Bipartisan Gardner bill to boost science research heads to president’s desk

A measure led by U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) to harness science research initiatives to boost American innovation and competitiveness will head to the president’s desk to be signed into law following House approval on Friday.

The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, a bicameral and bipartisan measure sponsored by Gardner and U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-SD), would boost research opportunities, cut administrative burdens, encourage scientific entrepreneurship and promote oversight. Both the House and the Senate have now approved the measure.

Gardner called House passage of the bill a major step forward for the science and research community, and he thanked U.S. Reps. Lamar Smith (R-TX), the chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), the committee’s ranking member, for working in good faith with the Senate on the bill.

“We’ve worked for more than 18 months with the scientific community, industry, universities and other interested stakeholders to craft a bill that reflects the needs of America’s science and technology enterprise and I will continue to work to ensure their needs are addressed in Congress,” Gardner said.

“The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act has made science bipartisan again, and I look forward to the president signing this legislation into law and helping to keep America competitive across the globe.”

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), who worked with Gardner and Thune on the original measure, said cutting-edge innovation and scientific research support advances in manufacturing, job creation and competitiveness.

“I am pleased that the House passed this bipartisan legislation that maximizes federal investments in basic science research, strengthens STEM education programs to build a skilled workforce and supports services that make small and medium-sized manufacturers globally competitive,” Peters said.

The measure would most directly impact programs within the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.