Research And Development

Floor Speech

Mr. TONKO. Madam Speaker, we make great strides towards solving our future energy needs by focusing on a process that has been virtually ignored for the past 8 years, research and development. Time and again, our economy has been pushed forward by a spirit of innovation. It has been pushed forward by a spirit that a century ago ignited an energy revolution started right in the heart of the 21st Congressional District with General Electric. Less than half a century ago, President Kennedy announced the space race in response to Sputnik. We now have that opportunity again. But when one considers the global context, it's easy to see that the United States is falling woefully behind.

The House of Representatives is considering the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which would create millions of clean energy jobs, put America on the path to energy independence, and cut global warming pollution. China is investing $12.6 million every hour towards clean energy. With this kind of deficit, we stand to lose our place in the world as it relates to our energy security, and that is a finished product we simply cannot afford to import.

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