To Revitalize America, Leverage Innovation

The historic U.S. presidential election was a turning point for the nation and how it will rebuild after COVID-19, and the pandemic’s impact on the health of the American people, economy, and way of life. Our industry welcomes the Biden-Harris Administration and is committed to working together constructively to ensure that the United States adopts policies that support the well-being of Americans as the workforce, education, and social landscapes continue to evolve.

The United States, much less the globe, cannot make it through this consequential period without technology, and technology cannot flourish without the support from our world leaders, including President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris. Technology has made it possible for millions of Americans to work and learn remotely when it is not possible or advisable to be in an office or school. Tech is transforming supply chains and developing new products to address life-threatening shortages of personal protective equipment. And tech is providing supercomputing power and analytics capabilities to scientists and researchers to understand the virus and develop therapeutics and vaccines at an unprecedented scale and speed.

Tech companies have an important role to play in the economic recovery, quality of life, and social engagement. We believe our industry, the new Congress, and the Biden-Harris Administration must partner together to move the United States forward in these areas. We also have a responsibility to be allies in the effort to uphold the individual liberties, norms, and values that define America. But wrestling with these often nuanced issues requires engagement and cooperation on all levels.

Here’s how we can work together:

Implement policies that promote access to education and opportunities for Americans of all backgrounds. The world has quickly evolved in ways that may forever change the workforce landscape. We need a national plan that supports opportunity through investment in communities and schools across the country, alternatives to four-year college degrees, and reskilling for workers at all stages of their careers to make opportunity accessible to everyone. We also need to continue to undergo efforts that build a diverse workforce to support the development of inclusive and innovative products and services. The tech industry plays a vital role in closing this gap, and we stand ready to work with policymakers to ensure that the benefits of a digitized economy are realized by many, not just the few.

Embrace an approach that continues America’s leadership in innovation that gives U.S. companies a competitive edge. Smart investments in basic research and emerging technologies will help the United States remain the leader of technological advancement. The U.S. government should also advance trade and investment policies that allow companies to contribute to technological leadership and economic competitiveness. Further, the U.S. government should design and deploy effective national security tools in ways that support companies in driving innovation and that promote, rather than impede, U.S. technological leadership.

Build trust in the technology solutions that will drive the U.S. recovery and ensure the resiliency of the infrastructure that underpins it. A strong trust relationship between companies and their customers is a key pillar of innovation. Whether it is enacting a national privacy law to better protect personal data or providing access to high-speed internet to underserved communities to make sure no American is left behind financially and educationally, our industry stands ready and willing to work with U.S. leadership to ensure Americans have faith in the tools that will help them through this critical period and beyond.

Enable a 21st century economy through economic competitiveness, job creation, and U.S. innovation by encouraging open markets and reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers to trade. A forward-thinking digital trade agenda can enhance market opportunities for technology products and services and broadens acceptance of inclusive, state-of-the-art commitments. Further, advancing trade agreements that protect and advance a free and open internet, strengthen and expand good regulatory practices, safeguard intellectual property, prohibit forced data localization or processing, encourage the free flow of data across borders, ensure the protection of personal information, and support U.S. businesses of all sizes by creating greater certainty and predictability within the increasingly digitalized global marketplace.

The U.S. runs the real risk of its leaders writing off the very technology companies that have driven decades of American economic growth. At the same time, our industry’s leaders may miss an important opportunity to engage with new leadership to develop sustainable solutions to real challenges. It’s up to both groups to find our common ground and work together to enable the U.S. economic recovery and future prosperity, maintain America’s global leadership, and foster greater opportunity across all communities.