Advanced Composites Development Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretaries of Transportation (DOT), Energy (DOE), Defense (DOD), and Homeland Security (DHS), to carry out a program to improve the nation's transportation infrastructure, advance the technologies used to produce alternative energy, enhance our military security, and develop new disaster mitigation systems by making grants to consortia for the establishment and operation of Advanced Composites Development Centers.
Instructs the Secretaries to work with stakeholders to identify problems that can be solved over a period of five years through the development of an advanced composite material.
Requires such Centers, by working with the private sector, to strive to produce new composite materials, including related manufacturing processes or applications, that: (1) are lighter, stronger, and more durable than existing materials; (2) have lower life-cycle costs or lower overall environmental impacts; and (3) have an immediate practical application.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2034 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2034
To provide for the establishment and operation of Advanced Composites
Development Centers.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
May 16, 2013
Mr. Michaud (for himself, Ms. Tsongas, Mr. Palazzo, Mr. Lipinski, and
Mr. Conyers) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the
Committees on Homeland Security, Armed Services, and Transportation and
Infrastructure, 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 provide for the establishment and operation of Advanced Composites
Development Centers.
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 ``Advanced Composites Development Act
of 2013''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Compared to traditional metals and woods, reinforced
composite materials are lightweight, corrosion resistant, high
strength, and durable.
(2) Because of their intrinsic physical qualities,
composites have the ability to address national priorities in
infrastructure, energy, defense, and natural disaster
mitigation with innovative solutions.
(3) To this end, research on advancement in composite
material development, new applications for composites, or
advanced manufacturing processes serves a critical national
interest.
SEC. 3. ADVANCED COMPOSITES DEVELOPMENT CENTERS.
(a) Establishment of Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Transportation, the
Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Defense, and the
Secretary of Homeland Security shall carry out a program to
improve our Nation's transportation infrastructure, advance the
technologies used to produce alternative energy, enhance our
military security, and develop new disaster mitigation systems
by making grants to consortia to establish and operate Advanced
Composites Development Centers. In doing so, they shall work
with stakeholders to identify problems that can be solved over
a period of 5 years through the development of an advanced
composite material. By working with the private sector and
focusing on solutions to problems that can be researched,
developed, and demonstrated over a short period of time, each
Center will strive to produce new composite materials,
including related manufacturing processes or applications, that
are lighter, stronger, and more durable than existing
materials, have lower life-cycle costs or lower overall
environmental impacts, and have an immediate practical
application.
(2) Designation of centers.--The Centers shall be
designated as follows:
(A) The Secretary of Transportation shall designate
1 Center for the development of advanced composites in
civil infrastructure and transportation.
(B) The Secretary of Energy shall designate 1
Center for the development of advanced composites in
energy technology.
(C) The Secretary of Defense shall designate 1
Center for the development of advanced composites in
military operations.
(D) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall
designate 1 Center for the development of advanced
composites in disaster prevention and response.
(E) Any 2 or more of the Secretaries described in
subparagraphs (A) through (D) may work together to
explore opportunities to designate a single Center that
addresses issues of importance to the Departments of
each such Secretary.
(3) Additional collaboration.--Each Secretary designating a
Center under paragraph (2) may include reviewers from the
Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
and the Director of the National Science Foundation to leverage
work that has been done at facilities supported by each of
those agencies.
(b) Consortia.--
(1) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
this section for the establishment and operation of a Center, a
consortium shall--
(A) be composed of qualifying entities, including
at least 1 prime applicant and 1 private company;
(B) operate subject to a binding agreement entered
into by its members that documents--
(i) the proposed partnership agreement,
including the governance and management
structure of the Center;
(ii) measures to enable cost-effective
implementation of the program under this
section;
(iii) a proposed budget, including
financial contributions from non-Federal
sources;
(iv) conflict of interest procedures
consistent with subsection (d)(2), all known
material conflicts of interest, and
corresponding mitigation plans; and
(v) an accounting structure that enables
the Secretary to ensure that the consortium has
complied with the requirements of this section;
and
(C) operate as a nonprofit organization.
(2) Application.--A consortium seeking to establish and
operate a Center under this section, acting through a prime
applicant, shall transmit to the Secretary an application at
such time, in such form, and accompanied by such information as
the Secretary shall require, including a detailed description
of the elements of the consortium agreement required under
paragraph (1)(B). If the consortium members will not be located
at one centralized location, such application shall include a
communications plan that ensures close coordination and
integration of the Center's activities.
(c) Selection and Schedule.--
(1) Selection.--The Secretary shall select consortia for
grants for the establishment and operation of Centers through
competitive selection processes. In selecting consortia, the
Secretary shall consider--
(A) the information a consortium must disclose
according to subsection (b);
(B) any existing facilities a consortium will
provide for Center activities;
(C) experience in design, prototyping, and testing
advanced composites;
(D) existing ISO 17025 certification;
(E) experience and achievements working with the
private sector and commercializing composite materials
technologies; and
(F) opportunities to leverage previous support that
a member of the consortium has received from the
Department or Departments awarding the grant, the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, or the
National Science Foundation to research, develop,
demonstrate, or commercialize an advanced composite.
(2) Schedule.--Grants made for the establishment and
operation of a Center shall be for a period not to exceed 5
years, after which the grant may be renewed, subject to a
competitive selection process.
(d) Center Operations.--
(1) In general.--Centers shall conduct or provide for
multidisciplinary, collaborative research, development,
demonstration, and commercial application of advanced
composites technologies within the technology development focus
area or areas designated for the Center by the Secretary under
subsection (a)(2). Each Center shall--
(A) encourage collaboration and communication among
the member qualifying entities of the consortium and
awardees by conducting activities whenever practicable
at one centralized location;
(B) develop and publish on the website of the
Department or Departments of the designating Secretary
proposed plans and programs;
(C) submit an annual report to the Secretary
summarizing the Center's activities, including
detailing organizational expenditures and describing
each project undertaken by the Center; and
(D) monitor project implementation and
coordination.
(2) Conflicts of interest.--
(A) Procedures.--Centers shall establish conflict
of interest procedures, consistent with those of the
Department or Departments of the designating Secretary,
to ensure that employees and consortia designees for
Center activities who are in decisionmaking capacities
disclose all material conflicts of interest, including
financial, organizational, and personal conflicts of
interest.
(B) Disqualification and revocation.--The Secretary
may disqualify an application or revoke funds
distributed to a Center if the Secretary discovers a
failure to comply with conflict of interest procedures
established under subparagraph (A).
(e) Oversight Board.--Each Secretary described in subsection (a)(1)
shall establish and maintain within its Department an Oversight Board
to oversee the progress of Centers.
(f) Priority Consideration.--The Secretary shall give priority
consideration to applications in which 1 or more of the institutions
comprising the applicant consortium are 1890 Land Grant Institutions
(as defined in section 2 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and
Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7061)), Predominantly Black
Institutions (as defined in section 318 of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059e)), Tribal Colleges or Universities (as defined in
section 316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1059c(b)), or Hispanic Serving Institutions (as defined in section 318
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1059e)).
(g) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
(1) Advanced composites.--The term ``advanced composites''
means polymer matrix composite materials, including synthetic
and natural fibers, as well as synthetic and bio-based resins,
used in structural, load-bearing applications. These materials
may be enhanced with nano-additives, and may be used in
combination with traditional and other advanced materials.
(2) Center.--The term ``Center'' means an Advanced
Composites Development Center established in accordance with
this section.
(3) Institution of higher education.--The term
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given that
term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(4) Prime applicant.--The term ``prime applicant'' means an
institution of higher education serving as the lead entity
applying for a grant under this section.
(5) Qualifying entity.--The term ``qualifying entity''
includes--
(A) an appropriate State or Federal entity;
(B) a nonprofit nongovernmental organization with
expertise in advanced composites technology research,
development, demonstration, or commercial application;
(C) any other relevant entity the Secretary
considers appropriate; or
(D) a United States private company with expertise
in advanced composites technology research,
development, demonstration, or commercial application.
(6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
or Secretaries designating a Center under subsection (a)(2).
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--From the funds appropriated
to research budgets of their respective departments, each Secretary
described in subsection (a)(1) is authorized to expend the following
amounts to carry out this section:
(1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2014.
(2) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2015.
(3) $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2016.
(4) $19,000,000 for fiscal year 2017.
(5) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2018.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Armed Services, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Armed Services, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Armed Services, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committees on Homeland Security, Armed Services, and Transportation and Infrastructure, 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 Highways and Transit.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies.
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Readiness.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Research and Technology.