H.R. 3519 IH – American Innovation and Competitiveness Act

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H.R. 3519 IH – American Innovation and Competitiveness Act

Section 1. Short title

The short title of this Act is the “American Innovation and Competitiveness Act”.

SEC. 2. Findings and purposes

(a) Findings—Congress finds that:

There are significant technological gaps between the United States and other countries.
The Nation’s innovation capacity is being eroded by a combination of factors, including:
Outdated laws and regulations;
A lack of investment in basic research; and
A failure to promote public-private partnerships in the field of research and development.

(b) Purposes—The purposes of this Act are:

To enhance innovation capacity in the United States;
To address the technological gaps between the United States and other countries;
To support research, development, testing, and demonstration (R&D); and
To promote public-private partnerships.

SEC. 3. Definitions

(a) Definitions—In this Act:

The term “basic research” has the meaning given by section 247 of title 15, United States Code.
The term “research and development” has the meaning given by section 3(11) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 2272(11)).

SEC. 4. Exclusion from gross income for scholarships for qualified elementary or secondary education expenses

(a) In general—Gross income shall not include any amounts provided to any dependent of the taxpayer pursuant to a scholarship for qualified elementary or secondary education expenses of an eligible student which is provided by a scholarship-granting organization.

SEC. 5. Prohibition of control over scholarship organizations

(a) Treatment—A scholarship granting organization shall not, by virtue of participation under any provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act, be regarded as acting on behalf of any governmental entity.

SEC. 5. Prohibition of control over non-public schools

(a) No governmental control—Nothing in this Act shall be construed to permit, allow, encourage, or authorize any Federal, State, or local government entity, or officer or employee thereof, to mandate, direct, or control any aspect of a private school.

SEC. 5. Exclusion of qualified expenses due to institutional religious character or affiliation

(a) No exclusion—No Federal, State, or local government entity, or officer or employee thereof, shall exclude, discriminate against, or otherwise disadvantage any school based in whole or in part on the institution’s religious character or affiliation, including religiously-based or mission-based policies or practices.

SEC. 6. Parental rights to use scholarships

No Federal, State, or local government entity, or officer or employee thereof, shall disfavor or discourage the use of scholarships granted by participating scholarship-granting organizations for qualified elementary or secondary education expenses at private or nonprofit schools.

SEC. 7. Parental rights to intervene

(a) Intervention—In any action filed in any State or Federal court which challenges the constitutionality (under the Constitution of such State or the United States) of any provision of this Act (or any amendment made by this Act), any parent of an eligible student who has received a scholarship from a scholarship-granting organization shall have the right to intervene in support of the constitutionality of such provision or amendment.