New Law Will Foster American Innovation and Secure Our Economic Future

August 23, 2007, In the seeming chaos and partisan battles of the mad dash to get members of Congress back to their home districts for August work, a little recognized bipartisan bill accomplished a large feat for U.S. research, science and math education, America’s teachers and our country’s future workforce.

On August 2, Congress passed H.R. 2272, the America COMPETES Act – a bill I introduced in the House to help secure our nation’s ability to compete in the global market. The Senate cleared the bill that same day in an effort led by a fellow Tennessean, Sen. Lamar Alexander. Recognizing the potential benefit for America’s teachers, students, workers and businesses, the president signed the legislation a week later on August 9.

The COMPETES Act is based on the findings of the 2005 National Academies’ report “Rising Above the Gathering Storm,” which I requested along with a bipartisan group of lawmakers that included Sen. Alexander, former-Rep. Sherwood Boehlert and Sen. Jeff Bingaman.

The report sounded an alarm when we learned that less than a third of America’s fourth and eighth graders are proficient in mathematics. We learned that in 1999, 68 percent of our eighth graders received math instruction from a teacher with no degree or certification in math. And we also learned an astounding 93 percent of American children in grades 5-9 received physical science instruction from a teacher with no degree or certification in the field.

But these facts were only part of a picture that showed us the United States could lose its competitive edge over other nations.

The warning did not go unheeded.

COMPETES authorizes increased funding for science, technology, engineering and math education programs across the federal government. This bill will help prepare thousands of new teachers and provide current teachers with content and teaching skills in their areas of education.

The law could have a tremendous impact in Tennessee, where hundreds of students from our state could receive scholarships to help them gain teaching certification while earning degrees in science, math or engineering. In addition, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and universities across Tennessee could host summer academies for math and science teachers to boost their content knowledge in math and science.

The law also increases Congress’ commitment to federal research and expands early career research grant programs to support and nurture outstanding young investigators. This move could create new research jobs at ORNL and at Tennessee’s universities.

The COMPETES Act takes groundbreaking steps to establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy, designed to engage in high-risk, high reward energy research under the Department of Energy. This provision is the first piece of energy legislation to clear the Congress this session, and it will work to ensure America remains the leader in energy research and technologies.

As Chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee and the father of a 6-year old daughter, I understand we cannot allow our children to become the first American generation to inherit a lower standard of living than their parents.

Ensuring our kids have the best education and jobs available to them is not a partisan dispute; the COMPETES Act proves that.