Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to continue to remind my colleagues about the energy crisis we are

experiencing in our country. While oil is currently trading at some $69.21 per barrel today, it was at $147 in July of 2008, when we all remember gas prices at over $4 a gallon. We must address our energy problems as we continue to address our economic problems. By doing so, we can ensure that while our economy recovers, we will be competitive and secure in the energy sector as well.

As such, I was pleased that my bill, H.R. 3165, the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009, passed this body last week. I would like to thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for their support on my first piece of legislation that passed this full body. We must continue to promote energy efficiency, to drill and mine efficiency as we previously drilled for oil and mined coal. We must also enact policies that promote clean energy jobs and the deployment of renewables.

Finally, as my bill did last week, we must continue to invest in research and development to ensure that the United States is at the forefront of the energy revolution.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3165) to provide for a program of wind energy research, development, and demonstration, and for other purposes, as amended.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on H.R. 3165, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I am pleased that today we are considering H.R. 3165, the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009.

The United States has enough wind energy resources to meet all of our electricity needs several times over, but experience over the last several years has shown that many significant technical issues remain before wind can serve as a major provider of base-load electricity. This bipartisan bill will establish a far more comprehensive research, development and demonstration program for wind technologies at the Department of Energy than currently exists. It is based on several recent assessments of the challenges that need to be overcome for wind power to reach its full potential in the United States and has been fully endorsed by the American Wind Energy Association.

If enacted, H.R. 3165 would become the first law to set an authorization level for wind research and development since DOE's immediate predecessor, the Energy Research and Development Administration, was established in 1975. As we continue to develop a national energy strategy, this will provide crucial guidance for the Department in the years ahead.

I would like to thank my colleagues on the Science and Technology Committee on both sides of the aisle for working with me to make this bill as strong as possible. In particular, I have great thanks for our chairman of the committee, who has made a stalwart effort in advancing our legislation.

In addition to the two Democratic amendments offered, we approved all five Republican amendments offered by voice vote. Thus, the bill ensures geographic diversity, coordination across the Federal Government, and a merit-reviewed award process, among other important provisions.

I ask my colleagues in the House to support H.R. 3165, and look forward to working with our counterparts in the Senate to get this to the President's desk as soon as possible.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as we continue to grow our dependency on wind power to meet this Nation's energy needs, it is important, critically important that we move forward aggressively with all efforts towards energy efficiency. This measure will do that. I strongly encourage our colleagues to support H.R. 3165.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 447) recognizing the remarkable contributions of the American Council of Engineering Companies for its 100 years of service to the engineering industry and the Nation.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on House Resolution 447, the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 447, recognizing the remarkable contributions of the American Council of Engineering Companies for its 100 years of service to the engineering industry and our Nation. I also want to thank the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Shuler) for introducing this resolution.

The American Council of Engineering Companies is the oldest and largest business association representing America's engineering industry. It represents more than 5,000 engineering firms that employ more than 500,000 engineers, architects, land surveyors, scientists and others. Its members engage in a wide range of engineering work, including designing the infrastructure, energy and technological projects that contribute to our economy and our quality of life.

The American Council of Engineering Companies traces its roots back to 1909, when a group of engineers in private practice established the American Institute of Consulting Engineers. Today, the American Council of Engineering Companies is a large federation of 51 State and regional councils representing a large section of America's engineering industry.

I congratulate the American Council of Engineering Companies on its 100 years of service and urge passage of House Resolution 447.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I now yield 3 minutes to Representative Earl Blumenauer of the State of Oregon. He is an outspoken voice for energy and environment matters and understands the role of engineers in that entire process.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, as an engineer serving in the House, I want to commend Representative Shuler for his work on House Resolution 447, which recognizes the American Council of Engineering Companies for its 100 years of service. Obviously the impact made by engineers and related scientists on our society is profound.

We need them to continue through their professionalism to lead us along the ways of discovery of creating new concepts and certainly designs that will lift us as a society. This Nation relies heavily on their professionalism and their services, and they will be those agents that transition this economy to an innovation economy.

So I would ask that our colleagues strongly support House Resolution 447.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 167), supporting the goals and ideals of National Aerospace Day, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on House Concurrent Resolution 167, the resolution now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 167, supporting the goals and ideals of National Aerospace Day. Since it opened in 1976, the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum has been the most popular museum in our Nation's Capital, with over 6 million visitors each year. This is indicative of our Nation's love of flight and the importance of flight to our country's well-being.

In this museum, you can see the Wright Flyer, which was the world's first powered airplane. You can also see the X-1 that Chuck Yeager first powered past the speed of sound and the Apollo XI capsule that returned Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins from their remarkable trip to the Moon. These are truly great achievements, and they deserve their hallowed place in our Nation's history.

The industry and individuals that support our aerospace endeavors also deserve our recognition, because they are the ones that make the great achievements in flight and space exploration possible.

The aerospace industry directly employs over 800,000 people in the United States with high-paying and high-tech jobs. In addition, the industry supports more than 2 million jobs in related fields. The United States is the unquestioned leader in aerospace technology, and it is a leadership position made possible only through the dedication of the talented aerospace workforce.

I want to thank Representative Ehlers for introducing this resolution to recognize the contributions of the aerospace industry to our country and urge my colleagues to support its passage.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would again like to commend Representative Ehlers for his outstanding work on this resolution, drawing our attention to a National Aerospace Day. It is no small feat to have seen the history of the aerospace arena grow in leaps and bounds over the last century, and certainly writing much of that history was America and Americans who have, through their investment, given great opportunities to careers, to jobs that have been developed in that arena of a high-tech capacity, and certainly that have provided great hope and inspiration to many.

With all that being said, I would strongly encourage the Members of the House to support H. Con. Res. 167.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 445) to establish a research, development, demonstration, and commercial application program to promote research of appropriate technologies for heavy duty plug-in hybrid vehicles, and for other purposes, as amended.

I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 445, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to put before the House today H.R. 445 by Mr. Jim Sensenbrenner. The House passed a nearly identical bill, H.R. 6323, in the 110th Congress and, unfortunately, that is as far as the bill got. Hopefully we can get some movement on this measure this time around.

By enhancing the Department of Energy's research program in heavy duty hybrid trucks, this bill draws much needed focus to a very critical component of the transportation sector, that being commercial trucks.

We have repeatedly learned the hard way just how much the health of our economy can hinge on the commercial transportation sector. Costly fuel translates directly into higher prices for consumers since the large majority of products we consume or use, from food to building materials, are at some point transported by a medium to heavy duty truck. We must take measures to ensure that this remains a vibrant economic sector.

The heavy truck sector also plays a role in our energy security and environmental health. Approximately one-fourth of the Nation's fuel use and the majority of transportation-based emissions can be attributed to heavy duty trucks. One large tractor-trailer rig uses as much fuel annually as 48 passenger vehicles. We can see how even small improvements in their efficiency can have a substantial impact.

As with passenger vehicles, hybrid technologies hold the greatest promise for improving the fuel economy and emissions of commercial trucks, but considerable research and development is required to put these technologies on the road. While the technological requirements for hybrid trucks are very different, advances in this sector can benefit the domestic automotive sector as a whole by providing invaluable lessons learned in the designing and manufacturing of these systems.

Mr. Sensenbrenner's bill represents a commonsense approach to chipping away at our energy challenge. I believe this is an important piece of legislation in the large and complex puzzle that is our transportation sector. And I urge my colleagues to support the measure.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I again commend Representative Sensenbrenner for his work on H.R. 445, which will speak to heavy duty hybrid vehicle research and development. The deployment of the improvements that we can make in that transportation sector will aid us tremendously in responding favorably to the environment and to our energy needs. For that purpose and many of the related energy and environment benefits that come from such research and development, I strongly urge our colleagues to support H.R. 445.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the remainder of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3435, the Consumer Assistance to Recycle and Save (CARS) Program, or the ``Cash for Clunkers'' initiative.

This additional $2 billion in funding will help promote automotive sales and protect our environment. In the past week, it is estimated that 250,000 cars were sold. On both sides of the aisle, people acknowledged the effectiveness of this initiative. I am proud to support its extension.

I also ask for special consideration and clarification on an important part of this bill. As it currently stands, if one spouse owns the title to a ``clunker'' and the other spouse holds the registration, that couple is not eligible to participate in the program. I believe that consideration to married couples should be afforded more flexibility and that regardless of the registration/title configuration, those married couples should be able to participate.

Finally, this is a very positive, bipartisan initiative to help our auto industry, to help consumers, to grow our economy, and to do it in an environmentally sound way.

Thank you, Representative Boccieri. I listened intently to our colleague from Virginia, and when Representative Perriello talked about the lack of response from the other side, the anger, perhaps, that is expressed, the politics of fear that are engaged, that those in and of themselves would be enough measure of concern. But the fact that that's coupled with an agenda that back-burnered over the last administration so much of the progress, we're reminded of a huge failure of the delivery system, the energy delivery system, in August of 2003. Here, 6 years later, we're not responding as well as we should. This measure allows us to, with a smart-metering investment, with an upgrading of the grid.

You know, it was brought to our attention in very painful and dark terms, where blackouts gripped not only the Northeast and the Midwest of the U.S., but Southeast Canada, where two nations suffered from failure in the grid system. We have opportunities to embrace technology, technological improvements, advancements in smart metering and investments in the grid, to respond to that sort of failure. That was back-burnered. So were the investments in updating our renewable opportunities, investing in renewables.

This measure will allow us to look seriously at renewable investments across the country. I'm also coupling that exercise with a bill that deals with wind turbine efficiency, where we'll look at materials that will allow for greater response from Mother Nature, where we're able to take the elements of nature and make them work to our energy needs, all through American jobs, to produce America's energy needs. That will enable us to take the advancements that we know are possible.

We look at situations like super-conductive cable, where, in my district, they are now breaking their own records, super power is, by developing even stronger opportunities for us to reinvest and invest in innovative ways in the delivery system, in a way that, again, takes advantage of the intellectual capacity of this Nation.

So this is about entering into a mix that already finds global competitors, but it advances an American agenda in a way that will place us in the role of leader. We cannot continue to sit by idly along the sidelines of this global green energy race and advance the notion that China will build all the solar systems, that Germany will embrace the same sort of renewable or advance manufacturing processes.

We have opportunities here in this Nation to develop battery response through the stimulus package. I've seen what GE is working on, as it enters into this fray, to provide for an array of battery opportunities where it's not just Lithium ion that we develop but perhaps look at sodium chloride mixed with nickel, where we can address not only energy generation needs for batteries, but also the energy storage for intermittent situations, intermittent-type power, and where we can also use it for heavy fleets and lighter fleets for transportation-sector purposes.

So there are tons of applications here. Just that GE battery application would find 300 to 400 jobs in my district that will enable us to provide the linchpin, to open the doors to limitless possibilities. You know, it's that sort of fervor that we saw in the sixties, in the late fifties and sixties where, as a Nation, we went forward with the boldness of definition and the expression of vision where we could be better, where we could move into a space race. And we know that we invested, and we won for that investment. We need to do that here. And clean energy jobs for every State in this Nation is a great theme.

And politics of fear that respond to the efforts of progress that we have embraced just don't have a place in this mix. It is unfair to the American public, as it looks not only for job creation, but for the establishment, for the igniting of an innovation economy. And Representative Boccieri, thank you for bringing us together so that people can share thoughts of what's happening today and where we can expand and extrapolate upon that progress in untold terms.

One of the main reasons I ran for this role in Congress was to establish a comprehensive energy policy, where we have a plan, where we act accordingly, where we update and implement that plan, and where it's all-inclusive. We haven't had that. And this is one solid way to grow jobs that are meaningful, where we are going to express and exercise our right to energy security, energy independence, and therefore, national security, which is critically important with the outcome here.

Thank you for bringing us together, and it's great to develop this colloquy with our colleagues here in the House, but I can't help but wonder which of us would have the opportunity to serve in this House if we pledged at election time to make certain that we develop jobs in competing nations for developing green energy innovation? Which of us would serve here? Which of us would serve here if we pledged to send dollars to some of the most troubled spots in the world that find us defending freedom-loving nations against some of these forces around the globe? We would be rejected resoundingly by that electorate.

Well, that's what's happening here. The agents of status quo are content to continue this effort to have other nations build the renewable resources out there. They would be content to have the American public send tons of their hard-earned dollars into the economies of the Mideast on which we rely for well over 60 percent of our oil supply. That is unacceptable.

And we can do it cleaner, we can do it greener, we can do it through American resources that develop American jobs to respond to the energy crises around the world. We can become that go-to Nation that will be the exporter of energy intellect, energy innovation, energy ideas. Just like we won the race in the 1960s for the space race.

We need to win this race. We don't have a choice to enter in. I think that choice has been made because there is a competitive edge already that's being developed with other nations out there. We need to go forward with an aggressive investment.

The investment here is to combat a huge deficit that was inherited by this administration, by the Obama administration. It was driven high and it started with a surplus. They spent away that surplus. They drove us into a deficit situation, and now it is necessary for us to invest in an innovation economy that creates jobs.

Mr. Speaker, many commissions who have advised Congress advise that the unemployment rate would continue to climb even after the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act were approved, simply because neglect and measures that put us into a deep hole where an administration spent down a surplus into a deep deficit was going to take a while to recover from. And so now with the investments made through that Recovery Act, I am very hopeful that in my district we will get good news, as GE, which is corporately headquartered in my district, has made application for some of the DOE moneys.

Because of accountability and transparency, the President is right to make certain that all of these moneys being released are greatly accounted for. Battery investment, battery advance manufacturing in battery worlds, will allow for a diversity of battery manufacturing that will allow us not only to have these batteries used for energy generation purposes, but for actually providing for the resources for transportation fleets, both large and small, and certainly working on investments that will restore intermittent energy supplies.

Thank you, Representative Murphy. Thank you for bringing us together in what is a very good exchange so that we can exchange for the sake of the American public the facts on a situation that finds us meeting a wonderful challenge that can pull us to a new day for health consumers in this country.

With the leadership of President Obama and certainly with the leadership in the House, with the Speaker here in the House of Representatives and the respective Chairs, we're now developing that dialog that is long overdue, that needs to speak to the dignity of health care for each and every individual in this country.

You know, I listened to the statements made by my friend Representative Edwards about those who are insured today. What is startling is to look at the business community and understand that in the last 15 years we went from a statistic where 61 percent of our small businesses offered employee health care coverage. Today, that number has dropped below 40 percent. Some 38 percent of our small businesses offer that. It's not that they have grown less compassionate or less sensitive to those needs. They simply cannot afford this system.

So a plan that embraces universal insurance reform, that sharpens the pencils for our consumers, that drives the bottom-line bargain whereby it is affordable, where there's an exchange developed, where there is a plan, a customer, a consumer choice plan that will be actuarially sound, that will incorporate all of the basic health care measures essential for our families in this country, will compete with that private sector market in that exchange.

That separate consumer choice plan will be sustained by premiums, not by government taxes. It will be a plan that will be modeled in a way to compete, and I believe effectively, so as to produce a market-driven outcome that is far better than what we see today.

The cost of providing health care insurance by our business community is said to be about $430 billion today. In 10 years, doing nothing, we all know that that's been projected to grow to some $880 billion. We can't afford that. The plan of inaction is unacceptable.

And you're right, Representative Murphy. When you talk about some of the similarities in the energy debate, there are those in this House that want to feed that discussion with facts. There are others who are happy to play with figures, and that fix has denied progress.

Just this week, we celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Apollo mission, of landing a person on the Moon, being able to invest as a Nation because of a boldness of vision.

Well, the boldness of vision here that we're now asked to respond to is about providing quality health care with reduced costs and equal access for everyone. With this exchange, there's the potential of having groups migrate toward that opportunity in areas of need, in elements of need, where 10 or fewer employee firms can join up, then moving to 20 or more, then moving to that universal system where we grow this opportunity to provide universal coverage. That is an important part of the equation.

It also impacts our State governments and our Federal Government. When people talk about taxes they say, Cut that budget. Well, we can take $56 billion today of health care coverage that is provided for those who are uncompensated, $56 billion paid for by Federal and State sources, so as to allow for the care for those who simply do not have a plan.

Well, we can avoid all of that. This is called preventative maintenance. We offer prevention in these plans. We provide the incentives to encourage people to move into these preventive models that will provide for outstanding benefits.

This is a great opportunity to reform a system that has long been asking for reform, and we do it in a way that is consumer friendly, consumer driven, and the government stays out of that equation, as was made mention. They're not going to choose. The government is not going to choose your doctor.

There are plans that empower our families and respond in a way that won't penalize them for catastrophic care, won't penalize them for preexisting conditions, won't penalize based on age, and will take care of our children in a way that shows us to be the compassionate Nation that I truly believe we are.

This is a way to express it. This is a way to also be economically sound in moving forward with health care delivery so that our businesses can compete in that global marketplace, not strapped with the burdens of this system. But we do take what is good about the American system, keep it in place, and reform those elements that need to be reformed.

It's a great opportunity for us to do academically sound work. And I applaud the efforts of leaders in town that are doing this with their eyes wide open, with their heart in the right place, and with the boldness of vision that they're sharing with the American public.

I think you're absolutely right. The issues of energy reform, energy security, the issues of health care reform cannot be resolved or determined by sound bites, by bumper sticker slogans, by billboards. They need to be done in a way that establishes a healthy dialogue, academically driven, and where facts rule and fiction is set aside.

What I'm proud of is that the majority here has approached this situation in a way that allows us to push forward a very, very strong bit of reforms, including those in the insurance industry.

I thank the gentlewoman from Maryland, Representative Edwards.

You know, you talk about the choice that empowers the consumer, that empowers families and children across the country. But there's also continuity that is important. As we look at this recession that this administration has inherited, as they struggle with it, we've been told, Go to Washington and fix the health care system. Go to Washington and provide for energy security and green up our thinking and, oh, yes, fix the economy.

Well, in order to fix the economy, the health care situation is a key ingredient in the equation for success. So just why do we need to do that? Well, since this recession began, which may be one of the most devastating economic crises faced in our given lifetime, 4 million additional Americans have lost insurance. The stats are indicating that some 11,000 people per day, workers per day are losing insurance coverage.

So the continuity in the equation, in the outcome is an essential ingredient, because when people lose a job or if they even choose to change a job for better opportunities or are relocating as a family, they'll have opportunity to continue in a system. That's key. That is critical. And again, not held back if they're in the midst of a catastrophic illness or have some sort of pre-existing conditions. Those sort of factors are incredible. When we're fixing the economy, again, we need to hold off that $880 billion balloon, which will expand in 10 years, that the business community will pay if it tries to keep its insurance coverage for its employees. That's a huge catastrophe waiting to happen.

So this is about prevention. This is about choice. It's about continuity. And it's about utilizing our resources. The $2.4 trillion that we are historically willing to invest in a system can be used in a better way. Otherwise, that $2.4 million, Representative Murphy, turns to $4.4 million in just a matter of a decade. It is unacceptable.

I yield to the gentleman from Connecticut.

Representative Ryan, I want to go back to what you talked about earlier, which is common sense. I know we have to close our hour here, so I'll make this quick.

There is another aspect I'd like to underscore, which is that of economic justice. When you see since 2000 that the premiums have more than doubled on average for working families in this country and that the salaries have stayed on a flat line, there is a need for us to step in and to fix a broken system. When 60 percent of bankruptcies in this country are due to medical

costs, we need to step in and do something.

Representative Murphy, I want to thank you for bringing us together so we can share together with the American public our messages of enhancing the quality of services, of reducing costs and of providing access for everyone as we move forward in this health care discussion and reform. Thank you so very much, Representative.

Mr. Speaker, the House will be taking up H.R. 2920 this week, the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2009, otherwise known as

Thank you, Representative McMahon. It's a pleasure to join with you and with our colleagues from Ohio and Maryland in dealing with the facts of the matter and not with the fiction.

I know that you had earlier gone through the mathematics and the calculations of the impact, as reported by the opposition in the House, as to what this is costing us. To take claim of $3,100 and basing it on a study done where the author has said you have misapplied that information from the MIT study and to grossly inflate it at $3,100 when, more appropriately, it's between the range of $65 and $80, it has an impact on a family. Then the author further addresses it by saying that it needs to be additionally calibrated to go toward the final package that was passed by the House, which has an even lesser impact. Yet leave that aside, and talk about the cost of doing nothing.

Many people will lament, I'm certain, in each one of our districts, as we travel through our districts, about the job loss, about the exportation, and about the offshore/across the shore of American jobs. Well, no one is there to talk about that same impact of sending $400 billion a year to regimes that are unfriendly, that are terrorist in nature, that are certainly not the most secure or stable governments in the world, and we're supplying $400 billion a year. That is the cost today. That is a tax. Call it what you want. It is a tax on the American public. We can go forward and address, in a more secure and energy-independent manner, the sort of solutions that will then grow American jobs. American clean energy jobs are what this whole proposal is about. So it speaks to our sustainable quality that we can encourage that which allows us to grow energy security.

How so?

Well, the Union of Concerned Scientists has said that the renewable electricity standards in our package in the House version will produce well over 300,000 jobs. Then we also have the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy that is talking about energy efficiency standards that are, again, part and parcel to this package that will grow over 225,000 jobs.

So there, just in a sampling of what can happen, you see how American jobs begin to grow and how they get cultivated from this very aspect of legislation. Those are real jobs. Those are factual bits of information that need to be exchanged and shared with the American public.

People know that our destiny here is controllable by our own actions. They know that. They want us to go forward. They want us to grow this green energy market. They want us to be able to respond in analytical terms where we embrace the intellectual capacity of this Nation and where we grow those technical jobs. There are incentives in this legislation. There are those underpinnings of support to, again, foster those kinds of jobs so that we can stretch this innovation economy and so that we can enhance the number of jobs that are science-and-tech related or are coming through ancillary forces out there that further extrapolate the good outcome and that grow the jobs that are so essential.

American jobs producing American power to then retrofit all of that activity into the American job market: manufacturing, making it more efficient.

We want to keep jobs here. Let's produce a package that retrofits American manufacturing centers to allow them to produce a product wisely, more effectively, efficiently, and then, yes, more competitively in the global market. It all begins with sound energy policy.

They don't want to face those facts. They just want to use applications of fear and say it will cost every family $3,100 when they have been defied in that statement by the very author of the study they cite. That is unacceptable, and the public deserves better than that. They deserve the facts that show how we can grow jobs, how we can create United States' jobs--American jobs--and how we can make us a global technology leader. We need to do it so that we can compete globally. If we're not creating these products, if we're not implementing those sorts of changes, we're falling drastically behind places like China, Germany and Japan, and we can continue to list those countries. It's imperative that we do this.

It is a pleasure to join with all of my colleagues in this colloquy.

Just yesterday and today in this Nation's Capital, a number of people got to meet the Apollo crew. They got to shake hands with astronauts that made history. They set foot on the Moon. We won a space race that took and demanded a huge investment by this Nation in science, technology, in growing our intellectual capacity, in creating a vision, in stating in bold measure how we were going to reach that goal.

We're at that same moment of challenge. Just think of it. If we had allowed defectors that perhaps divided us or shared misinformation or preached politics of fear, we perhaps wouldn't have won that race. And that was so critically valuable and important to the American Nation, to Americans at large.

That same sort of challenge, that sort of boldness of leadership, the demands for truthful exchange are upon us today, and to grow these opportunities, we'll deal with the facts. And I'm impressed by this House for the leadership and the membership that has really embraced that sort of factual information and advanced an agenda like the legislation that we're proposing and promoting here this evening.

You know, when we look at situations, as Representative Boccieri made comment, we can grow jobs but we can also grow intellect. We need to grow the brain trust of this Nation. This measure invests in that development of the human infrastructure. And certainly when Representative Kratovil talked about previous administrations through the decades talking about reducing our demands on foreign importation of oil, 60 percent of what we consume today imported from some of the most troubled spots in the world with unstable governments, it's more than that. We have a gluttonous dependency.

Efficiency can reduce the demand side, and for far too long we did not have a comprehensive energy policy in this Nation. We addressed only the supply side and ignored the demand side. Well, now we're talking about both sides of that equation: producing our own supplies and reducing per capita usage of that precious resource. That's what this is about.

Now we talk about innovation. We talk about growing those jobs. All of us have cited moments in history that have inspired us. I represent the city of Schenectady in upstate New York, dubbed the city that lights and hauls the world. Just over a century ago, they were the epicenter of invention and innovation. They allowed the world to be changed by the simple dynamics of creative genius in that location and an outstanding workforce. Blue collar, white collar workers that rolled up their sleeves and got the job done.

Over a century later, we're at that same point where we need an energy revolution. This Nation is poised for that sort of development. Are we going to walk away? I don't think so. I think it's that boldness of leadership that will bring us to the point that we need to be.

And speaking of GE, as a center in that city of Schenectady, they are already inspired by this legislation because we have advanced within the framework and the multiple needs that are addressed by this legislation, battery innovation, advanced battery manufacturing, batteries that can respond to energy generation, batteries that can respond to storage of intermittent power like wind and solar, and batteries that can address transportation sectors, both heavy fleets and lighter fleets. They have a battery application that they believe can respond to those multiple needs.

And they have proposed, at a press conference, to be the site in my district to do advanced battery manufacturing. They are competing for the dollars that are part of this package if it is successful and certainly working on the input that came from the stimulus package, from the Recovery Act.

Working with those applications, they want to go forward and make certain that we can build in this State of mine, in New York State, and your State, Michael, in a way that will have 350 to 400 jobs in the manufacturing sector of advanced batteries. That is progress. That is stability. That is security. That is a greening up of thinking. That is job growth. That is intellectual capacity that is stretched to a far greater degree.

And think of it again. 40 years ago this week, we accomplished our goal because we committed to that goal. We didn't stand up in a House of Representatives and deny the facts or twist the facts or reject the truth. It all began with an honest exchange, and that's what we're doing here. We're going the make certain that the facts are addressed.

I thank Congressman McMahon.

Representative Boccieri asked what is the cost of doing nothing. Well, beyond the lack of progress that we should taste in this Nation, it is the denial of this generation's children and grandchildren who will need those career paths developed by us. We need to cultivate that thinking that will allow them to have these new energy jobs, these new environmental jobs, these new plans for economic recovery. That is what gets really lost in the discussion.

When China's now the number one producer of solar panels in the world, when Germany's number two export after cars is wind turbines, when six of the 30 top advanced battery-manufacturing solar and wind companies are American, we need to do better than we're doing today.

As I made mention, the space race of decades ago was an investment made by this Nation in robust fashion. Today, we're in a green energy race with far many more global competitors. Whoever wins this becomes the go-to nation. They will be the exporter of energy ideas, energy intellect, energy invention.

Do we want to deny this generation, future generations from those concepts, from that prize? I don't think so, and if we're going to deny them, let's at least deal with the facts. Let's talk factually. Let's not create a $3,100 price tag when we've been warned over and over again by the author of that study that it is grossly inflated. Let's move forward factually. Let's move forward in green fashion. Let's provide for an innovation economy. Let's speak to the generations of Americans that are counting on us to do a job, do it thoroughly, do it directly.

Mr. Chair, on rollcall No. 498, I was unavoidably detained at a science and technology subcommittee hearing, as I was questioning a witness who had presented testimony on energy turbine efficiency. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

Part B Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Brady of Texas

I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Mr. Chair, as you know, small businesses are the engine that will repower America's economy. Research and innovation in the small business venue have greatly contributed to advances in science and technology across the board. In fact, the city of Schenectady in my congressional district, the ninth largest city in New York State, was nicknamed ``The Electric City'' after Thomas Edison moved his company Edison Machine Works there in 1887, which was later followed by the opening of GE headquarters in 1892.

Today we are considering H.R. 2965, the Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009. I rise in full support of H.R. 2965. This program has proven to be one of the most successful Federal programs for technological innovation in United States history, delivering more than 60,000 patents and hundreds of valuable innovations in agriculture, in defense, in energy, in health sciences, homeland security, space, transportation and other fields.

Through Phase I and Phase II SBIR, countless jobs have been created in the capital region of New York State. It is through programs such as SBIR that my district has developed the underpinnings of support for a boom in high technology innovation and economic development. In fact, just over a month ago a constituent of mine, Dr. James Woo of Interscience, Inc. in Troy, New York, was at a national conference in Virginia. This conference was to showcase Navy SBIR Phase II projects to program managers and large defense contractors for transition. A great majority in attendance supported protecting the small business opportunities that have been part of this program. The reason is because small, innovative companies should have a genuine place at the Federal table. This place is for backyard inventors and local contractors, for small and very small businesses where the research is not likely a breakthrough in technology but a breakout of implementation.

At a time when our national unemployment is at 9.5 percent, we should do everything in our power to strengthen small businesses that generate 70 percent of new jobs in our country. It is important that we continue to favor small, innovative businesses.

There's simply no more effective way to boost our economy than to support the small business innovation that creates new jobs, new technologies and new American industries.

If the tavern was the cradle of democracy, then the garage is the cradle of enterprise.

Madam Speaker, today I come to the floor to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy Security Act.

As you know, I represent a state that has been a leader in the nation when it comes to renewable energy standards and energy efficiency activity. New York was the first state in the country to adopt a state renewable energy standard and is currently ranked as one of the most energy efficient states per capita in the nation.

I am proud to say H.R. 2454 will allow New York to continue these successful programs and push us even further in a positive direction. Working with, and on behalf of, the New York delegation, I was able to work with Chairman Waxman and Chairman Markey to include language which allows states like New York to have the flexibility to be in control of their own compliance. This flexibility is vital if New York is to continue its great progress in renewable energy and energy efficiency activities. This bill allows New York State to build upon a strong record of demand reduction. Otherwise, a commitment of several years would be required to set up a new system in our state with its proven results.

In addition to the flexibility language, the bill includes provisions allowing market transformation initiatives to count towards the energy efficiency standard. It also addresses the issue of transportation emissions and transportation planning and makes it consistent with current state policy. Finally, the bill includes an improvement that I recommended concerning efficiency of natural gas turbines. H.R. 2454 creates a $65 million competitive grant program specifically for research and development of more efficient natural gas turbines used for power production. The goal of the program would be to raise the efficiency of these turbines to 65 percent. Currently, the most efficient turbines operate at 60 percent. A one percentage point improvement in efficiency alone, applied to existing turbines, would reduce CO2 emissions by 4.4 million tons per year and provide fuel savings of more than $1 billion per year.

The innovation and the technology advancement that this bill aims to promote will see benefits for future generations. As we did during the Space Race so many years ago, we must turn towards innovation and leadership on the energy front to lead the world again. This is a global race for clean, green energy that we cannot afford to lose.

Madam. Speaker, with the collective energy of the President and the Congress, this bill will create new and enduring policies which will promote cleaner, more efficient, and more independent sources of energy that will positively influence all of America's energy demands as well as jobs and career paths of the future. I urge my colleagues to join me and vote in favor of HR. 2454. I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, we make great strides towards solving our future energy needs by focusing on a process that has been virtually ignored for the past 8 years, research and development. Time and again, our economy has been pushed forward by a spirit of innovation. It has been pushed forward by a spirit that a century ago ignited an energy revolution started right in the heart of the 21st Congressional District with General Electric. Less than half a century ago, President Kennedy announced the space race in response to Sputnik. We now have that opportunity again. But when one considers the global context, it's easy to see that

the United States is falling woefully behind.

The House of Representatives is considering the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which would create millions of clean energy jobs, put America on the path to energy independence, and cut global warming pollution. China is investing $12.6 million every hour towards clean energy. With this kind of deficit, we stand to lose our place in the world as it relates to our energy security, and that is a finished product we simply cannot afford to import.