[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2046 Referred in House (RFH)]







106th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 2046


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 22, 2000

Referred to the Committee on Science, and in addition to the Committee 
     on Commerce, the Committee on Resources and the Committee on 
Agriculture, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
    To reauthorize the Next Generation Internet Act, 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 ``Federal Research Investment Act''.

                  TITLE I--FEDERAL RESEARCH INVESTMENT

SEC. 101. GENERAL FINDINGS REGARDING FEDERAL INVESTMENT IN RESEARCH.

    (a) Value of Research and Development.--The Congress makes the 
following findings with respect to the value of research and 
development to the United States:
            (1) Federal investment in research has resulted in the 
        development of technology that has saved lives in the United 
        States and around the world.
            (2) The research and development investment across all 
        Federal agencies has been effective in creating technology that 
        has enhanced the American quality of life.
            (3) The Federal investment in research and development 
        conducted or underwritten by both military and civilian 
        agencies has produced benefits that have been felt in both the 
        private and public sector.
            (4) Discoveries across the spectrum of scientific inquiry 
        have the potential to raise the standard of living and the 
        quality of life for all Americans.
            (5) Science, engineering, and technology play a critical 
        role in shaping the modern world.
            (6) Studies show that about half of all United States post-
        World War II economic growth is a direct result of technical 
        innovation; science, engineering, and technology contribute to 
        the creation of new goods and services, new jobs and new 
        capital.
            (7) Technical innovation is the principal driving force 
        behind the long-term economic growth and increased standards of 
        living of the world's modern industrial societies. Other 
        nations are well aware of the pivotal role of science, 
        engineering, and technology, and they are seeking to exploit it 
        wherever possible to advance their own global competitiveness.
            (8) Federal programs for investment in research, which lead 
        to technological innovation and result in economic growth, 
        should be structured to address current funding disparities and 
        develop enhanced capability in States and regions that 
        currently are underrepresented in the national science and 
        technology enterprise.
    (b) Status of the Federal Investment.--The Congress makes the 
following findings with respect to the status of the Federal investment 
in research and development activities:
            (1) Civilian research and development expenditures reached 
        their pinnacle in the mid-1960s due to the Apollo Space 
        program, declining for several years thereafter. Despite 
        significant growth in the late 1980s and early 1990s, these 
        expenditures, in constant dollars, have not returned to the 
        levels of the 1960s.
            (2) Fiscal realities now challenge Congress and the 
        President to steer the Federal Government's role in science, 
        engineering, and technology in a manner that ensures a prudent 
        use of limited public resources. There is both a long-term 
        problem--addressing the ever-increasing level of mandatory 
        spending--and a near-term challenge--apportioning a dwindling 
        amount of discretionary funding to an increasing range of 
        targets in science, engineering, and technology. This 
        confluence of increased national dependency on technology, 
        increased targets of opportunity, and decreased fiscal 
        flexibility has created a problem of national urgency. Many 
        indicators show that more funding for science, engineering, and 
        technology is needed but, even with increased funding, 
        priorities must be established among different programs. The 
        United States cannot afford the luxury of fully funding all 
        deserving programs.

SEC. 102. SPECIAL FINDINGS REGARDING HEALTH-RELATED RESEARCH.

    The Congress makes the following findings with respect to health-
related research:
            (1) Health and economic benefits provided by health-related 
        research.--Because of health-related research, cures for many 
        debilitating and fatal diseases have been discovered and 
        deployed. At present, the medical research community is on the 
        cusp of creating cures for a number of leading diseases and 
        their associated burdens. In particular, medical research has 
        the potential to develop treatments that can help manage the 
        escalating costs associated with the aging of the United States 
        population.
            (2) Funding of health-related research.--Many studies have 
        recognized that clinical and basic science are in a state of 
        crisis because of a failure of resources to meet the 
        opportunity. Consequently, health-related research has emerged 
        as a national priority and has been given significantly 
        increased funding by Congress in both fiscal year 1999 and 
        fiscal year 2000. In order to continue addressing this urgent 
        national need, the pattern of substantial budgetary expansion 
        begun in fiscal year 1999 should be maintained.
            (3) Interdisciplinary nature of health-related research.--
        Because all fields of science and engineering are 
        interdependent, full realization of the Nation's historic 
        investment in health will depend on major advances both in the 
        biomedical sciences and in other science and engineering 
        disciplines. Hence, the vitality of all disciplines must be 
        preserved, even as special considerations are given to the 
        health research field.

SEC. 103. ADDITIONAL FINDINGS REGARDING THE LINK BETWEEN RESEARCH AND 
              TECHNOLOGY.

    The Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Flow of science, engineering, and technology.--The 
        process of science, engineering, and technology involves many 
        steps. The present Federal science, engineering, and technology 
        structure reinforces the increasingly artificial distinctions 
        between basic and applied activities. The result too often is a 
        set of discrete programs that each support a narrow phase of 
        research or development and are not coordinated with one 
        another. The Government should maximize its investment by 
        encouraging the progression of science, engineering, and 
        technology from the earliest stages of research up to a pre-
        commercialization stage, through funding agencies and vehicles 
        appropriate for each stage. This creates a flow of technology, 
        subject to merit review at each stage, so that promising 
        technology is not lost in a bureaucratic maze.
            (2) Excellence in american university research 
        infrastructure.--Federal investment in science, engineering, 
        and technology programs must foster a close relationship 
        between research and education. Investment in research at the 
        university level creates more than simply world-class research. 
        It creates world-class researchers as well. The Federal 
        strategy must continue to reflect this commitment to a strong 
        geographically-diverse research infrastructure. Furthermore, 
        the United States must find ways to extend the excellence of 
        its university system to primary and secondary educational 
        institutions and to better utilize the community college system 
        to prepare many students for vocational opportunities in an 
        increasingly technical workplace.
            (3) Commitment to a broad range of research initiatives.--
        An increasingly common theme in many recent technical 
        breakthroughs has been the importance of revolutionary 
        innovations that were sparked by overlapping of research 
        disciplines. The United States must continue to encourage this 
        trend by providing and encouraging opportunities for 
        interdisciplinary projects that foster collaboration among 
        fields of research.
            (4) Partnerships among industry, universities, and federal 
        laboratories.--Each of these contributors to the national 
        science and technology delivery system has special talents and 
        abilities that complement the others. In addition, each has a 
        central mission that must provide their focus and each has 
        limited resources. The Nation's investment in science, 
        engineering, and technology can be optimized by seeking 
        opportunities for leveraging the resources and talents of these 
        three major players through partnerships that do not distort 
        the missions of each partner. For that reason, Federal dollars 
        are wisely spent forming such partnerships.

SEC. 104. MAINTENANCE OF FEDERAL RESEARCH EFFORT; GUIDING PRINCIPLES.

    (a) Maintaining United States Leadership in Science, Engineering, 
and Technology.--It is imperative for the United States to nurture its 
superb resources in science, engineering, and technology carefully in 
order to maintain its own globally competitive position.
    (b) Guiding Principles.--Federal research and development programs 
should be conducted in accordance with the following guiding 
principles:
            (1) Good science.--Federal science, engineering, and 
        technology programs include both knowledge-driven science 
        together with its applications, and mission-driven, science-
        based requirements. In general, both types of programs must be 
        focused, peer- and merit-reviewed, and not unnecessarily 
        duplicative, although the details of these attributes must vary 
        with different program objectives.
            (2) Fiscal accountability.--The Congress must exercise 
        oversight to ensure that programs funded with scarce Federal 
        dollars are well managed. The United States cannot tolerate 
        waste of money through inefficient management techniques, 
        whether by Government agencies, by contractors, or by Congress 
        itself. Fiscal resources would be better utilized if program 
        and project funding levels were predictable across several 
        years to enable better project planning; a benefit of such 
        predictability would be that agencies and Congress can better 
        exercise oversight responsibilities through comparisons of a 
        project's and program's progress against carefully planned 
        milestones and international benchmarks.
            (3) Program effectiveness.--The United States needs to make 
        sure that Government programs achieve their goals. As the 
        Congress crafts science, engineering, and technology 
        legislation, it must include a process for gauging program 
        effectiveness, selecting criteria based on sound scientific 
        judgment and avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy. The Congress 
        should also avoid the trap of measuring the effectiveness of a 
        broad science, engineering, and technology program by passing 
        judgment on individual projects. Lastly, the Congress must 
        recognize that a negative result in a well-conceived and 
        executed project or program may still be critically important 
        to the funding agency.
            (4) Criteria for Government funding.--Program selection for 
        Federal funding should continue to reflect the Nation's 2 
        traditional research and development priorities: (A) basic, 
        scientific, and technological research that represents 
        investments in the Nation's long-term future scientific and 
        technological capacity, for which Government has traditionally 
        served as the principal resource; and (B) mission research 
        investments, that is, investments in research that derive from 
        necessary public functions, such as defense, health, education, 
        environmental protection, all of which may also raise the 
        standard of living, which may include pre-commercial, pre-
        competitive engineering research and technology development. 
        Additionally, Government funding should not compete with or 
        displace the short-term, market-driven, and typically more 
        specific nature of private-sector funding. Government funding 
        should be restricted to pre-competitive activities, leaving 
        competitive activities solely for the private sector. As a 
        rule, the Government should not invest in commercial technology 
        that is in the product development stage, very close to the 
        broad commercial marketplace, except to meet a specific agency 
        goal. When the Government provides funding for any science, 
        engineering, and technology investment program, it must take 
        reasonable steps to ensure that the potential benefits derived 
        from the program will accrue broadly.

SEC. 105. POLICY STATEMENT.

    (a) Policy.--This title is intended to--
            (1) assure a doubling of the base level of Federal funding 
        for basic scientific, biomedical, and pre-competitive 
        engineering research, achieved by steadily increasing the 
        annual funding of civilian research and development programs so 
        that the total annual investment equals 10 percent of the 
        Federal Government's discretionary budget by fiscal year 2011;
            (2) invest in the future economic growth of the United 
        States by expanding the research activities referred to in 
        paragraph (1);
            (3) enhance the quality of life and health for all people 
        of the United States through expanded support for health-
        related research;
            (4) allow for accelerated growth of individual agencies to 
        meet critical national needs;
            (5) guarantee the leadership of the United States in 
        science, engineering, medicine, and technology;
            (6) ensure that the opportunity and the support for 
        undertaking good science is widely available throughout the 
        United States by supporting a geographically-diverse research 
        and development enterprise; and
            (7) continue aggressive Congressional oversight and annual 
        budgetary authorization of the individual agencies listed in 
        subsection (b).
    (b) Agencies Covered.--The agencies and trust instrumentality 
intended to be covered to the extent that they are engaged in science, 
engineering, and technology activities for basic scientific, medical, 
or pre-competitive engineering research by this title are--
            (1) the National Institutes of Health, within the 
        Department of Health and Human Services;
            (2) the National Science Foundation;
            (3) the National Institute for Standards and Technology, 
        within the Department of Commerce;
            (4) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
            (5) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
        within the Department of Commerce;
            (6) the Centers for Disease Control, within the Department 
        of Health and Human Services;
            (7) the Department of Energy (to the extent that it is not 
        engaged in defense-related activities);
            (8) the Department of Agriculture;
            (9) the Department of Transportation;
            (10) the Department of the Interior;
            (11) the Department of Veterans Affairs;
            (12) the Smithsonian Institution;
            (13) the Department of Education;
            (14) the Environmental Protection Agency;
            (15) the Food and Drug Administration, within the 
        Department of Health and Human Services; and
            (16) the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
    (c) Damage to Research Infrastructure.--A funding trend equal to or 
lower than current budgetary levels will lead to permanent damage to 
the United States research infrastructure. This could threaten American 
dominance of high-technology industrial leadership.
    (d) Future Fiscal Year Allocations.--
            (1) Goal.--The goal of this title is to increase the 
        percentage of the Federal discretionary budget allocated for 
        civilian research and development by 0.3 percent annually to 
        realize a total of 10 percent of the Federal discretionary 
        budget by fiscal year 2011.
            (2) Amounts authorized.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the agencies listed in subsection (b) for 
        civilian research and development the following amounts:
                    (A) $43,080,000,000 for fiscal year 2001.
                    (B) $45,160,000,000 for fiscal year 2002.
                    (C) $47,820,000,000 for fiscal year 2003.
                    (D) $50,540,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
                    (E) $53,410,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
            (3) Fiscal years 2006-2011.--There is authorized to be 
        appropriated to the agencies listed in subsection (b) for 
        civilian research and development for each of the fiscal years 
        2006 through 2011 an amount that, on the basis of projections 
        of Federal discretionary budget amounts as such projections 
        become available, will meet the goal established by paragraph 
        (1).
            (4) Acceleration to meet national needs.--
                    (A) In general.--If an agency listed in subsection 
                (b) has an accelerated funding fiscal year, then, 
                except as provided by subparagraph (C), the amount 
                authorized by paragraph (2) or determined under 
                paragraph (3) for the fiscal year following the 
                accelerated funding fiscal year shall be determined in 
                accordance with subparagraph (B).
                    (B) Exclusion of accelerated funding agency.--The 
                amount authorized to be appropriated for civilian 
                research and development under this subparagraph for a 
                fiscal year shall be determined--
                            (i) by reducing the total amount that, but 
                        for subparagraph (A), would be authorized to be 
                        appropriated by paragraph (2) or paragraph (3) 
                        by a percentage equal to the percentage of the 
                        total amount authorized by that paragraph for 
                        the fiscal year preceding the accelerated 
                        funding fiscal year to the agency that had the 
                        accelerated funding fiscal year; and
                            (ii) allocating the reduced amount among 
                        all agencies listed in subsection (b) other 
                        than the agency that had the accelerated 
                        funding fiscal year.
                    (C) Exception to accelerated funding agency rule.--
                Subparagraph (B) does not apply if the amount 
                appropriated to an agency for civilian research and 
                development purposes for a fiscal year, adjusted for 
                inflation (assuming an annual rate of inflation of 3 
                percent), does not exceed the amount appropriated to 
                that agency for those purposes for fiscal year 2000 
                increased by 2.5 percent a year for each fiscal year 
                after fiscal year 2000.
                    (D) Accelerated funding fiscal year defined.--In 
                this subsection, the term ``accelerated funding fiscal 
                year'' means a fiscal year for which the amount 
                appropriated to an agency for civilian research and 
                development purposes is an increase of more than 8 
                percent over the amount appropriated to that agency for 
                the preceding fiscal year for those purposes.
    (e) Conformance with Budgetary Caps.--Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, no funds may be made available under this title in a 
manner that does not conform with the discretionary spending caps 
provided in the most recently adopted concurrent resolution on the 
budget or threatens the economic stability of the annual budget.
    (f) Balanced Research Portfolio.--Because of the interdependent 
nature of the scientific and engineering disciplines, the aggregate 
funding levels authorized by the section assume that the Federal 
research portfolio will be well-balanced among the various scientific 
and engineering disciplines, and geographically dispersed throughout 
the States.
    (g) Congressional Authorization Process.--The policies and 
authorizations in this Act establish minimum levels for the overall 
Federal civilian research portfolio across the agencies listed in 
subsection (b) under the procedures defined in subsection (d). The 
amounts authorized by subsection (d) establish a framework within which 
the authorizing committees of the Congress are to work when authorizing 
funding for specific Federal agencies engaged in science, engineering, 
and technology activities.

SEC. 106. ANNUAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ANALYSES.

    The Director of the Office of Science and Technology shall provide, 
no later than February 15th of each year, a report to Congress that 
includes--
            (1) a detailed summary of the total level of funding for 
        civilian research and development programs throughout all 
        Federal agencies;
            (2) a focused strategy that is consistent with the funding 
        projections of this title for each future fiscal year until 
        2011, including specific targets for each agency that funds 
        civilian research and development;
            (3) an analysis which details funding levels across Federal 
        agencies by methodology of funding, including grant agreements, 
        procurement contracts, and cooperative agreements (within the 
        meaning given those terms in chapter 63 of title 31, United 
        States Code);
            (4) a Federal strategy for infrastructure development and 
        research and development capacity building in States with less 
        concentrated research and development resources in order to 
        create a nationwide research and development community; and
            (5) an annual analysis of the total level of funding for 
        civilian research and development programs throughout all 
        Federal agencies as compared to the previous fiscal year's 
        Congressional budget appropriations for science, engineering, 
        and technology activities of the agencies described in section 
        105(b), that details for the current fiscal year--
                    (A) how total funding levels compare to those 
                authorized according to section 105(d);
                    (B) how the differences in those funding levels 
                will affect the health, stability, and international 
                standing of the Federal civilian research and 
                development infrastructure;
                    (C) how the disparities in those levels affect the 
                ability of the agencies covered by this Act to perform 
                their missions; and
                    (D) which agencies are excluded under this Act due 
                to accelerated funding and the aggregate amount to be 
                authorized to other agencies under section 105(d).

SEC. 107. COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNTABILITY STUDY FOR FEDERALLY-FUNDED 
              RESEARCH.

    (a) Study.--The Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
Policy shall enter into agreement with the National Academy of Sciences 
for the Academy to conduct a comprehensive study to develop methods for 
evaluating federally funded research and development programs. The 
Director shall report the results of the study to the Congress not 
later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. This 
study shall--
            (1) recommend processes to determine an acceptable level of 
        success for federally funded research and development programs 
        by--
                    (A) describing the research process in the various 
                scientific and engineering disciplines;
                    (B) describing in the different sciences what 
                measures and what criteria each community uses to 
                evaluate the success or failure of a program, and on 
                what time scales these measures are considered 
                reliable--both for exploratory long-range work and for 
                short-range goals; and
                    (C) recommending how these measures may be adapted 
                for use by the Federal Government to evaluate federally 
                funded research and development programs;
            (2) assess the extent to which civilian research and 
        development agencies incorporate independent merit-based review 
        into the formulation of their strategic plans and performance 
        plans;
            (3) recommend mechanisms for identifying federally funded 
        research and development programs which are unsuccessful or 
        unproductive;
            (4) evaluate the extent to which independent, merit-based 
        evaluation of federally funded research and development 
        programs and projects achieves the goal of eliminating 
        unsuccessful or unproductive programs and projects; and
            (5) investigate and report on the validity of using 
        quantitative performance goals for aspects of programs which 
        relate to administrative management of the program and for 
        which such goals would be appropriate, including aspects 
        related to--
                    (A) administrative burden on contractors and 
                recipients of financial assistance awards;
                    (B) administrative burdens on external participants 
                in independent, merit-based evaluations;
                    (C) cost and schedule control for construction 
                projects funded by the program;
                    (D) the ratio of overhead costs of the program 
                relative to the amounts expended through the program 
                for equipment and direct funding of research; and
                    (E) the timeliness of program responses to requests 
                for funding, participation, or equipment use.
            (6) examine the extent to which program selection for 
        Federal funding across all agencies exemplifies our Nation's 
        historical research and development priorities--
                    (A) basic, scientific, and technological research 
                in the long-term future scientific and technological 
                capacity of the Nation; and
                    (B) mission research derived from a high-priority 
                public function.
    (b) Alternative Forms for Performance Goals.--Not later than 6 
months after transmitting the report under subsection (a) to Congress, 
the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, after public 
notice, public comment, and approval by the Director of the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy and in consultation with the National 
Science and Technology Council shall promulgate one or more alternative 
forms for performance goals under section 1115(b)(10)(B) of title 31, 
United States Code, based on the recommendations of the study under 
subsection (a) of this section. The head of each agency containing a 
program activity that is a research and development program may apply 
an alternative form promulgated under this section for a performance 
goal to such a program activity without further authorization by the 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
    (c) Strategic Plans.--Not later than one year after promulgation of 
the alternative performance goals in subsection (b) of this section, 
the head of each agency carrying out research and development 
activities, upon updating or revising a strategic plan under subsection 
306(b) of title 5, United States Code, shall describe the current and 
future use of methods for determining an acceptable level of success as 
recommended by the study under subsection (a).
    (d) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
        the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
            (2) Program activity.--The term ``program activity'' has 
        the meaning given that term by section 1115(f)(6) of title 31, 
        United States Code.
            (3) Independent merit-based evaluation.--The term 
        ``independent merit-based evaluation'' means review of the 
        scientific or technical quality of research or development, 
        conducted by experts who are chosen for their knowledge of 
        scientific and technical fields relevant to the evaluation and 
        who--
                    (A) in the case of the review of a program 
                activity, do not derive long-term support from the 
                program activity; or
                    (B) in the case of the review of a project 
                proposal, are not seeking funds in competition with the 
                proposal.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out the study required by subsection (a) 
$600,000, which shall remain available until expended.

SEC. 108. EFFECTIVE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT PROGRAM FOR FEDERALLY-FUNDED 
              RESEARCH.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 11 of title 31, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following:
``Sec. 1120. Accountability for research and development programs
    ``(a) Identification of Unsuccessful Programs.--Based upon program 
performance reports for each fiscal year submitted to the President 
under section 1116, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget 
shall identify the civilian research and development program 
activities, or components thereof, which do not meet an acceptable 
level of success as defined in section 1115(b)(1)(B). Not later than 30 
days after the submission of the reports under section 1116, the 
Director shall furnish a copy of a report listing the program 
activities or component identified under this subsection to the 
President and the Congress.
    ``(b) Accountability If No Improvement Shown.--For each program 
activity or component that is identified by the Director under 
subsection (a) as being below the acceptable level of success for 2 
fiscal years in a row, the head of the agency shall no later than 30 
days after the Director submits the second report so identifying the 
program, submit to the appropriate congressional committees of 
jurisdiction--
            ``(1) a concise statement of the steps necessary to--
                    ``(A) bring such program into compliance with 
                performance goals; or
                    ``(B) terminate such program should compliance 
                efforts fail; and
            ``(2) any legislative changes needed to put the steps 
        contained in such statement into effect.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) The chapter analysis for chapter 11 
of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end 
thereof the following:

``1120. Accountability for research and development programs.''.
    (2) Section 1115(f) of title 31, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``section and sections 1116 through 1119,'' and inserting 
``section, sections 1116 through 1120,''.

            TITLE II--NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

    This title may be cited as the ``Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Act''.

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 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. 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 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 ``; 
        $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 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 ``; 
        $119,500,000 for fiscal year 2000; $175,000,000 for fiscal year 
        2001; $220,000,000 for fiscal year 2002; $250,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 2003; and $300,000,000 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 support activities 
directed toward establishing University-based centers of excellence 
pursuing research and training in areas of intersection of information 
technology and the biomedical, life sciences, and behavioral research; 
research and development on technologies and processes to better manage 
genomic and related life science data bases; and, computation 
infrastructure for and related research on modeling and simulation, as 
applied to biomedical, life science, and behavioral research. In 
pursuing the above programs and in support of its mission of 
biomedical, life sciences, and behavioral research, National Institutes 
of Health should work in close cooperation with agencies involved in 
related information technology research and application efforts.
    ``(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.''.

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 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:
``conduct an integrated program of research, development, and provision 
of facilities to develop and deploy to scientific and technical users 
the high performance computing and collaboration tools needed to 
fulfill the statutory mission of the Department of Energy, 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. 205. NEXT GENERATION INTERNET.

    (a) In General.--Section 103(d) of the High-Performance 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'';
            (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 following:
    ``(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, hybrid, and 
satellite technologies. In awarding grants under this subsection, the 
administering agency shall give priority to qualified, post-secondary 
educational institutions that participate in the Experimental Program 
to Stimulate Competitive Research.''.
    (c) Minority and Small College Internet Access.--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 Access.--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 
Hispanic-serving, Native American, Native Hawaiian, Native Alaskan, 
Historically Black, or small colleges and universities.''.
    (d) Digital Divide Study.--
            (1) In general.--The National Academy of Sciences shall 
        conduct a study to determine the extent to which the Internet 
        backbone and network infrastructure contribute to the uneven 
        ability to access to Internet-related technologies and services 
        by rural and low-income Americans. The study shall include--
                    (A) an assessment of the existing geographical 
                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 access 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 results of the study and 
        recommendations required by paragraph (1) to the Senate 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 
        House of Representatives Committee on Science within 1 year 
        after the date of enactment of this Act.
            (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
        to be appropriated to the National Academy of Sciences such 
        sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection.

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 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 Federal Research Investment 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. 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), 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 Federal Research Investment 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. 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 Federal Research Investment 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 Federal 
        Research Investment 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. 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 analyzing the effects of this Act, and the 
amendments made by this Act, on lower income families, minorities, and 
women.

            Passed the Senate September 21, 2000.

            Attest:

                                                    GARY SISCO,

                                                             Secretary.