Our nation faces a painful economic transition. We have suffered a net loss of 2.8 million manufacturing jobs in the last four years. Those were jobs with decent wages and benefits.

The economic growth we have seen hasn't reached the paychecks of the vast majority of American workers. Wages have barely budged, while health care costs and energy costs have risen brutally.

Our nation can prosper in a ruthless world economy and the prosperity can reach every American worker, not just the top executives. But America's workers, researchers and small businesses need a practical partner in their government.

Here's where we should start:

1. We need to stop giving jobs away in foolish trade deals. I voted against CAFTA [1] and other trade treaties that lack real, enforceable protections for American workers.

   But that's not enough--we're kidding ourselves if we think our economic future is low-skilled jobs in labor-intensive industries. Our future won't be like our past.

2. Our future depends on having the most skilled workforce in the world, and that requires a commitment both to formal education and to on-the-job training.

   Just protecting existing funding for technical and vocational education programs, and for adult education and literacy programs, is a struggle in Congress every year, and we need to do much more. I have started a bi-partisan Community College Caucus to support community colleges in teaching American workers the skills they need for new jobs.

3. Our research universities are the envy of the world, and our nation has led the world in developing new products and new production technologies from research.

   I have introduced legislation to help research universities take the first steps to get ideas from research to the market, like obtaining patents and completing a business plan.

   I have spoken up to support federal programs that provide patient capital for innovative small companies, like the Advanced Technology Program [2].

   And as a member of the Science Committee, I have fought shortsighted efforts to cut research spending, which would give away one of America's great economic strengths.

4. We need to protect the proven, successful programs that help small businesses get on their feet. The entrepreneurial talent of American small business has made our economy the most agile in the world.

   We count on small businesses to grow our economy. Half of the American economy, our gross domestic product, is generated by small businesses. Even more important, small businesses create 75 percent of new jobs.

   The Small Business Administration has a proven track record of helping new business owners learn the ropes, and the SBA's loan programs have helped thousands of successful businesses get on their feet so they can create new jobs. Many of the SBA's programs make more money in returned investment than they cost.