Arlington, Va., January 24, 2006 - In a letter sent in anticipation of the January 31st State of the Union Address, the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) has asked President Bush to promote U.S. competitiveness as a major policy goal and to "make 2006 the year of innovation."

In the letter, sent on January 20th, EIA President & CEO Dave McCurdy noted "the positive steps your Administration has taken and the increased focus of so many of the key federal agencies on this critical issue," adding that "there is still much that can be done and should be done to ensure U.S. innovation primacy."

Three years ago, EIA began examining the significant structural changes taking place in the world economy and in the high-tech industry in particular. Since that time the Alliance has devoted its resources to promoting a bipartisan national vision and strategy on innovation and global competitiveness, most notably through the adoption of 40 recommendations outlined in EIA's highly regarded policy playbook, The Technology Industry at an Innovation Crossroads. The playbook has been endorsed by Members of Congress and thought leaders on both sides of the aisle. EIA also participated in the National Innovation Initiative (www.compete.org/nii), and is working to advance positive legislation such as S. 2109, the National Innovation Act of 2005, introduced by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT) last month.

"In a time when budgetary concerns, trade tensions and the ongoing War on Terrorism consume the attention of the White House and Congress, we realize that making innovation and U.S. competitiveness policy topic #1 is no easy task," EIA noted in its letter. Nonetheless, EIA believes the call for a national innovation vision and strategy is "no less urgent today that it was when we began our work three years ago."

The Alliance also commended the President on "the thoughtful ideas that have been presented by policymakers and thought leaders within your Administration" and pledged to continue working with the President and with Congress to "promote workable, pragmatic policies." In the coming months, EIA will continue to engage policymakers on several innovation-related issues that are seen as key for the nearly 1,300 high-tech companies the Alliance represents, including intellectual property protection, trade and market access, relations with China, the U.S. business landscape, and visa and immigration policy. To begin the new year and refresh its policy priorities for the remainder of the 109th congressional session, EIA's Board of Governors will meet in early February at its annual Executive Leadership Forum (www.eia.org/elf06).

To read EIA's letter to President Bush in its entirety and to learn more about EIA's innovation initiative, please visit www.eia.org/innovation.

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About EIA: The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) is the leading advocate in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. high-tech industry. The Alliance, which traces its origins to the Radio Manufacturers Association (chartered in 1924), is a partnership of electronic and high-tech associations and companies whose mission is to promote the market development and competitiveness of the $400 billion U.S. high-tech and electronics industries through domestic and international policy efforts. EIA's corporate members - nearly 1,300 - provide products and services ranging from microscopic electronic components to state-of-the-art defense, space and industry high-tech systems, as well as the full range of telecommunications and consumer electronics products. Headquartered in Arlington, Va., the Alliance is made up of the Electronic Components, Assemblies & Materials Association (ECA); the Government Electronics & Information Technology Association (GEIA); JEDEC; the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA); and leading consumer electronics companies who participate in EIA's Environmental Issues Council. EIA is also heavily involved in cyber security issues through the Internet Security Alliance (ISAlliance), and education issues, through the National Science & Technology Education Partnership (NSTEP).