[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 137 (Tuesday, October 25, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H9065-H9068]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
ESTABLISHING INTERAGENCY AEROSPACE REVITALIZATION TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP
A NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR AEROSPACE WORKFORCE RECRUITMENT, TRAINING, AND
CULTIVATION
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 758) to establish an interagency aerospace revitalization
task force to develop a national strategy for aerospace workforce
recruitment, training, and cultivation.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 758
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The aerospace industry generates nearly 15 percent of
the gross domestic product of
[[Page H9066]]
the United States, supports approximately 11,000,000 jobs in
the United States, and leads the United States economy in net
exports.
(2) The aerospace industry contributes directly to the
economic and national security of the United States through
military, space, air transport, and information technology
applications.
(3) A skilled and educated workforce represents the most
valuable asset of the United States economy.
(4) In 2004, total employment in the aerospace industry
fell to its lowest point in 50 years.
(5) 27 percent of the aerospace manufacturing workforce
will become eligible for retirement by 2008.
(6) Students in the United States rank near the bottom of
the leading industrialized countries of the world in
mathematics and science test performance.
(7) To ensure the stability of high-skilled jobs and the
global competitiveness of the domestic aerospace industry,
the United States requires coordinated Federal Government
policies to sustain and expand the science, mathematics,
engineering, and manufacturing workforce.
SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY AEROSPACE REVITALIZATION TASK FORCE.
(a) Establishment.--There is established a task force to be
known as the ``Interagency Aerospace Revitalization Task
Force'' (in this section referred to as the ``Task Force'').
(b) Duties.--The Task Force shall develop a strategy for
the Federal Government for aerospace workforce development,
including strategies for--
(1) maximizing cooperation among departments and agencies
of the Federal Government and the use of resources of the
Federal Government in fulfilling demand for a skilled
workforce across all vocational classifications;
(2) developing integrated Federal Government policies to
promote and monitor public and private sector programs for
science, engineering, technology, mathematics, and skilled
trades education and training; and
(3) establishing partnerships with industry, organized
labor, academia, and State and local governments to--
(A) collect and disseminate information on occupational
requirements and projected employment openings; and
(B) coordinate appropriate agency resources, including
grants, loans, and scholarships, for the advancement of
workforce education, training, and certification programs.
(c) Membership.--
(1) Number and appointment.--The Task Force shall be
composed of 11 members who shall be appointed as follows:
(A) One member shall be the Assistant Secretary of Labor
for Employment and Training.
(B) One member shall be a representative of the Department
of Commerce and shall be appointed by the Secretary of
Commerce.
(C) One member shall be a representative of the Department
of Defense and shall be appointed by the Secretary of
Defense.
(D) One member shall be a representative of the Department
of Homeland Security and shall be appointed by the Secretary
of Homeland Security.
(E) One member shall be a representative of the Department
of Education and shall be appointed by the Secretary of
Education.
(F) One member shall be a representative of the Department
of Transportation and shall be appointed by the Secretary of
Transportation.
(G) One member shall be a representative of the Department
of Energy and shall be appointed by the Secretary of Energy.
(H) One member shall be a representative of the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and shall be
appointed by the Administrator of NASA.
(I) One member shall be a representative of the National
Science Foundation (NSF) and shall be appointed by the
Director of the NSF.
(J) Two members shall be appointed by the President.
(2) Chairperson.--The Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Employment and Training shall serve as the chairperson of the
Task Force.
(3) Deadline for appointment.--Each member shall be
appointed to the Task Force not later than 90 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act.
(4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Task Force shall be filled
in the manner in which the original appointment was made.
(5) Prohibition of compensation.--Members of the Task Force
may not receive pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of
their service on the Task Force.
(d) Meetings.--
(1) In general.--The Task Force shall meet at the call of
the Chairperson.
(2) Frequency.--The Task Force shall meet not less than two
times each year.
(3) Quorum.--6 members of the Task Force shall constitute a
quorum.
(e) Annual Reports.--Not later than one year after the date
of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for
four years, the Task Force shall submit to Congress, and make
available to the public, a report detailing the activities of
the Task Force and containing the findings, strategies,
recommendations, policies, and initiatives developed pursuant
to the duties of the Task Force under subsection (b).
(f) Termination.--The Commission shall terminate on the
date of the submission of the final report under subsection
(e).
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers).
General Leave
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
and include extraneous material on H.R. 758.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that today we are considering a bill that
addresses the needs of the United States aerospace workforce.
The Aerospace Revitalization Act establishes a task force designed to
develop a national strategy for aerospace workforce recruitment,
training, and cultivation. It implements a key recommendation from the
2002 Bipartisan Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace
Industry Report to the President to counter what it termed ``the
Nation's apathy toward developing a scientifically and technologically
trained workforce.''
{time} 1530
This bill creates an interagency task force to examine ways to
partner within and beyond the Federal Government to strengthen our
aerospace workforce. Led by the Department of Labor, membership on the
task force spans nine agencies that participate in the development and
deployment of the present and future aerospace workforce.
The goal is to develop a comprehensive strategy to increase the
number of students and workers who choose science, engineering and
other aerospace-related careers. To that end, the task force will also
establish partnerships with industry, organized labor, academia and
State governments to coordinate aerospace career education and training
programs.
Each of the aerospace industry's three core segments, national
defense, civil aviation and space systems, makes a unique contribution
to sustaining the Nation's global political and technological
leadership. The aerospace industry generates nearly 15 percent of the
gross domestic product of the United States, supports approximately 11
million jobs in the United States, and leads the United States economy
in net exports. Furthermore, aerospace contributes directly to the
economic and national security of our country through military, space,
air transport, and information technology applications.
If that is true, why do we need this bill? For a very simple reason.
A large number of employees in the aerospace industry started shortly
after the Apollo project of the 1960s. Many of them are now reaching
retirement age, and that creates a huge problem because we do not have
a workforce available to fill the vacuum created when these individuals
leave.
In 2004, total employment in the aerospace industry fell to its
lowest point in 50 years, and almost 30 percent of the aerospace
manufacturing workforce will become eligible for retirement by 2008.
Employers within the aerospace industry are concerned that U.S.
students, who currently perform near the bottom of the leading
industrialized countries of the world in math and science tests, lack
the necessary training and skills to fulfill the anticipated workforce
needs of the industry. Clearly, our country needs a national strategy
for aerospace workforce recruitment, training and cultivation so that
we will have a sufficient workforce, a trained workforce, to carry this
program forward and sustain this important part of our economy in the
years ahead.
At a time when we are expanding the boundaries of scientific
discovery through space exploration and depend on a strong national
defense to keep our citizens safe, the calculated coordination and
training of our aerospace workforce is a critical need. I am grateful
to all my colleagues for considering this bill, and I encourage them to
support its passage.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
[[Page H9067]]
I rise in support of H.R. 758, legislation that will establish an
interagency aerospace revitalization task force in order to develop a
national strategy for workforce development in a field that is vital to
our national security.
I would like to commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), my
colleague from the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and all of
the bill's cosponsors for bringing this forward.
The aerospace industry is just one of the scientific and technical
fields where our Nation is falling behind, and it is a critical one.
The aerospace industry is at the heart of our military, space, air
transport and information technology applications.
In the year 2004, total employment at the aerospace industry fell to
its lowest point in 50 years. Twenty-seven percent of the aerospace
manufacturing workforce will become eligible for retirement by 2008.
The sad fact is that we have neglected the pipeline that would
prepare new workers for this industry. On international assessments,
our students rank near the bottom of industrialized nations for math
and science literacy.
This task force is a good beginning; however, we need to do much
more. It has been my privilege to work with the gentleman from Michigan
to push for increased funding for math and science education. We must
invest in these areas on a much larger scale if our Nation hopes to
retain its global leadership in science, engineering and innovation.
It is my hope that this task force on the aerospace industry will
spark a much broader discussion about our Nation's future in the fields
of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and will launch a
groundswell of support for greater investment in that future.
I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 758.
Mr. Speaker, it is my privilege to yield 3 minutes to the
distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R.
758. This legislation establishes an interagency aerospace
revitalization task force to develop a national strategy for aerospace
workforce recruitment, training and cultivation.
As the aerospace industry supports over 11 million American jobs and
generates 15 percent of our gross domestic product, the strength and
vitality of this sector of our economy is absolutely vital.
Unfortunately, like many other labor-intensive manufacturing
industries, the aerospace industry is experiencing increased
competition from other countries. In fact, the aerospace industry in
our country employs fewer people today than it did 50 years ago. If we
are to remain competitive in this field, we must, and I agree with both
the gentleman from Michigan and from Texas, we must produce highly
trained workers that can compete with workers overseas.
Additionally, this legislation also mandates a coordinated effort to
improve science and math education in the United States. Providing a
strong education in math and science is absolutely vital and would not
only aid the aerospace industry, but also will go a long way to
ensuring a prosperous future for our country.
I am proud to support this legislation. I am also proud of the fact
that Boeing Industries is in my congressional district. I often tell
the young people who live there that if they want to look to areas
where there is opportunity, then they really need to get a strong
background in math and science because much of the future is in this
area.
So I support this legislation, just as I support Boeing and its
employees who live and work in my congressional district.
Mr. HINOJOSA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I wish to thank the gentleman from Texas for his very fine statement
and his encouragement on this issue. As we know, Texas is the center of
a very important component of the aerospace industry, our space effort,
and they have done very well in that.
I also appreciate the statement of the gentleman from Illinois who
represents the leading aviation and aerospace company in the United
States. That reflects very accurately what we are dealing with in the
future if we simply do not produce the workforce that is required to
maintain our lead in aerospace issues.
I have no further speakers at this time, but I do want to mention
that several Members from California wish to speak on this bill.
Unfortunately, they are currently en route here inside products of the
aerospace industry, and I am sure they will submit statements for the
Record later on.
I wish to thank the minority side for their support of this bill and
thank my colleagues for their support. I urge everyone to continue
their support, and I hope this bill will pass unanimously.
Mrs. TAUSCHER. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my good friend and
colleague Vern Ehlers in support of H.R. 758, the Aerospace
Revitalization Act and I urge my colleagues to give it their strong
support.
I am a proud co-sponsor of this bill which will help restore U.S.
leadership in a field we cannot afford to neglect.
While business in both the aerospace and defense industries seems to
be picking up with increased orders and shipments in recent months,
this development will not be sufficient to reverse what is a real
crisis in the aerospace workforce.
Over the last 15 years, the aerospace industry has lost hundreds of
thousands of jobs, many of them in my home state of California.
Many of these losses are cyclical and linked to the ebb and flow of
defense spending.
Many of them, however, are due to self-inflicted injuries such as a
lack of clear federal policy and direction and badly outdated export
control systems that make no distinction between cutting-edge and
readily available technology.
Our bill implements a central recommendation of the bipartisan
Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry by
creating an interagency taskforce to better coordinate aerospace
workforce development efforts across the federal government with those
of the private sector.
The bill focuses the federal government's efforts and fosters new
solutions with the private sector to help workers obtain the skills and
expertise necessary to replace what is today a shrinking and aging
workforce.
A scientifically-literate and competitive workforce is produced over
a lifetime and must evolve with demand.
Our bill would help improve training in the areas of science,
engineering, technology, and skilled vocational trades to ensure
competitive U.S. works for the foreseeable future.
While the challenges facing the aerospace industry will require a
range of solutions, our bill is an important means of reclaiming our
competitive edge.
I urge my colleagues to vote for this bill.
Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I want to add my voice of support for this
very important legislation, The Aerospace Revitalization Act, which I
have cosponsored. I want to offer a tribute to Congressman Vernon
Ehlers, a colleague from the Science Committee and Congresswoman Ellen
Tauscher, a colleague from my home state of California, for their
insight in sponsoring this legislation. I also want to thank Chairman
John Boehner and Ranking Democrat George Miller for their insight in
moving this bill out of their Committee.
This legislation evolved from recommendations of the 2002 bipartisan
Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry
report, which was chaired by the Honorable Robert Walker, a former
member of this body and a former chairman of the Science Committee. In
this report, a recommendation proposed that the federal government
needed to respond to what the Report termed, ``the nation's apathy
toward developing a scientifically and technologically trained
workforce.''
This bill does just that. H.R. 758 establishes a taskforce to be
coordinated by the Secretary of the Department of Labor and spanning
eight other federal agencies. This taskforce includes NASA, the
National Science Foundation, and the Departments of Defense, Energy,
Education, Commerce, Transportation, and Homeland Security. This
taskforce will examine the competitive challenges to the aerospace
industry's three core business units--civil aviation, military
contracting, and space transportation. It will then blend the resources
of the federal government to identify new aerospace workforce training
and recruitment opportunities through scholarship, grant and loan
programs. The taskforce will also set up alliances with the private
sector and state governments to tie business, state governments, and
the federal government together with the common goal of providing the
technical skills needed to keep America competitive.
As the Chairman of the House Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee, I
sponsored the NASA Authorization, which passed this House in July.
Because of our Committee's like concerns about our nation's
competitiveness globally, in my bill, we direct the Administrator of
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NASA to develop a Human Capital strategy to address our concerns about
not only the size of the workforce, but the technical skill mix of this
workforce. We all recognize the necessity to keep the United States
competitively at the forefront. Our largest export is from the high
tech aerospace industry. Our global standing is at risk if we do not
keep our aerospace workforce second to none!
Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R.
758, the Interagency Aerospace Revitalization Task Force. The situation
facing the aerospace sector is a serious one. For example, the average
age of an aerospace engineer is fifty-four, and twenty-seven percent of
the aerospace engineers will retire by 2008. These are startling
statistics.
Moreover, many recent reports have specifically pointed to the
decline in the number of science, technology, engineering and math
degrees being produced in the U.S. Each report presents a worrisome
outlook for our economic health, national security, and quality of
life. With a growing chorus of experts drawing our attention to this
problem, we can't ignore the reality that the U.S. is losing its
cutting edge. We need a national effort throughout our educational
system to attract students at a young age and provide support through
the graduate level.
The aerospace industry has an impact on both the public and private
sectors. Aerospace generates nearly 15 percent of the U.S. gross
domestic product, and plays a large role in reducing our trade deficit.
It is vital to our national defense. It has improved the quality of
life for our citizens, and it has opened up new opportunities. Yet, as
countless studies have pointed out, we cannot assume that the aerospace
sector will remain healthy without a coordinated governmental approach.
I support H.R. 758 because developing a strong education base is
vital to our aerospace industry. However, it is not a panacea. We must
also look to reinvigorate our investment in aerospace research and
development. If we continue to cut funding in these areas we will
continue to lose expertise and experience in our current workforce, as
well as our ability to compete globally. It is for this reason that I
introduced the Aeronautics Research and Development Revitalization Act
(H.R. 2358). This bill passed the House of Representatives as part of
the NASA Authorization bill, H.R. 3070. The bill establishes an
aeronautics research and development policy at NASA that will expand
capacity, ensure safety, and increase the efficiency of the nation's
air transportation system.
Education is a key component of strengthening the aerospace industry,
but unless we also invest in R&D the number of aerospace jobs available
will inevitably decline. I am hopeful that this taskforce will
recognize the true value of these investments and will suggest a
strategy that provides both short term and long term support for
aerospace in this country.
Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Petri). The question is on the motion
offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) that the House
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 758.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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