Heinrich Continues To Spur Innovation, Boost Job Creation in Central New Mexico

Press Release

The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act cleared its final hurdle last night in the Senate and now heads to the President for his signature. The bill includes language U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-1) spearheaded in the House to make science parks and federal laboratories eligible for new "cluster grants" as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's regional innovation program. Previous language did not define science parks or federal laboratories as eligible recipients.

"We are in a global race that America needs to win so that we aren't buying the technology that will power the next century from China and India," said Rep. Heinrich. "Central New Mexico is a hotbed for innovation. This legislation will support the existing competitive strengths our region is known for and will be a key component to becoming a nation of sustainable growth and quality jobs."

The COMPETES Act is crucial to our efforts to keep America number one by investing in modernizing manufacturing, spurring American innovation through basic R&D and high risk/high reward clean energy research, and strengthens math and science education to prepare students for the good jobs of the 21st Century.

The language included in the COMPETES Act to help construct and expand science parksbegan with a bill introduced by Rep. Heinrich and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8) in January 2010. The Science Parks Research and Innovative New Technologies Act sought to provide grants and loan guarantees for the development and construction of science parks to boost job creation and help spur innovation. Science parks seek to incubate businesses, encourage new startups, generate student interest in science and technology fields, and encourage relationships between universities and industry.

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