[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 105 (Thursday, July 14, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1320-E1321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. MARCIA L. FUDGE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 13, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2354) making 
     appropriations for energy and water development and related 
     agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and 
     for other purposes:

  Ms. FUDGE. Mr. Chair, I'd like to thank my colleague from California 
for allowing me to join him in offering this very important bipartisan 
amendment.
  As we are discussing fiscal issues and trying to make responsible 
spending cuts, I'm confused as to why ARPA-E is even on the table. It 
is one of the most effective and efficiently run programs in the 
Federal Government. It is an example of what we are doing right. An 
example of a place where we not only should be investing in scientific 
research, but where we need to be investing.
  Let's look at the internet. We all know that the internet is a 
product of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA. 
DARPA was established in 1958 in response to the Soviet launch of 
Sputnik. Back then, Congress knew that it was government's role to 
address what was not only a matter of national security, but also 
pride.
  Now, let's look at the energy industry today. We have lost our 
technological lead, we are no longer number one in innovation, our 
competitors are rapidly outpacing us in advanced energy fields. Worst 
of all, we're addicted to foreign oil. Moreover, we are consuming more 
energy than we are producing, and it is not sustainable.
  No matter what combination of sources you think is the answer, 
there's no arguing the energy crisis in this country is today's 
Sputnik.

[[Page E1321]]

 Yet instead of working together to make sure that future generations 
will have electricity, we're voting to ban efficiency standards for 
light bulbs. Where are our priorities?
  Most of us know, and all of us should know, that we cannot rely the 
private sector to invest in basic research. Companies need to make 
profits, and they need to minimize risk. Basic research is risky. 
However, the return on investment is often smaller compared to the 
return to the economy as a whole. That's why it's the role of 
government to make these investments, especially now, as we are coming 
out of a recession.
  Google recently released a comprehensive report which examined the 
potential impact of what breakthroughs in energy technology could mean 
for the United States. They found that certain key innovations could: 
grow the U.S. economy by over 155 billion dollars in GDP per year; 
create over 1.1 million new jobs; save consumers over 942 dollars per 
year; reduce U.S. oil consumption by over 1.1 billion barrels per year.
  ARPA-E will allow us to make the breakthroughs needed for these 
outcomes. If anything, we should be increasing funding for this vital 
program.
  Take, for example, one of the projects that Case Western Reserve 
University is working on in Northeast Ohio. It involves high-power 
titanate capacitors for power electronics. This project will develop 
novel capacitors for power electronics in the hybrid electric vehicle 
and consumer electronics markets. The capacitors are designed with 
metallic glass that allows spontaneous self-repair. This self-repair 
allows the devices to be driven to higher voltages and thereby achieve 
higher energy density. The market for capacitors in power applications 
is 1.6 billion dollars per year.
  Research like this is what will make this country prosperous again. 
We cannot afford to cut this program, and I urge my colleagues to 
support this amendment.

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