INNOVATION & COMPETITIVENESS - IEEE-USA will support the implementation of innovation-related legislation and the associated R&D budget appropriations needed to sustain U.S. technological leadership, promote economic competitiveness and create high-value advanced research and engineering jobs in the U.S. Priorities include:

• Enhancing federal investments in non-defense engineering research and education.

• Increasing federal investments in defense-related basic research and development including the university research initiative.

• Enacting a permanent extension of the Federal R&D tax credit.

• Strengthening K-12 math and science education, and undergraduate and graduate engineering education.

• Advocating sound U.S. defense R&D, aeronautics and astronautics technology policies.

• Assessing R&D offshoring trends in order to propose responses designed to reduce the potentially adverse impact on U.S. scientific leadership and technological competitiveness.

PATENT REFORM – The U.S. economy and job growth depends upon strong protections for intellectual property. IEEE-USA will promote patent reforms that are equitable and serve the entire cross-section of IEEE-USA membership, including fledgling companies (and solo inventors), university faculty, as well as Fortune 500 companies. Priorities include:

• Encouraging intellectual property laws that support entrepreneurial efforts

• Adopting an "attempt to commercialize" requirement and other measures to discourage "patent trolling."

IMMIGRATION REFORM – IEEE-USA will support public policies to ensure greater equity in the recruitment, utilization and compensation of US and foreign–born high tech workers. Priorities include:

• Increase the availability of permanent, employment-based (EB) visas and streamline the immigrant admissions process.

• Expedite short-term visitor visa processing.

• Facilitate the transition of foreign students with advanced degrees in STEM fields to LPR (green card) status.

• Reform the H-1B temporary work visa program.

ENGINEERING WORKFORCE SECURITY – IEEE-USA will support public policy initiatives to foster continuing education and retraining of the engineering workforce; to improve the accessibility and affordability of high quality health insurance; and, to expand tax-favored opportunities to save for retirement. Priorities include:

• Enacting legislation to enable business associations and professional societies to offer affordable health insurance plans for members and their families.

• Supporting changes in the tax treatment of health insurance and employment-based health benefits.

• Proposing new incentives for continuing education to help engineers and other professionals maintain their skills and remain competitive.

• Supporting tax and other incentives to retrain engineers and other skilled high-tech workers who are displaced.

ENERGY INDEPENDENCE – IEEE-USA will support proactive energy policies that result in the development of new energy sources and the reduction of U.S. dependence on oil in an environmentally sound way. Priorities include:

• Promoting new technologies and alternative energy sources (e.g. advanced nuclear, solar and renewables) that can help diversify U.S. energy supply and reduce the US dependency of foreign oil

• Supporting research and incentives to expedite the development and deployment of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, including associated infrastructure needs

• Strengthening research and development of energy storage capabilities.

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION –IEEE-USA will promote technology policies designed to reduce the vulnerability of critical U.S. infrastructures to terrorist attacks and other natural disasters. Priorities include:

• Ensuring reliability of the electric power grid.

• Enhancing port and aviation security.

• Promoting cybersecurity and protection of the computer networks that control much of our civil infrastructures.

• Improving spectrum utilization and emergency communication interoperability.

E-HEALTH - IEEE-USA will support public policies designed to improve the quality, availability and affordability of healthcare through greater adoption of information technology, including the establishment of a National Health Information Network. Priorities include:

• Ensuring interoperability of electronic health information systems.

• Supporting community demonstration projects using Electronic Health Records.

• Improving the availability of credible information on health care alternatives, providers, and institutions through electronic media.

• Ensuring the privacy and security of personal health records to prevent abuses such as genetic discrimination.

Other Issues of Concern

In addition to these priorities, IEEE-USA will work with other IEEE organizational units to support their government relations needs and will seize opportunities to make contributions on other issues as they arise on subjects ranging from R&D, energy, communications, careers and transportation.
 

FEEDBACK WELCOME

Do not hesitate to contact us and express your views about legislative or regulatory actions in either your home state legislature or Congress.  Please let IEEE-USA know if there are opportunities to affect positive changes for the U.S. engineering community and industries that rely on engineers. If you have questions about these issues please contact Erica Wissolik at e.wissolik@ieee.org.