H.R. 5312 would amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 to rename the National High-Performance Computing Program as the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program (NITRD). That program is a multiagency research and development program dedicated to advancing information technologies, high-performance computing, and software. The legislation would direct agencies participating in NITRD to focus on further development of high-performance computing and networking.
Based on budgetary information from the agencies participating in NITRD, it appears that the program’s research focus is already shifting to those areas specified in the legislation. Therefore, CBO estimated that implementing the bill would not have a significant effect on the federal budget (In 2015, agency budgets for those activities totaled about $4.3 billion.)
Enacting H.R. 5312 would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply.
CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 5312 would not increase net direct spending or on-budget deficits in any of the four consecutive 10-year periods beginning in 2027.
H.R. 5312 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
