The House of Representatives approved legislation on Monday that U.S. Rep. John Moolenaar (R-MI) introduced to reauthorize and enhance the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The National Institute of Standards and Technology Improvement Act, H.R. 5639, would reauthorize the NIST, which was established in 1901 to promote U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness through science and technology.
“Reauthorizing NIST means it can continue to provide small manufacturers with the expertise and advice they need when investing in new technologies crucial to the competitiveness of American companies and workers,” Moolenaar said. “NIST conducts research that enhances our nation’s technology, our economic security and our quality of life. I thank my colleagues for their support and look forward to working with the Senate to reauthorize these important programs.”
The reauthorization bill would require independent reviews of NIST laboratory programs, enhance its education and outreach efforts, and improve industrial technical services.
“The improvements to industrial technical services, in particular, will assist thousands of small manufacturers, including those in Michigan’s fourth district, with the expertise and advice they need when investing in new technologies crucial to the competitiveness of Michigan companies and their workers,” Moolenaar said.
The legislation was included in U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith’s (R-TX) America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2015, H.R. 1806.
“Since last year, serious security incidents at NIST have raised concerns about the safety and security of its facilities,” Moolenaar said. “These lapses endanger thousands of NIST employees, visiting scientists, and the hundreds of thousands of people who live near NIST campuses.”
As a result, the House Science, Space and Technology Committee held a series of hearings to probe security issues and included the campus safety legislation in the larger reauthorization bill to address them.
“I applaud the passage of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Improvement Act of 2016 and the National Institute of Standards and Technology Campus Security Act,” Smith, the chairman of the committee, said. “NIST supports scientific and technical research and services that are critical to American innovation and industrial competitiveness. H.R. 5639 authorizes programs that help maintain industrial and technical standards and promote U.S. innovation and international competitiveness that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life.