Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 105 Part 2.djvu/642

 105 STAT. 1594 PUBLIC LAW 102-194—DEC. 9, 1991 Public Law 102-194 102d Congress .,.. An Act Dec. 9, 1991 To provide for a coordinated Federed program to ensure continued United States [S. 272] leadership in high-performance computing. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the High- United States of America in Congress assembled, PerformEmce Computing Act SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. of 1991. 15 USC 5501 This Act may be cited as the "High-Performance Computing Act note. of 1991". 15 USC 5501. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds the following: (1) Advances in computer science and technology are vital to the Nation's prosperity, national and economic security, industrial production, engineering, and scientific advancement. (2) The United States currently leads the world in the development and use of high-performance computing for national security, industrial productivity, science, and engineering, but that lead is being challenged by foreign competitors. (3) Further research and development, expanded educational programs, improved computer research networks, and more effective technology transfer from government to industry are necessary for the United States to reap fully the benefits of high-performance computing. (4) A high-capacity and high-speed national research and education computer network would provide researchers and educators with access to computer and information resources and act as a test bed for further research and development of high-capacity and high-speed computer networks. (5) Several Federal agencies have ongoing high-performance computing programs, but improved long-term interagency coordination, cooperation, and planning would enhance the effectiveness of these programs. (6) A 1991 report entitled "Grand Challenges: High-Performance Computing and Communications" by the Office of Science and Technology Policy, outlining a research and development strategy for high-performsmce computing, provides a framework for a multiagency high-performance computing program. Such a • program would provide American researchers and educators with the computer and information resources they need, and demonstrate how advanced computers, high-capacity and highspeed networks, and electronic data bases can improve the national information infrastructure for use by all Americans. 15 USC 5502. SEC. 3. PURPOSE. The purpose of this Act is to help ensure the continued leadership of the United States in high-performance computing and its applications by—

�