[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 19, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H1848-H1850]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       AMERICAN PROSPERITY AGENDA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 6, 2015, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from California 
(Mr. Peters) for 30 minutes.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to 
include extraneous material on the subject of my Special Order.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, Americans have seen a change in our economy 
firsthand and are concerned about what it means for their place in a 
new economy. We can't stop the forces that are transforming our economy 
and our world, but we can and we must look to the future to find the 
solutions that adapt to this new economy. We can't live in the past. 
This means boosting the creation of high-quality jobs by lowering 
barriers for small businesses to succeed and investing in 
infrastructure and research. It also means giving Americans the skills 
to work the jobs of the future that are being created.
  In March 2015, the New Democrat Coalition released Winning the 
Future, which outlines how we can grow our economy, preserve the 
American Dream, and make government work better for the people.
  The principles presented in the agenda and report represent ideas 
that anyone--Democrat, Republican, Independent--can support. The 
recently released report consists of 200 legislative actions, including 
items for every one of our Members. More than 57 percent of those 
bills--110 in total--are bipartisan, and more than 30 bills have 
advanced through a committee of the House or through the House as a 
whole. More than 20 items in the report have become law or have been 
implemented by an executive agency.
  This represents not just a plan but tangible progress. Today, we will 
share what that means for growing the economy in every town and city in 
America and for helping hardworking Americans thrive in the changing 
global economy.
  Federal funding for research and development has been on a downward 
trend for the past several decades. Today, the Federal Government 
spends almost two-thirds less on research and development than it did 
in 1965 as a portion of discretionary spending. The lack of funding has 
led to a $1.5 trillion investment deficit, and a growing number of 
America's best young researchers are taking their talents to other 
industries and to other countries.

                              {time}  1800

  We need to reinvest in our young researchers to remain globally 
competitive.
  On that subject, I yield to the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 
Kilmer).
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, the date was October 4, 1957, and the time 
was 7:28 p.m. when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1. It was a wake-
up call to the United States, and it was perceived as an existential 
threat.
  The reaction to that was a focus by our Federal Government on 
national research, on basic research to drive innovation, to step up to 
that perception of threat. The outcome of that was extraordinary 
scientific breakthroughs. I often point to the cell phone in my pocket.
  A lot of the technologies in that cell phone, from the lithium 
battery that powers it, to the touch screen that allows me to navigate 
on it, to the Internet that helps me find a delicious Chinese 
restaurant to go have dinner, to the GPS system that helps me navigate 
my way to that restaurant--all of those innovations, the basic research 
behind it was funded by the exact same venture capitalist, Uncle Sam.
  Part of the American Prosperity Agenda that the New Democrat 
Coalition has put forward is focused on redoubling our investment in 
basic research, because the reality is that we don't have Sputnik being 
launched by the former Soviet Union.
  The reality is we face a Sputnik moment every single day with the 
threat of new innovation happening someplace else and jobs being 
created someplace else.
  You heard my friend suggest that research and development, as a 
percentage of gross domestic product since the early 1960s, has 
declined by nearly two-thirds just in these last four decades.
  In contrast, you have seen China substantially increase its 
investment in higher education. In fact, according to the National 
Science Board, by 2022, China will invest more in research and 
development than the United States of America.

[[Page H1849]]

  China has now surpassed the United States as the world's largest 
exporter of high technology. So every single day we are facing a 
Sputnik moment.
  And the reality is, while the 20th century was defined by an arms 
race and a race for military might, the 21st century race is for brains 
and for research and development.
  So that downward trajectory of investment in Federal research is 
something that, as part of the New Democrats' American Prosperity 
Agenda, we are seeking to stem. We want to revitalize investment in 
basic research and reauthorize what was known as the America COMPETES 
Act, which was passed by this body in a bipartisan form less than a 
decade ago.
  That came out of a report by The National Academies called ``Rising 
Above the Gathering Storm'' that suggested that, if the United States 
was going to compete as a Nation, we had to significantly increase 
America's investment in research and development. Unfortunately, since 
the passage of that act, you have not seen Congress keep up with that.
  On the wall of my office and on the wall of the office where I worked 
when I worked in economic development professionally, we had a sign up 
that said: We are competing with everyone, everywhere, every day 
forever.
  That is true not just when you look at folks working in local 
economic development in Tacoma, Washington. It is true with regard to 
our Nation today. We are in a global competition.
  Steve Jobs before he passed said: ``Innovation distinguishes between 
a leader and follower.'' I think it is important that the United States 
maintains its economic leadership and its leadership in innovation.
  Lord knows, there are extraordinary challenges that still need to be 
tackled. Climate change could be 2016's Sputnik moment. Investing in 
breakthroughs in green technology. Increasing energy independence.
  Not only will those innovations lead to solving our world's problems, 
they will create jobs here in the United States of America.
  Paul Otellini, who was the former CEO of Intel, said: Without raising 
our game in Federal research, the next big thing won't be invented here 
and the jobs associated with that innovation won't be created here.
  I think we can do better, I think we need to do better, and I think 
the American Prosperity Agenda that the New Democrat Coalition has put 
forward suggests a better path.
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Kilmer for his leadership on 
this and for coming to join us today.
  Speaking of climate change and those kinds of issues, front and 
center in the changing economy in this decade is a fundamental shift in 
the way that we provide power for our economy.
  It is time to fully embrace the transition to a clean energy economy 
to reduce our alliance on foreign fuels, to create high-quality jobs, 
and to protect our environment.
  Last year New Dems helped to extend tax credits for the investment in 
production of solar and wind power. This will drive an estimated $70 
billion in private sector investment in wind and solar energy.
  The wind and solar that will get built as a result of this investment 
will reduce emissions the equivalent of taking every American car off 
the road for 2 years.
  New Democrats have put forward proposals to invest in alternative 
energy research in the military and further expand the deployment of 
clean energy across the country.
  New Democrats are working to move the country forward to a clean 
energy economy that gives our children a better chance at a future with 
cleaner air, cleaner water, and economic prosperity.
  The Harvard Business School's United States Competitiveness Project 
outlines eight actions it recommends that Congress take to make America 
the most economically competitive place in the world to do business, 
not just to raise corporate profits, but to increase wages for working 
people across America.
  Among those eight steps, which include immigration reform, 
responsible Federal budgeting, simplification of Federal regulation, 
and investing in infrastructure and research, is tax reform.
  A modern Tax Code for the United States should foster business 
development and innovation, support hardworking families, and create 
opportunities for Americans to prosper in a 21st century economy.
  The current Tax Code is a complicated collection of outdated 
provisions riddled with loopholes in serious need of comprehensive 
overhaul.
  New Democrats have advocated for comprehensive tax reform while 
putting forward commonsense proposals to fix some of the most critical 
provisions in our Tax Code.
  This includes Chairman Ron Kind's proposal to promote American 
manufacturing and Representative Patrick Murphy's proposal to spur 
investment in startups.
  New Democrats are working to reform our Tax Code and make America the 
most competitive place in the world to do business.
  With more than 11 million immigrants forced to live in the shadows 
and countless other waiting in line outside the United States, it is 
clear America needs bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform.
  As long as Congress continues to delay action on comprehensive 
reform, the United States continues to lose out on top talent from 
around the world, our economy suffers as bright minds go elsewhere, and 
families remain separated.
  I have worked with New Democrat Coalition member Joaquin Castro on 
one such effort to modernize and streamline the United States visa 
system.
  Together, New Dems have advocated for a comprehensive solution that 
includes an earned path to citizenship and improved border security.
  This is supported by groups from across the spectrum and will grow 
the economy, create good jobs, and reduce the budget deficit by $200 
billion and the debt in the first decade alone.
  I yield to the gentleman from Washington State (Mr. Kilmer).
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, I want to speak further to some of the 
issues and ideas laid out in the New Democrat Coalition's American 
Prosperity Agenda.
  I think one of the things I appreciate about the approach is it 
understands that there is not a silver bullet to getting this economy 
moving again. It is more like silver buckshot.
  Frankly, there is a whole bunch of things that we have to do to get 
our economy ready for success in the 21st century and have it be an 
economy that works for everybody.
  One of the things when I am home in Washington State that I hear 
quite a bit about is adequate investment in our roads and our bridges 
and our basic infrastructure, everything from transportation 
infrastructure to energy infrastructure. I know this is not always the 
most exciting subject.
  I have often pointed out that infrastructure is a Latin word, 
``structure'' meaning structure and ``infra'' meaning boring, but it is 
actually incredibly important.
  We know that when we saw a bridge actually go down on Interstate 5 
over the Skagit River just a couple of years ago.
  We know that when, in many parts of my State and, frankly, in many 
parts of this country, speed limit signs are only there for nostalgic 
purposes because we are simply sitting in traffic and not able to get 
our goods to market.
  So the New Democrat Coalition has called for an approach to 
modernizing our roads and bridges, but also modernizing our 
communications networks and our power grid to help drive economic 
growth and make it easier for everyone to do business in the United 
States.
  The reality is there are too many parts of this country where it is 
either too difficult to get goods to market or, in a 21st century 
economy where one of the most important ways of connecting people is 
through technology, where people simply lack access to high-speed 
Internet.
  I represent an area where about a third of the district I represent 
is rural and we continue to see folks who don't have access to high-
speed Internet.
  It makes it much more difficult to start a business or for students 
to do research on a project. As a consequence, it makes it much more 
difficult for our country to compete.

[[Page H1850]]

  It is why the American Prosperity Agenda calls for a new approach of 
making smart investments in that basic infrastructure.
  I actually wanted to speak to one more issue that is part of the 
American Prosperity Agenda. That is a focus on small-business 
ownership, and there are a number of pieces as part of that.
  Congresswoman DelBene, also of my State, has a bill that is focused 
on women's small-business ownership. Congressman Himes of Connecticut 
is focused on issues around cybersecurity.
  I have been working on legislation, along with Congressman Hanna of 
New York, focused on providing resources to small businesses that are 
working to combat cyber attack.
  The reality is we know that small businesses are a key part of our 
economic future. You often hear that small businesses are the backbone 
of our economy. I like that saying. I think that is a good saying.
  I always say that small businesses are our star running backs. They 
are Marshawn Lynch. They are who we should have handed the ball off to 
at the end of the Super Bowl a couple years ago.
  I say that because, if you look at how the United States has 
generally made it out of recessions, it is not our largest employers 
that are the ones who are pulling us out of recessions. It is our small 
businesses that are racking up the tough yards and scoring the 
touchdowns.
  I think one of the fundamental roles of the Federal Government, at 
the very least, is to get out of the way of our star running back, but, 
ideally, to do some blocking for them and to call some plays for them 
and enable them to score some touchdowns.
  So a lot of the focus of the American Prosperity Agenda is to make it 
easier for entrepreneurs to succeed, whether that be to raise capital 
or to start a business or to combat hurdles that might present barriers 
to their business's success, like potential cyber attacks.
  That is an important part of this agenda, and I think it is important 
to speak to that. Because, again, as we look at how to grow this 
economy, I think the small businesses of our country that already exist 
and those that are yet to be created are going to be an important part 
of that solution.
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, we have heard an introduction as to how New 
Democrats are working to expand entrepreneurship, increase exports, 
invest in research and infrastructure, and set up Americans for success 
in the new economy.
  Our economy isn't going to stop changing, and neither should our 
efforts to find the most innovative, effective solutions for adapting 
to those changes.
  The Harvard Business School's United States Competitive Project has 
outlined eight actions it recommends that Congress take to make America 
the most economically competitive place in the world to do business, 
not just to raise corporate profits, but to increase wages for working 
people across America.
  Those include New Democrat priorities like tax reform, responsible 
Federal budgeting, simplifying Federal regulation, investing in 
infrastructure and research, and fixing our broken immigration system.

                              {time}  1815

  I want to thank all the members of the New Democrat Coalition for 
their proposals and progress to increase prosperity and help 
hardworking Americans thrive in the changing global economy with more 
jobs, more skills, and more wealth.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

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