America COMPETES Act Fails Again

Submitted: May 19, 2010 - 9:25pm
Originally published: May 19, 2010
Last updated: May 19, 2010 - 9:26pm

Source: Hill, The

Author: Tony Romm

Location:

Capitol Building, East Capitol Street, NE and 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC, 20002, United States

House Democrats on Wednesday tried again -- and failed again -- to advance a $48-billion bill reauthorizing a slew of science and technology research programs.

Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) introduced the America Competes Act this morning using the House's suspension process in an attempt to steer the legislation clear of all amendments. But Democrats found themselves unable to clear the two-thirds hurdle on Wednesday, failing on a vote of 261-148 — even though they added both a pornography amendment and a massive funding cut to their bill to win GOP support. Wednesday's outcome "disappointed" Rep Gordon, he said shortly after the vote, though he added he remains "determined" to get the legislation back to the floor. House Democratic Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) later echoed that call, promising to bring the bill to the floor under a rule "soon." The GOP issued a statement of policy just before the vote that slammed Gordon's effort for failing to incorporate all six of their revisions, especially those that some members believe would reduce or eliminate "numerous new and unnecessary" programs.