90TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 2598 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES OCTOBER 30, 1967 Mr. KENNEDY of Massachusetts introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare A BILL To amend the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, making changes and improvements in the organization and operation of the Foundation, and for other purposes. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That this Act may be known as the "National Science 4 Foundation Act Amendments of 1967." 5 SEC. 2. Section 3 of the National Science Foundation 6 Act of 1950 is amended to read as follows: 7 8 9 10 II "FUNCTIONS OF THE FOUNDATION "SEC. 3. (a) The Foundation is authorized and directed "(1) to initiate and support basic scientific research and programs to strengthen scientific research 2 3 2 1 potential in the mathematical, physical, medical, biological, engineering, social, and other sciences, by making contracts or other arrangements (including grants, loans, and other forms of assistance) to support such scientific activities and to appraise the impact of research upon industrial development and upon the general welfare; 4 5 6 "(2) to award, as provided in section 10, scholarships and graduate fellowships in the mathematical, physical, medical, biological, engineering, social, and other sciences; "(3) to foster the interchange of scientific information among scientists in the United States and foreign countries; "(4) to evaluate the status and needs of the various sciences as evidenced by programs, projects, and studies undertaken by agencies of the Federal Government, by individuals, and by public and private research groups, employing by grant or contract such consulting services as it may deem necessary for the purpose of such evaluations; and to take into consideration the re sults of such evaluations in correlating the research and educational programs undertaken or supported by the Foundation with programs, projects, and studies under taken by agencies of the Federal Government, by indi viduals, and by public and private research groups; "(5) to maintain a current register of scientific and technical personnel, and in other ways to provide a central clearinghouse for the collection, interpretation, and analysis of data on the availability of, and the current and projected need for, scientific and technical resources in the United States, and to provide a source of information for policy formulation by other agencies of the Federal Government; and "(6) to initiate and maintain a program for the determination of the total amount of money for scientific research, including money allocated for the construction of the facilities wherein such research is conducted, received by each educational institution and appropriate nonprofit organization in the United States, by grant, contract, or other arrangement from agencies of the Federal Government, and to report annually thereon to the President and the Congress. 66 (b) When requested by the Secretary of State or the Secretary of Defense, the Foundation is authorized to initiate and support specific scientific activities in connection with matters relating to international cooperation or national security by making contracts or other arrangements (including grants, loans, and other forms of assistance) for the conduct of such scientific activities. "(c) In addition to the authority contained in subsec 4 1 tions (a) and (b), the Foundation is authorized to initiate 2 and support scientific research, including applied research, 1 3 at academic and other nonprofit institutions. When so di4 rected by the President, the Foundation is further authorized 5 to support, through other appropriate organizations, applied 6 scientific research relevant to national problems involving the 7 public interest. In exercising the authority contained in this 8 subsection, the Foundation may employ by grant or contract 9 such consulting services as it deems necessary, and shall 10 coordinate and correlate its activities with respect to any such 11 problem with other agencies of the Federal Government 12 undertaking similar programs in that field: 13 14 "(d) The Board and the Director shall recommend and encourage the pursuit of national policies for the promotion 15 of basic research and education in the sciences. 16 “(e) In exercising the authority and discharging the 17 functions referred to in the foregoing subsections, it shall be 18 one of the objectives of the Foundation to strengthen research 19 and education in the sciences, including independent research 20 by individuals, throughout the United States, and to avoid 21 undue concentration of such research and education. 22 "(f) The Foundation shall render an annual report to 23 the President for submission on or before the 15th day of 24 January of each year to the Congress, summarizing the 25 activities of the Foundation and making such recommenda 5 1 tions as it may deem appropriate. Such report shall include 2 information as to the acquisition and disposition by the 3 Foundation of any patents and patent rights." 4 SEC. 3. Section 4 of the National Science Foundation 5 Act of 1950 is amended to read as follows: 6 7 "NATIONAL SCIENCE BOARD "SEC. 4. (a) The Board shall consist of twenty-four 8 members to be appointed by the President, by and with 9 the advice and consent of the Senate, and of the Director 10 ex officio. In addition to any powers and functions otherwise 11 granted to it by this Act, the Board shall establish policies 12 to guide the Foundation. 13 14 "(b) The Board shall have an Executive Committee as provided in section 6, and may delegate to it or to the 15 Director or both such of the powers and functions granted 16 to the Board by this Act as it deems appropriate. 17 "(c) The persons nominated for appointment as mem18 bers of the Board (1) shall be eminent in the fields of the 19 basic, medical, or social sciences, engineering, agriculture, 20 education, or public affairs; (2) shall be selected solely on 21 the basis of established records of distinguished service; and 22 (3) shall be so selected as to provide representation of the 23 views of scientific leaders in all areas of the Nation. The 24 President is requested, in the making of nominations of persons for appointment as members, to give due considera 25 |