It's an opportunity to shape policy that affects what is becoming the backbone of San Diego County's economy, he said. Biotechnology, wireless technology and telecommunications are among the fastest-growing industries in the region. According to a report, employment in those fields now accounts for 1 in 10 nonfarm jobs in San Diego County. And in 2000, some 1,500 high-technology jobs were created.
North County figures prominently in the equation.
High-technology clusters are concentrated in places such as Carlsbad and Rancho Bernardo, in addition to the city of San Diego's Sorrento Valley. The policy subcommittee is the House majority's primary forum for discussing legislative initiatives and official Republican priorities on issues affecting high-technology industries. But it gives us an opportunity to frame the debate and shape what legislation goes on to the Rules Committee and to the floor of the House. Issa said some of his goals are to strengthen patenting laws that protect product innovations while eliminating limits on export controls and removing other government barriers to the prosperity and expansion of high-technology industries.