The White House has provided further information on the American Competitiveness
Initiative and Advanced Energy Initiative that President Bush announced
in his State of the Union Address last night. Selections from these
documents follow:
AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS INITIATIVE:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/01/20060131-5.html
"The American Competitiveness Initiative commits $5.9 billion
in FY 2007, and more than $136 billion over 10 years, to increase investments
in research and development (R&D), strengthen education, and encourage
entrepreneurship and innovation."
"The centerpiece of the American Competitiveness Initiative is
the President's strong commitment to double over 10 years investment
in key Federal agencies that support basic research programs in the
physical sciences and engineering – the National Science Foundation
(NSF), the Department of Energy's Office of Science (DoE SC), and the
Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST)."
"The President's FY07 Budget includes $137 billion for Federal
research and development, an increase of more than 50 percent over 2001."
"The sum of the budgets of the National Science Foundation, the
Department of Energy's Office of Science, and the Department of Commerce's
National Institute of Standards and Technology will double over 10 years,
a total commitment of $50 billion of new funding."
"To Encourage Bolder Private-Sector Investment In Technology,
The President Continues To Support Making The Research And Development
(R&D) Tax Credit Permanent."
"To prepare our citizens to compete more effectively in the global
marketplace, the American Competitiveness Initiative proposes $380 million
in new Federal support to improve the quality of math, science, and
technological education in our K-12 schools and engage every child in
rigorous courses that teach important analytical, technical, and problem-solving
skills. Building on the successes of the No Child Left Behind Act, the
American Competitiveness Initiative will raise student achievement in
math and science through testing and accountability, providing grants
for targeted interventions, and developing curricula based on proven
methods of instruction."
"As part of the American Competitiveness Initiative, the President's
FY07 Budget introduces Career Advancement Accounts (CAA). CAAs will
be self-managed accounts of up to $3,000 that workers and people looking
for work can use to obtain training and other employment services."
"The President supports attracting and retaining the best and the
brightest high-skilled workers from around the world by reforming the
Nation's immigration system, while maintaining national security priorities.
The President's comprehensive plan for immigration reform meets the
needs of a growing economy, allows workers to provide for their families
while respecting the law, and enhances homeland security by relieving
pressure on the borders."
"The American Competitiveness Initiative will help the United
States remain a world leader in science and technology. Just as important,
we must continue to pursue pro-growth economic policies and foster a
culture of entrepreneurship. The President's economic agenda, including
reducing taxes and overly burdensome regulations, will help create a
business environment where innovators and entrepreneurs are rewarded.
The American Competitiveness Initiative also supports an efficient system
that leads the world in the protection of intellectual property resulting
from public and private sector investments in research."
ADVANCED ENERGY INITIATIVE:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/01/20060131-6.html
"Tonight, the President announced the Advanced Energy Initiative,
which provides for a 22% increase in clean-energy research at the Department
of Energy (DOE). The Initiative will accelerate our breakthroughs in
two vital areas; how we power our homes and businesses; and how we power
our automobiles."
"Changing The Way We Power Our Homes And Businesses:"
"The President's Coal Research Initiative. To tap the potential
of America's enormous coal reserves, the President's 2007 Budget includes
$281 million for development of clean coal technologies, nearly completing
the President's commitment 4 years ahead of schedule."
"The President's 2007 Budget Includes $54 Million For The FutureGen
Initiative. The FutureGen initiative is a partnership between government
and the private sector to develop innovative technologies for an emissions-free
coal plant that captures the carbon dioxide it produces and stores it
in deep geologic formations."
"The President's Solar America Initiative. The 2007 Budget will
propose a new $148 million Solar America Initiative – an increase
of $65 million over FY06 – to accelerate the development of semiconductor
materials that convert sunlight directly to electricity."
"The 2007 Budget includes $44 million for wind energy research
– a $5 million increase over FY06 levels. This will help improve
the efficiency and lower the costs of new wind technologies for use
in low-speed wind environments."
"Changing The Way We Power Our Automobiles:"
"The Biorefinery Initiative. To achieve greater use of ‘homegrown'
renewable fuels in the United States, advanced technologies need to
be perfected to make fuel ethanol from cellulosic (plant fiber) biomass,
which is now discarded as waste. The President's 2007 Budget will include
$150 million – a $59 million increase over FY06 – to help
develop bio-based transportation fuels from agricultural waste products,
such as wood chips, stalks, or switch grass."
"Developing More Efficient Vehicles. Current hybrids on the road
run on a battery developed at the DOE. The President's plan would accelerate
research in the next generation of battery technology for hybrid vehicles
and ‘plug-in hybrids.' Current hybrids can only use the gasoline
engine to charge the on-board battery. A ‘plug-in' hybrid can run
either on electricity or on gasoline and can be plugged into the wall
at night to recharge its batteries. These vehicles will enable drivers
to meet most of their urban commuting needs with virtually no gasoline
use. Advanced battery technologies offer the potential to significantly
reduce oil consumption in the near-term. The 2007 Budget includes $30
million – a $6.7 million increase over FY06 – to speed up
the development of this battery technology and extend the range of these
vehicles."
"The Hydrogen Fuel Initiative. The President's 2007 Budget will
provide $289 million – an increase of $53 million over FY06 –
to accelerate the development of hydrogen fuel cells and affordable
hydrogen-powered cars."
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