[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 21, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4906-S4907]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Nomination of Arati Prabhakar
Ms. CANTWELL. Madam President, I rise today to support the nomination
of Dr. Arati Prabhakar to be the Director of the Office of Science and
Technology. Since 1976, the Office of Science and Technology Policy has
worked to ensure that the United States leads in science and
technology, to promote STEM education, and to make sure that our
science Agencies share the common purpose of benefiting all Americans.
Dr. Prabhakar is very well qualified for this job. As an engineer,
physicist, leader, venture capitalist, and pioneer, she has had a
trailblazing career, accomplishing a lot in a time period where she was
Director of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, DARPA, and
the first woman to lead the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, NIST.
And under Dr. Prabhakar's leadership, DARPA kick-started the
development of a rapid-response mRNA vaccine platform. This platform
was the basis for the fast, safe, and effective COVID-19 development.
Under her leadership at NIST, she worked to expand the Manufacturing
Extension Partnership to boost the competitiveness of small- and
medium-sized American manufacturers.
Just last year, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program
helped our domestic manufacturers capture $3.9 billion in new sales. In
my State alone, that translated into over $186 million and more than
2,000 jobs created or retained.
Perhaps even more impressive, back in the 1990s, when Dr. Prabhakar
was just in her twenties, she helped launch DARPA programs that made
essential leaps forward in semiconductor manufacturing technology. Dr.
Prabhakar's programs laid the groundwork for five generations of chip
manufacturing technologies to help demonstrate leadership right here in
the United States.
Dr. Prabhakar is now ready to lead again, and now we are asking for
her to lead this important Agency. We have just passed the CHIPS and
Science Act, which is a renewed commitment to domestic semiconductor
research and manufacturing and U.S. leadership in the next generation
chip technology.
Dr. Prabhakar has the exact experience we need to advise the
President on semiconductor manufacturing, on bringing the supply chain
and security that we need here in the United States, and on continued
growth in science and technology jobs that come along with it.
The CHIPS and Science Act directs the National Science Foundation to
invest in translational research, including through a new NSF tech
directorate.
Before her nomination, Dr. Prabhakar was an important voice in
support of this effort of a tech directorate, reaching out to House and
Senate colleagues and helping to shape the directorate in its focus on
big national and security challenges.
And the CHIPS and Science Act reflects our commitment to diversity in
science, to make sure that the engineering, math, and STEM fields are
included and that we continue to grow a workforce that is needed.
The important aspect of science is not always thought of in every
aspect of growing the next generation. That is why I am so encouraged
that Dr.
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Prabhakar is very committed to increasing the talent pool that we need
in our country.
For the first time in our country's history, the President has
elevated the Office of Science and Technology Policy Director to a
Cabinet-level post, meaning there will be a scientist in the room for
our Nation's most important discussions.
And for the first time in history, with the support of my colleagues
here today, Dr. Prabhakar will be the first woman and person of color
to serve as the Senate-confirmed OSTP Director.
Dr. Prabhakar will have a lot to do, including developing the whole-
of-government science and technology strategies for issues ranging from
security to commercial space exploration. And at a time of growing
competition, OSTP needs to tell the President and advise our leaders
what we need to do to maintain our competitiveness as a nation.
I know, coming from an innovation State, how important the Office of
Science and Technology Policy strategies can be in helping our Nation
attract and keep the best and brightest and prioritize collaboration
between academia and industry. And since Washington has been a STEM
leader--in fact, I think we are the most STEM-focused State in the
Nation; that is, by number of people involved in STEM----we know that
this partnership between the existing workforce and the workforce of
tomorrow needs to grow.
I know that, as a former DARPA Director, Dr. Prabhakar will help us
with this engine of innovation and growing STEM education in America.
Moreover, I know that Dr. Prabhakar will, on many issues, help to
improve the participation of women and girls in the issues of STEM.
This is such a big, important issue for us today. But just being at
the helm of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, being a woman,
being there at the Cabinet level, and advising the President of the
United States, I know she will help to deliver a message that young
women all across America need to be involved in the sciences to help
our Nation in the next phases of innovation. I am so excited that she
will be in this position.
I ask my colleagues to support her as a devoted, experienced, and
exceptional public servant. These are the kinds of people who we need
in government. These are the kinds of people who can make America
stronger, safer, and more competitive. I urge my colleagues to support
the confirmation of Dr. Prabhakar as the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.