Congressional Hearing on U.S. Leadership in Science and Technology
January 1, 2019
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The Frame
This hearing informs future federal legislation and funding priorities for scientific research and education, which directly impacts national economic competitiveness and security.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
STEM students and workforce
The committee is evaluating policies regarding education and training programs for the future science and technology workforce.
Universities and national labs
These institutions are the primary recipients of federal fundamental research funding and are central to the discussion on maintaining U.S. research leadership.
Private sector R&D firms
The committee is examining how government and private sector partnerships can be improved to maintain national competitiveness.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2019.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The U.S. currently ranks 11th globally in research intensity.
- The U.S. has fallen behind several countries in research and development (R&D) spending as a share of GDP.
- China has surpassed the U.S. in total research publication output.
- East Asian countries as a group have surpassed the U.S. in total research publication output.
- The U.S. was the global leader in total R&D dollars invested in 2016, but China likely surpassed the U.S. in 2018.
- The U.S. is at risk of falling out of the top ten nations for investments in fundamental research.
- The hearing took place on March 6, 2019, in room 2318 of the Rayburn House Office Building.
Why It Matters
This hearing informs future federal legislation and funding priorities for scientific research and education, which directly impacts national economic competitiveness and security.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the U.S. concerned about its scientific leadership?
Who provided expert testimony at this hearing?
News Coverage
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Shift in Global R&D Leadership
The hearing highlights a documented transition where the U.S. is losing its long-held dominance in research output and investment to China and East Asian nations.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance75How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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