The United States has long been the world leader in science and technology. That’s no accident — it’s the result of sustained investment in our research enterprise. But we’ve let our commitment slip and we’ve lost focus on the importance of scientific and technological leadership. It’s time we redouble our efforts and reinvest in American science and technology.
Today, the House Science Committee is taking up two bipartisan bills to do just that.
America’s scientific and technological competitiveness has been my highest priority as ranking member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. It’s gratifying to see that there is now momentum on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate for legislation to secure our global science and technology leadership.
The need to act is best captured by two data points. First, as much as 85 percent of America’s long-term economic growth is due to advances in science and technology. There’s a direct connection between investment in research and development and job growth here at home.
Second, China increased public R&D by 56 percent between 2011 and 2016, but U.S. investment in the same period fell by 12 percent in absolute terms. China has likely surpassed the U.S. in total R&D spending and — through both investment and theft — is working to overtake us as the global leader in science and technology.
America’s continued scientific leadership requires a comprehensive and strategic approach to research and development that provides long-term increased investment and stability across the research ecosystem. It also requires inter-agency collaboration and public-private partnerships. And it must focus on evolving technologies that are crucial to our national and economic security, like semiconductors and quantum sciences.
House Science Committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) and I have taken a deliberative and bipartisan approach to revitalizing American research. We’re voting on two bills in our committee today to comprehensively fund the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science. The NSF for the Future Act and the DOE Science for the Future Act together are a sustainable strategy for American progress that comprehensively scales up our research enterprise. Rather than throwing one-time money at NSF and DOE or pitting them against each other for funding, we’re investing in the programs that work and creating new ones where needed. This is the best approach to strengthening American competitiveness.
In the NSF for the Future Act, we put a great ...
