As president of the United States' unit of The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. promoting technical careers and public policy, IEEE-USA, I would like to pose the following questions to you on behalf of almost 230,000 U.S. IEEE members. We will publicize your responses widely among our members and the public-at-large. Please respond by September 15th.

1. Most economists agree that past investments in research and development are the fundamental sources of the United States' present economic strength. Current national R&D investment as a percentage of gross national product is half of what it was 30 years ago when many of the key technologies of today were in the early research stages. Question: What level of federal investment in research and development do you support, and what are your priorities for those federal R&D investments?

2. Engineers and other increasingly mobile professionals are having a hard time preparing for a financially secure retirement in today's fast-paced economy due to the following: inevitability of frequent job changes, the related effects of pension vesting requirements, various restrictions on the portability of benefits between different savings plans, and limits on IRA contributions. This problem is becoming particularly acute as the Baby-Boomer generation approaches retirement age and as life expectancies continue to increase. Question: What will your Administration do to improve the pensions and savings laws to enable engineers and other Americans to save sufficient funds for retirement? Specifically, what would you do about pension portability and the IRA contribution cap; and how do these reforms fit into your approach to Social Security and Medicare?

3. There is much talk of the so-called "skills shortage" in high-tech industry, which is driving legislative efforts to increase the limits on H-1B visas for recruitment of high-tech guest workers from abroad. Increasingly it appears that the issue is not so much a shortage of capable workers in the U.S., but an apparent mismatch between their training and the "skills" requirements of industry, which are driven in part by rapid changes in technology and the accelerating business cycle. Question: Do you believe increasing reliance on high-tech guest workers is good for the country; would you support increasing immigration as a preferable alternative to guest workers; and what other steps would you take as President to address the need of high-tech industry for skilled workers?

4. In this age of the Internet and digital information, it is easier than ever to gain access to and to analyze comprehensive data about people on subjects ranging from consumer preferences to medical conditions to personal habits. Reasonable expectations of privacy are challenged especially where individuals are typically not even aware of the data being automatically monitored and collected, much less asked to consent to its collection and use. Question: What would your Administration do to protect Americans from technological threats to their privacy in the information age? Specifically, would your administration prefer that individuals must choose to protect their privacy, or that those who collect such information must obtain permission? How would you strike a balance in particular areas, such as the Internet.

5. Based on performance metrics, our K-12 education system is failing to deliver a high quality math and science education, which is critical not only for students interested in science and engineering careers, but also to provide future generations with skills needed to function effectively in our increasingly complex society. Question: What steps would your Administration take to improve K-12 math and science education, including better exposure to engineering and technology at the K-12 levels?

Would you please send your response to me care of Pender M. McCarter at the address listed on the letterhead; by phone, (202) 785-0017 x8353; fax, (202) 785-0835; or e-mail, p.mccarter@ieee.org.

Sincerely,