42 USC 18644 - Biological and environmental research

Collapse to view only § 18644. Biological and environmental research

§ 18641. Basic energy sciences
§ 18642. Advanced scientific computing research
§ 18643. High-energy physics
§ 18644. Biological and environmental research
§ 18645. Fusion energy
§ 18646. Nuclear physics
§ 18647. Science laboratories infrastructure program
§ 18648. Accelerator research and development
§ 18649. Isotope research, development, and production
§ 18650. Increased collaboration with teachers and scientists
§ 18651. High intensity laser research initiative
§ 18652. Helium conservation program
§ 18653. Office of Science Biological Threat Preparedness Research Initiative
§ 18654. Midscale instrumentation and research equipment program
§ 18655. Authorization of appropriations

§ 18641. Basic energy sciences

(a) Program

(b) Sustainable chemistry

(1) In general

(2) Collaborations

(3) Selection and duration

(A) In general

(B) Existing centers

(D) Termination

(4) No funding for construction

(d) Basic energy sciences user facilities

(1) In general

(2) Requirements

(3) Included facilitiesThe national user facilities developed, constructed, operated, or maintained under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A) x-ray light sources;

(B) neutron sources;

(D) autonomous chemistry and materials synthesis and characterization facilities that leverage advances in artificial intelligence; and

(E) such other facilities as the Director considers appropriate, consistent with section 7139 of this title.

(4) Advanced Photon Source upgrade

(A) DefinitionsIn this paragraph:

(i) Flux

(ii) Hard x-ray

(B) Upgrade

(D) Funding

(5) Spallation Neutron Source proton power upgrade

(A) In general

(B) Proton power upgrade definedIn this paragraph, the term “proton power upgrade” means the Spallation Neutron Source power upgrade described in—

(i) the publication entitled “Facilities for the Future of Science: A Twenty-Year Outlook”, published by the Office of Science of the Department in December, 2003;

(ii) the publication entitled “Four Years Later: An Interim Report on Facilities for the Future of Science: A Twenty-Year Outlook”, published by the Office of Science of the Department in August, 2007; and

(iii) the publication approved by the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee on June 9, 2016, entitled “Report on Facility Upgrades”.

(D) FundingOut of funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (j), there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the upgrade under this paragraph—

(i) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(ii) $14,202,000 for fiscal year 2024; and

(iii) $1,567,000 for fiscal year 2025.

(6) Spallation Neutron Source second target station

(A) In general

(B) Second target station definedIn this paragraph, the term “second target station” means the Spallation Neutron Source second target station described in—

(i) the publication entitled, “Facilities for the Future of Science: A Twenty-Year Outlook”, published by the Office of Science of the Department in December, 2003;

(ii) the publication entitled, “Four Years Later: An Interim Report on Facilities for the Future of Science: A Twenty-Year Outlook”, published by the Office of Science of the Department in August, 2007; and

(iii) the publication approved by the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee on June 9, 2016, entitled “Report on Facility Upgrades”.

(D) FundingOut of funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (j), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the activities under this paragraph, including construction—

(i) $127,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(ii) $205,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(iii) $279,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(iv) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and

(v) $281,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

(7) Advanced Light Source upgrade

(A) DefinitionsIn this paragraph:

(i) Flux

(ii) Soft x-ray

(B) Upgrade

(D) FundingOut of funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (j), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the upgrade under this paragraph—

(i) $135,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(ii) $102,500,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(iii) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and

(iv) $1,400,000 for fiscal year 2026.

(8) Linac Coherent Light Source II high energy upgrade

(A) DefinitionsIn this paragraph:

(i) High energy

(ii) High repetition rate

(iii) Ultra-short pulse

(B) UpgradeThe Secretary shall—

(i) provide for the upgrade to the Linac Coherent Light Source II facility described in the publication approved by the Basic Energy Sciences Advisory Committee on June 9, 2016, entitled “Report on Facility Upgrades”, including the development of experimental capabilities for high energy x-rays to reveal fundamental scientific discoveries; and

(ii) ensure such upgrade enables the production and use of high energy, ultra-short pulse x-rays delivered at a high repetition rate.

(D) FundingOut of funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (j), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the upgrade under this paragraph—

(i) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(ii) $130,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(iii) $135,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and

(iv) $99,343,000 for fiscal year 2026.

(9) Cryomodule repair and maintenance facility

(A) In general

(B) Consultation required

(C) FundingOut of funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (j), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the activities under this paragraph—

(i) $29,300,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(ii) $24,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(iii) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2025; and

(iv) $15,700,000 for fiscal year 2026.

(10) Nanoscale Science Research Center recapitalization project

(A) In general

(B) FundingOut of funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (j), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the recapitalization under this paragraph—

(i) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2023; and

(ii) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.

(11) National Synchrotron Light Source II beamline buildout

(A) In general

(B) Start of operationsSubject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary—

(i) shall begin carrying out subparagraph (A) not later than September 30, 2036; and

(ii) may begin carrying out subparagraph (A)—(I) in calendar year 2033; or(II) after the construction of individual beamlines is complete.

(e) Accelerator research and development

(f) Omitted

(g) Omitted

(h) Computational materials and chemical sciences

(1) In generalThe Director shall support a program of research and development for the application of advanced computing practices to foundational and emerging research problems in chemistry and materials science. Research activities shall include—

(A) chemical catalysis research and development;

(B) the use of large data sets to model materials phenomena, including through advanced characterization of materials, materials synthesis, processing, and innovative use of experimental and theoretical data;

(C) codesign of chemical system and chemistry modeling software with advanced computing systems and hardware technologies; and

(D) modeling of chemical processes, assemblies, and reactions such as molecular dynamics and quantum chemistry, including through novel computing methods.

(2) Computational materials and chemical sciences centers

(A) In generalIn carrying out the activities authorized under paragraph (1), the Director shall select and establish up to 6 computational materials and chemical sciences centers to—

(i) develop open-source, robust, and validated computational codes and user-friendly software, coupled with innovative use of experimental and theoretical data, to enable the design, discovery, and development of new materials and chemical systems; and

(ii) focus on overcoming challenges and maximizing the benefits of exascale and other high performance computing underpinned by accelerated node technologies.

(B) Selection

(i) New centers

(ii) Existing centers

(D) Renewal

(i) Materials research database

(1) In general

(2) ProgramIn carrying out this subsection, the Director shall—

(A) conduct cooperative research among National Laboratories, industry, academia, and other research institutions to advance understanding, prediction, and manipulation of materials and facilitate the design of novel materials;

(B) develop and maintain data infrastructure at user facilities that generate data to collect, analyze, label, and otherwise prepare the data for inclusion in the database;

(C) leverage existing high performance computing systems to conduct high throughput calculations, and develop computational and data mining algorithms for the prediction of material properties;

(D) strengthen the foundation for new technologies and advanced manufacturing; and

(E) drive the development of advanced materials for applications that span the Department’s missions in energy, environment, and national security.

(3) Coordination

(4) Funding

(j) Authorization of appropriationsOut of funds authorized to be appropriated to the Office of Science in a fiscal year, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the activities described in this section—

(1) $2,685,414,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(2) $2,866,890,840 for fiscal year 2024;

(3) $2,987,727,170 for fiscal year 2025;

(4) $3,062,732,781 for fiscal year 2026; and

(5) $3,080,067,167 for fiscal year 2027.

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 303, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3140; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10102(a), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1409.)

§ 18642. Advanced scientific computing research

(a) In general

As part of the activities authorized under section 7139 of this title, the Director shall carry out, in coordination with academia and relevant public and private sector entities, a research, development, and demonstration program—

(1) to steward applied mathematics, computational science, and computer science research relevant to the missions of the Department and the competitiveness of the United States;

(2) to develop modeling, simulation, and other computational tools relevant to other scientific disciplines and to the development of new energy technologies and other technologies;

(3) to advance computing and networking capabilities for data-driven discovery; and

(4) to develop advanced scientific computing hardware and software tools for science and engineering.

(b) Omitted

(1) Director

(2) Coordination

(d) Applied mathematics and software development for high-end computing systems and computer sciences research

(1) In general

The Director shall carry out activities to develop, test, and support—

(A) mathematics, statistics, and algorithms for modeling complex systems relevant to the missions of the Department, including on advanced computing architectures; and

(B) tools, languages, programming environments, and operations for high-end computing systems (as defined in section 5541 of title 15).

(2) Portfolio balance

(A) In general

The Director shall maintain a balanced portfolio within the advanced scientific computing research and development program established under section 976 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16316) 1

1 See References in Text note below.

that supports robust investment in—

(i) applied mathematical, computational, and computer sciences research needs relevant to the mission of the Department, including foundational areas that are critical to the advancement of energy sciences and technologies and new and emerging computing technologies; and

(ii) associated high-performance computing hardware and facilities.

(B) Exascale ecosystem sustainment

(i) Sense of Congress

(ii) Sustainment

(e) Advanced computing program

(1) In general

The Secretary shall establish a program to develop and implement a strategy for achieving computing systems with capabilities beyond exascale computing systems. In establishing this program, the Secretary shall—

(A) maintain foundational research programs in mathematical, computational, and computer sciences focused on new and emerging computing needs within the mission of the Department, including post-Moore’s law computing architectures, novel approaches to modeling and simulation, artificial intelligence and scientific machine learning, quantum computing, edge computing, extreme heterogeneity, including potential quantum accelerators, and distributed high-performance computing;

(B) retain best practices and maintain support for essential hardware, applications, and software elements of the Exascale Computing Program that are necessary for sustaining the vitality of a long-term capable software ecosystem for exascale and beyond; and

(C) develop a Department-wide strategy for balancing on-premises and cloud-based computing and scientific data management.

(2) Report

(f) Guidance on mitigation of bias in high-performance computing capabilities

(g) Architectural research in heterogeneous computing systems

(1) In general

(2) Coordination

(h) Energy efficient computing program

(1) In general

(2) Execution

(A) Program

In carrying out the program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(i) establish a partnership for National Laboratories, industry partners, and institutions of higher education for codesign of energy efficient hardware, technology, software, and applications across all applicable program offices of the Department, and provide access to energy efficient computing resources to such partners;

(ii) develop hardware and software technologies that decrease the energy needs of advanced computing practices, including through data center codesign;

(iii) consider multiple heterogeneous computing architectures in collaboration with the program established under subsection (g), including neuromorphic computing, persistent computing, and ultrafast networking; and

(iv) provide, as appropriate, on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis, access for researchers from institutions of higher education, National Laboratories, industry, and other Federal agencies to the energy efficient computing technologies developed pursuant to clause (i).

(B) Selection of partners

Not later than 1 year after August 9, 2022, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on—

(i) the activities conducted under subparagraph (A); and

(ii) the coordination and management of the program under subparagraph (A) to ensure an integrated research program across the Department.

(i) Energy Sciences Network

(1) In general

(2) Capabilities

In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary shall ensure the following capabilities:

(A) To provide high bandwidth scientific networking across the continental United States and the Atlantic Ocean.

(B) To ensure network reliability.

(D) To manage transport of exponentially increasing levels of data from the Department’s National Laboratories and sites, user facilities, experiments, and sensors.

(E) To contribute to the integration of heterogeneous computing frameworks and systems.

(j) Computational Science Graduate Fellowship

(1) In general

(2) Funding

Of the funds authorized to be appropriated for the Advanced Scientific Computing Research Program, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for carrying out activities under this subsection—

(A) $15,750,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(B) $16,537,500 for fiscal year 2024;

(D) $18,232,594 for fiscal year 2026; and

(E) $19,144,223 for fiscal year 2027.

(k) Authorization of appropriations

Out of funds authorized to be appropriated for the Office of Science in a fiscal year, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the activities described in this section—

(1) $1,126,950,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(2) $1,194,109,500 for fiscal year 2024;

(3) $1,265,275,695 for fiscal year 2025;

(4) $1,340,687,843 for fiscal year 2026; and

(5) $1,420,599,500 for fiscal year 2027.

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 304, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3145; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10104(a), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1433.)

§ 18643. High-energy physics

(a) Sense of Congress

It is the sense of Congress that—

(1) the Director should incorporate the findings and recommendations of the report of the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel entitled “Building for Discovery: Strategic Plan for U.S. Particle Physics in the Global Context” into the planning process of the Department; and

(2) the nations that lead in particle physics by hosting international teams dedicated to a common scientific goal attract the world’s best talent and inspire future generations of physicists and technologists.

(b) Program

(d) International collaboration

The Director shall—

(1) as practicable and in coordination with other appropriate Federal agencies as necessary, ensure the access of United States researchers to the most advanced accelerator facilities and research capabilities in the world, including the Large Hadron Collider;

(2) to the maximum extent practicable, continue to leverage United States participation in the Large Hadron Collider, and prioritize expanding international partnerships and investments in the Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility and Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment; and

(3) to the maximum extent practicable, prioritize engagement in collaborative efforts in support of future international facilities that would provide access to the most advanced accelerator facilities in the world to United States researchers.

(e) Neutrino research

(f) Cosmic frontier research

The Director shall carry out research activities on the nature of the primary contents of the universe, including the nature of dark energy and dark matter. These activities shall, to the maximum extent practicable, be consistent with the research priorities identified by the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel or the National Academy of Sciences, and may include—

(1) collaborations with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National Science Foundation, or international partners on relevant projects; and

(2) the development of space-based, land-based, water-based, and underground facilities and experiments.

(g) Facility construction and major items of equipment

(1) Projects

Consistent with the Office of Science’s project management practices, the Director shall, to the maximum extent practicable, by incorporating the findings and recommendations of the 2014 Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel (P5) report entitled “Building for Discovery”, support construction or fabrication of—

(A) an international Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility based in the United States;

(B) the Proton Improvement Plan II;

(D) the Legacy Survey of Space and Time camera;

(E) upgrades to detectors and other components of the Large Hadron Collider; and

(F) the Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4 project; and

(G) other high priority projects recommended in the most recent report of the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel of the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel.

(2) Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility

(A) In general

(B) Facility capabilities

The Secretary shall ensure that the facility described in subparagraph (A) will provide, at a minimum, the following capabilities:

(i) A neutrino beam with wideband capability of 1.2 megawatts of beam power and upgradable to 2.4 megawatts of beam power.

(ii) 3 caverns excavated for a 70 kiloton fiducial detector mass and supporting surface buildings and utilities.

(iii) Cryogenic systems to support neutrino detectors.

(D) Funding

Out of funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (k), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out construction of the project described in subparagraph (A)—

(i) $180,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(ii) $255,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(iii) $305,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(iv) $305,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and

(v) $305,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

(3) Proton Improvement Plan–II accelerator upgrade project

(A) In general

(B) Facility capabilities

The Secretary shall ensure that the facility described in subparagraph (A) will provide, at a minimum, the following capabilities:

(i) A state-of-the-art 800 megaelectron volt superconducting linear accelerator.

(ii) Proton beam power of 1.2 megawatts at the start of LBNF/DUNE, upgradeable to 2.4 megawatts of beam power.

(iii) A flexible design to enable high power beam delivery to multiple users simultaneously and customized beams tailored to specific scientific needs.

(iv) Sustained high reliability operation of the Fermilab accelerator complex.

(D) Funding

Out of funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (k), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out construction of the facility described in subparagraph (A)—

(i) $130,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(ii) $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(iii) $120,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(iv) $115,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and

(v) $110,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

(4) Cosmic Microwave Background Stage 4

(A) In general

(B) Consultation

(D) Start of operations

(E) Funding

Out of funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (k), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out construction of the facility described in subparagraph (A)—

(i) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(ii) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(iii) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(iv) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and

(v) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

(h) Accelerator and detector upgrades

(i) Accelerator and detector research and development

(j) Underground science

The Director shall—

(1) support an underground science program consistent with the missions of the Department and the scientific needs of the High Energy Physics program, including those articulated in the most recent report of the Particle Physics Project Prioritization Panel of the High Energy Physics Advisory Panel, that leverages the capabilities of relevant underground science and engineering facilities;

(2) carry out a competitive grant program to award scientists and engineers at institutions of higher education, nonprofit institutions, and National Laboratories to conduct research in underground science and engineering; and

(3) submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the inventory of underground mines in the United States that may be suitable for future development of underground science and engineering facilities and any anticipated challenges associated with repurposing, repair, facility siting, or construction.

(k) Authorization of appropriations

(1) $1,159,520,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(2) $1,289,891,200 for fiscal year 2024;

(3) $1,428,284,672 for fiscal year 2025;

(4) $1,499,881,752 for fiscal year 2026; and

(5) $1,554,874,657 for fiscal year 2027.

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 305, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3147; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10106, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1445.)

§ 18644. Biological and environmental research

(a) Program

(b) Biological systemsThe Director shall carry out research and development activities in genomic science including fundamental research on plants and microbes to increase systems-level understanding of the complex biological systems, which may include activities—

(1) to provide a fundamental understanding of the biology of plants, fungi, and microbes as a basis for developing innovative processes for bioenergy and bioproducts and accelerate breakthroughs and new knowledge that would enable the cost-effective, sustainable production of—

(A) advanced biofuels;

(B) bioenergy; and

(2) to conduct foundational functional systems biology research—

(A) to support expanded biosystems design research; and

(B) to understand—

(i) fundamental genome structure; and

(ii) phenomes, including functional genomics of gene products at genome scale;

(3) to develop biosystems designs and synthetic biology approaches for new nonfood plant-derived and microbially derived bioproducts as a basis for new bioeconomy and biotechnology applications in bioproducts production, resource recovery, recycling, and upcycling ventures;

(4) to better understand the behavior of microbiomes in the environment and the interdependencies between plants and microbes in a sustainable ecosystem;

(5) to improve fundamental understanding of plant and microbial processes impacting the global carbon cycle, including processes for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, through photosynthesis and other biological processes, for sequestration, storage, and utilization;

(6) to understand the microbiome mechanisms and microbiota used to transform, immobilize, or remove contaminants from subsurface environments and that affect the cycling and disposition of carbon, nutrients, and contaminants in the environment;

(7) to develop the computational approaches and integrated platforms for open access collaborative science;

(8) to leverage tools and approaches across the Office of Science to expand research to include novel processes, methods, and science to develop bio-based chemicals, polymers, inorganic materials, including research—

(A) to advance fungal, microbial, and plant biosystems design research to advance the understanding of how CRISPR tools and other gene editing tools and technologies work in nature, in the laboratory, and in practice;

(B) to deepen genome-enabled knowledge of the roles of microbes and microbial communities, including fungi, in—

(i) supporting plant and tree growth, productivity, performance, adaptation, and resilience in changing environmental conditions; and

(ii) optimizing end uses of biomass;

(D) to increase the scale and pace of characterizing the functions and physical characteristics of microbes and microbial communities to improve biosystems design;

(9) to conduct research focused on developing analysis techniques and simulation capabilities, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, on high-performance computing platforms to accelerate collaborative and reproducible systems biology research;

(10) to develop and improve new technologies for bioimaging, measurement, and characterization purposes to understand the structural, spatial, and temporal relationships of metabolic processes governing phenotypic expression in plants and microbes;

(11) to conduct research focused on genotype-to-phenotype translations to develop a predictive understanding of cellular function under a variety of relevant environmental and bioenergy-related conditions;

(12) to conduct metagenomic and metadata assembly research sequencing and analysis; and

(13) to develop other relevant methods and processes as determined by the Director.

(d) Limitation for research funds

(e) Low-dose radiation research program

(1) In generalThe Secretary shall carry out a research program on low-dose and low dose-rate radiation to—

(A) enhance the scientific understanding of, and reduce uncertainties associated with, the effects of exposure to low-dose and low dose-rate radiation; and

(B) inform improved risk-assessment and risk-management methods with respect to such radiation.

(2) Program componentsIn carrying out the program required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A) support and carry out the directives under section 106(b) of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (42 U.S.C. 6601 note), except that such section shall be treated for purposes of this subsection as applying to low dose and low-dose rate radiation research, in coordination with the Physical Science Subcommittee of the National Science and Technology Council;

(B) identify and, to the extent possible, quantify, potential monetary and health-related impacts to Federal agencies, the general public, industry, research communities, and other users of information produced by such research program;

(D) engage with other Federal agencies, research communities, and potential users of information produced under this section, including institutions performing or utilizing radiation research, medical physics, radiology, health physics, and emergency response measures; and

(E) support education and outreach activities to disseminate information and promote public understanding of low-dose radiation, with a focus on non-emergency situations such as medical physics, space exploration, and naturally occurring radiation.

(3) Research plan

(A) Not later than 90 days after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to develop a long-term strategic and prioritized research agenda for the program described in paragraph (2);

(B) Not later than one year after December 27, 2020, the Secretary shall transmit this research plan developed in subparagraph (A) to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate.

(4) GAO studyNot later than 3 years after December 27, 2020

(A) an evaluation of the program activities carried out under this section;

(B) the effectiveness of the coordination and management of the program; and

(5) DefinitionsIn this subsection:

(A) Low-dose radiation

(B) Low dose-rate radiation

(6) Rule of construction

(7) FundingFor purposes of carrying out this subsection, the Secretary is authorized to make available from funds provided to the Biological and Environmental Research Program—

(A) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;

(B) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;

(D) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(E) $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(F) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and

(G) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

(f) Low-dose radiation and space radiation research program

(1) In general

(2) Purpose

(g) Earth and environmental systems sciences activities

(1) In generalAs part of the activities authorized under subsection (a), and in coordination with activities carried out under subsection (b), the Director shall coordinate with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and any other relevant agencies to carry out activities relating to Earth and environmental systems science research, which may include activities—

(A) to understand, observe, measure, and model the response of Earth’s atmosphere and biosphere to changing concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions and any associated changes in climate, including frequency and intensity of extreme weather events;

(B) to understand the coupled physical, chemical, and biological processes to transform, immobilize, remove, or move carbon, nitrogen, and other energy production-derived contaminants such as radionuclides and heavy metals, and understand the process of sequestration and transformation of these, carbon dioxide, and other relevant molecules in subsurface environments;

(C) to understand, observe, and model the cycling of water, carbon, and nutrients in terrestrial systems across spatiotemporal scales;

(D) to understand the biological, biogeochemical, and physical processes across the multiple scales that control the flux of environmentally relevant compounds between the terrestrial surface and the atmosphere; and

(E) to understand and predict interactions among natural and human systems to inform potential mitigation and adaptation options for increased concentrations of greenhouse gas emissions and any associated changes in climate.

(2) PrioritizationIn carrying out the program authorized under paragraph (1), the Director shall prioritize—

(A) the development of software and algorithms to enable the productive application of environmental systems and extreme weather in climate and Earth system prediction models in high-performance computing systems; and

(B) capabilities that support the Department’s mission needs for energy and infrastructure security, resilience, and reliability.

(3) Environmental systems science research

(A) In general

(B) Clean water and watershed researchAs part of the activities described in subparagraph (A), the Director shall—

(i) support interdisciplinary research to significantly advance our understanding of water availability, quality, and the impact of human activity and a changing climate on urban and rural watershed systems, including in freshwater environments;

(ii) consult with the Interagency Research, Development, and Demonstration Coordination Committee on the Nexus of Energy and Water for Sustainability established under section 16183 of this title on energy-water nexus research activities;

(iii) engage with representatives of research and academic institutions, nonprofit organizations, State, territorial, local, and Tribal governments, and industry, who have expertise in technologies, technological innovations, or practices relating to the energy-water nexus, as applicable; and

(iv) coordinate with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and any other relevant agency.

(i) Director

(ii) Secretary

(4) Climate and Earth modelingAs part of the activities described in paragraph (1), the Director, in collaboration with the Advanced Scientific Computing Research program described in section 18642 of this title and other programs carried out by the Department, as applicable, and in coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other relevant agencies, shall carry out research to develop, evaluate, and use high-resolution regional climate, global climate, Earth system, and other relevant models to inform decisions on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the resulting impacts of a changing global climate. Such modeling shall include—

(A) integrated capabilities for modeling multisectoral interactions, including the impacts of climate policies on human systems and the interdependencies and risks at the energy-water-land nexus;

(B) greenhouse gas emissions, air quality, energy supply and demand, and other critical elements; and

(C) interaction among human and Earth systems informed by interdisciplinary research, including the economic and social sciences.

(5) Midscale funding mechanism

(A) In generalAny of the activities authorized in this subsection may be carried out, in lieu of individual research grants—

(i) by competitively selected midscale, multi-institutional research centers;

(ii) by large-scale experiments or user facilities; or

(iii) through existing facilities and systems of the Department or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(B) Consideration

(6) Atmospheric Systems and Sciences Research Program

(A) In generalAs part of the activities carried out under paragraph (1), the Director shall carry out a program, to be known as the “Atmospheric Systems and Sciences Research Program”, to use observations to improve understanding of atmospheric processes, under which the Director, in coordination, and as appropriate, collaboration, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other relevant Federal agencies conducting research under the topics described in this subparagraph, shall conduct research relating to—

(i) better understanding the atmosphere and the interaction of the atmosphere with the surface of the Earth;

(ii) understanding sources of uncertainty in Earth system models, including with respect to the interdependence of clouds, atmospheric aerosols, radiation processes, and precipitation;

(iii) understanding the radiative balance and hydrological cycle of Earth;

(iv) demonstrating the improved predictability of regional and global atmospheric models due to improved process-level understanding;

(v) atmospheric regimes with large uncertainties in earth system prediction, aerosol processes, warm boundary-layer processes, convective processes, and high-latitude processes;

(vi) reduced uncertainty and improved simulation capability of earth system models of the atmospheric system in a holistic, comprehensive fashion; and

(vii) understanding and modeling representation of priority research areas, including aerosol, warm boundary layer, convective, and high-latitude processes.

(B) ActivitiesIn carrying out the Atmospheric Systems and Sciences Research Program, the Director shall, in coordination, and as appropriate, in collaboration, with other relevant Federal agencies—

(i) collect data and conduct research to advance atmospheric and Earth system modeling capabilities;

(ii) develop or participate in existing or future integrated, scalable test-beds that—(I) incorporate process-level understanding of the life cycles of aerosols, clouds, and precipitation; and(II) can be incorporated into other models;

(iii) improve data, analysis, and prediction systems in marine, littoral, terrestrial, and arctic environments, including those environments sensitive to changes in the climate, relating to the energy and science mission of the Department; and

(iv) support the development of technologies relating to—(I) more accurate cloud, aerosol, and other atmospheric sensors;(II) observing sensor networks; and(III) computational predictive modeling.

(C) Use of Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Program facilities and infrastructureTo support the Atmospheric Systems and Sciences Research Program and, in coordination, and as appropriate, in collaboration, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other relevant Federal agencies, to improve fundamental understanding of the physical and chemical processes that impact the formation, life cycle, and radiative impacts of cloud and aerosol particles, atmospheric processes, and surface or subsurface phenomena, the Director shall use the facilities and infrastructure of the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement User Facility, the Global Monitoring Laboratory of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or other Earth and Environmental Systems Sciences User Facilities—

(i) to provide support to environmental scientists by collecting high-quality and well-characterized in-situ, remote-sensing, and aircraft observations of—(I) the microphysical properties of clouds and atmospheric aerosols;(II) the coincident and highly detailed dynamical and thermodynamic properties of the atmospheric environment that contains those clouds and aerosols;(III) the properties of precipitation;(IV) the properties of radiation and the background environment; and(V) the properties of surface or subsurface phenomena;

(ii) to carry out laboratory studies and ground-based and airborne field campaigns to target specific atmospheric and surface or subsurface processes relating to the energy and science mission of the Department in different locations and across a range of environments, including by developing technologies to assist in advancing predictive capabilities;

(iii) to build data sets that can be incorporated into atmospheric models; and

(iv) to enhance observations by using modeling and simulations that test the accuracy of climate model parameterizations.

(h) Biological and environmental research user facilities

(1) In general

(2) Selection

(A) In general

(B) Applicants

(3) Facility requirementsTo the maximum extent practicable, the user facilities developed, constructed, operated, or maintained under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A) distributed field research and observation platforms for understanding earth system processes;

(B) analytical techniques, instruments, and modeling resources, including high-throughput molecular phenotyping, for understanding and predicting the functional processes of biological and environmental systems;

(C) integrated high-throughput sequencing, advanced bioanalytic techniques, DNA design and synthesis, metabolomics, and computational analysis; and

(D) such other facilities as the Director considers appropriate, consistent with section 7139 of this title.

(4) Existing facilities

(5) Earth and environmental systems sciences user facilitiesIn carrying out the program established under paragraph (1), the Director shall operate at least 1 user facility to advance the collection, validation, and analysis of atmospheric data, including through activities—

(A) to advance knowledge of the Earth and environmental systems and improve model representations; and

(B) to measure the impact of atmospheric gases, aerosols, and clouds on the Earth and environmental systems.

(6) Microbial molecular phenotyping capability project

(A) In general

(B) CapabilitiesIn carrying out subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall ensure the following capabilities:

(i) Coupled high-throughput autonomous experimental and multimodal analytical capabilities.

(ii) Direct integration of automated multiomics analyses, biomolecular and cellular imaging, and functional biological assays with high-throughput microbial culturing and cultivation capabilities at timescales relevant to biological processes under natural and perturbed environmental conditions.

(D) Start of operations

(E) FundingOf the funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (k) for a fiscal year, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this paragraph—

(i) $550,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(ii) $29,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(iii) $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(iv) $30,500,000 for fiscal year 2026; and

(v) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2027.

(7) User facilities integration and collaboration program

(A) In general

(B) Activities

(8) CoordinationIn carrying out the program authorized under paragraph (1), the Director shall ensure that the Office of Science coordinates with—

(A) the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of the Interior, and any other relevant Federal agency on the collection, validation, and analysis of atmospheric data; and

(B) relevant stakeholders, including institutions of higher education, nonprofit research institutions, industry, State, territorial, local, and Tribal governments, and other appropriate entities to ensure access to the best available relevant atmospheric and historical weather data.

(i) Terrestrial-aquatic interface research initiative

(1) In general

(2) Littoral data collection systemThe Director shall establish an integrated system of geographically diverse field research sites in order to improve the scientific understanding and predictability of the major land water interfaces of the United States through improved data quantity and quality, including in—

(A) the Great Lakes region;

(B) the Pacific coast;

(D) the Arctic;

(E) the Gulf coast; and

(F) the coasts of United States territories and freely associated States.

(3) Existing infrastructure

(4) Coordination

(5) Report

(6) Interoperability

(A) In general

(B) Resources

(j) Engineered ecosystems initiative

(1) In general

(2) Interagency coordination

(3) Report

(k) Authorization of appropriationsOut of funds authorized to be appropriated for the Office of Science in a fiscal year, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the activities described in this section—

(1) $885,420,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(2) $946,745,200 for fiscal year 2024;

(3) $1,001,149,912 for fiscal year 2025;

(4) $1,068,818,907 for fiscal year 2026; and

(5) $1,129,948,041 for fiscal year 2027.

(l) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Advanced biofuel

(2) Bioenergy

(3) Biomass

(4) Bioproduct

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 306, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3148; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title XI, § 11001, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2610; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10103(a)–(d), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1420–1423.)

§ 18645. Fusion energy

(a) Program

(b) Fusion materials research and development

(1) In generalAs part of the activities authorized in section 16318 of this title—

(A) the Director, in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy of the Department, shall carry out research and development activities to identify, characterize, and demonstrate materials that can endure the neutron, plasma, and heat fluxes expected in a fusion power system; and

(B) the Director shall provide an assessment of—

(i) the need for one or more facilities that can examine and test potential fusion and next generation fission materials and other enabling technologies relevant to the development of fusion power; and

(ii) whether a single new facility that substantially addresses magnetic fusion and next generation fission materials research needs is feasible, in conjunction with the expected capabilities of facilities operational as of September 28, 2018.

(2) Authorization of appropriations

(d) Inertial fusion research and development

(1) In general

(2) ActivitiesAs part of the program described in paragraph (1), the Director shall support activities at and partnerships with universities and the National Laboratories to—

(A) develop novel target designs;

(B) support modeling of various inertial fusion energy concepts and systems;

(D) improve inertial fusion energy driver technologies.

(3) Authorization of appropriations

(e) Alternative and enabling concepts

(1) In general

(2) ActivitiesFusion energy concepts and activities explored under paragraph (1) may include—

(A) alternative fusion energy concepts, including—

(i) advanced stellarator concepts;

(ii) non-tokamak confinement configurations operating at low magnetic fields;

(iii) magnetized target fusion energy concepts; or

(iv) other promising fusion energy concepts identified by the Director;

(B) enabling fusion technology development activities, including—

(i) high magnetic field approaches facilitated by high temperature superconductors;

(ii) liquid metals to address issues associated with fusion plasma interactions with the inner wall of the encasing device; and

(iii) advanced blankets for heat management and fuel breeding; and

(3) Innovation network for fusion energy

(A) In general

(B) AwardsFinancial assistance under the program established in subsection (a)—

(i) shall be awarded on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis; and

(ii) may be in the form of grants, vouchers, equipment loans, or contracts to private entities.

(4) Authorization of appropriations

(f) Coordination with ARPA–EThe Director shall coordinate with the Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (referred to in this subsection as “ARPA–E”) to—

(1) assess the potential for any fusion energy project supported by ARPA–E to represent a promising approach to a commercially viable fusion power plant;

(2) determine whether the results of any fusion energy project supported by ARPA–E merit the support of follow-on research activities carried out by the Office of Science; and

(3) avoid the unintentional duplication of activities.

(g) Omitted

(h) Identification of priorities

(1) Report

(A) In general

(B) InclusionsThe report required under subparagraph (A) shall—

(i) identify specific areas of fusion energy research and enabling technology development in which the United States can and should establish or solidify a lead in the global fusion energy development effort;

(ii) identify priorities for initiation of facility construction and facility decommissioning under each of the three budget scenarios described in subparagraph (A); and

(iii) assess the ability of the fusion workforce of the United States to carry out the activities identified under clauses (i) and (ii), including the adequacy of programs at institutions of higher education in the United States to train the leaders and workers of the next generation of fusion energy researchers.

(2) Process

(3) Requirement

(i) Milestone-based development program

(1) In general

(2) Purpose

(3) Eligibility

(4) RequirementsIn carrying out the milestone-based program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, for each relevant project—

(A) request proposals from eligible entities, as determined by the Secretary, that include proposed technical milestones, including estimated project timelines and total costs;

(B) set milestones based on a rigorous technical review process;

(C) award funding of a predetermined amount to projects that successfully meet proposed milestones under paragraph (1), or for expenses deemed reimbursable by the Secretary, in accordance with terms negotiated for an individual award; and

(D) communicate regularly with selected eligible entities and, if the Secretary deems appropriate, exercise small amounts of flexibility for technical milestones as projects mature.

(5) AwardsFor the program established under paragraph (1)—

(A) an award recipient shall be responsible for all costs until milestones are achieved, or reimbursable expenses are reviewed and verified by the Department;

(B) should an awardee not meet the milestones described in paragraph (4), the Secretary may end the partnership with an award recipient and use the remaining funds in the ended agreement for new or existing projects carried out under this section; and

(C) consistent with the existing authorities of the Department, the Secretary may end the partnership with an award recipient for cause during the performance period.

(6) Applications

(7) Project management

(8) Programmatic reviewNot later than 4 years after the Secretary has established 3 milestones under this program, the Secretary shall enter into a contractual arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences to review and provide a report describing the findings of this review to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on the program established under this paragraph (1) that assesses—

(A) the benefits and drawbacks of a milestone-based fusion program as compared to traditional program structure funding models at the Department;

(B) lessons-learned from program operations; and

(9) Annual report

(10) Authorization of appropriationsOut of funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (q),1 there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the activities described in this subsection, to remain available until expended—

(A) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;

(B) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;

(D) $65,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(E) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(F) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and

(G) $45,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

(j) Fusion reactor system design

(1) In generalNot later than 180 days after August 9, 2022, the Director shall establish not less than 2 national teams described in paragraph (2) that shall—

(A) develop conceptual pilot plant designs and technology roadmaps; and

(B) create an engineering design of a pilot plant that will bring fusion to commercial viability.

(2) National teamsA national team referred to in paragraph (1) shall—

(A) be composed of developers, manufacturers, universities, National Laboratories, and representatives of the engineering, procurement, and construction industries; and

(B) include public-private partnerships.

(3) Authorization of appropriationsOf the funds authorized to be appropriated for Fusion Energy Sciences in a fiscal year, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this subsection—

(A) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(B) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(D) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and

(E) $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

(k) General plasma science and applications

(l) Sense of Congress

(m) International collaborationThe Director shall—

(1) as practicable and in coordination with other appropriate Federal agencies as necessary, ensure the access of United States researchers to the most advanced fusion research facilities and research capabilities in the world, including ITER;

(2) to the maximum extent practicable, continue to leverage United States participation ITER,2

2 So in original.

and prioritize expanding international partnerships and investments in current and future fusion research facilities within the United States; and

(3) to the maximum extent practicable, prioritize engagement in collaborative efforts in support of future international facilities that would provide access to the most advanced fusion research facilities in the world to United States researchers.

(n) Fission and fusion research coordination report

(1) In general

(2) ComponentsThe report shall assess opportunities for collaboration on research and development of—

(A) liquid metals to address issues associated with fusion plasma interactions with the inner wall of the encasing device and other components within the reactor;

(B) immersion blankets for heat management and fuel breeding;

(D) computational methods and codes for system operation and maintenance;

(E) codes and standard development;

(F) radioactive waste handling;

(G) radiological safety;

(H) potential for non-electricity generation applications; and

(I) any other overlapping priority as identified by the Director of the Office of Science or the Assistant Secretary of Energy for Nuclear Energy.

(o) High-performance computation collaborative research program

(1) In generalThe Secretary shall carry out a program to conduct and support collaborative research, development, and demonstration of fusion energy technologies, through high-performance computation modeling and simulation techniques, in order—

(A) to support fundamental research in plasmas and matter at very high temperatures and densities;

(B) to inform the development of a broad range of fusion energy systems; and

(2) CoordinationIn carrying out the program under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall coordinate with relevant Federal agencies, and prioritize the following objectives:

(A) To use expertise from the private sector, institutions of higher education, and the National Laboratories to leverage existing, and develop new, computational software and capabilities that prospective users may use to accelerate research and development of fusion energy systems.

(B) To develop computational tools to simulate and predict fusion energy science phenomena that may be validated through physical experimentation.

(C) To increase the utility of the research infrastructure of the Department by coordinating with the Advanced Scientific Computing Research program within the Office of Science.

(D) To leverage experience from existing modeling and simulation entities sponsored by the Department.

(E) To ensure that new experimental and computational tools are accessible to relevant research communities, including private sector entities engaged in fusion energy technology development.

(F) To ensure that newly developed computational tools are compatible with modern virtual engineering and visualization capabilities to accelerate the realization of fusion energy technologies and systems.

(3) DuplicationThe Secretary shall ensure the coordination of, and avoid unnecessary duplication of, the activities of the program under paragraph (1) with the activities of—

(A) other research entities of the Department, including the National Laboratories, the Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy, and the Advanced Scientific Computing Research program within the Office of Science; and

(B) industry.

(4) High-Performance Computing for Fusion Innovation Center

(A) In general

(B) Eligible entitiesAn entity eligible to serve as the Center shall be—

(i) a National Laboratory;

(ii) an institution of higher education;

(iii) a multi-institutional collaboration; or

(iv) any other entity that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.

(i) Application

(ii) Selection

(D) Existing activities

(E) Priorities

(i) In general

(ii) Maintenance of resource availability

(F) Duration

(G) Renewal

(p) Material Plasma Exposure Experiment

(1) In general

(2) Facility capabilitiesThe Secretary shall ensure that the facility described in paragraph (1) will provide the following capabilities:

(A) A magnetic field at the target of 1 Tesla.

(B) An energy flux at the target of 10 MW/m2.

(3) Start of operations

(4) FundingOf the funds authorized to be appropriated for Fusion Energy Sciences, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for the Office of Fusion Energy Sciences to complete construction of the facility described in paragraph (1)—

(A) $21,895,000 for fiscal year 2023; and

(B) $3,800,000 for fiscal year 2024.

(q) Matter in Extreme Conditions instrument upgrade

(1) In general

(2) Start of operations

(r) Authorization of appropriationsOut of funds authorized to be appropriated for the Office of Science in a fiscal year, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the activities described in this section—

(1) $996,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;

(2) $921,000,000 for fiscal year 2022;

(3) $1,025,500,400 for fiscal year 2023;

(4) $1,043,489,724 for fiscal year 2024;

(5) $1,053,266,107 for fiscal year 2025;

(6) $1,047,962,074 for fiscal year 2026; and

(7) $1,114,187,798 for fiscal year 2027.

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 307, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3148; Pub. L. 116–260, div. Z, title II, § 2008(a), Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2474; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10105(a), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1441.)

§ 18646. Nuclear physics

(a) Program

(b) Electron Ion Collider

(1) In general

(2) Facility capability

The Secretary shall ensure that the facility described in paragraph (1) meets the requirements in the 2015 Long Range Plan described in that paragraph, including—

(A) at least 70 percent polarized beams of electrons and light ions;

(B) ion beams from deuterium to the heaviest stable nuclei;

(D) high collision luminosity of 1033–34cm-2s-1; and

(E) the possibility of more than 1 interaction region.

(3) Start of operations

(4) Funding

Out of funds authorized to be appropriated under subsection (c), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out construction of the facility under this subsection—

(A) $90,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(B) $181,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(D) $297,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and

(E) $301,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

(1) $840,480,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(2) $976,508,800 for fiscal year 2024;

(3) $1,062,239,328 for fiscal year 2025;

(4) $1,190,833,688 for fiscal year 2026; and

(5) $1,248,463,709 for fiscal year 2027.

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 308, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3150; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10107, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1449.)

§ 18647. Science laboratories infrastructure program

(a) In general

(b) Inclusions

The program under subsection (a) shall include projects—

(1) to renovate or replace space that does not meet research needs;

(2) to replace facilities that are no longer cost effective to renovate or operate;

(3) to modernize utility systems to prevent failures and ensure efficiency;

(4) to remove excess facilities to allow safe and efficient operations; and

(5) to construct modern facilities to conduct advanced research in controlled environmental conditions.

In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Director shall use all available approaches and mechanisms, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, including—

(1) capital line items;

(2) minor construction projects;

(3) energy savings performance contracts;

(4) utility energy service contracts;

(5) alternative financing; and

(6) expense funding.

(d) Submission to Congress

(e) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 309, Sept. 28, 2018, 132 Stat. 3150; Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10108, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1450.)

§ 18648. Accelerator research and development

(a) Program

As part of the activities authorized under section 7139 of this title, the Director shall carry out a research program—

(1) to advance accelerator science and technology relevant to the Department, other Federal agencies, and United States industry;

(2) to foster partnerships to develop, demonstrate, and enable the commercial application of accelerator technologies;

(3) to support the development of a skilled, diverse, and inclusive accelerator workforce; and

(4) to provide access to accelerator design and engineering resources.

(b) Accelerator research

In carrying out the program authorized under subsection (a), the Director shall support—

(1) research activities in cross-cutting accelerator technologies including superconducting magnets and accelerators, beam physics, data analytics-based accelerator controls, simulation software, new particle sources, advanced laser technology, and transformative research; and

(2) optimal operation of the Accelerator Test Facility.

(d) Research collaborations

In developing accelerator technologies under the program authorized under subsection (a), the Director shall—

(1) consider the requirements necessary to support translational research and development for medical, industrial, security, and defense applications; and

(2) leverage investments in accelerator technologies and fundamental research in particle physics by partnering with institutions of higher education, industry, and other Federal agencies to enable the commercial application of advanced accelerator technologies.

(e) Authorization of appropriations

(1) $19,080,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(2) $20,224,800 for fiscal year 2024;

(3) $21,438,288 for fiscal year 2025;

(4) $22,724,585 for fiscal year 2026; and

(5) $24,088,060 for fiscal year 2027.

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 310, as added Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10109, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1451.)

§ 18649. Isotope research, development, and production

(a) Definition of critical radioactive and stable isotope

(1) In generalIn this section, the term “critical radioactive and stable isotope” means a radioactive and stable isotope—

(A) the domestic commercial production of which is unavailable or inadequate to satisfy the demand of research, medical, industrial, or related industries in the United States; and

(B) the supply of which is augmented through—

(i) Department production; or

(ii) foreign suppliers.

(2) Exclusion

(b) ProgramThe Director shall—

(1) carry out, in coordination with other relevant programs across the Department, a program—

(A) for the production of critical radioactive and stable isotopes, including the development of techniques to produce isotopes, that the Secretary determines are needed and of sufficient quality and quantity for research, medical, industrial, or related purposes;

(B) for the production of critical radioactive and stable isotopes that are in short supply or projected to be in short supply in the future, including byproducts, surplus materials, and related isotope services;

(C) to maintain and enhance the infrastructure required to produce and supply critical radioactive and stable isotope products and related services;

(D) to conduct research and development on new and improved isotope production and processing techniques that can make critical radioactive and stable isotopes available for research and application as soon as possible while assisting in workforce development;

(E) to reduce domestic dependency on the foreign supply of critical radioactive and stable isotopes to ensure national preparedness; and

(F) to the maximum extent practicable, in accordance with—

(i) evidence-based reports, such as the 2015 report of the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee entitled “Meeting Isotope Needs and Capturing Opportunities for the Future”; and

(ii) assessments of isotope supply chains, including the assessment described in paragraph (3), any reports submitted pursuant to subsection (d), and other current and future assessments;

(2) ensure that isotope production activities carried out under this subsection are consistent with the statement of policy entitled “Policies and Procedures for Transfer of Commercial Radioisotope Production and Distribution to Private Industry” (30 Fed. Reg. 3247 (March 9, 1965));

(3) assess the domestic requirements of current and emerging critical radioactive and stable isotopes and associated applications, including by consulting end-users, to identify areas that may require Federal investment for expedited development of domestic production capacity for those isotopes, including through public-private partnerships, as appropriate;

(4) ensure that actions taken by the Department do not interfere with, delay, compete with, or otherwise adversely affect efforts by the private sector to make available or otherwise facilitate the supply of critical radioactive and stable isotopes, including efforts under existing agreements between the Department or contractors of the Department and the private sector; and

(5) in coordination with the Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, assess options for demonstrating the production of critical radioactive and stable isotopes in research, test, or commercial nuclear reactors and accelerators, including reactors and accelerators operated at universities.

(1) In generalNot later than 90 days after August 9, 2022, the Secretary shall establish an advisory committee (referred to in this subsection as the “committee”) in alignment with the program established under subsection (b)—

(A) to carry out the activities previously executed as part of the Isotope Subcommittee of the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee; and

(B) to provide expert advice and assistance to the Director in carrying out that program.

(2) Report

(A) In generalNot later than 1 year after the committee is established, the committee shall—

(i) update the 2015 Nuclear Science Advisory Committee Isotopes Subcommittee Report entitled “Meeting Isotope Needs and Capturing Opportunities for the Future”; and

(ii) periodically update that report thereafter as needed.

(B) InclusionsAn updated report under subparagraph (A) shall include an assessment of—

(i) current demand in the United States for critical radioactive and stable isotopes;

(ii) the impact of continued reliance on foreign supply of critical radioactive and stable isotopes;

(iii) proposed mitigation strategies, including increasing domestic production sources for critical radioactive and stable isotopes, that—(I) are not commercially available; or(II) are commercially produced in quantities that are not sufficient—(aa) to satisfy domestic demand; and(bb) to minimize production constraints and supply disruptions to the United States healthcare and industrial isotope industries;

(iv) current facilities, including upgrades to those facilities, and new facilities needed to meet domestic critical isotope needs; and

(v) workforce development needs.

(3) Nonduplication

(4) FACA

(d) Report

(1) In general

(2) InclusionsEach report under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A) an updated assessment of any critical radioactive and stable isotope shortages in the United States;

(B) a description of—

(i) any disruptions in the international supply of critical radioactive and stable isotopes during the preceding 2 fiscal years; and

(ii) the impact of those disruptions on related activities; and

(C)

(i) a projection of anticipated disruptions in the international supply, or supply constraints, of critical radioactive and stable isotopes during the next 2 fiscal years; and

(ii) the anticipated impact of those disruptions or constraints, as applicable, on related domestic activities.

(e) Authorization of appropriationsOut of funds authorized to be appropriated for the Office of Science in a fiscal year, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section—

(1) $175,708,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(2) $196,056,480 for fiscal year 2024;

(3) $215,759,869 for fiscal year 2025;

(4) $200,633,461 for fiscal year 2026; and

(5) $146,293,469 for fiscal year 2027.

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 311, as added Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10110(a), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1452.)

§ 18650. Increased collaboration with teachers and scientists

The Director shall support the development of a scientific workforce through programs that facilitate collaboration between and among teachers at elementary schools and secondary schools served by local educational agencies, students at institutions of higher education, early-career researchers, faculty at institutions of higher education, and the National Laboratories, including through the use of proven techniques to expand the number of individuals from underrepresented groups pursuing and attaining skills or undergraduate and graduate degrees relevant to the mission of the Office of Science.

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 312, as added Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10111(a), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1456.)

§ 18651. High intensity laser research initiative

(a) In general

(b) Leverage

(1) Director

(2) Under Secretary

(d) Authorization of appropriations

(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2023;

(2) $100,000,000 for fiscal year 2024;

(3) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2025;

(4) $200,000,000 for fiscal year 2026; and

(5) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 313, as added Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10112(a), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1459.)

§ 18652. Helium conservation program

(a) In general

The Secretary shall establish a program to reduce the consumption of helium for Department grant recipients and facilities and encourage helium recycling and reuse. The program shall competitively award grants for—

(1) the purchase of equipment to capture, reuse, and recycle helium;

(2) the installation, maintenance, and repair of new and existing helium capture, reuse, and recycling equipment; and

(3) helium alternatives research and development activities.

(b) Report

Not later than 2 years after August 9, 2022, and every 3 years thereafter, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report on the purchase of helium as part of research projects and facilities supported by the Department. The report shall include—

(1) the quantity of helium purchased for projects and facilities supported by Department grants;

(2) a cost-analysis for such helium;

(3) to the maximum extent practicable, information on whether such helium was imported from outside the United States, and if available, the country or region of the world from which the helium was imported;

(4) expected or experienced impacts of helium supply shortages or prices on the research projects and facilities supported by the Department; and

(5) recommendations for reducing Department grant recipients’ exposure to volatile helium prices and supply shortages.

(d) Duration

(e) Renewal

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 314, as added Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10112(a), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1460.)

§ 18653. Office of Science Biological Threat Preparedness Research Initiative

(a) In general

(b) Competitive, merit-reviewed process

(1) determine a comprehensive set of technical milestones for the research activities described in that subsection;

(2) prioritize the objectives of—

(A) supporting fundamental research and development in advanced analytics, experimental studies, materials synthesis, and high-performance computing technologies needed in order to more quickly and effectively characterize, model, simulate, and predict complex natural phenomena and biological materials related to emerging biological threats;

(B) supporting the development of tools that inform epidemiological modeling, and applying artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other computing tools to accelerate such processes;

(C) supporting research and capabilities that enhance understanding and modeling of the transport of pathogens in indoor and outdoor air and water environments;

(D) identifying priority research opportunities and capabilities for molecular design and modeling for medical countermeasures;

(E) ensuring that new experimental and computational tools are accessible to relevant research communities, including private sector entities and other Federal research institutions; and

(F) supporting activities and projects that combine computational modeling and simulation with experimental research facilities and studies;

(3) leverage the research infrastructure of the Department, including scientific computing user facilities, x-ray light sources, neutron scattering facilities, nanoscale science research centers, and sequencing and biocharacterization facilities;

(4) leverage experience from existing modeling and simulation research and work sponsored by the Department and promote collaboration and data sharing between National Laboratories, research entities, and user facilities of the Department by providing necessary access and secure data transfer capabilities; and

(5) ensure that new experimental and computational tools are accessible to relevant research communities, including private sector entities, to address emerging biological threats.

(d) CoordinationIn carrying out the initiative established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall coordinate activities with—

(1) other relevant offices of the Department;

(2) the National Nuclear Security Administration;

(3) the National Laboratories;

(4) the Director of the National Science Foundation;

(5) the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;

(6) the Director of the National Institutes of Health;

(7) the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response;

(8) the heads of other relevant Federal agencies;

(9) institutions of higher education; and

(10) the private sector.

(e) Infectious Diseases High Performance Computing Research Consortium

(1) In general

(2) Membership

(3) ActivitiesThe Consortium shall—

(A) match applicants with available Federal and private sector computing resources;

(B) consider supplemental awards for computing partnerships with Consortium members to qualifying entities on a competitive merit-review basis;

(D) provide access to the high-performance computing capabilities, expertise, and user facilities of the Department and the National Laboratories; and

(E) submit an annual report to the Secretary summarizing the activities of the Consortium, including—

(i) describing each project undertaken by the Consortium;

(ii) detailing organizational expenditures; and

(iii) evaluating contributions to the achievement of technical milestones as determined in subsection (a).

(4) Coordination

(f) ReportNot later than 2 years after August 9, 2022, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, a report detailing the effectiveness of—

(1) the interagency coordination among each Federal agency involved in the initiative established under subsection (a);

(2) the collaborative research achievements of that initiative, including the achievement of the technical milestones determined under that subsection; and

(3) potential opportunities to expand the technical capabilities of the Department.

(g) Funding

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 315, as added Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10112(a), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1461.)

§ 18654. Midscale instrumentation and research equipment program

(a) In general

(b) ActivitiesUnder the program established under subsection (a), the Director shall—

(1) enable the development and acquisition of novel, state-of-the-art instruments that—

(A) range in cost from $1,000,000 to $20,000,000 each; and

(B) would significantly accelerate scientific breakthroughs at user facilities; and

(2) strongly encourage partnerships among—

(A) National Laboratories;

(B) user facilities; and

(C)

(i) institutions in a State receiving funding under the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research established under section 13503(b)(3) of this title;

(ii) historically Black colleges or universities;

(iii) minority-serving institutions of higher education; or

(iv) institutions of higher education in a rural area.

(d) Research equipment and technology development coordination

(e) Authorization of appropriations

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 316, as added Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10112(a), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1463.)

§ 18655. Authorization of appropriations

There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out the activities described in this subchapter—

(1) $8,902,392,400 for fiscal year 2023;

(2) $9,541,895,744 for fiscal year 2024;

(3) $10,068,198,994 for fiscal year 2025;

(4) $10,468,916,520 for fiscal year 2026; and

(5) $10,831,342,317 for fiscal year 2027.

(Pub. L. 115–246, title III, § 317, as added Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title I, § 10112(a), Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1464.)