ARPA–E Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2019

Bill: 116-hr-3915
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Lucas, Frank D. [R-OK-3]
Introduced: 2019-07-23
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Advanced technology and technological innovations

Air quality

Climate change and greenhouse gases

Congressional oversight

Energy efficiency and conservation

Energy research

Energy storage, supplies, demand

Environmental assessment, monitoring, research

Hazardous wastes and toxic substances

Performance measurement

Radioactive wastes and releases
Latest action: action_date: 2019-07-23
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-07-23
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>ARPA-E Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2019</b> </p> <p>This bill revises and reauthorizes requirements governing the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) in the Department of Energy (DOE). </p> <p>This bill requires ARPA-E to overcome the long-term and high-risk technological barriers in the development of transformative science and technology solutions to address energy, environmental, economic, and national security challenges. (Currently, ARPA-E must overcome barriers in the development of energy technologies.)</p> <p>The bill expands the goals of ARPA-E to include the development of energy technologies that</p> <ul> <li>provide transformative solutions to improve management of radioactive waste, </li> <li>improve the efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of energy production, and</li> <li>address other challenges within the mission of DOE.</li> </ul> <p>The bill expands the responsibility of ARPA-E to accelerate novel early-stage research to include nonenergy research. </p>  <p>ARPA-E must ensure that it does not fund an advanced technology project unless the prospective grantee has demonstrated sufficient attempts to secure private financing or that such project is not independently commercially viable.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 3915 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 23, 2019 Mr. Lucas (for himself, Mr. Marshall , Mr. Baird , Miss González-Colón of Puerto Rico , Mr. Gonzalez of Ohio , Mr. Bacon , and Mr. Woodall ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology A BILL To amend the America COMPETES Act to reauthorize the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the ARPA–E Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2019 . 2. Advanced research projects agency–energy (a) Establishment Section 5012(b) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(b) ) is amended by striking development of energy technologies and inserting development of transformative science and technology solutions to address energy, environmental, economic, and national security challenges . (b) Goals Section 5012(c) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(c) ) is amended— (1) by striking paragraph (1)(A) and inserting the following: (A) to enhance the economic and energy security of the United States through the development of energy technologies that— (i) reduce imports of energy from foreign sources; (ii) reduce energy-related emissions, including greenhouse gases; (iii) improve the energy efficiency of all economic sectors; (iv) provide transformative solutions to improve the management, clean-up, and disposal of— (I) low-level radioactive waste; (II) spent nuclear fuel; and (III) high-level radioactive waste; (v) improve efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of all forms of energy production; (vi) improve the resiliency, reliability, and security of the electric grid; and (vii) address other challenges within the mission of the Department as determined by the Secretary; and ; and (2) in paragraph (2), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking energy technology projects and inserting advanced technology projects . (c) Responsibilities Section 5012(e)(3)(A) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(e)(3)(A) ) is amended by striking energy . (d) Reports and roadmaps Section 5012(h) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(h) ) is amended to read as follows: (h) Annual report (1) In general As part of the annual budget request submitted for each fiscal year, the Director shall provide to the relevant authorizing and appropriations committees of Congress a report that— (A) describes projects supported by ARPA–E during the previous fiscal year; (B) identifies and includes an analysis of projects supported by ARPA–E during the previous fiscal year that demonstrate duplication of other activities funded by the Department; and (C) describes current, proposed, and planned projects to be carried out pursuant to subsection (e)(3)(D). (2) Strategic vision roadmap Beginning with the report submitted with respect to fiscal year 2020, and every 4 fiscal years thereafter, the report required under paragraph (1) shall include a roadmap describing the strategic vision that ARPA–E will use to guide the choices of ARPA–E for future technology investments over the following 4 fiscal years. . (e) Coordination and nonduplication Section 5012(i)(1) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(i)(1) ) is amended to read as follows: (1) In general To the maximum extent practicable, the Director shall ensure that— (A) the activities of ARPA–E are coordinated with, and do not duplicate the efforts of, programs and laboratories within the Department and other relevant research agencies; and (B) ARPA–E does not provide funding for a project unless the prospective grantee demonstrates sufficient attempts to secure private financing or indicates that the project is not independently commercially viable. . (f) Evaluation Section 5012(l) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(l) ) is amended— (1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) In general Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the ARPA–E Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2019 , the Secretary is authorized to enter into a contract with a third party entity to conduct an evaluation of how well ARPA–E is achieving the goals and mission of ARPA–E. ; and (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking shall and inserting may ; and (B) by striking the recommendation of the National Academy of Sciences and inserting a recommendation . (g) Authorization of appropriations Paragraph (2) of section 5012(o) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(o) ) is amended to read as follows: (2) Authorization of appropriations Subject to paragraph (4), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of ARPA–E— (A) $392,800,000 for fiscal year 2020; (B) $419,600,000 for fiscal year 2021; (C) $446,400,000 for fiscal year 2022; (D) $473,200,000 for fiscal year 2023; and (E) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2024. . (h) Technical amendments Section 5012(g)(3)(A)(iii) of the America COMPETES Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16538(g)(3)(A)(iii) ) is amended by striking subpart each place it appears and inserting subparagraph .