Thirty-nine senators are cosponsors of an extensive bill that would
authorize major changes in federal support for research and development,
and science education. While this legislation is unlikely to reach President
Bush's desk before this Congress adjourns, it will help position similar
legislation in the new Congress which will convene next year.
S. 3936, the National Competitiveness Investment Act, was sponsored
by Senate Majority Leader William Frist (R-TN), and is cosponsored by
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV.) The bill is cosponsored by
an almost equal number of Democrats and Republicans spanning a wide
ideological spectrum, representing some of the nation's most populous
and industrialized states, as well as its most rural and agricultural
states (see a list of cosponsors at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:SN03936:@@@P
).
This 31,000-word bill was introduced on September 26 and encompasses
many of the provisions that were in the Protecting America's Competitive
Edge bills introduced in January (see http://www.aip.org/fyi/2006/013.html.)
The PACE bills were based on recommendations in several competitiveness
reports, most notably the National Academies' "Rising Above the
Gathering Storm" report (see http://www.aip.org/fyi/2005/155.html.)
S. 3936's provisions are wide-ranging, covering topics such as the convening
of a National Science and Technology Summit, release of scientific research
results to the public, NASA's inclusion as a full participant in interagency
activities such as the American Competitiveness Initiative, NASA workforce,
NASA's basic research programs, NIST's Manufacturing Extension Partnership
Program, the establishment of a NOAA/NSF coordinated program of ocean
and atmospheric R&D, the authorization of the doubling of DOE Office
of Science funding, the authorization of a wide range of DOE education
programs – including a nuclear science education program, an "Advanced
Research Projects Authority - Energy," a grant program for a high-risk/high
reward DOE research program, math and science education assistance programs
at all levels, double authorization levels for the National Science
Foundation, and NSF education programs. S. 3936 does not include tax
provisions.
In introducing the bill, Frist explained "This truly is a bipartisan
bill. It reflects the fact that when it comes to our country's economic
future, there is wide bipartisan support for those policies that will
keep the United States competitive in this ever changing, dynamic, global
economy of the 21st century. The bill we are introducing today is a
product of many Senators who have come together . . . who put aside
political affiliations . . . to craft a broad comprehensive bill. The
legislation has evolved over the course of the 109th Congress."
He continued, "The U.S. today has the strongest scientific and
technological enterprise in the world, including the best research universities.
But there is growing evidence and recognition that our educational system
is failing in those areas that have directly underpinned our strength
– science, engineering, and mathematics. We must invest for the
future in those areas if we are to maintain our technological edge in
the world."
Later, he stated: "While the legislation does not address all
of the issues raised in the various studies - it is doubtful any one
piece of legislation could - it nonetheless is a start, it is a good
first step, and of course it is a bipartisan first step." Regarding
the bill's cost, Frist stated, "Authorizations for these programs
would total $73 billion over the next five years, less than $2.0 billion
above the President's request. When we consider that over the next five
years our economy will exceed $76 trillion – a 1 percent investment
for the future seems a small price to pay for our continued economic
security and leadership in the world. This legislation is the correct
thing to do for the country's future economic security."
In late September, a very well-attended convocation was held at the
National Academies that was a follow-up to the release last year of
the "Gathering Storm" report (see http://www7.nationalacademies.org/gatheringstorm/.)
Among those speaking were Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Jeff Bingaman
(D-NM), Pete Domenici (R-NM), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), and Rep.
Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY). All stressed their support of legislation
to promote America's competitiveness. Bingaman called S. 3936 an "important
step" that "was the beginning of long journey" that "will
require sustained effort over many years."
Domenici told the convocation, "Through this new legislation,
we are going to put the Augustine report's recommendations into action.
In this bill, we are addressing nearly every one of the recommendations
made by this significant, influential report. The National Academy of
Sciences told us what we need to do, and it is up to us on Capitol Hill
to do it." Looking at the near future, Domenici spoke about
the importance of the FY 2007 appropriations bills that will be completed
after Congress returns on November 9. He said, "We must not
forget that authorizations are terrific, but we have to follow through
and fund the programs. That will be hard work, because funding these
programs will mean making hard decisions and taking cuts to programs
somewhere else. But if we don't start making the hard decisions today,
we will be out of luck tomorrow."
Hutchinson was very complementary about the "Gathering Storm"
report, saying that it "really is the shot being heard around the
world." She spoke of her commitment to double NSF funding, and
also said she wanted NASA to be a component of the American Competitiveness
Initiative (which is a provision of S. 3936.) She cautioned that "NASA
is bleeding" its research budget to provide funding for the space
station and the Moon-Mars initiative. Regarding competitiveness, she
assured the convocation, "we are on this."
Alexander described a meeting he had with President Bush, who said
"he would do his best" to press for passage of S. 3936. Alexander
repeatedly spoke of the importance of constituent visits with Member
of Congress to demonstrate support for legislation. "We need to
hear from you," he said. (Other senators spoke in support of S.
3936 when it was introduced on the Senate floor; excerpts will be provided
in a future FYI.)
Boehlert was more pessimistic about the outlook for S. 3936 this year,
saying: "The introduction of that package is good news because
it demonstrates the Senate's commitment to this issue, making it more
likely that we'll be able to work out legislation in November. I have
to say, though, that I'd like to see a more streamlined, targeted approach
than the 209-page Senate bill. Unless we set priorities, the legislation
won't have any impact. And the Senate package could not possibly get
through the House. But it represents a lot of thought and a lot of hard
work, and our staffs talk regularly. And impressively, the Senate Republican
and Democrat leaders are sponsors of the Senate bill. So while I can't
say I'm optimistic that we'll get authorizing legislation enacted this
year, all the pieces we need to do so are on the board, and we could
negotiate a good bill if we were given the green light to do so. At
the very least, my colleagues who will be around for the 110th Congress
in January, will be in a good position to start right in again on STEM
[science, technology, engineering and mathematics] issues when Congress
convenes. And now that the issue is on the front burner, it's not going
to go away."
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