ACS joins NIST Coalition Request For NIST Reauthorization

June 6, 2022

Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy and Members of the U.S. House and Senate Conference for S. 1260/H.R. 4521,

As conference begins, the undersigned organizations and companies on behalf of the NIST Coalition write to express our strong support for passage of a National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Reauthorization bill this year.

NIST is an agency vital to solving technical challenges faced by U.S. businesses and academic researchers. Companies, academic institutions, and other federal agencies rely on NIST’s Scientific and Technical Research Services (STRS) programs to provide foundational research and material development for their products and programs. NIST supports America’s global competitiveness by aiding businesses to overcome technical obstacles – fulfilling a vital function that companies cannot do themselves. NIST’s core measurement science programs, for example, provide calibrations and standards for industry broadly – from oil and gas to aerospace to medicine – as well as critical cybersecurity and digital identity guidance that helps both industry and government enable secure digital commerce and guard against sophisticated cyberattacks. The agency also plays an essential role in emerging industries, such as quantum technology and artificial intelligence, that require foundational measurements to enable U.S. competitiveness.

The House Science, Space and Technology Committee passed the bipartisan National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for the Future Act (H.R. 4609) on July 27, 2021 by voice vote and the bill was included as part of the House passed America COMPETES Act (H.R. 4521) in February 2022. As a coalition, we support the NIST for the Future Act and appreciate the added authorities it provides. In particular, we appreciate the inclusion of critical pay authority to recruit and retain the world-class scientific and technical talent needed for NIST to carry out its mission in forefront research in cybersecurity, biometrics testing, and quantum information science and technology. Securing exceptionally well-qualified talent is critical to the fulfilling the Institute’s mission.

Lastly, modern, functional facilities are required for NIST to remain the world-leader in measurement science. NIST’s aging infrastructure has caused recurring failures of utility systems in recent years, resulting in lost work and costly damage to laboratory facilities. We appreciate the path set forward in H.R. 4609 toward increased yearly funding to help alleviate these issues.

As conference begins on the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act (S. 1260) and the America COMPETES Act (H.R. 4521), we strongly support inclusion of the NIST for the Future Act in the final bill.

Sincerely,