Latest News > U.S. Business Community Applauds Senators for Bipartisan Legislation Aimed at Boosting U.S. Innovation Leadership

September 18, 2006

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U.S. Business Community Applauds Senators for Bipartisan Legislation Aimed at Boosting U.S. Innovation Leadership

Introduction of National Competitiveness Investment Act Further Evidence of Congressional Support for Acting on U.S. Competitiveness This Year

WASHINGTON, DC - Tapping America's Potential (TAP), a coalition of 16 of the nation's leading business organizations, today praised U.S. senators from both sides of the aisle for introducing the National Competitiveness Investment Act (NCIA), which would improve U.S. science and technology capabilities and keep America on the cutting edge of worldwide innovation. Members of the bipartisan legislative working group include Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Pete Domenici (R-NM), John Ensign (R-NV), Mike Enzi (R-WY), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Ted Kennedy (D-MA), Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), and Ted Stevens (R-AK).

"We are grateful to the bipartisan group of senators who have shown their commitment to U.S. innovation and competitiveness by introducing this important legislation," said John J. Castellani, President of Business Roundtable, a TAP founding member. "We now urge Majority Leader Bill Frist and Minority Leader Harry Reid to ensure that the Senate takes this important step this year toward sustaining U.S. competitiveness in the global economy."

Earlier this year, both the full House and the Senate Appropriations Committee passed appropriations bills to provide funding for important competitiveness programs in the National Science Foundation, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Department of Energy's Office of Science along with key education components of the President's American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI), which TAP also supports. TAP continues to advocate for passage this year of authorizing legislation for key ACI components, including: strengthening K-12 science, technology, engineering and math education; bolstering undergraduate and graduate science and engineering programs; doubling funding for basic research in the physical sciences over ten years; ensuring continued access to the best and brightest from around the world; and extending a strengthened R&D tax credit.

"Keeping America and its workforce competitive through the 21st century and beyond must be a legislative priority this year, and we urge both the Senate and the House to move forward," said Lezlee Westine, President and CEO of TechNet, also a founding member of TAP. "The time is now to take action on U.S. competitiveness." To learn more about the TAP Campaign, please visit www.tap2015.org

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TAP is composed of 16 prominent business organizations that represent the largest and most innovative companies in America. They have set the goal of doubling the number of U.S. science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates with bachelor's degrees by 2015.