Sec. 103. Excellence in Critical Technologies Program
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In this section: The term Council means the National Science and Technology Council. The term critical technologies means the technologies included on the most recent list under subsection (e), including any additions or deletions made by the Director in accordance with subsection (e)(2). The term Director means the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. The term institution of higher education has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) ).
The term minority-serving institution means an eligible institution described in section 371(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1067q(a) ). The term National Laboratories has the meaning given that term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 15801 ). The term Program means the Excellence in Critical Technologies Program established under subsection (b). The term socially and economically disadvantaged individual means any socially and economically disadvantaged individual described in the flush text following section 8(d)(3)(C) of the Small Business Act ( 15 U.S.C. 637(d)(3)(C) ) and in any relevant subcontracting regulation issued under such section 8(d).
The Director, acting through the Council, shall coordinate interagency activities to develop and advance critical technologies in the United States. The initiative established under paragraph
(1)shall be known as the Excellence in Critical Technologies Program . The activities of the Program shall include the following: Establish and coordinate interagency initiatives to advance critical technologies through research and development, and to encourage and enable the domestic production of such technologies, that will draw on the private sector, institutions of higher education (including minority-serving institutions), National Laboratories, Federal laboratories, and other relevant entities, as appropriate. Advise Congress on opportunities for greater investment in United States entities involved in the domestic development, deployment, and manufacturing of critical technologies. Collaborate with labor organizations (including labor unions), elementary and secondary schools, institutions of higher education (including minority-serving institutions), and other educational institutions and training providers on best practices for— developing the United States technology workforce; creating and protecting domestic jobs; and increasing participation in the technology workforce by low-income individuals, women, racial and ethnic minorities, and other underrepresented populations. Establish norms for the proper development of critical technologies that ensure— the application of the critical technologies remains consistent with individual human rights; and the critical technologies cannot be abused by authoritarian states. The program shall be implemented by the following agencies: The Department of Commerce, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The Department of Defense. The Department of Energy. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The National Institutes of Health. The National Institute of Standards and Technology. The National Science Foundation. Other relevant agencies designated by the Director. The initial list of critical technologies shall consist of the following: Artificial intelligence and machine learning. High-performance computing, semiconductors, and advanced computer hardware. Quantum computing and information systems. Robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing. Natural or anthropogenic disaster prevention. Advanced communications technology. Biotechnology, genomics, and synthetic biology. Advanced energy technology. Cybersecurity, data storage, and data management technologies. Metal and material production relevant to other critical technologies. Materials science, engineering, and exploration relevant to other critical technologies. Beginning on the date that is 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 4 years thereafter, the Director— shall, in consultation with the working group established under subsection (f), review the list of critical technologies developed under this subsection; and as part of that review, may add or delete critical technologies if the competitive threats to the United States have shifted (whether because the United States or other nations have advanced or fallen behind in a technology), subject to paragraph (3). Not more than 10 critical technology categories shall be included on the list of critical technologies at any time. Upon the completion of each review under paragraph (2), the Director shall make the list of critical technologies readily available to the public, including by publishing the list in the Federal Register, even if no changes have been made to the prior list. Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall establish a private sector working group to advise the Federal Government in the development of a strategy to achieve the activities listed in subsection (c). The working group established under paragraph
(1)shall be composed of members selected by the Director from among the following: Leading technical experts on critical technologies. Business leaders, including from startups, small businesses, and businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals, formerly incarcerated individuals, women, veterans, and other underrepresented populations. Representatives of labor organizations (including labor unions). Representatives of elementary, secondary, and higher education, and of workforce development, including organizations that specialize in workforce diversity and inclusion. Experts on human rights. Experts on cybersecurity. Experts on safety and health. The Director shall designate one individual named under subparagraph
(A)to be the chair of the working group established under paragraph (1). Before making appointments under this subsection, the Director shall consult with the National Academy of Sciences and other relevant groups. Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the working group established under paragraph
(1)shall convene for the first time. After its first meeting, the working group established under paragraph
(1)shall convene once every 3 months or when called upon by the Director. The Director shall establish procedures, in accordance with Federal law, to deal with conflicts of interest. Each year, at the time of the President’s annual budget submission to Congress, the Director shall submit a report that describes— the activities and funding levels of the Program, by agency, in the prior and current fiscal years, and plans for activities in the upcoming fiscal year; the overall strategy to advance critical technologies through the Program and to encourage and enable the domestic production of the critical technologies; the achievements of the Program in the prior fiscal year and any elements of the Program that need to be strengthened; and how agency activities are being coordinated to maximize the effectiveness of Federal efforts. It is the sense of Congress that— the Director of the National Science Foundation should establish a Technology Directorate, consistent with the bill entitled A bill to establish a new Directorate for Technology in the redesignated National Science and Technology Foundation, to establish a regional technology hub program, to require a strategy and report on economic security, science, research, and innovation, and for other purposes (S. 3832, 116th Congress, introduced on May 21, 2020) (referred to in this subsection as the Endless Frontier Act ), to advance research and innovation in critical technologies; the Secretary of Commerce should establish regional technology hubs, consistent with the Endless Frontier Act, to promote regional economic development related to critical technologies; and the Director of the National Science Foundation requires an additional $100,000,000,000 over a period of 5 years, and the Secretary of Commerce requires an additional $10,000,000,000 over a period of 5 years, to carry out subparagraphs
(A)and (B). The Director shall carry out this section in a manner consistent with the agency roles in the Endless Frontier Act. Beginning upon the date of enactment of the Endless Frontier Act, the role of the working group under subsection
(f)shall be carried out by the Board of Advisors established under the Endless Frontier Act. In carrying out this section, the Director shall consult with the National Economic Council, the National Security Council, and other relevant White House entities.
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Sec. 103
Excellence in Critical Technologies Program
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