PRIZES FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN GRAND CHALLENGES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.

SEC. 1008. PRIZES FOR ACHIEVEMENT IN GRAND CHALLENGES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY.(a) Authority.—The Secretary may carry out a program to award cash prizes in recognition of breakthrough achievements in research, development, demonstration, and commercial application that have the potential for application to the performance of the mission of the Department. (b) Competition Requirements.—The program under subsection (a) may include prizes for the achievement of goals articulated by the Secretary in a specific area through a widely advertised solicitation of submission of results for research, development, demonstration, or commercial application projects. (c) Prizes for Processes and Technologies to Reduce Dependence on Imported Oil.—The Secretary, in cooperation with the Freedom Prize Foundation, shall support a program of awarding prizes, to be known as Freedom Prizes, to encourage and recognize the development and deployment of processes and technologies that serve to reduce the dependence of the United States on imported oil. (d) Relationship to Other Authority.—The program under subsection (a) may be carried out in conjunction with or in addition to the exercise of any other authority of the Secretary to acquire, support, or stimulate research, development, demonstration, or commercial application projects. (e) Authorization of Appropriations.—There are authorized to be appropriated—(1) $10,000,000 to carry out the program under subsection (a); and (2) $5,000,000 to carry out the program under subsection (c). 119 STAT. 934