THE WHITE HOUSE
OFFICE OF THE PRESS SECRETARY
_____________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY,
FEBRUARY 22, 1993
PRESIDENT OUTLINES COMPREHENSIVE NEW TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE:
Technology to Create Jobs, Protect the Environment, Improve
Government
Bold Changes Proposed to Redirect, Focus U.S. Efforts
SAN JOSE, CA -- Offering bold and dramatic changes to
harness technology to drive economic growth and job creation, President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore today (2/22) unveiled a comprehensive new technology initiative to move America forward to a stronger economy, a cleaner environment, more competitive businesses, more effective government, better educational programs and technological leadership in critical fields.
"In order to revitalize our economy, it is time for a dramatically new approach that recognizes the strength and potential of America's scientific and technological resources to change and improve the quality of our lives," President Clinton said.
The new initiative: Technology for America's Economic Growth, A New Direction to Build Economic Strength offers a comprehensive blueprint to focus American technology around three central goals:
"We face new challenges, from our competitors around the world and from the people we serve here at home, that demand new solutions and creative thinking. Technology offers new opportunities for jobs, for a cleaner environment, for better schools, for high-quality health care and for scores of other advances. We must move to seize these opportunities," said Vice President Gore, who the President has asked to play a leadership role in implementing these new initiatives.
President Clinton and Vice President Gore returned to California's Silicon Valley to unveil the initiative, where the President last year detailed his commitment to a new direction in U.S. technology policy, a commitment which was endorsed by leaders throughout the technology community.
Technology for America's Economic Growth recognizes that new investments in technology will help the private sector create high-wage, high-skill jobs. It offers ground-breaking proposals to:
Develop a national network of manufacturing extension centers
to help small and medium-sized businesses gain access to
technology;
Invest in applied R & D in fields such as advanced
manufacturing, aerospace, biotechnology, and advanced
materials;
Increase partnerships between industry and the national
laboratories;
Develop a partnership with the American auto industry to
enable the development of a "clean car," creating jobs and
protecting the environment; and
Expand the Commerce Department's Advanced Technology Program
to provide matching grants for industry-led R & D consortia.
A major priority of the package will be developing a
National Information Infrastructure and the "information superhighways" created by legislation introduced and steered to passage by Vice President Gore when he served in the Senate. Technology for America's Economic Growth includes:
Support for the High-Performance Computing and Communications
Initiative that is developing new technologies for our most
powerful computers, supercomputers that are able to rapidly
process enormous quantities of information and for a national,
high-speed network ("information superhighways") to make this
high-performance computing more accessible.
Developing new applications for high-performance computing and
networking in health care, lifelong learning, and manufacturing.
Creating pilot projects to demonstrate these technologies in
schools and other nonprofit entities.
A task force of the National Economic Council which will work
with the Congress and the private sector to develop policies
needed to accelerate the deployment of a National Information
Infrastructure.
America's technology policy also will be used to help
meet other
important national goals:
The federal government will use technology to cut its costs,
improve energy efficiency, and improve the quality and
timeliness of service.
The government will work with industry to develop technologies
(software, computer and communications equipment) that increase
the productivity of learning in our schools, our homes, and our
work places.
The plan will improve the environment for private
sector investment and innovation in a variety of ways:
Making the Research and Experimentation tax credit permanent.
Reducing capital gains for long-term investments in small
businesses.
Reforming our antitrust laws to permit joint production
ventures.
Technology for America's Economic Growth recognizes
as well that our policy goals require a continued commitment to U.S. leadership in basic research. The initiative includes substantial increases in funding for the National Science Foundation.
And, Technology for America's Economic Growth improves the management of U.S. technology policy with:
High-level leadership and coordination by the Vice President,
the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and the National
Economic Council.
Developing a true partnership between the federal government
and industry, labor, academia, and the states.
Regular evaluation of programs to determine whether they should
remain part of the national investment in technology.
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COPIES OF TECHNOLOGY FOR AMERICA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH ARE AVAILABLE.