Nation’s research capacity has demonstrated it can absorb shocks and pivot to address immediate national threats, the scale of this pandemic is still growing and unprecedented in duration and impact. (7) Without funding, future innovations in areas such as quantum, artificial intelligence, robotics, computing, 5G, space exploration, digital agriculture, cancer, and aging will be forestalled while the agencies are forced to use future appropriations for new research, meant to create new knowledge leading to the next generation of discoveries, to cover existing grants. The Nation must innovate to launch the next 50 years of unparalleled economic leadership and be prepared for any future pan­dem­ics. (8) Therefore, Congress believes it is vital that the Federal Government take measures to help relieve the strain agencies will be forced to face and sustain the strength of our Nation’s ability to remain a global leader in an increasingly competitive global research environment, as other countries continue to make disproportionately large investments in key research areas. 3. Definitions In this Act: (1) Federal science agency The term Federal science agency means any agency (as defined in section 551 of title 5, United States Code) with at least $50,000,000 in basic and applied research obligations in fiscal year 2020. (2) Research institution The term research institution means an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 ( 20 U.S.C. 1001(a) )) or a nonprofit entity that conducts federally funded research. (3) National laboratory The term National laboratory has the meaning given the term in section 2 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 ( 42 U.S.C. 15801 ). 4. Use of funds (a) Allowable uses A Federal science agency may use funds authorized under this Act to— (1) provide supplemental funding to extend the duration of a grant to a research institution or National laboratory that was awarded prior to the date of enactment of this Act, or to expand the purposes of