In this issue:
UPDATED “GATHERING
STORM” REPORT ON U.S. COMPETITIVENESS RELEASED
Five years ago, in response to a bipartisan request from Congress, the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, and Institute of Medicine issued the landmark report, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future.” The report warned that the United States faced a daunting future if it did not make the investments in education and research necessary to spur innovation and compete for high quality jobs in a global economy. The influential “Gathering Storm” report, as it became known, led Congress to pass the bipartisan America COMPETES Act. Additionally, the 2009 stimulus legislation provided funding for many of the report’s recommendations.
The National Academy recently released an update of the report entitling it, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm, Revisited: Rapidly Approaching Category 5.” The report, which was written by members of the committee that authored the original “Gathering Storm” report, examines the progress or lack thereof being made by the United States in confronting challenges in global competitiveness. The report cites dozens of economic and education factoids both here and abroad, particularly in China, to illuminate the current path of U.S. competitiveness. It also addresses the need to reauthorize the America COMPETES Act, which is due to expire, and to make sustained investments in education and research given that the stimulus funding was only temporary.
The new report was released at a public briefing in the U.S. Capitol on September 23rd, with its findings and recommendations presented by “Gathering Storm” committee chair Norman R. Augustine, former chairman and CEO of the Lockheed Martin Corp.
"The Gathering Storm effort once again finds itself at a tipping point," said Augustine, who is also one of the new report's authors. "Addressing America's competitiveness challenge is an undertaking that will require many years, if not decades."
The report notes many indications that the United States' competitive capacity is slipping, including the following:
- China has replaced the U.S. as the world's number one high-technology exporter and has a $196 billion positive trade balance. The United States’ balance of trade is negative $379 billion. China is also now second in the world in publication of biomedical research articles and in a survey of global firms planning to build new R&D facilities, 77 percent say they will build in China or India.
- In 2000 the number of foreign students studying the physical sciences and engineering in United States graduate schools for the first time surpassed the number of United States students. The United States now ranks 27th among developed nations in the proportion of college students receiving undergraduate degrees in science and engineering.
- Federal funding of research in the physical sciences as a fraction of GDP fell by 54 percent in the 25 years after 1970. The decline in engineering funding was 51 percent. By 2008, public spending in the United States on energy R&D had declined to less than half what it was three decades ago in real purchasing power.
- Ninety-three percent of United States public school students in fifth through eighth grade are taught the physical sciences by a teacher without a degree or certificate in the physical sciences.
- China has a $196 billion positive trade balance. The United States’ balance is negative $379 billion. Roughly half of America’s outstanding public debt is now foreign-owned—with China the largest holder.
According to the new report, the “Gathering Storm” Committee’s overall conclusion is that in spite of the efforts of both those in government and the private sector, the outlook for America to compete for quality jobs has further deteriorated over the past five years. “The ‘Gathering Storm’ increasingly appears to be a Category 5.” The unanimous view of the committee members participating in the report is that the nation’s outlook has worsened.
The House Science and Technology (S&T) Committee has scheduled a hearing, “Averting the Storm: How Investments in Science Will Secure the Competitiveness and Economic Future of the U.S.,” for September 29th at which Mr. Augustine will be the lead witness.
For more information about this report, please visit: http://www8.nationalacademies.org/onpinews/newsitem.aspx?RecordID=12999
The entire report is available at: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12999
Paul Fakes covers public policy-related research and development (R&D) issues for ASME. He can be reached at: fakesp@asme.org
Melissa Carl covers public policy-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education issues for ASME. She can be reached at: carlm@asme.org.
COMPROMISE LANGUAGE ON NASA REAUTHORIZATION RELEASED BY HOUSE SCIENCE
COMMITTEE
House Science and Technology (S&T) Committee Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) is retiring at the end of the 111th Session of Congress, and he would like to cement his legacy for science policy by advancing both a reauthorization for the bipartisan “America COMPETES Act, as well as ushering through a reauthorization for NASA. While COMPETES remains in the Senate’s court, his second goal received a boost this week when the committee released compromise legislative language for the NASA Reauthorization Act on September 23rd.
The Chairman issued the following statement: “This is House compromise language, with bipartisan support. It reflects months of discussions and input from many Members. As a result, we believe we have a bill that both builds on and improves on H.R. 5781, the NASA Authorization Act that was marked up by the Science and Technology Committee earlier this year. Moreover, we believe this compromise helps move the discussion about the future of NASA closer to a final product.
”For too long, NASA has not been given the resources to complete the many missions the nation has asked of it. NASA is too important to the nation to continue on that path. This will provide a clear and sustainable direction for NASA, in light of the current fiscal environment.”
As noted in the August, 13, and July 16, 2010 editions of Capitol Update, both the House and Senate, have taken up starkly different bills reauthorizing NASA earlier this summer, with the Senate managing to guide their version through the upper chamber by voice vote. The Administration came under fire earlier this year for proposing the elimination of the Constellation program, something that NASA officials have since revised.
The compromise language may be viewed at http://democrats.science.house.gov/Media/file/NASACompromiseText.pdf, while
a comparison between the new text and the Committee-approved bill may be reviewed at http://democrats.science.house.gov/Media/file/SIDE%20BY%20SIDE%20COMPARISON%20OF%20THE%20COMPROMISE%20TEXT%20AND%20THE%20BILL%20AS%20REPORTED%20BY%20COMMITTEE.pdf
Paul Fakes handles public policy-related research and development (R&D)
issues for ASME. He can be reached at fakesp@asme.org
NUCLEAR R&D BILL APPROVED BY SCIENCE COMMITTEE
On September 23rd, the House S&T Committee approved H.R. 5866, the “Nuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 2010.” The measure, which was reported from the S&T Committee’s Energy and Environment Subcommittee by a voice vote in July, would provide up to $439 million a year through 2013 to improve current reactors’ efficiency and life cycles and commercialize small modular reactors through a 50 percent public-private cost-share program.
In his opening statement, S&T Committee Chair Gordon noted, “This bill amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to modernize and improve our Federal nuclear energy R&D programs. Our nation’s 104 commercial reactors today produce 20 percent of our electricity and 70 percent of our emissions free energy. If we are to increase our energy independence and mitigate the effects of climate change, nuclear must continue to be a large part of our nation’s energy mix. However, despite a strong record of safety and operating efficiency, capital costs continue to rise for construction of new plants, and the question of how to manage the waste byproducts of nuclear fission remains. H.R. 5866 provides the programmatic architecture needed at DOE to answer and solve these outstanding issues.”
To read H.R. 5866, go to: http://thomas.loc.gov and search by bill number.
A section-by-section analysis is also available at: http://democrats.science.house.gov/Media/file/Commdocs/markups/2010/Full/23sep/NuclearEnergyRandDActSectionbySection.pdfRobert
Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME. He can be
reached at: rainsr@asme.org
VICE PRESIDENT HOSTS ROUNDTABLE TO PROMOTE INVESTMENT IN SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH
Vice President Joe Biden hosted a roundtable discussion with university presidents about stimulus research grants on September 22nd to promote the Administration's renewed commitment to investing in scientific research. The purpose of the gathering was to draw attention to the more than $18 billion included in the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) for university research. Biden said the research funds were among the most critical parts of the stimulus and key to the nation's economic competitiveness.
"Folks, this is where the future lies,” the Vice President said. “Our economic future will grow from ideas that are incubating at universities. That’s the breeding ground and it always has been.”
Biden also said he is "always amazed" at critics of federal research spending.
“Some of our critics act like we’ve come up with some new social intervention,” he said, contrasting that attitude with the mindset in countries, such as India and China, where he said leaders understand the need for research investments. “The rest of the world gets this, and we can’t afford to lag behind. We cannot afford to not rededicate ourselves to the work you guys around the table do.”
To learn more about this roundtable discussion, please visit: http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/120041-biden-qscience-is-back-in-the-white-houseq
To view a video of the roundtable discussion, go to: http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2010/09/21/investing-university-research
Paul Fakes handles public policy-related research and development (R&D) issues for ASME. He can be reached at: fakesp@asme.org
RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY STANDARD BILL INTRODUCED IN SENATE
On September 21st, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators led by Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chair Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced a stand-alone Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) bill that would require sellers of electricity to retail customers to obtain certain percentages of their electric supply from renewable energy resources. The percentages would rise from three percent in years 2012-2013 to 15 percent in years 2021-2039.
States that have a higher RES would not be affected by the bill. But states that have no RES or a lower one would have to comply with the 15 percent RES. Utilities selling less than four million megawatt hours per year are exempt.
"Shifting our country toward home-grown renewable energy will create jobs and help reduce carbon pollution. I believe there is strong support for this bipartisan bill and I hope we can pass it through Congress in the coming weeks," said Bingaman.
Sellers of electricity can meet the standard in a number of ways, including:
- Produce the specified amount of electricity or efficiency savings;
- Purchase renewable energy or efficiency savings; or,
- Purchase renewable energy credits or energy efficiency credits from entities which have excess.
Senator Bingaman is working to secure 60 cosponsors so that the bill, S. 3813, can be brought up for consideration before Congress adjourns later this year. Co-sponsors include Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), John Ensign (R-NV), Mark Udall (D-CO) and Susan Collins (R-ME).
For additional information, go to: http://bingaman.senate.gov/news/20100921-01.cfm and http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressReleases.Detail&PressRelease_id=0c859aee-4287-4320-90ad-cdc38c3f7409&Month=9&Year=2010&Party=0
To read the bill as introduced, please visit: http://thomas.loc.gov and search by bill number.
Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME.
He can be reached at: rainsr@asme.org
SENATE PANEL REVIEWS EFFECTIVENESS OF DOE’S LOAN GUARANTEE
PROGRAM
Also on September 23rd, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing to receive testimony on the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Loan Guarantee Program (LGP) and its effectiveness in spurring the near-term deployment of clean energy technology. The LGP, established in 2005 as part of the Energy Policy Act (P.L. 109-58), has been the subject of criticism by members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, including Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) for not awarding their first loan until 2009.
In his opening remarks, Committee Chair Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) observed, “In the five years since this program was authorized 14 loan guarantees have been issued – all of them in the last 14 months and ten of those within the last year. While the Department, under Secretary Chu’s leadership, should be commended for its obvious commitment to getting this program moving, it’s impossible to ignore the enormous gap between our efforts and those of our competitors overseas. Just last week, ‘The New York Times’ had an extensive article on the aggressive support China is providing to new clean energy ventures, which includes everything from rich tax credits, to subsidized land, to exceptionally cheap capital. While we are arguing about whether or not we can afford to restore the $3.5 billion that was withdrawn from the $6 billion program set up less than two years ago, they’re offering support that is measured in the hundreds of billions.”
Officials from the Administration’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) declined to participate in the hearing, further irritating lawmakers who have openly suspected that the agency shares some of the blame for what they perceive to be the ineffectiveness of the program. There has also been renewed interest in the Senate’s “American Clean Energy Leadership” Act (S.1462), because of the desire by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to pass energy legislation before lawmakers adjourn before the election. S. 1462 would, among other provisions, revise the Title XVII LGP to create a “Clean Energy Deployment Administration,” indicative of the Committee’s frustration with the LGP.
Witnesses for the hearing included: Mr. Jonathan Silver, Executive Director, Loan Programs Office, DOE; Mr. Tim Newell, Senior Advisor, U.S. Renewables Group; Mr. Jens Meyerhoff, President, Utility Systems Business Group, First Solar; Mr. Michael Scott, Managing Director, Miller Buckfire & Co., LLC; and, Mr. Marv Fertel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Nuclear Energy Institute.
The written testimony of each witness is available at: http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Hearings.Hearing&Hearing_ID=1c1534be-9e3a-9632-c0ec-c8f8d212882b
To view the archived Webcast of the hearing, please visit: http://energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?Fuseaction=Hearings.LiveStream&Hearing_id=1c1534be-9e3a-9632-c0ec-c8f8d212882b
Robert Rains handles public policy-related energy issues for ASME.
He can be reached at: rainsr@asme.org
SENATE CONFIRMS CARL WIEMAN FOR OSTP POST
Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate confirmed Dr. Carl Wieman as Associate Director for Science in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). In that capacity, he is expected to lead the Administration’s actions to improve science education.
Dr. Wieman currently divides his time between the University of British Columbia (UBC) and the University of Colorado. At each institution, he serves as both the Director of Collaborative Science Education Initiatives aimed at achieving widespread improvement in undergraduate science education and as a Professor of Physics. From 1984 through 2006, he was a Distinguished Professor of Physics and Presidential Teaching Scholar at the University of Colorado. While at the University of Colorado, he was a Fellow of JILA (a joint federal-university institute for interdisciplinary research in the physical sciences), and he served as the Chair of JILA from 1993-95.
Dr. Wieman has conducted extensive research in atomic and laser physics. His research has been recognized with numerous awards, including sharing the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001 for the creation of a new form of matter known as “Bose-Einstein condensation.” Dr. Wieman has also worked extensively on research and innovations for improving science education, serving as the founding Chair of the National Academy of Sciences Board on Science Education. He has received numerous awards, including the National Science Foundation’s Distinguished Teaching Scholar Award (2001), the Carnegie Foundation’s U.S. University Professor of the Year Award (2004), and the American Association of Physics Teachers’ Oersted Medal (2007) for his work on science education.
Dr. Wieman received his B.S. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1973, and his Ph.D. from Stanford University in 1977.
Melissa Carl covers public policy-related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education issues for ASME. She can be reached at: carlm@asme.org.
THE ARTICLES CONTAINED IN CAPITOL UPDATE ARE NOT POSITIONS OF ASME OR ANY OF ITS SUB-ENTITIES, UNLESS SPECIFICALLY NOTED AS SUCH. THIS PUBLICATION IS DESIGNED TO INFORM ASME MEMBERS ABOUT ISSUES OF CONCERN BEING DEBATED AND DISCUSSED IN THE HALLS OF CONGRESS, IN THE STATES, AND IN THE FEDERAL AGENCIES.
EDITOR: Mary James Legatski, ASME Government Relations, 1828 L Street, NW, Suite 906, Washington, DC 20036-5104.