Jeanne Shaheen Delivers Major Policy Address On Enhancing The Role Of Science In The 21st Century
Monday July 07, 2008
Monday July 07, 2008
(Hanover, NH) – Today, former Governor and current candidate for US Senate Jeanne Shaheen delivered a major policy address on enhancing the role of science in the 21st century. Shaheen spoke at Dartmouth College in the Hinman Forum at the Rockefeller Center and addressed the need for the United States to increase federal research funding, stimulate private sector investment in research and development, build a workforce that can thrive in the innovation economy and return to policy-making based on science, not ideology.
"The devaluation of science in the last eight years endangers our future," Shaheen said. "Growing economies in other nations, new and dangerous threats to our national security, and grave environmental dangers all pose new challenges, and we must bring the full force of American science and ingenuity to bear on these challenges."
"I have no doubt that we can overcome these new challenges if we renew our national commitment to science and research," Shaheen continued. "It is quite simply part of the American character to experiment, explore and innovate."
Excerpts of Shaheen's speech are below:
"Now, in the opening years of the 21st century, our prosperity is more dependent than ever on innovation and technology. Our once insurmountable position as the largest and most powerful economy in the world is being challenged by both India and China. China's gross domestic product increased ten-fold in the last 30 years. India's GDP more than doubled in the last ten years.
We can't compete with India and China for low-wage manufacturing jobs. And I don't want to. That is not our future. America's future is in maintaining the cutting edge in science and technology, creating new jobs in new industries and giving older industries the tools they need to compete in the global marketplace.
***
And, of course, progress in science and technology is not just an economic imperative. It is critical to maintaining our quality of life—keeping our children healthy, our environment clean and establishing a stronger, smarter national defense to protect America from today's security threats.
***
We need to change course so that the 21st century is another American century. That means we need to:
· First, return to making policy decisions based on science and not ideology;
· Second, increase federal research funding;
· Third, stimulate private sector investment in research and development; and
· Fourth, build a workforce up and down the economic ladder with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the innovation economy.
***
Science policy should never be partisan. One of our most pro-science presidents was Republican Dwight Eisenhower, who, working with a Democratic Congress, created NASA and provided funding to put more science teachers in our schools. President Eisenhower also created the President's Scientific Advisory Council and frequently met with and consulted the nation's top scientists.
Our next President must end the censorship of government scientists and appoint only qualified scientists to advisory committees. It's time for Washington to return to the practice of making policy decisions based on the best scientific evidence available.
***
A renewed national commitment to science is also essential to our national security. Today, our most dangerous threats are not nation-states but terrorist organizations. This new reality demands greater cooperation with our allies, an emphasis on intelligence collection and analysis, and combat units that are smaller and more mobile. Not only will increasing defense research lead to new intelligence technologies to prevent terrorist attacks and keep our troops safe, it will undoubtedly lead to new civilian applications as well. After all, the Internet was born from Defense Department funded research into how the Air Force could control missiles after a nuclear attack.
***
The United States once provided the most generous tax incentives for R&D among industrialized nations, but by last year our rank had fallen to 23rd, behind even Mexico and
Turkey.
We must expand the federal R&D tax credit and make it permanent.
***
Nowhere is public/private investment more urgently needed than in the development of new energy technologies. We must harness the full power of government and private sector innovation to transform how we produce and use energy. It is clearly an economic imperative. It is also a national security imperative – we must end our dependence on foreign oil. And it is an environmental imperative – we must reverse global warming.
***
We need to make sure all Americans, up and down the economic ladder, can contribute to and benefit from technological advances. Investment in R & D not only creates jobs for highly educated scientists and entrepreneurs, but also creates jobs for people installing solar panels, energy efficiency systems, and broadband – jobs that cannot be outsourced overseas.
###
"The devaluation of science in the last eight years endangers our future," Shaheen said. "Growing economies in other nations, new and dangerous threats to our national security, and grave environmental dangers all pose new challenges, and we must bring the full force of American science and ingenuity to bear on these challenges."
"I have no doubt that we can overcome these new challenges if we renew our national commitment to science and research," Shaheen continued. "It is quite simply part of the American character to experiment, explore and innovate."
Excerpts of Shaheen's speech are below:
"Now, in the opening years of the 21st century, our prosperity is more dependent than ever on innovation and technology. Our once insurmountable position as the largest and most powerful economy in the world is being challenged by both India and China. China's gross domestic product increased ten-fold in the last 30 years. India's GDP more than doubled in the last ten years.
We can't compete with India and China for low-wage manufacturing jobs. And I don't want to. That is not our future. America's future is in maintaining the cutting edge in science and technology, creating new jobs in new industries and giving older industries the tools they need to compete in the global marketplace.
***
And, of course, progress in science and technology is not just an economic imperative. It is critical to maintaining our quality of life—keeping our children healthy, our environment clean and establishing a stronger, smarter national defense to protect America from today's security threats.
***
We need to change course so that the 21st century is another American century. That means we need to:
· First, return to making policy decisions based on science and not ideology;
· Second, increase federal research funding;
· Third, stimulate private sector investment in research and development; and
· Fourth, build a workforce up and down the economic ladder with the knowledge and skills to thrive in the innovation economy.
***
Science policy should never be partisan. One of our most pro-science presidents was Republican Dwight Eisenhower, who, working with a Democratic Congress, created NASA and provided funding to put more science teachers in our schools. President Eisenhower also created the President's Scientific Advisory Council and frequently met with and consulted the nation's top scientists.
Our next President must end the censorship of government scientists and appoint only qualified scientists to advisory committees. It's time for Washington to return to the practice of making policy decisions based on the best scientific evidence available.
***
A renewed national commitment to science is also essential to our national security. Today, our most dangerous threats are not nation-states but terrorist organizations. This new reality demands greater cooperation with our allies, an emphasis on intelligence collection and analysis, and combat units that are smaller and more mobile. Not only will increasing defense research lead to new intelligence technologies to prevent terrorist attacks and keep our troops safe, it will undoubtedly lead to new civilian applications as well. After all, the Internet was born from Defense Department funded research into how the Air Force could control missiles after a nuclear attack.
***
The United States once provided the most generous tax incentives for R&D among industrialized nations, but by last year our rank had fallen to 23rd, behind even Mexico and
Turkey.
We must expand the federal R&D tax credit and make it permanent.
***
Nowhere is public/private investment more urgently needed than in the development of new energy technologies. We must harness the full power of government and private sector innovation to transform how we produce and use energy. It is clearly an economic imperative. It is also a national security imperative – we must end our dependence on foreign oil. And it is an environmental imperative – we must reverse global warming.
***
We need to make sure all Americans, up and down the economic ladder, can contribute to and benefit from technological advances. Investment in R & D not only creates jobs for highly educated scientists and entrepreneurs, but also creates jobs for people installing solar panels, energy efficiency systems, and broadband – jobs that cannot be outsourced overseas.
###
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