HR 9748 — Research Security and Accountability in DHS Act

changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no 
change is proposed is shown in roman):

 HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002

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TITLE III--SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SUPPORT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

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SEC. 302. RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITIES OF THE UNDER SECRETARY FOR 
 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

 The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for 
Science and Technology, shall have the responsibility for--
 (1) advising the Secretary regarding research and 
 development efforts and priorities in support of the 
 Department's missions;
 (2) developing, in consultation with other 
 appropriate executive agencies, a national policy and 
 strategic plan for, identifying priorities, goals, 
 objectives and policies for, and coordinating the 
 Federal Government's civilian efforts to identify and 
 develop countermeasures to chemical, biological, and 
 other emerging terrorist threats, including the 
 development of comprehensive, research-based definable 
 goals for such efforts and development of annual 
 measurable objectives and specific targets to 
 accomplish and evaluate the goals for such efforts;
 (3) supporting the Under Secretary for Intelligence 
 and Analysis and the Director of the Cybersecurity and 
 Infrastructure Security Agency, by assessing and 
 testing homeland security vulnerabilities and possible 
 threats;
 (4) conducting basic and applied research, 
 development, demonstration, testing, and evaluation 
 activities that are relevant to any or all elements of 
 the Department, through both intramural and extramural 
 programs, except that such responsibility does not 
 extend to human health-related research and development 
 activities;
 (5) establishing priorities for, directing, funding, 
 and conducting national research, development, test and 
 evaluation, and procurement of technology and systems 
 for--
 (A) preventing the importation of chemical, 
 biological, and related weapons and material; 
 and
 (B) detecting, preventing, protecting 
 against, and responding to terrorist attacks;
 (6) establishing a system for transferring homeland 
 security developments or technologies to Federal, 
 State, local government, and private sector entities;
 (7) entering into work agreements, joint 
 sponsorships, contracts, or any other agreements with 
 the Department of Energy regarding the use of the 
 national laboratories or sites and support of the 
 science and technology base at those facilities;
 (8) collaborating with the Secretary of Agriculture 
 and the Attorney General as provided in section 212 of 
 the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 (7 
 U.S.C. 8401), as amended by section 1709(b);
 (9) collaborating with the Secretary of Health and 
 Human Services and the Attorney General in determining 
 any new biological agents and toxins that shall be 
 listed as ``select agents'' in Appendix A of part 72 of 
 title 42, Code of Federal Regulations, pursuant to 
 section 351A of the Public Health Service Act (42 
 U.S.C. 262a);
 (10) supporting United States leadership in science 
 and technology;
 (11) establishing and administering the primary 
 research and development activities of the Department, 
 including the long-term research and development needs 
 and capabilities for all elements of the Department;
 (12) coordinating and integrating all research, 
 development, demonstration, testing, and evaluation 
 activities of the Department;
 (13) coordinating with other appropriate executive 
 agencies in developing and carrying out the science and 
 technology agenda of the Department to reduce 
 duplication and identify unmet needs; [and]
 (14) developing and overseeing the administration of 
 guidelines for merit review of research and development 
 projects throughout the Department, and for the 
 dissemination of research conducted or sponsored by the 
 Department[.]; and
 (15) developing, in coordination with appropriate 
 agency officials, a Department-wide policy and process 
 to safeguard research and development from unauthorized 
 access to or disclosure of sensitive information in 
 research and development acquisitions.

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