WASHINGTON - The House passed Monday two bipartisan bills that aimed to boost research and development in the United States. This sets up a fight with the Senate about how to best invest in scientific innovation in order to increase American competitiveness.These bills are the House's response to the Endless Frontier Act, which the Senate passed overwhelmingly this month. This bill would see unprecedented federal investments go into emerging technologies to help China compete. The House bills were drafted by lawmakers who took a different approach. They called for a doubling of funding for traditional research initiatives at National Science Foundation over the next five year and a 7 percent increase to the Energy Departments Office of Science.This contrast was prompted by concerns that House lawmakers felt the Senate bill put too much emphasis on developing new technologies and replicating Beijing's aggressive moves to achieve industrial dominance. The lawmakers suggested that the United States should invest more in its proven research and development capabilities.We must act immediately if we want to be the world's leader in science and technology. This is Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, Democrat, and chairwoman of Science Committee. We shouldn't act too quickly. Instead of copying the efforts of emerging competitors, we should double down on the proven innovation engines at the National Science Foundation (and the Department of Energy).
