[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 72 (Thursday, May 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E841-E842]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              AMERICA COMPETES REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2010

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5116) to 
     invest in

[[Page E842]]

     innovation through research and development, to improve the 
     competitiveness of the United States, and for other purposes:

  Mr. WU. Mr. Chair, my amendment, which I have submitted along with my 
colleague from Maryland, Mr. Bartlett and will be part of an en bloc 
amendment, will facilitate ARPA-E applications by small businesses and 
entrepreneurs and will allow ARPA-E to consider a wider range of 
proposals relevant to its mission.
  This amendment is straightforward and emphasizes the importance of 
proposals submitted by small businesses and entrepreneurs--the 
lifeblood of innovation and our American economy. This amendment 
further mirrors the DARPA program by creating flexibility within ARPA-E 
for solicitations year-round, on broadly defined areas of science and 
technology, creating a greater diversity of projects coming into the 
pipeline, while still maintaining the program's ability to focus on 
funding projects in specific areas of technological innovation.
  ARPA-E is a robust pathway to new discoveries in technology and new 
investment in American manufacturing. To paraphrase Secretary Chu, 
ARPA-E was designed to provide for opportunity to swing from the heels. 
There will be missed pitches, but there will be home runs and grand 
slams, too. While the program has been considered a success--recently 
announcing 37 diverse solicitation winners--by providing continuous and 
non-restrictive solicitations, ARPA-E will be able to act in an all-
comers fashion, selecting from a wide range of products in order to 
foster innovative solutions to the energy issues our Nation faces.
  I am happy to have worked in a bipartisan way with Mr. Bartlett from 
Maryland--I greatly appreciate his thoughtful contributions to this 
amendment. Through both his scientific background and his work on Armed 
Services, Mr, Bartlett has always brought an informed and helpful 
perspective in the establishment of ARPA-E. The House Committee on 
Science and Technology may be one of the last bastions of nonpartisan 
policymaking in this body and Mr. Bartlett's work and forethought has 
helped to exemplify that ideal. I ask that the House support this 
amendment.

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