“The American Chemical Society (ACS) thanks President Barack Obama and congressional leaders who have prioritized creating jobs for Americans as the most critical challenge during these difficult economic times”

“As the world’s largest scientific society with over 163,000 members — chemists, chemical engineers, biomedical chemists, other allied science professionals, teachers, entrepreneurs and leaders in industry, academia, government and small business — we wholeheartedly agree with the importance of this issue as outlined in the President’s State of the Union address and remarks by leaders from both parties in Congress.”

“Economic growth is the critical key that will simultaneously unlock the combined challenges of increasing budget deficits, high unemployment and the sequestration cuts slated for March 1 that could send our country into a recession.”

“Fortunately, we know that science and technology are the economic workhorses that can pull our nation forward. Over decades, science and technology have driven the creation of countless high-skill, high-wage jobs and can once again propel a vigorous U.S. economy and a prosperous way of life for our citizens.”

“ACS believes strongly that economic growth in the U.S. is based on three foundations: sustained support for scientific and medical research that leads to technological innovations, a strong science education enterprise that prepares a world-class workforce and a robust business climate that will make American companies competitive with our international competitors.”

“To that end, ACS advocates that our nation’s leadership prioritize continued and predictable investment in scientific research to identify and enable new opportunities for innovation. To complement this technological advancement, our nation’s business laws, tax code, trade policies and regulatory environment should work together to ensure that the products of U.S. science and technology companies can be introduced to the international marketplace competitively and without facing restrictive barriers.”

“The three-part ACS public policy agenda is outlined in U.S. Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and specific policy recommendations are contained in positions on enhancing research and technology development, science education and the empowerment of U.S. businesses.”

“ACS concurs that our nation’s economic recovery is directly tied to reinvigorating manufacturing and creating jobs across multiple sectors leading to broad-based prosperity. More than 96 percent of all manufactured goods in the United States are touched by the business of chemistry, and the chemistry enterprise employs more than 800,000 people. Furthermore, the chemical industry represents a $760 billion sector creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, and accounts for fully 12 percent of all U.S. exports.”

“As chemists and business leaders, we stand poised to put these values to work on behalf of all Americans. As ACS President, my presidential initiatives and theme ‘Partners for Progress and Prosperity’ very much support the need to work together to bring jobs and manufacturing back to the United States. These programs align with how President Obama began his State of the Union address talking about ‘Partners for Progress,’ and we at ACS look forward to working with Congress and the Administration to craft public policies that will create high-paying, skilled jobs and foster economic growth in the United States.”

The American Chemical Society is a non-profit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 163,000 members, ACS is the world’s largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.