S.Amdt. 1350

1. Adds SEC. 18__. ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO SIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH at the end of subtitle H of title I

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. 18__. ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO SIMULATE COMPETITIVE RESEARCH.

   Inserted: Section 2203(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (42 U.S.C. 13503(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following:

   Inserted: "(3) Established program to stimulate competitive research.--

   Inserted: "(A) Definitions.--In this paragraph:

   Inserted: "(i) Eligible entity.--The term 'eligible entity' means an institution of higher education located in an eligible jurisdiction.

   Inserted: "(ii) Eligible jurisdiction.--The term 'eligible jurisdiction' means a State that, as determined by the Secretary--

   Inserted: "(I)(aa) historically has received relatively little Federal research and development funding; and

   Inserted: "(bb) has demonstrated a commitment--

   Inserted: "(AA) to develop the research bases in the State; and

   Inserted: "(BB) to improve science and engineering research and education programs at institutions of higher education in the State; and

   Inserted: "(II) is an eligible jurisdiction under the criteria used by the Secretary to make awards under this paragraph on the day before the date of enactment of the American Energy Innovation Act of 2020.

   Inserted: "(iii) EPSCoR.--The term 'EPSCoR' means the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research operated under subparagraph (B).

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   Inserted: "(iv) National laboratory.--The term 'National Laboratory' has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801).

   Inserted: "(v) State.--The term 'State' means--

   Inserted: "(I) a State;

   Inserted: "(II) the District of Columbia;

   Inserted: "(III) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;

   Inserted: "(IV) Guam; and

   Inserted: "(V) the United States Virgin Islands.

   Inserted: "(B) Program operation.--The Secretary shall operate an Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.

   Inserted: "(C) Objectives.--The objectives of EPSCoR shall be--

   Inserted: "(i) to increase the number of researchers at institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions capable of performing nationally competitive science and engineering research in support of the mission of the Department of Energy in the areas of applied energy research, environmental management, and basic science;

   Inserted: "(ii) to enhance the capabilities of institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions to develop, plan, and execute research that is competitive in the peer-review process; and

   Inserted: "(iii) to increase the probability of long-term growth of competitive funding to institutions of higher education in eligible jurisdictions.

   Inserted: "(D) Grants in areas of applied energy research, environmental management, and basic science.--

   Inserted: "(i) In general.--EPSCoR shall make grants to eligible entities to carry out and support applied energy research and research in all areas of environmental management and basic science sponsored by the Department of Energy, including--

   Inserted: "(I) energy efficiency, fossil energy, renewable energy, and other applied energy research;

   Inserted: "(II) electricity delivery research;

   Inserted: "(III) cybersecurity, energy security, and emergency response;

   Inserted: "(IV) environmental management; and

   Inserted: "(V) basic science research.

   Inserted: "(ii) Activities.--EPSCOR may make grants under this subparagraph for any activities consistent with the objectives described in subparagraph (C) in the areas of applied energy research, environmental management, and basic science described in clause (i), including--

   Inserted: "(I) to support research at eligible entities that is carried out in partnership with the National Laboratories;

   Inserted: "(II) to provide for graduate traineeships;

   Inserted: "(III) to support research by early career faculty; and

   Inserted: "(IV) to improve research capabilities at eligible entities through biennial implementation grants.

   Inserted: "(iii) No cost sharing.--EPSCoR shall not impose any cost-sharing requirement with respect to a grant made under this subparagraph.

   Inserted: "(E) Other activities.--EPSCoR may carry out such activities as may be necessary to meet the objectives described in subparagraph (C) in the areas of applied energy research, environmental management, and basic science described in subparagraph (D)(i).

   Inserted: "(F) Program implementation.--

   Inserted: "(i) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the date of enactment of the American Energy Innovation Act of 2020, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Appropriations of the House of Representatives a plan describing how the Secretary shall implement EPSCoR.

   Inserted: "(ii) Contents of plan.--The plan described in clause (i) shall include a description of--

   Inserted: "(I) the management structure of EPSCoR, which shall ensure that all research areas and activities described in this paragraph are incorporated into EPSCoR;

   Inserted: "(II) efforts to conduct outreach to inform eligible entities and faculty of changes to, and opportunities under, EPSCoR;

   Inserted: "(III) how EPSCoR plans to increase engagement with eligible entities, faculty, and State committees, including by holding regular workshops, to increase participation in EPSCoR; and

   Inserted: "(IV) any other issues relating to EPSCoR that the Secretary determines appropriate.

   Inserted: "(G) Program evaluation.--

   Inserted: "(i) In general.--Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of the American Energy Innovation Act of 2020, the Secretary shall contract with a federally funded research and development center, the National Academy of Sciences, or a similar organization to carry out an assessment of the effectiveness of EPSCoR, including an assessment of--

   Inserted: "(I) the tangible progress made towards achieving the objectives described in subparagraph (C);

   Inserted: "(II) the impact of research supported by EPSCoR on the mission of the Department of Energy; and

   Inserted: "(III) any other issues relating to EPSCoR that the Secretary determines appropriate.

   Inserted: "(ii) Limitation.--The organization with which the Secretary contracts under clause (i) shall not be a National Laboratory.

   Inserted: "(iii) Report.--Not later than 6 years after the date of enactment of the American Energy Innovation Act of 2020, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Energy and Natural Resources and Appropriations of the Senate and the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Appropriations of the House of Representatives a report describing the results of the assessment carried out under clause (i), including recommendations for improvements that would enable the Secretary to achieve the objectives described in subparagraph (C).".

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle H of title I, add the following:

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As printed