"The IT industry I guarantee will be in the United States to the degree that these smart people are here in the United States, and that’s why I think it’s important to maximize that number." Gates urged lawmakers to find ways to keep foreign students in the United States, saying if the country is going to invest in educating them, it should also benefit from that investment by encouraging them to work here. He urged the federal government to invest more money in education and training, and in research and development (R&D). "Federal research funding is vital. Unfortunately, while other countries and regions, such as China and the European Union, are increasing their public investment in R & D, federal research spending in the United States is not keeping pace." Gates suggested an increase of 10 percent annually in U.S. funding for research for the next seven years. He also urged more teacher training and higher math curriculum standards. He said the nation should set a goal of doubling the number of science, technology and math graduates by 2015.