[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 158 (Tuesday, September 25, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H8865-H8868]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 
                                  2018

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 6229) to authorize the programs of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 6229

       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 ``National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology Reauthorization Act of 2018''.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) Fiscal Year 2018.--
       (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Secretary of Commerce $1,198,500,000 for the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2018.
       (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
     paragraph (1)--
       (A) $724,500,000 shall be for scientific and technical 
     research and services laboratory activities;
       (B) $319,000,000 shall be for the construction and 
     maintenance of facilities; and
       (C) $155,000,000 shall be for industrial technology 
     services activities.
       (b) Fiscal Year 2019.--
       (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
     the Secretary of Commerce $1,125,000,000 for the National 
     Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2019.
       (2) Specific allocations.--Of the amount authorized by 
     paragraph (1)--
       (A) $850,000,000 shall be for scientific and technical 
     research and services laboratory activities, of which--
       (i) $109,900,000 shall be for the advanced communications, 
     networks, and scientific data systems mission area;
       (ii) $103,200,000 shall be for the cybersecurity and 
     privacy mission area;
       (iii) $234,000,000 shall be for the fundamental 
     measurement, quantum science and measurement dissemination 
     mission area; and
       (iv) $89,800,000 shall be for the physical infrastructure 
     and resilience mission area;
       (B) $120,000,000 shall be for the construction and 
     maintenance of facilities; and
       (C) $155,000,000 shall be for industrial technology 
     services activities.

     SEC. 3. QUANTUM INFORMATION SCIENCE.

       (a) Research Activities and Engagement.--The Secretary, 
     acting through the Director, shall--
       (1) continue to support and expand basic quantum 
     information science and technology research and development 
     of measurement and standards infrastructure necessary to 
     advance commercial development of quantum applications;
       (2) use the programs of the Institute, in collaboration 
     with other relevant Federal agencies, as appropriate, to 
     train scientists in quantum information science and 
     technology to increase participation in the quantum fields;
       (3) establish or expand collaborative ventures or consortia 
     with other public or private sector entities, including other 
     Federal agencies engaged in quantum information science 
     research and development, institutions of higher education, 
     National Laboratories, and industry, for the purpose of 
     advancing the field of quantum information science and 
     engineering; and
       (4) have the authority to enter into and perform such 
     contracts on such terms as the Secretary, acting through the 
     Director, considers appropriate, including cooperative 
     research and development arrangements and grants and 
     cooperative agreements or other transactions, as may be 
     necessary in the conduct of the work of the Institute with 
     respect to quantum information science and technology.
       (b) Quantum Workshop.--
       (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the 
     Director, shall convene a workshop of stakeholders to discuss 
     the future measurement, standards, cybersecurity, and other 
     issues that relate to development of quantum information 
     science in the United States. The goals of the workshop shall 
     be--
       (A) assessment of the Institute's quantum information 
     science and technology research work, including areas that 
     may need additional Institute investment in order to support 
     development of quantum information science and technology in 
     the United States; and
       (B) consideration of recommendations and priority issues 
     for the Institute's participation in the proposed National 
     Quantum Initiative Program.
       (2) Report to congress.--Not later than 2 years after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through 
     the Director, shall transmit to the Committee on Science, 
     Space, and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of 
     the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation and the Committee on 
     Appropriations of the Senate a summary report containing the 
     findings of the workshop convened under this subsection.
       (c) Funding.--The Secretary of Commerce shall devote 
     $80,000,000 to carry out this section for fiscal year 2019, 
     subject to the availability of appropriations, to come from 
     amounts made available pursuant to section 2(b)(2)(A)(iii) of 
     this Act. This section shall be carried out using funds 
     otherwise appropriated by law after the date of enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 4. CYBERSECURITY RESEARCH.

       (a) Research.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, 
     shall expand the fundamental and applied research carried out 
     by the Institute to address key questions relating the 
     measurement of privacy, security,

[[Page H8866]]

     and vulnerability of software tools and communications 
     networks, including through--
       (1) the development of research and engineering 
     capabilities to provide practical solutions, including 
     measurement techniques and engineering toolkits, to solve 
     cybersecurity challenges such as human factors, identity 
     management, network security, privacy, and software;
       (2) investment in tools to help private and public sector 
     organizations measure their cybersecurity, manage their risks 
     and ensure workforce preparedness for new cybersecurity 
     challenges; and
       (3) investment in programs to prepare the United States 
     with strong cybersecurity and encryption technologies to 
     apply to emerging technologies such as artificial 
     intelligence, the internet of things, and quantum computing.
       (b) Authority.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, 
     shall have the authority to enter into and perform such 
     contracts on such terms as the Secretary considers to be 
     appropriate, including cooperative research and development 
     arrangements, grants, and cooperative agreements or other 
     transactions, as may be necessary in the conduct of the work 
     of the Institute with respect to cybersecurity.

     SEC. 5. COMPOSITES RESEARCH.

       (a) Research.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, 
     shall implement the recommendations contained in the December 
     2017 report entitled ``Road Mapping Workshop Report on 
     Overcoming Barriers to Adoption of Composites in Sustainable 
     Infrastructure'', as appropriate, to help facilitate the 
     adoption of composite technology in infrastructure in the 
     United States. In implementing such recommendations, the 
     Secretary, acting through the Director shall, with respect to 
     the use of composite technology in infrastructure--
       (1) not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, establish a design data clearinghouse to identify, 
     gather, validate, and disseminate existing design criteria, 
     tools, guidelines, and standards; and
       (2) develop methods and resources required for testing an 
     evaluation of safe and appropriate uses of composite 
     materials for infrastructure, including--
       (A) conditioning protocols, procedures and models;
       (B) screening and acceptance tools; and
       (C) minimum allowable design data sets that can be 
     converted into design tools.
       (b) Standards Coordination.--The Secretary, acting through 
     the Director, shall assure that the appropriate Institute 
     staff consult regularly with standards developers, members of 
     the composites industry, institutions of higher education, 
     and other stakeholders in order to facilitate the adoption of 
     standards for use of composite materials in infrastructure 
     that are based on the research and testing results and other 
     information developed by the Institute.
       (c) Funding.--The Secretary of Commerce shall devote 
     $11,000,000 to carry out this section for fiscal year 2019, 
     subject to the availability of appropriations, to come from 
     amounts made available pursuant to section 2(b)(2)(A)(iv) of 
     this Act. This section shall be carried out using funds 
     otherwise appropriated by law after the date of enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 6. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND DATA SCIENCE.

       The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall continue 
     to support the development of artificial intelligence and 
     data science, including through--
       (1) the expansion of the Institute's capabilities, 
     including scientific staff and research infrastructure;
       (2) the implementation of rigorous scientific testing to 
     support the development of trustworthy and safe artificial 
     intelligence and data systems;
       (3) the development of machine learning and other 
     artificial intelligence applications to support measurement 
     science research programs and take steps to modernize the 
     Institute's research infrastructure; and
       (4) the development and publication of new cybersecurity 
     tools, encryption methods, and best practices for artificial 
     intelligence and data science.

     SEC. 7. INTERNET OF THINGS.

        The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall continue 
     to conduct research with respect to and support the expanded 
     connectivity, interoperability, and security of 
     interconnected systems and other aspects of the internet of 
     things, including through--
       (1) the development of new tools and methodologies for 
     cybersecurity of the internet of things;
       (2) the development of technologies to address network 
     congestion and device interference, such as the development 
     of testing tools for next generation wireless communications, 
     internet of things protocols, coexistence of wireless 
     communications systems, and spectrum sharing;
       (3) convening experts in the public and private sectors to 
     develop recommendations for accelerating the adoption of 
     sound interoperability standards, guidelines, and best 
     practices for the internet of things; and
       (4) the development and publication of new cybersecurity 
     tools, encryption methods, and best practices for internet of 
     things security.

     SEC. 8. HIRING AND MANAGEMENT.

       (a) Direct Hire Authority.--The Secretary, acting through 
     the Director, may--
       (1) appoint, without regard to the provisions of subchapter 
     I of chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code (other than 
     sections 3303, 3328, and 3330e of such chapter), qualified 
     candidates to scientific, engineering, and professional 
     positions for carrying out research and development functions 
     which require the services of specially qualified personnel 
     relating to cybersecurity and quantum information science and 
     technology and such other areas of national research 
     priorities as the Secretary, acting through the Director, may 
     determine; and
       (2) fix the rate of basic pay of any individual appointed 
     under paragraph (1), at a rate not in excess of the basic 
     rate of pay of the Vice President under section 104 of title 
     3, United States Code, without regard to title 5, United 
     States Code.
       (b) Limitation.--The Director may appoint not more than 10 
     individuals under this section.
       (c) Sunset.--The authority under this section shall expire 
     on the date that is 5 years after the date of enactment of 
     this Act.

     SEC. 9. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) The term ``Director'' means the Director of the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology.
       (2) The term ``Framework'' means the Framework for 
     Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity developed by 
     the National Institute of Standards and Technology and 
     referred to in Executive Order 13800 issued on May 11, 2017 
     (82 Fed. Reg. 22391 et seq.).
       (3) The term ``Institute'' means the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology.
       (4) The term ``institution of higher education'' has the 
     meaning given such term in section 101 of the Higher 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001).
       (5) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Virginia (Mrs. Comstock) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on H.R. 6229, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I take this opportunity to speak on behalf of my bill, 
H.R. 6229, the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
Reauthorization Act of 2018.
  NIST's mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial 
competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and 
technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve all 
Americans' quality of life.
  Since its establishment in 1901, NIST has helped position U.S. 
technology at the leading edge, making contributions to innumerable 
products and services that rely in some way on technology, measurement, 
and standards.
  Such technology ranges from developing biometric standards for law 
enforcement or new materials for protective equipment of our Nation's 
firefighters to atomic clocks and earthquake-resistant skyscrapers. 
This legislation authorizes NIST's industrial technology services, 
construction activities, and bolsters the scientific and technical 
research and services lab activities for 2 years.
  NIST has the mission and capabilities to contribute to areas critical 
to the U.S. global competitiveness. To this end, this legislation 
authorizes increased investments in four emerging technology areas: 
quantum science, artificial intelligence and data science, advanced 
communications and the Internet of Things, and composites research and 
standards development.

                              {time}  2145

  These investments will launch discoveries and technical advances that 
will significantly affect the Nation's economy in the coming decades. 
As we have heard in our committee, the potential for artificial 
intelligence to help humans and further scientific discoveries is 
immense.
  By advancing our ability to store and process large and complex data 
sets through AI and machine learning, computers are able to refine and 
enhance future predictions. This advanced technology is already 
creating tremendous developments in many fields, including medicine, 
manufacturing, and finance.

[[Page H8867]]

  This legislation also directs NIST to capitalize on its deep and 
varied expertise in advanced composites. NIST is directed to connect 
research that will provide the evidence and data needed to set industry 
standards and design guidelines to encourage the safe adoption and 
application of composite materials in U.S. infrastructure projects.
  NIST plays a very important role in protecting the Nation from cyber 
threats through its ongoing cybersecurity research. NIST is examining 
the applications of blockchain technology, and creating voluntary 
frameworks and standards to help reduce cyber risks to Federal 
agencies, multiple industries, and critical infrastructure. Its 
cybersecurity technical standards and risk management frameworks are 
widely regarded as one of the best and most comprehensive in the world.
  I want to thank Ranking Member Lipinski for cosponsoring this 
important legislation with me. As the chairman has mentioned, he has 
been an essential partner with us in getting so many of our bipartisan 
bills put forward.
  I would also like to thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Johnson 
for assisting in ushering this bill through the Science, Space, and 
Technology Committee on a bipartisan basis.
  As industry's national laboratory, NIST is dedicated to supporting 
research and technology development in the areas of national importance 
from communications technology and cybersecurity to advanced 
manufacturing and disaster resilience.
  This bill supports NIST's critical work of helping U.S. industries 
and improving Americans' quality of life by developing new measurement 
tools, providing authoritative data, and bringing stakeholders together 
to find solutions to ensure U.S. competitiveness in the 21st century 
economy.
  I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
                                            Committee on Oversight


                                        and Government Reform,

                               Washington, DC, September 21, 2018.
     Hon. Lamar Smith,
     Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, & Technology, House of 
         Representatives.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning the 
     jurisdictional interest of the Committee on Oversight and 
     Government Reform in H.R. 6229, the ``National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology Reauthorization Act of 2018.'' As a 
     result of your having consulted with me concerning the bill, 
     the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will not 
     seek a sequential referral and agrees to forego formal action 
     on the bill.
       The Committee takes this action with our mutual 
     understanding that by foregoing a request for a sequential 
     referral of H.R. 6229 at this time we do not waive any 
     jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or 
     similar legislation. Further, I request your support for the 
     appointment of conferees from the Committee on Oversight and 
     Government Reform during any House-Senate conference convened 
     on this or related legislation.
       Finally, I would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters 
     on this matter be included in the bill report filed by the 
     Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, as well as in 
     the Congressional Record during floor consideration, to 
     memorialize our understanding.
           Sincerely,
     Trey Gowdy.
                                  ____

                                             Committee on Science,


                                        Space, and Technology,

                               Washington, DC, September 24, 2018.
     Hon. Trey Gowdy,
     Chairman, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, House 
         of Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: I am writing concerning H.R. 6229, the 
     ``National Institute of Standards and Technology 
     Reauthorization Act of 2018,'' which was ordered reported by 
     the Science Committee June 27, 2018.
       I agree that the Committee on Oversight and Government 
     Reform has a valid jurisdictional interest in certain 
     provisions of H.R. 6229, and that the Committee's 
     jurisdiction will not be adversely affected by your decision 
     to forego consideration of H.R. 6229. As you have requested, 
     I will support your request for an appropriate appointment of 
     outside conferees from your Committee in the event of a 
     House-Senate conference on this or similar legislation should 
     such a conference be convened.
       Finally, I will include a copy of your letter and this 
     response in the Committee Report and in the Congressional 
     Record during the floor consideration of this bill. Thank you 
     again for your cooperation.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Lamar Smith,
                                                         Chairman.

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 6229, the National Institute 
of Standards and Technology Reauthorization Act of 2018, and I thank 
Chairwoman Comstock for sponsoring this bill.
  This is a bipartisan bill that provides support for NIST's important 
work carrying out scientific and technical research, and assisting 
small- and medium-sized U.S. manufacturers. The agency's work helps to 
advance standards development in critical areas of innovation across 
all sectors of our economy.
  NIST's core mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial 
competitiveness. Through its laboratories and user facilities, NIST 
carries out world-class measurement science and facilitates the 
development of standards for emerging technologies.
  Standards ensure users that promising technologies have been 
rigorously tested for safety, effectiveness, and reliability. NIST 
provides its services and expertise to other agencies, academic 
researchers, and the private sector.
  This bill provides funding to support NIST's work in critical areas 
of national importance, including advanced communications, 
cybersecurity and privacy, the Internet of Things, quantum information 
science, and infrastructure resilience. The wireless demands of the 
21st century require the advances in measurement science that NIST is 
carrying out.
  The devastating hurricanes and other natural disasters that have 
plagued our communities underscore the importance of NIST's work in 
disaster resiliency and new infrastructure materials.
  In addition, this bill provides significant funding for NIST's 
quantum information science and artificial intelligence research 
programs. Quantum technology has promising applications in healthcare, 
navigation, encryption, and many other areas. We are only beginning to 
explore the significant advances that artificial intelligence, or AI, 
may bring to the world.
  At the same time, there are significant policy implications for AI, 
and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on issues 
dealing with ethics, workforce impacts, and the human-AI interface as 
these technologies move forward.
  Finally, with five Nobel Prize-winning scientists in its ranks, NIST 
continues to attract some of the Nation's leading scientists. Even so, 
recruiting and retaining top talent is a challenge, and this bill 
provides flexibility to help NIST bring on and train the best and 
brightest measurement scientists in order to remain at the leading edge 
of emerging technologies.
  I am also happy to see the bill increases support for the labs 
program and funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership 
program. In the future, I hope my colleagues will support increases for 
necessary improvement to NIST's aging lab infrastructure.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6229, and I reserve 
the balance of my time.
  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Smith), the chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology 
Committee.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from 
Virginia (Mrs. Comstock), the chairwoman of the Research and Technology 
Subcommittee, for yielding me time to speak on her legislation.
  The bill, H.R. 6229, the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Reauthorization Act of 2018, is an important bill that has 
been worked on both by Chairwoman Comstock and the gentleman from 
Illinois, Subcommittee Ranking Member Dan Lipinski, and I appreciate 
their taking the initiative on this legislation.
  This bipartisan bill was unanimously approved by the Science, Space, 
and Technology Committee in June. It authorizes NIST's research and 
technology programs for 2 years.
  The NIST Reauthorization Act ensures that the research and 
development conducted by NIST keeps the United States on the cutting 
edge of global technological capabilities.
  NIST is one of the Nation's oldest physical science laboratories. The 
technology, standards, and measurements provided by NIST support U.S. 
competitiveness in key industries, including manufacturing, 
nanomaterials,

[[Page H8868]]

computing, communications, and cybersecurity.
  These have real-world applications. Through basic research, NIST sets 
standards and facilitates the implementation and use of technologies 
that impact the lives of our constituents every day. Examples include 
providing the precise official time for the United States that we see 
on our computers and smartphones, to the thresholds for the smoke 
detectors that protect our families and homes.
  For instance, NIST research and standards have improved the self-
contained breathing apparatuses worn by more than a million American 
firefighters.
  NIST also provides modeling techniques that allow scientists to 
develop and test cancer therapies using active viruses that cannot be 
studied using standard practices. And NIST's Smart Grid work is 
improving the reliability and capability of our electric grid.
  These are just a handful of examples that illustrate why NIST's 
scientific and technical research and services are critical to American 
innovation and industrial competitiveness.
  Chairwoman Comstock's bill significantly increases NIST's research to 
facilitate commercial use of emerging technologies. Specifically, this 
legislation increases the core NIST laboratories account by $125 
million to transform more basic and early stage research into usable 
innovations and new technologies.
  It accelerates basic quantum information science research and 
standards development, and provides funds to address fundamental 
research gaps, enabling the U.S. to take the lead in developing quantum 
standards and measurements.
  Chairwoman Comstock's bill allows NIST to expand its fundamental and 
applied cybersecurity research to address key questions relating to 
privacy, security, and vulnerability of software tools and 
communications networks.

  It expands the research infrastructure and scientific staff needed to 
develop the Institute's capabilities in artificial intelligence and 
data science, including rigorous scientific testing to support the 
development of trustworthy AI systems.
  It further directs NIST to expand its composites research and 
standards development to facilitate the adoption of composite 
technology in American infrastructure.
  Finally, the legislation encourages NIST to continue to examine the 
Internet of Things and address measurement and security challenges 
created by the convergence of digital technologies with the physical 
world.
  By supporting this bill, Congress ensures continued U.S. innovation 
leadership in quantum science, artificial intelligence, big data 
science, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things, and resilient 
infrastructure.
  We can thank Chairwoman Comstock for her work on this legislation. I 
urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6229 and the critical work done by 
NIST.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Arizona (Mrs. Lesko).
  Mrs. LESKO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 6229, the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology Reauthorization Act of 
2018.
  As a cosponsor of this legislation, I understand the importance of 
positioning the United States as a strong leader in scientific research 
and development. This bill supports basic quantum information science 
research and standards development, and provides funds to address 
fundamental research gaps, create a stronger workforce pipeline, and 
allow the United States to take the lead in developing global quantum 
standards and measures.
  This bill also supports developments in our national security. As 
cybersecurity threats from across the globe increase, it is important 
the Federal Government have the guidelines in place to defend against 
potential cyber attacks and protect our sensitive information against 
foreign adversaries.
  The bill also provides for the Institute to expand its fundamental 
and applied cybersecurity research to address key questions relating to 
measurement of privacy, security, and vulnerability of software tools 
and communications networks.
  I want to thank Representative Comstock for introducing this 
legislation to push the United States forward, and for Chairman Smith's 
leadership in advancing the scientific position of the United States.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, NIST's expertise across many fields is critical to our 
economy, our research enterprise, and our manufacturing sector. This 
bill puts NIST in a strong position to carry out its work through the 
end of fiscal 2019.
  I want to particularly highlight the strong support for the Hollings 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership and the Manufacturing USA programs, 
which receive a robust authorization under the Industrial Technology 
Services account, and I want to thank my majority colleagues on the 
Science, Space, and Technology Committee for working with me to match 
the agency request for fiscal year 2019.
  I have a strong relationship with Manufacturing USA's Digital 
Manufacturing and Design Innovation Institute located in Chicago, just 
outside my district. Through partnerships with universities, 
manufacturers, nonprofits, and government entities, they work to 
develop the technology-enabled manufacturing tools industry needs, 
pilot them on the factory floor, and train the manufacturing workforce.
  The digital manufacturing hub is just 1 of 14 Manufacturing USA 
institutes across the country, each with its own technology focus. 
Together, they are working to ensure that we have a competitive 
manufacturing sector in the U.S. into the future.
  Manufacturing USA and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership play a 
key role in keeping our economy strong and creating the jobs of 
tomorrow.
  Beyond manufacturing, I also want to highlight the critical position 
pay authority this bill gives NIST to hire talented cybersecurity and 
quantum information science professionals.

                              {time}  2200

  It is often difficult for Federal agencies to attract top-level 
talent in these fields, because the Federal pay scale cannot compete 
with the private sector.
  This bill grants a limited exemption to the Federal pay scale to 
ensure that NIST will have access to the right people to lead the 
Nation and the world in cybersecurity and quantum information science.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairwoman Comstock again for 
introducing this bill. I want to urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mrs. COMSTOCK. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank you again for the opportunity to speak 
on this important piece of legislation and to thank my colleagues and 
Ranking Member Lipinski for their support.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Comstock) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 6229, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________