; and (E) the impact of specific policies on the general effectiveness of such programs and activities. (2) Research The Secretary may conduct, through an independent entity, research on best practices in registered apprenticeship programs and pre-apprenticeship programs and other issues relating to such programs. (3) Techniques Evaluations and research conducted under this subsection shall utilize appropriate methodology and research designs. (4) Reports The independent entity carrying out the evaluations described in paragraph (1) or research described in paragraph (2) shall prepare and submit to the Secretary a final report containing the results of the evaluations or research, respectively, and including policy recommendations. The final report shall be made available for public inspection. Not later than 36 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall produce a final report related to the return on investment described in paragraph (1)(C). (5) Reports to Congress Not later than 60 days after the completion of all the final reports described in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall transmit the final reports to the Committee on Education and the Workforce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate. (6) Public access The Secretary shall develop a mechanism to make research developed under this title publically available in a timely manner. (f) Reservation The Secretary shall reserve not less than 10 percent of the funds appropriated under subsection (g) for each fiscal year for grants to States. A State that receives such a grant shall use the grant funds for the purpose of assisting the Administrator in carrying out the activities under this section, and may use the grant funds to support the voluntary establishment of a State apprenticeship office, if no such office exists in the State. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $75,000,000 for fiscal year 2018 and each