For decades, the semiconductor industry has recognized both the opportunities and challenges brought forth by the growing global economy. The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has long been a proponent of open markets, improved intellectual property protection, strong and effective anti-dumping laws and other pro-growth policies. Today, "Choose to Compete" - the SIA's commitment to America's maintained innovation leadership - is among the industry's key policy priorities.

The Semiconductor industry's stake in this issue is unique. No American industry relies more on a highly technical workforce, the basic research that turns untested theories into groundbreaking innovations, and economic policies that make domestic investment attractive. Accordingly, SIA and its members are increasing their efforts to educate policymakers about the chip industry's integral role in American innovativeness, productivity and prosperity.

Through outreach in Washington, D.C. and states across the country, the industry is seeking to make American innovation leadership a national priority. Below are links to some of the legislative proposals directed at meeting this challenge and some of the media coverage about this new policy priority.

• The President's American Competitiveness Initiative; and details on education components from the U.S. Department of Education
• The "Innovation Agenda" from the Congressional Democrats
• The Protecting America's Competitive Edge (PACE) Acts - Sponsored by Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM), Jeff Bingaman (R-NM), Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
• The National Innovation Act - Sponsored by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT)
• A side-by-side comparison of the U.S. Senate's National Innovation Act (NIA), its PACE Legislative Package (3 bills) and President Bush's American Competitiveness Initiative (ACI) as of February 2006