House Science Advances NIST Reauthorization, Space and Quantum R&D Bills

The House Science Committee advanced the National Institute for Standards and Technology Reauthorization Act Wednesday on a voice vote. HR-6229 would allocate $1.125 billion to NIST in FY 2019, down from almost $1.2 billion in FY 2018. The FY 2019 allocation includes almost $110 million for research activities on advanced communications, networks and scientific data systems and $103 million for the agency's cybersecurity and privacy work. HR-6229 would require NIST to “enhance and expand” its “guidance and assistance to Federal agencies to help” them effectively use the Cybersecurity Framework. NIST would expand “fundamental and applied research” to “address key questions relating the measurement of privacy, security, and vulnerability of software tools and communications networks.” House Science also advanced the American Space Situational Awareness and Facilitation of Entity Management Act (HR-6226) and the National Quantum Initiative Act (HR-6227). HR-6226 would make the Department of Commerce the civilian agency to provide civil space situational awareness and traffic coordination. It's “an important step to secure the United States as the leader in space traffic management and improves the safety of all space operations,” said committee Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas. Commercial satellites in space are "predicted to grow from 1,300 active satellites today to more than 10,000 in the next few years," he said: "Now is the time to solidify” Commerce's role in developing “space traffic standards and guidelines.” HR-6227 would direct the Office of Science and Technology Policy to coordinate a program to accelerate quantum R&D for economic and national security.