American Innovation and Competitiveness Act

Bill: 114-s-3084
Sponsor: Sen. Gardner, Cory [R-CO]
Introduced: 2016-06-22 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Advanced technology and technological innovations
Advisory bodies
Arctic and polar regions
Atmospheric science and weather
Biological and life sciences
Business education
Chemistry
Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Department of Commerce
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Education programs funding
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency communications systems
Employment and training programs
Energy research
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Executive Office of the President
Executive agency funding and structure
Government buildings, facilities, and property
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Higher education
Intergovernmental relations
International organizations and cooperation
International scientific cooperation
Manufacturing
Materials
Minority education
Minority employment
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
National Science Foundation
Neurological disorders
Nuclear power
Performance measurement
Public contracts and procurement
Public-private cooperation
Radiation
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Research ethics
Science and engineering education
Scientific communication
Space flight and exploration
State and local government operations
Student aid and college costs
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Technology transfer and commercialization
Women's education
Women's employment

Summary:
action_date: 2016-06-22
text: 

American Innovation and Competitiveness Act

 
This bill calls on the National Science Foundation (NSF) to maintain the intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria as the basis for evaluating grant proposals in the merit review process. 
 
The NSF shall issue and periodically update policy guidance for both NSF staff and other NSF merit review process participants, emphasizing the importance of transparency and accountability of the outcomes made through such process. 
 
The bill renames the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research as the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and revises program requirements. 
 
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shall: (1) research information systems for future cybersecurity needs; and (2) develop a process to research and identify, or if necessary, develop cryptography standards and guidelines for future cybersecurity needs, including quantum-resistant cryptography standards. 
 
The bill renames the National High Performance Computing Program as the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program and revises program requirements.
 
The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) shall define and coordinate federal research in high-energy physics. 
 
 NIST shall implement a comprehensive strategic plan for laboratory programs expanding interactions with academia, international researchers, and industry, and commercial and industrial applications.
 
The NSF shall: 
 
 
evaluate the existing and future needs, across all NSF-supported disciplines, for mid-scale projects; and 
 
 strengthen oversight and accountability over the full life-cycle of large-scale research facility projects; and
 
continue to review its efforts to sustain scientific efforts in the face of logistical challenges for the U.S. Antarctic Program.
 
 
The Department of Commerce Office of Security shall directly manage NIST's law enforcement and security programs through an assigned Director of Security for NIST.
 
The Office of Management and Budget shall establish an interagency working group to reduce administrative burdens of federally funded researchers while protecting the public's interest in the transparency of, and accountability for, federally funded activities. 
 
The NSF, the Department of Education, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall establish the STEM Education Advisory Panel to advise the NSTC Committee on STEM Education on matters related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 
 
The NSF shall award grants to:
 
 
increase the participation of women and underrepresented groups in STEM fields,
 
for research to advance the engagement of students in grades kindergarten through 8 in STEM, and 
 
for establishment of at least one Center of Excellence for the collection, maintenance, and dissemination of information to increase the participation of women and groups underrepresented in STEM fields. 
 
 
The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act is amended to revise requirements for:
 
 
NIST's post-doctoral fellowship program, and 
 
the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
 
 
Federal agencies may use crowdsourcing and voluntary, collaborative citizen science to advance their missions.
 
The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish an interagency working group to:
 
 
summarize available research and best practices on how to promote diversity and inclusions in STEM fields, and 
 
examine whether barriers exist to promoting diversity and inclusion within federal agencies employing scientists and engineers. 
 
 
Each federal agency shall recommend to the President how it could expand research opportunities for undergraduate students attending institutions of higher education.
 
The NSF shall award grants for:
 
 
research on computer science education and computational thinking; and 
 
Innovation Corps entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training, and mentoring. 
 

action_date: 2016-12-16
text: 

American Innovation and Competitiveness Act

 
TITLE I--MAXIMIZING BASIC RESEARCH
 
(Sec. 101) This bill requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to maintain the intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria as the basis for evaluating grant proposals in the merit review process. 
 
(Sec. 102) The NSF shall issue and periodically update policy guidance for both NSF staff and other NSF merit review process participants on the importance of transparency and accountability to the outcomes made through the merit review process. 
 
(Sec. 103) The bill renames the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research as the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and revises program requirements. 
 
(Sec. 104) The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shall: (1) research information systems for future cybersecurity needs; and (2) develop a process to research and identify, or if necessary, develop cryptography standards and guidelines for future cybersecurity needs, including quantum-resistant cryptography standards. 
 
The bill amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to authorize NIST to research the security of computers, computer networks, and computer data storage used in voting systems. 
 

Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Modernization Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 105) The bill renames the National High Performance Computing Program as the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program and revises program requirements.
 
(Sec. 106) The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) shall continue to coordinate federal research in high-energy physics, radiation biology, and fusion energy sciences. 
 
(Sec. 107) NIST shall implement a comprehensive strategic plan for laboratory programs expanding interactions with academia, international researchers, and industry, and commercial and industrial applications. 
 
(Sec. 108) The bill amends the Standard Reference Data Act to modify the definition of &quot;standard reference data.&quot;
 
(Sec. 109) The NSF shall: 
 
 
evaluate the existing and future needs, across all NSF-supported disciplines, for mid-scale projects; 
 
 strengthen oversight and accountability over the full life-cycle of major multi-user research facility projects;
 
update conflicts of interest policy and procedure; and
 
continue to review its efforts to sustain scientific efforts in the face of logistical challenges for the U.S. Antarctic Program. 
 
 
(Sec. 113) The Department of Commerce Office of Security shall directly manage NIST's law enforcement and site security programs through an assigned Director of Security for NIST. 
 
(Sec. 114) The NSF may: (1) continue to carry out the Sustainable Chemistry Basic Research program authorized under the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2010; and (2) revise regulations to ensure that its research does not contain any falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism.
 
(Sec. 116) The NSF shall enter into an agreement with the National Research Council to: (1) assess research and data reproductibility and replicability issues in interdisciplinary research, and (2) make recommendations for improving rigor and transparency in scientific research.
 
(Sec. 117) The NSF shall support research related to the interagency Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative. 
 
TITLE II--ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY BURDEN REDUCTION
 

Research and Development Efficiency Act

 
(Sec. 201) The Office of Management and Budget shall establish an interagency working group to reduce administrative burdens of federally funded researchers while protecting the public's interest in the transparency of, and accountability for, federally funded activities. 
 
The working group shall: (1) establish a centralized database for documents relating to researchers, (2) establish a central repository for all assurances required for federal research grants, and (3) conduct a comprehensive review of the mandated progress reports for federally funded research. 
 

International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 208) The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) shall establish a body under the NSTC to identify and coordinate international science and technology cooperation in order to strengthen U.S. science and technology enterprise, improve economic and national security, and support U.S. foreign policy goals. 
 
TITLE III--SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH EDUCATION
 
(Sec. 303) The NSF, the Department of Education, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall establish the STEM Education Advisory Panel to advise the NSTC Committee on STEM Education on matters related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 
 
(Sec. 305) The NSF shall award grants to increase the participation of underrepresented populations in STEM fields. 
 
(Sec. 306) The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act is amended to revise requirements for NIST's post-doctoral fellowship program. 
 
(Sec. 307) The NSF shall continue to administer awards on behalf of OSTP to recognize outstanding mentoring in STEM fields and provide Congress with a list of award recipients. 
 
(Sec. 308) The OSTP shall establish an interagency working group to summarize available research and best practices on how to promote diversity and inclusions in STEM fields, and examine whether barriers exist to promoting diversity and inclusion within federal agencies employing scientists and engineers. 
 
(Sec. 309) Each federal agency shall recommend to the President how it could expand research opportunities for undergraduate students attending institutions of higher education.
 
(Sec. 310) The NSF shall award grants for research on computer science education and computational thinking. 
 
(Sec. 311) The bill amends the STEM Education Act of 2015 to allow the use of funds to foster on-going partnerships between institutions involved in informal STEM learning, institutions of higher education, and education research centers. 
 
(Sec. 312) Commerce shall continue to research the value to businesses of utilizing apprenticeship programs and shall disseminate its findings to businesses and other relevant stakeholders. It may collaborate with Labor to study approaches for reducing the cost of creating new apprenticehip programs, particularly for small businesses.
 
The bill amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to carry out a grant program to identify the need for skilled STEM workers and to expand STEM apprenticeship programs. 
 
(Sec. 313) The bill expands the reporting requirement of the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering with respect to NSF participation in activities of institutions serving populations that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines. 
 
(Sec. 314) The bill amends the America COMPETES Act to enhance NOAA science education programs and programs at Hispanic-serving institutions offering STEM education. 
 
TITLE IV--LEVERAGING THE PRIVATE SECTOR
 

Science Prize Competition Act

 
(Sec. 401) The bill amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to revise requirements regarding science prize competitions. 
 

Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act

 
(Sec. 402) Federal science agencies may use crowdsourcing and voluntary, collaborative citizen science to advance their missions.
 
TITLE V--MANUFACTURING
 

Manufacturing Extension Partnership Improvement Act

 
(Sec. 501) The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act is amended to revise requirements for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
 
TITLE VI--INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
 
(Sec. 601) The NSF shall award grants for Innovation Corps entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training, and mentoring. 
 

United States Chief Technology Officer Act

 
(Sec. 604) The President may designate one of the Associate Directors of the OSTP as the U.S. Chief Technology Officer. 
 
(Sec. 605) The OSTP shall arrange with the National Research Council to study technologies employed at institutions of higher education to provide notifications to students, faculty, and other personnel during emergencies. 

action_date: 2017-01-06
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on December 16, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

American Innovation and Competitiveness Act

 
TITLE I--MAXIMIZING BASIC RESEARCH
 
(Sec. 101) This bill requires the National Science Foundation (NSF) to maintain the intellectual merit and broader impacts criteria as the basis for evaluating grant proposals in the merit review process. 
 
(Sec. 102) The NSF shall issue and periodically update policy guidance for both NSF staff and other NSF merit review process participants on the importance of transparency and accountability to the outcomes made through the merit review process. 
 
(Sec. 103) The bill renames the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research as the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) and revises program requirements. 
 
(Sec. 104) The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) shall: (1) research information systems for future cybersecurity needs; and (2) develop a process to research and identify, or if necessary, develop cryptography standards and guidelines for future cybersecurity needs, including quantum-resistant cryptography standards. 
 
The bill amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to authorize NIST to research the security of computers, computer networks, and computer data storage used in voting systems. 
 

Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Modernization Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 105) The bill renames the National High Performance Computing Program as the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program and revises program requirements.
 
(Sec. 106) The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) shall continue to coordinate federal research in high-energy physics, radiation biology, and fusion energy sciences. 
 
(Sec. 107) NIST shall implement a comprehensive strategic plan for laboratory programs expanding interactions with academia, international researchers, and industry, and commercial and industrial applications. 
 
(Sec. 108) The bill amends the Standard Reference Data Act to modify the definition of &quot;standard reference data.&quot;
 
(Sec. 109) The NSF shall: 
 
 
evaluate the existing and future needs, across all NSF-supported disciplines, for mid-scale projects; 
 
 strengthen oversight and accountability over the full life-cycle of major multi-user research facility projects;
 
update conflicts of interest policy and procedure; and
 
continue to review its efforts to sustain scientific efforts in the face of logistical challenges for the U.S. Antarctic Program. 
 
 
(Sec. 113) The Department of Commerce Office of Security shall directly manage NIST's law enforcement and site security programs through an assigned Director of Security for NIST. 
 
(Sec. 114) The NSF may: (1) continue to carry out the Sustainable Chemistry Basic Research program authorized under the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2010; and (2) revise regulations to ensure that its research does not contain any falsification, fabrication, or plagiarism.
 
(Sec. 116) The NSF shall enter into an agreement with the National Research Council to: (1) assess research and data reproductibility and replicability issues in interdisciplinary research, and (2) make recommendations for improving rigor and transparency in scientific research.
 
(Sec. 117) The NSF shall support research related to the interagency Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative. 
 
TITLE II--ADMINISTRATIVE AND REGULATORY BURDEN REDUCTION
 

Research and Development Efficiency Act

 
(Sec. 201) The Office of Management and Budget shall establish an interagency working group to reduce administrative burdens of federally funded researchers while protecting the public's interest in the transparency of, and accountability for, federally funded activities. 
 
The working group shall: (1) establish a centralized database for documents relating to researchers, (2) establish a central repository for all assurances required for federal research grants, and (3) conduct a comprehensive review of the mandated progress reports for federally funded research. 
 

International Science and Technology Cooperation Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 208) The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) shall establish a body under the NSTC to identify and coordinate international science and technology cooperation in order to strengthen U.S. science and technology enterprise, improve economic and national security, and support U.S. foreign policy goals. 
 
TITLE III--SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATH EDUCATION
 
(Sec. 303) The NSF, the Department of Education, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) shall establish the STEM Education Advisory Panel to advise the NSTC Committee on STEM Education on matters related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). 
 
(Sec. 305) The NSF shall award grants to increase the participation of underrepresented populations in STEM fields. 
 
(Sec. 306) The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act is amended to revise requirements for NIST's post-doctoral fellowship program. 
 
(Sec. 307) The NSF shall continue to administer awards on behalf of OSTP to recognize outstanding mentoring in STEM fields and provide Congress with a list of award recipients. 
 
(Sec. 308) The OSTP shall establish an interagency working group to summarize available research and best practices on how to promote diversity and inclusions in STEM fields, and examine whether barriers exist to promoting diversity and inclusion within federal agencies employing scientists and engineers. 
 
(Sec. 309) Each federal agency shall recommend to the President how it could expand research opportunities for undergraduate students attending institutions of higher education.
 
(Sec. 310) The NSF shall award grants for research on computer science education and computational thinking. 
 
(Sec. 311) The bill amends the STEM Education Act of 2015 to allow the use of funds to foster on-going partnerships between institutions involved in informal STEM learning, institutions of higher education, and education research centers. 
 
(Sec. 312) Commerce shall continue to research the value to businesses of utilizing apprenticeship programs and shall disseminate its findings to businesses and other relevant stakeholders. It may collaborate with Labor to study approaches for reducing the cost of creating new apprenticehip programs, particularly for small businesses.
 
The bill amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to carry out a grant program to identify the need for skilled STEM workers and to expand STEM apprenticeship programs. 
 
(Sec. 313) The bill expands the reporting requirement of the Committee on Equal Opportunities in Science and Engineering with respect to NSF participation in activities of institutions serving populations that are underrepresented in STEM disciplines. 
 
(Sec. 314) The bill amends the America COMPETES Act to enhance NOAA science education programs and programs at Hispanic-serving institutions offering STEM education. 
 
TITLE IV--LEVERAGING THE PRIVATE SECTOR
 

Science Prize Competition Act

 
(Sec. 401) The bill amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to revise requirements regarding science prize competitions. 
 

Crowdsourcing and Citizen Science Act

 
(Sec. 402) Federal science agencies may use crowdsourcing and voluntary, collaborative citizen science to advance their missions.
 
TITLE V--MANUFACTURING
 

Manufacturing Extension Partnership Improvement Act

 
(Sec. 501) The National Institute of Standards and Technology Act is amended to revise requirements for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership.
 
TITLE VI--INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
 
(Sec. 601) The NSF shall award grants for Innovation Corps entrepreneurship and commercialization education, training, and mentoring. 
 

United States Chief Technology Officer Act

 
(Sec. 604) The President may designate one of the Associate Directors of the OSTP as the U.S. Chief Technology Officer. 
 
(Sec. 605) The OSTP shall arrange with the National Research Council to study technologies employed at institutions of higher education to provide notifications to students, faculty, and other personnel during emergencies. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-01-06
text: Became Public Law No: 114-329.
action_date: 2017-01-06
text: Became Public Law No: 114-329.
action_date: 2017-01-06
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2017-01-06
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-12-28
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-12-28
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: On passage Passed without objection. (text of measure as passed: CR H7590-7609)
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed without objection.(text of measure as passed: CR H7590-7609)
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Mr. Loudermilk asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and consider.
action_date: 2016-12-16
text: Considered by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR H7590-7609)
action_date: 2016-12-13
text: Held at the desk.
action_date: 2016-12-13
text: Received in the House.
action_date: 2016-12-12
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: The committee substitute withdrawn by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7167)
action_date: 2016-12-10
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7149-7167; text of measure as reported in Senate: CR S7149-7167)
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 695.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-389.
action_date: 2016-12-01
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Thune with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 114-389.
action_date: 2016-06-29
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2016-06-22
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2016-06-22
text: Introduced in Senate

Enacted as: number: 114-329