Introduction of the Early Career Research Act ad the Research for Competitiveness Act

INTRODUCTION OF THE EARLY CAREER RESEARCH ACT AND THE RESEARCH FOR COMPETITIVENESS ACT

Mr. McCAUL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce today the Early Career Research Act and the Research for Competitiveness Act. These bills expand and strengthen science and engineering research programs at the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy to encourage young scientists and engineers to pursue innovative research that could lead to the major scientific breakthroughs of tomorrow.

President Bush, in his State of the Union Address, articulated the link between science and engineering research and national competitiveness. I agree with the President. Like him, I believe that science shapes the future. And, like him, I believe that for America to remain number one in the world, it must remain number one in science. I want to ensure that the highly-innovative, highly-productive industries of tomorrow are created here in America and stay in America to provide high-wage jobs for our children and grandchildren.

Texas is one of the world's leading technology centers and I have the privilege of representing Texas' high-tech core. In Texas, we know that science and technology are the wellsprings of economic competitiveness and national strength.

In December of last year, Mr. Richard Templeton, President and CEO of Texas Instruments, came to Washington to lead the National Summit on Competitiveness. The theme of that Summit was ``Investing in U.S. Innovation.'' Mr. Templeton and 60 business, academic, and government leaders, including four Cabinet Secretaries, came together to discuss the competitiveness challenge posed by globalization and the rise of new economic competitors, such as India and China. Mr. Templeton and his business and academic colleagues told the President and the Congress that our government must do more to foster America's capacity to innovate by focusing on the health of the American scientific enterprise.

The President rose to the challenge and proposed The American Competitiveness Initiative, a bold plan to double Federal investments in fundamental physical science research over 10 years at three science agencies: the National Science Foundation, the Office of Science in the Department of Energy, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

My bills build upon the President's initiative and focus on fostering innovation by providing grants to promising young researchers to pursue research that could lead to the technology breakthroughs of tomorrow. One of my bills provides for matching funds from industry to promote closer ties between academic and industrial researchers.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that so many business, science, and educational organizations have endorsed my bill, including Texas Instruments, AeA (formerly the American Electronics Association), the Telecommunications Industry Association, the Electronics Industries Alliance, the Council on Competitiveness, the Battelle Memorial Institute, the American Chemical Society, the Association of American Universities, and a host of other organizations. I am grateful for their support. Together, we can ensure that America remains first in science and first in economic competitiveness--so that Americans can continue to enjoy the highest standard of living in the world.

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