WASHINGTON DC -- The president of the Electronic Industries Alliance has issued a statement applauding the incorporation of recommendations from the business and science sectors in a series of just introduced bills calling for increased funding to the sciences and engineering and tax incentives for R&D.

“EIA commends the bipartisan, three-pronged approach to bolstering America’s innovation infrastructure outlined in the Protecting America’s Competitive Edge bills, said president and CEO Dave McCurdy. The legislators "have done their innovation homework by incorporating proposals and recommendations from the business and science communities that are intent on improving U.S. technological capabilities in the global marketplace."
The legislation is sponsored by Senators Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD).

The PACE bills call for improvements to U.S. Department of Energy research activities; math, science and engineering education; and R&D and other tax incentives for businesses.

“The ... PACE legislation ... suggests that Congress is ready to debate and enact policies that can strengthen the American innovation infrastructure," McCurdy said.

The trade group also called on the Bush Administration to focus attention on innovation by working with the EIA and industry to develop a national vision and begin the process of establishing priorities.