Hutchison: America’s Long Term Competitiveness is Critical

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Senate Commerce, Science, and
Transportation Committee hearing today on advancing American innovation,
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member on the Committee,
stressed that the nation’s long term competitiveness is critical to the
American economy.

“With the U.S. economy still fragile, America’s long-term
competitiveness is more critical than ever,” said Senator Hutchison.  “We have important work to do to make sure that
we have sustained economic growth and a robust private sector to employ the
next generation of American workers. 
Science and technology are at the core of America’s ability to compete
in an increasingly globalized economy and to solve many of the challenges we
face as a nation in energy independence, biotechnology, and healthcare.”

According to the National Science Board’s Science and
Engineering Indicators 2010 report, U.S. leadership in research and
development (R&D) and technological innovation is now shrinking.  The
report notes that while the U.S.
remains a world leader in R&D, its advantage is diminishing, threatening
our nation’s preeminence in technological development.  In Texas, only 41 percent
of the high school graduates are ready for college-level math (algebra), and
only 24 percent are ready for college-level science (biology). Nationally,
only two percent of boys and one percent of girls will attain an undergraduate
science or engineering degree.  Recent studies show that 42% of all college
undergraduates in China earn
science or engineering degrees and nearly 80 percent of the 114,000 science and
engineering (S&E) doctorates awarded worldwide were from institutions
outside the United States.

“In order to compete, the U.S. needs not only to train the
best scientists and engineers in the world, but also ensure that our students
are prepared with a strong proficiency in math and science so that they can be
competitive for the high-paying, high-tech jobs of the 21st century,” Senator
Hutchison said.  “I think we can and must
make America more competitive and innovative than it is today.”