[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 113 (Thursday, September 21, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9009-S9013]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NEXT GENERATION INTERNET 2000

  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 
the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 607, S. 2046.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2046) to reauthorize the Next Generation 
     Internet Act, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
bill, which had been reported from the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation with an amendment, as follows:

  (The parts to be stricken are shown in black brackets; the parts to 
be inserted are in italic.)

                                S. 2046

       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 ``Next Generation Internet 
     2000''.

     [SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       [The Congress makes the following findings:
       [(1) The United States investment in science and technology 
     has yielded a scientific and engineering enterprise without 
     peer. The Federal investment in research is critical to the 
     maintenance of our international leadership.
       [(2) The Internet is at a pivotal point in its history. 
     While promising new applications in medicine, environmental 
     science, and other disciplines are becoming a reality, they 
     are still constrained by the Internet's capacity and 
     capabilities. The current Internet cannot support an emerging 
     set of activities, many of which are essential to mission-
     critical applications in government, national laboratories, 
     academia and business.
       [(3) Government-sponsored network research and development 
     is critical to the success of the Next Generation Internet. 
     Previous Federal investment in computer networking technology 
     and related fields has resulted in the creation of new 
     industries and new jobs in the United States.
       [(4) Since its establishment in 1998, the Next Generation 
     Internet Program has successfully funded peer-reviewed 
     research to address the critical need for increased network 
     performance and management.

     [SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

       [The purposes of this Act are--
       [(1) to authorize, through the Next Generation Internet 
     Program and Large Scale Networking Program, research programs 
     related to--
       [(A) high-end computing and computation;
       [(B) human-centered systems;
       [(C) high confidence systems; and
       [(D) education, training, and human resources; and
       [(2) to provide, through the Next Generation Internet 
     Program and Large Scale Networking Program, for the 
     development and coordination of a comprehensive and 
     integrated United States research program which will--
       [(A) focus on research and development toward advancing 
     network technologies to create a network infrastructure that 
     can support greater speed, robustness, and flexibility;
       [(B) promote connectivity and interoperability among 
     advanced computer networks of Federal agencies and 
     departments;

[[Page S9010]]

       [(C) conduct research on the tools and services that hear 
     future agency networking requirements demands, including 
     application specific multicast, quality of service, and 
     internet video conferencing;
       [(D) focus on research and development of the next 
     generation network fabric, particularly concerning the 
     expansion of affordable bandwidth for users that is both 
     economically viable and does not impose a geographic penalty 
     (as defined in section 7(a) of the Next Generation Internet 
     Research Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 5501 nt.); and
       [(E) encourage researchers to pursue approaches to 
     networking technology that lead to flexible and extensible 
     solutions wherever feasible.

     [SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       [Section 103(d) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 
     1991 (15 U.S.C. 5513(d)) is amended to read as follows:
       [``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       [``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     for the purpose of carrying out the Next Generation Internet 
     program and Large Scale Networking program the following 
     amounts:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            [``Agency              FY 2000       FY 2002       FY 2003
------------------------------------------------------------------------
[``Department of Defense......   $70,300,000   $74,200,000   $78,300,000
[``Department of Energy.......   $32,000,000   $33,800,000   $35,700,000
[``National Aeronautics and      $19,500,000   $20,600,000   $21,700,000
 Space Administration.........
[``National Institutes of        $96,000,000  $101,300,000  $106,300,000
 Health.......................
[``National Institute of          $4,200,000    $4,400,000    $4,600,000
 Standards and Technology.....
[``National Science Foundation  $111,200,000  $117,300,000  $123,800,000
[``National Security Agency...    $1,900,000    $2,000,000    $2,100,000
[``Agency for Healthcare          $7,400,000    $7,800,000    $8,200,000
 Research and Quality.........
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     [``(2) Use of such funds.--Funds authorized by paragraph 
     (1)--
       [``(A) shall be used in a manner that contributes to 
     achieving the goals of the Next Generation Internet Program 
     and the Large Scale Networking program; and
       [``(B) may be used only for research that is merit-based 
     and peer-reviewed.''.

     [SEC. 5. 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 made available to fund research shall be used 
     to fund research grants into the reduction of the cost of 
     Internet access services available to users in 
     geographically-remote areas. The research shall include 
     investigation 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.''.

     [SEC. 6. MINORITY AND SMALL COLLEGE INTERNET ACCESS.

       [Section 103 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 
     (15 U.S.C. 5513), as amended by section 6, 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 (e) shall be used for grants to 
     institutions of higher education that are Hispanic-serving, 
     Native American, Historically Black, or small colleges and 
     universities.''.

     [SEC. 7. DIGITAL DIVIDE STUDY.

       [(a) 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 
     access to Internet-related technologies and services by rural 
     and low-income Americans. The study shall include--
       [(1) an assessment of the existing geographical penalty (as 
     defined in section 7(a)(1) of the Next General 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;
       [(2) a review of all current Federally-funded research to 
     decrease the inequity of Internet access to rural and low-
     income users; and
       [(3) an estimate of the potential impact of Next Generation 
     Internet research institutions acting as aggregators and 
     mentors for nearby smaller or disadvantaged institutions.
       [(b) Report.--The National Academy of Sciences shall 
     transmit a report containing the results of the study and 
     recommendations required by subsection (a) 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.
       [(c) 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 section.]

                   Title I--Next Generation Internet

     SECTION 101. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Next Generation Internet 
     2000''.

     SEC. 102. FINDINGS.

       The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) The United States investment in science and technology 
     has yielded a scientific and engineering enterprise without 
     peer. The Federal investment in research is critical to the 
     maintenance of our international leadership.
       (2) Federal support of computing, information, and 
     networking research and development has been instrumental in 
     driving advances in information technology, including today's 
     Internet, that are transforming our society, enriching the 
     lives of Americans, enabling scientific and engineering 
     discoveries, and improving the competitiveness and 
     productivity of United States' businesses. We have an 
     essential national interest in ensuring a continued flow of 
     innovation and advances in information technology to assure 
     the continued prosperity of future generations.
       (3) The Internet is at a pivotal point in its history. 
     While promising new applications in medicine, environmental 
     science, and other disciplines are becoming a reality, they 
     are still constrained by the Internet's capacity and 
     capabilities. The current Internet cannot support an emerging 
     set of activities, many of which are essential to mission-
     critical applications in government, national laboratories, 
     academia, and business.
       (4) Government-sponsored network research and development 
     in large scale networking technologies, service, and 
     performance is critical to enable the future growth of the 
     Internet and to meet Federal agency mission needs.
       (5) Since its establishment in 1998, the Next Generation 
     Internet Program, which builds on the research and 
     development activities funded under the Large Scale 
     Networking Programs, has successfully deployed networking 
     testbeds and funded peer-reviewed research and development to 
     address the critical need for networks that are more 
     powerful, reliable, and versatile than the current Internet.
       (6) Networking research and development is an integral part 
     of the Federal information technology research and 
     development program. Balanced investments in other areas, 
     including software design and productivity, high-end 
     computing, high confidence software and systems, human-
     computer interface and information management, high-end 
     computing infrastructure and applications, and research into 
     the social, legal, ethical, and workforce implications of 
     information technology should be pursued.

     SEC. 103. PURPOSES.

       The purposes of this title are--
       (1) to authorize the Large Scale Networking Programs, 
     including the Next Generation Internet Programs; and
       (2) to provide, through the Large Scale Networking 
     Programs, including the Next Generation Internet Programs, 
     for the development and coordination of a comprehensive and 
     integrated United States research program which will--
       (A) focus on research and development toward advancing 
     network technologies to create a network infrastructure that 
     can support greater speed, robustness, and flexibility;
       (B) promote connectivity and interoperability among 
     advanced computer networks of Federal agencies and 
     departments;
       (C) conduct research on the tools and services that future 
     agency networking requirements demand, including application 
     specific multicast, quality of service, and Internet video 
     conferencing;
       (D) focus on research and development of the next 
     generation network fabric, including the expansion of 
     bandwidth for users that is both economically viable and does 
     not impose a geographic penalty (as defined in section 7(a) 
     of the Next Generation Internet Research Act of 1998 (15 
     U.S.C. 5501 nt.); and
       (E) encourage researchers to pursue approaches to 
     networking technology that lead to flexible and extensible 
     solutions wherever feasible.

     SEC. 104. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 103(d) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 
     1991 (15 U.S.C. 5513(d)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(d) Authorization of Appropriations.--
       ``(1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     for the purpose of carrying out the Large Scale Networking 
     Programs, including the Next Generation Internet Programs, 
     the following amounts:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             ``Agency                                 FY 2001         FY 2002         FY 2003
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
``Department of Defense.........................................     $70,300,000     $74,200,000     $78,300,000
``Department of Energy..........................................     $32,000,000     $33,800,000     $35,700,000
``National Aeronautics and Space Administration.................     $19,500,000     $20,600,000     $21,700,000
``National Institutes of Health.................................     $96,000,000    $101,300,000    $106,300,000
``National Institute of Standards and Technology................      $4,200,000      $4,400,000      $4,600,000
``National Science Foundation...................................    $111,200,000    $117,300,000    $123,800,000
``National Security Agency......................................      $1,900,000      $2,000,000      $2,100,000
``Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality....................      $7,400,000      $7,800,000      $8,200,000
``National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration...............      $2,700,000      $2,900,000      $3,100,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[[Page S9011]]

       ``(2) Limitations.--Funds authorized by paragraph (1) shall 
     be used in a manner that contributes to achieving the goals 
     of the Large Scale Networking Program, including the Next 
     Generation Internet Programs. Research conducted under this 
     program shall be merit-based and peer-reviewed.''.

     SEC. 105. 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.''.

     SEC. 106. MINORITY AND SMALL COLLEGE INTERNET ACCESS.

       Section 103 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 
     (15 U.S.C. 5513), as amended by section 6, 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.''.

     SEC. 107. DIGITAL DIVIDE STUDY.

       (a) 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--
       (1) an assessment of the existing geographical penalty (as 
     defined in section 7(a)(1) of the Next General 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;
       (2) a review of all current Federally-funded research to 
     decrease the inequity of Internet access to rural and low-
     income users; and
       (3) an estimate of the potential impact of Next Generation 
     Internet research institutions acting as aggregators and 
     mentors for nearby smaller or disadvantaged institutions.
       (b) Report.--The National Academy of Sciences shall 
     transmit a report containing the results of the study and 
     recommendations required by subsection (a) 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.
       (c) 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 section.

               Title II--Federal Research Investment Act

     SECTION 201. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Federal Research 
     Investment Act''.

     SEC. 202. 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 saved lives in the United 
     States and around the world.
       (2) 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; and 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 underparticipate 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) Federal investment of approximately 13 to 14 percent of 
     the Federal discretionary budget in research and development 
     over the past 11 years has resulted in a doubling of the 
     nominal amount of Federal funding.
       (2) Fiscal realities now challenge Congress 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.
       (3) Current projections of Federal research funding show a 
     downward trend.

     SEC. 203. 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 fiscal year 
     1999. 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. 204. ADDITIONAL FINDINGS REGARDING THE LINK BETWEEN THE 
                   RESEARCH PROCESS AND USEFUL 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 the american 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. 205. 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

[[Page S9012]]

     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.
       (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 principle resource; and (B) 
     mission research investments, that is, investments in 
     research that derive from necessary public functions, such as 
     defense, health, education, environmental protection, and 
     raising 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. 206. POLICY STATEMENT.

       (a) Policy.-- This title is intended to--
       (1) assure a base level of Federal funding for basic 
     scientific, biomedical, and pre-competitive engineering 
     research, with this base level defined as a doubling of 
     Federal basic research funding over the 11 year period 
     following the date of enactment of this Act;
       (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 agencies such as the 
     National Institutes of Health to meet critical national 
     needs;
       (5) guarantee the leadership of the United States in 
     science, engineering, medicine, and technology; and
       (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.
       (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; and
       (15) the Food and Drug Administration, within the 
     Department of Health and Human Services.
       (c) Damage to Research Infrastructure.--A continued trend 
     of funding appropriations 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) Goals.--The long-term strategy for research and 
     development funding under this section would be achieved by a 
     steady 2.5 percent annual increase above the rate of 
     inflation throughout a 11-year period.
       (2) Inflation assumption.--The authorizations contained in 
     paragraph (3) assume that the rate of inflation for each year 
     will be 3 percent.
       (3) Authorization.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     for civilian research and development in the agencies listed 
     in subsection (b)--
       (A) $39,790,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;
       (B) $41,980,000,000 for fiscal year 2001;
       (C) $44,290,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;
       (D) $46,720,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
       (E) $49,290,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
       (F) $52,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
       (G) $54,860,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       (H) $57,880,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (I) $61,070,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
       (J) $64,420,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
       (K) $67,970,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
       (4) Acceleration to meet national needs.--
       (A) In general.--If the amount appropriated for any fiscal 
     year to an agency for the purposes stated in paragraph (3) 
     increases by more than 8 percent over the amount appropriated 
     to it for those purposes for the preceding fiscal year, then 
     the amounts authorized by paragraph (3) for subsequent fiscal 
     years for that agency and other agencies shall be determined 
     under subparagraphs (B) and (C).
       (B) Exclusion of agency in determining other agency amounts 
     for next fiscal year.--For the next fiscal year after a 
     fiscal year described in subparagraph (A), the amount 
     authorized to be appropriated to other agencies under 
     paragraph (3) shall be determined by excluding the agency 
     described in subparagraph (A). Any amount that would, but for 
     this subparagraph, be authorized to be appropriated to that 
     agency shall not be appropriated.
       (C) Resumption of regular treatment.--Notwithstanding 
     subparagraph (B), an agency may not be excluded from the 
     determination of the amount authorized to be appropriated 
     under paragraph (3) for a fiscal year following a fiscal year 
     for which the sum of the amounts appropriated to that agency 
     for fiscal year 2000 and all subsequent fiscal years for the 
     purposes described in paragraph (3) does not exceed the sum 
     of--
       (i) the amount appropriated to that agency for such 
     purposes for fiscal year 2000; and
       (ii) the amounts that would have been appropriated for such 
     purposes for subsequent fiscal years if the goal described in 
     paragraph (1) had been met (and not exceeded) with respect to 
     that agency's funding.
       (D) No limitation on other funding.--Nothing in this 
     paragraph limits the amount that may be appropriated to any 
     agency for the purposes described in paragraph (3).
       (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.

     SEC. 207. PRESIDENT'S ANNUAL BUDGET REQUEST.

       The President of the United States shall, in coordination 
     with the President's annual budget request, include a report 
     that parallels Congress' commitment to support Federally-
     funded research and development by providing--
       (1) a detailed summary of the total level of funding for 
     research and development programs throughout all civilian 
     agencies;
       (2) a focused strategy that reflects the funding 
     projections of this title for each future fiscal year until 
     2010, 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); and
       (4) specific proposals 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.

     SEC. 208. COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNTABILITY STUDY FOR FEDERALLY-
                   FUNDED RESEARCH.

       (a) Study.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy, in consultation with the Director of the 
     Office of Management and Budget, 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. 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;

[[Page S9013]]

       (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 agencies incorporate 
     independent merit-based review into the formulation of the 
     strategic plans of funding agencies and if the quantity or 
     quality of this type of input is unsatisfactory;
       (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 for the 18-month period beginning 
     October 1, 2000.

     SEC. 209. 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,''.


                           Amendment No. 4176

 (Purpose: To increase the Federal investment in civilian research and 
                              development)

  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, Senators Frist and 
Rockefeller have an amendment at the desk. I ask for its immediate 
consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from New Hampshire [Mr. Smith], for Mr. Frist, 
     for himself and Mr. Rockefeller, proposes an amendment 
     numbered 4176.

  (The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under 
``Amendments Submitted.'')
  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. I ask unanimous consent the amendment be 
agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 4176) was agreed to.
  Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. I ask unanimous consent the committee 
amendment, as amended, be agreed to, the bill be read a third time and 
passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any 
statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee amendment, as amended, was agreed to.
  The bill (S. 2046) was read the third time and passed.
  (The bill will be printed in a future edition of the Record.)

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