[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 93 (Monday, June 13, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H3708-H3714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2016
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 5312) to amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to
authorize activities for support of networking and information
technology research, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
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 ``Networking and Information
Technology Research and Development Modernization Act of
2016''.
SEC. 2. PURPOSES.
Section 3 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15
U.S.C. 5502) is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking
``high-performance computing''
[[Page H3709]]
and inserting ``networking and information technology'';
(2) in paragraph (1)--
(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``expanding Federal support for research, development, and
application of high-performance computing'' and inserting
``supporting Federal research, development, and application
of networking and information technology'';
(B) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``high-performance
computing'' both places it appears and inserting ``networking
and information technology'';
(C) by striking subparagraphs (C) and (D);
(D) by inserting after subparagraph (B) the following:
``(C) stimulate research on and promote more rapid
development of high-end computing systems software and
applications software;'';
(E) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) through (H) as
subparagraphs (D) through (G), respectively;
(F) in subparagraph (D), as so redesignated, by inserting
``high-end'' after ``the development of'';
(G) in subparagraphs (E) and (F), as so redesignated, by
striking ``high-performance computing'' each place it appears
and inserting ``networking and information technology''; and
(H) in subparagraph (G), as so redesignated, by striking
``high-performance'' and inserting ``high-end''; and
(3) in paragraph (2)--
(A) by striking ``high-performance computing and'' and
inserting ``networking and information technology and''; and
(B) by striking ``high-performance computing network'' and
inserting ``networking and information technology''.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
Section 4 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (15
U.S.C. 5503) is amended--
(1) by striking paragraphs (3) and (5);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1), (2), (4), (6), and (7)
as paragraphs (2), (3), (5), (7), and (8), respectively;
(3) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated,
the following new paragraph:
``(1) `cyber-physical systems' means physical or engineered
systems whose networking and information technology functions
and physical elements are deeply integrated and are actively
connected to the physical world through sensors, actuators,
or other means to perform monitoring and control
functions;'';
(4) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by striking
``high-performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology'';
(5) by inserting after paragraph (3), as so redesignated,
the following new paragraph:
``(4) `high-end computing' means the most advanced and
capable computing systems, including their hardware, storage,
networking and software, encompassing both massive
computational capability and large-scale data analytics;'';
(6) by inserting after paragraph (5), as so redesignated,
the following new paragraph:
``(6) `networking and information technology' means high-
end computing, communications, and information technologies,
high-capacity and high-speed networks, special purpose and
experimental systems, high-end computing systems software and
applications software, and the management of large data
sets;''; and
(7) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, by striking
``National High-Performance Computing Program'' and inserting
``Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Program''.
SEC. 4. TITLE I HEADING.
The heading of title I of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511 et seq.)
is amended by striking ``HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING'' and
inserting ``NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY''.
SEC. 5. NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.
Section 101 of the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991
(15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking ``national high-
performance computing program'' and inserting ``networking
and information technology research and development
program'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``National High-
Performance Computing Program'' and inserting ``Networking
and Information Technology Research and Development'';
(B) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking
``National High-Performance Computing Program'' and inserting
``Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Program'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``high-performance
computing, including networking'' and inserting ``networking
and information technology'';
(iii) in subparagraphs (B) and (G), by striking ``high-
performance'' each place it appears and inserting ``high-
end'';
(iv) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``high-performance
computing and networking'' and inserting ``high-end
computing, distributed, and networking'';
(v) by amending subparagraph (D) to read as follows:
``(D) provide for efforts to increase software security and
reliability;'';
(vi) in subparagraph (H)--
(I) by inserting ``support and guidance'' after
``provide''; and
(II) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(vii) in subparagraph (I)--
(I) by striking ``improving the security'' and inserting
``improving the security, reliability, and resilience''; and
(II) by striking the period at the end and inserting a
semicolon; and
(viii) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraphs:
``(J) provide for increased understanding of the scientific
principles of cyber-physical systems and improve the methods
available for the design, development, and operation of
cyber-physical systems that are characterized by high
reliability, safety, and security;
``(K) provide for research and development on human-
computer interactions, visualization, and big data;
``(L) provide for research and development on the
enhancement of cybersecurity; and
``(M) provide for a research framework to leverage cyber-
physical systems, high capacity and high speed communication
networks, and large-scale data analytics to integrate city-
scale information technology and physical infrastructures.'';
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
``(A) establish the goals and priorities for Federal
networking and information technology research, development,
education, and other activities;'';
(ii) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows:
``(C) provide for interagency coordination of Federal
networking and information technology research, development,
education, and other activities undertaken pursuant to the
Program;'';
(iii) by amending subparagraph (E) to read as follows:
``(E) encourage and monitor the efforts of the agencies
participating in the Program to allocate the level of
resources and management attention necessary to ensure that
the strategic plan under subsection (e) is developed and
executed effectively and that the objectives of the Program
are met; and''; and
(iv) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``high-performance''
and inserting ``high-end'';
(D) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), (D), and (E)
as subparagraphs (E), (F), (G), and (J), respectively;
(ii) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the following new
subparagraphs:
``(B) provide, as appropriate, a list of the senior
steering groups and strategic plans that are planned or
underway as addressed under section 104;
``(C) provide a description of workshops and other
activities conducted under section 104, including
participants and findings;
``(D) provide a detailed description of the nature and
scope of research infrastructure designated as such under the
Program;'';
(iii) in subparagraph (E), as so redesignated--
(I) by redesignating clauses (vii) through (xi) as clauses
(viii) through (xii), respectively; and
(II) by inserting after clause (vi) the following:
``(vii) the Department of Homeland Security;'';
(iv) in subparagraph (F), as so redesignated--
(I) by striking ``is submitted,'' and inserting ``is
submitted, the levels for the previous fiscal year,''; and
(II) by striking ``each Program Component Area;'' and
inserting ``each Program Component Area and research area
supported in accordance with section 103;'';
(v) by amending subparagraph (G), as so redesignated, to
read as follows:
``(G) describe the levels of Federal funding for each
agency and department participating in the Program, and for
each Program Component Area, for the fiscal year during which
such report is submitted, the levels for the previous fiscal
year, and the levels proposed for the fiscal year with
respect to which the budget submission applies;''; and
(vi) by inserting after subparagraph (G), as so
redesignated, the following:
``(H) include a description of how the objectives for each
Program Component Area, and the objectives for activities
that involve multiple Program Component Areas, relate to the
objectives of the Program identified in the strategic plan
required under subsection (e);
``(I) include--
``(i) a description of the funding required by the National
Coordination Office to perform the functions specified under
section 102(b) for the current fiscal year;
``(ii) a description of the estimated funding required by
such Office to perform the functions specified under section
102(b) for the next fiscal year; and
``(iii) the amount of funding provided for such Office for
the current fiscal year by each agency participating in the
Program; and'';
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph
(A)--
(i) by striking ``high-performance computing'' both places
it appears and inserting ``networking and information
technology''; and
(ii) after the first sentence, by inserting the following:
``Each chair of the advisory committee shall meet the
qualifications of
[[Page H3710]]
committee membership and may be a member of the President's
Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.'';
(B) in paragraph (1)(D), by striking ``high-performance
computing, networking technology, and related software'' and
inserting ``networking and information technology''; and
(C) in paragraph (2)--
(i) in the second sentence, by striking ``2'' and inserting
``3'';
(ii) by striking ``Committee on Science and Technology''
and inserting ``Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology''; and
(iii) by striking ``The first report shall be due within 1
year after the date of enactment of the America COMPETES
Act.'';
(4) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking ``high-performance
computing'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(d) Periodic Reviews.--The agencies identified in
subsection (a)(3)(B) shall--
``(1) periodically assess and update, as appropriate, the
contents, scope, and funding levels of the Program Component
Areas and work through the National Science and Technology
Council and with the assistance of the National Coordination
Office described under section 102 to restructure the Program
when warranted, taking into consideration any relevant
recommendations of the advisory committee established under
subsection (b); and
``(2) working through the National Science and Technology
Council and with the assistance of the National Coordination
Office described under section 102, ensure that the Program
includes large-scale, long-term, interdisciplinary research
and development activities, including activities described in
section 103.
``(e) Strategic Plan.--
``(1) In general.--The agencies identified in subsection
(a)(3)(B), working through the National Science and
Technology Council and with the assistance of the National
Coordination Office described under section 102, shall
develop, within 12 months after the date of enactment of the
Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Modernization Act of 2016, and update every five
years thereafter, a five-year strategic plan for the Program.
``(2) Contents.--The strategic plan shall specify near-term
and long-term cross-cutting objectives for the Program, the
anticipated time frame for achieving the near-term
objectives, the metrics to be used for assessing progress
toward the objectives, and how the Program will--
``(A) address long-term challenges of national importance
for which solutions require large-scale, long-term,
interdisciplinary research and development;
``(B) encourage and support mechanisms for
interdisciplinary research and development in networking and
information technology and for Grand Challenges, including
through collaborations across agencies, across Program
Component Areas, with industry, with Federal laboratories (as
defined in section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology
Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3703)), and with
international organizations;
``(C) foster the transfer of research and development
results into new technologies and applications in the
national interest, including through cooperation and
collaborations with networking and information technology
research, development, and technology transition initiatives
supported by the States;
``(D) provide for cyberinfrastructure needs, as
appropriate, across federally funded large-scale research
facilities that produce or will produce large amounts of data
that will need to be stored, curated, and made publicly
available;
``(E) strengthen all levels of networking and information
technology education and training programs to ensure an
adequate, well-trained workforce; and
``(F) attract individuals identified in sections 33 and 34
of the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42
U.S.C. 1885a and 1885b) to networking and information
technology fields.
``(3) Recommendations.--The entities involved in developing
the strategic plan under paragraph (1) shall take into
consideration the recommendations--
``(A) of the advisory committee established under
subsection (b);
``(B) of the Committee on Science and relevant
subcommittees of the National Science and Technology Council;
and
``(C) of the stakeholders whose input was solicited by the
National Coordination Office, as required under section
102(b)(3).
``(4) Report to congress.--The Director of the National
Coordination Office shall transmit the strategic plan
required under paragraph (1) to the advisory committee, the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives, and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate.''.
SEC. 6. NATIONAL COORDINATION OFFICE.
Section 102 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5512) is amended to read
as follows:
``SEC. 102. NATIONAL COORDINATION OFFICE.
``(a) Office.--The Director shall maintain a National
Coordination Office with a Director and full-time staff.
``(b) Functions.--The National Coordination Office shall--
``(1) provide technical and administrative support to--
``(A) the agencies participating in planning and
implementing the Program, including such support as needed in
the development of the strategic plan under section 101(e);
and
``(B) the advisory committee established under section
101(b), as appropriate;
``(2) serve as the primary point of contact on Federal
networking and information technology activities for
government organizations, academia, industry, professional
societies, State computing and networking technology
programs, interested citizen groups, and others to exchange
technical and programmatic information;
``(3) solicit input and recommendations from a wide range
of stakeholders during the development of each strategic plan
required under section 101(e) and the scope of the Program
Component Areas through the convening of at least one
workshop with invitees from academia, industry, Federal
laboratories, and other relevant organizations and
institutions;
``(4) conduct and increase outreach, including to academia,
industry, other relevant organizations and institutions, and
the public, in order to increase awareness of the Program and
the benefits of the Program and to increase potential
opportunities for collaboration between agencies
participating in the Program and the private sector; and
``(5) promote access to and early application of the
technologies, innovations, and expertise derived from Program
activities to agency missions and systems across the Federal
Government and to United States industry.
``(c) Source of Funding.--
``(1) In general.--The operation of the National
Coordination Office shall be supported by funds from each
agency participating in the Program, subject to the
availability of appropriations for such purpose.
``(2) Specifications.--The portion of the total budget of
such Office that is authorized to be provided by each agency
for each fiscal year shall be in the same proportion as each
such agency's share of the total budget for the Program for
the previous fiscal year, as specified in the report required
under section 101(a)(3).
``(3) Waiver.--As appropriate, the Director may consider
and approve a reduction or waiver of an agency contribution
requirement under paragraph (2).''.
SEC. 7. NEXT GENERATION INTERNET.
Section 103 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5513) is repealed.
SEC. 8. GRAND CHALLENGES IN AREAS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
Title I of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 103. GRAND CHALLENGES IN AREAS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.
``(a) In General.--The Program shall encourage agencies
identified in section 101(a)(3)(E) to support large-scale,
long-term, interdisciplinary research and development
activities in networking and information technology directed
toward agency mission areas that have the potential for
significant contributions to national economic
competitiveness and for other significant societal benefits.
Such activities, ranging from basic research to the
demonstration of technical solutions, shall be designed to
advance the development of fundamental discoveries. The
advisory committee established under section 101(b) shall
make recommendations to the Program for candidate research
and development areas for support under this section.
``(b) Characteristics.--
``(1) In general.--Research and development activities
under this section shall--
``(A) include projects selected on the basis of
applications for support through a competitive, merit-based
process;
``(B) involve collaborations among researchers in
institutions of higher education and industry, and may
involve nonprofit research institutions and Federal
laboratories, as appropriate;
``(C) leverage Federal investments through collaboration
with related State and private sector initiatives; and
``(D) include a plan for fostering the transfer of research
discoveries and the results of technology demonstration
activities, including from institutions of higher education
and Federal laboratories, to industry for commercial
development.
``(2) Cost-sharing.--In selecting applications for support,
the agencies may give special consideration to projects that
include cost sharing from non-Federal sources.
``(3) Agency collaboration.--If two or more agencies
identified in section 101(a)(3)(E), or other appropriate
agencies, are working on large-scale networking and
information technology research and development activities in
the same area of national importance, then such agencies
shall strive to collaborate through joint solicitation and
selection of applications for support and subsequent funding
of projects.
``(4) Interdisciplinary research centers.--Research and
development activities under this section may be supported
through interdisciplinary research centers that are organized
to investigate basic research questions and carry out
technology demonstration activities in areas described in
subsection (a). Research may be carried out through existing
interdisciplinary centers.''.
SEC. 9. WORKSHOPS AND SENIOR STEERING GROUPS.
Title I of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511 et seq.) is amended
further by adding after section 103, as added by section 8 of
this Act, the following new section:
[[Page H3711]]
``SEC. 104. ADDRESSING EMERGING ISSUES.
``(a) In General.--In order to address emerging issues, the
Director of the National Coordination Office may conduct
workshops and other activities on research areas of emerging
importance, which may include the grand challenge areas
identified under section 103, with participants from
institutions of higher education, Federal laboratories, and
industry, in order to help guide Program investments and
strategic planning in those areas, including areas identified
in subsection (b).
``(b) Focus Areas.--In selecting research areas under
subsection (a), the Director of the National Coordination
Office shall consider the following topics:
``(1) Data analytics to identify the current and future
state of performing inference, prediction, and other forms of
analysis of data, and methods for the collection, management,
preservation, and use of data.
``(2) The current and future state of the science,
engineering, policy, and social understanding of privacy
protection.
``(3) The current and future state of fundamental research
on the systems and science of the interplay of people and
computing as well as the coordination and support being
undertaken in areas such as social computing, human-robot
interaction, privacy, and health-related aspects in human-
computer systems.
``(c) Functions.--The participants in the workshops shall,
as appropriate--
``(1) develop options for models for research and
development partnerships among institutions of higher
education, Federal laboratories, and industry, including
mechanisms for the support of research and development
carried out under these partnerships;
``(2) develop options for research and development for the
specific issue areas that would be addressed through such
partnerships;
``(3) propose guidelines for assigning intellectual
property rights and for the transfer of research results to
the private sector; and
``(4) make recommendations for how Federal agencies
participating in the Program can help support research and
development partnerships for the specific issue areas.
``(d) Participants.--The Director of the National
Coordination Office shall ensure that the participants in the
workshops--
``(1) are individuals with knowledge and expertise in the
specific issue areas; and
``(2) represent a broad mix of relevant stakeholders,
including academic and industry researchers and, as
appropriate, Federal agencies.
``(e) Senior Steering Groups and Strategic Plans.--As
appropriate, the Director of the National Coordination Office
shall establish senior steering groups and develop focused
strategic plans to coordinate and guide activities under the
research areas identified under this section, taking into
consideration the findings and recommendations from any
workshops carried out on those research topics.''.
SEC. 10. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES.
Section 201 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5521) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)--
(A) in paragraph (1)--
(i) by inserting ``high-end'' after ``National Science
Foundation shall provide''; and
(ii) by striking ``high-performance computing'' and all
that follows through ``networking;'' and inserting
``networking and information technology; and'';
(B) by striking paragraphs (2) through (4); and
(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new
paragraph:
``(2) the National Science Foundation shall use its
existing programs, in collaboration with other agencies, as
appropriate, to improve the teaching and learning of
networking and information technology at all levels of
education and to increase participation in networking and
information technology fields, including by individuals
identified in sections 33 and 34 of the Science and
Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 U.S.C. 1885a and
1885b).''; and
(2) by striking subsection (b).
SEC. 11. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
ACTIVITIES.
Section 202 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5522) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (b);
(2) by striking ``(a) General Responsibilities.--''; and
(3) by striking ``high-performance computing'' and
inserting ``networking and information technology''.
SEC. 12. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ACTIVITIES.
Section 203 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5523) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (b);
(2) by striking ``(a) General Responsibilities.--'';
(3) in paragraph (1), by striking ``high-performance
computing and networking'' and inserting ``networking and
information technology''; and
(4) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``high-performance''
and inserting ``high-end''.
SEC. 13. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACTIVITIES.
Section 204 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5524) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``high-performance
computing systems and networks'' and inserting ``networking
and information technology systems and capabilities'';
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``interoperability of
high-performance computing systems in networks and for common
user interfaces to systems'' and inserting ``interoperability
and usability of networking and information technology
systems''; and
(C) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``high-performance
computing'' and inserting ``networking and information
technology'';
(2) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the heading, by striking ``High-Performance
Computing and Network'' and inserting ``Networking and
Information Technology'';
(B) by striking ``Pursuant to the Computer Security Act of
1987 (Public Law 100-235; 101 Stat. 1724), the'' and
inserting ``The''; and
(C) by striking ``sensitive''; and
(3) by striking subsections (c) and (d).
SEC. 14. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACTIVITIES.
Section 205 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5525) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (b);
(2) by striking ``(a) General Responsibilities.--'';
(3) by striking ``basic and applied'';
(4) by striking ``computational'' and inserting
``networking and information technology''; and
(5) by inserting ``All software and code, along with any
subsequent updates to the software and code, developed by the
Environmental Protection Agency under the Program and used in
conducting scientific research shall be made publically
available. In cases where the underlying software or code is
proprietary or contains confidential business information,
the Agency shall disclose only the name and vendor of the
software and code used for all proprietary or confidential
business information portions of the software or code. The
Environmental Protection Agency shall ensure that the
research conducted under the Program does not duplicate the
scope or aims of similar research and initiatives at other
Federal agencies. No Environmental Protection Agency funds
shall be used towards research that duplicates the scope or
aims of similar research and initiatives at other Federal
agencies.'' after ``dynamics models.''.
SEC. 15. ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
Section 206 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5526) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (b);
(2) by striking ``(a) General Responsibilities.--''; and
(3) by striking ``to conduct basic'' and all that follows
through ``software capabilities'' and inserting ``to support
programs and activities to improve the teaching and learning
of networking and information technology fields and
contribute to the development of a skilled networking and
information technology workforce''.
SEC. 16. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
Section 207(b) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5527(b)) is amended
by striking ``high-performance computing'' and inserting
``networking and information technology''.
SEC. 17. REPEAL.
Section 208 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5528) is repealed.
SEC. 18. ADDITIONAL REPEAL.
Section 4 of the Department of Energy High-End Computing
Revitalization Act of 2004 (15 U.S.C. 5543) is repealed.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. LaHood) and the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice
Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to
include extraneous material on H.R. 5312, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5312, the Networking and
Information Technology Research and Development Modernization Act of
2016.
First off, I would like to thank Chairman Lamar Smith for his hard
work in bringing this bill through the House Science, Space, and
Technology Committee, and my colleague, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice
Johnson, for her leadership in introducing this bipartisan legislation
with me.
The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development
Program, also known as the NITRD Program, is the primary Federal
research and development investment portfolio in unclassified
networking, computing, software, cybersecurity, and related information
technologies.
In my district, the NITRD Program supports Federal investment in
research at universities like Western Illinois University in Macomb,
Illinois, and the Blue Waters supercomputer at the University of
Illinois in Urbana, Illinois. NITRD also supports public-private
partnerships between high-performance supercomputing and private
[[Page H3712]]
corporations like, Caterpillar Corporation, based in Peoria, Illinois.
Information technology is all around us in our day-to-day lives--on
our smartphones, in our cars, and in our homes. It improves our way of
life, even in ways that are not always visible or apparent. As
technology rapidly advances, the need for research and development
continues to evolve. The NITRD Program works to prevent duplicative and
overlapping efforts in this space, thereby enabling more efficient use
of government resources and taxpayer dollars, while also supporting new
and innovative research and development efforts at our Nation's
universities and through public-private partnerships.
This bill implements several important policies to help lead the way
for future technological innovations and modernize the NITRD Program.
Specifically, the bill improves the program in the following ways:
First, it establishes a strategic planning and review process for the
NITRD investment portfolio, with clear metrics and objectives.
Second, it works to improve interagency as well as government and
private sector coordination and communication.
Third, it focuses the NITRD investment portfolio on areas of national
interest and increasing importance like data analytics, privacy
protection, and human-computer systems.
These changes to current law will reduce bureaucracy and ensure that
hardworking Americans' taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently and
effectively.
Important to note, this legislation authorizes no new spending.
Smart investments in information technology research and development
are crucial for our Nation. Work in related areas bolsters economic
competitiveness and creates new industries and businesses; it helps
ensure future national security, including cybersecurity; and creates
the good-paying jobs we need for today and tomorrow.
As such, I urge my colleagues to support this important piece of
legislation to modernize NITRD and streamline Federal research and
development investment.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such
time as I may consume.
I rise in strong support of H.R. 5312, the Networking and Information
Technology Research and Development Modernization Act of 2016.
The bill before us modernizes the original High-Performance Computing
Act of 1991. In the 25 years that have passed since that bill
established the framework for Federal investment in computing research,
networking and information technologies, NIT, has transformed how we
communicate with each other, how we get around, how we bank, and how we
shop.
NIT has helped provide teachers and students in diverse communities
across our Nation access to resources and learning opportunities that
were previously out of reach.
NIT has transformed every industry sector, increasing efficiency and
productivity, while creating higher skilled, better paying jobs. NIT
made possible the decoding of the human genome and has led to myriad
improvements in medical diagnostics and treatments.
Over these past 25 years, networking and information technologies
have created opportunities across all aspects of our lives that were
previously unimaginable. With those opportunities, NIT has also created
new challenges for individual and collective safety and security and
for our privacy.
Our critical infrastructure, our banks, our commercial enterprises,
and our own personal wallets and identities are vulnerable to criminals
and state actors alike. Our privacy is being compromised daily, whether
we are public figures or private citizens.
We cannot go back to a world before NIT, nor should we. However,
while investing in advancements in NIT and its many applications, we
must also invest in protecting our security and privacy.
The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development
Program, or NITRD, which grew out of the original 1991 High-Performance
Computing Act, does just that. The interagency NITRD Program supports a
full range of research and development that provides the foundation of
scientific understanding and accelerates the development of advanced
information technologies, while strengthening cybersecurity and
privacy. The program also advances NIT to accelerate discovery in many
other areas of science and engineering, from astronomy to biomedical
research.
The legislation we are considering today, the Networking and
Information Technology Research and Development Modernization Act,
continues to strengthen the management, coordination, and oversight of
the NITRD Program. It helps ensure that Federal investments in NIT R&D
remain at the cutting edge and continuously evolve to include important
emerging areas of NIT. In addition, it encourages large-scale
interdisciplinary and cross-agency collaborations in ``grand
challenge'' areas of R&D. Finally, the bill encourages strong
collaboration and coordination with industry and other stakeholders.
Over time, there have been some amendments to the 1991 Act. H.R.
5312, represents the committee's fourth attempt in as many Congresses
to enact a comprehensive modernization of the 25-year-old law.
For the first time since our first effort in 2009, the Senate has
proposed draft language of its own. I am hopeful that we can get a
NITRD modernization bill to the President's desk before year's end.
Given the profound implications for our economic and national security,
NIT is not an area of science and technology for which the U.S. can
afford to cede leadership.
I want to thank Representative LaHood, Chairman Smith, and committee
staff for an open, collaborative, and good process which has led to a
very good bill. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of the bill, and I urge
my colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology
Committee.
Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I want to thank the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) for taking the initiative on this
innovation bill. And I am also pleased that the ranking member, the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson), is a cosponsor of
H.R. 5312, the Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development Modernization Act of 2016.
Mr. Speaker, in this digital age, advancing and protecting our
Nation's computing and networking systems is more important than ever.
This legislation ensures that Federal science agencies focus on
networking and information technology priorities that are in the
national interest, and it provides the coordinating R&D efforts
necessary to improve cyber and data security nationwide. Better network
security promotes U.S. competitiveness, enhances national security, and
creates high-tech jobs.
The NITRD Modernization bill is an update to the High-Performance
Computing Act of 1991. The authorized program represents the Federal
Government's main R&D portfolio for unclassified advanced networking,
computing, software, cybersecurity, and related information
technologies.
Currently, 21 Federal agencies are contributing members of NITRD,
with many additional agencies participating in the program. This bill
serves as the mechanism for interagency coordination of R&D to produce
a tighter focus without wasteful duplication of research efforts among
Federal agencies or the private sector. This will help save taxpayers'
dollars. It also rebalances agency R&D portfolios to focus less on
short-term, incremental approaches and much more on large-scale, long-
term interdisciplinary research to transform and enable new computing
capabilities.
Federal agencies are expected to invest more than $4.4 billion in
fiscal year 2017 on NITRD Program activities. These investments go
toward basic research at the frontiers of high-end computing,
networking, and information technology. More than $1.1 billion of this
is invested by the National Science Foundation and $720 million by the
Department of Energy.
This taxpayer-funded basic research is intended to keep the United
States
[[Page H3713]]
the global leader in high-end computing and networking, which is
crucial to our future economic and national security. The bill does
this by updating and reforming the underlying High-Performance
Computing statute to reflect the current mature state of our vibrant
computing industry. It also codifies the NITRD National Coordination
Office, housed within the National Science Foundation, to oversee the
participating agencies.
The NITRD Program has eight strategic priorities for its enabling
research: cybersecurity, autonomous robotic systems, high-end computing
and applications, exascale computing, human-computer interaction,
large-scale networking, workforce development, and software design.
Technologies that develop from these research priorities are used by
the commercial sector and the government to protect and enhance
emergency communications, the power grid, air traffic control systems,
our national energy resources, scientific discovery, human exploration,
new product development, and national defense systems.
Advanced networking and information technology supports and boosts
American discovery and innovation, improves our international
competitiveness, expands the U.S. economy, and, of course, creates
millions of jobs.
Mr. Speaker, American job creators also recognize the importance of
networking and information technology research and development.
{time} 1645
Many industry partners and stakeholders have written letters in
support of this bill. They include the Computing Research Association,
the Computing Technology Industry Association, the Information
Technology Industry Council, and the Texas A&M University System.
As shown by hearings that the House Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology has held this Congress, including the most recent on the
FDIC, cyber breaches are becoming all too commonplace. This legislation
encourages agencies to increase understanding of ways to detect,
prevent, and recover from actions that compromise or threaten computer-
based systems.
I again thank our Science, Space, and Technology Committee colleague,
Representative LaHood, for his efforts on this issue, and I also
commend Majority Leader McCarthy for his vision in establishing a
focused innovation initiative in the House of which this legislation is
a part.
Mr. Speaker, again, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5312.
Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further
requests for time, and I urge a positive vote on the bill.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from
Georgia (Mr. Loudermilk).
Mr. LOUDERMILK. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding his
time.
Mr. Speaker, I chair the Oversight Subcommittee on the Science,
Space, and Technology Committee, and my subcommittee has held numerous
hearings on the ever-evolving threat of cyber intrusions.
I also owned and operated an information technology company for more
than 20 years, so I know firsthand the importance of safeguarding
sensitive information and private customer data. Regrettably, as we
have seen through many unfortunate examples, the American people have
good reason to question whether their private information is being
properly secured.
That is why I am pleased to support H.R. 5312, the Networking and
Information Technology Research and Development Modernization Act of
2016. This legislation ensures that Federal science agencies focus on
networking and information technology priorities that are in the
national interest, and also provides the coordinated research and
development efforts necessary to improve cyber and data security
nationwide.
The bill also encourages agencies to increase understanding of ways
to detect, prevent, and recover from actions that threaten computer
systems. This legislation will help stimulate innovation in the
technology sector and will enable our Nation to better understand and
secure its systems for the future.
I thank my Science, Space, and Technology Committee colleague (Mr.
LaHood) for his work on this issue, and I urge my colleagues to support
the bill.
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Rodney Davis), my colleague and friend from Illinois.
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend and
colleague, Mr. LaHood, Chairman Smith, and Ranking Member Eddie Bernice
Johnson.
This is a piece of legislation that may not get a lot of publicity,
but it is essential to our research capabilities and supercomputing
capabilities for our future right here in this country. The United
States of America needs to continue to lead in this arena.
Who would have thought that while they were writing the High
Performance Computing Act of 1991, it would have to be amended because
of innovation that we have seen at many of our universities throughout
this great country.
I am obviously in support of H.R. 5312 because it is going to
streamline Federal investment in high-end computing, benefiting local
entities in Illinois that use advanced technologies, such as the
University of Illinois in my district, Caterpillar, and Western
Illinois University that is served so well by Congressman LaHood.
This legislation ensures that the University of Illinois, the home to
nationally recognized scientists and the Blue Waters Supercomputer, can
continue to be the leader that they are in the fields of networking and
computing.
The National Center for Supercomputing Applications at the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is funded by many Federal agencies and
has an impressive history of providing integrated cyber infrastructure
to scientists, engineers, and scholars across the country.
Addressing complex problems in today's science and society requires
expertise and engagement from multiple disciplines. NCSA is committed
to continuing to serve as a central hub for transdisciplinary teams to
unite in making technological advancements. These important research
programs are critical for coordinating Federal research and fostering
revolutionary breakthroughs in computing, networking, software, and
cybersecurity.
By streamlining the NITRD Program, we can ensure U.S. competitiveness
in advanced technologies while improving collaboration between Federal
agencies, national laboratories, private industry, and academia.
Mr. Speaker, this bill is an effective use of taxpayer dollars.
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record the letters of
support mentioned by Chairman Smith, including the letter from the
University of Illinois.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support for H.R. 5312.
I yield back the balance of my time.
University of Illinois,
Champaign, IL, June 13, 2016.
Hon. Darin LaHood,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
Dear Representative LaHood: The University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign (Urbana) is pleased to endorse H.R. 5312,
the Networking and Information Technology Research and
Development (NITRD) Modernization Act of 2016.
The NITRD program plays a critical role in coordinating
federal investments in Information Technology (IT) research
and development to better enable and equip research
communities in addressing complex grand challenges in
science, engineering, and society.
Coordination and integration is increasingly important in
the IT ecosystem. This is particularly true for high
performance computing (HPC) and Big Data. At Urbana, the
National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) serves
as a world-class hub of transdisciplinary research and
digital scholarship in which collaborators from across the
globe unite to solve real-world problems. NCSA leads the two
single largest National Science Foundation (NSF) investments
in high-end computing and data analysis--the NSF Blue Waters
supercomputer, the most powerful supercomputer in the
academic world, and the NSF Extreme Science and Engineering
Discovery Environment (XSEDE) project, which provides
collaborative and shared computing services to the HPC
community. These two computing projects support thousands of
researchers from across the nation whose research is funded
separately by numerous federal agencies. By providing unique
science capabilities, these facilities are catalyzing
significant discoveries.
[[Page H3714]]
In this highly competitive world, we applaud your efforts
to lead this legislation to maintain U.S. leadership in
research and innovation.
Sincerely,
Barbara J. Wilson,
Interim Chancellor.
____
Office of the Chancellor,
The Texas A&M University System,
College Station, TX, June 8, 2016.
Hon. Lamar Smith,
Chairman, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Smith: Thank you for your leadership in
advancing the bipartisan Networking and Information
Technology Research and Development (NITRD) Modernization Act
of 2016. As our nation and its citizens become increasingly
connected through information technology, the need to
reauthorize this critical program is evident.
We especially applaud the Committee for updating the
program to focus on large-scale, long-term transformative
interdisciplinary research. We face growing challenges that
are complex and interrelated--from cybersecurity threats to
human interfaces with information technology--that require
new approaches to research and development. To this end, we
are also pleased to see an increased focus in this
legislation on Grand Challenges and cyber security needs.
As a leader in cybersecurity and information technology
research and education, Texas A&M University is proud to
partner with industry and Federal agencies to provide
solutions to some of our nation's most vexing issues. The
National Security Agency (NSA) and the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) designated Texas A&M University as a National
Center of Academic Excellence, both in education and in
research. This well-regarded designation places Texas A&M
among a select group of only 30 universities that have earned
both distinctions. Further the Texas A&M Engineering
Extension Service (TEEX) provides a wide variety of online
cybersecurity training for community leaders and businesses
from cyberlaw and white collar crime to ethics to risk
management and network vulnerability assessment. Given the
rapidly expanding workforce needs in this area, Texas A&M
prides itself on preparing students and professionals to keep
our nation competitive.
We are grateful for your leadership of the Science
Committee and the work that you have put into this
legislation. We look forward to continuing our work with you
in the coming months and years.
Sincerely,
John Sharp,
Chancellor.
____
Information Technology
Industry Council,
Washington, DC, June 10, 2016.
Re H.R. 5312, the Networking and Information Technology
Research and Development Modernization Act of 2016
Hon. Paul D. Ryan,
Speaker of the House, House of Representatives,Washington,
DC.
Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
Democratic Leader, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Speaker Ryan and Leader Pelosi: On behalf of the 60
members of the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI),
I write to express our support for H.R. 5312, the Networking
and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD)
Modernization Act of 2016.
The NITRD Program ensures the proper coordination of
unclassified networking and information technology (NIT)
research and development (R&D) across multiple federal
agencies. More specifically, the Program aims to avoid
investment redundancies, as well as increase interoperability
in supercomputing, high-speed networking, cybersecurity,
software engineering, and information management. However,
since its inception in 1991, there have been unprecedented
technological advances that are not currently addressed in
the Program's overall structure. H.R. 5312 comprehensively
modernizes the Program by updating essential terminology
throughout the underlying law; addressing new areas of NIT
research; and encouraging large-scale, long-term, interagency
research in critical areas such as data analytics, social
computing, human-robot interaction, privacy, and health
technology.
The Program plays a key role in supporting continuous
federal research in various aspects related to computing,
including cybersecurity. Promoting greater federal R&D in
cybersecurity is essential for securing our country's digital
infrastructure. Consequently, we urge you to support the
NITRD Modernization Act when it comes to the floor for a
vote.
Sincerely,
Dean C. Garfield,
President and CEO.
____
Computing Research Association,
Washington, DC, May 23 2016.
Hon. Lamar Smith,
Chairman, House Science, Space, and Technology Committee,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Ranking Member, House Science, Space, and Technology
Committee, Washington. DC.
Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Johnson: As an organization
representing over 240 industry and academic institutions
involved in computing research and six affiliated
professional societies, the Computing Research Association is
pleased to support your efforts to bolster Federal
information technology research through the Networking and
Information Technology Research and Development Modernization
Act of 2016.
As you are aware, advances in information technology are
transforming all aspects of our lives. Virtually every human
endeavor today has been touched by information technology,
including commerce, education. employment, health care,
energy, manufacturing, governance, national security,
communications, the environment, entertainment, science and
engineering. The profound reach of IT is enabled in large
part by the innovations that spawn from the IT research
ecosystem--that incredibly productive, yet complex interplay
of industry, universities and the Federal government. Indeed,
nearly every sub-sector of the IT economy today bears the
stamp of Federal support. The program responsible for
overseeing this crucial investment is the Networking and
Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD)
program.
We believe this Act makes the NITRD program stronger by
improving the planning and coordination of the National
Coordination Office for NITRD, requiring that the NCO and the
NITRD agencies create a five-year strategic plan for the
program, and requiring the periodic review and assessment of
the program contents and funding. All have been
recommendations of the President's Council of Advisors for
Science and Technology in their recent reviews of the
program.
We thank you for your work on this legislation and for your
long-standing support of the Federal investment in IT
research. We look forward to working with you and your
colleagues as you endeavor to move the legislation forward
this session.
Sincerely,
Susan B. Davidson,
Chair, Board of Directors.
____
CompTIA,
Washington, DC, June 13, 2016.
Chris Shank,
Policy and Coalitions Director,
House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, Washington,
DC.
Chris: Thank you for providing CompTIA the opportunity to
lend our support to the Networking and Information Technology
Research and Development (NITRD) Modernization Act of 2016
(H.R. 5312).
As stated on the NITRD website, ``the multiagency NITRD
Program seeks to provide the research and development (R&D)
foundations for assuring continued U.S. technological
leadership and meeting the needs of the Federal Government
for advanced information technologies.'' CompTIA strongly
supports the Act as it assures that NITRD continues to
receive the funding necessary to help drive innovation
through the scientific community. CompTIA also supports the
development of a national coordination office to ensure
improved communication within the NITRD ecosystem. Finally,
CompTIA supports the focus on Grand Challenges that
correlates with the NITRD portfolio.
Best Regards,
David Logsdon,
Senior Director,
Public Advocacy.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 5312, as amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. LaHood. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.
____________________