[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 18, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E869-E870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              AMERICA COMPETES REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. BART GORDON

                              of tennessee

                    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. GORDON of Tennessee. Madam Chair, I would like to thank Chairman 
Miller of the Education and Labor Committee for working cooperatively 
with the Science and Technology Committee on H.R. 5116, the America 
Competes Reauthorization Act of 2010. Chairman Miller has been a 
champion of STEM education in the House and his Committee has been very 
supportive in helping shape the STEM education provisions in the 
Competes Act. I insert into the Congressional Record an exchange of 
letters between the Committees on Science and Technology and Education 
and Labor.
                                         House of Representatives,


                             Committee on Education and Labor,

                                      Washington, DC, May 5, 2010.
     Hon. Bart Gordon,
     Chairman, Committee on Science and Technology, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Gordon: In recognition of the desire to 
     expedite consideration of H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES 
     Reauthorization Act of 2010, the Committee on Education and 
     Labor agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as to 
     provisions that fall within its rule X jurisdiction.
       The Committee takes this action with our mutual 
     understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 5116 at 
     this time, it does not waive any jurisdiction over subject 
     matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that our 
     Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as the 
     bill or similar legislation moves forward, so that we may 
     address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. The 
     Committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an 
     appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate 
     conference involving this or similar legislation, and 
     requests your support for any such request.
       I would appreciate your including this letter in the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the 
     House floor.
       Thank you for your attention to this matter, and for the 
     cooperative working relationship between our two committees.
           Sincerely,
                                                    George Miller,
                                                         Chairman.

[[Page E870]]

         House of Representatives, Committee on Science and 
           Technology,
                                      Washington, DC, May 6, 2010.
     Hon. George Miller,
     Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, House of 
         Representatives, Washington, DC.
       Dear Chairman Miller: Thank you for your May 5, 2010 letter 
     regarding H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act 
     of 2010, Your support for this legislation and your 
     assistance in ensuring its timely consideration are greatly 
     appreciated.
       I agree that provisions in the bill are within the 
     jurisdiction of the Committee on Education and Labor. I 
     acknowledge that by waiving rights to further consideration 
     of H.R. 5116, your Committee is not relinquishing its 
     jurisdiction and I will fully support your request to be 
     represented in a House-Senate conference on those provisions 
     over which the Committee on Education and Labor has 
     jurisdiction in H.R. 5116, or similar legislation. A copy of 
     our letters will be placed in the legislative report and the 
     Congressional Record during consideration of the bill on the 
     House floor.
       I value your cooperation and look forward to working with 
     you as we move ahead with this important legislation.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Bart Gordon,
     Chairman.

                          ____________________