Title: Regional Innovation Act of 2021
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Regional Innovation Act of 2021
This bill establishes a Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program and a Regional Clean Energy Innovation Program.
The bill directs the Department of Commerce to establish the Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program to
Additionally, the Department of Energy shall establish the Regional Clean Energy Innovation Program to

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4588 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 4588

  To amend the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to 
  establish a regional technology and innovation hub program, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 20, 2021

Ms. Wild (for herself, Mr. Baird, Mr. Bowman, Mr. Gonzalez of Ohio, and 
 Mr. Khanna) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
              Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to 
  establish a regional technology and innovation hub program, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Regional 
Innovation Act of 2021''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Regional innovation capacity.
Sec. 3. Regional Clean Energy Innovation Program.

SEC. 2. REGIONAL INNOVATION CAPACITY.

    (a) In General.--The Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
1980 (Public Law 96-480; 15 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating section 28 as section 29; and
            (2) by inserting after section 27 the following:

``SEC. 28. REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION HUB PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
        `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
                    ``(A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
                Transportation, the Committee on Environment and Public 
                Works, and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                Senate; and
                    ``(B) the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                House of Representatives.
            ``(2) Cooperative extension services.--The term 
        `cooperative extension services' has the meaning given the term 
        in section 1404 of the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 (7 
        U.S.C. 3103).
            ``(3) Historically black colleges and universities.--The 
        term `historically Black colleges and universities' has the 
        same meaning given to the term in section 322 of the Higher 
        Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061).
            ``(4) Labor organization.--The term `labor organization' 
        has the meaning given the term in section 2(5) of the National 
        Labor Relations Act (29 U.S.C. 152(5)), except that such term 
        shall also include--
                    ``(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 included in 
                the definition for such term under such section (5) but 
                for the fact that the organization represents--
                            ``(i) individuals employed by the United 
                        States, any wholly owned Government 
                        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 
                        agricultural laborers.
            ``(5) 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)).
            ``(6) Manufacturing usa institute.--The term `Manufacturing 
        USA institute' means an Manufacturing USA institute described 
        in section 34(d) of the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s(d)).
            ``(7) Minority serving institution.--The term `minority-
        serving institution' means a Hispanic-serving institution, an 
        Alaska Native-serving institution, a Native Hawaiian-serving 
        institutions, a Predominantly Black Institution, an Asian 
        American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving 
        institution, or a Native American-serving nontribal institution 
        as described in section 371 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
        (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)).
            ``(8) Site connectivity infrastructure.--The term `site 
        connectivity infrastructure' means localized driveways and 
        access roads to a facility as well as hookups to the new 
        facility for drinking water, waste water, broadband, and other 
        basic infrastructure services already present in the area.
            ``(9) State.--The term `state' has the meaning given such 
        term in section 27(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Act of 1980 (15 
        U.S.C. 3722(a)).
            ``(10) Tribal college or university.--The term `Tribal 
        College or University' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 316 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        1059c).
            ``(11) Venture development organization.--The term `venture 
        development organization' has the meaning given such term in 
        section 27(a) of the Stevenson-Wydler Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 
        3722(a)).
    ``(b) Regional Technology and Innovation Hub Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--Subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, the Secretary shall carry out a program--
                    ``(A) to encourage new and constructive 
                collaboration among local, State, and Federal 
                government entities, institutions of higher education, 
                the private sector, economic development organizations, 
                labor organizations, nonprofit organizations, and 
                community organizations to promote inclusive regional 
                innovation initiatives;
                    ``(B) to support eligible consortia in the 
                development and implementation of regional innovation 
                strategies;
                    ``(C) to designate eligible consortia as regional 
                technology and innovation hubs and facilitate 
                activities by consortia designated as regional 
                technology and innovation hubs in implementing their 
                regional innovation strategies, in order--
                            ``(i) to enable United States leadership in 
                        technology and innovation sectors critical to 
                        national and economic security;
                            ``(ii) to support regional economic 
                        development and resilience, including in small 
                        cities and rural areas, and promote increased 
                        geographic diversity of innovation across the 
                        United States;
                            ``(iii) to promote the benefits of 
                        technology development and innovation for all 
                        Americans, including underserved communities 
                        and vulnerable communities;
                            ``(iv) to support domestic job creation and 
                        broad-based economic growth; and
                            ``(v) to improve the pace of market 
                        readiness, industry maturation, and overall 
                        commercialization of innovative research;
                    ``(D) to ensure that the regional technology and 
                innovation hubs address the intersection of emerging 
                technologies and either regional challenges or national 
                challenges; and
                    ``(E) to conduct ongoing research, evaluation, 
                analysis, and dissemination of best practices for 
                regional development and competitiveness in technology 
                and innovation.
            ``(2) Awards.--The Secretary shall carry out the program 
        required by paragraph (1) through the award of the following:
                    ``(A) Strategy development grants or cooperative 
                agreements to eligible consortia under subsection (e).
                    ``(B) Strategy implementation grants or cooperative 
                agreements to regional technology and innovation hubs 
                under subsection (f).
    ``(c) Eligible Consortia.--For purposes of this section, an 
eligible consortium is a consortium that--
            ``(1) includes 1 or more of each of the following--
                    ``(A) institutions of higher education, which may 
                include Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 
                Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Minority Serving 
                Institutions;
                    ``(B) State, local, or Tribal governments or other 
                political subdivisions of a State, including State and 
                local agencies, or a consortia thereof;
                    ``(C) industry or firms in relevant technology or 
                innovation sectors;
                    ``(D) labor organizations or workforce training 
                organizations, which may include State and local 
                workforce development boards as established under 
                section 101 and 107 of the Workforce Investment and 
                Opportunity Act (29 U.S.C. 3111; 3122); and
                    ``(E) organizations that contribute to increasing 
                the participation of underserved populations in 
                science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship; 
                and
            ``(2) may include 1 or more--
                    ``(A) economic development entities with relevant 
                expertise, including a district organization (as 
                defined in section 300.3 of title 13, Code of Federal 
                Regulations, or successor regulation);
                    ``(B) economic development organizations or similar 
                entities that are focused primarily on improving 
                science, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, or 
                access to capital;
                    ``(C) venture development organizations;
                    ``(D) financial institutions and investment funds;
                    ``(E) primary and secondary educational 
                institutions, including career and technical education 
                schools;
                    ``(F) National Laboratories (as defined in section 
                2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801));
                    ``(G) Federal laboratories;
                    ``(H) Manufacturing extension centers;
                    ``(I) Manufacturing USA institutes;
                    ``(J) transportation planning organizations;
                    ``(K) a cooperative extension services; and
                    ``(L) organizations that represent the perspectives 
                of underserved communities in economic development 
                initiatives.
    ``(d) Designation of Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out subsection (b)(1)(C), 
        the Secretary shall use a competitive, merit-review process to 
        designate not fewer than 10 eligible consortia as regional 
        technology and innovation hubs.
            ``(2) Geographic distribution.--In conducting the 
        competitive process under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
        ensure geographic distribution in the designation of regional 
        technology and innovation hubs by--
                    ``(A) focusing on localities that are not leading 
                technology centers;
                    ``(B) ensuring that not fewer than one third of 
                eligible consortia designated as regional technology 
                and innovation hubs significantly benefit a rural or 
                other underserved community;
                    ``(C) ensuring that at least one eligible 
                consortium designated as a regional technology and 
                innovation hub is headquartered in a State that is 
                eligible to receive funding from the Established 
                Program to Stimulate Competitive Research of the 
                National Science Foundation; and
                    ``(D) ensuring that at least one eligible 
                consortium designated as a regional technology and 
                innovation hub is headquartered in a region that has a 
                high density of institutions of higher education 
                serving populations historically underrepresented in 
                STEM, including historically Black Colleges and 
                Universities and minority serving institutions.
            ``(3) Relation to certain grant awards.--The Secretary 
        shall not require an eligible consortium to receive a grant or 
        cooperative agreement under subsection (e) in order to be 
        designated as a regional technology and innovation hub under 
        paragraph (1) of this subsection.
    ``(e) Strategy Development Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use a competitive, 
        merit-review process to award grants or cooperative agreements 
        to eligible consortia for the development of regional 
        innovation strategies.
            ``(2) Number of recipients.--The Secretary shall award a 
        grant or cooperative agreement under paragraph (1) to not fewer 
        than 20 eligible consortia.
            ``(3) Geographic diversity and representation.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall carry out 
                paragraph (1) in a manner that ensures geographic 
                diversity and representation from communities of 
                differing populations.
                    ``(B) Awards to rural communities and underserved 
                communities.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
                Secretary shall award not fewer than one-half of the 
                grants and cooperative agreements under such paragraph 
                to eligible consortia that significantly benefit a 
                rural state, rural community, or other underserved 
                community.
            ``(4) Use of funds.--The amount of a grant or cooperative 
        agreement awarded under paragraph (1) shall be as follows:
                    ``(A) To coordinate locally defined planning 
                processes, across jurisdictions and agencies, relating 
                to developing a comprehensive regional technology 
                strategy.
                    ``(B) To identify regional partnerships for 
                developing and implementing a comprehensive regional 
                technology strategy.
                    ``(C) To conduct or update assessments to determine 
                regional needs and capabilities.
                    ``(D) To develop or update goals and strategies to 
                implement an existing comprehensive regional plan.
                    ``(E) To identify or implement planning and local 
                zoning and other code changes necessary to implement a 
                comprehensive regional technology strategy.
                    ``(F) To develop or update goals for ensuring that 
                any new regional technology strategy mitigates and does 
                not exacerbate economic or social inequities in a 
                region.
            ``(5) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of an 
        effort carried out using a grant or cooperative agreement 
        awarded under this subsection may not exceed 80 percent--
                    ``(A) where in-kind contributions may be used for 
                all or part of the non-Federal share, but Federal 
                funding from other government sources may not count 
                towards the non-Federal share;
                    ``(B) except in the case of an eligible consortium 
                that represents all or part of a rural or other 
                underserved community, the Federal share may be up to 
                90 percent of the total cost, subject to subparagraph 
                (A); and
                    ``(C) except in the case of an eligible consortium 
                that is led by a Tribal government, the Federal share 
                may be up to 100 percent of the total cost of the 
                project.
    ``(f) Strategy Implementation Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall use a competitive, 
        merit-review process to award grants or cooperative agreements 
        to regional technology and innovation hubs for the 
        implementation of regional innovation strategies, including 
        regional strategies for infrastructure and site development, in 
        support of the regional innovation and technology and 
        innovation hub's plans and programs. The Secretary should 
        determine the size and number of awards based on appropriations 
        available to ensure the success of regional technology and 
        innovation hubs as outlined in subsection (h).
            ``(2) Use of funds.--Financial assistance awarded under 
        paragraph (1) to a regional technology and innovation hub may 
        be used by the regional technology and innovation hub to 
        support any of the following activities, consistent with the 
        most current regional innovation strategy of the regional 
        technology and innovation hub:
                    ``(A) Workforce development activities.--Workforce 
                development activities, including activities relating 
                to the following:
                            ``(i) The creation of partnerships between 
                        industry, workforce, nonprofit, and educational 
                        institutions to create and align technical 
                        training and educational programs.
                            ``(ii) The design, development, and 
                        updating of educational and training curriculum 
                        tied to demonstrated regional workforce needs.
                            ``(iii) The procurement of facilities and 
                        equipment, as required to train a technical 
                        workforce.
                            ``(iv) The development and execution of 
                        programs to rapidly award certificates or 
                        credentials recognized by regional industries 
                        or other organizations.
                            ``(v) The matching of regional employers 
                        with a potential new entrant, underemployed, 
                        underrepresented, or incumbent workforce.
                            ``(vi) The expansion of successful training 
                        programs at a scale required by the region 
                        served by the regional technology and 
                        innovation hub, including through the use of 
                        online education.
                            ``(vii) The development and expansion of 
                        programs with the goal of increasing the 
                        participation of persons historically 
                        underrepresented in STEM in the workforce 
                        development plans of the regional technology 
                        and innovation hub.
                    ``(B) Business and entrepreneur development 
                activities.--Business and entrepreneur development 
                activities, including activities relating to the 
                following:
                            ``(i) The development and growth of 
                        regional businesses and the training of 
                        entrepreneurs.
                            ``(ii) The support of technology 
                        commercialization, including funding for 
                        activities relevant for advancing high growth 
                        potential ventures such as acceleration, 
                        incubation and other relevant programming.
                            ``(iii) The development of capital networks 
                        and consortia to attract necessary private 
                        funding to businesses and entrepreneurs in the 
                        region.
                            ``(iv) The development of networks for 
                        business and entrepreneur mentorship.
                    ``(C) Technology development and maturation 
                activities.--Technology maturation activities, 
                including activities relating to the following:
                            ``(i) The development and deployment of 
                        technologies in sectors critical to the region 
                        served by the regional technology and 
                        innovation hub or to national and economic 
                        security, including industry-university 
                        research cooperation, proof of concept, 
                        prototype development, and testing.
                            ``(ii) The development of programming to 
                        support the creation and transfer of 
                        intellectual property into private use, such as 
                        through startup creation.
                            ``(iii) The provision of facilities for 
                        technology maturation, including incubators for 
                        collaborative development of technologies by 
                        private sector, academic, nonprofit, and other 
                        entities.
                            ``(iv) Activities to provide or ensure 
                        access to capital for new business formation 
                        and business expansion, including by attracting 
                        new private, public, and philanthropic 
                        investment and by establishing regional venture 
                        and loan funds.
                    ``(D) Infrastructure-related activities.--The 
                building of facilities and site connectivity 
                infrastructure necessary to carry out activities 
                described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), including 
                activities relating to the following:
                            ``(i) Establishing a center with required 
                        tools and instrumentation for workforce 
                        development.
                            ``(ii) Establishing a facility for 
                        technology development, demonstration, and 
                        testing.
                            ``(iii) Establishing collaborative 
                        incubators to support technology 
                        commercialization and entrepreneur training.
            ``(3) Term.--
                    ``(A) Initial performance period.--The term of an 
                initial grant or cooperative agreement awarded under 
                this subsection shall be for a period that the 
                Secretary deems appropriate for the proposed activities 
                but not less than 2 years.
                    ``(B) Subsequent performance period.--The Secretary 
                may renew a grant or cooperative agreement awarded to a 
                regional technology and innovation hub under paragraph 
                (1) for such period as the Secretary considers 
                appropriate, if the Secretary determines that the 
                regional technology and innovation hub has made 
                satisfactory progress towards the metrics agreed to 
                under subparagraph (j).
                    ``(C) Flexible approach.--In renewing a grant or 
                cooperative agreement under subparagraph (B), the 
                Secretary and eligible consortium may agree to new or 
                additional uses of funds in order to meet changes in 
                the needs of the region.
            ``(4) Limitation on amount of awards.--
                    ``(A) Initial performance period.--The amount of an 
                initial grant or cooperative agreements awarded to a 
                regional technology and innovation hub under paragraph 
                (3)(A) shall be no more than $150,000,000.
                    ``(B) Subsequent performance period.--Upon renewal 
                of a grant or cooperative agreement under paragraph 
                (3)(B), the Secretary may award funding in the amount 
                that the Secretary considers appropriate, ensuring that 
                no single regional technology and innovation hub 
                receives more than 15 percent of the aggregate amount 
                of the grants and cooperative agreements awarded under 
                this subsection.
            ``(5) Matching required.--
                    ``(A) Initial performance period.--Except in the 
                case of a regional technology and innovation hub 
                described in subparagraph (C), the total amount of all 
                grants awarded to a regional technology and innovation 
                hub under this subsection in phase one shall not exceed 
                90 percent of the total operating costs of the regional 
                technology and innovation hub during the initial 
                performance period.
                    ``(B) Subsequent performance period.--Except in the 
                case of a regional technology and innovation hub 
                described in subparagraph (C), the total amount of all 
                grants awarded to a regional technology and innovation 
                hub in subsequent performance periods shall not exceed 
                75 percent of the total operating costs of the regional 
                technology and innovation hub in each year of the grant 
                or cooperative agreement.
                    ``(C) Rural communities or underserved communities 
                and indian tribes.--
                            ``(i) In general.--The total Federal 
                        financial assistance awarded in a given year to 
                        a regional technology and innovation hub under 
                        this subsection shall not exceed amounts as 
                        follows:
                                    ``(I) In the case of a regional 
                                technology and innovation hub that 
                                primarily serves a rural community or 
                                other underserved community, in a 
                                fiscal year, 90 percent of the total 
                                funding of the regional technology and 
                                innovation hub in that fiscal year.
                                    ``(II) In the case of a regional 
                                technology and innovation hub that is 
                                led by a Tribal government, in a fiscal 
                                year, 100 percent of the total funding 
                                of the regional technology and 
                                innovation hub in that fiscal year.
                            ``(ii) Minimum threshold of rural 
                        representation.--For purposes of clause (i)(I), 
                        the Secretary shall establish a minimum 
                        threshold of rural representation and other 
                        underserved community representation in the 
                        regional technology and innovation hub.
                    ``(D) In-kind contributions.--For purposes of this 
                paragraph, in-kind contributions may be used for part 
                of the non-Federal share of the total funding of a 
                regional technology and innovation hub in a fiscal 
                year.
            ``(6) Grants for infrastructure.--Any grant or cooperative 
        agreement awarded under this subsection to support the 
        construction of facilities and site connectivity infrastructure 
        shall be awarded pursuant to section 201 of the Public Works 
        and Economic Development Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3141) and 
        subject to the provisions of such Act, except that subsection 
        (b) of such section and sections 204 and 301 of such Act (42 
        U.S.C. 3144; 3161) shall not apply.
            ``(7) Relation to certain grant awards.--The Secretary 
        shall not require a regional technology and innovation hub to 
        receive a grant or cooperative agreement under subsection (e) 
        in order to receive a grant or cooperative agreement under this 
        subsection.
    ``(g) Applications.--An eligible consortium seeking designation as 
a regional technology and innovation hub under subsection (d) or a 
grant or cooperative agreement under subsection (e) or (f) shall submit 
to the Secretary an application therefore at such time, in such manner, 
and containing such information as the Secretary may specify.
    ``(h) Considerations for Designation and Award of Strategy 
Implementation Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--In selecting an 
eligible consortium that submitted an application under subsection (g) 
for designation under subsection (d) or for a grant or cooperative 
agreement under subsection (f), the Secretary shall consider the 
following:
            ``(1) The potential of the eligible consortium to advance 
        the research, development, deployment, and domestic 
        manufacturing of technologies in a technology or innovation 
        sector critical to national and economic security.
            ``(2) The likelihood of positive regional economic effect, 
        including increasing the number of high wage domestic jobs, and 
        creating new economic opportunities for economically 
        disadvantaged and underrepresented populations.
            ``(3) How the eligible consortium plans to integrate with 
        and leverage the resources of 1 or more federally funded 
        research and development centers, National Laboratories, 
        Federal laboratories, Manufacturing USA institutes, Hollings 
        Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers, or other Federal 
        entities.
            ``(4) How the eligible consortium will engage with the 
        private sector, including small- and medium-sized businesses to 
        commercialize new technologies and improve the resiliency of 
        domestic supply chains in a technology or innovation sector 
        critical to national and economic security.
            ``(5) How the eligible consortium will carry out workforce 
        development and skills acquisition programming, including 
        through partnerships with entities that include State and local 
        workforce development boards, institutions of higher education, 
        including community colleges, historically Black colleges and 
        universities, Tribal colleges and universities, and minority 
        serving institutions, labor organizations, and workforce 
        development programs, and other related activities authorized 
        by the Secretary, to support the development of a skilled 
        technical workforce for the regional technology and innovation 
        hub.
            ``(6) How the eligible consortium will improve or expand 
        science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education 
        programs and opportunities in the identified region in 
        elementary and secondary school and higher education 
        institutions located in the identified region.
            ``(7) 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.
            ``(8) How the eligible consortium plans to organize the 
        activities of regional partners across sectors in support of a 
        regional technology and innovation hub.
            ``(9) How the eligible consortium will ensure that growth 
        in technology and innovation sector produces opportunity across 
        the identified region, including for economically 
        disadvantaged, minority, and rural populations, including 
        consideration of how the eligible consortium takes into account 
        the relevant impact of regional status and plans for--
                    ``(A) available housing stock and housing policies;
                    ``(B) local and regional transportation systems;
                    ``(C) high speed internet access; and
                    ``(D) primary and secondary education.
            ``(10) How much the regions educational institutions are 
        committed to aligning their activities, including research and 
        education, as appropriate, to a region's economic strengths and 
        areas of focus.
            ``(11) The likelihood efforts served by the consortium will 
        be sustained once Federal support ends.
    ``(i) Coordination and Collaboration.--
            ``(1) Coordination with regional innovation program.--The 
        Secretary shall ensure the activities under this section do not 
        duplicate activities or efforts under section 27.
            ``(2) Coordination among hubs.--The Secretary shall ensure 
        eligible consortia that receive a grant or cooperative 
        agreement under this section coordinate and share best 
        practices for regional economic development.
            ``(3) Coordination with programs of the national institute 
        of standards and technology.--The Secretary shall coordinate 
        the activities of regional technology and innovation hubs 
        designated under this section, the Hollings Manufacturing 
        Extension Partnership, and the Manufacturing USA Program, as 
        the Secretary considers appropriate, to maintain the 
        effectiveness of a manufacturing extension center or a 
        Manufacturing USA institute.
            ``(4) Coordination with department of energy programs.--The 
        Secretary shall, in collaboration with the Secretary of Energy, 
        coordinate the activities and selection of regional technology 
        and innovation hubs designated under this section, as the 
        Secretaries consider appropriate, to maintain the effectiveness 
        of activities at the Department of Energy and the National 
        Laboratories.
            ``(5) Interagency collaboration.--In designating regional 
        technology and innovation hubs under subsection (d) and 
        awarding grants or cooperative agreements under subsection (f), 
        the Secretary--
                    ``(A) shall collaborate with Federal departments 
                and agencies whose missions contribute to the goals of 
                the regional technology and innovation hub;
                    ``(B) shall consult with the Director of the 
                National Science Foundation for the purpose of ensuring 
                that the regional technology and innovation hubs are 
                aligned with relevant science, technology, and 
                engineering expertise; and
                    ``(C) may accept funds from other Federal agencies 
                to support grants, cooperative agreements, and 
                activities under this section.
    ``(j) Performance Measurement, Transparency, and Accountability.--
            ``(1) Metrics, standards, and assessment.--For each grant 
        and cooperative agreement awarded under subsection (f) for a 
        regional technology and innovation hub, the Secretary shall--
                    ``(A) in consultation with the regional technology 
                and innovation hub, develop metrics, which may include 
                metrics relating to domestic job creation, patent 
                awards, increases in research funding, business 
                formation and expansion, and participation of 
                individuals or communities historically 
                underrepresented in STEM in, to assess the 
                effectiveness of the activities funded in making 
                progress toward the purposes set forth under subsection 
                (b)(1);
                    ``(B) establish standards for the performance of 
                the regional technology and innovation hub that are 
                based on the metrics developed under subparagraph (A); 
                and
                    ``(C) prior to any award made under a subsequent 
                performance period in subsection (f) and every 2 years 
                thereafter until Federal financial assistance under 
                this section for the regional technology and innovation 
                hub is discontinued, conduct an assessment of the 
                regional technology and innovation hub to confirm 
                whether the performance of the regional technology and 
                innovation hub is meeting the standards for performance 
                established under subparagraph (B) of this paragraph.
            ``(2) Final reports by recipients of strategy 
        implementation grants and cooperative agreements.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall require each 
                eligible consortium that receives a grant or 
                cooperative agreement under subsection (f) for 
                activities of a regional technology and innovation hub, 
                as a condition of receipt of such grant or cooperative 
                agreement, to submit to the Secretary, not later than 
                120 days after the last day of the term of the grant or 
                cooperative agreement, a report on the activities of 
                the regional technology and innovation hub supported by 
                the grant or cooperative agreement.
                    ``(B) Contents of report.--Each report submitted by 
                an eligible consortium under subparagraph (A) shall 
                include the following:
                            ``(i) A detailed description of the 
                        activities carried out by the regional 
                        technology and innovation hub using the grant 
                        or cooperative agreement described in 
                        subparagraph (A), including the following:
                                    ``(I) A description of each project 
                                the regional technology and innovation 
                                hub completed using such grant or 
                                cooperative agreement.
                                    ``(II) An explanation of how each 
                                project described in subclause (I) 
                                achieves a specific goal under this 
                                section in the region of the regional 
                                technology and innovation hub with 
                                respect to--
                                            ``(aa) the resiliency of a 
                                        supply chain;
                                            ``(bb) research, 
                                        development, and deployment of 
                                        a critical technology;
                                            ``(cc) workforce training 
                                        and development;
                                            ``(dd) domestic job 
                                        creation;
                                            ``(ee) entrepreneurship and 
                                        company formation;
                                            ``(ff) commercialization;
                                            ``(gg) access to private 
                                        capital; or
                                            ``(hh) participation of 
                                        individuals or communities 
                                        historically underrepresented 
                                        in STEM.
                            ``(ii) A discussion of any obstacles 
                        encountered by the regional technology and 
                        innovation hub in the implementation of the 
                        regional technology and innovation hub and how 
                        the regional technology and innovation hub 
                        overcame those obstacles.
                            ``(iii) An evaluation of the success of the 
                        projects of the regional technology and 
                        innovation hub using the performance standards 
                        and measures established under paragraph (1), 
                        including an evaluation of the planning process 
                        and how the project contributes to carrying out 
                        the regional innovation strategy of the 
                        regional technology and innovation hub.
                            ``(iv) The effectiveness of the regional 
                        technology and innovation hub in ensuring that, 
                        in the region of the regional technology and 
                        innovation hub, growth in technology and 
                        innovation sectors produces broadly shared 
                        opportunity across the region, including for 
                        economic disadvantaged and underrepresented 
                        populations and rural areas.
                            ``(v) Information regarding such other 
                        matters as the Secretary may require.
            ``(3) Interim reports by recipients of grants and 
        cooperative agreements.--In addition to requiring submittal of 
        final reports under paragraph (2)(A), the Secretary may require 
        a regional technology and innovation hub described in such 
        paragraph to submit to the Secretary such interim reports as 
        the Secretary considers appropriate.
            ``(4) Annual reports to congress.--Not less frequently than 
        once each year, the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate 
        committees of Congress an annual report on the results of the 
        assessments conducted by the Secretary under paragraph (1)(C) 
        during the period covered by the report.
    ``(k) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary--
            ``(1) $50,000,000 to award grants and cooperative 
        agreements under subsection (e) for the period of fiscal years 
        2022 through 2026;
            ``(2) $2,000,000,000 to award grants and cooperative 
        agreements under subsection (f) for the period of fiscal years 
        2022 and 2023; and
            ``(3) $4,800,000,000 to award grants and cooperative 
        agreements under subsection (f) for the period of fiscal years 
        2024 through 2026.
    ``(l) Administration.--The Secretary may use funds made available 
to carry out this section for administrative costs under this 
section.''.
    (b) Initial Designations and Awards.--
            (1) Competition required.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of the enactment of this section, subject to the 
        availability of appropriations, the Secretary of Commerce shall 
        commence a competition under subsection (d)(1) of section 28 of 
        the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 
        U.S.C. 3723) as added by subsection (a).
            (2) Designation and award.--Not later than 1 year after the 
        date of the enactment of this section, if the Secretary has 
        received at least 1 application under subsection (g) of section 
        28 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 
        (15 U.S.C. 3723) from an eligible consortium whom the Secretary 
        considers suitable for designation under subsection (d)(1) of 
        such section, the Secretary shall--
                    (A) designate at least 1 regional technology and 
                innovation hub under subsection (d)(1) of such section; 
                and
                    (B) award a grant or cooperative agreement under 
                subsection (f)(1) of such section to each regional 
                technology and innovation hub designated pursuant to 
                subparagraph (A) of this paragraph.

SEC. 3. REGIONAL CLEAN ENERGY INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    Subtitle C of title IX of the Energy Independence and Security Act 
of 2007 is amended by adding at the end the following:

``SEC. 936. REGIONAL CLEAN ENERGY INNOVATION PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
            ``(1) Regional clean energy innovation partnership.--The 
        term `regional clean energy innovation partnership' means a 
        group of one or more persons, including a covered consortium, 
        who perform a collection of activities that are coordinated by 
        such covered consortium to carry out the purposes of the 
        program under subsection (c) in a region of the United States.
            ``(2) Covered consortium.--The term `covered consortium' 
        means an individual or group of individuals in partnership with 
        a government entity, including a State, local, or tribal 
        government or unit of such government, and at least 2 or more 
        of the following additional entities--
                    ``(A) an institution of higher education or a 
                consortium of institutions of higher education;
                    ``(B) a workforce training provider, including 
                vocational schools and community colleges;
                    ``(C) a private sector entity;
                    ``(D) a nonprofit organization;
                    ``(E) a community group;
                    ``(F) a labor group;
                    ``(G) a National Laboratory;
                    ``(H) a venture development organization;
                    ``(I) an organization focused on clean energy 
                technology innovation or entrepreneurship;
                    ``(J) a business accelerator or incubator;
                    ``(K) a private sector entity or group of entities, 
                including a trade or industry association;
                    ``(L) an economic development organization;
                    ``(M) a manufacturing facility or organization;
                    ``(N) a clean energy incubator or accelerator;
                    ``(O) a multi-institutional collaboration; or
                    ``(P) any other entity that the Secretary 
                determines to be relevant.
            ``(3) Department.--The term `Department' means the 
        Department of Energy.
            ``(4) Program.--The term `program' means the Regional Clean 
        Energy Innovation Program authorized in subsection (b).
            ``(5) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the 
        Department of Energy.
    ``(b) In General.--The Secretary shall establish a Regional Clean 
Energy Innovation Program, a research, development, demonstration, and 
commercial application program designed to enhance the economic, 
environmental, and energy security of the United States and accelerate 
the pace of innovation of diverse clean energy technologies through the 
formation or support of regional clean energy innovation partnerships 
that--
            ``(1) account for the diverse domestic energy resources 
        available throughout the United States;
            ``(2) are responsive to the needs of industry, workforce, 
        policy landscape, and clean energy innovation capabilities of 
        the region in which such partnership is located;
            ``(3) enhance and accelerate clean energy innovation;
            ``(4) are located in diverse geographic regions of the 
        United States, including United States territories; and
            ``(5) maximize the opportunities for cooperation between 
        institutes of higher education, industry, State and local 
        governments, and nonprofit research institutions with shared 
        areas of energy expertise.
    ``(c) Purposes of the Program.--The purposes of the Program 
established under subsection (b) are to--
            ``(1) improve the competitiveness of United States clean 
        energy technology research, development, demonstration, and 
        commercial application; and
            ``(2) support the development of tools and technologies 
        best suited for use in diverse regions of the United States, 
        including in rural, tribal, and low-income communities.
    ``(d) Regional Clean Energy Innovation Partnerships.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall competitively award 
        grants to covered consortia to establish or support regional 
        clean energy innovation partnerships that achieve the purposes 
        of the Program in subsection (c).
            ``(2) Permissible activities.--Grants awarded under this 
        subsection shall be used for activities determined appropriate 
        by the Secretary to achieve the purposes of the Program in 
        subsection (c), including--
                    ``(A) facilitating the commercial application of 
                clean energy products, processes, and services, 
                including through research, development, demonstration, 
                or technology transfer;
                    ``(B) planning among participants of a regional 
                clean energy innovation partnership to improve the 
                strategic and cost-effective coordination of the 
                partnership;
                    ``(C) improving stakeholder involvement in the 
                development of goals and activities of a regional clean 
                energy innovation partnership;
                    ``(D) assessing different incentive mechanisms for 
                clean energy development and commercial application in 
                the region;
                    ``(E) hosting events and conferences; and
                    ``(F) establishing and updating roadmaps to measure 
                progress on relevant goals, such as those relevant to 
                metrics developed under subsection (g).
            ``(3) Applications.--Each application submitted to the 
        Secretary under paragraph (1) may include--
                    ``(A) a list of members and roles of members of the 
                covered consortia, as well as any other stakeholders 
                supporting the activities of the regional clean energy 
                innovation partnership;
                    ``(B) a description of the proposed outcomes of the 
                regional clean energy innovation partnership;
                    ``(C) an assessment of the relevant clean energy 
                innovation assets needed in a region to achieve 
                proposed outcomes, such as education and training 
                programs, research facilities, infrastructure or site 
                development, access to capital, manufacturing 
                capabilities, or other assets;
                    ``(D) a description of proposed activities that the 
                regional clean energy innovation partnership plans to 
                undertake and how the proposed activities will achieve 
                the purposes described in subsection (c) and the 
                proposed outcomes in subparagraph (B);
                    ``(E) a description of the geographical region that 
                will engage in the regional clean energy innovation 
                partnership;
                    ``(F) a plan for attracting additional funds and 
                identification of funding sources from non-Federal 
                sources to deliver the proposed outcomes of the 
                regional clean energy innovation partnership;
                    ``(G) a plan for sustaining activities of the 
                regional clean energy innovation partnership after 
                funds received under this program have been expended; 
                and
                    ``(H) a proposed budget, including financial 
                contributions from non-Federal sources.
            ``(4) Considerations.--In selecting covered consortia for 
        funding under the Program, the Secretary shall, to the maximum 
        extent practicable--
                    ``(A) give special consideration to applications 
                from rural, tribal, and low-income communities; and
                    ``(B) ensure that there is geographic diversity 
                among the covered consortia selected to receive 
                funding.
            ``(5) Award amount.--Grants given out under this Program 
        shall be in an amount not greater than $10,000,000, with the 
        total grant award in any year less than that in the previous 
        year.
            ``(6) Cost share.--For grants that are disbursed over the 
        course of three or more years, the Secretary shall require, as 
        a condition of receipt of funds under this section, that a 
        covered consortium provide not less than 50 percent of the 
        funding for the activities of the regional clean energy 
        partnership under this section for years 3, 4, and 5.
            ``(7) Duration.--Each grant under paragraph shall be for a 
        period of not longer than 5 years.
            ``(8) Renewal.--A grant awarded under this section may be 
        renewed for a period of not more than 5 years, subject to a 
        rigorous merit review based on the progress of a regional clean 
        energy innovation partnership towards achieving the purposes of 
        the program in subsection (c) and the metrics developed under 
        subsection (g).
            ``(9) Termination.--Consistent with the existing 
        authorities of the Department, the Secretary may terminate 
        grant funding under this subsection to covered consortia during 
        the performance period if the Secretary determines that the 
        regional clean energy innovation partnership is 
        underperforming.
            ``(10) Administrative costs.--The Secretary may allow a 
        covered consortium that receives funds under this section to 
        allocate a portion of the funding received to be used for 
        administrative or indirect costs.
            ``(11) Funding.--The Secretary may accept funds from other 
        Federal agencies to support funding and activities under this 
        section.
    ``(e) Planning Funds.--The Secretary may competitively award grants 
in an amount no greater than $2,000,000 for a period not longer than 2 
years to an entity consisting of a government entity, including a 
State, local, or tribal government or unit of such government or any 
entity listed under subsection (a)(2) to plan a regional clean energy 
innovation partnership or establish a covered consortium for the 
purpose of applying for funds under subsection (b).
    ``(f) Information Sharing.--As part of the program, the Secretary 
shall support the gathering, analysis, and dissemination of information 
on best practices for developing and operating successful regional 
clean energy innovation partnerships.
    ``(g) Metrics.--In evaluating a grant renewals under subsection 
(d)(8), the Secretary shall work with program evaluation experts to 
develop and make publicly available metrics to assess the progress of a 
regional clean energy innovation partnership towards achieving the 
purposes of the program in subsection (c). Such metrics may include--
            ``(1) the number and quality of--
                    ``(A) new clean energy companies created in the 
                region as a result of activities carried out under the 
                regional clean energy innovation partnership;
                    ``(B) new or expanded workforce development or 
                training programs; and
                    ``(C) support services provided to clean energy 
                technology developers in the region;
            ``(2) changes in clean energy employment in the region as a 
        result of activities carried out under the regional clean 
        energy innovation partnership; and
            ``(3) the amount of capital investment in clean energy 
        companies in the region as a result of activities carried out 
        under the regional clean energy innovation partnership grant.
    ``(h) Coordination.--In carrying out the program, the Secretary 
shall coordinate with, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, the 
activities carried out under this section with the activities of--
            ``(1) other research entities of the Department, including 
        the National Laboratories, the Office of Science, the Advanced 
        Research Projects Agency-Energy, the Office of Technology 
        Transitions, Energy Innovation Hubs, and Energy Frontier 
        Research Centers; and
            ``(2) relevant programs at other Federal agencies, 
        including--
                    ``(A) the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship 
                under the Economic Development Administration, 
                including the Regional Innovation Program under section 
                27 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 
                1980 (15 U.S.C. 3722);
                    ``(B) the Hollings Manufacturing Extension 
                Partnership Program under section 25 of the National 
                Institute of Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
                278k);
                    ``(C) the Manufacturing USA Program under section 
                34 of the National Institute of Standards and 
                Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s);
                    ``(D) the Defense Manufacturing Communities Support 
                Program under section 846 of the John S. McCain 
                National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 
                (10 U.S.C. 2501 note); and
                    ``(E) the Office of Economic Adjustment at the 
                Department of Defense.
    ``(i) Conflicts of Interest.--In carrying out the program, the 
Secretary shall maintain conflict of interest procedures, consistent 
with the conflict of interest procedures of the Department.
    ``(j) Evaluation by Comptroller General.--Not later than 3 years 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 3 years 
thereafter, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate an evaluation 
on the operation of the program during the most recent 3-year period, 
including--
            ``(1) an assessment of the progress made towards achieving 
        the purposes specified in subsection (c) based on the metrics 
        developed under subsection (g);
            ``(2) the short-term and long-term metrics used to 
        determine the success of the program under subsection (g), and 
        any changes recommended to the metrics used;
            ``(3) the regional clean energy innovation partnerships 
        established or supported by covered consortia that have 
        received grants under subsection (d); and
            ``(4) any recommendations on how the program may be 
        improved.
    ``(k) National Laboratories.--In supporting technology transfer 
activities at the National Laboratories, the Secretary shall encourage 
partnerships with entities that are located in the same region or State 
as the National Laboratory.
    ``(l) Security.--In carrying out the activities under this section, 
the Secretary shall ensure proper security controls are in place to 
protect sensitive information, as appropriate.
    ``(m) No Funds for Construction.--No funds provided to the 
Department of Energy under this section shall be used for construction.
    ``(n) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $50,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.''.
                                 <all>