[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 102 (Monday, July 25, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1595-E1596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              COMMITMENT TO IMPROVE SCIENCE AND INNOVATION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. FRANK R. WOLF

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 25, 2005

  Mr. WOLF. Mr. Speaker, I have just read the very disturbing cover 
story from the most recent edition of Fortune magazine. The cover 
headline reads: ``America the 97 Lbs. Weakling?'' The cover shows a 
picture of a strong China punching a weak Uncle Sam.
  The facts in the article should sound the alarm across our country.
  America is falling behind.
  As chairman of the appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over 
NASA, NSF, and the Office of Science and Technology Policy, I have had 
the opportunity to meet with leading groups of people who represent the 
science and technology sector in our nation.
  Many will tell you that America is in a stall, and even more will 
tell you that America is in a decline, when it comes to global 
competition in science and technology.
  None of these groups will tell you that America is doing well in this 
critical area.
  The Fortune article points out that U.S. students have fallen behind.
  America currently ranks 28th in the world in mathematical achievement 
among 15-year-olds.
  The U.S. is graduating fewer and fewer engineers, with an estimated 
70,000 this year, while China will graduate 600,000 and India 350,000. 
This is the generation we will look to to create a newer and better 
Internet, develop energy saving automobiles, or build a better i-Pod.
  This is an issue directly tied to America's economy, and could well 
determine how--dare I say if--we maintain our quality of life and our 
very way of life.
  Let me share with you a few more statistics: Patents awarded to U.S. 
companies/scientists--Down; Nobel prizes won by U.S. scientists--Down; 
scientific papers published by U.S. scientists--Down.
  U.S. investment in research and development has stayed flat for the 
last three decades while growing significantly in places like China, 
India, Brazil and Israel. U.S. students are behind their counterparts 
in other countries in math and science, and some Asian countries are 
graduating more than four times as many engineers. U.S. 12th-graders 
ranked near the bottom of math and science testing scores, according to 
the third International Math and Science Study.
  The proportion of U.S. graduates in science and engineering has 
declined 10 percent from 1994 to 2001 while the total number of 
undergraduate degrees awarded in the U.S. has increased 14 percentage 
points. The U.S. now awards more MBAs than math, science and 
engineering degrees. Ten years ago, Boeing produced nearly 60 percent 
of the world's commercial aircraft. Today, Boeing produces less than 40 
percent.
  This news should be the wake-up call to spur us into action to help 
America get back on track to keep our country as the world's innovation 
leader.


                        investment in innovation

  We must invest in innovation. Our Nation needs a commitment to fund 
its ``Innovation Budget.''
  I have written the president about this issue and asked him to work 
to triple the Nation's innovation budget for Federal basic research and 
development over the next decade.
  America needs to be mobilized, much like it was after Sputnik in the 
late 1950s.
  The White House has to provide leadership. I believe Congress will 
support the effort.
  Congress two years ago fulfilled the commitment to double NIH budget 
to jump-start work on medical research to help find cures to 
debilitating and fatal diseases. A similar commitment for the 
innovation budget should be made.


             national conference on science and innovation

  Congress has laid the groundwork for addressing the innovation 
deficit through a provision in the supplemental appropriations bill

[[Page E1596]]

passed in May that directs the Department of Commerce to work with 
business and industry groups to hold a conference this fall in 
Washington on science and innovation, and where the United States is 
headed.
  Among the participants will be the Council on Competitiveness, the 
Business Roundtable, the National Association of Manufacturers and the 
American Electronics Association.


                            Education Is Key

  Education is key to our Nation's commitment to innovation and 
technology prominence. I have been pleased to work with Representatives 
Boehlert and Ehlers--two members who have been leaders in Congress on 
promoting science and technology issues--on legislative solutions.
  My proposal to forgive interest on student loans for math, 
engineering and physical science majors is in the higher education 
reauthorization bill now moving through the House.
  Education and the Workforce Chairman Boehner and Representative 
McKeon of the committee have been very supportive of efforts to advance 
the loan interest provision, and I thank them for their work.
  The genesis for this legislation was from the book, Winning the 
Future, by former Speaker Newt Gingrich, who has done a good job of 
outlining America's challenge to remain the world's leader in 
innovation and technology.
  I am hopeful that this legislation will attract more students into 
the science and engineering fields by offering to forgive the interest 
on their college loans. We must fill the critical shortage of math, 
science and engineering students in the United States.
  The provision allows up to $5,000 in interest to be forgiven on 
federally backed government loans if science majors agree to work in 
their field for five years upon graduating.


                          Research Is Also Key

  The House, through passage of the FY 2006 Science-State-Justice-
Commerce bill, has supported funding for science education and 
research: $4.38 billion for National Science Foundation (NSF) research 
and related activities, an increase of $44 million above the 
president's request.
  This is the Nation's largest resource pool for basic scientific 
research across all fields: $807 million for NSF's education programs, 
which is $70 million above the request; $169 million for NASA education 
programs, which is $2 million above the request; $28.9 million for a 
new consolidated education program for the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration.
  The measure also encourages the National Science Board to establish a 
commission to present recommendations for broad Federal action to 
address the crisis in science and math education.
  Mr. Speaker, it is critical that administration's FY 2007 budget 
include a significant investment to respond to this crisis and I urge 
members to make their support known.
  I also urge members to read the latest article in Fortune if they 
have not done so.
  All is not lost, but America is at a crossroad.
  It's time to roll up our sleeves and get to work on this issue, and 
respond to this challenge through the commitment of the administration 
and Congress and the American people. America's future is at stake.

                          ____________________