Anna Eshoo: “Americans of my generation and my parents' generation as well have always accepted it as an article of faith that the…”

“Americans of my generation and my parents' generation as well have always accepted it as an article of faith that the United States of America would lead the world in innovation, in ingenuity, and in invention. And, no matter what the challenge would be, that we as a Nation would rise to that test, we would meet the competition, and we would come out on top. It was true in the 1930s, when President Roosevelt responded to the concerns of scientists in our country about the Nazi government and what they might develop with the Manhattan Project. It was true in 1961, when America awoke to the fact that a Soviet cosmonaut had been launched into space, and President Kennedy responded by saying as a Nation we have to commit ourselves to achieving the goal that, before the decade was out, that we would land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth. And we did when Neil Armstrong landed on the moon in 1969 and took a giant leap for mankind. We know that there is a gathering storm when it comes to innovation and competition for our country, and that is what this legislation directs itself to. We have to perform. We have to produce more scientists, more mathematicians, educate our children, invest in science, and research. That is what this bill is about. I have an optimistic view of America.”