[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2086 Engrossed in House (EH)]


  2d Session

                               H. R. 2086

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

To authorize funding for networking and information technology research 
   and development for fiscal years 2000 through 2004, and for other 
                               purposes.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 2086

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
To authorize funding for networking and information technology research 
   and development for fiscal years 2000 through 2004, and for other 
                               purposes.

    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 ``Networking and Information 
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 information 
        technology be available to all citizens, including elderly 
        Americans and Americans with disabilities.
            (2) Information technology is an imperative enabling 
        technology that contributes to scientific disciplines. Major 
        advances in biomedical research, public safety, engineering, 
        and other critical areas depend on further advances in 
        computing and communications.
            (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.
            (6) Businesses producing computers, semiconductors, 
        software, and communications equipment account for one-third of 
        the total growth in the United States economy since 1992.
            (7) According to the United States Census Bureau, between 
        1993 and 1997, the information technology sector grew an 
        average of 12.3 percent per year.
            (8) Fundamental research in information technology has 
        enabled the information revolution.
            (9) Fundamental research in information technology has 
        contributed to the creation of new industries 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 technology transformations.
            (11) Scientific and engineering research and the 
        availability of a skilled workforce are critical to continued 
        economic growth driven by information technology.
            (12) In 1997, private industry provided most of the funding 
        for research and development in the information technology 
        sector. The information technology sector now receives, in 
        absolute terms, one-third of all corporate spending on research 
        and development 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 positioned 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--
            (1) by striking ``From sums otherwise authorized 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 inserting ``; 
        $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 authorized under this subsection shall be the 
total amounts authorized to the National Science Foundation 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 Administration.--Section 202(b) 
of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5522(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``From sums otherwise authorized 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 inserting ``; 
        $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.''.
    (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 inserting ``; 
        $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-Performance 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 Computing Act of 1991 
(15 U.S.C. 5524(d)) is amended by striking ``From sums otherwise 
authorized to be appropriated, there'' and inserting ``There''.
    (e) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.--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 inserting ``; 
        $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.--Section 205(b) of the High-
Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5525(b)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``From sums otherwise authorized 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 inserting ``; 
        $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.''.
    (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 advancement 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 Program $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.--Notwithstanding the 
        amendment made by subsection (a)(3) of this section, the total 
        amount authorized 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.--Notwithstanding 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 following new subsections:
    ``(c) Networking and Information Technology Research and 
Development.--(1) Of the amounts authorized 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 fiscal year 2003; 
and $515,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 shall be available for grants for 
long-term basic research on networking and information technology, with 
priority given to research that helps address issues related to high 
end computing and software; network stability, fragility, reliability, 
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 subsection 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 
subsection 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 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 `Information 
Technology Research Centers' means groups of six or more researchers 
collaborating across scientific and engineering disciplines on large-
scale long-term research projects which will significantly advance the 
science supporting the development of information technology or the use 
of information technology in addressing scientific issues of national 
importance.
    ``(d) Major Research Equipment.--(1) In addition 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 development 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 expenses of 
facilities established to provide the terascale computing capabilities, 
with funding for such operating expenses derived from amounts available 
under subsection (b).
    ``(2) Grants awarded under this subsection shall be awarded through 
an open, nationwide, peer-reviewed competition. Awardees may include 
consortia consisting of members from some or all of the following types 
of institutions:
            ``(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 development center may apply 
for a grant under this subsection, and may compete on an equal basis 
with any other applicant 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 Foundation's 
        Partnership for Advanced Computational Infrastructure network;
            ``(B) to the maximum extent practicable, to coordinate with 
        other federally funded large-scale computing and simulation 
        efforts; and
            ``(C) to provide open access to all grant recipients under 
        this subsection or subsection (c).
    ``(e) Information Technology Education and Training Grants.--
            ``(1) Information technology grants.--The National Science 
        Foundation shall provide grants under the Scientific and 
        Advanced Technology Act of 1992 for the purposes of section 
        3(a) and (b) of that Act, except that the activities supported 
        pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to improving 
        education in fields related to information technology. The 
        Foundation shall encourage institutions with a substantial 
        percentage of student enrollments from groups underrepresented 
        in information technology industries to participate in the 
        competition for grants provided under this paragraph.
            ``(2) Internship grants.--The National Science Foundation 
        shall provide--
                    ``(A) grants to institutions of higher education to 
                establish scientific internship programs in information 
                technology research at private sector companies; and
                    ``(B) supplementary awards to institutions funded 
                under the Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority 
                Participation program for internships in information 
                technology research at private sector companies.
            ``(3) Matching funds.--Awards under paragraph (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 subsection, 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 responsibilities 
        under subsection (a)(1), the National Science Foundation shall 
        establish a research program to develop, demonstrate, assess, 
        and disseminate effective applications of information and 
        computer technologies for elementary and secondary education. 
        Such program shall--
                    ``(A) support research projects, including 
                collaborative projects involving academic researchers 
                and elementary and secondary schools, to develop 
                innovative educational materials, including software, 
                and pedagogical approaches based on applications of 
                information and computer technology;
                    ``(B) support empirical studies to determine the 
                educational effectiveness and the cost effectiveness of 
                specific, promising educational approaches, techniques, 
                and materials that are based on applications of 
                information and computer technologies; and
                    ``(C) include provision for the widespread 
                dissemination of the results of the studies carried out 
                under subparagraphs (A) and (B), including maintenance 
                of electronic libraries of the best educational 
                materials identified accessible 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 educational 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, $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, and $12,500,000 for 
        fiscal year 2004 shall be available for the purposes of this 
        subsection.
    ``(g) Peer Review.--All grants made under this section 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 administration.--Section 
        202(a) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 
        5522(a)) is amended by inserting ``, and may participate 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 period at the end and inserting a 
        comma, and by adding 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-Performance 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 described in 
        section 201(c)(1); and''.
            (4) National oceanic and atmospheric administration.--
        Section 204(a)(2) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 
        (15 U.S.C. 5524(a)(2)) is amended by inserting ``, and may 
        participate in or support research described in section 
        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 inserting ``, and may participate in or support 
        research described in section 201(c)(1)'' after ``dynamics 
        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 following 
                new section:

``SEC. 207. UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

    ``The United States Geological Survey may participate 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 follows:
    ``(c) Study of Internet Privacy.--
            ``(1) Study.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
        enactment of the Networking and Information 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, standards, and 
                policies;
                    ``(C) policies, laws, and practices under 
                consideration or formally adopted in other countries 
                and jurisdictions to protect privacy on the Internet;
                    ``(D) Federal legislation and other regulatory 
                steps needed to ensure the development of privacy 
                technology, standards, and policies; and
                    ``(E) other matters that the National Research 
                Council determines to be relevant to Internet privacy.
            ``(3) Transmittal to congress.--The National Science 
        Foundation shall transmit to the Congress within 21 months of 
        the date of the enactment of the Networking and Information 
        Technology Research and Development Act a report setting forth 
        the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the National 
        Research Council.
            ``(4) Federal agency cooperation.--Federal 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)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``1999 and'' and inserting 
                        ``1999,''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, $15,000,000 for 
                        fiscal year 2001, and $15,000,000 for fiscal 
                        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 inserting 
                        ``1999,''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, $10,000,000 for 
                        fiscal year 2001, and $10,000,000 for fiscal 
                        year 2002'' after ``fiscal year 2000''; and
                    (D) in paragraph (5)--
                            (i) by striking ``1999 and'' and inserting 
                        ``1999,''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``, $5,500,000 for fiscal 
                        year 2001, and $5,500,000 for fiscal year 
                        2002'' after ``fiscal year 2000''.

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 evaluations of the funding, 
management, implementation, and activities of the Program, the Next 
Generation Internet program, and the Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development program, and shall report 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 Transportation 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 and the 
        Networking and Information Technology Research and Development 
        program'' after ``Program'' 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 technologies 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 Congress 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), respectively, and by inserting after subsection (a) the 
following new subsection:
    ``(b) Report to Congress.--
            ``(1) Requirement.--The Director of the National 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 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 libraries in the 
                United States;
                    ``(B) identify how high-speed, large bandwidth 
                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 regional 
                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 elementary and 
                secondary education to address the challenges and 
                issues identified in the reports.''.

SEC. 9. 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 Information Technology Research 
        and Development Act, the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation, in consultation with the National Institute on 
        Disability and Rehabilitation Research, shall enter into an 
        arrangement with the National Research Council of the National 
        Academy of Sciences for that Council to conduct a study of 
        accessibility to information technologies by individuals who 
        are elderly, individuals who are elderly with a disability, and 
        individuals with disabilities.
            ``(2) Subjects.--The study shall address--
                    ``(A) current barriers to access to information 
                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 regulatory 
                changes needed to remove those barriers; and
                    ``(D) other matters that the National Research 
                Council determines to be relevant to access to 
                information technologies by individuals who are 
                elderly, individuals who are elderly with a disability, 
                and individuals with disabilities.
            ``(3) Transmittal to congress.--The Director of the 
        National Science Foundation shall transmit to the Congress 
        within 2 years of the date of the enactment of the Networking 
        and Information Technology Research and Development Act a 
        report setting forth the findings, conclusions, and 
        recommendations of the National Research Council.
            ``(4) Federal agency cooperation.--Federal 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 available, in the amount 
        of $700,000, from amounts described 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 analyzing 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 equipment or products 
that may be authorized to be purchased with financial assistance 
provided under this Act, it is the sense of the Congress that entities 
receiving such assistance 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 subsection (b) by the Congress.

            Passed the House of Representatives February 15, 2000.

            Attest:

                                                                 Clerk.