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The Path To U.S. Competitiveness
by Winter Casey
The nation's competitiveness ranks high in Washington these days, and it is seen in efforts by the legislative and executive branches. Four bills have been introduced on the topic in the Senate, and in the House one package of bills has been filed with another package on the way.
President Bush also has been on the road touting his American competitiveness initiative to encourage innovation and strengthen the nation's ability to compete in the global economy. The plan, mentioned during this year's State of the Union address, highlights the importance of private and public investment in research and development.
The agenda calls for reforming immigration law, advancing education and reducing taxes to foster innovation. But some, such as House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert, R-N.Y., have said it will take more than what Bush has suggested to revitalize mathematics and science education.
Using The Presidential Bully Pulpit
On Friday, President Bush visited Cisco Systems -- "one of America's most innovative companies," according to the president -- to discuss his agenda. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger attended the meeting and endorsed the president's agenda.
"Let me talk about technology," Bush said. "I do believe it is [a] proper use of federal taxpayer money to double the R&D commitment in the physical sciences at the federal level. I believe it makes sense to spend taxpayers' money on research and development out of the federal government. ... You may not realize it, but it was investment by the Defense Department that ultimately led to the Internet."
He also said federal research money played a key role in digital recording technology like that employed in the iPod device made by Apple Computer.
Cisco President and CEO John Chambers said global competition is moving rapidly. "China and India graduate 10 times the number of [doctoral students] we do," Chambers said. "They have a population four times our size in each of those countries."
Bush also reiterated his support for the 2002 education law known as the No Child Left Behind Act and for making federal aid available to poor students. An accountability system is vital to ensure that curriculum is working successfully, he said.
The president further noted the importance of making high-speed Internet service "available to nearly every American." For years, Bush has touted the goal of deploying broadband infrastructure to the entire country by 2007.
Legislative Momentum In The House
The push for American competitiveness is apparent in Congress, where some legislative action already has occurred. On April 1, Bush signed into law a bill, H.R. 4911, to renew Higher Education Act programs until June 30. The act authorizes programs that are responsible for the majority of financial assistance to postsecondary students. On March 30, the House passed a bill, H.R. 609, to reauthorize various provisions in the law through 2012.
Tennessean Bart Gordon, the ranking Democrat on the House Science Committee, also has authored a trio of bills -- H.R. 4434, H.R. 4435 and H.R. 4596 -- to implement recommendations in the National Academy of Sciences report "Rising above the Gathering Storm." The research found that America appears to be on a "losing path" toward future global competitiveness.
Gordon's bills would: authorize scholarships to science, math and engineering students who commit to becoming teachers at elementary and secondary schools; take steps to reduce foreign energy dependence; and strengthen the U.S. commitment to scientific research. "We are hopeful that they will move forward as the committee begins to consider bills of this nature," Alisha Prather, the communications director for panel Democrats, said of the measures.
According to a spokesman for Boehlert, R-N.Y., House Science currently is drafting a package of bills on education and competitiveness. The panel also has held hearings on the subject, with testimony from Education Secretary Margaret Spellings and National Science Foundation Director Arden Bement.
Boehlert said recently that "over the next two months, this committee will develop and report out legislation designed to enhance our nation's efforts in this area." House Science Committee Spokesman Joe Pouliot said on Friday that the committee hopes to move bills through the committee in May.
Pouliot called the chance of competitiveness legislation becoming law this year "very good." "We are gathering momentum to address the gathering storm," he said. "We definitely have the critical mass to see this legislation passed into law."
"We have been working with the minority" on the legislation we plan to introduce, said Pouliot who noted that the issue is a priority for everyone. He said a package of bills is typically easier to move through committee than one comprehensive bill.
Pouliot also noted existing laws that are beginning to have effects. "We don't have to reinvent the wheel, but we do need to be sure it can cover more ground," Boehlert said during a March 30 committee hearing.
Education Bills In the Senate
Four Senate bills have been introduced to address concerns about math and science. Three of them -- S. 2197, S. 2198 and S. 2199 -- focus on strengthening research, improving math and science education, increasing the talent pool in higher education and providing incentives for innovation. Senate committees have held hearings on the legislation.
Another Senate bill seeks to ensure that the United States remains a leader in innovation, research and development. The measure, S. 2109, is based on a Council on Competitiveness innovation report.
The bill would establish a President's Council on Innovation to develop an innovation plan for the public and private sectors. It also includes a grant program to encourage spending by federal agencies on research in science and technology and high-risk frontier research. The legislation further seeks to nearly double basic research funding for the National Science Foundation by fiscal 2011 and to establish a permanent research and experimentation tax credit.
Recent analysis compiled by the American Chemical Society and Alliance for Science and Technology Research in America compares the Senate bills with Bush's initiative by agency. Though all the legislation appears to have the same goals, funding distribution and key priorities differ among the bills.
For example, S. 2109 would express the Senate's view that the United States should retain foreign nationals who have received advanced degrees in science and math fields either through the H-1B visa program for highly skilled workers or as employment-based immigrants. However, neither the Bush agenda nor the three-bill Senate package addresses the issue.
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