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Science and Technology in the 2008 Presidential Election

Joe Biden (Democrat)

Senator Joe Biden's platform addresses a range of policy issues while placing a strong focus on foreign affairs, and energy and climate change.

Competitiveness & Innovation

Biden supports tax reforms that encourage innovation and competition in research and development (R&D), while advocating a Pay-As-You-Go budget system. He has placed specific emphasis on "green collar" and healthcare sector jobs. Senator Biden has also laid out a national high-speed broadband policy that would expand access to high-speed Internet connections.

STEM Education & Workforce

Senator Biden's education plan revolves around increasing opportunities from preschool to college; recruiting and retaining teachers through financial incentives and professional development; and reducing class size. He also wants to overhaul the No Child Left Behind system of accountability. He would expand broadband access and points to his involvement in the KIDS 2000 program, a public-private partnership to bring computer and Internet access to schools, as an example.

In speeches, Biden has pointed out the importance of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education in fostering interest in STEM fields. He has placed specific emphasis on "green collar" and healthcare sector jobs.

Better Health for Americans

Senator Biden's "CARE plan" seeks to move toward universal health care by expanding insurance coverage and encouraging prevention and modernization. He would support research on chronic disease care and establish a federal panel to "evaluate treatment protocols, medical devices and new technology and establish best practices for management of chronic diseases." He also supports the adoption of new health information technology and has pledged to invest $1 billion in federal funds. Biden plans to direct resources to reducing cases of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and water-borne illnesses and improving global food supplies and child/maternal health.

Energy & Environment

Biden has laid out a detailed energy and environment platform that includes the following campaign pledges:

  • Restoring U.S. leadership on climate change by:
      Engaging in global climate change negotiations and working with developing nations such as China and India Imposing a cap and trade system to reduce emissions Seeking to curb deforestation through a program to provide debt relief to developing nations in exchange for rainforest preservation
  • Increasing fuel efficiency and use of renewable fuels by:
      Raising fuel economy standards by 1 mile per gallon per year Investing in next-generation technologies (e.g., lithium ion batteries) Providing domestic auto producers credit for investments in advanced technology vehicles
  • Investing in new energy technology through a five-year, $50 billion "Apollo Project for Energy and Climate Change," which would include technology projects and funding for a Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The initiatives would be funded by new taxes or reduced tax breaks for oil companies, carbon credit auctions, and royalties from oil and gas production on the Outer Continental Shelf
  • Setting a national standard that requires 20 percent of U.S. electricity to come from renewable sources
  • Requiring the federal government to be more energy efficient
  • Encouraging Americans to use energy efficiently by:
    • Providing $50 million in state grants for education on and distribution of energy-saving technologies
    • Supporting green building codes and incentives for businesses to "go green"
  • Creating more "green jobs" by investing $100 million in grants to train American workers in energy efficiency industries
  • Preventing oil and gas drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
  • Reinstating Superfund fees for polluters to clean up toxic sites
  • Opposing attempts to roll back federal environmental safeguards
  • Limiting mercury exports that can lead to ocean pollution

Senator Biden's campaign points to his congressional record for the past two decades to emphasize his focus on climate change. He has pledged to make this his top priority after ending the Iraq War.

National & Homeland Security

Senator Biden's top homeland security priorities are ending the War in Iraq and devising a comprehensive energy and climate change policy. In the area of science and technology, his priority is addressing pandemics and he believes the government is currently "one-third" prepared for a pandemic outbreak. To become more prepared, Biden advocates:

  • Providing more training and equipment to developing countries to enhance their ability to detect outbreaks. Biden points to his Global Pathogen Surveillance Act (S. 1687) as an example of his plan
  • Enhancing federal support for state and local health departments
  • Designating a single point person to coordinate federal, state and local efforts
  • Strengthening outreach and veterinary response to poultry farmers at home and abroad to control the spread of avian-borne disease.

Governance

Biden has not commented on governance as it would relate to S&T.

Links to Candidate

http://www.joebiden.com/issues/