Pelosi: On Sputnik's 50th Anniversary, America is Committed to Innovation

'Fifty years ago tomorrow, the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the world's first artificial satellite, into space. America responded by building the world's most vibrant economy and emerging as the world leader in scientific discovery and innovation.

'In 1962, when President John F. Kennedy announced our commitment to putting a man on the moon within ten years, he said: 'The vows of this nation can only be fulfilled if we...are first, and therefore, we intend to be first...Our leadership in science and in industry, our hopes for peace and security, our obligations to ourselves as well as others, all require us to make this effort.'

'In this same spirit, the Democratic-led New Direction Congress has made a commitment to innovation and to help ensure our nation's global economic competitiveness for generations to come. With strong bipartisan support, Congress passed, and the President signed into law, our Innovation Agenda which focuses on four key areas: Math and Science Education, Research and Development, Energy Independence, and Small Businesses.

'Our Innovation Agenda is part of our vision for a stronger America.  It is aimed at our common future.  It is a Democratic commitment to America. And it is an agenda that reflects our most basic conviction that working together, for the common good, there is no challenge too great for the American people.

'As President Kennedy said, 'we intend to be first.''