---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 19251"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "19251"
heading: "Interagency working group"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/19251"
units:
  - "Chapter 163 — Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation"
  - "Subchapter VI — Miscellaneous Science and Technology Provisions"
  - "Part D — Interagency Working Group"
---

# §19251. Interagency working group

- (a) **Establishment—** The [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, acting through the National Science and Technology Council, shall establish or designate an interagency working group to coordinate the activities specified in [subsection (c)](#c).
- (b) **Composition—** The interagency working group shall be composed of the following members (or their designees), who may be organized into subcommittees, as appropriate:
  - (1) The [Secretary](/usc/42/19291.md?p=8) of Commerce.
  - (2) The [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/18901.md?p=11).
  - (3) The [Secretary](/usc/42/19291.md?p=8) of Energy.
  - (4) The [Secretary](/usc/42/19291.md?p=8) of Defense.
  - (5) The [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the National Economic Council.
  - (6) The [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the Office of Management and Budget.
  - (7) The [Secretary](/usc/42/19291.md?p=8) of Health and Human Services.
  - (8) The [Administrator](/usc/42/4005.md?p=1) of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  - (9) The [Secretary](/usc/42/19291.md?p=8) of Agriculture.
  - (10) The [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of National Intelligence.
  - (11) The [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
  - (12) Such other Federal officials as the [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the Office of Science and Technology Policy considers appropriate, including members of the National Science and Technology Council Committee on Technology.
- (c) **Coordination—** The interagency working group shall seek to ensure that the activities of different Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) enhance and complement, but, as appropriate, do not duplicate, efforts being carried out by another Federal [agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), with a focus on the following:
  - (1) The activities of the National Science [Foundation](/usc/42/18901.md?p=11) Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Directorate in the key technology focus areas, such as within the Regional Innovation Engines under [section 19108 of this title](/usc/42/19108.md) and test beds under [section 19110 of this title](/usc/42/19110.md).
  - (2) The activities of the [Department](/usc/42/19291.md?p=2) of Commerce under this division, including regional technology hubs under [section 3722a of title 15](/usc/15/3722a.md), as added by section 10621, the Manufacturing USA Program established under [section 278s(b)(1) of title 15](/usc/15/278s.md?p=b-1), and the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership ([15 U.S.C. 278k](/usc/15/278k.md)).
  - (3) The activities of the [Department](/usc/42/19291.md?p=2) of Energy in the key technology focus areas, including at the [national laboratories](/usc/42/19291.md?p=7), and at [Federal laboratories](/usc/42/18901.md?p=9), as defined in [section 3703 of title 15](/usc/15/3703.md), and facilities and user facilities operated in partnership with such [national laboratories](/usc/42/19291.md?p=7) or the [Department](/usc/42/19291.md?p=2) of Energy.
  - (4) Any other program that the [Director](/usc/42/19184.md?p=1) of the Office of Science and Technology Policy determines involves research and development with respect to the key technology focus areas.
- (d) **Report—** The interagency working group shall—
  - (1) by not later than 180 days after August 9, 2022—
    - (A) conduct an initial review of Federal programs and resources with respect to the key technology focus areas identified pursuant to [section 19107(a)(2) of this title](/usc/42/19107.md?p=a-2), in order to—
      - (i) assess current level of efforts and characterize existing research infrastructure, as of the date of the review;
      - (ii) identify potential areas of overlap or duplication with respect to the key technology focus areas; and
      - (iii) identify potential cross-[agency](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) collaborations and joint funding opportunities; and[^1]
    - (B) submit a report regarding the review described in [subparagraph (A)](#d-1-A) to Congress; and
    - (C) seek stakeholder input and recommendations in the course of such review; and
  - (2) shall[^2] carry out the annual reviews and updates required under [section 19107(e) of this title](/usc/42/19107.md?p=e).
- (e) **Conflicts—** If any conflicts between Federal [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) arise while carrying out the activities under this section, the President shall make the final decision regarding resolution of the conflict.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. The word “and” probably should not appear.
[^2]: So in original. The word “shall” probably should not appear.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 117–167, div. B, title VI, § 10651, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1682.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

This division, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), is div. B of Pub. L. 117–167, Aug. 9, 2022, 136 Stat. 1399, which enacted this chapter and enacted, amended, and repealed numerous other sections and notes in the Code. For complete classification of div. B to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 18901 of this title and Tables.

Section 10621, referred to in subsec. (c)(2), means section 10621 of Pub. L. 117–167.