WASHINGTON —  Congress approved $903 million in grants Tuesday to spur federal agencies, industry and universities to devote more energy to cyber security research.

"For too long, cyber security has just not been a research priority," said Rep. Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Science Committee and sponsor of the legislation. "In an age of terrorism, such willful ignorance about cyber security has got to come to an end."

A voice vote in the House sent the measure, already approved by the Senate, to the White House for the president's signature.

The five-year program would require the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to bring industry and academic experts together to fund new research and to help attract top researchers to the field. It also would encourage efforts to recruit new students into cyber security programs.

Senate proponents of the legislation were Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and George Allen, R-Va.