Bioeconomy Research and Development Act of 2021

Floor Speech

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Mr. CASTEN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the America COMPETES Act. And I am particularly proud of the House science legislation in this bill designed to ensure that the Department of Energy Office of Science, the National Science Foundation, and NIST are well-equipped to succeed in the 21st century.

It also invests in a STEM workforce for the future to ensure we have the talents to bring all these semiconductor, climate and manufacturing jobs back home where they belong.

And if I could just share a personal story. About 13 years ago, I was building a tree house in my backyard, and as I was starting, this 6- year-old neighborhood kid shows up behind me with a cute little hard hat and a tool belt and said, ``I'm here to help.'' And my 2009 summer intern, as it were, is now a sophomore at the University of Illinois studying nuclear engineering.

His opportunity was made possible, in part, by investments that were made decades ago in nuclear technology in a test reactor on that University of Illinois campus. That reactor has now hit the end of its life. It has been shut down, and there are few other States that have those kinds of opportunities.

That is why I look forward to the consideration of my National Nuclear University Research Infrastructure Reinvestment Act, in America COMPETES, with Congressman Foster, Congressman Gonzalez, and Congressman Meijer, that will enhance the research capabilities of nuclear science and engineering programs, meet the workforce needs of the U.S. nuclear industry, and accelerate the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies in Illinois and across the country.

I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill as we develop new generations of advanced nuclear energy at our Nation's universities.

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