National Competitiveness Investment Act

Bill: 109-s-3936
Sponsor: Sen. Frist, William H. [R-TN]
Introduced: 2006-09-26 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Academic performance
Administrative procedure
Aeronautics
Alternative energy sources
Atmosphere
Authorization
Awards, medals, prizes
Carbon cycle
Commemorations
Commerce
Computers
Conferences
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Curricula
Department of Commerce
Department of Energy
Distance education
Dropouts
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Educational accountability
Educational statistics
Elementary and secondary education
Elementary education
Energy
Energy efficiency
Energy research
Engineering
Engineers
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to research
Federal employees
Foreign Trade and International Finance
Fossil fuels
Genetic research
Government Operations and Politics
Governmental investigations
Graduate education
Higher education
Industrial engineering
Infrastructure
International competitiveness
Labor and Employment
Laboratories
Language and languages
Law
Manufacturing industries
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Mathematics
Nanotechnology
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy research
Nuclear engineering
Oceanographic research
Older workers
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Regulatory impact statements
Research
Research and development
Research and development facilities
Research centers
Research grants
Scholarships
Scientific education
Scientists
Secondary education
Social Welfare
Space activities
Standards
Taxation
Teacher education
Teaching
Technological innovations
Transportation and Public Works
Transportation research

Summary:
action_date: 2006-09-26
text: 
National Competitiveness Investment Act - American Innovation and Competitiveness Act of 2006 - Directs the President to: (1) convene a National Science and Technology Summit; (2) establish a President's Council on Innovation and Competitiveness; and (3) establish the Innovation Acceleration Research Program.
 
Directs the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to: (1) establish an Aeronautics Institute for Research; (2) coordinate basic and fundamental research activities related to physical sciences, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and (3) establish a Basic Research Executive Council.
 
Authorizes appropriations for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program. Requires the NIST Director to: (1) establish the Standards and Technology Acceleration Research Program; and (2) reestablish the Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Technology.
 
Requires the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to: (1) establish a program of ocean and atmospheric research and development; and (2) develop an ocean, coastal, and atmospheric science education plan.
 
Protecting America's Competitive Edge Through Energy Act or PACE-Energy Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) appoint a Department of Energy (DOE) Director of Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education, and establish a Mathematics, Science, and Engineering Education Fund; (2) award grants for establishing specialty schools for mathematics and science; (3) establish a national laboratories summer internship program for middle and secondary school students; (4) establish Centers of Excellence in Mathematics and Science at schools in regions of national laboratories; (5) establish or expand programs to strengthen mathematics and science teaching skills of public school teachers; (6) establish a program to expand and enhance higher education nuclear science educational capabilities; (7) award grants to outstanding DOE early-career researchers; and (8) establish a program to support the appointment of distinguished scientists by institutions of higher education and national laboratories.
 
Establishes the Advanced Research Projects Authority-Energy.
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Education to award grants to: (1) develop and implement programs to provide courses of study in mathematics, science, engineering, or critical foreign languages with concurrent teacher certification or to enhance teacher knowledge and teaching skills; (2) increase the number of teachers and students teaching or enrolled in advanced placement or international baccalaureate courses in mathematics, science, or critical foreign languages; (3) help low-income students performing below grade level in mathematics; (4) establish programs of study in critical foreign languages; (5) promote content knowledge requirements for secondary school graduation and establish or improve a statewide P-16 education data system.
 
Requires the Director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) to: (1) expand the Graduate Research Fellowship Program and the Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program; (2) establish a clearinghouse and pilot programs relating to the creation or improvement of professional science master's degree programs; (4) establish a program to provide mentors for women interested in careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and (5) establish a program of basic research in advanced information and communications technologies.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2006-09-27
text: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 648.
action_date: 2006-09-27
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10224)
action_date: 2006-09-26
text: Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10161-10183)
action_date: 2006-09-26
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S10161)
action_date: 2006-09-26
text: Introduced in Senate