John Kerry 2004 On The Issues
New Frontiers In A New Century
America is a country of
innovators and optimists, and the genius of the American people has
always driven the story of American progress.
A few decades ago, entire regions of our country were shrouded in
darkness until visionary leadership and the Rural Electric
Administration brought light and power to millions of Americans. More
recently, leadership that looked beyond the next election to the next
generation funded the DNA research that has saved thousands of lives and
improved thousands more.
Today, the possibilities for progress are limitless - but they won't be
realized under a government that starves science and technology and
slashes budgets for future research; that stifles the creativity and
entrepreneurship that will produce the next big idea; that lets politics
and ideology trump progress and science.
Technological advances do not happen by accident - they happen when a
society that values progress thinks big and invests in its people and
their ideas. Today, we need to tap the ingenuity and innovation at the
heart of our history and the core of our character.
John Kerry and John Edwards will ensure that America leads in the great
discoveries that bring greater prosperity. They have a plan to grow
America's high-tech economy and create millions of high-wage jobs in the
industries of the future, and they will increase funding for K-12 math
and science education and long-term research to ensure America's
scientific, economic and technological leadership in the 21st century.
John Kerry and John Edwards will:
Strengthen Our Economy And Fuel High-Tech Job Growth
Venture capital-backed startups have created millions of American jobs.
By eliminating capital gains taxes for long-term investments in small
businesses, John Kerry and John Edwards will create a business
environment that encourages investment in innovation and break down
barriers to future job growth and economic expansion.
Bridge The Digital Divide
Today, America has slipped to 10th in the world in adapting broadband
technology. John Kerry and John Edwards will wire every corner of
America and provide first responders with a secure broadband network by
2006.
Invest In The Breakthroughs Of Tomorrow
Today, Americans are discovering new ways to improve the lives of their
fellow citizens. John Kerry and John Edwards will invest more in the
research likely to create the industries and jobs of the future and lead
to discoveries that will help us improve millions of lives and better
understand the world we live in.
Let Scientists Do Science Again
John Kerry and John Edwards will let scientific findings drive
scientific decisions and make scientific reports public so all Americans
can make informed decisions. To help the scientists of tomorrow, they
will improve K-12 math and science education and expand America's
science and engineering workforce.
A Plan To Create Millions Of High-Wage
Jobs In The Industries Of The Future
Strengthening America’s Leadership in Science, Technology, and
Innovation
John Kerry and John Edwards have a plan to ignite the growth of
America's high-tech economy that will help create millions of high-tech,
high-wage jobs in the industries of the future such as the broadband
Internet, clean energy, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and advanced
manufacturing. John Kerry and John Edwards are also committed to
increasing investments in areas such as K-12 math and science education
and long-term, high-risk research that will help ensure America's
scientific, economic and technological leadership in the 21st century.
George Bush has failed to lead on science, technology, and innovation.
He has politicized or ignored scientific and technical advice. His
budget plan cuts almost every area of research that is critical to our
future economic growth, and during his tenure, America's position as a
leader in broadband Internet technology has eroded from 4th in the world
to 10th in the world.
The Kerry-Edwards plan will be paid for by accelerating the transition
to digital television while ensuring that Americans continue to enjoy
free, over-the-air television. This will provide wireless broadband for
first responders, expand the spectrum that is available for unlicensed
wireless broadband and also free up at least $30 billion of spectrum for
public auction - paying for his investments in innovation. Some
highlights of the Kerry-Edwards plan include:
Create a Business Environment That Will Enhance America's
Competitiveness
Create High-Tech, High-Wage Jobs with a National Strategy for
Universal Broadband
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Provide a tax
credit to ensure that broadband access is universal and affordable
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Provide broadband
to all first responders by the end of 2006
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Expand spectrum
that is available for wireless broadband
Invest in Research for the Industries of the Future
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Provide substantial
research increases for clean energy, medicine, advanced
manufacturing, information technology, nanotechnology, and other
priorities.
Build a High-Tech Workforce
Build an Information Society
Principles of the Kerry-Edwards Plan
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The ability to
innovate - to create new products, services and even entirely new
industries - is a unique strength of the American people and the
American economy. The United States has an entrepreneurial
culture, world-class research universities, the highest
concentration of "angel" and venture capital, and an openness to new
ideas and hard-working immigrants from all over the world. The
United States cannot take this leadership for granted, and must be
prepared to make the same types of investments in science and
education that we made in the wake of Sputnik to maintain this edge.
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The private
sector is the engine of economic growth and job creation. The
government's important responsibility is to create an environment
that will foster private sector investment and vigorous competition,
and to support the building blocks of a dynamic and innovative
economy - such as research and development and a workforce that is
second to none.
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The creation and
adoption of new technologies are important because of the key
economic and societal benefits that they provide. Information
and communications technologies increase the productivity of
businesses that use them creatively, and can transform the way
teachers teach and students learn. Clean sources of energy will
reduce our dependence on Middle East oil, and preserve the
environment for our children. Life sciences technology will help
prevent disease, cure serious illnesses, and improve our quality of
life. New technologies are absolutely essential for maintaining
America's military might, and protecting our people from terrorist
attacks.
What Innovation Can Accomplish
New technologies will not only create the jobs of the future, but also
help meet important national goals and improve our quality of life.
Examples include:
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A universally
available broadband network that is 10 to 100 times faster than
today's network, reaches rural and inner-city communities, and that
enables a new generation of applications in e-learning and e-health.
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Clean energy - such
as nanotechnology-based photovoltaics or bioenergy - that is
competitive with fossil fuels, can end our dependence on Middle East
oil, and can reduce the threat of global warming.
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New technologies
for education and life-long learning that are as engaging as the
best video game and effective as a one-on-one tutor.
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Tools that sequence
a complete human genome in hours rather than months, enabling the
creation of personalized medicines that minimize the risks of
adverse reactions.
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Computer interfaces
based on speech and gestures that will empower more people with
disabilities to work, and to be full participants in the Information
Society.
The Kerry-Edwards Plan
Create a Business Environment That Will Enhance America's
Competitiveness
John Kerry and John Edwards are committed to creating a business
environment that will promote private sector investment, innovation,
competition, and the formation of new businesses. This will require a
responsible fiscal policy, targeted tax cuts that reward long-term
investments, and trade and regulatory policies that will enhance
America's high-tech competitiveness. They will:
Eliminate capital gains taxes for long-term investments in small
businesses. Small, entrepreneurial firms play a critical role in
creating new jobs and commercializing new technologies. As new
companies, they are less wedded to incremental improvements to existing
products and services, but often have difficulty attracting capital
because of the high degree of risk involved. John Kerry will exempt
investments held for five or more years in small businesses - a proposal
that would cost $6 billion over ten years.
Extend the Research and Experimentation tax credit. The Research
& Experimentation tax credit provides a powerful incentive for companies
to invest in R&D, but its effectiveness would be greatly increased if it
were extended so that companies could rely on its existence. John Kerry
will work with the Congress to find a way to pay for extending the
Research and Experimentation tax credit with the goal of making it
permanent.
Reform or eliminate regulations that impede America's high-tech
competitiveness. John Kerry will reform or eliminate regulations
that are blocking the growth of new technologies. Examples include:
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Supporting stem
cell research, which could help find cures for Alzheimer's,
diabetes, Parkinson's, and cancer.
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Shifting the
emphasis of computer export controls from attempting to control
widely available business computers to controlling the availability
of classified software created for applications such as weapons
development.
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Using
market-oriented, performance-based and other mechanisms that
encourage the development of innovative solutions to meet public
goals such as environmental protection, rather than forcing
prescriptive measures. For example, tradable permits were used
successfully to reduce the emissions that cause acid rain. This will
increase the incentive of companies to adopt environmental
technologies, as opposed to doing the minimum required to comply
with "command and control" environmental regulations.
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Ensuring that
distributed energy resources (such as wind turbines, solar power
systems, fuel cells) can be reliably and affordably connected to the
power grid.
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Ensuring that the
Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has the resources it needs to
review a growing number of new patent applications and issue
high-quality patents by ending the diversion of patent fees.
Open foreign markets to U.S. goods and services. John Kerry is
committed to expanding trade and opening markets for U.S. goods and
services abroad. He will vigorously crack down on unfair trade
practices, such as piracy of our intellectual property and China's
discriminatory policies towards semiconductors and other technological
products. In addition, he will work to ensure that China honors its
World Trade Organization (WTO) accession agreement to stop forced
technology transfers as a prerequisite for doing business in China.
End special tax breaks for moving jobs overseas - and cut corporate
taxes in the United States. John Kerry recognizes that we cannot
keep all jobs in America, but he believes that we need to end special
tax breaks for companies shipping jobs overseas. The savings can be used
to lower corporate taxes by 5 percent - providing a tax break for 99
percent of taxpaying corporations. This is part of the broader
Kerry-Edwards plan to improve the competitiveness of the American
economy, making it a more attractive place to create high-quality jobs.
Cut the budget deficit in half while investing in priorities.
John Kerry has a plan to cut the deficit in half while paying for all
his priorities. The Kerry-Edwards plan does this by paying for all
proposals, keeping discretionary spending other than education and
security growing less than inflation, and cutting corporate welfare. In
contrast, George Bush has passed trillions of dollars of tax cuts -
squeezing out investment in critical areas such as science and
technology. This not only passes the burden of debt onto our children,
but also shortchanges the vital investments that are needed to enrich
future generations.
Create High-Tech, High-Wage Jobs with a National Strategy for
Universal Broadband
During the Bush administration, the United States has fallen from 4th to
10th in terms of adoption of broadband. Not only that, other countries
such as South Korea and Japan are now deploying networks that are 20-50
times faster than what is available in the United States. At the same
time, America has lost 800,000 high-tech jobs since George Bush took
office.
John Kerry will have a national broadband policy that will speed the
deployment of this essential infrastructure, since the widespread
adoption of broadband could add $500 billion to the U.S. economy,
generate more than 1.2 million jobs, and transform the way we learn,
work, and deliver digital opportunity throughout the country. He will:
Provide tax incentives to make broadband access universal. The
Kerry-Edwards plan will provide a 10 percent tax credit for investments
in today's broadband technology in rural and inner city areas.
Investments in the next-generation of high-speed broadband anywhere in
the country would be eligible for a 20 percent tax credit - this would
be available for speeds more than 20 times the current generation of
broadband. These tax credits would be in effect for five years and the
proposal would cost $2 billion over that period.
Ensure universal broadband for "first responders" by the end of 2006.
John Kerry is committed to ensuring that our first responders - the
firefighters and police officers who work every day to keep America safe
- have access to the latest Information Age tools. Broadband networks
will enable rapid and seamless communication between federal and local
authorities when the terror alert level is raised.
Expand the spectrum available for new broadband wireless services and
"first responders" - while raising at least $30 billion to fund science
and technology innovation. The Kerry-Edwards plan will complete the
transition to digital television, and accelerate the return of valuable
spectrum that is currently being used for broadcasting the "analog"
television signal, while ensuring that Americans continue to enjoy free,
over-the-air television, including subsidies to ensure all Americans can
make the transition. The plan will also provide shared access to
unassigned TV channels where this will not interfere with television
reception. The spectrum that is freed up by this shift will be divided
between three uses:
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First, some of
the spectrum will be given to "first responders" such as police and
firefighters. Providing more of the highest-quality spectrum
will help first responders who badly need secure, interoperable
wireless networks that allow officials in different federal, state
and local agencies to communicate with one another.
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Second, some of
the spectrum will go for unlicensed, public use. Provide the
low-frequency spectrum needed to facilitate the rapid growth of
affordable wireless broadband. The explosive growth of "WiFi" shows
the benefits of making some spectrum available on an unlicensed
basis. This could be particularly important for rural areas, since
the cost of deploying these new services could be 3 to 4 times
cheaper than existing wireless technologies - increasing competition
with cable and telephone companies. In addition, John Kerry would
make the regulatory changes that are needed to unleash new broadband
networking technologies such as cognitive radio, mesh networks,
ultra-wide band, and software-defined radio.
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Third, the
remaining spectrum will be auctioned off for licensed use. This
will generate $30 billion in revenues from this and other spectrum
auctions. The Kerry-Edwards plan would target this revenue to his
proposed investments in science, technology, and innovation.
Promote private sector investment and competition in broadband.
John Kerry supports a telecommunications policy that will promote
investment, encourage competition, deliver new services, unleash
innovation, and accelerate the development of universal, affordable
broadband networks and applications. Competition will also help promote
an "open" Internet - an Internet in which individuals can be producers
as well as consumers of information, an Internet in which new ideas for
content and applications can emerge from individuals and small companies
and spread rapidly, and an Internet that allows "many to many"
communication.
Encourage marketplace solutions to attract broadband providers to
underserved regions. John Kerry will spread to rural and underserved
areas across America the marketplace solution that was successful in
bringing broadband to Western Massachusetts. By joining their purchasing
power, businesses, hospitals and other significant telecommunications
users in a rural region will be able to attract investment in broadband
networks and then benefit from increased economic activity and job
creation. By bringing more opportunity to rural America, the
telecommunications revolution can strengthen the social fabric of many
communities.
Invest in Research for the Industries of the Future
Federal support for long-term research that is beyond the time horizons
of individual companies has played a critical role in creating high-tech
products, services, and industries. This is particularly true for basic
research at our nation's universities, where we have the dual benefit of
research and advanced training of our future scientists and engineers.
The contribution of government-funded university research, however, is
often critical for igniting the process of innovation. Examples of the
outcomes of government research include the Internet, advanced
microprocessors, medical imaging, and recombinant DNA (which created the
biotechnology industry). Seventy percent of industrial patents cite
publicly funded research, clear evidence of its importance.
Unfortunately, government support for many key disciplines of science
and engineering, particularly the physical sciences and engineering, has
been declining. The Bush administration's latest budget proposes cutting
the science funding (in real terms) in 21 out of 24 agencies over the
next five years - including the National Science Foundation and the
National Institutes of Health. This puts America's scientific and
technological leadership at risk. John Kerry and John Edwards want
America to be the world leader in innovation and discovery and is
committed to increasing the federal government's investment in research
and innovation. They will:
Restore integrity and honesty to science policy. Leading
scientists who have worked for both Republican and Democratic
administrations have criticized the Bush administration for distorting
and politicizing science policy. On critical issues such as mercury
pollution, lead poisoning, global warming, and stem cell research, the
administration has stacked advisory committees, and suppressed or
ignored the best advice from scientific and technical experts. John
Kerry will make sure that his administration gets the best possible
advice on science, technology and environmental issues.
Provide broad-based increases in funding for research, helping to
create the industries and jobs of the future. John Kerry will boost
support for the physical sciences and engineering by increasing research
investments in agencies such as the National Science Foundation (NSF),
the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Energy, the
National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). This funding will help with
the broad areas of science and technology that will provide the
foundations for economic growth and prosperity in the 21st century
including:
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Nanotechnology:
Additional investments in nanotechnology could lead to dramatic
improvements in our ability to detect and treat cancer, a
"lab-on-a-chip" for defense against biological warfare, and clean
sources of energy that are competitive with fossil fuels. Increased
investment is also needed in "nanoelectronics" - since the current
generation of semiconductor technology is beginning to reach
fundamental limits. The U.S. should also lead the world in the
convergence of nanotechnology, biotechnology, and information
technology, and expand its research on the environmental and human
health effects of nanomaterials.
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Advanced
manufacturing: There have been 2.7 million lost manufacturing
jobs under President Bush. New manufacturing technologies can allow
U.S. companies to be more competitive, developing products more
rapidly, and cost-effectively. Kerry will double the funding for the
Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), which would speed the
adoption of new technology by small and medium-sized manufacturers -
the backbone of our economy. In addition, Kerry will restore funding
for the Advanced Technology Program (ATP). ATP has played an
important role in technological development, including accelerating
the development of digital mammography technology, which has
improved cancer detection and reduced the need for unnecessary
biopsies. In contrast, George Bush has proposed slashing MEP by 90
percent and eliminating ATP.
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Information
technology: John Kerry believes IT research can lead to the jobs
and industries of the future and therefore supports recommendations
of the President's Information Technology Advisory Committee that
call for an increase in long-term IT research. More research is
needed, for example, to make high-productivity information systems
that are dependable, reliable, and resistant to cyber-attacks.
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Life sciences:
Advances in the biological sciences, biotechnology, diagnostics,
medical devices and pharmaceuticals can help us detect, treat,
prevent and even cure diseases - allowing Americans to lead longer
and healthier lives. John Kerry supports research that would allow
us to develop "personalized medicines" that minimize the risk of
adverse reactions.
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Clean energy:
John Kerry has a plan to make America energy independent from
Middle East oil, which will require increasing our investment in R&D
for clean energy and energy-efficient technologies.
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Industrial
biotechnology: Advances in biotechnology such as "synthetic
biology" can lead to biodegradable plastics, energy, fuels, and
chemicals based on agriculture waste as opposed to Middle East oil,
new tools for bioremediation, and cleaner industrial processes that
use fewer toxic chemicals. Many of these applications can create
jobs and increase incomes in rural America.
Expand support for
"curiosity-driven" research and long-term, high-risk research.
Because it is not possible to predict where the next key breakthrough
will come from, the Kerry-Edwards plan will increase support for
research that is driven solely by the quest for fundamental
understanding about the world around us. For example, the technology for
MRI, now routinely used in hospitals to detect tumors and internal
tissue damage in patients, is an outgrowth of fundamental physics
research on nuclear magnetic resonance. The heart of the Global
Positioning System is an atomic clock, originally developed to test
Einstein's theories. At the time, no one would have predicted these
future applications. The Kerry-Edwards plan will also maximize the
effectiveness of research investments by addressing current shortcomings
such as: grants that are of inadequate size and duration; science
agencies that under-invest in high-risk, high-return research; and the
need for greater exploration of the ethical, legal, and social
implications of new technologies.
Devote more defense research and development to long-term research.
Past investments in defense research have provided military
superiority to the men and women in America's armed forces, with
capabilities such as stealth technology, precision-guided munitions, and
night vision goggles. This year, the Bush administration has proposed
cutting the long-term portion of the defense R&D budget by 15 percent.
Under the Kerry-Edwards plan, investment in long-term, high-risk defense
research through agencies such as DARPA and the Office of Naval Research
would be increased.
Use prizes to stimulate technological innovation. Prizes have a
number of advantages as a tool for stimulating technological innovation
compared to traditional grants and contracts. For example, they allow
the government to set a goal, while allowing researchers and
entrepreneurs to pursue different strategies for reaching that goal. The
private sector's X Prize illustrates the power of this approach. This
prize has captured the public imagination, and encouraged two-dozen
teams of rocket scientists from around the world to develop reusable
spaceships. The Kerry-Edwards plan would provide every science agency
with the authority to establish prizes to foster technological advances.
Accelerate the pace of scientific discovery by investing in
cyber-infrastructure. In the same way that roads, railways and ports
provided the infrastructure for the industrial economy, new information
and communications technologies will provide the infrastructure for the
knowledge economy. Cyber-infrastructure, composed of supercomputers,
optical networks, vast digital libraries, networked scientific
instruments, and software tools for simulation and collaboration, has
the potential to accelerate progress in virtually every science and
engineering discipline.
Balance science and security by streamlining our visa system to
facilitate scientists and students to work and study in the United
States while improving our security. In the wake of 9/11, America
took important steps to improve security for visa applicants to the
United States. However, we can improve our visa system to process visa
applications for legitimate scientists and students more quickly while
still screening individuals that pose a genuine security risk. With more
resources and better procedures, we do not need to face a tradeoff
between scientific exchange and national security. As Robert M. Gates,
former Director of Central Intelligence during the first Bush
administration has noted, Osama bin Laden and other terrorists are on
the brink of achieving an unanticipated victory, one that could have
long-term consequences for the United States. That is because the
unpredictability and delays associated with getting a student visa is
causing international students to stop applying to U.S. colleges and
universities. This not only damages our economy, it also limits our
ability to win the war of ideas by educating the future leaders of
developing countries.
Build a High-Tech Workforce for the 21st Century
Our current efforts to educate and prepare American workers to thrive in
an increasingly technological society are totally inadequate. Building a
high-tech workforce is needed for economic growth, national security,
and a vibrant democracy capable of grappling with issues such as global
warming and bioethics. Over the course of the campaign John Kerry will
outline the details of his plan to build the workforce of the future,
including investing in K-12 math and science education, rewarding
colleges for increasing the number of science and engineering degrees,
and creating state-of-the-art online learning technologies that allow
hardworking American workers to get high-quality training and education
at a time, place, and pace that works for them.
Build an Information Society
New information and communications technologies can do more than change
the way we shop and do business. Used creatively, they can also improve
our quality of life and advance some of our most time-honored values.
The evolution of the Internet and other information and communications
technologies has been driven by bottom-up, decentralized "experiments"
by individual users, independent developers, university researchers,
companies, non-profits, and "virtual communities." In some areas, there
are appropriate steps that the government can take, working with the
private sector, to promote key applications of IT that improve our
quality of life. These include: overcoming legal and regulatory barriers
to the adoption of IT, making the government an intelligent user of new
technologies to carry out its missions, support for R&D and pilot
projects, and establishing longer-term national goals on the use of IT.
John Kerry will direct his Cabinet to develop an "Innovation Agenda"
built upon public-private partnerships that advance the following goals:
Promote digital opportunity. Innovative applications of
information technology can improve the lives of people in underserved
communities. That's why John Kerry will expand the Technology
Opportunities Program (TOP). TOP has supported grassroots projects that
have delivered real results, such as information systems that raise the
rates of childhood immunization in inner cities. The Bush administration
has proposed eliminating this program.
Make our government more open, responsive, and efficient.
Americans are entitled to the most efficient and effective government
that is user-friendly, accessible 24/7 from any Internet enabled
computer, and enables greater two-way interactions between citizens and
their government on the important issues of the day.
Transform America's health care system. Information technology
can dramatically improve America's health care system by reducing
administrative costs, allowing patients to make more informed decisions
about their health care needs, improving the management of chronic
diseases such as diabetes, reducing medical errors which kill an
estimated 44,000 - 98,000 Americans every year, and improving the
quality of care in rural and urban communities with remote consultation.
Empower people with disabilities to lead more independent lives.
Universal design of information systems and new technologies such as
speech recognition can allow people with disabilities to be full
participants in the Information Society. Information technology,
designed from the beginning to be usable by people with disabilities,
can also allow more people with disabilities to work.
Put America's cultural heritage at the fingertips of every American.
New technologies are allowing us to digitize America's vast treasure
trove of historical documents, photographs, paintings, recordings,
sculptures, and monuments. Currently, for example, the Smithsonian can
only exhibit 2-3 percent of their holdings. Our goal should be to
dramatically expand access to America's cultural heritage, working with
our nation's libraries, archives, and museums.
Source:
John Kerry for President 2004 Web Site
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