[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H3425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             KEEP AMERICA COMPETITIVE IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kilroy) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. KILROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, legislation that will create 
jobs, strengthen our commitment to innovative research, and invest in 
education to keep our country competitive in the global economy.
  Over the last century, America has been the leader in technological 
and scientific innovation. However, other nations are making 
investments in their own research capabilities, and we must rise to 
meet the challenge and insure that we remain the world's leader in 
innovation and learning while revitalizing our economy and creating 
jobs in our community.
  I am part of the Congressional Competitiveness Task Force, and I also 
hold hearings on this issue in my own community and recently had the 
opportunity to meet with executives from the Silicon Valley. They tell 
me that innovation and research and development is necessary to get 
America moving again and our economy and keep America the leader in 
technological and scientific innovation.
  The America COMPETES Act will create jobs by strengthening our 
manufacturing sector. It guarantees loans to small- and medium-sized 
manufacturers that create innovative products, supports research for 
transformative advances in manufacturing, and supports the 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership program so it can continue to meet 
the needs and challenges of manufacturers today.
  The America COMPETES Act also makes investments in clean energy 
technologies that will help create jobs and secure our long-term 
economic growth. As China, Brazil, and other countries make huge 
investments in this growing industry, we must ensure that our country 
does not lose its competitive edge and fall behind in its technological 
capabilities.
  The America COMPETES Act reauthorizes the Advanced Research Projects 
Agency for Energy to support high-risk, high-reward energy technology 
research and establishes Energy Innovation Hubs to support 
collaborative research and development of advanced energy technology.
  Building a workforce that would be competitive in the world global 
marketplace also requires investments in science, technology, 
engineering, and mathematics education at all levels of our education 
system.
  The America COMPETES Act updates the Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship 
Program to help train secondary teachers to teach STEM in high-needs 
schools, provides grants to encourage students to major in science, 
technology, engineering, and math fields, and establishes fellowships 
for graduates in these fields to lead the way in education research in 
these areas.
  The America COMPETES Act will strengthen diversity for science, 
technology, engineering, and math students, increasing the 
participation of women and minorities in the classroom and the 
workforce. And it increases funding for research reauthorized by the 
Department of Energy's Office of Science, the largest supporter of 
physical science research in our country, the National Science 
Foundation, and the National Institute of Technology, with the intent 
of doubling funding they receive over the next 10 years.

                              {time}  2015

  The research they support will create the innovative technologies of 
the future and drive students to become the scientists and engineers 
our country needs.
  Chad Bouton, recently named Inventor of the Year by Battelle in my 
district, is a shining example of this. His work on processing 
algorithms makes a product called Cyberkinetic Braingate possible, a 
medical device that allows people to control computers by their 
thoughts. This has incredible implications for paraplegics who are 
confined to their wheelchairs, for veterans in need of realistic, 
functional prosthetics. This is the kind of research we need that not 
only leads to incredible innovations, but will inspire students with 
the possibilities of what they can achieve as scientists and 
researchers themselves.
  We have a key opportunity as the economic recovery takes hold to make 
essential investments that will keep our Nation competitive and secure 
its long-term economic growth. The America COMPETES Act is supported by 
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of 
Manufacturers, the Ohio Business Roundtable, Ohio State University, and 
hundreds of businesses, professional societies, and institutions of 
higher learning across the country.
  I am proud to cosponsor this bipartisan legislation, and I urge my 
colleagues, tomorrow when it comes for a vote, to support the America 
COMPETES Act.

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