America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2010

Floor Speech

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Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise to support the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act.

As the United States faces increasing competition in the global economy, we will only maintain our advantage by fostering our ability to innovate. America COMPETES makes the investments necessary to ensure that we remain at the cutting edge of research and development.

The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act is a comprehensive approach to invest in education, research, and small business to grow America's innovation economy. By providing resources for basic research, facilitating the use of new technologies by American manufacturers, and training a new generation of science, technology, math, and engineering (STEM) workers, we can create good, sustainable jobs at home and ensure that the United States remains competitive.

The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act creates a path to double basic research funding at NSF, NIST, and DOE's Office of Science over the next ten years. It supports important programs to expand American energy technology and fosters regional innovation clusters and research parks for economic development across the country. And it coordinates STEM education activities across the Federal Government so we can focus resources on our most effective programs.

Madam Speaker, every dollar that we invest in science and technology pays dividends in economic growth and ensures that the United States remains at the forefront of discovery. I thank Chairman GORDON for his work on this issue and urge my colleagues to vote to pass this bill.

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