House Passes NIST Reauthorization and other Science Committee Bills
(Washington, DC) – Last night, the House passed H.R. 5639, the National Institute of Standards and Technology Improvement Act of 2016 under suspension of the rules by voice vote. The House also passed H.R. 5636, the National Institute of Standards and Technology Campus Security Act, H.R. 5640, the Electricity Storage Innovation Act, and H.R. 5638, the Solar Fuels Innovation Act under suspension of the rules.
Ranking Member Johnson’s statement on H.R. 5639 is below.
“I rise today in support of H.R. 5639, the National Institute of Standards and Technology Improvement Act of 2016.
“This bill was developed in a bipartisan manner and contains important provisions supporting NIST’s key role in increasing the productivity of small and medium sized manufacturers, in training early career scientists, and in promoting U.S. innovation across all sectors of our economy.
“NIST’s core mission is to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology. Measurement science and standards ensure that technologies and products we rely on daily -- in our homes, our workplaces, and in every mode of transportation -- are safe, effective, and reliable.
“U.S. leadership in standards development also helps U.S. businesses thrive in the ever-growing global market.
“In pursuit of its mission, NIST partners with the private sector and with other government agencies in pre-competitive research and technology development in countless areas of national interest. This little known agency plays a critical role, and in many cases a leadership role in cybersecurity, forensic science, engineering biology, disaster resilience, advanced manufacturing, and advanced communications, just to name a few.
“In the area of cybersecurity, NIST led the development of the widely praised Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity and leads the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education. The Framework is a voluntary guidance to help public and private owners of critical infrastructure organizations better manage their cybersecurity risk.
“In forensic science, NIST does important measurement science and facilitates standards development for forensic evidence. This week I will be reintroducing my Forensic Science and Standards Act because the justice system must be just for all, including the wrongfully accused.
“NIST is also at the forefront of engineering biology, an emerging technology. Last year I introduced the Engineering Biology Research and Development Act of 2015 with my Science Committee colleague, Mr. Sensenbrenner. This bill would establish a framework for greater coordination of federal investments in engineering biology research and ensure U.S. leadership in applications of this research to energy, manufacturing, agriculture, and health.
“H.R. 5639 supports NIST’s strong partnerships with the private sector, other government agencies, and universities to develop and apply the technology, measurements, and standards needed for new and improved products and services. The bill includes measures to ensure that NIST labs are best organized to meet the agency’s mission needs; that Federal agencies cooperate and share information on standards as needed; that NIST helps train and attract our nation’s best and brightest measurement scientists; and that even our nation’s smallest manufacturers have access to NIST’s resources and expertise.
“While I am supporting this bill, I do want to make a point about the importance of authorizing funds for all of these activities I’ve just described.
“As an authorizing committee, the Science Committee should make an informed recommendation for funding the agency’s critical work and the human and physical infrastructure that supports that work. NIST’s aging infrastructure is crumbling and creating safety issues. NIST struggles to compete with the private sector in attracting top new technical talent. Congress continually expands the responsibilities and authorities of this important agency. If we want the agency to be successful, we must be willing to fund it.
“I support this bill today for what it does to encourage NIST’s public and private collaborative efforts;
however, I look forward to providing funding recommendations in the near future for all of the important work that NIST does to promote innovation and maintain U.S. competitiveness.
“I want to thank Representative Moolenar for introducing this bill, and Chairman Smith for moving it to the floor.”
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