[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 2, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H4302-H4306]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 1868, TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND 
                 MANUFACTURING STIMULATION ACT OF 2007

  Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I 
call up House Resolution 350 and ask for its immediate consideration.
  The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

                              H. Res. 350

       Resolved,  That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule 
     XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 1868) to authorize appropriations for the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal 
     years 2008, 2009, and 2010, and for other purposes. The first 
     reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. All points of 
     order against consideration of the bill are waived except 
     those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. General 
     debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one 
     hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
     ranking minority member of the Committee on Science and 
     Technology. After general debate the bill shall be considered 
     for amendment under the five-minute rule. It shall be in 
     order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of 
     amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the 
     nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on 
     Science and Technology now printed in the bill. The committee 
     amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be considered 
     as read. All points of order against the committee amendment 
     in the nature of a substitute are waived except those arising 
     under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. Notwithstanding clause 11 
     of rule XVIII, no amendment to the committee amendment in the 
     nature of a substitute shall be in order except those printed 
     in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying this 
     resolution. Each such amendment may be offered only in the 
     order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member 
     designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall 
     be debatable for the time specified in the report equally 
     divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, 
     shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject 
     to a demand for division of the question in the House or in 
     the Committee of the Whole. All points of order against such 
     amendments are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 
     10 of rule XXI. At the conclusion of consideration of the 
     bill for amendment the Committee shall rise and report the 
     bill to the House with such amendments as may have been 
     adopted. Any Member may demand a separate vote in the House 
     on any amendment adopted in the Committee of the Whole to the 
     bill or to the committee amendment in the nature of a 
     substitute. The previous question shall be considered as 
     ordered on the bill and amendments thereto to final passage 
     without intervening motion except one motion to recommit with 
     or without instructions.
       Sec. 2. During consideration in the House of H.R. 1868 
     pursuant to this resolution, notwithstanding the operation of 
     the previous question, the Chair may postpone further 
     consideration of the bill to such time as may be designated 
     by the Speaker.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Sutton) is 
recognized for 1 hour.
  Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the 
customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sessions). All 
time yielded during consideration of the rule is for debate only.
  I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I also ask unanimous 
consent that all Members be given 5 legislative days in which to revise 
and extend their remarks on House Resolution 350.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.

[[Page H4303]]

  Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 350 provides for 
consideration of H.R. 1868, the Technology Innovation and Manufacturing 
Stimulation Act of 2007, under a structured rule.
  The rule provides 1 hour of general debate to be controlled by the 
chairman and the ranking minority member of the Committee on Science 
and Technology.
  The rule makes in order five amendments printed in the Rules 
Committee report, each with 10 minutes of debate. The rule also 
provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
  Mr. Speaker, I speak today in support of House Resolution 350 and 
H.R. 1868, the Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act 
of 2007, a bill which provides essential funding to the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology for the next 3 fiscal years.
  The United States Commerce Department's National Institute of 
Standards and Technology strives to promote U.S. innovation and 
industrial competitiveness through the advancement of measurement 
science, standards and technology. Through numerous individual 
laboratories, the NIST makes important scientific contributions to 
numerous scientific fields, from building and fire research to computer 
security to biotechnology.
  This bill will enhance the important mission, putting the NIST on a 
path to double its budget by the year 2017. With this additional 
funding, the NIST will continue to make important contributions to 
public safety, industrial competitiveness and economic growth.
  This bill also allocates funding for the Manufacturing Extension 
Partnership, also known as MEP. These MEP programs leverage Federal, 
State, local and private investments to stimulate new manufacturing 
processes and technologies. These new processes and technologies are a 
key component for ensuring that American manufacturers have the tools 
to compete effectively and efficiently against overseas manufacturers.
  The MEP program has proven remarkably effective in my home State of 
Ohio, where small and midsize manufacturers face limited budgets, in-
house expertise and access to the newest technologies. MEP assistance 
providing training, expertise and services tailored to the critical 
needs of Ohio's small and midsize manufacturers have made a big 
difference. Through this assistance, manufacturers in Ohio have 
increased productivity, achieved higher profits and remained 
competitive by providing the latest and most efficient technologies, 
processes and business practices.
  In 2006, as a direct result of MEP assistance, my State enjoyed over 
$150 million of new investment and over $500 million in increased or 
retained sales. Companies in Ohio participating in the MEP reported 
cost savings of over $100 million. Through the continued funding of 
this vital program, we can bring these vast benefits to even more small 
manufacturers across the country.
  Finally, and very importantly, this bill allocates funding for the 
new Technology Innovation Program, which funds high-risk, high-reward, 
precompetitive technology development by small and medium-sized 
companies. The goal of this program is to accelerate the development of 
technologies that will have a broad economic impact on our technology 
market.
  Harvard Professor Daniel Bell once said that ``Technology, like art, 
is a soaring exercise of human imagination.'' It is through the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership and the Technology Innovation Program that 
technology is given the wind that it needs to soar. Even more 
importantly, through this bill, small and midsize manufacturers will be 
given the support they need to compete with larger competitors in 
overseas businesses.
  This bill will not only provide assistance to American companies, 
like the 1,773 companies in Ohio that were helped by the Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership, but it will also create a stronger and more 
vibrant American technology industry. This is a good bill, and it 
deserves our support.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
promoting technological innovation, bolstering the strength of our 
manufacturing industry and contributing to the overall global 
competitiveness of American business. However, I simply cannot support 
the closed rule process brought forward today by the Democrat majority 
that prevents all but one Republican amendment from being considered by 
the House.
  This rule represents a substantial break with recent precedent 
because the last time that a comprehensive reauthorization of the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology was brought to the Rules 
Committee, the Republican majority provided the House with a completely 
open rule for its consideration. I know this, Mr. Speaker, because I 
had the privilege of managing that rule for our majority, and the 
Democrat minority position was then ably handled by the current 
chairman of the Rules Committee, my good friend Chairman Louise 
Slaughter.
  Unfortunately, Chairwoman Slaughter seems to have forgotten the 
merits of providing the House with an open rules process because today 
the committee that she chairs has provided the House with a closed 
process, through a restrictive rule, not an open rule, even using the 
more lenient definition of an open rule currently being employed by the 
Democrat majority, which under Republican leadership was reserved for 
modified open rules.
  I include for the Record a copy of this rule, H. Res. 474, which 
provided for the consideration of H.R. 2733, the Enterprise Integration 
Act of 2002, to remind the majority that NIST reauthorization is, in 
fact, possible to do under an open process.

                              H. Res. 474

       Resolved, That at any time after the adoption of this 
     resolution the Speaker may, pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule 
     XVIII, declare the House resolved into the Committee of the 
     Whole House on the state of the Union for consideration of 
     the bill (H.R. 2733) to authorize the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology to work with major manufacturing 
     industries on an initiative of standards development and 
     implementation for electronic enterprise integration. The 
     first reading of the bill shall be dispensed with. General 
     debate shall be confined to the bill and shall not exceed one 
     hour equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
     ranking minority member of the Committee on Science. After 
     general debate the bill shall be considered for amendment 
     under the five-minute rule. It shall be in order to consider 
     as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the 
     five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of substitute 
     recommended by the Committee on Science now printed in the 
     bill. Each section of the committee amendment in the nature 
     of a substitute shall be considered as read. During 
     consideration of the bill for amendment, the Chairman of the 
     Committee of the Whole may accord priority in recognition on 
     the basis of whether the Member offering an amendment has 
     caused it to be printed in the portion of the Congressional 
     Record designated for that purpose in clause 8 of rule XVIII. 
     Amendments so printed shall be considered as read. At the 
     conclusion of consideration of the bill for amendment the 
     Committee shall rise and report the bill to the House with 
     such amendments as may have been adopted. Any Member may 
     demand a separate vote in the House on any amendment adopted 
     in the Committee of the Whole to the bill or to the committee 
     amendment in the nature of a substitute. The previous 
     question shall be considered as ordered on the bill and 
     amendments thereto to final passage without intervening 
     motion except one motion to recommit with or without 
     instructions.

  Despite my objection to the rule, I do want to support the underlying 
legislation which makes a number of positive changes to an institution 
with a long history of helping to keep America globally competitive.
  Since its inception in 1901, the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology has worked diligently to achieve its mission of promoting 
U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing 
measurement, science, standards and technology in ways that enhance 
economic security and improve the quality of life.
  By focusing on its core mission of stimulating innovation, fostering 
industrial competition and competitiveness and improving quality of 
life, the NIST has become a valuable component in the ongoing struggle 
that the United States faces to remain globally competitive.
  This legislation authorizes appropriations for NIST for the next 3 
years, most notably doubling the Federal Government's investment in 
physical

[[Page H4304]]

science research, as proposed by President Bush's American 
Competitiveness Initiative. And this increased investment will yield 
real-world benefits across a number of diverse sectors, including 
developing performance standards for bullet-proof vests for our 
military and law enforcement, chemical and biological protection 
equipment for first responders, and measurement standards vital to 
leading-edge industries like nanotechnology and next-generation solar 
cells that will help America increase its energy independence.
  This legislation strengthens oversight by requiring the NIST director 
to submit annual programmatic planning documents to Congress, ensuring 
that the NIST budget is spent on activities that meet the needs of 
American industry, and that the increased funds which the NIST is being 
entrusted with are spent wisely.
  This legislation also takes steps to ensure the continued viability 
of the workhorses of the American economy, small and medium-size 
manufacturers.

                              {time}  1100

  By reauthorizing the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program, 
Congress will help countless domestic manufacturers to improve their 
manufacturing processes, reduce waste and to train workers to use new 
equipment.
  Mr. Speaker, I do appreciate the work of Chairman Bart Gordon and my 
good friend, the ranking member of the committee, the gentleman from 
Rockwall, Texas, Mr. Ralph Hall, for all of their hard work and 
bipartisan cooperation on this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record the Statement of Administration 
Policy for this legislation.

                   Statement of Administration Policy


 H.R. 1868--Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act of 
                           2007, May 1, 2007

       The Administration opposes House passage of H.R. 1868 in 
     its current form. The bill conflicts with the 
     administration's Research and Development Criteria by 
     diverting funds from critical, high-return basic research to 
     support subsidized management consulting activities and a 
     Technology Innovation Program (TIP) modeled on the Advanced 
     Technology Program that was proceeding toward termination 
     last Congress, as the Administration has proposed for the 
     past five years. These external commercial support programs 
     would be authorized at a total of $223 million in Fiscal Year 
     2008, and would increase by more than 18 percent in FY 2009. 
     The Administration does not support the level of funding or 
     the focus and structure of the programs as currently 
     reflected in the bill. The Administration recognizes that a 
     Manager's Amendment may be offered that is intended to 
     improve the bill by refocusing TIP awards on areas of 
     national need. However, the bill still permits grants to 
     large corporations, limits the role of universities and 
     national laboratories, and does not target major societal 
     challenges.
       The Administration continues to believe that investing in 
     basic research is a higher priority. Last year the President 
     proposed doubling support for high-payoff physical science 
     research in the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology (NIST), the National Science Foundation, and the 
     Department of Energy's Office of Science over the coming 
     decade as part of the American Competitiveness Initiative 
     (ACI). Compared with the amounts required to double NIST's 
     core research and facilities funding, H.R. 1868 provides $22 
     million less in FY 2008 than the President requested and 
     authorizes less funding than the Administration recommends in 
     FYs 2009 and 2010. Such investment in NIST's core measurement 
     and standards capabilities has demonstrated a significant, 
     and often exceptional, return to the economy. Studies 
     commissioned by NIST to evaluate the economic impacts of its 
     core standards activities generally show benefits far greater 
     than costs--the benefit-cost ratio across 19 of these studies 
     averaged 44:1, indicative of the great leveraging of NIST's 
     work in the economy. The research funding increases for NIST 
     proposed in the ACI have been broadly endorsed by the science 
     community, most recently in the ``American Innovation 
     Proc1amation''--a package of targeted recommendations by 
     America's business and higher education leaders.
       The House bill would divert NIST resources from core basic 
     research activities toward less meritorious industrial 
     policy. The Administration urges the House to amend the bill 
     to address these concerns.

  But despite my support for the legislation's goals, I encourage my 
colleagues to oppose this rule, so that this legislation can be 
considered under an open rule process that gives every single Member of 
this body with a germane amendment an opportunity to come down to the 
floor and to make their case.
  Mr. Speaker, the essence of what we are here to do today is to help 
America to become more competitive in the global process. By doing 
this, what we are saying is that by working with the NIST, it is a 
collaboration that the government has on behalf of and in particular 
for technology.
  Technology is what ultimately will drive America well into this new 
century to make sure that we solve problems, problems that have 
existed. Maybe they are mathematical problems, perhaps they are 
problems of trying to get people to work with new equipment that they 
may have. But the technology angle and the ability that the Federal 
Government has to take a proactive stand on behalf of American 
competitiveness is the essence of this bill.
  For a long time, we have spoken on this floor, Member-to-Member and 
as a body, about how important it is for America to understand the 
global competition that faces America. Today is an opportunity for us 
to come together here in this Congress to make sure that we are talking 
not only about that which will help America, but to continue something 
that we have been doing since 1901, and that is a government program 
that works well with the private sector to make sure that America is 
poised in its future to be prepared for what lies ahead.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time, I would like to yield 8 minutes to the 
gentleman from Georgia, Dr. Gingrey.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, let me just thank my former colleague on 
the Committee on Rules, Mr. Pete Sessions, the gentleman from Texas. I 
realize as we get busy running from pillar to post around here, that he 
was in the process of wrapping up, and it is awfully kind of him to go 
kind of out of regular order and give me the opportunity, knowing how 
committed I am to this program, to take a few minutes. I appreciate so 
much that opportunity.
  I do rise to support the underlying rule and the bill, H.R. 1868, the 
Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act of 2007. I want 
to take the opportunity to thank my chairman on the Subcommittee on 
Technology and Innovation, David Wu from the great State of Oregon, for 
incorporating into this bill the many suggestions and additions from 
our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, as well as the 
administration. The final legislation is a better product because of 
that, and, David Wu, I thank you so much.
  Last year, with his American Competitiveness Initiative, President 
Bush provided a vision to maintain America's position in the global 
marketplace by actually doubling the investment in physical science 
research over the next 10 years. H.R. 1868 helps fulfill that mission.
  Mr. Speaker, the purpose of this bill is to authorize appropriations 
for fiscal years 2008, 2009 and 2010 for the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, NIST we know it as. It is an agency in the 
Department of Commerce and one of the three agencies highlighted by the 
President's American Competitiveness Initiative.
  NIST has an annual operating budget of about $843 million. It 
operates in two locations. The headquarters, of course, are in 
Gaithersburg, Maryland, I have had a great visit there with Dr. 
Jeffrey, the Director. There is also the facility at the University of 
Colorado in Boulder.
  NIST employs 2,900 scientists, engineers, technicians and 
administrative. These employees all play a critical role in this 
research, which enables cutting-edge technologies to make the leap from 
basic research into successful commercial products. NIST labs 
accomplish this goal by conducting research that supports United States 
technology infrastructure by developing tools to measure, evaluate and 
standardize processes and products in almost all industrial sectors.
  For example, NIST labs develops performance standards for bulletproof 
vests, chemical and biological protection equipment guides for first 
responders, measurement standards vital to sustaining cutting-edge 
industries like nanotechnology, we are doing some great work at my alma 
mater, the Georgia Institute of Technology, on nanotechnology, and, of 
course, next generation solar cells.
  The Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act codifies

[[Page H4305]]

the American Competitiveness Initiative by authorizing 3 years of the 
proposed 10-year doubling for NIST laboratories and construction 
budget. That indeed is exactly what the administration asked us to do. 
That is exactly what Chairman Wu has done and the Science Committee has 
done.
  H.R. 1868 also strengthens oversight of NIST programs by requiring 
the director to submit to Congress annual programmatic planning 
documents and requiring NIST's Technical Advisory Board to comment on 
those plans. This will ensure that the budget of NIST is spent on 
activities that meet the needs of American industry and that Congress 
is kept abreast of how NIST plans to use its increased funding.
  Manufacturing is so fundamental, Mr. Speaker, to our Nation's 
economic vitality. Manufacturing jobs continue to pay more than the 
average U.S. salaries and they provide better benefits.
  Mr. Speaker, a strong manufacturing base is so critical to U.S. 
economic competitiveness. H.R. 1868 supports small and medium-sized 
manufacturers by reauthorizing the highly successful Manufacturing 
Extension Partnership. I know every Member is enthusiastic about 
Manufacturing Extension Partnerships. We refer to them as MEPs. They 
are wonderful. They are great programs. They help businesses improve 
manufacturing processes, reduce waste, they train workers to use new 
equipment.
  The MEP program receives one-third of its funding from the Federal 
Government, one-third from the States, and, yes, one-third from fees 
charged to the participating small businesses, these potential small 
business manufacturers. This MEP program has over 350 offices located 
in all 50 States and Puerto Rico. In my great State of Georgia, and 
again, I mention my alma mater, Georgia Tech, plays a critical role in 
successfully coordinating the efforts across the State for these MEP 
programs.
  H.R. 1868 improves the MEP program by incorporating changes that have 
passed the House in both the 108th and 109th Congresses. These changes 
include the codification of an MEP advisory board, the establishment of 
grant programs to research and identify innovative manufacturing 
technologies and the formation of research fellowships.
  I know my colleagues and I can all agree that small and medium-sized 
manufacturers are the workhorses of our economy. Their future depends 
on our ability to foster an innovative environment which will enable 
them to continue developing and adopting advanced technologies that 
allow them to remain competitive in the ever-increasing global 
marketplace.
  Our country's current system of collaboration with university and 
national lab-based basic research is the best in the world. However, 
many experts agree that in the phase between science-based 
``inventions'' and commercially viable ``innovation,'' inefficiencies 
exist in our capital markets that contribute to the funding gap for 
early stage technology development.
  Currently, the Advanced Technology Program at NIST provides cost-
shared funding to bridge the technology development gap for research 
with potential to deliver widespread economic benefits that would 
likely not be developed because private sector capital is unavailable.
  H.R. 1868 repeals the Advanced Technology Program, ATP, and 
establishes the Technology Innovation Program, TIP, which will award 
cost-shared grants to small and medium-sized businesses and joint 
ventures including universities to pursue high-risk technologies with 
potential significant broad benefits to the Nation.
  The new Technology Innovation Program incorporates recommendations 
made by the Bush administration to improve and update the former ATP 
program to make it more effective in promoting technology transfer that 
will benefit our entire Nation.
  Mr. Speaker, past ATP funding advanced technologies for the next-
generation auto equipment and techniques including: robotic welding, 
ceramic coatings, and reinforced plastics as strong as steel. One 
project dramatically improved the fit of a car body's 300 stamped 
parts. This advancement may save consumers and automakers up to $650 
million in annual maintenance costs.
  Mr. Speaker, I again want to underline my whole-hearted support for 
the underlying legislation and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. Speaker, let me just say that what we are doing here today in 
regard to the NIST program is so important to our economy. We worry 
about jobs. We worry on both sides of the aisle. We talk about that. 
Every month we look at the number of jobs that were created. It is a 
barometer that is watched so closely by the Members of Congress, both 
Republican and Democrat, and by the people back home.
  This is really what this is all about, these kinds of programs. We 
can fight about a lot of things, but we shouldn't fight about funding 
the National Science Foundation and the NIST program and the 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership and anything like that, like last 
week when we passed those two bills to improve math and science 
education in this country.
  We have to compete globally. Yes, we are in a shooting war in the 
Middle East and we want to give our soldiers an opportunity to win, but 
we need to give ourselves an opportunity to win this economic battle of 
the global economy, and that is what it is all about.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to again underline my whole-hearted support for 
the underlying legislation. I urge my colleagues, as I know they will, 
to support it.
  Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from 
Oregon (Mr. Wu), the chairman of the Subcommittee on Technology and 
Innovation.
  Mr. WU. I thank the gentlewoman.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the rule for consideration of H.R. 
1868, the Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act of 
2007. H.R. 1868 is a bill which will bolster innovation and our 
manufacturing base and enhance national economic competitiveness.
  The bill was ordered reported by a unanimous vote of the Committee on 
Science and Technology on April 25, 2007. The bill puts the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST, on a 10-year path to 
doubling as an investment in our innovation future.
  H.R. 1868 is a comprehensive authorization bill for NIST's Scientific 
and Technical Research and Services, Industrial Technology Services and 
Construction Research Facilities accounts. NIST has not had a 
comprehensive authorization bill since 1992.
  I want to highlight that H.R. 1868 is a bipartisan product of the 
Science and Technology Committee. I worked closely with Ranking Member 
Hall and with Dr. Gingrey. I want to thank Dr. Gingrey for coming to 
the floor and speaking on behalf of this bill and rule this morning. I 
worked closely with Dr. Ehlers in developing this legislation. They 
were original cosponsors of the bill.
  We adopted several amendments at the subcommittee and full committee 
markup, and we have a stronger bill as a result of this bipartisan 
effort.
  This bill has been endorsed by TechNet, the Alliance For Science & 
Technology Research in America, the American Small Manufacturers 
Coalition, the American Association of Universities, the National 
Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges and dozens of 
other organizations, companies and individuals.
  Mr. Speaker, the Rules Committee has crafted an appropriate rule, and 
I would urge my colleagues to support the rule and the underlying 
legislation.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, as you can see by the last two speakers, 
the gentleman from Georgia (Dr. Gingrey) and the gentleman from Oregon 
(Mr. Wu), they have approached this subject not only in a bipartisan 
way, but with a genuine friendship to each other in trying to promote 
NIST as well as American competitiveness. I think this flows all the 
way to the top, where Chairman Bart Gordon and ranking member Ralph 
Hall have worked very diligently on this. I think it is a good thing 
when we are able to work in the Congress on behalf of the American 
people, in this case for the NIST laboratories.
  I would like to talk for just a minute, if I can, about more of what 
they do, because I think it is an interesting exercise to go through.
  Between 3 and 6 percent of the U.S. gross domestic products is 
attributed to measurements and measurement-related operations that rely 
on the NIST for accuracy, reliability and for international 
recognition. The NIST X-ray standards and proficiency tests ensure 
proper radiation exposure levels in

[[Page H4306]]

more than 9,000 facilities that perform more than 30 million mammograms 
yearly.
  The NIST Internet time services are being used by NASDAQ, a key 
component of our wonderful American system of financial integrity, for 
NASDAQ members to time stamp hundreds of billions of dollars worth of 
stock trades and other financial transactions that are conducted in 
business every single day.
  The United States, for the last 35 years, has helped the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation, the FBI. During part of that time my father, 
for eight of those years, served as Director of the FBI.

                              {time}  1115

  The NIST helps improve the process of matching fingerprints found at 
crime scenes or collected from suspects with those that are on file. In 
cooperation with the American National Standards Institute, the NIST 
also developed a uniform way for fingerprint identification data to be 
exchanged between different jurisdictions and between scanning machines 
made by different manufacturers.
  The Malcolm Baldridge National Quality Award, the Nation's highest 
honor awarded by the President of the United States to U.S. 
organizations for their performance excellence in quality achievement, 
is managed by the NIST, and the award criteria are used by thousands of 
companies, hospitals, and schools to improve their products and 
services all across the United States.
  The total economic benefit of the NIST Baldridge National Quality 
Program, which receives only a small amount of Federal funding, is 
estimated at almost $25 billion for a stunning benefit-cost ratio of 
207 to 1.
  Mr. Speaker, we are talking about something that is a laboratory that 
all Americans can be proud of. I came from a research organization 
years ago in New Jersey where I had a chance to also work in a lab. 
This lab is an asset to America. But, Mr. Speaker, it is part of an 
overall comprehensive and complex way that the United States chooses to 
do business not only in this country, but also to lead the world.
  I found it interesting that just a few weeks ago there was a report 
issued by the Financial Times, which is a newspaper that reports on 
international monetary circumstances, and it reported that now the 25-
member EU countries have a combined GDP that equals that of the United 
States of America, 25 member countries from the EU. But if you read on, 
you see that they now have a combined GDP that equals the United States 
where we were in 1985.
  America truly is the world leader. We are the world leader in 
commerce and activities that create better lives for people. The EU is 
struggling. They are struggling because of high taxes, rules and 
regulations, and a single-payer system in health care, those things 
that we here in the United States Congress also debate and talk about.
  And because we have a chance to have something like the NIST as well 
as a free-enterprise system that is vibrant here in America, because we 
shut off the heavy rules and regulations, the heavy taxation, and those 
things that would be related to a single-payer system for health care, 
we have been able to move America economically in the world 
marketplace.
  So Republicans today come to the floor in full appreciation and 
respect with our colleagues to say we want to continue what this lab 
does, but we are also asking for them at the same time to recognize 
that growing medium and small business, ensuring that America stays 
competitive, and, most importantly, that we are prepared for the future 
where our competitors might be is what really this Congress should be 
doing.
  Today is a small piece, part, a component of that competitiveness 
model that will keep America going, and I am proud to be a part of 
that.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. SUTTON. Mr. Speaker, it is time we put some teeth behind our 
rhetoric about helping our manufacturers and promoting innovation and 
industrial competitiveness. While there are many things that must be 
done on many different fronts to see real improvements, passing the 
Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act today is one 
very positive action we can take for manufacturers in Ohio and across 
the Nation.
  It also tells those involved in measurement science, standards and 
technology, and those working to contribute to public safety, 
industrial competitiveness and economic growth that we are behind their 
efforts.
  As I said earlier, when we support the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and 
the Technology Innovation Program, we are not only talking the talk, we 
are walking the walk. For this reason, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the 
previous question and on the rule.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the 
previous question on the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is 
ordered.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the resolution.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this question are postponed.

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