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1998 SESSION

982355408
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 253
Offered January 26, 1998
Expressing the sense of the General Assembly that His Excellency, the Governor of the Commonwealth, support the work of the United States Innovation Partnership.
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Patrons-- Plum, Almand, Diamonstein, May and Scott; Senator: Howell
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the ability of American workers, inventors, and entrepreneurs to innovate has fueled the American economy since this nation was founded; and

WHEREAS, the 21st Century is fast approaching and the United States faces increasing international competition in the world marketplace; and

WHEREAS, continued leadership by the United States in technology and science is critical to improving the lives of all Americans and ensuring that we can compete in the new global marketplace; and

WHEREAS, the development and deployment of new technology are essential to the well-being of the United States and provide the means for long-term economic growth, for a better standard of living for all Americans, and for government to better serve its constituents; and

WHEREAS, the people, businesses, and universities of the United States, as well as the federal government and state governments, have the capacity to improve the system in the United States of moving new technologies from research and development to competitive products in the world marketplace; and

WHEREAS, the states have a critical role in creating the conditions that promote and support the innovation process, as investors in and users of technology and science; and

WHEREAS, strengthening our nation's technology and science enterprises will require building new partnerships between the states and the federal government; and

WHEREAS, the National Governors Association, the Secretary of Commerce for the United States, and the White House established the United States Innovation Partnership (USIP) in 1997 to facilitate these partnerships; and

WHEREAS, the National Governors Association has asked each state's governor to become a participating member of the USIP or to designate a representative to the USIP; and

WHEREAS, to date, 27 governors have designated a representative from their states to be participating members of the USIP, but Virginia is not among them; and

WHEREAS, the USIP provides a forum for the states to work closely with the federal government to better utilize technology and science resources to support technology-intensive, state-based economic growth; and

WHEREAS, the USIP facilitates collaboration between the states and high-level officials from federal agencies with technology and science missions to create an environment that promotes innovation, creates new jobs, and helps to advance 21st century technologies; and

WHEREAS, the USIP seeks to build strategic partnerships among state governments, the federal government, industry, and universities and to define and expand the role of the states in the national technology and science system; and

WHEREAS, the USIP also seeks to maximize the return on public and private sector investments in technology and to support development and commercialization of new products and processes; and

WHEREAS, under the USIP, the White House and federal agencies will designate liaisons to work with states on such issues as removing barriers to the adoptions of new technologies in such areas as telemedicine, environmental technologies, and the building and construction industries, and developing programs to stimulate technology and investments in rural areas and in states that traditionally receive less federal research funding; and

WHEREAS, these liaisons will also work with states to address the technical, legal, and other issues associated with the expansion of electronic commerce and expand the capacity of the manufacturing extension partnership to help modernize the nation's 380,000 small- and medium-sized manufacturers; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That it is the sense of the General Assembly that His Excellency, the Governor of the Commonwealth, support the work of the United States Innovation Partnership. The Governor is encouraged to forthwith become a participating governor in the USIP or to designate a representative to participate in his place on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates transmit a copy of this resolution to His Excellency, the Governor of the Commonwealth, in order that he may be apprised of the sense of the Virginia General Assembly in this matter.