§19251 Interagency Working Group

Summary

The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, working through the National Science and Technology Council, must create or name an interagency working group to coordinate federal work in certain key technology areas. The group must include (or have designees from) leaders like the Secretaries or Directors of Commerce, the National Science Foundation, Energy, Defense, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, NASA, the National Economic Council, the Office of Management and Budget, the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI Director, and any other officials the OSTP Director thinks are needed. The group must help agencies make their efforts fit together and avoid unnecessary duplication, with special attention to NSF’s Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships work, Commerce programs such as regional technology hubs and Manufacturing USA, Department of Energy labs and facilities, and any other R&D programs the OSTP Director identifies. Within 180 days after August 9, 2022, the group must do an initial review of federal programs and resources for the key technology focus areas identified under section 19107(a)(2). The review must assess current efforts and research infrastructure as of that date, spot possible overlaps or duplication, and find cross-agency collaboration and joint funding opportunities. The group must seek stakeholder input, send a report of that review to Congress, and then carry out the annual reviews and updates required under section 19107(e). If agencies disagree, the President makes the final decision.