American Innovation Act
- Bill Number
- S. 1276
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Science, Technology, Communications
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-03: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S2174-2175)
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T21:59:22Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The American Innovation Act aims to provide stable, increased federal funding for basic science research across key U.S. government agencies. It seeks to expand and sustain national investments in scientific innovation to support long-term advancements in knowledge, technology, and economic growth.
Key Provisions
- Authorized Appropriations: The bill mandates specific funding levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2035, with automatic annual increases thereafter based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all urban consumers (a measure of inflation published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics). Funds are drawn from the U.S. Treasury and remain available until spent. The allocations are:
- National Science Foundation (NSF): Starting at $9.735 billion in FY 2026, rising to $18.279 billion in FY 2035.
- Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science: Starting at $8.854 billion in FY 2026, rising to $16.624 billion in FY 2035.
- Department of Defense (DOD) Science and Technology Programs: Starting at $23.109 billion in FY 2026, rising to $43.392 billion in FY 2035 (covering various research institutes, offices, and centers focused on defense-related science).
- National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Scientific and Technical Research and Services: Starting at $1.244 billion in FY 2026, rising to $2.335 billion in FY 2035 (supporting measurement science, standards, and technology research under the Department of Commerce).
- NASA Science Mission Directorate: Starting at $7.880 billion in FY 2026, rising to $14.796 billion in FY 2035 (funding space science missions, research, and exploration programs).
- Definitions: The bill clarifies that funding applies to the core appropriations accounts supporting the institutes, offices, and centers within each specified program.
- Funding Protections: These appropriations are exempt from sequestration (automatic budget cuts under the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985). They also do not count toward Statutory Pay-As-You-Go (PAYGO) scorecards, which track federal spending against revenues to enforce budget discipline.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Introduces mandatory, escalating appropriations for science research programs, shifting from discretionary annual budgeting to a more predictable, inflation-adjusted framework.
- Amends the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act to shield these funds from sequestration orders issued after the bill's enactment.
- Exempts the funding from PAYGO and related Senate budget resolution requirements, bypassing standard fiscal controls that could limit spending increases.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Provides agencies like NSF, DOE, DOD, NIST, and NASA with reliable, growing budgets to expand research programs, hire staff, and fund grants, potentially reducing uncertainty in long-term planning.
- Citizens: Could lead to breakthroughs in science and technology, fostering job creation in research sectors, improving public health, environmental solutions, and national security through innovation. Taxpayers may face higher federal spending without direct offsets.
- International Relations: Strengthens U.S. leadership in global science and technology, potentially enhancing competitiveness against nations like China in areas such as AI, quantum computing, and space exploration, while promoting international collaborations on shared challenges like climate change.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Science Agencies: NSF, DOE Office of Science, DOD research programs, NIST, and NASA, which receive the direct funding boosts.
- Researchers and Academia: Scientists, universities, and labs that rely on federal grants for basic research.
- Industry and Economy: Tech companies, startups, and sectors like defense, energy, and aerospace that benefit from research spillovers and innovations.
- Taxpayers and Policymakers: The public funds these programs, while Congress and the executive branch manage implementation and oversight.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Establishes enforceable funding authorizations, but actual spending requires annual appropriations bills; the exemptions from sequestration and PAYGO could face legal challenges if seen as undermining broader budget laws.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power under Article I to appropriate funds, emphasizing investment in general welfare through science, without infringing on executive authority.
- Political: Signals bipartisan (though introduced by Democrats) commitment to science funding amid debates over federal priorities; may spark discussions on fiscal responsibility, as it commits to multi-decade spending increases without revenue measures, potentially influencing future budget negotiations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]
Cosponsors (4)
Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-03: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S2174-2175)
- 2025-04-03: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- American Innovation Act — issued 2025-04-03 — PDF (8 pages)