President Bush Authorizes Energy Research But May Not Fund It

In August 2007, President George W. Bush signed the “America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act,” or the “America COMPETES” act. The bill authorizes funding for an array of programs in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and a number of other agencies.

According to a summary published by the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology, the bill is intended to improve the quality of science and math education, to invest in science and engineering research, to offer incentives for students and researchers in science, and to offer tax incentives and other benefits to support scientific innovation in the private sector.