Council on Competitiveness president Deborah L. Wince-Smith made the following statement upon the introduction of the America COMPETES Act, which was introduced by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and others Monday. "Strengthening innovation as the foundation of U.S. competitiveness is a critical national priority. The America COMPETES Act brings us one step closer to creating the national innovation plan we need to ensure American productivity and prosperity. I am pleased that many of the ideas generated by the Council's National Innovation Initiative are included in the proposed legislation, including increases for federal R&D funding and emphasis on better science, technology, engineering and math education." Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) played a vital role in developing the bipartisan act. Other co-sponsors include Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM), Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Sen. Michael Enzi (R-WY), Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). Deborah L. Wince-Smith is president of the Council on Competitiveness. From 1989 to 1993, Wince-Smith served as the first Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy in the Department of Commerce.