— 
‘‘(1) APPOINTMENT.—The Director shall ap-
point a Chief Diversity Officer of the National 
Science Foundation. 
‘‘(2) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Chief Diversity 
Officer should have significant experience with diver-
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sity and inclusion, in particular within the Federal 
Government and science community. 
‘‘(3) OVERSIGHT.—The Chief Diversity Officer 
shall report directly to the Director in the perform-
ance of the duties of the Chief Diversity Officer 
under this section. 
‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Chief Diversity Officer is respon-
sible for providing advice on policy, oversight, guidance, 
and coordination with respect to matters of the National 
Science Foundation related to diversity and inclusion. 
Other duties may include— 
‘‘(1) establishing and maintaining a strategic 
plan that publicly states a diversity definition, vision, 
and goals for the National Science Foundation; 
‘‘(2) defining a set of strategic metrics that 
are— 
‘‘(A) directly linked to key organizational 
priorities and goals; 
‘‘(B) actionable; and 
‘‘(C) actively used to implement the stra-
tegic plan under paragraph (1); 
‘‘(3) advising in the establishment of a strategic 
plan for diverse participation by institutions of high-
er education, including community colleges, histori-
cally Black colleges and universities, Tribal colleges 
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or universities, and other minority-serving institu-
tions (as such terms are defined in section 8A(a)), 
and individuals; 
‘‘(4) advising in the establishment of a strategic 
plan for outreach to, and recruiting from, untapped 
locations and underrepresented populations; and 
‘‘(5) performing such additional duties and ex-
ercise such powers as the Director may prescribe.’’. 
(d) ANNUAL REPORT ON UNFUNDED PRIORITIES.— 
(1) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than 10 days 
after the date on which the budget of the President 
for a fiscal year is submitted to Congress pursuant 
to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the 
National Science Board shall submit to the Presi-
dent and to Congress a report on the unfunded pri-
orities of the National Science Foundation. 
(2) ELEMENTS.—Each report submitted under 
paragraph (1) shall provide— 
(A) for each directorate of the National 
Science Foundation for the most recent, fully 
completed fiscal year— 
(i) the proposal success rate; 
(ii) the percentage and total funding 
of proposals that were not funded and that 
met the criteria for funding; and 
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(iii) the most promising research 
areas covered by proposals described in 
clause (ii); and 
(B) a list, in order of priority, of the next 
activities approved by the National Science 
Board to be undertaken in the Major Research 
Equipment and Facilities Construction account. 
(e) PILOT PROGRAM.— 
(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
Director, 
acting 
through the Directorate, shall establish a 5-year 
pilot program for awarding grants to eligible part-
nerships to build research and education capacity at 
emerging research institutions to enable such insti-
tutions to contribute to programs run by the Direc-
torate. 
(2) APPLICATIONS.—An eligible partnership 
seeking a grant under this subsection shall submit 
an application to the Director at such time, in such 
manner, and containing such information as the Di-
rector may reasonably require, including a statement 
of how the partnership will use the funds awarded 
through the grant to achieve a lasting increase in 
the research and education capacity of each emerg-
ing research institution included in the eligible part-
nership. 
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(3) ACTIVITIES.—An eligible partnership receiv-
ing a grant under this subsection may use the funds 
awarded through such grant for— 
(A) faculty salaries and training; 
(B) research experiences for undergraduate 
and graduate students; 
(C) maintenance and repair of research 
equipment and instrumentation; and 
(D) any other activities the Director deter-
mines appropriate. 
(4) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 
(A) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ 
means the Director of the National Science 
Foundation. 
(B) DIRECTORATE; EMERGING RESEARCH 
INSTITUTION.—The terms ‘‘Directorate’’ and 
‘‘emerging research institution’’ have the mean-
ings given such terms in section 8A(a) of the 
National Science Foundation Act of 1950, ex-
cept that, with respect to the term ‘‘emerging 
research institution’’, the reference in para-
graph (4) of such section to an award under 
section 8A of that Act shall be deemed a ref-
erence to a grant under this subsection. 
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(C) ELIGIBLE
PARTNERSHIP.—The term 
‘‘eligible partnership’’ means a partnership of— 
(i) at least 1 emerging research insti-
tution; and 
(ii) at least 1 institution classified as 
a very high research activity by the Car-
negie Classification of Institutions of High-
er Education. 
SEC. 4. ENDLESS FRONTIER FUND. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be appro-
priated a total of $112,410,000,000 for fiscal years 2022 
through 2026 for the implementation of this Act and the 
amendments made by this Act. Such funds shall be avail-
able for the implementation of this Act and the amend-
ments made by this Act, and shall be administered by the 
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy 
(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Director’’). 
(b) USE OF FUNDS.— 
(1) SUBMISSION
OF
ANNUAL
ALLOCATION.— 
Until the date on which all of the amounts in the 
Fund described in subsection (a) are expended, the 
Director shall annually submit to Congress, together 
with the annual budget of the United States, a list 
of allocations to agencies and departments to imple-
ment this Act and the amendments made by this Act 
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that includes a detailed description of each program 
proposed to be funded, including the estimated ex-
penditures from the Fund for the program for the 
applicable fiscal year. 
(2) ALTERNATE ALLOCATION.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Commerce, Jus-
tice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropria-
tions Act for the relevant fiscal year may pro-
vide for alternate allocation of amounts made 
available under this section. 
(B) ALLOCATION BY PRESIDENT.— 
(i) NO ALTERNATE ALLOCATIONS.—If 
Congress has not enacted legislation estab-
lishing alternate allocations as described in 
subparagraph (A) by the date on which the 
Act making full-year appropriations for 
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related 
Agencies for the applicable fiscal year is 
enacted into law, amounts made available 
under this section shall be allocated by the 
Director. 
(ii) INSUFFICIENT ALTERNATE ALLO-
CATION.—If Congress enacts legislation es-
tablishing alternate allocations for amounts 
made available under this section that are 
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less than the full amount authorized to be 
appropriated to the Fund for that fiscal 
year under subsection (a), the difference 
between the amount authorized to be ap-
propriated and the alternate allocation 
shall be allocated by the Director. 
(c) LIMITATION.—No funds provided under this sec-
tion shall be used for construction, except in the case of 
infrastructure projects described in section 28(b)(1)(B) of 
the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 
(Public Law 96–480), as added by section 7(a) of this Act. 
(d) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that, during the period of fiscal years 2022 through 
2026, the Director shall make available, from amounts 
made available under subsection (a)— 
(1) $9,425,000,000 to the regional technology 
hub program under section 28 of the Stevenson- 
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (Public 
Law 96–480), as added by section 7 of this Act; 
(2) $575,000,000 to the comprehensive regional 
technology strategy grant program under section 29 
of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act 
of 1980 (Public Law 96–480), as added by section 
8 of this Act, of which $100,000,000 shall be made 
available for each of fiscal years 2022 and 2023 and 
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$125,000,000 shall be made available for each of fis-
cal years 2024 through 2026; 
(3) $100,000,000,000 to the Directorate for 
Technology and Innovation of the National Science 
Foundation, of which $5,000,000,000 shall be made 
available for fiscal year 2022, $10,000,000,000 shall 
be 
made 
available 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2023, 
$20,000,000,000 shall be made available for fiscal 
year 2024, $30,000,000,000 shall be made available 
for fiscal year 2025, and $35,000,000,000 shall be 
made available for fiscal year 2026; and 
(4) $2,410,000,000 for the period of fiscal 
years 2022 through 2026 to the Manufacturing 
USA Program for activities described under section 
9 of this Act. 
SEC. 5. STRATEGY AND REPORT ON ECONOMIC SECURITY, 
SCIENCE, RESEARCH, AND INNOVATION TO 
SUPPORT THE NATIONAL SECURITY STRAT-
EGY. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) 
APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’’ means— 
(A) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutri-
tion, and Forestry, the Committee on Appro-
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priations, the Committee on Armed Services, 
the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
Urban Affairs, the Committee on the Budget, 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation, the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources, the Committee on Finance, 
the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Com-
mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pen-
sions, the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on 
the Judiciary, and the Select Committee on In-
telligence of the Senate; and 
(B) the Committee on Agriculture, the 
Committee on Appropriations, the Committee 
on Armed Services, the Committee on the 
Budget, the Committee on Education and 
Labor, the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, the Committee on Financial Services, 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Com-
mittee on Homeland Security, the Committee 
on the Judiciary, the Committee on Oversight 
and Reform, the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology, the Committee on Ways and 
Means, and the Permanent Select Committee 
on Intelligence of the House of Representatives. 
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(2) KEY TECHNOLOGY FOCUS AREA.—The term 
‘‘key technology focus area’’ means an area included 
on the most recent list under section 8A(d)(2) of the 
National Science Foundation Act of 1950. 
(3) NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY.—The term 
‘‘national security strategy’’ means the national se-
curity strategy required by section 108 of the Na-
tional Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 3043). 
(b) STRATEGY AND REPORT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In 2021 and in each year 
thereafter before the applicable date set forth under 
paragraph (2), the Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy, in coordination with the Di-
rector of the National Economic Council, the Direc-
tor of the National Science Foundation, the Sec-
retary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, the 
National Security Council, the United States Patent 
and Trademark Office, and the heads of other rel-
evant Federal agencies and in consultation with rel-
evant nongovernmental partners, shall— 
(A) review such strategy, programs, and 
resources as the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy determines per-
tain to United States national competitiveness 
in science, research, innovation, and technology 
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transfer, including patenting and licensing, to 
support the national security strategy; 
(B) develop or revise a strategy for the 
Federal Government to improve the national 
competitiveness of the United States in science, 
research, and innovation to support the national 
security strategy; and 
(C) submit to the appropriate committees 
of Congress— 
(i) a report on the findings of the Di-
rector with respect to the review conducted 
under subparagraph (A); and 
(ii) the strategy developed or revised 
under subparagraph (B). 
(2) APPLICABLE DATES.—In each year, the ap-
plicable date set forth under this paragraph is as fol-
lows: 
(A) In 2021, December 31, 2021. 
(B) In 2022 and every year thereafter— 
(i) in any year in which a new Presi-
dent is inaugurated, October 1 of that 
year; and 
(ii) in any other year, the date that is 
90 days after the date of the transmission 
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to Congress in that year of the national se-
curity strategy. 
(c) ELEMENTS.— 
(1) REPORT.—Each report submitted under 
subsection (b)(1)(C)(i) shall include the following: 
(A) An assessment of public and private 
investment in civilian and military science and 
technology 
and 
its 
implications 
for 
the 
geostrategic position and national security of 
the United States. 
(B) A description of the prioritized eco-
nomic security interests and objectives, includ-
ing domestic job creation, of the United States 
relating to science, research, and innovation 
and an assessment of how investment in civilian 
and military science and technology can ad-
vance those objectives. 
(C) An assessment of how regional efforts 
are contributing and could contribute to the in-
novation capacity of the United States, includ-
ing— 
(i) programs run by State and local 
governments; and 
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(ii) regional factors that are contrib-
uting or could contribute positively to inno-
vation. 
(D) An assessment of— 
(i) workforce needs for competitive-
ness and national security in key tech-
nology areas; and 
(ii) Federal support needed— 
(I) to expand domestic and inter-
national student pathways into key 
technology areas; and 
(II) to improve workforce devel-
opment and employment systems, as 
well as programs and practices to 
upskill incumbent workers. 
(E) An assessment of barriers to competi-
tiveness in key technology focus areas and bar-
riers to the development and evolution of start- 
ups, small and mid-sized business entities, and 
industries in key technology focus areas. 
(F) An assessment of the effectiveness of 
the Federal Government, federally funded re-
search and development centers, and national 
labs in supporting and promoting technology 
commercialization and technology transfer, in-
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cluding an assessment of the adequacy of Fed-
eral research and development funding in pro-
moting competitiveness and the development of 
new technologies. 
(G) An assessment of manufacturing ca-
pacity, logistics, and supply chain dynamics of 
major export sectors, including access to a 
skilled workforce, physical infrastructure, and 
broadband network infrastructure. 
(H) An assessment of how the Federal 
Government is increasing the participation of 
underrepresented populations in science, re-
search, innovation, and manufacturing. 
(I) An assessment of the effectiveness of 
the Federal Government, Federally funded re-
search and development centers, and national 
laboratories in transitioning technologies and 
processes that emerge from Federally funded 
research to new domestic manufacturing growth 
and job creation across sectors in the United 
States. 
(2) 
STRATEGY.—Each 
strategy 
submitted 
under subsection (b)(1)(C)(ii) shall include the fol-
lowing: 
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(A) A plan to utilize available tools to ad-
dress or minimize the leading threats and chal-
lenges and to take advantage of the leading op-
portunities, particularly in regards to tech-
nology areas central to competition between the 
United States and China, including the fol-
lowing: 
(i) Specific objectives, tasks, metrics, 
and milestones for each relevant Federal 
agency. 
(ii) Specific plans to support public 
and private sector investment in research, 
technology development, education and 
workforce development, and domestic man-
ufacturing in key technology focus areas 
supportive of the national economic com-
petitiveness of the United States and to 
foster the prudent use of public-private 
partnerships. 
(iii) Specific plans to promote environ-
mental stewardship and fair competition 
for United States workers. 
(iv) A description of— 
(I) how the strategy submitted 
under subsection (b)(1)(C)(ii) sup-
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ports the national security strategy; 
and 
(II) how the strategy submitted 
under such subsection is integrated 
and coordinated with the most recent 
national defense strategy under sec-
tion 113(g) of title 10, United States 
Code. 
(v) A plan to encourage the govern-
ments of countries that are allies or part-
ners of the United States to cooperate with 
the execution of the strategy submitted 
under subsection (b)(1)(C)(ii), where ap-
propriate. 
(vi) A plan to encourage certain inter-
national and multilateral organizations to 
support the implementation of such strat-
egy. 
(vii) A plan for how the United States 
should develop local and regional capacity 
for building innovation ecosystems across 
the Nation by providing Federal support. 
(viii) A plan for strengthening the in-
dustrial base of the United States. 
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(B) An identification of additional re-
sources, administrative action, or legislative ac-
tion recommended to assist with the implemen-
tation of such strategy. 
(d) FORM OF REPORTS AND STRATEGIES.—Each re-
port and strategy submitted under subsection (b)(1)(C) 
shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include 
a classified annex. 
SEC. 6. SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCY PROGRAM. 
(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CRITICAL
INDUSTRY.—The term ‘‘critical 
industry’’ means— 
(A) key technology focus areas, as defined 
in section 8A(a) of the National Science Foun-
dation Act of 1950, as added by section 3(b) of 
this Act; and 
(B) areas identified by the report in sub-
section (f). 
(2) CRITICAL
INFRASTRUCTURE.—The term 
‘‘critical infrastructure’’ has the meaning given the 
term in the Critical Infrastructures Protection Act 
of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c). 
(3) FOREIGN ENTITY.—The term ‘‘foreign enti-
ty’’— 
(A) means— 
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(i) the government of a foreign coun-
try; 
(ii) a foreign political party; 
(iii) an individual who is not a pro-
tected individual (as defined in section 
274B(a)(3) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3))); or 
(iv) a partnership, association, cor-
poration, organization, or other combina-
tion of persons organized under the laws 
of, or having its principal place of business 
in, a foreign country; and 
(B) includes— 
(i) any person owned by, controlled 
by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direc-
tion of, a person described in subpara-
graph (A); 
(ii) any person, wherever located, that 
acts as an agent, representative, or em-
ployee of a person described in subpara-
graph (A); 
(iii) any person that acts in any other 
capacity at the order or request, or under 
the direction or control, of— 
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(I) a person described in sub-
paragraph (A); or 
(II) a person, the activities of 
which are directly or indirectly super-
vised, directed, controlled, financed, or 
subsidized in whole or in majority 
part by a person described in subpara-
graph (A); 
(iv) any person that directly or indi-
rectly through any contract, arrangement, 
understanding, relationship, or otherwise 
owns not less than 25 percent of the equity 
interests of a person described in subpara-
graph (A); 
(v) any person with significant re-
sponsibility to control, manage, or direct a 
person described in subparagraph (A); 
(vi) any individual, wherever located, 
who is a citizen or resident of a country 
controlled by a person described in sub-
paragraph (A); and 
(vii) any corporation, partnership, as-
sociation, or other organization organized 
under the laws of a country controlled by 
a person described in subparagraph (A). 
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(4) FOREIGN ENTITY OF CONCERN.—The term 
‘‘foreign entity of concern’’ means a foreign entity 
that is— 
(A) designated as a foreign terrorist orga-
nization by the Secretary of State under section 
219(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(8 U.S.C. 1189(a)); 
(B) included on the list of specially des-
ignated nationals and blocked persons main-
tained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control 
of the Department of the Treasury (commonly 
known as the ‘‘SDN list’’); 
(C) owned by, controlled by, or subject to 
the jurisdiction or direction of a government of 
a foreign country that is a covered nation (as 
defined in section 2533c(d) of title 10, United 
States Code); 
(D) alleged by the Attorney General to 
have been involved in activities for which a con-
viction was obtained under— 
(i) chapter 37 of title 18, United 
States Code (commonly known as the ‘‘Es-
pionage Act’’); 
(ii) section 951 or 1030 of title 18, 
United States Code; 
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(iii) chapter 90 of title 18, United 
States Code (commonly known as the 
‘‘Economic Espionage Act of 1996’’); 
(iv) the Arms Export Control Act (22 
U.S.C. 2751 et seq.); 
(v) section 224, 225, 226, 227, or 236 
of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 (42 
U.S.C. 2274, 2275, 2276, 2277, and 
2284); 
(vi) the Export Control Reform Act of 
2018 (50 U.S.C. 4801 et seq.); or 
(vii) the International Emergency 
Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et 
seq.); or 
(E) determined by the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of Defense and the 
Director of National Intelligence, to be engaged 
in unauthorized conduct that is detrimental to 
the national security or foreign policy of the 
United States. 
(5) LABOR ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘‘labor 
organization’’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 8A(a) of the National Science Foundation 
Act of 1950. 
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(6) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means 
the supply chain resiliency and crisis response pro-
gram established under subsection (b). 
(7) RELEVANT COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS.— 
The term ‘‘relevant committees of Congress’’ 
means— 
(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate; 
(B) the Committee on Appropriations of 
the Senate; 
(C) the Committee on Finance of the Sen-
ate; 
(D) the Committee on Homeland Security 
and Governmental Affairs of the Senate; 
(E) the Committee on Armed Services of 
the Senate; 
(F) the Select Committee on Intelligence of 
the Senate; 
(G) the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives; 
(H) the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce of the House of Representatives; 
(I) the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House of Representatives; 
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(J) the Committee on Ways and Means of 
the House of Representatives; 
(K) the Committee on Homeland Security 
of the House of Representatives; 
(L) the Committee on Armed Services of 
the House of Representatives; and 
(M) the Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence of the House of Representatives. 
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
in the Department of Commerce a supply chain resiliency 
and crisis response program to carry out the activities de-
scribed in subsection (d). 
(c) MISSION AND PRIORITIES.— 
(1) MISSION.—The mission of the program is 
to— 
(A) ensure the leadership of the United 
States with respect to industries that are essen-
tial to mid-term and long-term national security 
and economic competitiveness; 
(B) promote, in partnership with the pri-
vate sector and other relevant stakeholders, the 
resiliency of supply chains of the United States 
and allied or partner countries; and 
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(C) encourage partnerships between the 
Federal Government and industry, labor organi-
zations, and State, local, territorial, and Tribal 
governments in order to better respond to sup-
ply chain crises. 
(2) PRIORITIES.—The program shall— 
(A) in partnership with the private sector, 
build resilient and secure supply chains (includ-
ing through the mid-term and long-term diver-
sification of key supply chains, which shall in-
clude the support of small- and medium-sized 
businesses) that can ensure the access of the 
United States to critical goods and services in 
the face of shocks, including pandemic and bio-
logical threats, cyberattacks, extreme weather 
events, terrorist and geopolitical attacks, great 
power conflict, and other threats to national se-
curity, with key parts of such resilience being— 
(i) the diversification of key supply 
chains with allies or key partners; and 
(ii) working with allies or key partners 
through agreements and other commit-
ments; and 
(B) support collaboration with allies or key 
partners to collectively build and strengthen re-
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silient global supply chains, including through 
identifying supply chain vulnerabilities, expand-
ing productive capacity, and stockpiling essen-
tial goods. 
(d) ACTIVITIES.—Under the program, the Secretary, 
acting through 1 or more bureaus or other divisions of 
the Department of Commerce as appropriate, shall carry 
out activities— 
(1) to map and monitor key supply chains and 
to identify current and future key supply chain gaps 
and vulnerabilities in critical industries; 
(2) to develop or identify opportunities to build 
domestic capacity, and cooperate with allies or key 
partners, to address supply chain gaps and 
vulnerabilities in critical industries; 
(3) to consult and collaborate with the Director 
of the Office of Management and Budget, the Sec-
retary of Defense, the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity, the Secretary of the Treasury, the Secretary of 
Energy, the Secretary of Transportation, the Sec-
retary of Agriculture, the Secretary of State, the Di-
rector of National Intelligence, the Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy, and, as ap-
propriate, the heads of other Federal departments 
and agencies to invest in urgent supply chain gaps; 
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(4) to encourage partnerships between the Fed-
eral Government and industry, labor organizations, 
and State, local, territorial, and Tribal governments 
to better respond to crises; 
(5) to support the distribution of critical re-
sources to areas that have the greatest needs during 
crises; 
(6) to develop contingency plans to ensure a re-
silient supply chain response for potential crises; 
(7) to ensure that allies and key partners have 
supply chains that are capable of supporting critical 
industries; and 
(8) to enter into agreements and partnerships 
with allied or partner governments to promote diver-
sified and resilient supply chains that ensure supply 
of critical goods to both the United States and allied 
companies. 
(e) AUTHORITIES.—The Secretary may— 
(1) establish a unified coordination group to 
serve as the primary method for coordinating be-
tween and among Federal departments and agencies 
in response to known supply chain risks as well as 
for integrating private sector partners into efforts, 
as appropriate, to— 
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(A) study technical, engineering, and oper-
ational data acquired on a voluntary basis from 
the private sector, in a manner that ensures 
any data provided by the private sector is kept 
confidential and as required under section 552 
of title 5, United States Code (commonly known 
as the ‘‘Freedom of Information Act’’); 
(B) directly receive whistleblower com-
plaints with appropriate protection; and 
(C) identify key competitiveness challenges 
in critical industries; 
(2) enter into agreements with allied or partner 
governments regarding supply chain security assur-
ances; 
(3) coordinate with other divisions of the De-
partment of Commerce and other Federal depart-
ments and agencies to leverage existing authorities, 
as of the date of enactment of this Act, to strength-
en supply chain resilience; and 
(4) with the approval of the Committee on Ap-
propriations of the Senate and the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, 
transfer funds to, or receive funds from, other de-
partments and agencies to implement the program. 
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(f) REPORT ON SUPPLY CHAIN RESILIENCY AND DO-
MESTIC MANUFACTURING.—Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of this Act, and not less frequently 
than every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall submit 
to the relevant committees of Congress a review, in coordi-
nation with other relevant Federal departments and agen-
cies— 
(1) identifying— 
(A) technologies critical to economic com-
petitiveness and national security; and 
(B) supplies critical to the crisis prepared-
ness of the United States, such as medical sup-
plies, personal protective equipment, disaster 
response necessities, electrical generation tech-
nology, materials essential to critical infrastruc-
ture operation or repair and renovation, and 
other supplies identified by the Secretary; 
(2) describing— 
(A) the current domestic manufacturing 
base and supply chains for those technologies 
and supplies, including raw materials, produc-
tion equipment, and other goods essential to the 
production of those technologies and supplies; 
and 
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(B) the ability of the United States to 
maintain readiness and to surge produce those 
technologies and supplies in response to an 
emergency; 
(3) identifying defense, intelligence, homeland, 
economic, domestic labor supply, natural, geo-
political, or other contingencies that may disrupt, 
strain, compromise, or eliminate the supply chain for 
those technologies and supplies; 
(4) assessing the resiliency and capacity of the 
domestic, allied, and partner manufacturing base, 
supply chains, and workforce to support the need for 
those technologies and supplies, including any single 
points of failure in those supply chains; 
(5) assessing flexible manufacturing capacity 
available in the United States in cases of emergency; 
(6) making specific recommendations to im-
prove the security and resiliency of manufacturing 
capacity and supply chains by— 
(A) developing long-term strategies; 
(B) increasing visibility throughout mul-
tiple supplier tiers; 
(C) identifying and mitigating risks, in-
cluding the financial and operational risks of a 
supply chain, vulnerabilities to extreme weather 
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events, cyberattacks, pandemic and biological 
threats, terrorist and geopolitical attacks, and 
other emergencies, and exposure to gaps in do-
mestic sourcing and import exposure; 
(D) identifying enterprise resource plan-
ning systems that are compatible across supply 
chain tiers and are affordable for small and me-
dium-sized businesses; 
(E) understanding the total cost of owner-
ship, total value contribution, and other best 
practices that encourage strategic partnerships 
throughout the supply chain; 
(F) understanding Federal procurement 
opportunities to increase resiliency of supply 
chains for goods and services and fill gaps in 
domestic purchasing; 
(G) identifying policies to maximize domes-
tic job retention and creation, including work-
force development programs; 
(H) identifying and mitigating risks associ-
ated with allied or key partner countries in 
building more resilient supply chains; and 
(I) identifying such other services as the 
Secretary considers necessary; 
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(7) providing guidance on technologies and sup-
plies to be prioritized for assistance and other activi-
ties under the Department of Commerce, the Na-
tional Science Foundation, and other relevant Fed-
eral agencies; 
(8) reviewing and, if appropriate, expanding the 
sourcing of goods associated with critical technology 
areas from allies or key partners, including rec-
ommendations for coordination with allies or key 
partners on sourcing critical products; and 
(9) monitoring and strengthening the financial 
and operational health of small and medium enter-
prises in domestic, allied, and partner supply chains 
to mitigate risks and ensure diverse, competitive 
supplier markets that are less vulnerable to single 
points of failure. 
(g) ADDITIONAL HIRING AUTHORITY.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—To the extent needed to 
carry out the program, the Secretary may— 
(A) utilize hiring authorities under section 
3372 of title 5, United States Code, to staff the 
program with employees from other Federal 
agencies, institutions of higher education, and 
other organizations as described in that section 
with relevant experience in supply chain man-
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agement and investment in the same manner 
and subject to the same conditions that apply 
to such individuals utilized to accomplish other 
missions of the Department of Commerce; 
(B) appoint and fix the compensation of 
such temporary personnel as may be necessary 
to implement the requirements of this section 
relating to the program, without regard to the 
provisions of title 5, United States Code, gov-
erning appointments in the competitive service; 
and 
(C) appoint an individual appointed under 
subparagraph (B), after serving continuously 
for not less than 2 years, to a position in the 
Department of Commerce in the same manner 
that an employee serving in a position in the 
competitive service may be transferred, reas-
signed, or promoted. 
(2) NO
REIMBURSEMENT.—Any assignment 
provided under paragraph (1)(A) shall be made 
without reimbursement. 
(3) EFFECT OF APPOINTMENT.—An individual 
appointed as described in paragraph (1)(C) shall be 
considered to be appointed under a career-condi-
tional appointment, unless the individual, as of the 
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date on which the individual is appointed, has com-
pleted a sufficient amount of creditable service to at-
tain a permanent career appointment. 
(h) SEMICONDUCTOR INCENTIVES.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out the program established under section 9902 of 
the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 
116–283) as part of the program. 
(2) TECHNICAL
AND
CONFORMING
AMEND-
MENT.—Section 9902(a)(1) of the William M. (Mac) 
Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283) is amended 
by striking ‘‘in the Department of Commerce’’ and 
inserting ‘‘as part of the program established under 
section 6 of the Endless Frontier Act’’. 
(i) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Concurrent with the an-
nual submission by the President of a budget under sec-
tion 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary 
shall submit to the relevant committees of Congress a re-
port that contains a summary of all activities carried out 
under this section for the year covered by the report. 
(j) COORDINATION.—The Secretary of Commerce 
shall, as appropriate, coordinate with the heads of other 
Federal departments and agencies, including the Sec-
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retary of State and the United States Trade Representa-
tive, in the implementation of this program. 
(k) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING PRIVATE 
ENTITIES.—Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
require any private entity— 
(1) to request assistance from the Secretary; or 
(2) that requested such assistance from the 
Secretary to implement any measure or rec-
ommendation suggested by the Secretary. 
(l) FUNDING.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this section, which shall re-
main available until expended. 
(2) INSPECTOR
GENERAL
FUNDING.—Of the 
amounts made available in a fiscal year to carry out 
this section, not more than 2 percent of those 
amounts shall be available to the Inspector General 
of the Department of Commerce to conduct over-
sight activities with respect to the program. 
(3) TRANSFERS.—Of the amounts made avail-
able in a fiscal year to carry out this section, the 
Secretary may transfer not more than 5 percent of 
those amounts to the account under the heading 
‘‘Department of Commerce—Salaries and Expenses’’ 
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to provide for administration and oversight activities 
relating to the program. 
SEC. 7. REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY HUB PROGRAM. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—The Stevenson-Wydler Tech-
nology Innovation Act of 1980 (Public Law 96–480; 15 
U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended— 
(1) by redesignating section 28 as section 30; 
and 
(2) by inserting after section 27 the following: 
‘‘SEC. 28. REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY HUB PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) APPROPRIATE
COMMITTEES
OF
CON-
GRESS.—The term ‘appropriate committees of Con-
gress’ means— 
‘‘(A) 
the 
Committee 
on 
Commerce, 
Science, and Transportation, the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works, and the Com-
mittee on Appropriations of the Senate; and 
‘‘(B) the Committee on Science, Space, 
and Technology, the Committee on Transpor-
tation and Infrastructure, and the Committee 
on Appropriations of the House of Representa-
tives. 
‘‘(2) COOPERATIVE EXTENSION.—The term ‘co-
operative extension’ has the meaning given the term 
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‘extension’ in section 1404 of the Food and Agri-
culture Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3103). 
‘‘(3) KEY
TECHNOLOGY
FOCUS
AREAS.—The 
term ‘key technology focus areas’ means the areas 
included on the most recent list under section 
8A(d)(2) of the National Science Foundation Act of 
1950. 
‘‘(4) LABOR ORGANIZATION.—The term ‘labor 
organization’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 8A(a) of the National Science Foundation 
Act of 1950. 
‘‘(5) LARGE
METROPOLITAN
COMMUNITIES.— 
The term ‘large metropolitan community’ means a 
metropolitan statistical area with a population of 
more than 500,000. 
‘‘(6) MANUFACTURING EXTENSION CENTER.— 
The term ‘manufacturing extension center’ has the 
meaning given the term ‘Center’ in section 25(a) of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(a)). 
‘‘(7) MANUFACTURING
USA
INSTITUTE.—The 
term ‘Manufacturing USA institute’ means an Man-
ufacturing USA institute described in section 34(d) 
of the National Institute of Standards and Tech-
nology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s(d)). 
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‘‘(8) 
MID-SIZED
METROPOLITAN
COMMU-
NITIES.—The term ‘mid-sized metropolitan commu-
nity’ means a metropolitan statistical area with a 
population of more than 200,000 and not more than 
500,000. 
‘‘(9) OTHER
TECHNOLOGY
AND
INNOVATION 
SECTORS CRITICAL TO NATIONAL AND ECONOMIC SE-
CURITY.—The term ‘other technology and innovation 
sectors critical to national and economic security’ 
means other technology and innovation sectors that 
the Secretary determines are critical to national and 
economic security. 
‘‘(10) SMALL AND RURAL COMMUNITIES.—The 
term ‘small and rural community’ means a noncore 
area, a micropolitan area, or a small metropolitan 
statistical area with a population of not more than 
200,000. 
‘‘(11) VENTURE
DEVELOPMENT
ORGANIZA-
TION.—The term ‘venture development organization’ 
means a State or nonprofit organization focused pri-
marily toward strengthening regional economic de-
velopment through innovation by— 
‘‘(A) accelerating the commercialization of 
research and technology; 
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‘‘(B) strengthening the competitive posi-
tion of startups and industry through the devel-
opment, commercial adoption, or deployment of 
technology; 
‘‘(C) providing financial grants, loans, or 
direct investment to commercialize technology; 
‘‘(D) pairing direct financial assistance 
under subparagraph (C) with entrepreneurship, 
technological, or business assistance to maxi-
mize the likelihood of success for a venture and 
increased employment growth for the region or 
a sector; and 
‘‘(E) returning any proceeds gained from 
direct financial assistance made using organiza-
tion funds to the organization for future rein-
vestment, entrepreneurial assistance, and sup-
port of operations. 
‘‘(b) REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY HUB PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out a program— 
‘‘(A) to designate eligible consortia as re-
gional technology hubs that create the condi-
tions, within a region, to facilitate activities 
that— 
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‘‘(i) enable United States leadership 
in a key technology focus area, comple-
menting the Federal research and develop-
ment investments under section 8A of the 
National Science Foundation Act of 1950, 
or other technology and innovation sectors 
critical to national and economic security; 
‘‘(ii) support regional economic devel-
opment that diffuses innovation around the 
United States, enabling better broad-based 
growth and competitiveness in key tech-
nology focus areas; 
‘‘(iii) support domestic job creation; 
and 
‘‘(iv) otherwise support the purposes 
set forth under paragraph (2); 
‘‘(B) to support regional technology hubs 
designated under subparagraph (A); and 
‘‘(C) to conduct ongoing research, evalua-
tion, analysis, and dissemination of best prac-
tices for regional development and competitive-
ness in technology and innovation. 
‘‘(2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the program 
carried out under paragraph (1) are as follows: 
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‘‘(A) To designate eligible consortia as re-
gional technology hubs throughout the United 
States that create the conditions within a re-
gion to facilitate activities that establish the 
global competitive edge of the United States in 
the 21st century across a range of technology 
and innovation sectors critical to national and 
economic security, including to encourage lower- 
cost but economically viable technology hubs in 
the 
United 
States 
to 
reduce 
technology 
offshoring. 
‘‘(B) To encourage new and constructive 
collaboration among local, State, and Federal 
government entities, academia, private industry, 
and labor organizations to mobilize investment, 
talent, entrepreneurship, and innovation for re-
search, development, deployment, and manufac-
turing in a range of technology and innovation 
sectors critical to national and economic secu-
rity. 
‘‘(C) To assist regions across the United 
States, including small cities and rural areas— 
‘‘(i) to develop and implement strate-
gies through technology-based economic 
development practices, including infra-
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structure and workforce development, en-
trepreneurship and commercialization sup-
port, increasing access to capital, and 
building networks and systems to help 
bring ideas and businesses to market, and 
other relevant activities; 
‘‘(ii) to improve domestic supply 
chains in technology and innovation sec-
tors; and 
‘‘(iii) to enable broad-based economic 
growth, job creation and competitiveness in 
the United States. 
‘‘(3) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary shall 
carry out this section through the Assistant Sec-
retary of Commerce for Economic Development, in 
coordination with the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Standards and Technology. 
‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE CONSORTIA.—For purposes of this 
section, an eligible consortium is a consortium that— 
‘‘(1) includes 1 or more— 
‘‘(A) institutions of higher education; 
‘‘(B) local or Tribal governments or other 
political subdivisions of a State; 
‘‘(C) State governments represented by an 
agency designated by the governor of the State 
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or States that is representative of the geo-
graphic area served by the consortia; 
‘‘(D) economic development organizations 
or similar entities that are focused primarily on 
improving science, technology, innovation, or 
entrepreneurship; 
‘‘(E) industry or firms in relevant tech-
nology or innovation sectors; 
‘‘(F) labor organizations; and 
‘‘(G) workforce training organizations, in-
cluding State and local workforce development 
boards as established under section 101 of the 
Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (29 
U.S.C. 3111); and 
‘‘(2) may include 1 or more— 
‘‘(A) nonprofit economic development enti-
ties with relevant expertise, including a district 
organization (as defined in section 300.3 of title 
13, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor 
regulation); 
‘‘(B) for-profit entities with relevant exper-
tise; 
‘‘(C) venture development organizations; 
‘‘(D) financial institutions and investment 
funds; 
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‘‘(E) primary and secondary educational 
institutions, including career and technical edu-
cation schools; 
‘‘(F) industry and industry associations; 
‘‘(G) National Laboratories (as defined in 
section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 
U.S.C. 15801)); 
‘‘(H) Federal laboratories; 
‘‘(I) manufacturing extension centers; 
‘‘(J) Manufacturing USA institutes; 
‘‘(K) institutions receiving an award under 
paragraph (6) or (7) of section 8A(d) of the 
National Science Foundation Act of 1950; and 
‘‘(L) a cooperative extension. 
‘‘(d) DESIGNATION
OF
REGIONAL
TECHNOLOGY 
HUBS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall use a 
competitive process for the designation of regional 
technology hubs under subsection (b)(1)(A). 
‘‘(2) NUMBER
OF
REGIONAL
TECHNOLOGY 
HUBS.—During the 5-year period beginning on the 
date of the enactment of the Endless Frontier Act, 
the Secretary shall designate not fewer than 10 and 
not more than 15 eligible consortia as regional tech-
nology hubs under subsection (b)(1)(A), if the Sec-
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retary has received a sufficient number of qualified 
applications and appropriations to carry out this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(3) GEOGRAPHIC
DISTRIBUTION.—In con-
ducting the competitive process under paragraph 
(1), the Secretary shall ensure geographic distribu-
tion in the designation of regional technology hubs 
by— 
‘‘(A) aiming to designate regional tech-
nology hubs in as many regions of the United 
States as possible; and 
‘‘(B) focusing on localities that have clear 
potential and relevant assets for developing a 
self-sustaining competitive position in a tech-
nology or innovation sector but have not yet be-
come leading technology centers. 
‘‘(4) ELIGIBLE CONSORTIA THAT SERVE SMALL 
AND
RURAL
COMMUNITIES.—Under 
subsection 
(b)(1)(A), the Secretary shall designate at least 3 el-
igible consortia that— 
‘‘(A) serve small and rural communities; 
and 
‘‘(B) have received a grant under section 
29. 
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‘‘(5) EPSCOR.—The Secretary shall ensure 
that, of the eligible consortia designated as regional 
technology hubs under subsection (b)(1)(A), not 
fewer than 5 of such consortia include at least 1 
State that is eligible to receive funding from the Es-
tablished Program to Stimulate Competitive Re-
search of the National Science Foundation. 
‘‘(6) RELATION TO CERTAIN GRANT AWARDS.— 
The Secretary may not require an eligible consor-
tium to receive a grant under section 29 in order to 
be designated as a regional technology hub under 
subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section. 
‘‘(e) GRANTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry 
out subparagraph (B) of subsection (b)(1) through 
the award of grants or cooperative agreements to eli-
gible consortia designated under subparagraph (A) 
of such subsection. 
‘‘(2) TERM.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The term of a grant 
or cooperative agreement awarded under para-
graph (1) shall be for such period as the Sec-
retary considers appropriate. 
‘‘(B) 
RENEWAL.—The 
Secretary 
may 
renew a grant or cooperative agreement award-
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ed to an eligible consortia under paragraph (1) 
as the Secretary considers appropriate if the 
Secretary determines pursuant to subsection (i) 
that the performance of the eligible consortia is 
satisfactory. 
‘‘(3) MATCHING REQUIRED.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except in the case of 
an eligible consortium described in subpara-
graph (B), the total Federal financial assistance 
awarded in a given year to an eligible consor-
tium in support of the eligible consortium’s op-
eration as a regional technology hub under this 
section shall not exceed amounts as follows: 
‘‘(i) In first year of the grant or coop-
erative agreement, 90 percent of the total 
operating and maintenance costs of the re-
gional technology hub in that fiscal year. 
‘‘(ii) In second year of the grant or 
cooperative agreement, 85 percent of the 
total operating and maintenance costs of 
the regional technology hub in that fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(iii) In third year of the grant or co-
operative agreement, 80 percent of the 
total operating and maintenance costs of 
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the regional technology hub in that fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(iv) In fourth year of the grant or 
cooperative agreement and each year there-
after, 75 percent of the total operating and 
maintenance costs of the regional tech-
nology hub in that fiscal year. 
‘‘(B) SMALL
AND
RURAL
COMMUNITIES 
AND INDIAN TRIBES.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The total Federal 
financial assistance awarded in a given 
year to an eligible consortium in support of 
the eligible consortium’s operation as a re-
gional technology hub under this section 
shall not exceed amounts as follows: 
‘‘(I) In the case of an eligible 
consortium that represents a small 
and rural community, in a fiscal year, 
90 percent of the total funding of the 
regional technology hub in that fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(II) In the case of an eligible 
consortium that is led by a Tribal 
government, in a fiscal year, 100 per-
cent of the total funding of the re-
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gional technology hub in that fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(ii) MINIMUM THRESHOLD OR RURAL 
REPRESENTATION.—The Secretary shall 
establish a minimum threshold of rural 
representation for purposes of clause (i)(I). 
‘‘(C) IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS.—For pur-
poses of this paragraph, in-kind contributions 
may be used for part of the non-Federal share 
of the total funding of a regional technology 
hub in a fiscal year. 
‘‘(4) USE OF GRANT AND COOPERATIVE AGREE-
MENT FUNDS.—The recipient of a grant or coopera-
tive agreement awarded under paragraph (1) shall 
use the grant or cooperative agreement for multiple 
activities determined appropriate by the Secretary, 
including— 
‘‘(A) the permissible activities set forth 
under section 27(c)(2); and 
‘‘(B) activities in support of key technology 
focus areas and other technology and innova-
tion sectors critical to national and economic se-
curity— 
‘‘(i) to develop regional strategies for 
infrastructure and site development in sup-
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103 
nority serving institutions, labor organizations, 
and workforce development programs, and other 
related activities authorized by the Secretary, to 
support the development of a key technology 
focus area or other technology or innovation 
sector critical to national and economic secu-
rity. 
‘‘(F) How the eligible consortium will im-
prove science, technology, engineering, and 
mathematics education programs in the identi-
fied region in elementary and secondary school 
and higher education institutions located in the 
identified region to support the development of 
a key technology focus area or other technology 
or innovation sector critical to national and eco-
nomic security. 
‘‘(G) How the eligible consortium plans to 
develop partnerships with venture development 
organizations and sources of private investment 
in support of private sector activity, including 
launching new or expanding existing companies, 
in a key technology focus area or other tech-
nology or innovation sector critical to national 
and economic security. 
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122 
years after the date on which the eligible 
consortium enters into an agreement under 
subsection (g). 
‘‘(B) UNOBLIGATED AMOUNTS.—After the 
date described in subparagraph (A)(i), any 
amounts awarded to an eligible consortium 
under this section that remain unobligated by 
the eligible consortium shall be returned to the 
Secretary and made available to the Secretary 
for the award of grants to other eligible con-
sortia under this section. 
‘‘(e) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—An eligible consortium 
seeking a grant under this section shall submit to 
the Secretary an application therefor at such time 
and in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—Each application submitted 
under paragraph (1) shall include the following: 
‘‘(A) A description of the boundaries of the 
region served by the eligible consortium. 
‘‘(B) A description of the research, tech-
nology development, or manufacturing con-
centration of the eligible consortium. 
‘‘(C) A general assessment of the local in-
dustrial ecosystem of the region described in 
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