Today, the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology completed the markup of H.R. 4186, Frontiers in Innovation, Research, Science, and Technology Act of 2014 (FIRST). Last week, the Committee began consideration of the FIRST Act. Roll call votes on amendments and on final passage were delayed until today.

Congress passed bipartisan Competes legislation in 2007 and 2010 which laid out bold policy directions for U.S. scientific research and innovation. The FIRST Act attempts to replace parts of the Competes legislation, but the bill has numerous problems that make it unacceptable for Committee Democrats. H.R. 4186 passed the Committee as amended on a party-line recorded vote.

Ms. Johnson said after the markup, "The America Competes Act is one of the crowning achievements of the Science Committee. It sought to ensure our commitment to maintaining our scientific and technological leadership now and long into the future. What we have done today with the FIRST Act not only fails to advance our science and innovation enterprise, it actually damages it. The Democratic Members of this Committee made every effort to improve this misguided and flawed piece of legislation and we were rebuffed at every turn. This is a sad day for this Committee."

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House Science, Space, and Technology Committee Democrats Oppose FIRST Act