Now that the government shutdown has ended it is time for reconciliation on Capitol Hill. Discovering common ground and making a serious attempt at bipartisanship would go far in healing the self-inflicted wounds of the past two weeks.
Reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act offers Congress an opportunity to move forward. The U.S. is still struggling to reduce budget deficits and create economic and job growth. It is time for Congress to work together to demonstrate a collective resolve to ensure American competitiveness.
“A robust reauthorization of COMPETES would not only play an important role in bolstering basic research, innovation and technology commercialization and STEM education, but would also demonstrate that Congress is ready to return to the important task of ensuring U.S. economic growth and full economic recovery”, remarked Kelly Carnes, President and CEO of TechVision21.
Much can be done despite the tremendous challenges currently facing the nation. The America COMPETES Act, originally enacted in 2007 and reauthorized in 2010, has helped support the science, technology, and innovation that underpin and strengthen the U.S. economy. The 2013 Reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act offers Congress an opportunity to revamp the U.S. innovation infrastructure and spur additional investment in science and technology to create the new products, processes, and industries that will drive economic development, job growth, and ensure a full economic recovery – and perhaps even heal a few of those self-inflicted wounds.
-Katherine
July GAO Report on America COMPETES Act http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/656019.pdf