Titus Supports America COMPETES Act to Increase Innovation and Strengthen U.S. Competitivenes

Press Release

Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada's Third District voted today in support of legislation to strengthen U.S. competitiveness and prepare Nevadans for 21st century jobs. The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 262 to 150.

"For decades, Americans have been on the forefront of innovation, leading the way in the global economy," Congresswoman Titus said. "But in order for us to keep our competitive edge and continue to be the leader in the next generation of technology and clean energy advancements, we must make investments in science and math education and cutting edge research and development. The America COMPETES Act will help create the next generation of entrepreneurs who will power our economy and create good jobs here at home."

The America COMPETES Act invests in modernizing manufacturing, spurring American innovation through basic research and development and high risk/high reward clean energy research, and strengthening science, math, technology, and engineering (STEM) education to prepare students for the good jobs of the 21st century. Specifically, the legislation will keep our nation on a path to increase funding for basic scientific research, create jobs with innovative technology loan guarantees for small and medium-sized manufacturers, and provide grants to increase the number and quality of students receiving undergraduate degrees in STEM.

The bill includes an amendment introduced by Titus that will improve the quality of teacher preparation programs in STEM education so that teachers have the knowledge and skills they need to be effective classroom instructors.

A broad coalition of more than 750 business, research, and academic organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Manufacturers, Business Roundtable, and American Council on Education, have endorsed the bill.

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