Foster, Durbin Introduce American Innovation Act
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL-11) and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) reintroduced the bicameral American Innovation Act, which would provide annual budget increases at a rate of five percent, indexed to inflation, for cutting-edge research at five federal agencies: the Department of Energy Office of Science; the National Science Foundation; the National Institute of Standards and Technology Scientific and Technical Research Services; the Department of Defense Science and Technology Programs; and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Science Directorate. The American Innovation Act would position the U.S. as a leader in development and discovery for decades to come by creating steady, sustained funding for breakthrough research at America’s top research agencies.
“I’m proud to work with Senator Durbin on this legislation to expand federal investment in scientific research,” said Foster. “Since World War II, investments in science and technology have helped expand our economy, create millions of jobs, and advance our national security. 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.”
“In its crusade to damage essential government infrastructure, the Trump Administration has failed to recognize that sustained support for basic scientific research has enabled the United States to put a man on the moon, build the internet, and produce a COVID-19 vaccine in record time. 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,” said Durbin. “I’m introducing the American Innovation Act to ensure our nation’s scientists and researchers have access to critical funding to push our world forward while also creating jobs, growing our economy, and improving our national security.”
Basic science funding in the U.S. has lagged in recent decades. Since the 1970s, U.S. investment in basic science has decreased by tenfold to about 0.1 percent of GDP. Meanwhile, China’s research intensity (GDP expenditures on R&D) has increased by 500 percent since 1996. If this trend continues, China will soon surpass the U.S. in investment in science.
The American Innovation Act is cosponsored by U.S. Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL-06), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), and Brian Schatz (D-HI).
The legislation has earned the endorsement of the American Mathematical Society; American Physical Society; American Society of Mechanical Engineers; American Society of Microbiology; Association of American Universities; Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities; Coalition for Academic Scientific Computation; Computing Research Association; Council on Undergraduate Research; Federation of American Scientists; Institute for Progress; the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers; MIT Graduate Student Council; Society of Women Engineers; Taskforce for American Innovation; University of Illinois System; and the University of Chicago.
A copy of the legislation can be found here.
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