Bi-partisan legislation to create better science and innovation education opportunities
Washington, DC - Dean of the U.S. House of Representatives, John D. Dingell, issues remarks on the House floor in support of H.R. 5116, “The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010.” H.R. 5116 passed in the House by a vote of 228-130. Below are Congressman Dingell’s remarks:
“MADAM SPEAKER: As a cosponsor of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, I rise today in strong support of this legislation, and I commend the United States Senate for passing this legislation before the end of 111th Congress. Today’s consideration shows Congress’s commitment to ensuring our children and grandchildren receive the education they need to compete in a global marketplace in the 21st Century.
“While our country and our children have not lost the spirit of innovation and creativity, we have in recent years watched as our country has fallen woefully behind in educating our children. Passage of the America COMPETES Reauthorization will help to reverse this trend by making the strong investments necessary in research, education and manufacturing.
“This bipartisan legislation reauthorizes our basic research programs, making needed increased investments in the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy Office of Science, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology and laying the groundwork for doubling the authorized funding levels for these programs. Funding through these programs has been critical to hundreds of the faculty, staff, scientists and investigators in my district who rely on opportunities from these agencies to support their research. America COMPETES also reauthorizes the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy, which has made great efforts at developing the energy technology of the future.
“The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act investment in research cannot be fulfilled without a renewed focus in our education system on STEM education. H.R. 5116 will coordinate STEM education across the federal government to increase and bolster effective programs, increase graduate fellowships at NSF and DOE, support research and internship opportunities for high school and undergraduate students in STEM fields, and encourage students to enter into the education system as teachers to continue to build the next generation of scientists, educators, and researchers.
“And of particular importance to my district, the America COMPETES legislation will provide critically needed help to our small- and medium-sized manufacturers who have been hard hit by the financial downturn. In order to improve competitiveness and access to capital, America COMPETES will create a new program that will provide Innovative Technology Federal Loan Guarantees for these manufacturers. To help manufacturers modernize and green their manufacturing practices, this legislation directs NIST to develop sustainability metrics and practices for manufacturers. To ensure manufacturers have a well-trained workforce, this legislation directs NSF to award competitive grants to strengthen and expand scientific and technical education and training in advanced manufacturing practices. To continue the success of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program centers, this legislation will also reduce the cost share contribution, ensuring access to invaluable assistance that increases technological capabilities, institutes green or lean manufacturing techniques, and promotes increased sales.
“Madam Speaker, I believe strongly that it is our moral duty to prepare our children and grandchildren with the education and training necessary to be successful in a highly competitive and increasingly globalized marketplace. By allowing our education system to fall behind our peers, we have slipped in this duty. The America COMPETES legislation will once again put us on the path towards a strengthened education system, and a talented and competitive workforce that will continue the high-risk, high-reward research, innovations and technology development that this country is renowned for. The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act will allow the United States to truly compete with our neighbors abroad, which is why I urge my colleagues to vote yes.”
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