As I mentioned earlier, the House and Senate are taking different tactical approaches to innovation/competitiveness legislation. Last month, the Senate passed its big America COMPETES Act (S. 761) and the House passed two of its innovation/competitiveness bills -- the 10,000 Teachers, 10 Million Minds Science and Math Scholarship Act (HR 362) and the Sowing the Seeds Through Science and Engineering Research Act (HR 363).
Earlier this month, the House passed its manufacturing legislation - Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act of 2007 (HR 1868). Among other things, the bill expands the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) program and replaces the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) with a Technology Innovation Program (TIP). Both of these are much needed changes. I have long believed that the range of MEP activities needs to be expanded to account for the changing nature of manufacturing activity. I hope that the new MEP activities will include more product design and innovation as well as thinks like supply-chain management. Likewise, the new TIP program seems to be a re-orientation of the ATP program in useful ways.
The bill goes to Senate Commerce Committee. It is unclear what the strategy is for a House-Senate reconciliation of the various pieces of legislation. But, at least the train keeps moving.
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