S.Amdt. 1987

SA 1987. Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself, Mr. Cruz, Ms. Ernst, and
Mr. Rubio) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment
SA 1502 proposed by Mr. Schumer to the bill S. 1260, to establish a new
Directorate for Technology and Innovation in the National Science
Foundation, to establish a regional technology hub program, to require
a strategy and report on economic security, science, research,
innovation, manufacturing, and job creation, to establish a critical
supply chain resiliency program, and for other purposes; which was
ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

In title V of division B, at the end add the following:

SEC. 25__. GRANTS FOR RESEARCHING COVID-19 ORIGINS.

(a) Awards.--Out of amounts made available to the
Foundation under section 2116 for activities outside of the
Directorate, the Director shall award grants to entities
described in subsection (b) for the purpose of researching
the origins of COVID-19, including researching any evidence
of whether COVID-19--
(1) was in any way manufactured;
(2) escaped from a laboratory; or
(3) involved a zoonotic origin.
(b) Eligible Entities.--An entity described in this
subsection is an entity that--
(1) is based in the United States; and
(2) submits a proposal to the Director for a grant under
this section, which shall ensure that the entity complies,
and all activities supported through the grant will comply,
with all policies and procedures with respect to research
security under title III, including by complying with the
policy guidelines under paragraphs (2) and (3) of section
2303(a) with respect to prohibitions on participation in a
foreign government talent recruitment program of the People's
Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea,
the Russian Federation, or the Islamic Republic of Iran as
described in such paragraphs.
(c) Annual Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter through the
year following the date described in subsection (d), the
Director shall provide to Congress, and make publicly
available, a report on the findings of the research supported
through the grants under this section.

[[Page S3437]]

(d) Sunset.--The authority for the Director to make grants
under this section shall terminate on the date that is 3
years after the date of enactment of this Act.
______