I
107TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 3400
To amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to authorize appro-
priations for fiscal years 2003 through 2007 for the coordinated Federal
program on networking and information technology research and develop-
ment, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
DECEMBER 4, 2001
Mr. SMITH of Michigan (for himself, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas,
Mr. BOEHLERT, and Mr. HALL of Texas) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Science
A BILL
To amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991
to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2003 through
2007 for the coordinated Federal program on networking
and information technology research and development,
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 Advancement Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Information technology is an enabling tech-
nology that contributes to other scientific disciplines.
Advances in nanotechnology, bioinformatics, intel-
ligent networks, wireless networking, robotics, artifi-
cial intelligence, and other fields depend on further
advances in information technology research and de-
velopment. In turn, advances in networking and in-
formation technology depend on research in a wide
range of fields, such as computer science and engi-
neering, mathematics, and many others, and in the
development of electronic components such as semi-
conductors and fiber optics that are faster, denser,
and cheaper. Research in fields such as materials
sciences, physics, chemistry, and photonics lays the
foundation for building these advanced components.
(2) Federal investment in information tech-
nology research and development over the past 50
years has led to technological innovations that have
transformed our society and stimulated economic
growth.
(3) A 1999 report from the President’s Infor-
mation Technology Advisory Committee entitled ‘‘In-
formation Technology Research: Investing in Our
Future’’ states that—
(A) Federal support for research in infor-
mation technology is inadequate;
(B) Federal investment in information
technology research and development should
give a higher priority to long-term, basic re-
search; and
(C) Federal information technology re-
search management should develop a long-term
and coherent strategy for sustained attention to
national goals.
(4) Long-term, basic research is necessary to
create technological breakthroughs in information
technology. The Federal Government is uniquely po-
sitioned to support long-term fundamental research.
(5) Advances in networking and information
technology have permeated and dramatically im-
proved product design and development processes,
production efficiency, and distribution systems of a
wide range of manufacturing and other industries.
From the aeronautical and automotive industries to
farming, advances in networking and information
technology have allowed United States industry to
compete more effectively and better utilize limited
resources through improved quality control and
other means. Therefore, research in networking and
information technology that advances the field also
advances productivity and economic growth for the
United States economy.
(6) Information technology encompasses ways
to develop, store and retrieve, organize and use,
make sense of, compute, and communicate informa-
tion to further a number of societal goals, including
increasing economic growth through product devel-
opment and increased efficiency of services and man-
ufacturing, advancing scientific research, and edu-
cation.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
Section 4 of the High-Performance Computing Act
of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5503) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (3)—
(A) by striking ‘‘high-performance com-
puting’’ and inserting ‘‘networking and infor-
mation technology’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘(including vector super-
computers and large scale parallel systems)’’;
(2) in paragraph (4), by striking ‘‘packet
switched’’;
(3) by striking paragraphs (5) and (6); and
(4) by adding at the end the following new
paragraphs:
‘‘(5) ‘Program’ means the Networking and In-
formation Technology Research and Development
Program described in section 101; and
‘‘(6) ‘Program Component Areas’ means the
major subject areas under which are grouped related
individual projects and activities carried out under
the Program and which are developed according to
section 101(a)(3)(B) and identified in the annual re-
port required under section 101(a)(3)(A).’’.
SEC. 4. NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
(a) AMENDMENTS.—Section 101 of the High-Per-
formance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511) is
amended—
(1) in the section heading, by striking ‘‘NA-
TIONAL HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING’’ and
inserting ‘‘NETWORKING
AND
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT’’;
(2) by striking ‘‘high-performance computing’’
each place it appears other than in subsection
(a)(1)(F) and inserting ‘‘networking and information
technology’’;
(3) in the subsection heading of subsection (a),
by striking ‘‘NATIONAL HIGH-PERFORMANCE COM-
PUTING’’ and inserting ‘‘NETWORKING AND INFOR-
MATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
AND DEVELOP-
MENT’’;
(4) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking ‘‘National High-Perform-
ance Computing’’ and inserting ‘‘Networking
and Information Technology Research and De-
velopment’’;
(B) in paragraph (1)—
(i) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of
subparagraph (A);
(ii) by redesignating subparagraph
(B) as subparagraph (C); and
(iii) by inserting after subparagraph
(A) the following new subparagraph:
‘‘(B) establish Program Component Areas that
implement the goals established under subparagraph
(A); and’’;
(C) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para-
graph (2)(H);
(D) by striking subparagraph (I) of para-
graph (2) and inserting the following:
‘‘(I) provide for improving the security of
networked information systems, including research
required to establish security standards and prac-
tices for computing systems and networks; and
‘‘(J) provide for long-term basic research on
networking and information technology, with priority
given to research that helps address issues related
to—
‘‘(i) high end computing and software;
‘‘(ii) network stability, fragility, reliability,
security (including privacy), and scalability; and
‘‘(iii) the social and economic consequences
of information technology.’’;
(E) in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (3),
by inserting ‘‘, including establishing the proc-
ess by which Program Component Areas are de-
fined’’ after ‘‘of the Program’’;
(F) by amending subparagraph (A) of
paragraph (4) to read as follows:
‘‘(A) provide a detailed description of the Pro-
gram Component Areas, including—
‘‘(i) a description of any changes in the
Program Component Areas from the preceding
report and the reasons for such changes; and
‘‘(ii) a description of activities within each
Program Component Area that contribute to
the improvement of the security of networked
information systems;’’;
(G) in paragraph (4)(C), by striking ‘‘spe-
cific activities’’ and all that follows through
‘‘the Network’’ and inserting ‘‘each Program
Component Area’’;
(H) in paragraph (4)(D), by inserting ‘‘for
each Program Component Area and for all ac-
tivities that contribute to the improvement of
the security of networked information systems’’
after ‘‘budget submission applies’’; and
(I) in paragraph (4)(F), by inserting ‘‘,
and the extent to which the Program incor-
porates the recommendations of the Advisory
Committee established under subsection (b)’’
after ‘‘for the Program’’;
(5) in subsection (b)—
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(1)
through (5) as subparagraphs (A) through (E),
respectively;
(B) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.—’’;
(C) in paragraph (1)(C), as so redesig-
nated by this paragraph, by inserting ‘‘, includ-
ing funding levels for the Program Component
Areas’’ after ‘‘of the Program’’;
(D) in paragraph (1)(D), as so redesig-
nated by this paragraph, by striking ‘‘com-
puting’’ and inserting ‘‘networking and infor-
mation’’; and
(E) by adding at the end the following new
paragraph:
‘‘(2) In addition to the duties outlined in paragraph
(1), the advisory committee shall conduct periodic evalua-
tions of the funding, management, coordination, imple-
mentation, and activities of the Program, and shall report
not less frequently than once every two fiscal years to the
Committee on Science of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate on its findings and recommendations.
The first report shall be due within one year after the date
of the enactment of this paragraph.’’; and
(6) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking ‘‘Pro-
gram or’’ and inserting ‘‘Program Component Areas
or’’.
(b) REPEALS.—Sections 102 and 103 of the High-
Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5512 and
5513) are repealed.
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The heading of title
I of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘TITLE I—NETWORKING AND IN-
FORMATION 
TECHNOLOGY
RESEARCH 
AND 
DEVELOP-
MENT PROGRAM’’.
SEC. 5. AGENCY ACTIVITIES.
(a) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES.—
Section 201 of the High-Performance Computing Act of
1991 (15 U.S.C. 5521) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 201. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES.
‘‘(a) GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES.—As part of the
Program described in title I, the National Science Foun-
dation shall—
‘‘(1) generate fundamental scientific and tech-
nical knowledge with the potential of advancing net-
working and information technology and its applica-
tions; and
‘‘(2) provide computing and networking infra-
structure support for all science and engineering dis-
ciplines, and support basic research and human re-
source development in all aspects of networking and
information technology and advanced high speed
computer networking.
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From
sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Science
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From
sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration for the purposes of the Pro-
gram $199,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, $219,000,000
for fiscal year 2004, $240,000,000 for fiscal year 2005,
$265,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and $292,000,000 for
fiscal year 2007.’’.
(c) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ACTIVITIES.—Section
203 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15
U.S.C. 5523) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a), by striking all after ‘‘the
Secretary of Energy shall’’ and inserting ‘‘conduct
basic and applied research in networking and infor-
mation technology, with emphasis on—
‘‘(1) supporting fundamental research in the
physical sciences and engineering, and energy appli-
cations;
‘‘(2) providing supercomputer access and ad-
vanced communication capabilities to scientific re-
searchers; and
‘‘(3) developing tools for distributed scientific
collaboration.’’; and
(2) in subsection (e)—
(A) by striking ‘‘(1)’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘$93,000,000’’ and all that
follows through ‘‘fiscal year 1996’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘$193,000,000 for fiscal year 2003,
$212,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2004,
$234,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2005,
$258,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2006, 
and
$283,000,000 for fiscal year 2007’’; and
(C) by striking paragraph (2).
(d) DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACTIVITIES.—Sec-
tion 204 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991
(15 U.S.C. 5524) is amended—
(1) by striking paragraphs (1) and (2) of sub-
section (a) and inserting the following:
‘‘(1) the National Institute of Standards and
Technology shall—
‘‘(A) conduct basic and applied measure-
ment research needed to support various com-
puting systems and networks;
‘‘(B) develop and propose voluntary stand-
ards and guidelines, and develop measurement
techniques and test methods, for the interoper-
ability of computing systems in networks and
for common user interfaces to systems;
‘‘(C) be responsible for developing bench-
mark tests and standards for computing sys-
tems and software; and
‘‘(D) encourage the development, deploy-
ment, and implementation of voluntary guide-
lines and standards for—
‘‘(i) robust security technology; and
‘‘(ii) best practices and interoper-
ability relating to the security of commer-
cial and government computer networks;
and
‘‘(2) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration shall conduct basic and applied research
in networking and information technology, with em-
phasis on—
‘‘(A) improving weather forecasting and
climate prediction;
‘‘(B) collection and dissemination of envi-
ronmental information; and
‘‘(C) development of more accurate models
of the atmosphere-ocean system.’’; and
(2) by striking subsections (c) and (d) and in-
serting the following:
‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From
sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are
authorized to be appropriated—
‘‘(1) to the National Institute of Standards and
Technology for the purposes of the Program
$24,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, $27,000,000 for
fiscal year 2004, $29,000,000 for fiscal year 2005,
$32,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and $35,000,000
for fiscal year 2007; and
‘‘(2) to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration for the purposes of the Program
$22,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, $24,000,000 for
fiscal year 2004, $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2005,
$29,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, and $32,000,000
for fiscal year 2007.’’.
(e) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACTIVI-
TIES.—Section 205 of the High-Performance Computing
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5525) is amended to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘SEC. 205. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACTIVI-
TIES.
‘‘(a) GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES.—As part of the
Program described in title I, the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency shall conduct basic and applied research di-
rected toward the advancement and dissemination of com-
putational techniques and software tools with an emphasis
on modeling of—
‘‘(1) ecosystems;
‘‘(2) human effects;
‘‘(3) atmospheric dynamics and chemistry; and
‘‘(4) pollutant transport.
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From
sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are
authorized to be appropriated to the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency for the purposes of the Program
$4,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, $4,400,000 for fiscal year
2004, $4,800,000 for fiscal year 2005, $5,300,000 for fis-
cal year 2006, and $5,800,000 for fiscal year 2007.’’.
SEC. 6. REPORTS.
(a) INTERNATIONAL BENCHMARKING STUDIES.—
(1) STUDY.—Not later than 3 months after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of
the National Science Foundation shall enter into an
arrangement with the National Research Council of
the National Academy of Sciences to conduct an as-
sessment of the state of research on networking and
information technology in the United States. The
study shall use the methodology and approach devel-
oped by the Committee on Science, Engineering, and
Public Policy of the National Academies and docu-
mented in its 2000 report entitled ‘‘Experiments in
International 
Benchmarking 
of 
U.S. 
Research
Fields’’.
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of
the National Science Foundation shall transmit to
the Committee on Science of the House of Rep-
resentatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate, the Director of
the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the
advisory committee established under section 101(b)
of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991
(15 U.S.C. 5511(b)) (in this section referred to as
the ‘‘advisory committee’’) a report setting forth the
findings of the study conducted under paragraph
(1).
(3) 
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE
RECOMMENDA-
TIONS.—Not later than 3 months after receipt of the
report transmitted under paragraph (2), the advi-
sory committee shall provide recommendations to the
Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy on appropriate changes to the Program estab-
lished by section 101(a) of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)) to ad-
dress issues raised by the study conducted under
paragraph (1).
(4) ANNUAL REPORT.—The first annual report
required by section 101(a)(3)(A) of the High-Per-
formance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5511(a)(3)(A)) that is due after the expiration of 9
months after receipt by the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy of the report trans-
mitted under paragraph (2) shall include a descrip-
tion of activities under the Program established by
section 101(a) of the High-Performance Computing
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)) that address issues
raised by the study conducted under paragraph (1),
including strategies for—
(A) raising or maintaining the position of
the United States relative to other nations in
the research priority areas addressed by the re-
port transmitted under paragraph (2); and
(B) promoting international research co-
operation to leverage international niches of ex-
cellence identified by the report transmitted
under paragraph (2).
(5) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Na-
tional Science Foundation for carrying out the study
under this subsection $850,000.
(b) 
INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
WORKFORCE
STUDY.—
(1) DATA COLLECTION.—The Director of the
National Science Foundation shall on a continuing
basis collect data on the information technology
workforce, including information on—
(A) the size and nature of the information
technology workforce by occupation category,
level of education and training, personnel demo-
graphics, and industry characteristics;
(B) the long-term employability of infor-
mation technology professionals;
(C) various forms of employee compensa-
tion, including salaries, bonuses, and stock op-
tions;
(D) the role of foreign workers in the in-
formation technology workforce;
(E) the previous and subsequent immigra-
tion and employment status of workers who are
aliens having the status of a nonimmigrant de-
scribed in section 101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b)); and
(F) other relevant issues.
(2) ANALYSIS.—Not later than 3 months after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director
of the National Science Foundation shall enter into
an arrangement with the National Research Council
of the National Academy of Sciences to analyze the
data collected under paragraph (1) and publish a bi-
ennial update to the ‘‘Building a Workforce in the
Information Economy’’ report, issued in October of
2000.
(3) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—Biennial up-
dates required under paragraph (2) shall be trans-
mitted to the Committee on Science of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and to
the National Coordination Office for Information
Technology Research and Development, not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this
Act and biennially thereafter.
Æ