DOE AND NSF INTERAGENCY RESEARCH ACT

On 2025-03-24, Representative James R. Baird (R-IN-4) delivered a floor speech titled "DOE AND NSF INTERAGENCY RESEARCH ACT" in the House. The speech addressed the environment and also covered foreign policy, China. It referenced legislation: HR1350.

DOE AND NSF INTERAGENCY RESEARCH ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 53 (Monday, March 24, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 53 (Monday, March 24, 2025)] [House] [Pages H1205-H1207] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] DOE AND NSF INTERAGENCY RESEARCH ACT Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1350) to provide for Department of Energy and National Science Foundation research and development coordination, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 1350 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``DOE and NSF Interagency Research Act''. SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION. (a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy (in this section referred to as the ``Secretary'') and the Director of the National Science Foundation (in this section referred to as the ``Director'') shall carry out cross-cutting and collaborative research and development activities focused on the joint advancement of Department of Energy and National Science Foundation mission requirements and priorities. (b) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Secretary and the Director shall coordinate the activities under subsection (a) through the establishment of a memorandum of understanding, or other appropriate interagency agreement. Such memorandum or agreement, as the case may be, shall require the use of a competitive, merit-reviewed process, which considers applications from Federal agencies, National Laboratories, institutions of higher education, non-profit institutions, and other appropriate entities. (c) Coordination.--In carrying out the activities under subsection (a), the Secretary and the Director may-- (1) conduct collaborative research in a variety of focus areas, such as-- (A) basic plasma science and engineering, including applications in astrophysics, materials science, fusion science, and accelerator science; [[Page H1206]] (B) fundamental biological and computational science and engineering, including computational neuroscience and neuromorphic computing, including in collaboration with the program authorized under section 306 of the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18644); (C) modeling and simulation, machine learning, artificial intelligence, data assimilation, large-scale data analytics, predictive analysis, and advanced computational, storage, and networking capabilities in order to optimize algorithms for purposes related to energy and climate; (D) quantum information sciences, including quantum computing and quantum network infrastructure, including in collaboration with the programs authorized under sections 403 and 404 of the National Quantum Initiative Act (15 U.S.C. 8853 and 8854); (E) energy and materials science and engineering, including artificial photosynthesis, plasma, solar fuels, and fusion, including in collaboration with the programs authorized under sections 303 and 307 of the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18641 and 18645), and section 973 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16313); (F) advanced manufacturing technologies, including efficient storage systems and alternatives to high- temperature processing, for the purposes of optimizing energy consumption, including in collaboration with the program authorized under section 975 of the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 16315); (G) microelectronics, including novel chip architectures, memory systems, and interconnects; and (H) advanced physics, including high energy and particle physics, accelerator research and development, and high performance computational tools, including in collaboration with the programs authorized under section 303 of the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act (42 U.S.C. 18641); (2) promote collaboration, open community-based development, and data and information sharing between Federal agencies, National Laboratories, institutions of higher education, nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate entities by providing the necessary access and secure data and information transfer capabilities; (3) support research infrastructure, including new facilities and equipment, as the Secretary and Director determine necessary; and (4) organize education, training, and research initiatives relating to STEM education and workforce development, including-- (A) internships, fellowships, and other research or work- based learning opportunities; (B) educational programming for students at all levels, especially experiential and project-based learning opportunities; and (C) professional development opportunities for educators and researchers. (d) Agreements.--In carrying out the activities under subsection (a), the Secretary and the Director are authorized to-- (1) carry out reimbursable agreements between the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and other entities in order to maximize the effectiveness of research and development; and (2) collaborate with other Federal agencies, as appropriate. (e) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary and the Director shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report detailing the following: (1) Interagency coordination between each Federal agency involved in the research and development activities carried out under this section. (2) Potential opportunities to expand the technical capabilities of the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. (3) Collaborative research achievements. (4) Areas of future mutually beneficial successes. (5) Continuation of coordination activities between the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation. (f) Research Security.--The activities authorized under this section shall be applied in a manner consistent with subtitle D of title VI of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act (enacted as division B of Public Law 117-167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq.). The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Babin) and the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas. General Leave Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 1350, the bill now under consideration. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Texas? There was no objection. Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1350, the DOE and NSF Interagency Research Act, which passed the House in the 118th Congress. This bill supports the longstanding partnership between the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation, allowing these agencies to work on cutting-edge research and technological challenges. As this body is aware, our adversaries, like the Chinese Communist Party, are quickly closing the gap on innovative technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and advanced manufacturing. {time} 1515 The CCP's efforts to outspend, out-educate, and outpace the the United States in these critical areas are increasingly concerning and something that we cannot ignore. This legislation will bolster U.S. leadership on the global stage in emerging technologies, ensuring that our competitors do not eclipse us. Additionally, by authorizing this interagency collaboration, we maximize our investments to maintain our competitive edge. DOE is our Nation's largest supporter of basic research in physical sciences, while NSF is the backbone of the collaborative research environment between government and academia. Together, these agencies can fuel innovation across multiple disciplines, including physics, quantum information sciences, artificial intelligence, and materials science. This bill enhances the capabilities of DOE and NSF, leveraging their research and development investments to maximize the impact of taxpayer dollars. By authorizing collaboration between DOE and NSF, we maximize our return on investment and ensure that we remain at the forefront of technological progress. Mr. Speaker, I thank Representatives Stevens and Baird and the members of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology for reintroducing this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time. Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, hopefully, our friends and colleagues in the other Chamber are listening because we are moving once again to pass an incredible piece of legislation, H.R. 1350, the DOE and NSF Interagency Research Act, that I and Dr. Jim Baird have introduced yet again to see it, hopefully, pass in the House, and we eagerly await the Senate to take it up. Simply put, H.R. 1350 authorizes collaborative research between the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation in areas that are essential to our national competitiveness. This legislation will build on the longstanding partnership between the Department of Energy and the National Science Foundation to leverage the unique investments and expertise in a wide range of fields, including quantum science, artificial intelligence, fusion energy, and, of course, advanced manufacturing. Alongside these research partnerships, this legislation also authorizes collaborative initiatives in education, training, and development to build a stronger workforce in the science, technology, engineering, and

Referenced legislation: HR1350, HR1350