Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010

Floor Speech

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Ms. MATSUI. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my legislation, H.R. 5156, the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010.

Our Nation is running a trade deficit in green technologies ranging in the billions, and the U.S. clean tech industry is lagging behind many of its competitors in exports, most notably China and Germany.

Currently, only six of the top 30 global clean energy companies are American-owned. This is simply unacceptable. We must not become a Nation dependent on foreign clean energy products. We must be the Nation that leads the world in manufacturing and exporting clean energy technologies. That is why I, along with Chairmen Rush and Dingell and Congresswoman Eshoo, introduced H.R. 5156 to boost the competitiveness of the U.S. clean energy industry.

Specifically, the bill would require the Department of Commerce, in coordination with relevant agencies, to implement, develop and sustain a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy to provide U.S. clean tech firms with export assistance in finding and navigating foreign markets to sell their goods and services to new customers.

The President has laid out a laudable goal to double U.S. exports over the next 5 years, and this legislation will ensure clean energy exports are at the forefront of our national export strategy. The bill will also help strengthen America's domestic clean tech manufacturing industry.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased that this legislation is a part of the Make It in America manufacturing agenda to demonstrate this Congress' commitment to the U.S. domestic manufacturing industry, and I applaud the majority leader's leadership in this.

This legislation encourages American clean energy manufacturers across the Nation to sell their American-made clean energy technologies here in America and around the world.

This is also about jobs. The Department of Energy has found that the emerging U.S. clean energy sector could create more than 750,000 jobs over the next decade. The clean energy emerging economy is one that we cannot afford to let pass us by.

Mr. Speaker, my home district of Sacramento is well positioned to be a national leader in manufacturing clean energy technologies, with more than 120 small and medium-sized clean energy companies in the region. Many of these companies are beginning to manufacture clean energy products or are seeking to expand their manufacturing operation and wanting to export through clean energy technologies to foreign markets.

However, unlike big U.S. companies, small and medium-sized firms simply do not have the resources and expertise to find and navigate foreign markets and are seeking assistance. In fact, according to the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, more than 30 percent of nonexporting small and medium-sized companies would export if they had more access to market information, export opportunities, and the export process. Many of these companies have validated their clean energy technologies and are now looking to expand their businesses by exporting their goods and services to new foreign markets but actually lack the resources to do so.

Mr. Speaker, let me briefly clarify that this bill provides a modest authorization to help American small businesses with the manufacturing and export assistance they are seeking.

It is not an appropriations bill. As my colleagues on the other side are aware, authorization measures do not appropriate funds and they do not add a dime to our deficit. The measure would have to fit within our budget caps during the congressional appropriation process.

The bill would not affect direct spending or revenues. Therefore, PAYGO procedures would not apply, and it does not violate PAYGO rules.

Mr. Speaker, during the Energy and Commerce markup of this bill, we included several changes that my Republican colleagues recommended; most notably, working in a bipartisan manner, we expanded the definition of ``clean energy technology.''

We also include a transparency provision that requires the Commerce Department to report back to Congress within 180 days of enactment, a plan to assist small and medium-sized businesses, encourage job growth in the U.S. clean energy sector, and encourage greater domestic manufacturing of clean energy products.

H.R. 5156 will also enhance our standing in the race to be the global leader in clean energy. The BP oil spill only underscores the need for leadership in the clean energy market, and this bill will send a strong message that America is serious about being the leader and producing and exporting these technologies.

I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, which will support clean energy products being made in America and, in turn, will help families make it in America.

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