Highlights

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  Foundation for Bipartisan Progress

  Valerie Jarrett, White House Senior Advisor: President Obama has taken bold, decisive steps to pass controversial legislation for the health of the nation. That success provides us with a foundation for cooperation across party lines.

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  Focus is on Job Creation

  Valerie Jarrett, White House Senior Advisor: The President’s primary focus is to create jobs and bring down the unemployment rate. He recognizes that one way to reach that goal is by shoring up the nation’s infrastructure.

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  Clear, Cogent Energy Policy Needed

  Jeff Immelt, CEO, General Electric: If we want to grow our industries and create more goods and more jobs, we’ll need good policies, especially a thoughtful and clearly defined energy policy.

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  Innovation Fosters Job Growth and Market Expansion

  Dominic Barton, McKinsey and Company: Innovation is fueled by five key drivers and together they produce an environment that fosters higher education, creates jobs and expands markets.

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  New Models for Broadband Growth

  Jeff Bewkes, Chair, Time Warner: Exciting new business models are on the horizon for broadband and video. The success of these models is predicated on investing in and expanding our infrastructure to make it happen.

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  New Models for Growth

  Klaus Kleinfeld, President and CEO, Alcoa: From its entrepreneurial culture, to the excellence of it universities, to its industry clusters, the U.S. continues to create new models for innovation and growth.

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  Preventing the Next Industry Bubbles

  Austan Goolsbee, White House Chief Economist: The economic recovery is on pace. We must focus on stabilizing the economy as we shift to a more traditional business cycle and prevent industry bubbles like those that led to the recession.

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  U.S. Budget Deficit Must be Reduced

  Alice Rivlin: The deficit must come down. That means implementing strategies such as reforming the tax code, amending entitlement programs and finding new ways to finance infrastructure repair and construction.

  Alice M. Rivlin

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  Dichotomy in Deficit Reduction

  Ann Fudge, Nat’l Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform: The dichotomy in resolving the deficit crisis calls for cutting and investing; we need to cut spending but continue to invest in beneficial endeavors like infrastructure.

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  Debt Crisis a Critical Challenge for Congress

  Ron Haskins: Managing the nation’s debt crisis is a critical challenge for Congress, which is entering the fray with untested leadership at the helm.

  Ron Haskins

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  Innovation is Key to Economic Strength

  Glenn Hutchins, Co-founder Silverlake: Innovation is crucial to growth and prosperity, and offers a foundation that allows markets to function and helps businesses thrive.

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  The Munitions Industry

  Michael O’Hanlon: The munitions industry is a great innovator. Its technologies have gone far beyond warfare, with applications that range from automobile air bags to space exploration.

  Michael E. O'Hanlon

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  Economy Remains Top Issue

  Darrell West: Improving the economy is still the most critical issue our nation faces. Finding ways to remain competitive in the global sphere is key to that goal.

  Darrell M. West

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  Low Carbon Energy

  Michael Greenstone: The economy that innovates to reduce the cost of low carbon energy will, in effect, build a better mouse trap.

  Michael Greenstone

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  Move to Green Economy a Global Competition

  Bruce Katz: The move to a greener economy is a global competition. The U.S. must wisely and expeditiously develop both policies and practices that encourage more innovation and growth in this critical area.

  Bruce Katz

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  Defense Industry Leads Technology and Innovation

  Peter W. Singer: While the U.S. defense industry is a key component in our national security efforts, it also spurs international trade and continues to play a leadership role in technology and innovation.

  Peter W. Singer