[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 6, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H575-H576]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATING THE X PRIZE FOUNDATION

  Mr. MELANCON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 907) congratulating the X PRIZE Foundation's 
leadership in inspiring a new generation of viable, super-efficient 
vehicles, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 907

       Whereas the United States is heavily dependent on foreign 
     sources of oil that are concentrated in tumultuous countries 
     and regions;
       Whereas the national security and economic prosperity of 
     the United States demand that we move toward a sustainable 
     energy future;
       Whereas the ability of foreign governments to assert great 
     control over oil production allows unfriendly regimes to use 
     energy exports as leverage against the United States and our 
     allies;
       Whereas continued reliance on the use of greenhouse gas 
     intensive fuels may impact global climate change;
       Whereas the automotive sector is heavily dependent on oil, 
     which makes Americans vulnerable to oil price fluctuation and 
     is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions;
       Whereas average fuel economy in the United States has 
     increased slowly during the last 20 years;
       Whereas many promising technologies exist that can lead to 
     a breakthrough vehicle that will meet the need for 
     sustainable transportation;
       Whereas breakthroughs are often achieved by the free market 
     fueling the entrepreneurial spirit of inventors and 
     investors;
       Whereas the Automotive X PRIZE is a private, independent, 
     technology-neutral competition being developed by the X PRIZE 
     Foundation to inspire a new generation of viable, super-
     efficient vehicles that help break our addiction to oil and 
     stem the effects of climate change;
       Whereas the Automotive X PRIZE will award a multimillion 
     dollar reward to teams that can design, build, and 
     demonstrate production-capable vehicles that achieve 100 MPG 
     or its equivalent; and
       Whereas such prize competitions generate involvement and 
     innovation across a broad spectrum of known and untapped 
     talent such as the $25,000 Orteig Prize won by Charles 
     Lindbergh which leveraged $400,000 worth of additional 
     research by teams trying to win the prize and spurred a 
     $250,000,000,000 aviation industry, and the $10,000,000 
     Ansari X Prize which leveraged $100,000,000 worth of 
     additional research: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the X PRIZE Foundation's leadership for 
     inspiring a new generation of viable, super-efficient 
     vehicles that help break our addiction to oil through the 
     Automotive X PRIZE competition;
       (2) congratulates the X PRIZE Foundation on their 
     innovation and vision to bring together some of the finest 
     minds in the public and private sectors, including 
     government, academia, and industry, to advise and participate 
     in the Automotive X PRIZE competition; and
       (3) applauds the X PRIZE Foundation's ongoing commitment to 
     find solutions to some of humanity's greatest challenges as 
     exemplified in the Automotive X PRIZE.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Louisiana (Mr. Melancon) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Feeney) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Louisiana.


                             General Leave

  Mr. MELANCON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on House Resolution 907, the resolution now 
under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Louisiana?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. MELANCON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on June 21, 2004, Space Ship One became the first 
privately funded craft to take a person into space. Space Ship One flew 
again on September 29, 2004, and on October 4, 2004, and upon 
successful completion of these flights, Mojave Aerospace Ventures, the 
developers of Space Ship One, captured the $10 million Ansari X PRIZE. 
Just as important as Space Ship One's historic flights, the competition 
for the X PRIZE spurred the creation of a private spaceflight industry 
in this country.
  It is with this past success in mind that I rise to speak in support 
of the new Automotive X PRIZE. This new prize will award a 
multimillion-dollar prize to teams that can design, build and 
demonstrate production-capable vehicles that achieve 100 miles per 
gallon or its equivalent. With the current price of oil hovering around 
$100 per barrel, it is more important than ever that our country 
develops technologies that increase the efficiencies of our

[[Page H576]]

automobiles. To this end, I was pleased to support H.R. 6, which 
significantly raised CAFE standards, and would do much to increase the 
efficiency of American automobiles.
  However, the government does not hold a monopoly on innovation. Many 
of the great discoveries of our time were accomplished by private 
individuals and companies. From Thomas Edison's discovery of the light 
bulb to Henry Ford's perfection of the automobile, private innovators 
have changed the face of America. It is my hope that the Automotive X 
PRIZE will once again spur the creative and innovative spirit of 
American citizens to help us in our fight for energy independence and 
security.
  I would like to thank Mr. Lungren for introducing this resolution, 
and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. Speaker I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of H. Res. 907, as amended, which recognizes and 
congratulates the forward-thinking X PRIZE Foundation on one of its 
latest contest endeavors, the Automotive X PRIZE.
  There is a rich history in this country of prizes sponsored by 
private entities leading to innovations in science and technology. 
Starting with the Ansari X PRIZE, the privately funded X PRIZE 
Foundation has successfully been able to build on the concept of the 
1927 Orteig Prize, which awarded $25,000 to the first person to be able 
to make a nonstop transatlantic flight. While the actual Orteig Prize 
name may not be well known, the recipient of this prize, Charles 
Lindbergh, certainly is. The benefits of the $400,000 of investment 
teams made in an effort to win this prize certainly have been realized, 
and the $250 billion aviation industry that took off shortly thereafter 
certainly continues to prosper. Likewise, the 2004 Ansari X PRIZE 
leveraged over $100 million in research by teams vying for a $10 
million price for private spaceflight. Won by Mojave Aerospace 
Ventures, the Ansari X PRIZE changed the public's perception of 
personal spaceflight.
  Now the Automotive X PRIZE is poised to produce similar results for 
the next generation of automobiles, viable, super-efficient vehicles. 
As the resolution states, our ``national security and economic 
prosperity demand that we move toward a sustainable future.'' This 
prize certainly helps us move in that direction. It will be awarded to 
the team that can design, build and sell super-efficient cars that 
achieve 100 miles per gallon and are not concept cars, but cars that 
people will want to buy. If successful, the end result in and of itself 
will be impressive, but the overall benefits to the Nation will be too 
numerable to measure. This prize, like those before it, will generate 
millions of privately funded research dollars producing research that 
may not in the end win the prize, but could spur additional 
technologies. Likewise, this prize will stimulate the entrepreneurial 
spirit of inventors and investors alike, both known entities and 
brilliant minds working in backyard garages.
  I congratulate the X PRIZE Foundation's leadership in creating a 
private, independent competition designed to help move us closer to a 
sustainable energy future. I wish them much success, look forward to 
seeing the results it produces, and encourage my colleagues to support 
this resolution.
  With that, I would reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MELANCON. Mr. Speaker, at this time I have no recognized Members, 
I think Mr. Feeney does, so I will reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to yield 1 minute to Dr. 
Bartlett, my friend from Maryland.
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, just a few days ago, Shell Oil 
Company sent out a press release saying that by no later than 2015 the 
world would not be able to meet the demands of our economies for oil 
and natural gas. At just about the same time as that, a group came to 
my office to brief me on the Automotive X PRIZE. You may have noticed 
how much harder people will work for a prize than they will for money. 
Just note the Olympics and what these athletes will do for a prize. So 
I am very, very supportive of this fantastic idea. I bought the first 
Prius in Maryland, I bought the first Prius in Congress, and I want to 
buy the winning car from this competition.
  I have here a note from Donald Foley, who is the executive director 
of the Automotive X PRIZE, and he has noted my desire to buy that 
winning car. So hopefully we will be driving that to the Congress in 
not too long.
  Thank you very much for yielding.

                              {time}  1530

  Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to my 
colleague and friend from Nebraska (Mr. Smith).
  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, prizes have a history of 
encouraging innovation by promoting competition and expanding the 
talent pool to include a numerous and diverse array of groups and 
individuals. Those unable or unwilling to secure grants can participate 
in the race for the goal. With prizes, government funding is not used 
to pick technological winners and losers. The prize is only awarded if 
the goal is met. Prizes encourage the investment of private capital and 
research, even beyond the monetary value of the prize.
  I applaud the X PRIZE Foundation for spurring competition and 
innovation in the race to a more efficient automobile. When the 100 
mile-per-gallon vehicle is achieved, citizens of my home State of 
Nebraska will be able to drive across the State on Interstate 80 on 
only 4\1/2\ gallons of fuel. This tremendous efficiency would 
dramatically reduce our Nation's dependence on foreign oil, it would 
stimulate our economy, and certainly improve our national security.
  I am grateful for the vision and enterprise of men like Dr. Peter 
Diamandis who kindle the spark of innovation that leads to 
revolutionary technologies.
  Mr. FEENEY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. MELANCON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I just want to make sure that I check with Mr. Smith 
whether that is stopping for red lights that takes 4\1/2\ hours to go 
across Nebraska.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Melancon) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 907, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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