California Democrat Foresees Legislation Arising Out of Innovation Agenda 2.0

The Innovation Agenda 2.0 initiative under development by House Democrats hopefully will include the introduction of legislation this year, said Communications Subcommittee ranking member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. She joined Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., for a private roundtable of officials at Stanford University Tuesday. Pelosi and Eshoo announced the initiative’s revival in January (see 1601260060). “Ten years ago, I convened a group of our nation’s thought leaders at Stanford University to take on the bold challenge of developing an Innovation Agenda for our country to keep America number one in key fields,” Eshoo said in a statement circulated to local California media this week in an advisory provided by an Eshoo aide. “What eventually followed was enactment of policies that have propelled progress. From the establishment of ARPA-E [Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy], our foremost R&D body for energy technology, to expanding capital investment, STEM [science, technology, engineering and math] education and broadband deployment, we’ve made tremendous strides. The Innovation Agenda 2.0 will identify bold new initiatives to build on previous accomplishments and help shape a robust, competitive economy for our collective future.” A Stanford official included many details about the event on the university website, including Eshoo’s promise of legislation this year. The Democrats also plan roundtables around the country over the next three months to develop this agenda, as expected. Stanford University said two dozen participants were invited to the private roundtable, including Stanford President John Hennessy, Regis Management Chairman John Freidenrich, Santa Clara University President Michael Engh, Intuit CEO Brad Smith, Paradigm CEO Joelle Emerson, Gilead CEO John Milligan and Stanford Technology Ventures Program Director Tom Byers. Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., also joined them, he tweeted this week, showing several photos of his visit with the lawmakers. Two big topics discussed Tuesday were said to have been immigration and education, both likely part of the new agenda. Pelosi’s office released a three-page analysis this month, prepared by her office and that of Eshoo, of what they now call Innovation Agenda 1.0 and its 22 planks and the legislation enacted from them. One section was devoted to broadband. Pelosi touted the broadband progress in another one-page sheet on agenda accomplishments. “Now, House Democrats are crafting an Innovation Agenda 2.0 that builds on the initiatives that were launched nine years ago,” Pelosi said in a section of her website devoted to the initiative.