Innovation Agenda

As former co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition Taskforce on Innovation, Competitiveness, and Tax I have been deeply involved in creating an innovation agenda that focuses on math and science education, supports manufacturing and clean energy, and reforms our tax code in order to ensure America can compete in a 21st Century global economy.

America COMPETES

In late December 2010, Congress voted and the President signed into law the bipartisan America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, H.R. 5116, which makes significant investments in science, education and innovation in an effort to spur job growth and economic competitiveness.  The Act will strengthen U.S. scientific and economic leadership, support employers, and create jobs through investments in science, innovation, and education.  

The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act is an important investment in our long-term economic future and will help make sure our country remains the most innovative and creative in the world. It will strengthen science, technology, engineering, and math education, support basic research at our science agencies, universities and technical colleges and help foster innovation and creativity in our workforce—all of which are crucial to creating the jobs of the future, improving our quality of life, and ensuring our nation can compete and be a leader in a global economy.

Over 750 organizations have endorsed the legislation including the University of Wisconsin, 3M, Cummins Inc., Rockwell Automation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Business Roundtable, the Council on Competitiveness, the Association of American Universities, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and the National Venture Capital Association.

See a video of me speaking on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on the America COMPETES Act.

I also serve as co-chair of the board of The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based think tank at the cutting edge of designing innovation policies and exploring how advances in information technology will create new economic opportunities to improve the quality of life.