Letter supporting H.R. 5116, the "America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010"

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, urges you to support H.R. 5116, the "America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010" without reduction of its authorization levels.

The Chamber believes that H.R. 5116 would strengthen U.S. competitiveness by improving America's scientific and economic leadership, and making stronger investments in science, innovation, research, and education.

A lack of qualified math and science teachers in America's public schools is a major impediment to improved U.S. educational achievement in math and science. H.R. 5116 would provide additional support for scholarship and training programs to recruit new K-12 math and science teachers, and to enhance the skills of existing teachers.

The continuation of Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy represents a necessary step towards bypassing some of the traditional "stovepiping" that frequently hinders the efficiency and expediency of research and development at the Department of Energy and its National Laboratories. It is vital to encourage some degree of these high risk—high reward projects that could change the entire landscape of how energy resources are produced and used.

The Chamber urges you to strengthen America's competitiveness by supporting H.R. 5116. The Chamber may consider votes on, or in relation to, this issue in our annual How They Voted scorecard.

Sincerely,

R. Bruce Josten