There shall be in the Department a Directorate of Science
and Technology headed by an Under Secretary for Science and
Technology.
SEC. 302. [6 U.S.C. 182] 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,, \1\
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;
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\1\ Two commas so in law. See section 501(b)(2)(A) of Public Law
109-347 (120 Stat. 1935).
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(3) supporting the Under Secretary for Intelligence
and Analysis and the Assistant Secretary for
Infrastructure Protection, 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,, \1\ and related weapons and
material; and
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\1\ Two commas so in law. See section 501(b)(2)(B) of Public Law
109-347 (120 Stat. 1935).
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(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.