Barack Obama (Democrat)
Senator Barack Obama's science and technology (S&T) platform concentrates on improving U.S. competitiveness. Key factors on his agenda include improving science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and workforce. He also focuses on increasing research and development (R&D) in energy and mitigating global warming.
Competitiveness & Innovation
Senator Obama's competitiveness and innovation platform concentrates on improving the S&T workforce. He also focuses on improving information technology to encourage faster exchange of ideas and increase transparency in the government.
Specifically, Senator Obama's platform includes:
- Creating a newly appointed Chief Technology Officer (CTO) to ensure that the government has the most updated infrastructure and technology services available.
- Doubling federal funding for basic research
- Investing $150 billion over ten years in the next-generation of biofuels and fuel infrastructure, commercialization of plug-in hybrids, commercial-scale renewable energy, and transition to a new digital electricity grid
- Making the R&D tax credit permanent
- Making skilled labor a top priority
- Improving the H-1B visa program to attract highly skilled talent from abroad to enhance U.S. competitiveness.
- Reforming the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
STEM Education & Workforce
Senator Obama's platform concentrates on enhancing STEM education as a key component of U.S. competitiveness. He has proposed an $18 billion increase in spending for all federal education programs.
Specifically, Senator Obama's platform includes:
- Increasing the number of graduates and undergraduates pursuing degrees in STEM fields
- Establishing a Teaching Service Scholarship program for recruiting math, science and technology degree graduates
- Expanding access to computers and broadband connections in public schools
- Investing in science education R&D to determine what types of curriculum and instruction work best
- Additional Sources
Better Health for Americans
Senator Obama has said that he supports increasing funding for medical research and supports stem cell research. In 2007, Senator Obama voted in favor of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act (S.5).
Specifically, Senator Obama's platform includes:
- Creating an independent institute to guide reviews and research on comparative effectiveness of treatments
- Investing in biomedical research, as well as medical education and training in health-related fields
- Providing more than $1 billion in federal funding for autism research
- Increasing funding for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Energy & Environment
Senator Obama has said that he will double basic science and research investment in clean energies and energy efficiency but has not specified over what time period. He also plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions to reduce the effects of climate change.
Specifically, Senator Obama's platform includes:
- Establishing market-based cap-and-trade system to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050
- Auctioning off 100 percent of the emission allowances
- Creating a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) that will spur low-carbon alternative fuels and reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions 10 percent by 2020
- Establishing a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that will require renewable energy sources to represent 25 percent of electricity consumed in the U.S by 2025
- Requiring that renewable energy make up 30 percent of the federal government's electricity by 2020
- Setting a national goal of reducing 50% of the economy's energy intensity by 2030
- Doubling the fuel economy standards in 18 years
- Investing $150 billion over 10 years in next-generation biofuels and fuel infrastructure, commercialization of plug-in hybrids, commercial-scale renewable energy, low-emissions coal plants, and a new digital electricity grid
- Increasing the renewable fuel standard (RFS) to produce at least 60 billion gallons of biofuels by 2030
- Re-establishing U.S. leadership in international climate agreements
- Restoring federal financing for water and wastewater treatment infrastructure and protecting the Great Lakes from industrial pollution, water diversion, and invasive species
National & Homeland Security
Senator Obama has said that preventing an avian flu pandemic is one of his national security priorities. He refers to his work with other Senators to provide $4 billion to the Centers for Disease Control to combat avian flu and to build a stockpile of antiviral drugs that had been in short supply.
On the topic of nuclear weapons, Senator Obama refers to legislation he has introduced in the U.S. Senate that would establish guidelines for tracking, controlling, and accounting for spent fuel at nuclear power plants and requiring plants to report radioactive leakage.
Governance
Senator Obama has stated that he wants to improve openness and transparency in government with the help of technology and innovation.
Specifically, Senator Obama's platform includes:
- The use of current technology to promote citizen participation in government decision-making
- Greater public access to government information, including environmental data
- The development of a national, interoperable wireless network for local, state and federal first responders as recommended by the 9/11 commission
