II
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4940
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
OCTOBER 25 (legislative day, SEPTEMBER 22), 2000
Received
AN ACT
To designate the museum operated by the Secretary of En-
ergy in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as the ‘‘American Mu-
seum of Science and Energy’’, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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TITLE I—AMERICAN MUSEUM OF
SCIENCE AND ENERGY
SEC. 
101. 
DESIGNATION 
OF 
AMERICAN 
MUSEUM 
OF
SCIENCE AND ENERGY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Museum—
(1) is designated as the ‘‘American Museum of
Science and Energy’’; and
(2) shall be the official museum of science and
energy of the United States.
(b) REFERENCES.—Any reference in a law, map, reg-
ulation, document, paper, or other record of the United
States to the Museum is deemed to be a reference to the
‘‘American Museum of Science and Energy’’.
(c) PROPERTY OF THE UNITED STATES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The name ‘‘American Mu-
seum of Science and Energy’’ is declared the prop-
erty of the United States.
(2) INJUNCTION.—Whoever, except as author-
ized by the Secretary, uses or reproduces the name
‘‘American Museum of Science and Energy’’, or a
facsimile or simulation of such name in such manner
as suggests ‘‘American Museum of Science and En-
ergy’’, may be enjoined from such use or reproduc-
tion at the suit of the Attorney General upon com-
plaint by the Secretary.
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(3) EFFECT
ON
OTHER
RIGHTS.—This sub-
section shall not be construed to conflict or interfere
with established or vested rights.
SEC. 102. AUTHORITY.
To carry out the activities of the Museum, the Sec-
retary may—
(1) accept and dispose of any gift, devise, or be-
quest of services or property, real or personal, that
is—
(A) designated in a written document by
the person making the gift, devise, or bequest
as intended for the Museum; and
(B) determined by the Secretary to be suit-
able and beneficial for use by the Museum;
(2) operate a retail outlet on the premises of
the Museum for the purpose of selling or distrib-
uting items (including mementos, food, educational
materials, replicas, and literature) that are—
(A) relevant to the contents of the Mu-
seum; and
(B) informative, educational, and tasteful;
(3) collect reasonable fees where feasible and
appropriate;
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(4) exhibit, perform, display, and publish mate-
rials and information of or relating to the Museum
in any media or place;
(5) consistent with guidelines approved by the
Secretary, lease space on the premises of the Mu-
seum at reasonable rates and for uses consistent
with such guidelines; and
(6) use the proceeds of activities authorized
under this section to pay the costs of the Museum.
SEC. 103. MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS.
(a) AUTHORITY TO USE VOLUNTEERS.—The Sec-
retary may recruit, train, and accept the services of indi-
viduals or entities as volunteers for services or activities
related to the Museum.
(b) STATUS OF VOLUNTEERS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), service by a volunteer under subsection
(a) shall not be considered Federal employment.
(2) EXCEPTIONS.—
(A) FEDERAL
TORT
CLAIMS
ACT.—For
purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, United
States Code, a volunteer under subsection (a)
shall be treated as an employee of the govern-
ment (as defined in section 2671 of that title).
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(B) COMPENSATION
FOR
WORK
INJU-
RIES.—For purposes of subchapter I of chapter
81 of title 5, United States Code, a volunteer
described in subsection (a) shall be treated as
an employee (as defined in section 8101 of title
5, United States Code).
(c) COMPENSATION.—A volunteer under subsection
(a) shall serve without pay, but may receive nominal
awards and reimbursement for incidental expenses, includ-
ing expenses for a uniform or transportation in further-
ance of Museum activities.
SEC. 104. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of this title:
(1) MUSEUM.—The term ‘‘Museum’’ means the
museum operated by the Secretary of Energy and lo-
cated at 300 South Tulane Avenue in Oak Ridge,
Tennessee.
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of Energy or a designated representa-
tive of the Secretary.
TITLE II—NETWORKING AND
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Networking and Infor-
mation Technology Research and Development Act’’.
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SEC. 202. 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. It is important that access to infor-
mation technology be available to all citizens, includ-
ing elderly Americans and Americans with disabil-
ities.
(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.
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(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) Our Nation’s well-being will depend on the
understanding, arising from fundamental research,
of the social and economic benefits and problems
arising from the increasing pace of information tech-
nology transformations.
(11) Scientific and engineering research and the
availability of a skilled workforce are critical to con-
tinued economic growth driven by information tech-
nology.
(12) In 1997, private industry provided most of
the funding for research and development in the in-
formation technology sector. The information tech-
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nology sector now receives, in absolute terms, one-
third of all corporate spending on research and de-
velopment in the United States economy.
(13) The private sector tends to focus its
spending on short-term, applied research.
(14) The Federal Government is uniquely posi-
tioned to support long-term fundamental research.
(15) Federal applied research in information
technology has grown at almost twice the rate of
Federal basic research since 1986.
(16) Federal science and engineering programs
must increase their emphasis on long-term, high-risk
research.
(17) 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. 203. 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’’;
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(2) by striking ‘‘1995; and’’ and inserting
‘‘1995;’’; and
(3) by striking the period at the end and insert-
ing 
‘‘; 
$580,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2000;
$699,300,000 for fiscal year 2001; $728,150,000 for
fiscal year 2002; $801,550,000 for fiscal year 2003;
and $838,500,000 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.’’.
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(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
(2) by striking the period at the end and insert-
ing 
‘‘; 
$119,500,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2000;
$175,000,000 for fiscal year 2001; $183,000,000 for
fiscal year 2002; $193,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
and $203,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.’’.
(d) NATIONAL
INSTITUTE
OF
STANDARDS
AND
TECHNOLOGY.—(1) Section 204(d)(1) of the High-Per-
formance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5524(d)(1))
is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘1995; and’’ and inserting
‘‘1995;’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘1996; and’’ and inserting
‘‘1996; $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; $9,500,000
for fiscal year 2001; $10,500,000 for fiscal year
2002; $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
$17,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and’’.
(2) Section 204(d) of the High-Performance Com-
puting Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5524(d)) is amended by
striking ‘‘From sums otherwise authorized to be appro-
priated, there’’ and inserting ‘‘There’’.
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(e) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION.—Section 204(d)(2) of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5524(d)(2)) is
amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘1995; and’’ and inserting
‘‘1995;’’; and
(2) by striking the period at the end and insert-
ing 
‘‘; 
$13,500,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2000;
$13,900,000 for fiscal year 2001; $14,300,000 for
fiscal year 2002; $14,800,000 for fiscal year 2003;
and $15,200,000 for fiscal year 2004.’’.
(f) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.—Sec-
tion 205(b) of the High-Performance Computing Act of
1991 (15 U.S.C. 5525(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 ‘‘; $4,200,000 for fiscal year 2000; $4,300,000
for fiscal year 2001; $4,500,000 for fiscal year
2002; $4,600,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
$4,700,000 for fiscal year 2004.’’.
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(g) NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH.—Title II of
the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5521 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 205
the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 205A. NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH ACTIVITIES.
‘‘(a) GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES.—As part of the
Program described in title I, the National Institutes of
Health shall conduct research directed toward the ad-
vancement and dissemination of computational techniques
and software tools in support of its mission of biomedical
and behavioral research.
‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Health and Human Services for the purposes of the Pro-
gram $223,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, $233,000,000
for fiscal year 2001, $242,000,000 for fiscal year 2002,
$250,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, and $250,000,000 for
fiscal year 2004.’’.
SEC. 204. NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.
(a) NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.—Section 201
of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15
U.S.C. 5521) is amended by adding at the end the fol-
lowing new subsections:
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‘‘(c) NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.—(1) Of the amounts au-
thorized under subsection (b), $350,000,000 for fiscal
year 
2000, 
$421,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2001,
$442,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, $486,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2003, and $515,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 shall
be available for grants for long-term basic research on net-
working and information technology, with priority given
to research that helps address issues related to high end
computing and software; network stability, fragility, reli-
ability, security (including privacy and counterinitiatives),
and scalability; and the social and economic consequences
(including the consequences for healthcare) of information
technology.
‘‘(2) In each of the fiscal years 2000 and 2001, the
National Science Foundation shall award under this sub-
section up to 25 large grants of up to $1,000,000 each,
and in each of the fiscal years 2002, 2003, and 2004, the
National Science Foundation shall award under this sub-
section up to 35 large grants of up to $1,000,000 each.
‘‘(3)(A) Of the amounts described in paragraph (1),
$40,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, $45,000,000 for fiscal
year 2001, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, $55,000,000
for fiscal year 2003, and $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2004
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shall be available for grants of up to $5,000,000 each for
Information Technology Research Centers.
‘‘(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘Infor-
mation Technology Research Centers’ means groups of six
or more researchers collaborating across scientific and en-
gineering disciplines on large-scale long-term research
projects which will significantly advance the science sup-
porting the development of information technology or the
use of information technology in addressing scientific
issues of national importance.
‘‘(d) MAJOR RESEARCH EQUIPMENT.—(1) In addi-
tion to the amounts authorized under subsection (b), there
are authorized to be appropriated to the National Science
Foundation 
$70,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2000,
$70,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, $80,000,000 for fiscal
year 2002, $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, and
$85,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 for grants for the devel-
opment of major research equipment to establish terascale
computing capabilities at one or more sites and to promote
diverse computing architectures. Awards made under this
subsection shall provide for support for the operating ex-
penses of facilities established to provide the terascale
computing capabilities, with funding for such operating
expenses derived from amounts available under subsection
(b).
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‘‘(2) Grants awarded under this subsection shall be
awarded through an open, nationwide, peer-reviewed com-
petition. Awardees may include consortia consisting of
members from some or all of the following types of institu-
tions:
‘‘(A) Academic supercomputer centers.
‘‘(B) State-supported supercomputer centers.
‘‘(C) Supercomputer centers that are supported
as part of federally funded research and development
centers.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, regulation, or
agency policy, a federally funded research and develop-
ment center may apply for a grant under this subsection,
and may compete on an equal basis with any other appli-
cant for the awarding of such a grant.
‘‘(3) As a condition of receiving a grant under this
subsection, an awardee must agree—
‘‘(A) to connect to the National Science Foun-
dation’s Partnership for Advanced Computational
Infrastructure network;
‘‘(B) to the maximum extent practicable, to co-
ordinate with other federally funded large-scale com-
puting and simulation efforts; and
‘‘(C) to provide open access to all grant recipi-
ents under this subsection or subsection (c).
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‘‘(e) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION AND
TRAINING GRANTS.—
‘‘(1) INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY
GRANTS.—
The National Science Foundation shall provide
grants under the Scientific and Advanced Tech-
nology Act of 1992 for the purposes of section 3(a)
and (b) of that Act, except that the activities sup-
ported pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to
improving education in fields related to information
technology. The Foundation shall encourage institu-
tions with a substantial percentage of student enroll-
ments from groups underrepresented in information
technology industries to participate in the competi-
tion for grants provided under this paragraph.
‘‘(2) 
INTERNSHIP
GRANTS.—The 
National
Science Foundation shall provide—
‘‘(A) grants to institutions of higher edu-
cation to establish scientific internship pro-
grams in information technology research at
private sector companies; and
‘‘(B) supplementary awards to institutions
funded under the Louis Stokes Alliances for Mi-
nority Participation program for internships in
information technology research at private sec-
tor companies.
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‘‘(3) MATCHING FUNDS.—Awards under para-
graph (2) shall be made on the condition that at
least an equal amount of funding for the internship
shall be provided by the private sector company at
which the internship will take place.
‘‘(4) DEFINITION.—For purposes of this sub-
section, the term ‘institution of higher education’
has the meaning given that term in section 1201(a)
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1141(a)).
‘‘(5) 
AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—Of 
the
amounts described in subsection (c)(1), $10,000,000
for fiscal year 2000, $15,000,000 for fiscal year
2001, 
$20,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2002,
$25,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, and $25,000,000
for fiscal year 2004 shall be available for carrying
out this subsection.
‘‘(f) EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH.—
‘‘(1) RESEARCH PROGRAM.—As part of its re-
sponsibilities under subsection (a)(1), the National
Science Foundation shall establish a research pro-
gram to develop, demonstrate, assess, and dissemi-
nate effective applications of information and com-
puter technologies for elementary and secondary
education. Such program shall—
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‘‘(A) support research projects, including
collaborative projects involving academic re-
searchers 
and 
elementary 
and 
secondary
schools, to develop innovative educational mate-
rials, including software, and pedagogical ap-
proaches based on applications of information
and computer technology;
‘‘(B) support empirical studies to deter-
mine the educational effectiveness and the cost
effectiveness of specific, promising educational
approaches, techniques, and materials that are
based on applications of information and com-
puter technologies; and
‘‘(C) include provision for the widespread
dissemination of the results of the studies car-
ried out under subparagraphs (A) and (B), in-
cluding maintenance of electronic libraries of
the best educational materials identified acces-
sible through the Internet.
‘‘(2) REPLICATION.—The research projects and
empirical studies carried out under paragraph (1)(A)
and (B) shall encompass a wide variety of edu-
cational settings in order to identify approaches,
techniques, and materials that have a high potential
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for being successfully replicated throughout the
United States.
‘‘(3) 
AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—Of 
the
amounts 
authorized 
under 
subsection 
(b),
$10,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, $10,500,000 for
fiscal year 2001, $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2002,
$12,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, and $12,500,000
for fiscal year 2004 shall be available for the pur-
poses of this subsection.
‘‘(g) PEER REVIEW.—All grants made under this sec-
tion shall be made only after being subject to peer review
by panels or groups having private sector representation.’’.
(b) OTHER PROGRAM AGENCIES.—
(1) NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE AD-
MINISTRATION.—Section 202(a) of the High-Per-
formance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5522(a)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, and may par-
ticipate in or support research described in section
201(c)(1)’’ after ‘‘and experimentation’’.
(2) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.—Section 203(a)
of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991
(15 U.S.C. 5523(a)) is amended by striking the pe-
riod at the end and inserting a comma, and by add-
ing after paragraph (4) the following:
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‘‘conduct an integrated program of research, development,
and provision of facilities to develop and deploy to sci-
entific and technical users the high performance com-
puting and collaboration tools needed to fulfill the statu-
tory mission of the Department of Energy, and may par-
ticipate in or support research described in section
201(c)(1).’’.
(3) NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND
TECHNOLOGY.—Section 204(a)(1) of the High-Per-
formance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5524(a)(1)) is amended by striking ‘‘; and’’ at the
end of subparagraph (C) and inserting a comma,
and by adding after subparagraph (C) the following:
‘‘and may participate in or support research de-
scribed in section 201(c)(1); and’’.
(4) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD-
MINISTRATION.—Section 204(a)(2) of the High-Per-
formance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5524(a)(2)) is amended by inserting ‘‘, and may
participate in or support research described in sec-
tion 201(c)(1)’’ after ‘‘agency missions’’.
(5) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.—
Section 205(a) of the High-Performance Computing
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5525(a)) is amended by in-
serting ‘‘, and may participate in or support re-
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search described in section 201(c)(1)’’ after ‘‘dynam-
ics models’’.
(6) UNITED
STATES
GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY.—
Title II of the High-Performance Computing Act of
1991 (15 U.S.C. 5521 et seq.) is amended—
(A) by redesignating sections 207 and 208
as sections 208 and 209, respectively; and
(B) by inserting after section 206 the fol-
lowing new section:
‘‘SEC. 207. UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
‘‘The United States Geological Survey may partici-
pate in or support research described in section
201(c)(1).’’.
SEC. 205. NEXT GENERATION INTERNET.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 103(d) of the High-Per-
formance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5513(d)) is
amended—
(1) in paragraph (1)—
(A) by striking ‘‘1999 and’’ and inserting
‘‘1999,’’; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘, $15,000,000 for fiscal
year 2001, and $15,000,000 for fiscal year
2002’’ after ‘‘fiscal year 2000’’;
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(2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘, and
$25,000,000 for fiscal year 2001 and $25,000,000
for fiscal year 2002’’ after ‘‘Act of 1998’’;
(3) in paragraph (4)—
(A) by striking ‘‘1999 and’’ and inserting
‘‘1999,’’; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘, $10,000,000 for fiscal
year 2001, and $10,000,000 for fiscal year
2002’’ after ‘‘fiscal year 2000’’; and
(4) in paragraph (5)—
(A) by striking ‘‘1999 and’’ and inserting
‘‘1999,’’; and
(B) by inserting ‘‘, $5,500,000 for fiscal
year 2001, and $5,500,000 for fiscal year
2002’’ after ‘‘fiscal year 2000’’.
(b) RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE.—Section 103 of the
High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C.
5513) is amended by adding at the end thereof the fol-
lowing:
‘‘(e) RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE.—Out of appropriated
amounts authorized by subsection (d), not less than 10
percent of the total amounts shall be made available to
fund research grants for making high-speed connectivity
more accessible to users in geographically remote areas.
The research shall include investigations of wireless, hy-
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brid, and satellite technologies. In awarding grants under
this subsection, the administering agency shall give pri-
ority to qualified, post-secondary educational institutions
that participate in the Experimental Program to Stimu-
late Competitive Research.’’.
(c) MINORITY AND SMALL COLLEGE INTERNET AC-
CESS.—Section 103 of the High-Performance Computing
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5513), as amended by subsection
(b), is further amended by adding at the end thereof the
following:
‘‘(f) MINORITY AND SMALL COLLEGE INTERNET AC-
CESS.—Not less than 5 percent of the amounts made
available for research under subsection (d) shall be used
for grants to institutions of higher education that are His-
panic-serving, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Native
Alaskan, Historically Black, or small colleges and univer-
sities.’’.
(d) DIGITAL DIVIDE STUDY.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The National Academy of
Sciences shall conduct a study to determine the ex-
tent to which the Internet backbone and network in-
frastructure contribute to the uneven ability to ac-
cess to Internet-related technologies and services by
rural and low-income Americans. The study shall
include—
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(A) an assessment of the existing geo-
graphical penalty (as defined in section 7(a)(1)
of the Next Generation Internet Research Act
of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 5501 nt.)) and its impact
on all users and their ability to obtain secure
and reliable Internet access;
(B) a review of all current federally funded
research to decrease the inequity of Internet ac-
cess to rural and low-income users; and
(C) an estimate of the potential impact of
Next Generation Internet research institutions
acting as aggregators and mentors for nearby
smaller or disadvantaged institutions.
(2) 
REPORT.—The 
National 
Academy 
of
Sciences shall transmit a report containing the re-
sults of the study and recommendations required by
paragraph (1) to the House of Representatives Com-
mittee on Science and the Senate Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation within 1
year after the date of enactment of this Act.
(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Na-
tional Academy of Sciences such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this subsection.
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SEC. 206. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.
Section 101 of the High-Performance Computing Act
of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)—
(A) 
by 
redesignating 
paragraphs 
(1)
through (5) as subparagraphs (A) through (E),
respectively;
(B) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ after ‘‘ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.—’’; and
(C) 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, implementation, and
activities of the Program, the Next Generation Internet
program, and the Networking and Information Tech-
nology Research and Development program, and shall re-
port not less frequently than once every 2 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 1 year after the date
of the enactment of the Networking and Information
Technology Research and Development Act.’’; and
(2) in subsection (c)(1)(A) and (2), by inserting
‘‘, including the Next Generation Internet program
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and the Networking and Information Technology
Research and Development program’’ after ‘‘Pro-
gram’’ each place it appears.
SEC. 207. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Section 103 of the High-Performance Computing Act
of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5513), as amended by section 205 of
this title, is further amended by redesignating subsections
(b), (c), and (d) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respec-
tively, and by inserting after subsection (a) the following
new subsection:
‘‘(b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—
‘‘(1) REQUIREMENT.—The Director of the Na-
tional Science Foundation shall conduct a study of
the issues described in paragraph (3), and not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the
Networking and Information Technology Research
and Development Act, shall transmit to the Congress
a report including recommendations to address those
issues. Such report shall be updated annually for 6
additional years.
‘‘(2) CONSULTATION.—In preparing the reports
under paragraph (1), the Director of the National
Science Foundation shall consult with the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, and such
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other Federal agencies and educational entities as
the Director of the National Science Foundation
considers appropriate.
‘‘(3) ISSUES.—The reports shall—
‘‘(A) identify the current status of high-
speed, large bandwidth capacity access to all
public elementary and secondary schools and li-
braries in the United States;
‘‘(B) identify how high-speed, large band-
width capacity access to the Internet to such
schools and libraries can be effectively utilized
within each school and library;
‘‘(C) consider the effect that specific or re-
gional circumstances may have on the ability of
such institutions to acquire high-speed, large
bandwidth capacity access to achieve universal
connectivity as an effective tool in the education
process; and
‘‘(D) include options and recommendations
for the various entities responsible for elemen-
tary and secondary education to address the
challenges and issues identified in the reports.’’.
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SEC. 208. STUDY OF ACCESSIBILITY TO INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY.
Section 201 of the High-Performance Computing Act
of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5524), as amended by sections 3(a)
and 4(a) of this Act, is amended further by inserting after
subsection (g) the following new subsection:
‘‘(h) STUDY
OF ACCESSIBILITY
TO INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY.—
‘‘(1) STUDY.—Not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of the Networking and Infor-
mation Technology Research and Development Act,
the Director of the National Science Foundation, in
consultation with the National Institute on Dis-
ability and Rehabilitation Research, shall enter into
an arrangement with the National Research Council
of the National Academy of Sciences for that Coun-
cil to conduct a study of accessibility to information
technologies by individuals who are elderly, individ-
uals who are elderly with a disability, and individ-
uals with disabilities.
‘‘(2) SUBJECTS.—The study shall address—
‘‘(A) current barriers to access to informa-
tion technologies by individuals who are elderly,
individuals who are elderly with a disability,
and individuals with disabilities;
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‘‘(B) research and development needed to
remove those barriers;
‘‘(C) Federal legislative, policy, or regu-
latory changes needed to remove those barriers;
and
‘‘(D) other matters that the National Re-
search Council determines to be relevant to ac-
cess to information technologies by individuals
who are elderly, individuals who are elderly with
a disability, and individuals with disabilities.
‘‘(3) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.—The Direc-
tor of the National Science Foundation shall trans-
mit to the Congress within 2 years of the date of the
enactment of the Networking and Information Tech-
nology Research and Development Act a report set-
ting forth the findings, conclusions, and rec-
ommendations of the National Research Council.
‘‘(4) FEDERAL
AGENCY
COOPERATION.—Fed-
eral agencies shall cooperate fully with the National
Research Council in its activities in carrying out the
study under this subsection.
‘‘(5) AVAILABILITY
OF
FUNDS.—Funding for
the study described in this subsection shall be avail-
able, in the amount of $700,000, from amounts de-
scribed in subsection (c)(1).’’.
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SEC. 209. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit to the
Congress a report on the results of a detailed study ana-
lyzing the effects of this title, and the amendments made
by this title, on lower income families, minorities, and
women.
Passed the House of Representatives October 24,
2000.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.