ABOVE: The US Senate Chamber entrance.
© ISTOCK.COM, DRNADIG
The Senate passed the US Innovation and Competitiveness Act—a massive science funding bill that aims to help the US compete with China technologically—on Tuesday (June 8) with a 68–32 vote. If the bill passes the House, it would provide $250 billion for research and help foster collaborations between academia and industry.
The act’s bipartisan support, with 48 Democrats, 19 Republicans, and one Independent voting in favor, reflects rising concerns about America’s dependence on China, reports The New York Times. “Either we can concede the mantle of global leadership to our adversaries or we can pave the way for another generation of American leadership,” says Democratic Senate majority leader and cosponsor of the legislation Chuck Schumer (D-NY), according to the Times. The paper calls the bill “the most significant government intervention in industrial policy in decades.”
Overall, the legislation would authorize roughly $190 ...
