The November issue of Popular Mechanics features an interesting spread, this time not devoted to drivetrains, chainsaws, or robots, but rather Congressional efforts to fund science and technology development. “The Popular Mechanics Congressional Innovation Scorecard” features seven Representatives and eight Senators who are:
"...spurring innovation… [by] urging the committees they serve on to seek solutions to our energy issues, casting yea votes for funding science research and education, or legislation that seeks new technology for Congress itself."
For each Member, the authors note a specific bill he or she has introduced or cosponsored which exemplifies a commitment to science, technology, engineering, and manufacturing (STEM) issues. Popular Mechanics prioritized bills that provide additional funding for STEM research and development at either the national, state, or local levels.
What would these bills cost taxpayers, though, and how does each Member’s total record of legislative priorities compare?
NTUF’s BillTally project can help answer that question. BillTally is a unique, comprehensive look at every piece of legislation as introduced in Congress. We use data from the federal budget, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and other independent sources to score the outlay effects of each bill in both chambers. We then cross-reference our database of cost estimates with each Member’s sponsorship and co-sponsorship record to offer taxpayers a look at how the bills they support would influence federal spending. (You can search for your own Senator or Representative on our website.)
Looking at these 15 diverse bills through the lens of BillTally, one can’t help but notice the degree to which almost all of them would increase public spending even amidst rising deficits. The article points out that the bills will help specific science and technology sectors with some additional research and development funding, but most of the bills don’t include any sort of offset to balance the new spending.
Below are the Members of Congress referenced by Popular Mechanics as most likely to support STEM issues, as well as their BillTally results from the first session of the 113th Congress and scores for legislation mentioned in the article (where possible).
House of Representatives
- Eric Swalwell (D-CA):
- BillTally results: $42.3 billion per year net spending increase.
- STEM Legislation: H.R. 1891, the Science Laureates of the United States Act of 2013, would require the President to appoint an accomplished scientist every one to two years to promote public awareness and interest in science. A cost estimate is not available.
- Bill Foster (D-IL):
- BillTally results: $38.4 billion per year net spending increase.
- STEM Legislation: H.R. 1289, the National Fab Lab Network of 2013, would authorize a network of local laboratories to encourage development of manufacturing inventions. It would not increase federal spending.
- Joe Kennedy (D-MA):
- BillTally results: $71.4 billion per year net spending increase.
- STEM Legislation: H.R. 3690, the STEM Gateways Act, would provide grants for educational programs that encourage women and minorities to pursue science careers. A cost estimate is not available.
- Fred Upton (R-MI):
- BillTally results: $12 billion per year net spending increase.
- STEM Legislation: H.R. 3303, the SOFTWARE Act of 2013, excludes some types of clinical and health-related software from certain Food and Drug Administration regulations. It would not affect federal spending.
- Tom Reed (R-NY):
- BillTally results: $69.5 billion per year net spending cut.
- STEM Legislation: H.R. 2996, the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act of 2013, would establish and fund a program to promote the American manufacturing industry and related research. As introduced, the bill would not increase spending due to an offset included in the text.
- Eddie Johnson (D-TX):
- BillTally results: $1.4 trillion per year net spending increase.
- STEM Legislation: Congresswoman Johnson opposed the Frontiers in Innovation, Research, Science, and Technology (FIRST) Act, which reduced federal funding for the National Science Foundation by $127 million in 2015.
- Peter Welch (D-VT):
- BillTally results: $1.2 trillion per year net spending increase.
- STEM Legislation: H.R. 2126, the Better Buildings Act, would develop best practices to reduce energy costs in federal buildings. Though it was later amended before passing the House, as introduced, it would have an insignificant effect on federal spending.
Senate:
- Chris Coons (D-DE):
- BillTally results: $21.3 billion per year net spending increase.
- STEM Legislation: S. 2719, the Manufacturing Universities Act, would authorize federal grants to public universities that emphasize manufacturing skills in their science and engineering programs. It would cost $500 million over four years.
- Marco Rubio (R-FL):
- BillTally results: $298 billion per year net spending cut.
- STEM Legislation: S. 1973, the America Innovates Act, gives the Department of Energy more authority to enter into contracts with private developers to expand commercial use of energy-efficient technology. A cost estimate is currently unavailable.
- Dick Durbin (D-IL):
- BillTally results: $35.1 billion per year net spending increase.
- STEM Legislation: Popular Mechanics notes the Durbin introduced S. 1705, the Senate version of the National Fab Lab Network Act.
- Barbara Mikulski (D-MD):
- BillTally results: $32.4 billion per year net spending increase.
- STEM Legislation: The magazine lauds Sen. Mikulski’s efforts to keep funding for NASA programming at FY 2014 levels ($17.65 billion).
- Cory Booker (D-NJ):
- BillTally results: N/A *
- STEM Legislation: S. 2505, the Wi-Fi Innovation Act, would open a certain spectrum of wireless broadband for public use. A cost estimate is not available.
- Sherrod Brown (D-OH):
- BillTally results: $18.4 billion per year net spending increase.
- STEM Legislation: Senator Brown introduced S. 1468, the Senate version of the Revitalize American Manufacturing and Innovation Act.
- Rob Portman (R-OH):
- BillTally results: $167.9 billion per year net spending cut.
- STEM Legislation: S. 761, the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013, would enforce higher efficiency standards and incentivize energy saving practices in commercial buildings. It would cost $735 million over five years.
- Patty Murray (D-WA):
- BillTally results: $43.5 billion per year net spending increase.
- STEM Legislation: Popular Mechanics notes Senator Murray’s position as chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and her support for the 2015 transportation appropriations bill.
* Senator Booker was sworn into office via a special election in October, 2014. Because he began legislating late in the year, NTUF did not produce an individual BillTally report. However, researchers did score his campaign proposals as a $33 billion annual increase.