Startup Act

Bill: 114-s-181
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced: 2015-01-16
Policy area: Economics and Public Finance
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Business investment and capital

Capital gains tax

Census and government statistics

Congressional oversight

Economic development

Economic performance and conditions

Education programs funding

Employment taxes

Executive agency funding and structure

Foreign labor

Government information and archives

Government trust funds

Higher education

Immigration status and procedures

Income tax credits

Income tax exclusion

Income tax rates

Research administration and funding

Research and development

Science and engineering education

Securities

Small business

Social security and elderly assistance

Teaching, teachers, curricula

Technology transfer and commercialization

Urban and suburban affairs and development

Visas and passports
Latest action: action_date: 2015-01-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-01-16
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><strong>Startup Act</strong></p> <p> Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to adjust to conditional permanent resident status up to 50,000 aliens who have earned a master's or doctorate degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field (STEM field) and permit such an alien to remain in the United States: (1) for up to one year after the expiration of the alien's student visa, if the alien is searching for STEM field employment; and (2) indefinitely if the alien remains actively engaged in a STEM field. </p> <p>Removes a STEM alien's conditional status after five years of maintaining eligibility during the entire five-year period.</p> <p>Authorizes the Secretary to issue conditional immigrant visas to up to 75,000 qualified alien entrepreneurs. Removes such conditional basis after four years of maintaining qualified entrepreneur status.</p> <p>Eliminates the per-country numerical limitation for employment-based visas.</p> <p>Increases the per country numerical limitation for family based immigrants from 7% to 15% of the total number of family-sponsored visas. </p> <p>Amends the Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 to eliminate the provision requiring the reduction of annual People's Republic of China immigrant visas to offset status adjustments under such Act.</p> <p>Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide a permanent full tax exclusion on gain from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock held for more than five years, (2) repeal the minimum tax preference and the 28% capital gains rate on such stock, and (3) provide a limited tax credit for certain startup small businesses.</p> <p>Directs the Secretary of Commerce to use certain federal agency extramural budget funds to award grants to institutions of higher education for initiatives to improve commercialization and transfer of technology. </p> <p> Requires the head of any federal or independent regulatory agency, before issuing a notice of rule making in connection with the issuance of a proposed major rule, to complete a review that, among other things, analyzes the problem that the rule intends to address, and identifies and analyzes the rule's expected impact on state, local, and tribal governments, as well as on the ability of new businesses to form and expand. Requires a cost-benefit analysis before rule issuance.</p> <p>Directs the Secretary of Commerce to regularly compile: (1) information from each of the states and the District of Columbia on laws that affect the formation and growth of new businesses, and (2) quantitative and qualitative information on U.S. businesses that are not more than one year old.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 181 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES January 16, 2015 Mr. Moran (for himself, Mr. Warner , Mr. Coons , Mr. Blunt , Ms. Klobuchar , and Mr. Kaine ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance A BILL To jump-start economic recovery through the formation and growth of new businesses, and for other purposes.

1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Startup Act . (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Sec. 2. Findings. Sec. 3. Conditional permanent resident status for immigrants with an advanced degree in a STEM field. Sec. 4. Immigrant entrepreneurs. Sec. 5. Elimination of the per country numerical limitation for employment-based visas. Sec. 6. Capital gains tax exemption for startup companies. Sec. 7. Research credit for startup companies. Sec. 8. Accelerated commercialization of taxpayer-funded research. Sec. 9. Economic impact of significant Federal agency rules. Sec. 10. Biennial State startup business report. Sec. 11. New business formation report. Sec. 12. Rescission of unspent Federal funds. 2. Findings Congress makes the following findings: (1) Achieving economic recovery will require the formation and growth of new companies. (2) Between 1980 and 2005, companies less than 5 years old accounted for nearly all net job creation in the United States. (3) New firms in the United States create an average of 3,000,000 jobs per year. (4) To get Americans back to work, entrepreneurs must be free to innovate, create new companies, and hire employees. 3. Conditional permanent resident status for immigrants with an advanced degree in a STEM field (a) In general Chapter 2 of title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1181 et seq. ) is amended by inserting after section 216A the following: 216B. Conditional permanent resident status for aliens with an advanced degree in a STEM field (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security may adjust the status of not more than 50,000 aliens who have earned a master’s degree or a doctorate degree at an institution of higher education in a STEM field to that of an alien conditionally admitted for permanent residence and authorize each alien granted such adjustment of status to remain in the United States— (1) for up to 1 year after the expiration of the alien’s student visa under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) if the alien is diligently searching for an opportunity to become actively engaged in a STEM field; and (2) indefinitely if the alien remains actively engaged in a STEM field. (b) Application for conditional permanent resident status Every alien applying for a conditional permanent resident status under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary of Homeland Security before the expiration of the alien's student visa in such form and manner as the Secretary shall prescribe by regulation. (c) Ineligibility for Federal Government assistance An alien granted conditional permanent resident status under this section shall not be eligible, while in such status, for— (1) any unemployment compensation (as defined in section 85(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986); or (2) any Federal means-tested public benefit (as that term is used in section 403 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 ( 8 U.S.C. 1613 )). (d) Effect on naturalization residency requirement An alien granted conditional permanent resident status under this section shall be deemed to have been lawfully admitted for permanent residence for purposes of meeting the 5-year residency requirement set forth in section 316(a)(1). (e) Removal of condition The Secretary of Homeland Security shall remove the conditional basis of an alien’s conditional permanent resident status under this section on the date that is 5 years after the date such status was granted if the alien maintained his or her eligibility for such status during the entire 5-year period. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Actively engaged in a STEM field The term actively engaged in a STEM field — (A) means— (i) gainfully employed in a for-profit business or nonprofit organization in the United States in a STEM field; (ii) teaching 1 or more STEM field courses at an institution of higher education; or (iii) employed by a Federal, State, or local government entity; and (B) includes any period of up to 6 months during which the alien does not meet the requirement under subparagraph (A) if such period was immediately preceded by a 1-year period during which the alien met the requirement under subparagraph (A). (2) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) ). (3) STEM field The term STEM field means any field of study or occupation included on the most recent STEM-Designated Degree Program List published in the Federal Register by the Department of Homeland Security (as described in section 214.2(f)(11)(i)(C)(2) of title 8, Code of Federal Regulations). . (b) Clerical amendment The table of contents for the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq. ) is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 216A the following: Sec. 216B. Conditional permanent resident status for aliens with an advanced degree in a STEM field. . (c) Government Accountability Office study (1) In general Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the alien college graduates granted immigrant status under section 216B of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by subsection (a). (2) Contents The report described in paragraph (1) shall include— (A) the number of aliens described in paragraph (1) who have earned a master’s degree, broken down by the number of such degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; (B) the number of aliens described in paragraph (1) who have earned a doctorate degree, broken down by the number of such degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; (C) the number of aliens described in paragraph (1) who have founded a business in the United States in a STEM field; (D) the number of aliens described in paragraph (1) who are employed in the United States in a STEM field, broken down by employment sector (for profit, nonprofit, or government); and (E) the number of aliens described in paragraph (1) who are employed by an institution of higher education. (3) Definitions The terms institution of higher education and STEM field have the meaning given such terms in section 216B(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by subsection (a). 4. Immigrant entrepreneurs (a) Qualified alien entrepreneurs (1) Admission as immigrants Chapter 1 of title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1151 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: 210A. Qualified alien entrepreneurs (a) Admission as immigrants The Secretary of Homeland Security, in accordance with the provisions of this section and section 216A, may issue a conditional immigrant visa to not more than 75,000 qualified alien entrepreneurs. (b) Application for conditional permanent resident status Every alien applying for a conditional immigrant visa under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary of Homeland Security in such form and manner as the Secretary shall prescribe by regulation. (c) Revocation If, during the 4-year period beginning on the date that an alien is granted a visa under this section, the Secretary of Homeland Security determines that such alien is no longer a qualified alien entrepreneur, the Secretary shall— (1) revoke such visa; and (2) notify the alien that the alien— (A) may voluntarily depart from the United States in accordance to section 240B; or (B) will be subject to removal proceedings under section 240 if the alien does not depart from the United States not later than 6 months after receiving such notification. (d) Removal of conditional basis The Secretary of Homeland Security shall remove the conditional basis of the status of an alien issued an immigrant visa under this section on that date that is 4 years after the date on which such visa was issued if such visa was not revoked pursuant to subsection (c). (e) Definitions In this section: (1) Full-time employee The term full-time employee means a United States citizen or legal permanent resident who is paid by the new business entity registered by a qualified alien entrepreneur at a rate that is comparable to the median income of employees in the region. (2) Qualified alien entrepreneur The term qualified alien entrepreneur means an alien who— (A) at the time the alien applies for an immigrant visa under this section— (i) is lawfully present in the United States; and (ii) (I) holds a nonimmigrant visa pursuant to section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b); or (II) holds a nonimmigrant visa pursuant to section 101(a)(15)(F)(i); (B) during the 1-year period beginning on the date the alien is granted a visa under this section— (i) registers at least 1 new business entity in a State; (ii) employs, at such business entity in the United States, at least 2 full-time employees who are not relatives of the alien; and (iii) invests, or raises capital investment of, not less than $100,000 in such business entity; and (C) during the 3-year period beginning on the last day of the 1-year period described in paragraph (2), employs, at such business entity in the United States, an average of at least 5 full-time employees who are not relatives of the alien. . (2) Table of contents amendment The table of contents in the first section of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq. ) is amended by adding after the item relating to section 210 the following: Sec. 210A. Qualified alien entrepreneurs. . (b) Conditional permanent resident status Section 216A of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1186b ) is amended— (1) by striking Attorney General each place such term appears and inserting Secretary of Homeland Security ; (2) in subsection (b)(1)(C), by striking 203(b)(5), and inserting 203(b)(5) or 210A, as appropriate, ; (3) in subsection (c)(1), by striking alien entrepreneur must each place such term appears and inserting alien entrepreneur shall ; (4) in subsection (d)(1)(B), by striking the period at the end and inserting or 210A, as appropriate. ; and (5) in subsection (f)(1), by striking the period at the end and inserting or 210A. . (c) Government Accountability Office study (1) In general Not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the qualified alien entrepreneurs granted immigrant status under section 210A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by subsection (a). (2) Contents The report described in paragraph (1) shall include information regarding— (A) the number of qualified alien entrepreneurs who have received immigrant status under section 210A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by subsection (a), listed by country of origin; (B) the localities in which such qualified alien entrepreneurs have initially settled; (C) whether such qualified alien entrepreneurs generally remain in the localities in which they initially settle; (D) the types of commercial enterprises that such qualified alien entrepreneurs have established; and (E) the types and number of jobs created by such qualified alien entrepreneurs. 5. Elimination of the per country numerical limitation for employment-based visas (a) In general Section 202(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1152(a)(2) ) is amended— (1) in the paragraph heading, by striking and employment-based ; (2) by striking (3), (4), and (5), and inserting (3) and (4), ; (3) by striking subsections (a) and (b) of section 203 and inserting section 203(a) ; (4) by striking 7 and inserting 15 ; and (5) by striking such subsections and inserting such section . (b) Conforming amendments Section 202 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1152 ) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking both subsections (a) and (b) of section 203 and inserting section 203(a) ; (2) by striking subsection (a)(5); and (3) by amending subsection (e) to read as follows: (e) Special rules for countries at ceiling If it is determined that the total number of immigrant visas made available under section 203(a) to natives of any single foreign state or dependent area will exceed the numerical limitation specified in subsection (a)(2) in any fiscal year, in determining the allotment of immigrant visa numbers to natives under section 203(a), visa numbers with respect to natives of that state or area shall be allocated (to the extent practicable and otherwise consistent with this section and section 203) in a manner so that, except as provided in subsection (a)(4), the proportion of the visa numbers made available under each of paragraphs (1) through (4) of section 203(a) is equal to the ratio of the total number of visas made available under the respective paragraph to the total number of visas made available under section 203(a). . (c) Country-Specific offset Section 2 of the Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 ( 8 U.S.C. 1255 note) is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by striking subsection (e)) and inserting subsection (d)) ; and (2) by striking subsection (d) and redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d). (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall take effect as if enacted on September 30, 2014, and shall apply to fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 2015. (e) Transition Rules for Employment-Based Immigrants (1) In general Subject to the succeeding paragraphs of this subsection and notwithstanding title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1151 et seq. ), the following rules shall apply: (A) For fiscal year 2015, 15 percent of the immigrant visas made available under each of paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 203(b) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1153(b) ) shall be allotted to immigrants who are natives of a foreign state or dependent area that was not one of the two states with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining immigrant visas during fiscal year 2013 under such paragraphs. (B) For fiscal year 2016, 10 percent of the immigrant visas made available under each of such paragraphs shall be allotted to immigrants who are natives of a foreign state or dependent area that was not one of the two states with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining immigrant visas during fiscal year 2014 under such paragraphs. (C) For fiscal year 2017, 10 percent of the immigrant visas made available under each of such paragraphs shall be allotted to immigrants who are natives of a foreign state or dependent area that was not one of the two states with the largest aggregate numbers of natives obtaining immigrant visas during fiscal year 2015 under such paragraphs. (2) Per-country levels (A) Reserved visas With respect to the visas reserved under each of subparagraphs (A) through (C) of paragraph (1), the number of such visas made available to natives of any single foreign state or dependent area in the appropriate fiscal year may not exceed 25 percent (in the case of a single foreign state) or 2 percent (in the case of a dependent area) of the total number of such visas. (B) Unreserved visas With respect to the immigrant visas made available under each of paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 203(b) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1153(b) ) and not reserved under paragraph (1), for each of fiscal years 2015, 2016, and 2017, not more than 85 percent shall be allotted to immigrants who are natives of any single foreign state. (3) Special rule to prevent unused visas If, with respect to fiscal year 2015, 2016, or 2017, the operation of paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection would prevent the total number of immigrant visas made available under paragraph (2) or (3) of section 203(b) of such Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1153(b) ) from being issued, such visas may be issued during the remainder of such fiscal year without regard to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection. (4) Rules for chargeability Section 202(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1152(b) ) shall apply in determining the foreign state to which an alien is chargeable for purposes of this subsection. 6. Capital gains tax exemption for startup companies (a) Permanent full exclusion (1) In general Subsection (a) of section 1202 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows: (a) Exclusion In the case of a taxpayer other than a corporation, gross income shall not include 100 percent of any gain from the sale or exchange of qualified small business stock held for more than 5 years. . (2) Conforming amendments (A) The heading for section 1202 of such Code is amended by striking partial . (B) The item relating to section 1202 in the table of sections for part I of subchapter P of chapter 1 of such Code is amended by striking Partial exclusion and inserting Exclusion . (C) Section 1223(13) of such Code is amended by striking 1202(a)(2), . (b) Repeal of minimum tax preference (1) In general Subsection (a) of section 57 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by striking paragraph (7). (2) Technical amendment Subclause (II) of section 53(d)(1)(B)(ii) of such Code is amended by striking , (5), and (7) and inserting and (5) . (c) Repeal of 28 percent capital gains rate on qualified small business stock (1) In general Subparagraph (A) of section 1(h)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended to read as follows: (A) collectibles gain, over . (2) Conforming amendments (A) Section 1(h) of such Code is amended by striking paragraph (7). (B) (i) Section 1(h) of such Code is amended by redesignating paragraphs (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), and (13) as paragraphs (7), (8), (9), (10), (11), and (12), respectively. (ii) Sections 163(d)(4)(B), 854(b)(5), 857(c)(2)(D) of such Code are each amended by striking section 1(h)(11)(B) and inserting section 1(h)(10)(B) . (iii) The following sections of such Code are each amended by striking section 1(h)(11) and inserting section 1(h)(10) : (I) Section 301(f)(4). (II) Section 306(a)(1)(D). (III) Section 584(c). (IV) Section 702(a)(5). (V) Section 854(a). (VI) Section 854(b)(2). (iv) The heading of section 857(c)(2) is amended by striking 1(h)(11) and inserting 1(h)(10) . (d) Effective date The amendments made by this section apply to stock acquired after December 31, 2015. 7. Research credit for startup companies (a) In general (1) In general Section 41 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (i) Treatment of credit to qualified small businesses (1) In general At the election of a qualified small business, the payroll tax credit portion of the credit determined under subsection (a) shall be treated as a credit allowed under section 3111(f) (and not under this section). (2) Payroll tax credit portion For purposes of this subsection, the payroll tax credit portion of the credit determined under subsection (a) for any taxable year is so much of such credit as does not exceed $250,000. (3) Qualified small business For purposes of this subsection— (A) In general The term qualified small business means, with respect to any taxable year— (i) a corporation, partnership, or S corporation if— (I) the gross receipts (as determined under subsection (c)(7)) of such entity for the taxable year is less than $5,000,000, and (II) such entity did not have gross receipts (as so determined) for any period preceding the 5-taxable-year period ending with such taxable year, and (ii) any person not described in subparagraph (A) if clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A) applied to such person, determined— (I) by substituting person for entity each place it appears), and (II) in the case of an individual, by only taking into account the aggregate gross receipts received by such individual in carrying on trades or businesses of such individual. (B) Limitation Such term shall not include an organization which is exempt from taxation under section 501. (4) Election (A) In general In the case of a partnership or S corporation, an election under this subsection shall be made at the entity level. (B) Revocation An election under this subsection may not be revoked without the consent of the Secretary. (C) Limitation A taxpayer may not make an election under this subsection if such taxpayer has made an election under this subsection for 5 or more preceding taxable years. (5) Aggregation rules For purposes of determining the $250,000 limitation under paragraph (2) and determining gross receipts under paragraph (3), all members of the same controlled group of corporations (within the meaning of section 267(f)) and all persons under common control (within the meaning of section 52(b) but determined by treating an interest of more than 50 percent as a controlling interest) shall be treated as 1 person. (6) Regulations The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection, including— (A) regulations to prevent the avoidance of the purposes of paragraph (3) through the use of successor companies or other means, (B) regulations to minimize compliance and record-keeping burdens under this subsection for start-up companies, and (C) regulations for recapturing the benefit of credits determined under section 3111(f) in cases where there is a subsequent adjustment to the payroll tax credit portion of the credit determined under subsection (a), including requiring amended returns in the cases where there is such an adjustment. . (2) Conforming amendment Section 280C(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (5) Treatment of qualified small business credit For purposes of determining the amount of any credit under section 41(a) under this subsection, any election under section 41(i) shall be disregarded. . (b) Credit allowed against FICA taxes (1) In general Section 3111 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f) Credit for research expenditures of qualified small businesses (1) In general In the case of a qualified small business which has made an election under section 41(i), there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by subsection (a) on wages paid with respect to the employment of all employees of the qualified small business for days in an applicable calendar quarter an amount equal to the payroll tax credit portion of the research credit determined under section 41(a). (2) Carryover of unused credit In any case in which the payroll tax credit portion of the research credit determined under section 41(a) exceeds the tax imposed under subsection (a) for an applicable calendar quarter— (A) the succeeding calendar quarter shall be treated as an applicable calendar quarter, and (B) the amount of credit allowed under paragraph (1) shall be reduced by the amount of credit allowed under such paragraph for all preceding applicable calendar quarters. (3) Allocation of credit for controlled groups, etc In determining the amount of the credit under this subsection— (A) all persons treated as a single taxpayer under section 41 shall be treated as a single taxpayer under this section, and (B) the credit (if any) allowable by this section to each such member shall be its proportionate share of the qualified research expenses, basic research payments, and amounts paid or incurred to energy research consortiums, giving rise to the credit allowable under section 41. (4) Definitions For purposes of this subsection— (A) Applicable calendar quarter The term applicable calendar quarter means— (i) the first calendar quarter following the date on which the qualified small business files a return under section 6012 for the taxable year for which the payroll tax credit portion of the research credit under section 41(a) is determined, and (ii) any succeeding calendar quarter treated as an applicable calendar quarter under paragraph (2)(A). For purposes of determining the date on which a return is filed, rules similar to the rules of section 6513 shall apply. (B) Other terms Any term used in this subsection which is also used in section 41 shall have the meaning given such term under section 41. . (2) Transfers to federal old-age and survivors insurance trust fund There are hereby appropriated to the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Trust Fund and the Federal Disability Insurance Trust Fund established under section 201 of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 401 ) amounts equal to the reduction in revenues to the Treasury by reason of the amendments made by paragraph (1). Amounts appropriated by the preceding sentence shall be transferred from the general fund at such times and in such manner as to replicate to the extent possible the transfers which would have occurred to such Trust Fund had such amendments not been enacted. (c) Effective date The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2014. 8. Accelerated commercialization of taxpayer-funded research (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Council The term Council means the Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the Department of Commerce established pursuant to section 25(c) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 ( 15 U.S.C. 3720(c) ). (2) Extramural budget The term extramural budget means the sum of the total obligations minus amounts obligated for such activities by employees of the agency in or through Government-owned, Government-operated facilities, except that for the Department of Energy it shall not include amounts obligated for atomic energy defense programs solely for weapons activities or for naval reactor programs, and except that for the Agency for International Development it shall not include amounts obligated solely for general institutional support of international research centers or for grants to foreign countries. (3) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) ). (4) Research or research and development The term research or research and development means any activity that is— (A) a systematic, intensive study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the subject studied; (B) a systematic study directed specifically toward applying new knowledge to meet a recognized need; or (C) a systematic application of knowledge toward the production of useful materials, devices, and systems or methods, including design, development, and improvement of prototypes and new processes to meet specific requirements. (5) Secretary The term Secretary means the Secretary of Commerce. (b) Grant program authorized (1) In general Each Federal agency that has an extramural budget for research or research and development that is in excess of $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2016 through 2020, shall transfer 0.15 percent of such extramural budget for each of such fiscal years to the Secretary to enable the Secretary to carry out a grant program in accordance with this subsection. (2) Grants (A) Awarding of grants (i) In general From funds transferred under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall use the criteria developed by the Council to award grants to institutions of higher education, including consortia of institutions of higher education, for initiatives to improve commercialization and transfer of technology. (ii) Request for proposals Not later than 30 days after the Council submits the recommendations for criteria to the Secretary under subsection (c)(4)(B), and annually thereafter for each fiscal year for which the grant program is authorized, the Secretary shall release a request for proposals. (iii) Applications Each institution of higher education that desires to receive a grant under this subsection shall submit an application to the Secretary not later than 90 days after the Secretary releases the request for proposals under clause (ii). (iv) Council review (I) In general The Secretary shall submit each application received under clause (iii) to the Council for Council review. (II) Recommendations The Council shall review each application received under subclause (I) and submit recommendations for grant awards to the Secretary, including funding recommendations for each proposal. (III) Public release The Council shall publicly release any recommendations made under subclause (II). (IV) Consideration of recommendations In awarding grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall take into consideration the recommendations of the Council under subclause (II). (B) Commercialization capacity building grants (i) In general The Secretary shall award grants to support institutions of higher education pursuing specific innovative initiatives to improve an institution’s capacity to commercialize faculty research that can be widely adopted if the research yields measurable results. (ii) Content of proposals Grants shall be awarded under this subparagraph to proposals demonstrating the capacity for accelerated commercialization, proof-of-concept proficiency, and translating scientific discoveries and cutting-edge inventions into technological innovations and new companies. In particular, grant funds shall seek to support innovative approaches to achieving these goals that can be replicated by other institutions of higher education if the innovative approaches are successful. (C) Commercialization accelerator grants The Secretary shall award grants to support institutions of higher education pursuing initiatives that allow faculty to directly commercialize research in an effort to accelerate research breakthroughs. The Secretary shall prioritize those initiatives that have a management structure that encourages collaboration between other institutions of higher education or other entities with demonstrated proficiency in creating and growing new companies based on verifiable metrics. (3) Assessment of success Grants awarded under this subsection shall use criteria for assessing the success of programs through the establishment of benchmarks. (4) Termination The Secretary shall have the authority to terminate grant funding to an institution of higher education in accordance with the process and performance metrics recommended by the Council. (5) Limitations (A) Project management costs A grant recipient may use not more than 10 percent of grant funds awarded under this subsection for the purpose of funding project management costs of the grant program. (B) Supplement, not supplant An institution of higher education that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the grant funds to supplement, and not supplant, non-Federal funds that would, in the absence of such grant funds, be made available for activities described in this section. (6) Unspent funds Any funds transferred to the Secretary under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year that are not expended by the end of such fiscal year may be expended in any subsequent fiscal year through fiscal year 2020. Any funds transferred under paragraph (1) that are remaining at the end of the grant program's authorization under this subsection shall be transferred to the Treasury for deficit reduction. (c) Council (1) In general Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Council shall convene and develop recommendations for criteria in awarding grants to institutions of higher education under subsection (b). (2) Submission to Commerce and publicly released The Council shall— (A) submit the recommendations described in subparagraph (A) to the Secretary; and (i) release the recommendations to the public. (B) Majority vote The recommendations submitted by the Council, as described in this paragraph, shall be determined by a majority vote of Council members. (C) Performance metrics The Council shall develop and provide to the Secretary recommendations on performance metrics to be used to evaluate grants awarded under subsection (b). (3) Evaluation (A) In general Not later than 180 days before the date that the grant program authorized under subsection (b) expires, the Council shall conduct an evaluation of the effect that the grant program is having on accelerating the commercialization of faculty research. (B) Inclusions The evaluation shall include— (i) the recommendation of the Council as to whether the grant program should be continued or terminated; (ii) quantitative data related to the effect, if any, that the grant program has had on faculty research commercialization; and (iii) a description of lessons learned in administering the grant program, and how those lessons could be applied to future efforts to accelerate commercialization of faculty research. (C) Availability Upon completion of the evaluation, the evaluation shall be made available on a public website and submitted to Congress. The Secretary shall notify all institutions of higher education when the evaluation is published and how it can be accessed. (d) Construction Nothing in this section may be construed to alter, modify, or amend any provision of chapter 18 of title 35, United States Code (commonly known as the Bayh-Dole Act ). 9. Economic impact of significant Federal agency rules Section 553 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: (f) Required review before issuance of significant rules (1) In general Before issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register regarding the issuance of a proposed significant rule, the head of the Federal agency or independent regulatory agency seeking to issue the rule shall complete a review, to the extent permitted by law, that— (A) analyzes the problem that the proposed rule intends to address, including— (i) the specific market failure, such as externalities, market power, or lack of information, that justifies such rule; or (ii) any other specific problem, such as the failures of public institutions, that justifies such rule; (B) analyzes the expected impact of the proposed rule on the ability of new businesses to form and expand; (C) identifies the expected impact of the proposed rule on State, local, and tribal governments, including the availability of resources— (i) to carry out the mandates imposed by the rule on such government entities; and (ii) to minimize the burdens that uniquely or significantly affect such governmental entities, consistent with achieving regulatory objectives; (D) identifies any conflicting or duplicative regulations; (E) determines— (i) if existing laws or regulations created, or contributed to, the problem that the new rule is intended to correct; and (ii) if the laws or regulations referred to in clause (i) should be modified to more effectively achieve the intended goal of the rule; and (F) includes the cost-benefit analysis described in paragraph (2). (2) Cost-benefit analysis A cost-benefit analysis described in this paragraph shall include— (A) (i) an assessment, including the underlying analysis, of benefits anticipated from the proposed rule, such as— (I) promoting the efficient functioning of the economy and private markets; (II) enhancing health and safety; (III) protecting the natural environment; and (IV) eliminating or reducing discrimination or bias; and (ii) the quantification of the benefits described in clause (i), to the extent feasible; (B) (i) an assessment, including the underlying analysis, of costs anticipated from the proposed rule, such as— (I) the direct costs to the Federal Government to administer the rule; (II) the direct costs to businesses and others to comply with the rule; and (III) any adverse effects on the efficient functioning of the economy, private markets (including productivity, employment, and competitiveness), health, safety, and the natural environment; and (ii) the quantification of the costs described in clause (i), to the extent feasible; (C) (i) an assessment, including the underlying analysis, of costs and benefits of potentially effective and reasonably feasible alternatives to the proposed rule, which have been identified by the agency or by the public, including taking reasonably viable nonregulatory actions; and (ii) an explanation of why the proposed rule is preferable to the alternatives identified under clause (i). (3) Report Before issuing a notice of proposed rulemaking in the Federal Register regarding the issuance of a proposed significant rule, the head of the Federal agency or independent regulatory agency seeking to issue the rule shall— (A) submit the results of the review conducted under paragraph (1) to the appropriate congressional committees; and (B) post the results of the review conducted under paragraph (1) on a publicly available website. (4) Judicial review Any determinations made, or other actions taken, by an agency or independent regulatory agency under this subsection shall not be subject to judicial review. (5) Defined term In this subsection the term significant rule means a rule that is likely to— (A) have an annual effect on the economy of $100,000,000 or more; (B) adversely affect, in a material way, the economy, a sector of the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities; or (C) create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency. . 10. Biennial State startup business report (a) Data collection The Secretary of Commerce shall regularly compile information from each of the 50 States and the District of Columbia on State laws that affect the formation and growth of new businesses within the State or District. (b) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary, using data compiled under subsection (a), shall prepare a report that— (1) analyzes the economic effect of State and District laws that either encourage or inhibit business formation and growth; and (2) ranks the States and the District based on the effectiveness with which their laws foster new business creation and economic growth. (c) Distribution The Secretary shall— (1) submit each report prepared under subsection (b) to Congress; and (2) make each report available to the public on the Department of Commerce’s website. (d) Inclusion of large metropolitan areas Not later than 90 days after the submission of the first report under this section, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to Congress a study on the feasibility and advisability of including, in future reports, information about the effect of local laws and ordinances on the formation and growth of new businesses in large metropolitan areas within the United States. (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 11. New business formation report (a) In general The Secretary of Commerce shall regularly compile quantitative and qualitative information on businesses in the United States that are not more than 1 year old. (b) Data collection The Secretary shall— (1) regularly compile information from the Bureau of the Census’ business register on new business formation in the United States; and (2) conduct quarterly surveys of business owners who start a business during the 1-year period ending on the date on which such survey is conducted to gather qualitative information about the factors that influenced their decision to start the business. (c) Random sampling In conducting surveys under subsection (b)(2), the Secretary may use random sampling to identify a group of business owners who are representative of all the business owners described in subsection (b)(2). (d) Benefits The Secretary shall inform business owners selected to participate in a survey conducted under this section of the benefits they would receive from participating in the survey. (e) Voluntary participation Business owners selected to participate in a survey conducted under this section may decline to participate without penalty. (f) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 3 months thereafter, the Secretary shall use the data compiled under subsection (b) to prepare a report that— (1) lists the aggregate number of new businesses formed in the United States; (2) lists the aggregate number of persons employed by new businesses formed in the United States; (3) analyzes the payroll of new businesses formed in the United States; (4) summarizes the data collected under subsection (b); and (5) identifies the most effective means by which government officials can encourage the formation and growth of new businesses in the United States. (g) Distribution The Secretary shall— (1) submit each report prepared under subsection (f) to Congress; and (2) make each report available to the public on the Department of Commerce’s website. (h) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section. 12. Rescission of unspent Federal funds (a) In general Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of all available unobligated funds for fiscal year 2015, the amount necessary to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act in appropriated discretionary funds are hereby rescinded. (b) Implementation The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall determine and identify from which appropriation accounts the rescission under subsection (a) shall apply and the amount of such rescission that shall apply to each such account. Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall submit a report to the Secretary of the Treasury and Congress of the accounts and amounts determined and identified for rescission under the preceding sentence.