Congress Renews America COMPETES Act
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January 4, 2011 -- President Obama has signed legislation reauthorizing the America COMPETES Act, which aims to boost the nation’s economic competitiveness by setting funding guidelines that increase federal support for science education and basic research including studies of cutting-edge energy technologies. First passed in 2007, the act is based on the recommendations of the National Academies report Rising Above the Gathering Storm. An update, Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited: Rapidly Approaching Category 5, was recently prepared for the presidents of the NAS, NAE, and IOM by members of the committee that authored the original report. They warned that America’s ability to compete for quality jobs in the global economy has continued to deteriorate. Sustained investment in education and basic research is needed to spur innovation and keep the nation’s competitive position from slipping further, they said.
