Bill Gates Addresses U.S. Competitiveness With Gordon’s Committee

March 12, 2008, WASHINGTON – Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates today testified at a congressional hearing chaired by U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon on efforts needed to strengthen America’s competitiveness in the global marketplace, policies to encourage innovation and the role of technology in U.S. economic growth.

The House Science and Technology Committee hearing highlighted the 50th anniversary of the committee, which was created by Congress in response to Russia’s launch of Sputnik.

“Sputnik showed us that we were not the world’s technological leader,” said Gordon. “Today, with the rapid economic and technological advances of other countries, I fear we are now on the cusp of another Sputnik moment. I fear that our country has coasted on the investments we made 50 years ago. Now is the time to act, and I believe this committee has an important role to play in helping bring our country back as the technological leader in the world.”

Gates’ testimony highlighted the committee’s anniversary and kicked off the first in a series of hearings focusing on U.S. technological advances of the past half century and the challenges ahead.

“During the last 50 years, the world has witnessed truly revolutionary advances in science and technology,” said Gates. “We as a nation can take pride in knowing that American scientists, researchers, and entrepreneurs have been at the forefront of many of these advances. This committee can also take pride in knowing that it is directly responsible for many of the key federal policies that provided the foundation for U.S. technology leadership.”

Following World War II and throughout much of the 20th century, the United States became a world leader in science and innovation, and economic indicators demonstrated the United States offered a high standard of living to American citizens. In the 1990s – a period in which the United States was known as the world’s lone superpower – a number of indicators suggested that American prosperity was diminishing.

On October 12, 2005, the National Academy of Science released its “Rising Above the Gathering Storm” report, which quickly became influential in promoting a national agenda on innovation and competitiveness. Ultimately, recommendations included in the Gathering Storm report, became the basis for legislation signed into law last August – the America COMPETES Act. This legislation, authored by Gordon, makes a significant commitment to the United States’ future by investing in math and science education and federal research.

Gates commended the committee on the America COMPETES Act, saying, “This Committee, of course, has been a leading advocate for expanding educational opportunities for American students and workers in the vital areas of science, technology, engineering, and math. These initiatives − and many others this committee has spearheaded − represent critical strides in the much-needed effort to reform our faltering educational system, and I commend you for your vision and efforts. But in order to ensure the continued success of our young people now and in the future, the public and private sectors must do more. One of the most important steps that Congress can take to address this issue is to fully fund the America COMPETES Act.”

Gates’ testimony at the hearing will likely be his final congressional testimony before devoting the majority of his time on his philanthropic work with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,

“Bill Gates embodies both the American spirit of innovation and the theological virtue of charity,” said Gordon. “He has built arguably the most successful technology company in the world and then has turned his financial success into his gift to our society. On this occasion of the 50th anniversary of this committee, as we reflect back on the technological advances of the past and look ahead to the challenges facing our country’s competitiveness in the world, I can think of no other witness better suited and well positioned to help share insights with this committee.”