1828 L Street, N.W. Suite 906 Washington, D.C. 20036

Tel 202.785.3756 Fax 202.429.9417 www.asme.org

February 5, 2008

The Honorable John McCain

United States Senate

241 Russell Senate Office Building.

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Senator McCain:

Few would argue that America’s long term economic growth and standard of living is due in large measure to engineering and technology innovations which have created jobs and strengthened U.S. competitiveness in the global economy.

ASME is a 120,000 professional organization focused on technical, educational and research issues of the engineering and technology community. Our organization has long contributed to the policy making process by providing government decision makers with technical information needed to make the most informed decisions on issues of national importance. Accordingly, I am pleased to provide you with ASME’s 2007-2008 Public Policy Agenda identifying the top five public policy issues of concern to the engineering community, which include energy; science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, research and development, standards and environment.

Of particular concern to ASME’s membership is federal funding of fundamental scientific and engineering research, which is critical to the technology development and innovations required to maintain U.S. technological leadership, and to address a long list of societal issues ranging from sustainable energy to climate change and transportation. The National Academy of Sciences report, “Rising Above the Gathering Storm: Energizing and Employing America for a Brighter Economic Future,” provided a troubling forecast for the state of American competitiveness related to science and technology if we continue down our current path.

Congress and the Administration responded with strong bipartisan support for the “America COMPETES Act of 2007.” This law promised to double research and development (R&D) funding over the next decade at key federal science and engineering research agencies, fueling future American innovation and competitiveness. But we are greatly disappointed that these research increases did not materialize when the fiscal year 2008 (FY08) budget was reconciled in late December 2007.

Therefore, I am joining with Congressional leaders, Nobel laureates, business leaders, and university presidents to support “Science Debate 2008,” an effort calling for a debate to underscore the importance of science, education, research and innovation in the 2008 presidential race. As you continue to campaign for the office of the Presidency, I urge you to strongly consider this request. For more information on Science Debate 2008, please visit http://www.sciencedebate2008.com

Should you have any questions or if would like further information, please contact Kathryn Holmes, Director of ASME Government Relations, at holmesk@asme.org or (202) 785-7390.

Sincerely,

Sam Y. Zamrik, Ph.D

President