Daniel Lipinski

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act, also known as the Butch Lewis Act. Without this bill, millions of retired workers, including truck drivers, electricians, steelworkers, locomotive engineers, boilermakers, machinists, and others will lose their earned pension benefits. We should all agree that these pensions should not be cut. This is about basic fairness. These are hardworking people who agreed to exchange some of their pay during their working years for the promise of a secure retirement. This bill will provide loans to pension plans in need of help to pay these benefits. These are loans. Many of us remember the dark days of the financial crisis. During this crisis, pension plans took a big hit. Back then, Congress bailed out Wall Street. Although I did not support that bill, I think we should all agree now that we should help support pensions for retirees. Let's do right by the everyday families who count on these plans. Let's pass this rule and pass the Rehabilitation for Multiemployer Pensions Act. It is the right thing to do.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Orland Fire Protection District as it celebrates 125 years of fighting fires and 50 years as an organized fire district. I am privileged to recognize the Orland Fire Protection District on this occasion. The Orland Fire Protection District traces its roots back to 1894, the year sewn onto the flag of the early Volunteer Fire Department. With 14 original members, the department operated a four man, hand- pulled pumping engine and a hose cart out of a wood-framed building on Beacon Avenue that doubled as the village hall. In 1914, Peter J. Pitts was named Fire Marshal, taking charge of the 25-member volunteer fire department and its $100 annual budget. The Orland Fire Department would serve the community for 75 years in total until voters approved a referendum creating the Orland Fire Protection District in 1969. Fire Chief Arthur Granat Sr., who joined the ranks as a volunteer in 1946 and was elected Fire Chief in 1957, was essential in overseeing this transition. In honor of Chief Granat's service to the community, the Orland Fire Protection District Training Facility was named in his honor. While the Orland Fire Protection District traces its 125-year history to humble beginnings, it now operates a model, contemporary service for the community and its residents. Appointed in 1988, Fire Chief/ Administrator Robert M. Buhs played a large role in the Fire Protection District's modernization. Today, Fire Chief Michael Schofield provides excellent leadership and has established the Orland Fire Protection District as a regional leader in fire safety and training. The Fire Protection District also deserves recognition for its significant community engagement work on opioids and other issues. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the rich history of service that the Orland Fire Protection District has provided. May the selfless dedication to community of all the employees of the OFPD serve as an example to us all.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise for the working men and women in our country who have well-deserved, hard-earned quality healthcare benefits to urge House leadership to bring to the floor H.R. 748, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act. This bill would finally fully repeal the 40 percent excise tax on certain employer-sponsored healthcare plans. For too long, the tax has been a looming threat. Make no mistake, this tax falls on everyday working families, including laborers, operating engineers, carpenters, pipefitters, painters, plumbers, ironworkers, transportation workers, firefighters, police, and many others, many who have fought for and won healthcare benefits in collective bargaining agreements. Among its many unintended effects, this excise tax has helped encourage the recent large increases in insurance plan deductibles, which especially hurt those with chronic illnesses. This repeal bill has been proposed for years. It is well past time to give it a vote on the House floor. The 40 percent excise tax on high-quality healthcare plans was enacted in the 2010 Affordable Care Act. The ACA has had many good effects, but it also had many flaws as enacted. We need to make the ACA work better for more Americans. And one provision that needs to be fixed is this tax. The tax was supposed to begin in 2018, but has been repeatedly delayed, reflecting the awareness of its negative impact. Right now, it is scheduled to take effect in 2022. It is time to just end it. Regardless of the intent behind the original ACA provisions, the truth is that health insurance premiums have continued to grow faster than inflation, putting even plans with modern benefits at risk of getting taxed. As Families USA recently pointed out, without a permanent solution, as many as one out of every four workers with job-based health plan coverage could be affected by this tax by 2025. That is just 6 short years from now. Furthermore, responsible employers plan ahead and are already gearing up to plan their budgets for health insurance in the next few years. This is especially concerning in the case of workers who have successfully used their right to organize to reach collective bargaining agreements with their employers. Good union jobs provide workers with a better opportunity to negotiate benefits that fairly reflect the important contributions they make to the American economy. Union jobs and union contracts mean workers are fairly compensated in the private sector without relying on taxpayers and the Federal Government. But collective bargaining agreements often span years, and the looming threat of the excise tax puts these hard-fought contracts at risk. Temporary delays in the excise tax only create more fear and uncertainty for families as they wonder whether their benefits will be severely cut back due to heavy government taxes. Delays also crimp employer budgets, as businesses are forced to account for the risk of getting hit with hefty charges. By undermining long-term collective bargaining agreements, these delays also undermine the bedrock of the American economy: fairly negotiated private contracts that all parties know they can rely on. Mr. Speaker, the American people have shown us that they don't want repeal of the ACA and they don't want important protections to be ripped out from under them. They want the ACA fixed. So let's show them we are listening. So, let's show them we are listening. Let's show them that workers with good, job-based health coverage will not have to fear it eroding simply due to government taxes. Let's bring the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act to the floor.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Chair, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Chair, I rise in support of my amendment to provide an additional $10 million for the National Security Innovation Network, or NSIN, which was originally called MD5. Section 225 of the 2018 NDAA authorized the national security innovation and entrepreneurial education programs, including what is now known as NSIN. NSIN aims to educate and build a network of innovators and entrepreneurs equipped with the expertise, know-how, incentives, and resources required to develop, commercialize, and apply technology for defense and national security applications. NSIN initiatives provide education and technology innovation and entrepreneurship. Of note, they provided a unique pathway for veterans to leverage their expertise, while learning cutting-edge business innovation methodology, and apply their knowledge to new national security problems. Through these initiatives, DOD is growing a cadre of entrepreneurs that are adept at critical thinking, innovative problem solving, and the creation of successful ventures that deliver economic national security and social value. One initiative in the National Security Innovation Network is the highly successful Hacking for Defense course. Hacking for Defense, or H4D, is a course currently taught at more than two dozen universities across the Nation. It pairs student teams with sponsors from across the defense and intelligence community to apply lean startup methodology developed in Silicon Valley to rapidly solve challenging, nonclassified national security problems. H4D was authorized in the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act and has been taught for 3 years, already producing innovative solutions to national security problems. For example, a team at Columbia University helped Special Operations Command automate communication of essential information from the battlefield to Central Command; a Stanford team helped develop an innovative way for Navy SEALs to spend less time underwater. These and other successful innovations have been developed by students in these classes. The innovation and entrepreneurial education that occurs with H4D also helps to train the next generation of our industrial-based innovators. In this way, it provides tremendous benefit to our national security. Madam Chair, I have had discussions with Chairman Visclosky on this amendment about the best way to move forward with this funding increase, and I believe we have come to an agreement on the best way to move forward to get an even bigger increase. Madam Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Visclosky), chairman of the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Chair, I thank Chairman Visclosky for his work on this appropriations bill and for working with me on this amendment. America's strength and entrepreneurship and innovation, we need to use those to protect our Nation in a rapidly evolving threat environment and maintaining our security. A small increase in investment in Hacking for Defense helps us do this, while also training the next generation of innovators who understand the need to contribute to our national security. Madam Chair, with the agreement of the chairman, I withdraw my amendment.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Chair, I thank the chair and ranking member for including and supporting my amendment in this bloc, and I thank Mr. Foster for his support. The amendment redirects an additional $15 million to the Leadership Computing Facility at Argonne National Lab. This facility will be home to Aurora, the first exascale computer in the U.S., if not the world. We are currently in a race with China to build the first computer that can perform 1 billion billion operations per second. This will enable advanced simulations, such as climate modeling. It will also aid in the discovery of new therapeutic drugs and the development of new materials for solar energy production, batteries, and other advanced technologies. It is an economic and national security imperative that the U.S. maintains leadership in supercomputing by developing a well-supported exascale computer, and this amendment will help do that. Madam Chair, I thank the chair and ranking member for their support.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Officer Robert Carroll of the Oak Lawn Police Department for being named the Village's Top Cop of 2019. The Oak Lawn Lion's Club bestows this award on a distinguished member of the force after being nominated by his or her peers and selected by a committee of police department leaders. Officer Carroll has served the Oak Lawn community as an exemplary first responder. While performing his duties, Officer Carroll has put his life on the line to make numerous felony arrests and to keep the Village of Oak Lawn safe. Officer Carroll has received several letters from citizens recognizing him for his compassion and professionalism in the line of duty. Officer Carroll is an exceptional member of the Oak Lawn Police Department and his record stands as a shining example for others seeking to serve Oak Lawn and our larger Chicagoland community. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Oak Lawn Police Officer Robert Carroll. I congratulate him on his accomplishments and thank him for his service.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Battalion Chief Michael McMillin of the Oak Lawn Fire Department for being named the Village's Top Firefighter of 2019. The Oak Lawn Lions Club bestows this award on a distinguished member of the department after being nominated by his or her peers and selected by a committee of fire department leaders. Battalion Chief McMillin has distinguished himself as a tremendous first responder and dedicated servant to the Village of Oak Lawn. His devoted service to the community has earned him admiration from his fellow firefighters as well as the people of Oak Lawn. Battalion Chief McMillin exemplifies the true characteristics of leadership and has brought professionalism and tremendous dedication to the Oak Lawn Fire Department. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Battalion Chief Michael McMillin of the Oak Lawn Fire Department. I congratulate him on his accomplishments and thank him for his service.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, American families increasingly struggle with rising healthcare costs. That is why I am pleased to support the underlying bill which contains some commonsense provisions that will protect consumers, lower drug prices, and stabilize the individual insurance market, which will provide families with some needed relief. The amendment I am offering will further help Americans who purchased health insurance on healthcare.gov. Americans in 39 States without a State-based exchange depend on healthcare.gov to purchase insurance during open enrollment. This past year, over 8.4 million plan selections were made on this website. Over the past 2 years, the Department of Health and Human Services had announced maintenance outages on healthcare.gov for over 12 hours every Sunday during open enrollment. I am an engineer. I understand the complexity of this website and the heavy volume of users, which means that routine maintenance is necessary, even during open enrollment. However, I want to ensure that HHS is doing all it can to ensure this maintenance is conducted in a way that has the least impact on consumers. Families need ample time to choose health insurance plans. We must make sure that enrollment is not being negatively impacted by these outages. My amendment would require a GAO study to determine if healthcare.gov outages are having a negative impact on enrollment. HHS claims that maintenance is scheduled for times of low site traffic, but they have not provided data to support this claim. I know that when I am using the online exchange to purchase my insurance each year, I often will try to do it on a Sunday when I have free time. This may be an anomaly. We need to figure this out. What the GAO study would provide is clarity on the best time to schedule maintenance. This would help us to make sure HHS is doing right by Americans as they navigate the complex process of buying health insurance. Mr. Chairman, this is a simple, commonsense amendment. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chair, I yield myself the balance of my time. I think this is a commonsense amendment. I ask GAO to look at the study and say: Okay. What is the best time to take healthcare.gov offline to do maintenance? Let's do this the right way. As an engineer, that is the way I think. I think most companies would look at it this way. So I urge my colleagues to support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, all Americans deserve equal treatment under the law and should have these rights protected, including individuals in the LGBT community. They should be able to compete equally for jobs, be assured equal opportunity in education, housing, financial, and judicial settings. At the same time, the free exercise of religious beliefs is a core ideal of our country, protected in the Constitution and through Federal law. The Equality Act explicitly prevents application of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, RFRA. This law was passed nearly unanimously in 1993 by a Democratic House, Senate, and White House. Congress has never passed a law that shrinks or exempts itself from RFRA. It is critical to ensuring that religious freedom stands a chance of being fully lived out and fairly treated in court. This week, I will vote for the Equality Act for the broader goals. But before it becomes law, we must do more to ensure religious liberty.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Polish American Congress. I am pleased to recognize such an esteemed organization that has enriched the cultural landscape of our nation and strengthened America's friendship with Poland. I am proud to have worked closely for many years with Polish American Congress President Frank Spula in Chicago. Established near the end of World War II, the Polish American Congress gave voice to the shared Polish-American interest in a free Poland and in defeating the Axis powers. After World War II ended, the organization played a leading role in international efforts to secure a prosperous and independent post-war Poland. During the Cold War, the organization engaged in further work to bolster relations between our two countries, through pushing for American recognition of the Polish western border, securing support for Radio Free Europe, and advocating on behalf of Polish immigrants. Today, the Polish American Congress stands as a federation of over 3,000 Polish American organizations including veteran, cultural, professional, religious, and social associations, and represents over 10 million Americans of Polish descent and origin. Throughout its rich history, the Polish American Congress has been highly successful in ensuring strong economic cooperation and promoting civic, educational, and cultural programs to further artistic and intellectual exchanges. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Polish American Congress on its 75th anniversary. Chicagoland is fortunate to have the most robust Polish-American community in our nation. I am proud to be a Polish-American and to represent so many others in my district. I have witnessed firsthand the exceptional contributions of the Polish American Congress. I know this organization will continue its important work for many years into the future.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Polish Highlanders Alliance of North America as the organization prepares to celebrate its 90th anniversary. It is a privilege to represent so many Polish Highlanders and to have the organization's headquarters just a few blocks from my district. The Polish Highlanders Alliance traces its roots back to 1929 when its first chapter, known as a circle, was founded in Chicago. Since its inception, the Alliance has sought to organize Polish Highlanders throughout North America into a unified Highlander family. For the last 90 years, members of the Alliance have worked hard to preserve the unique cultural heritage of the Polish Highland region, including music, dance, folk costumes, and other traditions. Through the years, the organization has grown to over 80 circles throughout the U.S. and Canada. Today, the Polish Highlanders Alliance is headquartered on the Southwest Side of Chicago in the Highlander Home on Archer Avenue. The Alliance organizes many cultural events for the Highlander and the Polish-American community including the Highlander Picnic which attracts nearly 3,000 people every year. For its numerous cultural activities, the Alliance has received awards including the Gloria Artis Cultural Achievement Medal. The medal was awarded by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of the Republic of Poland for the Alliance's distinguished contributions to Polish culture. In addition to cultural activities, the Polish Highlanders Alliance raises money to provide assistance to churches, schools, and other establishments within Poland and the Highland region. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing all that the Polish Highlanders Alliance of North America does to promote unique Polish cultural traditions and to support strong ties between Poland and the U.S. The members' devotion to their community and their mission is commendable and I wish them the best as they continue to impart their traditions for generations to come. One hundred years (Sto lat).

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to be cosponsoring H.R. 9, which we will be voting on this week. H.R. 9 reaffirms the United States' commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is long past time that we do more to fight climate change. Fighting climate change has been a priority of mine since I got to Congress more than a decade ago. In 2007, in an era of divided government, we were able to make some progress. I was able to get two bills passed into law that address climate change. One required the Federal Government to cut energy usage by installing energy-efficient light bulbs in Federal buildings. The other created a new prize competition to encourage development of clean transportation fuel. It seemed that we were starting to take climate change seriously. In 2009 and 2010, more steps were taken. In order to make a major breakthrough, in 2009, I helped introduce the first bipartisan bill to impose a revenue-neutral carbon fee. However, in 2010, Congress failed to pass major climate legislation, and since then, we have failed to make more progress. Today, I have renewed hope. H.R. 9 is a good first step, but much more needs to be done. I am an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act, which would institute a carbon fee with the revenue returned to Americans with a dividend check. This bill would bring greenhouse gas emissions down 90 percent by 2050. I have sponsored several other climate change bills, including the Challenges & Prizes for Climate Act, which would incentivize and reward development of innovative solutions with direct benefits to the climate. These are all ways to harness American ingenuity to solve our climate crisis. In doing so, by coming up with an American solution, we could build our economy and create more jobs. We know, as Americans, that we can get this done, and we must do it. Now is the time for us to act.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Mr. Bob Hallberg and recognize his tremendous impact on our community, most recently as the Women's Basketball Coach and Athletic Director at St. Xavier University in Chicago. Coach Hallberg's dedication to his athletes and his love for the sport is nothing short of extraordinary. Despite starting his career over 50 years ago, Coach Hallberg still considers his retirement to be an early one. His commitment to his profession and his players throughout his distinguished tenure stands as an example to all educators striving to make a positive impact on the student- athletes they mentor. After playing basketball throughout his studies at Leo High School and later the Chicago Teachers College (Chicago State), Coach Bob Hallberg began his career coaching boys' basketball just down the street from my childhood home at Chicago's Kennedy High School in 1966. From there he went on to coach Men's Basketball at St. Xavier University, Chicago State University, and the University of Illinois, Chicago. In 2000 he came back to St. Xavier to become the university's first--and so far only--Women's Basketball coach. In addition, Coach Hallberg spent many years as St. Xavier's Athletic Director. Coach Hallberg has been honored with induction into multiple Halls of Fame, including St. Xavier, Leo High School, the University of Illinois-Chicago, the Chicago Catholic League, the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA), and Chicago State University. Meanwhile, his former players remember him for his endless encouragement and someone who would stop at nothing to mold a player into the best version of themselves. I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Coach Bob Hallberg. It is not often you come across a person who so encompasses inspiration, sportsmanship, and professionalism. I congratulate Coach Hallberg on his distinguished accomplishments, thank him for his service, and wish him and his wife Linda nothing but good health and happiness.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. Congress first enacted this bipartisan law 25 years ago to unite our Nation in the fight against domestic violence. It ushered in a new era of protection for all Americans and continues to provide essential support so that victims have the legal tools and resources to seek justice and receive care. Domestic violence is a horrific crime experienced by one out of three women and one out of four men. We must do all we can to stop it. Recently, I visited the WINGS domestic violence shelter on the southwest side of Chicago, and I was joined by Chicago Police Officer Gino Garcia. Gino was only six when his mother, a Chicago police officer, was killed by her boyfriend. Gino was inspired to become an officer and now works with shelters and other domestic violence organizations. By reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, we help organizations like WINGS, and we empower victims and save lives. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. John Alfirevich of Apple Chevrolet in Tinley Park for being named the 2019 TIME Dealer of the Year. It is an honor to recognize not only a successful businessman, but someone who has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to our community. The TIME Dealer of the Year award was created in 1970 by TIME magazine in partnership with Ally Financial and the National Automobile Dealers Association. It is an award honoring new-car dealers in the United States for exceptional performance and distinguished community service. This year, Mr. Alfirevich was selected from 51 nominees out of more than 16,000 franchised dealers throughout the country. Criteria for the TIME award include sales record, customer and employee satisfaction, and service to the community. Mr. Alfirevich began his career in the car business at the age of 12 at Bob Motl Chevrolet in Chicago, the company that would later become Apple Chevrolet. From there, he continued his journey, working in every department, eventually coming to own the dealership along with his father. Mr. Alfirevich credits his dealership's success to its emphasis on honesty and transparency in every transaction. His integrity also guides his philanthropic endeavors. In 2015, he served as the chairman of First Look for Charity, a fundraising celebration held before the Chicago Auto Show, raising $3 million to benefit Chicago-area charities. Further, under his leadership, Apple Chevrolet made charitable contributions to almost 100 organizations in 2018. As the 2019 TIME Dealer of the Year, Mr. Alfirevich is recognized for his integrity, dedication, and service. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing Mr. Alfirevich. He is well deserving of this award and I am proud to represent such a talented and charitable businessman.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of the 200th anniversary of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. It is an honor to recognize a court with such a rich and impactful history at the heart of the American judiciary system. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois traces its roots back to Illinois' establishment. Nathaniel Pope, serving as the Territory of Illinois' Secretary from inception in 1809, became its Delegate to Congress in 1816. There, he worked tirelessly on part of the territory's eventual admission to the Union as the state of Illinois in 1818. As such, it was only a natural progression for him to be nominated and confirmed as the first Judge of its new District, bringing with him strong anti-slavery views. Eventually, the United States District Court for the District of Illinois was subdivided into the Northern and Southern District Courts in 1855. The Northern District led by its first judge, Judge Thomas Drummond, continued the tradition of protecting the rights of all people. One such example, was through the sentencing of the abolitionist John Hossack, who had violated the Fugitive Slave Act by abetting a runaway slave. Judge Drummond, conflicted between his duty to the rule of law and his abolitionist conscience, recognized Hossack was guilty of breaking the law, but chose to hand down a minimal sentence for the transaction. Even as the Civil War raged on, Judge Drummond balanced his sense of duty and patriotism, actively supporting the Union and President Lincoln while still defending the Chicago Times' right to freedom of speech and criticism. Today the court exists as the Northern District of Illinois and is led by Chief Judge Ruben Castillo. It has grown considerably during its 200 years and now contains 22 judicial posts, ensuring further public and juris prudential access to its resources and rulings. I am grateful to the District Court and its people, for laws are useless without justice. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on the 200th anniversary of the courts establishment. Through its celebration, we pay tribute not only to our institutions and the rule of law, but to our long-standing history of justice.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 539) to require the Director of the National Science Foundation to develop an I-Corps course to support commercialization- ready innovation companies, and for other purposes.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, 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. 539, the bill now under consideration.

Mr. LIPINSKI. 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. 539. The House passed a nearly identical bill, H.R. 5086, in the 115th Congress and, unfortunately, that is as far as the bill got. Hopefully, we can get more movement on it this time around, get it through the Senate, and to the President's desk for his signature. Mr. Speaker, the Innovators to Entrepreneurs Act is a bill I introduced to spur entrepreneurship and turn American innovation into American jobs. This bill expands the National Science Foundation's highly successful Innovation Corps, or I-Corps program, a program I am proud to have championed since its inception in 2011. I-Corps teaches scientists and engineers, including many women and underrepresented minorities, how to turn their federally-funded laboratory research into successful products and services. The program has educated more than 1,300 teams, representing 271 universities in 47 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. It has been linked to almost 650 startup companies that have raised almost $300 million in follow-on funding. In the 114th Congress, I led the effort that authorized I-Corps and expanded its reach to other agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, NASA, and the Department of Energy. The Federal Government invests billions of dollars in research and development annually, both at government facilities, such as national labs, and at universities and research institutions. I-Corps is a modest investment that leads to a higher return on our research spending by significantly increasing rates of commercialization, economic activity, and job creation. Our economy is driven by the ingenuity of our scientists and engineers, developing innovations today that become tomorrow's great products. And yet, still only a small minority of federally-funded research with commercial potential ever makes it to the marketplace. The I-Corps program helps to change that. This bill expands I-Corps to meet some pressing needs. First, it helps more people participate in the program. Right now, unless you are a grantee of NSF or another agency with an I-Corps program, the training can be difficult to access. This bill will give recipients of small business grants from any Federal agency the flexibility to pay for I-Corps with their grant funds, and will also allow other entrepreneurs to apply and pay out-of-pocket to participate. Second, the bill directs NSF to establish a new course as part of the I-Corps program to teach scientist-entrepreneurs how to start and grow a company. While the current I-Corps course does a great job of helping scientists and engineers determine who their customers are and whether their innovation is suitable for commercialization, it offers only limited guidance on what to do after a scientist makes the decision to become an entrepreneur. Skills like how to write a business plan, hire a team, and attract investment are taught in business schools, but not in Ph.D. programs. NSF recognized this need and has already begun a pilot program to test curriculum for this new course. This bill will make sure the new course is fully developed and made available around the country. Finally, this bill requires a GAO assessment of the I-Corps program, its first comprehensive, independent evaluation since it was created. Although the program's success to date speaks for itself, it is important to continuously improve it by developing metrics to measure its performance and ensure that Federal funds are well spent. This bill has been endorsed by a wide range of stakeholders, including the ``father of modern entrepreneurship,'' who developed the curriculum that I-Corps is based on, Steve Blank; the former NSF program officer, who founded the program, Dr. Errol Arkilic; and several directors of I-Corps Nodes around the country. This bill is also endorsed by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, the National Venture Capital Association, the Association of American Universities; the Council on Governmental Relations; and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. I thank my cosponsors, Daniel Webster of Florida, Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio, Science, Space, and Technology Committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas, and Ranking Member Frank Lucas of Oklahoma. I also thank Senators Coons and Young, who are cosponsors of the Senate companion to this bill. Mr. Speaker, I believe that helping our scientists, engineers, and academics not only advance our knowledge and understanding of the world, but also create jobs and products that fuel our economy, is a goal we all can share. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I want to again thank full committee Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson for cosponsoring. I want to thank Ranking Member Lucas, Mr. Gonzalez, and Mr. Webster for cosponsoring--Mr. Webster as the lead Republican cosponsor on this bill now and in the previous Congress. Mr. Webster talked about being an engineer. I was an engineer and then an academic; although, I wasn't an academic as an engineer. I was a political scientist. But I understand that a lot of scientists, engineers, political scientists have a lot of great ideas, a lot of great research. We as taxpayers put a lot of money into this research. There are a lot of great ideas that come out of it, the possibility for great innovations. I will always remember when I first met with Steve Blank and saw him teaching the course that was the basis for I-Corps out of Stanford University. I thought this made complete sense to me, to be able to teach scientists and engineers, teach them how to be entrepreneurs, teach them how to develop ideas into new products, new services, and, hopefully, new American jobs. The I-Corps program has been one of the most successful programs that I have seen during my time in Washington, D.C. This bill will help to advance that, and in doing so, help advance American innovation. I think that is a goal that we can all embrace. So I ask my colleagues to support this bill, and, hopefully, we will work on it and get it through the Senate and to the President's desk, because I think this will be a great victory for our country. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.