David Wu

Mr. WU

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

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. I thank the gentleman from Arizona. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the creation of a Columbia-Pacific National Heritage Area. I have worked closely with my friend and colleague, the gentleman from Washington (Mr. Baird), to introduce H.R. 407 to study the feasibility of a national heritage area at the mouth of the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington. Like the river itself, the journey to get to where we are has been lengthy. In 2001, I took the initial steps with Mr. Baird and with the help of the National Resources Committee and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder), and we were able to expand Fort Clatsop National Historic Monument and extend it to the sea. Next, Congressman Baird and I together created Oregon's and Washington's newest national park, the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks. No one person could have accomplished the many steps to this point. I thank the hard work of the Natural Resources Committee, Congressmen Baird and Souder, Oregon State Senator Betsy Johnson and former park superintendent Chip Jenkins. I would especially like to thank all of the local citizens, such as Astoria's Cindy Mudge who has put tremendous time and effort into the heritage area. The history that shaped this part of our Nation should be preserved and celebrated. Here, where the Columbia, the great river of the West, meets the ocean, strong men and women have left their indelible imprint for millennia. Native cultures, such as the Clatsop Nehalem, Chinook and other Indian tribes, were joined by the Spanish, Russians and British. Lewis and Clark began an American tie to the river, and Americans of diverse descent, including Americans of Scandinavian, Chinese and other heritages, together built the history of the region. This is the way that America was or should be, a close-knit community where everyone, from the Indians to Lewis and Clark to Scandinavians to Chinese, were and are welcome; where work, and not parentage, determines one's worth. From forestry to fisheries, the land and waters have provided. Today, human hands provide for the future. We are trying to build a college to help create the education and research-based economy of the future. Here also are the helping hands of the Columbia River bar pilots who since 1846 have guided ships across the Columbia River bar, and the United States Coast Guard, who faithfully protect local and international commerce on the roughest, toughest water in the world. The mouth of the Columbia River presents layers of history and culture like an ancient buried city, except that the river rolls on today. Unlike the Hudson or the Mississippi, we do not have a large city at the river's mouth to preserve its stories and heritage; an act of Congress shall do so. I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 407 and note that the opposition which has been expressed comes from an organization which is not within the historic study area.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, it is with great honor and pleasure that I join my fellow members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. This May marks the 29th time that America has recognized and celebrated the many contributions and achievements of Asian Pacific Americans. America has reached greatness in part by the accumulation of ideas from those with varied heritage and backgrounds. In particular, Asian Pacific Americans have made profound contributions to the arts, education, science, technology, politics and athletics. Asian Pacific Americans have played an active and crucial role in the development of the United States, from linking the coasts of the nation with the transcontinental railroad to bringing the world closer through development of the latest Internet technology. This year, Congress will be debating and voting to reauthorize No Child Left Behind and the Higher Education Act. As a member of the Education and Labor Committee as well as the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, I am working hard to ensure that the Asian Pacific American community not only has a seat at the table of these debates, but also a strong voice to shape the national conversation. The Asian Pacific American community remains and always will be an integral and vibrant part of American society. As we take part in the celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I urge everyone to participate more deeply in the civic life of our nation. Asian Pacific American civic engagement will help to define our collective future and ensure that we move forward with determination and unity. Let us work together to build bridges and strengthen our great nation's diverse communities. I encourage Congress and the American people to spend the month of May absorbing the legacy, culture and achievements of the Asian Pacific American community.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. (Mr. WU asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1868, the Technology Innovation Manufacturing Stimulation Act of 2007. This bill authorizes programs at the National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST, for fiscal years 2008 through 2010, and strengthens American innovation. For most Americans, NIST is not a household word. But since its creation more than 100 years ago, NIST has made major contributions to public safety, industrial competitiveness and economic growth. Beginning in the 1900s, when it set standards for fire hydrants that have saved countless lives, to the 1950s, when it developed the world's fastest computer, helping usher in the information age, to its groundbreaking work on the technical aspects of the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11, NIST has served the public interest in ways that far exceed its public fame. Today, NIST's mission focuses on promoting innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement, science, standards and technology. This mission has never been more urgent. The recent National Academy of Sciences report coauthored by Norm Augustine, ``Rising Above the Gathering Storm,'' warns that we face major challenges in the global marketplace and recommends that we ``ensure that the United States is the premier place in the world in which to innovate.'' H.R. 1868 helps implement that recommendation by putting the NIST budget on a 10-year path to doubling as an investment in the future of American innovation. The bill increases the NIST research budget, funds key areas such as biologics, health care IT and nanotechnology. It funds the construction of a high performance laboratory at the Boulder, Colorado, campus, and upgrades the Center for Neutron Research in Gaithersburg, Maryland. This enables world class engineers and their scientists to have world class facilities for their work. H.R. 1868 also addresses problems in the American manufacturing center, which has lost almost 3 million jobs since 2001. It expands the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, or MEP, a proven and highly successful public-private partnership that provides technical assistance to small and medium-size manufacturers to improve productivity and to remain competitive in a global marketplace. It also establishes a competitive and collaborative grant system for MEP centers, industry groups, and nonindustry partners, to undertake manufacturing technology research. Manufacturing is a major source of high skill, high-paying jobs, and this bill will go far to reinvigorate our manufacturing sector. One of the biggest stumbling blocks to innovation is the technology so-called ``Valley of Death,'' the gap between angel funding and measurable venture capital, the lack of adequate private venture capital for early stage, high-risk, high-reward technology development. Almost 20 years ago, Congress created the Advance Technology Program, or ATP, to address this gap. Today, the ``Valley of Death'' remains, but the global innovative environment has changed. H.R. 1868 responds to this by replacing ATP with the Technology Innovation Program, or TIP, which would provide limited, cost-shared grants to small and medium-size firms and joint venture to pursue high risk, high-reward technologies, with potential for broad public benefit. TIP also acknowledges the vital role that universities play in the innovation cycle by allowing them to fully participate in TIP. H.R. 1868 is a bipartisan bill and incorporates good ideas from both sides of the aisle. It has been endorsed by TechNet, SEMI, the American Small Manufacturers Coalition, the Association of American Universities, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, the Alliance for Science & Technology Research in America, whose members include the National Association of Manufacturers, the Business Software Alliance and the American Chemical Society. It also enjoys the support of dozens of other organizations, companies, and individuals. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WU. First, I would like to thank the gentleman from Michigan for his hard work on this legislation. I would further like to thank the gentleman for responding to the factually erroneous statements in the statement of administrative position, and I deeply appreciate the correction for the record. Madam Chair, I recognize my good friend from New Jersey (Mr. Pascrell) for 3\1/2\ minutes.

Mr. WU. Madam Chair, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Murphy).

Mr. WU. Madam Chair, I also urge support for H.R. 1868. As I am frequently fond of saying, if you don't set standards for things, things don't match up. If you can't measure things, it is not real from a technologic or economic perspective. The underlying legislation is crucial to America's competitiveness and our place in the world market.

Mr. WU. Madam Chairman, I am aware of Representative Matheson's concerns about technology infusion to small manufacturers. There is study by the National Academy of Public Administration that established the critical need for small manufacturers to have better access to changing technology, production techniques, and business management practices. This study also recommended the improving technology transfer and infusion to small and medium-sized manufacturers. The Committee supports the rapid integration of new technologies and innovations into the manufacturing industry. This integration will help small-to-medium sized manufacturers stay competitive in the global economy while promoting American innovation and preserving American jobs. Language in the bill will facilitate these goals.

Mr. WU. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. WU. Madam Chair, I am pleased to be offering this amendment with Dr. Gingrey, the ranking member of the Technology and Innovation Subcommittee. This amendment was developed as a result of recommendations of the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. The amendment ensures that the Technology Innovation Program, TIP, will focus on high-reward technologies in areas of critical national need. In addition, it provides additional guidance that the program must coordinate with similar State organizations and programs. Many States have developed innovation agendas to stimulate job growth, and it makes sense that we should ensure that this program coordinates with these existing programs. Finally, the amendment includes a definition of high-risk, high- reward research. Dr. Gingrey and I worked closely in developing this amendment, and I would urge its adoption. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WU. Madam Chair, I regret that Dr. Gingrey is not able to be with us today because of a funeral at home, and I would like to just reiterate my appreciation for his hard work on this amendment and my support for this amendment. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WU. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, although it is not my intent to oppose the amendment.

Mr. WU. The gentleman from Illinois' amendment will provide useful information to our manufacturing sector, and its inclusion will strengthen a bill already focused on competitiveness in manufacturing. Madam Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. WU. Madam Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WU. Madam Chairman, I want to assure the gentlelady from Kansas that we will be happy to work with her to address her concerns as this bill moves through the legislative process.

Mr. WU. Madam Chairman, I move that the Committee do now rise.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Mr. 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 the bill, H.R. 1868, as amended.

Mr. WU

Mr. WU. Madam Chairman, will the gentleman yield?

Mr. WU. Madam Chairman, on the Science and Technology Committee we are keenly aware of the importance of the biotechnology industry to our economy. We also know that the growth in our biotech industry is largely due to early Federal investment and support in this field, and I am pleased to support the gentleman from Maryland's amendment.

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I reserve a point of order against the motion to recommit.

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my point of order, and I rise in strong opposition to the motion to recommit.

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, we have heard much talk about the Social Security trust fund and the solvency of Social Security. But in the time that I have been here, in 8 years, the solvency of Social Security has been increased by approximately 8 years, and that increase is because of American economic growth. It was projected at 34 years of solvency. It is currently projected at 42 years of solvency, and that is based on conservative, conservative estimates. The reason why there has been that increase in the solvency period of Social Security is because of economic growth. There is nothing more important to the American economy and our competitiveness than the legislation that we are considering today. The motion to recommit which the gentleman offers would fundamentally gut this legislation and prevent us from investing in the most productive of technologies, a traditional role which the Federal Government has played to support research and early-stage development, not commercialization, but early-stage development. By prohibiting those activities with this cap, what in essence would happen is our rate of economic growth would be slackened, our ability to manufacture jobs would be decreased. This is a motion to recommit which would gut the bill, and I urge its defeat. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.