[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 72 (Thursday, May 13, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E848]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              AMERICA COMPETES REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. VERNON J. EHLERS

                              of michigan

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

  Mr. EHLERS. Madam Chair, in 2007, Congress responded to the 
recommendations of many experts that the federal government must 
increase its investment in basic research and in science and math 
education by passing the America COMPETES Act. The reauthorization 
before us today continues the United States on the path of investing in 
programs that will keep the U.S. competitive in the global economy.
  Beginning in 2006, President Bush's American Competitiveness 
Initiative (ACI) launched a three-pronged approach to competitiveness 
by strengthening research at the National Science Foundation, the 
Office of Science at the Department of Energy, and the laboratories and 
construction of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
NIST. The America COMPETES Act of 2007 established a 7-year doubling 
funding pathway for these agencies and also included some new ideas, 
such as the establishment of a DARPA-like agency at the Department of 
Energy. ARPA-E is still in its infancy, but testimony before the 
Science and Technology Committee indicates that this agency has the 
potential to overcome some of the greatest hurdles to commercialization 
of innovative energy technologies. The reauthorization bill provides 
more flexibility to ARPA-E and increases its authorization in future 
years.
  The reauthorization measure before us today also focuses on the 
challenges facing our nation's manufacturers by broadening and 
strengthening manufacturing extension services and reviving 
manufacturing innovation through research and development. Although 
manufacturing has experienced tremendous technological gains over the 
last few years, international competition has exacted a toll on our 
Nation's manufacturers. Furthermore, today's economy has placed a great 
strain on States to participate in federal programs like the 
Manufacturing Extension Partnership at NIST. This bill would 
temporarily relax the cost-share requirements on States to allow for 
continued participation of the greatest number of small manufacturers 
across the Nation who depend on this program to help them continually 
innovate.
  I recognize that many of my colleagues are concerned that this bill 
authorizes spending more than $80 billion over the next 5 years. 
Indeed, our economy is suffering, we are deeply in debt, and fiscal 
restraint must be exercised. However, if there is ever an investment 
that will guarantee an economic return, this is it.
  The reality is that if we are unwilling to spend this money now, we 
are deciding to pay it later to other countries that make these 
investments today and produce the products that we will need tomorrow. 
A recent article in The Economist focused on emerging international 
markets, and noted that:

       Last year productivity in China grew by 8.2%, compared with 
     a rise of 1.0% in America and a decline of 2.8% in Britain. A 
     few years ago Airbus and Boeing were willing to outsource 
     only basic work to Indian firms, but now they entrust some of 
     their most complicated tasks to them.

  Other countries are now competing with us not only on cost, but also 
creativity. We have thought for years that there are certain innovative 
activities that will only happen in the United States, but I feel less 
certain that is still the case. To keep on the cutting edge of 
creativity, we must make these investments in science and technology, 
or we will simply be left behind.
  Science and technology are the fundamental movers of our economy, and 
if we want to remain globally competitive, this bill is the surefire 
way to guarantee results. The dividends paid by training scientists, 
engineers, and teachers will multiply throughout all sectors of our 
economy.
  I want to thank Chairman Gordon and Ranking Member Hall for working 
on this legislation. I hope my colleagues will support this investment 
in our Nation's future.

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