SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Commission to Study the Potential
Creation of a National Women's History Museum Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the
        Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National
        Women's History Museum established by section 3(a).
            (2) Museum.--The term ``Museum'' means the National Women's
        History Museum.

SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

    (a) In General.--There is established the Commission to Study the
Potential Creation of a National Women's History Museum.
    (b) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 8 members, of
whom--
            (1) 2 members shall be appointed by the majority leader of
        the Senate;
            (2) 2 members shall be appointed by the Speaker of the
        House of Representatives;
            (3) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of
        the Senate; and
            (4) 2 members shall be appointed by the minority leader of
        the House of Representatives.
    (c) Qualifications.--Members of the Commission shall be appointed
to the Commission from among individuals, or representatives of
institutions or entities, who possess--
            (1)(A) a demonstrated commitment to the research, study, or
        promotion of women's history, art, political or economic
        status, or culture; and
            (B)(i) expertise in museum administration;
            (ii) expertise in fundraising for nonprofit or cultural
        institutions;
            (iii) experience in the study and teaching of women's
        history;
            (iv) experience in studying the issue of the representation
        of women in art, life, history, and culture at the Smithsonian
        Institution; or
            (v) extensive experience in public or elected service;
            (2) experience in the administration of, or the planning
        for, the establishment of, museums; or
            (3) experience in the planning, design, or construction of
        museum facilities.
    (d) Prohibition.--No employee of the Federal Government may serve
as a member of the Commission.
    (e) Deadline for Initial Appointment.--The initial members of the
Commission shall be appointed not later than the date that is 90 days
after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (f) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission--
            (1) shall not affect the powers of the Commission; and
            (2) shall be filled in the same manner as the original
        appointment was made.
    (g) Chairperson.--The Commission shall, by majority vote of all of
the members, select 1 member of the Commission to serve as the
Chairperson of the Commission.

SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

    (a) Reports.--
            (1) Plan of action.--The Commission shall submit to the
        President and Congress a report containing the recommendations
        of the Commission with respect to a plan of action for the
        establishment and maintenance of a National Women's History
        Museum in Washington, DC.
            (2) Report on issues.--The Commission shall submit to the
        President and Congress a report that addresses the following
        issues:
                    (A) The availability and cost of collections to be
                acquired and housed in the Museum.
                    (B) The impact of the Museum on regional women
                history-related museums.
                    (C) Potential locations for the Museum in
                Washington, DC, and its environs.
                    (D) Whether the Museum should be part of the
                Smithsonian Institution.
                    (E) The governance and organizational structure
                from which the Museum should operate.
                    (F) Best practices for engaging women in the
                development and design of the Museum.
                    (G) The cost of constructing, operating, and
                maintaining the Museum.
            (3) Deadline.--The reports required under paragraphs (1)
        and (2) shall be submitted not later than the date that is 18
        months after the date of the first meeting of the Commission.
    (b) Fundraising Plan.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall develop a fundraising
        plan to support the establishment, operation, and maintenance
        of the Museum through contributions from the public.
            (2) Considerations.--In developing the fundraising plan
        under paragraph (1), the Commission shall consider--
                    (A) the role of the National Women's History Museum
                (a nonprofit, educational organization described in
                section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986
                that was incorporated in 1996 in Washington, DC, and
                dedicated for the purpose of establishing a women's
                history museum) in raising funds for the construction
                of the Museum; and
                    (B) issues relating to funding the operations and
                maintenance of the Museum in perpetuity without
                reliance on appropriations of Federal funds.
            (3) Independent review.--The Commission shall obtain an
        independent review of the viability of the plan developed under
        paragraph (1) and such review shall include an analysis as to
        whether the plan is likely to achieve the level of resources
        necessary to fund the construction of the Museum and the
        operations and maintenance of the Museum in perpetuity without
        reliance on appropriations of Federal funds.
            (4) Submission.--The Commission shall submit the plan
        developed under paragraph (1) and the review conducted under
        paragraph (3) to the Committees on Transportation and
        Infrastructure, House Administration, Natural Resources, and
        Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the
        Committees on Rules and Administration, Energy and Natural
        Resources, and Appropriations of the Senate.
    (c) Legislation To Carry Out Plan of Action.--Based on the
recommendations contained in the report submitted under paragraphs (1)
and (2) of subsection (a), the Commission shall submit for
consideration to the Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure,
House Administration, Natural Resources, and Appropriations of the
House of Representatives and the Committees on Rules and
Administration, Energy and Natural Resources, and Appropriations of the
Senate recommendations for a legislative plan of action to establish
and construct the Museum.
    (d) National Conference.--Not later than 18 months after the date
on which the initial members of the Commission are appointed under
section 3, the Commission may, in carrying out the duties of the
Commission under this section, convene a national conference relating
to the Museum, to be comprised of individuals committed to the
advancement of the life, art, history, and culture of women.

SEC. 5. DIRECTOR AND STAFF OF COMMISSION.

    (a) Director and Staff.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission may employ and compensate
        an executive director and any other additional personnel that
        are necessary to enable the Commission to perform the duties of
        the Commission.
            (2) Rates of pay.--Rates of pay for persons employed under
        paragraph (1) shall be consistent with the rates of pay allowed
        for employees of a temporary organization under section 3161 of
        title 5, United States Code.
    (b) Not Federal Employment.--Any individual employed under this Act
shall not be considered a Federal employee for the purpose of any law
governing Federal employment.
    (c) Technical Assistance.--
            (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), on request of
        the Commission, the head of a Federal agency may provide
        technical assistance to the Commission.
            (2) Prohibition.--No Federal employees may be detailed to
        the Commission.

SEC. 6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS.

    (a) Compensation.--
            (1) In general.--A member of the Commission--
                    (A) shall not be considered to be a Federal
                employee for any purpose by reason of service on the
                Commission; and
                    (B) shall serve without pay.
            (2) Travel expenses.--A member of the Commission shall be
        allowed a per diem allowance for travel expenses, at rates
        consistent with those authorized under subchapter I of chapter
        57 of title 5, United States Code.
    (b) Gifts, Bequests, Devises.--The Commission may solicit, accept,
use, and dispose of gifts, bequests, or devises of money, services, or
real or personal property for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the
work of the Commission.
    (c) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--The Commission shall not be
subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).

SEC. 7. TERMINATION.

    The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 30 days after
the date on which the final versions of the reports required under
section 4(a) are submitted.

SEC. 8. FUNDING.

    (a) In General.--The Commission shall be solely responsible for
acceptance of contributions for, and payment of the expenses of, the
Commission.
    (b) Prohibition.--No Federal funds may be obligated to carry out
this Act.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 7, 2014.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.

Summary: Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Women's History Museum Act - Establishes the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Women's History Museum. Requires the Commission to: (1) report recommendations for a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance of a National Women's History Museum in Washington, D. C.. (2) develop a fundraising plan to support the establishment, operation, and maintenance of the Museum through public contributions. (3) obtain an independent review of such fundraising plan, including an analysis of the resources necessary to fund the construction of the Museum and its operations and maintenance in perpetuity without reliance on federal funds. And (4) submit a legislative plan of action to establish and construct the Museum. Directs the Commission's recommendations to address issues including the impact of the Museum on regional women history-related museums, whether it should be part of the Smithsonian Institution, and the cost of constructing, operating, and maintaining the Museum and acquiring its collections. Prohibits federal funds from being obligated to carry out this Act.


SECTION 1. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SEXUAL TRAUMA COUNSELING
              PROGRAM.

    (a) Extension of Period of Authority To Provide Sexual Trauma
Counseling.--Subsection (a) of section 1720D of title 38, United States
Code, is amended--
            (1) by striking out ``December 31, 1995,'' in paragraph (1)
        and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1998,''; and
            (2) by striking out ``December 31, 1994,'' in paragraph (3)
        and inserting in lieu thereof ``December 31, 1998,''.
    (b) Period of Eligibility To Seek Counseling.--(1) Such subsection
is further amended--
            (A) by striking out paragraph (2); and
            (B) by redesignating paragraph (3) (as amended by
        subsection (a)(2)) as paragraph (2).
    (2) Section 102(b) of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (Public
Law 102-585; 106 Stat. 4946; 38 U.S.C. 1720D note) is repealed.
    (c) Repeal of Limitation on Period of Receipt of Counseling.--
Section 1720D of title 38, United States Code, is further amended--
            (1) by striking out subsection (b); and
            (2) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) as
        subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively.
    (d) Increased Priority of Care.--Section 1712(i) of title 38,
United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``To a veteran'';
                and
                    (B) by inserting ``, or (B) who is eligible for
                counseling under section 1720D of this title, for the
                purposes of such counseling'' before the period at the
                end; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) by striking out ``, (B)'' and inserting in lieu
                thereof ``or (B)''; and
                    (B) by striking out ``, or (C)'' and all that
                follows through ``such counseling''.
    (e) Program Revision.--(1) Section 1720D of title 38, United States
Code, is further amended--
            (A) by striking out ``woman'' in subsection (a)(1);
            (B) by striking out ``women'' in subsection (b)(2)(C) and
        in the first sentence of subsection (c), as redesignated by
        subsection (c); and
            (C) by striking out ``women'' in subsection (c)(2), as so
        redesignated, and inserting in lieu thereof ``individuals''.
    (2)(A) The heading of such section is amended to read as follows:
``Sec. 1720D. Counseling for sexual trauma''.
    (B) The item relating to such section in the table of sections at
the beginning of chapter 17 of such title is amended to read as
follows:

``1720D. Counseling for sexual trauma.''.
    (f) Information on Counseling by Telephone.--(1) Paragraph (1) of
section 1720D(c) of title 38, United States Code, as redesignated by
subsection (c) of this section, is amended by striking out ``may'' and
inserting in lieu thereof ``shall''.
    (2) In providing information on counseling available to veterans
through the information system required under section 1720D(c)(1) of
title 38, United States Code (as amended by this section), the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure--
            (A) that the telephone system described in such section is
        operated by Department of Veterans Affairs personnel who are
        trained in the provision to persons who have experienced sexual
        trauma of information about the care and services relating to
        sexual trauma that are available to veterans in the communities
        in which such veterans reside, including care and services
        available under programs of the Department (including the care
        and services available under section 1720D of such title) and
        from non-Department agencies or organizations;
            (B) that such personnel are provided with information on
        the care and services relating to sexual trauma that are
        available to veterans and the locations in which such care and
        services are available;
            (C) that such personnel refer veterans seeking such care
        and services to appropriate providers of such care and services
        (including care and services that are available in the
        communities in which such veterans reside);
            (D) that the telephone system is operated in a manner that
        protects the confidentiality of persons who place telephone
        calls to the system; and
            (E) that the telephone system operates at all times.
    (3) The Secretary shall ensure that information about the
availability of the telephone system is visibly posted in Department
medical facilities and is advertised through public service
announcements, pamphlets, and other means.
    (4) Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the
operation of the telephone system required under section 1720D(c)(1) of
title 38, United States Code (as so amended). The report shall set
forth the following:
            (A) The number of telephone calls placed to the system
        during the period covered by the report, with a separate
        display of (i) the number of calls placed to the system from
        each State (as such term is defined in section 101(20) of title
        38, United States Code) during that period, and (ii) the number
        of persons who placed more than one call to the system during
        that period.
            (B) The types of sexual trauma described to personnel
        operating the system by persons placing calls to the system.
            (C) A description of the difficulties, if any, experienced
        by persons placing calls to the system in obtaining care and
        services for sexual trauma in the communities in which such
        persons live, including care and services available from the
        Department and from non-Department agencies and organizations.
            (D) A description of the training provided to the personnel
        operating the system.
            (E) The recommendations and plans of the Secretary for the
        improvement of the system.
    (5) The Secretary shall commence operation of the telephone system
required under section 1720D(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code (as
so amended), not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act.

SEC. 2. REPORT RELATING TO DETERMINATIONS OF SERVICE CONNECTION FOR
              SEXUAL TRAUMA.

    (a) Report.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of
Representatives a report containing the Secretary's assessment of--
            (1) the difficulties that veterans encounter in obtaining
        from the Department of Veterans Affairs determinations that
        disabilities relating to sexual trauma resulting from events
        that occurred during active duty are service-connected
        disabilities; and
            (2) the extent to which Department personnel fail to make
        determinations that such disabilities are service-connected
        disabilities.
    (b) Recommendations.--The Secretary shall include in the report the
Secretary's recommendations for actions to be taken to respond in a
fair manner to the difficulties described in the report and to
eliminate failures to make determinations that such disabilities are
service-connected disabilities.
    (c) Definition.--In this section, the term ``sexual trauma'' means
the immediate and long-term physical or psychological trauma resulting
from rape, sexual assault, aggravated sexual abuse (as such term is
described in section 2241 of title 18, United States Code), sexual
harassment, or other act of sexual violence.
    (d) Deadline for Report.--The report required by this section shall
be submitted not later than June 30, 1994.

SEC. 3. COORDINATORS OF WOMEN'S SERVICES.

    (a) Requirement of Full-time Service.--Section 108 of the Veterans
Health Care Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-585; 106 Stat. 4948; 38 U.S.C.
1710 note) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(a)'' before ``The Secretary''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(b) Each official who serves in the position of coordinator of
women's services under subsection (a) shall so serve on a full-time
basis.''.
    (b) Additional Responsibilities.--Subsection (a) of such section
(as designated by subsection (a) of this section) is further amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (5) as paragraph (6); and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new
        paragraph (5):
            ``(5) Facilitating communication between women veterans
        coordinators under the jurisdiction of such regional
        coordinator and the Under Secretary for Health and the
        Secretary.''.
    (c) Support for Women's Services Coordinators.--The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall take appropriate actions to ensure that--
            (1) sufficient funding is provided to each Department of
        Veterans Affairs facility in order to permit the coordinator of
        women's services to carry out the responsibilities of the
        coordinator at the facility;
            (2) sufficient clerical and communications support is
        provided to each such coordinator for that purpose; and
            (3) each such coordinator has direct access to the Director
        or Chief of Staff of the facility to which the coordinator is
        assigned.

Summary: Amends the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 and Federal veterans' benefits provisions to: (1) extend through December 31, 1998, the authority of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide sexual trauma counseling at Department facilities as well as through non-Department providers. (2) remove a requirement that veterans seek such counseling within a specified period after discharge. (3) remove the current one-year limit on the length of such counseling. (4) make the provision of such counseling equal in priority to the provision of Department outpatient services. (5) authorize the Department to provide such counseling to all veterans. And (6) require the provision of a 24-hour toll-free telephone number for the provision of sexual trauma crisis counseling. Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make certain reports with respect to: (1) the operation of the telephone hotline. And (2) the difficulties veterans encounter in obtaining from the Department determinations that disabilities relating to sexual trauma are service-connected. Modifies responsibilities of Department coordinators of women's services. Requires the Secretary to ensure that such coordinators are provided sufficient resources to carry out such responsibilities.

To amend chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, to improve the Department of Veterans Affairs program of sexual trauma counseling for veterans and to improve certain Department of Veterans Affairs programs for women veterans.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sound Science for Endangered Species
Act Planning Act of 2002''.

SEC. 2. SOUND SCIENCE.

    (a) Best Scientific and Commercial Data Available as Basis of
Determinations.--Section 4(b)(1)(A) of the Endangered Species Act of
1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(1)(A)) is amended in the first sentence, by
inserting ``, including any finding under paragraph (3)(B) on a
petition referred to in paragraph (3)(A),'' after ``determinations
required by subsection (a)(1)''.
    (b) Preference for Empirical, Field-Tested, and Peer-Reviewed
Data.--Section 4(b) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.
1533(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(9) In making any determination under this section, the Secretary
shall give greater weight to any scientific or commercial study or
other information that is empirical or has been field-tested or peer-
reviewed.''.
    (c) Contents of Listing Petitions.--
            (1) In general.--Section 4(b)(3) of the Endangered Species
        Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the
        end the following:
    ``(E) A petition referred to in subparagraph (A) regarding a
species--
            ``(i) shall, to the maximum extent practicable, contain
        clear and convincing evidence--
                    ``(I) of the current known and historic ranges of
                the species concerned;
                    ``(II) of the most recent population estimates and
                trends for the species, if available;
                    ``(III) that any change in the population that is
                alleged in the petition is beyond the natural range of
                fluctuations for the species; and
                    ``(IV) of the reason that the petitioned action is
                warranted, including known or perceived threats to the
                species;
            ``(ii) shall include a bibliography of scientific
        literature on the species in support of the petition; and
            ``(iii) may contain any other information the petitioner
        considers appropriate.
    ``(F) For purposes of subparagraph (E), evidence is clear and
convincing evidence if--
            ``(i) a preponderance of the evidence is based on reliable
        scientific and commercial information; and
            ``(ii) the evidence is sufficient to support a firm belief
        by the Secretary that the petitioned action may be
        warranted.''.
            (2) Requirement for consideration of petition.--Section
        4(b)(3) of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C.
        1533(b)(3)) is further amended--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A) in the first sentence, by
                inserting ``and contains the information required under
                clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (E)'' after ``may
                be warranted''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B) in the matter preceding
                clause (i), by inserting ``and contains the information
                required under clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph
                (E)'' after ``may be warranted''.
    (d) Use of Sound Science in Listing.--Section 4(b) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)) is further amended
by adding at the end the following:
    ``(10) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this
paragraph, the Secretary shall promulgate regulations that establish
criteria that must be met for scientific and commercial data, studies,
and other information to be used as the basis of a determination under
this section.
    ``(11)(A) The Secretary may not determine that a species is an
endangered species or a threatened species unless data collected in the
field on the species concerned supports the determination.
    ``(B) The Secretary shall--
            ``(i) accept and acknowledge receipt of data regarding the
        status of a species that is collected by an owner of land,
        including data obtained by observation of the species on the
        land; and
            ``(ii) include the data in the rulemaking record compiled
        for any determination that the species is an endangered species
        or a threatened species.''.
    (e) Use of Sound Science in Recovery Planning.--Section 4(f) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(f)) is amended by adding
at the end the following:
    ``(6)(A) The Secretary shall identify and publish in the Federal
Register with the notice of a proposed regulation pursuant to paragraph
(5)(A)(i) a description of additional scientific and commercial data
that, if collected, would assist in the preparation of a recovery plan
and--
            ``(i) invite any person to submit the data to the
        Secretary; and
            ``(ii) describe the steps that the Secretary plans to take
        for acquiring additional data.
    ``(B) Data identified and obtained under subparagraph (A)(i) shall
be considered by the recovery team and the Secretary in the preparation
of the recovery plan.''.

SEC. 3. INDEPENDENT SCIENTIFIC REVIEW.

    (a) In General.--Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act of 1973
(16 U.S.C. 1533) is amended by adding at the end the following:
    ``(j) Independent Scientific Review Requirements.--(1) In this
subsection:
            ``(A) The term `covered action' means--
                    ``(i) the determination that a species is an
                endangered species or a threatened species under
                subsection (a);
                    ``(ii) the determination under subsection (a) that
                an endangered species or a threatened species be
                removed from any list published under subsection
                (c)(1);
                    ``(iii) the development of a recovery plan for a
                threatened species or endangered species under
                subsection (f);
                    ``(iv) the determination that a proposed action is
                likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a
                listed species or result in the destruction or adverse
                modification of critical habitat and the proposal of
                any reasonable and prudent alternatives by the
                Secretary under section 7(b)(3), if the Secretary finds
                that--
                            ``(I) there is significant disagreement
                        regarding that determination or proposal; or
                            ``(II) that determination or proposal may
                        have significant economic impact; and
                    ``(v) the determination that a proposed action is
                not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a
                listed species or result in the destruction or adverse
                modification of critical habitat, if the Secretary
                finds that there is significant disagreement regarding
                that determination or proposal.
            ``(B) The term `qualified individual' means an individual
        who meets the standards of the National Academy of Sciences for
        independent scientific review conducted by the Academy, except
        that such term does not include any individual with a conflict
        of interest as determined by the Secretary or by a Governor who
        nominates the individual under paragraph (3)(B).
    ``(2) The Secretary shall--
            ``(A) maintain a list of qualified individuals who are
        available to participate on independent review boards under
        this subsection;
            ``(B) seek nominations of individuals to participate on
        such boards (upon appointment by the Secretary), through the
        Federal Register, scientific and commercial journals, and the
        National Academy of Sciences and other such institutions; and
            ``(C) update such list every two years.
    ``(3)(A) Before any covered action becomes final, the Secretary
shall appoint an independent review board in accordance with this
section that shall review and report to the Secretary in writing on the
scientific information and analyses on which the covered action is
based.
    ``(B) Each independent review board under this paragraph shall be
composed of 5 members, of which--
            ``(i) 3 shall be appointed by the Secretary from the list
        under paragraph (2); and
            ``(ii) 2 shall be appointed by the Secretary from among
        qualified individuals nominated by the Governor of a State in
        which the species concerned is located.
    ``(C) If any individual declines appointment to an independent
review board under this paragraph, the Secretary shall appoint another
individual in the same manner.
    ``(D) The selection of the members, and the activities, of
independent review boards under this paragraph are not subject to the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
    ``(E) If funds are available, the Secretary shall provide
compensation to an individual for service as a member of an independent
review board under this paragraph, at a rate not to exceed the daily
equivalent of the maximum annual rate of basic pay for grade GS-14 of
the General Schedule for each day (including travel time) during which
the individual is engaged in the actual performance of duties as a
member of such board.
    ``(F) The Secretary may not delegate the authority to make
appointments under this paragraph to any official who is below the
level of the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service or
the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
    ``(4)(A) Each independent review board under this subsection shall
provide to the Secretary, within 90 days after the completion of
appointment of the board, the opinion of the board regarding all
relevant scientific information and assumptions relating to the
taxonomy, population models, and supportive biological and ecological
information for the species in question.
    ``(B) The Secretary shall--
            ``(i) develop a protocol for the conduct of scientific
        independent review under this subsection, that--
                    ``(I) includes review of the adequacy of any
                scientific methodology used to support an action and
                the validity of any conclusions drawn from data used to
                support an action; and
                    ``(II) is modeled after applicable National Academy
                of Sciences policies and guidelines for report reviews;
                and
            ``(ii) provide to each independent review board established
        under this subsection clear guidelines as to the conduct of its
        review consistent with that protocol.
    ``(5) If an independent review board under this subsection makes a
recommendation regarding a covered action, the Secretary shall, within
90 days after receiving the recommendation, evaluate and consider the
information that results from the review by the board, and shall
include in the rulemaking record for the covered action--
            ``(A) a summary of the results of the review by the board;
        and
            ``(B) in a case in which the recommendation of a majority
        of the members of the board is not followed, an explanation of
        why the recommendation was not followed.
    ``(6) The report of each independent review board under this
subsection shall be included in the rulemaking record of any regulation
with respect to which the board is convened, and shall be available for
public review for at least 30 days before the close of the period for
comment on the regulation.''.
    (b) Biological Assessments.--Section 7(c) of the Endangered Species
Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(c)) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
    ``(3) In preparing a biological assessment under this subsection,
the head of an agency shall solicit and review any scientific and
commercial data that a prospective permit or license applicant believes
is relevant to the assessment, and shall make that data available to
the Secretary.''.
    (c) Extension of Periods.--Section 4(b)(6) of the Endangered
Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(6)) is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding clause (i) by striking
                ``one-year'' and inserting ``18-month''; and
                    (B) in clause (i)(III) by striking ``one-year'' and
                inserting ``18-month''; and
                    (C) in clause (ii)(II) by striking ``one-year'' and
                inserting ``18-month'';
            (2) in subparagraph (B)--
                    (A) in clause (i) by striking ``one-year'' and
                inserting ``18-month'';
                    (B) in clause (ii) by striking ``one-year'' and
                inserting ``18-month''; and
                    (C) in clause (iii) by striking ``one-year'' and
                inserting ``18-month''; and
            (3) in subparagraph (C)(ii) by striking ``one-year'' and
        inserting ``18-month''.

SEC. 4. IMPROVED INTERAGENCY COOPERATION.

    (a) Use of Information Provided by States.--Section 7(b)(1) of the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(1)) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
    ``(C) In conducting a consultation under subsection (a)(2), the
Secretary shall actively solicit and consider information from the
State agency in each affected State.''.
    (b) Opportunity To Participate in Consultations.--Section 7(b)(1)
of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1536(b)(1)) (as
amended by subsection (a)) is further amended by adding at the end the
following:
    ``(D)(i) In conducting a consultation with a Federal agency under
subsection (a)(2), the Secretary and the head of the agency shall
provide any person who has sought authorization or funding from a
Federal agency for an action that is the subject of the consultation,
the opportunity to--
            ``(I) before the development of a draft biological opinion,
        submit and discuss with the Secretary and the Federal agency
        information relevant to the effect of the proposed action on
        the species and reasonable and prudent alternatives that the
        Federal agency and the person can take to avoid violation of
        subsection (a)(2), including any such alternatives proposed by
        the person;
            ``(II) receive information, on request, subject to the
        exemptions specified in section 552(b) of title 5, United
        States Code, on the status of the species, threats to the
        species, and conservation measures, used by the Secretary to
        develop the draft biological opinion and the final biological
        opinion, including any associated incidental taking statements;
        and
            ``(III) receive a copy of the draft biological opinion from
        the Federal agency and, before issuance of the final biological
        opinion, submit comments on the draft biological opinion and
        discuss with the Secretary and the Federal agency the basis for
        any finding in the draft biological opinion.
    ``(ii) If alternatives are proposed by a person under clause (i)
and the Secretary does not include the alternatives in the final
biological opinion, the Secretary shall provide to the person
reasonable justification, based on the best scientific and commercial
data available, why those alternatives were not included in the
opinion.
    ``(iii) Comments and other information submitted to, or received
from, any person (pursuant to clause (i)) who seeks authorization or
funding for an action shall be maintained in a file for that action by
the Secretary and shall be made available to the public (subject to the
exemptions specified in section 552(b) of title 5, United States
Code).''.

Summary: Sound Science for Endangered Species Act Planning Act of 2002 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require the use of the best scientific and commercial data available as a basis of determinations on a petition to add or remove a species from the endangered species list. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to give greater weight to any scientific or commercial study or other information that is empirical or has been field-tested or peer-reviewed. Requires that a petition regarding a species contain clear and convincing evidence of the current and historic ranges of the species concerned, of the most recent population estimates and trends for the species, that any alleged change in the population is beyond the natural range of fluctuations, and of the reason that the petitioned action is warranted. Directs the Secretary to: (1) promulgate regulations that establish criteria that must be met for scientific and commercial information to be used as the basis of a determination to support listing a species. And (2) identify and publish in the Federal Register with notice of a proposed regulation a description of additional scientific and commercial data that would assist in the preparation of a recovery plan. Prohibits the Secretary from determining that a species is endangered or threatened unless field data collected supports the determination. Defines covered action to include: (1) additions to or removals from the lists of endangered or threatened species, (2) a recovery plan. And (3) a determination that a proposed action is or is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of a listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat. Requires the Secretary to: (1) appoint an independent review board to review and report on the scientific information and analyses on which a covered action is based before such covered action becomes final. And (2) provide specified participation opportunities to any person who has sought authorization or funding from a Federal agency for an action that is subject to consultation regarding its effects on endangered or threatened species or habitats. Extends the Secretary's review period for covered actions from one year to 18 months.

To amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to ensure the use of sound science in the implementation of that Act.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Mental Health First Act of 2013''.

SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING GRANTS.

    Section 520J of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290bb-41)
is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 520J. MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID TRAINING GRANTS.

    ``(a) Grants.--The Secretary, acting through the Administrator,
shall award grants to States, political subdivisions of States, Indian
tribes, tribal organizations, and nonprofit private entities to
initiate and sustain mental health first aid training programs.
    ``(b) Program Requirements.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible for funding under
        subsection (a), a mental health first aid training program
        shall--
                    ``(A) be designed to train individuals in the
                categories listed in paragraph (2) to accomplish the
                objectives described in paragraph (3);
                    ``(B) ensure that training is conducted by trainers
                that are properly licensed and credentialed by
                nonprofit entities as designated by the Secretary; and
                    ``(C) include--
                            ``(i) at a minimum--
                                    ``(I) a core live training course
                                for individuals in the categories
                                listed in paragraph (2) on the skills,
                                resources, and knowledge to assist
                                individuals in crisis to connect with
                                appropriate local mental health care
                                services;
                                    ``(II) training on mental health
                                resources, including the location of
                                community mental health centers
                                described in section 1913(c), in the
                                State and local community; and
                                    ``(III) training on action plans
                                and protocols for referral to such
                                resources; and
                            ``(ii) where feasible, continuing education
                        and updated training for individuals in the
                        categories listed in paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Categories of individuals to be trained.--The
        categories of individuals listed in this paragraph are the
        following:
                    ``(A) Emergency services personnel and other first
                responders.
                    ``(B) Police officers and other law enforcement
                personnel.
                    ``(C) Teachers and school administrators.
                    ``(D) Human resources professionals.
                    ``(E) Faith community leaders.
                    ``(F) Nurses and other primary care personnel.
                    ``(G) Students enrolled in an elementary school, a
                secondary school, or an institution of higher
                education.
                    ``(H) The parents of students described in
                subparagraph (G).
                    ``(I) Veterans.
                    ``(J) Other individuals, audiences or training
                populations as determined appropriate by the Secretary.
            ``(3) Objectives of training.--To be eligible for funding
        under subsection (a), a mental health first aid training
        program shall be designed to train individuals in the
        categories listed in paragraph (2) to accomplish each of the
        following objectives (as appropriate for the individuals to be
        trained, taking into consideration their age):
                    ``(A) Safe de-escalation of crisis situations.
                    ``(B) Recognition of the signs and symptoms of
                mental illness, including such common psychiatric
                conditions as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major
                clinical depression, and anxiety disorders.
                    ``(C) Timely referral to mental health services in
                the early stages of developing mental disorders in
                order to--
                            ``(i) avoid more costly subsequent
                        behavioral health care; and
                            ``(ii) enhance the effectiveness of mental
                        health services.
    ``(c) Distribution of Awards.--In awarding grants under this
section, the Secretary shall--
            ``(1) ensure that grants are equitably distributed among
        the geographical regions of the United States; and
            ``(2) pay particular attention to the mental health
        training needs of populations and target audiences residing in
        rural areas.
    ``(d) Application.--A State, political subdivision of a State,
Indian tribe, tribal organization, or nonprofit private entity that
desires a grant under this section shall submit an application to the
Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require, including a plan for the rigorous
evaluation of activities that are carried out with funds received under
such grant.
    ``(e) Evaluation.--A State, political subdivision of a State,
Indian tribe, tribal organization, or nonprofit private entity that
receives a grant under this section shall prepare and submit an
evaluation to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require,
including an evaluation of activities carried out with funds received
under such grant and a process and outcome evaluation.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section,
there are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for fiscal year
2014 and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2015
and 2016.''.

Summary: Mental Health First Act of 2013 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), acting through the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), to award grants to initiate and sustain mental health first aid training programs. Requires such a program to include: (1) core live training courses on the skills, resources, and knowledge necessary to assist individuals in crisis to connect with appropriate local mental health care services. (2) training on mental health resources, including the location of community mental health centers in the state and local community. And (3) training on action plans and protocols for referral to such resources. Sets forth the categories of individuals to be trained under the program, including emergency services personnel and other first responders, police officers and law enforcement personnel, teachers and school administrators, human resources professionals, faith community leaders, nurses and other primary care personnel, students enrolled in school, parents of students, veterans, and other individuals, audiences or training populations as appropriate. Requires such programs to train individuals to accomplish: (1) safe de-escalation of crisis situations, (2) recognition of the signs and symptoms of mental illness, and (3) timely referral to mental health services in the early stages of developing mental disorders. Requires the Secretary, in awarding grants, to: (1) ensure that grants are equitably distributed among the geographical regions of the United States, and (2) pay particular attention to the mental health training needs of populations and target audiences residing in rural areas.

Mental Health First Act of 2013


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Healthcare Information Technology
Enterprise Integration Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) The National Institute of Standards and Technology,
        because of the electronic commerce, information technology and
        security expertise in its laboratories and the healthcare
        component of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, and
        its long history of working with the information technology and
        healthcare industries, is well equipped to complement the
        healthcare information technology implementation efforts as
        established by Executive Order 13335 of April 27, 2004, by
        addressing the technical challenges posed by healthcare
        information enterprise integration.
            (2) Therefore, it is in the national interest for the
        National Institute of Standards and Technology to accelerate
        its efforts--
                    (A) to participate in the development of technical
                standards, standards conformance tests, and enterprise
                integration processes that are necessary to increase
                efficiency and quality of care, and lower costs in the
                healthcare industry; and
                    (B) ensuring that all components of the United
                States healthcare infrastructure can be a part of an
                electronic information network that is reliable,
                interoperable, and secure.

SEC. 3. HEALTHCARE INFORMATION ENTERPRISE INTEGRATION INITIATIVE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Director of the National Institute of
Standards and Technology shall establish an initiative for advancing
healthcare information enterprise integration within the United States.
In carrying out this section, the Director shall involve various units
of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, including its
laboratories and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program. This
initiative shall build upon ongoing efforts of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology, the private sector, and other Federal
agencies, shall involve consortia that include government and industry,
and shall be designed to permit healthcare information enterprise
integration. These efforts shall complement ongoing activities
occurring under Executive Order 13335 of April 27, 2004.
    (b) Technical Activities.--In order to carry out this section, the
Director may focus on--
            (1) information technology standards and interoperability
        analysis, which may include the development of technical
        testbeds;
            (2) supporting the establishment of conformance testing
        infrastructure, including software conformance and
        certification;
            (3) security;
            (4) medical device communication;
            (5) supporting the provisioning of technical architecture
        products for management and retrieval; and
            (6) information management including electronic health
        records management, health information usability, and access
        and decision support.
    (c) Other Activities.--The Director may assist healthcare
representatives and organizations and Federal agencies in the
development of technical roadmaps that identify the remaining steps
needed to ensure that technical standards for application protocols,
interoperability, data integrity, and security, as well as the
corollary conformance test protocols, will be in place. These roadmaps
shall rely upon voluntary consensus standards where possible consistent
with Federal technology transfer laws.
    (d) Plans and Reports.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director shall
transmit a report to the Committee on Science and Technology of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate on the activities of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology under this section.

SEC. 4. FEDERAL HEALTHCARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS AND
              INFRASTRUCTURE.

    (a) Guidelines and Standards.--Not later than 12 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Institute
of Standards and Technology, in consultation with industry and
appropriate Federal agencies, shall report on development of
technology-neutral information technology infrastructure guidelines and
standards, or the adoption of existing technology-neutral industry
guidelines and private sector standards, for use by Federal agencies to
enable those agencies to effectively select and utilize healthcare
information technologies in a manner that is--
            (1) sufficiently secure to meet the needs of those agencies
        (as is consistent with the Computer Security Act of 1987, as
        amended, section 225 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, and
        title III of the E-Government Act of 2002), their transaction
        partners, and the general public;
            (2) interoperable, to the maximum extent possible; and
            (3) inclusive of ongoing Federal efforts that provide
        technical expertise to harmonize existing standards and assist
        in the development of interoperability specifications.
    (b) Elements.--The guidelines and standards developed under
subsection (a) shall--
            (1) promote the use by Federal agencies of commercially
        available products that incorporate the guidelines and
        standards developed under subsection (a);
            (2) develop uniform testing procedures suitable for
        determining the conformance of commercially available and
        Federal healthcare information technology products with the
        guidelines and standards;
            (3) support and promote the testing of electronic
        healthcare information technologies utilized by Federal
        agencies;
            (4) provide protection and security profiles;
            (5) establish a core set of interoperability specifications
        in transactions between Federal agencies and their transaction
        partners; and
            (6) include validation criteria to enable Federal agencies
        to select healthcare information technologies appropriate to
        their needs.
    (c) Reports.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director shall transmit to
the Congress a report that includes a description and analysis of--
            (1) the level of interoperability and security of
        technologies for sharing healthcare information among Federal
        agencies; and
            (2) the problems Federal agencies are having with, and the
        progress such agencies are making toward, ensuring
        interoperable and secure healthcare information systems and
        electronic healthcare records.

SEC. 5. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS.

    (a) Healthcare Information Enterprise Integration Research
Centers.--
            (1) In general.--The Director of the National Institute of
        Standards and Technology, in consultation the Director of the
        National Science Foundation and other appropriate Federal
        agencies, shall establish a program of assistance to
        institutions of higher education (or consortia thereof which
        may include nonprofit entities and Federal Government
        laboratories) to establish multidisciplinary Centers for
        Healthcare Information Enterprise Integration.
            (2) Review; competition.--Grants shall be awarded under
        this subsection on a merit-reviewed, competitive basis.
            (3) Purpose.--The purposes of the Centers shall be--
                    (A) to generate innovative approaches to healthcare
                information enterprise integration by conducting
                cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research on the systems
                challenges to healthcare delivery; and
                    (B) the development and use of information
                technologies and other complementary fields.
            (4) Research areas.--Research areas may include--
                    (A) the interfaces between human information and
                communications technology systems;
                    (B) voice-recognition systems;
                    (C) software that improves interoperability and
                connectivity among systems;
                    (D) software dependability in systems critical to
                healthcare delivery;
                    (E) measurement of the impact of information
                technologies on the quality and productivity of
                healthcare;
                    (F) healthcare information enterprise management;
                and
                    (G) information technology security and integrity.
            (5) Applications.--An institution of higher education (or a
        consortium thereof) seeking funding under this subsection shall
        submit an application to the Director at such time, in such
        manner, and containing such information as the Director may
        require. The application shall include, at a minimum, a
        description of--
                    (A) the research projects that will be undertaken
                by the Center and the respective contributions of the
                participating entities;
                    (B) how the Center will promote active
                collaboration among scientists and engineers from
                different disciplines, such as information technology,
                biologic sciences, management, social sciences, and
                other appropriate disciplines;
                    (C) technology transfer activities to demonstrate
                and diffuse the research results, technologies, and
                knowledge; and
                    (D) how the Center will contribute to the education
                and training of researchers and other professionals in
                fields relevant to healthcare information enterprise
                integration.
    (b) National Information Technology Research and Development
Program.--The National High-Performance Computing Program established
by section 101 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5511) shall coordinate Federal research and development programs
related to the development and deployment of health information
technology, including activities related to--
            (1) computer infrastructure;
            (2) data security;
            (3) development of large-scale, distributed, reliable
        computing systems;
            (4) wired, wireless, and hybrid high-speed networking;
            (5) development of software and software-intensive systems;
            (6) human-computer interaction and information management
        technologies; and
            (7) the social and economic implications of information
        technology.
    (c) Strategic Plan for Healthcare Technologies and
Classification.--
            (1) In general.--The Director of the National Institute of
        Standards and Technology, in consultation with the Director of
        the National Science Foundation, not later than 90 days after
        the date of enactment of this Act, shall establish a task force
        whose membership includes representatives of other Federal
        agencies and industry groups (such as the American Health
        Information Management Association and the American Medical
        Informatics Association) to develop a strategic plan including
        recommendations for--
                    (A) the development, adoption, and maintenance of
                terminologies and classifications;
                    (B) gaining commitment of terminology and
                classification stakeholders (such as developers, end
                users, and other service and technology suppliers) to
                principles and guidelines for open and transparent
                processes to enable cost-effective interoperability and
                complete and accurate information;
                    (C) the design of a centralized authority or
                governance model, including principles for its
                operation and funding scenarios;
                    (D) United States participation in the
                International Health Terminology Standards Development
                Organization; and
                    (E) any other issues identified by the task force.
            (2) Task force report.--The task force shall report its
        findings and recommendations to the Committee on Science and
        Technology of the House of Representatives not later than 18
        months after the date of enactment of this Act. The task force
        shall terminate after transmitting such report.
            (3) Federal advisory committee act.--The task force
        established under this subsection shall not be subject to the
        Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Director of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology for carrying out this
Act $8,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2009 and 2010, to be
derived from amounts authorized under section 3001 of Public Law 110-
69.

Summary: Healthcare Information Technology Enterprise Integration Act - Requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish an initiative for advancing health care information enterprise integration within the United States. Authorizes the Director to focus on: (1) information technology standards and interoperability analysis, (2) supporting the establishment of conformance testing infrastructure, (3) security, (4) medical device communication. (5) supporting the provisioning of technical architecture products for management and retrieval. And (6) information management. Allows the Director to assist health care representatives and organizations and federal agencies in the development of technical roadmaps that identify the remaining steps needed to ensure that standards will be in place. Requires such roadmaps to rely upon voluntary consensus standards, where possible, consistent with federal technology transfer laws. Requires the Director to report on the development or adoption of technology-neutral information technology infrastructure guidelines and standards to enable federal agencies to effectively select and utilize health care information technologies in a manner that is: (1) sufficiently secure, (2) interoperable. And (3) inclusive of ongoing federal efforts that provide technical expertise to harmonize existing standards and assist in the development of interoperability specifications. Requires such guidelines and standards to: (1) promote the use by federal agencies of commercially available products, (2) develop uniform testing procedures suitable for determining product conformance. (3) support and promote the testing of electronic health care information technologies utilized by federal agencies, (4) provide protection and security profiles. (5) establish a core set of interoperability specifications in federal agency transactions. And (6) include validation criteria to enable federal agencies to select appropriate health care information technologies. Requires the Director to report on: (1) the level of interoperability and security of technologies for sharing health care information among federal agencies. And (2) federal agency problems and progress in ensuring interoperable and secure health care information systems and electronic health care records. Requires the Director to establish a program of assistance to institutions of higher education to establish multidisciplinary Centers for Healthcare Information Enterprise Integration in order to: (1) generate innovative approaches to health care information enterprise integration. And (2) develop and use information technologies and other complementary fields. Directs the National High-Performance Computing Program to coordinate federal research and development programs related to the development and deployment of health information technology. Requires the Director to establish a task force to develop a strategic plan, including recommendations for: (1) the development, adoption, and maintenance of terminologies and classifications. (2) gaining commitment of terminology and classification stakeholders to principles and guidelines for an open and transparent process to enable cost-effective interoperability and complete and accurate information, (3) the design of a centralized authority or governance model. And (4) US participation in the International Health Terminology Standards Development Organization. Authorizes Appropriations for FY2009-FY2010.

To authorize the National Institute of Standards and Technology to increase its efforts in support of the integration of the healthcare information enterprise in the United States.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``EPSCoR Research and Competitiveness
Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Ensuring regional diversity in research funding is an
        essential strategy in strengthening international
        competitiveness.
            (2) Economic development in high technology fields is often
        advanced by industrial partnerships with near by strong
        research institutions from which companies can acquire
        intellectual property, highly trained staff, and vital
        resources.
            (3) The National Science Foundation is an independent
        Federal agency created by Congress in 1950 ``to promote the
        progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity
        and welfare, and to secure the national defense''.
            (4) Congress has subsequently directed that, ``it shall be
        an objective of the Foundation to strengthen research and
        education in the sciences and engineering, including
        independent research by individuals, throughout the United
        States, and to avoid undue concentration of such research and
        education''.
            (5) Currently, Foundation research investments are
        concentrated in a small number of States. In contrast, 25 other
        States together receive less than 10 percent of the
        Foundation's research funding, yet these States are home to 20
        percent of the population, 25 percent of doctoral/research
        universities, and 18 percent of academic scientists and
        engineers.
            (6) Insufficient research infrastructure diminishes the
        ability of many universities to compete effectively for
        research funding, and thereby limits their contributions to
        regional economic development and international
        competitiveness.
            (7) The Foundation's Experimental Program to Stimulate
        Competitive Research, or EPSCoR, is the primary program by
        which the Foundation seeks to improve the research
        infrastructure of institutions in States that presently receive
        small portions of Foundation funding. EPSCoR is thus an
        important component of national efforts to increase innovation
        and improve competitiveness.

SEC. 3. FUNDING.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Foundation for
EPSCoR--
            (1) $125,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (2) for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011, an amount
        equal to the sum of--
                    (A) $125,000,000; and
                    (B) $125,000,000 multiplied by a percentage equal
                to the percentage by which the Foundation's budget
                request for such fiscal year exceeds the total amount
                appropriated to the Foundation for fiscal year 2007.

SEC. 4. RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT GRANTS.

    (a) In General.--In the administration of the Foundation's research
infrastructure improvement grant program, the Director shall authorize
States participating in the grant program to include partnerships with
out-of-State research institutions if the amount of funding transferred
to another State does not exceed 5 percent of the amount of the grant
in any fiscal year.
    (b) Authorization Level.--From amounts appropriated pursuant to
section 3, the Director shall make available to the research
infrastructure improvement grant program--
            (1) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
            (2) for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011, an amount
        equal to the sum of--
                    (A) $75,000,000; and
                    (B) $75,000,000 multiplied by a percentage equal to
                the percentage by which the Foundation's budget request
                for such fiscal year exceeds the total amount
                appropriated to the Foundation for fiscal year 2007.

SEC. 5. CO-FUNDING.

    (a) In General.--For each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011, the
Director shall obligate and expend not less than 20 percent of the
amount available for EPSCoR on co-funding projects that are ranked, by
a peer-review process, in the top 20 percent of all proposals submitted
in response to an announced competition.
    (b) Annual Report.--The Director shall submit an annual report to
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the
House of Representatives Committee on Science that provides information
about--
            (1) co-funded projects on a State-by-State basis for the
        preceding year; and
            (2) the amount and use of co-funding by each of the
        Foundation's directorates for that year.

SEC. 6. CYBER INFRASTRUCTURE.

    Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Director, through the Office of Cyber Infrastructure, shall develop and
publish a plan enabling States participating in EPSCoR to participate
fully in the Foundation's Cyber Infrastructure Initiative.

SEC. 7. MAJOR RESEARCH INSTRUMENTATION.

    Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Director, through the Office of Major Research Instrumentation, shall
develop and publish a plan enabling States participating in EPSCoR to
develop partnerships and participate fully in the Foundation's major
research instrumentation program.

SEC. 8. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
        the National Science Foundation.
            (2) EPSCoR.--The term ``EPSCoR'' means the Experimental
        Program to Stimulate Competitive Research authorized by section
        113 of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of
        1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862g).
            (3) Foundation.--The term ``Foundation'' means the National
        Science Foundation.D23/

Summary: EPSCoR Research and Competitiveness Act of 2006 - Authorizes appropriations for FY2007-FY2011 to the National Science Foundation (NSF) for the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). Requires the Director of the NSF: (1) in the administration of the NSF's research infrastructure improvement grant program, to authorize states participating in the grant program to include partnership with out-of-state research institutions if the amount of funding transferred to another state does not exceed 5 of the amount of the grant in any fiscal year. And (2) from the amounts appropriated pursuant to this Act, to make available specified amounts for FY2007-FY2011 to such grant program. Requires the Director to obligate and spend not less than 20 of the amount available for EPSCoR on co-funding projects that are ranked by a peer-review process in the top 20 of all proposals submitted in response to an announced competition. Requires the submission of annual reports providing information concerning: (1) co-funded projects on a state-by-state basis. And (2) the amount and use of co-funding by each of the NSF's directorates. Requires the Director: (1) through the Office of Cyber Infrastructure, to develop and publish a plan enabling states participating in EPSCoR to develop partnerships and participate fully in the NSF's Cyber Infrastructure Initiative. And (2) through the Office of Major Research Instrumentation, to develop and publish a plan enabling states participating in EPSCoR to develop partnerships and participate fully in the NSF's major research instrumentation program.

A bill to enhance scientific research and competitiveness through the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, and for other purposes.


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Supporting Afterschool STEM Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Numerous authoritative studies document that the
        proficiency of students in the United States in science,
        technology, engineering, and mathematics (``STEM'') will have a
        major impact on the Nation's future economic competitiveness
        and on the preeminence of the United States in scientific
        inquiry and technological innovation.
            (2) Results from the National Assessment of Educational
        Progress, the Trends in International Mathematics and Science
        Study, the Programme for International Science Assessment, and
        other sources show that students in the United States are not
        demonstrating sufficient achievement in the STEM subjects and
        are not keeping pace with students in other countries.
            (3) Research demonstrates the importance of afterschool
        programs in engaging students in STEM fields and building STEM-
        relevant skills and proficiencies, especially for girls,
        students from populations traditionally underrepresented in
        STEM fields, and students from low socioeconomic circumstances.
            (4) A National Research Council consensus study confirmed
        the importance of learning that occurs in out-of-school-time
        settings such as afterschool programs and science centers, and
        proposed a set of ``strands of science learning'' framework
        that articulated capabilities fostered by informal learning
        environments.
            (5) According to a 2013 study entitled ``Defining Youth
        Outcomes for STEM Learning in Afterschool'', the afterschool
        field is confident in its ability to help young people develop
        interest in STEM and STEM learning activities, develop
        capacities to productively engage in such activities, and come
        to value them. The afterschool field is also confident that it
        can impact skills such as problem-solving abilities,
        demonstrating STEM skills, career awareness, and 21st century
        skills, such as teamwork, that are important to the workforce
        and national economic goals.
            (6) The Federal Government should use its resources as
        effectively as possible to increase opportunities for students
        to be exposed to STEM subjects outside of the school day and to
        build a balanced kindergarten through grade 12 STEM education
        portfolio that fosters learning in school as well as in out-of-
        school-time programs.
            (7) Afterschool programs have long partnered with other
        youth-serving and community organizations to meet the needs of
        students. Cross-sector collaborations between afterschool
        programs, schools, science centers, institutions of higher
        education, businesses, and other entities are yielding great
        benefits for engaging young people in STEM fields.
            (8) As interest and momentum grows around STEM programming
        in afterschool, more and better partnerships across Federal
        agencies become increasingly important to leverage resources
        and offer high-quality, hands-on STEM experiences for youth.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of this Act are--
            (1) to enhance America's economic competitiveness by
        strengthening STEM education through fostering interest and
        success in STEM subjects among certain student populations in
        kindergarten through grade 12;
            (2) to engage Federal agencies and foster interagency
        collaboration in STEM education afterschool program
        investments;
            (3) to recognize the important role that afterschool
        programs offered by nonprofit and community-based
        organizations, science centers, museums, libraries, and other
        such entities, play in STEM education and to support their
        efforts;
            (4) to involve institutions of higher education as partners
        in such efforts and foster increased collaboration; and
            (5) to inspire young people to study and work in STEM
        subjects.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Afterschool or stem network.--The term ``afterschool or
        STEM network'' means a coalition that fosters partnerships and
        provides support to afterschool program providers and STEM
        education providers to develop and sustain quality education
        programming for children and youth in afterschool programs.
            (2) Afterschool program.--The term ``afterschool program''
        means a structured program offered for elementary school,
        middle school, or secondary school students when school is not
        in session, such as before or after school, on the weekend, or
        during the summer.
            (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
        the National Science Foundation.
            (4) Elementary school.--The term ``elementary school'' has
        the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the Elementary
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (5) Middle school.--The term ``middle school'' means a
        nonprofit institutional day or residential school, including a
        public charter school, that provides middle grades education,
        as determined under State law.
            (6) Secondary school.--The term ``secondary school'' has
        the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the Elementary
        and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).
            (7) Institution of higher education.--The term
        ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the
        term in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
        U.S.C. 1002).
            (8) STEM.--The term ``STEM'' means science, technology,
        engineering, or mathematics, and includes the fields of
        computer science and robotics.

SEC. 5. AFTERSCHOOL STEM SUPPORT GRANT PROGRAM.

    (a) Goals of Program.--The goals of the afterschool STEM grant
program carried out under this Act are--
            (1) to support the development and delivery of high-quality
        STEM education to populations underrepresented in STEM fields;
            (2) to leverage the expertise and infrastructure available
        to afterschool programs that include STEM content through
        afterschool or STEM networks;
            (3) to leverage existing Federal STEM education
        investments, as of the date of enactment of this Act, in order
        to encourage STEM-focused grant recipients to lend their time
        and expertise to afterschool programs that include STEM
        content; and
            (4) to provide hands-on learning and exposure to STEM
        research facilities and businesses through in-person or virtual
        distance-learning experiences.
    (b) Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--From amounts appropriated to carry out
        this Act and not reserved under paragraph (4), the Director
        shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to afterschool or
        STEM networks--
                    (A) to support afterschool programs that include
                STEM content through the activities described in
                subsection (e); and
                    (B) to carry out the goals described in subsection
                (a).
            (2) Duration.--Each grant awarded under this Act shall be
        for a period of not more than 3 years.
            (3) Amounts.--The Director shall ensure that each grant
        awarded under this Act is in an amount that is sufficient to
        carry out the goals described in subsection (a).
            (4) Reservation.--From the amounts appropriated for this
        grant, the Director shall reserve 20 percent of such funds to
        develop and support new afterschool or STEM networks in States
        or areas where such networks do not exist.
    (c) Application.--
            (1) In general.--An afterschool or STEM network desiring a
        grant under subsection (b)(1) shall submit an application at
        such time, in such manner, and containing such information that
        the Director may require.
            (2) Contents.--The application described in paragraph (1)
        shall, at a minimum, include--
                    (A) a description of the status of afterschool STEM
                programming in the State or area in which the
                afterschool or STEM network is located, including--
                            (i) the number of afterschool programs in
                        the State or area;
                            (ii) the number of such afterschool
                        programs focused on STEM subjects and
                        activities;
                            (iii) the number of students served by
                        existing afterschool programs, as of the date
                        of the application, in the State or area;
                            (iv) the number of students served by
                        existing afterschool programs that include STEM
                        content in the State or area;
                            (v) the unmet demand for afterschool
                        programs in the State or area; and
                            (vi) the unmet demand for afterschool
                        programs focused on STEM subjects and
                        activities in the State or area;
                    (B) an analysis of existing and needed resources
                that identifies areas and populations most in need of
                opportunities for high-quality afterschool programs
                that include STEM content;
                    (C) a description of the current and past work
                carried out by the afterschool or STEM network to
                support the needs of afterschool program providers in
                the State or area served by the network;
                    (D) a detailed plan that describes initiatives that
                shall be undertaken to--
                            (i) support and grow afterschool programs
                        that include STEM content; and
                            (ii) leverage existing Federal investments
                        in afterschool programs and STEM education, as
                        of the date of the application;
                    (E) a description of financial and other
                commitments that support expanded afterschool STEM
                programming in the State or area served by the network;
                and
                    (F) a description of any confirmed or potential
                partners that will work with the afterschool or STEM
                network to carry out the activities under the grant.
    (d) Priority.--In awarding grants under subsection (b)(1), the
Director shall give priority to applications from afterschool or STEM
networks that--
            (1) demonstrate a clear understanding of the afterschool
        programs and settings, and the status of afterschool programs
        that include STEM content, in the State or area to be served by
        the grant;
            (2) have established working relationships with afterschool
        program and STEM education stakeholders in the State or area;
            (3) are working to advance the availability of high-quality
        afterschool programs that include STEM content for underserved
        populations and populations underrepresented in STEM fields,
        including girls; and
            (4) are leveraging Federal or other public investments in
        STEM education or afterschool programming.
    (e) Uses of Funds.--An afterschool or STEM network that receives a
grant under subsection (b)(1) may use grant funds to carry out any of
the following activities:
            (1) Develop quality standards for STEM programming in
        afterschool programs and provide technical assistance to
        afterschool programs to implement such standards.
            (2) Work with State education stakeholders to define and
        promote appropriate measurable outcomes for afterschool
        programs that include STEM content.
            (3) Provide technical assistance to afterschool programs to
        start or grow their afterschool STEM efforts and define
        appropriate learning outcomes for such efforts.
            (4) Coordinate professional development for afterschool
        program educators by--
                    (A) identifying training programs that are
                available, as of the time of the identification, for
                afterschool program educators;
                    (B) working with partners to allow joint
                professional development with teachers at elementary
                schools, middle schools, and secondary schools, as
                appropriate; and
                    (C) partnering with teacher training programs to
                utilize afterschool programs for practicum experiences,
                employment placements, and other opportunities.
            (5) Help afterschool program providers form strategic
        partnerships as needed to advance STEM learning in afterschool
        programs, including partnerships with elementary schools,
        middle schools, secondary schools, institutions of higher
        education (including community colleges and programs and
        schools of education), businesses, research facilities,
        national laboratories, science centers, and other appropriate
        entities.
            (6) Create and disseminate tool kits to afterschool
        programs wanting to form partnerships and incorporate STEM
        professionals as mentors and role models that--
                    (A) provide technical assistance and guidance,
                including assistance in connecting afterschool program
                providers with STEM researchers and professionals who
                may be able to assist in STEM-focused activities;
                    (B) include--
                            (i) examples of strong afterschool programs
                        that have incorporated such partnerships to
                        serve as models;
                            (ii) a list of potential partners that
                        could assist in STEM-focused activities; and
                            (iii) guidance on how to engage STEM
                        professionals, mentors, and role models in the
                        program; and
                    (C) identify federally supported STEM education
                programs and research in the State or area served by
                the grant.
            (7) Provide technical assistance to federally funded STEM
        researchers and professionals who wish to engage with
        afterschool programs that, at a minimum, includes--
                    (A) examples of partnerships between afterschool
                programs and institutions rich in STEM resources;
                    (B) a resource that provides a description of the
                afterschool program setting, the opportunities for
                engagement in afterschool programs, and the constraints
                of which the researchers or professionals need to be
                aware;
                    (C) how to find an afterschool program provider
                with which the researcher or professional would like to
                engage;
                    (D) how to ensure an effective and productive
                partnership with the afterschool provider through
                mutually beneficial engagement, and engage in a
                productive conversation with the afterschool provider
                to determine if the partnership will be productive;
                    (E) how to craft a mutually beneficial engagement
                and partnership; and
                    (F) guidance on how to measure appropriate outcomes
                for afterschool programs and afterschool programs that
                include STEM content.
            (8) Any other activity, as proposed in the application and
        determined appropriate by the Director.
    (f) Report.--Each afterschool or STEM network receiving a grant
under subsection (b)(1) shall submit an annual report to the Director
regarding the progress of the grant.

SEC. 6. FEDERAL PARTNERSHIP WITH AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS.

    Beginning not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Director shall provide information, to each recipient of
a STEM research grant under the authority of the Director, on
opportunities to engage with students in out-of-school-time programs,
such as through mentorships. Such information shall include--
            (1) a listing of all afterschool or STEM program networks
        in the region of the recipient;
            (2) a toolkit that provides guidance to federally funded
        STEM researchers on how to engage and partner with afterschool
        STEM program providers and lend their time and expertise in
        afterschool programs that include STEM content;
            (3) information regarding how to create opportunities to
        have students visit laboratories; and
            (4) guidance regarding how to create age-appropriate
        research projects for students.

SEC. 7. REPORT.

    By not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act,
the Director shall prepare and submit to Congress a report on Federal
STEM investments in afterschool programs and the best practices for
afterschool programs incorporating STEM subjects into their programs.

Summary: Supporting Afterschool STEM Act Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish an afterschool STEM grant program awarding competitive grants to afterschool or STEM networks to: develop quality standards for STEM programming in afterschool programs and provide those programs with technical assistance in implementing such standards, work with state education stakeholders to define and promote appropriate measurable outcomes for afterschool programs that include STEM content, provide technical assistance to afterschool programs to start or grow their afterschool STEM efforts and define appropriate learning outcomes for such efforts, coordinate professional development for afterschool program educators, help afterschool program providers form strategic partnerships to advance STEM learning in afterschool programs, create and disseminate tool kits to afterschool programs wanting to form partnerships and incorporate STEM professionals as mentors and role models, and provide technical assistance to federally funded STEM researchers and professionals who wish to engage with afterschool programs. Requires the Director to reserve 20 of the funds appropriated for such grant program to develop and support new afterschool or STEM networks in states or areas where they do not exist. Defines: (1) an quot, afterschool programquot. As a structured program offered for elementary, middle, or secondary school students when school is not in session, such as before or after school, on the weekend, or during the summer, and (2) an quot, afterschool or STEM networkquot. As a coalition that fosters partnerships and provides support to afterschool program providers and STEM education providers. Includes as goals of the grant program: (1) to support the development and delivery of high-quality STEM education to populations underrepresented in STEM fields, and (2) to provide hands-on learning and exposure to STEM research facilities and businesses through in-person or virtual distance-learning experiences. Requires the Director to provide each recipient of a STEM research grant who is under the Director's authority with information on opportunities to engage with students in out-of-school-time programs, such as through mentorships.

Supporting Afterschool STEM Act