Washington, DC-Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) has accepted an invitation to co-chair the monthly Congressional Forum on Technology and Innovation with Senator Bill Frist (R-TN). The Tech Forum, an initiative of the Council on Competitiveness, presents briefing sessions on cutting edge science and innovation policy issues for Members of Congress and their staffs. Briefing sessions can include topics such as national cyber security, broadband technology, and biodefense. "To win the war on terror, to strengthen our economy and create family-wage jobs, and to maintain its position as the leader of the free world, the U.S. must stay at the forefront of technological innovation and application," said Wyden. "The Forum serves as an excellent conduit for information to the Members of Congress who craft technology policy, and I'm honored to serve with my colleague Senator Frist as a co-chair of this council."

Before his election to the Senate in 1996, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) spent 15 years in the U.S. House of Representatives. Recognized as an expert on technology policy, Wyden seeks out opportunities to build bipartisan coalitions on science and technology issues. Wyden has passed bipartisan laws prohibiting discriminatory taxes on Internet commerce, promoting the use of digital signatures, supporting cybersecurity research and development and creating a National Emergency Technology Guard to respond in times of natural or national disaster. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space, Wyden also sponsored the Senate's first nanotechnology bill, introduced legislation to prohibit Internet jamming by repressive regimes, sponsored a resolution to guarantee consumers the same fair-use rights to digital material as to analog material, and issued a challenge to triple the number of women in this country graduating with degrees in math and the hard sciences. "Ron Wyden is an outstanding and obvious choice to serve as co-chairman of the Tech Forum," said Senator Frist. "I look forward to chairing this vital program with someone who brings the same kind of passion and commitment to technology issues. Senator Wyden recognizes the significant role that technology plays in maintaining the United States' lead globally. With the addition of Senator Wyden, I think the Tech Forum is set to chart new ground on some of the most cutting-edge issues that are certain to impact our nation."

"We are delighted Senator Wyden has agreed to co-chair the Tech Forum with Senator Frist," said Council president Deborah Wince-Smith. "Senator Wyden's proven leadership and substantial legislative experience on technology policy will be valuable contributions to this Council initiative." Senator Wyden succeeds Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) as co-chairman of the Tech Forum. The Tech Forum is held monthly while Congress is in session.