H.R. 3707

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3707 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3707

To direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Director of the National 
Science Foundation to carry out cross-cutting and collaborative 
research and development activities focused on the joint advancement of 
Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation mission 
requirements and priorities, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

June 4, 2025

Mr. Baird (for himself and Ms. Salinas) 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 direct the Secretary of Agriculture and the Director of the National 
Science Foundation to carry out cross-cutting and collaborative 
research and development activities focused on the joint advancement of 
Department of Agriculture and National Science Foundation mission 
requirements and priorities, 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 ``NSF and USDA Interagency Research 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT COORDINATION.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture (in this section 
referred to as the ``Secretary'') and the Director of the National 
Science Foundation (in this section referred to as the ``Director'') 
shall carry out cross-cutting and collaborative research and 
development activities focused on the joint advancement of Department 
of Agriculture and National Science Foundation mission requirements and 
priorities.
(b) Memoranda of Understanding.--The Secretary and the Director 
shall coordinate the activities under subsection (a) through the 
establishment of memoranda of understanding or other appropriate 
interagency agreements. Such memoranda or agreements, as the case may 
be, shall require the use of a competitive, merit review process, as 
appropriate. Such activities may include components proposed by Federal 
agencies, institutions of higher education, nonprofit institutions, and 
other appropriate entities, as determined appropriate under the 
memoranda or agreements.
(c) Coordination.--In carrying out the activities under subsection 
(a), the Secretary and the Director may carry out the following:
(1) Conduct collaborative research in a variety of focus 
areas, such as the following:
(A) Plant, animal, and microbial biology relevant 
to agricultural challenges.
(B) Food and nutrition security.
(C) Rural economic revitalization.
(D) Cyber-physical systems.
(E) Smart and connected communities.
(F) Advanced sensors and models of soil and plant 
processes.
(G) Nano-biosensing and analytical technologies to 
improve food safety, water quality, biosecurity, plant 
and animal diseases, and soil health.
(H) Monitoring of food- or water-borne pathogens, 
allergens, and accidental, natural, or intentional bio- 
or chemical contaminants.
(I) Key emerging technology areas, such as 
artificial intelligence, machine learning, automation, 
robotics, digital agriculture, distributed ledger 
technologies (including blockchain), and information 
and communication technology for agricultural uses.
(J) Development and testing of new precision 
agriculture tools.
(K) Workforce needs, education, and development.
(2) Promote collaboration, open community-based 
development, and data and information sharing between Federal 
agencies, institutions of higher education, community colleges, 
area career and technical education schools, nonprofit 
institutions, and other appropriate entities by providing the 
necessary access and secure data and information transfer 
capabilities.
(3) Support research infrastructure, including new 
facilities, equipment, and broadband deployment, as the 
Secretary and Director determine necessary.
(4) Develop translational technologies for commercial 
utilization.
(5) Organize education, training, and research initiatives 
relating to STEM education and workforce development, which may 
include the following:
(A) Activities supported by the Cooperative 
Extension System.
(B) Industrial partnership programs.
(C) Workshops for educating preschool through grade 
12 teachers on how to increase agricultural literacy.
(D) Development of agricultural-based science 
curricula for kindergarten through grade 12 students.
(E) Distribution of resources for educators to 
implement curricula, such as the workshops referred to 
in subparagraph (C).
(6) Award grants to institutions of higher education, 
community colleges, area career and technical education 
schools, or eligible nonprofit institutions (or consortia 
thereof), to establish a Center for Agricultural Research, 
Education, and Workforce Development.
(7) Facilitate relationships between public and private 
sector entities to carry out the activities specified in 
paragraphs (1) through (6) upon the termination of any 
memoranda of understanding or other appropriate interagency 
agreement entered into under subsection (b).
(d) Agreements.--In carrying out the activities under subsection 
(a), the Secretary and the Director are authorized to--
(1) carry out reimbursable agreements between the 
Department of Agriculture, the National Science Foundation, 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 Secretary and the Director shall submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress 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 Agriculture and the National 
Science Foundation.
(3) Collaborative research achievements.
(4) Areas of future mutually beneficial successes.
(5) Continuation of coordination activities between the 
Department and the Foundation.
(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.; popularly referred to as the ``CHIPS and Science Act'').
(g) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term 
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means each of the 
following committees:
(A) The Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
Representatives.
(B) The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
of the House of Representatives.
(C) The Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate.
(D) The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate.
(2) Area career and technical education school.--The term 
``area career and technical education school'' has the meaning 
given such term in section 3 of the Carl D. Perkins Career and 
Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2302).
(3) Community college.--The term ``community college'' has 
the meaning given such term in section 3167B of the Department 
of Energy Science Education Enhancement Act (42 U.S.C. 7381c-
3).
(4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given such 
term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 1001).
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