PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Provide money to upgrade and fix research buildings and labs at colleges, universities, independent nonprofit research centers, and research museums. It says basic research and university teaching are vital to the country’s safety, health, and economy. Many labs and pieces of equipment are old and need repair or replacement. That shortfall hurts the nation’s ability to do top-level science and stay competitive. A national effort is needed, with states, industry, and schools working together. The Foundation must help lead this reinvestment. The goal is to modernize and revive research facilities through capital funding for those institutions and consortia.

Title 42, §1862a

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Congress finds that—

(1)the fundamental research and related education program supported by the Federal Government and conducted by the Nation’s universities and colleges are essential to our national security, and to our health, economic welfare, and general well-being;

(2)many national research and related education programs conducted by universities and colleges are now hindered by obsolete research buildings and equipment, and many institutions lack sufficient resources to repair, renovate, or replace their laboratories;

(3)the Nation’s capacity to conduct high quality research and education programs and to maintain its competitive position at the forefront of modern science, engineering, and technology is threatened by this research capital deficit, which poses serious and adverse consequences to our future national security, health, welfare, and ability to compete in the international marketplace;

(4)a national effort to spur reinvestment in research facilities is needed, and national, State, and local policies and cooperative programs are required that will yield maximum return on the investment of scarce national resources and sustain a commitment to excellence in research and education; and

(5)the Foundation, as part of its responsibility for maintaining the vitality of the Nation’s academic research, and in partnership with the States, industry, and universities and colleges, must assist in enhancing the historic linkages between Federal investment in academic research and training and investment in the research capital base by reinvesting in the capital facilities which modern research and education programs require.

(b)It is the purpose of sections 1862a to 1862d of this title to assist in modernizing and revitalizing the Nation’s research facilities at institutions of higher education, independent non-profit research institutions and research museums, and consortia thereof, through capital investment.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Sections 1862a to 1862d of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original “this title”, meaning title II of Pub. L. 100–570, Oct. 31, 1988, 102 Stat. 2873, known as the Academic Research Facilities Modernization Act of 1988, which enacted sections 1862a to 1862d of this title, repealed former section 1862a and 1862b of this title, and repealed provisions set out as a note under section 1861 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

of 1988

Amendments

note set out under section 1861 of this title and Tables. Codification Section was enacted as part of the Academic Research Facilities Modernization Act of 1988, and also as part of the National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 1988, and not as part of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950 which comprises this chapter.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 1862a, Pub. L. 100–418, title VI, § 6402, Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1542, related to establishment of National Science Foundation Academic Research Facilities Modernization Program, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 100–570, § 206.

§1862a Findings and Purpose