Nick Smith

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, let it be known that it is with great respect for the outstanding record of excellence she has compiled in academics, leadership and community service, that I am proud to salute Stephanie Smith, winner of the 2003 LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This award is made to young adults who have demonstrated that they are truly committed to playing important roles in our Nation's future. As a winner of the LeGrand Smith Scholarship, Stephanie is being honored for demonstrating that same generosity of spirit, intelligence, responsible citizenship, and capacity for human service that distinguished the late LeGrand Smith of Somerset, Michigan. Stephanie is an exceptional student at Camden-Frontier High School, and possesses an outstanding record of achievement in high school. Stephanie has received numerous awards for her excellence in academics and athletics, as well as her volunteer activities with Student Council, coordinating sponsorships for seven needy families for Christmas. In addition, Stephanie has participated in 4-H for 10 years, winning a State Gold Public Speaking Award and being chosen as Regional Star Farmer in FFA. Therefore, I am proud to join with her many admirers in extending my highest praise and congratulations to Stephanie Smith for her selection as winner of a LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This honor is a testament to the parents, teachers, and others whose personal interest, strong support and active participation contributed to her success. To this remarkable young woman, extend my most heartfelt good wishes for all her future endeavors.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, let it be known that it is with great respect for the outstanding record of excellence she has compiled in academics, leadership and community service, that I am proud to salute Jamie Titus, winner of the 2003 LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This award is made to young adults who have demonstrated that they are truly committed to playing important roles in our Nation's future. As a winner of the LeGrand Smith Scholarship, Jamie is being honored for demonstrating that same generosity of spirit, intelligence, responsible citizenship, and capacity for human service that distinguished the late LeGrand Smith of Somerset, Michigan. Jamie is an exceptional student at Athens High School, and possesses an outstanding record of achievement in high school. Jamie has received numerous awards for her excellence in science as well as her volunteer activities on missions to Mexico and Canada. Jamie has been recognized for her outstanding performances in Track and Cross Country, and is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Therefore, I am proud to join with her many admirers in extending my highest praise and congratulations to Jamie Titus for her selection as winner of a LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This honor is a testament to the parents, teachers, and others whose personal interest, strong support and active participation contributed to her success. To this remarkable young woman, I extend my most heartfelt good wishes for all her future endeavors.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, let it be known that it is with great respect for the outstanding record of excellence he has compiled in academics, leadership and community service, that I am proud to salute Bart Northrup, winner of the 2003 LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This award is made to young adults who have demonstrated that they are truly committed to playing important roles in our Nation's future. As a winner of the LeGrand Smith Scholarship, Bart is being honored for demonstrating that same generosity of spirit, intelligence, responsible citizenship, and capacity for human service that distinguished the late LeGrand Smith of Somerset, Michigan. Bart is an exceptional student at Tecumseh Creek High School, and possesses an outstanding record of achievement in high school. Bart has received numerous awards for his excellence in music, science and math, as well as his volunteer activities with the Secret Santa Shop, The Boy Scouts, and the Community Euchre Tournament. Bart has also accumulated numerous awards for his accomplishments in music, and has participated in Honors Bands at both the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University. Therefore, I am proud to join with his many admirers in extending my highest praise and congratulations to Bart Northrup for his selection as winner of a LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This honor is a testament to the parents, teachers, and others whose personal interest, strong support and active participation contributed to his success. To this remarkable young man, I extend my most heartfelt good wishes for all his future endeavors.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, let it be known that it is with great respect for the outstanding record of excellence she has compiled in academics, leadership and community service, that I am proud to salute Brienne Willcock, winner of the 2003 LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This award is made to young adults who have demonstrated that they are truly committed to playing important roles in our Nation's future. As a winner of the LeGrand Smith Scholarship, Brienne is being honored for demonstrating that same generosity of spirit, intelligence, responsible citizenship, and capacity for human service that distinguished the late LeGrand Smith of Somerset, Michigan. Brienne is an exceptional student at Hanover Horton High School, and possesses an outstanding record of achievement in high school. Brienne has received awards for her excellence in English, as well as her volunteer activities with The Girls Scouts, earning a Silver Award. Brienne has also garnered several awards and much respect from her peers for her exceptional leadership skills. Therefore, I am proud to join with her many admirers in extending my highest praise and congratulations for her selection as winner of a LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This honor is a testament to the parents, teachers, and others whose personal interest, strong support and active participation contributed to her success. To this remarkable young woman, I extend my most heartfelt good wishes for all her future endeavors.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, let it be known that it is with great respect for the outstanding record of excellence he has compiled in academics, leadership and community service, that I am proud to salute Derrick Miller, winner of the 2003 LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This award is made to young adults who have demonstrated that they are truly committed to playing important roles in our Nation's future. As a winner of the LeGrand Smith Scholarship, Derrick is being honored for demonstrating that same generosity of spirit, intelligence, responsible citizenship, and capacity for human service that distinguished the late LeGrand Smith of Somerset, Michigan. Derrick is an exceptional student at Union City High School, and possesses an outstanding record of achievement in high school. Derrick has received numerous awards for his excellence in academics, as well as his volunteer activities with the Soup-R-Bowl project. Derrick is also active in Student Council and National Honor Society. Therefore, I am proud to join with his many admirers in extending my highest praise and congratulations to Derrick Miller for his selection as winner of a LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This honor is a testament to the parents, teachers, and others whose personal interest, strong support and active participation contributed to his success. To this remarkable young man, I extend my most heartfelt good wishes for all his future endeavors.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Mary Campbell, an outstanding educator and Professor at Spring Arbor University, who has served the youth of the 7th Congressional District and the State of Michigan for over 30 years. Mrs. Campbell's career has truly spanned the spectrum of education. Her career started in a one-room schoolhouse in Miltonville, KS, in 1960. She has also taught in South Bend, IN and Syracuse, NY before coming to Michigan. Her career in education in Michigan started at Concord Elementary School. After nine years teaching at the elementary level, Mrs. Campell moved to Concord Middle School, where she taught for 15 years. Her love of learning lead her to try new and innovative means of teaching and reaching her students. Mrs. Campbell always kept abreast of the latest in educational research and methods. She was an early proponent of team teaching and active learning experiences. She initiated student-led parent teacher conferences at Concord Community Schools, and made sure that her class was about learning and held herself and her students accountable for the goals she set. She was a positive influence in the learning community. Mrs. Campbell has often expressed her affection for middle school students. She understands the difficult transition from childhood to adolescence, and took an active role in trying to help her students learn to cope with the difficulties in their lives. She often took the time to help prepare her students for real life situations, from teaching students how to dance to help allay their fears the first time they participated in a school dance, to making a presentation in front of an audience during a student-led conference. As a Professor at Spring Arbor University, Mrs. Campbell provides inspiration and reallife experience to the future teachers there. Her influence will prepare them to be successful, innovative, and effective teachers as well. It is fitting, then, that she has been recognized by her peers as the College Educator of the Year by the Michigan Association of Middle School Educators. As an educator, a professor and a friend, Mrs. Mary Campbell has consistently demonstrated integrity, leadership, and a lifetime love of learning. It is for those reasons that I rise to honor her today.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, it is a sincere pleasure to recognize the finalists of the 2003 LeGrand Smith Congressional Scholarship Program. This special honor is an appropriate tribute to the academic accomplishment, demonstration of leadership and responsibility, and commitment to social involvement, demonstration of leadership and responsibility, and commitment to social involvement displayed by these remarkable young adults. We all have reason to celebrate their success, for it is in their promising and capable hands that our future rests. The finalists of the LeGrand Smith Congressional Scholarship Program are being honored for showing that same generosity of spirit, depth of intelligence, and capacity for human service that distinguished the late LeGrand Smith of Somerset, Michigan. They are young men and women of character, ambition, and initiative, who have already learned well the value of hard work, discipline and commitment. These exceptional students have consistently displayed their dedication, intelligence and concern throughout their high school experience. They stand out among their peers due to their many achievements and the disciplined manner in which they meet challengers. While they have already accomplished a great deal, these young people possess unlimited potential, for they have learned the keys to success in any endeavor. As a Member of Congress of the United States of America, I am proud to join their many admirers in extending our highest praise and congratulations to the finalists of the 2003 LeGrand Smith Congressional Scholarship program.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, let it be known that it is with great respect for the outstanding record of excellence she has compiled in academics, leadership and community service, that I am proud to salute Erica Bushinski, winner of the 2003 LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This award is made to young adults who have demonstrated that they are truly committed to playing important roles in our Nation's future. As a winner of the LeGrand Smith Scholarship, Erica is being honored for demonstrating that same generosity of spirit, intelligence, responsible citizenship, and capacity for human service that distinguished the late LeGrand Smith of Somerset, Michigan. Erica is an exceptional student at Napoleon High School, and possesses an outstanding record of achievement in high school. Erica has received numerous awards for her excellence in science, English, social studies and athletics, as well as her volunteer activities with HOST and many other volunteer organizations. Erica is the recipient of a Board of Trustees Scholarship from Central Michigan University. Therefore, I am proud to join with her many admirers in extending my highest praise and congratulations to Erica Bushinski for her selection as winner of a LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This honor is a testament to the parents, teachers, and others whose personal interest, strong support and active participation contributed to her success. To this remarkable young woman, I extend my most heartfelt good wishes for all her future endeavors.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, let it be known that it is with great respect for the outstanding record of excellence she has compiled in academics, leadership and community service, that I am proud to salute Jessica Wilson, winner of the 2003 LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This award is made to young adults who have demonstrated that they are truly committed to playing important roles in our Nation's future. As a winner of the LeGrand Smith Scholarship, Jessica is being honored for demonstrating that same generosity of spirit, intelligence, responsible citizenship, and capacity for human service that distinguished the late LeGrand Smith of Somerset, MI. Jessica is an exceptional student at Harper Creek High School, and possesses an outstanding record of achievement in high school. Jessica has received numerous awards for her excellence in theater and music, as well as her volunteer activities with the Battle Creek Jr. Theater, and as the organizer of the Youth Choir at her church. Jessica has won numerous awards for her activities, including the Young Woman of Promise Recognition and the Young Woman of Excellence Award. Therefore, I am proud to join with her many admirers in extending my highest praise and congratulations to Jessica Wilson for her selection as winner of a LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This honor is a testament to the parents, teachers, and others whose personal interest, strong support and active participation contributed to her success. To this remarkable young woman, I extend my most heartfelt good wishes for all her future endeavors.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 160) expressing the sense of Congress that the United Nations should remove the economic sanctions against Iraq completely and without condition, as amended.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 160, the legislation under consideration.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, this resolution calls on the United Nations to immediately and unconditionally lift the economic sanctions on Iraq. The U.N. sanctions were passed after Saddam Hussein, a totalitarian dictator, invaded Kuwait in 1990. That resolution was the first of 17 U.N. resolutions passed over the next 11 years trying to bring Saddam Hussein under control. At the time then-President Bush organized a coalition that sent in the military, forced Saddam Hussein out of Kuwait, and subsequently loosened the hold of this murderous tyrant over the Kurdish people in northern Iraq. Madam Speaker, in September of 1991, the United Nations modified the sanctions to contain Saddam Hussein and allowed him to trade Iraq's oil for only humanitarian supplies through the so-called Oil for Food Program. These sanctions were meant to keep Saddam Hussein's military from developing more weapons and becoming a greater threat. However, after an impressive military success, Iraq is now entering a new day and is no longer a threat. Coalition forces have freed the Iraqi people, and the U.N. sanctions which once strove to contain a murderous tyrant now contain the Iraqi people themselves. The Iraqi people have historically been one of the most highly educated, industrious, and entrepreneurial people in the Middle East. To rebuild their country, Iraq and the Iraqi people must be able to trade freely. Every additional day that these sanctions remain is an additional day that the people of Iraq are suffering from Saddam Hussein's tyranny. The President has called on the United Nations to end these sanctions. I have introduced this resolution, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde), the chairman, and the ranking member, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos) have moved it through the Committee on International Relations so members of the Security Council would understand that the United States Government speaks with a single voice in Iraq. The coalition returned political freedom to the Iraqi people, but with these sanctions the U.N. is withholding the opportunity for economic freedom and recovery from Saddam Hussein's tyranny. I hope that Congress can send a strong message demanding that the United Nations immediately correct this mistake and lift the economic sanctions against Iraq. Madam Speaker, let me briefly describe the resolution before us. This resolution recognizes that the United Nations sanctions were imposed on the regime of Saddam Hussein, not on Iraq or its people. Iraq had become a murderous toy for a totalitarian dictator. The Iraqi people did not choose to invade Kuwait. Their Arab neighbors and Saddam Hussein actually went and did it. The Iraqi people did not choose to go to war with Iran in the 1980s. Saddam Hussein did. The Iraqi people certainly did not decide to use chemical weapons against either Iranian soldiers or on Iraqi Kurds. Saddam Hussein did. These sanctions were not imposed on the Iraqi people. They were imposed on the regime led by a crazy man who exploited the resources of Iraq for his own gains. And when this regime fell, so did the basis for his sanctions. The resolution recognizes that the coalition freed the Iraqi people for a better future. It recognizes that at this time the coalition is providing for the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people. The coalition is working as hard and as fast as it can to have Iraq standing on its own two feet, but restricting trade makes this very difficult. Newspaper reports have said that after the Iran/Iraq war, it took 3 years for electric power to come back to some parts of Baghdad. The U.S. is pushing to get the people of Baghdad working and getting them electricity by this June. The coalition is working with the United Nations and other organizations to provide as much as possible for the Iraqi people after the more than two decades of neglect of Iraq's infrastructure. This resolution also recognizes that with the liberation of the Iraq, the effects of the sanctions have shifted. Sanctions were imposed, Madam Speaker, because the resources of Iraq were used to serve the dangerous interests of a single man. The sanctions help contain his ability to build an army and threaten Iraq's neighbors and the Iraqi people themselves. Now that Saddam Hussein's regime has ended, the resources of Iraq can now serve the people of Iraq. When they seek to trade their goods for goods of others, it is in their own interest, not in those of a tyrant. The Iraqi people want to trade to rebuild their country, devastated by 30 years of misrule. Before Iraq was liberated, the sanctions contained Saddam Hussein. Now they contain the Iraqi people. The continuation of these sanctions has, in effect, equated the people of Iraq with their former dictator. A majority of Iraqis have lived most of their adult lives under Saddam Hussein. The transition to a free enterprise economy will be difficult, impossible while trade sanctions continue. Madam Speaker, I offer this resolution because some members of the Security Council have hesitated in ending these sanctions for what appear to be selfish reasons. In doing so they undermine the Iraqi people, and they continue to undermine their own credibility and that of the United Nations. I know my colleagues in Congress will join me in calling on the United Nations to end the economic sanctions on Iraq. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I would like to say in relation to the gentleman from California (Mr. Farr) that our Committee on International Relations is looking carefully at these issues and looks forward to working with my colleague, and certainly in a bipartisan effort to deal with this possible legislation. I would like to say also, Madam Speaker, that the gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) is one of the outstanding Representatives in Congress that is both exceptionally capable and also a good friend. Concluding my comments, I again urge the United Nations to act swiftly. In the language of the resolution the United Nations Security Council Resolution 661 established sanctions as a result of Saddam Hussein's unprovoked illegal aggression against the sovereign Arab State of Kuwait. This resolution is expressing the sense of Congress that now the United Nations should remove the economic sanctions against Iraq completely and without condition. It is the hope of the United States to have this resolution in the United Nations passed by June 3. It is my personal opinion that if the United Nations refuses to pass this resolution, the United States and the coalition should act aggressively to still allow oil and other products to be exported from Iraq to allow necessary supplies be purchased to go to Iraq for rebuilding. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Madam Speaker, on behalf of the other members of our Committee on Science, and certainly our chairman, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), we commend the adoption of this resolution. Two words in the English language are not spoken enough, and these words are ``thank you.'' With this resolution before us, the House of Representatives, on behalf of government, on behalf of the American people, thank the thousands of search and discovery crews who scoured through thick forests and brambles, dove underwater in freezing lakes and reservoirs, trudged through swamps in icy temperatures and storms in search of the bits and pieces left over from the Space Shuttle Columbia tragedy. It was grim work that lasted many months, and those who undertook the solemn duty in east Texas and elsewhere deserve our thanks and praise. Few things embody the triumph and tragedy that make up the fabric of our country more than the space program. The space program's very purpose, to discover what lies beyond our world, is at the heart of the American spirit. The thousands of Americans who aided in the Columbia debris search have become a vital part of our Nation's space program. They allow us to learn what went wrong that fateful morning of February 1 so that we can fix it and forge ahead with a stronger space program with the best balance between manned and unmanned flight. With this resolution we honor those who walked more than 700,000 acres on foot, surveyed more than 1.6 million acres in aircraft, and swept over at least 23 square miles of lakes and reservoirs over the last several months to find what remained of the Space Shuttle Columbia. Now the 83,000 pieces of evidence are being shifted through at Kennedy and Johnson Space Centers and elsewhere, and the Columbia Accident Investigation Board is beginning to form findings and recommendations to make our Nation's space program better than it was before. Just as the thousands of search crews took it upon themselves to have a solemn duty, we in Congress will soon be asked to perform our solemn duty to uphold the values and build on the legacy of the Columbia astronauts we lost. We have a duty to them, their families, the NASA family, the search crews, and to everyone who gains so much inspiration from the drive to discover what exists beyond our world. The lives lost cannot be in vain. Today, with this resolution, we honor those who performed their duty. And to the thousands of men and women who engaged and congregated in east Texas in search of what remained of mission STS-107, the Space Shuttle Columbia, we say ``thank you.''

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, It is a sincere pleasure to recognize the finalists of the 2002 LeGrand Smith Congressional Scholarship Program. This special honor is an appropriate tribute to the academic accomplishment, demonstration of leadership and responsibility, and commitment to social involvement, demonstration of leadership and responsibility, and commitment to social involvement displayed by these remarkable young adults. We all have reason to celebrate their success, for it is in their promising and capable hands that our future rests. The finalists of the LeGrand Smith Congressional Scholarship Program are being honored for showing that same generosity of spirit, depth of intelligence, and capacity for human service that distinguished the late LeGrand Smith of Somerset, Michigan. They are young men and women of character, ambition, and initiative, who have already learned well the value of hard work, discipline and commitment. These exceptional students have consistently displayed their dedication, intelligence and concern throughout their high school experience. They stand out among their peers due to their many achievements and the disciplined manner in which they meet challengers. While they have already accomplished a great deal, these young people possess unlimited potential, for they have learned the keys to success in any endeavor. As a Member of Congress of the United States of America, I am proud to join their many admirers in extending our highest praise and congratulations to the finalists of the 2002 LeGrand Smith Congressional Scholarship program.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, it is with great respect for the outstanding record of excellence she has compiled in academics, leadership and community service, that I am proud to salute Kasee Stratton, winner of the 2003 LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This award is made to young adults who have demonstrated that they are truly committed to playing important roles in our Nation's future. As a winner of the LeGrand Smith Scholarship, Kasee is being honored for demonstrating that same generosity of spirit, intelligence, responsible citizenship, and capacity for human service that distinguished the late LeGrand Smith of Somerset, Michigan. Kasee is an exceptional student at Pittsford High School, and possesses an outstanding record of achievement in high school. Kasee has received numerous awards for her excellence in academics, as well as volunteering her time as the Youth Chair on the Hillsdale County Community Foundation's Board of Trustees. Kasee has won the Optimist Club's Community Service Award and the Historical Society Academic Award, among others. Therefore, I am proud to join with her many admirers in extending my highest praise and congratulations to Kasee Stratton for her selection as winner of a LeGrand Smith Scholarship. This honor is a testament to the parents, teachers, and others whose personal interest, strong support and active participation contributed to her success. To this remarkable young woman, I extend my most heartfelt good wishes for all her future endeavors.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, what is nanotechnology? I think it is amazing. The chairman did not use a hair off of his head as an example, but nanotechnology is 1/100,000th the size of a normal human hair. What we are talking about has a tremendous potential for industry, for science, for the health of this Nation. So it is the beginning, if you will, of a new revolution. It involves 13 Federal agencies in this new National Nanotechnology Initiative. This technology is still very much in its early stages. Only a handful of nanotechnology products and applications have been commercialized today. Most Americans have probably yet to even hear about this exciting new era of science. So what exactly is this technology that will likely make such a profound impact on our lives and the lives of our kids and our grandkids? The bill before us today defines nanotechnology as science and engineering at the atomic and molecular level. More specifically, it is the manipulation, if you will, of materials with structural features that are so tiny that it involves chemistry to develop some of the machines that we saw in our Subcommittee on Research that can even manipulate and transport a dust mite. In our hearings on the future of medical technology, they estimate that within 30 years the life span of the average American could be 120 years old, partially because of the potential of nanotechnology, putting small rockets in one's bloodstream to hunt out certain discrepancies in the human body. The National Science Foundation has estimated that nanotechnology has the potential to be a $1 trillion industry within just the next 10 years. This will take shape in the form of revolutionary new applications in materials, in science, in manufacturing, energy production, information technology, medicine, defense, homeland security. Imagine the benefits of just one example of a future nanoscale tool, tiny machines that can detect cancer clusters. But like biotechnology or information technology 10 to 15 years ago, nanotechnology has reached a critical growth stage. For these emerging innovations to come to fruition, it is important for us in Congress to work, proactively to provide support and guide the industry, and that is what this bill does. We found that we will need to intensify our support for research and experimentation in the nanosciences, specifically fundamental, novel research. Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation. If the information technology revolution is any guide, the coming nanotechnolgy revolution will not only improve our lives through the development of many exciting new products, but its contribution to productivity gains will also help brighten future economic situations. As the Semiconductor Industry Association has pointed out, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimation of the $1.3 trillion projected deficit for fiscal years 2004-2013 would actually be $247 billion higher if it were not for CBO's assumption of continued improvements in productivity due to computers. If we succeed in our effort to harness the potential of nanotechnology, we will see productivity and revenue gains of a similar magnitude. I am proud that my home State of Michigan is poised to one of the leaders in this effort. As the state struggles to cope with job losses in manufacturing industries, we have been working to establish a high- tech corridor to attract companies in emerging industries such as nanotechnology. In fact, Small Times magazines recently ranked Michigan as one of the top ten states for nanotechnology businesses in the country. This is the kind of foresight that will help our State recover from the dramatic losses in the manufacturing sector. I also want to mention that, as Chairman of the Research Subcommittee, which maintains oversight of the National Science Foundation, I am particularly excited about NSF's contribution to the nanotech initiative. NSF is the largest federal supporter of non- medical basic research conducted at universities, and has a long history of supporting research that has led to a myriad of discoveries now part of our everyday lives. At a support level of $221 million for FY 2003, NSF is funding the cutting-edge, fundamental research at our nation's universities that will help to accelerate application and commercialization of nanotechnology products by the private sector. The goals and priorities for the NNI established in H.R. 766 will be an important aspect of this process. To conclude, that is a strong, well-thought out piece of legislation. It received unanimous bi-partisan support from the Science Committee, is supported by the pertinent industry organization that have an interest in nanotechnology, and finally, is the top science and technology priority of the President. I commend Chairman Boehlert for his leadership in crafting this bipartisan bill, and urge all members to support the legislation.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I want to talk for a couple of moments on the financial situation of the Federal Government. This chart shows what is happening to gross Federal debt. The debt held by the public, the debt held by government accounts, mostly Social Security, what we are borrowing from Social Security, added together, equal the total amount of debt. The only way debt can be increased in the United States Government is if the House and the Senate pass legislation increasing the debt limit and then the President signs it. That is what we are doing again this year and that is partially because of the increase in Federal spending. As you can see on this chart, by 2013 we are approaching a debt of $10 trillion; $10 trillion debt compared to a budget for next year that is going to amount to about $2.2 trillion. Let me tell you one of the big problems of why we are going so deep in debt. That is because of the overzealousness of this legislative body and the White House to spend more and more money. This next chart shows the increase in spending. As you can see, the discretionary spending increases have averaged 6.3 percent each year since 1996. Since 1997, we have increased spending by 7.7 percent. Even in what is called a very frugal budget this year, with increased spending about 4.2 to 4.4 percent, still again it is about twice the rate of inflation. So if we are going to keep increasing spending, then what we are doing in effect is leaving a larger and larger debt to our kids and our grandkids. I am a farmer from Michigan. Our goal has been on the farm to try to pay down some of that mortgage in order for our kids to have a better chance at success and the good life than maybe their parents had. Here in this body, in Congress, we keep increasing the debt on our kids. It is sort of a hidden tax. If you will a future tax increase. Increasing taxes outright is going to increase the chance that you are not going to be reelected. But increasing spending by increased borrowing means that they are cutting a ribbon on some jogging trail or some library or other pork project. It probably increases the chance that they are going to be reelected. So the propensity to spend more and more money is one of the failures of this legislative system. Simply leaving this mortgage to our kids is in effect saying that our problems today are more important than the problems that our kids and our grandkids are going to face when they are responsible for paying their taxes into this Federal Government. Let me say that I was disappointed last week in another demonstration of the unwillingness of this Chamber to stay within the budget. Last week we had an HIV/AIDS bill coming before the body that we passed out of the House and sent to the Senate. That bill increased by 50 percent the HIV/AIDS money that was in the budget to be spent internationally to help cure AIDS. So it was an increase of 50 percent over and above what the President suggested, 50 percent over and above what we passed in the budget resolution. So the discipline of this body to reduce spending and live within our budget leaves much to be desired. How do we get this kind of discipline? We are talking this week about tax cuts, and certainly we cannot pay for tax cuts with increased borrowing. However, we have a system in this country where those who work hard, save and invest and try to start a business and make money producing something that other people want to buy has ended up with the kind of incentives that has made this country the strongest economically in the world. And it is not Government that decides whether we are going to have a good economy. It is the people that decide that it is going to be to their advantage and the advantage of their family if they decide to work hard and try to produce talent or some products that other people want to buy. So the goal and the key, the bottom line, Mr. Speaker, is that somehow, someplace, sometime this body and the White House have got to come up with the discipline to hold down spending if we want to keep a strong economy and those incentives that cause people to expand business and therefore expand jobs.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Myrick).

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I would just say that this is exactly what the President recommended. My amendment is what the President recommended. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the remaining time. Let me conclude by simply saying that this is what the President suggested, starting at $2 billion. It is consistent with our budget resolution that we passed just 2 weeks ago. It still maintains the $15 billion over 5 years. So there is no disagreement; there is no reduction in total funding. Again, I quote from Ambassador Rawson who says, ``While there is great need to meet the challenge of AIDS in Africa, front-loading a program might well do more harm than good,'' and he recommends that we support the Smith amendment, which is the President's suggestion, to launch this new initiative at $2 billion in 2004 and steadily escalating that spending. Mr. Chairman, I also am reluctant to go against my chairman on this amendment, but I thought sure that the gentleman from Illinois would support this amendment with all of the good, rational, logical reasons that I have. I yield my remaining time to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hyde).

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent for 5 additional seconds.

Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.