Senate Action Brings Innovation Agenda One Step Closer to Reality

WASHINGTON—Today the United States Senate passed the America COMPETES Act. The development of the legislation was influenced by the Council on Competitiveness and its National Innovation Initiative.

“Innovation is the key to future U.S. success in the global economy,” said Deborah L. Wince-Smith, president of the Council on Competitiveness. “The America COMPETES Act sends a clear message to Americans: We are taking steps to ensure you have the skills to succeed; we are investing in cutting edge research; we are creating an environment where high-value economic activity will thrive.”

The legislation will increase federal R&D funding, strengthen science, technology, engineering and math education, and create a Presidential Council on Innovation and Competitiveness. The Council on Competitiveness has successfully led a public and private sector effort during the past two years to make innovation a top-tier policy issue.

There are many senators who deserve credit for the bipartisan support of the bill. Sens. John Ensign (R-NV) and Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), played a vital role in developing the first bipartisan innovation bill in late 2005. Other key senators include Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX).