The unveiling of the American Innovation Proclamation on March 13 was hailed as a “fundamental and necessary call on Congress to support a four-part agenda that enhances innovation,” by Jay Timmons, the National Association of Manufacturers’ senior vice president for policy and government relations. “Action on these critical priorities will help the
Signed by nearly 300 organizations, the proclamation outlines four issues where legislative action is needed to improve American competitiveness: a permanent, strengthened research and development tax credit, additional funding for basic R&D, increased funding to promote student achievement in math and science, and reforms to the
“These issues are the four pillars of American competitiveness,” Timmons said. “If we are going to remain the world’s innovation leader, Congress must act on this checklist. A permanent, strengthened R&D tax credit will translate into more jobs, new products, higher wages and increased productivity. In industries ranging from aerospace to telecom, manufacturers perform 70 percent of all business R&D in the
“While manufacturers believe we need to develop long term solutions to the shallow pool of highly-technical workers, we need those workers now. Approximately half of the masters and doctorate level graduates in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields are foreign nationals. “We have to cultivate domestic talent in STEM fields, but we must also reform legal immigration policies to reflect market realities and business needs. Yet this talent must be complimented by increased federal funding for basic research,” Timmons continued. “Doubling basic research budgets for federal R&D funding is proven to create jobs and spur productivity.”
The National Association of Manufacturers is the nation’s largest industrial trade association, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. Headquartered in