Senate panel ready to double federal science funding

A Senate committee on Thursday neared approval of legislation that seeks to bolster technology skills and education.

The scheduled vote in the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee had not occurred this afternoon, but its approval by voice vote was expected.

The bill, S. 2817, would double National Science Foundation funding over the next five years, specifically authorizing the agency's research on nanoscience, among other things.

Committee Chairman Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., chiefly consolidated separate grant programs designed to improve elementary and secondary math and science education. It also made technical changes to the bill's language.

"We need to do more to interest young minds in math and science and recruit tomorrow's scientists and engineers," Kennedy said in a statement. "Over the next 10 years, the number of jobs requiring technical skills will grow by 50 percent," and the legislation would build on existing NSF programs to prepare students for college-level or technical work.

One change in the measure would roll an Education Department program that creates math and science partnerships among state and local governments and colleges into a similar initiative at the foundation. The bill would establish one competitive grant system for the next two years. The money could be allocated for special programs to improve math and science instruction, such as training or bonuses to bolster teachers' skills.

The measure also contains a "tech talent" provision that would authorize grants, scholarships and other incentives to encourage students to pursue degrees in math, science, engineering and other technology disciplines. Lawmakers hope to increase the availability of highly skilled labor for the growing technology sector over the next several years.

"We would prefer to keep the math-science partnership as originally designed, with the testing of the program in NSF and the application of the program in the Department of Education," said Thom Stohler, vice president of technology and workforce policy at AeA, a technology trade association.

Other observers fear that by combining the programs, funding may not reach specific groups such as minorities or underprivileged students who stand to benefit significantly from improved math and science instruction.

The House passed its own version of NSF reauthorization legislation in July; however, that bill does not include the "tech talent" provision and would not consolidate the math and science partnership program into NSF. The House passed those measures separately.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee also must approve S. 2817 before it moves to the Senate floor.