Scientific Research in the National Interest Act

Bill: 114-hr-3293
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21]
Introduced: 2015-07-29
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits

Education programs funding

National Science Foundation

Research administration and funding

Science and engineering education

Scientific communication
Latest action: action_date: 2016-02-11
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-07-29
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Scientific Research in the National Interest Act</b></p> <p> This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award federal funding for basic research and education in the sciences through a new research grant or cooperative agreement only if it makes an affirmative determination, justified in writing, that the grant or agreement promotes the progress of science in the United States, is worthy of federal funding, and meets certain other criteria. </p>

action_date: 2016-02-02
action_desc: Reported to House without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p><b>Scientific Research in the National Interest Act</b></p> <p> (Sec. 2) This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award federal funding for basic research and education in the sciences through a new research grant or cooperative agreement only if it makes an affirmative determination, justified in writing, that the grant or agreement promotes the progress of science in the United States, is worthy of federal funding, and meets certain other criteria. </p> <p>The bill declares that such a determination shall be made after a research grant or cooperative agreement proposal has first satisfied the NSF's reviews for Merit and Broader Impacts. </p>

action_date: 2016-02-10
action_desc: Passed House amended
text: <p><b>Scientific Research in the National Interest Act</b></p> <p> (Sec. 2) This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award federal funding for basic research and education in the sciences through a new research grant or cooperative agreement only if it makes an affirmative determination, justified in writing, that the grant or agreement promotes the progress of science in the United States, is worthy of federal funding, and meets certain other criteria. </p> <p>The bill declares that such a determination shall be made after a research grant or cooperative agreement proposal has first satisfied the NSF's reviews for Merit and Broader Impacts. </p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3293 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 29, 2015 Mr. Smith of Texas (for himself, Mr. Lipinski , Mr. Lucas , Mr. Grayson , Mrs. Comstock , Mr. Moolenaar , Mr. Weber of Texas , Mr. Knight , Mr. Bridenstine , Mr. Westerman , Mr. Babin , Mr. Brooks of Alabama , Mr. Loudermilk , Mr. Johnson of Ohio , Mr. Rohrabacher , Mr. Neugebauer , Mr. Posey , Mr. Palmer , Mr. Abraham , and Mr. Newhouse ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology A BILL To provide for greater accountability in Federal funding for scientific research, to promote the progress of science in the United States that serves that national interest.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Scientific Research in the National Interest Act . 2. Greater accountability in Federal funding for research (a) Standard for award of grants The National Science Foundation shall award Federal funding for basic research and education in the sciences through a new research grant or cooperative agreement only if an affirmative determination is made by the Foundation under subsection (b) and written justification relating thereto is published under subsection (c). (b) Determination A determination referred to in subsection (a) is a justification by the responsible Foundation official as to how the research grant or cooperative agreement promotes the progress of science in the United States, consistent with the Foundation mission as established in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 ( 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq. ), and further— (1) is worthy of Federal funding; and (2) is in the national interest, as indicated by having the potential to achieve— (A) increased economic competitiveness in the United States; (B) advancement of the health and welfare of the American public; (C) development of an American STEM workforce that is globally competitive; (D) increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology in the United States; (E) increased partnerships between academia and industry in the United States; (F) support for the national defense of the United States; or (G) promotion of the progress of science for the United States. (c) Written justification Public announcement of each award of Federal funding described in subsection (a) shall include a written justification from the responsible Foundation official as to how a grant or cooperative agreement meets the requirements of subsection (b). (d) Implementation A determination under subsection (b) shall be made after a research grant or cooperative agreement proposal has satisfied the Foundation’s reviews for Merit and Broader Impacts. Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering the Foundation’s intellectual merit or broader impacts criteria for evaluating grant applications.

tv_txt: IB 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3293 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To provide for greater accountability in Federal funding for scientific research, to promote the progress of science in the United States that serves that national interest.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Scientific Research in the National Interest Act . 2. Greater accountability in Federal funding for research (a) Standard for award of grants The National Science Foundation shall award Federal funding for basic research and education in the sciences through a new research grant or cooperative agreement only if an affirmative determination is made by the Foundation under subsection (b) and written justification relating thereto is published under subsection (c). (b) Determination A determination referred to in subsection (a) is a justification by the responsible Foundation official as to how the research grant or cooperative agreement promotes the progress of science in the United States, consistent with the Foundation mission as established in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 ( 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq. ), and further— (1) is worthy of Federal funding; (2) is consistent with established and widely accepted scientific methods applicable to the field of study of exploration; (3) is consistent with the definition of basic research as it applies to the purpose and field of study; and (4) is in the national interest, as indicated by having the potential to achieve— (A) increased economic competitiveness in the United States; (B) advancement of the health and welfare of the American public; (C) development of an American STEM workforce, including computer science and information technology sectors, that is globally competitive; (D) increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology in the United States; (E) increased partnerships between academia and industry in the United States; (F) support for the national defense of the United States; or (G) promotion of the progress of science for the United States. (c) Written justification Public announcement of each award of Federal funding described in subsection (a) shall include a written justification from the responsible Foundation official as to how a grant or cooperative agreement meets the requirements of subsection (b). (d) Implementation A determination under subsection (b) shall be made after a research grant or cooperative agreement proposal has satisfied the Foundation’s reviews for Merit and Broader Impacts. Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering the Foundation’s intellectual merit or broader impacts criteria for evaluating grant applications. (e) Clarification Nothing in this Act shall be construed to impact Federal funding for research grants or cooperative agreements awarded by the National Science Foundation prior to the date of enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives February 10, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: IIB 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3293 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 11, 2016 Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions AN ACT To provide for greater accountability in Federal funding for scientific research, to promote the progress of science in the United States that serves that national interest.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Scientific Research in the National Interest Act . 2. Greater accountability in Federal funding for research (a) Standard for award of grants The National Science Foundation shall award Federal funding for basic research and education in the sciences through a new research grant or cooperative agreement only if an affirmative determination is made by the Foundation under subsection (b) and written justification relating thereto is published under subsection (c). (b) Determination A determination referred to in subsection (a) is a justification by the responsible Foundation official as to how the research grant or cooperative agreement promotes the progress of science in the United States, consistent with the Foundation mission as established in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 ( 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq. ), and further— (1) is worthy of Federal funding; (2) is consistent with established and widely accepted scientific methods applicable to the field of study of exploration; (3) is consistent with the definition of basic research as it applies to the purpose and field of study; and (4) is in the national interest, as indicated by having the potential to achieve— (A) increased economic competitiveness in the United States; (B) advancement of the health and welfare of the American public; (C) development of an American STEM workforce, including computer science and information technology sectors, that is globally competitive; (D) increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology in the United States; (E) increased partnerships between academia and industry in the United States; (F) support for the national defense of the United States; or (G) promotion of the progress of science for the United States. (c) Written justification Public announcement of each award of Federal funding described in subsection (a) shall include a written justification from the responsible Foundation official as to how a grant or cooperative agreement meets the requirements of subsection (b). (d) Implementation A determination under subsection (b) shall be made after a research grant or cooperative agreement proposal has satisfied the Foundation’s reviews for Merit and Broader Impacts. Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering the Foundation’s intellectual merit or broader impacts criteria for evaluating grant applications. (e) Clarification Nothing in this Act shall be construed to impact Federal funding for research grants or cooperative agreements awarded by the National Science Foundation prior to the date of enactment of this Act.

Passed the House of Representatives February 10, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: IB Union Calendar No. 314 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 3293 [Report No. 114–412] IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 29, 2015 Mr. Smith of Texas (for himself, Mr. Lipinski , Mr. Lucas , Mr. Grayson , Mrs. Comstock , Mr. Moolenaar , Mr. Weber of Texas , Mr. Knight , Mr. Bridenstine , Mr. Westerman , Mr. Babin , Mr. Brooks of Alabama , Mr. Loudermilk , Mr. Johnson of Ohio , Mr. Rohrabacher , Mr. Neugebauer , Mr. Posey , Mr. Palmer , Mr. Abraham , and Mr. Newhouse ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology February 2, 2016 Additional sponsors: Mr. Sensenbrenner , Mr. Rouzer , and Mr. Hensarling February 2, 2016 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed A BILL To provide for greater accountability in Federal funding for scientific research, to promote the progress of science in the United States that serves that national interest.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Scientific Research in the National Interest Act . 2. Greater accountability in Federal funding for research (a) Standard for award of grants The National Science Foundation shall award Federal funding for basic research and education in the sciences through a new research grant or cooperative agreement only if an affirmative determination is made by the Foundation under subsection (b) and written justification relating thereto is published under subsection (c). (b) Determination A determination referred to in subsection (a) is a justification by the responsible Foundation official as to how the research grant or cooperative agreement promotes the progress of science in the United States, consistent with the Foundation mission as established in the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 ( 42 U.S.C. 1861 et seq. ), and further— (1) is worthy of Federal funding; and (2) is in the national interest, as indicated by having the potential to achieve— (A) increased economic competitiveness in the United States; (B) advancement of the health and welfare of the American public; (C) development of an American STEM workforce that is globally competitive; (D) increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology in the United States; (E) increased partnerships between academia and industry in the United States; (F) support for the national defense of the United States; or (G) promotion of the progress of science for the United States. (c) Written justification Public announcement of each award of Federal funding described in subsection (a) shall include a written justification from the responsible Foundation official as to how a grant or cooperative agreement meets the requirements of subsection (b). (d) Implementation A determination under subsection (b) shall be made after a research grant or cooperative agreement proposal has satisfied the Foundation’s reviews for Merit and Broader Impacts. Nothing in this section shall be construed as altering the Foundation’s intellectual merit or broader impacts criteria for evaluating grant applications.

February 2, 2016 Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed