Chamber Supports President Bush's American Competitiveness Initiative

WASHINGTON, DC—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce commended President Bush for the American Competitiveness Initiative he introduced last night in his State of the Union address.

"American businesses lead the world in innovation and entrepreneurship," said Bruce Josten, executive vice president for government affairs. "It is crucial that our government provide pro-growth and pro-opportunity policies to ensure we maintain our competitive edge."

According to the White House, the American Competitiveness Initiative would ensure that the United States continues to lead the world in opportunity and innovation by increasing federal investment in research and providing American children with a strong foundation in math and science. The American Competitiveness Initiative would commit $5.9 billion in fiscal year 2007, and more than $136 billion over 10 years, to increase investments in research and development, to promote education, and to encourage innovation.

"As we invest in current programs, America needs to invest in its future by providing greater opportunities for math and science education," said Josten. "The bottom line is that in today's competitive economy, we need to ensure that all students have a strong academic foundation in order to meet the needs of our workforce. If we want to continue to compete globally, our education and workforce skills must meet those being demanded by employers today and in the future."

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than
3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.

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06-11