Executive Summary
Since unveiling its
technology
policy on February 22, the Clinton-Gore
Administration has followed up with concrete actions designed to create jobs,
strengthen America's technological and industrial leadership, and boost our
standard of living today and tomorrow. In the first 9 months, the
Administration has:
- Provided incentives for private-sector research and development and
new business formation by extending the R&D tax credit and reducing the
capital gains tax for investments in small businesses;
- Developed a National Export Strategy, including the elimination of
export controls on computers and telecommunications that will free up
$35 billion in high-tech exports;
- Aggressively pursued bilateral and multilateral trade agreements
(NAFTA, U.S.-Japan, Uruguay Round) that will expand access to foreign
markets for America's high-tech companies;
- Shifted Federal R&D priorities toward civilian technology, with dramatic
expansion of initiatives such as the Advanced Technology Program,
manufacturing extension, the Small Business Innovation Research program, and
NASA's new Technology Investments Package;
- Promoted defense conversion through the highly successful Technology
Reinvestment Project and comprehensive procurement reform;
- Invested in worker skills required for the high-performance workplace of
the 21st century and developed an aggressive program for investing in
education and training technologies;
- Developed an action plan for the National Information Infrastructure
and ordered the transfer of 200 MHz of spectrum from the Federal Government
to the private sector to jump-start new wireless technologies;
- Forged industry partnerships in sectors such as electronics, autos (Clean
Car), energy and environment, and advanced transportation;
- Expanded Federal investments in basic research through agencies such as
the National Science Foundation; and
- Made better use of information technology a cornerstone of its efforts
to "reinvent government," by, for example, moving toward electronic
procurement.
Collectively, these initiatives will lead to economic growth, the creation
of high-wage jobs, a cleaner environment, and a continuation of America's
leadership in basic science goals established in the Administration's
February 22 statement on technology policy. As noted in that document, the
Administration believes strongly that:
- Technology is the engine of economic growth, accounting for over half of
America's long-run productivity.
- Leadership in the use and deployment of technology is also essential for
the achievement of other national goals, including sustainable development,
energy efficiency, an industrial base capable of meeting our national security
requirements, and a government that works better and costs less.
- The United States must establish a world-class environment for
private-sector investment, given the mobility of capital and technology in
today's
global economy. For that reason, tax, trade, macroeconomic, regulatory, and
human resource policies are all key to making the United States second to none
in the commercialization of new technologies.
- The Administration's technology policy will not be successful without
the establishment of a genuine partnership with industry, labor, and
academia. Given the rapid pace of technological change, government programs
will not be successful unless they are tightly coupled to industry requirements.
This document outlines the Administration's accomplishments and
indicates its plans for the future. The President's technology policy is very
much a "work in progress" and the Administration welcomes suggestions for
enhancing and accelerating these initiatives.
Checklist of Clinton
Administration Key Accomplishments