American Innovation and Competitiveness Act of 2006
Key claim: This 2006 Senate bill would have required a presidential science-and-technology summit, annual White House guidance on federal research investments, National Academies work on innovation risks, government-wide rules for how federal scientists share findings with the public, and school Math and Science Days, but it was only placed on the Senate calendar and did not become law.
Abstract
(S2802 · 109th Congress) American Innovation and Competitiveness Act of 2006 - Title I: Office of Science and Technology Policy; Government-Wide Science - (Sec. 101) Directs the President to convene a National Science and Technology Summit to examine the health and direction of U.S. science and technology enterprises. Requires the: (1) President to issue a report on Summit results; and (2) Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to publish an annual report recommending areas of investment for federal research and technology programs. (Sec. 102) Directs the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study to identify, and to review methods to mitigate, new forms of risk for businesses beyond conventional operational and financial risk that affect the ability to innovate. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 103) Amends the Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 to rename the National Technology Medal as the National Technology and Innovation Medal. (Sec. 104) Requires the OSTP Director to: (1) develop and issue a set of principles for the communication to the public of scientific information by government scientists, policy makers, and managers; and (2) ensure that all civilian federal agencies that conduct scientific research develop specific policies and procedures regarding the public release of scientific information consistent with the principles developed. (Sec. 105) Expresses the sense of Congress that the OSTP should: (1) encourage all elementary and middle schools to observe a Math and Science Day twice in every school year to excite and inspire students to pursue math and science fields; (2) initiate a program to provide support mechanisms and tools to encourage federal employees with scientific, technological, engineering, or mathematical responsibilities to reach out to local classrooms on such Math and Science Days; and (3) promote Math and Science Days involvement by private sector and institutions of higher learning employees. (Sec. 106) Expresses Latest action (2006-07-19): Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 524.
Why this matters
This bill is an early legislative attempt to formalize White House coordination of federal R&D priorities and to set government-wide rules for how federal scientists communicate with the public — a precursor to later scientific-integrity policies issued through OSTP directives. Tracking it clarifies which competitiveness-era proposals fed forward into the America COMPETES Act and which stalled at the calendar stage.