[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2020 Engrossed in House (EH)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2020
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to authorize
activities for support of networking and information technology
research, 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 of 2009''.
SEC. 2. PROGRAM PLANNING AND COORDINATION.
(a) Periodic Reviews.--Section 101 of the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
``(d) Periodic Reviews.--The agencies identified in subsection
(a)(3)(B) shall--
``(1) periodically assess the contents and funding levels
of the Program Component Areas and restructure the Program when
warranted, taking into consideration any relevant
recommendations of the advisory committee established under
subsection (b); and
``(2) ensure that the Program includes large-scale, long-
term, interdisciplinary research and development activities,
including activities described in section 104.''.
(b) Development of Strategic Plan.--Section 101 of such Act (15
U.S.C. 5511) is amended further by adding after subsection (d), as
added by subsection (a) of this Act, the following new subsection:
``(e) Strategic Plan.--
``(1) In General.--The agencies identified in subsection
(a)(3)(B), working through the National Science and Technology
Council and with the assistance of the National Coordination
Office established under section 102, shall develop, within 12
months after the date of enactment of the Networking and
Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2009,
and update every 3 years thereafter, a 5-year strategic plan to
guide the activities described under subsection (a)(1).
``(2) Contents.--The strategic plan shall specify near-term
and long-term objectives for the Program, the anticipated time
frame for achieving the near-term objectives, the metrics to be
used for assessing progress toward the objectives, and how the
Program will--
``(A) foster the transfer of research and
development results into new technologies and
applications for the benefit of society, including
through cooperation and collaborations with networking
and information technology research, development, and
technology transition initiatives supported by the
States;
``(B) encourage and support mechanisms for
interdisciplinary research and development in
networking and information technology, including
through collaborations across agencies, across Program
Component Areas, with industry, with Federal
laboratories (as defined in section 4 of the Stevenson-
Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
3703)), and with international organizations;
``(C) address long-term challenges of national
importance for which solutions require large-scale,
long-term, interdisciplinary research and development;
``(D) place emphasis on innovative and high-risk
projects having the potential for substantial societal
returns on the research investment;
``(E) strengthen all levels of networking and
information technology education and training programs
to ensure an adequate, well-trained workforce; and
``(F) attract more women and underrepresented
minorities to pursue postsecondary degrees in
networking and information technology.
``(3) National Research Infrastructure.--The strategic plan
developed in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be accompanied by
milestones and roadmaps for establishing and maintaining the national
research infrastructure required to support the Program, including the
roadmap required by subsection (a)(2)(E).
``(4) Recommendations.--The entities involved in developing the
strategic plan under paragraph (1) shall take into consideration the
recommendations--
``(A) of the advisory committee established under
subsection (b); and
``(B) of the stakeholders whose input was solicited by the
National Coordination Office, as required under section
102(b)(3).
``(5) Report to Congress.--The Director of the National
Coordination Office shall transmit the strategic plan required under
paragraph (1) to the advisory committee, the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Science
and Technology of the House of Representatives.''.
(c) Additional Responsibilities of Director.--Section 101(a)(2) of
such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as
subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new
subparagraph:
``(E) encourage and monitor the efforts of the
agencies participating in the Program to allocate the
level of resources and management attention necessary
to ensure that the strategic plan under subsection (e)
is developed and executed effectively and that the
objectives of the Program are met;''.
(d) Advisory Committee.--Section 101(b)(1) of such Act (15 U.S.C.
5511(b)(1)) is amended by inserting after ``an advisory committee on
high-performance computing,'' the following: ``in which the co-chairs
shall be members of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and
Technology and with the remainder of the committee''.
(e) Report.--Section 101(a)(3) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)(3))
is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (C)--
(A) by striking ``is submitted,'' and inserting
``is submitted, the levels for the previous fiscal
year,''; and
(B) by striking ``each Program Component Area;''
and inserting ``each Program Component Area and
research area supported in accordance with section
104;'';
(2) in subparagraph (D)--
(A) by striking ``each Program Component Area,''
and inserting ``each Program Component Area and
research area supported in accordance with section
104,'';
(B) by striking ``is submitted,'' and inserting
``is submitted, the levels for the previous fiscal
year,''; and
(C) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(3) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (G);
and
(4) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new
subparagraphs:
``(E) include a description of how the objectives
for each Program Component Area, and the objectives for
activities that involve multiple Program Component
Areas, relate to the objectives of the Program
identified in the strategic plan required under
subsection (e);
``(F) include--
``(i) a description of the funding required
by the National Coordination Office to perform
the functions specified under section 102(b)
for the next fiscal year by category of
activity;
``(ii) a description of the funding
required by such Office to perform the
functions specified under section 102(b) for
the current fiscal year by category of
activity; and
``(iii) the amount of funding provided for
such Office for the current fiscal year by each
agency participating in the Program; and''.
(f) Definition.--Section 4 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5503) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (7) as
paragraphs (2) through (8), respectively;
(2) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated,
the following new paragraph:
``(1) `cyber-physical systems' means physical or engineered
systems whose networking and information technology functions
and physical elements are deeply integrated and are actively
connected to the physical world through sensors, actuators, or
other means to perform monitoring and control functions;'';
(3) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated--
(A) by striking ``high-performance computing'' and
inserting ``networking and information technology'';
and
(B) by striking ``supercomputer'' and inserting
``high-end computing'';
(4) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by striking
``network referred to as'' and all that follows through the
semicolon and inserting ``network, including advanced computer
networks of Federal agencies and departments;''; and
(5) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, by striking
``National High-Performance Computing Program'' and inserting
``networking and information technology research and
development program''.
SEC. 3. LARGE-SCALE RESEARCH IN AREAS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
Title I of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended by adding at the
end the following new section:
``SEC. 104. LARGE-SCALE RESEARCH IN AREAS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
``(a) In General.--The Program shall encourage agencies identified
in section 101(a)(3)(B) to support large-scale, long-term,
interdisciplinary research and development activities in networking and
information technology directed toward application areas that have the
potential for significant contributions to national economic
competitiveness and for other significant societal benefits. Such
activities, ranging from basic research to the demonstration of
technical solutions, shall be designed to advance the development of
research discoveries. The advisory committee established under section
101(b) shall make recommendations to the Program for candidate research
and development areas for support under this section.
``(b) Characteristics.--
``(1) In general.--Research and development activities
under this section shall--
``(A) include projects selected on the basis of
applications for support through a competitive, merit-
based process;
``(B) involve collaborations among researchers in
institutions of higher education and industry, and may
involve nonprofit research institutions and Federal
laboratories, as appropriate;
``(C) when possible, leverage Federal investments
through collaboration with related State initiatives;
and
``(D) include a plan for fostering the transfer of
research discoveries and the results of technology
demonstration activities, including from institutions
of higher education and Federal laboratories, to
industry for commercial development.
``(2) Cost-sharing.--In selecting applications for support,
the agencies shall give special consideration to projects that
include cost sharing from non-Federal sources.
``(3) Agency collaboration.--If 2 or more agencies
identified in section 101(a)(3)(B), or other appropriate
agencies, are working on large-scale research and development
activities in the same area of national importance, then such
agencies shall strive to collaborate through joint solicitation
and selection of applications for support and subsequent
funding of projects.
``(4) Interdisciplinary research centers.--Research and
development activities under this section may be supported
through interdisciplinary research centers that are organized
to investigate basic research questions and carry out
technology demonstration activities in areas described in
subsection (a). Research may be carried out through existing
interdisciplinary centers, including those authorized under
section 7024(b)(2) of the America COMPETES Act (Public Law 110-
69; 42 U.S.C. 1862o-10).''.
SEC. 4. CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEMS AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT.
(a) Additional Program Characteristics.--Section 101(a)(1) of such
Act (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
``(J) provide for increased understanding of the
scientific principles of cyber-physical systems and
improve the methods available for the design,
development, and operation of cyber-physical systems
that are characterized by high reliability, safety, and
security; and
``(K) provide for research and development on
human-computer interactions, visualization, and
information management.''.
(b) Task Force.--Title I of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended
further by adding after section 104, as added by section 3, the
following new section:
``SEC. 105. UNIVERSITY/INDUSTRY TASK FORCE.
``(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of the Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Act of 2009, the Director of the National Coordination
Office established under section 102 shall convene a task force to
explore mechanisms for carrying out collaborative research and
development activities for cyber-physical systems, including the
related technologies required to enable these systems, through a
consortium or other appropriate entity with participants from
institutions of higher education, Federal laboratories, and industry.
``(b) Functions.--The task force shall--
``(1) develop options for a collaborative model and an
organizational structure for such entity under which the joint
research and development activities could be planned, managed,
and conducted effectively, including mechanisms for the
allocation of resources among the participants in such entity
for support of such activities;
``(2) propose a process for developing a research and
development agenda for such entity, including objectives and
milestones;
``(3) define the roles and responsibilities for the
participants from institutions of higher education, Federal
laboratories, and industry in such entity;
``(4) propose guidelines for assigning intellectual
property rights and for the transfer of research results to the
private sector; and
``(5) make recommendations for how such entity could be
funded from Federal, State, and non-governmental sources.
``(c) Composition.--In establishing the task force under subsection
(a), the Director of the National Coordination Office shall appoint an
equal number of individuals from institutions of higher education and
from industry with knowledge and expertise in cyber-physical systems,
of which 2 may be selected from Federal laboratories.
``(d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act
of 2009, the Director of the National Coordination Office shall
transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate and the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of
Representatives a report describing the findings and recommendations of
the task force.''.
SEC. 5. NATIONAL COORDINATION OFFICE.
Section 102 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5512) is amended to read as
follows:
``SEC. 102. NATIONAL COORDINATION OFFICE.
``(a) Establishment.--The Director shall establish a National
Coordination Office with a Director and full-time staff.
``(b) Functions.--The National Coordination Office shall--
``(1) provide technical and administrative support to--
``(A) the agencies participating in planning and
implementing the Program, including such support as
needed in the development of the strategic plan under
section 101(e); and
``(B) the advisory committee established under
section 101(b);
``(2) serve as the primary point of contact on Federal
networking and information technology activities for government
organizations, academia, industry, professional societies,
State computing and networking technology programs, interested
citizen groups, and others to exchange technical and
programmatic information;
``(3) solicit input and recommendations from a wide range
of stakeholders during the development of each strategic plan
required under section 101(e) through the convening of at least
1 workshop with invitees from academia, industry, Federal
laboratories, and other relevant organizations and
institutions;
``(4) conduct public outreach, including the dissemination
of findings and recommendations of the advisory committee, as
appropriate; and
``(5) promote access to and early application of the
technologies, innovations, and expertise derived from Program
activities to agency missions and systems across the Federal
Government and to United States industry.
``(c) Source of Funding.--
``(1) In general.--The operation of the National
Coordination Office shall be supported by funds from each
agency participating in the Program.
``(2) Specifications.--The portion of the total budget of
such Office that is provided by each agency for each fiscal
year shall be in the same proportion as each such agency's
share of the total budget for the Program for the previous
fiscal year, as specified in the report required under section
101(a)(3).''.
SEC. 6. IMPROVING NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.
Section 201(a) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5521(a)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as
paragraphs (3) through (5), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new
paragraph:
``(2) the National Science Foundation shall use its
existing programs, in collaboration with other agencies, as
appropriate, to improve the teaching and learning of networking
and information technology at all levels of education and to
increase participation in networking and information technology
fields, including by women and underrepresented minorities;''.
SEC. 7. CONFORMING AND TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
(a) Section 3.--Section 3 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5502) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``high-performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology'';
(2) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``high-performance computing'' and inserting
``networking and information technology'';
(3) in subparagraphs (A) and (F) of paragraph (1), by
striking ``high-performance computing'' each place it appears
and inserting ``networking and information technology''; and
(4) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``high-performance computing and''
and inserting ``networking and information technology
and''; and
(B) by striking ``high-performance computing
network'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology''.
(b) Title I.--The heading of title I of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511)
is amended by striking ``HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING'' and inserting
``NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY''.
(c) Section 101.--Section 101 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511) is
amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``high-performance
computing'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology research and development'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking
``National High-Performance Computing'' and inserting
``Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development'';
(B) in paragraph (1) of such subsection--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A), by striking ``National High-Performance
Computing Program'' and inserting ``networking
and information technology research and
development program'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking
``high-performance computing, including
networking'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology''; and
(iii) in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (G),
by striking ``high-performance'' each place it
appears and inserting ``high-end''; and
(C) in paragraph (2) of such subsection--
(i) in subparagraphs (A) and (C)--
(I) by striking ``high-performance
computing'' each place it appears and
inserting ``networking and information
technology''; and
(II) by striking ``development,
networking,'' each place it appears and
inserting ``development,''; and
(ii) in subparagraphs (F) and (G), as
redesignated by section 2(c)(1) of this Act, by
striking ``high-performance'' each place it
appears and inserting ``high-end'';
(3) in subsection (b)(1), in the matter preceding
subparagraph (A), by striking ``high-performance computing''
both places it appears and inserting ``networking and
information technology''; and
(4) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking ``high-performance
computing'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology''.
(d) Section 201.--Section 201(a)(1) of such Act (15 U.S.C.
5521(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``high-performance computing'' and
all that follows through ``networking;'' and inserting ``networking and
information research and development;''.
(e) Section 202.--Section 202(a) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5522(a)) is
amended by striking ``high-performance computing'' and inserting
``networking and information technology''.
(f) Section 203.--Section 203(a)(1) of such Act (15 U.S.C.
5523(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``high-performance computing and
networking'' and inserting ``networking and information technology''.
(g) Section 204.--Section 204(a)(1) of such Act (15 U.S.C.
5524(a)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``high-performance
computing systems and networks'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology systems and capabilities''; and
(2) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``high-performance
computing'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology''.
(h) Section 205.--Section 205(a) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5525(a)) is
amended by striking ``computational'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology''.
(i) Section 206.--Section 206(a) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5526(a)) is
amended by striking ``computational research'' and inserting
``networking and information technology research''.
(j) Section 208.--Section 208 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5528) is
amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``high-performance
computing'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology''; and
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``High-
performance computing and associated'' and inserting
``Networking and information'';
(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``high-
performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and
information technologies'';
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``high-
performance computers and associated'' and inserting
``networking and information''; and
(D) in paragraph (5), by striking ``high-
performance computing and associated'' and inserting
``networking and information''.
Passed the House of Representatives May 12, 2009.
Attest:
Clerk.
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2020
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to authorize
activities for support of networking and information technology
research, and for other purposes.