[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 114 (Friday, September 22, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9088-S9094]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     NEXT GENERATION INTERNET 2000

  On September 21, 2000, the Senate amended and passed S. 2046, as 
follows:

                                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 ``Federal Research Investment 
     Act''.

                  TITLE I--FEDERAL RESEARCH INVESTMENT

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

       (a) Value of Research and Development.--The Congress makes 
     the following

[[Page S9089]]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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     more specific nature of private-sector funding. Government 
     funding should be restricted to pre-competitive activities, 
     leaving competitive activities solely for the private sector. 
     As a rule, the Government should not invest in commercial 
     technology that is in the product development stage, very 
     close to the broad commercial marketplace, except to meet a 
     specific agency goal. When the Government provides funding 
     for any science, engineering, and technology investment 
     program, it must take reasonable steps to ensure that the 
     potential benefits derived from the program will accrue 
     broadly.

     SEC. 105. POLICY STATEMENT.

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

     SEC. 106. ANNUAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ANALYSES.

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

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

       (a) Study.--The Director of the Office of Science and 
     Technology Policy shall enter into agreement with the 
     National Academy of Sciences for the Academy to conduct a 
     comprehensive study to develop methods for evaluating 
     federally funded research and development programs. The 
     Director shall report the results of the study to the 
     Congress not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
     of this Act. This study shall--
       (1) recommend processes to determine an acceptable level of 
     success for federally funded research and development 
     programs by--

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

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

       (a) In General.--Chapter 11 of title 31, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following:

     ``Sec. 1120. Accountability for research and development 
       programs

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

``1120. Accountability for research and development programs.''.

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

            TITLE II--NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

     SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.

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

     SEC. 202. FINDINGS.

       The Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Information technology will continue to change the way 
     Americans live, learn, and work. The information revolution 
     will improve the workplace and the quality and accessibility 
     of health care and education and make Government more 
     responsible and accessible. It is important that access to 
     information technology be available to all citizens, 
     including elderly Americans and Americans with disabilities.
       (2) Information technology is an imperative enabling 
     technology that contributes to scientific disciplines. Major 
     advances in biomedical research, public safety, engineering, 
     and other critical areas depend on further advances in 
     computing and communications.
       (3) The United States is the undisputed global leader in 
     information technology.
       (4) Information technology is recognized as a catalyst for 
     economic growth and prosperity.
       (5) Information technology represents one of the fastest 
     growing sectors of the United States economy, with electronic 
     commerce alone projected to become a trillion-dollar business 
     by 2005.
       (6) Businesses producing computers, semiconductors, 
     software, and communications equipment account for one-third 
     of the total growth in the United States economy since 1992.
       (7) According to the United States Census Bureau, between 
     1993 and 1997, the information technology sector grew an 
     average of 12.3 percent per year.
       (8) Fundamental research in information technology has 
     enabled the information revolution.
       (9) Fundamental research in information technology has 
     contributed to the creation of new industries and new, high-
     paying jobs.
       (10) Our Nation's well-being will depend on the 
     understanding, arising from fundamental research, of the 
     social and economic benefits and problems arising from the 
     increasing pace of information technology transformations.
       (11) Scientific and engineering research and the 
     availability of a skilled workforce are critical to continued 
     economic growth driven by information technology.
       (12) In 1997, private industry provided most of the funding 
     for research and development in the information technology 
     sector. The information technology sector now receives, in 
     absolute terms, one-third of all corporate spending on 
     research and development in the United States economy.
       (13) The private sector tends to focus its spending on 
     short-term, applied research.
       (14) The Federal Government is uniquely positioned to 
     support long-term fundamental research.
       (15) Federal applied research in information technology has 
     grown at almost twice the rate of Federal basic research 
     since 1986.
       (16) Federal science and engineering programs must increase 
     their emphasis on long-term, high-risk research.
       (17) Current Federal programs and support for fundamental 
     research in information technology is inadequate if we are to 
     maintain the Nation's global leadership in information 
     technology.

     SEC. 203. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) National Science Foundation.--Section 201(b) of the 
     High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5521(b)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``From sums otherwise authorized to be 
     appropriated, there'' and inserting ``There'';
       (2) by striking ``1995; and'' and inserting ``1995;''; and
       (3) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; 
     $580,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;

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     $699,300,000 for fiscal year 2001; $728,150,000 for fiscal 
     year 2002; $801,550,000 for fiscal year 2003; and 
     $838,500,000 for fiscal year 2004. Amounts authorized under 
     this subsection shall be the total amounts authorized to the 
     National Science Foundation for a fiscal year for the 
     Program, and shall not be in addition to amounts 
     previously authorized by law for the purposes of the 
     Program.''.
       (b) National Aeronautics and Space Administration.--Section 
     202(b) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 
     U.S.C. 5522(b)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``From sums otherwise authorized to be 
     appropriated, there'' and inserting ``There'';
       (2) by striking ``1995; and'' and inserting ``1995;''; and
       (3) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; 
     $164,400,000 for fiscal year 2000; $201,000,000 for fiscal 
     year 2001; $208,000,000 for fiscal year 2002; $224,000,000 
     for fiscal year 2003; and $231,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2004.''.
       (c) Department of Energy.--Section 203(e)(1) of the High-
     Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5523(e)(1)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``1995; and'' and inserting ``1995;''; and
       (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; 
     $119,500,000 for fiscal year 2000; $175,000,000 for fiscal 
     year 2001; $220,000,000 for fiscal year 2002; $250,000,000 
     for fiscal year 2003; and $300,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2004.''.
       (d) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--(1) 
     Section 204(d)(1) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 
     1991 (15 U.S.C. 5524(d)(1)) is amended--
       (A) by striking ``1995; and'' and inserting ``1995;''; and
       (B) by striking ``1996; and'' and inserting ``1996; 
     $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2000; $9,500,000 for fiscal year 
     2001; $10,500,000 for fiscal year 2002; $16,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2003; and $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; 
     and''.
       (2) Section 204(d) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 
     1991 (15 U.S.C. 5524(d)) is amended by striking ``From sums 
     otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there'' and 
     inserting ``There''.
       (e) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.--
     Section 204(d)(2) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 
     1991 (15 U.S.C. 5524(d)(2)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``1995; and'' and inserting ``1995;''; and
       (2) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; 
     $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2000; $13,900,000 for fiscal year 
     2001; $14,300,000 for fiscal year 2002; $14,800,000 for 
     fiscal year 2003; and $15,200,000 for fiscal year 2004.''.
       (f) Environmental Protection Agency.--Section 205(b) of the 
     High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5525(b)) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``From sums otherwise authorized to be 
     appropriated, there'' and inserting ``There'';
       (2) by striking ``1995; and'' and inserting ``1995;''; and
       (3) by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; 
     $4,200,000 for fiscal year 2000; $4,300,000 for fiscal year 
     2001; $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2002; $4,600,000 for fiscal 
     year 2003; and $4,700,000 for fiscal year 2004.''.
       (g) National Institutes of Health.--Title II of the High-
     Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5521 et seq.) is 
     amended by inserting after section 205 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 205A. NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH ACTIVITIES.

       ``(a) General Responsibilities.--As part of the Program 
     described in title I, the National Institutes of Health shall 
     support activities directed toward establishing University-
     based centers of excellence pursuing research and training in 
     areas of intersection of information technology and the 
     biomedical, life sciences, and behavioral research; research 
     and development on technologies and processes to better 
     manage genomic and related life science data bases; and, 
     computation infrastructure for and related research on 
     modeling and simulation, as applied to biomedical, life 
     science, and behavioral research. In pursuing the above 
     programs and in support of its mission of biomedical, life 
     sciences, and behavioral research, National Institutes of 
     Health should work in close cooperation with agencies 
     involved in related information technology research and 
     application efforts.
       ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services for the purposes of the Program $223,000,000 
     for fiscal year 2000, $233,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, 
     $242,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, $250,000,000 for fiscal 
     year 2003, and $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.''.

     SEC. 204. NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND 
                   DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) National Science Foundation.--Section 201 of the High-
     Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5521) is amended 
     by adding at the end the following new subsections:
       ``(c) Networking and Information Technology Research and 
     Development.--(1) Of the amounts authorized under subsection 
     (b), $350,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, $421,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2001, $442,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, 
     $486,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, and $515,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2004 shall be available for grants for long-term 
     basic research on networking and information technology, with 
     priority given to research that helps address issues related 
     to high end computing and software; network stability, 
     fragility, reliability, security (including privacy and 
     counterinitiatives), and scalability; and the social and 
     economic consequences (including the consequences for 
     healthcare) of information technology.
       ``(2) In each of the fiscal years 2000 and 2001, the 
     National Science Foundation shall award under this subsection 
     up to 25 large grants of up to $1,000,000 each, and in each 
     of the fiscal years 2002, 2003, and 2004, the National 
     Science Foundation shall award under this subsection up to 35 
     large grants of up to $1,000,000 each.
       ``(3)(A) Of the amounts described in paragraph (1), 
     $40,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, $45,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2001, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, $55,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2003, and $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 shall 
     be available for grants of up to $5,000,000 each for 
     Information Technology Research Centers.
       ``(B) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `Information 
     Technology Research Centers' means groups of six or more 
     researchers collaborating across scientific and engineering 
     disciplines on large-scale long-term research projects which 
     will significantly advance the science supporting the 
     development of information technology or the use of 
     information technology in addressing scientific issues of 
     national importance.
       ``(d) Major Research Equipment.--(1) In addition to the 
     amounts authorized under subsection (b), there are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the National Science Foundation 
     $70,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, $70,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2001, $80,000,000 for fiscal year 2002, $80,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2003, and $85,000,000 for fiscal year 2004 for 
     grants for the development of major research equipment to 
     establish terascale computing capabilities at one or more 
     sites and to promote diverse computing architectures. Awards 
     made under this subsection shall provide for support for the 
     operating expenses of facilities established to provide the 
     terascale computing capabilities, with funding for such 
     operating expenses derived from amounts available under 
     subsection (b).
       ``(2) Grants awarded under this subsection shall be awarded 
     through an open, nationwide, peer-reviewed competition. 
     Awardees may include consortia consisting of members from 
     some or all of the following types of institutions:
       ``(A) Academic supercomputer centers.
       ``(B) State-supported supercomputer centers.
       ``(C) Supercomputer centers that are supported as part of 
     federally funded research and development centers.

     Notwithstanding any other provision of law, regulation, or 
     agency policy, a federally funded research and development 
     center may apply for a grant under this subsection, and may 
     compete on an equal basis with any other applicant for the 
     awarding of such a grant.
       ``(3) As a condition of receiving a grant under this 
     subsection, an awardee must agree--
       ``(A) to connect to the National Science Foundation's 
     Partnership for Advanced Computational Infrastructure 
     network;
       ``(B) to the maximum extent practicable, to coordinate with 
     other federally funded large-scale computing and simulation 
     efforts; and
       ``(C) to provide open access to all grant recipients under 
     this subsection or subsection (c).
       ``(e) Information Technology Education and Training 
     Grants.--
       ``(1) Information technology grants.--The National Science 
     Foundation shall provide grants under the Scientific and 
     Advanced Technology Act of 1992 for the purposes of section 3 
     (a) and (b) of that Act, except that the activities supported 
     pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to improving 
     education in fields related to information technology. The 
     Foundation shall encourage institutions with a substantial 
     percentage of student enrollments from groups 
     underrepresented in information technology industries to 
     participate in the competition for grants provided under this 
     paragraph.
       ``(2) Internship grants.--The National Science Foundation 
     shall provide--
       ``(A) grants to institutions of higher education to 
     establish scientific internship programs in information 
     technology research at private sector companies; and
       ``(B) supplementary awards to institutions funded under the 
     Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation program for 
     internships in information technology research at private 
     sector companies.
       ``(3) Matching funds.--Awards under paragraph (2) shall be 
     made on the condition that at least an equal amount of 
     funding for the internship shall be provided by the private 
     sector company at which the internship will take place.
       ``(4) Definition.--For purposes of this subsection, the 
     term `institution of higher education' has the meaning given 
     that term in section 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 1141(a)).
       ``(5) Availability of funds.--Of the amounts described in 
     subsection (c)(1), $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, 
     $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2002, $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, and $25,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2004 shall be available for carrying out this 
     subsection.
       ``(f) Educational Technology Research.--
       ``(1) Research program.--As part of its responsibilities 
     under subsection (a)(1), the National Science Foundation 
     shall establish a research program to develop, demonstrate, 
     assess, and disseminate effective applications of information 
     and computer technologies for elementary and secondary 
     education. Such program shall--

[[Page S9093]]

       ``(A) support research projects, including collaborative 
     projects involving academic researchers and elementary and 
     secondary schools, to develop innovative educational 
     materials, including software, and pedagogical approaches 
     based on applications of information and computer technology;
       ``(B) support empirical studies to determine the 
     educational effectiveness and the cost effectiveness of 
     specific, promising educational approaches, techniques, and 
     materials that are based on applications of information and 
     computer technologies; and
       ``(C) include provision for the widespread dissemination of 
     the results of the studies carried out under subparagraphs 
     (A) and (B), including maintenance of electronic libraries of 
     the best educational materials identified accessible through 
     the Internet.
       ``(2) Replication.--The research projects and empirical 
     studies carried out under paragraph (1) (A) and (B) shall 
     encompass a wide variety of educational settings in order to 
     identify approaches, techniques, and materials that have a 
     high potential for being successfully replicated throughout 
     the United States.
       ``(3) Availability of funds.--Of the amounts authorized 
     under subsection (b), $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, 
     $10,500,000 for fiscal year 2001, $11,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2002, $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, and $12,500,000 for 
     fiscal year 2004 shall be available for the purposes of this 
     subsection.
       ``(g) Peer Review.--All grants made under this section 
     shall be made only after being subject to peer review by 
     panels or groups having private sector representation.''.
       (b) Other Program Agencies.--
       (1) National aeronautics and space administration.--Section 
     202(a) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 
     U.S.C. 5522(a)) is amended by inserting ``, and may 
     participate in or support research described in section 
     201(c)(1)'' after ``and experimentation''.
       (2) Department of energy.--Section 203(a) of the High-
     Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5523(a)) is 
     amended by striking the period at the end and inserting a 
     comma, and by adding after paragraph (4) the following:

     ``conduct an integrated program of research, development, and 
     provision of facilities to develop and deploy to scientific 
     and technical users the high performance computing and 
     collaboration tools needed to fulfill the statutory mission 
     of the Department of Energy, and may participate in or 
     support research described in section 201(c)(1).''.
       (3) National institute of standards and technology.--
     Section 204(a)(1) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 
     1991 (15 U.S.C. 5524(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``; and'' 
     at the end of subparagraph (C) and inserting a comma, and by 
     adding after subparagraph (C) the following:
     ``and may participate in or support research described in 
     section 201(c)(1); and''.
       (4) National oceanic and atmospheric administration.--
     Section 204(a)(2) of the High-Performance Computing Act of 
     1991 (15 U.S.C. 5524(a)(2)) is amended by inserting ``, and 
     may participate in or support research described in section 
     201(c)(1)'' after ``agency missions''.
       (5) Environmental protection agency.--Section 205(a) of the 
     High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5525(a)) is 
     amended by inserting ``, and may participate in or support 
     research described in section 201(c)(1)'' after ``dynamics 
     models''.
       (6) United states geological survey.--Title II of the High-
     Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5521 et seq.) is 
     amended--
       (A) by redesignating sections 207 and 208 as sections 208 
     and 209, respectively; and
       (B) by inserting after section 206 the following new 
     section:

     ``SEC. 207. UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

       ``The United States Geological Survey may participate in or 
     support research described in section 201(c)(1).''.

     SEC. 205. NEXT GENERATION INTERNET.

       (a) In General.--Section 103(d) of the High-Performance 
     Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5513(d)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1)--
       (A) by striking ``1999 and'' and inserting ``1999,''; and
       (B) by inserting ``, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, and 
     $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2002'' after ``fiscal year 
     2000'';
       (2) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, and $25,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2001 and $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2002'' after 
     ``Act of 1998'';
       (3) in paragraph (4)--
       (A) by striking ``1999 and'' and inserting ``1999,''; and
       (B) by inserting ``, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2001, and 
     $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2002'' after ``fiscal year 
     2000''; and
       (4) in paragraph (5)--
       (A) by striking ``1999 and'' and inserting ``1999,''; and
       (B) by inserting ``, $5,500,000 for fiscal year 2001, and 
     $5,500,000 for fiscal year 2002'' after ``fiscal year 2000''.
       (b) Rural Infrastructure.--Section 103 of the High-
     Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5513) is amended 
     by adding at the end thereof the following:
       ``(e) Rural Infrastructure.--Out of appropriated amounts 
     authorized by subsection (d), not less than 10 percent of the 
     total amounts shall be made available to fund research grants 
     for making high-speed connectivity more accessible to users 
     in geographically remote areas. The research shall include 
     investigations of wireless, hybrid, and satellite 
     technologies. In awarding grants under this subsection, the 
     administering agency shall give priority to qualified, post-
     secondary educational institutions that participate in the 
     Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.''.
       (c) Minority and Small College Internet Access.--Section 
     103 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 
     5513), as amended by subsection (b), is further amended by 
     adding at the end thereof the following:
       ``(f) Minority and Small College Internet Access.--Not less 
     than 5 percent of the amounts made available for research 
     under subsection (d) shall be used for grants to institutions 
     of higher education that are Hispanic-serving, Native 
     American, Native Hawaiian, Native Alaskan, Historically 
     Black, or small colleges and universities.''.
       (d) Digital Divide Study.--
       (1) In general.--The National Academy of Sciences shall 
     conduct a study to determine the extent to which the Internet 
     backbone and network infrastructure contribute to the uneven 
     ability to access to Internet-related technologies and 
     services by rural and low-income Americans. The study shall 
     include--
       (A) an assessment of the existing geographical penalty (as 
     defined in section 7(a)(1) of the Next Generation Internet 
     Research Act of 1998 (15 U.S.C. 5501 nt.)) and its impact on 
     all users and their ability to obtain secure and reliable 
     Internet access;
       (B) a review of all current federally funded research to 
     decrease the inequity of Internet access to rural and low-
     income users; and
       (C) an estimate of the potential impact of Next Generation 
     Internet research institutions acting as aggregators and 
     mentors for nearby smaller or disadvantaged institutions.
       (2) Report.--The National Academy of Sciences shall 
     transmit a report containing the results of the study and 
     recommendations required by paragraph (1) to the Senate 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the 
     House of Representatives Committee on Science within 1 year 
     after the date of enactment of this Act.
       (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the National Academy of Sciences such 
     sums as may be necessary to carry out this subsection.

     SEC. 206. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.

       Section 101 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 
     (15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (b)--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (5) as 
     subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively;
       (B) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``Advisory Committee.--''; 
     and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(2) In addition to the duties outlined in paragraph (1), 
     the advisory committee shall conduct periodic evaluations of 
     the funding, management, implementation, and activities of 
     the Program, the Next Generation Internet program, and the 
     Networking and Information Technology Research and 
     Development program, and shall report not less frequently 
     than once every 2 fiscal years to the Committee on Science of 
     the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate on its findings and 
     recommendations. The first report shall be due within 1 year 
     after the date of the enactment of the Federal Research 
     Investment Act.''; and
       (2) in subsection (c) (1)(A) and (2), by inserting ``, 
     including the Next Generation Internet program and the 
     Networking and Information Technology Research and 
     Development program'' after ``Program'' each place it 
     appears.

     SEC. 207. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

       Section 103 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 
     (15 U.S.C. 5513), as amended by section 205 of this title, is 
     further amended by redesignating subsections (b), (c), and 
     (d) as subsections (c), (d), and (e), respectively, and by 
     inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection:
       ``(b) Report to Congress.--
       ``(1) Requirement.--The Director of the National Science 
     Foundation shall conduct a study of the issues described in 
     paragraph (3), and not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of the Federal Research Investment Act, shall 
     transmit to the Congress a report including recommendations 
     to address those issues. Such report shall be updated 
     annually for 6 additional years.
       ``(2) Consultation.--In preparing the reports under 
     paragraph (1), the Director of the National Science 
     Foundation shall consult with the National Aeronautics and 
     Space Administration, the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology, and such other Federal agencies and educational 
     entities as the Director of the National Science Foundation 
     considers appropriate.
       ``(3) Issues.--The reports shall--
       ``(A) identify the current status of high-speed, large 
     bandwidth capacity access to all public elementary and 
     secondary schools and libraries in the United States;
       ``(B) identify how high-speed, large bandwidth capacity 
     access to the Internet to such schools and libraries can be 
     effectively utilized within each school and library;
       ``(C) consider the effect that specific or regional 
     circumstances may have on the ability of such institutions to 
     acquire high-speed, large bandwidth capacity access to 
     achieve universal connectivity as an effective tool in the 
     education process; and

[[Page S9094]]

       ``(D) include options and recommendations for the various 
     entities responsible for elementary and secondary education 
     to address the challenges and issues identified in the 
     reports.''.

     SEC. 208. STUDY OF ACCESSIBILITY TO INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

       Section 201 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 
     (15 U.S.C. 5524), as amended by sections 3(a) and 4(a) of 
     this Act, is amended further by inserting after subsection 
     (g) the following new subsection:
       ``(h) Study of Accessibility to Information Technology.--
       ``(1) Study.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the 
     enactment of the Federal Research Investment Act, the 
     Director of the National Science Foundation, in consultation 
     with the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation 
     Research, shall enter into an arrangement with the National 
     Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences for that 
     Council to conduct a study of accessibility to information 
     technologies by individuals who are elderly, individuals who 
     are elderly with a disability, and individuals with 
     disabilities.
       ``(2) Subjects.--The study shall address--
       ``(A) current barriers to access to information 
     technologies by individuals who are elderly, individuals who 
     are elderly with a disability, and individuals with 
     disabilities;
       ``(B) research and development needed to remove those 
     barriers;
       ``(C) Federal legislative, policy, or regulatory changes 
     needed to remove those barriers; and
       ``(D) other matters that the National Research Council 
     determines to be relevant to access to information 
     technologies by individuals who are elderly, individuals who 
     are elderly with a disability, and individuals with 
     disabilities.
       ``(3) Transmittal to congress.--The Director of the 
     National Science Foundation shall transmit to the Congress 
     within 2 years of the date of the enactment of the Federal 
     Research Investment Act a report setting forth the findings, 
     conclusions, and recommendations of the National Research 
     Council.
       ``(4) Federal agency cooperation.--Federal agencies shall 
     cooperate fully with the National Research Council in its 
     activities in carrying out the study under this subsection.
       ``(5) Availability of funds.--Funding for the study 
     described in this subsection shall be available, in the 
     amount of $700,000, from amounts described in subsection 
     (c)(1).''.

     SEC. 209. COMPTROLLER GENERAL STUDY.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Comptroller General shall transmit to the 
     Congress a report on the results of a detailed study 
     analyzing the effects of this Act, and the amendments made by 
     this Act, on lower income families, minorities, and women.

                          ____________________