LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS.

The legislature finds that:

(1) strength in the manufacturing sector is critical to the United States' and Texas' international competitive position, as well as to the national security. Manufacturing has the highest economic multiplier of any industrial sector, contributing to economic growth and personal wealth. High technology manufacturing has the highest economic multiplier among manufacturing sectors;

(2) the health of the manufacturing sector is critical for economic growth in Texas. Texas, as a primary producer of raw materials, finds itself positioned to benefit tremendously from improvement and development of its manufacturing capabilities, even while the Texas economy suffers the consequences of having depended too heavily on production of raw materials alone; and

(3) manufacturing industry sales growth and productivity increases have been shown to move in direct relation to the performance of research and development by the industry.