21st Century Jobs Act

I 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 8693 To establish an independent agency in the executive branch to be known as the Federal Institute of Technology, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OCTOBER 27, 2020 Mr. KHANNA (for himself, Mr. HIMES, Mr. RYAN, Ms. JAYAPAL, Ms. DELBENE, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. SOTO, Mr. EVANS, and Ms. BARRAGA´N) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Oversight and Reform, Ways and Means, Financial Services, Trans- portation and Infrastructure, Science, Space, and Technology, and En- ergy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To establish an independent agency in the executive branch to be known as the Federal Institute of Technology, 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 ‘‘21st Century Jobs 4 Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:29 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8693.IH H8693 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 8693 IH SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND SENSE OF CONGRESS. 1 (a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 2 (1) In the year 2018, funding for research and 3 development in science and technology in the United 4 States was $124.7 billion, or approximately 0.6 per- 5 cent of the gross domestic product. 6 (2) In the year 1964, the United States spent 7 approximately 2 percent of gross domestic product 8 on research and development in science and tech- 9 nology. 10 (3) Public funding for research and develop- 11 ment in science and technology financed a majority 12 of the innovations that powered growth in the 13 United States after World War II, including digital 14 computing and modern pharmaceutical science. 15 (4) The United States currently ranks ninth in 16 the world for total percentage of gross domestic 17 product used for research and development in 18 science and technology and twelfth in the world for 19 public funding for research and development in 20 science and technology. 21 (5) Funding for research and development in 22 science and technology is concentrated in a small 23 number of geographic regions in the United States. 24 (6) Established technology centers that promote 25 research and development in science and technology 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:29 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8693.IH H8693 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 8693 IH are extremely crowded, have high real estate costs, 1 and are in locations that require long commutes for 2 many of the researchers at such centers. 3 (7) The private sector has a limited ability or 4 desire to invest outside of such centers, which limits 5 the potential for growth in science and technology, 6 including the availability of employment opportuni- 7 ties in such industries. 8 (8) Increasing public funding for research and 9 development in science and technology to 1 percent 10 of the gross domestic product would significantly in- 11 crease the rank of the United States with respect to 12 funding for such research and development among 13 developed countries. 14 (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the 15 Congress that amounts provided through this Act will be 16 used— 17 (1) in a manner that is similar to break- 18 through-focused, project management models of the 19 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency of the 20 Department of Defense; and 21 (2) to supplement existing funding to Federal 22 agencies. 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:29 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8693.IH H8693 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 8693 IH SEC. 3. THE FEDERAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. 1 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the ex- 2 ecutive branch of the Government an independent agency 3 to be known as the ‘‘Federal Institute of Technology’’ (in 4 this section referred to as the ‘‘Institute’’). 5 (b) HEADQUARTERS.—The Institute shall be 6 headquartered in the District of Columbia. 7 (c) BOARD OF DIRECTORS.— 8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Institute shall have a 9 Board of Directors (in this section referred to as the 10 ‘‘Board’’). 11 (2) DUTIES OF THE BOARD.—The duties of the 12 Board shall include the following: 13 (A) Not later than 2 years after the date 14 of the enactment of this section, establish a 15 minimum of 10 local boards in accordance with 16 subsection (d), including— 17 (i) appointing the members of each 18 local board with consideration given to the 19 recommendations provided pursuant to 20 subsection (d)(1)(A)(iii); 21 (ii) providing funding to local boards 22 to support the local boards in achieving the 23 duties under subsection (d)(3) and to carry 24 out the comprehensive strategy under sub- 25 section (d)(2), including funds from 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:29 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8693.IH H8693 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HR 8693 IH amounts in the private endowment estab- 1 lished under subsection (e); and 2 (iii) annually evaluate the effective- 3 ness of each local board based on the re- 4 quirements developed pursuant to sub- 5 section (d)(1)(D). 6 (B) Provide funds to Federal, State, and 7 local agencies to support programs and research 8 in the qualified subjects, including programs 9 and research in certain technology sectors. 10 (3) LOCAL BOARD LIMITATION.—The Board 11 may establish— 12 (A) not more than 30 local boards in the 13 10-year period after the date of the enactment 14 of this Act; and 15 (B) not more than 3 local boards each fis- 16 cal year during such period. 17 (4) NEW LOCAL BOARD APPLICATIONS.—The 18 Board may consider new applications on an annual 19 basis each fiscal year for the 10-year period after 20 the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 3 21 years thereafter. 22 (5) MEMBERS; CHAIR.—The President shall— 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:29 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8693.IH H8693 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 6 •HR 8693 IH (A) appoint 5 members of the Board by 1 and with the advice and consent of the Senate; 2 and 3 (B) designate a Chair from among the 4 members. 5 (6) TERMS.— 6 (A) LENGTH.—Each Board member shall 7 be appointed for a term of 5 years. 8 (B) AMOUNT.—Each Board member shall 9 not serve more than 2 terms. 10 (7) VACANCY.—A vacancy on the Board shall 11 be filled in the manner in which the original appoint- 12 ment was made. 13 (8) BASIC PAY.—To the extent or in the 14 amounts provided in advance in appropriation Acts, 15 members shall each be paid at a rate not to exceed 16 the rate of basic pay for level II of the Executive 17 Schedule. 18 (d) LOCAL BOARDS.— 19 (1) APPLICATIONS.— 20 (A) IN GENERAL.—In establishing local 21 boards pursuant to subsection (c)(1)(A), the 22 Board shall consider applications on a competi- 23 tive basis from State and local governments, 24 which shall include the following: 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:29 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8693.IH H8693 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 7 •HR 8693 IH (i) The location of the local board, 1 which must be in a covered region that— 2 (I) possesses relevant assets for 3 the development of technology; and 4 (II) does not possess a leading 5 technology center. 6 (ii) A comprehensive strategy de- 7 scribed under paragraph (2). 8 (iii) A recommendation of individuals 9 to be appointed to the local board. 10 (B) DURATION PERIOD.—Each grant 11 under this section shall be made for a period of 12 10 years, provided that the local board that re- 13 ceives such grant meets the requirements devel- 14 oped pursuant to subparagraph (C). 15 (C) REQUIREMENTS.—The Board shall de- 16 velop requirements for each local board based 17 on the comprehensive strategy of each such 18 local board. 19 (2) COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY.—Each local 20 board shall submit to the Board a comprehensive 21 strategy that includes the following: 22 (A) A technology development plan, includ- 23 ing the focus of the local board and existing ad- 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:29 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8693.IH H8693 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 8 •HR 8693 IH vantages for the development of a hub in the 1 covered region of the local board. 2 (B) A spending plan, including an outline 3 of the use of funds based on the duties of the 4 local board under paragraph (3). 5 (C) A plan to address infrastructure bar- 6 riers to the development of a hub, including— 7 (i) the development of data infrastruc- 8 ture; 9 (ii) remediation of environmentally 10 damaged sites; 11 (iii) the development of buildings, 12 labs, roads, and bridges; and 13 (iv) improvements to airports, train 14 stations, and other forms of public transit. 15 (D) A higher education improvement plan, 16 including— 17 (i) hiring faculty; 18 (ii) supporting students; and 19 (iii) partnering with institutions of 20 higher education. 21 (E) A primary and secondary education 22 improvement plan, including— 23 (i) an outline with respect to edu- 24 cating students in science, technology, en- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:29 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8693.IH H8693 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 9 •HR 8693 IH gineering, and mathematics through the 1 use of Federal resources; and 2 (ii) an evidence-based program to 3 overcome existing barriers to student 4 achievement in the covered region. 5 (F) A career placement plan based on the 6 duties of the local board under paragraph (3). 7 (G) A plan to improve access to capital for 8 local businesses. 9 (H) A sustainable growth plan that— 10 (i) ensures housing remains affordable 11 in the covered region; and 12 (ii) addresses environmentally dam- 13 aged areas in the covered region. 14 (3) DUTIES OF THE LOCAL BOARD.—Each local 15 board shall— 16 (A) establish a hub and oversee the activi- 17 ties of such hub; 18 (B) make grants available for programs 19 and research in the qualified subjects in covered 20 regions, which may include grants to— 21 (i) promote the development of stu- 22 dent skills at all levels, including— 23 (I) primary and secondary school 24 improvements that support education 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:29 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8693.IH H8693 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 10 •HR 8693 IH in technology and the qualified sub- 1 jects; 2 (II) fellowships for under- 3 graduate students to support edu- 4 cation in technology and the qualified 5 subjects; and 6 (III) post-graduate fellowship 7 programs to support such graduate 8 students working in technology and 9 the qualified subjects; 10 (ii) improve the ability of local institu- 11 tions of higher education to carry out lead- 12 ing-edge research in technology and the 13 qualified subjects, including— 14 (I) hiring faculty in the relevant 15 areas; 16 (II) laboratory construction and 17 development; 18 (III) developing and sponsoring 19 programs to promote technological en- 20 trepreneurship among students (in 21 partnership with leading firms in the 22 covered region); and 23 (IV) developing partnerships with 24 local businesses to facilitate the tran- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:29 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8693.IH H8693 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 11 •HR 8693 IH sition of students to the technology 1 workforce; and 2 (iii) develop effective pathways for ca- 3 reer advancement in technology that cre- 4 ates and reduces the costs of— 5 (I) training programs for work in 6 technology jobs; and 7 (II) apprenticeship programs in 8 technology jobs; 9 (C) develop effective infrastructure to pro- 10 mote the creation of a technology center as de- 11 scribed in the plan under paragraph (2)(C); 12 (D) improve access to capital for busi- 13 nesses in the covered region, including— 14 (i) supporting partnerships with ven- 15 ture capitalists in regions with developed 16 technology centers in the United States; 17 and 18 (ii) providing matching funds for Fed- 19 eral grants that support innovative busi- 20 nesses; 21 (E) develop and implement a plan for im- 22 proving education in the qualified subjects; 23 (F) develop and implement a plan for in- 24 creasing employment opportunities in the cov- 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:29 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8693.IH H8693 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 12 •HR 8693 IH ered region in which the local board is located, 1 including— 2 (i) coordinating with the heads of 3 businesses and institutions of higher edu- 4 cation to support job placement in the cov- 5 ered region; and 6 (ii) analyzing employment indicators 7 with respect to high-wage job opportunities 8 in the covered region of the local board to 9 determine— 10 (I) areas that need development 11 in such industries; and 12 (II) ways such industries would 13 benefit from the advancement of tech- 14 nology; 15 (G) analyze infrastructure in covered re- 16 gions and provide policy recommendations to 17 the Board with respect to inadequate infra- 18 structure, including data infrastructure; 19 (H) analyze the cost of housing, zoning 20 regulations, and laws related to housing in the 21 covered region of the local board and provide 22 policy recommendations to State and local gov- 23 ernments to ensure the cost of housing remains 24 affordable as the hub established pursuant to 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:29 Nov 17, 2020 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H8693.IH H8693 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 13 •HR 8693 IH subparagraph (A) increases research activities 1 in such covered region; and 2 (I) provide support for the development of 3 technology, including establishing partnerships 4 with institutions of higher education. 5 (e) GIFTS, BEQUESTS, AND DEVISES.—Notwith- 6 standing section 3302 of title 31, United States Code, and 7 without further appropriation, the Board may accept, use, 8 or dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of services or prop- 9 erty, both real and personal, for the purpose of aiding or 10 facilitating the work of the Institute. Gifts, bequests, or 11 devises of money and proceeds from sales of other prop- 12 erty received as gifts, bequests, or devices shall be depos- 13 ited in a private endowment for disburse [Text truncated for display. Full text available on Congress.gov.]