I
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2086
To authorize funding for networking and information technology research
and development for fiscal years 2000 through 2004, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JUNE 9, 1999
Mr. SENSENBRENNER (for himself, Mr. BROWN of California, Mr. DAVIS of
Virginia, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. EWING, Mr. COOK, Mr. BRADY of Texas,
Mr. EHLERS, Mr. ETHERIDGE, Mr. WELDON
of Florida, Mr.
KUYKENDALL, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. LUCAS of Oklahoma, Mr. SMITH of
Michigan, Mr. DOYLE, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHN-
SON of Texas, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Mr. CAPUANO, Mr. BART-
LETT of Maryland, Mr. UDALL of Colorado, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. CAL-
VERT, Mr. GUTKNECHT, Ms. LOFGREN, and Mr. GORDON) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, and in
addition to the Committee on the Ways and Means, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee con-
cerned
A BILL
To authorize funding for networking and information tech-
nology research and development for fiscal years 2000
through 2004, 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.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Networking and Infor-
mation Technology Research and Development Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Information technology will continue to
change the way Americans live, learn, and work. The
information revolution will improve the workplace
and the quality and accessibility of health care and
education and make government more responsible
and accessible.
(2) Information technology is an imperative en-
abling technology that contributes to scientific dis-
ciplines. Major advances in biomedical research, pub-
lic safety, engineering, and other critical areas de-
pend on further advances in computing and commu-
nications.
(3) The United States is the undisputed global
leader in information technology.
(4) Information technology is recognized as a
catalyst for economic growth and prosperity.
(5) Information technology represents one of
the fastest growing sectors of the United States
economy, with electronic commerce alone projected
to become a trillion-dollar business by 2005.
(6) Businesses producing computers, semi-
conductors, software, and communications equip-
ment account for one-third of the total growth in the
United States economy since 1992.
(7) According to the United States Census Bu-
reau, between 1993 and 1997, the information tech-
nology sector grew an average of 12.3 percent per
year.
(8) Fundamental research in information tech-
nology has enabled the information revolution.
(9) Fundamental research in information tech-
nology has contributed to the creation of new indus-
tries and new, high-paying jobs.
(10) Scientific and engineering research and the
availability of a skilled workforce are critical to con-
tinued economic growth driven by information tech-
nology.
(11) In 1997, private industry provided most of
the funding for research and development in the in-
formation technology sector. The information tech-
nology sector now receives, in absolute terms, one-
third of all corporate spending on research and de-
velopment in the United States economy.
(12) The private sector tends to focus its
spending on short-term, applied research.
(13) The Federal Government is uniquely posi-
tioned to support long-term fundamental research.
(14) Federal applied research in information
technology has grown at almost twice the rate of
Federal basic research since 1986.
(15) Federal science and engineering programs
must increase their emphasis on long-term, high-risk
research.
(16) Current Federal programs and support for
fundamental research in information technology is
inadequate if we are to maintain the Nation’s global
leadership in information technology.
SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) NATIONAL
SCIENCE
FOUNDATION.—Section
201(b) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991
(15 U.S.C. 5521(b)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘From sums otherwise author-
ized to be appropriated, there’’ and inserting
‘‘There’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘1995; and’’ and inserting
‘‘1995;’’; and
(3) by striking the period at the end and insert-
ing 
‘‘; 
$445,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2000;
$468,500,000 for fiscal year 2001; $493,200,000 for
fiscal year 2002; $544,100,000 for fiscal year 2003;
and $571,300,000 for fiscal year 2004. Amounts au-
thorized under this subsection shall be the total
amounts authorized to the National Science Founda-
tion for a fiscal year for the Program, and shall not
be in addition to amounts previously authorized by
law for the purposes of the Program.’’.
(b) NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINIS-
TRATION.—Section 202(b) of the High-Performance Com-
puting Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5522(b)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘From sums otherwise author-
ized to be appropriated, there’’ and inserting
‘‘There’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘1995; and’’ and inserting
‘‘1995;’’; and
(3) by striking the period at the end and insert-
ing 
‘‘; 
$164,400,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2000;
$201,000,000 for fiscal year 2001; $208,000,000 for
fiscal year 2002; $224,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
and $231,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.’’.
(c) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.—Section 203(e)(1) of
the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5523(e)(1)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘1995; and’’ and inserting
‘‘1995;’’; and