Steven Holt: “I thank the chairman. Madam Speaker, for decades, it's been clear that our investments in scientific research and…”

“I thank the chairman. Madam Speaker, for decades, it's been clear that our investments in scientific research and education underwrite our national prosperity, yet we've continued to underinvest in these economic drivers. The National Academy issued a call for action 5 years ago with ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm,'' and Congress responded by holding a number of national town meetings arranged by then-Minority Leader Pelosi and then passing the America COMPETES Act under the chairmanship of Chairman Gordon. That legislation is now set to expire, and the National Academies has issued an update on our progress. It is an ominous warning. It says bluntly: ``Our Nation's outlook has worsened.'' Now, as a Member who has conducted NSF-funded research and who continually argues that our economic health depends on investment and research, I would have preferred the more robust funding authorization levels passed by this House earlier this year. However, this legislation does maintain a 10-year doubling path for funding for our basic research agencies. I am especially pleased that the bill requires the development of a comprehensive national competitiveness and innovation strategy, a provision I wrote. The nations that are outcompeting us already have national innovation strategies in place. We should too. To guarantee a secure economic future for our children and in our Nation, we must not fail to provide robust funding for the programs in this legislation.”