[House Report 113-34]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


113th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                     113-34

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



 
ADVANCING AMERICA'S NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND 
                        DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2013

                                _______
                                

 April 11, 2013.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

     Mr. Smith of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                  Technology, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 967]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom 
was referred the bill (H.R. 967) 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................................................10
   V. Committee Consideration........................................11
  VI. Committee Votes................................................11
 VII. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill........................13
VIII. Committee Views................................................13
  IX. Committee Oversight Findings...................................15
   X. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives..........15
  XI. New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditur16
 XII. Advisory on Earmarks...........................................16
XIII. Committee Cost Estimate........................................16
 XIV. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate......................16
  XV. Federal Mandates Statement.....................................17
 XVI. Compliance with House Resolution 5.............................17
XVII. Federal Advisory Committee Statement...........................17
XVIII.Applicability to Legislative Branch............................17

 XIX. Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation.................17
  XX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, As Reported..........20
 XXI. Proceedings of the Full Committee Markup.......................35

                              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 2013''.

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 2013, 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 (B)--
                  (A) by redesignating clauses (vii) through (xi) as 
                clauses (viii) through (xii), respectively; and
                  (B) by inserting after clause (vi) the following:
                          ``(vii) the Department of Homeland 
                        Security;'';
          (2) 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;'';
          (3) 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;
          (4) by redesignating subparagraph (E) as subparagraph (G); 
        and
          (5) 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)--
                  (A) by striking ``improving the security'' and 
                inserting ``improving the security, reliability, and 
                resilience''; and
                  (B) 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) Workshop.--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 WORKSHOP.

  ``(a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Advancing America's Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Act of 2013, the Director of the 
National Coordination Office shall convene a workshop, with 
participants from institutions of higher education, Federal 
laboratories, and industry, to explore mechanisms for carrying out 
collaborative research and development activities for cyber-physical 
systems, including the related technologies required to enable these 
systems, and to develop grand challenges in cyber-physical systems 
research and development.
  ``(b) Functions.--The workshop participants shall--
          ``(1) develop options for models for research and development 
        partnerships among institutions of higher education, Federal 
        laboratories, and industry, including mechanisms for the 
        support of research and development carried out under these 
        partnerships;
          ``(2) develop options for grand challenges in cyber-physical 
        systems research and development that would be addressed 
        through such partnerships;
          ``(3) propose guidelines for assigning intellectual property 
        rights and for the transfer of research results to the private 
        sector; and
          ``(4) make recommendations for how Federal agencies 
        participating in the Program can help support research and 
        development partnerships in cyber-physical systems, including 
        through existing or new grant programs.
  ``(c) Participants.--The Director of the National Coordination Office 
shall ensure that participants in the workshop are individuals with 
knowledge and expertise in cyber-physical systems and that participants 
represent a broad mix of relevant stakeholders, including academic and 
industry researchers, cyber-physical systems and technologies 
manufacturers, cyber-physical systems and technologies users, and, as 
appropriate, Federal government regulators.
  ``(d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment 
of the Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development Act of 2013, 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 resulting from the workshop 
required under this section.''.

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 2013, 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) how Federal science agencies can facilitate the use of 
        cloud computing for federally funded science and engineering 
        research, including--
                  ``(A) making recommendations on changes in funding 
                mechanisms, budget models, and policies needed to 
                remove barriers to the adoption of cloud computing 
                services for research and for data preservation and 
                sharing; and
                  ``(B) providing guidance to organizations and 
                researchers on opportunities and guidelines for using 
                cloud computing services for federally supported 
                research and related activities.
  ``(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 2013, 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. 967 is to advance America's networking 
and information technology research and development by updating 
the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991. H.R. 967 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.
    R&D in NIT 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.

Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program 
        (NITRD)

    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.
    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 federal agencies. Additional 
agencies that do not contribute funding 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.\1\ 
NITRD research activities are organized in eight Program 
Component Areas (PCAs). The PCAs also align the NITRD program 
budget categories.\2\ NITRD research areas and activities shift 
regularly as the NIT field creates and develops new R&D 
challenges.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\About the Subcommittee on Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development (NITRD Subcommittee), http://www.nitrd.gov/
subcommittee/program.aspx.
    \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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    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 and 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.

                          IV. Hearing Summary

    In the 113th Congress, the Subcommittee on Research held a 
hearing on February 14, 2013, to show the practical 
applications and benefits of the Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development (NITRD) program and its 
significance to U.S. competitiveness.
    The Subcommittee heard from three witnesses: Dr. Kelly 
Gaither, Director, Visualization Lab, Texas Advanced Computing 
Center, University of Texas, Austin; Dr. Kathryn McKinley, 
Principal Researcher, Microsoft; and Dr. Ed Lazowska, Bill and 
Melinda Gates Chair in Computer Science and Engineering, 
University of Washington.

                       V. Committee Consideration

    On March 5, 2013, H.R. 967 was introduced by Rep. Cynthia 
Lummis, Rep. Lamar Smith, and Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson and 
referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
    On March 14, 2013, the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology met in open markup session and adopted H.R. 967, as 
amended, by voice vote. Further, the Committee ordered H.R. 967 
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. 967 favorably reported to the House, as 
amended, was agreed to by voice vote.
    During Full Committee consideration of H.R. 967, the 
following amendments were considered:


              VII. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill

    H.R. 967 updates the High Performance Computing Act of 1991 
and reauthorizes the Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development (NITRD) program, the federal 
government's central R&D investment portfolio for unclassified 
networking, computing, software, cybersecurity, and related 
information technologies. NITRD includes 15 member agencies, 
and more than a dozen other participating agencies.
    Regarding cybersecurity, the NITRD program focuses on R&D 
to detect, prevent, resist, respond to, and recover from 
actions that compromise or threaten to compromise the 
availability, integrity, or confidentiality of computer- and 
network-based systems.
    H.R. 967 implements recommendations from the President's 
Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) including 
improving interagency coordination and planning with input from 
policy and technical experts. The legislation rebalances R&D 
portfolios to focus less on short-term goals and place more 
emphasis on large-scale, long-term interdisciplinary research 
and updates research areas to reflect new terminologies.
    The legislation also directs the NCO to convene a workshop 
to explore mechanisms for carrying out collaborative research 
and development activities for cyber-physical systems with 
participants from universities, industry, and Federal 
laboratories.
    Finally, H.R. 967 convenes an interagency working group to 
identify cloud computing research gaps and examine the 
potential for using the cloud for federally funded research.

                         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,''\8\ the Committee encourages the 
Department of Education to become an active participant.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \8\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. 967, the ``Advancing America's 
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development 
Act of 2013'', 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.
                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                    Washington, DC, March 25, 2013.
Hon. Lamar Smith,
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. 967, the Advancing 
America's Networking and Information Technology Research and 
Development Act of 2013.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Martin von 
Gnechten.
            Sincerely,
                                         Robert A. Sunshine
                              (For Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director).
    Enclosure.

H.R. 967--Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology 
        Research and Development Act of 2013

    H.R. 967 would expand the activities of the Networking and 
Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) 
program, which coordinates the federal government's goals for 
developing advanced computing, networking, and software 
activities. 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. 967 also 
would establish an interagency working group to examine 
potential uses of cloud computing. Finally, the legislation 
would require the coordination office to convene a workshop of 
industry and academic experts to develop recommendations 
related to information technology systems.
    Based on information from the NITRD program office, CBO 
estimates that implementing H.R. 967 would cost about $1 
million over the 2014-2018 period, subject to the availability 
of appropriated funds. That amount includes the costs to 
support the examination of cloud computing and the stakeholder 
workshop. Enacting H.R. 967 would not affect direct spending or 
revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
    H.R. 967 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. Compliance With H. Res. 5

    A. Directed Rule Making. The Committee does not believe 
that this bill directs any executive branch official to conduct 
any specific rule-making proceedings
    B. Duplication of Existing Programs. The Committee is not 
aware of another established or authorized program of the 
Federal government which duplicates the program in the bill. 
Such program was not included in any report from the Government 
Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of 
Public Law 111-139. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of 
NSF, the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance identifies all 
programs at NSF at the directorate level and views such 
programs as related; however, specific activities at NSF, such 
as those included in H.R. 967, are not identified in the CFDA. 
H.R. 967 reauthorizes the National Coordination Office to 
coordinate networking and information activities across Federal 
agencies to prevent duplication.

               XVII. 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.

               XVIII. 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.

                    XIX. Section-by-Section Analysis


Sec. 1. Short title

    This section sets forth 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.
    Directs the National Coordination Office to convene a 
workshop, not later than one year after the date of enactment, 
with representatives of higher education, Federal laboratories, 
and industry to explore mechanisms for carrying out 
collaborative research and development activities for cyber-
physical systems, including the related technologies required 
to enable these systems, and to develop grand challenges in 
cyber-physical systems research and development.
    Requires workshop participants to develop options for 
models of research and development partnerships among 
institutions of higher education, Federal laboratories, and 
industry, including mechanisms for the support of research 
carried out under these partnerships; develop options for grand 
challenges in cyber-physical systems research and development 
that would be addressed through such partnerships; propose 
guidelines for assigning intellectual property rights and for 
the transfer of research results to the private sector; and 
make recommendations for how Federal agencies participating in 
the Program can help support research and development 
partnerships in cyber-physical systems, including through 
existing or new grant programs.
    The Director of the NCO shall ensure that participants in 
the workshop are individuals with knowledge and expertise in 
cyber-physical systems and that participants represent a broad 
mix of relevant stakeholders, including academic and industry 
researchers, cyber-physical systems and technologies 
manufacturers, cyber-physical systems and technologies users, 
and, as appropriate, Federal government regulators.
    Requires a report to Congress on any findings and 
recommendations from the workshop on models for collaborative 
research and development. The workshop would terminate upon 
transmittal of the report.

Sec. 5. Cloud computing services for research

    Provides for an interagency working group to examine 
research and development needed for cloud computing and how 
Federal science agencies can facilitate the use of cloud 
computing for federally funded science and engineering 
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 outdated ``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.

       XX. 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-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] improving 
        the security, reliability, and resilience 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) * * *
          (B) set forth the relevant programs and activities, 
        for the fiscal year with respect to which the budget 
        submission applies, of each Federal agency and 
        department, including--
                  (i) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                  (vii) the Department of Homeland Security;
                  [(vii)] (viii) the Department of the 
                Interior;
                  [(viii)] (ix) the Environmental Protection 
                Agency;
                  [(ix)] (x) the National Aeronautics and Space 
                Administration;
                  [(x)] (xi) the National Science Foundation; 
                and
                  [(xi)] (xii) such other agencies and 
                departments as the President or the Director 
                considers appropriate;
          (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 2013, 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 WORKSHOP.

  (a) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Advancing America's Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Act of 2013, the Director 
of the National Coordination Office shall convene a workshop, 
with participants from institutions of higher education, 
Federal laboratories, and industry, to explore mechanisms for 
carrying out collaborative research and development activities 
for cyber-physical systems, including the related technologies 
required to enable these systems, and to develop grand 
challenges in cyber-physical systems research and development.
  (b) Functions.--The workshop participants shall--
          (1) develop options for models for research and 
        development partnerships among institutions of higher 
        education, Federal laboratories, and industry, 
        including mechanisms for the support of research and 
        development carried out under these partnerships;
          (2) develop options for grand challenges in cyber-
        physical systems research and development that would be 
        addressed through such partnerships;
          (3) propose guidelines for assigning intellectual 
        property rights and for the transfer of research 
        results to the private sector; and
          (4) make recommendations for how Federal agencies 
        participating in the Program can help support research 
        and development partnerships in cyber-physical systems, 
        including through existing or new grant programs.
  (c) Participants.--The Director of the National Coordination 
Office shall ensure that participants in the workshop are 
individuals with knowledge and expertise in cyber-physical 
systems and that participants represent a broad mix of relevant 
stakeholders, including academic and industry researchers, 
cyber-physical systems and technologies manufacturers, cyber-
physical systems and technologies users, and, as appropriate, 
Federal government regulators.
  (d) Report.--Not later than 18 months after the date of 
enactment of the Advancing America's Networking and Information 
Technology Research and Development Act of 2013, 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 resulting from the workshop required under 
this 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 2013, 
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) how Federal science agencies can facilitate the 
        use of cloud computing for federally funded science and 
        engineering research, including--
                  (A) making recommendations on changes in 
                funding mechanisms, budget models, and policies 
                needed to remove barriers to the adoption of 
                cloud computing services for research and for 
                data preservation and sharing; and
                  (B) providing guidance to organizations and 
                researchers on opportunities and guidelines for 
                using cloud computing services for federally 
                supported research and related activities.
  (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 2013, 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.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *



       XXI. PROCEEDINGS OF THE FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP ON H.R. 967,
                     ADVANCING AMERICA'S NETWORKING
                  AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
                      AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2013

                              ----------                              


                        THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2012

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

    I am pleased to call up for consideration H.R. 967, the 
Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology 
Research and Development Act of 2013. I want to thank Ms. 
Lummis, the gentlewoman from Wyoming, for her work on this 
bill, and I am an original cosponsor along with Ranking Member 
Eddie Bernice Johnson. This bill had broad bipartisan support 
in the last Congress, and I hope it will receive that same 
support today.
    In the digital age, protecting our Nation's computer 
networking systems is more important than ever. This bill 
provides the coordinated R&D efforts necessary to improve cyber 
and data security nationwide, and better network security 
promotes U.S. competitiveness, enhances national security and 
creates high-tech jobs.
    The NITRD program is an extension of the High Performance 
Computing Act of 1991. It represents the Federal Government's 
main R&D investment portfolio for unclassified networking, 
computing, software, cybersecurity and related information 
technologies. Currently, 15 federal agencies are contributing 
Members of NITRD, with an additional 20 or so participating in 
the program. This bill serves as the mechanism for interagency 
coordination of R&D to ensure no duplication of research 
efforts among federal agencies or the private sector. It 
rebalances R&D portfolios to focus less on short-term goals and 
more on large-scale, long-term interdisciplinary research.
    While this bill does not authorize specific funding 
amounts, NITRD spending totals over $3.7 billion annually. Over 
$1.1 billion of this is from the National Science Foundation 
and over $550 million is from the Department of Energy. The 
bill updates the underlying high-performance computing statute 
and codifies work undertaken by the National Coordination 
Office, housed within NSF, to oversee the 15 different 
agencies.
    The NITRD program has eight strategic priorities for its 
research: cybersecurity, autonomous robotic systems, high-end 
computing and applications, exascale computing, human-computer 
interaction, large-scale networking, workforce development, and 
software design and productivity. Technologies that come from 
these research priorities are applied by the commercial sector 
and the government to protect and enhance emergency 
communications, the power grid, air-traffic control networks, 
and national defense systems. Networking and information 
technology supports and boosts American competitiveness, 
enhances national security, and helps strengthen the economy. 
American job creators also recognize the importance of 
networking and information technology research and development.
    Many industry partners and stakeholders have written 
letters in support of this bill. They include the National 
Association of Manufacturers, TechAmerica, Computing Research 
Association, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers-
USA, Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, and the 
U.S. Public Policy Council of the Association for Computing 
Machinery.
    Cybersecurity provisions in the bill include research 
necessary to detect, prevent, and recover from actions that 
comprise or threaten--that compromise or threaten computer-
based systems. This will be the second cybersecurity-related 
legislation this Committee is reporting today, and I again 
thank Ms. Lummis for her interest in this issue and urge my 
colleagues to support the bill.
    [The prepared statement of Mr. Smith follows:]

               Prepared Statement of Chairman Lamar Smith

    I am pleased to call up for consideration H.R. 967, the Advancing 
America's Networking and Information Technology Research and 
Development Act of 2013. I thank Ms. Lummis, the gentlewoman from 
Wyoming, for her work on this bill and am an original cosponsor along 
with Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson.
    This bill had broad bipartisan support in the last Congress and I 
hope it will receive that same support today. In the digital age, 
protecting our nation's computer networking systems is more important 
than ever.
    This bill provides the coordinated R&D efforts necessary to improve 
cyber and data security nationwide. And better network security 
promotes U.S. competitiveness, enhances national security and creates 
high-tech jobs. The NITRD program is an extension of the High 
Performance Computing Act of 1991. It represents the Federal 
government's main R&D investment portfolio for unclassified networking, 
computing, software, cybersecurity and related information 
technologies.
    Currently, 15 federal agencies are contributing members of NITRD, 
with an additional 20 or so participating in the program. This bill 
serves as the mechanism for interagency coordination of R&D to ensure 
no duplication of research efforts among federal agencies or the 
private sector. It rebalances R&D portfolios to focus less on short-
term goals and more on large-scale, long-term interdisciplinary 
research.
    While this bill does not authorize specific funding amounts, NITRD 
spending totals over $3.7 billion annually. Over $1.1 billion of this 
is from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and over $550 million is 
from the Department of Energy. The bill updates the underlying High-
Performance Computing statute and codifies work undertaken by the 
National Coordination Office, housed within NSF, to oversee the 15 
different agencies.

The NITRD program has eight strategic priorities for its research:

      cybersecurity;

      autonomous, robotic systems;

      high-end computing and applications;

      exascale computing;

      human-computer interaction;

      large-scale networking;

      workforce development;

      and software design and productivity.

    Technologies that come from these research priorities are applied 
by the commercial sector and the government to protect and enhance 
emergency communications, the power grid, air-traffic control networks 
and national defense systems.
    Networking and information technology supports and boosts American 
competitiveness, enhances national security, and helps strengthen the 
economy. American job creators also recognize the importance of 
networking and information technology research and development.
    Many industry partners and stakeholders have written letters in 
support of this bill. They include: the National Association of 
Manufacturers; TechAmerica; Computing Research Association; Institute 
of Electrical and Electronic Engineers-USA; Society for Industrial and 
Applied Mathematics; and the U.S. Public Policy Council of the 
Association for Computing Machinery.
    Cybersecurity provisions in the bill include research necessary to 
detect, prevent and recover from actions that compromise or threaten 
computer-based systems. This will be the second cybersecurity-related 
legislation this Committee is reporting today. I again thank Ms. Lummis 
for her interest in this issue and urge my colleagues to support the 
bill.

    Chairman Smith. Are there any amendments to the bill? The 
gentleman from Texas, Mr. McCaul, is recognized.
    Mr. McCaul. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
    Chairman Smith. The Clerk will report the amendment.
    The Clerk. Amendment number 013, amendment to H.R. 967, 
offered by Mr. McCaul of Texas.
    [The amendment of Mr. McCaul appears in the Appendix]
    Chairman Smith. Without objection, the amendment will be 
considered as read, and the gentleman from Texas is recognized 
to explain his amendment.
    Mr. McCaul. Mr. Chairman, my amendment would simply add the 
Department of Homeland Security to the list of agencies in 
Section 101 of the High Performance Computing Act of 1991. The 
underlying Act was written before DHS existed, and my amendment 
would ensure that the Department of Homeland Security, which 
plays a key role in securing the Federal Government's civilian 
cyber networks, is included with the other listed agencies as 
part of the ongoing consensus efforts carried out under the 
authority of this Act.
    I urge my colleagues to support this, and I yield back.
    Chairman Smith. Thank you, Mr. McCaul. I support the 
amendment as well. Is there any other Member who wishes to be 
heard on the amendment?
    If not, all in favor say aye.
    All opposed, no.
    In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it and the 
amendment is agreed to.
    The gentleman from Florida, Mr. Grayson, is recognized for 
the purpose of offering an amendment.
    Mr. Grayson. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
    Chairman Smith. The Clerk will report the amendment.
    The Clerk. Amendment number 055, amendment to H.R. 967, 
offered by Mr. Grayson of Florida.
    [The amendment of Mr. Grayson appears in the Appendix]
    Chairman Smith. Without objection, the amendment will be 
considered as read, and the gentleman from Florida is 
recognized to explain his amendment.
    Mr. Grayson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    This amendment amends the National High Performance 
Computing Program to add a focus on improving the security, 
reliability and resilience of computing and networking systems. 
Our cybersecurity infrastructure isn't just software; it is 
also rooted in the real world with physical vulnerabilities to 
terrorism and natural disasters like hurricanes and even just 
power outages.
    Late last year, an Amazon.com server problem in Virginia 
took down Netflix, which was a terrible problem for my five 
children, Reddit, Pinterest, Fast Company, Airbnb and others, 
and this is just the most recent high-profile incident of this 
type. Given that our various power grids, telecommunication 
systems, server farms and so on are all interconnected and 
physically connected, we need research on how to make these 
systems more resilient and reliable. That is what this 
amendment does. I yield back.
    Chairman Smith. Thank you, Mr. Grayson. I support the 
amendment as well. Are there any other Members who wish to be 
heard on the amendment?
    If not, all in favor say aye.
    Opposed, nay.
    The ayes have it, and the amendment is agreed to.
    We will go now to the amendment to be offered by the 
Ranking Member, Ms. Johnson, and she is recognized for that 
purpose.
    Ms. Johnson. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I do have 
an amendment at the desk.
    Chairman Smith. And the Clerk will report the amendment.
    The Clerk. Amendment number 440, amendment to H.R. 967, 
offered by Ms. Johnson of Texas.
    [The amendment of Ms. Johnson appears in the Appendix]
    Chairman Smith. Without objection, the amendment will be 
considered as read, and the gentlewoman from Texas is 
recognized to explain her amendment.
    Ms. Johnson. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
    My amendment would simply update Section 4 of the bill to 
reflect activities that have already been carried out under the 
NITRD program since the language was first introduced by 
Chairman Gordon in 2009. At that time, experts from both 
academia and industry testified before the Committee that the 
program take an active role in convening industry, university 
researchers, and experts from national laboratories around the 
topic of cyber physical systems, and in a 2007 review of the 
program, the PCAST also recommended that cyber physical systems 
get a disproportionately larger increase in R&D funding under 
NITRD. Cyber physical systems play an increasingly important 
role in such diverse fields as health care, transportation and 
manufacturing. For example, a diabetic doesn't have to remember 
to take her insulin because an implantable device monitoring 
her glucose level is taking care of it for her, or the pilot 
flying your plane doesn't have to take a manual control when 
the plane hits turbulence because the autopilot reads the 
conditions and responds in the safest way every time.
    Partnerships between industry and universities in this area 
of research are no less important than they were in 2009. 
Fortunately, OSTP and NITRD program also recognized the need 
and responded to the PCAST and other expert input accordingly. 
They have taken significant steps since 2009 to address many of 
the needs identified in Section 4. However, it was premature to 
do away with the provision altogether because all of the 
problems are not yet solved, and PCAST continues to list it as 
a priority.
    So we updated this section to reflect what it has done but 
also to make sure that this continues as a priority focus. In 
particular, there is still a need to continue to develop new 
models for public-private partnerships and to focus more on 
transferring new ideas out of the lab and into the commercial 
marketplace.
    In changing this provision from a fairly prescriptive task 
force to a less prescriptive workshop, we gave OSTP the 
flexibility to design the workshop to meet current needs and 
also to work within that current mechanism for convening 
stakeholders. It also saves them a lot of money, and I hope Mr. 
Broun is listening. In this budget environment, even a million 
dollars makes a big difference.
    This is a common sense, good-government amendment, and I 
urge my colleagues to support it. I yield back.
    [The prepared statement of Ms. Johnson follows:]
       Prepared Statement of Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson
    Thank you Chairman Smith.
    Today, we are marking up two bipartisan pieces of legislation:

      H.R. 756, the Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2013, and

      H.R. 967, Advancing America's Networking and Information 
Technology R&D Act.

    Advances in networking and information technology, or 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. The military uses NIT to improve intelligence gathering and 
sharing as well as to support many of its worldwide operations. NIT is 
improving health care by creating better treatment options through 
electronic health recordkeeping, advanced surgical tools, and the 
facilitation of medical research.
    And of course, 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. NIT has truly revolutionized our 
modern way of life.
    However, our growing reliance on NIT to fuel our society leaves us 
vulnerable to cyber attacks. As the stakes have grown higher, 
individual hackers have given way to organized criminal groups and even 
foreign governments.
    It is not an overstatement to say that the increasing threat of 
cyber attack puts both our NIT-based economy and our national security 
at risk.
    Today we consider bills to address both the good and bad aspects of 
our hi-tech society's growing reliance on information technology.
    The first bill, H.R. 756, addresses the growing threat of cyber 
attack. I want to commend Mr. Lipinski and Mr. McCaul for their 
longstanding, bipartisan leadership on this critical topic of 
cybersecurity research and development.
    The bill they have reintroduced is identical to legislation we 
moved through this Committee and passed overwhelmingly on the House 
floor last Congress.
    This bipartisan bill is overall a very good bill that contributes 
in essential ways to any comprehensive effort to keep our nation, our 
businesses, and our citizens safe from malicious cyber attacks.
    While H.R. 756 is a good bill, I think it is important that we 
consider the fact that the research accounts of both NSF and NIST would 
be flat-funded under this proposal, and were cut under sequestration. 
The federal government is already suffering from a lack of adequately 
trained cybersecurity professionals and the impact of sequestration on 
these key agencies will further erode the human capital we need to 
build up our cybersecurity capabilities. It will also slow down much 
needed advances in research and development on potentially game-
changing technologies.
    Next we will consider H.R. 967, which is another good bipartisan 
bill. It continues to strengthen and build upon the interagency 
initiative launched more than 20 years ago with the High Performance 
Computing Act of 1991.
    H.R. 967 is an updated version of a bipartisan bill that former 
Chairman Bart Gordon first introduced and the House passed in 2009.
    The bill was developed by Chairman Gordon to ensure that the 
federal government creates a coherent vision and strategy for federal 
investments in NIT R&D, including all of the applications made possible 
by NIT. The bill also contained provisions that would help facilitate 
and strengthen public-private partnerships for the benefit of our 
economy, national security, and overall quality of life.
    I was proud to work closely with Chairman Hall last year to update 
that legislation to appropriately reflect changes both to the NITR-D 
program and to the networking and information technology landscape 
since 2009.
    While it was not possible to get the NITR-D legislation enacted 
into law in the 112th Congress, I want to thank Mrs. Lummis for re-
introducing our bipartisan bill once again in the new Congress, and I'm 
happy to again be an original cosponsor of this measure. With that, I 
will close by saying that I'm looking forward to a productive markup 
today, and I yield back.

    Chairman Smith. Thank you, Ms. Johnson. I will recognize 
myself in support of the amendment.
    Since the bill was originally introduced, the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy has created a coordinating group 
specifically for cyber physical programs. This bill replaces 
text that would have caused duplication of work already being 
done, so I support the amendment's inclusion and appreciate the 
gentlewoman's offering it.
    Are there any other Members who wish to be heard on the 
amendment?
    If not, all in favor say aye.
    Opposed, nay.
    The ayes have it and the gentlewoman's amendment is agreed 
to.
    We will now go to what I understand is the last amendment 
of the day, and that will be offered by the gentleman from 
Indiana, Mr. Bucshon.
    Mr. Bucshon. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
    Chairman Smith. The Clerk will report the amendment.
    The Clerk. Amendment number 441, amendment to H.R. 967, 
offered by Mr. Bucshon of Indiana.
    [The amendment of Mr. Bucshon appears in the Appendix]
    Chairman Smith. And without objection, the amendment will 
be considered as read, and the gentleman from Indiana is 
recognized to explain his amendment.
    Mr. Bucshon. Thank you Mr. Chairman.
    This is a very simple amendment. In the years since the 
bill was originally drafted the use of cloud computing has 
become a more common way to store and share information of all 
kinds. This amendment directs federal science agencies to 
examine how they can facilitate the use of cloud computing for 
federally funded science and engineering research. I yield 
back.
    Chairman Smith. Thank you, Mr. Bucshon. Are there any other 
Members who wish to be heard on the amendment?
    If not, all in favor say aye.
    Opposed, nay.
    The ayes have it and the gentleman's amendment is agreed 
to.
    If there are no further amendments and a reporting quorum 
is present, the question is on reporting the bill as amended 
favorably to the House.
    Those in favor, say aye.
    Opposed, nay.
    The ayes have it, and the bill as amended is ordered 
reported favorably.
    Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon 
the table.
    Before we adjourn, I just want to thank all Members for 
being here today. This is a really good turnout. I appreciate 
the fact that we have now marked up two bipartisan bills. We 
have gotten off to a good start, and I thank all Members on 
both sides of the podium here for their support today.
    If there is no further discussion, that completes our 
business and completes the full Committee markup, and the 
Committee stands adjourned.
    [Whereupon, at 11:22 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.]
                               Appendix:

                              ----------                              


              H.R. 967: ADVANCING AMERICA'S NETWORKING AND

                  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND

                        DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2013,

                Section-by-Section Analysis, Amendments,

                            Amendment Roster





                     Section-by-Section Analysis of

  H.R. 967, ADVANCING AMERICA'S NETWORKING AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 
                  RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2013

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This section sets for the short title as Advancing America's 
Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 
2013.

SECTION 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.
    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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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.

SECTION 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).

SECTION 7. IMPROVING NETWORKING AND INFORMATION

TECHNOLOGY.

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

SECTION 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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