II
106TH CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 2086
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 22, 2000
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation
AN ACT
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,
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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. 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
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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) 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.
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(12) 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.
(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. 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—
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(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 
‘‘; 
$520,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2000;
$645,000,000 for fiscal year 2001; $672,000,000 for
fiscal year 2002; $736,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
and $771,000,000 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;
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$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
(2) by striking the period at the end and insert-
ing 
‘‘; 
$120,000,000 
for 
fiscal 
year 
2000;
$108,600,000 for fiscal year 2001; $112,300,000 for
fiscal year 2002; $131,100,000 for fiscal year 2003;
and $135,000,000 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’’.
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(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’’.
(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
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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.’’.
(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.’’.
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
(1) NATIONAL
SCIENCE
FOUNDATION.—Not-
withstanding the amendment made by subsection
(a)(3) of this section, the total amount authorized
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for the National Science Foundation under section
201(b) of the High-Performance Computing Act of
1991 shall be $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.
(2) 
DEPARTMENT
OF
ENERGY.—Notwith-
standing the amendment made by subsection (c)(2)
of this section, the total amount authorized for the
Department of Energy under section 203(e)(1) of
the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 shall
be $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; $54,300,000
for fiscal year 2001; $56,150,000 for fiscal year
2002; $65,550,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
$67,500,000 for fiscal year 2004.
SEC. 4. 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:
‘‘(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;
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‘‘(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—
‘‘(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-
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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
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,
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$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:
‘‘and may participate 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
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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-
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:
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‘‘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. 5. NEXT GENERATION INTERNET.
Section 103 of the High-Performance Computing Act
of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5513) is amended—
(1) by amending subsection (c) to read as fol-
lows:
‘‘(c) STUDY OF INTERNET PRIVACY.—
‘‘(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 National Science Foundation may enter into an
arrangement with the National Research Council of
the National Academy of Sciences for that Council
to conduct a study of privacy on the Internet.
‘‘(2) SUBJECTS.—The study shall address—
‘‘(A) research needed to develop technology
for protection of privacy on the Internet;
‘‘(B) current public and private plans for
the deployment of privacy technology, stand-
ards, and policies;
‘‘(C) policies, laws, and practices under
consideration or formally adopted in other
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countries and jurisdictions to protect privacy on
the Internet;
‘‘(D) Federal legislation and other regu-
latory steps needed to ensure the development
of privacy technology, standards, and policies;
and
‘‘(E) other matters that the National Re-
search Council determines to be relevant to
Internet privacy.
‘‘(3) TRANSMITTAL
TO
CONGRESS.—The Na-
tional Science Foundation shall transmit to the Con-
gress within 21 months of the date of the enactment
of the Networking and Information Technology Re-
search and Development Act a report setting forth
the findings, conclusions, and recommendations 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.—Of 
the
amounts described in subsection (d)(2), $900,000
shall be available for the study conducted under this
subsection.’’; and
(2) in subsection (d)—
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(A) in paragraph (1)—
(i) by striking ‘‘1999 and’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘1999,’’; and
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, $15,000,000 for
fiscal year 2001, and $15,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2002’’ after ‘‘fiscal year 2000’’;
(B) 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’’;
(C) in paragraph (4)—
(i) by striking ‘‘1999 and’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘1999,’’; and
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, $10,000,000 for
fiscal year 2001, and $10,000,000 for fis-
cal year 2002’’ after ‘‘fiscal year 2000’’;
and
(D) in paragraph (5)—
(i) by striking ‘‘1999 and’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘1999,’’; and
(ii) by inserting ‘‘, $5,500,000 for fis-
cal year 2001, and $5,500,000 for fiscal
year 2002’’ after ‘‘fiscal year 2000’’.
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SEC. 6. 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. 7. EVALUATION OF CAPABILITIES OF FOREIGN
ENCRYPTION.
(a) STUDY.—The National Science Foundation shall
undertake a study comparing the availability of encryption
technologies in foreign countries to the encryption tech-
nologies subject to export restrictions in the United
States.
(b) REPORT
TO
CONGRESS.—Not later than 6
months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the
National Science Foundation shall transmit to the Con-
gress a report on the results of the study undertaken
under subsection (a).
SEC. 8. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Section 103 of the High-Performance Computing Act
of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5513), as amended by section 5 of
this Act, 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
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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
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;
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‘‘(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.’’.
SEC. 9. STUDY OF ACCESSIBILITY TO INFORMATION TECH-
NOLOGY.
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
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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;
‘‘(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-
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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).’’.
SEC. 10. 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 Act, and the amendments made
by this Act, on lower income families, minorities, and
women.
SEC. 11. BUY AMERICAN.
(a) COMPLIANCE WITH BUY AMERICAN ACT.—No
funds appropriated pursuant to this Act may be expended
by an entity unless the entity agrees that in expending
the assistance the entity will comply with sections 2
through 4 of the Buy American Act (41 U.S.C. 10a–10c).
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—In the case of any equip-
ment or products that may be authorized to be purchased
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with financial assistance provided under this Act, it is the
sense of the Congress that entities receiving such assist-
ance should, in expending the assistance, purchase only
American-made equipment and products.
(c) NOTICE
TO RECIPIENTS
OF ASSISTANCE.—In
providing financial assistance under this Act, the head of
each Federal agency shall provide to each recipient of the
assistance a notice describing the statement made in sub-
section (b) by the Congress.
Passed the House of Representatives February 15,
2000.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.