Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Rep. Bill Foster, D-Ill., have reintroduced the American Innovation Act, a bicameral bill that would ensure annual budget increases at a rate of five percent for critical research at five federal agencies. The bicameral bill will ensure that American scientists at the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Defense, and NASA will have sustained access to funding to create more jobs, strengthen national security and “push our world forward,” Durbin said in a press release posted Thursday.
“If we want to maintain our status as a world leader in research and technology, we must empower and fund our federal research agencies and retain their top talent,” the democratic whip commented.
Senators Champion American Innovation
According to the press release, the United States is in danger of falling behind adversaries in investment in basic science. Whereas China’s research and development intensity, or percentage of gross domestic product spent on R&D, increased by 500 percent since 1996, America’s stalled. Since the ‘70s, funding for research in the United States decreased tenfold to just about 0.1 percent of the GDP.
If the trend continues, China will surpass the U.S. in the area of science investments.
In his statement, Foster highlighted the role played by investments in scientific studies in national security and the economy.
“Since World War II, investments in science and technology have helped expand our economy, create millions of jobs and advance our national security,” he pointed out.
“As we confront new and existing challenges, it’s critical that our scientists have the resources they need to ensure our nation remains at the forefront of research and innovation,” the House legislator added.
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