WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed major legislation that Congressman David Wu helped craft to strengthen American competitiveness and invest in science, education, and innovation.

The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, H.R. 5116, will strengthen U.S. scientific and economic leadership, support business, and create high-tech, middle-class jobs.  As chair of the Science Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, Congressman Wu led the creation of major sections of the legislation and included multiple amendments to provide further direction on specific portions of the bill.

“Innovation is critical to our nation's long-term global competitiveness, and we have a responsibility to support the kind of economic environment that empowers our nation's private sector to innovate and create jobs,” said Wu.  “By encouraging cutting-edge ideas and facilitating growth, the America COMPETES Act forms a cornerstone of our nation’s future economic strength.”

The original America COMPETES legislation was based on the 2005 National Academies’ report Rising Above the Gathering Storm, which found that “the scientific and technological building blocks critical to our economic leadership are eroding at a time when many other nations are gathering strength.”  COMPETES incorporated the science and technology recommendations from the report and was signed into law in 2007 with broad bipartisan support.  

The original America COMPETES Act expires at the end of this fiscal year.  Today’s reauthorization bill updates and improves the programs included in the original legislation.

“Some of my changes to the America COMPETES Reauthorization improve the Manufacturing Extension Partnership to help our nation’s small- and medium-sized manufacturers compete effectively,” said Wu.  “For example, the bill directs MEP centers to inform community colleges about the skills that are really needed in the local job market.  This will help ensure that students have the specific training necessary to secure good-paying jobs in their community.”

Congressman Wu also included an amendment in the bill during consideration by the House Committee on Science and Technology to expand internship opportunities for undergraduate students in private-sector science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) employers.

“My STEM internship amendment was inspired by many conversations that I have had with Oregon high-tech companies, universities, and other groups that are focused on maintaining our nation’s economic competitiveness,” Wu said.  “Many people expressed alarm about the lack of preparedness among college students training for STEM careers.  This amendment engages industry and universities in solving this challenge by creating a program at the National Science Foundation to provide grants for the development of integrated internship and curriculum programs.  These programs will expose students to the high-tech workforce and fix knowledge gaps that keep students from succeeding after graduation.”  

Congressman Wu also led the creation of a provision that focuses the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) on creating jobs, supporting competitiveness, and meeting the needs of our nation's private sector.  The legislation authorizes funds for NIST programs and makes fundamental changes to the agency’s structure to help it better reflect the multidisciplinary nature of technology and meet the needs of industry in the 21st century.  

The legislation maintains the commitment to doubling the funds provided to NIST labs and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program over 10 years.  It also includes authorization that will enable the Technology Innovation Program to fund up to $40 million annually in new awards for high-risk, high-reward research in areas of critical need while meeting its existing obligations and continuing the vision laid out in the original COMPETES Act.

Under this legislation, the NIST lab structure will be reorganized to better reflect the multidisciplinary nature of technology in the 21st century.  The bill provides for a more efficient and streamlined organizational structure to enable the agency to be more responsive to industry without reducing their research capacity.    

The legislation also includes many other changes focusing on science, education, and innovation, including:

•    Providing federal loan guarantees for small- and medium-sized manufacturers that will help them access capital to become more efficient and stay competitive
•    Offering grants to increase the number and quality of students receiving undergraduate STEM degrees
•    Reauthorizing the federal agency that pursues high-risk, high-reward energy technology development

The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act passed the House by a vote of 262 to 150 and was sent to the Senate for consideration.