Business Roundtable

March 21, 2007

We, the leaders of American business and higher education, call on Congress to act quickly on an innovation agenda that will ensure continued U.S. competitiveness, enabling Americans to succeed in the global economy. Innovation leadership creates high-wage jobs and rising incomes for Americans.

Innovation drives productivity and economic growth, giving American workers the tools to remain the most productive in the world and creating products, processes—and even new industries—that expand employment and boost living standards.

The United States has remained the world’s innovation leader through a commitment to basic research, a world-class workforce and a climate that rewards innovation. But America cannot rest on past economic success. Our competitors are investing in innovation, improving their competitive position and, in some respects, surpassing us.

Therefore, Congress must act to:

Renew America’s commitment to discovery by doubling the basic research budgets at the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Energy’s Office of Science and the Department of Defense;

Improve student achievement in math and science through increased funding of proven programs and incentives for science and math teacher recruitment and professional development;

Welcome highly educated foreign professionals, particularly those holding advanced science, technology, engineering, or mathematics degrees, especially from U.S. universities, by reforming U.S. visa policies;

Make permanent a strengthened R&D Tax Credit to encourage continued private-sector innovation investment.

We, the signatories, hereby proclaim our support for these initiatives and stand ready to do our part.