Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2009

Opening Statement By Chairman Bart Gordon

Good morning. Welcome to today’s hearing on the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development, or as it is commonly known, the NITRD Act. Last year, this Committee held an oversight hearing on the NITRD program. At that hearing we heard from a panel of expert witnesses on the findings of a recent assessment of the program carried out by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). The PCAST recommendations and the testimony of the witnesses served as the basis for the legislative proposal we are reviewing today.

Last week, there was a symposium at the Library of Congress celebrating the achievements of computing research. During the opening session of the symposium one speaker cited a NY Times article to illustrate how far computing has come and to demonstrate how profoundly information technology has changed our lives.

The article contained a laundry list of life changing innovations over the last 30 years. Notably, two-thirds of the items on the list, such as the internet, open-source software and laptop computers, were the result of advances in information technology research. This result clearly demonstrates that information technology is a major driver of economic growth and that advances in the field have the potential to dramatically influence all aspects of our lives from manufacturing and healthcare to education and entertainment. In short, research in networking and information technology translates into U.S. scientific, industrial, and military competitiveness.

The legislative proposal we are reviewing today responds to two categories of concern expressed by the PCAST assessment: the strength of the NITRD program’s planning and coordination functions and the balance of the research portfolio.

First, the legislation addresses the PCAST recommendation to strengthen the planning, coordination, and prioritization components of the program by requiring the development and periodic update of a strategic plan that will create a vision for information technology R&D, allowing for continued technological breakthrough and maintaining U.S. leadership.

Next, the legislation addresses the PCAST recommendation for increased support of large-scale, long-term, interdisciplinary research by creating large-scale R&D awards that not only encourage collaboration among the NITRD agencies, but also promote collaborations between academic and industry researchers.

Past achievements have shown us that large-scale, long-term partnerships are a recipe for success. Many of the technical advances that led to today’s computers and the Internet evolved from past research sponsored by industry and government, often in partnership, and conducted by industry, university, and federal labs.

Finally, the legislation highlights the need for increased research in the area of cyber-physical systems. Cyber-physical systems such as the power grid and home healthcare devices are computer-driven systems connected with the physical world. The prevalence of these systems is likely to increase, but technical advances are needed to realize their full potential. The legislation calls for an industry/university task force to explore mechanisms for carrying out collaborative R&D in this important area.

While there has been breathtaking progress in the field of information technology I believe the best is yet to come. A brilliant young scientist who participated in last week’s symposium is putting to good use a program he invented to distinguish between a human user and a computer and prevent SPAM email. Now when you type the distorted text at the bottom of a Web registration form you are helping to digitize books that were written before the computer age. This type of ingenuity is the perfect example of why many believe information technology R&D is still in its infancy.

The witnesses before us today have extensive expertise in networking and information technology, and I look forward to their comments on our legislative proposal. I want to thank all of the witnesses for taking the time to appear before the Committee this morning and I look forward to your testimony.

Witnesses

Panel

1 - Dr. Chris L. Greer
Director National Coordination Office for Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NCO/NITRD) National Coordination Office for Networking
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2 - Dr. Peter Lee
Professor and Head Computer Science Department Carnegie Mellon University Computer Science Department Carnegie Mellon University
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4 - Mr. Amit Yoran
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer NetWitness Corporation NetWitness Corporation
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3 - Dr. Deborah Estrin
Director Center for Embedded Networked Sensing University of California, Los Angeles Center for Embedded Networked Sensing University of California, Los Angeles
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