Detroit Free Press: Peters' research bill passed by Senate panel

WASHINGTON – A congressional committee on Wednesday approved a bill written in part by U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., which, if signed into law, could help spur government-funded research.

The legislation approved by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee would authorize more than $1 billion for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2018, an increase of more than $39 million over the amount authorized for next year.

It would also authorize $300 million more for the National Science Foundation in fiscal year 2018. The legislation, which Peters introduced with U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., still must be approved by the full Senate and the U.S. House, and final funding levels would still be left to congressional appropriators.

Peters’ office said the legislation, titled the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, also seeks to help increase basic research by reducing administrative burdens on researchers while enhancing agency oversight and taking other steps.

“Basic science research is the foundation of our economy, creating jobs and new opportunities for researchers to discover and entrepreneurs to innovate,” said Peters.

The legislation also makes several other changes to NIST and NSF, including calling for more research to protect computer systems from cyber threats, increasing transparency in grant programs, addressing potential waste and abuse and repealing obsolete federal reporting requirements.