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107th Congress - 1st Session - 2001

TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION - The conference agreement includes $8,238,000 for the Technology Administration as proposed in the Senate bill, instead of $8,094,000 as proposed in the House bill. The conference agreement continues direction as it has since fiscal year 1998 regarding the use of Technology Administration and Department of Commerce resources to support foreign policy initiatives and programs.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES - The conference agreement includes $321,111,000 for the internal (core) research account of the NIST instead of $348,589,000 as proposed in the House bill and $343,296,000 as proposed in the Senate bill. The conference agreement provides funds for the core research programs of NIST as follows:

Electronics and Electrical Engineering                     $41,286,000
Manufacturing Engineering                                        20,428,000
Chemical Science and Technology                            35,712,000
Physics                                                                       33,054,000
Material Sciences and Engineering                            56,532,000
Building and Fire Research                                        19,982,000
Computer Science and Applied Mathematics             49,478,000
Technology Assistance                                               17,679,000
Baldrige Quality Awards                                              5,205,000
Research Support                                                        41,755,000
Total                                                                               $321,111,000

Funding for the Building and Fire Program is provided at the request level, and the remainder of funding is to continue the
disaster research program on effects of windstorms on protective structures and other technologies begun in fiscal year 1998.  Funding for the research support program includes $2,400,000 for the telecommuting demonstration project, as proposed
in the House bill.  House report language regarding the placement of NIST personnel overseas is adopted by reference.

INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY SERVICES - The conference agreement includes $291,022,000 for the NIST external research account, instead of $119,514,000 as proposed in the House bill, and $309,337,000 as proposed in the Senate bill.

    Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program -The conference agreement includes $106,522,000 for the Manufacturing
Extension Partnership Program (MEP) as proposed in the House bill, instead of $105,137,000 as proposed in the Senate bill.
The conference agreement includes Senate bill language regarding agreements with non-profit organizations. This language is
intended to increase the program?s ability to leverage resources and not to increase the outyear costs of the program.

         Advanced Technology Program -The conference agreement includes $184,500,000 for the Advanced Technology
Program (ATP), instead of $12,992,000 as proposed in the House bill and $204,200,000 as proposed in the Senate bill. The
amount of carryover funding available from fiscal year 2001 is $33,100,000, providing total available funding for ATP of
$217,600,000 for fiscal year 2002.  The conference agreement includes bill language, modified from the Senate language, designating $60,700,000 for new ATP awards.

CONSTRUCTION OF RESEARCH FACILITIES - The conference agreement provides $62,393,000 for construction, renovation and maintenance of NIST  facilities, instead of $20,893,000 as proposed in the House bill and $43,893,000 as proposed in the Senate bill.  Of the amount provided, $41,500,000 is for grants and cooperative agreements as referenced in Section 208 of this Act;
and $20,893,000 is for safety, capacity, maintenance, and repair projects at NIST.

P.L. 107-74 - H.R. 1042, To Prevent the elimination of certain reports, signed into law on November 28, 2001.  The Act prevents the elimination of certain reports under the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995.

P.L. 107-56 - H.R. 3162, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism (USA PATRIOT ACT) Act of 2001, signed into law on October 26, 2001.  The Act deters and punishs terrorst acts in the United States and around the world, to enhance law enforcement investigatory tools, and for other purposes.

P.L. 107-27 - H.R. 93, Federal Firefighters Retirement Act Fairness Act, signed into law on August 20, 2001.  The Act amends Title 5, United States Code, to provide that the madatory separation age for Federal Firefighters be made the same as the age that applies with respect to Federal law enforcement officers.

H. Con. Res. 27, NIST's 100th Anniversary, agreed to on March 1, 2001.
 

Continuing Resolutions for 2001

P.L. 107-79, H.J. Res. 76, FY02 Continuing Resolution, signed into law on December 7, 2001.  The Act provides an extension of funding at the FY2001 levels for NIST through December 15, 2001.

P.L. 107-70, H.J. Res.74, FY02 Continuing Resolution, signed into law on November 17, 2001.  The Act provides an extension of funding at the FY2001 levels for NIST through December 7, 2001.

P.L. 107-58, H.J. Res. 70, FY02 Continuing Resolution, signed into law on October 31, 2001.  The Act provides an extension of funding at FY2001 levels for NIST through November 16, 2001.

P.L. 107-53, H.J. Res. 69, FY02 Continuing Resolution, signed into law on October 22, 2001.  The Act provides an extension of funding at FY2001 levels for NIST through October 31, 2001.

P.L. 107-48 - H.J. Res. 68, FY02 Continuing Resolution, signed into law on October 12, 2001.  The Act provides an extension of funding at FY2001 levels for NIST through October 23, 2001.

P.L. 107-44 - H.J. Res. 65, FY02 Continuing Resolution, signed into law on September 28, 2001.  The Act provides an extension of funding at FY2001 levels for NIST through October 16, 2001.

107th Congress - 2nd Session - 2002

P.L. 107-171, Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, signed into law on on May 13, 2002.  In Section 8003 of the Actl, the Secretary of Agriculture is required to consult with NIST and the U.S. Fire Administration in establishing a Community and Private Land Fire Assistance program for  promoting optimal firefighting efficiency at the Federal, State, and local levels.  Also, Section 9002 requires, NIST to be consulted in the preparation and revision of quidelines for Federal procurement of biobased products.

P.L. 107-173, Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002, signed into law on May 14, 2002.  The Act requires the Immigration and Naturalization Service to integrate all databases and data systems maintained by the Service that process information on aliens; requires that NIST be consulted in the development of the data system using the technology standard established by the USA PATRIOT Act; and requires Justice, State and NIST, acting jointly, to report to Congress assessing the actions that will be necessary to implement standards for using equipment and software to allow biometric comparison and authentication of documents, including costs to be incurred, the personnel, man-hours and other support needed.  The Act also gives the Federal government until October 26, 2004 to finish installing equipment to electronically scan biometric information of all non-citizens crossing the border and would require each international passenger flight and cruise ship arriving in the United States to forward a copy of its crew and passenger manifest for review.

P.L. 107-206, 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act for further Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States, signed into law on August 2, 2002.  (Bill Language) - For “Scientific and Technical Research and Services” for emergency expenses resulting from new homeland security activities and increased security requirements, $37,100,000, of which $20,000,000 is for a cyber-security initiative.

(Conference Report Language) - The conference agreement includes $37,100,000 under this heading, of which $33,100,000 is provided as a contingent emergency requirement. Of the total amount provided, $20,000,000 is included to further develop the overall Federal Government information technology (IT) security framework, including baseline minimum IT security benchmarks or criteria.  No funding is provided to develop technology-specific requirements for the use of specific hardware or software or to develop cyber-security technologies that may compete against those developed by industry.

In addition, $2,000,000 is included to strengthen security and surveillance at the NIST neutron reactor, $1,000,000 is provided for the development of standards for the accuracy of biometric identification systems as authorized by Public Law 107-56 and Public Law 107-173, $4,000,000 is provided for standards, technology and practices for buildings and emergency responders to develop and implement cost-effective safety and security for buildings, and $10,100,000 is included for standards development for chemical/biological/nuclear/radioactive explosive threat detection equipment and biomedical recognition equipment to support homeland security activities.

Also provided in the Conference Report is $5,000,000 to be transferred to NIST to continue the efforts of the Office of Law Enforcement Standards (OLES) regarding the development of a comprehensive suite of minimum standards for law enforcement communications, and $16,000,000 from FEMA’s Disaster relief appropriations to fund the WTC investigation.

Publc Law 107-231, National Construction Safety Team Act signed into law on October 1, 2002.  The Act authorizes the Director of NIST to establish National Construction Safety Teams for deployment within 48 hours after events causing the failure of a
building that has resulted in or posed significant potential for substantial loss of life.  Declares the purpose of Team investigations to be to improve the safety and structural integrity of buildings in the United States.  Requires Teams to: (1) establish the likely technical cause(s) of the building failure; (2) evaluate the technical aspects of evacuation and emergency response procedures; (3) recommend specific improvements to building standards, codes, and practices; (4) recommend research and other appropriate actions needed to improve the structural safety of buildings and evacuation and emergency response procedures; and (5) consist of at least one NIST employee and other experts who are not NIST employees.

Authorizes a Team, in investigating a building failure, to: (1) enter property where a building failure has occurred or where relevant materials are located; (2) inspect related records, facilities, and building components and materials; (3) move appropriate records, components, and materials; and (4) subpoena necessary witnesses and evidence. Requires a Team to: (1)  conduct its actions in a way that does not interfere unnecessarily with building services or materials and that preserves evidence related to the building failure; (2) coordinate its investigations with search and rescue efforts and with qualified researchers conducting engineering or scientific research relating to the building failure; and (3) cooperate with State and local authorities carrying out any activities related to a Team's investigation. Directs NIST to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the head of each Federal agency that may conduct or sponsor a related investigation, providing for coordination of investigations.  Grants a Team investigation priority over any other investigation of any other Federal agency, with the exception of related investigations conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board or building failures that may have been caused by criminal acts. Requires Teams to ensure that evidence of such criminal acts is preserved.

Requires: (1) the Director, on behalf of a Team, to hold public briefings on investigations, including final briefings after public reports required by this Act are issued; and (2) Teams to issue public reports after completing investigations, including an analysis of the cause of the building failure and any recommendations for changes to evacuation and emergency response procedures, improvements to building standards, and actions needed to prevent future failures. Requires NIST to review such reports, to conduct or encourage appropriate recommended research, and to promote adoption of Team recommendations by the Federal Government and other agencies and organizations.

Requires the Director to: (1) report to specified congressional committees on Team investigations and recommendations, including on the extent to which those recommendations have been implemented, and on NIST actions to improve building safety and structural integrity in response; and (2) establish an advisory committee to advise the Director on carrying out this Act and to review the procedures developed for the establishment and deployment of Teams and Team reports. Requires such advisory committee to transmit to such congressional committees annual reports that include: (1) an evaluation of Team activities, along with recommendations for improving Team operation and effectiveness; and (2) an assessment of the implementation of Team recommendations.

Public Law 107-252, Help America Vote Act of 2002, signed into law on October 29, 2002.  The Act in summary:  I. Provides funds to states to replace voting machines; II. Establishes a 4 member Election Administration Commission (EAC); III. Creates a 110 member Standards Board and a 32 member Board of Advisors; IV. Creates a 15 member Technical Guidelines Development Committee chaired by the NIST Director (This Committee would make recommendations on guidelines to the Executive Director of the EAC.); and V. Establishes mandatory minimum standards for voting systems.  Other duties for NIST include:

1. Providing technical support to the Technical Guidelines Development Committee.  This support shall include intramural research and development in areas (security of voting systems; methods to detect and prevent fraud; the protection of voter privacy; usability and accessibility; and remote access voting, including Internet voting) to support the development of the voluntary voting system guidelines.

2. Working with the Commission to provide for testing, certification, decertification, and recertification of voting system hardware and software.

3. Issuing a study on human factors.  Not later than 1 year after enactment the EAC, in consultation with NIST, "shall submit a report to Congress which assesses the areas of human factor research, including usability engineering and human-computer and human-machine interaction, which feasibility could be applied to voting products and systems designed to ensure the usability and accuracy of voting products and systems, including methods to improve access for individuals with disabilities and individuals with limited proficiency in the English language and to reduce voter error and the number of spoiled ballots in elections."

Also, the bill authorizes in FY2003 a $20M R&D grant program.  The dollars for the grants will come out of the EAC but NIST will do the bulk of the work.  Specifically, the NIST director shall recommend topics for research to the EAC; the NIST Director shall review grant applications and provide comments to the EAC;  NIST may be asked by the EAC to monitor the grants after award; and NIST shall prepare and submit to the EAC an evaluation of the grant once it is completed.  NIST also does these tasks for a $10M Pilot Program for testing equipment and technology that the EAC is charged to establish.

Public Law 107-277, Enterprise Integration Act of 2002, signed into law on November 5, 2002.  The Act requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish an initiative for advancing enterprise integration within the United States which shall: (1) involve the various units of NIST, including NIST laboratories, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Program, and consortia that include government and industry; (2) build upon ongoing efforts of NIST and the private sector; and (3) address the enterprise integration needs of each major U.S. manufacturing industry at the earliest possible date.

Authorizes the Director, with respect to each major manufacturing industry, to: (1) work with industry, trade associations, and
professional societies to identify all enterprise standardization and implementation activities underway and to assess the current
state of enterprise integration; and (2) assist in the development of roadmaps (to be based on voluntary consensus standards) to
permit supply chains to operate as an integrated electronic enterprise. Requires the Director to submit annual reports to
specified congressional committees on such activities.

Authorizes the Director to work with industry, trade associations, and professional societies: (1) to raise awareness, including
that by businesses that are majority owned by women and/or minorities, of enterprise integration activities; (2) on the
development of enterprise integration roadmaps; (3) to support the development, testing, promulgation, integration, adoption,
and upgrading of enterprise integration standards; and (4) to provide technical assistance and financial support to small and
medium-sized businesses that set up enterprise integration pilot projects.

Requires the Director to ensure that the Manufacturing Extension Program is prepared to advise small and medium-sized
businesses on how to acquire the expertise, equipment, and training necessary to participate fully in supply chains using
enterprise integration.

Public Law 107-296, Homeland Security Act of 2002 signed into law on November 25, 2002.  The Act establishes the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes.

Public Law 107-305, Cyber Security Research and Development Act signed into law on November 27, 2002.  The Act authorizes appropriations to the National Science Foundation (NSF) and to the Secretary of Commerce for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish new programs, and to increase funding for certain current programs, for computer and network security (CNS) research and development and CNS research fellowships.  Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act (NISTA) to require the NIST Director, through the Director of the Office for Information Security Programs, to establish a program of assistance to institutes of higher education (IHEs) that enter into partnerships with for-profit entities to support research to improve CNS.  Authorizes the NIST Director to establish a program to award post-doctoral research fellowships, including senior fellowships, to individuals seeking research positions at institutions engaged in research activities related to CNS. Provides for periodic program review, as well as a comprehensive review after five program years.  Requires the NIST Director to develop CNS checklists for Federal Government computer hardware or software systems.  Amends NISTA to authorize appropriations to enable the Computer System Security and Privacy Advisory Board to:  (1) identify emerging issues related to computer security, privacy, and cryptography; (2) convene public meetings, and (3) publish and disseminate information.
 
 

Continuing Resolutions for 2002

P.L. 107-229 - H.J. Res. 111, FY03 Continuing Resolution, signed into law on September 30, 2002.  The Act provides an extension of funding at FY2002 levels for NIST through October 4, 2002.

P.L. 107-235 - H.J. Res. 112, FY03 Continuing Resolution, signed into law on October 4, 2002.  The Act provides an extension of funding at FY2002 levels for NIST through October 11, 2002.

P.L. 107-240 - H.J. Res. 122, FY03 Continuing Resolution, signed into law on Ocober 11, 2002.  The Act provides an extension of funding at FY2002 levels for NIST through October 18, 2002.

P.L. 107-244 - H.J. Res. 123, FY03 Continuing Resolution, signed into law on Ocober 18, 2002.  The Act provides an extension of funding at FY2002 levels for NIST through November 22, 2002.

P.L. 107-124 - H.J. Res. 124, FY03 Continuing Resolution, signed into law on November 23, 2002.  The Act provides an extension of funding at FY2002 levels for NIST through January 11, 2003.
 
 

Last updated: 12/02/02

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