INTERVIEW ON THE PRICE OF BUSINESS SHOW, MEDIA PARTNER OF THIS SITE.
Recently Kevin Price, Host of the nationally syndicated Price of Business Show, interviewed Barbara Comstock.
Price and Comstock talked about bipartisan legislation working its way through Congress to tackle the massive threat China poses against the United States when it comes to technology.
The threat posed by China and how The Endless Frontier Act – which is currently being considered before the Senate Commerce Committee this morning – will help bolster our research, science, and R&D efforts.
A few things on the bipartisan bill, it will:
- Create a new Directorate for Technology and Innovation at the National Science Foundation focused on basic research, commercialization, and innovation related to key technology areas.
- Authorizes $100 billion, over 5 years to invest in basic and advanced research, commercialization, and education and training programs in key technology areas, including AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, advanced communications, biotechnology, and advanced energy.
- Also authorizes another $10 billion to designate at least 10 regional technology hubs and create a supply chain crisis-response program to address issues like the shortfall in semiconductor chips harming auto production.
Some other key points that Barbara can deliver:
- The U.S. is home to half of the top 10 internet companies in the world; China is home to the other half.
- The Chinese government has publicly stated its goal of superseding the United States in areas such as science, technology, space, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and more. Chinese President Xi Jinping is working to make this happen not decades from now, but before the end of his term.
- Recently, Beijing announced it will bolster its R&D spending by more than 7% annually over the next five years.
- While the US still leads China in R&D spending, Beijing is not far behind.
According to a statement:
“Antitrust law protects American consumers from low-quality goods and services, but Google’s products are highly innovative and free for everyone. The Justice Department’s misguided lawsuit stretches antitrust law beyond its breaking point and risks breaking the very products that Americans love and use every day.”
Barbara represented Virginia’s Tenth Congressional District, was a senior appointee in the Justice Department and worked as a Congressional aide. Her election marked her as the first woman elected to that seat. She was named as one of the “Top Ten Most Effective Lawmakers” in the 115th Congress by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, a joint effort of the University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University.
According to a statement from Ms. Comstock, “During her time in Congress, Barbara was a leader on technology and cybersecurity issues, chairing the Science, Space, and Technology Committee’s Research and Technology subcommittee, as well as serving on the Joint Economic Committee, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and the House Administration Committee. Her legislative achievements include passing legislation to promote women and disadvantaged populations in STEM, as well as expanding research in the technology space. Barbara also was the leader on anti-sexual harassment legislation in Congress, and legislation to tackle the opioid crisis and gang crime. She partnered with Senator McCain to reauthorize multi-year firefighter grants to increase innovation and public safety. While in Congress, Barbara was the only woman in the Virginia congressional delegation and the only Virginia member to chair a subcommittee.”
