[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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