More Federal Research; Focus on Math and Science Education

The U.S. House of Representatives and Senate gave final approval this week to several provisions promoted by the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) to make U.S. technology companies and workers more competitive in the global economy.

H.R. 2272 contains a number of measures long sought by EIA and prominently featured in the organization’s 2004 policy playbook, The Technology Industry at an Innovation Crossroads, including:

• Increasing basic research budgets at key agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, and the National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA);
• Authorizing a grant program for basic research into advanced information and communications technologies through NSF;
• Funding for programs to strengthen the skills of experienced K-12 science, technology and math (STEM) teachers;
• Encouraging high-risk, high-reward research at federal agencies;
• More funding for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership and other elements of NIST, support for the emerging discipline of service sciences; and
• Authorizing the Department of Education’s Math Now grants to improve elementary and middle school math instruction.

“We believe these provisions, along with targeted appropriations, are an excellent base upon which to build a strengthened U.S. innovation economy that will continue to create high-skilled, high-paid jobs and foster continued entrepreneurship and groundbreaking scientific discovery,” said Storme Street, EIA’s vice president of government relations.

The legislation now goes to President Bush to be signed into law.