Securing American Leadership in Science and Technology Act of 2021

I 117TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2153 To invest in basic scientific research and support technology innovation for the economic and national security of the United States, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 23, 2021 Mr. LUCAS (for himself, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. BABIN, Mr. WALTZ, Mrs. BICE of Oklahoma, Mr. OBERNOLTE, Mr. POSEY, Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio, Mr. BAIRD, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. GARCIA of California, Mrs. KIM of California, Mr. FEENSTRA, Mr. LATURNER, Mr. GIMENEZ, and Mr. MEIJER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com- mittee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Com- mittees on the Judiciary, and Small Business, for a period to be subse- quently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To invest in basic scientific research and support technology innovation for the economic and national security of the United States, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Securing American 4 Leadership in Science and Technology Act of 2021’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 May 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2153.IH H2153 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 2153 IH SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 1 The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 2 Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Table of contents. Sec. 3. Purposes. TITLE I—NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY AND OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY Subtitle A—National Science and Technology Strategy Sec. 101. National science and technology strategy. Sec. 102. Quadrennial science and technology review. Subtitle B—Office of Science and Technology Policy Sec. 111. Authorization of appropriations. TITLE II—RESEARCH SECURITY AND INTEGRITY Sec. 201. Foreign talent program prohibition. Sec. 202. Computing enclave pilot program. Sec. 203. Protecting research from cyber theft. Sec. 204. Chinese Research Funds Accounting Act. TITLE III—SUPPLY CHAIN AND CRITICAL MATERIALS SECURITY Sec. 301. National supply chain database. Sec. 302. Critical minerals mining research and development at the National Science Foundation. Sec. 303. Advanced Recycling Research and Development. Sec. 304. Critical minerals interagency subcommittee. Sec. 305. Heavy freight autonomous trucking research corridor. Sec. 306. NIST UAV challenges and credentialing program. TITLE IV—DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Subtitle A—Office of Science Sec. 401. Definitions. Sec. 402. Basic energy sciences. Sec. 403. Advanced scientific computing research. Sec. 404. High energy physics. Sec. 405. Biological and environmental research. Sec. 406. Fusion energy. Sec. 407. Nuclear physics. Sec. 408. Science laboratories infrastructure program. Sec. 409. Authorization of appropriations. Subtitle B—Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy Sec. 411. Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy Update. Subtitle C—DOE Clean Energy Infrastructure Sec. 421. Regional Energy Innovation Centers. Sec. 422. Versatile neutron source. VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 May 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\H2153.IH H2153 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 2153 IH Sec. 423. Carbon sequestration research and development program. Sec. 424. Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy. Sec. 425. Energy Storage Grand Challenge. Sec. 426. Critical infrastructure research and construction. TITLE V—NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY Sec. 501. Findings. Sec. 502. Authorization of appropriations. Sec. 503. NIST Facilities Modernization Fund. Sec. 504. Cybersecurity research. Sec. 505. Internet of things. Sec. 506. Composites research. Sec. 507. Enabling the future bioeconomy. Sec. 508. International standards development. Sec. 509. Review of the Center for Neutron Research. Sec. 510. Hiring and management. Sec. 511. National Institute of Standards and Technology Foundation. Sec. 512. MEP outreach. Sec. 513. Definitions. TITLE VI—NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION Sec. 601. Establishment of a technology transfer office. Sec. 602. Technology transfer and transitions assessment. Sec. 603. National Mesonet Program. Sec. 604. Severe weather extramural testbeds. Sec. 605. Next generation digital radar. Sec. 606. Fellowships. Sec. 607. Commercial data report update. Sec. 608. Report on National Weather Service Internet bandwidth shortage. Sec. 609. NAPA Study. Sec. 610. Authorization of appropriations. Sec. 611. Definitions. TITLE VII—NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Sec. 701. Authorization of appropriations. Sec. 702. NSF organizational review. Sec. 703. Ethics and security plans. Sec. 704. Major research instrumentation update. Sec. 705. NSF research security. Sec. 706. Reproducibility in science. Sec. 707. Public-private partnerships. Sec. 708. EPSCoR. Sec. 709. Definitions. TITLE VIII—STEM WORKFORCE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY Sec. 801. Findings; sense of Congress. Sec. 802. Advanced technical education and skilled technical workforce. Sec. 803. Graduate Research Fellowship Program update. Sec. 804. Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program Sense of Congress. Sec. 805. Innovations in informal STEM learning. Sec. 806. AI traineeships and fellowships. VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 May 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6211 E:\BILLS\H2153.IH H2153 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 2153 IH Sec. 807. Cybersecurity workforce development at Federal science agencies. Sec. 808. Broadening participation. TITLE IX—TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND INNOVATION Sec. 901. Federal laboratory computer programs update. Sec. 902. Extend CRADA information protection period. Sec. 903. Stevenson-Wydler Act authority update. Sec. 904. Royalty payments to Federal employees update. Sec. 905. Government intellectual property clarification. Sec. 906. Clarifying CRADA authority. Sec. 907. Expansion of agreements for commercializing technology authority. Sec. 908. Other transaction authority. Sec. 909. Nonprofit foundations. Sec. 910. Improving reporting and metrics. Sec. 911. Innovative approaches to technology transfer. Sec. 912. DOE public-private partnerships for commercialization. Sec. 913. Department of Energy Foundation. SEC. 3. PURPOSES. 1 The purpose of this Act is to ensure the continued 2 leadership of the United States in science and technology 3 by— 4 (1) providing for a coordinated national science 5 and technology strategy for the economic and na- 6 tional security of the United States; 7 (2) prioritizing investment in Federal basic re- 8 search by authorizing a doubling of basic research 9 funding over the next 10 years at the Department 10 of Energy, the National Science Foundation, the 11 National Institute of Standards and Technology, and 12 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- 13 tion; 14 (3) providing for investment in key areas nec- 15 essary for the competitiveness of the United States, 16 including computing, cybersecurity, artificial intel- 17 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 May 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2153.IH H2153 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 2153 IH ligence and autonomous technology, materials and 1 advanced manufacturing, energy and climate, and 2 the biosciences; 3 (4) improving the security and integrity of 4 American research and development; 5 (5) providing for investment in critical science 6 and technology infrastructure to maintain world- 7 class research and user facilities; 8 (6) expanding the STEM workforce at all levels 9 to meet the demands of a 21st century economy; 10 (7) promoting regional innovation to support 11 local economic growth across all regions of the 12 United States; 13 (8) maximizing the effectiveness of the Federal 14 Government’s research and development activities; 15 (9) promoting collaboration among the Federal 16 Government, Federal laboratories, universities, and 17 industry; and 18 (10) improving technology transfer from the 19 Federal Government and Federal laboratories to the 20 private sector for commercialization. 21 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 May 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2153.IH H2153 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 2153 IH TITLE I—NATIONAL SCIENCE 1 AND TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY 2 AND OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND 3 TECHNOLOGY POLICY 4 Subtitle A—National Science and 5 Technology Strategy 6 SEC. 101. NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRAT- 7 EGY. 8 Section 206 of the National Science and Technology 9 Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 10 U.S.C. 6615) is amended to read as follows: 11 ‘‘SEC. 206. NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY STRAT- 12 EGY. 13 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than the end of each 14 calendar year immediately after the calendar year in which 15 a review under section 206b is completed, the Director of 16 the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in consulta- 17 tion with the National Science and Technology Council, 18 shall develop and submit to Congress a comprehensive na- 19 tional science and technology strategy of the United States 20 to meet national research and development objectives for 21 the following 4-year period (in this Act referred to as ‘the 22 national science and technology strategy’). 23 ‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—Each national science and 24 technology strategy required by subsection (a) shall delin- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 May 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2153.IH H2153 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 2153 IH eate a national science and technology strategy consistent 1 with— 2 ‘‘(1) the recommendations and priorities devel- 3 oped by the review established in section 206b; 4 ‘‘(2) the most recent national security strategy 5 report submitted pursuant to section 1032 of the 6 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 7 2012 (50 U.S.C. 3043); 8 ‘‘(3) other relevant national plans; and 9 ‘‘(4) the strategic plans of relevant Federal de- 10 partments and agencies. 11 ‘‘(c) CONSULTATION.—The Director shall consult as 12 necessary with the Office of Management and Budget and 13 other appropriate elements of the Executive Office of the 14 President to ensure that the recommendations and prior- 15 ities delineated in the science and technology strategy are 16 incorporated in the development of annual budget re- 17 quests. 18 ‘‘(d) REPORT.—The President shall submit to Con- 19 gress each year a comprehensive report on the national 20 science and technology strategy of the United States. Each 21 report on the national science and technology strategy of 22 the United States shall include a description of— 23 ‘‘(1) strategic objectives and priorities necessary 24 to maintain the leadership of the United States in 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 May 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2153.IH H2153 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 2153 IH science and technology, including near-term, me- 1 dium-term, and long-term research priorities; 2 ‘‘(2) programs, policies, and activities that the 3 President recommends across all Federal agencies to 4 achieve the strategic objectives in paragraph (1); 5 and 6 ‘‘(3) global trends in science and technology, in- 7 cluding potential threats to the leadership of the 8 United States in science and technology. 9 ‘‘(e) PUBLICATION.—The Director shall, consistent 10 with the protection of national security and other sensitive 11 matters to the maximum extent practicable, make each re- 12 port submitted under subsection (e) publicly available on 13 an internet website of the Office of Science and Tech- 14 nology Policy.’’. 15 SEC. 102. QUADRENNIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RE- 16 VIEW. 17 The National Science and Technology Policy, Organi- 18 zation, and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6601 et seq.) 19 is amended by inserting after section 206 the following: 20 ‘‘SEC. 206b. QUADRENNIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RE- 21 VIEW. 22 ‘‘(a) REQUIREMENTS.— 23 ‘‘(1) QUADRENNIAL REVIEWS REQUIRED.—Not 24 later than December 31, 2022, and every 4 years 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 May 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2153.IH H2153 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 9 •HR 2153 IH thereafter, the Director of the Office of Science and 1 Technology Policy shall complete a review of the 2 science and technology enterprise of the United 3 States (in this section referred to as the ‘quadren- 4 nial science and technology review’). 5 ‘‘(2) SCOPE.—The quadrennial science and 6 technology review shall be a comprehensive examina- 7 tion of the science and technology strategy of the 8 United States, including recommendations for main- 9 taining global leadership in science and technology 10 and guidance on the coordination of programs, as- 11 sets, capabilities, budget, policies, and authorities 12 across all Federal research and development pro- 13 grams. 14 ‘‘(3) CONSULTATION.—The Director of the Of- 15 fice of Science and Technology shall conduct each 16 quadrennial science and technology review under this 17 subsection in consultation with— 18 ‘‘(A) the National Science and Technology 19 Council; 20 ‘‘(B) the heads of other relevant Federal 21 agencies; 22 ‘‘(C) the President’s Council of Advisors 23 on Science and Technology; 24 ‘‘(D) the National Science Board; 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:02 May 19, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2153.IH H2153 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 10 •HR 2153 IH ‘‘(E) the National Security Council; and 1 ‘‘(F) other relevant governmental and non- 2 governmental entities, including representatives 3 from industry, institutions of higher education, 4 nonprofit institutions, Members of Congress, 5 and other policy experts. 6 ‘‘(4) COORDINATION.—The Director shall en- 7 sure that each quadrennial science and technology 8 review conducted under this section is coordinated 9 with other relevant statutorily required reviews, and 10 to the maximum extent practicable incorporates in- 11 formation and recommendations from existing re- 12 views to avoid duplication. 13 ‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—In each quadrennial science and 14 technology review, the Director shall— 15 ‘‘(1) provide an integrated view of, and rec- 16 ommendations for, science and technology policy 17 across the Federal Government, while considering 18 economic and national security; 19 ‘‘(2) assess and recommend priorities for re- 20 search, development and demonstration programs to 21 maintain American leadership in science and tech- 22 nology; 23 ‘‘(3) [Text truncated for display. 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