[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,
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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.
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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.
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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.
____________________