The
United States has embarked upon an era of global economic
competition in which American companies and American workers
are going head_to_head against foreign businesses and workers
for market share at home and abroad. I believe the international
economic race is not a sprint but a marathon; winning requires
endurance. Building endurance requires first and foremost
training and investment in our workers. With knowledge having
surpassed capital, labor and raw materials as the key resource
in the new world economy, education in the schools and in
the workplace must provide American workers with the capability
to create and apply new technology and the flexibility to
adapt to change.
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Critical investments in education and technology
must be accompanied by a concerted effort to achieve high
standards of budget discipline and fiscal responsibility.
With our national debt now well over $5 trillion, wasteful
spending must not be tolerated. Paying down the debt creates
a ripple effect throughout the economy - cheaper access to
credit for American businesses, lower mortgage rates for home
buyers, reduced auto loan rates, and lower inflation. During
the 1990s, a national commitment to deficit reduction resulted
in the longest peacetime expansion in history. In the 21st
century, I believe that trend should continue. The government
must use its resources wisely to ensure the economy runs efficiently.
My record reflects an unwavering commitment to job creation,
economic growth and deficit reduction. From my assignments
on the Senate's Finance, Commerce, Foreign Relations and Small
Business Committees, I have been a strong advocate for measures
to strengthen budget discipline, deliver targeted tax relief
to working American families, sustain investments in research
and development, expand capital formation, facilitate the
creation and growth of small businesses, establish free and
fair international trading rules and promote the export of
United States products and services. With new trends and challenges
emerging daily, I will continue working to ensure that American
businesses and the American workforce remain at the forefront
of our global economy. |
