Candidate Notes on 01-SGA4

01-SGA4 on Sep 9, 2001

Whereas, the federal government’s investment in research and development (R&D) has dropped from 70% of total, national R&D at the height of the “cold war” to merely 27% in 1999; and,

Whereas, federal R&D spending has dropped from 1.5% of the Gross National Product (GDP) in 1987 to only 0.6% today; and,

Whereas, industry-sponsored R&D has off-set this decline by merely growing from 1.5% of GDP in 1987 to 1.6% today; and,

Whereas, federal leadership in technology transfer is of critical importance to the development and commercialization of established intellectual property; and,

Whereas, broadband, high-speed Internet technology is an essential asset to support the New Economy and foster a climate to aid R&D efforts; and,

Whereas, the advancement of digital government can foster supportive services important to research and development including cataloging of labor, statistics and venture capital,

and further, can enhance citizen access and coordination of government information and services; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Southern Governors’ Association urges Congress and the Administration to:
• Substantially increase all areas of research and development funding, and enact a permanent tax incentive for R&D and a tax election to exchange research-related benefits for a refundable tax credit;
• Pass legislation to bolster federal technology transfer efforts, ensuring that a sense of urgency exists in tech transfer officers of government agencies;
• Support legislation and regulations that will speed the deployment of broadband, high speed Internet networking throughout the nation; and,
• Establish a federal chief information office within the Office of Management and Budget.