[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 127 (Friday, August 3, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10885-S10886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          AMERICA COMPETES ACT

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, America's strength has always been in the 
innovation, technical skill, and education of its workforce. The 
economic growth and well-being of the nation relies on the technical 
innovations achieved by our workforce. To realize growth and success, 
the United States must continue to support the two critical components 
vital to the innovation process: education and basic research. Today, 
Congress takes a significant step toward this commitment.
  The National Academy of Sciences and the Council on Competitiveness 
have identified science and innovation as key drivers of economic 
growth. The United States has seen a sharp palpable decline in its 
scientific prowess. The United States is losing the educational battle 
with Germany, China, and Japan. In the United States, only 32 percent 
of graduates hold a degree in science and engineering, while Germany 
boasts 36 percent of graduates with degrees in science and engineering. 
Outpacing both the United States and Germany is China, with 59 percent 
of graduates with degrees in math and science, and Japan with 66 
percent.
  The America COMPETES Act embodies bipartisan, bicameral multi-
committee efforts in responding to the Nation's defining economic 
challenge of how to remain strong and competitive in the face of 
emerging challenges from India, China, and the rest of the world.
  The America COMPETES Act addresses programs within several scientific 
agencies of which the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation has jurisdiction. Within the Department of Commerce, the 
National Institutes of Standards and Technology, NIST, promotes U.S. 
innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement 
science, standards, and technology. The legislation before us would 
double the agency's funding over the next 10 years. We also create a 
new program, the Technology Innovation Program, which will support 
high-risk, high-reward research. This was one of the major 
recommendations of the National Academies report, ``Rising Above the 
Gathering Storm.''
  Also within the Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, conducts significant basic 
atmospheric and oceanographic research, including climate change 
research. Some have argued that the ocean truly is the last frontier on 
Earth, and ocean research and technology may have broad impacts on 
improving health and understanding our environment. Toward this end, 
Congress included provisions on NOAA research and education, as well 
as, NOAA's continued participation in interagency innovation and 
competitiveness efforts.
  The bill also includes the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, NASA, in the competitiveness agenda. Like the oceans, 
space serves to inspire young students and attract them to studies in 
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
  The need for additional research through the National Science 
Foundation, NSF, also is addressed in this bill with authorization for 
appropriations through fiscal year 2010. This bill places NSF on track 
to double in 7 years. While this is not as aggressive an approach as 
the Senate sought, it is clear that Congress is united in our belief 
that the NSF is indeed the Nation's premier scientific research 
enterprise. We need to support this enterprise to the best of our 
abilities, so that it can enable our scientists to continue their 
discovery. Within the NSF, I am proud that the conferees supported the 
creation of a mentoring program designed to recruit and train science, 
technology, and engineering professionals to mentor women, and other 
underrepresented minorities, in these fields. We need to ensure that we 
do not neglect a segment of the U.S. population, but rather maximize 
all of this country's great human resources.
  A strong national investment in science, education, and technology 
provides opportunities for Americans to succeed in a whole array of 
disciplines and professions. Technology and innovation influence many 
policy problems such as a changing telecommunications landscape, 
potential improvements to our transportation infrastructure, and the 
need for advanced technologies to increase our energy independence. The 
America COMPETES Act directs the Nation on the path to preserve and 
improve its workforce. This bill demonstrates that Americans are not 
taking their traditional technological and economic dominance for 
granted but are continually working to improve and lead
  Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I am pleased that last night the Senate 
passed the conference report that accompanies H.R. 2272, the America 
COMPETES Act of 2007. Innovation resulting from Americans' genius and 
gift for innovation has revolutionized the global economy and workplace 
as well as all our everyday lives.
  Unfortunately, our education system has failed to keep pace; now, 
many of our Nation's schools are unable to provide their students with 
the scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical knowledge 
and skills the 21st century economy demands. Without well-trained 
people and the scientific and technical innovations they produce, this 
Nation risks losing its place as the epicenter for innovative 
enterprise that has been one of our proudest traditions.
  I applaud Senators Bingaman and Alexander and the other leading 
sponsors of the bill for their action to ensure that this Nation 
remains a technological leader. I was proud to join them as a cosponsor 
of the bill and was proud to join them to vote for its final passage.
  I am grateful to the academic and business leaders, including Nancy 
Grasmick, the Maryland State superintendent of schools, and Dr. C.D. 
Mote, Jr., president of the University of Maryland, who produced both 
the National Academies' ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' and the 
Council on Competitiveness's ``Innovative America'' reports and 
recommendations that serve as the foundation for this critical 
legislation.
  This legislation is critical for it addresses the growing gap in this 
country between what is taught in elementary and secondary schools and 
the skills necessary to succeed in college, graduate school, and 
today's workforce. This gap threatens the implicit promise we have each 
made to our own children and those whom we represent: get

[[Page S10886]]

good grades in school and you will succeed in life.
  H.R. 2272 contains provisions that will encourage better alignment of 
elementary and secondary curricula with the knowledge and skills 
required by colleges and universities, 21st century employers, and the 
Armed Forces. There are critical measures that will improve teacher 
recruitment and training, develop partnerships between schools and 
laboratories, and encourage internship programs. These provisions will 
increase students' exposure to inspirational teaching, talented 
scientists, and real-world experience so that high school graduates 
students are better prepared to succeed in today's global economy.
  But it is not enough to improve science and math education. Those 
students who choose to pursue high-tech careers require federal funding 
to conduct research. H.R. 2272 will significantly increase America's 
investment in research, doubling funding for the National Science 
Foundation and the Department of Energy's Office of Science over the 
next 4 years and authorizing a significant increase in funding for the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology. The legislation goes 
further toward encouraging scientific and technological discovery by 
targeting more funds to young researchers and high-risk frontier 
research.
  Today, we face enormous challenges from halting global climate change 
to curing devastating diseases. This legislation takes critical steps 
to ensure we arm ourselves with the skills and resources to tackle 
these problems so that our children and grandchildren may inherit a 
better world rich with economic opportunities

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