112 STAT. 1820 PUBLIC LAW 105-244 —OCT. 7, 1998 42 USC 1862 note. 20 USC 1070 note. Historic preservation. 20 USC 1153. PART F—IMPROVING UNITED STATES UNDER- STANDING OF SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY IN EAST ASIA SEC. 831. IMPROVING UNITED STATES UNDERSTANDING OP SCIENCE, ENGINEERING, AND TECHNOLOGY IN EAST ASIA. (a) ESTABLISHMENT. — The Director of the National Science Foundation is authorized, beginning in fiscal year 2000, to carry out an interdisciplinary program of education and research on East Asian science, engineering, and technology. The Director shall carry out the interdisciplinary program in consultation with the Secretary of Education. (b) PURPOSES,—The purposes of the program established under this section shall be to— (1) increase understanding of East Asian research, and innovation for the creative application of science and technology to the problems of society; (2) provide scientists, engineers, technology managers, and students with training in East Asian languages, and with an understanding of research, technology, and management of innovation, in East Asian countries; (3) provide program participants with opportunities to be directly involved in scientific and engineering research, and activities related to the management of scientific and technological innovation, in East Asia; and (4) create mechanisms for cooperation and partnerships among United States industry, universities, colleges, not-forprofit institutions. Federal laboratories (within the meaning of section 4(6) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703(6))), and government, to disseminate the results of the program assisted under this section for the benefit of United States research and innovation. (c) PARTICIPATION BY FEDERAL SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND MANAGERS. —Scientists, engineers, and managers of science and engineering programs in Federal agencies and the Federal laboratories shall be eligible to participate in the program assisted under this section on a reimbursable basis. (d) REQUIREMENT FOR MERIT REVIEW. —Awards made under the program established under this section shall only be made using a competitive, merit-based review process. (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRL\TIONS.— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2000. PART G—OLYMPIC SCHOLARSHIPS SEC. 836. EXTENSION OF AUTHORIZATION. Section 1543(d) of the Higher Education Amendments of 1992 is amended by striking "1993" and inserting "1999". PART H—UNDERGROUND RAILROAD SEC. 841. UNDERGROUND RAILROAD EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL PROGRAM. (a) PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. — The Secretary of Education, in consultation and cooperation with the Secretary of the Interior,
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