Committee on Science and Technology

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Strengthening American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Global Economy 



Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN)

Click on the image of Chairman Gordon to view his floor statement on H.R. 5116

On May 28th, the House of Representatives passed a five-year reauthorization of the landmark legislation, the
America COMPETES Act with a bipartisan vote of 262-150

About half of the growth in the U.S. GDP since World War II is related to the development and adoption of new technologies.  COMPETES aims to maintain and strengthen our nation’s global economic competitiveness by: improving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education, so that all students are prepared for the highly technical, high-paying jobs of the future; setting our basic research programs on a doubling path:  the labs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); National Science Foundation (NSF); and the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science; and addressing the need for transformational energy technologies with the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E), which is pursuing high-risk, high-reward energy technology development. 
COMPETES was originally signed into law in 2007 after receiving broad bipartisan support.  It was based on recommendations from the National Academies’ report Rising Above the Gathering Storm.  The current bill will expire at the end of FY 2010.
On March 25th, the Energy and Environment Subcommittee passed a Committee Print on DOE programs.  On April 14th, the Research and Science Education Subcommittee passed a Committee Print on NSF programs.  On April 21st, the Technology and Innovation Subcommittee approved a Committee Print on NIST programs.  On April 28th, the Full Committee passed COMPETES with bipartisan support.
Over 750 organizations have endorsed COMPETES, including: U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Information Technology Industry Council, the American Chemical Society, the Business Roundtable, the Council on Competitiveness, the Association of American Universities, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, the National Venture Capital Association, TechAmerica, and the Biotechnology Industry Organization. 

Read more about the Committee's work on COMPETES >>

Read more about the Division of the Question >> 

 

Fostering Innovation to Meet our Energy and Economic Needs

The major problems facing our country—a foundering economy, a changing climate, a growing need for clean energy we produce at home—will be solved by science, technology, and innovation. We can take a major step towards fostering the innovation we need by establishing the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy or ARPA-E.

ARPA-E will apply the DARPA research model to energy technology development. DARPA at the Department of Defense created a culture of innovation and lead to breakthroughs like GPS, stealth technology, body armor, and the Internet.

Read more about ARPA-E >> 


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The 111TH CONGRESS (2009-2010) The Library of Congress: THOMAS



 

In Focus
Methamphetamine Abuse and Clean-Up

After a two-year effort, Chairman Bart Gordon saw his legislation on methamphetamine clean-up standards signed into law  on December 21, 2007.  The House passed H.R. 365 on February 8, 2007 and the Senate cleared it on December 11, 2007.  Gordon authored this bill in an effort to assist state and local authorities in cleaning up the scourge of methamphetamine use and production in their local communities.

Read more about this investigation »
More Special Investigations
Science Education and You

CMF Platinum Mouse Award for the 111th Congress

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