Leadership in Global Tech Standards Act of 2021
Bill: H.R.4956 | Sponsor: Rep. Franklin, C. Scott (R-FL)
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
Leadership in Global Tech Standards Act of 2021
This bill requires the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish a program that supports the participation of U.S. small businesses in meetings and proceedings of standards development organizations to develop voluntary technical standards.
To carry out this program, the SBA must award grants to small businesses for the reasonable costs of participation in standards development organizations.
These grants may only be awarded to small businesses that (1) demonstrate technical expertise in key emerging technologies and technical standards (e.g., artificial intelligence), (2) commit personnel with such expertise to regular participation in global bodies responsible for developing standards for those technologies, (3) agree to coordinate between the public and private sectors to ensure protection of national security interests in the setting of global standards, and (4) provide a plan detailing the relationship between the above activities and the proposed standards to be adopted.

To establish a program to support the participation of small businesses 
in meetings and proceedings of global standards organizations, 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 ``Leadership in Global Tech Standards 
Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. SUPPORT FOR INDUSTRY PARTICIPATION IN GLOBAL STANDARDS 
              ORGANIZATIONS.

    (a) Definition.--In this section:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
            (2) Appropriate congressional committees.--The term 
        ``appropriate congressional committees'' means the following:
                    (A) The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
                of the House of Representatives.
                    (B) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation of the Senate.
                    (C) The Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 
                House of Representatives.
                    (D) The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 
                of the Senate.
                    (E) The Committee on Small Business of the House of 
                Representatives.
                    (F) The Committee on Small Business and 
                Entrepreneurship of the Senate.
            (3) Artificial intelligence.--The term ``artificial 
        intelligence'' has the meaning given the term in section 238(g) 
        of the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for 
        Fiscal Year 2019 (10 U.S.C. 2358 note).
            (4) Covered entity.--The term ``covered entity'' means a 
        small business concern that is incorporated and maintains a 
        primary place of business in the United States.
            (5) Small business concern.--The term ``small business 
        concern'' has the meaning given the term in section 3 of the 
        Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632).
    (b) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a program to 
support participation by covered entities in meetings and proceedings 
of standards development organizations in the development of voluntary 
technical standards.
    (c) Activities.--In carrying out the program established under 
subsection (a), the Administrator shall award competitive, merit-
reviewed grants to covered entities to cover the reasonable costs, up 
to a specified ceiling, of participation of employees of those covered 
entities in meetings and proceedings of standards development 
organizations, including--
            (1) regularly attending meetings;
            (2) contributing expertise and research;
            (3) proposing new work items; and
            (4) volunteering for leadership roles such as a convener or 
        editor.
    (d) Award Criteria.--The Administrator may only provide a grant 
under this section to a covered entity that--
            (1) demonstrates deep technical expertise in key emerging 
        technologies and technical standards, including artificial 
        intelligence and related technologies;
            (2) commits personnel with such expertise to regular 
        participation in global bodies responsible for developing 
        standards for such technologies over the period of the grant;
            (3) agrees to participate in efforts to coordinate between 
        the Federal Government and industry to ensure protection of 
        national security interests in the setting of global standards 
        so long as such standards are not dictated by the Federal 
        Government; and
            (4) provides a plan to the Administrator that details the 
        relationship between the activities described in paragraphs 
        (1), (2), and (3) and the proposed standards to be adopted.
    (e) No Matching Contribution.--A recipient of an award under this 
section shall not be required to provide a matching contribution.
    (f) Evaluation.--
            (1) In general.--In making awards under this section, the 
        Administrator shall coordinate with the Director of the 
        National Institute of Standards and Technology, who shall 
        provide support in the assessment of technical expertise in 
        emerging technologies and standards setting needs.
            (2) Panel ranking.--In carrying out the requirements under 
        paragraph (1), the Administrator and the Director shall jointly 
        establish a panel of experts to rank the proposed standards, 
        based on merit and relevance, to be composed of experts from--
                    (A) private industry;
                    (B) non-profit institutions;
                    (C) non-profit standards development organizations;
                    (D) academia; and
                    (E) the Federal Government.
    (g) Report.--Not less than annually, the Administrator shall submit 
to the appropriate congressional committees a report on--
            (1) the efficacy of the program;
            (2) an explanation of any standard adopted as a result of 
        the program;
            (3) any challenges faced in carrying out the program; and
            (4) proposed solutions to the challenges identified in 
        paragraph (3).
    (h) Authorization of Appropriation.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated for fiscal year 2022 and each fiscal year thereafter 
$1,000,000 to carry out the program established under this section.
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