Washington, D.C. – Congressman Dave Reichert (WA-08) today applauded the testimony of Bill Gates before the House Science and Technology Committee, in what is likely to be Gates’ final congressional testimony before devoting the majority of his time to his philanthropic work with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Reichert also met with Gates in an afternoon closed-door meeting to further discuss high-tech, workforce, and education issues Wednesday.  

“Many of the issues Bill Gates raised today reflect my own concerns regarding America’s competitiveness for the future,” said Reichert. “Investments in STEM education and ensuring our companies are able to attract and retain the very best and brightest is critical to the future success and security of our country. It was an honor to have an influential figure from the Eighth District make his case before Congress.”  

The Microsoft Chairman testified today on efforts needed to strengthen the country’s competitiveness in the global marketplace, policies to encourage innovation and the role of technology in our economic growth.   

Congressman Reichert welcomed Gates with opening remarks and commented, “Through your leadership, Microsoft has remained not only a leading innovator, but also a beacon for thousands of small businesses across our country that the American Dream is alive and well and that with great vision and determination, great success can come from modest beginnings.  Microsoft is truly an engine of our nation’s economic growth, and your company and your philanthropy continue to make tremendous contributions to Washington State, to our country, and to the global community.    

“These are challenging times, and I look forward to hearing your perspectives on trade, immigration, math and science education, foreign aid and other critical areas we need to improve upon so that America can remain a leader in this increasingly competitive global economy.”  

Reichert questioned Gates on the importance of aggressively opening global markets through free trade and the impact of the corporate tax rate on American companies’ abilities to compete in global markets.  

During his testimony, Gates commented, “While America’s innovation heritage is unparalleled, the evidence is mounting that we are failing to make the investments in our young people, our workers, our scientific research infrastructure, and our economy that will enable us to retain our global innovation leadership.”  

Gates also praised the Committee’s work, particularly in passing the America COMPETES Act, which was signed into law in 2007. COMPETES is legislation aimed at making America more competitive in the global economy by improving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, as well as bolstering scientific research.  

Mr. Gates outlined the following goals for achieving what he described as “a strategy for innovation excellence:”  

o         Strengthening educational opportunities, so that America’s students and workers have the skills they need to succeed in the technology- and information-driven economy of today and tomorrow;

o         Revamping immigration rules for highly skilled workers, so that U.S. companies can attract and retain the world’s best scientific talent;

o         Increasing federal funding for basic scientific research, to train the next generation of innovators and provide the raw material for further innovation and development by industry; and

o         Providing incentives for private-sector R&D, so that American businesses remain at the forefront in developing new technologies and turning them into new products and services.  

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