42 U.S.C. § 18644 (THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE)
§ 18644. Biological and environmental research
(a) Biological systems
The Director shall carry out research and development activities in fundamental, structural, computational, and systems biology to increase systems-level understanding of the complex biological systems, which may include activities—
(1) to accelerate breakthroughs and new knowledge that would enable the cost-effective, sustainable production of—
(A) biomass-based liquid transportation fuels;
(B) bioenergy; and
(C) biobased materials;
(2) to improve understanding of the global carbon cycle, including processes for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, through photosynthesis and other biological processes, for sequestration and storage; and
(3) to understand the biological mechanisms used to transform, immobilize, or remove contaminants from subsurface environments.
(b) Limitation for research funds
The Director shall not approve new climate science-related initiatives without making a determination that such work is well-coordinated with any relevant work carried out by other Federal agencies.
(c) Low-dose radiation research program
(1) In general
The Secretary shall carry out a research program on low-dose and low dose-rate radiation to—
(A) enhance the scientific understanding of, and reduce uncertainties associated with, the effects of exposure to low-dose and low dose-rate radiation; and
(B) inform improved risk-assessment and risk-management methods with respect to such radiation.
(2) Program components
In carrying out the program required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(A) support and carry out the directives under section 106(b) of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 6601 note), except that such section shall be treated for purposes of this subsection as applying to low dose and low-dose rate radiation research, in coordination with the Physical Science Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council;
(B) identify and, to the extent possible, quantify, potential monetary and health-related impacts to Federal agencies, the general public, industry, research communities, and other users of information produced by such research program;
(C) leverage the collective body of knowledge from existing low-dose and low dose-rate radiation research;
(D) engage with other Federal agencies, research communities, and potential users of information produced under this section, including institutions performing or utilizing radiation research, medical physics, radiology, health physics, and emergency response measures; and
(E) support education and outreach activities to disseminate information and promote public understanding of low-dose radiation, with a focus on non-emergency situations such as medical physics, space exploration, and naturally occurring radiation.
(3) Research plan
(A) Not later than 90 days after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to develop a long-term strategic and prioritized research agenda for the program described in paragraph (2);
(B) Not later than one year after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall transmit this research plan developed in subparagraph (A) to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.
(4) GAO study
Not later than 3 years after December 27, 2020, the Comptroller General shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, a report on:
(A) an evaluation of the program activities carried out under this section;
(B) the effectiveness of the coordination and management of the program; and
(C) the implementation of the research plan outlined in paragraph (3).
(6) 1 Definitions
In this subsection:
(A) Low-dose radiation
The term “low-dose radiation” means a radiation dose of less than 100 millisieverts.
(B) Low dose-rate radiation
The term “low dose-rate radiation” means a radiation dose rate of less than 5 millisieverts per hour.
(7) Rule of construction
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to subject any research carried out by the Secretary for the program under this subsection to any limitations described in section 16317(e) of this title.
(8) Funding
For purposes of carrying out this subsection, the Secretary is authorized to make available from funds provided to the Biological and Environmental Research Program—
(A) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
(B) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;
(C) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; and
(D) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.
(d) Space radiation research
The Secretary of Energy, shall continue and strengthen collaboration with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on basic research to understand the effects and risks of human exposure to ionizing radiation in low Earth orbit, and in the space environment.
(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 306, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3148; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title XI, § 11001, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2610.)
heading: Editorial Notes
heading: References in Text
text: Section 106(b) of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 6601 note), referred to in subsec. (c)(2)(A), is section 106(b) of Pub. L. 114–329, title I, Jan. 6, 2017, 130 Stat. 2986, which is set out in a note under section 6601 of this title.
heading: Amendments
text: 2020—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 116–260, § 11001(a), amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) related to the establishment and purpose of a low-dose radiation research program.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–260, § 11001(b), added subsec. (d).