Global Competitiveness
As a member of the Senate Republican High-Tech Task Force, I continue to support cutting-edge science and research programs.
The United States leads the world in many areas due to investments made by both public and private sectors in biotechnology, health, space, aeronautics, general science and other fields. To maintain our competitive edge, it is critical that we continue to invest in math and science education.
For this reason, I have consistently supported the NASA Idaho Space Grant Consortium in its impressive work. The Space Grant program was established by Congress in 1988 to increase science, math and engineering education in our nation. The Idaho Space Grant Consortium (ISGC) serves the people of Idaho with a flexible, broad based grant program that encourages NASA-related research, special projects and K-12 initiatives across the state.
Additionally, I support the invaluable research and scholarship at the Idaho National Laboratory, where scientists and mathematicians continue to set records and make major headway in the field of nuclear energy. Funding for research and development and math, science and technical education is important for our future. I will continue to support efforts in this important area.
In November 2007, The Financial Services Roundtable released a report, The Blueprint For U.S. Financial Competitiveness, that underscored the need for U.S. financial markets to improve their competitiveness. To read a 32-page executive summary of the report, please click here. The full report can be downloaded at The Financial Services Roundtable.
The General Accounting Office (GAO) completed a report regarding financial regulation and the challenges that the financial services industry facing. To read that report, please click here (900KB, PDF).
Also in November 2007, the Republican Capital Markets Task Force, of which I was appointed to serve as Chairman, reported to the Senate Republican Leader that the Senate should not increase tax rates on carried interest and publicly traded partnerships in order to offset tax legislation. The letter was signed by 20 members of the Task Force.
