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 Informa-
tion Technology Advisory Committee entitled ‘‘Infor-
mation Technology Research: Investing in Our Fu-
ture’’ states that—
(A) Federal support for research in infor-
mation technology is inadequate;
(B) Federal investment in information tech-
nology research and development should give a
higher priority to long-term, basic research; and
(C) Federal information technology research
management should develop a long-term and co-
herent strategy for sustained attention to na-
tional goals.
(4) Long-term, basic research is necessary to cre-
ate technological breakthroughs in information tech-
nology. The Federal Government is uniquely posi-
tioned 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 re-
sources through improved quality control and other
means. Therefore, research in networking and infor-
mation technology that advances the field also ad-
vances 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 information to
further a number of societal goals, including increas-
ing economic growth through product development
and increased efficiency of services and manufac-
turing, advancing scientific research, and education.
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 informa-
tion 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 para-
graphs:
‘‘(5) ‘Program’ means the Networking and Infor-
mation Technology Research and Development Pro-
gram 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 RE-
SEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
(a) AMENDMENTS.—Section 101 of the High-Perform-
ance 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)(2)(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 INFORMA-
TION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT’’;
(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 sub-
paragraph (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 re-
quired to establish security standards and practices
for computing systems and networks; and
‘‘(J) provide for long-term basic research on net-
working 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 process
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 infor-
mation systems;’’;
(G) in paragraph (4)(C), by striking ‘‘spe-
cific activities’’ and all that follows through ‘‘the
Network’’ and inserting ‘‘each Program Compo-
nent 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 redesignated
by this paragraph, by inserting ‘‘, including
funding levels for the Program Component
Areas’’ after ‘‘of the Program’’;
(D) in paragraph (1)(D), as so redesignated
by this paragraph, by striking ‘‘computing’’ and
inserting ‘‘networking and information’’; 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, implemen-
tation, and activities of the Program, and shall report not
less frequently than once every two fiscal years to the Com-
mittee on Science of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 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 ‘‘Program
or’’ and inserting ‘‘Program Component Areas or’’.
(b) REPEALS.—Sections 102 and 103 of the High-Per-
formance 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 INFORMA-
TION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT 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 Founda-
tion 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 com-
puter networking.
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From
sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are au-
thorized to be appropriated to the National Science Foun-
dation for the purposes of the Program $704,000,000 for
fiscal year 2003; $774,000,000 for fiscal year 2004,
$851,000,000 for fiscal year 2005, $937,000,000 for fiscal
year 2006, and $1,030,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.’’.
(b) NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRA-
TION ACTIVITIES.—Section 202 of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5522) is amended to
read as follows:
‘‘SEC. 202. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINIS-
TRATION ACTIVITIES.
‘‘(a) GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES.—As part of the
Program described in title I, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration shall conduct basic and applied re-
search in networking and information technology, with em-
phasis on—
‘‘(1) computational fluid, thermal, and aero-
dynamics;
‘‘(2) scientific data dissemination and tools to
enable data to be fully analyzed and combined from
multiple sources and sensors;
‘‘(3) remote exploration and experimentation;
and
‘‘(4) tools for collaboration in systems design,
analysis, and testing.
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—From
sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are au-
thorized to be appropriated to the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration for the purposes of the Program
$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 inserting
‘‘$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;
tional 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 au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Environmental Protec-
tion 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 fiscal 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 ar-
rangement with the National Research Council of the
National Academy of Sciences to conduct an assess-
ment of the state of research on networking and infor-
mation technology in the United States. The study
shall use the methodology and approach developed by
the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public
Policy of the National Academies and documented in
its 2000 report entitled ‘‘Experiments in Inter-
national 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 Representatives,
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation 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 RECOMMENDATIONS.—
Not later than 3 months after receipt of the report
transmitted under paragraph (2), the advisory com-
mittee shall provide recommendations to the Director
of the Office of Science and Technology Policy on ap-
propriate changes to the Program established by sec-
tion 101(a) of the High-Performance Computing Act
of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)) to address 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-Perform-
ance 
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 report
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 Na-
tional 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 informa-
tion technology professionals;
(C) various forms of employee compensa-
tion, including salaries, bonuses, and stock op-
tions;
(D) the role of foreign workers in the infor-
mation 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 Im-
migration 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 biennial
update to the ‘‘Building a Workforce in the Informa-
tion 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 Tech-
nology Research and Development, not later than 1
year after the date of the enactment of this Act and
biennially thereafter.
SEC. 7. RESEARCH CENTER.
(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) As part of the Program de-
scribed in section 101 of the High-Performance Computing
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511), the National Science Founda-
tion, in consultation with the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
and other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall establish
a center for research on information technology questions
related to crisis management.
(2) The award to support the establishment and oper-
ation of the center established under paragraph (1) shall
be made to an eligible nonprofit organization or consortium
thereof through a merit-reviewed, competitive process in ac-
cordance with requirements specified by the National
Science Foundation.
(b) USE OF FUNDS.—The center established under sub-
section (a) shall carry out research to advance the role of
information technology in crisis management. Such activi-
ties may include—
(1) research on—
(A) human-computer interface technologies
suitable for meeting user needs and limitations;
(B) network-based collaboration tools, in-
cluding virtual situation rooms;
(C) the interconnection, interoperation, and
reliability of networks involving diverse informa-
tion resources;
(D) rapidly deployable, self-configuring
wireless networks;
(E) software to assist crisis managers in
making decisions in the absence of complete in-
formation;
(F) means for improving the performance of
distributed systems; and