House Science Panel To Take Up Innovation Bill Next week
April 23, 2010
| 1:45 PM
House Science and Technology is expected to take up legislation Wednesday that would reauthorize the America COMPETES act, which aimed to spur innovation by authorizing a boost in funding for basic science research and development and enhancing science and math education.
House Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon, D-Tenn., said in a statement when he introduced the bill (H.R. 5116) Thursday that he is aiming for House floor action on the bill before the Memorial Day break. "I expect we'll have some changes to this bill between now and the full committee markup next week to incorporate good ideas that came up recently at the subcommittee level, and I look forward to more constructive conversation with our vembers on both sides of the aisle as we move through the process," he said.
The 2007 America Competes Act authorized a doubling in funding over seven years for research and development activities at the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Energy Department's science office, while also supporting improvements in science, technology engineering and math education (STEM).
Gordon said the reauthorization bill builds upon the 2007 law by also including provisions aimed at helping small- and medium-sized manufacturers access capital by including a provision that would authorize technology federal loan guarantees for such firms. The bill calls for creating regional innovation clusters, aimed at improving communication between collections of businesses and organization in the same, similar or complementary fields. The bill also aims to improve the coordination of STEM education activities across the federal government.
Join the Discussion
The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.
Comments powered by Disqus