The America COMPETES Act and the FY2009 Budget
Abstract
The America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69) responds to concerns that the United States may not be able to compete economically with other nations in the future due to insufficient investment today in science and technology research and in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. A similar concern led President Bush to announce the American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI) in January 2006. In March 2008, both the House and Senate included in their budget resolutions support for the America COMPETES Act. The act authorizes increases in the nation's investment in science and engineering research at the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratories, and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science. In addition, the act authorizes new STEM education programs at NSF, DOE, and the Department of Education (ED) and enhances the funding of some existing programs at NSF including the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program. A concern to some policy makers is whether federal appropriations will meet the act's authorized levels. The act also establishes within DOE the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) and Discovery Science and Engineering Innovation Institutes. ARPA-E is designed to support transformational energy technology research projects with the goal of enhancing the nation's economic and energy security. An issue for Congress is whether to appropriate funds to ARPA-E. The President's FY2009 budget does not request appropriations for ARPA-E. Instead, it requests funding of six new technology transfer collaborations that integrate basic and applied research. The FY2009 budget cycle will be the first time Congress can debate funding for America COMPETES Act programs at the beginning of the appropriations process. The purpose of this report is to compare the President's FY2009 budget request to the FY2009 authorized levels provided by the America COMPETES Act.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 20, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA482824
Entities
People
- Deborah D. Stine
Organizations
- Library of Congress