National SEAL Act of 2021
Bill: S.1213 | Sponsor: Sen. Van Hollen, Chris (D-MD)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
National Strategy to Ensure American Leadership Act of 2021 or the National SEAL Act of 2021
This bill directs the Department of Commerce to (1) seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study to identify the 10 most critical emerging science and technology challenges facing the United States; and (2) develop recommendations for legislative or administrative action to ensure U.S. leadership in matters related to such challenges.

To require the Secretary of Commerce to seek to enter into an agreement 
 with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to 
     conduct a study on the top 10 emerging science and technology 
 challenges faced by the United States and develop recommendations to 
                 address them, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Strategy to Ensure American 
Leadership Act of 2021'' or the ``National SEAL Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) In 1960, the United States was an undisputed leader in 
        science and innovation, making up 69 percent of the world's 
        research and development investments.
            (2) The United States innovation system, including Federal 
        support for research, has spurred development of critical 
        technologies, including the internet, the Global Positioning 
        System (GPS), supercomputing, speech-recognition, 
        semiconductors, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
            (3) By 2018, as governments and industry in other countries 
        have increased their own investment, the United States share of 
        global research and development fell to 27.6 percent.
            (4) In 2015, China launched the Made in China 2025 
        initiative, a 10-year strategic plan that includes promoting 
        development in key sectors, such as next generation information 
        technology, industrial robotics, electric vehicles, new 
        synthetic material development, and biotechnology.
            (5) From 2000 to 2018, China's share of global research and 
        development rose from 4.9 percent to 26.3 percent and the 
        United States share fell from 39.9 percent to 27.6 percent.
            (6) While the United States continued to fund more research 
        and development than any other individual country, China, as 
        the number 2 funder, was less than $28,000,000,000 behind 
        United States investment.
            (7) In 2005, Senator Lamar Alexander and Senator Jeff 
        Bingaman requested that the National Academy of Sciences 
        explore ``the top 10 actions, in priority order, that Federal 
        policy makers could take to enhance the science and technology 
        enterprise so the United States can successfully compete, 
        prosper, and be secure in the global community of the 21st 
        Century,'' along with an implementation strategy.
            (8) The subsequent report, ``Rising Above the Gathering 
        Storm,'' led to passage of the America COMPETES Act (121 Stat. 
        572; Public Law 110-69) and the America COMPETES 
        Reauthorization Act of 2010 (124 Stat. 3982; Public Law 111-
        358) to increase investment in scientific research and enhance 
        the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics 
        workforce.
            (9) The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (130 
        Stat. 2969; Public Law 114-329) was enacted in 2017 to improve 
        the Federal research process and provide incentives for 
        private-sector innovation.
            (10) The United States is in a period of rapid development 
        of innovation, including disruptive technology like the 
        internet of things, blockchain, autonomous vehicles, clean 
        energy technology, energy storage, artificial intelligence, 
        quantum information science, nanotechnology, and advanced 
        genome editing.
            (11) The United States is facing resource and national 
        security challenges that will require advanced research and 
        innovation.
            (12) Advances in research and technology in other 
        countries, like the growth of China in fifth-generation 
        wireless networking technology, have presented national 
        security challenges in United States infrastructure.
            (13) The United States must maintain and grow its 
        technological advantage in order to remain competitive and 
        secure in the global economy.

SEC. 3. STUDY ON EMERGING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES FACED BY 
              THE UNITED STATES AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS THEM.

    (a) Study.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Commerce shall seek to 
        enter into an agreement with the National Academies of 
        Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study--
                    (A) to identify the 10 most critical emerging 
                science and technology challenges facing the United 
                States; and
                    (B) to develop recommendations for legislative or 
                administrative action to ensure United States 
                leadership in matters relating to such challenges.
            (2) Elements.--The study conducted under paragraph (1) 
        shall include identification, review, and evaluation of the 
        following:
                    (A) Matters pertinent to identification of the 
                challenges described in paragraph (1)(A).
                    (B) Matters relating to the findings in section 2.
                    (C) Matters relating to the recommendations 
                developed under paragraph (1)(B), including with 
                respect to education and workforce development 
                necessary to address each of the challenges identified 
                under paragraph (1)(A).
            (3) Timeframe.--
                    (A) Agreement.--The Secretary shall seek to enter 
                into the agreement required by paragraph (1) on or 
                before the date that is 60 days after the date of the 
                enactment of this Act.
                    (B) Findings.--Under an agreement entered into 
                under paragraph (1), the National Academies of 
                Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine shall, not later 
                than 1 year after the date on which the Secretary and 
                the National Academies enter into such agreement, 
                transmit to the Secretary the findings of the National 
                Academies with respect to the study conducted pursuant 
                to such agreement.
    (b) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than 30 days after the date on 
        which the Secretary receives the findings of the National 
        Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine with respect 
        to the study conducted under subsection (a), the Secretary 
        shall submit to Congress a report on such study.
            (2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall include the following:
                    (A) The findings of the National Academies of 
                Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine with respect to the 
                study conducted under subsection (a).
                    (B) The conclusions of the Secretary with respect 
                to such findings.
                    (C) The recommendations developed under subsection 
                (a)(1)(B).
                    (D) Such other recommendations for legislative or 
                administrative action as the Secretary may have with 
                respect to such findings and conclusions.
    (c) Information From Federal Agencies.--
            (1) In general.--The National Academies of Sciences, 
        Engineering, and Medicine may secure directly from a Federal 
        department or agency such information as the National Academies 
        of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine consider necessary to 
        carry out the study under subsection (a).
            (2) Furnishing information.--On request of the National 
        Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine for 
        information, the head of the department or agency shall furnish 
        such information to the National Academies of Sciences, 
        Engineering, and Medicine.
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