[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 21 (Tuesday, February 3, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E181-E182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF THE CLUSTER-BASED ECONOMY ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN M. McHUGH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 3, 2009

  Mr. McHUGH. Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce legislation, the 
Cluster-Based Economy Enhancement Act of 2009. This proposal is 
designed to stimulate collaborative interactions between businesses in 
regional economies to produce innovation and create jobs.
  ``Clusters'' are geographic concentrations of competing, 
complementary, or interdependent business entities or industries that 
do business with one another and have common needs for talent, 
technology, and infrastructure. The bill recognizes that such clusters 
boost competitiveness and growth of a region as a whole.
  As the recent economic turmoil has highlighted, American industries 
must become better equipped to thrive in the increasingly competitive 
global economy. Rather than continuing to see skilled workers move 
abroad, we need to take actions conducive to the creation of new 
employment, both through traditional means of expansion and in-sourcing 
of foreign jobs. As we do so, we must be mindful that there are regions 
within America, like Central and Northern New York, that continue to 
struggle disproportionately demanding we seek ways to overcome those 
challenges to economic development they face.
  In response, this legislation would authorize up to $50 million for 
cluster-based economic

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development grants to state and local governments, colleges and 
universities, and nonprofit economic development organizations to 
further enhance economic development. Of note, this initiative would 
make those entities within the five regional development commissions, 
authorized in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-
246) eligible to apply for such grants. It is important to note that 
these recently created bodies are configured to encompass some of our 
nation's poorest areas. In addition to the Northern Border Regional 
Development Commission, which I worked to create, the other commissions 
include the Delta Regional Authority, the Northern Great Plains 
Regional Authority, the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, and the 
Southwest Border Regional Commission.
  Madam Speaker, this legislation would not only help increase 
America's economic competitiveness, it would also create new 
opportunities in areas like Northern and Central New York, that are 
particularly in need of economic opportunities. Accordingly, I ask my 
colleagues to join with me as I work to enact the Cluster-Based Economy 
Enhancement Act of 2009.

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