Building Careers and Shaping Public Policy

09 February 2005

The Honorable Sherwood L. Boehlert
Chair, Science Committee
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Mr. Chairman:

I am writing on behalf of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers - United States of America (IEEE-USA) to express our strong support for the High-Performance Computing Revitalization Act of 2005 (H.R. 28). By strengthening high-end computing research and development and by improving access to high performance computers by U.S. researchers, this bipartisan legislation will help preserve the United States’ leadership in information technology, science and engineering.

Supercomputing technology is vitally important to our national and economic security. The Department of Defense requires supercomputers for real-time modeling and simulation and oceanographic operational weather predictions, as well as materials research. Supercomputers are also needed by the Department of Energy in the design and simulation of nuclear systems. This legislation is urgently needed now to strengthen U.S. research and development in high performance computing and to ensure that we remain technologically competitiveness in a very dynamic field. Furthermore, by giving science and engineering researchers access to the world’s fastest supercomputers, scientific breakthroughs and groundbreaking innovations are greatly enhanced. H.R.28, which amends the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (Public Law 102-194), would establish a High-Performance Computing Research and Development Program and would improve access to supercomputers by U.S. academic and industrial researchers. These changes would help researchers gain the tools they need to keep America at the forefront in scientific advances and technological innovation.

Thank you for your continued leadership on science and technology issues. We look forward to working with you and the bill’s sponsors in advancing this important legislation. Please contact Bill Williams of our staff at 202-785-0017 if we can be of any assistance in supporting this legislation.

Sincerely,

Gerard A. Alphonse
President, IEEE-USA

(Copied to Members of the House Science Committee)