House Passes Two Hultgren Bills to Promote Technological Innovation, Manufacturing, "Exascale" Supercomputing

Press Release

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed without opposition two pieces of legislation introduced by Congressman Randy Hultgren (IL-14), member of the Science, Space and Technology Committee: H.R. 874, the American Super Computing Leadership Act of 2015 and H.R. 1158, the Department of Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act of 2015. Both bills include language making better use of federal funds and are budget neutral--adding no additional cost to the taxpayer.

"Our national labs are the hubs of technology and manufacturing innovation. Pushing their research and development out into the marketplace puts America at the forefront of technological advancement and job creation," said Rep. Hultgren. "Massive gains in computing power are necessary to meet our national security, scientific, and health care needs. H.R. 874 puts us on a path to computer speeds reaching that of the human brain--driving scientific advancement and positioning us as world leaders. H.R. 1158 ensures that discoveries made in our national labs like Fermilab in Batavia do not get stuck there. Instead, entrepreneurs can use scientific research completed in the labs to innovate and bring revolutionary ideas to the marketplace, pushing our economy forward while creating local jobs and economic development along the way.

"I am pleased my colleagues joined with me to advance American technology, research and jobs. With renewed energy in Senate, I look forward to both pieces of legislation becoming law soon."

H.R. 874, the American Super Computing Leadership Act of 2015, would jumpstart research into high-performance computing technologies to ensure continued American leadership in advanced computing. The bill amends portions of the Department of Energy (DOE) High-End Computing Revitalization Act of 2004 to promote accelerated gains in "exascale" computing, computing whose speed approaches that of the human brain. The legislation passed the House last year but died in the Senate. This year, Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN) introduced similar legislation.

H.R.1158, the Department of Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act of 2015, would bring the United States' national lab system into the 21st century and promote the easy transfer of federal research into the private sector to bring to the marketplace. The bill passed the House last year but died in the Senate. This year, Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced similar legislation.
Rep. Hultgren is a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee and serves on the Subcommittees on Energy, and Research and Technology. He is co-founder of the Science and National Labs Caucus, and co-chair of the STEM Education Caucus.

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