Competitiveness

Making America More Competitive

Today, America faces a world more integrated, more interdependent, and more intensely competitive than ever in our history.  We face new competitors abroad, including China and India, and we face growing uncertainty as the world changes faster each day.

I've been working to make sure Montana and America face up to these challenges and succeed.  To succeed tomorrow, I believe that we must invest in making America more competitive today.  So I'm promoting a comprehensive competitiveness agenda for America.

Education is the foundation of a successful economy.  My agenda will create scholarships and provide tax incentives for early education, science, math, and engineering teachers.  It will provide matching funds to offer universal early education, double the number of advanced placement courses in our high schools, and make higher education accessible for all income levels.  My agenda will support after school and mentoring programs, and restore our commitment to Indian education.  It will create grants for outstanding young scientists, and encourage companies to get involved in making our schools the world's best.

Energy fuels a successful economy, but high costs are hurting America's competitiveness.  My agenda looks to the future and creates the new Advanced Research Projects Agency -- Energy, to conduct transformative research and create alternative energy solutions.  While this research looks for tomorrow's energy alternative, my agenda also encourages today's alternative energies like coal gasification technology, wind, and other alternative fuels.

Research and Experimentation are what America does best, but the rest of the world is catching up.  My agenda simplifies and makes permanent the research and experimentation tax credit for innovators looking for tomorrow's next big thing.  It also provides access to start-up capital for small, research-intensive businesses and encourages support of basic university research.

International Trade is vital to Montana's farmers, ranchers, and businessmen, but they must have a level global playing field.  My agenda creates a Senate-confirmed trade enforcement official who is dedicated to guaranteeing our trading partners play by the rules.  It also gives the Treasury Department the tools that keep countries from unfairly manipulating their currencies to keep their exports cheap.