Explanation of H.R. 1713
H.R. 1713
This bill, also known as the 'DOE and USDA Inter-agency Research Act', aims to establish joint research and development activities between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA). The purpose of this collaboration is to advance the mission requirements and priorities of both departments.
Department of Energy and Department of Agriculture Joint Research and Development Activities
The Secretaries of Energy and Agriculture are required to carry out collaborative research and development activities that focus on the advancement of both departments' mission requirements and priorities.
Memorandum of Understanding
The Secretaries will coordinate their activities through the establishment of a memorandum of understanding or other appropriate inter-agency agreement. This agreement will ensure the use of a competitive, merit-reviewed process, considering applications from various entities, including federal agencies, national laboratories, institutions of higher education, nonprofit institutions, and others.
Coordination
The Secretaries may conduct collaborative research in various focus areas, such as modeling and simulation, machine learning, data analytics, and predictive analysis in agriculture and energy. The research also includes fundamental agricultural, biological, computational, and environmental science and engineering, as well as integrated natural resources and the energy-water nexus. Additionally, the bill covers advanced biomass, biofuels, rural technology development, wildfire risks and prevention, and more.
Agreements
The Secretaries are authorized to enter into reimbursable agreements with other entities to maximize the effectiveness of research and development. They may also collaborate with other federal agencies as deemed appropriate.
Report
Within two years of the enactment of this Act, the Secretaries must submit a report detailing interagency coordination, potential opportunities to expand technical capabilities, collaborative research achievements, areas of future mutually beneficial successes, and continuation of coordination activities.
Research Security
The activities authorized under this Act must comply with the research security provisions outlined in the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act.
Passed the House of Representatives on December 4, 2023.