June 2008
National Innovation and Job Creation Act of 2008 (S. 3078 - Introduced 6/3/08). The bill calls for a National Innovation Council within the Executive Office of the President to "coordinate Federal innovation policy and provide financial assistance for State and local innovation initiatives." The legislation, as currently constructed, would effectively transfer "functions, personnel, assets and liabilities" of the following programs to the Council.
From the National Institute of Standards and Technology:
- Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program
- Technology Innovation Program
- Office of Technology Partnerships
From the National Science Foundation:
- Partnerships for Innovation
- Industry-University Cooperative Research Center Program
- Engineering Research Center Program
From the Department of Labor:
- Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development Program
The act also identifies five new grant programs to be administered by the Council to support state-directed technology-based economic development efforts. See the SSTI Digest article for more details.
August 2007
America COMPETES Act (H.R. 2272) conference report was passed by the House and Senate in early August, and signed into Public Law by the President on August 9, 2007 The act, and law, is the result of a conference between the House and Senate on H.H. 2272 and S. 761, respectively (see below). The law focuses primarily on basic research funding for physical sciences and on science, technology, engineering and math education priorities (improving K-12 science and math teaching capabilities and attracting more students to STEM programs/careers). See the House S&T Committee press release and the Senate E&NR Committee press release.
May 2007
Investment in America Act 2007 (H.R. 2138 - Introduced in the House 5/3/07 - a bill "to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the research credit and strengthen the alternative simplified credit for qualified research expenses." See the press release from Rep. Levin (bill sponsor). Several other bills have already been introduced in the Senate on this topic (S. 41, Research Competitiveness Act, introduced 1/4/07 (see Dispatch 1-31-07); and S.1712, Research and Development Tax Credit Act, introduced 3/27/07)
21st Century Competitiveness Act 2007 (HR 2272 - Introduced 5/10/07). A bill "to invest in innovation through research and development, and to improve the competitiveness of the United States." According to the press release from the House S&T Committee, this bill "represents an integral piece of the House Democrats' 'Innovation Agenda' and covers many of the recommendations of the National Academies' Gathering Storm report. This legislative package is comprised of bills authored and steered by the House Committee on Science and Technology - H.R. 362, H.R. 363, H.R. 1867 and H.R. 1868 and H.R. 1068… House passage of H.R. 2272 sets in motion a conference with similar bipartisan innovation and competitiveness legislation which recently passed the U.S. Senate - S. 761, the America COMPETES Act (see below).
March 2007
American COMPETES Act (S. 761 - Introduced 3/5/07). "A bill to invest in innovation and education to improve the competitiveness of the United States in the global economy." [T]he America COMPETES Act contains many provisions of the Protecting America's Competitive Edge Through Energy Act (PACE-Energy) combined with other competitiveness initiatives introduced in the last Congress, (e.g., National Competitiveness Investment Act [S. 3936] introduced by Senate leadership in September 2006.) The bill focuses on three areas that are important for maintaining and improving U.S. innovation: 1) increasing research investment; 2) strengthening educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, from elementary through graduate school; and 3) developing an innovation infrastructure. See the press release.
January 2007
10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R. 362 - Introduced 1/10/07; resubmission of H.R 4434 - originally introduced 12/05). "A bill to authorize science scholarships for educating mathematics and science teachers, and for other purposes."
Sowing the Seeds through Science and Engineering Research Act (H.R. 363 - Introduced 1/10/07; resubmission of H.R. 4596 - originally introduced 12/05). "A bill to authorize appropriations for basic research and research infrastructure in science and engineering, and for support of graduate fellowships, and for other purposes."
Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) Act (now H.R. 364 - Introduced 1/10/07; resubmission of H.R. 4435 - originally introduced 12/05). "A bill to provide for the establishment of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy."
NOTE: These three bills (H.R. 362, H.R. 363, H.R. 364) were originally submitted in the 109th Congress - fully implementing the Augustine Report on national competitiveness. They were later incorporated into the more narrowly-defined bills that eventually came out of the House Science Committee in Fall 2006 (Research for Competitiveness Act, H.R. 5356; and the Science and Mathematics Education and Competitiveness Act, H.R. 5358) (see below). None have gone to Conference with an equivalent Senate version (most likely the National Competitiveness Investment Act, S. 3936). See the House Science Committee web site for the press release on these bills (and section-by-section highlights).
Energy Technology Transfer Act (H.R. 85 - Introduced 1/4/07). "To provide for the establishment of centers to encourage demonstration and commercial application of advanced energy methods and technologies." See the press release for this and 3 other bills.
Research Competitiveness Act (S. 41 - Introduced 1/4/07): "A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives to improve America's research competitiveness." The act updates and makes permanent the tax credit for basic and applied research. See the press release and a summary of the bill.
September 2006
The National Competitiveness Investment Act (S. 3936 - Introduced 9/26/06): "A bill to invest in innovation and education to improve the competitiveness of the United States in the global economy." The NCIA contains input from the three Senate Committees having a significant role to play in S&T policy, and responsible for much of the recent competitiveness legislation (Energy and Natural Resources; Commerce, Science and Transportation; and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) (including the ACIA (S.2802); PACE bills (S.2197, 2198, 2199); and NIA (S.2109) - see below). The bill addresses most of the recommendations of the National Academies' 'Gathering Storm' report as well as responding to recommendations contained in a recent report from the Council on Competitiveness and proposals made as part of the President's American Competitiveness Initiative. If passed by the Senate, this bill could go to conference with the two House bills that came out of the House Science Committee (HR. 5356 & 5358), consolidating much of the competitiveness proposals on the House side - for a final competitiveness bill (incorporating everything from basic research funding to STEM education). See Senator Bingaman's comments to the National Academies on the legislation (Energy and Natural Resources Committee); Senator Enzi's press release (HELP Committee - with a bill summary/overview); and Senator Ensign's press release (Commerce Committee).
May 2006
American Competitiveness and Innovation Act (S. 2802 - Introduced 5/18/06): "A bill to improve American competitiveness in the global economy." (Note: this bill incorporates much of the language of S. 2109.) The ACIA is similar in nature to an earlier bill co-sponsored by Senators Ensign, R-NV, and Lieberman, D-CT, in December 2005 (S. 2109). As stated in the press release, the bill "responds to recommendations contained in the Council on Competitiveness' Innovate America Report and the National Academies' Rising Above the Gathering Storm Report … [by focusing] on three primary areas of importance to maintaining and improving United States' innovation in the 21st Century: increasing research investment, increasing science and technology talent, and developing innovation infrastructure." See the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Press Release for more details.
Research for Competitiveness Act (H.R. 5356 - Introduced 5/11/06): "A bill to authorize the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy Office of Science to provide grants to early career researchers to establish innovative research programs and integrate education and research, and for other purposes." Introduced with HR 5358 (see below).
Science and Mathematics Education and Competitiveness Act (H.R. 5358 - Introduced 5/11/06): "A bill to authorize programs relating to science, mathematics, engineering, and technology education at the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy Office of Science, and for other purposes." See the House Science Committee website for complete details of both proposed bills (H.R. 5356 and H.R. 5358), including a section-by-section summary.
- NOTE: H.R. 5356 and H.R. 5358 incorporate (and replace) three earlier bills introduced in the House Science Committee in December 2005 designed to implement the recommendations of the 'Gathering Storm' report, titled: 1) Sowing the Seeds through Science and Engineering Research Act (H.R. 4596), 2) "10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds" Science and Math Scholarship Act (H.R 4434), and 3) Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E) Act (H.R. 4435).
January 2006
Protecting America's Competitive Edge Acts (PACE): A package of 3 bills focused on US technological competitiveness (all three drawn from the National Academies "Gathering Storm" report - collectively implementing the 20 recommendations in the report). You can find the legislation and a section-by-section summary at the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee website.
- PACE-Energy (S. 2197- Introduced 1/26/06): "A bill to improve the global competitiveness of the United States in science and energy technology, to strengthen basic research programs at the Department of Energy, and to provide support for mathematics and science education at all levels through the resources available through the Department of Energy, including at the National Laboratories."
- PACE-Education (S. 2198- Introduced 1/26/06): "A bill to improve the global competitiveness of the United States in science and energy technology by supporting improvements in science and technical education in the United States."
- PACE-Tax (S. 2199- Introduced 1/26/06): "A bill to improve the global competitiveness of the United States in science and energy technology by amending the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives to promote research and development, innovation, and continuing education."
December 2005
National Innovation Act (S. 2109- Introduced 12/15/05): "A bill to provide national innovation initiative," focusing on three primary areas of importance to maintaining and improving United States' innovation in the 21st Century: (1) research investment, (2) increasing science and technology talent, and (3) developing an innovation infrastructure (responding to the recommendations contained in the National Innovation Initiative Report published by the Council on Competitiveness). See the press releases for Sen. Lieberman (including a summary of the legislation and a section-by-section breakdown) and Sen. Ensign.
