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Science and Technology in the 2008 Presidential Election

Hillary Rodham Clinton (Democrat)

Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's science and technology (S&T) platform focuses on improving U.S. competitiveness through innovation. She has also made scientific integrity and increasing research and development (R&D) funds an important part of her position on S&T.

Competitiveness & Innovation

Senator Clinton has promised to enhance America's leadership in science. She plans to spur innovation with increased R&D funding, and has said that her agenda will also focus on improving the U.S. science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce.

Specifically, Senator Clinton's platform includes:

  • Speed development, testing, and deployment of next-generation launch and crew exploration vehicles to replace the aging Space Shuttle
  • Require federal research agencies to set aside at least 8 percent discretionary funding for high-risk research
  • Ensure adequate funding for e-science research, which links Internet-based tools, global collaboration, supercomputers, high-speed networks, and software for simulation and visualization.
  • Make financial investments in R&D
  • Enhance the R&D tax credit and make it permanent
  • Increase funding for the NSF, DOE Office of Science, Defense Department, and NIH
  • Increase prizes awarded for accomplishing specific innovation goals
  • Increase the number of NSF fellowships and the size of each fellowship by 33 percent
  • Increase initiatives that bring women and minorities into science professions
  • Innovation Agenda: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/feature/innovation/

STEM Education & Workforce

Senator Clinton has said that improving STEM education in the United States is an important part of her competitiveness agenda. Two of her proposals related to STEM education were included in the America Competes Act of 2007.

Specifically, Senator Clinton's platform includes:

  • Create new fellowships at the National Science Foundation for math and science professionals interested in becoming teachers in high-need schools

Better Health for Americans

Senator Clinton's platform makes stem cell research and health R&D a priority.

Specifically, Senator Clinton's platform includes:

Energy & Environment

Senator Clinton has said that she will increase funding for energy and climate change science R&D. She also supports a cap-and-trade approach to climate change mitigation.

Specifically, Senator Clinton's platform includes:

  • A cap-and-trade program that auctions 100 percent of permits
  • Cut greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, and cut foreign oil imports by two-thirds from 2030 projected levels, a reduction of more than 10 million barrels per day.
  • Establish a $50 billion Strategic Energy Fund
  • Reduce electricity consumption 20 percent from projected levels by 2020
  • Provide full funding for NASA's Earth Sciences program and a space-based Climate Change Initiative
  • Double the federal investment in basic energy research, including funding for an Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy (ARPA-E) program
  • Increase fuel efficiency standards to 55 miles per gallon by 2030
  • Restore the National Assessment on Climate Change
  • Create a new "Connie Mae" program that will aid low and middle-income Americans in buying and investing in green homes and green home improvements
  • Require all publicly traded companies to report climate change-related financial risks in annual reports
  • Create a "National Energy Council" within the White House to implement her innovation plans across the Executive Branch
  • Require all federal buildings designed after January 20, 2009 to be zero emissions buildings.
  • Statement: Powering America's Future: New Energy, New Jobs

National & Homeland Security

Senator Clinton's national security platform focuses primarily on addressing the war in Iraq. However, in a speech she has referred to legislation that she has introduced or supported as an indication of her position on a number of national security issues. For example, she emphasizes U.S. financial support for infrastructure and education in unstable countries as a means for minimizing extremism. The Senator has also emphasized building international alliances for addressing terrorism and other national security threats such as pandemics.

On the issue of nuclear weapons, Senator Clinton has pointed to legislation that she introduced, the Nuclear Terrorism Prevention Act, to convert reactors that utilize highly enriched uranium to low enriched uranium.

Governance

Senator Clinton has said that she will reduce political interfering in scientific research and publications, and instruct agencies to safeguard against threats to scientific integrity.

Specifically, Senator Clinton's platform includes:

  • Will not allow political considerations to factor into selection of scientific boards and improve conflict-of-interest protections
  • Will implement and improve the scientific integrity provisions in the FDA reform bill.
  • Reinstate the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology position
  • Bolster the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
  • Press Release: Ending the War on Science

Link to Candidate's Official Site

http://www.hillaryclinton.com/