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Floor Speech

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Ms. CANTWELL. Madam President, I rise today to support the nomination of Dr. Arati Prabhakar to be the Director of the Office of Science and Technology. Since 1976, the Office of Science and Technology Policy has worked to ensure that the United States leads in science and technology, to promote STEM education, and to make sure that our science Agencies share the common purpose of benefiting all Americans.

Dr. Prabhakar is very well qualified for this job. As an engineer, physicist, leader, venture capitalist, and pioneer, she has had a trailblazing career, accomplishing a lot in a time period where she was Director of the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency, DARPA, and the first woman to lead the National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST.

And under Dr. Prabhakar's leadership, DARPA kick-started the development of a rapid-response mRNA vaccine platform. This platform was the basis for the fast, safe, and effective COVID-19 development.

Under her leadership at NIST, she worked to expand the Manufacturing Extension Partnership to boost the competitiveness of small- and medium-sized American manufacturers.

Just last year, the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program helped our domestic manufacturers capture $3.9 billion in new sales. In my State alone, that translated into over $186 million and more than 2,000 jobs created or retained.

Perhaps even more impressive, back in the 1990s, when Dr. Prabhakar was just in her twenties, she helped launch DARPA programs that made essential leaps forward in semiconductor manufacturing technology. Dr. Prabhakar's programs laid the groundwork for five generations of chip manufacturing technologies to help demonstrate leadership right here in the United States.

Dr. Prabhakar is now ready to lead again, and now we are asking for her to lead this important Agency. We have just passed the CHIPS and Science Act, which is a renewed commitment to domestic semiconductor research and manufacturing and U.S. leadership in the next generation chip technology.

Dr. Prabhakar has the exact experience we need to advise the President on semiconductor manufacturing, on bringing the supply chain and security that we need here in the United States, and on continued growth in science and technology jobs that come along with it.

The CHIPS and Science Act directs the National Science Foundation to invest in translational research, including through a new NSF tech directorate.

Before her nomination, Dr. Prabhakar was an important voice in support of this effort of a tech directorate, reaching out to House and Senate colleagues and helping to shape the directorate in its focus on big national and security challenges.

And the CHIPS and Science Act reflects our commitment to diversity in science, to make sure that the engineering, math, and STEM fields are included and that we continue to grow a workforce that is needed.

The important aspect of science is not always thought of in every aspect of growing the next generation. That is why I am so encouraged that Dr. Prabhakar is very committed to increasing the talent pool that we need in our country.

For the first time in our country's history, the President has elevated the Office of Science and Technology Policy Director to a Cabinet-level post, meaning there will be a scientist in the room for our Nation's most important discussions.

And for the first time in history, with the support of my colleagues here today, Dr. Prabhakar will be the first woman and person of color to serve as the Senate-confirmed OSTP Director.

Dr. Prabhakar will have a lot to do, including developing the whole- of-government science and technology strategies for issues ranging from security to commercial space exploration. And at a time of growing competition, OSTP needs to tell the President and advise our leaders what we need to do to maintain our competitiveness as a nation.

I know, coming from an innovation State, how important the Office of Science and Technology Policy strategies can be in helping our Nation attract and keep the best and brightest and prioritize collaboration between academia and industry. And since Washington has been a STEM leader--in fact, I think we are the most STEM-focused State in the Nation; that is, by number of people involved in STEM----we know that this partnership between the existing workforce and the workforce of tomorrow needs to grow.

I know that, as a former DARPA Director, Dr. Prabhakar will help us with this engine of innovation and growing STEM education in America. Moreover, I know that Dr. Prabhakar will, on many issues, help to improve the participation of women and girls in the issues of STEM.

This is such a big, important issue for us today. But just being at the helm of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, being a woman, being there at the Cabinet level, and advising the President of the United States, I know she will help to deliver a message that young women all across America need to be involved in the sciences to help our Nation in the next phases of innovation. I am so excited that she will be in this position.

I ask my colleagues to support her as a devoted, experienced, and exceptional public servant. These are the kinds of people who we need in government. These are the kinds of people who can make America stronger, safer, and more competitive. I urge my colleagues to support the confirmation of Dr. Prabhakar as the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

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