House Approves Key Science and Tech Bills

The House yesterday easily passed two bills that aim to strengthen research programs and improve science and math education to make America more competitive with countries such as China and India. The Senate will vote on similar legislation today.

The bills, both authored by Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tennessee), the chairman of the House Science and Technology Committee, are based on recommendations from a 2005 National Academies' report that determined the U.S. was falling behind other countries in science, engineering and overall tech know-how.

The first bill, which passed 389-22, would provide around $1.5 billion to improve science and math training for K-12 teachers, train 10,000 new teachers a year and support university efforts to recruit strong science and math students into teaching careers.

The White House's Office of Management and Budget issued a statement (.pdf) criticizing the legislation. Here's what the administration thought:

Especially problematic are the dramatic increases in authorization levels, particularly for programs too new to have been rigorously evaluated for success in meeting their stated goals. The Administration also strongly objects to the provision of the bill that creates a pilot program that would fund construction and maintenance of high school science laboratories, an activity that is not an appropriate role of the Federal government.

The second bill, which the House passed by a vote of 397-20 and OMB generally supports, would create a grant program for scientists and engineers at the early stages of their careers. Recipients would get a minimum of $80,000 each year for five years. The legislation would also create a new federal office to "identify and prioritize deficiencies" in research programs around the country and to bring those programs up to speed.

"Now is the time to take bold steps," Gordon said.

Photo: Nic McPhee