Senator John D. Rockefeller IV
Chairman
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Ranking Minority Member
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Chairman Rockefeller and Senator Hutchison:
As chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies that employ more than 12 million Americans and generate nearly $6 trillion in annual revenues, Business Roundtable members care deeply about ensuring continued U.S. technological and economic leadership. America’s innovation system is a key component of U.S. national strength. Accordingly, Business Roundtable strongly supports reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act.
For some time now, America’s CEOs have been focused on boosting America’s science and engineering research investments, improving U.S. student achievement in math and science, and increasing the number of U.S. students that graduate with bachelor’s degrees in math, science and engineering because these are factors that directly affect the competitiveness of the United States and the ability of U.S. workers to thrive in an increasingly competitive and globalized economy.
Business Roundtable was a strong supporter of the original America COMPETES Act because it provided critical support for U.S. science and engineering research and math and science education. We very much appreciate your bold leadership in spurring Congress to pass that landmark bill.
Business Roundtable supports reauthorization of the America COMPETES Act this year because it will build upon vital research and education programs that have been proven to work, including science and engineering research investments at the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and pragmatic, effective math and science education programs, such as the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship program that you have championed.
Reauthorizing the America COMPETES Act will help create a platform for stable, long-term economic growth and ensure that Americans will have the tools they need to compete and win in the global economy. We look forward to working with you to pass this legislation this year.
Sincerely,
John J. Castellani