[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 102 (Friday, July 11, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9306-S9307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. McCAIN (for himself and Mr. Brownback):
  S. 1395. A bill to authorize appropriations for the Technology 
Administration of the Department of Commerce for fiscal years 2004 
through 2005; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation.
  Mr. McCAIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by Senator 
Brownback in introducing the Technology Administration Authorization 
Act of 2003. This legislation would authorize funding for the 
Department of Commerce's Technology Administration, which includes the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Office of 
Technology Policy, and the Office of Space Commercialization.
  As we begin the 21st Century, we must recognize that technology is a 
vital key to our world leadership. In addition, technology is the 
engine that drives our economy. According to the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics, there will be 2.5 million new jobs between 2000 and 2010, 
just in the field of information technology alone. According to the 
Department of Commerce, the contribution of the high-tech industry to 
the U.S. economy has doubled over the past 10 years, from 4.2 percent 
to 8.3 percent of the gross domestic product. Information technology 
has contributed more than one-third of the real U.S. economic growth, 
or approximately $170 billion.
  The Technology Administration has broad responsibilities including 
supporting the development of standards for first responders, promotion 
of space commercialization, publication of technical documents, and 
development of policies regarding technology transfer. The quality of 
work conducted at NIST labs in Gaithersburg, MD, and Boulder, CO, is 
evident by the awarding of two Nobel Prizes to NIST researchers, Dr. 
Bill Phillips and Dr. Eric Cornell, within the past seven years.
  NIST plays an important role in developing measurement methods, 
standards, and technologies that improve U.S. competitiveness in fields 
as diverse as chemical engineering, manufacturing, electronics, 
metallurgy, and physics. In addition, NIST is charged with the mission 
in our Constitution of setting, ``the Standard of Weights and 
Measures'' that are the foundation of our economy. NIST also runs the 
Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Program that recognizes 
performance excellence and quality. Recently, NIST has been charged 
with a number of new missions, including cyber security research and 
development, election reform, investigating the collapse of the World 
Trade Center, and developing metrology for the promising new field of 
nanotechnology. However, these new initiatives have diverted resources 
from NIST's traditional missions, and forced scientists to be laid off 
due to reduced funding. Given NIST's recognized leadership as a ``world 
class'' science institution, it is important that we ensure that it is 
adequately funded.
  This legislation would authorize the Technology Administration from 
Fiscal Years 2004 through 2008 to ensure a steady funding stream for 
this agency's activities. The bill is based on the President's budget 
request for NIST's laboratory activities, and includes funding 
increases of six percent per year to offset the deteriorating funding 
situation.
  The legislation also would authorize funding for the Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership, (MEP), Program. As Secretary Evans recently 
stated, ``[m]anufacturing is a key pillar of our economy and we are 
committed to enhancing growth opportunities for our American 
manufacturing companies.'' I commend the Secretary for his recognition 
of the need to energize the manufacturing sector to restore robust 
growth to our economy. With this recognition in mind, I urge the 
Administration to be aware of the role that MEP can play in restoring 
the health of this sector. MEP centers aid small and medium-sized 
manufacturers by offering expertise, needs evaluation, training and 
information dissemination to help these companies deal with the 
challenges of globalization and weak economic growth.
  I would urge my colleagues to support this legislation. It is 
important that we reauthorize these programs to ensure that they 
continue to carry out their critical role in our Nation's economy.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1395

       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 ``Technology Administration 
     Authorization Act of 2003''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
       (2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Commerce.

     SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR SCIENTIFIC AND 
                   TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES.

       (a) Laboratory Activities.--There are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Department of Commerce for use by the 
     Secretary of Commerce for the Scientific and Technical 
     Research and Services laboratory activities of the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology--
       (1) $387,621,000 for fiscal year 2004 of which $5,795,000 
     shall be for the National Quality Program;
       (2) $410,878,000 for fiscal year 2005 of which $5,969,000 
     shall be for the National Quality Program;
       (3) $435,530,000 for fiscal year 2006 of which $6,148,000 
     shall be for the National Quality Program;
       (4) $461,662,000 for fiscal year 2007 of which $6,332,000 
     shall be for the National Quality Program; and
       (5) $489,362,000 for fiscal year 2008 of which $6,522,000 
     shall be for the National Quality Program.
       (b) Construction and Maintenance.--There are authorized to 
     be appropriated to the Department of Commerce for use by the 
     Secretary of Commerce for construction and maintenance of 
     facilities of the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology--
       (1) $69,590,000 for fiscal year 2004;
       (2) $71,678,000 for fiscal year 2005;
       (3) $73,828,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       (4) $76,043,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
       (5) $78,324,000 for fiscal year 2008.
       (c) Teacher Science and Technology Enhancement Institute 
     Program.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Department of Commerce for use by the Secretary of Commerce 
     for the Teacher Science and Technology Enhancement Institute 
     program of the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology--
       (1) $750,000 for fiscal year 2004;
       (2) $773,000 for fiscal year 2005;
       (3) $796,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       (4) $820,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
       (5) $844,000 for fiscal year 2008.
       (d) Industrial Technology Services.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Department of Commerce for use by 
     the Secretary of Commerce for the Manufacturing Extension 
     Partnership Program of the

[[Page S9307]]

     National Institute of Standards and Technology--
       (1) $107,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;
       (2) $110,210,000 for fiscal year 2005;
       (3) $113,516,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       (4) $116,921,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
       (5) $120,429,000 for fiscal year 2008.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF THE 
                   UNDER SECRETARY FOR TECHNOLOGY.

       (a) Office of the Under Secretary for Technology.--There 
     are authorized to be appropriated to the Department of 
     Commerce for use by the Secretary of Commerce for the 
     activities of the Under Secretary for Technology and the 
     Office of Technology Policy--
       (1) $8,015,000 for fiscal year 2004;
       (2) $8,255,000 for fiscal year 2005;
       (3) $8,503,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       (4) $8,758,000 for fiscal year 2007;
       (5) $9,021,000 for fiscal year 2008.
       (b) Office of Space Commercialization.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to the Department of Commerce 
     for use by the Secretary of Commerce for the activities of 
     the Office of Space Commercialization--
       (1) $500,000 for fiscal year 2004;
       (2) $515,000 for fiscal year 2005;
       (3) $530,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       (4) $546,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
       (5) $563,000 for fiscal year 2008.

     SEC. 5. AMENDMENT OF STEVENSON-WYDLER ACT.

       Section 17(c) of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation 
     Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3711a(c)) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``and nonprofit organizations'' after 
     ``Companies'' in paragraph (1)(C); and
       (2) by striking paragraph (3) of subsection (c).

     SEC. 6. FINANCIAL STATUS OF THE NATIONAL TECHNICAL 
                   INFORMATION SERVICE.

       Within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
     Secretary of Commerce shall report to the Senate Committee on 
     Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House of 
     Representatives Committee on Science regarding the financial 
     status of the National Technical Information Service.

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