Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010

ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2010 -- (Extensions of Remarks - July 17, 2009)

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I join my colleagues in opposition to the Flake Amendment to H.R. 3183, the Energy and Water Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010.

As a member of the Appropriations Committee, I believe it is our duty to work with our colleagues across the aisle in crafting a bill that helps our country in times of economic peril. In a political climate where energy sources and technology have become a central focal point, we must do everything in our power to do what is in the best interest of the constituents in our respective districts, and indeed, the nation as well. This amendment, however, is not in the best interest of our constituents.

The Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research (CPBR), Inc., which is based in the State of Georgia, is an organization which specializes in the transfer of plant biotechnologies from the research laboratory to the marketplace, and in the process, provides expanded economic opportunities through university research. CPBR's research programs and activities are undertaken cooperatively with major colleges and universities around the nation, including Albany State University, which is located in my Congressional district.

In its short history, the CPBR has produced over 2.5 U.S. Patents with every $1 million dollars of federal funding provided. Through CPBR, every federal dollar is matched at a rate of 130% with non-federal funds. Additionally, the organization has a commercialization rate on successful projects which is over 210% higher than what universities get on their own.

The amendment offered by Congressman Flake frankly represents a gross lack of judgment, particularly given the enormous benefits we are continuing to gain as a result of the CPBR's research activities and tangible results being put in practice.

The CPBR has successfully worked with a number of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) through its HBCU and Minority Institutions Research Fellowship Program. This program provides peer reviewed projects at these colleges and universities which, has in turn, sparked development and growth between the faculty and students.

This also broadens its interaction with its private sector partners, who work closely with the CPBR and its researchers, to carry out the transfer research and technology into the production of new and improved agricultural and manufacturing processes and products. Keep in mind, these are new products which were created and developed by students and researchers at Universities around the country.

These industrial innovations create thousands of new jobs and strengthen our national economy. One example of CPBR's research is the current use of Miscanthus as a feedstock for bio-ethanol and other industrial chemicals--a discovery which is currently used to reduce pollution from petroleum-based products throughout the energy industry. This is a clear example of the contributions which this group has made in moving our nation toward energy independence and improved technological efficiency.

We are all aware that advancing energy technology is one of the most important issues we face today. It is an issue that many feel very passionate about and affects the pockets of all of us and our constituents.

So it is essential that we continue to support activities of worthy organizations such as CPBR.

Mr. Chair, in closing, the enormity and size of the challenges facing communities impacted by the energy crisis is overwhelming. Funding for the work of the CPBR is worthy of continuation, and I would urge my colleagues to oppose the Flake amendment.

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