DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act
This bill requires the Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture to carry out cross-cutting and collaborative research and development activities through the establishment of an interagency agreement.
The agencies are authorized to (1) carry out reimbursable agreements in order to maximize research and development effectiveness, and (2) collaborate with other federal agencies. Further, the interagency agreement must require the use of a competitive, merit-reviewed process, which considers applications from federal agencies, national laboratories, institutions of higher education, and nonprofit institutions.
Research and development activities may include
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1326 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1326
To provide for Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture joint
research and development activities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 13, 2025
Mr. Lucas (for himself and Ms. Lofgren) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture joint
research and development activities, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``DOE and USDA Interagency Research
Act''.
SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE JOINT
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Energy and the Secretary of
Agriculture (in this section referred to as the ``Secretaries'') shall
carry out cross-cutting and collaborative research and development
activities focused on the joint advancement of Department of Energy and
Department of Agriculture mission requirements and priorities.
(b) Memorandum of Understanding.--The Secretaries shall carry out
and coordinate the activities under subsection (a) through the
establishment of a memorandum of understanding, or other appropriate
interagency agreement. Such memorandum or agreement shall require the
use of a competitive, merit-reviewed process, which considers
applications from Federal agencies, National Laboratories, institutions
of higher education, nonprofit institutions, and other appropriate
entities.
(c) Coordination.--In carrying out the activities under subsection
(a), the Secretaries may carry out the following:
(1) Conduct collaborative research over a variety of focus
areas, such as the following:
(A) Modeling and simulation, machine learning,
artificial intelligence, data assimilation, large scale
data analytics, and predictive analysis in order to
optimize algorithms for purposes related to agriculture
and energy, such as life cycle analysis of agricultural
or energy systems.
(B) Fundamental agricultural, biological,
computational, and environmental science and
engineering, including advanced crop science, crop
protection, breeding, and biological pest control, in
collaboration with the program authorized under section
306 of the Department of Energy Research and Innovation
Act (42 U.S.C. 18644).
(C) Integrated natural resources and the energy-
water nexus, including in collaboration with the
program authorized under section 1010 of the Energy Act
of 2020 (enacted as division Z of the Consolidated
Appropriations Act, 2021 (42 U.S.C. 16183)).
(D) Advanced biomass, biobased products, and
biofuels, including in collaboration with the
activities authorized under section 9008(b) of the Farm
Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C.
8108(b)).
(E) Diverse feedstocks for economically and
environmentally sustainable fuels, including aviation
and naval fuels.
(F) Colocation of agricultural resources and
activities and ecosystem services with diverse energy
technologies and resources.
(G) Colocation of agricultural resources and
activities with carbon storage and utilization
technologies.
(H) Invasive species management to further the work
done by the Federal Interagency Committee for the
Management of Noxious and Exotic Weeds.
(I) Long-term and high-risk technological barriers
in the development of transformative science and
technology solutions in the agriculture and energy
sectors, including in collaboration with the program
authorized under section 5012 of the America COMPETES
Act (42 U.S.C. 16538).
(J) Grid modernization and grid security.
(K) Rural technology development, including
manufacturing, precision agriculture technologies, and
mechanization and automation technologies.
(L) Wildfire risks and prevention, including the
power sector's role in fire prevention and mitigation
and wildfire impacts on energy infrastructure.
(2) Develop methods to accommodate large voluntary
standardized and integrated data sets on agricultural,
environmental, supply chain, and economic information with
variable accuracy and scale.
(3) Promote collaboration, open community-based
development, and data and information sharing between Federal
agencies, National Laboratories, institutions of higher
education, nonprofit institutions, industry partners, and other
appropriate entities by providing reliable access to secure
data and information that are in compliance with Federal rules
and regulations.
(4) Support research infrastructure and workforce
development as the Secretaries determine necessary.
(5) Conduct collaborative research, development, and
demonstration of methods and technologies to accomplish the
following:
(A) Improve the efficiency of agriculture
operations and processing of agricultural products.
(B) Reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with
such operations and such processing.
(d) Agreements.--In carrying out the activities under subsection
(a), the Secretaries are authorized to--
(1) carry out reimbursable agreements between the
Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and other
entities in order to maximize the effectiveness of research and
development; and
(2) collaborate with other Federal agencies as appropriate.
(e) Report.--Not later than two years after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretaries shall submit to the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Agriculture of the
House of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of
the Senate, a report detailing the following:
(1) Interagency coordination between each Federal agency
involved in the research and development activities carried out
under this section.
(2) Potential opportunities to expand the technical
capabilities of the Department of Energy and the Department of
Agriculture.
(3) Collaborative research achievements.
(4) Areas of future mutually beneficial successes.
(5) Continuation of coordination activities between the
Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture.
(f) Research Security.--The activities authorized under this
section shall be applied in a manner consistent with subtitle D of
title VI of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation
Act (enacted as division B of Public Law 117-167; 42 U.S.C. 19231 et
seq.).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, and in addition to the Committee on Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
Mr. Babin moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H1204-1205)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1326.
At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1214)
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Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 372 - 35 (Roll no. 73). (text: CR H1204)
Roll Call #73 (House)On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 372 - 35 (Roll no. 73). (text: CR H1204)
Roll Call #73 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.