[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 29, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E447]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            SUPPORT FOR THE VANADIUM TECHNOLOGY PARTNERSHIP

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                           HON. PHIL ENGLISH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 29, 2006

  Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of the Vanadium Technology Partnership, a program of great 
importance to both my constituents in Northwest Pennsylvania and the 
men and women serving in the United States military at home and 
overseas. The Vanadium Technology Partnership, or VTP, is a cooperative 
relationship between the vanadium microalloyed steel industry and the 
U.S. Army. The partnership is working to apply high-performance steels 
in military applications.
  The military uses some quantity of vanadium in virtually every 
application where steel products are employed. As the chairman of the 
Congressional Steel Caucus, I recognize the crucial benefits that VTP 
offers to domestic steel industry as well as the U.S. armed services. I 
have worked extensively on behalf of VTP, including Bear Metallurgical 
Company, a key vanadium producer in my district and member of the 
partnership. Since VTP's inception in 2003, the steel industry and the 
military have employed vanadium in their daily operations to a much 
larger degree. Vanadium is currently being used to increase armor 
strength and reduce the weight of current combat vehicles, tactical 
vehicles, tactical bridges, material handling equipment, aircraft, 
watercraft and rail. Further, case studies looking at ways to expand 
vanadium's uses have been completed and are now in the process of 
deployment, including a vanadium steel rebar program, long span 
structures, trailer weight reduction, and vanadium spiral-welded pipe.
  I would also like to offer my sincere gratitude to Dr. John Beatty 
with the Army Research Lab for his support and oversight of VTP since 
its inception. I was particularly pleased to learn that the Army has 
agreed to support the use of VTP funding to undertake critical health 
and safety research. This research will help ensure the safe and 
continued use of vanadium for industry and the military.
  In closing, I am grateful to both my colleagues and the military for 
recognizing the crucial benefits of the Vanadium Technology 
Partnership. I have made the advancement of this technology a top 
priority and encourage its continuation. With the Army's commitment to 
the VTP, the many uses of vanadium will continue to benefit our 
servicemen and women serving at home and overseas.

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