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Rep. Sherrill Statement on Passage of Two Bipartisan Bills Crucial to Ensuring American Scientific Development, Competitiveness

June 28, 2021

National Science Foundation for the Future Act, Department of Energy Science for the Future Act Both Address Critical Gaps in Scientific Research Funding

Washington, DC — Today, Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement on the passage of two bipartisan bills that will be instrumental in ensuring the United States remains competitive with the rest of the world in the fields of science and technology. Rep. Sherrill is a cosponsor of both bills, which passed out of the Science Space and Technology Committee earlier this month.

H.R. 2225, the "National Science Foundation for the Future Act" and H.R. 3593, the "Department of Energy Science for the Future Act," would both advance the United States' scientific enterprise and global leadership by addressing critical gaps in funding and support for both the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science. Passing them into law will ensure that both of the organizations have what they need to drive American innovation and competitiveness for years to come.

The "NSF for the Future Act" is the first comprehensive reauthorization of the NSF in more than 10 years and will provide the NSF the resources it needs for ambitious and sustainable growth over the next 5 years. The "DOE Science for the Future Act" is the first comprehensive authorization of the Department of Energy's Office of Science, which supports over half of DOE's non-defense R&D budget.

"The passage of this legislation is a major step forward in the United States' effort to maintain our global competitiveness in scientific enterprise. These bills will help ensure our country can address the most challenging issues of our time, including climate change and public health threats," said Rep. Sherrill. "Supporting those who are driving the research and innovation to find solutions to these challenges is the only way to ensure the United States remains a global competitor in science and technology. For years, our investments in critical STEM research have been outpaced by China and others around the globe as they seek to challenge the US' leadership in this space. The passage of these bills is a critical step forward in ensuring we're able to meet the challenges at hand."