Legislation introduced on Monday by Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) would reauthorize research and development efforts by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The Frontiers in Innovation, Research, Science and Technology Act would streamline federal investments in the NSF and NIST for research and development to address national needs.
The legislation would identify fostering manufacturing competitiveness as the primary role of the NIST, and its Manufacturing Extension Partnership centers would be given greater flexibility.
“To remain globally competitive, we need to make sure our priorities are funded and that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely,” Smith, the chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, said. “The FIRST Act funds innovative science and STEM education programs at NSF. A well-educated and trained STEM workforce will promote our future economic prosperity. But we must persuade our nation’s youth to study science and engineering so they will want to pursue these careers….”
The FIRST Act would include academic subjects like computer science in the STEM academic plan. The bill would also allow NSF to support student participation in not-for-profit competitions and out-of-school activities related to STEM.
“Unless we act swiftly, American researchers will continue to fall behind in supercomputing and particle physics,” Smith said. “And we risk losing our lead in nano-technology, the health sciences, aerospace, lasers and other crucial areas. To reverse this trend, the FIRST Act increases investments for basic research in critical areas such as biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, engineering and mathematics. Advances in these fields drive innovation, create jobs and keep our economy strong.”