But perhaps even more important than preserving research activities is the status of education programs in technical fields. Some witnesses observed that too often courses in mathematics or the hard sciences are led by teachers who don't have degrees or certifications in those subjects.

Like many technology companies, Microsoft struggles to recruit top technical talent, the product of rigorous education programs in computer science or other disciplines. Lee noted the more than 3,000 technical positions open at the company, suggesting that the legislation in question had improved computer science programs at the level of higher education, but that primary and secondary schools continue to lag behind.

"In computing education specifically, we've continued to see over the last five years of COMPETES a very good increase in enrollments and undergraduate programs in computer science. But that hasn't been reflected in high school," Lee said. "Federal agencies should support efforts to expand computing education, particularly at the K through 12 level."

Kenneth Corbin is a Washington, D.C.-based writer who covers government and regulatory issues for .

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