In response to concerns about U.S. competitiveness, the act invest in science and engineering research, and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education today so that the United States can enhance its potential to be more competitive with other nations in the future. Overview of the America COMPETES Act

The America COMPETES Act was a response to concerns that the United States may not be able to compete economically with other nations in the future. The act mainly addresses concerns about insufficient investment in science and engineering research; STEM education; and STEM workforce development. The act authorizes funding increases for the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratories, and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science through FY2010. The act also established new STEM education programs at DOE and the Department of Education (ED), and enhances the authorization level for NSF STEM education programs. The America COMPETES Act is an authorization act. New programs established by the act will not be initiated unless funded through subsequent appropriations. Similarly, increases in the authorization level of existing programs may or may not translate into increased funding. Based on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) model, ARPA-E is designed to support transformational energy technology research projects with the goal of enhancing the nation's economic and energy security. Discovery Science and Engineering Innovation Institutes would be multidisciplinary research institutes located at DOE national laboratories that would apply fundamental science and engineering discoveries to technological innovations. The goal of EFRCs would be to focus on transformative research. Congress appropriated FY2008 funding for the Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow program, which supports the development and implementation of higher education programs including a STEM baccalaureate degree with concurrent teacher certification, a part-time master's degrees in STEM or critical foreign languages for current teachers, and programs for professional scientists and engineers to pursue master's degrees that enable teacher certification. This new direction included increasing access to classes and tests for low-income students, preparation of teachers in high-need schools, and non-federal organizations contributing funds to the program. 110-329 ) that became law on September 30, 2008. American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

The 111 th Congress passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act ( P.L. The act includes funding for NIST's research and construction activities, NSF, ARPA-E, and DOE's Office of Science. At NSF, funding is provided for its Research and Related Directorate ($2,500 million); Education and Human Resources Directorate ($100 million); and the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction ($400 million) activity. 111-8 ). 111-5 ). Programs Funded at Authorized Levels

A review of Table 1 finds that the combined funding provided by the Omnibus Appropriation Act (Omnibus) and the American Investment and Recovery Act (ARRA) led to funding of several America COMPETES Act programs at the authorized level (see Table 2 ). Other programs were either funded below authorized levels, or not funded. However, at this time, there is insufficient evidence that the following new America COMPETES Act programs are funded: 
DOE
Pilot Program of Grants to Specialty Schools for Science and Mathematics Experiential Based Learning Opportunities Summer Institutes National Energy Education Development Nuclear Science Talent Expansion Program Hydrocarbon Systems Science Talent Expansion Program Early Career Awards for Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Researchers Discovery Science and Engineering Innovation Institutes Protecting America's Competitive Edge Graduate Fellowship Program Distinguished Scientist Program
ED
Advanced Placement & International Baccalaureate Program Math Now Summer Term Education Program Math Skills for Secondary Skill Students Advancing America Through Foreign Language Partnership Program Mathematics and Science Partnership Bonus Grants
NSF
Laboratory Science Pilot Program

	Obama Administration Implementation of Programs Funded by FY2009 Appropriation

This section discusses several aspects of the implementation of programs funded by the FY2009 appropriations by federal agencies that members of Congress might wish to monitor.
The America COMPETES Act (P.L. 110-69) became law on August 9, 2007. The act responds to concerns that the United States may not be able to compete economically with other nations in the future due to insufficient investment today in science and technology research and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce development. The America COMPETES Act is intended to increase the nation's investment in science and engineering research, and in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education from kindergarten to graduate school and postdoctoral education. It is designed to focus on two perceived concerns believed to influence future U.S. competitiveness: inadequate research and development funding to generate sufficient technological progress, and inadequate numbers of American students proficient in science and mathematics or interested in science and engineering careers relative to international competitors.
The act authorizes increases in funding for the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) laboratories, and the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science over FY2008-FY2010. If maintained, the increases would double the budgets of those agencies over seven years. Within DOE, the act would establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E), designed to support transformational energy technology research projects with the goal of enhancing the economic and energy security of the United States. A new program, Discovery Science and Engineering Innovation Institutes, would establish multidisciplinary institutes at DOE National Laboratories to apply fundamental science and engineering discoveries to technological innovations.
Among the act's education activities, many of which are focused on high-need school districts, are programs to recruit new K-12 STEM teachers, enhance existing STEM teacher skills, and provide more STEM education opportunities for students. The new Department of Education (ED) Teachers for a Competitive Tomorrow and existing NSF Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program provide opportunities, through institutional grants, for students pursuing STEM degrees and STEM professionals to gain teaching skills and teacher certification, and for current STEM teachers to enhance their content and teaching skills. The act also authorizes a new program at NSF that would provide grants to institutions of higher education to create or improve professional science master's degree (PSM) programs that emphasize practical training and preparation for the workforce in high-need fields.
The America COMPETES Act is an authorization act, so new programs established by the act will not be initiated, and increases in the authorization of appropriation level of existing programs may not occur, unless funded through subsequent appropriations. An issue for Congress was whether to fund America COMPETES Act programs at authorized funding levels. The 111th Congress passed the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (P.L. 111-8) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5) to supplement FY2009 funds. While some America COMPETES Act programs were funded at authorized levels, others were not. The following activities were funded at or above authorized levels: NIST Scientific & Technical Research and Services; NIST Construction & Maintenance; DOE Office of Science; NSF and its Research & Related Activities; Major Research Instrumentation; Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction; and its Professional Science Master's; Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship; and Graduate Research Fellowship programs. Other programs were funded either below authorized levels or not funded. The acts provide funding to establish DOE's ARPA-E and NSF's PSM program.