Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 102 Part 2.djvu/465

 PUBLIC LAW 100-418—AUG. 23, 1988

102 STAT. 1469

(3) coordination of inter-agency participation, including all matters pertaining to Federal funding and decisionmaking, and other issues regarding Federal participation in Sematech; and (4) any other issues and questions the Council deems appropriate shall be considered. SEC. 5423. IMPACT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE EXPENDITURES ON INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that the ability of United States industries to compete in world markets may be adversely affected by the following factors: (1) The allocation of intellectual resources between the private and public sectors. (2) The distribution of innovative research and development between commercial and noncommercial applications. (3) The number of scientific advances which are ultimately commercialized. (4) The cost of capital which is affected by many factors including the budget deficit and defense spending. (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Congress that the President should evaluate the impact on United States competitiveness of— (1) the defense spending by foreign countries, particularly Japan's expenditure of 1 percent of its gross national product for defense compared to the expenditure of the United States of 6 percent of its gross national product, and (2) the other factors listed in subsection (a).

TITLE VI—EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR AMERICAN COMPETITIVENESS SEC. 6001. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the "Education and Training for a Competitive America Act of 1988". SEC. 6002. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds that— (1) the relationship between a strong and vibrant educational system and a healthy nationsQ economy is inseparable in an era in which economic growth is dependent on technology and is imperiled by increased foreign competition; (2) our Nation's once undisputed pre-eminence in international commerce is facing unprecedented challenges from competitor nations who have given priority to the relationship between education and economic growth in areas such as high technology industries; (3) our standing in the international marketplace is being further eroded by the presence in the workforce of millions of Americans who are functionally or technologically illiterate or who lack the mathematics, science, foreign language, or vocational skills needed to adapt to the structural changes occurring in the global economy; (4) our competitive position is also being eroded by declines in the number of students taking advanced courses in mathematics, science, and foreign languages and by the lack of

Education and Training for a Competitive America Act of 1988. Disadvantaged persons. Employment and unemployment. Schools and colleges. 20 USC 5001. 20 USC 5002.

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