21st Century Innovation Act of 2006 - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award scholarships to students who: (1) are enrolled in undergraduate programs concurrently offering degrees in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics and elementary or secondary school teacher certification; and (2) agree to teach in such fields for at least five years. Awards matching grants to institutions of higher education to establish such programs.
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to: (1) state and local educational agencies to establish summer institutes offering elementary and secondary school science, technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers continuing education, and to train them to provide advanced courses; and (2) institutions of higher education offering part-time master's degree programs to such middle and secondary school teachers.
Augments the funding available for the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers program at designated federal agencies.
Directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish programs awarding undergraduate and graduate scholarships in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics on the basis of criteria to be established by the Secretary, but addressing areas of national need identified by program advisory bodies.
Creates a Presidential Innovation Award, periodically conferring a medal upon individuals who develop unique scientific or engineering ideas serving the national interest.
Requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy to establish a National Coordination Office for Research Infrastructure which shall prioritize funding provided to the NSF and the Department of Energy (DOE) under this Act for the construction and maintenance of higher education and federal research facilities.
Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize the extended stay of aliens who obtain the equivalent of a doctorate in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or other fields deemed important to the national interest, and seek or secure employment in such fields.
Establishes the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) within the DOE to award competitive energy research and development grants and contracts to institutions of higher education, companies, or consortia of such entities, which may include federal laboratories, to reduce our dependence on energy imports by 50% over the next 10 years. Provides for the recoupment and redeployment of such funding.
[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4906 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4906
To improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 8, 2006
Mr. Ford introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Education
and the Workforce and Judiciary, 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 improve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education,
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 ``21st Century Innovation Act of
2006''.
SEC. 2. TEACHER RECRUITING.
(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section to encourage
individuals educated in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics to enter and continue in the teaching profession, with the
goal of attracting 10,000 of America's brightest students to the
teaching profession over the next 5 years.
(b) Scholarships.--Title II of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1021 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new
part:
``PART C--STEM TEACHER SCHOLARSHIPS
``SEC. 231. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.
``The Secretary shall award scholarships, on a competitive basis
and in accordance with this part, to students who are enrolled in
studies leading to bachelor's degrees, with concurrent certification as
kindergarten, elementary, and secondary school teachers, in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics, and who have agreed to
perform qualified service.
``SEC. 232. SELECTION OF RECIPIENTS.
``(a) Selection Criteria.--The Secretary shall develop selection
criteria that the Secretary will use to award scholarships, and to
renew those awards, based on established measurements of merit
available to secondary students who wish to pursue degrees in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics.
``(b) Applications.--Any student desiring to receive a scholarship
under this part shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require.
``(c) Duration of Scholarships; Renewal.--Scholarships shall be
awarded for only one academic year of study at a time, and shall be
renewable on an annual basis for the established length of the
recipient's academic program, not to exceed 6 academic years. The
Secretary shall condition the renewal of scholarships on measures of
academic progress and achievement.
``SEC. 233. QUALIFIED SERVICE REQUIREMENT.
``(a) Qualified Service Agreement.--Any student who receives a
scholarship under this part shall enter into an agreement with the
Secretary to complete no less than 5 academic years of qualified
service during a 7-year period, to begin no later than 12 months
following the completion of a bachelor's degree in science, technology,
engineering, or mathematics.
``(b) Requirement Enforced.--The Secretary shall establish such
requirements as the Secretary finds necessary to ensure that recipients
of scholarships under this subsection who complete bachelor's degrees
in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, with teacher
certification, subsequently perform 5 academic years of qualified
service during a 7-year period, or repay the portion of the scholarship
received for which the recipient did not perform the required qualified
service, as determined by the Secretary. The Secretary shall use any
such repayments to carry out additional activities under this part.
``(c) Definition.--For the purpose of this section, the term
`qualified service' means full-time employment at a public or private
kindergarten, elementary school, or secondary school as a teacher of a
course in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics field.
``SEC. 234. AWARDS.
``(a) Scholarship Award.--The Secretary shall provide each
recipient with a scholarship in the amount of up to $20,000 to pay for
the cost of attendance of the student for each academic year the
student is eligible to receive the scholarship. The Secretary shall
transfer such funds to the institution of higher education at which the
recipient is enrolled.
``(b) Bonus Award.--
``(1) Option for bonus award.--Any student who receives a
scholarship under this part may elect to enter into a bonus
agreement with the Secretary, in accordance with this
subsection, for any academic year during which the student
receives a scholarship under this part.
``(2) Bonus agreement.--A bonus agreement under paragraph
(1) shall provide that--
``(A) the student shall perform one academic year
of the qualified service agreed to under section 233(a)
in a high-need local educational agency, as defined in
section 201(b); and
``(B) the Secretary shall provide $10,000, in
addition to the amount the student receives under
subsection (a), for each academic year in which the
student enters into such bonus agreement.
``(3) Service requirement enforced.--The Secretary shall
establish such requirements as the Secretary finds necessary to
ensure that recipients of bonuses under this subsection fulfill
the qualified service requirement in a high-need local
educational agency, as defined in section 201(b), for a period
of time equivalent to the period for which the recipient
receives the bonus, or repays the portion of the bonus received
for which the recipient did not perform the required qualified
service in a high-need local educational agency, as determined
by the Secretary. The Secretary shall use any such repayments
to carry out additional activities under this subsection.
``(c) Maximum Award.--The maximum award any student may receive
under this section for an academic year shall be the student's cost of
attendance minus any grant aid such student receives from sources other
than this section.
``SEC. 235. REGULATIONS.
``The Secretary is authorized to issue such regulations as may be
necessary to carry out the provisions of this part.''.
(c) Institutional Grants for Integrated Degree Programs.--Title II
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1021 et seq.) is further
amended by adding after Part C, as added by subsection (b) of this
section, the following new part:
``PART D--INTEGRATED DEGREE PROGRAMS
``SEC. 241. PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to award grants to
institutions of higher education, on a competitive basis, in order to
pay for the Federal share of the cost of projects to establish,
strengthen, and operate 4-year undergraduate degree programs through
which students may concurrently--
``(1) earn a bachelor's degree in science, technology,
engineering, or mathematics; and
``(2) be certified to teach kindergarten, elementary, or
secondary school.
``(b) Grant Amount; Award Period.--The Secretary may award grants
to no more than 50 institutions of higher education each fiscal year,
and a grant to an institution for a fiscal year shall not exceed
$1,000,000. Grants shall be awarded for only one fiscal year at a time,
and shall be renewable on an annual basis for up to 5 years.
``SEC. 242. SELECTION OF GRANT RECIPIENTS.
``(a) Criteria.--The Secretary shall set criteria to evaluate the
applications for grants under this part and the projects proposed to
establish, strengthen, and operate 4-year integrated undergraduate
degree programs.
``(b) Equitable Distribution of Grants.--To the extent practicable
and consistent with the criteria under subsection (a), the Secretary
shall make grants under this part in such manner as to achieve an
equitable distribution of the grant funds throughout the United States,
considering geographic distribution, rural and urban areas, and range
and type of institutions.
``SEC. 243. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.
``In order to receive a grant under this part, an institution of
higher education shall submit an application to the Secretary at such
time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary
may require. Such application shall include the following:
``(1) A description of the proposed project.
``(2) A demonstration of--
``(A) the commitment, including the financial
commitment, of the institution for the proposed
project; and
``(B) the active support of the leadership of the
institution for the proposed project.
``(3) A description of how the proposed project will be
continued after Federal funds are no longer awarded under this
part for the project.
``(4) A plan for the evaluation of the project, which shall
include benchmarks to monitor progress toward specific project
objectives.
``SEC. 244. MATCHING REQUIREMENT.
``Each institution of higher education receiving a grant under this
part shall provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to the
amount of the grant (in cash or in kind) to carry out the project
supported by the grant.
``SEC. 245. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``The are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this part
$50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2012.''.
SEC. 3. TEACHER TRAINING.
(a) Summer Institutes.--
(1) Grants.--The Secretary of Education may make grants to
State educational agencies and local educational agencies to
develop and operate summer institutes described in paragraph
(2) to enable science, technology, engineering, and mathematic
teachers in elementary schools and secondary schools to upgrade
their skills.
(2) Requirements.--A summer institute funded under this
section--
(A) shall be up to 4 weeks in duration; and
(B) shall be designed to enable science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers in
elementary schools and secondary schools to upgrade
their skills, including by keeping informed of recent
developments in their respective fields and by
exchanging best practices.
(b) Advanced Technical Degrees.--
(1) Grants authorized.--The Secretary is authorized to make
grants, on a competitive basis, to institutions of higher
education that offer part-time master's degree programs with
rigorous science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
content to individuals employed full-time as middle school and
secondary school science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics teachers.
(2) Uses of funds.--Each recipient of a grant under this
subsection shall use--
(A) 50 percent of the grant funds to award
scholarships to individuals employed full-time as
middle school and secondary school science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics teachers who are enrolled
in a part-time master's degree program with rigorous
science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
content, to pay the cost of attendance related to such
program; and
(B) 50 percent of the grant funds to establish,
strengthen, and operate part-time master's degree
programs with rigorous science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics content.
(3) Duration; renewal.--Grants under this subsection shall
be awarded for a period of 5 years, and shall be renewable for
one 5-year period.
(4) Matching requirement.--Each institution of higher
education receiving a grant under this subsection shall
provide, from non-Federal sources, an amount equal to the
amount of the grant (in cash or in kind) to carry out the
activities supported by the grant.
(5) Priority.--In making grants under this subsection, the
Secretary shall give priority to institutions of higher
education that--
(A) include in the application for the grant a
description of how the activities supported by the
grant will be continued after Federal funds are no
longer awarded under this subsection; or
(B) demonstrate prior experience in, or exceptional
programs for, operating part-time master's degree
programs with rigorous science, technology,
engineering, and mathematics content that target full-
time middle school and secondary school science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics teachers as
students.
(c) Advanced Courses.--The Secretary may make grants to State
educational agencies and local educational agencies to provide training
to elementary school and secondary school teachers on the provision of
advanced courses, including advanced placement courses, in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics.
(d) Application.--To seek a grant under this section, an entity
shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``elementary school'' has the meaning given to
that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(2) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the
meaning given to that term in section 101 of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
(3) The term ``local educational agency'' has the meaning
given to that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(4) The term ``secondary school'' has the meaning given to
that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(5) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of
Education.
(6) The term ``State educational agency'' has the meaning
given to that term in section 9101 of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for each of fiscal
years 2007 through 2011.
SEC. 4. EARLY CAREER SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEER AWARDS.
In addition to amounts otherwise available for support of the
Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers program,
the following amounts are authorized to be appropriated for the
designated agencies:
(1) For the National Science Foundation, $8,200,000 for
fiscal year 2007, $16,400,000 for fiscal year 2008, $24,600,000
for fiscal year 2009, $32,800,000 for fiscal year 2010, and
$41,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(2) For the National Institutes of Health, $4,800,000 for
fiscal year 2007, $9,600,000 for fiscal year 2008, $14,400,000
for fiscal year 2009, $19,200,000 for fiscal year 2010, and
$24,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(3) For the Department of Energy, $3,600,000 for fiscal
year 2007, $7,200,000 for fiscal year 2008, $10,800,000 for
fiscal year 2009, $14,400,000 for fiscal year 2010, and
$18,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(4) For the Department of Defense, $2,400,000 for fiscal
year 2007, $4,800,000 for fiscal year 2008, $7,200,000 for
fiscal year 2009, $9,600,000 for fiscal year 2010, and
$12,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(5) For the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,
$1,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $2,000,000 for fiscal year
2008, $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $4,000,000 for fiscal
year 2010, and $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
SEC. 5. UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLAR AWARDS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY,
ENGINEERING, OR MATHEMATICS.
(a) In General.--The National Science Foundation shall institute a
program, to be known as the Undergraduate Scholar Awards in Science,
Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics program, or the USA-STEM
program, to award undergraduate scholarships in science, technology,
engineering, or mathematics to individuals following criteria and
procedures to be established by the Secretary of Education in
consultation with the Director of the National Science Foundation,
except as provided in subsection (b).
(b) Special Requirements.--
(1) Scholarship amount.--Scholarships awarded under the
USA-STEM program shall provide up to $20,000 a year (as
determined by the Secretary of Education) for four years for
qualified educational expenses, including tuition and fees.
(2) Advisory board.--(A) The Director of the National
Science Foundation shall establish a board of advisors for the
program. The board shall identify areas of national need for
which shortages of science, technology, engineering, or
mathematics personnel with undergraduate academic degrees are
anticipated.
(B) The members of the advisory board established under
subparagraph (A) shall be selected from among the principal
Federal agencies that support research and development
activities in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics.
(3) Selection criteria.--Selection criteria for scholarship
awards established under subsection (a) shall include whether
an applicant proposes to pursue an advanced degree in an area
of national need, identified by the advisory board under
paragraph (2)(A).
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the purposes of
this section, $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $300,000,000 for
fiscal year 2008, and $450,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009
through 2011.
SEC. 6. GRADUATE SCHOLAR AWARDS IN SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, OR
MATHEMATICS.
(a) In General.--The National Science Foundation shall institute a
program, to be known as the Graduate Scholar Awards in Science,
Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics program, or the GSA-STEM
program, to award graduate fellowships in science, technology,
engineering, or mathematics to individuals following the criteria and
procedures of the Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship program,
except as provided in subsection (b).
(b) Special Requirements.--
(1) Fellowship amount.--Fellowships awarded under the GSA-
STEM program shall provide an annual stipend of $30,000 to the
recipient and $15,000, in lieu of tuition, to the institution
of higher education at which the recipient is enrolled.
(2) Advisory board.--(A) The Director of the National
Science Foundation shall establish a board of advisors for the
program. The board shall identify areas of national need for
which shortages of science, technology, engineering, or
mathematics personnel with advanced academic degrees are
anticipated.
(B) The members of the advisory board established under
subparagraph (A) shall be selected from among the principal
Federal agencies that support research and development
activities in science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics.
(3) Selection criteria.--Selection criteria for fellowship
awards used in the Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship
program shall be applied to the GSA-STEM program. An additional
criterion for awards under the GSA-STEM program shall be
whether an applicant proposes to pursue an advanced degree in
an area of national need, identified by the advisory board
under paragraph (2)(A).
(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the purposes of
this section, $225,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $450,000,000 for
fiscal year 2008, and $675,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2009
through 2011.
SEC. 7. PRESIDENTIAL INNOVATION AWARD.
(a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a Presidential
Innovation Award, signified by a medal which shall be of such design
and materials and bear such inscriptions as the President, on the basis
of recommendations submitted by the Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy, may prescribe.
(b) Award.--The President shall periodically award the medal, 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.
(c) 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.
(d) Citizenship.--An individual may not be awarded a medal 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 petition 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.
(e) 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. 8. 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
2007 through 2011.
(2) Department of energy.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Department of Energy for the purposes of
this section, $167,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007
through 2011.
SEC. 9. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZED STAY IN THE UNITED STATES FOR FOREIGN
STUDENTS AND EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
STUDYING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, OR MATHEMATICS
TO SEEK EMPLOYMENT.
Section 214 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184)
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(r)(1) In the case of an alien described in paragraph (2), upon
application by the alien and the satisfactory completion of such
security screening as the Secretary of Homeland Security may specify,
the Secretary may extend the alien's period of authorized admission as
a principal nonimmigrant described in such paragraph for 12 months for
the purpose of permitting the alien to secure employment in the United
States in the alien's field described in such paragraph.
``(2) An alien referred to in paragraph (1) is a principal
nonimmigrant described in subparagraph (F) or (J) of section 101(a)(15)
who obtains a doctorate degree or its equivalent in the United States
in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or other similar
field determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation
with the Secretary of State, to be important to the national interest
of the United States during the period of stay as such a nonimmigrant.
``(3) An alien granted an extended period of authorized admission
under paragraph (1) shall be granted authorization to engage in
employment in the United States in any field described in paragraph 2
and be provided an `employment authorized' endorsement or other
appropriate work permit for such employment during such period of
extended admission.
``(4) If, during an alien's period of extended admission described
in paragraph (1)--
``(A) the alien obtains employment referred to in such
paragraph, and
``(B) an application is filed on behalf of such alien for a
change of classification under section 248 to that of a
nonimmigrant described in subparagraph (H) of section
101(a)(15) on the basis of such employment,
then the period of extended admission under paragraph (1) and the
employment authorization described in paragraph (3) shall be further
extended during the pendency of such application.
``(5) The spouse and minor children of an alien granted a period of
extended admission under paragraph (1), and if applicable, under
paragraph (4), if accompanying or following to join such alien, are
eligible to be provided nonimmigrant status in the same classification
during such period of authorized stay as the spouse or children would
have with respect to the alien immediately before the alien was granted
such a period of extended admission.''.
SEC. 10. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-ENERGY.
(a) Agency.--
(1) Establishment.--There is established the Advanced
Research Projects Agency-Energy (in this section referred to as
``ARPA-E'') within the Department of Energy.
(2) Goal.--The goal of ARPA-E is to reduce the amount of
energy the United States imports from foreign sources by 50
percent over the next 10 years by--
(A) promoting revolutionary changes in the critical
technologies that would promote energy independence;
(B) turning cutting-edge science and engineering
into technologies for energy and environmental
application; and
(C) accelerating innovation in energy and the
environment for both traditional and alternative energy
sources and in energy efficiency mechanisms to decrease
the Nation's reliance on foreign energy sources.
(3) Director.--ARPA-E shall be headed by a Director who
shall be appointed by the Secretary of Energy. The Director
shall report to the Secretary.
(4) Responsibilities.--The Director of ARPA-E shall
administer the Fund established under subsection (b) to award
competitive grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to
institutions of higher education, companies, or consortia of
such entities which may include federally funded research and
development centers, to achieve the goals stated in paragraph
(2) through targeted acceleration of--
(A) energy-related research;
(B) development of resultant techniques, processes,
and technologies, and related testing and evaluation;
and
(C) demonstration and commercial application of the
most promising technologies and research applications.
(5) Personnel.--
(A) Program managers.--The Director of ARPA-E shall
designate employees to serve as program managers for
each of the programs established pursuant to the
responsibilities established for ARPA-E under paragraph
(4). Program managers shall be responsible for--
(i) establishing research and development
goals for the program, including through the
convening of workshops and conferring with
outside experts, as well as publicizing its
goals to the public and private sectors;
(ii) soliciting applications for specific
areas of particular promise, especially those
which the private sector cannot or will not
provide funding;
(iii) selecting research projects for
support under the program from among
application submitted to ARPA-E, following
consideration of--
(I) the novelty and scientific and
technical merit of the proposed
projects;
(II) the demonstrated capabilities
of the applicants to successfully carry
out the proposed research project; and
(III) such other criteria as are
established by the Director; and
(iv) monitoring the progress of projects
supported under the program.
(B) Hiring and management.--In hiring personnel for
ARPA-E, the Secretary shall have the hiring and
management authorities described in section 1101 of the
Strom Thurmond National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 1999 (5 U.S.C. 3104 note). For purposes of
subsection (c)(1) of that section, the term of
appointments for employees may not exceed 5 years
before the granting of any extension.
(6) Coordination.--The Director of ARPA-E shall ensure that
the activities of ARPA-E are coordinated with those of other
relevant research agencies, and may carry out projects jointly
with other agencies.
(b) Fund.--
(1) Establishment.--There is established in the Treasury
the Energy Independence Acceleration Fund (in this section
referred to as the ``Fund''), which shall be administered by
the Director of ARPA-E for the purposes of carrying out this
section.
(2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Director of ARPA-E for deposit in the
Fund $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $375,000,000 for fiscal
year 2008, $468,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, $585,000,000 for
fiscal year 2010, $732,000,000 for fiscal year 2011, and
$915,000,000 for fiscal year 2012, to remain available until
expended.
(c) Recoupment.--
(1) Requirement.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish procedures
and criteria for the recoupment of the Federal share of each
project supported under this section. Such recoupment shall
occur within a reasonable period of time following the date of
the completion of such project, but not later than 20 years
following such date, taking into account the effect of
recoupment on--
(A) the commercial competitiveness of the entity
carrying out the project;
(B) the profitability of the project; and
(C) the commercial viability of the technology
utilized.
(2) Waiver.--The Secretary may at any time waive or defer
all or some portion of the recoupment requirement as necessary
for the commercial viability of the project.
(3) Availability of funds.--Revenue received by the Federal
Government pursuant to this subsection shall be deposited into
the Fund and shall be available with further appropriation to
fund future grants, contracts, and cooperative agreement as
authorized by the Director of ARPA-E.
(d) Advice.--
(1) Advisory committees.--The Director of ARPA-E may seek
advice on any aspect of ARPA-E from--
(A) existing Department of Energy advisory
committees; and
(B) new advisory committees organized to support
the programs of ARPA-E and to provide advice and
assistance on--
(i) specific program tasks; or
(ii) overall direction of ARPA-E.
(2) Applicability.--Section 14 of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act shall not apply to advisory committees organized
under paragraph (1)(B).
(3) Additional sources of advice.--The Director of ARPA-E
may seek advice and review from the National Academy of
Sciences, the National Academy for Engineering, and any other
professional or scientific organization with expertise in
specific processes or technologies under development by ARPA-E.
(e) ARPA-E Evaluation.--After ARPA-E has been in operation for 54
months, the President's Committee on Science and Technology shall begin
an evaluation (to be completed within 12 months) of how well ARPA-E is
achieving its goals and mission. The evaluation shall include the
recommendation of such Committee on whether ARPA-E should be continued
or terminated, as well as lessons-learned from its operation. The
evaluation shall be made available to Congress and to the public upon
completion.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committees on Education and the Workforce, and the Judiciary, 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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Research.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics.
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Referred to the Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness.