From: Pomeroy, Jean M. [mailto:jpomeroy@nsf.gov]
Sent: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 2:04 PM
To: Arvizu; Barish; Beering; Bement; Benbow; Bowen; Bruer; Clough;
Crosby; Droegemeier; Ford; Galloway; Griffiths; Hastings; Hess; Hoffman;
Lanzerotti; Leshner; Randall; Reilly; Savitz; Strauss; Sullivan; Taylor;
Thompson; Jo Vasquez
Subject: Senator introduces U.S. "competitiveness" bill
Senator introduces U.S. "competitiveness" bill.
Legislation aims to pump more money into math and science
education for children.
By Grant Gross, IDG News Service
March 05, 2007
A group of U.S. senators has introduced legislation that aims to improve
how U.S. workers and industries compete against the rest of the world
by pumping more money into math and science programs.
The bill, introduced Monday by Sen. John Ensign, a Nevada Republican,
combines the efforts of several Senate committees working to address
U.S. competitiveness. The bill would double the $5.6 billion annual
funding for the U.S. NSF (National Science Foundation), a major backer
of scientific research in the United States, and it would create grant
programs to help students struggling with mathematics.
Many U.S. tech firms have called on Congress to address U.S.
competitiveness by pumping more money into math and science programs.
Some tech vendors, including Microsoft, have also called on Congress to
increase the annual cap on foreign skilled worker visas, although tech
worker groups have opposed such a move.
"When it comes to innovation, America's entrepreneurs have led the way,"
Ensign said in a statement. "To keep our competitive edge, we need
to embrace technology and ensure that our children receive a stronger
education in the core subjects of mathematics and science."
The legislation, with cosponsors including Senate Majority Leader Harry
Reid, a Nevada Democrat, and Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of
Kentucky, comes as two congressional committees host hearings on U.S.
competitiveness. On Wednesday, Microsoft chairman Bill Gates will
testify before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Committee on U.S. competitiveness, and on the same day, leaders of six
tech trade groups will testify before the House Small Business Committee.
The bill, called the American Competes Act, would:
-- Increase the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science budget
from $3.6 billion in the U.S. government's 2006 fiscal year to $5.2
billion in 2011.
-- Create the Innovation Acceleration Research Program, directing
federal agencies that fund research in science and technology to set
goals of spending about 8 percent of their research and development
budgets on high-risk research.
-- Establish training programs for math and science teachers at the NSF.
-- Expand math and science programs at the NSF and other agencies.
Electronic Industries Alliance, a trade group, applauded the bill. The
legislation "clearly offers the tech industry a great deal to cheer
about,"
Charlie Robinson, the group's interim president and CEO, said in a
statement. If Congress passes the bill, "American companies and workers
will be more competitive and prosperous for years to come," he added
Jane Jackson, Co-Director, Modeling Instruction Program
Box 871504, Dept. of Physics, ASU, Tempe, AZ 85287
480-965-8438/fax:965-7565 <http://modeling.asu.edu>
For 16 years, the Modeling Instruction Program has been
helping teachers attain knowledge and skills needed
to benefit their students. Modeling Instruction is the
only high school science program recognized as Exemplary
by the U.S. Department of Education.