Department of Energy High-End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004
PL 108-423 (H.R.4516), enacted 11/30/2004

118 STAT. 2400
PUBLIC LAW 108–423—NOV. 30, 2004
Public Law 108–423
108th Congress
An Act
To require the Secretary of Energy to carry out a program of research and develop-
ment to advance high-end computing.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Department of Energy High-
End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004’’.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) CENTER.—The term ‘‘Center’’ means a High-End Soft-
ware Development Center established under section 3(d).
(2) HIGH-END
COMPUTING
SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘high-end
computing system’’ means a computing system with perform-
ance that substantially exceeds that of systems that are com-
monly available for advanced scientific and engineering applica-
tions.
(3) LEADERSHIP SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘Leadership System’’
means a high-end computing system that is among the most
advanced in the world in terms of performance in solving sci-
entific and engineering problems.
(4) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The term ‘‘institu-
tion of higher education’’ has the meaning given the term
in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001(a)).
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary
of Energy, acting through the Director of the Office of Science
of the Department of Energy.
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HIGH-END COMPUTING RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall—
(1) carry out a program of research and development
(including development of software and hardware) to advance
high-end computing systems; and
(2) develop and deploy high-end computing systems for
advanced scientific and engineering applications.
(b) PROGRAM.—The program shall—
(1) support both individual investigators and multidisci-
plinary teams of investigators;
(2) conduct research in multiple architectures, which may
include vector, reconfigurable logic, streaming, processor-in-
memory, and multithreading architectures;
15 USC 5542.
15 USC 5541.
15 USC 5501
note.
Department of
Energy High-End
Computing
Revitalization
Act of 2004.
Nov. 30, 2004
[H.R. 4516]
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118 STAT. 2401
PUBLIC LAW 108–423—NOV. 30, 2004
(3) conduct research on software for high-end computing
systems, including research on algorithms, programming
environments, tools, languages, and operating systems for high-
end computing systems, in collaboration with architecture
development efforts;
(4) provide for sustained access by the research community
in the United States to high-end computing systems and to
Leadership Systems, including provision of technical support
for users of such systems;
(5) support technology transfer to the private sector and
others in accordance with applicable law; and
(6) ensure that the high-end computing activities of the
Department of Energy are coordinated with relevant activities
in industry and with other Federal agencies, including the
National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency, the National Nuclear Security Administration,
the National Security Agency, the National Institutes of Health,
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the
National 
Oceanic 
and 
Atmospheric 
Administration, 
the
National Institutes of Standards and Technology, and the
Environmental Protection Agency.
(c) LEADERSHIP SYSTEMS FACILITIES.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the program carried out under
this Act, the Secretary shall establish and operate 1 or more
Leadership Systems facilities to—
(A) conduct advanced scientific and engineering
research and development using Leadership Systems; and
(B) develop potential advancements in high-end com-
puting system hardware and software.
(2) ADMINISTRATION.—In carrying out this subsection, the
Secretary shall provide to Leadership Systems, on a competi-
tive, merit-reviewed basis, access to researchers in United
States industry, institutions of higher education, national lab-
oratories, and other Federal agencies.
(d) HIGH-END SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT CENTER.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the program carried out under
this Act, the Secretary shall establish at least 1 High-End
Software Development Center.
(2) DUTIES.—A Center shall concentrate efforts to develop,
test, maintain, and support optimal algorithms, programming
environments, tools, languages, and operating systems for high-
end computing systems.
(3) PROPOSALS.—In soliciting proposals for the Center, the
Secretary shall encourage staffing arrangements that include
both permanent staff and a rotating staff of researchers from
other institutions and industry to assist in coordination of
research efforts and promote technology transfer to the private
sector.
(4) USE OF EXPERTISE.—The Secretary shall use the exper-
tise of a Center to assess research and development in high-
end computing system architecture.
(5) SELECTION.—The selection of a Center shall be deter-
mined by a competitive proposal process administered by the
Secretary.
Establishment.
Establishment.
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118 STAT. 2402
PUBLIC LAW 108–423—NOV. 30, 2004
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 4516:
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 108–578 (Comm. on Science).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 108–379 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 150 (2004):
July 7, considered and passed House.
Oct. 10, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Nov. 17, House concurred in Senate amendment.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
In addition to amounts otherwise made available for high-
end computing, there are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary to carry out this Act—
(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
(2) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
(3) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
SEC. 5. ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) AMENDMENTS.—Section 23 of the National Science Founda-
tion Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n–9) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of sub-
section (b), by striking ‘‘and the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration’’ and inserting ‘‘, the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, and the Department of Energy’’;
(2) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘Administration, and’’
and inserting ‘‘Administration, the Secretary of Energy, ’’;
(3) in subsection (c)—
(A) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking ‘‘5’’ and
inserting ‘‘4’’;
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4),
and in that paragraph by striking ‘‘3’’ and inserting ‘‘2’’;
and
(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
‘‘(3) 3 members selected by the Secretary of Energy; and
(4) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘the advisory bodies of
other Federal agencies, such as the Department of Energy,
which may engage in related research activities’’ and inserting
‘‘other Federal advisory committees that advise Federal agen-
cies that engage in related research activities’’.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by subsection
(a) take effect on March 15, 2005.
SEC. 
6. 
REMOVAL 
OF 
SUNSET 
PROVISION 
FROM 
SAVINGS 
IN
CONSTRUCTION ACT OF 1996.
Section 14 of the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (15 U.S.C.
205l) is amended by striking subsection (e).
Approved November 30, 2004.
42 USC 1862–9
note.
15 USC 5543.
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