DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act
Sponsored By: Representative Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]
Passed House
Summary
DOE–NASA R&D coordination would create a formal partnership so the Department of Energy and NASA can plan, fund, and share research to meet both agencies’ mission needs across energy, space, and science.
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- Researchers, national laboratories, and universities would be eligible for competitive, merit-reviewed awards and could gain practical access to DOE research infrastructure and secure data transfer capabilities.
- NASA and DOE missions would get coordinated R&D focused on propulsion technologies (including nuclear thermal and nuclear electric propulsion and radioisotope power), modeling and machine learning, quantum information sciences, fundamental physics and earth sciences, radiation health, and technologies for transmitting solar energy from space to Earth.
- Oversight and coordination would be formalized through memoranda of understanding and interagency agreements and would include a required report to Congress within two years on achievements, technical gains, and future joint priorities such as clean energy applications like marine energy.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
DOE and NASA joint research grants
If enacted, DOE and NASA would be able to fund joint research through competitive, merit-reviewed awards. They could use reimbursable or non-reimbursable agreements and work with other federal partners. Eligible applicants would include federal agencies, national labs, colleges, nonprofits, and other qualified groups. Focus areas would include propulsion and nuclear power systems, data and modeling, high energy physics and astrophysics, earth and environmental science, quantum information, radiation health, and space solar power. Work would be coordinated by interagency agreements and follow existing laws and policies.
NASA and DOE data sharing and lab access
If enacted, DOE and NASA would develop methods to handle huge voluntary space and aeronautics datasets on supercomputers, even when data quality varies. The bill would also promote secure data sharing and collaboration among DOE, NASA, national labs, and other partners. NASA would get access to DOE research facilities and tools, as practicable.
Two-year report on DOE and NASA research
If enacted, DOE and NASA would deliver a report to Congress within two years. It would describe joint R&D work, how it expanded agency capabilities, and key results. It would list future joint areas, including clean energy uses like marine energy, and plans to keep coordinating. The report would go to the House Science Committee and two Senate committees on Energy and Natural Resources, and Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Begich, Nicholas J. [R-AK-At Large]
AK • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Kennedy, Mike [R-UT-3]
UT • R
Sponsored 2/14/2025
Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/14/2025
Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov