This hearing before the Senate Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space focuses on S. 272, the High-Performance Computing and Communications Act of 1991, a bill that provides for a coordinated federal research and development program to ensure continued U.S. leadership in this area. Performance computing is defined as representing the leading edge of technological advancement in computing. This report includes the text of S. 272 as well as opening statements presented by Senators Gore, Pressler, Kasten, and Robb, and by the Chairman, Senator Hollings. Also included are statements from Allan D. Bromley, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy; Tracey Gray, president of marketing, government systems division, US Sprint Communications Co.; Malvin H. Kalos, director of the Cornell Theory Center; Donald Langenberg, chancellor of the University of Maryland system; David C. Nagel, vice president of advanced technology, Apple Computer, Inc.; and John S. Wold, executive director, Lilly research laboratories, Eli Lilly and Co., who was accompanied by Riaz Abdulla, manager of a high-performance computing program. Additional articles, letters, and statements are included from the American Library Association; the Association of Research Libraries; Jack L. Brock, Jr., Director of the Government Information and Financial Management Issues, Information Management Division, Government Accounting Office (GAO); the Computing Research Association; John Patrick Crecine, president of the Georgia Institute of Technology; and Kenneth M. King, president of EDUCOM. (DB)