It is easy to be complacent about US competitiveness and pre-eminence in science and technology. We have led the world for decades, and we continue to do so in many fields. But the world is changing rapidly, and our advantages are no longer unique. Without a renewed effort to bolster the foundations of our competitiveness, it is possible that we could lose our privileged position over the coming decades. For the first time in generations, our children could face poorer prospects for jobs, healthcare, security, and overall standard of living than have their parents and grandparents. We owe our current prosperity, security, and good health to the investments of past generations. We are obliged to renew those commitments to ensure that the US people will continue to benefit from the remarkable opportunities being opened by the rapid development of the global economy.