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January 07, 2011

Ranking Member Johnson Applauds Signing of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010

(Washington, DC) – This week, President Obama signed into law H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. The law keeps funding for research at the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science on a doubling path; makes critical investments in programs to strengthen science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education in the United States; takes important steps to accelerate the development of cutting-edge energy technologies through the Advanced Research Projects Agency- Energy, or ARPA-E.; and establishes programs to spur regional innovation and help U.S. manufacturers stay competitive. The final version of the bill passed the Senate by unanimous consent on December 17, 2010 and the House of Representatives on December 21, 2010 by a bipartisan vote of 228-130.

 “The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 is a crucial component of our effort to grow the economy, foster the development of new products and industries, and create jobs,” said Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX). “It makes important investments in science and innovation to help keep this country competitive and to strengthen our scientific and economic leadership. It will also help to ensure that all of our children have access to highly qualified science and math teachers so that they can be prepared for the 21st century workforce.”

 The original America COMPETES Act was signed into law in 2007. It was based on recommendations contained in the National Academies’ Rising Above the Gathering Storm report, which included the need for sustained funding for research and improvements in STEM education to strengthen U.S. competitiveness. 

 “This Committee has a significant role to play in solving some of the serious challenges faced by our country,” said Johnson. “The America COMPETES Act and this reauthorization bill are two examples of the good, bipartisan work that this Committee has done in the past to tackle these challenges, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the 112th Congress.”   

For more information on the Committee’s work on COMPETES, please visit our website.