| Technology CEO Council's "Great Nation" Report Outlines Strategy for U.S. Competitiveness |
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Washington, DC - June 13, 2007 - CEOs from the nation's leading technology companies today unveiled a
comprehensive report outlining a strategy for U.S. competitiveness for
the 21st Century. As the nation heads into the important 2008 election cycle, the report calls on policymakers to embrace a positive, action-oriented agenda that leverages U.S. strengths to compete in the increasingly global marketplace. The report, entitled, "A Great Nation: How Americans Can Lead and Prosper in a Changing World," was released by the Technology CEO Council, a CEO policy advocacy group focused on ensuring U.S. competitiveness through technology leadership. "Our economic future is intrinsically tied to the global economy. We can either embrace that and prosper or shirk from it and lose our economic edge. Americans want to know that as a nation we have a plan to flourish and prosper. TCC has laid out a positive agenda that sets a clear framework for U.S. competitiveness," said Paul Otellini, President and CEO, Intel. Competitiveness will be a fundamental issue in the 2008 elections. The "Great Nation" report outlines how the United States can leverage its inherent strengths to remain an economic leader in a global marketplace: · Building on our openness and inclusiveness by opening global markets, attracting the best and brightest workers and adopting a responsible and effective export control policy. · Taking advantage of our information-rich infrastructure by promoting infrastructure in telecommunications, health, energy and transportation and utilizing data effectively to advance homeland security, health and research. · Extending our innovation excellence by promoting basic research through federal, state and university programs, promoting science and tech education and strengthening the R&D tax credit. · Unleashing our entrepreneurial spirit by eliminating uneconomic subsidies, maintaining a balanced intellectual property regime and promoting tax policies that incent individuals and businesses to innovate and invest in the United States. "The future of U.S. competitiveness must be a central theme of our political and policy debate," said Mike Splinter, President and CEO of Applied Materials, who will become chairman of the TCC in the fall. "We have the resources to remain the most dynamic economy in the world, now our policymakers must demonstrate that they have the will and wisdom to help us succeed." "As the 21st century unfolds, it is no longer a given that the U.S. will always be among the world's leading knowledge and innovation centers," said Joe Tucci, Chairman, President and CEO of EMC Corporation. "We have to recognize that our country is in a race for the future. To win this race, and to ensure that America will always be able to deliver the highest gains in productivity and provide the most interesting jobs for our citizens, we must build on our considerable strengths and create a clear plan of action. That plan should include advancing our education system, renewing our entrepreneurial spirit, and transforming the way we compete and create new value from the huge and growing volume of digital information that now defines our economy." There are near-term initiatives that the Administration and Congress can take today to advance U.S. competitiveness. TCC earlier this year unveiled its "Seven for 07" agenda that includes many initiatives that have a clear bipartisan consensus. The agenda includes: · Increase funding for proven programs and incentives for math teacher recruitment and professional development. · Double basic research budgets at the NSF, NIST, DOE's Office of Science, and DOD. · Renew Presidential Trade Promotion Authority with an expanded Trade Adjustment Assistance program to include service sector employees and more effectively assist workers in transition. · Pass immigration reform that ensures the best and brightest can study and work in the United States. · Enable accelerated use of information technology in health care services. · Make a strengthened, modernized R&D tax credit permanent. · Reform the patent system to address unjustified lawsuits, patent quality and global protection of intellectual property. Technology CEO Council companies generate over $300 billion in annual revenues and employ over 750,000 workers. Founded in 1989 and formerly known as the Computer Systems Policy Project, its members, beside Mr. Otellini, Mr. Splinter and Mr. Tucci, include Ed Zander, Chairman and CEO of Motorola, Inc. and current TCC Chairman; Michael Dell, Chairman and CEO of Dell Inc; Mark V. Hurd, Chairman, President and CEO of Hewlett-Packard Company; Joseph McGrath, President and CEO of Unisys Corporation; William Nuti, President and CEO of NCR Corporation; and, Samuel J. Palmisano, Chairman, President and CEO of IBM Corporation. About the Technology CEO Council The Technology CEO Council is a CEO policy advocacy group focused on ensuring U.S. competitiveness through technology leadership. The CEOs visit Washington twice annually to meet with lawmakers about policy issues of importance to the high-tech industry and work throughout the year to promote education, analysis and recommendations. For more information, please visit www.techceocouncil.org. |