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Innovation :: January 11, 2007

Action on U.S. Jobs & Innovation

Using the Argonne National Laboratory Magnetic Flux Imaging System (Courtesy Argonne National Laboratory/NSF)

Science Education and Research are Keys to Keeping the USA Competitive in the Global Economy

"Providing high quality jobs for hard working Americans must be our first priority - and in order to accomplish that, we must be proactive."

-- Rep. Bart Gordon, Chairman

Innovation is not just a goal, it's a necessity. Innovation breeds progress, the driving force behind a strong economy. The Committee on Science and Technology has worked to bring attention to the resources our country needs to stay competitive. We must take bold steps now to insure that American students and workers are prepared for the careers of the future and that our nation is equipped to compete in the global economy.

In 2005, a group of bipartisan Congressional lawmakers asked the experts at The National Academies for a list of the top 10 actions that policy-makers must take to ensure that the U.S. remains competitive in the global economy. Their report - Rising Above The Gathering Storm - found that the U.S. would stand to lose its competitive edge without immediate action.

Cover of the National Academies report Rising Above the Gathering Storm

Click the cover image to read the Executive Summary of the report

| Legislative Action | Press Releases | Letters From the Committee | Hearings | Op-Eds | Member Speeches | Multimedia Center |

Legislative Action

President Signs H.R. 2272, August 9, 2007

H.R. 2272, Conference Agreement Passed by House, Agreed to By Senate, August 2

H.R. 364, Reported (as amended) by the Committee, May 23, 2007

H.R. 362, Reported (as amended) by the Committee, March 28, 2007

H.R. 363, Reported (as amended) by the Committee, February 28, 2007

Both H.R. 362 and H.R. 363 approved by the House, April 24, 2007

Culminating efforts begun by Chairman Gordon and Members of Science & Technology Committee during the 109th Congress, the House passed a conference agreement on H.R. 2272, the America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act (COMPETES), on August 2. On the same day, the Senate agreed on the same day. The President signed the measure on August 9.

H.R. 2272 incorporates five pieces of legislation, H.R. 362, H.R. 363, H.R. 1068, H.R. 1867 and H.R. 1868; the bill represents a conference committee agreement melding House (H.R. 2272) and Senate bills (S. 761).

"Innovation and competitiveness are just buzzwords until Congress takes action to make them a reality," said Chairman Gordon. "These bills are familiar and their provisions are widely acknowledged. They serve to enact measures to strengthen the U.S. standing in the global economy, make sure our kids are prepared for the careers of the future, and usher in bold changes to this country's approach to energy research."

Strengthening U.S. global competitiveness and improving math and science education have been priorities of the Science and Technology Committee since the start of the 110th Congress. The bills included in H.R. 2272 were among the first the Committee considered. Several of the bills were previously introduced in the 109th.

In the last Congress, Gordon led the House in introducing an innovation package of legislation built upon the recommendations of the widely acknowledged Rising Above the Gathering Storm report issued by the National Academies. Chairman Gordon's innovation package in the 110th Congress consists of: H.R. 362, H.R. 363 and H.R. 364.

Rep. Gordon and Science Committee Democrats successfully shaped the Committee's legislation addressing key recommendations of the Gathering Storm report during the Committee's markup June, 2006.  Bipartisan legislation (H.R. 5356 and H.R. 5358), incorporated much of the Gordon legislation and will equip the United States to create and retain quality jobs, educate the next generation of scientists and put resources in place that will insure innovation and the U.S. job market keep pace with international competitors.

Democratic provisions in H.R. 5356 »
Democratic provisions in H.R. 5358 »

Multimedia Center

Click image to watch Chairman Gordon speak on behalf of HR 2272 on the House floor

(Washington, DC) Just days after both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate passed the conference agreement to HR 2272, the America COMPETES Act, President Bush signed the measure into law. The passed groundbreaking legislation is aimed at ensuring the United States' strong footing as a global economic leader and retaining our "brainpower advantage."

Visit the Multimedia Center for more video and audio clips like the one above.

Subcommittee Quick Links
[technology]  [energy]  [oversight]  [research]  [space]

technology and innovation

energy and environment

Investigations and Oversight

research and science education

space and aeronautics


Related Content

:: Reports ::

• The Augustine Recommendations
• House Democrats' Innovation Agenda

:: Legislation ::

• (August 2, 2007) - The America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act (COMPETES)

:: Press Releases ::

• (February 14, 2008) - Gordon on President's FY09 Budget: Plan Shortchanges U.S. Competitiveness Efforts
• (August 9, 2007) - President Signs America COMPETES Act
• (August 2, 2007) - Gordon: House Passes Landmark Bill Investing in America's Students, Teachers, Workers
• (July 31, 2007) - Gordon Named to Lead House Conference on Competitiveness/Innovation Legislation
• (July 31, 2007) - Chairman: Deal Reached on H.R. 2272 Competitiveness/Innovation Conference
• (May 23, 2007) - Committee Advances Legislation on Energy Research and Health Information Information Technology
• (May 21, 2007) - House Advances Major U.S. Competitiveness, Science/Math Education Package
• (April 24, 2007) - House Clears Bills Aimed at Boosting U.S. Competitiveness, Advances Democratic Innovation Agenda
• (March 28, 2007) - Committee Approves Legislation Strengthening Math & Science Education
• (February 28, 2007) - Innovation, Competitiveness Efforts Advance in Several Bills Cleared by Committee
• (January 10, 2007) - Chairman Renews Effort to Make U.S. Most Innovative, Well-Educated Country in the World
• (June 7, 2006) - Democrats Significantly Improve and Support House Competitiveness Legislation

:: Correspondence ::

• (January 25, 2006) - Letter to President from Rep. Gordon Recommending Implementation of Augustine Recommendations on American Competitiveness

:: Hearings ::

•(February 14, 2008) - Funding for the America COMPETES Act in the FY2009 Administration Budget Request
•(May 23, 2007) - Full Committee Markup: H.R. 364
• (April 26, 2007) - Establishing the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy
• (March 28, 2007) - Full Committee Markup H.R. 362
• (February 28, 2007) - Full Committee Markup H.R. 363
• (June 7, 2006) - Markup: Competitiveness Legislation
• (March 9, 2006) - Should Congress Establish "ARPA-E", The Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy?

:: Op-Eds ::

• (April 21, 2006) - Look Beyond Bush's Rhetoric on Tech to Find Dismal Record [Honda]
• (February 15, 2006) - Boldly Rethinking Our Energy Future [Gordon]
• (January 2, 2006) - The United States Must Regain its Competitive Advantage [Gordon]

:: Member Speeches ::

• (February 10, 2006) - Prepared Remarks by the Hon. Mark Udall for the National Science Board Meeting on Science Education
• (December 19, 2005) - Remarks by the Hon. Mike Honda on the Release of the White Paper of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Nanotechnology
• (December 7, 2005) - Prepared Remarks by the Hon. Bart Gordon for the National Science Board Roundtable on Science Education

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