[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 3834 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 3834


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 7, 2012

    Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 ``Advancing America's Networking and 
Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2012''.

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 described under section 102, shall develop, within 12 
        months after the date of enactment of the Advancing America's 
        Networking and Information Technology Research and Development 
        Act of 2012, 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, Space, 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) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ``education,'' before 
        ``and other activities'';
            (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as 
        subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
            (3) 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--
            (1) after the first sentence, by inserting the following: 
        ``The co-chairs of the advisory committee shall meet the 
        qualifications of committee membership and may be members of 
        the President's Council of Advisors on Science and 
        Technology.''; and
            (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``high-performance'' 
        and inserting ``high-end''.
    (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 (3), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``high-performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and 
        information technology'';
            (4) 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'';
            (5) 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
            (6) 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.

    (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 big data.''.
    (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 of this Act, 
the following new section:

``SEC. 105. UNIVERSITY/INDUSTRY TASK FORCE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of the Advancing America's Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Act of 2012, the Director of the 
National Coordination Office 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 guidelines to 
        ensure an appropriate scope of work focused on nationally 
        significant challenges and requiring collaboration and to 
        ensure the development of related scientific and technological 
        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--
            ``(1) shall appoint an equal number of individuals with 
        knowledge and expertise in cyber-physical systems from--
                    ``(A) institutions of higher education, including 
                minority-serving institutions and community colleges; 
                and
                    ``(B) industry; and
            ``(2) may appoint not more than 2 individuals from Federal 
        laboratories.
    ``(d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
the Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology Research 
and Development Act of 2012, 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, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives a report describing the 
findings and recommendations of the task force.
    ``(e) Termination.--The task force shall terminate upon transmittal 
of the report required under subsection (d).
    ``(f) Compensation.--Members of the task force shall serve without 
compensation.''.

SEC. 5. CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES FOR RESEARCH.

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

``SEC. 106. CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES FOR RESEARCH.

    ``(a) Interagency Working Group.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of the Advancing America's Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Act of 2012, the Director of the 
National Coordination Office, working through the National Science and 
Technology Council, shall convene an interagency working group to 
examine--
            ``(1) the research and development needed--
                    ``(A) to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency 
                of cloud computing environments;
                    ``(B) to increase the trustworthiness of cloud 
                applications and infrastructure; and
                    ``(C) to enhance the foundations of cloud 
                architectures, programming models, and 
                interoperability; and
            ``(2) the potential use of cloud computing for federally-
        funded science and engineering research, including issues 
        around funding mechanisms and policies for the use of cloud 
        computing services for such research.
    ``(b) Consultation.--In carrying out the tasks in paragraphs (1) 
and (2) of subsection (a), the working group shall consult with 
academia, industry, Federal laboratories, and other relevant 
organizations and institutions, as appropriate.
    ``(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
the Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology Research 
and Development Act of 2012, the Director of the National Coordination 
Office shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report describing 
the findings and any recommendations of the working group.
    ``(d) Termination.--The interagency working group shall terminate 
upon transmittal of the report required under subsection (c).''.

SEC. 6. 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) Office.--The Director shall continue 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. 7. 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. 8. 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)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                striking ``high-performance computing'' and inserting 
                ``networking and information technology'';
                    (B) in subparagraphs (A), (F), and (G), by striking 
                ``high-performance computing'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``networking and information 
                technology''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``high-
                performance'' and inserting ``high-end''; and
            (3) 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'';
                            (iii) in subparagraphs (B) and (G), by 
                        striking ``high-performance'' each place it 
                        appears and inserting ``high-end''; and
                            (iv) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``high-performance computing and networking'' 
                        and inserting ``high-end computing, 
                        distributed, and networking''; 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)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding 
                subparagraph (A), by striking ``high-performance 
                computing'' both places it appears and inserting 
                ``networking and information technology''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2), in the second sentence, by 
                striking ``2'' and inserting ``3''; 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) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5523(a)(1)) 
is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``high-performance 
        computing and networking'' and inserting ``networking and 
        information technology''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``high-performance'' 
        and inserting ``high-end''.
    (g) Section 204.--Section 204 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5524) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``high-
                performance computing systems and networks'' and 
                inserting ``networking and information technology 
                systems and capabilities'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking 
                ``interoperability of high-performance computing 
                systems in networks and for common user interfaces to 
                systems'' and inserting ``interoperability and 
                usability of networking and information technology 
                systems''; and
                    (C) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``high-
                performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and 
                information technology''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the heading, by striking ``High-Performance 
                Computing and Network'' and inserting ``Networking and 
                Information Technology''; and
                    (B) by striking ``sensitive''.
    (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 207.--Section 207(b) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5527(b)) is 
amended by striking ``high-performance computing'' and inserting 
``networking and information technology''.
    (k) 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 (3), by striking ``high-
                performance'' and inserting ``high-end'';
                    (D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``high-
                performance computers and associated'' and inserting 
                ``networking and information''; and
                    (E) in paragraph (5), by striking ``high-
                performance computing and associated'' and inserting 
                ``networking and information''.

            Passed the House of Representatives April 27, 2012.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.