Scott Franklin: Time for a National Technology Competitiveness Council

U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Fla., wants the White House to create a national Technology Competitiveness Council (TCC)

Pointing to a report from the National Security Commission, U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb., introduced a bill this month to establish the TCC with Franklin and U.S. Reps. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., and Conor Lamb, D-Penn., as co-sponsors.

“The council will serve under the president and be chaired by the vice president, with a newly appointed assistant to the president for technology competitiveness serving as the day-to-day leader. The council will also be tasked with developing a national technology strategy and synchronizing policy and budgets to meet the vision of that strategy,” Franklin’s office noted.

The backers of the bill cited last year’s report from the National Security Commission which “highlighted major concerns regarding the state of the nation’s technological innovations in relation to national security” and “noted the need to establish a national Technology Competitiveness Council to pursue advancements in artificial intelligence; integration of electronic systems within the Department of Defense; and the revision of intellectual property policy among other considerations.”

This week, the bill’s backers weighed in on the proposal.

“The significance of this council and its ability to foster innovation between the federal government and the private sector cannot be understated,” said Bacon. “We cannot afford to remain stagnant as foreign actors attempt to surpass our nation through intellectual theft, electronic supply chain monopolies, and advancements in artificial intelligence capabilities. This council will help to secure our nation as a global leader, ensuring we are prepared to defend the nation and our businesses.”

“Maintaining America’s technological edge is critical to our national security,” said Franklin. “This Technology Competitiveness Council will provide national strategic direction to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our private and public sector technology efforts. It will reduce duplicative efforts, streamline budgeting and expedite critical decision-making processes. In short, it will help ensure the United States remains on the vanguard of technological innovation. I’m proud to join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle in leading this effort.”

“Southwest Pennsylvania is home to world-class researchers and universities and strong manufacturing and industrial sectors. Establishing a Technology Competitiveness Council will encourage the development of the next generation of technologies that will benefit the country and our region and build on our competitive advantages,” said Lamb.

“To ensure that the United States remains on the cutting edge of innovation and technological development, we need our entire government to be coordinating to ensure we can support our scientific, economic, and security priorities,” said Carbajal. “I’m proud to help lead this bipartisan effort to create a designated space for our many agencies and viewpoints to keep our strategies streamlined as we navigate the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead in the years and decades to come.”

The bill “proposes that such a council be created to better align national interests in technological innovation with economic resources, policy creation and revision, and international cooperation” and the “council will be tasked with considering technological research and development, commercial interests, and their relation to national security.” The legislation also “seeks to secure the United States as the global genesis of cutting-edge technological innovation while simultaneously protecting democratic values, American ideas, and the American technology market from adversarial competitors.”

Bacon’s bill was sent to the U.S. House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. So far, there is no companion bill over in the U.S. Senate.