House Passes America COMPETES Act
Press Release
The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, which reauthorizes the Department of Energy's Office of Science, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Science Foundation. The bill includes language authored by Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) requiring regular reports to Congress on the progress made by Bioenergy Research Centers. Smith's language also ensures grants for advanced energy research projects do not displace private investment.
The bill also reauthorizes the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E), which is pursuing cutting-edge energy technology development.
The Office of Science operates Bioenergy Research Centers to accelerate basic research into the research and development of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels. Smith's language requires the Director of the Office of Science to prepare and transmit to Congress within one year a research plan for activities by the Centers authorized under the bill. Following the initial report, the Director will be required to update the research plan and report to Congress every three years.
Smith - who voted against the bill due to concerns with its overall level of spending - also inserted language to ensure research sponsored by ARPA-E does not duplicate existing private investment, but funds top level energy research in areas private industry is not likely to undertake. In the first round of ARPA-E awards, several of the projects received federal funding after procuring millions of dollars in venture capital.
"Though I could not support the overall bill because it continues Congress' addiction to spending, I am pleased my amendments were included to ensure federal funds are used as intended with strict oversight," Smith said.
Smith, Ranking Member of the House Technology and Innovation Subcommittee, already had successfully added an amendment to the legislation clarifying the role of NIST in information security standards.
Source