WASHINGTON, April 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the United States Senate passed the America COMPETES Act. The development of the legislation was influenced by the Council on Competitiveness and its National Innovation Initiative.
"Innovation is the key to future U.S. success in the global economy," said Deborah L. Wince-Smith, president of the Council on Competitiveness. "The America COMPETES Act sends a clear message to Americans: We are taking steps to ensure you have the skills to succeed and investing in cutting edge research; we are creating an environment where high-value economic activity will thrive."
The legislation will increase federal R&D funding, strengthen science, technology, engineering and math education, and create a Presidential Council on Innovation and Competitiveness. The Council on Competitiveness has successfully led a public and private sector effort over the past two years to make innovation a top-tier policy issue.
There are many Senators who deserve credit for the bipartisan support of the bill. Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT), played a vital role in developing the first bipartisan innovation bill in late 2005. Other key Senators include Bingaman (D-NM), Domenici (R-NM), Inouye (D-HI), Stevens (R-AK), Kennedy (D-MA), Enzi (R-WY), Mikulski (D-MD), Alexander (R-TN), Nelson (D-FL), and Bailey Hutchison (R-TX).
ABOUT THE COUNCIL ON COMPETITIVENESS: The Council on Competitiveness is the only group of corporate CEOs, university presidents and labor leaders committed to the future prosperity of all Americans and enhanced U.S. competitiveness in the global economy through the creation of high-value economic activity in the United States.
Council on Competitiveness
