Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation To Boost U.S. Competitiveness in Science & Technology
March 5, 2007
02:42 PM
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Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Pete Domenici (R-NM) and others today are introducing legislation aimed at helping America maintain its leading edge in science and technology. The bipartisan bill, the “America COMPETES Act,” implements recommendations contained in a report by the National Academy of Science, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm,” and the Council on Competitiveness’ “Innovate America” report.
Sen. Bingaman: “The America COMPETES Act will sustain our vibrant science and technology sector, and with it our nation’s well-being, health, environment and security. It will invest in R&D, encourage education and nurture a business environment that transforms new knowledge into new high wage jobs. Passage of this investment initiative will ensure that America remains strong, smart and a world leader in scientific and technological innovation.”
Sen. Domenici: “For some time, I have been deeply concerned about the path our nation is on in terms of science and technology, especially when compared to others parts of the world. This bill represents a bipartisan, comprehensive effort to make America a leader in the global marketplace once again by dramatically increasing our investment in education, research and development. I plan on doing my part to see that it gets done this year.”
The America COMPETES Act contains many provisions of the Protecting America’s Competitive Edge Through Energy Act (PACE-Energy) introduced by Bingaman and Domenici and approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last year. The new legislation combines PACE Act provisions with other competitiveness initiatives prepared by other committees that were included in the National Competitiveness Investment Act introduced by Senate leadership in September 2006.
The bill focuses on three areas that are important for maintaining and improving U.S. innovation: 1) increasing research investment; 2) strengthening educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, from elementary through graduate school; and 3) developing an innovation infrastructure.
Key provisions of the America COMPETES Act:
Increase Research Investment
• Doubles funding for the National Science Foundation from approximately $5.6 billion in FY06 to $11.2 billion in FY11.
• Sets the Department of Energy on track to double its funding for science over 10 years, increasing from $3.6 billion in FY06 to over $5.2 billion in FY11.
• Establishes the Innovation Acceleration Research Program to direct Federal agencies’ funding research in science and technology.
• Authorizes the National Institute of Standards and Technology from approximately $703 million in FY08 to approximately $937 million in FY11.
• Directs NASA to increase funding for basic research and fully participate in interagency activities to foster competitiveness and innovation.
• Coordinates ocean and atmospheric research and education at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other agencies.
Strengthen Educational Opportunities in Science, Tech, Engineering, Math and Critical Foreign Languages
• Authorizes competitive grants to better align elementary and secondary education with the knowledge/skills needed for success in postsecondary education.
• Strengthens the skills of thousands of math and science teachers by establishing training and education programs at summer institutes.
• Expands the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program at National Science Foundation to recruit and train new math and science teachers.
• Assists States in establishing or expanding specialty schools in math and science.
• Facilitates the expansion of Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate programs by increasing the number of teachers.
• Develops and implements programs for bachelor’s degrees in math, science, engineering and critical foreign languages with concurrent teaching credentials.
• Creates partnerships between National Laboratories and local high-need high schools to establish centers of excellence in math and science education.
• Expands NSF fellowship and traineeship programs, requiring work with institutions to facilitate development of professional science degree programs.
• Provides Math Now grants to improve math instruction in the elementary and middle grades and provide targeted help to struggling students.
• Expands programs to increase the number of students from elementary school through postsecondary education who study critical foreign languages.
Develop an Innovation Infrastructure
• Establishes a President’s Council on Innovation and Competitiveness to develop a comprehensive agenda to promote innovation and competitiveness.
• Requires the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study to identify forms of risk that create barriers to innovation.
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