National Technology and Advancement Act of 1995
Public Law 104-113 · H.R. 2196 · 104th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Mar 7, 1996 · Science, Technology, Communications
Sponsor: Rep. Constance Morella (R-MD-8)
Cosponsors (3): Rep. Robert Walker, Rep. George Brown,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act of 1995 - Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (Act) to provide for the Federal agency transfer of Federal Laboratory Consortium for Technology Transfer amounts in excess of $10,000 in any fiscal year.
(Sec. 4) Revises provisions regarding title to intellectual property arising from Federal-industry cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs) to provide: (1) the collaborating partner (partner) with the option to choose an exclusive or nonexclusive license for a prenegotiated field of use for a resulting CRADA invention; (2) confidentiality of commercial information; and (3) limited Government laboratory right to require a partner to grant applicant licenses in exceptional circumstances of public health or safety, Federal requirements, or partner noncompliance.
Provides that a partner may retain title to an invention made solely by its employees in exchange for granting the Government a worldwide license to use the invention.
(Sec. 5) Provides, with regard to income distribution from intellectual property received by Federal laboratories, for: (1) agency payments of $2,000 plus 15 percent of future royalties to the inventor, and payments to other contributing personnel; and (2) laboratory use of royalties for related research and other expenses.
(Sec. 6) Provides that if the Government chooses not to pursue the rights of an invention of a Federal employee or former employee, such individual may obtain the right of ownership or otherwise promote the invention's commercialization.
(Sec. 7) Makes a conforming amendment to Federal law (the Bayh- Dole Act).
(Sec. 8) Amends the National Institute of Standards Act to: (1) expand the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Visiting Committee from 9 to 15 members (with an increase in industry members); (2) provide for transportation between the Institute and nearby public transportation; and (3) increase the cap on postdoctoral fellowships from 40 to 60.
(Sec. 9) Amends the Act to permit Federal loan, lease, or gift of excess scientific equipment to schools and nonprofit institutions.
(Sec. 10) Extends indefinitely a specified personnel management demonstration project under the National Bureau of Standards Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1987.
(Sec. 11) Amends the Fastener Quality Act with respect to heat mill certification, commingling, and minor nonconformance.
(Sec. 12) Directs NIST to: (1) coordinate Federal, State, and local technical standards and conformity assessment activities; and (2) report to the Congress regarding implementation within 90 days of enactment of this Act.
Directs Federal agencies and departments to use technical standards developed by voluntary consensus bodies, unless impractical or inconsistent with applicable law. (Requires an explanatory report to the Office of Management and Budget.)
(Sec. 13) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award program offers substantial benefits to U.S. industry and that all program appropriations should be spent in support of its goals.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Science, Space, and Technology Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Technology Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 21 actions.
- Mar 7, 1996Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 104-113.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Feb 28, 1996PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Feb 27, 1996Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mrs. Morella moved that the House suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments.
- FloorFloor · At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mrs. Morella objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
- Feb 7, 1996FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Amendment SP 3463 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Dec 13, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee
- Dec 12, 1995FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · Mrs. Morella moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Dec 7, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- Oct 25, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- Oct 18, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Technology Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Technology Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- Aug 28, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Technology Subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- Aug 4, 1995CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Science, Space, and Technology Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.