CONGRESSIONAL COMPETITIVENESS CAUCUS RELEASES BACKGROUND MATERIALS ON INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS.
JUL. 16, 1991
CONGRESSIONAL COMPETITIVENESS CAUCUS RELEASES BACKGROUND MATERIALS ON INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS.
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
- Institutional AuthorsU.S. House of RepresentativesCongressional Competitiveness Caucus
- Subject Area/Tax Topics
- Index TermscompetitivenessCongressional Competitiveness Caucus
- Jurisdictions
- LanguageEnglish
- Tax Analysts Document NumberDoc 91-5938 (38 original pages)
- Tax Analysts Electronic Citation91 TNT 150-18
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The Hon. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
Co-Chair
The Hon. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ)
Co-Chair
The Hon. Norman Mineta (D-CA)
Vice Chair
The Hon. Amo Houghton (R-NY)
Vice Chair
CONGRESSIONAL COMPETITIVENESS CAUCUS
The Congressional Competitiveness Caucus is the largest Caucus on Capitol Hill with a membership of 213 Representatives and Senators. The mission of this bipartisan, consensus-building forum is to:
1. elevate the issue of U.S. economic competitiveness on the nation's economic and political agendas;
2. educate Congress on the range of issues related to U.S. competitiveness; and
3. craft legislation that can strengthen the nation's ability to produce and sell more competitive goods and services.
Strengthening the nation's competitiveness requires participation from all parts of U.S. society. The role of Congress is to foster a climate in which U.S. firms and workers can produce good and services that are competitive in terms of price, innovation, quality, service and marketing. Accordingly the Caucus will focus on four primary areas:
o advancing trade policies that improve the nation's ability to compete in global markets;
o improving technological innovation;
o creating a more knowledgeable, skilled and adaptable work force; and
o facilitating capital formation.
The Congressional Competitiveness Caucus is co-chaired by Representatives Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) and Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), and Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and John Chafee (R-RI). Representatives Norman Mineta (D-CA) and Amo Houghton (R-NY) serve as vice-chairs of the Caucus.
Leadership of the Congressional Competitiveness Caucus
Co-chairs
Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) Sen. John Chafee (R-RI)
Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ)
Vice-chairs
Rep. Norman Mineta (D-CA) Rep. Amo Houghton (R-NY)
CONGRESSIONAL COMPETITIVENESS CAUCUS
HOUSE MEMBERS
Mike Andrews Mel Levine
Robert Andrews Jerry Lewis
Tom Andrews William Lipinski
Douglas Applegate Marilyn Lloyd
Chet Atkins Nita Lowey
Les AuCoin Frank McCloskey
Jim Bacchus Bill McCollum
Doug Barnard Joseph McDade
Joe Barton Bob McEwen
Herbert Bateman Matthew McHugh
Anthony Beilenson Tom McMillen
Helen Bentley Ron Machtley
Howard Berman Edward Markey
Doug Bereuter Matthew Martinez
Tom Bevill Robert Matsui
Sherwood Boehlert Jan Meyers
David Bonior Norman Mineta
Bob Borski Jim Moody
Rick Boucher Connie Morella
Barbara Boxer Sid Morrison
Bill Brewster Robert Mrazek
William Broomfield Austin Murphy
George Brown Steve Neal
Terry Bruce Eleanor Holmes Norton
John Bryant Henry Nowak
Albert Bustamante James Oberstar
Ben Campbell Jim Olin
Tom Campbell Bill Orton
Benjamin Cardin Wayne Owens
Tom Carper Elizabeth Patterson
William Clinger Lewis Payne
Cardiss Collins Don Pease
William Coyne Nancy Pelosi
Robert Davis Tim Penny
E. de la Garza Pete Peterson
Butler Derrick Tom Petri
Calvin Dooley Carl Pursell
Thomas Downey Richard Ray
Richard Durbin John Rhodes
Bernard Dwyer Bill Richardson
Don Edwards Tom Ridge
Mickey Edwards Matthew Rinaldo
Bill Emerson Don Ritter
Eliot Engel Robert Roe
Glenn English Toby Roth
Ben Erdreich Roy Rowland
Dante Fascell Tom Sawyer
Vic Fazio Jim Saxton
Edward Feighan James Scheuer
Sam Gejdenson Steven Schiff
George Gekas Pat Schroeder
Richard Gephardt Richard Schulze
Sam Gibbons Charles Schumer
Paul Gillmor Philip Sharp
Ben Gilman Gerry Sikorski
Dan Glickman David Skaggs
William Goodling Ike Skelton
Bart Gordon Louise Slaughter
Bill Gray Larry Smith
Frank Guarini Robert Smith
Steve Gunderson Olympia Snowe
Bill Hefner Stephen Solarz
Paul Henry John Spratt
Joan Kelly Horn Richard Stallings
Frank Horton Charlie Stenholm
Amo Houghton Dick Swett
Steny Hoyer Mike Synar
Jerry Huckaby Robin Tallon
Bill Hughes W.J. Tauzin
James Inhofe Lindsay Thomas
Bill Jefferson Robert Torricelli
Nancy Johnson Edolphus Towns
Tim Johnson Bob Traxler
Walter Jones Jolene Unsoeld
Paul Kanjorski Fred Upton
Marcy Kaptur Tim Valentine
Joe Kennedy Harold Volkmer
Barbara Kennelly James Walsh
Scott Klug Henry Waxman
Jim Kolbe Pat Williams
Mike Kopetski Bob Wise
John LaFalce Frank Wolf
Martin Lancaster Howard Wolpe
Tom Lantos Ron Wyden
Sander Levin
CONGRESSIONAL COMPETITIVENESS CAUCUS
SENATE MEMBERS
Brock Adams Daniel Inouye
Max Baucus James Jeffords
Jeff Bingaman Bennett Johnston
David Boren John Kerry
Richard Bryan Frank Lautenberg
Dale Bumpers Carl Levin
Quentin Burdick John McCain
Robert Byrd George Mitchell
John Chafee Daniel Moynihan
Alan Cranston Frank Murkowski
Kent Conrad Sam Nunn
Alfonse D'Amato Claiborne Pell
John Danforth Larry Pressler
Thomas Daschle David Pryor
Dennis DeConcini Donald Reigle
Alan Dixon Charles Robb
James Exon John D. Rockefeller
Jake Garn William Roth
John Glenn Terry Sanford
Albert Gore Jim Sasser
Bob Graham Richard Shelby
Charles Grassley Paul Simon
Tom Harkin Alan Simpson
Orrin Hatch Strom Thurmond
Howell Heflin
POLICY BRIEFING SERIES AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
SPONSORED BY THE CONGRESSIONAL ECONOMIC LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE FOR
MEMBERS OF THE CONGRESSIONAL COMPETITIVENESS CAUCUS
1987-1991
POLICY BRIEFINGS
MANUFACTURING
"U.S. Manufacturing: Our Position in the Global Market" (1987)
Dr. Lester Thurow, Dean, School of Management, Massachusetts
Institute of Technology
Stephen Cohen, Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy,
University of California/Berkeley
John Zysman, Berkeley Roundtable on the International Economy,
University of California/Berkeley
"The American Defense Industrial Base" (1987)
Dr. Robert Costello, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense
Jeff Bingaman, United States Senator, State of New Mexico
James Koonz, Chairman, National Center for Manufacturing Science
Harry Gray, Chairman, Defense Policy Advisory Committee on Trade
"America's Stake in Steel: Both Sides of the Voluntary Restraint
Agreements" (1989)
Peter Marcus, First Vice President, PaineWebber, Inc.
Thomas C. Graham, President USS
Jon E. Jenson, President, Precision Metalforming Association
"Made In America: Regaining the Productive Edge" (1989)
Release of report by the MIT Commission on Industrial
Productivity
Provost John Deutch
Nobel Laureate Robert Solow
Professor Richard Lester
Professor Michael Dertouzos
"Lessons Learned: Success Stories from Corporate America" (1989)
Dr. P. Roy Vagelos, Chief Executive Officer, Merck & Co., Inc.
Richard Mahoney, Chief Executive Officer, Monsanto Company
Dr. Robert Costello, The Hudson Institute
"The Road Ahead: The Future of the U.S. Automotive Industry" (1990)
Robert S. Miller, Vice Chairman, Chrysler Corporation
F. Alan Smith, Executive Vice President, General Motors Corp.
Elliott S. Hall, Vice President, Washington Affairs, Ford Motor
Company
Malcolm Salter, Harvard School of Business
Richard Warden, Director of Legislation, United Automobile
Workers
"National Telecommunications Strategy: How Can We Best Ensure the
Domestic and International Competitiveness of U.S.
Telecomnunications?" (1990)
Sharon Nelson, Chair, Washington State Public Utilities
Commission
William Ouchi, Professor, UCLA Graduate School of Management
"The Future of the U.S. Semiconductor Industry" (1991)
Andrew Grove, Chief Executive Officer, Intel Corporation
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
"Semiconductors in American Competitiveness" (1987)
Dr. Robert Noyce, Chairman of the Board, Intel Corporation
Charles Sporck, Chairman, National Semiconductor
"Superconductivity: Breakthroughs and Applications" (1987)
Roland Schmidt, Chairman, National Science Board
"Accelerating the Creation and Use of Technology" (1988)
Admiral Bobby R. Inman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Westmark Systems, Inc.
"American Supercomputers: Trading in the Global Market" (1988)
Robert M. Price, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Control
Data Corporation
"Energy Efficiency: Boosting U.S. Competitiveness" (1988)
Deborah Bleviss, Executive Director, International Institute for
Energy Conservation
Arthur Rosenfeld, Director, Center for Building Science,
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, University of California at
Berkeley
"R&D and Antitrust: What Lies Ahead for Critical Technologies?"
(1989)
Dr. Robert Noyce, Chief Executive Officer, SEMATECH
"Prospects For U.S.-Soviet Cooperation: Applying Advanced Soviet
Technology to Enhance U.S. Competitiveness in Materials and Ceramics"
(1990)
Dr. Alexander Merzhanov, Director, Soviet Institute of
Structural Macrokinetics
Dr. James McCauley, Chief, Material Science Branch, U.S. Army
Materials Technology Laboratory
CAPITAL FORMATION
"Financing America's Future" (1988)
Robert Solow, Institute Professor, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
George Hatsopoulos, Chairman and President, Thermo Electron,
Chairman of the Board, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Lawrence Summers, Nathaniel Ropes Professor, Harvard University
Stephen Levy, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bolt,
Beranek, & Newman
"American Saving: Public Perceptions and Economic Realities" (1989)
Sidney Harman, Chairman, Harman International
Daniel Yankelovich, President, Public Agenda Foundation
Dr. Lester Thurow, Dean, Sloan School of Management, MIT
HUMAN RESOURCES
"Managing in a Time of Change" (1987)
Frank Doyle, Senior Vice President, General Electric Company
"The Role of American Labor in a Changing Global Economy" (1987)
Lynn Williams President, United Steelworkers of America
"Human Resource Development: Key to a Competitive America" (1987)
William E. Brock, U.S. Secretary of Labor
"An Agenda for American Education" (1988)
Dr. John Brademas, President, New York University
"The Service Sector: Key to America's Economic Future" (1989)
John S. Reed, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Citicorp
TRADE
"Trade Marks: GATT, Implementing the Trade Bill and American
Prospects in the World Market" (1989)
Michael Aho, Director of Economic Studies, Council on Foreign
Relations
Ambassador Michael Smith, President, SJS Advanced Strategies
Geza Feketekuty, Counsellor, United States Trade Representative
"The U.S. Trade Representative's Super 301 List" (1989)
Ambassador S. Linn Williams, Deputy United States Trade
Representative
"U.S. Trade Policy in the 1990's" (1989)
Ambassador Carla Hills, United States Trade Representative
"Intellectual Property At A Crossroads: Global Piracy and
International Competitiveness" (1990)
Jack Valenti, Chief Executive Officer, Motion Picture
Association of America, Inc.
Christopher Steffen, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer,
Honeywell, Inc.
EC 1992
Meeting of the Senate Task Force on EC 92 (Chaired by Senators
William Roth and Max Baucus) (1989)
Jaques Delors, President of the Commission of the EC
Horst Krenzler, Director General of External Affairs
Pascal Lamy, Chief of Staff
Sir Roy Denman, Head Delegate, Commission of the EC
"Trade in Transition: Views of Europe 1992" (1989)
Sir Roy Denman, Head Delegate, Commission of the EC
James Murphy, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Europe and
the Mediterranean
"Caveat Venditor?: American Business Perspectives on Europe 1992"
(1989)
Dr. Joan Spero, Sr. Vice President, American Express Co.
David Link, Vice President, Cordis Corporation
Dr. Carol Greenwald, Peat Marwick Main & Company
Francine Lamoriello, Peat Marwick Main & Company
Steve Cooney, National Association of Manufacturers
"The German Question: Political, Economic and Security Implications
for 1992" (1989)
Professor Lily Gardner Feldman, American Institute for
Contemporary Studies
Dr. Corrado Pirzio-Biroli, Commission of the EC
Ambassador Alton Keel, Former U.S. Envoy to NATO
"European Economic Space: Expansion of the European Community into
the EFTA and Eastern Europe" (1990)
Jean-Daniel Gerber, Economic Minister, Embassy of Switzerland
Richard Wright, First Secretary of Trade and Economic Affairs,
European Community delegation to Washington
Philip Hinson, Director, West Europe and Near Eastern Affairs,
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Istvan Mohacsi, First Secretary for Economic Affairs, Embassy of
Hungary
"America, Europe and Japan: A Perspective from the EC's New Envoy"
(1990)
Ambassador Andreas van Agt, Head Delegate of the Commission of
the EC to Washington
"The Bush Administration's Response to Europe 1992" (1990)
Ambassador Julius Katz, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative
"The Opening of Eastern Europe: Opportunities and Challenges for the
United States" (1990)
Lawrence Eagleburger, Deputy Secretary of State
"After GATT: The Future of U.S.-EC Economic Relations" (1991)
Dr. Gary Hufbauer, Georgetown University
Ambassador Michael Smith, SJS Advanced Strategies
MEXICO
"U.S.-Mexico Economic Relations" (1989)
John St. John, U.S. Department of State
Brian Brisson, U.S. Department of Commerce
"Economic Crossroads: Challenges for U.S.-Mexico Relations" (1989)
The Honorable Charles J. Pilliod, United States Ambassador to
Mexico
Jose Manuel Suarez-Mier, Minister for Economic Affairs, Embassy
of Mexico
"The Salinas Visit: Prospects of a United States-Mexico Free Trade
Agreement" (1990)
Professor Rudiger Dornbusch, Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
Delal Baer, Center for Strategic and International Studies
"Review of Trade and Investment Liberalization Measures by Mexico and
Prospects for the Future" (1990)
Anne Brunsdale, Chair of the U.S. International Trade Commission
Constance Hamilton, Project Director, International Trade
Commission
"The Bush Administration's Views on the U.S.-Mexico Free Trade
Agreement" (1991)
Robert Fisher, Director of Mexican Affairs at the Office of the
USTR
Steve Jacobs, Director of the Trade Policy Division of the
office of Mexican Affairs at the International Trade
Administration of the Department of Commerce.
"U.S.-Mexico Economic Relations" (1991)
Jaime Serra Puche, Mexican Secretary of Trade and Industry
"The Labor Community's View on the U.S.-Mexico Free Trade Agreement"
(1991)
Mark Anderson, International Economist, AFL-CIO
Steve Beckman, International Economist, UAW
Bill Cunningham, Legislative Representative, AFL-CIO
"American Business Organizations' Views on the U.S.-Mexico Free Trade
Agreement" (1991)
Dr. Calman Cohen, Vice President, ECAT
John Endean, Vice President, American Business Conference
Richard Lehmann, Director of Public Affairs, Trade and
Investment, IBM
"U.S.-Mexico Economic Relations and the Free Trade Agreement" (1991)
Thomas Donahue, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO
Kay Whitmore, Chief Executive Officer, Eastman Kodak Co.
"U.S.-Mexico Relations" (1991)
Herminio Blanco, Chief Negotiator of the proposed North American
Free Trade Agreement for Mexico
"Prospects for a North American Free Trade Agreement: A Roundtable
Discussion" (1991)
Mark Anderson, AFL-CIO
Judy Bello, Sidley & Austin
Calman Cohen, ECAT
Gary Horlick, O'Melveny & Myers
Stewart Hudson, National Wildlife Federation
Judge Morris, NAM
Jack Sheehan, United Steelworkers
Alan Wolff, Dewey, Ballantine
"The North American Free Trade Agreement: Pro and Con" (1991)
Adolfo Aquilar, Sr. Researcher, Center for the Studies of the
U.S., National Autonomous University of Mexico
Cameron Duncan, Director, Multilateral Development Banks and
Assistance for Greenpeace International
Pharis Harvey, Director, Int'l Labor Rights Education & Research
Fund
Bill Spriggs, Economist, Economic Policy Institute
"NAFTA and North American Regional Competitiveness" (1991)
Robert Mosbacher, U.S. Secretary of Commerce
Jaime Serra Puche, Mexican Secretary of Trade and Industry
"The Bush Administration's Plan for Environmental and Labor Issues
Related to the NAFTA" (1991)
Joshua Bolten, General Counsel, USTR
Bill Cunningham, Legislative Representative, AFL-CIO
Pharis Harvey, Director, International Labor Rights & Education
Fund
Stewart Hudson, Legislative Representative, National Wildlife
Federation
"The Perspective of the Mexican Business Community on the Proposed
FTA" (1991)
Juan Gallardo, Co-chairman, U.S.-Mexico Business Committee
Guillermo Guemez, Vice President, Banco National de Mexico
"The Legislative Options Surrounding the NAFTA" (1991)
George Weise, Staff Director, Trade Subcommittee of Ways & Means
JAPAN
"United States-Japan Trade" (1987)
Clyde Prestowitz, Fellow, Woodrow Wilson Center
"The FS-X Debate" (1989)
Henry J. Sechler, Staff Vice President, General Dynamics
Corporation
Clyde Prestowitz, Senior Associate, Carnegie Endowment
Debriefing of Institute trip to Japan with the staff of the Japan-
U.S. Friendship Commission and the State Department (1990)
Briefing for participants of Institute trip to Japan with Economic
Minister Hiroshi Hirabayashi (1990)
Series of briefings by Koji Omi, Japan's Vice Minister of Finance, to
senior Congressional staff, members of the Congressional
Competitiveness Caucus and the Washington press corps (1990)
"U.S.-Japan Relations and the Structural Impediments Initiative"
(1991)
Dr. Chalmers Johnson, Rohr Professor of Pacific International
Relations, University of California at San Diego
"Current Topics in U.S.-Japan Economic Relations" (1991)
The Hon. Michael Armacost, U.S. Ambassador to Japan
POLLSTERS
"Public Perceptions of U.S. Competitiveness" (1987)
Peter Hart, Chief Executive Officer, Peter D. Hart Research
Associates
Robert Teeter, President, Market Opinion Research
"Campaign "88: How the Public Sees the Economy" (1988)
Robert Teeter, Consultant, Market Opinion Research
William Hamilton, President, Hamilton Fredericks & Schneider
"Economic Indicators: The Pol1sters Speak" (1991)
Linda DiVall, American Viewpoint
Celinda Lake, Greenberg/Lake The Analysis Group Inc.
Richard Morin, The Washington Post
BRIEFING SERIES BY AUTHORS OF
WORKS ON COMPETITIVENESS
"The Leveling of the International Trade Playing Field" (1987)
David Halberstam, journalist and author
"U.S. Competitiveness in the World Economy" (1987)
Bruce Scott, Professor of Business Administration, Harvard
University
"Buying Into America: How Foreign Money is Changing the Face of our
Nation" (1985)
Martin Tolchin, The New York Times
Dr. Susan Tolchin, Professor of Public Administration, George
Washington University
"Renewing America's Predominance in the World Market" (1988)
Joel Kotkin, West Coast Editor, Inc. Magazine
"Unknown Innovators in the Global Economy" (1989)
John W. Kiser, Author of Communist Entrepreneurs
"Japan's Influence in the U.S. Financial Sector" (1989)
Daniel Burstein, Author of YEN!
"More Like Us: Making America Great Again" (1989)
James Fallows, Contributing Editor, Atlantic Monthly
"The Politics of Rich and Poor: Wealth and the American Electorate in
the Reagan Aftermath" (1990)
Kevin Phillips, Author
"The Japanese Power Game: What It Means For America" (1990)
William Holstein, Associate Editor, International, Business Week
"The Geopolitics of Energy: American Competitiveness and the Gulf
War" (1991)
Daniel Yergin, President, Cambridge Energy Research Associates,
author of The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power
FORUMS
"Working Better: Building Consensus for a More Effective Workforce"
Washington, June, 1987
"Financing America's Future" Lincoln, MA, October, 1987
"Capitalizing on Technology" Washington, May 1988
"Looking East: Strategies for U.S.-Japan Trade in the Next
Administration," Washington, September 1988
"Increasing Investment Now: What Are the Real Options?" Boston, MA,
May, 1989
TRIPS
Congressional Delegation trip to Japan -- January 1987
Congressional Delegation trip to Japan -- August 1987 (Funded through
grants from the U.S.-Japan Foundation)
Senior Congressional Staff trip to Japan -- January 8 - 17, 1988
(Funded through grants from the Japan - U.S. Friendship Commission)
Senior Congressional Staff trip to Japan -- Mar. 21 - Apr. 2, 1989
(Funded through grants from the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission)
Congressional Delegation trip to Mexico -- Aug. 27 - Sept. 1, 1989
(Funded through corporate donations)
Senior Congressional Staff to Japan -- January 6-13, 1990 (Funded
through grants from the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission)
Congressional Delegation trip to Mexico -- April 1-5, 1991
Congressional Delegation visit to Detroit -- April 25-26, 1991
PUBLICATIONS
"Analysis of the Congressional Competitiveness Caucus' Short Term
Agenda with the House and Senate Trade Bills." (1987)
Financing America's Future. (1987)
Working Better: Building Consensus for a More Effective Workforce.
(1987)
American Assets: A Study of Foreign Investment in the United States.
July, 1988
"Issues Outlook: Comparison of the Congressional Competitiveness
Caucus' Short Term Agenda with the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness
Act of 1988." (1988)
Looking East: Strategies for U.S.-Japan Trade in the Next
Administration. (1988)
Capitalizing on Technology. (1988)
"Legislative Update: Status of competitiveness legislation at the end
of the first session of the 100th Congress." (1988)
Increasing Investment Now: What Are the Real Options? (1989)
"Speaking Economically: A Summary of Recent Opinion Surveys."
(February, 1989); (February, 1990); (June, 1990); (February, 1991);
(June, 1991)
"Timeline for Action: Monitoring the Provisions of the Omnibus
Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988." (January, 1989); (March,
1989); (July, 1989); (November 1989)
Survey of Members of Congress on Foreign Investment in the United
States. (Published in "The Impact of Foreign Investment in the United
States" by Touche Ross), (1989)
Foreign Investment Barriers: Where America Stands Among Its
Competitors. (1989)
"America's Position in the European Community: Investment, Diplomacy
and Trade." (1989)
"Facts and Figures: American Companies' Share of the U.S. Market."
(1989)
"The U.S. and the EC at the Uruguay Round: Negotiating Positions and
the 1992 Process." (1990)
Intellectual Property at a Crossroads: Global Piracy and
International Compeitiveness. (1990)
"U.S.-Mexico Economic Relations: 20 Questions -- 20 Answers." (1990)
"World Energy Reserves & American Competitiveness: Questions and
Answers." (1991)
ON COMPETITIVENESS:
Selected Quotations from Policy Briefings sponsored by the
Congressional Economic Leadership Institute
for the Congressional Competitiveness Caucus
1987-1991
It is not technology alone, but the art of manufacturing and improving the efficiency of the production process which renders a country's industries competitive. The Japanese have paid attention to and succeeded in some quintessentially American economic fundamentals -- education, savings, investment, R&D and productivity -- which we need to recapture.
o The Hon. Michael Armacost, U.S. Ambassador to Japan
July 9, 1991
We must devise the means to encourage partnerships between business, government and academe in order to design the technologies and develop the skills necessary for a competitive America.
o Dr. John Brademas, President, New York University
February 2, 1988
The real battle of American politics will be over the middle class. There is a sense that people cannot make ends meet or maintain a certain standard of living. Both parties need to define their economic strengths and weaknesses in order to be the majority party in the next decade.
o Linda DiVall, Pollster
February 6, 1991
Under the Free Trade Agreement, the number of maquiladoras (already 1,900) and their employees (currently 500,000) would mushroom and the job losses in the United States would rise geometrically. The argument is often made that if these jobs do not go to Mexico, they would go elsewhere. This is not demonstrably true. We ought to talk about how to enrich the competitiveness of American companies within the United States before they consider moving.
o Thomas Donahue, Secretary-Treasurer, AFL-CIO
March 15, 1991
The use of government power to deal with the trade imbalance should be selective: in some areas we will succeed; in others we are likely to fail. The most sensible and effective use of government power lies in external negotiations with Japan of a deterrent-like nature.
o James Fallows, Editor, The Atlantic Monthly
April 6, 1989
We are not accustomed to losing our technology and economic health to a foreign country. The point is, though, that we lost the trade war but we have not yet lost the technology and investment war. We have to be very careful about every bit of our technology, because every piece that we lose will lower our standard of living. The alternative to taking steps to improve our standing in the technology and investment war is to accept the status of our country as a technology colony.
o Dr. Andrew Grove, CEO, Intel Corporation
June 26, 1991
There is nothing more vulnerable than entrenched success. This underscores the single greatest weakness of today's American economy: we have, as a nation, rested too long on the laurels earned decades ago. This has yielded a warped sense of economic priority and, in turn, a precipitous decline in productivity. American companies have lost sight of production and quality; the work force lacks multiple skills needed to perform in step with other countries; our schools are training grounds for foreign engineers.
o David Halberstam, author
October 1, 1987
The two key issues for 1988 will be the budget deficit and the trade deficit. The public feels that good jobs are going abroad and they are concerned. In a recent focus study, we found that the one issue where the Democrats and Republicans agreed was trade -- the need for evenhandedness and fairness from our trading partners.
o Peter Hart, Pollster
June 4, 1987
The real problem U.S. businesses face is the high cost of capital. Our businessmen pay nearly three times what their Japanese counterparts pay for capital. Our low rate of national saving has a dramatic effect on the cost of capital. And net investment is terribly inadequate in terms of meeting international competition. Only by saving more and investing more will we be able to sustain the high standard of living that our people expect and deserve.
o George Hatsopoulos, CEO, Thermo Electron Corporation
March 30, 1988
A prescription for American competitiveness must include an increase in national saving. We must close the gap which forces the United States to import foreign capital. We must also concentrate on education. And, of course, we must be more aggressive at exporting. Most importantly, however, we must take great offense at our trading partners who have closed markets. The whole world economic system, not just American competitiveness, will benefit from free and open markets.
o The Hon. Carla Hills, U.S. Trade Representative
October 5, 1989
We must mobilize much broader public concern than now exists if we are to improve American competitiveness. We do not now have a significant public constituency that will allow this country to come to grips with the changes that are required of us. Real, sustained economic growth depends on America's success in broadening external markets with the cooperation of all segments of American society.
o Admiral Bobby Inman, CEO, Westmark Systems
May 11, 1988
Most Americans do not understand the President's New World Order. There is a real problem with burdensharing and unfair trade practices. There is an increase in economic nationalism as Americans feel taken advantage of.
o Celinda Lake, Pollster
February 6, 1991
Protection of America's intellectual property rights is essential to ensuring U.S. competitiveness. Section 301 is a marvelous tool and the USTR should be encouraged to use it. It is wonderful to have an army investigating trademark, copyright and patent infringement: continued enforcement and vigilance are necessary.
o Richard Mahoney, CEO, Monsanto Company
November 9, 1989
The health of the United States economy depends to a large extent on the health of the automotive industry. Health care, consumer and trade policies should not be considered in isolation with this or any other industry.
o Robert S. Miller, Vice Chairman, Chrysler Corp.
September 13, 1990
We are beginning to see that reform of some of our institutions may be essential for our competitive posture as we move from a mind- set of national competition to one of global competition. Cooperation among competitors seems to be an unnatural act: industrialists have been trained not to talk with their rivals for fear of stiff penalties and imprisonment. We need to foster cooperation within industries and between industry and government by reforming our anti- trust laws.
o Dr. Robert Noyce, CEO, SEMATECH
June 15, 1989
One difference between the 1980s and other periods is the concept of competitiveness. In the 1980s, the capitalist overdrive was financed on a credit card. Unlike the previous periods, the 1980s witnessed the relative decline of American claims to world economic leadership. Because the dynamics of the policies which created wealth in the past decade (tax reduction and large interest payments) were credit-driven, the global consequences will be dramatic in the 1990s.
o Kevin Phillips, Author
July 12, 1990
The nature of competitiveness is hard to define, but what it comes down to is this: the nation that leads in information processing technology is destined to become the competitive leader in world trade. It will be the nation that generates new ideas in research sciences such as high-energy physics and genetic engineering. It will be the nation that brings more new products to market.
o Robert Price, CEO, Control Data Corporation
February 25, 1988
The service sector is the fundamental keystone to the U.S. economy and our ability as a nation to compete. If two-thirds of America's GNP and three-quarters of our work force is based in the service sector, productivity gains in the U.S. economy cannot be expected if the service sector does not experience productivity gains. One of the biggest components of the service sector is government. The efficiency of our government ties very directly to the efficiency and effectiveness of our society.
o John Reed, CEO, Citicorp
June 22, 1989
We should see the Free Trade Agreement as an instrument for the United States, Mexico and Canada to complement each other. We will have a larger market, greater economies of scale and a higher degree of technological flexibility. We will enjoy the benefits of production sharing. We will have the best combination of capital, labor and science. Since we will be neighbors forever, it only makes sense to complement each other economically to compete with the rest of the world.
o Dr. Jaime Serra Puche, Mexican Secretary of Trade
February 7, 1991
The Japanese are rightly concerned about Europe; they are correct that the 1992 program and the issue of reciprocity is aimed at them. They are beginning to make investments in Europe and are trying to understand the European market. Although the United States is far ahead of them in Europe, the Japanese will come.
o Dr. Joan Spero, Treasurer, American Express
July 21, 1989
The nature of the American economy will determine the importance of trade as a voter's issue, when it becomes critically important and what form it will take as a public concern. At the first signs of an economic downturn or a decline in the business cycle and when unemployment begins to rise, the trade deficit and the budget deficit will be blamed entirely. Then, trade and competitiveness will become red-hot topics.
o Robert Teeter, Pollster
April 21, 1988
We must focus on the common man's role in our economic posture. Economies do not travel on the generals, but on the privates. We have the shortest school calendar of all major industrialized countries. We save the least. We need to correct some fundamentals in order to flourish again.
o Dr. Lester Thurow, Massachusetts Inst of Technology
July 23, 1987
It is alarming that the National Science Foundation projects that the United States will suffer a shortfall of 700,000 scientists and engineers by the year 2010. To remedy the situation, our nation must begin major efforts now to encourage schools at all levels to strengthen science and math in their core curricula.
o Dr. Roy Vagelos, CEO, Merck & Co.
November 9, 1989
The United States is undergoing economic set-backs and can no longer play the magnanimous role it has for decades. It has become more aggressive in trade talks and has vigorously defended its interests in the Uruguay Round.
o The Hon. Andreas van Agt, Ambassador from the EC
April 20, 1990
Most Americans do not know that the U.S. film industry returns over $3 billion in surplus balance of trade each year to the United States. At a time when the United States suffers trade deficits, the entertainment industry is a glorious trade prize. To lose this industry to a trade agreement with Europe or to unbridled piracy in the Third World would be wholesale larceny.
o Jack Valenti, CEO, Motion Picture Assn of America
October 10, 1990
The United States has an ordered interdependency that begins with a healthy industrial base. Americans must realize that 18th century trade theories are simply inapplicable to the trade problems of the late 20th century.
o Lynn Williams, Pres., United Steelworkers of America
October 8, 1987
It is disconcerting to see that Japan is now spending more than the United States in energy research and development. Technology and policy ingenuity will play important roles in determining the future of America's energy policy. We should not shy away from a gasoline tax; we need to promote more natural gas usage; we need to conserve and slow the growth of oil imports. The degree to which oil as a commodity continues to have a profound effect on the health of U.S. industries and the American economy and on world politics makes it an important competitiveness issue.
o Daniel Yergin, President, Cambridge Energy Research
March 20, 1991
[Figures, tables, and charts omitted]
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
- Institutional AuthorsU.S. House of RepresentativesCongressional Competitiveness Caucus
- Subject Area/Tax Topics
- Index TermscompetitivenessCongressional Competitiveness Caucus
- Jurisdictions
- LanguageEnglish
- Tax Analysts Document NumberDoc 91-5938 (38 original pages)
- Tax Analysts Electronic Citation91 TNT 150-18
