[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 537 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 537

     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
 Departments of the Treasury, Defense, Commerce, and Labor should take 
steps to assist in increasing the competitiveness of the United States 
                 electronic interconnections industry.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 25, 1996

   Mr. Meehan(for himself, Mr. Franks of New Jersey, and Ms. Eshoo) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
   on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Commerce, 
 National Security, and Economic and Educational Opportunities, for a 
 period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
 Departments of the Treasury, Defense, Commerce, and Labor should take 
steps to assist in increasing the competitiveness of the United States 
                 electronic interconnections industry.

Whereas the electronic interconnections industry, which produces printed wiring 
        boards and printed wiring assemblies, is an important element of the 
        electronics industry;
Whereas the United States electronic interconnections industry, a foundation of 
        the United States electronics industry, is vital to United States 
        competitiveness in electronics and critical to national defense;
Whereas the United States electronic interconnections industry employs nearly 
        250,000 workers in the United States;
Whereas small and mid-sized businesses such as those that make up the electronic 
        interconnections industry are the backbone of the United States economy;
Whereas the United States electronic interconnections industry has annual gross 
        sales exceeding $15,000,000,000;
Whereas the United States electronic interconnections industry, while currently 
        a net importer, has the potential to become a net exporter, which will 
        help reduce the United States trade deficit;
Whereas growth projections have confirmed the potential for a competitive 
        printed wiring assembly industry, which is expected to grow more than 20 
        percent annually during the remainder of the 20th century;
Whereas the United States electronic interconnections industry is responding to 
        the challenge of international competition and has reversed a market 
        decline through a concerted effort in managerial excellence, operational 
        efficiency, technological development, improved communications, public 
        policy advocacy, and workforce education and training;
Whereas the United States electronic interconnections industry struggles with 
        inadequate capital formation in the United States relative to its 
        international competitors;
Whereas, although the United States electronic interconnections industry has 
        battled back from the brink of extinction, ominous trends (such as 
        declining research and development by major electronics manufacturers, 
        closed foreign markets, and high employee training costs) continue; and
Whereas actions of the United States Government in the areas of taxation, 
        capital formation, technology development, workforce development, and 
        trade agreements are vital to ensuring an internationally competitive 
        United States electronic interconnections industry well into the 21st 
        century: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) to assist in ensuring the financial soundness of the 
        United States electronic interconnections industry, the 
        Department of the Treasury should develop an accelerated 
        depreciation schedule to accurately reflect the depreciation of 
        equipment used by the industry;
            (2) the Department of Defense should develop a dual-use 
        technology program with the United States electronic 
        interconnections industry to upgrade the technological 
        capabilities of the industry;
            (3) the International Trade Administration of the 
        Department of Commerce should develop a joint industry-
        Government program to expand the export of goods and services 
        of the United States electronic interconnections industry;
            (4) the Department of Labor should develop a joint program 
        with the United States electronic interconnections industry to 
        upgrade the training and skill levels of workers in the 
        industry; and
            (5) within 12 months after the date of the adoption of this 
        resolution, the Secretaries of the Treasury, Defense, Commerce, 
        and Labor should report to the Congress on any actions taken 
        within the jurisdiction of the Secretaries, respectively, to 
        increase the competitiveness of the United States electronic 
        interconnections industry.
                                 <all>