Sherwood Boehlert: “I am proud to bring to the floor today H.R. 4664, the Invest in America's Future Act, which was approved unanimously by…”

“I am proud to bring to the floor today H.R. 4664, the Invest in America's Future Act, which was approved unanimously by the Committee on Science. This landmark bill would put the National Science Foundation on a track to double its budget over the next 5 years, while, at the same time, imposing strict new management requirements to ensure that the National Science Foundation continues to spend our money wisely. This Congress has already demonstrated its faith in and reliance on the National Science Foundation several times in recent months, and I hope and expect that we will continue to do so today. Earlier this year, by the overwhelming margin of 400 to 12, we passed a cybersecurity bill that relied on NSF to fund the research needed to protect our Nation's computer systems and networks. At this time last year, we passed by voice vote a bill to initiate the President's math and science education partnerships, a program that NSF is now beginning to carry out; and we have passed appropriation bills that have included generous, if still insufficient, increases for the National Science Foundation. So the 107th Congress is already on record as acknowledging the vital role played by NSF in both research and education, and we have already recognized the Foundation's need for additional funds. Today, we take the next logical step. The scale of NSF's budget today is simply not commensurate with the breadth and importance of its mission.”