U.S. Innovation and Competitiveness
Equipping teachers, educating students, investing in research and stimulating America’s economy are the goals of H.R. 2272, the America COMPETES Act, a bill signed into law in August by President Bush at the White House. The bill, which will help secure the U.S.’s ability to compete in the global marketplace, was steered through Congress by Congressional leaders, including Ranking Member Ralph Hall (R-TX) based upon the recommendations of the National Academies’ 2005 report, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm.”
Former Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), and Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) requested that report, which found that the U.S. could stand to lose its competitive edge over other nations unless action was taken. Among the report’s findings were that 68 percent of eighth graders received math instruction from a teacher with no degree or certification in math; and 93 percent of children in grades five through nine received physical science instruction from a teacher with no degree or certification in the field. The report also found that less than a third of 4th and 8th grade students are proficient in math.
To address these problems, The COMPETES Act authorizes $33.6 billion over fiscal years 2008-2010 for science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education programs across the federal government. The measure authorizes multiple grant programs to help educate current and future teachers in the areas of science and math education. The bill also invests in basic research and supports young researchers by expanding early career grant programs.
SCIENCE & TECH COMMITTEE COMPETITIVENESS BILLS
110th Congress
All four Science and Technology Committee bills listed below have passed the House in the 110th Congress with bipartisan support and were included in the America COMPETES Act.
H.R. 1867, National Science Foundation Authorization Act of 2007 - Section By Section Summary
H.R. 1868, Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act of 2007 - Section By Section Summary
H.R. 362, 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act (as reported)
H.R. 363, Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act (as reported)
109th Congress
H.R. 5358, The Science and Mathematics Education for Competitiveness Act (as reported)
H.R. 5358, Section By Section Summary (as reported)
H.R. 5356, The Research for Competitiveness Act (as reported)
H.R. 5356, Section By Section Summary (as reported)
COMPETITIVENESS AGENDA
· The Science Committee held a hearing (March 13, 2007) with Mr. Norman Augustine, Retired Chairman and CEO of the Lockheed Martin Corporation, along with some of the nation’s top business leaders, innovators and academics to underscore the critical importance of science and technology to our nation’s prosperity.
EDUCATION POLICY
· Education issues were a focus of the National Summit on Competitiveness and initiatives to improve math and science education at all levels were included in the National Science Foundation Authorization Act (P.L. 107-368).
· The Committee has repeatedly pressed for increased funding for National Science Foundation education programs, including in Views and Estimates and in hearings with the Director of the National Science Foundation.
ENERGY POLICY
· The President is urging an expanded use of non-hydrocarbon fuel sources, including nuclear energy. A key challenge with nuclear power is disposing of radioactive waste. The Committee held two hearings (June 16 and July 12, 2005) exploring new reprocessing technologies that could significantly reduce the amount of waste generated at nuclear power plants, while also addressing proliferation concerns.
· The Committee also wrote portions of the Energy Policy Act authorizing new research into alternative forms of energy and energy efficiency technologies. This included research to improve nuclear reactors as well as to increase the use of wind and solar energy. The Science Committee titles also authorized the President’s hydrogen initiative.