Statement by Council on Competitiveness President Deborah L. Wince Smith; Senate Compromise Important Step Toward National Innovation Plan
DATELINE: WASHINGTON March 5
WASHINGTON, March 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Council on Competitiveness president Deborah L. Wince-Smith made the following statement upon the introduction of the America COMPETES Act, which was introduced today by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and others.
"Strengthening innovation as the foundation of U.S. competitiveness is a critical national priority. The America COMPETES Act brings us one step closer to creating the national innovation plan we need to ensure American productivity and prosperity. I am pleased that many of the ideas generated by the Council's National Innovation Initiative are included in the proposed legislation, including increases for federal R&D funding and emphasis on better science, technology, engineering and math education."
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) played a vital role in developing the bipartisan act. Other co-sponsors include Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX).
Deborah L. Wince-Smith is president of the Council on Competitiveness. From 1989 to 1993, Wince-Smith served as the first Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy in the Department of Commerce.
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. The Council is available on the web at http://www.compete.org/ .
CONTACT: Michael Meneer of Council on Competitiveness, +1-202-969-3406,
mmeneer@compete.org
Web site: http://www.compete.org/
SOURCE Council on Competitiveness