TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

The conference agreement includes $6,411,000 under this heading, instead of $7,822,000 as proposed by the House, and no funding as proposed by the Senate.

The conference agreement includes $450,000 for the National Medal of Technology Program under the heading `National Institute of Standards and Technology, Scientific and Technical Research and Services'.

The conference agreement includes $600,000 for the Office of Space Commercialization and $500,000 for the Interagency Global Positioning System Executive Board Secretariat under the heading of `National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Operations, Research, and Facilities'.

The conference agreement provides $335,000 for the Technology Administration to conduct an assessment of the extent and implications of workforce globalization in knowledge-based industries such as life sciences, information technology, semi-conductors and financial services. The conferees expect the assessment to focus on U.S. firms' business strategies and practices, as well as the education and training programs in countries such as Japan, China, and India. The conferees expect monthly updates on the progress of this effort, and direct that a summary of findings be reported back to the Committees on Appropriations no later than six months from enactment of this Act.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY

The conference agreement includes $628,102,000 for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for fiscal year 2004, instead of $460,059,000 as proposed by the House, and $845,000,000 as proposed by the Senate.

SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL RESEARCH AND SERVICES

The conference agreement includes $344,366,000 for the Scientific and Technical Research and Services (core programs) of the NIST, instead of $357,862,000 as proposed by the House, and $391,147,000 as proposed by the Senate.

The following is a breakdown of the amounts provided under this account by activity.

Under the Electronics and Electrical heading, $3,000,000 is for the Office of Law Enforcement Standards, $1,200,000 is for the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology Program (FIRST), and $500,000 is for a joint project between FIRST and the Boston Museum of Science.

Under the Manufacturing heading, $800,000 is for a spreadsheet engineering initiative at the Tuck School of Business.

Under the Chemical Science and Technology heading, $1,600,000 is for the Hollings Marine Laboratory, and $400,000 for advanced measurements, standards, and data that health care providers and researchers need to improve health care quality.

Under the Physics heading, $725,000 is for the necessary critical back-up elements for the NIST time scale and time dissemination services, and $1,450,000 is for research to develop measurements and standards for nanotechnology-based products.

Under the Building and Fire heading, $3,000,000 is for costs relating to the World Trade Center investigation, $1,900,000 is to continue a certain wind demonstration project in Texas, and $600,000 is for a school safety and preparedness project at the National Infrastructure Institute.

Under the Award Program heading, $450,000 is for costs associated with the National Medal of Technology.

In addition, under the Research Support heading, $2,400,000 is to continue a certain telework project, $6,500,000 is to continue a certain critical infrastructure program, and $5,500,000 is for maintenance and operations costs at the Advanced Measurement Laboratory.

The agreement does not include an increase to the amount to be transferred to the working capital fund.

The conference agreement adopts, by reference, language included in past years, regarding the A-76 contracting process.