,,ii #aaeth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #cbif ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,july #cj1 #bjah ,mr4 ,coons 7for himself and ,ms4 ,collins7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation ,a ,,bill ,to provide for ,federal coordination of activities supporting sustainable chemistry1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,sustainable ,chemistry ,research and ,development ,act of #bjah4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 ,congress recognized the importance and value of sustainable chemistry and the role of the ,federal ,government in section #aad of the ,american ,innovation and ,competitiveness ,act 7,public ,law #aad-cbi72 7#b7 sustainable chemistry and materials transformation is a key value contributor to business competitiveness across many industrial and consumer sectors2 7#c7 companies across hundreds of supply chains critical to the ,american economy are seeking to reduce costs and open new markets through innovations in manufacturing and materials1 and are in need of new innovations in chemistry1 including sustainable chemistry2 7#d7 sustainable chemistry can improve the efficiency with which natural resources are used to meet human needs for chemical products while avoiding environmental harm1 reduce or eliminate the emissions of and exposures to hazardous substances1 minimize the use of resources1 and benefit the economy1 people1 and the environment2 and 7#e7 a recent report by the ,government ,accountability ,office 7,,gao-#ah-cjg7 found that the ,federal ,government could play an important role in helping realize the full innovation and market potential of sustainable chemistry technologies1 including through a coordinated national effort on sustainable chemistry and standardized tools and definitions to support sustainable chemistry research1 development1 demonstration1 and commercialization4 #c4 ,national coordinating entity for sustainable chemistry 7a7 ,establishment ,not later than #ahj days after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy shall convene an interagency entity 7referred to in this ,act as the ,entity7 under the ,national ,science and ,technology ,council with the responsibility to coordinate ,federal programs and activities in support of sustainable chemistry1 including those described in sections #e and #f4 7b7 ,coordination with existing groups ,in convening the ,entity1 the ,director of the ,office of ,science and ,technology ,policy shall consider overlap and possible coordination with existing committees1 subcommittees1 or other groups of the ,national ,science and ,technology ,council1 such as-- 7#a7 the ,committee on ,environment1 ,natural ,resources1 and ,sustainability2 7#b7 the ,committee on ,technology2 7#c7 the ,committee on ,science2 or 7#d7 related groups or subcommittees4 7c7 ,co-,chairs ,the ,entity shall be co-chaired by representatives from the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology1 and the ,national ,science ,foundation4 7d7 ,agency participation ,the ,entity shall include representatives1 including subject matter experts1 from the ,environmental ,protection ,agency1 the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology1 the ,national ,science ,foundation1 the ,department of ,energy1 the ,department of ,agriculture1 the ,department of ,defense1 the ,national ,institutes of ,health1 the ,centers for ,disease ,control and ,prevention1 the ,food and ,drug ,administration1 and other related ,federal agencies1 as appropriate4 #d4 ,roadmap for sustainable chemistry 7a7 ,roadmap ,not later than #b years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,entity shall-- 7#a7 develop a working framework of attributes characterizing sustainable chemistry1 as described in subsection 7b72 7#b7 assess the state of sustainable chemistry in the ,united ,states as a key benchmark from which progress under the activities described in this ,act can be measured1 including assessing key sectors of the ,united ,states economy1 key technology platforms1 and barriers to innovation2 7#c7 coordinate and support ,federal research1 development1 demonstration1 technology transfer1 commercialization1 education1 and training efforts in sustainable chemistry1 including budget coordination and support for public-private partnerships1 as appropriate2 7#d7 identify methods by which the ,federal agencies can facilitate the development of incentives for consideration and use of sustainable chemistry processes and products1 including innovative financing mechanisms2 and 7#e7 identify other opportunities for expanding ,federal efforts in support of sustainable chemistry4 7b7 ,attributes characterizing sustainable chemistry ,the ,entity shall develop a working framework of attributes characterizing sustainable chemistry for the purposes of carrying out the ,act4 ,in developing this framework1 the ,entity shall-- 7#a7 seek advice and input from stakeholders as described in subsection 7c72 7#b7 consider existing definitions of or frameworks characterizing sustainable or green chemistry already in use at ,federal agencies2 7#c7 consider existing definitions of or frameworks characterizing sustainable or green chemistry already in use by international organizations of which the ,united ,states is a member1 such as the ,organisation for ,economic ,co-operation and ,development2 and 7#d7 consider any other appropriate existing definitions of or frameworks characterizing sustainable or green chemistry4 7c7 ,consultation ,in carrying out the duties described in subsections 7a7 and 7b71 the ,entity shall consult and coordinate with stakeholders qualified to provide advice and information to guide ,federal activities related to sustainable chemistry through workshops1 requests for information1 and other mechanisms as necessary4 ,the stakeholders shall include representatives from-- 7#a7 business and industry 7including trade associations and small- and medium-sized enterprises from across the value chain72 7#b7 the scientific community 7including the ,national ,academies of ,sciences1 ,engineering1 and ,medicine1 scientific professional societies1 and academia72 7#c7 the defense community2 7#d7 ,state1 tribal1 and local governments1 including nonregulatory ,state or regional sustainable chemistry programs1 as appropriate2 7#e7 nongovernmental organizations2 and 7#f7 other appropriate organizations4 7d7 ,report to congress 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #c years after the date of enactment of this ,act1 the ,entity shall submit a report to the ,committee on ,environment and ,public ,works1 the ,committee on ,commerce1 ,science1 and ,transportation1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate1 and the ,committee on ,science1 ,space1 and ,technology1 the ,committee on ,energy and ,commerce1 and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives4 ,in addition to the elements described in subsections 7a7 and 7b71 the report shall include-- 7,a7 a summary of federally funded1 sustainable chemistry research1 development1 demonstration1 technology transfer1 commercialization1 education1 and training activities2 7,b7 a summary of the financial resources allocated to sustainable chemistry initiatives2 7,c7 an assessment of the current state of sustainable chemistry in the ,united ,states1 including the role that ,federal agencies are playing in supporting it2 7,d7 an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the goals and priorities of this ,act1 and recommendations for future program activities2 7,e7 an assessment of the benefits of expanding existing1 federally supported1 regional innovation and manufacturing hubs to include sustainable chemistry and the value of directing the creation of one or more dedicated sustainable chemistry centers of excellence or hubs2 and 7,f7 an evaluation of steps taken and future strategies to avoid duplication of efforts1 streamline interagency coordination1 facilitate information sharing1 and spread best practices among participating agencies4 7#b7 ,submission to ,,gao ,the ,entity shall also submit the report described in paragraph 7#a7 to the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states for consideration in future ,congressional inquiries4 #e4 ,agency activities in support of sustainable chemistry 7a7 ,in general ,the agencies participating in the ,entity shall carry out activities in support of sustainable chemistry1 as appropriate to the specific mission and programs of each agency4 7b7 ,activities ,the activities described in subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 incorporate sustainable chemistry into existing research1 development1 demonstration1 technology transfer1 commercialization1 education1 and training programs1 that the agency determines to be relevant1 including consideration of-- 7,a7 merit-based competitive grants to individual investigators and teams of investigators1 including1 to the extent practicable1 early career investigators for research and development2 7,b7 grants to fund collaborative research and development partnerships among universities1 industry1 and nonprofit organizations2 7,c7 coordination of sustainable chemistry research1 development1 demonstration1 and technology transfer conducted at ,federal laboratories and agencies2 7,d7 incentive prize competitions and challenges in coordination with such existing ,federal agency programs2 and 7,e7 grants1 loans1 and loan guarantees to aid in the technology transfer and commercialization of sustainable chemicals1 materials1 processes1 and products2 7#b7 collect and disseminate information on sustainable chemistry research1 development1 technology transfer1 and commercialization1 including information on accomplishments and best practices2 7#c7 within education and training programs1 expand the education and training of undergraduate and graduate students and professional scientists and engineers1 and other professionals involved in materials specification in sustainable chemistry and engineering1 including through partnerships with industry as described in section #f2 7#d7 as relevant to an agency's programs1 examine methods by which the ,federal agencies1 in collaboration and consultation with the ,national ,institute of ,standards and ,technology1 can facilitate the development or recognition of validated1 standardized tools for performing sustainability assessments of chemistry processes or products2 7#e7 through programs identified by an agency1 support 7including through technical assistance1 participation1 financial support1 communications tools1 awards1 or other forms of support7 outreach and dissemination of sustainable chemistry advances such as non-,federal symposia1 forums1 conferences1 and publications in collaboration with1 as appropriate1 industry1 academia1 scientific and professional societies1 and other relevant groups2 7#f7 provide for public input and outreach to be integrated into the activities described in this section by the convening of public discussions1 through mechanisms such as public meetings1 consensus conferences1 and educational events1 as appropriate2 7#g7 within each agency1 develop metrics to track the outputs and outcomes of the programs supported by that agency2 and 7#h7 incentivize or recognize actions that advance sustainable chemistry products1 processes1 or initiatives1 including through the establishment of a nationally recognized awards program through the ,environmental ,protection ,agency to identify1 publicize1 and celebrate innovations in sustainable chemistry and chemical technologies4 7c7 ,limitations ,financial support provided under this section shall-- 7#a7 be available only for pre-competitive activities2 and 7#b7 not be used to promote the sale of a specific product1 process1 or technology1 or to disparage a specific product1 process1 or technology4 7d7 ,agency budget requests 7#a7 ,in general ,each ,federal agency and department participating in the activities described in this section shall1 as part of its annual request for appropriations to the ,office of ,management and ,budget1 submit a report to the ,office of ,management and ,budget that-- 7,a7 identifies the activities of the agency or department that contribute directly to these activities2 and 7,b7 estimates the portion of the agency or department's request for appropriations that is intended to be allocated to those activities4 7#b7 ,annual budget request to ,congress ,the ,president shall include in the annual budget request to ,congress a statement of the portion of the annual budget request for each agency or department that will be allocated to activities undertaken pursuant to this section4 #f4 ,partnerships in sustainable chemistry 7a7 ,in general ,the agencies participating in the ,entity may facilitate and support1 through financial1 technical1 or other assistance1 the creation of partnerships between institutions of higher education1 nongovernmental organizations1 consortia1 or companies across the value chain in the chemical industry1 including small- and medium-sized enterprises1 to-- 7#a7 create collaborative sustainable chemistry research1 development1 demonstration1 technology transfer1 and commercialization programs2 and 7#b7 train students and retrain professional scientists1 engineers1 and others involved in materials specification on the use of sustainable chemistry concepts and strategies by methods1 including-- 7,a7 developing or recognizing curricular materials and courses for undergraduate and graduate levels and for the professional development of scientists1 engineers1 and others involved in materials specification2 and 7,b7 publicizing the availability of professional development courses in sustainable chemistry and recruiting professionals to pursue such courses4 7b7 ,private sector participation ,to be eligible for support under this section1 a partnership in sustainable chemistry shall include at least one private sector organization4 7c7 ,selection of partnerships ,in selecting partnerships for support under this section1 the agencies participating in the ,entity shall also consider the extent to which the applicants are willing and able to demonstrate evidence of support for1 and commitment to1 the goals outlined in the roadmap and report described in section #d4 7d7 ,prohibited use of funds ,financial support provided under this section may not be used-- 7#a7 to support or expand a regulatory chemical management program at an implementing agency under a ,state law2 7#b7 to construct or renovate a building or structure2 or 7#c7 to promote the sale of a specific product1 process1 or technology1 or to disparage a specific product1 process1 or technology4 #g4 ,prioritization ,in carrying out this ,act1 the ,entity shall prioritize support for activities that achieve1 to the highest extent practicable1 the goals outlined in the ,act4 #h4 ,rule of construction ,nothing in this ,act shall be construed to alter or amend any ,state law or action with regard to sustainable chemistry or green chemistry1 as defined by the ,state4