ITI Praises Senate Commitment to High Tech Priorities

04.16.2008

ITI PRAISES SENATE COMMITMENT TO HIGH TECH PRIORITIES

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Information Technology Industry Council President Rhett Dawson today praised Senate leaders for a renewed focus this week on critical high tech issues.

“Senator Alexander and his Senate colleagues should be commended for breathing life back into a high tech agenda that will drive growth and stability in today’s economy,” said ITI President Rhett Dawson. “Permanently extending the R&D tax credit, improving our highly educated immigration system and boosting spending for math, science and other technology programs are key legislative items that Congress should pass this year.”

Dawson’s comments came as Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, joined other Senate Republicans to encourage lawmakers to address three top issues before adjourning this year – all of which are important to ITI’s member companies. GOP lawmakers are also meeting with university presidents this week to talk up high tech issues, while Senate Democrats this week launched a new website focusing on high tech priorities.

The legislative efforts touted by Alexander today include:

• Permanently extending the R&D tax credit;
• Passing immigration legislation that recognizes the importance of highly educated foreign professionals; and
• Fully funding the America COMPETES Act, which was signed into law last year.

ABOUT ITI

The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) represents the nation’s leading high-tech companies and works to advance public policies that boost innovation and global prosperity. ITI helps member companies achieve their policy objectives through building relationships with Members of Congress, Administration officials, and foreign governments; organizing industry-wide consensus on policy issues; and working to enact tech-friendly government policies.

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