Daniel Lipinski

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Dewalt Mechlin Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution which is celebrating its 100 year anniversary. I appreciate all the hard work the Dewalt Mechlin Chapter has done to assist the community through their service. The NSDAR's mission is ``to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism.'' For a century, the Dewalt Mechlin Chapter has excelled at fulfilling this mission. The Dewalt Mechlin Chapter was organized by Minnie MacFarlane Prince and eleven charter members. Their first meeting on December 6, 1915, was held at the Ridge Park Field House. Mrs. Prince, as founding member, chose to name the chapter after her patriot ancestor, Dewalt Mechlin. The chapter placed its first historical marker in the Beverly/ Morgan Park community and has continued to preserve history with historical markers in order to promote education. The Dewalt Mechlin Chapter has a long history of community service. In both the First and Second World Wars, they assisted with the war effort by operating a Red Cross Shop and contributing to relief efforts. During the Second World War the organization invested in war bonds, urged membership in the Red Cross, recruited blood donors, and donated generously to veterans' hospitals in Chicagoland. This service continues with the chapter supporting veterans, recruiting blood donors, donating money and gifts to the veterans hospitals, supporting the Red Cross, serving as election judges, working to encourage voting, marching in the Beverly Memorial Day parade, donating food and clothing to needy families, and many other activities that enrich the community. The Dewalt Mechlin Chapter is particularly proud of its involvement in community education, particularly through its support of the Good Citizens and ROTC programs. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the women of the Dewalt Mechlin Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution for all they have done over the past century. They have done a tremendous job and I wish them all the best.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Saint Bruno Catholic Church, an exemplary Catholic parish at 4751 South Harding on the southwest side of Chicago, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary. Founded on September 12, 1925, St. Bruno's mission has remained the same: proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, caring for the poor, the sick, and the elderly, educating children in the faith, and celebrating the sacraments. The parish first carried out this mission as a place of worship for Polish immigrants. Father Alexis Gorski presided over the first Mass at St. Bruno's. Today, Father Antoni Bury is pastor and the parish is home to a diverse population with Masses offered in English, Polish, and Spanish. All parishioners, irrespective of their ethnicity, come together and work to live their faith and improve their community. St. Bruno's also has a parish school led by principal Colleen Schrantz. On Saturday, October 3rd, St. Bruno's will be celebrating its 90th anniversary with a Mass presided over by Bishop Thomas J. Paprocki. Bishop Paprocki is the nephew of the first parish priest, Fr. Gorski. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing St. Bruno Catholic Church and all its parishioners as they celebrate their 90th anniversary. May St. Bruno's continue to live out its mission of faith in service to God and others.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Thank you, Mr. Tonko. I will just take a short time here to add my voice in strong support of reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank. It has been 3 months since the Bank's charter ended, and American companies and workers are suffering. Mr. Tonko, you had mentioned what GE has recently done. We see manufacturing jobs being shipped overseas due to the inability of corporations and small businesses to access vital guarantees and financing. Every major trading nation in the world, other than the U.S. right now offers export financing. Without it, our manufacturers and workers are at a competitive disadvantage, something we cannot afford. In 2014 alone, the Ex-Im Bank financed over $27 billion of exports and supported 164,000 jobs in the U.S., all while generating a $675 million surplus. When we are looking for money, the Ex-Im Bank generated a large surplus. The Bank is vital to supporting small businesses. Nearly 90 percent of Ex-Im Bank transactions directly support small businesses. We need small business to succeed in this Nation if this Nation is going to succeed. Small businesses create the large majority of the jobs in this country. Small businesses need the Ex-Im Bank. So it is time to reauthorize the Bank and support American jobs in manufacturing. We cannot wait any longer. We need to bring this to the floor, get this done, and get more Americans back to work. Thank you very much, Mr. Tonko, for your work on this.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 90th birthday of a Chicagoland icon, Mr. Edward F. McElroy. It is my pleasure to pay homage to a man who has entertained and informed residents of Chicagoland for almost 70 years. Ed McElroy began his long and storied career in 1946 under the guidance of radio personality Bob Elson. His first opportunity to cover nationwide news and sports came with Eddie Hubbard on the Chesterfield Show for WIND, and in 1950, he joined WJJD, another local station in Chicago. Over the last 70 years, Mr. McElroy has delivered news to Chicagoland on an incredible variety of platforms and his work continues today. He currently hosts the TV shows Community in Focus and the Ed McElroy Show where he interviews local newsmakers. Outside of the enduring impact his work in broadcasting has had on the people of Chicago, Ed McElroy also deserves recognition for his outstanding service to his community. Mr. McElroy has always been willing to take time out of his busy schedule for those in need. He has entertained hospitalized veterans and underprivileged children at LaRabida Children's Hospital and he visits schools to teach students about patriotism. Veterans in particular have benefited from the generosity of Ed McElroy. A veteran himself, Mr. McElroy served our country during World War II in the Army Air Corps and became involved in veterans issues shortly after his service. Among his long list of accolades, he has served as National Commander of the Catholic War Veterans of the United States of America, as well as State Commander for Illinois. Finally, Ed McElroy has been consistently active with the Chicago Policy Department. His efforts to improve the welfare of Chicago Police Officers and their families have been recognized by police organizations across Chicagoland. Mr. McElroy, father of three and grandfather of six, has had a hugely successful career and continues to have an impact on the day-to- day lives of Chicago area residents. I ask my colleagues to please join me in celebrating the 90th birthday of Edward F. McElroy.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, the Iran nuclear agreement should be judged on what is best for our national security and what is more likely to produce peace. I believe that peace has a better chance if we reject this deal, keep sanctions on, and go back to the negotiating table to get a better agreement. This agreement was supposed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, but, at best, Iran will be a nuclear threshold state in 15 years. By practically guaranteeing and legitimizing this access, there will be a rush by others in the region to gain their own nuclear weapons, creating an enormously dangerous arms race in the most volatile part of the world. The inspections protocols in the agreement are troubling because they give Iran 24 days to delay inspection requests at suspected nuclear sites, a far cry from ``anytime, anywhere.'' And the agreement contains deeply concerning sanctions relief on Iran's acquisition of conventional weapons and ballistic missile technology in 5 and 8 years, respectively. These are just some of my concerns that lead me, after careful consideration, to oppose this agreement. Mr. Speaker, we should and we can do better. I urge my colleagues to reject this resolution.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the victims of the Eastland disaster--a shipwreck which resulted in the deaths of 844 passengers and crew--on the 100th anniversary of the tragedy. One hundred years ago, thousands of employees of Western Electric were preparing for a rare day off of work, taking a boat ride across Lake Michigan to enjoy an annual picnic. Tragically, for 844 passengers and crew on the Eastland, their vessel listed and tipped over, and they soon drowned in the Chicago River. Many were immigrants from Central and Eastern Europe, living in Berwyn, Cicero, and the surrounding Chicagoland area, and their loss left an enduring mark on these communities--22 families were completely wiped out, and 19 families were left without parents. I will always remember my grandmother talking about the tragedy and the mark it left on her. The Eastland shipwreck remains to this day the greatest loss of life in a single disaster in Illinois history. It is a shame that the victims and heroes of the Eastland disaster have been largely forgotten by the American people. That is why I have introduced a resolution commemorating the Eastland. I believe it is absolutely necessary that we here in Congress pay our respects to the working class families who lost their lives on that terrible summer day. Along with honoring the victims and survivors of the disaster, my resolution includes references to the historical significance of the sinking of the Eastland and recognizes the brave first responders who risked their own lives to save hundreds of passengers and crew. I would like to thank my colleagues from Illinois for cosponsoring this measure. I think it is also important to commend the hard work that the Eastland Disaster Historical Society has done in researching, promoting, and educating the public about this important historical event, and its broader effect on Chicagoland. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to remember the victims and heroes of the Eastland disaster, and to remain dedicated to avoiding such tragedies in the future.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, Americans are appalled by the murder of Kate Steinle by a man who had been deported five times and was wanted by ICE but was let free. In Chicago, Denny McCain was killed by a drunk driver who had a prior felony and who was in our country illegally. ICE issued a detainer, but the defendant was let out on bail and disappeared. Donald Trump is wrong. Most immigrants to America are upstanding people who come to our country to work hard, but policies that permit these travesties should be stopped. Unfortunately, we are not being offered a commonsense solution. We are offered the polarizing choices that we either do nothing or we harm the very institutions and citizens we are trying to protect. What we need to do is stop local policies that ignore ICE detainers and let criminals go who are in our country illegally. I know this commonsense solution will anger people on both sides, but ask local police. They want to focus on those who have committed crimes in their communities. It is just common sense.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 179, to honor the memory of Jim Oberstar, a colleague, mentor, and friend to me and to many more. From his time serving as a staff member to his tenure as the chairman of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Jim spent every day of his 47 years on Capitol Hill working to improve our Nation's infrastructure and, in turn, the lives of Americans across the country. I was proud to serve with Jim on the T and I Committee for 4 years and to share in his passion for all the things that help ensure that our quality of life is high and that our economy is strong. Jim's thoughtful, forward-thinking approach to our Nation's infrastructure needs was built from years of experience and careful deliberation, and it earned him the well-deserved nickname, Mr. Transportation. During his time as chairman, committee members knew that they were going to learn something when they arrived at the committee room, and they are going to leave on a mission. Jim was truly a visionary when it came to our Nation's infrastructure system, but he didn't just talk about what needed to be done. Whether it was modernizing our Nation's airspace, improving rail safety, moving freight on time, repairing our roads, rehabilitating transit systems, or advancing cycling, Jim got things done. That is because Jim had a tireless work ethic and was as a great leader and friend as he was a policy expert. Jim treated people well, and it didn't matter whether you were Republican or Democrat; he was willing to work with you and help your district and constituents. My bicycle is a fixture in my office, and its presence reminds me of Jim and the time I spent cycling with him, when I learned more than I ever expected to be able to learn on a bike ride. Jim was known for his love of the French language, and he spoke it flawlessly. What fewer people know is that Jim perfected his French while serving in a volunteer program that preceded the Peace Corps. He was teaching French and Creole to Americans helping out in Haiti. Jim loved helping people. He was a big promoter of adoption and a defender of life. It was all an outgrowth, I believe, of his strong Catholic faith. Mr. Speaker, Congress and the Nation are better because of Jim Oberstar, and those of us who worked closely with him are better public servants, colleagues, and people because of him. S. 179 is a fitting tribute to Jim Oberstar, and I urge its passage.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, a strong nuclear agreement that truly forestalls Iran's weapons breakout ability could be positive for regional and national security. However, I fear too many concessions are being made to secure a deal, and a bad deal will be worse than no deal at all. We must remember Iran sponsors terrorism throughout the region. They are constantly provocative and a serious threat toward our ally Israel. We all want to see the threat of war with Iran diminished and to disable their nuclear pursuits, but giving them too much to secure a vapid deal will only increase Iran's threat. That is why any agreement must have unassailable standards for inspections any time in any place. Access to all background on their prior military nuclear research must also be in the agreement. The strictest limits on centrifuges and enrichments must be there. A breakout time of no less than 1 year and a phased performance-based sanctions relief and airtight snapback sanctions when Iran violates these standards must also be included. Anything less should be rejected.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Speaker, last night, I wore my number 35 Tony Esposito Chicago Blackhawks jersey from the 1970s, and I watched what I could never have imagined in those days, a Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup dynasty; but thanks to the leadership of owner, Rocky Wirtz, and an amazing team put together by Stan Bowman and led by Coach Q, the Hawks won their third Stanley Cup in 6 years. The core of Toews, Keith, Kane, Hossa, Seabrook, Hjalmarsson, and Sharp have been there for all three. This year, Duncan Keith was awarded the Conn Smythe MVP trophy, but this was truly a team effort. Chicagoland thanks everyone in the organization for once again making us proud and bringing the Stanley Cup back to Chicago. I can't wait for the parade. I can't wait to see the Stanley Cup again.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of American workers, American manufacturing, and the environment and in strong opposition to TPA. TPA is woefully inadequate when it comes to stopping currency manipulation, enforcing labor standards, and protecting American consumer and environmental protections. This is exactly the wrong time for Congress to be giving up its authority, which is our constituents' ability to have a voice on trade deals. This is not labor versus business. Lapham-Hickey Steel, Independence Tube, and countless other manufacturers across my district oppose this. Ford Motor opposes this because they know past trade agreements sold as economic boons have been a bust, and they are gravely concerned about how the massive TPP enabled by this TPA will kill more Americans jobs. We need fair trade and American workers will win, but that is not what they are being given. It is time for Congress to stand up for the middle class and American manufacturing and stop passing bad trade deals. Vote ``no'' on TPA.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding and for his work on this amendment and on the bill. As the gentleman said, early last year, the FAA switched course on its hiring process by moving from the AT-SAT, which was a tried-and- true, knowledge-based test, to a bio-data assessment. The change had a tremendous impact on the 36 Air Traffic Collegiate Training Initiative schools. I have one of the best of these schools in my district, Lewis University. Lewis 2 years ago won the Loening Trophy as the best aviation program in the Nation. Maybe students chose to attend Lewis and these other schools because of the advantages that CTI schools provided under the old hiring system. They decided at a young age to enroll in a program fostered by the FAA and were given the opportunity to excel on the AT-SAT, which was unfairly pulled out from under them. Madam Chair, this amendment is a step in the right direction towards fixing the misguided policy change that had a negative impact on students and the universities that invested significant resources in training our future generations of air traffic controllers. But I need to emphasize that this amendment should not come at the cost of slowing down the hiring of air traffic controllers. We have already suffered from a hiring and training slowdown and cannot afford further delays to staffing an essential safety function of the FAA. Our hard-working air traffic controllers are already understaffed, and Congress must ensure that we are increasing their ranks quickly and with well-trained air traffic controllers. Madam Chair, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes.''

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. I thank my friend for yielding and for his work on the Appropriations Committee. I want to say that, Mr. Chairman, I understand the constraints that the chairman is working under, and I appreciate his work on those items that were mentioned by Ranking Member Fattah and other Members on this side. I rise in opposition to this bill because it fails to fund scientific research at levels we need to spur innovation and remain competitive as a Nation. In particular, I want to call attention to report language in the bill that will result in cuts to the social sciences and geosciences of over $250 million. The NSF is the largest single source of funding for basing research in our country in a variety of fields, and that is especially true for the social sciences. Some will say these cuts are needed to prioritize research in other areas, but this approach of limiting funding for social science is misguided for several reasons. First, other areas of research are already heavily prioritized at the NSF. In fiscal year 2015, the NSF will spend only 3.7 percent of its budget on social science research--clearly not an outsized priority. This is especially true when you consider that social science research saves lives and money. It was NSF-funded social science research that developed the kidney transplant program that has led to thousands of successful donor-patient pairings that had not been possible before. Spectrum auctions conducted by the FCC were made possible by economic research sponsored by the NSF. These auctions raise billions of dollars for taxpayers and will free up chunks of spectrum so we can stay at the cutting edge of wireless technologies. Social science research is also critical for cybersecurity, as we have heard from many expert witnesses in the Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Most cyber breaches occur because of human factors, and social science is vital in addressing this grave security risk. For these reasons, I am urging my colleagues to oppose these cuts and to oppose this bill. We need to do better for scientific research for the sake of our country, our economy, and our jobs.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor La Grange Police Sergeant Marge Kielczynski, who is retiring from the La Grange Police Department after 36 years in law enforcement. Sergeant Kielczynski, affectionately known as ``Sarge Marge,'' received her Bachelor's Degree in criminal justice from Lewis University and her Master's Degree in Management & Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University. She is a life-long resident of La Grange, and her outstanding service has made her a valuable asset to the community. In partnership with her local YMCA, Kielczynski organized Mom's GED--a program which provided training to predominately single mothers who had been forced to drop out of high school. Kielczynski also oversaw several programs designed to aid at-risk youths and encourage volunteer work, including Kids at Work, Friday Night Family Gym, and Cops `N' Kids. Sergeant Kielczynski has also served as an international ambassador for our nation's law enforcement. In Europe, she worked with the Romanian National Police as they transitioned from a military to civilian police force. Additionally, she served as an instructor and guest speaker at Police Academies in France, Monaco, Slovenia, Germany, Spain, and South Africa. Sergeant Kielczynski's colleagues in the La Grange Police Department identify her as an exceptional leader and mentor. She is widely known and loved throughout the village and the surrounding areas. I have had the privilege of personally witnessing the positive impact that ``Sarge Marge'' has had on her community. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Sergeant Marge Kielczynski--``Sarge Marge''--for her many years of service to her community and wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ed Zabrocki who recently retired after serving 34 years as Mayor of Tinley Park, Illinois. Throughout his time in office, Mayor Zabrocki demonstrated tremendous dedication to his community and its residents. Ed Zabrocki began his career in public service by serving on the Tinley Park Human Resources Commission and became a Village Trustee in 1979. Two years later he was elected Mayor of Tinley Park. Throughout his tenure in office, Mayor Zabrocki maintained a strong commitment to Tinley Park's residents. Under his leadership, the village became one of the fastest growing municipalities in the nation. In 2005 he was named as a finalist for the World Mayor Award. In 2006, the Commerce Department recognized Mayor Zabrocki with the Excellence in Economic Development Award for ``recognizing commitment to sound, research-based, market driven economic development in helping to grow the local economy.'' In addition to his service to Tinley Park, Ed Zabrocki was elected to be the 37th District's State Representative in the 89th Illinois General Assembly. Ed Zabrocki has also been dedicated to education. After two years as a teacher at Bishop Noll, he was hired to teach at Brother Rice High School in Chicago in 1965. Forty years later he retired as Director of Guidance. Over the years he had a great influence on his students, with five of them going on to be elected to public office in the Chicago area. Mayor Zabrocki and his wife Emily are the parents of two children and the grandparents of seven. In retirement he plans to spend more time with his family as well as his Lionel train sets and his baritone sax.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Joseph Strzelczyk, the Mayor of Summit, Illinois who passed away on May 17, 2015 at the age of 75. Commonly known as ``Mayor Joe'' to residents of Summit, Joe Strzelczyk was recognized for his tremendous dedication to his town and its residents. Mayor Strzelczyk began his career in public service in 1978 when he worked as a special recreation instructor for the Chicago Park District. In 1990, he was elected as a Village Trustee in Summit, a position which he held until he was elected mayor. Joe Strzelczyk was originally elected mayor in 1997 and won reelection four times. Over almost two decades as mayor, he focused on improving and revitalizing Summit through grassroots efforts along with attracting businesses and revenue to the city. Mayor Strzelczyk played a vital role in ensuring a revenue sharing agreement with the Rivers Casino in Des Plaines which brought in more than $604,000 to Summit in the first year alone. Mayor Strzelczyk was also active in organizing village cleanups. Mayor Strzelczyk's love of his community stretched into all facets of his life. An avid softball player, he coached in the North American Pro Softball League and later hosted a local cable TV show in addition to being a sports commentator on radio. In 2012, he was inducted into the Chicago 16 Inch Softball Hall of Fame. Today I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Mayor Joseph Strzelczyk. A truly dedicated public servant, Joe Strzelczyk made Summit a great place to live. His leadership and dedication to his community was unparalleled and will truly be missed.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, I want to commend my good friend from Illinois for his strong commitment to advocating for scientific research. I share many of his concerns about the underlying bill, and I will be voting against this bill. However, I must also oppose this amendment. I agree with Mr. Foster and I disagree with the chairman on some of the attacks on some past grants that have been granted by the NSF. I think section 106 helps to avoid that. The first incarnation of what is now section 106 was the High Quality Research Act, which was unveiled nearly 2 years ago. I strongly opposed that, as did the vast majority of the research community, and we set about getting that changed. Through a series of discussions, the current language--vastly different and vastly improved from the original--was reached with a broad definition of national interest that does not do anything to undermine the gold-standard NSF peer review system. I invite all to read the section and decide for themselves, or to simply listen to the NSF and to the NSB, which oversees the NSF. As the chairman said, NSF Director France Cordova stated her support for section 106 at a committee hearing in February, saying it is ``very compatible with the NSF internal guidelines and with the mission statement of NSF.'' I applaud NSF for these new guidelines which explain to the public why each proposal is being funded and how it is in the national interest. This will help the NSF defend worthwhile grants that are attacked by critics who sometimes misrepresent projects. In doing so, it will also protect the NSF. While the National Science Board does not formally endorse legislation, at the meeting 2 weeks ago, the board passed a resolution strongly endorsing the principle that all Foundation-funded research must further the national interest by contributing to the Foundation's mission. So, while I agree with my friend on almost everything related to science policy, I must reluctantly oppose this amendment. I wish we could have been able to have worked out a COMPETES bill we could all support. Regrettably, we did not, but let's not throw out this language that was worked out and that will help the NSF defend its peer review process.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Chairman, I thank Ms. Johnson for yielding. I am proud to rise in support of Ms. Johnson's amendment in the nature of a substitute, and I am also proud to cosponsor H.R. 1898, which contains the same language, because this alternative is much more in keeping with the principles of the original America COMPETES Act. Mr. Chairman, in 2007, I served on the conference committee that worked out the House-Senate compromise on the original COMPETES bill. In 2010, I wrote the NSF title on the reauthorization. These are two of my proudest moments in Congress because those were bipartisan bills that set us on a path to continue leading the world in scientific research and innovation for the next generation. Sadly, in recent years, we have let that progress stall. Make no mistake, other nations are continuing to invest and are continuing to innovate. If we don't come together to send a strong message and provide strong support for scientific research, America will no longer be able to compete. The COMPETES bill is an investment bill. I understand the threat of our enormous Federal debt; but, without the types of investments that are made in the COMPETES bill, we will not promote the economic growth that we need to end our deficits and pay down our debt. Ranking Member Johnson's alternative makes those investments. Unlike the base bill, it does not make drastic cuts to Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, which promotes and funds research and development of advanced energy technologies. It does not make drastic cuts to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy that invests in high-risk, high-value research and development in the fields of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. It doesn't cut the geosciences or make a more than 50 percent cut to research in the social, behavioral, and economic sciences. Some might think that last one is warranted; but, in the Science Committee, we are constantly hearing from witnesses about how social science is vital to the work going on in other fields. Members of Congress have frequently relied on spectrum auctions, developed by NSF social science research, to raise billions of dollars. Social science is perhaps the most critical component to preventing cyber crimes. Considering that the majority of all cyber breaches occur because of social factors, like using easy-to-guess passwords or clicking on a link in a phishing attack, we should want to increase funding in these areas. Mr. Chairman, Ms. Johnson's amendment provides robust support in all of these areas. I agree that the chairman's bill has gotten better and things have been added to the bill which have made it a better bill, but still, I think there is no question that Ms. Johnson's substitute is a much better bill for making the types of investments we need in scientific research right now if we want to make sure that America still competes. This is critical to the future of our country; this is critical to innovation. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to cosponsor H.R. 874, the American Super Computing Leadership Act. This is bipartisan legislation that I have had the pleasure of working on with my colleague, Mr. Hultgren, as well as others from both sides of the aisle in developing, including, as the chairman said, Mr. Swalwell, Ms. Bonamici, and Ms. Esty. This bill would authorize an exascale computing program to ensure that the fastest computers in the world, as well as their software and algorithms, which will help us use these machines to the maximum efficiency, are developed here in the United States. The term ``exascale'' is often used to refer to the next generation of supercomputers in general and is used interchangeably with ``extreme scale.'' This term is often applied to computing systems that are capable of carrying out a million trillion operations per second. That rate is approximately 50 times faster than the current fastest computer in the world. Through this legislation, the Secretary of Energy would be empowered to significantly increase the computing power that is accessible to scientists from Federal agencies as well as industry and academia. These investments would have a wide range of impacts by giving the Nation's best scientists the resources and support they need to flourish. Mr. Speaker, there are numerous fields of research in both the academic and industrial areas that would be greatly aided by this increased computing power. Fields such as pharmaceutical development, aerodynamic modeling for aircraft and vehicle design, advanced nuclear reactor design and fusion plasma modeling, combustion simulation to assist in the design of fuel-efficient clean engines, and high temperature superconductivity to significantly reduce energy losses while transmitting electricity. As a result of this legislation, the Department of Energy would be required to submit regular reports as well as a management plan to Congress describing how DOE intends to institute this program and its current projects. Lemont, Illinois' Argonne National Laboratory is a world leader in developing this new capability, so I am happy that just last month the Department of Energy announced a major award to support and significantly upgrade Argonne's advanced computing research and facilities. This bill will ensure that these investments are part of a transparent, long-term, coordinated strategy to keep the United States on top in this field. I also anticipate that the benefits that we will see from this legislation may well surpass the impacts that we can even imagine today. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 874, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire, does the gentleman from Texas have any more speakers on this bill?

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to close here. I want to thank Mr. Hultgren again. He represents Fermilab. I represent part of Argonne National Laboratory. It is good to work with him on this legislation and others to advance science in the United States. Even though there are few people who really understand what this means, we will all see the results of it. I thank the chairman for moving this bill forward. I urge my colleagues to support it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. Beyer for yielding and for his introduction, his authorship of this bill on prize competitions. I want to add my voice in strong support of this bill. I have long been a strong supporter of prize competitions to spur innovation not as a substitute for Federal grants in other aid, but as an additional tool. Back in 2007, I wrote language in the Energy Independence and Security Act that directed DOE to create a hydrogen energy prize, a competition now called the H-Prize that is currently ongoing and, hopefully, will yield some results in innovation in using hydrogen as a transportation fuel. In the 2010 COMPETES bill, I added language to that bill that authorized prize competitions at the National Science Foundation. I believe that these prize competitions are an excellent way to unlock the innovative potential of researchers, the private sector, and even hobbyists working in a garage, all while protecting taxpayer dollars. This bill will clarify prize competition authority so that more agencies of the Federal Government will be able to run competitions. It is a good bill. I thank Mr. Beyer, again, for introducing it; I thank Chairman Smith for moving it and Ranking Member Johnson for moving it. I urge my colleagues to support it.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1119, the Research and Development Efficiency Act. I am pleased to be a cosponsor of this bill, and I want to thank Congresswoman Comstock and Ranking Member Johnson for their leadership in introducing the bill. Mr. Speaker, we all agree that administrative requirements serve an important purpose. They ensure transparency, the protection of human and animal subjects, and the wise use of Federal resources. But sometimes they go too far, so we need to find a much better balance than we currently have. The statistic often cited is that federally funded researchers spend an average of 42 percent of their time on administrative tasks. That is time and money spent not doing science. It is not an efficient use of some of our Nation's greatest scientific brain power, nor is it an efficient use of Federal research funds, especially as Federal spending for R&D continues to decline as a share of the overall budget. Back in the 112th Congress, the Research Subcommittee, which I served on as ranking member and which was led by then-Chairman Mo Brooks, held an important hearing on this matter to help get the ball rolling, which eventually led to this bill. H.R. 1119 requires the Office of Science and Technology Policy to convene an interagency working group to review the requirements governing the conduct of federally funded R&D at our Nation's research institutions. The working group is further charged with making recommendations on how to best streamline and harmonize such requirements across the government in order to minimize the administrative burden on universities while maintaining full accountability for Federal funds. This administration has long recognized the problems that this bill addresses. An interagency working group will not be starting from scratch. The Office of Management and Budget took some small steps in the right direction in their recent rewrite of the Federal regulations governing research grants. Agencies have also taken steps to harmonize the grant proposal process and are exploring additional ways to reduce the paperwork burden associated with grant proposals. I applaud these efforts. Last Congress, I helped further them by writing a letter to OMB, urging them to make some of the reforms they had agreed to. However, there is still room to go. The National Academies have begun a detailed review of administrative burdens on federally funded research. I hope that this review will yield specific recommendations for the agencies on how to proceed. While it may be preferable to wait for this report to be published before the interagency committee begins its own work, the Academies' review does not preclude the need for an interagency group. I understand that there may be bureaucratic hurdles to overcome. This will take some time. However, we cannot afford to delay action any longer. The vitality of our Nation's research universities and of our overall competitiveness will suffer if we do not reduce the administrative workload on our Nation's scientific talent. H.R. 1119 is an important step in that direction. Once again, I want to thank Chairwoman Comstock and Ranking Member Johnson of the Research and Technology Subcommittee for introducing this legislation, and I thank Chairman Smith for bringing it to the floor. I urge my colleagues to support it. Again, I want to thank Chairwoman Comstock, Chairman Smith, and Ranking Member Johnson for moving this bill. I used to be a university researcher. I know of the heavy burdens in terms of administrative tasks that need to be done. I would say some of these are absolutely necessary, but we now know that we can reduce the burden without reducing the protections that they provide. I am very happy to support this bill, and I urge my colleagues to support it. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of H.R. 1156, the International Science and Technology Cooperation Act, which I reintroduced earlier this year. A similar bill, which I authored in the last Congress, passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 346-41. I am hopeful that we can do the same this week and then work to get this bill through the Senate and onto the President's desk. I want to thank Mr. Moolenaar for cosponsoring this bill with me, and I thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Johnson for helping advance it through the Science, Space, and Technology Committee and for getting it to the House floor. Mr. Speaker, the laws of science know no political boundaries. While the United States arguably has the most brilliant scientists in the world and has developed some of the greatest technology, no country has a monopoly on great minds in science and technology. So, if we want to advance science in ways that benefit Americans and the rest of the world, we need to encourage international collaboration. Improvements in areas such as energy security, infectious diseases, space exploration, telecommunications and the Internet, and many more are due, in part, to international cooperation, to the benefit of all nations involved. By collaborating with international partnerships on science, we also strengthen the U.S. scientific enterprise, which helps us get the best return on our research investment. In addition, international collaborations make possible research endeavors on a grander scale than the U.S. can accomplish on its own. For example, CERN, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the National Science Foundation signed a cooperative agreement 2 weeks ago expanding their collaboration on particle physics. Not only will this provide for our scientists to continue work at the highest energy accelerator in the world at CERN, it will also allow CERN to provide equipment to an upcoming neutrino experiment at Fermilab in Batavia, Illinois. CERN was the site of one of the most significant technological advances that impacts us every day. At CERN in 1989, Tim Berners-Lee was working on the problem of allowing international researchers to see data instantaneously around the globe. The solution that was developed was the World Wide Web, which has completely transformed the way we communicate and get information today. H.R. 1156 makes more collaborations like this possible. It requires the National Science and Technology Council at the White House to continue to maintain a working group to coordinate the U.S. interagency strategy for international science and technology cooperation. Many Federal agencies already work with international counterparts on scientific and technological issues, but, until recently, there was no coordinating body to identify new partnerships and to fully leverage existing collaborations. Mr. Speaker, it is important that we find ways to collaborate with other countries on scientific discoveries that push the boundaries of knowledge and improve our lives. This bill will do that. I urge my colleagues to support the bill. Again, I want to thank the chairman for his support on this. As I said, we have passed this bill before with wide bipartisan support. I am very hopeful we can do that again today. International cooperation is very critical to doing more than we alone can do. We have, arguably, the best researchers in the world, producing the most advanced technology, but in working together with others, we can do even more than we have. The impact that it can have on the everyday lives of Americans is tremendous, so I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. LIPINSKI

Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1158, the Department of Energy Laboratory Modernization and Technology Transfer Act of 2015. I would like to thank Mr. Hultgren, Mr. Perlmutter, and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for working together to produce a strong bipartisan bill. I would like to thank Chairman Smith and Ranking Member Johnson for getting this bill through committee and to the floor here tonight. DOE's national labs are responsible for some of the greatest research being conducted in the world, both basic and applied. Some of this research has great potential to become new commercial technologies if our labs provide the type of support that increases the likelihood of technology transfer. This could have enormous beneficial impacts for our Nation, not just in new technologies, but by making the most of our investments at these labs. That is why improving technology transfer from American research facilities, both national labs and universities, has been one of my top priorities on the Science Committee for the past decade. H.R. 1158 ensures that our national labs have the resources needed to facilitate the transfer of new technologies to the private sector. It greatly increases the breadth of companies that are eligible to engage in a new pilot program that provides for more flexible partnerships, similar to those in the private sector, and lengthens the program for 2 years. This was an important issue that came up at a hearing 2 years ago, and I am happy that we are getting that done in this bill. This bill also empowers labs to utilize technology transfer funds on projects that demonstrate commercial applications for their research and technologies, and it asks the Department of Energy for a report on activities related to the congressionally mandated technology commercialization fund which the Department is implementing through the newly formed Office of Technology Transitions. I personally asked Secretary Moniz about past use of this fund, and so I am pleased by the recent actions of DOE in the direction of the TCF at this time. This bill has impacts beyond labs as well. It would significantly decrease financial obstacles that prevent nonprofit research organizations, including many universities, from working with the Department. The bill includes language that I wrote that would make the National Science Foundation's highly successful Innovation Corps Program, which pairs up grant recipients with motivated entrepreneurs to help get their ideas in the commercial arena, available to the DOE through a partnership with the NSF. Finally, the bill ensures that effective reporting and accountability systems are in place so we are able to clearly determine the performance of these new tools, as well as any further steps that will need to be taken. Mr. Speaker, the innovations that have come out of DOE's national laboratories and research programs are second to none. Argonne National Lab, which is located in my district, is one of the best. All these federally funded institutions and initiatives have been a critical component of our knowledge-based economy, and this bill will ensure that they not only continue, but they improve their incredible track record. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.