Washington, D.C. - American companies and workers will reap the benefits for decades to come from a huge boost in federal funding for basic information technology research passed yesterday by the U.S. House of Representatives, predicts a Texas member of the House Science Committee.

"Federally funded computer research in the mid-80's led to the explosion of technological advances driving America's booming economy today," says Congressman Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands. "Looking ahead to the future, we must invest now in basic IT research and the next generation of the Internet - or risk losing our competitive edge over the rest of the world."

Brady describes the research initiative as a bold "second planting" of the nation's research seeds "to ensure future American companies and families will reap the economic harvest of technology breakthroughs."

The Networking and Information Research and Development (NITRD) Act will nearly double federal information technology (IT) research over the next five years. The $4.8 billion investment will fund research at six federal agencies, establish private-public research partnerships to apply new technology, complete development of the Next Generation Internet Program and improve computer technology to help advance the Human Genome Project.

So that all Americans have the opportunity to participate in this Information Age, a special emphasis is being made on improving access of the elderly and handicapped to information technology, according to Brady.

A skilled technology workforce is another goal of the bill, Brady says, noting that math and science education will be bolstered through the inclusion of $95 million for universities to establish for-credit internship programs for research at information technology companies.

Continued...
"Creating a deep pool of highly-skilled technology workers is critical to America's future" says Brady. "Families will benefit from good paying jobs, and U.S. businesses will stay competitive in the world economy of the future."