WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania and Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado have formed a bipartisan Senate caucus focused on strengthening U.S. scientific research and translating discoveries into economic and technological gains as competition with China intensifies.
The Senate Bipartisan Science and Innovation Caucus will bring lawmakers together with researchers and industry leaders to examine policies affecting U.S. scientific leadership, innovation and the science, technology, engineering, math and medicine workforce.
The caucus plans to hold briefings and roundtables, examine existing and proposed policies and provide a forum for discussing legislation intended to expand scientific research and the domestic STEM workforce.
“America’s economic strength and national security have always been powered by our ability to innovate, and that begins with world-class scientific research,” McCormick stated.
McCormick described scientific investment as part of the broader competition to maintain U.S. economic and technological leadership.
“As we compete to maintain America’s position as the world’s leading superpower, this bipartisan caucus will help unleash the ingenuity of our scientists, entrepreneurs, and innovators to drive economic growth, create opportunity, and strengthen our nation,” McCormick stated.
The senators pointed to science, technology, engineering, math and medicine jobs as representing 34% of the U.S. workforce, while economic activity from those fields accounts for 39% of gross domestic product, or more than $10 trillion.
The U.S. spends about 3% of GDP on research and development and innovation, according to figures provided by the senators. They also cited estimates that each $1 in federally funded research and development generates nearly $2 in economic output.
The caucus is being established as China increases its competitive position in research and development, STEM education and intellectual property. The senators pointed to China overtaking the U.S. in R&D funding, graduating more STEM doctoral students, filing more international patents and narrowing the U.S. advantage in venture-capital investment.
Federally funded research has contributed to technologies including optical fiber, microchips, personal computers, mobile phones, robotics and medical advances.
Hickenlooper framed the caucus as an effort to give scientific research greater attention in congressional policymaking.
“Science propels our economy, saves lives, and solves the problems that once seemed unsolvable,” Hickenlooper stated. “This caucus exists for one reason: to make sure Congress is fighting as hard for American innovation as our scientists and researchers are.”
The caucus will hold its kickoff event Monday, Sept. 14, at the U.S. Capitol.
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