H.R. 1368

119th CONGRESS 1st Session

To provide for Department of Energy and National Aeronautics and Space Administration research and development coordination, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES · February 14, 2025 · Sponsor: Mr. Begich · Committee: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

Table of contents

• SEC. 1. Short title
• SEC. 2. Department of Energy and National Aeronautics and Space Administration research and development coordination

SEC. 1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the "DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act".

SEC. 2. Department of Energy and National Aeronautics and Space Administration research and development coordination

(a) In general

The Secretary of Energy (in this section referred to as the ) and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (in this section referred to as the ) may carry out, as practicable, cross-cutting and collaborative research and development activities to support the advancement of Department of Energy and National Aeronautics and Space Administration mission requirements and priorities. The Secretary and Administrator, in accordance with subsection (e), may make competitive awards to carry out such activities. "Secretary" "Administrator"

(b) Memoranda of understanding

The Secretary and the Administrator shall coordinate the activities under subsection (a) through memoranda of understanding, or other appropriate interagency agreements.

(c) Coordination

In carrying out the activities under subsection (a), the Secretary and the Administrator may carry out the following: (1) Conduct collaborative research and development activities in a variety of focus areas that may include the following: (A) Propulsion systems and components, including nuclear thermal and nuclear electric propulsion, radioisotope power systems, thermoelectric generators, advanced nuclear fuels, and heater units. (B) Modeling and simulation, machine learning, data assimilation, large scale data analytics, and predictive analysis in order to optimize algorithms for mission-related purposes. (C) Fundamental high energy physics, astrophysics, and cosmology, including the nature of dark energy and dark matter, in accordance with section 305 of the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act (). (D) Fundamental earth and environmental sciences, in accordance with section 306 of the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act () and section 60501 of title 51, United States Code. (E) Quantum information sciences, including quantum computing and quantum network infrastructure, in accordance with sections 403 and 404 of the National Quantum Initiative Act (15 U.S.C. 8853 and 8854). (F) Radiation health effects, in accordance with section 306 of the Department of Energy Research and Innovation Act (). (G) Ground- and space-based technology necessary for the transmission to the Earth’s surface of solar energy collected in space. (H) Other areas of potential research and development collaboration the Secretary and the Administrator determine important to achieving agency missions and objectives.