H.R. 6229 — what changed

In general— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce $1,198,500,000 for the National Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal year 2018.

Specific allocations— Of the amount authorized by paragraph (1)—

$724,500,000 shall be for scientific and technical research and services laboratory activities;

$319,000,000 shall be for the construction and maintenance of facilities; and

Specific allocations— Of the amount authorized by paragraph (1)—

$850,000,000 shall be for scientific and technical research and services laboratory activities, of which—

$109,900,000 shall be for the advanced communications, networks, and scientific data systems mission area;

$103,200,000 shall be for the cybersecurity and privacy mission area;

$234,000,000 shall be for the fundamental measurement, quantum science and measurement dissemination mission area; and

$89,800,000 shall be for the physical infrastructure and resilience mission area;

$120,000,000 shall be for the construction and maintenance of facilities; and

Research activities and engagement— The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall—

continue to support and expand basic quantum information science and technology research and development of measurement and standards infrastructure necessary to advance commercial development of quantum applications;

use the programs of the Institute, in collaboration with other relevant Federal agencies, as appropriate, to train scientists in quantum information science and technology to increase participation in the quantum fields;

establish or expand collaborative ventures or consortia with other public or private sector entities, including other Federal agencies engaged in quantum information science research and development, institutions of higher education, National Laboratories, and industry, for the purpose of advancing the field of quantum information science and engineering; and

have the authority to enter into and perform such contracts on such terms as the Secretary, acting through the Director, considers appropriate, including cooperative research and development arrangements and grants and cooperative agreements or other transactions, as may be necessary in the conduct of the work of the Institute with respect to quantum information science and technology.

In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall convene a workshop of stakeholders to discuss the future measurement, standards, cybersecurity, and other issues that relate to development of quantum information science in the United States. The goals of the workshop shall be—

assessment of the Institute’s quantum information science and technology research work, including areas that may need additional Institute investment in order to support development of quantum information science and technology in the United States; and

consideration of recommendations and priority issues for the Institute’s participation in the proposed National Quantum Initiative Program.

Report to Congress— Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall transmit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a summary report containing the findings of the workshop convened under this subsection.

Assistance to Federal agencies— The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall enhance and expand the Institute’s guidance and assistance to Federal agencies to help such agencies effectively use the Framework, including by providing technical guidance and education and training of—

individual inspectors general and staff of such agencies who are responsible for the annual independent evaluation required under section 3555 of title 44, United States Code.

Report— Not later than 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit 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 implementation of the activities described in this section in as much detail as possible, including the identification of Federal agencies assisted pursuant to subsection (a) and the types of consultative services, education, guidance, assistance, and training provided to such agencies and inspectors general of such agencies pursuant to such subsection.

Research— The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall expand the fundamental and applied research carried out by the Institute to address key questions relating the measurement of privacy, security, and vulnerability of software tools and communications networks, including through—

the development of research and engineering capabilities to provide practical solutions, including measurement techniques and engineering toolkits, to solve cybersecurity challenges such as human factors, identity management, network security, privacy, and software;

investment in tools to help private and public sector organizations measure their cybersecurity, manage their risks and ensure workforce preparedness for new cybersecurity challenges; and

investment in programs to prepare the United States with strong cybersecurity and encryption technologies to apply to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things, and quantum computing.

Authority— The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall have the authority to enter into and perform such contracts on such terms as the Secretary considers to be appropriate, including cooperative research and development arrangements, grants, and cooperative agreements or other transactions, as may be necessary in the conduct of the work of the Institute with respect to cybersecurity.