Alexander and Gordon Expect Debate on Funding for America COMPETES Act

Two Tennessee federal lawmakers are expecting some disagreement between the House and Senate when it comes to funding the America COMPETES Act.

The act would increase math and science education and boost energy research to make America more competitive with the rest of the world.

Democratic Representative Bart Gordon and Republican Senator Lamar Alexander have both championed the act.

Gordon chairs the House committee for science and technology while Alexander is in the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

Alexander says the Senate Budget Committee has already set aside about a billion dollars for the act. He says the House and President Bush may not initially agree with the Senate on how much should go to funding it.

Despite the anticipated back and forth, Gordon remains confident that the legislation will reach common ground on the act.

“We know this is going to pass. If we’re really going to become energy-independent, it’s going to take a bump in technology and this is where that can occur. So this may be the most important energy bill that we pass.”

Both hope the bill will be up for a vote in the House by tomorrow and in the Senate by Friday.