Senate to Consider America Competes Act; Two House Bills Near Vote

The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) is calling on lawmakers to pass three proposals to help U.S. companies – and students – compete in the global economy.

The America Competes Act (S. 761) will be debated on the floor of the U.S. Senate this week, while two House measures – H.R. 362 and H.R. 363 – are scheduled for a vote Tuesday in the U.S. House of Representatives. All three bills contain provisions focused on science, technology, engineering (STEM) advancement that EIA has championed for years and were prominently featured in the organization’s 2004 policy playbook, The Technology Industry at an Innovation Crossroads.

"U.S. technology companies face many challenges and even fiercer global competition in the years ahead," said Storme Street, EIA's vice president of government relations. "Fostering more physical science research and cultivating young minds are the twin pillars of our future success in this industry. The innovation legislation being considered this week embodies that philosophy and takes important steps to help keep America at the front of the pack."

S. 761 would dramatically increase funding for federal research and efforts to improve proficiency in STEM education. The proposal continues the multi-year commitment made by both the Bush Administration and congressional leaders from both parties to double basic research funding at key federal agencies.

Of particular interest to EIA members are the Senate bill's provisions creating new programs and financial incentives to enhance the skills of K-12 STEM teachers; encouraging high-risk, high-reward research at various federal agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, NASA and the Department of Energy; a grant program for research in the fields of advanced information and communications technology; and establishing an Advisory Board that includes industry representation. The legislation enjoys broad, bipartisan support and was introduced last month by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., building on work begun by Senators John Ensign, R-Nev., and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., in the last Congress.

In the House, Science and Technology Committee Chairman Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., has authored one bill to improve the skills of the nation's STEM teachers and another to authorize new grants intended to support early-career scientists and researchers. H.R. 362 would expand the availability of scholarship, stipend and training programs for STEM teachers; provide new funding for teacher workshops and master’s degree programs; and require the development of teaching materials and curriculum to improve the performance of K-12 students in math and science. H.R. 363 would establish new grant programs at both the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy to award young researchers at least $80,000 per year for five years; create the Presidential Innovation Award to recognize researchers in science and engineering; require the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to report on efforts to recruit and retain young scientists and engineers at the NIST laboratories and joint institutes; and express the sense of Congress that a balanced science program at NASA contributes significantly to innovation in, and the economic competitiveness of, the United States.