[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2020 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2020

   To amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to authorize 
    activities for support of networking and information technology 
                   research, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 22, 2009

Mr. Gordon of Tennessee (for himself, Mr. Hall of Texas, Mr. Lipinski, 
    Mr. Ehlers, Mr. Wu, Mrs. Biggert, and Mr. Lujan) introduced the 
  following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science and 
                               Technology

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   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), 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 106, 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 high-
                performance computing, 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; and
                    ``(E) strengthen all levels of networking and 
                information technology education and training programs 
                to ensure an adequate, well-trained workforce.
    ``(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 
        106(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 106(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 106(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; and
            (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;''.

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 high-
performance computing 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 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 106 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 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.

    Title I of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended further by adding 
after section 105, as added by section 4, the following new section:

``SEC. 106. 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 
        high-performance computing 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).''.
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