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America Competes Reauthorization Act Of 2010

Floor Speech

Date: May 12, 2010
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Technology and Communication Science

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Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Act.

Chairman Gordon, I commend you and the members of the House Science and Technology Committee for bringing this legislation to the floor.

More than ever, our Nation must invest in the scientific and technological building blocks that bolster American competitiveness in the 21st Century global economy. The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 achieves this and more by fostering innovation, supporting manufacturers and industry, preparing a STEM workforce, and creating jobs.

I want to recognize Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson, Ben Ray Luján, Silvestre Reyes, co-chair of the Diversity and Innovation Caucus, and other members of the Tri-Caucus for their outstanding leadership in championing diversity issues in this bill. This bill represents a great leap forward in broadening the participation of underrepresented minorities and women in the STEM fields.

As subcommittee chairman for Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness, I am pleased that America COMPETES will more fully integrate our Nation's minority-serving institutions into research partnerships and Federal programs.

This bill complements our work on the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act known as SAFRA and our efforts to improve science and math literacy in our Nation's public schools.

In 2007, I introduced the Partnerships for Access to Laboratory Science Act, known as PALS, because our high schools needed to be properly equipped to provide low-income and minority students with laboratory experiences that will foster their talents and lifelong interests in science.

There is no doubt that we must redouble our efforts to engage young people in the STEM fields early on in their academic careers. I applaud Chairman Gordon and the committee for including this program in H.R. 5116.

I urge my colleagues to support the America COMPETES Act. Our Nation's future competitiveness depends on it.

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