Pelosi Remarks at 15th Annual Coalition for National Science Funding Exhibition and...

Pelosi Remarks at 15th Annual Coalition for National Science Funding
Exhibition and Reception

WASHINGTON, March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke at
the 15th Annual Coalition for National Science Funding (CNSF) exhibition and
reception this afternoon. CNSF supports the goal of increasing the national
investment in the National Science Foundation's research and education
programs. Below are the Speaker's remarks as prepared:

"Thank you to the Coalition for National Science Funding for making the case
to Congress for substantial new investments in science, which are critical to
spurring innovation and new jobs. I would particularly like to welcome our
university presidents, researchers and graduate students from California and
to thank them for keeping our state in the lead of scientific discovery.

"If you want to know the agenda for this Congress, think of four words:
science, science, science, science.

"In 2005, Democrats sought out the best possible ideas on how to secure
America's place as the world leader in innovation. We went outside of
Washington, and met with leaders and CEOs from many fields: academia, venture
capital, and entrepreneurs from the high-tech, biotech, and telecommunications
sectors who are creating the jobs of tomorrow.

"Their innovative spirit informed our Innovation Agenda: a commitment to
competitiveness to keep America Number One.

"In just the last two years we:
-- Enacted comprehensive innovation legislation, the COMPETES Act
-- Put America on a path doubling funding for basic scientific research
-- Made college more affordable with the largest college aid expansion
since the GI Bill
-- Helped to provide more highly qualified teachers in the fields of
mathematics science, engineering, technology
-- Established a public-private partnership to educate and train the next
generation of mathematicians, scientists and engineers
-- Extended the R&D Tax Credit
-- Created a new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) to
encourage high-risk, high-reward clean energy research

"And that is just the beginning. Because innovation is essential to
rebuilding our economy, the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act included:
-- $3 billion for NSF to expand employment opportunities, improve
facilities and equipment, and bolster math and science instruction
-- $2 billion for the Department of Energy for basic research, laboratory
improvements, and to support the mission of ARPA-E
-- $360 million for the National Institutes of Standards and Technology
for
grants to help improve research science buildings at colleges and
universities and $220 million for research fellowships, equipment and
competitive grants
-- A $500 increase in the maximum Pell Grant that will help make college
more affordable for approximately 7 million students.

"We now have a President who is equally committed to investments in science
and innovation. President Obama pledged in his inspirational Inaugural Address
to 'restore science to its rightful place.' Those words were welcome in both
Congress and the scientific community.

"The President's budget for the coming year reflects our continued commitment
to NSF funding and basic scientific research. This bodes well for these
critical initiatives in the Congressional budget resolution, this year's
appropriations bills, and for steady and consistent funding for science well
into the future.

"Investment in research and development is just that, an investment -- in the
future strength of our nation. Federal research dollars have helped lure the
best minds to your institutions. These innovations spin off into companies
that create high-paying jobs and lead to economic prosperity.

"That is the shared mission of all of us here today: to build our nation's
intellectual infrastructure. I look forward to working with you again this
year to usher in the next generation of innovation."

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House

Brendan Daly, Nadeam Elshami or Drew Hammill, all of the Office of the Speaker
of the House, +1-202-226-7616