The House on Monday passed American Super Computing Leadership Act of 2014 and the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act, two bills that originated with the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Introduced by Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.), the Super Computing Leadership Act will help the Department of Energy (EOD) lead the country into the new age of super computing, also known as exascale computing, with the hope of enabling researchers to push beyond today’s scientific knowledge.
“Exascale computing, exceeding the existing generation of super computing power by 10,000 percent, represents an exciting new world of science and American leadership,” Hultgren said. “Massive gains in computing power are necessary to meet our national security, scientific and health care needs.”
The Tsunami Act, introduced by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) and Rep. Susan Bonamici (D-Ore.), reauthorizes an existing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration program to sharpen its focus on forecasting and warnings of tsunamis.
“The recent absence of tsunami disasters here in the U.S. does not mean we should stand by as spectators,” Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) said. “This bill strengthens scientific research on these phenomena, fosters outreach programs, and advances technological forecasts to better understand and respond to disasters when they occur.”