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1.
Innovation and the Economy.
Science and technology have been responsible for over half of the growth of
the U.S. economy since WWII, when the federal government first prioritized
peacetime science mobilization. But several recent reports question America’s
continued leadership in these vital areas. What policies will best ensure
that America remains a world leader in innovation?
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2.
Climate Change. The Earth’s climate is changing
and there is concern about the potentially adverse effects of these changes
on life on the planet. What is your position on cap-and-trade, carbon taxes,
and other policies proposed to address global climate change—and what steps
can we take to improve our ability to tackle challenges like climate change
that cross national boundaries?
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3.
Research and the Future.
Federally funded research has helped to produce America’s major postwar
economies and to ensure our national security, but today the UK, Singapore,
China, and Korea are making competitive investments in research. Given that
the next Congress will face spending constraints, what priority would you
give to investment in research in your upcoming budgets?
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4.
Pandemics and Biosecurity. Recent
experiments show how Avian flu may become transmissible among mammals. In an
era of constant and rapid international travel, what steps should the United
States take to protect our population from emerging diseases, global
pandemics and/or deliberate biological attacks?
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5.
Education. Increasingly, the global economy
is driven by science, technology, engineering and math, but a recent
comparison of 15-year-olds in 65 countries found that average science scores
among U.S. students ranked 23rd, while average U.S. math scores
ranked 31st. In your view, why have American students fallen
behind over the last three decades, and what role should the federal
government play to better prepare students of all ages for the science and
technology-driven global economy?
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6.
Energy. Many policymakers and scientists
say energy security and sustainability are major problems facing the United
States this century. What policies would you support to meet the demand for
energy while ensuring an economically and environmentally sustainable future?
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7.
Food. Thanks to science and technology,
the United States has the world's most productive and diverse agricultural
sector, yet many Americans are increasingly concerned about the health and
safety of our food. The use of hormones, antibiotics and pesticides, as well
as animal diseases and even terrorism pose risks. What steps would you take
to ensure the health, safety and productivity of America's food supply?
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8.
Fresh Water. Less than one percent of the
world’s water is liquid fresh water, and scientific studies suggest that a
majority of U.S. and global fresh water is now at risk because of increasing
consumption, evaporation and pollution. What steps, if any, should the federal
government take to secure clean, abundant fresh water for all Americans?
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9.
The Internet. The Internet plays a central role
in both our economy and our society. What role, if any, should the federal
government play in managing the Internet to ensure its robust social,
scientific, and economic role?
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10.
Ocean Health. Scientists estimate that 75
percent of the world’s fisheries are in serious decline, habitats like coral
reefs are threatened, and large areas of ocean and coastlines are polluted.
What role should the federal government play domestically and through foreign
policy to protect the environmental health and economic vitality of the
oceans?
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11.
Science in Public Policy. We
live in an era when science and technology affect every aspect of life and
society, and so must be included in well-informed public policy decisions. How
will you ensure that policy and regulatory decisions are fully informed by
the best available scientific and technical information, and that the public
is able to evaluate the basis of these policy decisions?
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12.
Space. The United States is currently in
a major discussion over our national goals in space. What should America's
space exploration and utilization goals be in the 21st century and what steps
should the government take to help achieve them?
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13.
Critical Natural Resources.
Supply shortages of natural resources affect economic growth, quality of
life, and national security; for example China currently produces 97% of rare
earth elements needed for advanced electronics. What steps should the federal
government take to ensure the quality and availability of critical natural
resources?
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14.
Vaccination and public health.
Vaccination campaigns against preventable diseases such as measles, polio and
whooping cough depend on widespread participation to be effective, but in
some communities vaccination rates have fallen off sharply. What actions
would you support to enforce vaccinations in the interest of public health,
and in what circumstances should exemptions be allowed?
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