Hoyer Briefs Maryland Tech Council on Congress' Innovation Agenda

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) met with the Maryland Tech Council on Friday, September 21 to discuss how the Congressional agenda affects the technology industry in Maryland. Rep. Hoyer focused his remarks on the Innovation Agenda, an aggressive plan crafted by Congressional Democrats to maintain America's leadership in the global marketplace. This year, pieces of the agenda were formulated into legislation passed by Congress- The America Competes Act – which was signed into law by the President on August 9.

"According to the Tech Council's website, your mission is to ‘promote the technology industry and to create an environment where technology companies can collaborate, grow and succeed," Rep. Hoyer said in his remarks. "The 110th Congress shares your mission, and we have crafted an Innovation Agenda to further this goal."

The Innovation Agenda was crafted based upon the alarming findings of the National Academies' 2005 report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm, which found that the U.S. will begin losing ground in the global economy if we do not begin making additional needed investments for the future. A key finding of the report noted that many of America's youth are not receiving the appropriate level of education in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) needed to preserve America's global preeminence. To address this education deficit, the America Competes Act authorizes $43.3 billion over the next three years for STEM research and education programs, increases the number of qualified teachers in these subjects, and includes provisions to help broaden participation in science and engineering fields at all levels.

"In today's global economy, the need for investment is clear," stated Rep. Hoyer. "The United States must maintain our leadership in research and discovery for both our economic and national security. The America Competes Act demonstrated this Congress' commitment to spurring economic growth and encouraging innovation and the development of new technologies."

The Innovation Agenda and the America Competes Act will especially have an impact in Maryland where technology and innovation play a significant role in the economy. According to the Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, Maryland ranked second nationally in R&D obligations by the federal government—with $12.2 billion in funding annually. Cutting-edge federal, academic, and private sector institutions maintain large facilities in Maryland - Goddard Space Flight Center, Pax River Naval Air Station, National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Institutes of Health, and the Food and Drug Administration; the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins in academia; and Lockheed Martin, Constellation, BAE Systems, and Northrup Grumman from the private sector.

"I am pleased that these facilities call Maryland home, and I hope that we can work together to grow the high technology presence in our state over the coming years," stated Rep. Hoyer. "In addition, I am proud to support an active Congressional agenda to encourage high-tech job growth, industry expansion, and technological innovation. I look forward to working with your members to achieve our goal of furthering Maryland's leadership in the technology industry."

Rep. Hoyer and members of Maryland's Congressional delegation will be meeting with Maryland technology groups this Thursday in Washington.

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