[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 143 (Wednesday, September 6, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1167]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         INTRODUCTION OF THE ARPA-E REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2017

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                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 6, 2017

  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, today I am very 
pleased to introduce the bipartisan ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2017.
  Even though the agency is still relatively young, ARPA-E has already 
demonstrated incredible success in advancing high-risk, high-reward 
energy technology solutions that neither the public nor the private 
sector had been willing or able to support in the past. This was 
highlighted in a Congressionally mandated National Academies review of 
the agency released in June. Bipartisan industry leaders like Norm 
Augustine and Bill Gates have repeatedly called for tripling this 
agency's budget given the unique role that it is now playing in our 
energy innovation pipeline.
  ARPA-E's impressive track record includes over $1.8 billion in 
private sector follow-on funding for a group of 74 ARPA-E projects 
since the agency's founding in 2009. Equally notable, 56 projects have 
formed new companies and 68 projects have shown enough promise to 
result in partnerships with other government agencies for further 
development. And I'd be remiss if I didn't refer my colleagues to DOE 
Secretary Perry's March 8th tweet which states, and I quote, 
``Innovators like the ones supported by our ARPA-E program are key to 
advancing America's energy economy.'' I couldn't have said this better 
myself.
  The ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2017 authorizes reasonable growth 
in funding for ARPA-E through 2022. Increased funding for ARPA-E is 
consistent with the strong and sustained recommendations of many 
respected industrial and academic institutions and organizations in 
recent years. The bill also includes a provision which ensures that 
sensitive proprietary business information collected by ARPA-E remains 
protected, which will enable even greater private sector engagement in 
its programs.
  I would like to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, 
including Mr. Costello, Ms. Kaptur, and Mrs. Love, for joining me in 
introducing this bill, and I hope that all Members will consider 
supporting this critical investment in our nation's clean energy 
future.

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