[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 101 (Thursday, June 23, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4538-S4539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
AMERICAN INNOVATION AND COMPETITIVENESS ACT
Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the American
Innovation and Competitiveness Act, which is a bill that I introduced
yesterday with my colleagues Senator Gardner, Commerce Committee
Chairman Thune, and Ranking Member Nelson.
This bipartisan legislation is the product of a yearlong effort that
began with a series of roundtable discussions on ways to improve the
American innovation system. We met with a wide range of stakeholders--
representatives from the science, education, business, and economic
development communities--and listened to their input. We leveraged
their expertise to develop this important legislation that promotes
science and research, strengthens innovation and advanced
manufacturing, grows our skilled workforce, and enhances American
competitiveness around the world.
Specifically, we are maximizing our Federal investment in basic
research by reducing regulatory burdens on academic researchers so they
can spend more of their time on science and less on paperwork.
We are strengthening our oversight of Federal research and
development investments while ensuring that the integrity of the
National Science Foundation's widely acclaimed, independent merit
review process is fully maintained.
We are also working to promote STEM education by providing resources
to improve the participation of women and minorities in STEM fields.
Fixing the underrepresentation of these groups is absolutely critical
to American competitiveness in the 21st century. Our country is simply
not producing enough qualified new graduates in STEM fields to meet
workforce needs. In fact, some studies indicate that the United States
must graduate 1 million more STEM professionals than are currently
projected to fill the growing number of jobs over the next decade.
Women and other minorities represent the largest untapped talent pool
to meet the needs of the STEM workforce today. I am proud that the
American Innovation and Competitiveness Act provides significant new
support for grants and programs to increase the participation of women
and other minorities in the underrepresented groups in STEM fields,
both in academia and in the workforce.
We also must ensure that the United States continues to lead the
world in innovation. Our Federal investment in research and development
has led to discoveries that have had profound impacts on our health,
safety, and quality of life. From 3D printing to GPS, we have seen that
federally funded R&D has resulted in commercially viable technologies
and products. Many universities today operate technology transfer
offices and business incubators to expedite the transfer of these
groundbreaking discoveries to the marketplace.
However, we have seen in recent years that our Nation is facing
significant challenges when it comes to moving innovative ideas across
the valley of death, which separates promising research from
commercialization. The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act will
help bridge this valley by authorizing grants for commercialization of
federally funded research, broadening the scope of existing
commercialization grants, and improving entrepreneurship training for
research so that young researchers can be best positioned to get their
innovations to the marketplace.
[[Page S4539]]
This legislation also encourages the Federal Government to utilize
prize authority and crowdsourcing to spur innovation and public
participation in science. These creative approaches will help engage
more Americans in the development of the next big thing.
I am proud that the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act also
fosters the expansion of the National Science Foundation's Innovation
Corps Program, also known as I-Corps. The primary goal of the NSF I-
Corps is to foster entrepreneurship that will lead to the
commercialization of technology that has been supported by NSF research
funding.
The University of Michigan is home to one of seven I-Corps nodes in
the Nation and for years has been a shining example of the strength of
this program and its ability to translate research into new, innovative
startup companies that are improving lives with their products and
creating good-paying jobs.
Our bill will expand the I-Corps Program to other Federal agencies,
greatly expanding its reach and helping to facilitate the
commercialization to a much broader base of federally funded research.
Finally, I am proud of what this legislation will do to support
small- and medium-sized manufacturers in Michigan, as well as across
the country. The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act provides
for more Federal support for regional manufacturing centers, such as
Michigan's Manufacturing Technology Center, or MMTC, which has provided
support to Michigan businesses since 1991. By increasing the Federal
cost share for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, this bill will
allow MMTC to provide training and assistance to more small- and
medium-sized manufacturing businesses.
With this legislation, Congress can do its part to support and invest
in the U.S. science enterprise. By enacting the American Innovation and
Competitiveness Act, we can drive economic growth, increase American
productivity, enhance our safety and security as a nation, and secure
our competitiveness going forward. We must solidify our position as the
country to beat when it comes to innovation and create more good-paying
jobs here at home.
It has been an honor for me to work with my friend and colleague
Senator Gardner on this effort. I also thank Chairman Thune and Ranking
Member Nelson once again for their leadership and support throughout
this process.
I look forward to the Commerce Committee considering this critical
legislation next week, and I hope the full Senate takes up action soon
thereafter.
Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
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