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Technology and Innovation News
Subcommittee
Addresses COMPETES Funding Authorized in FY09 NIST Budget
Chairman Wu greeted the witnesses before the hearing. |
Members of the subcommittee held a hearing on March 11 to discuss the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) FY09 budget and how it addresses the required funding levels mandated in the America COMPETES Act(PL 110-69).
The America COMPETES Act, authored by Chairman Bart Gordon, was signed into law on August 9, 2007. The COMPETES Act supports American global competitiveness through innovation by improving science and math education and research. The COMPETES Act put NIST’s budget on a ten-year path to doubling and authorized the agency $881.8 in FY09. Although the COMPETES Act created budget priorities for NIST and allocated sufficient funds to meet those priorities, NIST’s requested $243.8 million less than the FY09 budget authorized.
"The COMPETES Act clearly established Congressional priorities for NIST. However, the budget request this year largely ignored Congress’ input. The request is 28 percent lower than NIST’s FY09 authorization," said Subcommittee Chairman David Wu. "In fact, NIST is the only science agency included in COMPETES whose budget request is actually lower this year than last year."
Recent Technology and Innovation Hearings and Markups
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Subcommittee Jurisdiction
Committee Rule 3(a)(2)
Legislative jurisdiction and general oversight and investigative authority on all matters relating to competitiveness, technology, standards, and innovation:
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standardization of weights and measures including technical standards, standardization, and conformity assessment;
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measurement, including the metric system of measurement;
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the Technology Administration of the Department of Commerce;
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the National Institute of Standards and Technology;
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the National Technical Information Service;
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competitiveness, including small business competitiveness;
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tax, antitrust, regulatory and other legal and governmental policies as they relate to technological development and commercialization;
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technology transfer including civilian use of defense technologies;
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patent and intellectual property policy;
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international technology trade;
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research, development, and demonstration activities of the Department of Transportation;
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surface and water transportation research, development, and demonstration programs;
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earthquake programs (except for NSF) and fire research programs including those related to wildfire proliferation research and prevention;
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biotechnology policy;
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research, development, demonstration, and standards related activities of the Department of Homeland Security;
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Small Business Innovation Research and Technology Transfer; and
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voting technologies and standards.
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Subcommittee Members
Democrats:
David Wu (Oregon),
Chairman
Laura Richardson (California)
Jim Matheson (Utah)
Harry E. Mitchell (Arizona), Vice Chairman
Charles A. Wilson (Ohio)
Ben Chandler (Kentucky)
Mike Ross (Arkansas)
Bart Gordon (Tennessee),
ex officio
Republicans:
Phil Gingrey (Georgia),
Ranking Member
Vernon J. Ehlers (Michigan)
Judy Biggert (Illinois)
Adrian Smith (Nebraska)
Paul Broun (Georgia)
Ralph M. Hall (Texas),
ex officio
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