Department of Energy Science for the Future Act

Bill: 117-hr-3593
Sponsor: Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30]
Introduced: 2021-05-28 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Air quality
Alternative and renewable resources
Asia
Astronomy
Atmospheric science and weather
Biological and life sciences
Cardiovascular and respiratory health
Chemistry
China
Climate change and greenhouse gases
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Department of Energy
Earth sciences
Electric power generation and transmission
Elementary and secondary education
Emergency medical services and trauma care
Energy efficiency and conservation
Energy research
Energy storage, supplies, demand
Environmental assessment, monitoring, research
Executive agency funding and structure
Foreign and international corporations
Government information and archives
Health promotion and preventive care
Higher education
Infectious and parasitic diseases
International organizations and cooperation
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Materials
Medical research
Medical tests and diagnostic methods
Minority education
Minority employment
Nuclear power
Radiation
Research administration and funding
Research and development
Science and engineering education
Solid waste and recycling
Space flight and exploration
Teaching, teachers, curricula
Water use and supply

Summary:
action_date: 2021-05-28
text: 

Department of Energy Science for the Future Act

 
This bill supports specified research and development activities of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science.
 
The bill establishes various programs, including
 
 
 a basic energy sciences research and development program;
 
 a biological systems science and climate and environmental science research and development program;
 
earth and environmental systems science research;
 
a coastal zone research initiative;
 
a Quantum User Expansion for Science and Technology program or QUEST program;
 
a collaborative research and development program of fusion energy technologies;
 
 a research program on the fundamental constituents of matter and energy and the nature of space and time;
 
a high energy physics research program; 
 
research activities on the nature of the primary contents of the universe, including the nature of dark energy and dark matter; 
 
a research program to discover and understand various forms of nuclear matter; and 
 
a high intensity laser research initiative.
 
 
The DOE Office of Science shall continue to leverage U.S. participation in the Large Hadron Collider and prioritize expanding international partnerships and investments in the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility and Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment.
 
The bill requires DOE to expand opportunities to increase the number, diversity, equity, and inclusion of highly skilled science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals working in DOE.

action_date: 2021-06-28
text: 

Department of Energy Science for the Future Act

 
This bill supports specified research and development activities of the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science.
 
The bill establishes various programs, including
 
 
 a basic energy sciences research and development program;
 
 a program of research and development for the application of advanced computing practices to foundational and emerging research problems in chemistry and materials science;
 
a web-based platform to develop and provide access to a database of computed information on known and predicted materials properties and computational tools to accelerate breakthroughs in materials discovery and design;
 
 a biological systems science and climate and environmental science research and development program; 
 
research and development activities in biomolecular characterization and imaging science;
 
earth and environmental systems science research;
 
a coastal zone research initiative;
 
an initiative focused on the development of engineered ecosystems; 
 
 a program to implement a strategy for achieving computing systems with capabilities beyond exascale computing systems;
 
 a program of fundamental research and development of energy efficient computing and data center technologies relevant to advanced computing applications;
 
a Quantum User Expansion for Science and Technology program or QUEST program;
 
a collaborative research and development program of fusion energy technologies;
 
a research program in elementary particle physics and advanced technology research and development to improve the understanding of the fundamental properties of the universe, including constituents of matter and energy and the nature of space and time; 
 
research activities on the nature of the primary contents of the universe, including the nature of dark energy and dark matter; 
 
a research program to discover and understand various forms of nuclear matter;
 
a program across the DOE for the production of isotopes, including the development of techniques to produce isotopes, that the DOE determines are needed for research, medical, industrial, or related purposes;
 
a midscale instrumentation program to enable the development and acquisition of novel, state-of-the-art instruments ranging in cost from $1 million to $20 million each that would significantly accelerate scientific breakthroughs at user facilities; and 
 
a high intensity laser research initiative.
 
 
The DOE Office of Science shall continue to leverage U.S. participation in the Large Hadron Collider and prioritize expanding international partnerships and investments in the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility and Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment. 
 
DOE shall support construction of a Facility for Rare Isotope Beams to advance the understanding of rare nuclear isotopes and the evolution of the cosmos.
 
DOE shall expand opportunities to increase the number, diversity, equity, and inclusion of highly skilled science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) professionals working in DOE mission-relevant disciplines and broaden the recruitment pool to increase diversity, including expanded partnerships with Historically Black Colleges, Tribal Colleges, Minority Serving Institutions, emerging research institutions, and scientific societies.
 
DOE shall establish within the DOE Office of Science, a cross-cutting research initiative to leverage the federal government's innovative analytical resources and tools, user facilities, and advanced computational and networking capabilities in order to prevent, prepare for, and respond to emerging infectious diseases, including COVID-19.
 
DOE may not carry out gain-of-function research of concern. 


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2021-07-12
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
action_date: 2021-06-28
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2021-06-28
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 351 - 68 (Roll no. 187). (text: CR H3206-3218)
action_date: 2021-06-28
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 351 - 68 (Roll no. 187).(text: CR H3206-3218)
action_date: 2021-06-28
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H3223-3224)
action_date: 2021-06-28
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2021-06-28
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3593.
action_date: 2021-06-28
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H3206-3220)
action_date: 2021-06-28
text: Ms. Johnson (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2021-06-28
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 50.
action_date: 2021-06-28
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 117-72.
action_date: 2021-06-28
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H. Rept. 117-72.
action_date: 2021-06-15
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2021-06-15
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2021-05-28
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
action_date: 2021-05-28
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2021-05-28
text: Introduced in House