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S. 1187 114th Congress Senate

America INNOVATES Act

Official title: A bill to improve management of the National Laboratories, enhance technology commercialization, facilitate public-private partnerships, and for other purposes.

Introduced: May 4, 2015 Introduced by: Christopher A. Coons Democratic · Delaware See on congress.gov
Energy Advanced technology and technological innovationsCongressional oversightDepartment of EnergyEducation programs funding
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Energy researchExecutive agency funding and structureFederal officialsGovernment studies and investigationsHigher educationIntellectual propertyPerformance measurementPublic contracts and procurementPublic-private cooperationResearch administration and fundingResearch and developmentSmall businessTechnology transfer and commercialization
This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 9, 2015
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-344.
May 4, 2015
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
May 4, 2015
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action June 9, 2015

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 114-344.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

America Implementing New National Opportunities To Vigorously Accelerate Technology, Energy, and Science Act or the America INNOVATES Act

Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to rename the Under Secretary for Science as the Under Secretary for Science and Energy.

Directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to report annually on DOE's ability to improve the technology transfer and commercialization of energy technologies.

Directs DOE to carry out the Agreements for Commercializing Technology pilot program, in part by giving the contractors of the DOE nonmilitary national laboratories (national laboratories) increased authority to negotiate contract terms and making every such facility eligible for the program.

Extends the pilot program for a term of three years after the enactment of this Act.

Requires DOE to delegate to the directors of the national laboratories signature authority with respect to certain agreements (except those with a majority foreign-owned company) whose total cost is less than $1 million.

Permits the directors of national laboratories to use funds authorized to support technology transfer within DOE to carry out early-stage and precommercial technology demonstration activities to: (1) remove technology barriers that limit private sector interest, and (2) demonstrate potential commercial applications of any research and technologies arising from national laboratory activities.

Amends the Small Business Act to require DOE, in carrying out its Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, to provide to small businesses seeking funding under these programs information concerning resources available to them at national laboratories and federally funded research and development centers.

Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to exempt, for six years after enactment of this Act, institutions of higher education and nonprofit institutions from the cost-sharing requirements for research and development.

Requires the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress on the results of projects developed under this Act and on DOE efforts to promote technology transfer and private sector engagement at the national laboratories.

 Related & companion bills 2
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1187: America INNOVATES Act. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-1187/
MLA
"S. 1187: America INNOVATES Act." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-1187/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1187, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-1187/.
Markdown link
[S. 1187: America INNOVATES Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-S-1187/)
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