Bart Gordon

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chairman, this is a very straightforward amendment. This amendment requires the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology to submit to Congress a 3-year operational and planning document for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program. The past 4 years, the administration's MEP budget request has been much less than required to maintain the existing national network of MEP centers. In fact, for 2 years the administration has proposed eliminating MEP funding altogether. Despite their meager budget requests, the administration has consistently maintained that it will maintain a fully operational MEP network. However, the administration has not consulted with the State partners or MEP centers to explain the rationale for its funding request or how they intend to maintain the current MEP center structure. Both States and small manufacturers have been frustrated by the administration's lack of planning and cooperation. My amendment would address this issue by requiring the administration to put together a 3- year MEP operation plan that would include commitments of its State partners and the MEP National Advisory Board. This amendment has also been endorsed by the American Small Manufacturers Coalition, the umbrella operation of the MEP centers and the small manufacturers they serve. I would urge adoption of this amendment.

Mr. GORDON. Madam Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud).

Mr. GORDON. Madam Chairman, this amendment builds upon the good work that the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee) does in ensuring that minority-serving institutions have equal access to Federal research and education programs. Our community colleges are at the forefront of educating minorities, and this amendment highlights their importance. This is a good amendment, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. GORDON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to claim the time in opposition under the rule.

Mr. GORDON. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. GORDON. Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chairman, in 1969 I was a college student when Camille hit the gulf coast, and I went down to Pass Christian to try to help clean up with the National Guard. Let me say one really has to be there to fully appreciate the devastation and the despair in the victims' hearts. I know it is there this time also. The gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Melancon) has been there. He has worked with his constituents and folks all across that area and has brought back to us some good sense, and that is how we can make the MEP program help that area, helping the businesses come back, helping people develop jobs. And I want to compliment the gentleman from New York (Chairman Boehlert), who I think well stated the purpose of this bill, for recognizing it, agreeing to accept it. I think this is going to be a positive addition to not only the bill but also to the lives and businesses in this hard-hit area. Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON. Madam Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chairman, let me sincerely say that I do not think anybody in the United States Congress serves with a better chairman than I do, with the gentleman from New York (Chairman Boehlert). I also sincerely believe that there is not a more constructive voice on the Committee on Science than the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), and I want to thank them for really bucking the President and helping us to work to save the MEP program. It was important. But I still have to say I am disappointed in this bill. I am disappointed that it is a missed opportunity. I am going to have to go home this weekend, and I am going to see folks as I travel around the district, as always, that are going to tell me they have lost their job, some with tears in their eyes. They are going to say, What can you do to help us? I am going to tell them we passed H.R. 250. But I am going to do so embarrassed, embarrassed that we did not do all that we could do. It has been said before and I will say it again. The ATP program is a proven job-creating program. It is endorsed by the National Governors Association. It is endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturing. We had not one single witness before our committee to say it is not a good bill. The only thing that we said is that we cannot add this, we cannot even vote on it because the President might veto this bill, and we had better have a little bit than the best we can. The fact of the matter is that the other body has already voted money for the ATP program. Last week the other body voted down, more than 2 to 1, an amendment to do away with the program. And we have a President who in almost 5 years has never vetoed a single bill. I think that is a record, an historic record. Yet we are afraid to do our best when our constituents are losing their jobs left and right because of offshoring. I am going to vote for this bill, but I am going to do so, and be embarrassed when I go home this weekend, that we did not do the best job we could. Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON. Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. GORDON. Madam Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell).

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, let me just first say I do not want to offend anyone personally here today, and this is not a personal argument. It is just that because I know the Republicans here just like myself work hard, they care about their country and they go home most every weekend like I do. I want to go home again this weekend. I will meet somebody else with tears in their eyes saying I have lost my job, help me. We have a chance to help them today. Why in the world can we not have an open rule, bring every idea, Democrat, Republican, Independent, before us and try to create more and better jobs? I am going to vote against this rule so that we can have an open debate and bring more and better jobs to this country.

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, it is beyond me why we do not bring the best of ideas, Democrat, Republican, Independent, in here to try and create more and better jobs. I am really startled and shocked.

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I have asked a member of the Committee on Rules to explain why we did not have an opportunity to vote on the ATP program to bring more jobs to this country, and I did not get a satisfactory answer. I asked a very informed member of the Committee on Science to explain why we could not get a vote on the ATP program, which is so important. Now we have a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Gillmor) here. Before the gentleman leaves, let us give the Committee on Energy and Commerce an opportunity to explain why we should not have a vote on the ATP program to bring more and better jobs to this country. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Gillmor).

Mr. GORDON. I yield to the gentleman from Michigan.

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, my friend from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers), who does a wonderful job on our Committee on Science, I think did a very good job there in talking about a lot of good things in this bill. And there are a lot of good things in this bill. But I want to yield some additional time to him so he can explain why the ATP program, another good idea, why we cannot even have a vote on putting it in this bill today?

Mr. GORDON. Reclaiming my time, I come from a part of Tennessee where, and I do not think it is unique, that we are losing jobs every day. They are going overseas. They are going to Mexico. My constituents, and I would assume most everyone's here constituents, are saying we need more ideas, we do not like what is going on, bring us some ideas, let us have some changes. So we are limiting ourselves now to four amendments? Four ways to try to bring jobs back into this country? Why in the world do we not have an open rule and find all the ideas, Democrats, Republicans? We have an independent in this body. If he has some ideas, bring it on. If they are bad ones, vote them down. If they are not, then let us vote for them. We need more and better jobs in this country. This is the way to do it. I am really shocked and, I would have to say, offended that we are not given the opportunity to try to find more and better ways to bring jobs to this country.

Mr. GORDON. Reclaiming my time, I do not want to discuss the merits right now. I want to know why the ATP program, started by the Bush administration, supported by a bipartisan group of Governors, every other manufacturing group that came before our committee, I assume these same arguments were made. As the gentleman sat through the Committee on Rules, I am sure you did not hear anyone say that the ATP program would not create jobs and be good for this country. I just want to know why we are not allowed to do that. The gentleman said we were going to have an open debate. We do not have an open debate. This is not an open rule. It would seem to me, and we are appreciative of three or four Democratic amendments, but I do not care if they are Democratic or Republican amendments, I want good ideas from anybody that has got them, how to create jobs in this country and be more competitive. We ought to have an open rule. I am sure Republicans have good ideas. Let them come in here. Let us have an open rule on having more and better jobs in this country. We do not have that, obviously, which is a shame. But I would be happy to yield once again to my friend to explain to me why the ATP program, which was endorsed by all these folks, why we are not allowed to let that go forward, a program that President Bush started himself. Also, the other question is why should we not get all the good ideas possible?

Mr. GORDON. Reclaiming my time, I will sort of refocus the question. The question was after sitting through all the hearings, with everyone saying that the ATP program was good, and with job losses in Georgia and Tennessee and all across the country, when we could have improved this bill with a program that President Bush's father started, I would just like to ask why were we not allowed an amendment to continue this program?

Mr. GORDON. Were all the amendments that were left out also Democratic amendments?

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the brave astronauts of STS-114, Space Shuttle Discovery. These astronauts, and the entire NASA team, should be very proud of their accomplishments. The long hours of training and preparing paid off in the nearly flawless execution of multiple spacewalks and many other critical tasks on this mission, including delivering much needed supplies to the space station and performing unprecedented in-flight repairs. Americans all across this country were riveted by the adventures of these men and women. In fact, there was so much interest that new internet records were set: more than two-and-a-half million people visited NASA's website over the course of this mission. Many of those ``hits'' were children, tomorrow's explorers, who have found new heroes and role models in the crew of STS-114. By showing our children what they can accomplish, these astronauts inspire the next generation and encourage them to focus on science, engineering and technology--fields that are vital to our future economy and security. The ability to inspire is, perhaps, the greatest benefit of our space program and this Discovery crew has provided inspiration for all of us. It is fitting that we honor the crew of STS-114 and all of the NASA employees and contractors who are helping this Nation explore space. I thus am proud to be an original cosponsor of H. Res. 441, and I urge its adoption.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, like so many families, my family has been watching the horrible scenes that we see from Mississippi and Louisiana, and really every day my wife, Leslie, and I talk about how lucky we are and talk about how really the trivial problems in our life are just that, trivial, compared to what is going on elsewhere. Last night, I told her a story that I had not thought about in a long time, that was, that back in 1969, it was August of 1969, three friends of mine from school, Jim Caperton, Doug Young and Sammy Sells, we went down to Jackson, Mississippi, for a school program; and we were there when Hurricane Camille struck the coast. Some National Guard came to our meeting and said, Would any of you volunteer to go down and help clean up after Hurricane Camille? Well, Doug and Jim and Sammy and I decided we would do that. We wanted to help, and we also thought it would be an adventure. So we got in the back of the National Guard truck and started heading down to the coast. As we drove down there, there was just a steady stream of cars and trucks and buses coming the other way. So many folks had all the goods that they could salvage tied down to their car and were coming this way. Then when we got there, it was shocking. I had seen what a tornado could do in my hometown of Murphysboro to a house, and I had seen how it was torn up. But at that time, what you found is that the hurricane would send in these massive tides. They would tear down anything in their way and then take it all back out to sea, and it was like it had never been there before, and all you might see would be maybe some brick steps here and there to a home. It was, as I say, shocking. The first thing that we were asked to do was to hand out food and water to some of the survivors there. It was, again, shocking to see the desperation on their faces, the unbelievableness of what was happening to them. It really reminds me, there was an old blues song that said something to the effect that the only thing that I own is what is on my back, and I have been wearing those clothes for the last 4 days. That was really the situation of all these people at that time. Then they took us over to a dorm late that night, or what seemed to be a dorm, there was no electricity or water and all the windows were all blown out, and we swept the glass out, turned over the mattresses and fell asleep in an exhaustive state and got up the next day. The next day our job was to sort through clothes that had been shipped from all over the country. We would separate them into women's clothes and men's clothes and different sizes, and we handed out those clothes again to people that were lined up in the only clothes that they had for quite some time. So my wife, Leslie, last night was telling me, we have a four-year- old daughter, her name is Payton, and like all little girls, she has outgrown a lot of her clothes. I have been trying to get my wife to donate them to the church so that someone would get some good use out of them, but Leslie feels like sort of giving up those clothes is like giving up those early years of our daughter's life. But last night she said, You know, we need to box these clothes up and send them to Mississippi and to Louisiana. So that is what we are doing. Then I called my mother and I talked with her, and she told me the story that she has told me a lot of times in the past. When she was a little girl, their house burned; and when their house burned, they lost everything. Back then, when you lived out in the country and your house burned, you did not have insurance. All you had was your neighbors and friends and whatever generosity that they might provide. So now I think that really we really are the neighbors and friends of these desperate folks down in Louisiana and Mississippi, and we all need to try to find a way to help them. I hope I can help you to help them. For the ones of you that live in the Sixth Congressional District in Tennessee, you can get on my Web site, www.house.gov/bart, and we will give you a list of organizations and ways to help. If you do not live in the Sixth District of Tennessee, then the Federal Government has set up a Web site, it is www.firstgov.gov, and that is the way that you can help. I think by helping, it makes all of us feel that in some way we are trying to relieve this horrible pain that other folks are going through. They are our neighbors, and we need to help. Here is how you can do it.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, first, I would like to thank Science Committee Chairman Sherry Boehlert and Energy Subcommittee Chair Judy Biggert for their hard work, leadership and willingness to work with the minority in developing Title IX, the Research and Development title of this bill. I would also like to call attention to a few provisions of the bill that I believe really illustrate the importance of utilizing our wide base of domestic science and technology resources in industry, the D.O.E. National Laboratories, universities and colleges, and training and trade organizations. Section 924(b) directs the Secretary of Energy to initiate a program in the field of advanced small-scale portable power technologies. Institutions such as Tennessee Tech University, Vanderbilt University and the University of Missouri are conducting valuable work with fuel cells, advanced batteries, microturbines, nanotechnology, and thermo- electricity. Advances in these fields will have limitless applications both military and civilian. Section 932(e) establishes a bio-diesel demonstration program for a new breed of fuels that have the capability of replacing most or all of the petroleum diesel component in current bio-diesel mixtures with a non-petroleum product. Middle Tennessee State University has generation units that it could make available to test these new fuels at various levels of concentration, and I hope that DOE would consider MTSU as an appropriate site to conduct these tests. Section 933 establishes a university program to demonstrate the feasibility of operating a hydrogen-powered vehicle by utilizing an innovative suite of off-the-shelf components in current automotive technologies. Research is being done today at Middle Tennessee State University that would show the practicality of running current engine technology off purely sun and water as the power sources. Section 983 addresses the critical issue of declining U.S. competencies in math, science and engineering by awarding a grant to a Southeastern consortium of research universities for partnerships with teacher training colleges and National Laboratories to design, implement and disseminate K-16 less on plans in math and science. One of the country's premier organizations in this field is the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). By utilizing the expert resources in teacher training institutions such as Middle Tennessee State University, I believe ORAU can play a major role in stemming the growing gap in our global technological competitiveness. Seciton 1010 seeks to recognize the contributions smaller colleges and universities can make in research and development activities and encourage this through greater collaboration with the traditional research institutions. By identifying the colleges and universities according to the Carnegie Classification system, this amendment defines accurately the categories of research institutions that will benefit most from collaboration. Section 1104 instructs the Secretary to support expanding ongoing activities of the National Center for Energy Management and Building Technologies. This important organization brings the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association, the Sheet Metal Workers, universities, and the national labs together to make sure that technology and skills are transferred in the heating and cooling industry. In my opinion, logical opportunities for expansion involve additional universities that are near other national laboratories like Oak Ridge and to initiate research, technology transfer, and training for related technologies such as ground source heat pumps. Sec. 404 instructs the Secretary to award grants to institutions of higher education that have substantial experience in coal research and show the greatest potential for advancing clean coal technologies. Schools such as Southern Illinois University, the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and the Center for Electric Power at Tennessee Technological University have programs dedicated to the cost-effective and environmentally-responsible usage of our most plentiful domestic energy source. I would also like to highlight the contributions of several of our members to very key components of Title IX: Mr. Honda's commitment to the progress of the Next Generation Lighting Initiative, the Stanford Linear Accelerator, and the Joint Genomics Institute, Nanotechnology research and development, and his work with Mr. Larson on transit bus demonstrations of fuel cells. Mrs. Woolsey and Mr. Udall's continued dedication to deploying clean, newable and efficient energy technologies in transportation, buildings and electric power production. Mr. Costello's diligence in ensuring that utilization of our vast domestic coal resources only gets cleaner and more efficient and universities play a major role in these efforts. Mrs. Lofgren's vision in support of domestic fusion energy research and international fusion projects that may ultimately harness the power of the sun and give the world an inexhaustible source of energy. Mr. Lincoln Davis' work to ensure good science continues at Oak Ridge National Lab, particularly in the field of High-End Computing. Mr. Miller's efforts to establish a nationwide network of Advanced Energy Technology Transfer Centers, to get technologies off the laboratory shelf and into the marketplace. Sheila Jackson Lee's work in electric vehicle battery recycling, building standards, offshore oil and gas resources and most importantly, her tireless commitment to science at minority-serving institutions. John Larson's continued support for the development and utilization of fuel cell technologies that will carry us into a future hydrogen economy. The Science Committee contributed virtually all of Title 9, the research and development title of this bill. While Research and Development programs typically have not been controversial, I believe the Title 9 provisions represent a major part of this legislation. The R&D programs authorized in this bill will provide the means to produce the energy that this country will need for the future.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank Christopher Tatum for his service during his internship this summer. Chris is a resident of Gallatin, Tennessee, and he has been a tremendous help to my constituents in Tennessee's Sixth Congressional District. Chris is returning home to prepare for his junior year at the University of Mississippi. As he finishes his experience in Washington, he already is looking toward the next adventure--studying in Italy during the fall semester. Chris's remarkable attitude and eagerness have served him well as he has experienced the many facets of Congress first-hand. He has been very helpful in answering constituent concerns, guiding visitors through the U.S. Capitol and assisting me and my staff with countless projects. I hope Chris has enjoyed this learning experience as much as we have enjoyed having him in the office. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joey Anderson of Pea Ridge, Tennessee, for his life-saving actions during a recent trip to Dale Hollow Lake. On June 17th, two Kentucky youths were visiting the Pleasant Grove Swimming Area. While in the water, one teenager slipped on an unseen ledge and fell into the lake. Her friend went underwater to retrieve her, but he did not resurface. Joey Anderson quickly responded. In an act showing unwavering courage, he rushed to pull the two drowning victims from underneath the water. After bringing the two youths to the shore, Mr. Anderson administered CPR and revived them. Soon after, emergency workers arrived on the scene and transferred the victims to an area hospital. The youths arrived in serious condition but made a full recovery, thanks to Mr. Anderson's heroic actions. Joey Anderson's quick thinking and swift action saved the lives of two young people on that day. Middle Tennessee is fortunate to have upstanding citizens like Mr. Anderson. I commend him for his heroism and tremendous service to the community.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the many contributions Kassi Scott made while interning in my Washington, DC, office. Kassi, a native of Moss, Tennessee, was a wonderful addition to the office and a great servant to the constituents of Tennessee's Sixth Congressional District. Kassi soon will begin her junior year at Tennessee Tech University, where she is a political science major and president of the College Democrats. Kassi has gained a wealth of congressional experience. She interned in my Cookeville, Tennessee, office prior to her internship in Washington. While in our Nation's capital, she attended briefings, addressed constituent concerns and served as a friendly and informative tour guide of the U.S. Capitol. I hope Kassi enjoyed her internship as much as my staff and I have enjoyed her presence in the office. I wish her all the best in the future.

Mr. GORDON

Mr. GORDON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the many contributions Kevin Bragg has made while interning in my Washington, DC, office. Kevin has been a wonderful addition to the office and a great servant to the constituents of Tennessee's Sixth Congressional District. But Kevin must return to Murfreesboro, the hometown we share. This fall, Kevin will begin his senior year at the University of Tennessee, where he is a political science major and a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha honor society. During his internship, Kevin won over the entire staff with his ever- present eagerness and genuine interest in public affairs. He has attended briefings, addressed constituent concerns and served as a friendly and informative tour guide of the U.S. Capitol, providing visitors from Middle Tennessee with a personalized look at a national treasure. I hope Kevin has enjoyed his internship as much as my staff and I have enjoyed his presence in the office. I wish him all the best in the future.