Issue Position: Science and Innovation

Issue Position

As Chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski is committed to supporting discovery and innovation in America.
America COMPETES Act
(Public Law 110-69)

As a lead sponsor, Senator Mikulski worked on a bipartisan effort with Senate colleagues to implement recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences' "Gathering Storm" report.

The America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education in Technology, Education and Science (America COMPETES) Act strengthens America through investments in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and research.

* Puts research programs on a path for doubled funding at the:
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o National Science Foundation (NSF).
o National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
o Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science.
* Increases the number of students earning science, engineering and math degrees by authorizing $33.6 billion over fiscal years 2008 - 2010 for STEM research and education programs across the federal government.
* Improves K-12 science and math education.
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o Strengthens the skills of thousands of new teachers and provides current teachers with content and teaching skills in STEM education through expanded scholarship programs.
* Creates an Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E).
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o A nimble, semi-autonomous research agency at DOE to engage in high-risk, high-reward energy research with the goal of developing alternative sources of energy.

Fighting for Innovation at Federal Agencies in Maryland

As Chairwoman of the CJS Subcommittee, Senator Mikulski fights every year to make sure Maryland remains a leader in innovation and development by supporting:

* National Institutes of Health (NIH)
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o 18,000 jobs in Maryland
* National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
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o 9,000 jobs in Maryland
* National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
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o 3,200 jobs in Maryland
* National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
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o 2,600 jobs in Maryland

Helping Maryland Remain Competitive

Senator Mikulski fights every year to help Maryland's universities continue to lead the nation in science and technology research by working for funding to:

* Support nursing scholarships and loan forgiveness programs to combat America's nursing shortage.
* Assist Villa Julie College in expanding its Nursing Distance Education Program.
* Support the University of Maryland's new research partnerships with NOAA and NIST.
* Expand science education programs at the Science Center at Baltimore's Inner Harbor.
* Help John Hopkins University expand the Hopkins Institute for Nanobiotechnology, which conducts research, develops new medical technologies, and trains new scientists and students.
* Continue investing in the Chesapeake Based Aeronautics Consortium, which teams Morgan State University, Bowie State University and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore with NASA scientists and researchers to develop aeronautics research on aviation safety and training.
* Bring broadband network capability to the Eastern Shore by connecting NASA's Wallops Island Flight Facility to Salisbury University, medical centers, businesses and consumers.

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