text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``National Materials Corridor 
  Partnership Act of 1999''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress finds that--
              (1) the region adjacent to the 2,000-mile border between 
          the United States and Mexico is an important region for energy-
          intensive manufacturing and materials industries critical to 
          the economic and social wellbeing of both countries;
              (2) there are currently more than 800 multinational firms 
          (including firms known as ``maquiladoras'') representing United 
          States investments of more than $1,000,000,000 in the San 
          Diego, California, and Tijuana, Baja California, border region 
          and in the El Paso, Texas, and Juarez, Chihuahua, border 
          region;
              (3) materials and materials-related industries comprise a 
          major portion of the industries operating on both sides of the 
          border, amounting to more than $6,800,000,000 in annual 
          commerce on the Mexican side alone;
              (4) there are a significant number of major institutions in 
          the border States of both countries currently conducting 
          academic and research activities in materials;
              (5)(A) the United States Government currently invests 
          approximately $1,000,000,000 annually in materials research, of 
          which, in 1996, the Department of Energy funded the largest 
          proportion of civilian materials research; and
              (B) there are also major materials programs at the National 
          Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and 
          Technology, and Department of Defense, among other entities;
              (6) the United States and Mexico have invested heavily in 
          domestic and binational cooperative programs to address major 
          concerns for the natural resources, environment, and public 
          health of the United States-Mexico border region, expending 
          hundreds of millions of dollars annually in those efforts;
              (7)(A) scientific and technical advances in materials and 
          materials processing provide major opportunities for--
                      (i) significantly improving energy efficiency;
                      (ii) reducing emissions of global climate change 
                  gases;
                      (iii) using recycled natural resources as primary 
                  materials for industrial production; and
                      (iv) minimizing industrial wastes and pollution; 
                  and
              (B) such advances will directly benefit both sides of the 
          United States-Mexico border by encouraging energy efficient, 
          environmentally sound economic development that protects the 
          health and natural resources of the border region;
              (8)(A) promoting clean materials industries in the border 
          region that are energy efficient has been identified as a high 
          priority issue by the United States-Mexico Foundation for 
          Science Cooperation; and
              (B) at the 1998 discussions of the United States-Mexico 
          Binational Commission, Mexico formally proposed joint funding 
          of a ``Materials Corridor Partnership Initiative'', proposing 
          $1,000,000 to implement the Initiative if matched by the United 
          States;
              (9) recognizing the importance of materials and materials 
          processing, academic and research institutions in the border 
          States of both the United States and Mexico, in conjunction 
          with private sector partners of both countries, and with strong 
          endorsement from the Government of Mexico, in 1998 organized 
          the Materials Corridor Council to implement a cooperative 
          program of materials research and development, education and 
          training, and sustainable industrial development as part of the 
          Materials Corridor Partnership Initiative; and
              (10) successful implementation of the Materials Corridor 
          Partnership Initiative would advance important United States 
          energy, environmental, and economic goals not only in the 
          United States-Mexico border region but also as a model for 
          similar collaborative materials initiatives in other regions of 
          the world.
  
  SEC. 3. PURPOSE.
  
      The purpose of this Act is to establish a multiagency program in 
  support of the Materials Corridor Partnership Initiative referred to in 
  section 2(8) to promote energy efficient, environmentally sound 
  economic development along the United States-Mexico border through the 
  research, development, and use of new materials technology.
  
  SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.
  
      In this Act:
              (1) Program.--The term ``program'' means the program 
          established under section 5(a).
              (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
          of Energy.
  
  SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROGRAM.
  
      (a) Establishment.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a 
          comprehensive program to promote energy efficient, 
          environmentally sound economic development along the United 
          States-Mexico border through the research, development, and use 
          of new materials technology.
              (2) Considerations.--In developing the program, the 
          Secretary shall give due consideration to the proposal made to 
          the United States-Mexico Binational Commission for the 
          Materials Corridor Partnership Initiative.
      (b) Participation of Other Federal Agencies.--The Secretary shall 
  organize and conduct the program jointly with--
              (1) the Department of State;
              (2) the Environmental Protection Agency;
              (3) the National Science Foundation;
              (4) the National Institute of Standards and Technology; and
              (5) any other departments or agencies the participation of 
          which the Secretary considers appropriate.
      (c) Participation of the Private Sector.--When appropriate, funds 
  made available under this Act shall be made available for research and 
  development or education and training activities that are conducted 
  with the participation and support of private sector organizations 
  located in the United States and, subject to section 7(c)(2), Mexico, 
  to promote and accelerate in the United States-Mexico border region the 
  use of energy efficient, environmentally sound technologies and other 
  advances resulting from the program.
      (d) Mexican Resource Contributions.--The Secretary shall--
              (1) encourage public, private, nonprofit, and academic 
          organizations located in Mexico to contribute significant 
          financial and other resources to the program; and
              (2) take any such contributions into account in conducting 
          the program.
      (e) Transfer of Technology From National Laboratories.--In 
  conducting the program, the Secretary shall emphasize the transfer and 
  use of materials technology developed by the national laboratories of 
  the Department of Energy before the date of enactment of this Act.
  
  SEC. 6. ACTIVITIES AND MAJOR PROGRAM ELEMENTS.
  
      (a) Activities.--Funds made available under this Act shall be made 
  available for research and development and education and training 
  activities that are primarily focused on materials, and the synthesis, 
  processing, and fabrication of materials, that promote--
              (1) improvement of energy efficiency;
              (2) elimination or minimization of emissions of global 
          climate change gases and contaminants;
              (3) minimization of industrial wastes and pollutants; and
              (4) use of recycled resources as primary materials for 
          industrial production.
      (b) Major Program Elements.--
              (1) In general.--The program shall have the following major 
          elements:
                      (A) Applied research, focused on maturing and 
                  refining materials technologies to demonstrate the 
                  feasibility or utility of the materials technologies.
                      (B) Basic research, focused on the discovery of new 
                  knowledge that may eventually prove useful in creating 
                  materials technologies to promote energy efficient, 
                  environmentally sound manufacturing.
                      (C) Education and training, focused on educating 
                  and training scientists, engineers, and workers in the 
                  border region in energy efficient, environmentally 
                  sound materials technologies.
              (2) Applied research.--Applied research projects under 
          paragraph (1)(A) should typically involve significant 
          participation from private sector organizations that would use 
          or sell such a technology.
              (3) Basic research.--Basic research projects conducted 
          under paragraph (1)(B) should typically be led by an academic 
          or other research institution.
  
  SEC. 7. PARTICIPATION OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES OTHER THAN THE 
                DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.
  
      (a) Agreement.--Not later than 120 days after the date of enactment 
  of this Act, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement with the 
  departments and agencies referred to in section 5(b) on the 
  coordination and implementation of the program.
      (b) Actions of Departments and Agencies.--Any action of a 
  department or agency under an agreement under subsection (a) shall be 
  the responsibility of that department or agency and shall not be 
  subject to approval by the Secretary.
      (c) Use of Funds.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary and the departments and 
          agencies referred to in section 5(b) may use funds made 
          available for the program for research and development or 
          education and training activities carried out by--
                      (A) State and local governments and academic, 
                  nonprofit, and private organizations located in the 
                  United States; and
                      (B) State and local governments and academic, 
                  nonprofit, and private organizations located in Mexico.
              (2) Condition.--Funds may be made available to a State or 
          local government or organization located in Mexico only if a 
          government or organization located in Mexico (which need not be 
          the recipient of the funds) contributes a significant amount of 
          financial or other resources to the project to be funded.
      (d) Transfer of Funds.--The Secretary may transfer funds to the 
  departments and agencies referred to in section 5(b) to carry out the 
  responsibilities of the departments and agencies under this Act.
  
  SEC. 8. PROGRAM ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
  
      (a) Establishment.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory 
          committee consisting of representatives of the private, 
          academic, and public sectors.
              (2) Considerations.--In establishing the advisory 
          committee, the Secretary shall take into consideration 
          organizations in existence on the date of enactment of this 
          Act, such as the Materials Corridor Council and the Business 
          Council for Sustainable Development-Gulf Mexico.
      (b) Consultation and Coordination.--Departments and agencies of the 
  United States to which funds are made available under this Act shall 
  consult and coordinate with the advisory committee in identifying and 
  implementing the appropriate types of projects to be funded under this 
  Act.
  
  SEC. 9. FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.
  
      (a) In General.--Federal departments and agencies participating in 
  the program may provide financial and technical assistance to other 
  organizations to achieve the purpose of the program.
      (b) Applied Research.--
              (1) Use of cooperative agreements.--
                      (A) In general.--Federal departments and agencies 
                  shall, to the extent practicable, use cooperative 
                  agreements to fund applied research activities by 
                  organizations outside the Federal Government.
                      (B) National laboratories.--In the case of an 
                  applied research activity conducted by a national 
                  laboratory, a funding method other than a cooperative 
                  agreement may be used if such a funding method would be 
                  more administratively convenient.
              (2) Federal share.--
                      (A) In general.--The Federal Government shall pay 
                  not more than 50 percent of the cost of applied 
                  research activities under the program.
                      (B) Qualified funding and resources.--No funds or 
                  other resources expended either before the start of a 
                  project under the program or outside the scope of work 
                  covered by the funding method determined under 
                  paragraph (1) shall be credited toward the non-Federal 
                  share of the cost of the project.
      (c) Basic Research and Education and Training.--
              (1) In general.--Federal departments and agencies shall, to 
          the extent practicable, use grants to fund basic research and 
          education and training activities by organizations outside the 
          Federal Government.
              (2) National laboratories.--In the case of a basic research 
          or education activity conducted by a national laboratory, a 
          funding method other than a grant may be used if such a funding 
          method would be more administratively convenient.
              (3) Federal share.--The Federal Government may fund 100 
          percent of the cost of the basic research and education and 
          training activities of the program.
      (d) Competitive Selection.--All projects funded under the program 
  shall be competitively selected using such selection criteria as the 
  Secretary, in consultation with the departments and agencies referred 
  to in section 5(b), determines to be appropriate.
      (e) Accounting Standards.--
              (1) Waiver.--To facilitate participation in the program, 
          Federal departments and agencies may waive any requirements for 
          Government accounting standards by organizations that have not 
          established such standards.
              (2) GAAP.--Generally accepted accounting principles shall 
          be sufficient for projects under the program.
      (f) No Construction.--No program funds may be used for 
  construction.
  
  SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
  
      There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
  $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2004.
target: National Materials Corridor Partnership Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) establish a comprehensive program to promote energy efficient, environmentally sound economic development along the United States-Mexico border through the research, development, and use of new materials technology; (2) give due consideration to the proposal made to the United States-Mexico Binational Commission for the Materials Corridor Partnership Initiative; (3) organize and conduct the program jointly with designated Federal agencies; and (4) emphasize the transfer and use of materials technology developed by the national laboratories of the Department of Energy. 
  (Sec. 6) Mandates that activities funded under this Act be primarily focused upon materials that promote: (1) improved energy efficiency; (2) elimination or minimization of emissions of global climate change gases and contaminants; (3) minimization of industrial wastes and pollutants; and (4) use of recycled resources as primary materials for industrial production. Sets forth guidelines for major program elements and for participation by Federal departments and agencies. 
  (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to establish an advisory committee consisting of representatives of the private, academic, and public sectors to consult and coordinate with Federal entities in identifying and implementing the appropriate projects to be funded under this Act. 
  (Sec. 9) Prescribes financial and technical assistance guidelines. Authorizes appropriations.
feat_title: National Materials Corridor Partnership Act of 1999