Arlington, Virginia -- The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) today hailed the bipartisan House passage of Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) legislation with China calling it "the single-most important piece of legislation in the 106th Congress."

"Trade with China is extremely important to our nation's high tech and electronic industries," said EIA President Dave McCurdy. "Today we witnessed, without question, the most important trade vote of the decade."

Over one year ago, in March of 1999, EIA identified PNTR with China as its #1 public policy priority at its annual Spring Conference and committed to an aggressive strategy to secure passage. Since then, EIA has waged an extensive and intense, full-scale, campaign-style lobbying effort on behalf of its high tech and electronic workers and companies.

"Today's successful outcome was due in large part to industry, House Republican Leadership, key Democrats and the White House working together," McCurdy continued. "This is great news for the new economy, which is largely responsible for our nation's recent dramatic economic growth, and for American workers, who can take advantage of the increase in high-wage, high tech jobs that trade with China will generate."

Even as clerks were tallying the final vote count, EIA began making arrangements to launch it's Campaign 2000 Technology Tour. During the next six months, EIA will travel across the country to meet with Members of Congress to thank them for voting for PNTR with China, to engage them in a meaningful dialogue regarding the importance of high technology to the national economy and to discuss and explore with them the role both the public and private sectors should play in the new economy.

"The day after the vote is just as important as the day before the vote," McCurdy explained. "It's extremely important for industry to publicly support Members of Congress who voted for PNTR with China. These tours will allow us to do that."

The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) is a partnership of electronic and high-tech associations and companies committed to shared knowledge and shared influence. Comprised of more than 2,100 members that provide two million jobs for American workers, EIA represents 80 percent of the $550 billion U.S. electronics industry. EIA's sector associations and members represent consumer electronics, telecommunications, components, government electronics, semiconductor standards, as well as many other vital areas of the U.S. electronics industry.