I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4609 
To reauthorize the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 21, 2021 
Ms. STEVENS (for herself, Mr. WALTZ, Ms. JOHNSON of Texas, and Mr. 
LUCAS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To reauthorize the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘National Institute of Standards and Technology for the 
Future Act of 2021’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title. 
Sec. 2. Definitions. 
TITLE I—APPROPRIATIONS 
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Sec. 101. Authorization of appropriations. 
TITLE II—MEASUREMENT RESEARCH 
Sec. 201. Engineering biology and biometrology. 
Sec. 202. Greenhouse gas measurement research. 
Sec. 203. NIST authority for cybersecurity and privacy activities. 
Sec. 204. Software security and authentication. 
Sec. 205. Digital identity management research. 
Sec. 206. Biometrics research and testing. 
Sec. 207. Federal biometric performance standards. 
Sec. 208. Protecting research from cyber theft. 
Sec. 209. Dissemination of resources for research institutions. 
Sec. 210. Advanced communications research. 
Sec. 211. Neutron scattering. 
Sec. 212. Quantum information science. 
Sec. 213. Artificial intelligence. 
TITLE III—GENERAL ACTIVITIES 
Sec. 301. NIST facilities and construction. 
Sec. 302. Educational outreach and support for underrepresented communities. 
Sec. 303. Other transactions authority. 
Sec. 304. International standards development. 
Sec. 305. Update to manufacturing extension partnership. 
Sec. 306. Standard technical update. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology. 
(2) FRAMEWORK.—The term ‘‘Framework’’ 
means the Framework for Improving Critical Infra-
structure Cybersecurity developed by the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology and referred 
to in Executive Order 13800 issued on May 11, 
2017 (82 Fed. Reg. 22391 et seq.). 
(3) HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNI-
VERSITIES.—The term ‘‘historically Black colleges 
and universities’’ has the same meaning given to the 
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term ‘‘part B institutions’’ in section 322 of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1061). 
(4) INSTITUTE.—The term ‘‘Institute’’ means 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology. 
(5) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 
term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 
meaning given such term in section 101 of the High-
er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 
(6) INTERNATIONAL
STANDARDS
ORGANIZA-
TION.—The term ‘‘International Standards Organi-
zation’’ has the meaning given such term in section 
451 of the Trade Agreements Act of 1979 (19 
U.S.C. 2571). 
(7) MINORITY
SERVING
INSTITUTION.—The 
term ‘‘minority-serving institution’ ’’ means a His-
panic-serving institution, an Alaska Native-serving 
institution, a Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, a 
Predominantly Black Institution, an Asian American 
and Native American Pacific Islander-serving insti-
tution, or a Native American-serving nontribal insti-
tution as described in section 371 of the Higher 
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1067q(a)). 
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Commerce. 
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(9) TECHNICAL STANDARDS.—The term ‘‘tech-
nical standard’’ has the meaning given such term in 
section 12(d)(5) of the National Technology Trans-
fer and Advancement Act of 1995. 
TITLE I—APPROPRIATIONS 
SEC. 101. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
(a) FISCAL YEAR 2022.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated 
to 
the 
Secretary 
of 
Commerce 
$1,267,070,000 for the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology for fiscal year 2022. 
(2) SPECIFIC
ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount 
authorized by paragraph (1)— 
(A) $915,570,000 shall be for scientific 
and technical research and services laboratory 
activities, of which $9,000,000 may be trans-
ferred to the Working Capital Fund; 
(B) $140,000,000 shall be for the con-
struction and maintenance of facilities, of which 
$80,000,000 shall be for Safety, Capacity, 
Maintenance, and Major Repairs; and 
(C) $211,500,000 shall be for industrial 
technology 
services 
activities, 
of 
which 
$155,000,000 shall be for the Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership program under sections 
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25 and 26 of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 
278l) and $56,500,000 shall be for the Network 
for Manufacturing Innovation Program under 
section 34 of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s). 
(b) FISCAL YEAR 2023.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated 
to 
the 
Secretary 
of 
Commerce 
$1,335,200,000 for the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology for fiscal year 2023. 
(2) SPECIFIC
ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount 
authorized by paragraph (1)— 
(A) $979,100,000 shall be for scientific 
and technical research and services laboratory 
activities, of which $10,000,000 may be trans-
ferred to the Working Capital Fund; 
(B) $140,000,000 shall be for the con-
struction and maintenance of facilities, of which 
$80,000,000 shall be for Safety, Capacity, 
Maintenance, and Major Repairs, including 
$20,000,000 for IT infrastructure; and 
(C) $216,200,000 shall be for industrial 
technology 
services 
activities, 
of 
which 
$159,700,000 shall be for the Manufacturing 
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Extension Partnership program under sections 
25 and 26 of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 
278l) and $56,500,000 shall be for the Network 
for Manufacturing Innovation Program under 
section 34 of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s). 
(c) FISCAL YEAR 2024.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated 
to 
the 
Secretary 
of 
Commerce 
$1,408,520,000 for the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology for fiscal year 2024. 
(2) SPECIFIC
ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount 
authorized by paragraph (1)— 
(A) $1,047,600,000 shall be for scientific 
and technical research and services laboratory 
activities, of which $12,000,000 may be trans-
ferred to the Working Capital Fund; 
(B) $140,000,000 shall be for the con-
struction and maintenance of facilities, of which 
$80,000,000 shall be for Safety, Capacity, 
Maintenance, and Major Repairs, including 
$20,000,000 for IT infrastructure; and 
(C) $220,900,000 shall be for industrial 
technology 
services 
activities, 
of 
which 
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$164,400,000 shall be for the Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership program under sections 
25 and 26 of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 
278l) and $56,500,000 shall be for the Network 
for Manufacturing Innovation Program under 
section 34 of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s). 
(d) FISCAL YEAR 2025.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated 
to 
the 
Secretary 
of 
Commerce 
$1,486,800,000 for the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology for fiscal year 2025. 
(2) SPECIFIC
ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount 
authorized by paragraph (1)— 
(A) $1,120,900,000 shall be for scientific 
and technical research and services laboratory 
activities, of which $15,000,000 may be trans-
ferred to the Working Capital Fund; 
(B) $140,000,000 shall be for the con-
struction and maintenance of facilities, of which 
$80,000,000 shall be for Safety, Capacity, 
Maintenance, and Major Repairs, including 
$20,000,000 for IT infrastructure; and 
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(C) $225,900,000 shall be for industrial 
technology 
services 
activities, 
of 
which 
$169,400,000 shall be for the Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership program under sections 
25 and 26 of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 
278l) and $56,500,000 shall be for the Network 
for Manufacturing Innovation Program under 
section 34 of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278s). 
(e) FISCAL YEAR 2026.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be 
appropriated 
to 
the 
Secretary 
of 
Commerce 
$1,570,340,000 for the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology for fiscal year 2026. 
(2) SPECIFIC
ALLOCATIONS.—Of the amount 
authorized by paragraph (1)— 
(A) $1,199,400,000 shall be for scientific 
and technical research and services laboratory 
activities, of which $18,000,000 may be trans-
ferred to the Working Capital Fund; 
(B) $140,000,000 shall be for the con-
struction and maintenance of facilities, of which 
$80,000,000 shall be for Safety, Capacity, 
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Maintenance, and Major Repairs, including 
$20,000,000 for IT infrastructure; and 
(C) $231,000,000 shall be for industrial 
technology 
services 
activities, 
of 
which 
$174,500,000 shall be for the Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership program under sections 
25 and 26 of the National Institute of Stand-
ards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k and 
23 278l) and $56,500,000 shall be for the Net-
work for Manufacturing Innovation Program 
under section 34 of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
278s). 
TITLE II—MEASUREMENT 
RESEARCH 
SEC. 201. ENGINEERING BIOLOGY AND BIOMETROLOGY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall— 
(1) support basic measurement science, tech-
nology research for engineering biology, biomanufac-
turing, and biometrology to advance— 
(A) measurement technologies to support 
foundational understanding of the mechanisms 
of conversion of DNA information into cellular 
function, including both the natural and engi-
neered production of biomolecules; 
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(B) technologies for measurement of such 
biomolecular components and for complex engi-
neered biological systems; 
(C) new data tools, techniques, and proc-
esses to improve engineering biology, biomanu-
facturing, and biometrology research; and 
(D) all other areas deemed by the Director 
to be critical to the development and deploy-
ment of engineering biology, biomanufacturing 
and biometrology; 
(2) support activities to inform and expand the 
development of measurements infrastructure needed 
to develop technical standards to establish interoper-
ability and facilitate commercial development of bio-
molecular measurement technology and engineering 
biology applications; 
(3) convene industry, institutions of higher edu-
cation, nonprofit organizations, Federal laboratories, 
and other Federal agencies engaged in engineering 
biology research and development to develop coordi-
nated technical roadmaps for authoritative measure-
ment of the molecular components of the cell; 
(4) provide access to user facilities with ad-
vanced or unique equipment, services, materials, and 
other resources to industry, institutions of higher 
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education, nonprofit organizations, and government 
agencies to perform research and testing; 
(5) establish or expand collaborative partner-
ships or consortia with other Federal agencies en-
gaged in engineering biology research and develop-
ment, institutions of higher education, Federal lab-
oratories, and industry to advance engineering biol-
ogy applications; and 
(6) support graduate and post graduate re-
search and training in biometrology, biomanufac-
turing, and engineering biology. 
(b) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the 
term ‘‘Engineering Biology’’ means the application of en-
gineering design principles and practices to biological sys-
tems, including molecular and cellular systems, to advance 
fundamental understanding of complex natural systems 
and to enable novel or optimize functions and capabilities. 
(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to alter the policies, processes, or 
practices of individual Federal agencies in effect on the 
day before the date of the enactment of this Act relating 
to the conduct of biomedical research and advanced devel-
opment, including the solicitation and review of extra-
mural research proposals. 
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