
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC1862k]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                 CHAPTER 16--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
 
Sec. 1862k. Findings; core strategies


(a) Findings

    Congress finds the following:
        (1) The United States depends upon its scientific and 
    technological capabilities to preserve the military and economic 
    security of the United States.
        (2) America's leadership in the global marketplace is dependent 
    upon a strong commitment to education, basic research, and 
    development.
        (3) A nation that is not technologically literate cannot compete 
    in the emerging global economy.
        (4) A coordinated commitment to mathematics and science 
    instruction at all levels of education is a necessary component of 
    successful efforts to produce technologically literate citizens.
        (5) Professional development is a necessary component of efforts 
    to produce system-wide improvements in mathematics, engineering, and 
    science education in secondary, elementary, and postsecondary 
    settings.
        (6)(A) The mission of the National Science Foundation is to 
    provide Federal support for basic scientific and engineering 
    research, and to be a primary contributor to mathematics, science, 
    and engineering education at academic institutions in the United 
    States.
        (B) In accordance with such mission, the long-term goals of the 
    National Science Foundation include providing leadership to--
            (i) enable the United States to maintain a position of world 
        leadership in all aspects of science, mathematics, engineering, 
        and technology;
            (ii) promote the discovery, integration, dissemination, and 
        application of new knowledge in service to society; and
            (iii) achieve excellence in United States science, 
        mathematics, engineering, and technology education at all 
        levels.

(b) Core strategies

    In carrying out activities designed to achieve the goals described 
in subsection (a) of this section, the Foundation shall use the 
following core strategies:
        (1) Develop intellectual capital, both people and ideas, with 
    particular emphasis on groups and regions that traditionally have 
    not participated fully in science, mathematics, and engineering.
        (2) Strengthen the scientific infrastructure by investing in 
    facilities planning and modernization, instrument acquisition, 
    instrument design and development, and shared-use research 
    platforms.
        (3) Integrate research and education through activities that 
    emphasize and strengthen the natural connections between learning 
    and inquiry.
        (4) Promote partnerships with industry, elementary and secondary 
    schools, community colleges, colleges and universities, other 
    agencies, State and local governments, and other institutions 
    involved in science, mathematics, and engineering to enhance the 
    delivery of math and science education and improve the technological 
    literacy of the citizens of the United States.

(Pub. L. 105-207, title I, Sec. 101, July 29, 1998, 112 Stat. 869.)

                          Codification

    Section was enacted as part of the National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 1998, and not as part of the National Science 
Foundation Act of 1950 which comprises this chapter.


                             Indirect Costs

    Pub. L. 105-207, title II, Sec. 203, July 29, 1998, 112 Stat. 875, 
provided that:
    ``(a) Matching Funds.--Matching funds required pursuant to section 
204(a)(2)(C) of the Academic Research Facilities Modernization Act of 
1988 (42 U.S.C. 1862c(a)(2)(C)) shall not be considered facilities costs 
for purposes of determining indirect cost rates under Office of 
Management and Budget Circular A-21.
    ``(b) Report.--
        ``(1) In general.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
    Technology Policy, in consultation with other Federal agencies the 
    Director deems appropriate, shall prepare a report--
            ``(A) analyzing the Federal indirect cost reimbursement 
        rates (as the term is defined in Office of Management and Budget 
        Circular A-21) paid to universities in comparison with Federal 
        indirect cost reimbursement rates paid to other entities, such 
        as industry, government laboratories, research hospitals, and 
        nonprofit institutions;
            ``(B)(i) analyzing the distribution of the Federal indirect 
        cost reimbursement rates by category (such as administration, 
        facilities, utilities, and libraries), and by the type of 
        entity; and
            ``(ii) determining what factors, including the type of 
        research, influence the distribution;
            ``(C) analyzing the impact, if any, that changes in Office 
        of Management and Budget Circular A-21 have had on--
                ``(i) the Federal indirect cost reimbursement rates, the 
            rate of change of the Federal indirect cost reimbursement 
            rates, the distribution by category of the Federal indirect 
            cost reimbursement rates, and the distribution by type of 
            entity of the Federal indirect cost reimbursement rates; and
                ``(ii) the Federal indirect cost reimbursement (as 
            calculated in accordance with Office of Management and 
            Budget Circular A-21), the rate of change of the Federal 
            indirect cost reimbursement, the distribution by category of 
            the Federal indirect cost reimbursement, and the 
            distribution by type of entity of the Federal indirect cost 
            reimbursement;
            ``(D) analyzing the impact, if any, of Federal and State law 
        on the Federal indirect cost reimbursement rates;
            ``(E)(i) analyzing options to reduce or control the rate of 
        growth of the Federal indirect cost reimbursement rates, 
        including options such as benchmarking of facilities and 
        equipment cost, elimination of cost studies, mandated percentage 
        reductions in the Federal indirect cost reimbursement; and
            ``(ii) assessing the benefits and burdens of the options to 
        the Federal Government, research institutions, and researchers; 
        and
            ``(F) analyzing options for creating a database--
                ``(i) for tracking the Federal indirect cost 
            reimbursement rates and the Federal indirect cost 
            reimbursement; and
                ``(ii) for analyzing the impact that changes in policies 
            with respect to Federal indirect cost reimbursement will 
            have on the Federal Government, researchers, and research 
            institutions.
        ``(2) Report to congress.--The report prepared under paragraph 
    (1) shall be submitted to Congress not later than 1 year after the 
    date of enactment of this Act [July 29, 1998].''


         Notice; Enhancement of Science and Mathematics Programs

    Pub. L. 105-207, title II, Secs. 205, 206, July 29, 1998, 112 Stat. 
876, provided that:
``SEC. 205. NOTICE.
    ``(a) Notice of Reprogramming.--If any funds appropriated pursuant 
to the amendments made by this Act [See Short Title of 1998 Amendment 
note set out under section 1861 of this title] are subject to a 
reprogramming action that requires notice to be provided to the 
Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives, notice of that action shall concurrently be provided to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, 
the Committee on Labor and Human Resources of the Senate, and the 
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives.
    ``(b) Notice of Reorganization.--Not later than 15 days before any 
major reorganization of any program, project, or activity of the 
National Science Foundation, the Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall provide notice to the Committees on Science and 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committees on 
Commerce, Science and Transportation, Labor and Human Resources of the 
Senate, and Appropriations of the Senate.
``SEC. 206. ENHANCEMENT OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS PROGRAMS.
    ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
        ``(1) Educationally useful federal equipment.--The term 
    `educationally useful Federal equipment' means computers and related 
    peripheral tools and research equipment that is appropriate for use 
    in schools.
        ``(2) School.--The term `school' means a public or private 
    educational institution that serves any of the grades of 
    kindergarten through grade 12.
    ``(b) Sense of the Congress.--
        ``(1) In general.--It is the sense of the Congress that the 
    Director should, to the greatest extent practicable and in a manner 
    consistent with applicable Federal law (including Executive Order 
    No. 12999 [40 U.S.C. 484 note]), donate educationally useful Federal 
    equipment to schools in order to enhance the science and mathematics 
    programs of those schools.
        ``(2) Reports.--
            ``(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act [July 29, 1998], and annually thereafter, 
        the Director shall prepare and submit to the President a report 
        that meets the requirements of this paragraph. The President 
        shall submit that report to Congress at the same time as the 
        President submits a budget request to Congress under section 
        1105(a) of title 31, United States Code.
            ``(B) Contents of report.--The report prepared by the 
        Director under this paragraph shall describe any donations of 
        educationally useful Federal equipment to schools made during 
        the period covered by the report.''


                               Definitions

    Pub. L. 105-207, Sec. 2, July 29, 1998, 112 Stat. 869, provided 
that: ``In this Act [see Short Title of 1998 Amendment note set out 
under section 1861 of this title]:
        ``(1) Director.--The term `Director' means the Director of the 
    National Science Foundation established under section 2 of the 
    National Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861).
        ``(2) Foundation.--The term `Foundation' means the National 
    Science Foundation established under section 2 of the National 
    Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861).
        ``(3) Board.--The term `Board' means the National Science Board 
    established under section 2 of the National Science Foundation Act 
    of 1950 (42 U.S.C. 1861).
        ``(4) United states.--The term `United States' means the several 
    States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 
    the Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 
    Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession of 
    the United States.
        ``(5) National research facility.--The term `national research 
    facility' means a research facility funded by the Foundation which 
    is available, subject to appropriate policies allocating access, for 
    use by all scientists and engineers affiliated with research 
    institutions located in the United States.''
