And the United States continues to increase its vulnerability to the world oil market with increased oil imports. Underlying each of these problems is a deeper set of infrastructure problems that span the energy spectrum. As demand increases rapidly, price rises are to be expected. A well-functioning market would increase supply and reduce demand, but many energy markets are not yet fully competitive. The natural gas market is still relatively new.
Electricity markets are even newer.
And oil markets have always been subject to international pressures. Accordingly, the U.S. Department of Energy should create multiple programs to help energy markets function better. The federal government has traditionally played a limited role in K-12 education, providing only about 8 percent of nationwide expenditures. However, education research is one area where the federal government is the predominant force. As many states adopt reforms and infuse massive new resources into their public schools, the federal government has a unique opportunity to strengthen the scientific research base in education.