[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21519-21520]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                NATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS INVESTMENT ACT

  Mr. STEVENS. Mr. President, I come to the floor to join more than 35 
of our colleagues in support of the National Competitiveness Investment 
Act.
  Our country's success is the direct result of our advancements in 
science and technology. Throughout our history, our scientists and 
engineers have created new industries--and their efforts have ensured 
our country's competitiveness in the global economy. Two key reports 
now raise serious concerns about our ability to continue this 
tradition.
  The ``Innovate America'' report by the Council on Competitiveness and 
the National Academies' ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm'' report, 
also known as the ``Augustine Report,'' both conclude advancements in 
science and technology are our country's best hope for the future. They 
identify serious problems with our efforts in these areas. Sadly, this 
week the World Economic Forum announced our country has dropped from 
first to sixth place in its ``global competitiveness index.''
  Our comprehensive legislation addresses several of these issues, and 
all of us owe a great debt to Senator Ensign, who has shown tremendous 
leadership in the drafting of this bill. As the new chairman of the 
Commerce Committee, I asked Senator Ensign to chair our Subcommittee on 
Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness. Over the past 2 years, he 
has held a series of hearings on this issue. He also introduced S. 
2802, the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, which the 
Commerce Committee passed without opposition in May. Senator Ensign has 
worked on a bipartisan basis with our colleagues on the HELP and Energy 
Committees.
  This act is the culmination of these efforts. It will help our 
country remain competitive by increasing Federal investment in basic 
research and improving student opportunities in science, technology, 
engineering, and math. This bill also develops the infrastructure we 
need to foster innovation in the 21st century.
  While this bill alone will not solve all of our challenges, it is an 
important first step.
  I urge each of our colleagues to cosponsor this legislation and vote 
in favor of its passage.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, the Child Custody Protection Act prohibits 
taking a minor child across State lines for an abortion in 
circumvention of a State law requiring parental notification or consent 
in that child's abortion. And it gives the victims of our imperfect 
legal system a means of restitution.
  This legislation also protects the integrity of State parental 
notification laws, and helps ensure that they are honored. Without it, 
State laws regarding parental notification and consent for a minor's 
abortion can be flouted with impunity.
  Right now, some abortion clinics even advertise to minors living in 
neighboring States with parental notice and consent laws.
  Right now, we are increasing our pregnant minors' vulnerability to 
health complications. Patients receiving abortions at out-of-state 
clinics are less likely to return for followup care. And a teenager who 
has an out-of-state abortion without her parents' knowledge or consent 
is even more unlikely to tell them she is having complications.
  At its core, this bill is about protecting a minor's health and 
protecting her from exploitation. It is about respecting and honoring 
State laws. And it is about ensuring parental involvement in the life-
or-death decision of their child.
  Forty-four States have already seen the grim irony in the fact that 
teenage students can't go on a field trip or receive aspirin from the 
school nurse without parental consent, but a young girl can flout State 
laws and have an abortion--a major surgical procedure--without 
informing her parents.
  This bill helps parental notification and consent laws remain 
enforceable and meaningful, and it keeps in place all judicial bypass 
options and waiver provisions that States have enacted to accommodate 
young girls who come from troubled or abusive homes.
  This simple, straightforward legislation was already passed by the 
Senate in July by a vote of 65 to 34. It received overwhelming 
bipartisan support. I am pleased that 14 of my Democratic colleagues, 
including the Senate minority leader, chose to join me and its sponsor, 
Senator Ensign, in support of this important bill. And I believe this 
legislation was further improved by the adoption of the Boxer-Ensign 
amendment, which strengthened provisions pertaining to minors who are 
caught in abusive home situations.
  So it was a disappointment when this legislation was blocked from 
going to conference by a parliamentary maneuver by my colleagues from 
across the aisle. On multiple occasions, we sought to go to conference 
with the House on this legislation, only to have this routine 
procedural move obstructed.
  I would like to commend the work of the bill's sponsor, my colleague 
John Ensign. I am glad that the House chose to pick up this legislation 
and pass it with instructions.
  I believe it is important to pass this legislation, which has the 
approval of around 80 percent of the American public and is supported 
on both sides of the aisle. It protects underage minors. It respects 
and protects parental involvement in the life-or-death decisions of

[[Page 21520]]

their child. And it prevents the violation of State laws. It should not 
be allowed to be blocked. I hope my colleagues will join me in voting 
for S. 403, the Child Custody Protection Act, and passing this long-
obstructed, overwhelmingly supported, commonsense legislation.

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