,,ii #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #aggg ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #ba1 #bjac,ms4 ,klobuchar 7for herself and ,mr4 ,hoeven7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,a ,,bill ,to support innovation1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents 7a7 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,innovate ,america ,act4 7b7 ,table of contents ,the table of contents for this ,act is as follows3 ,sec4 #a4 ,short title2 table of contents4,sec4 #b4 ,findings4,,title ,i--,education,sec4 #aja4 ,definitions4,sec4 #ajb4 ,increasing funding for ,,stem secondary schools4,sec4 #ajc4 ,report on ,,stem programs at secondary schools4,sec4 #ajd4 ,study and report on retaining ,,stem students4,sec4 #aje4 ,expanding undergraduate research opportunities4,sec4 #ajf4 ,technology ,commercialization ,awards ,pilot ,program4,sec4 #ajg4 ,computer science in the ,robert ,noyce teacher scholarship program4,,title ,,ii--,manufacturing and export promotions,sec4 #bja4 ,manufacturing assistance program for small- and medium-sized manufacturers in the ,united ,states4,sec4 #bjb4 ,removing barriers for exporting industries in the ,united ,states4,,title ,,iii--,offsets,sec4 #cja4 ,limitation on ,government printing costs4,sec4 #cjb4 ,eliminating bonuses for poor performance by ,government contractors4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds the following3 7#a7 ,innovation has historically been a catalyzing force in the ,american economy1 driving the production of game-changing technologies1 the creation of millions of jobs and the opening of countless new avenues for growth4 ,in an increasingly competitive global economy1 our ,nation's continued leadership and prosperity will hinge on progress in key innovative areas1 most notably exporting1 entrepreneurship1 research and development1 and education in science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics 7,,stem71 including computer science4 7#b7 ,technology-based startups play a critical role in driving innovation4 ,increasing the flow of capital to these firms would bridge the gap that often exists between their initial startup costs and their long-term capital needs1 giving the firms the resources necessary to research1 develop1 and commercialize new products4 7#c7 ,simplifying1 expanding1 and stabilizing the tax credits that businesses and institutions of higher education rely on to offset the cost of research and would promote greater clarity in the ,internal ,revenue ,code of #aihf and deliver a powerful incentive for private sector innovation4 7#d7 ,increasing the emphasis on ,,stem education in high schools and institutions of higher education would ensure that more students have the skills and training to not only compete for jobs in a #bast century economy1 but also to create the startup companies and revolutionary technologies that will sustain ,american prosperity for centuries to come4 7#e7 ,the ,united ,states ,bureau of ,labor ,statistics predicts that in the year #bjbj1 of the #i1bjj1jjj ,,stem jobs there will be in the ,united ,states1 half of them will be in computing4 ,with more than #aej1jjj job openings expected annually in computing1 it is one of the fastest growing occupations in the ,united ,states4 ,increasing the teaching and learning of computer science in schools would strengthen the ,american workforce by helping our students gain the skills and training necessary to fulfill new computer programming jobs4 7#f7 ,an effective regulatory climate should protect consumers and promote transparency without overburdening the businesses that create jobs4 ,federal agencies with rulemaking authority should be vigilant in assessing the impact of new regulations on innovation and job creation1 particularly in anchor industries like manufacturing4 7#g7 ,the economic impact of a new product or technology is often dependent on its commercial success4 ,to ensure ,american products can be bought and sold in markets around the world1 the ,government should identify and remove over burdensome regulations that create barriers for ,united ,states exporting companies4 ,i ,education #aja4 ,definitions ,in this title3 7#a7 ,director ,the term ,director means the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation4 7#b7 ,institution of higher education ,the term institution of higher education means an institution of higher education1 as defined in section #aja7;a7 of the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajja7;a774 7#c7 ,,stem ,the term ,,stem means the subjects of science1 technology1 engineering1 and mathematics1 including other subjects based on science1 technology1 engineering1 or mathematics1 such as computer science4 7#d7 ,,stem secondary school ,the term ,,stem secondary school has the meaning given the term by the ,director1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,education1 not later than #fj days after the date of enactment of this ,act4 7#e7 ,state educational agency ,the term ,state educational agency has the meaning given the term in section #iaja of the ,elementary and ,secondary ,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ghja74 #ajb4 ,increasing funding for ,,stem secondary schools 7a7 ,purpose ,the purpose of this section is to increase the number of ,,stem secondary schools in the ,united ,states from approximately #ajj to approximately #bjj4 7b7 ,program authorized 7#a7 ,in general ,from amounts appropriated under subsection 7e71 the ,secretary of ,education1 in coordination with the ,director1 shall award grants1 on a competitive basis1 to ,state educational agencies to enable the ,state educational agencies to carry out the purposes of this section by establishing or expanding ,,stem secondary schools4 7#b7 ,geographic distribution ,the ,secretary shall award grants under this section in a manner that ensures geographic diversity1 including awarding grants to ,state educational agencies serving rural areas4 7c7 ,application ,a ,state educational agency desiring to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the ,secretary of ,education at such time1 in such manner1 and containing such information as the ,secretary may require4 7d7 ,use of funds ,a ,state educational agency receiving funds under this section shall use such funds to award subgrants1 on a competitive basis1 to local educational agencies in the ,state to enable the local educational agencies to establish and maintain new ,,stem secondary schools1 which may include repurposing an existing secondary school to become a ,,stem secondary school4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section1 #ej1jjj1jjj for each of fiscal years #bjae through #bjbd4 #ajc4 ,report on ,,stem secondary schools 7a7 ,database ,the ,secretary of ,education1 in coordination with the ,director1 shall develop a database to identify existing ,,stem secondary schools4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary of ,education1 in coordination with the ,director1 shall submit a report to ,congress with recommendations on how to replicate existing successful ,,stem secondary schools4 #ajd4 ,study and report on retaining stem students 7a7 ,in general ,the ,director shall conduct a study1 in coordination with the ,secretary of ,education1 to make recommendations to ,congress on how to improve retention rates of students in ,,stem programs at institutions of higher education4 ,the study should include an analysis of existing successful retention programs at institutions of higher education4 7b7 ,report ,not later than #a year after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director shall submit to ,congress a report on the study conducted under subsection 7a74 #aje4 ,expanding undergraduate research opportunities 7a7 ,in general ,not later than ,june #a1 #bjaf1 the ,president shall ensure that not less than #ae percent of all ,federal funds available for a fiscal year for undergraduate research opportunities at #b-year and #d-year degree granting institutions of higher education shall be used to fund research opportunities for postsecondary students1 with emphasis on undergraduate research opportunities occurring during the first #b academic years of postsecondary education4 7b7 ,sense of ,congress ,it is the sense of the ,congress that each ,federal agency should restructure the agency's undergraduate student research opportunities for students attending #b-year or #d-year institutions of higher education1 in order to provide more research opportunities for postsecondary students during the students' first #b academic years of postsecondary education4 7c7 ,identification of research programs ,not later than ,december #ca1 #bjae1 the head of each ,federal agency shall submit to the ,president-- 7#a7 a list of all programs and funds available for undergraduate student research under the jurisdiction of the agency2 and 7#b7 recommendations regarding how the agency can best fulfill the requirements of subsection 7a74 #ajf4 ,technology ,commercialization ,awards ,pilot ,program 7a7 ,in general ,the ,director of the ,national ,science ,foundation 7referred to in this section as the ,director71 through the ,partnerships for ,innovation ,program1 shall administer a ,technology ,commercialization ,awards ,pilot ,program through which promising technology advances derived from ,national ,science ,foundation research grants shall be eligible for follow-on funding-- 7#a7 to move the technology through prototype and demonstration phases2 7#b7 for training for researcher participants in business plan development1 technology transfer1 and commercialization2 and 7#c7 for establishing start-up firms based on the technologies developed4 7b7 ,competitive selection ,the ,director shall-- 7#a7 seek from ,national ,science ,foundation offices and divisions recommendations on outstanding research funded by the ,national ,science ,foundation with clear promise that such research can be advanced close to commercialized in a #c- to #e-year period2 7#b7 solicit applications from ,national ,science ,foundation award grantees who believe that they have qualifying technologies eligible for commercialization2 and 7#c7 award grants to such ,national ,science ,foundation award grantees based on a merit-based1 competitive selection process4 7c7 ,advisory ,committee ,the ,director shall form an ,advisory ,committee of experts on technology and the technology commercialization process to advise the ,national ,science ,foundation on the ,technology ,commercialization ,awards ,pilot ,program4 7d7 ,report ,not later than #c years after the first grant is awarded under this section1 the ,director shall-- 7#a7 report to the relevant committees of ,congress on the ,technology ,commercialization ,awards ,pilot ,program's results2 and 7#b7 make recommendations on whether and how such a technology commercialization fund could be adopted by other ,federal research and development agencies4 7e7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section #aj1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjae through #bjai4 #ajg4 ,computer science in the ,robert ,noyce teacher scholarship program ,section #aj of the ,national ,science ,foundation ,authorization ,act of #bjjb 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #ahfbn-#a7 is amended-- 7#a7 by striking and mathematics and inserting mathematics1 informatics1 and computer science each place the term appears2 7#b7 in subsection 7b77#a77;,d77i71 by striking or mathematics and inserting mathematics1 informatics1 or computer science2 7#c7 in subsection 7c7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#a77;,a71 by striking or mathematics and inserting mathematics1 informatics1 or computer science2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#d71 by striking mathematics or and inserting mathematics1 informatics1 or computer science2 7#d7 in subsection 7d77#d71 by striking mathematics or and inserting mathematics1 informatics1 or computer science2 and 7#e7 in subsection 7i7-- 7,a7 in paragraph 7#e71 by striking or mathematics and inserting mathematics1 or computer science2 and 7,b7 in paragraph 7#g71 by striking or mathematics1 and inserting mathematics1 informatics1 or computer science14 ,,ii ,manufacturing and export promotions #bja4 ,manufacturing assistance program for small- and medium-sized manufacturers in the ,united ,states 7a7 ,definitions ,in this section3 7#a7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of ,commerce4 7#b7 ,small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers ,the term small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers means businesses-- 7,a7 with not more than #ejj employees2 and 7,b7 with facilities located in the ,united ,states that mechanically1 physically1 or chemically transform materials1 substances1 or components into new products1 including component parts4 7b7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall establish a manufacturing assistance program for small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers for the purposes of promoting the manufacturing of goods in the ,united ,states and enabling those manufacturers to be competitive in the global economy by-- 7#a7 identifying and reducing regulatory burdens on those manufacturers under subsection 7c72 and 7#b7 providing those manufacturers with information and other assistance under subsection 7d74 7c7 ,reduction of regulatory burdens ,the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 identify any regulatory requirements applicable to small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers that-- 7,a7 impose an unnecessary burden on those manufacturers2 and 7,b7 may be eliminated or reduced in order to promote the manufacture of goods in the ,united ,states2 7#b7 take appropriate action to eliminate or reduce the regulatory requirements identified under paragraph 7#a72 and 7#c7 not later than #a year after the date on which the ,secretary establishes the program required by subsection 7b71 submit to ,congress a report that makes recommendations with respect to action by ,congress that may be necessary to eliminate or reduce the regulatory requirements identified under paragraph 7#a74 7d7 ,assistance ,the ,secretary shall assist small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers by providing the manufacturers with information with respect to-- 7#a7 how small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers can comply efficiently with regulations applicable to those manufacturers2 7#b7 recently proposed and recently prescribed regulations likely to have an effect on small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers2 and 7#c7 how small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers can express their views and provide input with respect to any policy developments relating to the manufacture of products in the ,united ,states4 7e7 ,report on effectiveness of program ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,hollings ,manufacturing ,extension ,partnership of the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology shall submit to ,congress a report on the program established under subsection 7b7 that includes-- 7#a7 an assessment of the extent to which the program has been effective-- 7,a7 in identifying and reducing regulatory burdens on small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers under subsection 7c72 7,b7 in providing information and other assistance to small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers under subsection 7d72 and 7,c7 in promoting the manufacturing of goods in the ,united ,states and enabling small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers to be competitive in the global economy2 7#b7 detailed information with respect to the nature1 location1 and duration of any jobs created as a result of the program established under subsection 7b7 and a description of the methodology used to compile that information2 and 7#c7 any recommendations with respect to continuing or improving the program established under subsection 7b74 7f7 ,authorization of appropriations ,there are authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary #ae1jjj1jjj for each of the fiscal years #bjae through #bjai to carry out the program established under subsection 7b74 #bjb4 ,removing barriers for exporting industries in the ,united ,states ,not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,under ,secretary for ,international ,trade of the ,department of ,commerce shall submit to ,congress a report-- 7#a7 identifying the #bj industries in the ,united ,states that export the most goods or services2 7#b7 evaluating the competitiveness of those #bj industries in global markets compared to competitors manufacturing outside the ,united ,states2 7#c7 identifying domestic regulatory and policy barriers to increasing exports by these industries2 7#d7 identifying foreign barriers that impede the access of these industries to foreign markets2 and 7#e7 making recommendations with respect to legislative action that could by taken by ,congress to reduce those barriers and improve the global competitiveness of these industries in foreign markets4 ,,iii ,offsets #cja4 ,limitation on ,government printing costs ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget shall coordinate with the heads of ,federal departments and independent agencies to-- 7#a7 determine which ,government publications could be available on ,government websites and no longer printed and to devise a strategy to reduce overall ,government printing costs over the #aj-year period beginning with fiscal year #bjae1 except that the ,director shall ensure that essential printed documents prepared for social security recipients1 medicare beneficiaries1 and other populations in areas with limited ,internet access or use continue to remain available2 7#b7 establish ,government-wide ,federal guidelines on employee printing2 and 7#c7 issue on the ,office of ,management and ,budget's public website the results of a cost-benefit analysis on implementing a digital signature system and on establishing employee printing identification systems1 such as the use of individual employee cards or codes1 to monitor the amount of printing done by ,federal employees1 except that the ,director of the ,office of ,management and ,budget shall ensure that ,federal employee printing costs unrelated to national defense1 homeland security1 border security1 national disasters1 and other emergencies do not exceed #hfj1jjj1jjj annually4 #cjb4 ,eliminating bonuses for poor performance by ,government contractors 7a7 ,guidance on linking of award and incentive fees to outcomes ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 each ,federal department or agency shall issue guidance1 with detailed implementation instructions 7including definitions71 on the appropriate use of award and incentive fees in department or agency programs4 7b7 ,elements ,the guidance under subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 ensure that all new contracts using award fees link such fees to outcomes 7which shall be defined in terms of program cost1 schedule1 and performance72 7#b7 establish standards for identifying the appropriate level of officials authorized to approve the use of award and incentive fees in new contracts2 7#c7 provide guidance on the circumstances in which contractor performance may be judged to be excellent or superior and the percentage of the available award fee which contractors should be paid for such performance2 7#d7 establish standards for determining the percentage of the available award fee1 if any1 which contractors should be paid for performance that is judged to be acceptable1 average1 expected1 good1 or satisfactory2 7#e7 ensure that no award fee may be paid for contractor performance that is judged to be below satisfactory performance or performance that does not meet the basic requirements of the contract2 7#f7 provide specific direction on the circumstances1 if any1 in which it may be appropriate to roll over award fees that are not earned in one award fee period to a subsequent award fee period or periods2 7#g7 ensure that the ,department or agency-- 7,a7 collects relevant data on award and incentive fees paid to contractors2 and 7,b7 has mechanisms in place to evaluate such data on a regular basis2 and 7#h7 include performance measures to evaluate the effectiveness of award and incentive fees as a tool for improving contractor performance and achieving desired program outcomes4 7c7 ,return of unearned bonuses ,any funds intended to be awarded as incentive fees that are not paid due to contractors' inability to meet the criteria established by this section shall be returned to the ,treasury4