American Competitiveness

In 2006, a commission organized by the National Academies of Science and Engineering released the "Rising Above the Gathering Storm" report, sparking a national effort to bolster federal science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and research and development programs.  These efforts culminated with the enactment of the America COMPETES Act in 2007. 

Consider that:

• The U.S. graduates only half the number of physicists that we did in 1956 -- before Sputnik spurred our last "great awakening" in science and engineering.  

• One-third to half of those we graduate with science and engineering degrees are foreign students; and most of them will return to their home countries rather than applying their skills in the U.S. 

• U.S. patents are down and our companies are spending more on tort litigation than on research and development. 

• Tests still show that one-third of U.S. students lack the competency to perform the most basic mathematical computations. 

• Half of the money we made available for grants for college students in STEM fields is going unused. 

• Our edge in aerospace research is in danger.  Our historic prominence in automobiles and electronics manufacturing has long since eroded; we cannot afford to lose our aerospace leadership.

Although we have been successful in raising awareness of the need for a strong STEM workforce and in authorizing innovative programs, we now face a serious challenge in funding these initiatives.  I believe that we must rein in explosive mandatory spending in order to ensure sufficient funding is available for this critical competitiveness initiative, among other programs.

We need all sectors of our society -- especially the business and academic communities -- to rally behind bipartisan and comprehensive efforts to address our explosive debt and fiscal insolvency.

 Rep. Wolf's Floor Statement on H. Con. Res. 366, increasing math, science, and technology education

The Math and Science Incentive Act:

I reintroduced legislation in the 110th Congress with Rep. Vern Ehlers of Michigan aimed at attracting more students to math, science, engineering and related fields.  The Math and Science Incentive Act would forgive interest on undergraduate student loans (both subsidized and unsubsidized) for math, science and engineering majors who agree to work five years in their field upon graduation. 

There is a critical shortage of math, science and engineering students in the United States.  Unfortunately, there is little public awareness of this downward trend and its implications for jobs, industry or national security in America’s future. We need to do everything we can to help attract more students to these fields.

Authorizing the secretary of Education to pay up to $10,000 of the interest accrued on student loans for math, science and engineering majors who agree to work for five years in their field of study may make all the difference in the world for a student considering whether or not to stick with an engineering degree program.  These are certainly challenging subjects. 

The Wolf-Ehlers bill was included in the House-passed Higher Education Act Reauthorization in February 2008.  The reauthorization would establish a new Mathematics and Science Incentive program that would forgive up to $5,000 in student loan interest on federal loans for borrowers who agree to serve for 5 consecutive years as teachers of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics in high need schools or as mathematics, science, or engineering professionals.