"During the last 50 years, the world has witnessed truly revolutionary advances in science and technology. We as a nation can take pride in knowing that American scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs have been at the forefront of many of these advances," said Gates. "This Committee can also take pride in knowing that it is directly responsible for many of the key federal policies that provided the foundation for U.S. technology leadership."
This year, the committee is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. The committee was created by Congress in response to the Russian's launch of Sputnik in 1958. Testimony by Gates today highlighted this anniversary and kicked off the first in a series of hearings focusing on the country's technological advances of the past half century and the challenges ahead.
The hearing was led by Committee Chairman Bart Gordon. "Sputnik showed us that we were not the world's technological leader. Today, with the rapid economic and technological advances of other countries, I fear we are now on the cusp of another Sputnik moment. I fear that our country has 'coasted' on the investments we made 50 years ago. Now is the time to act and I believe this committee has an important role to play in helping bring our country back as the technological leader in the world," he noted.
Following World War II and throughout much of the 20th century, the U.S. became a world leader in science and innovation, and economic indicators demonstrated that the United States offered a high standard of living to its citizens. In the 1990's however, during a period in which the U.S. was known as the world's lone "superpower," a number of indicators suggested that U.S. prosperity was diminishing.
On October 12, 2005, The National Academy of Science released a report on Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century entitled Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future. The Gathering Storm report quickly became influential in promoting a national agenda on innovation and competitiveness. Ultimately, recommendations included in the Gathering Storm report, became the basis for legislation --. This legislation, authored by this Committee, makes a significant commitment to our country's future by investing in math and science education and federal research.
Gates commented on the America COMPETES Act, legislation signed into law last August to invest in math and science education and federal research, saying, "This Committee, of course, has been a leading advocate for expanding educational opportunities for American students and workers in the vital areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). These initiatives -- and many others this Committee has spearheaded -- represent critical strides in the much-needed effort to reform our faltering educational system, and I commend you for your vision and efforts. But in order to ensure the continued success of our young people now and in the future, the public and private sectors must do more. One of the most important steps that Congress can take to address this issue is to fully fund the America COMPETES Act."
"Bill Gates is also spot-on in his assessment of our education system, which needs to be strengthened if our students are going to learn the skills they need to compete in the technology-based economy of the future," said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
Chairman Gordon added, "Bill Gates embodies both the American spirit of innovation and the theological virtue of charity. He has built arguably the most successful technology company in the world and then has turned his financial success into his gift to our society. On this occasion of the 50th Anniversary of this committee, as we reflect back on the technological advances of the past and look ahead to the challenges facing our country's competitiveness in the world, I can think of no other witness better suited and well positioned to help share insights with this committee."
Gates also highlighted what he considers the three policy pillars the U.S. must focus on if we are to retain our position as the world's innovation leader over the next 50 years: strengthening America's education system; fixing America's immigration system; and increasing federal funding for basic research.
