,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #bjcd ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,may #af1 #bjac ,mr4 ,michaud 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,tsongas1 ,mr4 ,palazzo1 ,mr4 ,lipinski1 and ,mr4 ,conyers7 introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology1 and in addition to the ,committees on ,homeland ,security1 ,armed ,services1 and ,transportation and ,infrastructure1 for a period to be subsequently determined by the ,speaker1 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned ,a ,,bill ,to provide for the establishment and operation of ,advanced ,composites ,development ,centers4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,advanced ,composites ,development ,act of #bjac4 #b4 ,findings ,the ,congress makes the following findings3 7#a7 ,compared to traditional metals and woods1 reinforced composite materials are lightweight1 corrosion resistant1 high strength1 and durable4 7#b7 ,because of their intrinsic physical qualities1 composites have the ability to address national priorities in infrastructure1 energy1 defense1 and natural disaster mitigation with innovative solutions4 7#c7 ,to this end1 research on advancement in composite material development1 new applications for composites1 or advanced manufacturing processes serves a critical national interest4 #c4 ,advanced ,composites ,development ,centers 7a7 ,establishment of program 7#a7 ,in general ,the ,secretary of ,transportation1 the ,secretary of ,energy1 the ,secretary of ,defense1 and the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall carry out a program to improve our ,nation's transportation infrastructure1 advance the technologies used to produce alternative energy1 enhance our military security1 and develop new disaster mitigation systems by making grants to consortia to establish and operate ,advanced ,composites ,development ,centers4 ,in doing so1 they shall work with stakeholders to identify problems that can be solved over a period of #e years through the development of an advanced composite material4 ,by working with the private sector and focusing on solutions to problems that can be researched1 developed1 and demonstrated over a short period of time1 each ,center will strive to produce new composite materials1 including related manufacturing processes or applications1 that are lighter1 stronger1 and more durable than existing materials1 have lower life-cycle costs or lower overall environmental impacts1 and have an immediate practical application4 7#b7 ,designation of ,centers ,the ,centers shall be designated as follows3 7,a7 ,the ,secretary of ,transportation shall designate #a ,center for the development of advanced composites in civil infrastructure and transportation4 7,b7 ,the ,secretary of ,energy shall designate #a ,center for the development of advanced composites in energy technology4 7,c7 ,the ,secretary of ,defense shall designate #a ,center for the development of advanced composites in military operations4 7,d7 ,the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security shall designate #a ,center for the development of advanced composites in disaster prevention and response4 7,e7 ,any #b or more of the ,secretaries described in subparagraphs 7,a7 through 7,d7 may work together to explore opportunities to designate a single ,center that addresses issues of importance to the ,departments of each such ,secretary4 7#c7 ,additional collaboration ,each ,secretary designating a ,center under paragraph 7#b7 may include reviewers from the ,director of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology and the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation to leverage work that has been done at facilities supported by each of those agencies4 7b7 ,consortia 7#a7 ,eligibility ,to be eligible to receive a grant under this section for the establishment and operation of a ,center1 a consortium shall-- 7,a7 be composed of qualifying entities1 including at least #a prime applicant and #a private company2 7,b7 operate subject to a binding agreement entered into by its members that documents-- 7i7 the proposed partnership agreement1 including the governance and management structure of the ,center2 7ii7 measures to enable cost-effective implementation of the program under this section2 7iii7 a proposed budget1 including financial contributions from non-,federal sources2 7iv7 conflict of interest procedures consistent with subsection 7d77#b71 all known material conflicts of interest1 and corresponding mitigation plans2 and 7v7 an accounting structure that enables the ,secretary to ensure that the consortium has complied with the requirements of this section2 and 7,c7 operate as a nonprofit organization4 7#b7 ,application ,a consortium seeking to establish and operate a ,center under this section1 acting through a prime applicant1 shall transmit to the ,secretary an application at such time1 in such form1 and accompanied by such information as the ,secretary shall require1 including a detailed description of the elements of the consortium agreement required under paragraph 7#a77;,b74 ,if the consortium members will not be located at one centralized location1 such application shall include a communications plan that ensures close coordination and integration of the ,center's activities4 7c7 ,selection and schedule 7#a7 ,selection ,the ,secretary shall select consortia for grants for the establishment and operation of ,centers through competitive selection processes4 ,in selecting consortia1 the ,secretary shall consider-- 7,a7 the information a consortium must disclose according to subsection 7b72 7,b7 any existing facilities a consortium will provide for ,center activities2 7,c7 experience in design1 prototyping1 and testing advanced composites2 7,d7 existing ,,iso #agjbe certification2 7,e7 experience and achievements working with the private sector and commercializing composite materials technologies2 and 7,f7 opportunities to leverage previous support that a member of the consortium has received from the ,department or ,departments awarding the grant1 the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology1 or the ,national ,science ,foundation to research1 develop1 demonstrate1 or commercialize an advanced composite4 7#b7 ,schedule ,grants made for the establishment and operation of a ,center shall be for a period not to exceed #e years1 after which the grant may be renewed1 subject to a competitive selection process4 7d7 ,center ,operations 7#a7 ,in general ,centers shall conduct or provide for multidisciplinary1 collaborative research1 development1 demonstration1 and commercial application of advanced composites technologies within the technology development focus area or areas designated for the ,center by the ,secretary under subsection 7a77#b74 ,each ,center shall-- 7,a7 encourage collaboration and communication among the member qualifying entities of the consortium and awardees by conducting activities whenever practicable at one centralized location2 7,b7 develop and publish on the website of the ,department or ,departments of the designating ,secretary proposed plans and programs2 7,c7 submit an annual report to the ,secretary summarizing the ,center's activities1 including detailing organizational expenditures and describing each project undertaken by the ,center2 and 7,d7 monitor project implementation and coordination4 7#b7 ,conflicts of interest 7,a7 ,procedures ,centers shall establish conflict of interest procedures1 consistent with those of the ,department or ,departments of the designating ,secretary1 to ensure that employees and consortia designees for ,center activities who are in decisionmaking capacities disclose all material conflicts of interest1 including financial1 organizational1 and personal conflicts of interest4 7,b7 ,disqualification and revocation ,the ,secretary may disqualify an application or revoke funds distributed to a ,center if the ,secretary discovers a failure to comply with conflict of interest procedures established under subparagraph 7,a74 7e7 ,oversight board ,each ,secretary described in subsection 7a77#a7 shall establish and maintain within its ,department an ,oversight ,board to oversee the progress of ,centers4 7f7 ,priority ,consideration ,the ,secretary shall give priority consideration to applications in which #a or more of the institutions comprising the applicant consortium are #ahij ,land ,grant ,institutions 7as defined in section #b of the ,agricultural ,research1 ,extension1 and ,education ,reform ,act of #aiih 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #gjfa771 ,predominantly ,black ,institutions 7as defined in section #cah of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;e771 ,tribal ,colleges or ,universities 7as defined in section #caf7;b7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;c7b771 or ,hispanic ,serving ,institutions 7as defined in section #cah of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajei;e774 7g7 ,definitions ,for purposes of this section3 7#a7 ,advanced composites ,the term advanced composites means polymer matrix composite materials1 including synthetic and natural fibers1 as well as synthetic and bio-based resins1 used in structural1 load-bearing applications4 ,these materials may be enhanced with nano-additives1 and may be used in combination with traditional and other advanced materials4 7#b7 ,center ,the term ,center means an ,advanced ,composites ,development ,center established in accordance with this section4 7#c7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education has the meaning given that term in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a774 7#d7 ,prime applicant ,the term prime applicant means an institution of higher education serving as the lead entity applying for a grant under this section4 7#e7 ,qualifying entity ,the term qualifying entity includes-- 7,a7 an appropriate ,state or ,federal entity2 7,b7 a nonprofit nongovernmental organization with expertise in advanced composites technology research1 development1 demonstration1 or commercial application2 7,c7 any other relevant entity the ,secretary considers appropriate2 or 7,d7 a ,united ,states private company with expertise in advanced composites technology research1 development1 demonstration1 or commercial application4 7#f7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary or ,secretaries designating a ,center under subsection 7a77#b74 7h7 ,authorization of appropriations ,from the funds appropriated to research budgets of their respective departments1 each ,secretary described in subsection 7a77#a7 is authorized to expend the following amounts to carry out this section3 7#a7 #ae1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjad4 7#b7 #af1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjae4 7#c7 #ag1ejj1jjj for fiscal year #bjaf4 7#d7 #ai1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjag4 7#e7 #bj1jjj1jjj for fiscal year #bjah4