APLU Statement on Senate Introduction of America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2014

APLU President Peter McPherson today released the following statement regarding the introduction of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2014 in the Senate:

“The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2014 would effectively reset U.S. scientific research policy by putting an end to the languishing budgets that NSF and NIST have faced in recent years. Strong investments in federally-funded research, much of which occurs at public universities across the country, are critical to closing the innovation deficit and ensuring long-term economic success.

“We applaud Chairman Rockefeller and the other sponsors of the bill for their leadership and recognition of the need to invest in research and science. Their bill would reverse a disturbing trend of cuts to scientific research at a time when other nations such as China, Korea, and Singapore have been dramatically boosting such investments. Those dynamics have created an innovation deficit as other nations race to push ahead of the United States. Fortunately, with steady increases to NSF and NIST this bill would help get the United States back on track, help close the innovation deficit, and allow for the discovery of new, dynamic technologies that will power our economy forward.”