Boswell Votes to Support Innovation and Jobs for the 21st Century

Press Release

Today, Congressman Leonard Boswell voted and the House passed H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, to foster U.S.-driven innovation and research, boost the nation's manufacturing industry, and support science and technology education and training.

"This legislation will prepare our workers for 21st century jobs in science and technology and promote U.S.-based research and development," Boswell said. "Our country must keep innovating in order to remain competitive in our global economy. We must continue to encourage and offer support to our small to mid-sized manufacturers that look for more efficient and effective ways to produce their goods as we rebuild the foundation of our nation's economy."

Boswell authored an amendment with Congressman Mike Michaud of Maine that was adopted into the final version of the America COMPETES Act to ensure that the grants, scholarships, and training programs supported by the Department of Energy under this bill can be used by students and schools that are moving the nation forward in the study and business of biomass technology systems.

"The promotion of science and technology for the 21st Century must include support for the study of biomass technology and biofuels production in order to expand our country's homegrown energy industry and end its dependence on Middle East oil," Boswell said. "Many young minds at Iowa's higher education institutes are already studying biofuel, biopower, and bioproduct production. The language I introduced with Congressman Michaud assures that this technology can expand to many more schools and students across the country and bring us closer to a nation that is reliant on its own resources and not OPEC."

Video is available of Boswell speaking on the House floor when he introduced this amendment on May 12.

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