Washington, DC - Today, Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) voted for H.R. 5116, the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010, which will strengthen the U.S. workforce and economy by supporting the manufacturing industry. COMPETES supports small- and medium-sized manufactures and will help create jobs in the short-, mid-, and long-term.  The bill passed, 262-150.  The Congressman made the following remarks on the House floor: 

“MADAM SPEAKER:  As a cosponsor of the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, I rise today in strong support of this legislation.  In recent years we have watched as our country has fallen behind in educating our children for the 21st Century and developing technology that our neighbors envy.  Today’s legislation will help to turn these trends around by making the strong investments necessary in research, education and manufacturing.

“This is bipartisan legislation reauthorizes our basic research programs and lays the groundwork for doubling funding levels for the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy Office of Science and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.  Funding through these programs has been critical to many of the faculty, staff, scientists and investigators in my district who rely on funding from these agencies to support their research.  Research that has led to spin-offs such as A123, now a leader in advanced battery technology.  America COMPETES also reauthorizes the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy, which has made great efforts at developing the energy technology of the future.

“This research cannot be done without providing our students with the strong educational foundation necessary for a college education.  This legislation will expand and improve STEM education from kindergarten to college through scholarships to train secondary teachers in STEM fields to teach in high need schools, provide grants to increase the number of students who pursue undergraduate degrees in STEM fields, and establish fellowships for recent doctoral degree candidates who can lead STEM education research and program development.  America COMPETES will also help our colleges and universities to retain and recruit underrepresented groups in STEM fields.  These are necessary improvements to ensure that the next generation of researchers, faculty, engineers, and entrepreneurs can compete with their counterparts abroad.

“America COMPETES legislation will also provide critically needed help to our small- and medium-sized manufacturers who have been hard hit by the financial downturn.  In order to improve competitiveness and access to capital, America COMPETES will provide Innovative Technology Federal Loan Guarantees for these manufacturers.  To help manufacturers modernize, this legislation authorizes the National Science Foundation to support research needed for advances in manufacturing.  To ensure manufacturers will have the skilled employees they need, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Centers will be directed to work with local community colleges to ensure training programs fit the needs of local manufacturers.  It will also reduce the cost share contribution for Manufacturing Extension Partnership program centers, which provides invaluable assistance to manufacturers by increasing their technological capabilities, instituting green or lean manufacturing techniques, and increasing their sales. 

“Madam Speaker, I know my colleagues all agree that our country has the best education system in the world and the most talented and innovative manufacturers and entrepreneurs.  However, they cannot continue to compete with their foreign colleagues who have benefited from strong leadership and investment from their government and a clear plan for the path forward.  The future success of our children and grandchildren depends on our government partnering with private industry in investing in the education and innovative technology of the 21st century.  To truly compete with our neighbors abroad, we must pass the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act, which is why I urge my colleagues to vote yes.”