[House Report 112-420]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


112th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     112-420

======================================================================



 
ADVANCING AMERICA'S NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND 
                        DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2012

                                _______
                                

 March 22, 2012.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

    Mr. Hall, from the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 3834]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom 
was referred the bill (H.R. 3834) to amend the High-Performance 
Computing Act of 1991 to authorize activities for support of 
networking and information technology research, and for other 
purposes, having considered the same, report favorably thereon 
with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do 
pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
   I. Amendment.......................................................2
  II. Purpose and Summary.............................................8
 III. Background and Need for the Legislation.........................8
  IV. Hearing Summary................................................11
   V. Committee Consideration........................................11
  VI. Committee Votes................................................12
 VII. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill........................14
VIII. Committee Views................................................14
  IX. Committee Oversight Findings...................................16
   X. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives..........16
  XI. New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditur17
 XII. Advisory on Earmarks...........................................17
XIII. Committee Cost Estimate........................................17
 XIV. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate......................17
  XV. Federal Mandates Statement.....................................18
 XVI. Federal Advisory Committee Statement...........................18
XVII. Applicability to Legislative Branch............................18
XVIII.Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation.................18

 XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, As Reported..........20
  XX. Proceedings of the Full Committee Markup.......................34
 XXI. Appendix I.....................................................41

                              I. Amendment

    The amendment is as follows:
    Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Advancing America's Networking and 
Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2012''.

SEC. 2. PROGRAM PLANNING AND COORDINATION.

  (a) Periodic Reviews.--Section 101 of the High-Performance Computing 
Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subsection:
  ``(d) Periodic Reviews.--The agencies identified in subsection 
(a)(3)(B) shall--
          ``(1) periodically assess the contents and funding levels of 
        the Program Component Areas and restructure the Program when 
        warranted, taking into consideration any relevant 
        recommendations of the advisory committee established under 
        subsection (b); and
          ``(2) ensure that the Program includes large-scale, long-
        term, interdisciplinary research and development activities, 
        including activities described in section 104.''.
  (b) Development of Strategic Plan.--Section 101 of such Act (15 
U.S.C. 5511) is amended further by adding after subsection (d), as 
added by subsection (a) of this Act, the following new subsection:
  ``(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 Advancing America's 
        Networking and Information Technology Research and Development 
        Act of 2012, and update every 3 years thereafter, a 5-year 
        strategic plan to guide the activities described under 
        subsection (a)(1).
          ``(2) Contents.--The strategic plan shall specify near-term 
        and long-term 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) foster the transfer of research and development 
                results into new technologies and applications for the 
                benefit of society, including through cooperation and 
                collaborations with networking and information 
                technology research, development, and technology 
                transition initiatives supported by the States;
                  ``(B) encourage and support mechanisms for 
                interdisciplinary research and development in 
                networking and information technology, 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) address long-term challenges of national 
                importance for which solutions require large-scale, 
                long-term, interdisciplinary research and development;
                  ``(D) place emphasis on innovative and high-risk 
                projects having the potential for substantial societal 
                returns on the research investment;
                  ``(E) strengthen all levels of networking and 
                information technology education and training programs 
                to ensure an adequate, well-trained workforce; and
                  ``(F) attract more women and underrepresented 
                minorities to pursue postsecondary degrees in 
                networking and information technology.
          ``(3) National research infrastructure.--The strategic plan 
        developed in accordance with paragraph (1) shall be accompanied 
        by milestones and roadmaps for establishing and maintaining the 
        national research infrastructure required to support the 
        Program, including the roadmap required by subsection 
        (a)(2)(E).
          ``(4) 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); and
                  ``(B) of the stakeholders whose input was solicited 
                by the National Coordination Office, as required under 
                section 102(b)(3).
          ``(5) 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 
        Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the 
        Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives.''.
  (c) Additional Responsibilities of Director.--Section 101(a)(2) of 
such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)(2)) is amended--
          (1) in subparagraph (A) by inserting ``education,'' before 
        ``and other activities'';
          (2) by redesignating subparagraphs (E) and (F) as 
        subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively; and
          (3) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new 
        subparagraph:
          ``(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;''.
  (d) Advisory Committee.--Section 101(b)(1) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
5511(b)(1)) is amended--
          (1) after the first sentence, by inserting the following: 
        ``The co-chairs of the advisory committee shall meet the 
        qualifications of committee membership and may be members of 
        the President's Council of Advisors on Science and 
        Technology.''; and
          (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``high-performance'' and 
        inserting ``high-end''.
  (e) Report.--Section 101(a)(3) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)(3)) is 
amended--
          (1) in subparagraph (C)--
                  (A) by striking ``is submitted,'' and inserting ``is 
                submitted, the levels for the previous fiscal year,''; 
                and
                  (B) by striking ``each Program Component Area;'' and 
                inserting ``each Program Component Area and research 
                area supported in accordance with section 104;'';
          (2) in subparagraph (D)--
                  (A) by striking ``each Program Component Area,'' and 
                inserting ``each Program Component Area and research 
                area supported in accordance with section 104,'';
                  (B) by striking ``is submitted,'' and inserting ``is 
                submitted, the levels for the previous fiscal year,''; 
                and
                  (C) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
          (3) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (G); 
        and
          (4) by inserting after subparagraph (D) the following new 
        subparagraphs:
          ``(E) 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);
          ``(F) include--
                  ``(i) a description of the funding required by the 
                National Coordination Office to perform the functions 
                specified under section 102(b) for the next fiscal year 
                by category of activity;
                  ``(ii) a description of the funding required by such 
                Office to perform the functions specified under section 
                102(b) for the current fiscal year by category of 
                activity; and
                  ``(iii) the amount of funding provided for such 
                Office for the current fiscal year by each agency 
                participating in the Program; and''.
  (f) Definition.--Section 4 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5503) is amended--
          (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (7) as paragraphs 
        (2) through (8), respectively;
          (2) 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;'';
          (3) in paragraph (3), as so redesignated, by striking ``high-
        performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and 
        information technology'';
          (4) in paragraph (4), as so redesignated--
                  (A) by striking ``high-performance computing'' and 
                inserting ``networking and information technology''; 
                and
                  (B) by striking ``supercomputer'' and inserting 
                ``high-end computing'';
          (5) in paragraph (6), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``network referred to as'' and all that follows through the 
        semicolon and inserting ``network, including advanced computer 
        networks of Federal agencies and departments;''; and
          (6) in paragraph (7), as so redesignated, by striking 
        ``National High-Performance Computing Program'' and inserting 
        ``networking and information technology research and 
        development program''.

SEC. 3. LARGE-SCALE RESEARCH IN AREAS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.

  Title I of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended by adding at the end 
the following new section:

``SEC. 104. LARGE-SCALE RESEARCH IN AREAS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.

  ``(a) In General.--The Program shall encourage agencies identified in 
section 101(a)(3)(B) to support large-scale, long-term, 
interdisciplinary research and development activities in networking and 
information technology directed toward application 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 
research 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) when possible, leverage Federal investments 
                through collaboration with related State 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 shall give special consideration to projects that 
        include cost sharing from non-Federal sources.
          ``(3) Agency collaboration.--If 2 or more agencies identified 
        in section 101(a)(3)(B), or other appropriate agencies, are 
        working on large-scale 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, including those authorized under 
        section 7024(b)(2) of the America COMPETES Act (Public Law 110-
        69; 42 U.S.C. 1862o-10).''.

SEC. 4. CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEMS.

  (a) Additional Program Characteristics.--Section 101(a)(1) of such 
Act (15 U.S.C. 5511(a)(1)) is amended--
          (1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``and'' after the 
        semicolon;
          (2) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period at the end 
        and inserting a semicolon; and
          (3) 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; and
          ``(K) provide for research and development on human-computer 
        interactions, visualization, and big data.''.
  (b) Task Force.--Title I of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended 
further by adding after section 104, as added by section 3 of this Act, 
the following new section:

``SEC. 105. UNIVERSITY/INDUSTRY TASK FORCE.

  ``(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of the Advancing America's Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Act of 2012, the Director of the 
National Coordination Office shall convene a task force to explore 
mechanisms for carrying out collaborative research and development 
activities for cyber-physical systems, including the related 
technologies required to enable these systems, through a consortium or 
other appropriate entity with participants from institutions of higher 
education, Federal laboratories, and industry.
  ``(b) Functions.--The task force shall--
          ``(1) develop options for a collaborative model and an 
        organizational structure for such entity under which the joint 
        research and development activities could be planned, managed, 
        and conducted effectively, including mechanisms for the 
        allocation of resources among the participants in such entity 
        for support of such activities;
          ``(2) propose a process for developing a research and 
        development agenda for such entity, including guidelines to 
        ensure an appropriate scope of work focused on nationally 
        significant challenges and requiring collaboration and to 
        ensure the development of related scientific and technological 
        milestones;
          ``(3) define the roles and responsibilities for the 
        participants from institutions of higher education, Federal 
        laboratories, and industry in such entity;
          ``(4) propose guidelines for assigning intellectual property 
        rights and for the transfer of research results to the private 
        sector; and
          ``(5) make recommendations for how such entity could be 
        funded from Federal, State, and non-governmental sources.
  ``(c) Composition.--In establishing the task force under subsection 
(a), the Director of the National Coordination Office--
          ``(1) shall appoint an equal number of individuals with 
        knowledge and expertise in cyber-physical systems from--
                  ``(A) institutions of higher education, including 
                minority-serving institutions and community colleges; 
                and
                  ``(B) industry; and
          ``(2) may appoint not more than 2 individuals from Federal 
        laboratories.
  ``(d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
the Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology Research 
and Development Act of 2012, the Director of the National Coordination 
Office shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives a report describing the 
findings and recommendations of the task force.
  ``(e) Termination.--The task force shall terminate upon transmittal 
of the report required under subsection (d).
  ``(f) Compensation.--Members of the task force shall serve without 
compensation.''.

SEC. 5. CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES FOR RESEARCH.

  Title I of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511) is amended further by adding 
after section 105, as added by section 4(b) of this Act, the following 
new section:

``SEC. 106. CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES FOR RESEARCH.

  ``(a) Interagency Working Group.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of enactment of the Advancing America's Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Act of 2012, the Director of the 
National Coordination Office, working through the National Science and 
Technology Council, shall convene an interagency working group to 
examine--
          ``(1) the research and development needed--
                  ``(A) to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of 
                cloud computing environments;
                  ``(B) to increase the trustworthiness of cloud 
                applications and infrastructure; and
                  ``(C) to enhance the foundations of cloud 
                architectures, programming models, and 
                interoperability; and
          ``(2) the potential use of cloud computing for federally-
        funded science and engineering research, including issues 
        around funding mechanisms and policies for the use of cloud 
        computing services for such research.
  ``(b) Consultation.--In carrying out the tasks in paragraphs (1) and 
(2) of subsection (a), the working group shall consult with academia, 
industry, Federal laboratories, and other relevant organizations and 
institutions, as appropriate.
  ``(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of 
the Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology Research 
and Development Act of 2012, the Director of the National Coordination 
Office shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report describing 
the findings and any recommendations of the working group.
  ``(d) Termination.--The interagency working group shall terminate 
upon transmittal of the report required under subsection (c).''.

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 continue 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);
          ``(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) through the convening of at least 
        1 workshop with invitees from academia, industry, Federal 
        laboratories, and other relevant organizations and 
        institutions;
          ``(4) conduct public outreach, including the dissemination of 
        findings and recommendations of the advisory committee, as 
        appropriate; 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.
          ``(2) Specifications.--The portion of the total budget of 
        such Office that is 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).''.

SEC. 7. IMPROVING NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION.

  Section 201(a) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5521(a)) is amended--
          (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (4) as paragraphs 
        (3) through (5), respectively; and
          (2) 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 women and underrepresented minorities;''.

SEC. 8. CONFORMING AND TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.

  (a) Section 3.--Section 3 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5502) is amended--
          (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
        ``high-performance computing'' and inserting ``networking and 
        information technology'';
          (2) in paragraph (1)--
                  (A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
                striking ``high-performance computing'' and inserting 
                ``networking and information technology'';
                  (B) in subparagraphs (A), (F), and (G), by striking 
                ``high-performance computing'' each place it appears 
                and inserting ``networking and information 
                technology''; and
                  (C) in subparagraph (H), 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''.
  (b) Title I.--The heading of title I of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511) is 
amended by striking ``HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING'' and inserting 
``NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY''.
  (c) Section 101.--Section 101 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5511) is 
amended--
          (1) in the section heading, by striking ``high-performance 
        computing'' and inserting ``networking and information 
        technology research and development'';
          (2) in subsection (a)--
                  (A) in the subsection heading, by striking ``National 
                High-Performance Computing'' and inserting ``Networking 
                and Information Technology Research and Development'';
                  (B) in paragraph (1) of such subsection--
                          (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''; and
                          (iv) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``high-
                        performance computing and networking'' and 
                        inserting ``high-end computing, distributed, 
                        and networking''; and
                  (C) in paragraph (2) of such subsection--
                          (i) in subparagraphs (A) and (C)--
                                  (I) by striking ``high-performance 
                                computing'' each place it appears and 
                                inserting ``networking and information 
                                technology''; and
                                  (II) by striking ``development, 
                                networking,'' each place it appears and 
                                inserting ``development,''; and
                          (ii) in subparagraphs (F) and (G), as 
                        redesignated by section 2(c)(1) of this Act, by 
                        striking ``high-performance'' each place it 
                        appears and inserting ``high-end'';
          (3) in subsection (b)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding 
                subparagraph (A), by striking ``high-performance 
                computing'' both places it appears and inserting 
                ``networking and information technology''; and
                  (B) in paragraph (2), in the second sentence, by 
                striking ``2'' and inserting ``3''; and
          (4) in subsection (c)(1)(A), by striking ``high-performance 
        computing'' and inserting ``networking and information 
        technology''.
  (d) Section 201.--Section 201(a)(1) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 
5521(a)(1)) is amended by striking ``high-performance computing'' and 
all that follows through ``networking;'' and inserting ``networking and 
information research and development;''.
  (e) Section 202.--Section 202(a) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5522(a)) is 
amended by striking ``high-performance computing'' and inserting 
``networking and information technology''.
  (f) Section 203.--Section 203(a) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5523(a)(1)) 
is amended--
          (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``high-performance 
        computing and networking'' and inserting ``networking and 
        information technology''; and
          (2) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking ``high-performance'' and 
        inserting ``high-end''.
  (g) Section 204.--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''; and
          (2) in subsection (b)--
                  (A) in the heading, by striking ``High-Performance 
                Computing and Network'' and inserting ``Networking and 
                Information Technology''; and
                  (B) by striking ``sensitive''.
  (h) Section 205.--Section 205(a) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5525(a)) is 
amended by striking ``computational'' and inserting ``networking and 
information technology''.
  (i) Section 206.--Section 206(a) of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5526(a)) is 
amended by striking ``computational research'' and inserting 
``networking and information technology research''.
  (j) Section 207.--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''.
  (k) Section 208.--Section 208 of such Act (15 U.S.C. 5528) is 
amended--
          (1) in the section heading, by striking ``high-performance 
        computing'' and inserting ``networking and information 
        technology''; and
          (2) in subsection (a)--
                  (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``High-performance 
                computing and associated'' and inserting ``Networking 
                and information'';
                  (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``high-performance 
                computing'' and inserting ``networking and information 
                technologies'';
                  (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``high-
                performance'' and inserting ``high-end'';
                  (D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``high-performance 
                computers and associated'' and inserting ``networking 
                and information''; and
                  (E) in paragraph (5), by striking ``high-performance 
                computing and associated'' and inserting ``networking 
                and information''.

                        II. Purpose and Summary

    The purpose of H.R. 3834 is to advance America's networking 
and information technology research and development by updating 
the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991. H.R. 3834 requires 
the development and periodic update of a strategic plan for the 
federal government Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development (NITRD) program and codifies work 
currently conducted by the National Coordination Office (NCO) 
of the NITRD program. The bill requires the NCO Director to 
convene a university/industry task force to explore mechanisms 
for carrying out collaborative research and development 
activities for cyber-physical systems. Additionally, the bill 
requires the NCO Director to convene an interagency working 
group to examine issues around cloud computing services.

              III. Background and Need for the Legislation

    Advances in networking and information technology (NIT) 
continue to transform the world in which we live. We 
increasingly rely on the systems, tools, and services of this 
ever-growing and ever-changing domain. It is not only as a 
matter of convenience in our daily lives, but critical to our 
future economic prosperity, health, and security.
    Federal support for research and development (R&D) in NIT 
originally stemmed from an interest in and the challenge of 
developing computers capable of addressing complex problems, 
primarily those focused on national security and global 
competition. Today, NIT encompasses a broad array of 
technologies from smart phones to digital libraries and cloud 
computing. Having changed the way we listen to music, drive our 
cars, and communicate with each other, this ever-growing field 
has led to the creation of many of the technologies and systems 
we rely on daily.
    Additionally, NIT R&D provides a greater understanding of 
how to protect essential systems and networks, systems and 
networks that support fundamental sectors of our economy, from 
emergency communications and power grids to air-traffic control 
networks and national defense systems in an effort to support a 
more stable and secure Nation. NIT R&D works to prevent or 
minimize disruptions to critical information infrastructure, to 
protect public and private services and to detect and respond 
to threats while mitigating the severity of and assisting in 
the recovery from those threats.
    The NITRD program is the main Federal R&D investment 
portfolio in networking, computing, software, cyber security, 
and related information technologies. NITRD coordinates this 
unclassified R&D across 14 contributing federal agencies. A 
number of additional agencies do not contribute funding, but 
also participate in NITRD planning activities.
    The NITRD program has played a role in several important 
technological advances including the computational decoding of 
the human genome; modeling and simulation of complex physical 
systems (aircraft, automobiles, power grids, and 
pharmaceuticals); unmanned aerial vehicles, search-and-rescue 
robots; and computer-based education and training.
    The Subcommittee on NITRD of the National Science and 
Technology Council (NSTC) is the internal deliberative 
organization for NITRD policy, program, and budget guidance. 
The NITRD Subcommittee includes representatives from each 
participating agency, as well as the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). The Subcommittee coordinates the planning, 
budgeting, implementation, and reviews of NIT R`D across the 
NITRD member agencies to help assure continued U.S. leadership, 
satisfy the needs of the federal government for advanced IT 
capabilities, and accelerate development and deployment of new 
technologies.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\About the Subcommittee on Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development (NITRD Subcommittee), http://www/nitrd.gov/
subcommittee/program.aspx.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    NITRD research activities are organized in eight Program 
Component Areas (PCAs). The PCAs also align the NITRD program 
budget categories. The eight PCAs include: Cyber Security 
Information Assurance (CSIA); Human Computer Interaction and 
Information Management (HCI & IM); High Confidence Software and 
Systems (HCSS); High End Computing Infrastructure and 
Applications (HEC I&A); High End Computing Research and 
Development (HEC R&D); Large Scale Networking (LSN); Software 
Design and Productivity (SDP); and Social, Economic, and 
Workforce Implications of IT and IT Workforce Development 
(SEW).\2\ However, NITRD research areas and activities shift 
regularly as the NIT field creates and develops new R`D 
challenges.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \2\NITRD Program PCA Definitions, http://www.nitrd.gov/
subcommittee/pca-definitions.aspx.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The NITRD National Coordination Office (NCO) provides staff 
support for the NITRD program. The NCO provides program and 
financial management services, technical and subject matter 
expertise in facilitation, strategic planning, technical 
writing, networking and information technology services, and 
administrative staff support for the NITRD Subcommittee and 
other NITRD subgroups. The National Science Foundation (NSF) 
serves as the host agency for the NCO.\3\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \3\About the Subcommittee on Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development (NITRD Subcommittee), http://www.nitrd.gov/
subcommittee/program.aspx.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Congress originally authorized the Networking and 
Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) program 
in the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (P.L. 102-194), 
after recognizing that a number of federal agencies had ongoing 
high-performance computing programs without a coordinating 
body. The Act established that coordinating body to improve 
interagency coordination, cooperation, and planning among those 
agencies with high-performance computing programs. In addition, 
it authorized a multi-agency research effort, called the High-
Performance Computing and Communications program, to accelerate 
progress in the advancement of computing and networking 
technologies and to support leading edge computational research 
in a range of science and engineering fields. The statute 
established a set of mechanisms and procedures to provide for 
the interagency planning, coordination, and budgeting of the 
research and development activities carried out under the 
program. The Act has since been amended through the Next 
Generation Internet Research Act of 1998 and the America 
COMPETES Act of 2007.
    In December 2010, the President's Council of Advisors on 
Science and Technology (PCAST) completed a legislatively 
required report on NITRD. The report, Designing a Digital 
Future: Federally Funded Research and Development in Networking 
and Information Technology, found that ``NITRD is well 
coordinated and that the U.S. computing research community, 
coupled with a vibrant Networking and Information Technology 
(NIT) industry, has made seminal discoveries and advanced new 
technologies that are helping meet many societal 
challenges.''\4\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \4\President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, 
Report to the President and Congress December 2010, Designing a Digital 
Future: Federally Funded Research and Development in Networking and 
Information Technology, p. v.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The 2010 report made several assessments about the role of 
the NIT field in answering the Nation's challenges and 
priorities:
     Advances in NIT are a key driver of economic 
competitiveness. They create new markets and increase 
productivity.
     Advances in NIT are crucial to achieving our major 
national and global priorities in energy and transportation, 
education and life-long learning, healthcare, and national and 
homeland security.
     Advances in NIT accelerate the pace of discovery 
in nearly all other fields.
     Advances in NIT are essential to achieving the 
goals of open government.\5\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \5\President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, 
Report to the President and Congress December 2010, Designing a Digital 
Future: Federally Funded Research and Development in Networking and 
Information Technology, p. vii.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Stressing the need that federal investments be in NIT basic 
research, since the private sector is heavily involved in the 
development side, the report suggests that an investment of at 
least $1 billion annually will be required for new, potentially 
transformative research. The report also recognizes that in the 
current economic uncertainty, repurposing and reprioritization 
of funding will be necessary, but does not rule out new funding 
and indicates a lower level of investment ``could seriously 
jeopardize America's national security and economic 
competitiveness.''\6\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \6\Ibid, p. x.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The PCAST report includes recommendations for increased 
investments in long-term, multi-agency research initiatives in 
health, energy, transportation, and cybersecurity. It 
emphasizes, ``Where fundamental NIT advances are needed to 
support these initiatives, mission agencies should invest in 
fundamental research in NIT, either alone or in collaboration 
with NSF, and should not limit their programs to application-
specific research.''\7\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \7\Ibid, p. xiii.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    The report also calls for exercising leadership to bring 
about changes in K-12 STEM education; enhancing the 
effectiveness of government coordination of NIT research and 
development; and redefining NITRD budget categories to separate 
NIT infrastructure for R`D in other fields from NIT R`D.
    In February 2011, NITRD released its Supplement to the 
President's Budget request. The Supplement is a summary of the 
NITRD research activities planned and coordinated for Fiscal 
Year 2012 (FY12) for each of the participating agencies. The 
NITRD request totals $3.9 billion for FY12, a 1.9 percent 
increase from FY10 expenditures, and reflects many spending 
priorities recommended in the PCAST report.
    In February 2012, NITRD released its Supplement to the 
President's Budget request for FY13. The NITRD request totals 
$3.8 billion, a 1.8 percent increase from FY11 expenditures, 
and continues to reflect the spending priorities in the PCAST 
report.\8\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \8\The FY13 Budget Request was released on February 13, 2012, after 
the Full Committee mark-up of H.R. 3834, but prior to the filing of the 
Committee Report.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          IV. Hearing Summary

    In the 111th Congress, H.R. 2020, the Networking and 
Information Technology Act of 2009, was introduced and 
favorably reported by the Committee on Science and Technology 
in April 2009. The House passed the measure on May 12, 2009, by 
voice vote. The Senate did not act on this measure prior to the 
adjournment of the 111th Congress. H.R. 2020 was also made a 
part of the House-passed America COMPETES Reauthorization Act 
of 2010, but the language was removed by the Senate before 
enactment.
    In the 112th Congress, the Subcommittee on Research and 
Science Education held a hearing on September 21, 2011, to 
review the networking and information technology research and 
development (NITRD) program to ensure U.S. leadership in 
networking and information technology and to receive input on 
legislative language for reauthorization of the program. The 
hearing examined the NITRD program's ability to address the 
most critical information technology research and development 
(R`D) issues; whether there are any significant research 
opportunities that the NITRD program is not pursuing; if the 
research community--both academia and industry--influence the 
research priorities under the NITRD program; the workforce 
outlook for the networking and information technology sector; 
and whether or not Federal investments in networking and 
information technology are important to the United States.
    The Subcommittee heard from four witnesses: Dr. George 
Strawn, Director, National Coordination Office, Networking and 
Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) 
Program; Dr. Edward Lazowska, Bill & Melinda Gates Chair in 
Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington; Dr. 
Robert Sproull, Director of Oracle Labs, retired; and Dr. 
Robert Schnabel, Dean, School of Informatics, Indiana 
University.

                       V. Committee Consideration

    On January 27, 2012, H.R. 3834, the Advancing America's 
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development 
Act of 2012 was introduced by Rep. Ralph Hall, Rep. Eddie 
Bernice Johnson, Rep. Mo Brooks, Rep. Daniel Lipinski, Rep. 
Judy Biggert, and Rep. Ben Ray Lujan and referred to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
    On February 7, 2012, the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology met in open markup session and adopted H.R. 3834, as 
amended, by voice vote. Further, the Committee ordered H.R. 
3834 favorably reported to the House, as amended, by voice 
vote.

                          VI. Committee Votes

    Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes 
on the motion to report legislation and amendments thereto. A 
motion to order H.R. 3834 favorably reported to the House, as 
amended, was agreed to by voice vote.
    During Full Committee consideration of H.R. 3834, the 
following amendments were considered:


              VII. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill

    H.R. 3834 requires the development and periodic update of a 
strategic plan for the NITRD program. The strategic plan shall 
specify near-term and long-term objectives of the program and 
the timeframe and metrics for achieving those objectives. The 
bill also authorizes NITRD agencies to support large-scale, 
long-term, interdisciplinary research in areas of national 
importance.
    The bill requires the NCO Director to convene a task force, 
with representatives from universities, industries, and federal 
laboratories, to explore mechanisms for carrying out 
collaborative research and development activities for cyber-
physical systems.
    Additionally, the bill requires the NCO Director to convene 
an interagency working group to examine the research and 
development needed to enhance cloud computing environments; 
increase the trustworthiness of cloud applications and 
infrastructure; and enhance the foundations of cloud 
architectures, programming models, and interoperability. The 
working group is also required to examine the potential use of 
cloud computing for federally-funded science and engineering 
research.
    Finally, H.R. 3834 codifies the existing NCO; delineates 
the office's responsibilities; mandates annual operating 
budgets; specifies the source of funding for the office 
(consistent with current practice); and stresses the role of 
the NCO in developing the strategic plan and in public outreach 
and communication with outside communities of interest.

                         VIII. Committee Views


                   PROGRAM PLANNING AND COORDINATION

    The Committee believes that while the NITRD program has 
been largely successful in coordinating networking and 
information R&D activities across the Federal government, the 
continued success and strength of the program depends on the 
willingness of all relevant agencies to be fully engaged in the 
program. While the Department of Education is listed as one of 
the original agencies in the 1991 statute establishing the 
program, its involvement in NITRD has been limited. Given the 
PCAST report finding that ``NIT is the dominant factor in 
America's science and technology employment, and that the gap 
between the demand for NIT talent and the supply of that talent 
is and will remain large,''\9\ the Committee encourages the 
Department of Education to become an active participant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \9\President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, 
Report to the President and Congress December 2010, Designing a Digital 
Future: Federally Funded Research and Development in Networking and 
Information Technology, p. 85.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             strategic plan

    The Committee expects the strategic plan to be a useful 
guide for setting program priorities, estimating time scales 
for reaching program objectives, and establishing metrics for 
assessing objectives. The strategic plan should include near-
term and long-term objectives for the program and identify how 
the program will support interdisciplinary research and 
development, address long-term challenges of national 
importance, and emphasize innovative high-risk projects. 
Furthermore, the Committee intends for NITRD agencies to 
periodically assess the NITRD program to ensure that it 
includes large-scale, long-term interdisciplinary research and 
development activities. The Committee intends for the 
development of the plan to be informed by the research needs of 
industry and academia and expects the NCO to actively solicit 
stakeholder input through meetings, requests for information, 
and other appropriate means.

                RESEARCH IN AREAS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE

    The Committee encourages the NITRD agencies to continue to 
identify a few focused research and development areas for which 
large-scale, multi-agency projects or activities would be 
appropriate and have the potential to provide significant 
contributions to national economic competitiveness. These areas 
may be more speculative and high-risk basic research 
opportunities that have the potential to offer substantial 
payoff and therefore justify the investment and risk.
    The NITRD agencies are responsible for selecting the 
research areas to pursue, with advice from the NITRD Advisory 
Committee. The Committee recognizes that these research needs 
can change. The Committee intends that the areas selected have 
relevance to the mission responsibilities of more than one 
agency so that the level of resources provided will enable 
multiple projects and a variety of modes of research to be 
supported, including multiple investigator awards and 
interdisciplinary research centers. The Committee intends that 
the agencies treat planning and reporting on research areas 
under this section in a similar manner to the program component 
areas.

                         CYBER-PHYSICAL SYSTEMS

    Computer-driven systems connected with the physical world--
also called embedded, engineered, or cyber-physical systems 
(CPS)--are already in widespread use, but growing demand for 
new capabilities and applications continue to require 
significant technical advances. Such systems can be difficult 
and costly to design, build, test, and maintain. The Committee 
encourages continued investment in CPS.

                                BIG DATA

    Information management, or big data, continues to be a 
challenge. The Committee encourages big data science and 
engineering research that would focus on advancing the 
management, analysis, visualization, and extraction of useful 
information from large, diverse, distributed, and heterogeneous 
data sets.

                            CLOUD COMPUTING

    The Committee recognizes there is a growing need for 
researchers to be able to use, analyze, and store large data 
sets for scientific purposes. Cloud computing technologies may 
hold potential for providing broader analysis, collaboration, 
sharing, and storing of these ever-increasing data sets. The 
Committee expects the interagency working group established 
under section 5 to examine further cloud computing research 
needs, including cybersecurity implications, as well as the 
potential for using the cloud for federally-funded research and 
the funding issues surrounding the use of the cloud for such 
research. These somewhat distinct tasks may be addressed 
separately as appropriate.

                        NITRD ADVISORY COMMITTEE

    The NITRD Advisory Committee was originally established by 
P.L. 102-194 to review, assess, and make recommendations 
regarding the administration, priorities, and content of the 
program. This function is currently assigned by the President 
to PCAST. The Committee recognizes the benefits of having a 
straightforward pathway for providing advice to the President 
on national technology issues, scientific research priorities, 
and math and science education. Consequently, the Committee has 
specified that the NITRD Advisory Committee co-chairs must meet 
the same expertise criteria as the Advisory Committee 
membership and may also be members of PCAST. The Committee 
expects the co-chairs to come from different sectors of the NIT 
community. The Committee further expects the Advisory Committee 
to have an open line of communication with PCAST to ensure full 
sharing of concerns and questions in both directions.
    The Committee expects the Advisory Committee to provide 
recommendations on the content of the strategic plan and to 
make recommendations for areas of research to be pursued by the 
NITRD agencies in accordance with section 3 of the bill. The 
Committee has changed the reporting requirements of the 
Advisory Committee from two years to three years and expects 
the NITRD NSTC Committee to stagger the strategic plan updates 
with the Advisory Committee reports such that the Advisory 
Committee recommendations inform the strategic plans in a 
timely manner. In addition, the Committee encourages the 
Advisory Committee to consult with subject matter experts in 
instances when sufficient expertise does not exist on the 
Advisory Committee and to convene public meetings to gather 
information from all communities of interest regarding NIT R&D 
in order to assist it in its assessments of the priorities and 
content of the program.

                          NIT WORKFORCE NEEDS

    The Committee recognizes that the demand for new and 
existing NIT jobs in the United States will continue to grow 
and, as such, encourages efforts to increase the number of 
American NIT graduates at all degree levels.

                    IX. Committee Oversight Findings

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee held an oversight 
hearing and made findings that are reflected in the descriptive 
portions of this report.

        X. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives

    In accordance with clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the performance goals and 
objectives of the Committee are reflected in the descriptive 
portions of this report, including the goal to improve 
networking and information technology research and development 
in the Federal, private, and public sectors.

 XI. New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its 
own the estimate of new budget authority, entitlement 
authority, or tax expenditures or revenues contained in the 
cost estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional 
Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974.

                       XII. Advisory on Earmarks

    In compliance with clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, 
the Committee finds that H.R. 3834, the Advancing America's 
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development 
Act of 2012, contains no earmarks.

                     XIII. Committee Cost Estimate

    The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared 
by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to 
section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

             XIV. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate 
provided by the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 
402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                                                    March 14, 2012.
Hon. Ralph M. Hall,
Chairman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 3834, the 
Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development Act of 2012.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Martin von 
Gnechten.
            Sincerely,
                                              Douglas W. Elmendorf.
    Enclosure.

H.R. 3834--Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology 
        Research and Development Act of 2012

    H.R. 3834 would expand the activities of the Networking and 
Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) 
program, which coordinates the federal government's advanced 
computing, networking, and software development goals. The bill 
would codify the activities of the program's existing national 
coordination office. Activities currently include creating a 
strategic plan, soliciting input from various stakeholders, and 
coordinating periodic reviews of agencies' information 
technology activities. H.R. 3834 also would establish an 
interagency working group to examine potential uses of cloud 
computing. Finally, the legislation would require that a task 
force of industry and academic experts develop certain 
information technology systems.
    Based on information from the NITRD program office, CBO 
estimates that implementing H.R. 3834 would cost about $2 
million over the 2012-2017 period, subject to the availability 
of appropriated funds. That amount includes the costs to 
support the task force and the interagency working group. 
Enacting H.R. 3834 would not affect direct spending or 
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
    H.R. 3834 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal 
governments.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Martin von 
Gnechten. The estimate was approved by Theresa Gullo, Deputy 
Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

                     XV. Federal Mandates Statement

    The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal 
mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget 
Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform 
Act.

               XVI. Federal Advisory Committee Statement

    No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) 
of the Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this 
legislation.

               XVII. Applicability to Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to 
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public 
services or accommodations within the meaning of section 
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.

                   XVIII. Section-by-Section Analysis


 Sec. 1. Short title

    This section sets for the short title as Advancing 
America's Networking and Information Technology Research and 
Development Act of 2012.

Sec. 2. Program planning and coordination

    Requires the Networking and Information Technology Research 
and Development Program (NITRD) agencies to periodically assess 
the program contents and funding levels and to update the 
program accordingly.
    Requires the NITRD agencies to develop and periodically 
update (at 3-year intervals) a strategic plan for the program. 
Describes the characteristics and content of the strategic 
plan, including how the program will foster technology 
transfer; encourage innovative, large-scale, and 
interdisciplinary research; address long-term challenges of 
national importance; emphasize innovative and high-risk 
projects; and strengthen NIT education and the workforce.
    Encourages a more active role for the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy (OSTP) in ensuring that the strategic plan is 
developed and executed effectively and that the objectives of 
the program are met. Provides for the Director to establish 
goals and priorities for Federal NIT education.
    Ensures that the advisory committee for NITRD retains the 
necessary breadth and depth of expertise in NIT fields, 
provides guidance on the committee's co-chairs, and allows that 
it may be linked to the President's Council of Advisors on 
Science and Technology.
    Specifies that the annual report now required for the NITRD 
program explicitly describes how the program activities planned 
and underway relate to the objectives specified in the 
strategic plan.
    Specifies that the annual report now required for the NITRD 
program include a description of research areas supported in 
accordance with section 3, including the same budget 
information as is required for the Program Component Areas.
    Adds a definition for cyber-physical systems and amends 
existing definitions to incorporate networking and information 
technology terminology.

Sec. 3. Large-scale research in areas of national importance

    Authorizes NITRD agencies to support large-scale, long-
term, interdisciplinary research with the potential to make 
significant contributions to society and U.S. economic 
competitiveness and to encourage collaboration between at least 
two agencies as well as cost-sharing from non-federal sources. 
Characteristics of the projects supported include: 
collaborations among researchers in institutions of higher 
education and industry, and may involve nonprofit research 
institutions and Federal laboratories; leveraging of federal 
investments through collaboration with related State 
initiatives, when possible; and plans for fostering technology 
transfer.
    Authorizes support of activities under this section through 
existing interdisciplinary research centers that are organized 
to investigate basic research questions and carry out 
technology demonstration activities.

Sec. 4. Cyber-physical systems

    Requires the program to support research and development in 
cyber-physical systems; human-computer interactions, 
visualization, and big data.
    Convenes a university/industry task force to explore 
mechanisms for carrying out collaborative research and 
development activities for cyber-physical systems with 
participants from universities, industry, and Federal 
laboratories.
    Requires the task force to develop options for an entity to 
plan, manage and conduct cyber-physical systems research and 
development activities; propose a process for developing a 
research and development agenda for the entity which would 
include guidelines to ensure work focused on nationally 
significant challenges and which would require collaboration on 
the development of scientific and technological milestones; 
define roles and responsibilities for participants; propose 
guidelines for assigning intellectual property rights; and make 
recommendations for funding the entity from federal, state and 
non-government sources.
    Requires a report to Congress on any findings and 
recommendations from the task force on models for collaborative 
research and development. The task force would terminate upon 
transmittal of the report, and members of the task force would 
not be compensated for participation.

Sec. 5. Cloud computing services for research

    Provides for an interagency working group to examine 
research and development needs for cloud computing and the 
potential use of the cloud for federally-funded research, 
including issues around funding mechanisms and policies for 
such research. The working group would consult with academia, 
industry, federal laboratories and other relevant organizations 
and institutions. Within one year the working group would be 
required to report to Congress on its findings and any 
recommendations for guidelines. The working group would 
terminate upon transmittal of the report.

Sec. 6. National Coordination Office

    Formally codifies the existing National Coordination Office 
(NCO); delineates the office's roles and responsibilities; and 
specifies the source of funding for the office, consistent with 
current practice.

Sec. 7. Improving networking and information technology

    Requires NSF to use existing programs to improve the 
teaching and learning of networking and information technology.

Sec. 8. Conforming and technical amendments

    Strikes and replaces instances of out-dated ``high-
performance computing'' language with ``networking and 
information technology'' and ``high-end computing'' as 
appropriate.
    Provides for the Advisory Committee to report not less 
frequently than once every three years, versus two years.

       XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, As Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

                 HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING ACT OF 1991




           *       *       *       *       *       *       *
SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

  The purposes of this Act are to help ensure the continued 
leadership of the United States in [high-performance computing] 
networking and information technology and its applications by--
          (1) expanding Federal support for research, 
        development, and application of [high-performance 
        computing] networking and information technology in 
        order to--
                  (A) expand the number of researchers, 
                educators, and students with training in [high-
                performance computing] networking and 
                information technology and access to [high-
                performance computing] networking and 
                information technology resources;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                  (F) provide for the application of [high-
                performance computing] networking and 
                information technology to Grand Challenges;
                  (G) invest in basic research and education, 
                and promote the inclusion of [high-performance 
                computing] networking and information 
                technology into educational institutions at all 
                levels; and
                  (H) promote greater collaboration among 
                government, Federal laboratories, industry, 
                [high-performance] high-end computing centers, 
                and universities;
          (2) improving the interagency planning and 
        coordination of Federal research and development on 
        [high-performance computing and] networking and 
        information technology and maximizing the effectiveness 
        of the Federal Government's [high-performance computing 
        network] networking and information technology research 
        and development programs;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

  As used in this Act, the term--
          (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;
          [(1)] (2) ``Director'' means the Director of the 
        Office of Science and Technology Policy;
          [(2)] (3) ``Grand Challenge'' means a fundamental 
        problem in science or engineering, with broad economic 
        and scientific impact, whose solution will require the 
        application of [high-performance computing] networking 
        and information technology resources and 
        multidisciplinary teams of researchers;
          [(3)] (4) ``[high-performance computing] networking 
        and information technology'' means advanced computing, 
        communications, and information technologies, including 
        [supercomputer] high-end computing systems, high-
        capacity and high-speed networks, special purpose and 
        experimental systems, applications and systems 
        software, and the management of large data sets;
          [(4)] (5) ``Internet'' means the international 
        computer network of both Federal and non-Federal 
        interoperable data networks;
          [(5)] (6) ``Network'' means a computer [network 
        referred to as the National Research and Education 
        Network established under section 102;] network, 
        including advanced computer networks of Federal 
        agencies and departments;
          [(6)] (7) ``Program'' means the [National High-
        Performance Computing Program] networking and 
        information technology research and development program 
        described in section 101; and
          [(7)] (8) ``Program Component Areas'' means the major 
        subject areas under which related individual projects 
        and activities carried out under the Program are 
        grouped.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


   TITLE I--[HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING] NETWORKING AND INFORMATION 
                  TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

SEC. 101. NATIONAL [HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING] NETWORKING AND 
                    INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 
                    PROGRAM.

  (a) [National High-Performance Computing] Networking and 
Information Technology Research and Development Program.--(1) 
The President shall implement a [National High-Performance 
Computing Program] networking and information technology 
research and development program, which shall--
          (A) provide for long-term basic and applied research 
        on [high-performance computing, including networking] 
        networking and information technology;
          (B) provide for research and development on, and 
        demonstration of, technologies to advance the capacity 
        and capabilities of [high-performance] high-end 
        computing and networking systems, and related software;
          (C) provide for sustained access by the research 
        community throughout the United States to [high-
        performance computing and networking] high-end 
        computing, distributed, and networking systems that are 
        among the most advanced in the world in terms of 
        performance in solving scientific and engineering 
        problems, including provision for technical support for 
        users of such systems;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (G) provide for the technical support of, and 
        research and development on, [high-performance] high-
        end computing systems and software required to address 
        Grand Challenges;
          (H) provide for educating and training additional 
        undergraduate and graduate students in software 
        engineering, computer science, computer and network 
        security, applied mathematics, library and information 
        science, and computational science; [and]
          (I) provide for improving the security of computing 
        and networking systems, including Federal systems, 
        including providing for research required to establish 
        security standards and practices for these systems[.];
          (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; and
          (K) provide for research and development on human-
        computer interactions, visualization, and big data.
  (2) The Director shall--
          (A) establish the goals and priorities for Federal 
        [high-performance computing] networking and information 
        technology research, [development, networking,] 
        development, education, and other activities;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (C) provide for interagency coordination of Federal 
        [high-performance computing] networking and information 
        technology research, [development, networking,] 
        development, and other activities undertaken pursuant 
        to the Program;

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (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;
          [(E)] (F) develop and maintain a research, 
        development, and deployment roadmap covering all States 
        and regions for the provision of [high-performance] 
        high-end computing and networking systems under 
        paragraph (1)(C); and
          [(F)] (G) consult with academic, State, industry, and 
        other appropriate groups conducting research on and 
        using [high-performance] high-end computing.
  (3) The annual report submitted under paragraph (2)(D) 
shall--
          (A) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (C) describe the levels of Federal funding for the 
        fiscal year during which such report [is submitted,] 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, for [each Program 
        Component Area;] each Program Component Area and 
        research area supported in accordance with section 104;
          (D) describe the levels of Federal funding for each 
        agency and department participating in the Program, and 
        for [each Program Component Area,] each Program 
        Component Area and research area supported in 
        accordance with section 104, for the fiscal year during 
        which such report [is submitted,] 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]
          (E) 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);
          (F) include--
                  (i) a description of the funding required by 
                the National Coordination Office to perform the 
                functions specified under section 102(b) for 
                the next fiscal year by category of activity;
                  (ii) a description of the funding required by 
                such Office to perform the functions specified 
                under section 102(b) for the current fiscal 
                year by category of activity; and
                  (iii) the amount of funding provided for such 
                Office for the current fiscal year by each 
                agency participating in the Program; and
          [(E)] (G) include an analysis of the progress made 
        toward achieving the goals and priorities established 
        for the Program and the extent to which the Program 
        incorporates the recommendations of the advisory 
        committee established under subsection (b).
  (b) Advisory Committee.--(1) The President shall establish an 
advisory committee on [high-performance computing] networking 
and information technology, consisting of geographically 
dispersed non-Federal members, including representatives of the 
research, education, and library communities, network and 
related software providers, and industry representatives in the 
Program Component Areas, who are specially qualified to provide 
the Director with advice and information on [high-performance 
computing] networking and information technology. The co-chairs 
of the advisory committee shall meet the qualifications of 
committee membership and may be members of the President's 
Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. The 
recommendations of the advisory committee shall be considered 
in reviewing and revising the Program. The advisory committee 
shall provide the Director with an independent assessment of--
          (A) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

          (D) whether the research and development undertaken 
        pursuant to the Program is helping to maintain United 
        States leadership in [high-performance] high-end 
        computing, networking technology, and related software; 
        and

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (2) In addition to the duties outlined in paragraph (1), the 
advisory committee shall conduct periodic evaluations of the 
funding, management, coordination, implementation, and 
activities of the Program. The advisory committee shall report 
not less frequently than once every [2] 3 fiscal years to the 
Committee on Science and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate on its findings and 
recommendations. The first report shall be due within 1 year 
after the date of enactment of the America COMPETES Act.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (c) Office of Management and Budget.--(1) Each Federal agency 
and department participating in the Program shall, as part of 
its annual request for appropriations to the Office of 
Management and Budget, submit a report to the Office of 
Management and Budget which--
          (A) identifies each element of its [high-performance 
        computing] networking and information technology 
        activities which contributes directly to the Program 
        Component Areas or benefits from the Program; and

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (d) Periodic Reviews.--The agencies identified in subsection 
(a)(3)(B) shall--
          (1) periodically assess the contents and funding 
        levels of the Program Component Areas and restructure 
        the Program when warranted, taking into consideration 
        any relevant recommendations of the advisory committee 
        established under subsection (b); and
          (2) ensure that the Program includes large-scale, 
        long-term, interdisciplinary research and development 
        activities, including activities described in section 
        104.
  (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 Advancing America's Networking 
        and Information Technology Research and Development Act 
        of 2012, and update every 3 years thereafter, a 5-year 
        strategic plan to guide the activities described under 
        subsection (a)(1).
          (2) Contents.--The strategic plan shall specify near-
        term and long-term 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) foster the transfer of research and 
                development results into new technologies and 
                applications for the benefit of society, 
                including through cooperation and 
                collaborations with networking and information 
                technology research, development, and 
                technology transition initiatives supported by 
                the States;
                  (B) encourage and support mechanisms for 
                interdisciplinary research and development in 
                networking and information technology, 
                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) address long-term challenges of national 
                importance for which solutions require large-
                scale, long-term, interdisciplinary research 
                and development;
                  (D) place emphasis on innovative and high-
                risk projects having the potential for 
                substantial societal returns on the research 
                investment;
                  (E) strengthen all levels of networking and 
                information technology education and training 
                programs to ensure an adequate, well-trained 
                workforce; and
                  (F) attract more women and underrepresented 
                minorities to pursue postsecondary degrees in 
                networking and information technology.
          (3) National research infrastructure.--The strategic 
        plan developed in accordance with paragraph (1) shall 
        be accompanied by milestones and roadmaps for 
        establishing and maintaining the national research 
        infrastructure required to support the Program, 
        including the roadmap required by subsection (a)(2)(E).
          (4) 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); and
                  (B) of the stakeholders whose input was 
                solicited by the National Coordination Office, 
                as required under section 102(b)(3).
          (5) 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 Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
        of the Senate, and the Committee on Science, Space, and 
        Technology of the House of Representatives.

[SEC. 102. NATIONAL RESEARCH AND EDUCATION NETWORK.

  [(a) Establishment.--As part of the Program, the National 
Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the Department 
of Energy, the Department of Commerce, the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration, and other agencies participating in 
the Program shall support the establishment of the National 
Research and Education Network, portions of which shall, to the 
extent technically feasible, be capable of transmitting data at 
one gigabit per second or greater by 1996. The Network shall 
provide for the linkage of research institutions and 
educational institutions, government, and industry in every 
State.
  [(b) Access.--Federal agencies and departments shall work 
with private network service providers, State and local 
agencies, libraries, educational institutions and 
organizations, and others, as appropriate, in order to ensure 
that the researchers, educators, and students have access, as 
appropriate, to the Network. The Network is to provide users 
with appropriate access to high-performance computing systems, 
electronic information resources, other research facilities, 
and libraries. The Network shall provide access, to the extent 
practicable, to electronic information resources maintained by 
libraries, research facilities, publishers, and affiliated 
organizations.
  [(c) Network Characteristics.--The Network shall--
          [(1) be developed and deployed with the computer, 
        telecommunications, and information industries;
          [(2) be designed, developed, and operated in 
        collaboration with potential users in government, 
        industry, and research institutions and educational 
        institutions;
          [(3) be designed, developed, and operated in a manner 
        which fosters and maintains competition and private 
        sector investment in high-speed data networking within 
        the telecommunications industry;
          [(4) be designed, developed, and operated in a manner 
        which promotes research and development leading to 
        development of commercial data communications and 
        telecommunications standards, whose development will 
        encourage the establishment of privately operated high-
        speed commercial networks;
          [(5) be designed and operated so as to ensure the 
        continued application of laws that provide network and 
        information resources security measures, including 
        those that protect copyright and other intellectual 
        property rights, and those that control access to data 
        bases and protect national security;
          [(6) have accounting mechanisms which allow users or 
        groups of users to be charged for their usage of 
        copyrighted materials available over the Network and, 
        where appropriate and technically feasible, for their 
        usage of the Network;
          [(7) ensure the interoperability of Federal and non-
        Federal computer networks, to the extent appropriate, 
        in a way that allows autonomy for each component 
        network;
          [(8) be developed by purchasing standard commercial 
        transmission and network services from vendors whenever 
        feasible, and by contracting for customized services 
        when not feasible, in order to minimize Federal 
        investment in network hardware;
          [(9) support research and development of networking 
        software and hardware; and
          [(10) serve as a test bed for further research and 
        development of high-capacity and high-speed computing 
        networks and demonstrate how advanced computers, high-
        capacity and high-speed computing networks, and data 
        bases can improve the national information 
        infrastructure.
  [(d) Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency 
Responsibility.--As part of the Program, the Department of 
Defense, through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, 
shall support research and development of advanced fiber optics 
technology, switches, and protocols needed to develop the 
Network.
  [(e) Information Services.--The Director shall assist the 
President in coordinating the activities of appropriate 
agencies and departments to promote the development of 
information services that could be provided over the Network. 
These services may include the provision of directories of the 
users and services on computer networks, data bases of 
unclassified Federal scientific data, training of users of data 
bases and computer networks, access to commercial information 
services for users of the Network, and technology to support 
computer-based collaboration that allows researchers and 
educators around the Nation to share information and 
instrumentation.
  [(f) Use of Grant Funds.--All Federal agencies and 
departments are authorized to allow recipients of Federal 
research grants to use grant moneys to pay for computer 
networking expenses.
  [(g) Report to Congress.--Within one year after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Director shall report to the 
Congress on--
          [(1) effective mechanisms for providing operating 
        funds for the maintenance and use of the Network, 
        including user fees, industry support, and continued 
        Federal investment;
          [(2) the future operation and evolution of the 
        Network;
          [(3) how commercial information service providers 
        could be charged for access to the Network, and how 
        Network users could be charged for such commercial 
        information services;
          [(4) the technological feasibility of allowing 
        commercial information service providers to use the 
        Network and other federally funded research networks;
          [(5) how to protect the copyrights of material 
        distributed over the Network; and
          [(6) appropriate policies to ensure the security of 
        resources available on the Network and to protect the 
        privacy of users of networks.]

SEC. 102. NATIONAL COORDINATION OFFICE.

  (a) Office.--The Director shall continue 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);
          (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) through 
        the convening of at least 1 workshop with invitees from 
        academia, industry, Federal laboratories, and other 
        relevant organizations and institutions;
          (4) conduct public outreach, including the 
        dissemination of findings and recommendations of the 
        advisory committee, as appropriate; 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.
          (2) Specifications.--The portion of the total budget 
        of such Office that is 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).

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 104. LARGE-SCALE RESEARCH IN AREAS OF NATIONAL IMPORTANCE.

  (a) In General.--The Program shall encourage agencies 
identified in section 101(a)(3)(B) to support large-scale, 
long-term, interdisciplinary research and development 
activities in networking and information technology directed 
toward application 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 
research 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) when possible, leverage Federal 
                investments through collaboration with related 
                State 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 shall give special consideration 
        to projects that include cost sharing from non-Federal 
        sources.
          (3) Agency collaboration.--If 2 or more agencies 
        identified in section 101(a)(3)(B), or other 
        appropriate agencies, are working on large-scale 
        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, including those authorized 
        under section 7024(b)(2) of the America COMPETES Act 
        (Public Law 110-69; 42 U.S.C. 1862o-10).

SEC. 105. UNIVERSITY/INDUSTRY TASK FORCE.

  (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of the Advancing America's Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Act of 2012, the Director 
of the National Coordination Office shall convene a task force 
to explore mechanisms for carrying out collaborative research 
and development activities for cyber-physical systems, 
including the related technologies required to enable these 
systems, through a consortium or other appropriate entity with 
participants from institutions of higher education, Federal 
laboratories, and industry.
  (b) Functions.--The task force shall--
          (1) develop options for a collaborative model and an 
        organizational structure for such entity under which 
        the joint research and development activities could be 
        planned, managed, and conducted effectively, including 
        mechanisms for the allocation of resources among the 
        participants in such entity for support of such 
        activities;
          (2) propose a process for developing a research and 
        development agenda for such entity, including 
        guidelines to ensure an appropriate scope of work 
        focused on nationally significant challenges and 
        requiring collaboration and to ensure the development 
        of related scientific and technological milestones;
          (3) define the roles and responsibilities for the 
        participants from institutions of higher education, 
        Federal laboratories, and industry in such entity;
          (4) propose guidelines for assigning intellectual 
        property rights and for the transfer of research 
        results to the private sector; and
          (5) make recommendations for how such entity could be 
        funded from Federal, State, and non-governmental 
        sources.
  (c) Composition.--In establishing the task force under 
subsection (a), the Director of the National Coordination 
Office--
          (1) shall appoint an equal number of individuals with 
        knowledge and expertise in cyber-physical systems 
        from--
                  (A) institutions of higher education, 
                including minority-serving institutions and 
                community colleges; and
                  (B) industry; and
          (2) may appoint not more than 2 individuals from 
        Federal laboratories.
  (d) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Advancing America's Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Act of 2012, the Director 
of the National Coordination Office shall transmit to the 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of 
the House of Representatives a report describing the findings 
and recommendations of the task force.
  (e) Termination.--The task force shall terminate upon 
transmittal of the report required under subsection (d).
  (f) Compensation.--Members of the task force shall serve 
without compensation.

SEC. 106. CLOUD COMPUTING SERVICES FOR RESEARCH.

  (a) Interagency Working Group.--Not later than 180 days after 
the date of enactment of the Advancing America's Networking and 
Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2012, 
the Director of the National Coordination Office, working 
through the National Science and Technology Council, shall 
convene an interagency working group to examine--
          (1) the research and development needed--
                  (A) to enhance the effectiveness and 
                efficiency of cloud computing environments;
                  (B) to increase the trustworthiness of cloud 
                applications and infrastructure; and
                  (C) to enhance the foundations of cloud 
                architectures, programming models, and 
                interoperability; and
          (2) the potential use of cloud computing for 
        federally-funded science and engineering research, 
        including issues around funding mechanisms and policies 
        for the use of cloud computing services for such 
        research.
  (b) Consultation.--In carrying out the tasks in paragraphs 
(1) and (2) of subsection (a), the working group shall consult 
with academia, industry, Federal laboratories, and other 
relevant organizations and institutions, as appropriate.
  (c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Advancing America's Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Act of 2012, the Director 
of the National Coordination Office shall transmit to the 
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate a report describing the findings 
and any recommendations of the working group.
  (d) Termination.--The interagency working group shall 
terminate upon transmittal of the report required under 
subsection (c).

                      TITLE II--AGENCY ACTIVITIES

SEC. 201. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION ACTIVITIES.

  (a) General Responsibilities.--As part of the Program 
described in title I--
          (1) the National Science Foundation shall provide 
        computing and networking infrastructure support for all 
        science and engineering disciplines, and support basic 
        research and human resource development in all aspects 
        of [high-performance computing and advanced high-speed 
        computer networking;] networking and information 
        research and development;
          (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 women and underrepresented minorities;
          [(2)] (3) to the extent that colleges, universities, 
        and libraries cannot connect to the Network with the 
        assistance of the private sector, the National Science 
        Foundation shall have primary responsibility for 
        assisting colleges, universities, and libraries to 
        connect to the Network;
          [(3)] (4) the National Science Foundation shall serve 
        as the primary source of information on access to and 
        use of the Network; and
          [(4)] (5) the National Science Foundation shall 
        upgrade the National Science Foundation funded network, 
        assist regional networks to upgrade their capabilities, 
        and provide other Federal departments and agencies the 
        opportunity to connect to the National Science 
        Foundation funded network.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 202. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION ACTIVITIES.

  (a) General Responsibilities.--As part of the Program 
described in title I, the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration shall conduct basic and applied research in 
[high-performance computing] networking and information 
technology, particularly in the field of computational science, 
with emphasis on aerospace sciences, earth and space sciences, 
and remote exploration and experimentation.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 203. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ACTIVITIES.

  (a) General Responsibilities.--As part of the Program 
described in title I, the Secretary of Energy shall--
          (1) conduct and support basic and applied research in 
        [high-performance computing and networking] networking 
        and information technology to support fundamental 
        research in science and engineering disciplines related 
        to energy applications; and
          (2) provide computing and networking infrastructure 
        support, including--
                  (A) the provision of [high-performance] high-
                end computing systems that are among the most 
                advanced in the world in terms of performance 
                in solving scientific and engineering problems; 
                and

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 204. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE ACTIVITIES.

  (a) General Responsibilities.--As part of the Program 
described in title I--
          (1) the National Institute of Standards and 
        Technology shall--
                  (A) conduct basic and applied measurement 
                research needed to support various [high-
                performance computing systems and networks] 
                networking and information technology systems 
                and capabilities;
                  (B) develop and propose standards and 
                guidelines, and develop measurement techniques 
                and test methods, for the [interoperability of 
                high-performance computing systems in networks 
                and for common user interfaces to systems] 
                interoperability and usability of networking 
                and information technology systems; and
                  (C) be responsible for developing benchmark 
                tests and standards for [high-performance 
                computing] networking and information 
                technology systems and software; and

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (b) [High-Performance Computing and Network] Networking and 
Information Technology Security.--Pursuant to the Computer 
Security Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-235; 101 Stat. 1724), the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology shall be 
responsible for developing and proposing standards and 
guidelines needed to assure the cost-effective security and 
privacy of [sensitive] information in Federal computer systems.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 205. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACTIVITIES.

  (a) General Responsibilities.--As part of the Program 
described in title I, the Environmental Protection Agency shall 
conduct basic and applied research directed toward the 
advancement and dissemination of [computational] networking and 
information technology techniques and software tools which form 
the core of ecosystem, atmospheric chemistry, and atmospheric 
dynamics models.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 206. ROLE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

  (a) General Responsibilities.--As part of the Program 
described in title I, the Secretary of Education is authorized 
to conduct basic and applied research in [computational 
research] networking and information technology research with 
an emphasis on the coordination of activities with libraries, 
school facilities, and education research groups with respect 
to the advancement and dissemination of computational science 
and the development, evaluation and application of software 
capabilities.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 207. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

  (a) * * *
  (b) Acquisition of Prototype and Early Production Models.--In 
accordance with Federal contracting law, Federal agencies and 
departments participating in the Program may acquire prototype 
or early production models of new [high-performance computing] 
networking and information technology systems and subsystems to 
stimulate hardware and software development. Items of computing 
equipment acquired under this subsection shall be considered 
research computers for purposes of applicable acquisition 
regulations.

SEC. 208. FOSTERING UNITED STATES COMPETITIVENESS IN [HIGH-PERFORMANCE 
                    COMPUTING] NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
                    AND RELATED ACTIVITIES.

  (a) Findings.--The Congress finds the following:
          (1) [High-performance computing and associated] 
        Networking and information technologies are critical to 
        the United States economy.
          (2) While the United States has led the development 
        of [high-performance computing] networking and 
        information technologies, United States industry is 
        facing increasing global competition.
          (3) Despite existing international agreements on fair 
        competition and nondiscrimination in government 
        procurements, there is increasing concern that such 
        agreements are not being honored, that more aggressive 
        enforcement of such agreements is needed, and that 
        additional steps may be required to ensure fair global 
        competition, particularly in high-technology fields 
        such as [high-performance] high-end computing and 
        associated technologies.
          (4) It is appropriate for Federal agencies and 
        departments to use the funds authorized for the Program 
        in a manner which most effectively fosters the 
        maintenance and development of United States leadership 
        in [high-performance computers and associated] 
        networking and information technologies in and for the 
        benefit of the United States.
          (5) It is appropriate for Federal agencies and 
        departments to use the funds authorized for the Program 
        in a manner, consistent with the Trade Agreements Act 
        of 1979 (19 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.), which most 
        effectively fosters reciprocal competitive procurement 
        treatment by foreign governments for United States 
        [high-performance computing and associated] networking 
        and information technology products and suppliers.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



                  XX: PROCEEDINGS OF THE COMMITTEE ON
                    SCIENCE, SPACE AND TECHNOLOGY'S
                     MARKUP OF H.R. 3834, ADVANCING
                        AMERICA'S NETWORKING AND
                    INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
                      AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2012;
                         AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

    The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:06 a.m., in Room 
2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Ralph Hall 
[Chairman of the Committee] presiding.
                              ----------                              


                       TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2012

                  House of Representatives,
       Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
                                           Washington, D.C.

    Chairman Hall. Good morning. The Committee on Science, 
Space, and Technology will come to order.
    Pursuant to notice, the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology meets today to consider the following measures: H.R. 
3479, the Advancing America's Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Act of 2012, and H.R. 3199, 
to provide a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and 
technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level 
ethanol blends. So we will start with opening statements, and 
pursuant to Committee Rule 6-D and House Rule 11284, the Chair 
announces that he may postpone further proceedings today on any 
question of approving any measure or matter or adopting an 
amendment on which a recorded vote or the yeas or nays are 
ordered. However, it is hoped that we can dispense with votes 
as they are requested, and we expect a good turnout for today's 
markup.
    It turns out we need to roll votes--if it turns out, we 
will attempt to take these votes at the end of the markup. Let 
us proceed with the markup beginning with opening statements, 
and I will begin.
    I am pleased to call the markup this morning for 
consideration of H.R. 3834, Advancing America's Networking and 
Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2012, 
and H.R. 3199, a bill to provide a comprehensive assessment of 
the scientific and technical research on the implications of 
the use of mid-level ethanol blends.
    With very few alterations, H.R. 3834 is essentially the 
same bill that we passed twice in the last Congress, only to 
see it languish in the Senate. I hope this time we have a 
little better luck in that.
    I would like to point out that our efforts on this bill 
have been a true illustration of the bipartisan work for which 
this Committee and the Congress is capable. Mrs. Johnson, it is 
my understanding that our staffs have worked very well together 
to ensure this measure reflects good policy for our Nation's 
networking and information technology research and development 
program, and I want to thank you for your work on this bill.
    Additionally, I would also like to thank Chairman Brooks, 
as Chairman of the Research and Science Education Subcommittee, 
for his leadership on the bill, and Mrs. Biggert for her many 
years of championing this issue.
    The NITRD program is a product of the High Performance 
Computing Act of 1991 and represents the Federal Government's 
main R&D investment portfolio for unclassified networking, 
computing, software, cybersecurity, and related information 
technologies. It serves as the mechanism for interagency 
coordination of this R&D.
    The bill before us today simply updates the under-going 
High Performance Computing statute that has been in place for 
20 years and codifies some of the work the NITRD National 
Coordination Office already undertakes. Incidentally, the NITRD 
program is celebrating this 20-year milestone next week, and we 
applaud them for that success.
    Networking and information technology includes a broad 
range of technologies from smart phones to cloud computing. NIT 
innovations stem from numerous disciplines and have led to 
advances in search-and-rescue robots, unmanned aerial vehicles, 
digital libraries, devices for assisted living, and computer-
based education and training. R&D in this field seeks to 
minimize and prevent disruptions to critical infrastructures 
like power grids and emergency communication systems.
    Another key emphasis of the NITRD program is cybersecurity. 
Mrs. Johnson and I both believe this is a critically important 
aspect of this program. I am pleased that this will be the 
second cybersecurity-related legislation this Committee is 
reporting.
    Most importantly, networking and information technology 
supports and boosts U.S. competitiveness, enhances national 
security, and helps strengthen the economy through the creation 
of NIT jobs. The bill helps address that.
    The other bill we will be marking up today is H.R. 3199, 
introduced by Vice Chairman Sensenbrenner. This bipartisan 
legislation would prevent damage to the vehicles and engines 
owned by hundreds of millions of Americans by requiring a more 
vigorous assessment of the state of the science on mid-level 
ethanol blends. Specifically, the bill requires the EPA to 
contract with the National Academies to undertake a thorough 
review of current science to ensure that any EPA action to 
increase ethanol in gasoline will not result in widespread 
misfueling or engine damage.
    I appreciate Mr. Sensenbrenner's work on this legislation, 
including his outreach that showed grave warranty concerns 
among all major automobile, boat and engine manufacturers. This 
is a good bill that does not oppose biofuels, but simply makes 
certain that we get the science right before moving ahead on 
this important decision. I hope it will share the same broad 
bipartisan support as H.R. 3834.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Hall follows:]

              Prepared Statement of Chairman Ralph M. Hall

    I am pleased to call the markup this morning for consideration of 
H.R. 3834, Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development Act of 2012, and H.R. 3199, a bill to provide 
a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research on 
the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends.
    With very few alterations, H.R. 3834 is essentially the same bill 
that we passed twice in the last Congress, only to see it languish in 
the Senate. Hopefully, the third time will be the charm.
    I would like to point out that our efforts on this bill have been a 
true illustration of the bipartisan work for which this Committee and 
this Congress is capable. Mrs. Johnson, it is my understanding that our 
staffs have worked well together to ensure this measure reflects good 
policy for our nation's networking and information technology research 
and development (R&D) program, and I want to thank you for your work on 
this bill.
    Additionally, I would also like to thank Chairman Brooks, as 
Chairman of the Research and Science Education Subcommittee, for his 
leadership on this bill and Mrs. Biggert for her many years of 
championing this issue.
    The NITRD program is a product of the High Performance Computing 
Act of 1991 and represents the Federal government's main R&D investment 
portfolio for unclassified networking, computing, software, 
cybersecurity, and related information technologies. It serves as the 
mechanism for interagency coordination of this R&D.
    The bill before us today simply updates the underlying High-
Performance Computing statute that's been in place for 20 years and 
codifies some work the NITRD National Coordination Office already 
undertakes. Incidentally, the NITRD program is celebrating this 20-year 
milestone next week, and we applaud them for that success.
    Networking and information technology (NIT) includes a broad range 
of technologies from smart phones to cloud computing. NIT innovations 
stem from numerous disciplines and have led to advances in search-and-
rescue robots; unmanned aerial vehicles; digital libraries; devices for 
assisted living; and computer-based education and training. R&D in this 
field seeks to minimize and prevent disruptions to critical 
infrastructures like power grids and emergency communication systems.
    Another key emphasis of the NITRD program is cybersecurity. Mrs. 
Johnson and I both believe this is a critically important aspect of 
this program, and I am pleased that this will be the second 
cybersecurity-related legislation this Committee is reporting.
    Most importantly, networking and information technology supports 
and boosts U.S. competitiveness, enhances national security, and helps 
strengthen the economy through the creation of NIT jobs. This bill 
helps address that.
    The other bill we will be marking up today is H.R. 3199, introduced 
by Vice-Chairman Sensenbrenner. This bipartisan legislation would 
prevent damage to the vehicles and engines owned by hundreds of 
millions of Americans by requiring a more vigorous assessment of the 
state of the science on mid-level ethanol blends. Specifically, the 
bill requires the EPA to contract with the National Academies to 
undertake a thorough review of current science to ensure that any EPA 
action to increase ethanol in gasoline will not result in widespread 
misfueling or engine damage.
    I appreciate Mr. Sensenbrenner's work on this legislation, 
including his outreach that showed grave warranty concerns among all 
major automobile, boat, and engine manufacturers. This is a good bill 
that does not oppose biofuels, but simply makes certain that we get the 
science right before moving ahead on this important decision.
    I hope it will share the same broad bipartisan support as H.R. 
3834.

    Chairman Hall. I now recognize Mrs. Johnson for five 
minutes to present her opening remarks. Mrs. Johnson.
    Ms. Johnson. Thank you very much, Chairman Hall, and thank 
you for holding the markup today.
    As noted, today we are marking up two bills: H.R. 3834, a 
good bill which is the product of a bipartisan negotiation, and 
H.R. 3199, which, unfortunately, is neither of those things.
    H.R. 3834, the Advancing American's Networking and 
Information Technology R&D Act, is an important bill. It 
continues to strengthen and build upon the interagency 
initiative launched 20 years ago with the High Performance 
Computing Act of 1991. H.R. 3834 is an updated version of the 
bill our Committee passed in 2009 that appropriately reflects 
changes to the networking and information technology landscape 
that have occurred since Congress last enacted amendments to 
the program in 2007.
    Advances in NIT are a key driver of our economy, increasing 
productivity in existing industries and opening the door for 
the formation of new ones. Small businesses use NIT to connect 
to a wider consumer base, allowing them to grow. Internet 
companies such as Google and Facebook are now worth billions of 
dollars and show how quickly NIT R&D can translate into real-
world products. The wireless devices we all carry have changed 
our lives in profound ways.
    NIT will improve health care by lowering costs and creating 
better treatment options through the use of electronic health 
records, advanced surgical tools, and improved medical 
research. NIT protects our brave men and women in the military 
by improving intelligence gathering and sharing as well as 
making unmanned aerial missions possible. NIT is truly 
pervasive in our society.
    H.R. 3834 ensures that the Federal Government develops a 
coherent vision and strategy for federal investments in NIT 
R&D, including all of the applications made possible by NIT. 
The bill also contains provisions that would help facilitate 
and strengthen public-private partnerships for the benefit of 
our economy, national security; and overall quality of life. I 
urge my colleagues to support this bill.
    Mr. Chairman, it has been my hope that this second session 
of Congress would begin with a constructive markup, of 
bipartisan and non-controversial legislation by our Committee 
that could be enacted into law. The productive development of 
3834 provides an example that we would do well to follow in the 
remaining months of this Congress.
    Unfortunately, the second bill we will consider today at 
today's markup provides us with nothing more than political 
theater. H.R. 3199 is a wolf in sheep's clothing. What looks to 
be an innocent attempt to provide a scientific assessment on 
mid-level blends of ethanol is nothing more than an effort to 
obstruct EPA from finishing their activities related to an 
existing Clean Air Act regulatory process already underway. 
Nothing about delaying EPA's regulatory authority is non-
controversial. This attack on the EPA is not just an attack on 
the EPA's regulatory process, it is also an attack on 
increasing our supply of clean domestic energy. This country 
cannot continue to rely solely on fossil fuels for our energy 
needs. We must work to develop new transportation fuels like 
ethanol, renewable diesel and other clean fuels that have not 
yet been invented. We have to develop all the energy sources we 
have if we want to have a secure energy future.
    I am disappointed that we are not considering--that we are 
considering this bill today. I think this bill is less about 
ethanol and more about attacking the EPA. This bill has no 
chance of going anywhere in the Senate. It has no chance of 
being signed by the President. So all we are doing today is 
engaging in political theater at the expense of the EPA and at 
the expense of our clean energy future. Such political theater 
is not the best use of this Committee's time, and I hope that 
this will be the last such bill we consider.
    Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back.
    [The prepared statement of Ms. Johnson follows:]

       Prepared Statement of Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson

    Thank you Chairman Hall, and thank you for holding this markup 
today. As noted, today we are marking up two bills: H.R. 3834, a good 
bill which is the product of bipartisan negotiation, and H.R. 3199, 
which, unfortunately, is neither of those things.
    H.R. 3834, the Advancing American's Networking and Information 
Technology R&D Act is an important bill. It continues to strengthen and 
build upon the interagency initiative launched 20 years ago with the 
High Performance Computing Act of 1991.
    H.R. 3834 is an updated version of the bill our Committee passed in 
2009 that appropriately reflects changes to the networking and 
information technology landscape that have occurred since Congress last 
enacted amendments to the program in 2007.
    Advances in NIT are a key driver of our economy, increasing 
productivity in existing industries and opening the door for the 
formation of new ones. Small businesses use NIT to connect to a wider 
consumer base, allowing them to grow. Internet companies such as Google 
and Facebook are now worth billions of dollars and show how quickly NIT 
R&D can translate into real world products. The wireless devices we all 
carry have changed our lives in profound ways. NIT will improve health 
care by lowering costs and creating better treatment options through 
the use of electronic health records, advanced surgical tools, and 
improved medical research.
    NIT protects our brave men and women in the military by improving 
intelligence gathering and sharing as well as making unmanned aerial 
missions possible. NIT is truly pervasive in our society.
    H.R. 3834 ensures that the federal government develops a coherent 
vision and strategy for federal investments in NIT R&D, including all 
of the applications made possible by NIT. The bill also contains 
provisions that would help facilitate and strengthen public-private 
partnerships for the benefit of our economy, national security, and 
overall quality of life.
    I am pleased with a new provision in H.R. 3834 that requires 
federal agencies to come together to examine the R&D needed to make 
cloud computing a viable, secure, and efficient tool for science and 
engineering research and for many sectors of our economy. It is 
important that this Committee continue to be a leader in this emerging 
area.
    Finally, I want to thank the Chairman for preserving an important 
amendment offered by Ms. Woolsey in 2009 to ensure that the NITRD 
program strengthens its role in NIT education and diversity. According 
to the most recent data available, the number of American students 
pursuing degrees in computer science continues to fall, with the 
percentages of female and black students pursuing those degrees falling 
even further.
    In the meantime, IT companies are coming to Congress and telling us 
that they can't find enough skilled workers, and computer science 
professors are telling us their students are snatched up into good jobs 
the moment they graduate. The STEM education problem in this country is 
much broader than just computer science. But given the importance of IT 
to every sector of our economy, we cannot afford to leave computer 
science out of the conversations around STEM at any level.
    The private sector spends much more overall in NIT R&D than the 
federal agencies do. But industry research and innovation is built on 
the foundation of R&D supported by the agencies and largely carried out 
in our universities and federal laboratories. And industry hires the 
students trained in our universities under federal research grants. The 
NITRD program plays a central role in this ecosystem and this bill 
continues to strengthen the NITRD program and ensure that the federal 
agencies can respond quickly to emerging R&D and education needs as the 
industry continues to grow and evolve. I urge my colleagues to support 
H.R. 3834.
    Mr. Chairman, it had been my hope that this second session of 
Congress would begin with a constructive markup of bipartisan and non-
controversial legislation by our Committee that could be enacted into 
law.
    The productive development of H.R. 3834 provides an example that we 
would do well to follow in the remaining months of this Congress. 
Unfortunately, the second bill we will consider at today's markup 
provides us with nothing more than political theater.
    H.R. 3199 is a wolf in sheep's clothing. What looks to be an 
innocent attempt to provide a scientific assessment on mid-level blends 
of ethanol is nothing more than an effort to obstruct EPA from 
finishing their activities related to an existing Clean Air Act 
regulatory process already underway. Nothing about delaying EPA's 
regulatory authority is non-controversial.
    This attack on the EPA is not just an attack on the EPA's 
regulatory process, it is also an attack on increasing our supply of 
clean domestic energy. This country cannot continue to rely solely on 
fossil fuels for our energy needs.

    Chairman Hall. The gentlelady yields back, and I thank her 
for it.
    Without objection, all Members' opening statements will be 
placed in the record at this time.
    Chairman Hall. We will now consider the bill H.R. 3834, the 
Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development Act of 2012.
    At this time, does anyone else wish to comment on this 
bill? You will have time to comment on the bill that Mrs. 
Johnson is not in love with.
    Without objection I ask unanimous consent that the bill is 
considered as read and open to amendment at any point and that 
Members proceed with amendments in the order listed on the 
roster, and that is so ordered.
    [H.R. 3834 appears in the Appendix:]
    Chairman Hall. Okay. The bill is open for amendment. The 
first amendment on the roster is a Manager's Amendment that I 
am offering. The clerk will report the amendment.
    The Clerk. Amendment number 399, amendment to H.R. 3839, 
offered by Mr. Hall of Texas.
    [The amendment appears in the Appendix:]
    Chairman Hall. I ask unanimous consent to dispense with the 
reading. Without objection, it is so ordered.
    I recognize myself for five minutes to explain my 
amendment.
    The Manager's Amendment is mostly a perfecting amendment. 
The Ranking Member and I both attest that as times change, so 
does the vocabulary. Apparently the same is true for the 
computing world. The amendment simply updates the language in 
the underlying statute to better reflect today's terminology.
    In addition, the one new section in the bill calls for an 
interagency working group to look at funding issues surrounding 
the cloud computing services for research. Use of the cloud 
holds great potential for researchers, but we recognize that 
there is still R&D areas that need improvement. So we are 
asking the interagency group to examine those as well as in 
this amendment.
    Lastly, the amendment moves the statutory reporting 
requirement for the advisory committee from two years to three 
years so as to better align in with the three-year requirement 
for the bill's strategic plan and so no one can better inform--
one can better inform the other.
    I believe these changes make for a stronger bill, and I 
thank Ms. Johnson for working with me on these improvements.
    I ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading. 
Excuse me.
    Is there further discussion on the amendment?
    Ms. Johnson. Mr. Chairman.
    Chairman Hall. Ms. Johnson, you are recognized.
    Ms. Johnson. Thank you very much, Chairman Hall, and 
majority Committee staff for working with me and my staff to 
continue to refine this bill through the Manager's Amendment.
    While it does consist primarily of technical and conforming 
amendments, there are also a few small substantive changes in 
the amendment that were recommended by the agency and program 
officials, and I am happy the short delay in this markup from 
its original date last week allowed us to take all of those 
recommendations into consideration.
    I also want to take this opportunity to commend the 
Chairman for including in this bill a new provision on cloud 
computing R&D. This is an important emerging issue both for 
scientific research and for many important sectors of our 
economy, and I am pleased that our Committee is continuing to 
assert a leadership role in this area.
    I urge my colleagues to support this very good amendment, 
and with that, I yield back.
    Chairman Hall. The gentlelady yields back.
    Is there further discussion? Hearing no further discussion, 
a vote occurs on the amendment number 399 offered by the 
chairman. All in favor, say aye. Those opposed, say no. The 
ayes have it and the amendment is agreed to.
    Are there any other amendments? Hearing no further 
amendments, the question now is on House Bill 3834, the 
Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development Act of 2012 as amended. All those in 
favor will say aye. All those opposed, say no. In the opinion 
of the Chair, the ayes have it. The clerk will call the roll--
the clerk will not call the roll. I will now------
    Ms. Johnson. Mr. Chairman.
    Chairman Hall. I now recognize Mrs. Johnson to offer a 
motion.
    Ms. Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I move that the 
Committee favorably report H.R. 3834 as amended to the House 
with the recommendation that the bill do pass. Furthermore, I 
move that staff be instructed to prepare the legislative report 
and make necessary technical and conforming changes and that 
the chairman take all necessary steps to bring the bill before 
the House for consideration. Thank you. Yield back.
    Chairman Hall. The gentlelady yields back.
    All right. The question is the motion to report the bill. 
Those in favor will say aye. Those opposed, say no. The ayes 
have it and the resolution is favorably reported.
    Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon 
the table. Members may have two subsequent calendar days in 
which to submit supplemental minority or additional views on 
the measure. I move pursuant to clause 1 of Rule 22 of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives that the Committee 
authorizes the chairman to offer such motions as may be 
necessary in the House to adopt and pass H.R. 3834, the 
Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development Act of 2012 as amended. Without 
objection, it is so ordered.

                            XXI. Appendix I:

                              ----------                              


  H.R. 3199, Section-by-Section Analysis, Amendments, Amendment Roster




           Section-by-Section: H.R. 3834, Advancing America's
             Networking and Information Technology Research
                      and Development Act of 2012

Section 1. Short Title.

    This section sets for the short title as Advancing America's 
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 
2012.

Sec. 2. Program Planning And Coordination.

    Requires the Networking and Information Technology Research and 
Development Program (NITRD) agencies to periodically assess the program 
contents and funding levels and to update the program accordingly.
    Requires the NITRD agencies to develop and periodically update (at 
three-year intervals) a strategic plan for the program. Describes the 
characteristics and content of the strategic plan, including how the 
program will foster technology transfer; encourage innovative, large-
scale, and interdisciplinary research; address long-term challenges of 
national importance; emphasize innovative and high-risk projects; and 
strengthen NIT education and the workforce.
    Encourages a more active role for the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy (OSTP) in ensuring that the strategic plan is 
developed and executed effectively and that the objectives of the 
program are met.
    Ensures that the advisory committee for NITRD retains the necessary 
breadth and depth of expertise in NIT fields, provides guidance on the 
committee's co-chairs, and allows that it may be linked to the 
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.
    Specifies that the annual report now required for the NITRD program 
explicitly describes how the program activities planned and underway 
relate to the objectives specified in the strategic plan.
    Specifies that the annual report now required for the NITRD program 
include a description of research areas supported in accordance with 
section 3, including the same budget information as is required for the 
Program Component Areas.
    Adds a definition for cyber-physical systems and amends existing 
definitions to incorporate networking and information technology 
terminology.

Sec. 3. Large-Scale Research In Areas Of National Importance.

    Authorizes NITRD agencies to support large-scale, long-term, 
interdisciplinary research with the potential to make significant 
contributions to society and U.S. economic competitiveness and to 
encourage collaboration between at least two agencies as well as cost-
sharing from non-federal sources.
    Characteristics of the projects supported include: collaborations 
among researchers in institutions of higher education and industry, and 
may involve nonprofit research institutions and Federal laboratories; 
leveraging of federal investments through collaboration with related 
State initiatives, when possible; and plans for fostering technology 
transfer.
    Authorizes support of activities under this section through 
existing interdisciplinary research centers that are organized to 
investigate basic research questions and carry out technology 
demonstration activities.

Sec. 4. Cyber-Physical Systems.

    Requires the program to support research and development in cyber-
physical systems; human-computer interactions, visualization, and big 
data.
    Convenes a university/industry task force to explore mechanisms for 
carrying out collaborative research and development activities for 
cyber-physical systems with participants from universities, industry, 
and Federal laboratories.
    Requires the task force to develop options for an entity to plan, 
manage and conduct cyber-physical systems research and development 
activities; propose a process for developing a research and development 
agenda for the entity which would include guidelines to ensure work 
focused on nationally significant challenges and which would require 
collaboration on the development of scientific and technological 
milestones; define roles and responsibilities for participants; propose 
guidelines for assigning intellectual property rights; and make 
recommendations for funding the entity from federal, state and non-
government sources.
    Requires a report to Congress on any findings and recommendations 
from the task force on models for collaborative research and 
development. The task force would terminate upon transmittal of the 
report, and members of the task force would not be compensated for 
participation.

Sec. 5. Cloud Computing Services for Research.

    Provides for an interagency working group to examine issues around 
funding mechanisms and policies for the use of cloud computing in 
federally-funded science and engineering research and to recommend 
guidelines, as needed, to agencies on those policies. The working group 
would consult with academia, industry, federal laboratories and other 
relevant organizations and institutions. Within one year the working 
group would be required to report to Congress on its findings and any 
recommendations for guidelines. The working group would terminate upon 
transmittal of the report.

Sec. 6. National Coordination Office.

    Formally codifies the existing National Coordination Office (NCO); 
delineates the office's roles and responsibilities; and specifies the 
source of funding for the office (consistent with current practice).

Sec. 7. Improving Networking and Information Technology

    Requires NSF to use existing programs to improve the teaching and 
learning of networking and information technology.

Sec. 8. Conforming and Technical Amendments

    Strikes and replaces instances of out-dated ``high-performance 
computing'' language with ``networking and information technology'' and 
``high-end computing'' as appropriate.

                               Amendments



                            Amendment Roster




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