DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act

## Summary This bill, the *DOE and NASA Interagency Research Coordination Act*, aims to strengthen collaboration between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) on research and development (R&D) projects. It authorizes both agencies to jointly pursue cross-cutting scientific and technological goals, such as advancing space propulsion systems, Earth and environmental sciences, quantum computing, and wildfire resilience. The bill emphasizes using merit-based competitive awards to fund these efforts and requires formal agreements (e.g., memoranda of understanding) to streamline coordination. Additionally, it amends existing law to allow other federal agencies to transfer funds to NASA for space exploration-related research or education, with reporting requirements to ensure transparency. The legislation seeks to reduce duplication, leverage each agency’s expertise, and address shared challenges in energy, climate, space exploration, and workforce development. ## Key Points - Joint R&D Authorization: DOE and NASA can collaborate on 13 focus areas, including nuclear propulsion, space-based solar energy transmission, Arctic science, wildfire mitigation, space weather forecasting, and quantum information sciences. - Competitive Funding Process: Grants or cooperative agreements for joint projects must be awarded through merit-based reviews, involving federal agencies, national labs, universities, and nonprofits. - Data Sharing and Infrastructure Access: Requires secure data-sharing mechanisms and allows NASA to use DOE’s research infrastructure (e.g., labs, computing systems) to enhance capabilities. - Expanded Fund Transfer Authority: Amends federal law to let other agencies transfer funds to NASA for space exploration-related research or education, provided the donor agency approves. - Reporting Requirements: Mandates a 2-year report on collaboration outcomes and a 3-year assessment of fund-transfer effectiveness, including challenges and future opportunities. ## Impact Areas - Primary: DOE and NASA, through enhanced coordination on R&D projects and resource sharing. - Secondary: STEM workforce development in underserved regions (e.g., Arctic) and advancements in technologies like nuclear propulsion, quantum computing, and climate monitoring. - Additional: Improved resilience of energy grids and infrastructure against space weather, better wildfire risk management, and expanded access to satellite data for climate and Earth science research. *Note: Technical terms like “radioisotope power systems” (nuclear batteries for space missions) and “thermoelectric generators” (devices converting heat to electricity) are simplified for clarity.*