[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 363 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 363
To authorize appropriations for basic research and research
infrastructure in science and engineering, and for support of graduate
fellowships, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
January 10, 2007
Mr. Gordon of Tennessee introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Science and Technology
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To authorize appropriations for basic research and research
infrastructure in science and engineering, and for support of graduate
fellowships, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Sowing the Seeds Through Science and
Engineering Research Act''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR BASIC RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.
(a) National Science Foundation.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for support of basic
research activities in the physical sciences, mathematics and computer
sciences, and engineering, $2,114,100,000 for fiscal year 2008,
$2,325,510,000 for fiscal year 2009, $2,558,060,000 for fiscal year
2010, $2,813,870,000 for fiscal year 2011, and $3,095,260,000 for
fiscal year 2012.
(b) Department of Energy.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary of Energy for the Office of Science for support of
basic research activities in the physical sciences, mathematics and
computer sciences, and engineering, $2,205,400,000 for fiscal year
2008, $2,425,940,000 for fiscal year 2009, $2,668,530,000 for fiscal
year 2010, $2,935,380,000 for fiscal year 2011, and $3,228,920,000 for
fiscal year 2012.
(c) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration for support of basic research activities in the physical
sciences, mathematics and computer sciences, and engineering,
$1,669,700,000 for fiscal year 2008, $1,836,670,000 for fiscal year
2009, $2,020,340,000 for fiscal year 2010, $2,222,370,000 for fiscal
year 2011, and $2,444,610,000 for fiscal year 2012.
(d) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute of Standards
and Technology for support of basic research activities in the physical
sciences, mathematics and computer sciences, and engineering,
$86,240,000 for fiscal year 2008, $94,860,000 for fiscal year 2009,
$104,350,000 for fiscal year 2010, $114,780,000 for fiscal year 2011,
and $126,260,000 for fiscal year 2012.
(e) Department of Defense.--There are authorized to be appropriated
to the Secretary of Defense for support of basic research activities
under budget category 6.1, $1,784,750,000 for fiscal year 2008,
$1,963,220,000 for fiscal year 2009, $2,159,540,000 for fiscal year
2010, $2,375,490,000 for fiscal year 2011, and $2,613,000,000 for
fiscal year 2012.
(f) High-Risk Research.--Of the amounts appropriated in each of
subsections (a) through (e), not less than 8 percent shall be available
for high-risk, potentially high-payoff research as determined by
technical program managers at the respective agencies.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION EARLY CAREER AWARDS FOR SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING RESEARCHERS.
(a) In General.--The Director of the National Science Foundation
shall carry out a program to award grants to scientists and engineers
at the early stage of their careers at institutions of higher education
and organizations described in subsection (c)(2) to conduct research in
fields relevant to the mission of the Foundation. The existing Faculty
Early Career Development (CAREER) Program may be designated as the
mechanism for awarding such grants.
(b) Size and Duration of Award.--The duration of awards under this
section shall be 5 years, and the amount per year shall be at least
$80,000.
(c) Eligibility.--Award recipients shall be individuals who are
employed in a tenure-track position as an assistant professor or
equivalent title, or who hold an equivalent position, at--
(1) an institution of higher education in the United
States; or
(2) an organization in the United States that is a
nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organization such as a
museum, observatory, or research laboratory.
(d) Selection.--Award recipients shall be selected on a
competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
(e) Selection Process and Criteria for Awards.--An applicant
seeking funding under this section shall submit a proposal to the
Director at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Director may require. In evaluating the proposals submitted
under this section, the Director shall consider, at a minimum--
(1) the intellectual merit of the proposed work;
(2) the innovative or transformative nature of the proposed
research;
(3) the extent to which the proposal integrates research
and education, including undergraduate education in science and
engineering disciplines; and
(4) the potential of the applicant for leadership at the
frontiers of knowledge.
(f) Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the Director
shall endeavor to ensure that the recipients are from a variety of
types of institutions of higher education and nonprofit, nondegree-
granting research organizations. In support of this goal, the Director
shall broadly disseminate information about when and how to apply for
grants under this section, including by conducting outreach to
Historically Black Colleges and Universities that are part B
institutions as defined in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)) and minority institutions (as defined in
section 365(3) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3))).
(g) Authorization of Appropriation.--For each of the fiscal years
2008 through 2012, the Director shall allocate at least 3.5 percent of
funds appropriated to the National Science Foundation for Research and
Related Activities to the grants program under this section.
(h) Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Director shall transmit to the Committee on Science of
the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate a report describing the distribution
of the institutions from which individuals have participated in the
Faculty Early Career Development Program since fiscal year 2001 among
each of the categories of institutions of higher education defined by
the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the
organizations in subsection (c)(2).
(i) Evaluation.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Director shall transmit to the Committee on Science of
the House of Representatives and to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate a report evaluating the impact of the
program carried out under this section on the ability of young faculty
to compete for National Science Foundation research grants.
SEC. 4. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY EARLY CAREER AWARDS FOR SCIENCE AND
ENGINEERING RESEARCHERS.
(a) In General.--The Director of the Office of Science of the
Department of Energy shall carry out a program to award grants to
scientists and engineers at the early stage of their careers at
institutions of higher education and organizations described in
subsection (c)(2) to conduct research in fields relevant to the mission
of the Department.
(b) Size and Duration of Award.--The duration of awards under this
section shall be up to 5 years, and the amount per year shall be at
least $80,000.
(c) Eligibility.--Award recipients shall be individuals who are
employed in a tenure-track position as an assistant professor or
equivalent title, or who hold an equivalent position, at--
(1) an institution of higher education in the United
States; or
(2) an organization in the United States that is a
nonprofit, nondegree-granting research organization such as a
museum, observatory, or research laboratory.
(d) Selection.--Award recipients shall be selected on a
competitive, merit-reviewed basis.
(e) Selection Process and Criteria for Awards.--An applicant
seeking funding under this section shall submit a proposal to the
Director of the Office of Science at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Director may require. In evaluating
the proposals submitted under this section, the Director shall
consider, at a minimum--
(1) the intellectual merit of the proposed work;
(2) the innovative or transformative nature of the proposed
research;
(3) the extent to which the proposal integrates research
and education, including undergraduate education in science and
engineering disciplines; and
(4) the potential of the applicant for leadership at the
frontiers of knowledge.
(f) Collaboration With National Laboratories.--In awarding grants
under this section, the Director shall give priority to proposals in
which the proposed work includes collaboration with the Department of
Energy National Laboratories.
(g) Awards.--In awarding grants under this section, the Director
shall endeavor to ensure that the recipients are from a variety of
types of institutions of higher education and nonprofit, nondegree-
granting research organizations. In support of this goal, the Director
shall broadly disseminate information about when and how to apply for
grants under this section, including by conducting outreach to
Historically Black Colleges and Universities that are part B
institutions as defined in section 322(2) of the Higher Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061(2)) and minority institutions (as defined in
section 365(3) of that Act (20 U.S.C. 1067k(3))).
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy to carry out the Director's
responsibilities under this section $25,000,000 for each of the fiscal
years 2008 through 2012.
(i) Report on Recruiting and Retaining Early Career Science and
Engineering Researchers at the National Laboratories.--Not later than 3
months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the
Office of Science shall transmit to the Committee on Science of the
House of Representatives and to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate a report on efforts to recruit and retain young
scientists and engineers at the early stages of their careers at the
Department of Energy National Laboratories. The report shall include--
(1) a description of Department of Energy and National
Laboratory policies and procedures, including financial
incentives, awards, promotions, time set aside for independent
research, access to equipment or facilities, and other forms of
recognition, designed to attract and retain young scientists
and engineers;
(2) an evaluation of the impact of these incentives on the
careers of young scientists and engineers at Department of
Energy National Laboratories, and also on the quality of the
research at the National Laboratories and in Department of
Energy programs;
(3) a description of what barriers, if any, exist to
efforts to recruit and retain young scientists and engineers,
including limited availability of full time equivalent
positions, legal and procedural requirements, and pay grading
systems; and
(4) the amount of funding devoted to efforts to recruit and
retain young researchers and the source of such funds.
SEC. 5. INTEGRATIVE GRADUATE EDUCATION AND RESEARCH TRAINEESHIP
PROGRAM.
(a) Funding.--For each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012, the
Director of the National Science Foundation shall allocate at least 1.5
percent of funds appropriated for Research and Related Activities to
the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship program.
(b) Coordination.--The Director shall coordinate with Federal
departments and agencies, as appropriate, to expand the
interdisciplinary nature of the Integrative Graduate Education and
Research Traineeship program.
(c) Authority to Accept Funds From Other Agencies.--The Director is
authorized to accept funds from other Federal departments and agencies
to carry out the Integrative Graduate Education and Research
Traineeship program.
SEC. 6. PRESIDENTIAL INNOVATION AWARD.
(a) Establishment.--The President shall periodically present the
Presidential Innovation Award, on the basis of recommendations received
from the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy or on
the basis of such other information as the President considers
appropriate, to individuals who develop one or more unique scientific
or engineering ideas in the national interest at the time the
innovation occurs.
(b) Purpose.--The awards under this section shall be made to--
(1) stimulate scientific and engineering advances in the
national interest;
(2) illustrate the linkage between science and engineering
and national needs; and
(3) provide an example to students of the contribution they
could make to society by entering the science and engineering
profession.
(c) Citizenship.--An individual is not eligible to receive the
award under this section unless at the time such award is made the
individual--
(1) is a citizen or other national of the United States; or
(2) is an alien lawfully admitted to the United States for
permanent residence who--
(A) has filed an application for naturalization in
the manner prescribed by section 334 of the Immigration
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1445); and
(B) is not permanently ineligible to become a
citizen of the United States.
(d) Presentation.--The presentation of the award shall be made by
the President with such ceremonies as he may deem proper, including
attendance by appropriate Members of Congress.
SEC. 7. NATIONAL COORDINATION OFFICE FOR RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE.
(a) In General.--The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall
establish a National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure,
which shall identify and prioritize deficiencies in research facilities
and instrumentation in academic institutions and in national
laboratories and shall make recommendations for the allocation of
resources provided under subsection (e).
(b) Staffing.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy shall appoint individuals to serve in the office established
under subsection (a) from among the principal Federal agencies that
support research in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering, and
shall at a minimum include individuals from the National Science
Foundation and the Department of Energy.
(c) Use of Funds.--The amounts authorized by subsection (e) shall
be available on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis for construction
and maintenance of research facilities at institutions of higher
education or national laboratories, including instrumentation,
computing and networking equipment, and other physical resources
necessary for performing leading-edge research.
(d) Report.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy shall provide annually a report to Congress at the time of the
President's budget proposal describing the research infrastructure
needs identified in accordance with subsection (a) and a list of
infrastructure projects proposed for funding using the resources
authorized by subsection (e).
(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--
(1) National science foundation.--There are authorized to
be appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the
purposes of this section, $333,000,000 for each of fiscal years
2008 through 2012.
(2) Department of energy.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Energy for the purposes of
this section, $167,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008
through 2012.
SEC. 8. RESEARCH ON INNOVATION AND INVENTIVENESS.
In carrying out its research programs on science policy and on the
science of learning, the National Science Foundation may support
research on the process of innovation and the teaching of
inventiveness.
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