I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3747 
To provide for a pilot project for a nationwide network of secure computing 
enclaves for federally funded research in universities, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 8, 2021 
Mr. BABIN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Science, Space, and Technology 
A BILL 
To provide for a pilot project for a nationwide network 
of secure computing enclaves for federally funded re-
search in universities, 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 ‘‘Securing American Re-
search from Cyber Theft Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PURPOSE. 
The purposes of this Act are to help institutions of 
higher education protect federally funded research from 
cyber theft and interference by— 
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(1) directing the Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Program to 
provide for support and guidance on improving the 
security of academic computing and networking sys-
tems that process, store, and transmit federally 
funded research; and 
(2) establishing a pilot program to support re-
gional secure computing enclaves for academia to 
provide researchers with secure data storage and 
adequately protect Federal Government data. 
SEC. 3. NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT UPDATE. 
Section 101(a)(1) of the High-Performance Com-
puting Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended— 
(1) by inserting after subparagraph (I) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(J) provide for improving the security, re-
liability, and resiliency of computing and net-
working systems used by institutions of higher 
education and other nonprofit research institu-
tions for the processing, storage and trans-
mission of sensitive federally funded research 
and associated data;’’; and 
(2) by redesignating subparagraphs (J) through 
(O) as subparagraphs (K) through (P), respectively. 
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SEC. 4. COMPUTING ENCLAVE PILOT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Science Foundation, in consultation with the Director of 
the National Institute of Standards and Technology and 
the Secretary of Energy, shall award grants to establish 
a pilot program to ensure the security of federally-sup-
ported research data and to assist regional institutions of 
higher education and their researchers in compliance with 
regulations regarding the safeguarding of sensitive infor-
mation and other relevant regulations and Federal guide-
lines. 
(b) STRUCTURE.—In carrying out the pilot program 
established pursuant to subsection (a), the Director shall 
select three institutions of higher education from among 
institutions classified under the Indiana University Center 
for Postsecondary Research Carnegie Classification as a 
doctorate-granting university with a very high level of re-
search activity, and with a history of working with secure 
information for the development, installation, mainte-
nance, or sustainment of secure computing enclaves. 
(c) REGIONALIZATION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—In selecting universities pur-
suant to subsection (b), the Director shall give pref-
erence to institutions of higher education with the 
capability of serving other regional universities. 
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(2) GEOGRAPHIC
DISPERSAL.—The enclaves 
should be geographically dispersed to better meet the 
needs of regional interests. 
(d) PROGRAM ELEMENTS.—The Director shall work 
with institutions of higher education selected pursuant to 
subsection (b) to— 
(1) develop an approved design blueprint for 
compliance with Federal data protection protocols; 
(2) develop a comprehensive and confidential 
list, or a bill of materials, of each binary component 
of the software, firmware, or product that is re-
quired to deploy additional secure computing en-
claves; 
(3) develop templates for all policies and proce-
dures required to operate the secure computing en-
clave in a research setting; 
(4) develop a system security plan template; 
and 
(5) develop a process for managing a plan of 
action and milestones for the secure computing en-
clave. 
(e) DURATION.—Subject to other availability of ap-
propriations, the pilot program established pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall operate for not less than 3 years. 
(f) REPORT.— 
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(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the National 
Science Foundation shall report to Congress not 
later than 6 months after the completion of the pilot 
program under subsection (a). 
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required under 
paragraph (1) shall include— 
(A) an assessment of the pilot program 
under subsection (a), including an assessment 
of the security benefits provided by such secure 
computing enclaves; 
(B) recommendations related to the value 
of expanding the network of secure computing 
enclaves; and 
(C) recommendations on the efficacy of the 
use of secure computing enclaves by other Fed-
eral agencies in a broader effort to expand se-
curity of Federal research. 
(g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized 
to 
be 
appropriated 
to 
the 
Director, 
$38,000,000 for fiscal years 2022 through 2024, to carry 
out the activities outlined in this section. 
SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the National Science Foundation. 
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(2) 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). 
Æ 
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