Bill Clinton: “at a moment of profound change for our country, as the global economy grows more interdependent, the reach of technology…”

“at a moment of profound change for our country, as the global economy grows more interdependent, the reach of technology more vast, and the consequences more important for future generations of Americans, I am proud to support the America COMPETES Act as an original cosponsor and proud to have been able to include several of my proposals in the final bill. I am also pleased to see that partnership--not partisanship--ruled the day. The challenge is to achieve the promise while avoiding the perils of this moment. Modern technology is making the American workforce more and more productive--while making it increasingly possible for employers to hire the most skilled workers no matter where in the world they live. Our young people see so many promising new fields and avenues--but too many American students, even some graduates of college, are not equipped with the skills to compete, especially when it comes to participation in challenging math and science fields. That is why this bill is so important: education will help us overcome these obstacles while opening the doors to new opportunities. America's global economic competitiveness will rest more and more on the back of our education system, and the scientists, engineers, and inventors that the system produces--but today that back is breaking. The United States currently ranks 21st out of 40 industrialized nations in the largest and most comprehensive educational study to date.…”