1. Competitiveness
Maintain the U.S. as the world leader in science and technology

2. Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 Reform
Reduce the burden of compliance

3. R&D Tax Credit
Enact the world’s most competitive credit

4. High-Skilled Visa Reform 
Expand the H-1B program and decrease the bureaucracy

5. Privacy & Security
Create trust and confidence in e-commerce and RFID

6. E-Waste/Environment
Shape regulations at the state, national, and international level to balance compliance costs and competitiveness concerns

Education

• Federally fund math and science scholarships and grants for:
  • College students to become the next generation of K-12 teachers
  • Programs to strengthen the math and science skills of current teachers
    
    
• Increase the number of STEM degrees in higher education (BS and MS) to feed the growing knowledge-based economy.

High-Skilled Visa Reform

• Promote a system that allows companies in the United States to employ the best and the brightest from around the world; increase the yearly H-1B cap.
  
  
• Enact visa policies that welcome: foreign students, academic conferences, international training programs, intra-company transfers.

Research and Development

• Promote industrial R&D by making the tax credit permanent and competitive to tax credits offered around the world.
  
  
• Increase long-term, government investment in basic research in the physical sciences, particularly in high-risk, high-reward ventures.

Learn More about AeA's Competitiveness Initiative

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Reduce Burden on Small- and Mid-Sized Companies

• Reduce the burden of Section 404 compliance. Smaller companies have been hit particularly hard.
  • Better align cost of compliance (in terms of both money and time) with the benefits of internal controls.
  • Ensure that auditors are following the intent of the law and not just following a check the box process.
    

Advocacy & Lobbying

• Work with the SEC and PCAOB to modify current regulations to reflect the unique attributes of small- and mid-sized companies.
  

Educate Congress

• Educate Members of Congress on the issue and stress the importance of exercising oversight (conduct hearings on impact of Section 404 with feedback from companies and not just regulators).

Learn more about AeA's Grassroots Effort to Modify Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404

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History

• The R&D tax credit has expired 12 times since its enactment in 1981.
  

Strengthen Credit to Compete in Globalized World

• Strengthen the U.S. R&D tax credit so that the United States can compete with countries that are aggressively pursuing R&D activities through more favorable tax incentives (countries such as Canada even advertise in U.S. newspapers). 
  

Make Credit Permanent

• Make permanent the R&D tax credit so that U.S. companies have the ability to plan long-term research projects in the United States. The credit lowers the cost of performing R&D in the United States, which leads to new and better products and services.

Learn more about AeA's Actions on the R&D Tax Credit

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Expand H-1B Visa Program

• Expand the H-1B visa program to encourage the best and the brightest to come work in the United States, creating wealth, innovation, and jobs here.
  

Strengthen L Visa Program

• Strengthen the L Visa program to allow easier transfer of company executives from around the world.
  

Decrease Bureaucracy in Visa Process

• Decrease the bureaucracy of the U.S. visa process.
  • Encourages business, academic conferences, international students, and brain power to come to the United States.
  • All these bring investment and innovation into the U.S.

Learn more about AeA's Workforce, HR, and Immigration Policies

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E-commerce

• Promote trust and confidence in global E-commerce.
  
  

  - Spyware - Spam - Online Privacy - Children’s Online Safety - RFID/Secure Smart Cards

  - Security Breach - Phishing - E-Signs/Postmarks - Social Networking

RFID

• Promote best practices when using RFID technology.
  • Identity Management:  Encouraging Federal, State and Local governments to ensure personal data privacy when implementing contactless Secure IDs and Smart Cards.
    
  • Supply Chain Management:  Educating the government, private sector businesses and consumers in the benefits and efficiencies using RFID solutions for supply chain management.

Learn more about AeA's RFID Initiative

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State, Regional, National, and International Action

• Work with stakeholders at the state, regional, national, and international level to:
  • Educate consumers and legislators of high-tech’s green efforts
  • Reduce compliance costs
  • Ease competitiveness concerns
    

State Focus

• Key state policy issues include:
  • Harmonize e-waste regulations
  • Restrictions on hazardous materials (lead, mercury, flame retardants)
  • Recycling mandates
  • Mandatory labeling

International Focus

• Key international policy issues include:
  • Ensure "China RoHS" harmonizes with the EU requirements
  • Reduce costly administrative burdens of the pending EU (REACH)
  • Secure exemptions and clarify implementation requirements in EU RoHS
  • Preserve design flexibility under proposed EU energy efficiency rules

Learn more about AeA's Environment Initiative

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For more information on AeA's 2006 Public Policy Priorities or to get involved, contact John Palafoutas, Sr. Vice President Domestic Policy and Congressional Affairs, at 202.682.4451.

This page was last updated on 03/24/06.  
Copyright © 2006 American Electronics Association.  All rights reserved.