Letters From the Committee :: January 25, 2006

Letter to President from Rep. Gordon Recommending Implementation of Augustine Recommendations on American Competitiveness

January 25, 2006

The Honorable George W. Bush
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20502

Dear Mr. President:

In recent years, a growing chorus has been calling attention to the eroding position of American firms and workers in the world economy.  The National Academy of Sciences recent report, Rising Above the Gathering Storm, attempts to chart a course forward that will create a vital, robust American economy with good paying jobs for our citizens.  I want to join those who have been encouraging you to study this report closely and embrace its conclusions.

This report was the product of a panel of business and academic leaders.  The chairman was Norm Augustine, whose service to the Nation has been absolutely stellar over a long career as an engineer and corporate leader of one of our premiere high tech firms – the Lockheed Martin Corporation.  The work of the Augustine Committee was neither partisan nor narrow and the Nation would be well served to follow their policy advice as closely as possible.

Your impending State of the Union address would provide a singular opportunity to focus public attention on the issue of America’s competitiveness as well as a perfect setting to signal your own endorsement of the prescriptions contained in the Academy report.  I also hope the budget you submit to Congress contains funding for the initiatives as recommended by the Augustine Committee.

I have introduced three bills based directly on the Augustine report, but I stand ready to work with you or with anyone from either party or either legislative body on any legislative package that would move the Augustine Report’s policy initiatives forward.  The issues raised by Gathering Storm are too important to let ego or partisanship stand in the way of moving real solutions for the good of the country.  I believe the country would benefit from leadership on these issues coming from the White House and I hope you will take the opportunity in your national address to start the process of forging political consensus behind the pragmatic steps endorsed by the National Academy of Sciences.