House Science Committee approves network research bill

The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology reported a bill Tuesday that would update the government's investment plan for network and information technology (NIT) R&D.

H.R. 3834, The Advancing America’s Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2012, would overhaul the federal government's policies for funding R&D in the growing NIT space. The bill is an updated version of legislation that passed the Committee in 2009.

“H.R. 3834 ensures that the federal government develops a coherent vision and strategy for federal investments in NIT R&D, including all of the applications made possible by NIT," ranking member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) said.

"The private sector spends much more overall in NIT R&D than the federal agencies do. But industry research and innovation is built on the foundation of R&D supported by the agencies and largely carried out in our universities and federal laboratories. And industry hires the students trained in our universities under federal research grants."

The legislation passed the Committee by voice vote and was reported favorably out of Committee. After the markup, Johnson expressed hope the bipartisan bill would move through Congress quickly and become law.