[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 129 (Sunday, October 10, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S11180-S11182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HIGH-END COMPUTING REVITALIZATION ACT OF 2004

  The Senate proceeded to consider the bill (H.R. 4516) to require the 
Secretary of Energy to carry out a program of research and development 
to advance high-end computing, which had been reported from the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, with an amendment to strike 
all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof the following:
  (Strike the part shown in black brackets and insert the part shown in 
italic.)

                               H.R. 4516

       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 ``Department of Energy High-
     End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004''.

     [SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       [For purposes of this Act:
       [(1) High-end computing system.--The term ``high-end 
     computing system'' means a computing system with performance 
     that substantially exceeds that of systems that are commonly 
     available for advanced scientific and engineering 
     applications.
       [(2) Leadership system.--The term ``Leadership System'' 
     means a high-end computing system that is among the most 
     advanced in the world in terms of performance in solving 
     scientific and engineering problems.
       [(3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
       [(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Energy.

[[Page S11181]]

     [SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HIGH-END COMPUTING RESEARCH AND 
                   DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

       [(a) In General.--The Secretary shall carry out a program 
     of research and development (involving software and hardware) 
     to advance high-end computing systems, and shall develop and 
     deploy such systems for advanced scientific and engineering 
     applications.
       [(b) Program.--The program shall--
       [(1) support both individual investigators and 
     multidisciplinary teams of investigators;
       [(2) conduct research in multiple architectures, which may 
     include vector, reconfigurable logic, streaming, processor-
     in-memory, and multithreading architectures;
       [(3) conduct research on software for high-end computing 
     systems, including research on algorithms, programming 
     environments, tools, languages, and operating systems for 
     high-end computing systems, in collaboration with 
     architecture development efforts;
       [(4) provide for sustained access by the research community 
     in the United States to high-end computing systems and to 
     Leadership Systems, including provision for technical support 
     for users of such systems;
       [(5) support technology transfer to the private sector and 
     others in accordance with applicable law; and
       [(6) ensure that the high-end computing activities of the 
     Department of Energy are coordinated with relevant activities 
     in industry and with other Federal agencies, including the 
     National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research 
     Projects Agency, the National Security Agency, the National 
     Institutes of Health, the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration, the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
       [(c) Leadership Systems Facilities.--
       [(1) In general.--As part of the program carried out under 
     this Act, the Secretary shall establish and operate 
     Leadership Systems facilities to--
       [(A) conduct advanced scientific and engineering research 
     and development using Leadership Systems; and
       [(B) develop potential advancements in high-end computing 
     system hardware and software.
       [(2) Administration.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
     Secretary shall provide access to Leadership Systems on a 
     competitive, merit-reviewed basis to researchers in United 
     States industry, institutions of higher education, national 
     laboratories, and other Federal agencies.

     [SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       [In addition to amounts otherwise made available for high-
     end computing, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Secretary to carry out this Act--
       [(1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
       [(2) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
       [(3) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.

     [SEC. 5. SOCIETAL IMPLICATIONS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY.

       [In carrying out its programs on the social, economic, 
     legal, ethical, and cultural implications of information 
     technology, the National Science Foundation shall support 
     research into the implications of computers (including both 
     hardware and software) that would be capable of mimicking 
     human abilities to learn, reason, and make decisions.

     [SEC. 6. ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

       [(a) Amendments.--Section 23 of the National Science 
     Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-9) is 
     amended--
       [(1) by striking ``and the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration'' each place it appears in subsections (a) and 
     (b) and inserting ``, the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, and the Department of Energy'';
       [(2) in subsection (b)(3), by inserting ``the Secretary of 
     Energy,'' after ``the Administrator of the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration,'';
       [(3) in subsection (c)--
       [(A) by striking ``5'' in each of paragraphs (1) and (2) 
     and inserting ``4'';
       [(B) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
       [(C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4), and 
     in that paragraph by striking ``3'' and inserting ``2''; and
       [(D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
     paragraph:
       [``(3) 3 members selected by the Secretary of Energy; 
     and''; and
       [(4) in subsection (f), by striking ``the advisory bodies 
     of other Federal agencies, such as the Department of Energy, 
     which may engage in related research activities'' and 
     inserting ``other Federal advisory committees that advise 
     Federal agencies which engage in related research 
     activities''.
       [(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     shall take effect on March 15, 2005.

     [SEC. 7. REMOVAL OF SUNSET PROVISION FROM SAVINGS IN 
                   CONSTRUCTION ACT OF 1996.

       [Section 14(e) of the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (15 
     U.S.C. 205l(e)) is repealed.]

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

        This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Energy High-
     End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

        In this Act:
       (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means a High-End Software 
     Development Center established under section 3(d).
       (2) High-end computing system.--The term ``high-end 
     computing system'' means a computing system with performance 
     that substantially exceeds that of systems that are commonly 
     available for advanced scientific and engineering 
     applications.
       (3) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
       (4) Leadership system.--The term ``Leadership System'' 
     means a high-end computing system that is among the most 
     advanced in the world in terms of performance in solving 
     scientific and engineering problems.
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Energy, acting through the Director of the Office of 
     Science of the Department of Energy.

     SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HIGH-END COMPUTING RESEARCH AND 
                   DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall--
       (1) carry out a program of research and development 
     (including development of software and hardware) to advance 
     high-end computing systems; and
       (2) develop and deploy high-end computing systems for 
     advanced scientific and engineering applications.
       (b) Program.--The program shall--
       (1) support both individual investigators and 
     multidisciplinary teams of investigators;
       (2) conduct research in multiple architectures, which may 
     include vector, reconfigurable logic, streaming, processor-
     in-memory, and multithreading architectures;
       (3) conduct research on software for high-end computing 
     systems, including research on algorithms, programming 
     environments, tools, languages, and operating systems for 
     high-end computing systems, in collaboration with 
     architecture development efforts;
       (4) provide for sustained access by the research community 
     in the United States to high-end computing systems and to 
     Leadership Systems, including provision of technical support 
     for users of such systems;
       (5) support technology transfer to the private sector and 
     others in accordance with applicable law; and
       (6) ensure that the high-end computing activities of the 
     Department of Energy are coordinated with relevant activities 
     in industry and with other Federal agencies, including the 
     National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research 
     Projects Agency, the National Nuclear Security 
     Administration, the National Security Agency, the National 
     Institutes of Health, the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration, the National Institutes of Standards and 
     Technology, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
       (c) Leadership Systems Facilities.--
       (1) In general.--As part of the program carried out under 
     this Act, the Secretary shall establish and operate 1 or more 
     Leadership Systems facilities to--
       (A) conduct advanced scientific and engineering research 
     and development using Leadership Systems; and
       (B) develop potential advancements in high-end computing 
     system hardware and software.
       (2) Administration.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
     Secretary shall provide to Leadership Systems, on a 
     competitive, merit-reviewed basis, access to researchers in 
     United States industry, institutions of higher education, 
     national laboratories, and other Federal agencies.
       (d) High-End Software Development Center.--
       (1) In general.--As part of the program carried out under 
     this Act, the Secretary shall establish at least 1 High-End 
     Software Development Center.
       (2) Duties.--A Center shall concentrate efforts to develop, 
     test, maintain, and support optimal algorithms, programming 
     environments, tools, languages, and operating systems for 
     high-end computing systems.
       (3) Staff.--A Center shall include--
       (A) a full-time research staff, to create a centralized 
     knowledge base for high-end software development; and
       (B) a rotating staff of researchers from other institutions 
     and industry to assist in coordination of research efforts 
     and promote technology transfer to the private sector.
       (4) Use of expertise.--The Secretary shall use the 
     expertise of a Center to assess research and development in 
     high-end computing system architecture.
       (5) Location.--The location of a Center shall be determined 
     by a competitive proposal process administered by the 
     Secretary.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

        In addition to amounts otherwise made available for high-
     end computing, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Secretary to carry out this Act--
       (1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
       (2) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
       (3) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.

     SEC. 5. ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

       (a) Amendments.--Section 23 of the National Science 
     Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-9) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
     subsection (b), by striking ``and the National Aeronautics 
     and Space Administration'' and inserting ``, the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Department of 
     Energy'';
       (2) in subsection (b)(3), by stiking ``Administration, 
     and'' and inserting ``Administration, the Secretary of 
     Energy,'';

[[Page S11182]]

       (3) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking ``5'' and 
     inserting ``4'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4), and in 
     that paragraph by striking ``3'' and inserting ``2''; and
       (D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
       ``(3) 3 members selected by the Secretary of Energy; and''; 
     and
       (4) in subsection (f), by striking ``the advisory bodies of 
     other Federal agencies, such as the Department of Energy, 
     which may engage in related research activities'' and 
     inserting ``other Federal advisory committees that advise 
     Federal agencies that engage in related research 
     activities''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     take effect on March 15, 2005.

     SEC. 6. REMOVAL OF SUNSET PROVISION FROM SAVINGS IN 
                   CONSTRUCTION ACT OF 1996.

        Section 14 of the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (15 U.S.C. 
     205l) is amended by striking subsection (e).

  The amendment (No. 4053) was agreed to as follows:

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

        This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Energy High-
     End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

        In this Act:
       (1) Center.--The term ``Center'' means a High-End Software 
     Development Center established under section 3(d).
       (2) High-end computing system.--The term ``high-end 
     computing system'' means a computing system with performance 
     that substantially exceeds that of systems that are commonly 
     available for advanced scientific and engineering 
     applications.
       (3) Leadership system.--The term ``Leadership System'' 
     means a high-end computing system that is among the most 
     advanced in the world in terms of performance in solving 
     scientific and engineering problems.
       (4) Institution of higher education.--The term 
     ``institution of higher education'' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)).
       (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Energy, acting through the Director of the Office of 
     Science of the Department of Energy.

     SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY HIGH-END COMPUTING RESEARCH AND 
                   DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The Secretary shall--
       (1) carry out a program of research and development 
     (including development of software and hardware) to advance 
     high-end computing systems; and
       (2) develop and deploy high-end computing systems for 
     advanced scientific and engineering applications.
       (b) Program.--The program shall--
       (1) support both individual investigators and 
     multidisciplinary teams of investigators;
       (2) conduct research in multiple architectures, which may 
     include vector, reconfigurable logic, streaming, processor-
     in-memory, and multithreading architectures;
       (3) conduct research on software for high-end computing 
     systems, including research on algorithms, programming 
     environments, tools, languages, and operating systems for 
     high-end computing systems, in collaboration with 
     architecture development efforts;
       (4) provide for sustained access by the research community 
     in the United States to high-end computing systems and to 
     Leadership Systems, including provision of technical support 
     for users of such systems;
       (5) support technology transfer to the private sector and 
     others in accordance with applicable law; and
       (6) ensure that the high-end computing activities of the 
     Department of Energy are coordinated with relevant activities 
     in industry and with other Federal agencies, including the 
     National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research 
     Projects Agency, the National Nuclear Security 
     Administration, the National Security Agency, the National 
     Institutes of Health, the National Aeronautics and Space 
     Administration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration, the National Institutes of Standards and 
     Technology, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
       (c) Leadership Systems Facilities.--
       (1) In general.--As part of the program carried out under 
     this Act, the Secretary shall establish and operate 1 or more 
     Leadership Systems facilities to--
       (A) conduct advanced scientific and engineering research 
     and development using Leadership Systems; and
       (B) develop potential advancements in high-end computing 
     system hardware and software.
       (2) Administration.--In carrying out this subsection, the 
     Secretary shall provide to Leadership Systems, on a 
     competitive, merit-reviewed basis, access to researchers in 
     United States industry, institutions of higher education, 
     national laboratories, and other Federal agencies.
       (d) High-End Software Development Center.--
       (1) In general.--As part of the program carried out under 
     this Act, the Secretary shall establish at least 1 High-End 
     Software Development Center.
       (2) Duties.--A Center shall concentrate efforts to develop, 
     test, maintain, and support optimal algorithms, programming 
     environments, tools, languages, and operating systems for 
     high-end computing systems.
       (3) Proposals.--In soliciting proposals for the Center, the 
     Secretary shall encourage staffing arrangements that include 
     both permanent staff and a rotating staff of researchers from 
     other institutions and industry to assist in coordination of 
     research efforts and promote technology transfer to the 
     private sector.
       (4) Use of expertise.--The Secretary shall use the 
     expertise of a Center to assess research and development in 
     high-end computing system architecture.
       (5) Selection.--The selection of a Center shall be 
     determined by a competitive proposal process administered by 
     the Secretary.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

        In addition to amounts otherwise made available for high-
     end computing, there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
     Secretary to carry out this Act--
       (1) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
       (2) $55,000,000 for fiscal year 2006; and
       (3) $60,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.

     SEC. 5. ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

       (a) Amendments.--Section 23 of the National Science 
     Foundation Authorization Act of 2002 (42 U.S.C. 1862n-9) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of 
     subsection (b), by striking ``and the National Aeronautics 
     and Space Administration'' and inserting ``, the National 
     Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the Department of 
     Energy'';
       (2) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``Administration, 
     and'' and inserting ``Administration, the Secretary of 
     Energy, '';
       (3) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraphs (1) and (2), by striking ``5'' and 
     inserting ``4'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4), and in 
     that paragraph by striking ``3'' and inserting ``2''; and
       (D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
       ``(3) 3 members selected by the Secretary of Energy; and
       (4) in subsection (f), by striking ``the advisory bodies of 
     other Federal agencies, such as the Department of Energy, 
     which may engage in related research activities'' and 
     inserting ``other Federal advisory committees that advise 
     Federal agencies that engage in related research 
     activities''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     take effect on March 15, 2005.

     SEC. 6. REMOVAL OF SUNSET PROVISION FROM SAVINGS IN 
                   CONSTRUCTION ACT OF 1996.

        Section 14 of the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 (15 U.S.C. 
     205l) is amended by striking subsection (e).
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, 
was agreed to.
  The bill (H.R. 4516), as amended, was read the third time and passed.

                          ____________________