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NATION AND HELP GUIDE US IN OUR
SHARED COMMITMENT TO A BETTER
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.
AND, MR. PRESIDENT, I YIELD THE
FLOOR AND NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
MR. PRESIDENT?
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
MINORITY LEADER.
MR. PRESIDENT,
I WOULD SAY TO MY FRIEND FROM
OHIO, I HAVE LISTENED WITH GREAT
INTEREST TO HIS FIRST SPEECH
HERE IN THE SENATE AND WAS
PARTICULARLY INTERESTED IN HIS
REFERENCE TO ROBERT A. TAFT WHO,
AS THE SENATOR FROM OHIO KNOWS,
HIS PORTRAIT IS IN THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER'S OFFICE AND
HAS BEEN THERE FOR SOME TIME.
IN FACT, THAT SPACE THAT'S
CURRENTLY THE OFFICE OF THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER IN THE SENATE
BECAME THE SPACE OF THE
REPUBLICAN LEADER ABOUT THE TIME
THAT SENATOR TAFT WAS IN THAT
ALL TOO BRIEF PERIOD.
HE WAS ACTUALLY ONLY MAJORITY
LEADER FOR ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS
BEFORE HE PASSED AWAY, BUT HE
LEFT AN INCREDIBLE IMPRESSION
HERE IN -- IN THIS TOWN, WHICH
THE JUNIOR SENATOR FROM OHIO
POINTED OUT.
AND I WOULD SAY IN LISTENING TO
THE NEW SENATOR FROM OHIO THAT
HE IS ENTIRELY ABLE TO FILL THE
SHOES OF THOSE WHO HAVE COME
BEFORE REPRESENTING THE GREAT
STATE OF OHIO IN THE SENATE.
HE MADE REFERENCE TO SOME OF
THEM, I PREDICT, BY THE TIME THE
SENATOR FROM OHIO LEAVES THIS
BODY, HE WILL BE WIDELY REFERRED
TO IN THE SAME -- IN THE SAME
I THANK HIM FOR HIS IMPORTANT
FIRST CONTRIBUTION HERE IN THE
SENATE.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OHIO.
THANK YOU,
MR. PRESIDENT.
I JOINED THE REPUBLICAN LEADER
IN CONGRATULATING SENATOR
PORTMAN ON HIS FIRST SPEECH ON
THE SENATE FLOOR.
I REMEMBER THOSE DAYS SOME FOUR
YEARS AGO WHEN I HAD THE HONOR
OF DOING THAT.
I KNOW HOW CLOSE ROB AND JANE
ARE AND THEIR CHILDREN, AND I
HAVE SEEN THEM MUCH OVER THE
LAST YEAR.
I KNOW THE SACRIFICE AND
DIFFICULTY OF LEAVING HOME AS HE
POINTS OUT, AND I KNOW HE FEELS
THAT WAY ABOUT HIS FAMILY.
SENATOR, I LOOK FORWARD TO THIS
I LOOK FORWARD ALREADY TO WHAT
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO DO,
ESPECIALLY ON MANUFACTURING
JOBS.
ROB, SENATOR PORTMAN, HAS
VISITED, AS HE SAID, SOME 80
MANUFACTURING PLANTS IN THE LAST
THREE YEARS, AND HE SEES WHAT I
SEE ON THESE SHOP FLOORS, THAT
IF WE KEEP THESE JOBS IN THE
UNITED STATES, THESE
MANUFACTURING JOBS, THE
INNOVATION IS DONE, MUCH OF IT
ON THE SHOP FLOOR AND WE'LL
CONTINUE TO LEAD THE WORLD IN
INNOVATION, CONTINUE TO LEAD THE
WORLD IN JOB CREATION.
THAT'S THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING
WITH SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED AND
LARGE MANUFACTURING COMPANIES.
I -- I ALSO WOULD ADD THAT
SENATOR PORTMAN ALREADY
UNDERSTANDS THAT OHIO'S THE HOME
OF TWO MAJOR FEDERAL
INSTALLATIONS.
NASA GLENN IN CLEVELAND AND
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE
IN DAYTON AND ALSO THE PETOMO
MEMORIAL INSTITUTE IN COLUMBUS,
WHILE NOT A FEDERAL AGENCY PER
SE SERVES MUCH OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT BY RUNNING THIS
COUNTRY'S ENERGY LABS.
THE SYNERGISM AMONG THOSE THREE
COUPLED WITH OHIO STATE AND CASE
WESTERN, I MET TODAY WITH
PRESIDENT WILLIAMS OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI IN
SENATOR PORTMAN'S HOMETOWN AND
THE KIND OF SYNERGISM THAT COMES
OUT OF THIS IN INNOVATION AND
HIGH-END MANUFACTURING AND ALL
THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT HE AND
SENATOR PORTMAN ANDLY DO
TOGETHER IN JOB CREATION,
WHETHER IT'S USEC IN SOUTHERN
OHIO OR THE SOLAR INDUSTRY IN
TOLEDO OR THE AUTO INDUSTRY IN
THE NORTH OR THE AEROSPACE
INDUSTRY ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHWEST
BUT THROUGHOUT THE STATE, THE
KIND OF WORK WE DO WILL
ABSOLUTELY MATTER TO PUT PEOPLE
BACK TO WORK AND CREATE THE
KINDS OF GOOD-PAYING INDUSTRIAL
JOBS AND GOOD-PAYING OTHER JOBS
THAT OHIOANS ASPIRE TO TO CREATE
CLASS.
I CONGRATULATE SENATOR PORTMAN.
I YIELD THE FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT, I -- I NOTE THE
ABSENCE OF A QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL:
QUORUM CALL:
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA.
PRESIDENT.
LET ME ASK UNANIMOUS CONSENT TO
DISPENSE WITH THE QUORUM.
OBJECTION.
MR. PRESIDENT.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY
COLLEAGUES FOR REALLY HELPING US
TO FOCUS ON THIS DEBATE
YESTERDAY AND TODAY.
WE STARTED DISCUSSING THE
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE SBIR AND
STTR PROGRAMS WITHIN THE SMALL
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION.
SENATOR SNOWE HAS BEEN ON THE
FLOOR MOST OF THE DAY YESTERDAY
AND PART OF THE DAY TODAY AS WE
MANAGE THIS BILL.
AS I'VE SAID MANY TIMES, THIS
PARTICULAR BILL IS THE -- THIS
PARTICULAR PROGRAM IS THE
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S LARGEST
RESEARCH PROGRAM FOR SMALL
BUSINESS, AND IT WAS STARTED IN
1982 BY A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF
SENATORS AND HOUSE MEMBERS THAT
BELIEVED THAT SMALL BUSINESSES
IN AMERICA HAD SOMETHING TO
CONTRIBUTE IN THE TECHNOLOGICAL
AND SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENTS IN
THIS COUNTRY, AND THEY WERE
AND THEY SAID, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT SPENDS BILLIONS OF
DOLLARS EVERY YEAR ON RESEARCH
AND DEVELOPMENT, YET SOME OF OUR
MOST PROMISING SMALL BUSINESSES
-- MAYBE INDEPENDENT SCIENTISTS
OR RESEARCHERS OR ENGINEERS OR
INVESTOR'S VETERANS OF ALL
DIFFERENT -- OR INVENTORS OF ALL
DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS AND PER
SITUATIONS, COULDN'T REALLY GET
INTO THE BACK DOOR OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR N.I.H.
IN THOSE DAYS, PEOPLE ONLY
WANTED TO SEE PEOPLE FROM BIG
WEWELL, NOT ONLY WAS THAT NOT
ALLOWING SMALL BUSINESS AN
OPPORTUNITY, BUT, MR. PRESIDENT,
IT WAS SHORTCHANGE THE TAXPAYER,
BECAUSE WHAT TAXPAYERS WANT IS
THE BEST TECHNOLOGY.
DOESN'T MATTER TO THEM WHETHER
IT COMES FROM A SMALL SHOP DOWN
THE STREET OPERATING ON THE
SECOND FLOOR, YOU KNOW, ABOVE A
DOUGHNUT SHOP, LIKE MY FATHER
GOT STARTED MANY YEARS AGO, OR
WHEMG IT COMES FROM THE BACK
OFFICE OF I.B.M.
THEY JUST WANT THE BEST.
AND THEY DESERVE IT.
THIS PROGRAM DELIVERS T AND SO
THIS IS ABOUT INNOVATION AND
AND ONE THING THAT I WANT TO
STRESS AGAIN -- SEVERAL PEOPLE
HAVE COME DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND
SAID, WHY AREN'T WE, -- I GUESS
MEANING DEMOCRATS -- FOCUSED
LIKE A LASER ON CLOSING THE
BUDGET GAP?
LET ME SAY, THIS IS AN EFFORT TO
CLOSE THE BUDGET GAP AND TO
REDUCE THE DEBT AND TO CLOSE THE
ANNUAL DEFICIT BECAUSE THAT CAN
BE DONE BY CUTTING DISCRETIONARY
SPENDING, CUTTING DEFENSE
SPENDING, WHERE IT'S WASTEFUL
AND NOT EFFECTIVE; RAISING
REVENUES, WHERE IT IS
APPROPRIATE, PARTICULARLY FOR
THOSE MAKING OVER $1 BILLION A
YEAR WOULD BE A GOOD PLACE TO
START -- MAKING OVER FERREDZ 1
MILLION A YEAR WOULD BE A GOOD
PLACE TO START.
AND EQUALLY IMPORTANT TO ALL THE
ABOVE IS CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE
SO THE PRIVATE SECTOR CAN GET
ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF CREATING
JOBS.
THAT'S WHAT THIS BUSINESS DOES.
THAT'S WHY SENATOR SNOWE AND I
ARE ON THE FLOOR.
THAT'S WHY OUR COMMITTEE VOTED
THIS BILL OUT 18-1.
WE KNOW IT'S IMPORTANT.
SO TO INNOVATE -- INNOVATION
CREATES JOBS.
AND I WANT TO SHOW YOU JUST
THREE EXAMPLES AS WE'RE WAITING
FOR SENATORS TO COME TO THE
FLOOR TO TALK ABOUT THEIR
I WANTED TO SHARE ONE STORY.
THIS IS FROM CONNECTICUT.
MIGHT I SAY, THAT OVER THE
20-PLUS YEARS OF THIS PROGRAM,
THERE HAVE BEEN SMALL BUSINESSES
IN EVERY STATE THAT HAVE
BENEFITED EITHER THROUGH GRANTS
OR THROUGH CONTRACTS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, WHICH
HAS ABOUT $1 BILLION OF THEIR
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SET
ASIDE FOR THIS PURPOSE, OTHER
DEPARTMENTS CALLED IN GRANTINGS.
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
ACTUALLY ENTERS INTO CONTRACTS
WITH SMALL BUSINESSES.
NOW, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS CAME
OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
IT'S NOT NOTED HERE.
BUT ONE OF OUR AGENCIES THOUGHT
IT MIGHT BE IMPORTANT TO CREATE
A DEVICE TO SAFELY TRANSPORT
TOXIC CHEMICALS.
NOW, I'M FROM LOUISIANA.
WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS -- WE'RE
PROUD OF OUR INDUSTRIAL BASE IN
PETROCHEMICALS.
SOME THINGS WE PRODUCE ARE
REALLY, REALLY SAFE.
SOME THINGS WE PRODUCE ARE
DANGEROUS BUT NECESSARY TO
UNDERGIRD OUR ECONOMY.
SO THE TRANSPORT OF THESE TOXIC
IMPORTANT.
SO ONE OF THE AGENCIES -- AND I
DON'T HAVE EXACTLY WHICH ONE --
IDENTIFIED A COMPANY IN
CONNECTICUT THAT MIGHT BE ABLE
TO COME UP WITH SOME SUCH
THEY DID.
THAT PARTICULAR COMPANY, WHICH
IS NOW ATMI, PAID MORE THAN TEN
TIMES IN TAXES NOW THAT THAT
INVENTION HAS BEEN
COMMERCIALIZED, AS WE CAN SEE
HERE ON THIS CHART.
BUT WHAT PEOPLE REALLY NEED TO
KNOW IS THIS COMPANY PAID MORE
-- TEN TIMES IN TAXES THAN THEY
RECEIVED FROM THE PROGRAM.
THIS IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
ATMI WENT FROM 40 EMPLOYEES TO
EMPLOYING 800 PEOPLE WORLD BIDE.
NOW, I'M HOPING THAT THEIR
COMPANY IS STILL LOCATED IN
DANBURY, CONCOMP.
I-- DANBURY,
THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT IN THIS
PARTICULAR PROGRAM FOR THAT TO
OCCUR, AND WE WOULDN'T WANT THAT
TO HAVE THAT REQUIREMENT BECAUSE
WE'RE PRODUCING TECHNOLOGY AND
INNOVATION FOR AMERICA AND FOR
THE WORLD, AND OUR PEOPLE WILL
BENEFIT FROM T BUT LET'S HOPE
THAT THAT IS THE CASE AND THAT'S
JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
A SECOND EXAMPLE COMES FROM ANN
ARBOR, MICHIGAN.
SENATOR STABENOW WAS ON THE
FLOOR EARLIER TODAY.
MUCH.
SHE WAS A VERY STRONG SUPPORTER
OF OUR VERY IMPORTANT SMALL
BUSINESS JOBS AND INNOVATION
BILL IN THE LAST CONGRESS.
I'M PLEASED THAT THE LEADERSHIP
HAS GIVEN OUR COMMITTEE AN
OPPORTUNITY TO BE ON THE FLOOR
WITH ANOTHER IMPORTANT BILL SO
EARLY IN THIS CONGRESS.
I THINK LEADER REID KNOWS AND
FEELS STRONGLY -- AS STRONGLY AS
I DO -- THAT THERE ARE MORE WAYS
TO CUT A DEFICIT THAN THE ONE
BEING TRUMPETED ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THIS CAPITAL.
-- ON THE
OTHER SIDE OF THIS CAPITOL.
IT WON'T WORK.
ALL WE HEAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE
IS CUT DISCRETIONARY SPEND
BECAUSE WE'LL GET THERE.
A, WE WON'T GET THERE.
AND, B, WE WILL SHUT OFF BOTH
FEET IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING
THERE BECAUSE IT IS A DEAD END.
YOU CANNOT GET TO WHERE WE WANT
TO GO THE WAY SOME PEOPLE ARE
ARGUING.
WE CAN GET TO REDUCING OUR
DEFICIT, ELIMINATING OUR DEBT BY
DOING ALL FOUR OF THE THINGS
THAT ARE MENTIONED.
AND ONE OF THEM IS CREATING JOBS
AND DOING IT IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR.
THIS IS THE CYBERNET AMMO
SORTER.
THIS DID COME FROM THE DEFENSE
DEPARTMENT.
WHEN PEOPLE ASK, HOW CAN YOU
SAVE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS?
WE WILL, THIS PARTICULAR
INVENTION HAS SAVED THE
GOVERNMENT HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS IN DEFENSE COSTS OVER
THE FIVE YEARS.
IT STARTED IN MICHIGAN, NOW IS
EXPANDING TO FLORIDA.
THAT WILL MAKE SENATOR NELSON
VERY HAPPY.
IT WAS INITIALLY IMPLEMENTED AT
ONE OF OUR CAMPS IN KUWAIT.
IT IS IN SUPPORT OF "OPERATION
FREEDOM."
IT IS NOW ALSO IN FOR THE IRWIN,
THE NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER IN
THE MOJAVE DESERT, WHERE TROOPS
TRAIN BEFORE DEPLOYMENT.
IT SAVES OUR TROOPS MANY, MANY
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
SO THERE IS ANOTHER WAY TO CUT
SPENDING BESIDES JUST SLASHING
AND BURNING SOME OF THE BEST
PROGRAMS IN THE WORLD,
LITERALLY.
SOME OF THE BEST PROGRAMS IN THE
WORLD HAVE BEEN LEFT ON THE
CHOPPING BLOCK, NOTIOUS THE SENATE IS
NOT IN ORDER JUST IN AMERICA--
--NOT JUST IN AMERICA.
IN THE WORLD.
I MIGHT SUGGEST TO LOOK OUTSIDE
THE BOX AND THEY THINK OF OTHER
WAYS TO REDUCE SPENDING WHICH IS
INVESTING IN SMART INVESTMENTS
THAT STREAMLINE AND CREATE
TAXPAYERS MONEY AND CREATE JOBS
AT THE SAME TIME.
THUS, COMPANIES CAN PAY IN MORE
TAXES AT THE LOCAL, STATE, AND
FEDERAL LEVEL AND WE CONTINUE TO
GET SPENDING UNDER CONTROL AND
REDUCE OUR DEFICIT.
SO THAT IS THE CYBERNET SYSTEMS
AMMO SYSTEM.
LEAVE IT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE TO MAKE UP SUCH A NAME.
THIS IS BEACON INTERACTIVE
TURBOWORK OUT OF CAMBRIDGE,
MASSACHUSETTS.
THIS TECHNOLOGY CREATED
TECHNOLOGY -- OR THIS COMPANY TO
HELP SAILORS KEEP THE FLEET SAFE
THROUGH STREAMLINED AND UNIFORM
MAINTENANCE.
IT WILL BE GOING NOW INTO ALL
250 SHIPS IN THE NAVY.
460,000 SAILORS WILL USE THIS
TECHNOLOGY INTELED OUT OF THE
EVERILY DAY TO
PROTECT AND PRESERVE OUR
WARSHIPS.
IN ITS FIRST FULL YEAR OF
IMPLEMENT THAIRKS THE SOFTWARE
SHOULD GIVE A 300% RETURN ON THE
INITIAL SBIR INVESTMENT.
MR. PRESIDENT, YOU KNOW THIS
BECAUSE YOU'VE BEEN A VERY
STRONG ADVOCATE NATIONALLY, NOT
JUST IN THE STATE OF OREGON, FOR
SMALL BUSINESS.
BUT YOU KNOW THAT WITH A LITTLE
INVESTMENT AT THE RIGHT TIME,
THERE CAN BE A TREMENDOUS UP
AND THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE SEEING
HERE IN THIS PROGRAM.
OUR INITIAL GRANTS ARE ONLY
PEOPLE MIGHT SAY, JERKS YOU
KNOW, WHEN CAN YOU DO WITH
WE WILL, $150,000 GIVEN TO THE
SCIENTISTS OR THE ENGINEER OR
THE INVENTOR JUST AT THE RIGHT
TIME CAN HELP PROVIDE THAT HALF
YEAR OR YEAR OF RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT NECESSARY TO GROW
AND TO MOBILIZE THE
TECHNOLOGIES, TO DEVELOP IT INTO
SOMETHING THAT REALLY COULD
WORK.
AND THEN PHASE 2 COMES IN WITH
THE POTENTIAL, IF IT LOOKS
INVITING AND EXCITING AND
INTERESTING TO THE AGENCY, THEY
MIGHT AWARD SUCH A GRANTEE
ANOTHER $150,000 PHASE 2.
AND THEN IT CAN GO UP TO $1.5
MILLION.
AND THAT'S THE WAY THESE
COMPANIES OR THESE IDEAS GROW.
NOW AT SOME POINT THIS PROGRAM
CEASES TO BE NECESSARY BECAUSE
WHAT HAPPENS IS IT EITHER
BECOMES CLEAR TO THE PEOPLE
MANAGING IT THAT THAT IDEA HAS
FAILED, THAT THAT TECHNOLOGY IS
NOT GOING TO WORK AND THE GRANT
IS SIMPLY SHUT DOWN OR THE
CONTRACT COMES TO AN END.
LOST.
BUT WHAT OFTEN HAPPENS -- NOT IN
EVERY CASE -- WHAT OFTEN HAPPENS
IS THAT TECHNOLOGY GOES TO SUCH
A PHASE THAT IT BECOMES SO
PROMISING THAT VENTURE
CAPITALISTS STEP IN, LIKE THEY
SHOULD, AND OTHER INVESTORS STEP
IN AND TAKE THAT COMPANY WAY UP.
THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO
QUALCOMM.
THEY WERE 20 YEARS AGO, NOBODY
EVER HEARD OF THEM.
THEY GOT A SMALL GRANT FROM THIS
WINNERS.
WE WERE WINNERS TOO, NOT JUST
THE COMPANY, BECAUSE NOW THEY
EMPLOY 17,800 PEOPLE OPERATING
IN MORE THAN 30 COUNTRIES
WORLDWIDE AND PAID IN TAXES IN
ONE YEAR -- IN ONE YEAR -- HALF
OF THE COST OF THIS ENTIRE
PROGRAM.
AND AS THE GENTLEMAN, THE DOCTOR
WHO, THE DOCTORS WHO RESEARCHED
THIS PROGRAM SAID TO US IN OUR
HEARING, BECAUSE WE HAVE NEW
MEMBERS OF OUR COMMITTEE, FIVE
NEW MEMBERS FROM THE REPUBLICAN
SIDE, AND SENATOR SNOWE AND I
BOTH WANTED TO GIVE THEM A
CHANCE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THIS
BILL.
AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT THEY,
ALL BUT ONE SUPPORTED IT COMING
OUT OF COMMITTEE.
WHEN THEY REALLY UNDERSTOOD, AND
OF COURSE SOME OF THEM HAD
WERE FAMILIAR WITH THIS.
BUT WHEN THEY REALLY UNDERSTOOD
THAT THIS HAS REALLY BEEN ONE OF
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL FEDERAL
AND WHEN IT WAS REVIEWED BY, I
THINK IT WAS DR. WESTMAN GAVE US
A REVIEW OF THE PROGRAM, HE
SAID, LET ME TELL YOU, SENATOR,
IF EVERY SINGLE GRANT PRODUCES A
COMPANY, YOU'RE RUNNING THE
WRONG KIND OF PROGRAM, BECAUSE
THIS IS A HIGH-RISK EFFORT.
BUT IT'S A RISK THAT OVER TIME
HAS PAID OFF TREMENDOUSLY TO THE
TAXPAYER AND WILL CONTINUE IF
IT'S CONTINUED TO RUN IN THAT
SO WE'VE TIGHTENED UP IN THIS
STATUTES.
WE HAVE PUT MORE OVERSIGHT,
WHICH BOTH SENATOR SNOWE AND
THOUGHT WAS IMPORTANT BUT NOT
TOO HEAVILY BURDEN THE PROGRAM
BUT JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR
PEOPLE AND OUR DEPARTMENTS
WHR-RBGS IT'S IN -- WHETHER IT'S
IN DEFENSE OR N.I.H. OR THE NASA
PROGRAM ARE REALLY UTILIZING
THIS PROGRAM TO THE EXTENT AND
THE SPIRIT THAT CONGRESS
INTENDS.
SO WE'VE MADE SOME, WE THINK,
ADJUSTMENTS.
WELL, WE THINK SOME PERFECTIONS
THROUGH SOME ADJUSTMENTS AND
WE THINK WE'VE MADE THIS
PROGRAM, HOPEFULLY, EVEN
STRONGER.
BUT NOT EVERY GRANT THAT IS
GIVEN WILL RESULT IN JOBS, AND
IT WILL BE FOLDED.
BUT WHEN IT WORKS, IT REALLY
REALLY WORKS.
AND WE ARE SO BENEFITED AS A
NATION.
IN FACT, THERE WAS ALSO
TESTIMONY GIVEN BEFORE OUR
COMMITTEE THAT COUNTRIES ALL
OVER THE WORLD ARE TRYING TO
MODEL SOME OF THEIR PROGRAMS
AFTER THIS ONE, MR. PRESIDENT,
BECAUSE THEY KEEP ASKING HOW IS
IT IN AMERICA THAT YOU HAVE SUCH
AN INNOVATIVE SPIRIT?
HOW IS IT THAT YOU START SO MANY
SMALL BUSINESSES, AND MANY OF
THEM -- NOT ALL -- SUCCEED?
WHAT IS IT?
AND IT'S A NUMBER OF THINGS.
IT'S OUR OWN NATURE AND SPIRIT.
BUT IT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE HAVE
TRADITIONALLY HAD A VARIETY OF
ACCESSES TO CAPITAL, WHETHER
IT'S EQUITY IN THEIR HOME OR
SAVINGS ACCOUNT OR BANKING
SYSTEM THAT'S FOR THE MOST PART
VERY HONEST AND TRANSPARENT.
WE'VE HAD SOME DIFFICULTIES IN
JUST THE FEW PAST YEARS WITH
SOME OF THE ANTICS ON WALL
STREET THAT CAUSED PEOPLE, SOME
CATCH A BREATH FOR THAT.
BUT GENERALLY COMPARED TO MANY
OTHER COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD,
OUR PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE
THINGS -- PRIVATE PROPERTY THAT
THEY OWN.
IN MANY COUNTRIES PEOPLE CAN'T
EVEN OWN PRIVATE PROPERTY.
YOU CAN'T EVEN GET A CLEAR TITLE
TO PROPERTY, SO HOW DO YOU
BORROW AGAINST IT TO START A
YOU DON'T.
AND SO IT'S MANY THINGS THAT GO
INTO THIS MIRACLE THAT WE CALL
THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.
AND THIS IS A BIG PART OF IT.
NOW, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
DOESN'T DO IT ALL, BUT I'M
HOPING THAT AS PEOPLE CONSIDER
THIS DEBATE, THAT EVERY STATE IN
THE UNION WILL CREATE A SIMILAR
SOME OF THEM ALREADY HAVE, AND
I'M GOING TO TRY TO PROVIDE TO
ALL THE MEMBERS HERE A LIST OF
WHAT THEIR INDIVIDUAL STATES
HAVE DONE.
BECAUSE IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT,
AND THE LARGE CITIES, WHETHER IT
BE NEW YORK OR SAN FRANCISCO OR
DETROIT OR CHICAGO, IF EVERY
CITY GOVERNMENT WOULD THINK
ABOUT SETTING ASIDE A SMALL
PORTION OF SOME OF THEIR
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT MONEY
TO REALLY P-RB OUT THE -- TO
REALLY PUSH OUT THE SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT AREN'T OBVIOUS
TO, SOMETIMES TO WALL STREET IN
NEW YORK OR THEY'RE NOT OBVIOUS
TO PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE IN
WASHINGTON, OR THEY'RE NOT
EXACTLY LOCATED IN JUST THE
SILICON VALLEY IN CALIFORNIA.
BUT THERE ARE BUGGED
ENTREPRENEURS AND -- THERE ARE
BUDDING ENTREPRENEURS AND
AMERICANS WITH GREAT IDEAS AND
GREAT DRIVE AND GREAT
DETERMINATION.
AND I'M REALLY HOPING THAT OUR
GOVERNMENT CAN BE SMARTER.
AND I'D LIKE THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT TO BE AS SMART AS IT
CAN POSSIBLY BE.
AND I'M HOPING THAT OUR STATE
GOVERNMENTS WILL LOOK AT THIS
PROGRAM AS A MODEL IN
NOW I CAN TELL YOU ONE THING
THAT I'M VERY EXCITED ABOUT, AND
I HAVEN'T TALKED WITH HIM ABOUT
IT SPECIFICALLY TO THIS, BUT I
HAVE SPOKEN AT SOME LENGTH TO
THE GOLDMAN SACHS EXECUTIVES.
AND I WANT TO SPEAK FOR A MINUTE
ABOUT A PROGRAM THAT I'M VERY
IMPRESSED WITH.
IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE'RE
DOING.
IT'S SOMETHING THEY'RE DOING,
BUT I THINK IT'S WORTH
MENTIONING HERE.
GOLDMAN SACHS HAS DECIDED TO TRY
TO CREATE 10,000 NEW SMALL
BUSINESSES IN AMERICA.
NOT NEW SMALL BUSINESSES.
THEY'RE TRYING TO GROW 10,000
SMALL BUSINESSES IN AMERICA.
THEY HAVE A VERY STRATEGIC PLAN
AND ONE THAT I'M WATCHING VERY
CLOSELY FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS.
ONE, THEIR MODEL IS SCALABLE AND
OTHER COMPANIES COULD
POTENTIALLY DO IT.
AND MAYBE WE COULD MODEL SOME
KIND OF FEDERAL PROGRAM IF
THEIRS IS SUCCESSFUL.
SECONDLY, I'M WATCHING IT
CLOSELY BECAUSE ONE OF THE
CITIES THEY CHOSE FOR THEIR
PILOT IS THE CITY OF NEW
ORLEANS, A CITY THAT I
REPRESENT.
NOW.
HE IS VERY ENGAGED WITH THE
LEADERSHIP THERE BECAUSE NEW
ORLEANS HAS BECOME A HOTBED OF
AND WHEN I HEAR PRESIDENT OBAMA
TALKING ABOUT OUTCOMPETING AND
OUT-INNOVATING, THAT'S NOT JUST
GOING TO HAPPEN ON PENNSYLVANIA
AVENUE OR RIGHT DOWN ON THE
INTERSECTION OF M AND WISCONSIN
AND GEORGETOWN.
IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ON CANAL
STRAOEGT IN THE LOWER -- STREET
IN THE LOWER NINTH WARD IN TOWNS
LIKE NEW ORLEANS AND IN PLACES
ALL OVER THE WORLD.
AND GOLDMAN SACHS IS SAYING, ALL
RIGHT, MR. MAKERS YOU GET THE
CITY LEADERSHIP -- MR. MAYOR,
YOU GET THE CITY LEADERSHIP, YOU
COLLEGES TO GIVE THE TRAINING.
WE JOINTLY CHOOSE THESE
ENTREPRENEURS THAT HAVE PROMISED
AND ALREADY ESTABLISHED, THEY
HAVE PROVEN THEY CAN RUN A
PROFIT.
BUT THEY'RE JUST STAGNATING.
THEY HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE
LARGER BUT THEY'RE NOT.
WHAT IS IT THAT'S CAUSING THEM?
MAYBE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE, LACK OF
SO OUR DELGADO COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, AND I'M VERY PROUD OF
DELGADO, ONE OF THE FINEST
COUNTRY, STEPPED UP AND SAID LET
US DO THE TRAINING.
WHEN THEY SUCCEED AND
SUCCESSFULLY EXIT THE
TRAINING -- AND I BELIEVE IT'S A
SIX-MONTH TO NINE-MONTH PROGRAM,
AT THE OTHER END GOLDMAN SACHS
GIVES THEM A CHECK FOR "X"
AMOUNT OF MONEY.
I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S $35,000 OR
$100,000 OR $200,000.
I'LL GET THAT IN THE RECORD SO
WE CAN BE CLEAR.
BUT THEY GIVE THEM A CHECK SO
THEY HAVE THE CAPITAL AND THE
KNOW HOW.
AND THEY HAVE THE SUPPORT OF
SOME OF THE NONPROFITS IN THE
AREA TO HELP THEM TO GROW.
SONG ABOUT THAT,
THAT, MR. PRESIDENT.
IF THAT IS SOMETHING ONLY ONE
COMPANY IS DOING, THINK ABOUT
WHAT COMPANIES LIKE CHEVRON,
WHAT THEY'RE DOING TO HELP SMALL
BUSINESS.
I THINK ABOUT OTHER COMPANIES,
AMERICAN EXPRESS WITH THEIR PLUM
DOING.
I'M NOT TALKING ABOUT COMPANIES,
JUST AN EXAMPLE OF COMPANIES OUT
THERE SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESS.
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN DO
ITS PART AS WELL.
AND SO WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION.
WE CAN'T DO EVERYTHING, BUT WE
MOST CERTAINLY CAN DO OUR PART
AS MANY LARGE COMPANIES AROUND
THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD ARE
ALSO THINKING WHAT CAN THEY DO
TO HELP GROW SMALL BUSINESSES IN
SO THAT'S JUST ONE EXAMPLE.
AND I WANT TO -- WE'RE GOING TO
WATCH THE SUCCESS OF SOME OF
THESE PROGRAMS IN THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, AND THEN WE'LL GET SOME
OF THEIR BEST IDEAS AND
POTENTIALLY EVEN STRENGTHEN OUR
BUT THIS IS A PARTNERSHIP
BETWEEN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND PRIVATE SMALL BUSINESSES
THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY.
LET ME JUST SWITCH TO A MINUTE
TO SAY A COUPLE OF THE
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
SUPPORTING THIS PROGRAM.
I DON'T SEE ANYONE ON THE FLOOR
AT THIS TIME TO SPEAK, SO LET ME
JUST READ INTO THE RECORD AGAIN
SOME OF THE COMMENTS THAT WE
RECEIVED FROM VERY STRONG
THE SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY
COUNCIL SAYS NOT ONLY DOES THIS
SBIR PROGRAM SPUR TECHNOLOGICAL
INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP,
IT HELPS CREATE HIGH-TECH JOBS
AND DOES SO WITHOUT INCREASING
THE FEDERAL DEFICIT.
THE NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION SAYS THE UNCERTAIN
FUTURE OF THIS PROGRAM -- AND AS
I SAID, FOR SIX YEARS IT'S BEEN
OPERATING ON SHORT-TERM, YOU
KNOW, SHORT-TERM ARRANGEMENTS.
THREE MONTHS HERE, TWO MONTHS
THERE.
FOR SIX YEARS NOBODY HAS HAD ANY
IDEA, EITHER FROM THE PRIVATE
SECTOR, FROM SOME OF THE BEST
LABS, FROM OUR AGENCIES, WHETHER
WEEK.
THAT IS JUST UNCONSCIONABLE.
THAT IS WHY SENATOR SNOWE AND I
HAVE FOUGHT SO HARD TO GET THIS
PROGRAM AUTHORIZED.
FLOOR, THE SENATOR FROM
OKLAHOMA, AND I WANT TO THANK
HIM BECAUSE BECAUSE OF HIS GOOD
COMPROMISING EFFORTS WITH US
LAST CONGRESS, WE'RE GOING TO BE
ABLE TO AUTHORIZE THIS PROGRAM
FOR EIGHT YEARS.
AS THE SENATOR WILL KNOW BECAUSE
HE'S BEEN A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR
GOOD MANAGEMENT AND
STREAMLINING, PROGRAMS LIKE THIS
NEED CERTAINTY.
THE LABS, OUR AGENCIES NEED TO
WE'RE LOOKING OUT TWO YEARS OR
THREE YEARS FOR THIS NEW
TECHNOLOGY, WHERE THERE'S A
PROVIDE IT TO US.
WE NEED TO KNOW.
SO THIS EIGHT-YEAR AUTHORIZATION
IS IMPORTANT.
AND I THANK HIM BECAUSE SOME
PROGRAMS ARE ONLY AUTHORIZED FOR
FOUR YEARS OR FIVE YEARS.
BUT WE FEEL BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN
IN LIMBO FOR SIX YEARS, IT WOULD
BE A GOOD IDEA TO GIVE THAT
EIGHT-YEAR AUTHORIZATION.
AND JUST ONE MORE COMMENT FOR 30
SECONDS, AND I'LL YIELD THE
I WANT TO READ IN TO THE RECORD
THE LETTERS OF SUPPORT FROM A
SHORT LIST OF COMPANIES, AND AS
ADDITIONAL ONES COME IN WE WILL
SUPPORT.
THE BAY AREA INNOVATION ALLIANCE
HAS SENT THEIR SUPPORT.
THE BIODISTRICT OF NEW ORLEANS.
THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIAL
ORGANIZATION, CONNECT OF
CALIFORNIA.
THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
INDUSTRIALISTS ASSOCIATION.
THE NEW ENGLAND INNOVATION
ALLIANCE.
THE NATIONAL SMALL BUSINESS
THE NATIONAL VENTURE CAPITAL
THE SMALL BUSINESS ASSOCIATION
OF NEW ENGLAND.
AND I WANT TO THANK SENATOR
SHAHEEN PARTICULARLY FOR HER
SUPPORT.
SMALL BUSINESSES OF CALIFORNIA.
SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY
THE V LABS, INC. AMERICAN
CHEMICAL SOCIETY.
AND THE UNITED STATES CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, JUST TO NAME A FEW.
SO, MR. PRESIDENT, LET'S KEEP
THIS DEBATE MOVING FORWARD.
WE'VE HAD A NUMBER OF AMENDMENTS
I SEE SENATOR COBURN ON THE
TPHRAORBGS AND I'LL YIELD THE
FLOOR -- I SEE SENATOR COBURN ON
THE TPHRAORBGS AND I'LL YIELD
THE FLOOR AT THIS TIME.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
PRESIDENT.
I THANK THE SENATOR FOR HER KIND
WORDS.
IT IS NECESSARY WE MOVE THIS
BILL.
I'M THANKFUL FOR SHE AND THE
MEMBER, FOR SOME OF THE
COMMITMENTS SHE MADE TO ME ON
THOSE THAT DON'T WORK IN THE
SMALL BUSINESS AREA.
I HAVE MULTIPLE AMENDMENTS, BUT
IN DEFERENCE TO THE CHAIRWOMAN,
I WILL NOT CALL THOSE UP.
I AM GOING TO CALL UP TWO.
I WANT TO EXPLAIN BOTH OF THEM.
AMENDMENT NUMBER 184, EVERYBODY
WAS REAL EXCITED ABOUT THE
G.A.O. REPORT THAT WE LOOKED AT
THE FIRST THIRD OF THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IN TERMS OF ALL THE
DUPLICATION.
WE DON'T KNOW THE EXTENT OF THAT
DUPLICATION, AND WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO DO SOME HARD WORK TO
SAVINGS.
THERE.
PEOPLE DON'T AGREE WITH ME ON MY
ESTIMATE, BUT NOBODY KNOWS THESE
PROGRAMS BETTER THAN I DO.
I'VE BEEN STUDYING THEM FOR SIX
YEARS.
THERE'S AT LEAST $100 BILLION
WHERE WE CAN SAVE THE AMERICAN
TAXPAYER AND ACTUALLY DO A
BETTER JOB THROUGH REDESIGNING
THE PROGRAMS AND ELIMINATING THE
BUREAUCRACIES THAT MAKE THEM
LESS THAN EFFECTIVE.
BUT ONE OF THE THINGS WE NEED TO
DO TO HELP THE G.A.O. IS HAVE
THE AGENCIES REPORT TO O.M.B.
AND TO US ON A YEARLY BASIS
THEIR PROGRAMS.
THERE'S AT LEAST 2,100 PROGRAMS
THAT WE KNOW OF IN THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT, WHEN G.A.O. GOES TO
LOOK AT THIS, IT'S VERY
DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO FERRET IT
WE ONLY HAVE ONE AGENCY THAT
PUBLISHES A LIST OF THEIR
PROGRAMS EVERY YEAR, AND THAT'S
THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
YOU CAN GET A BOOK.
IT'S THIS THICK.
IT'S THIS THICK, AND IT LISTS
ALL THEIR PROGRAMS.
WELL, THAT'S GOING TO MAKE IT
MUCH EASIER FOR G.A.O. TO DO THE
NEXT THIRD.
AND SO THIS IS A SIMPLE
AMENDMENT THAT REQUIRES EVERY
DEPARTMENT OF ALL THE CABINETS
TO FULFILL TO O.M.B. WITHIN A
SHORT PERIOD OF TIME WHAT ARE
ALL YOUR PROGRAMS.
AND ALSO TO REPORT TO US.
AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, THAT'S
GOING TO MAKE THE G.A.O. MUCH
MORE EFFECTIVE IN HOW IT BRINGS
TO US THIS NEXT GROUP OF
DUPLICATIONS AND OVERLAP.
SO IT'S A STRAIGHTFORWARD
AMENDMENT.
MY HOPE IS THAT IT CAN BE
AND I'D LIKE UNANIMOUS CONSENT
TO CALL UP AMENDMENT NUMBER 184,
WHICH IS THAT AMENDMENT AND THEN
MAKE IT PENDING.
IS THERE
AN OBJECTION?
OBJECTION.
I'D LIKE TO ASK THE SENATOR --
THE
SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA.
I LIKE THIS
AMENDMENT, 184, THE SENATOR HAS
SPOKEN ABOUT IT WITH ME.
I THINK IT HAS MERIT.
IF YOU COULD IDENTIFY THE OTHER
NUMBER, WHAT I'D LIKE TO SUGGEST
IF WE COULD GET A DEMOCRATIC
AMENDMENT SHOT BETWEEN THESE, --
SLOTTED BETWEEN THESE, WHAT IS
THE OTHER NUMBER?
THE OTHER AMENDMENT
NUMBER?
THE OTHER AMENDMENT NUMBER IS
CREDIT.
WOULD THE SENATOR
MIND EXPLAINING THAT AMENDMENT
AND THEN I'LL MAKE SURE IT'S
CLEARED ON OUR SIDE AND WE'LL
SEE WHAT WE CAN DO.
THE
SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
LET ME ASK THE
CHAIR, THEN, I UNDERSTAND MY
FIRST AMENDMENT IS UP AND
PENDING; IS THAT CORRECT?
WITHOUT
OBJECTION, THE CLERK WILL REPORT
THE AMENDMENT.
THE SENATOR FROM
OKLAHOMA, MR. COBURN, PROPOSES
AMENDMENT NUMBER 184.
AT THE END OF TITLE 5, ADD THE
FOLLOWING, SECTION, REQUIREMENT
TO IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE
PROGRAMS.
A, EACH FISCAL YEAR THE HEAD OF
EACH FEDERAL AGENCY SHALL, ONE,
IDENTIFY AND DESCRIBE EVERY
PROGRAM ANYONESTERRED BY THE
AGENCY --
ASK THAT THE
AMENDMENT BE CONSIDERED AS READ.
AND I WOULD NOW --
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
LIKE TO DISCUSS
AMENDMENT NUMBER 22 O'AND I
GUESS IT'S YOUR -- 220 AND I
GUESS IT'S YOUR INTENTION THAT I
DEFER IN CALLING AMENDMENT UP?
THE
SENATOR FROM LOUISIANA.
I MAY NOT HAVE ANY
OBJECTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO GET THAT CLEARED
ON OUR SIDE.
IF THE SENATOR WOULD EXPLAIN IT
AND WE COULD GET BACK TO HIM ON
THAT IN JUST A SHORT ORDER.
ALL RIGHT.
AMENDMENT 220 IS ABOUT MAKING
SURE THAT WE DON'T SEND GOOD
MONEY AFTER BAD.
WHEN YOU GO TO THE PUMP TODAY TO
BUY GASOLINE THAT IS BLENDED
WITH ETHANOL, YOU PAY AS A
TAXPAYER $1.78 AS A TAXPAYER
BEFORE YOU EVER PAY THE $350
OR $3 -- $3.50 THAT WE'RE PAYING
PER GALLON FOR ETHANOL AND
THIS DOESN'T TAKE AWAY ALL THE
INCENTIVES ON CORN-BASED ETHANOL
WHAT IT SAYS IS BECAUSE WE
ALREADY HAVE A MANDATE THAT SAYS
15 BILLION GALLONS OF ETHANOL
MUST BE AVAILABLE AND PUT
THROUGH THE SYSTEM THIS YEAR, NO
LONGER IS THERE A NECESSARY -- A
NECESSITY TO HAVE A BLENDER'S
CREDIT TO THE TUNE OF $6 BILLION
A YEAR.
SO WHAT THIS BILL -- THIS BILL
DOES TWO THINGS.
ONE IS IT TAKES AWAY A INCENTIVE
THAT'S NO LONGER NEEDED.
BUT IT SAVES US $6 BILLION THAT
WE'RE PAYING TO NAMES ARE GOING
TO DO THE BUSINESS NO MATTER
WHETHER WE PAY IT -- TO FIRMS
THAT ARE GOING TO DO THE
BUSINESS NO MATTER IF WE PAY IT
OR NOT.
IT IS SILLY TO PAY $6 BILLION OF
WHICH ALMOST $3 BILLION WILL BE
BORROWED MONEY FROM EITHER THE
FEDERAL RESERVE OR FROM THE
CHINESE TO INCENTIVIZE SOMETHING
THAT'S ALREADY MANDATED TO
HAPPEN.
IF YOU LOOK AT ETHANOL, IT'S
TWO-THIRDS AS EFFICIENT WHEN
BLENDED AS GASOLINE.
IT GETS POORER MILEAGE AND
THERE'S NO SAVINGS IN TERMS OF
CARBON OUTPUT OR POLLUTION.
SO WHAT WE'RE DOING IS WE'RE
INCENTIVIZING THE USE OF A FUEL
THAT GOES AGAINST WHAT MOST
PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO DO
ENVIRONMENTALLY.
IT CAUSES US TO MARKETEDLY
INCREASE THE COST OF FOOD, WHICH
WE'RE SEEING IN OUR COUNTRY AND
AROUND THE WORLD TODAY, AND
WE'RE INCENTIVIZING SOMETHING
THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ANYWAY.
AND SO IT'S A STRAIGHTFORWARD
AMENDMENT.
IT SAYS ON THE BLENDER'S TAX
CREDIT WE'RE NO LONGER GOING TO
GIVE A CREDIT FOR SOMETHING YOU
ALREADY HAVE A MARKET YOU'RE
GOING TO DO WITHOUT IT.
I KNOW SOMEONE WILL SAY THAT
IT'S A TAX INCREASE.
BUT WHEN DZ 6 BILLION TO A SMALL
INDUSTRY THAT'S -- $6 BILLION TO
A SMALL INDUSTRY -- IF WE USE
TAX CREDITS OR EXPENDITURES TO
EXPAND THE ECONOMY AND IT'S NOT
EXPANDING THE ECONOMY ANY WHEN
WE DO IT, WHY WOULD WE CONTINUE
TO DO IT?
AS PART OF THE PRESIDENT'S
DEFICIT COMMISSION, WE LOOKED AT
THAT AND SAID IT'S A NO BRAINER.
THERE'S NO REASON YOU WOULD
INCENT SOMETHING THAT IS
MANDATED BY LAW.
I KNOW IT'S A CONTROVERSIAL
SUBJECT FOR A LOT OF OUR
COLLEAGUES FROM FARM STATES, BUT
THE FACT IS WORLDWIDE
SOPHISTICATION AN FOOD -- AND
FOOD PREFERENCE HAS WIDELY
INCREASED, THIS HAS -- IS TAKING
FOOD STOCK OUT OF THE HUMAN FOOD
ENERGY CHAIN.
WE'RE NOT STOPPING THAT.
THERE'S STILL THE ALL THE OTHER
CREDITS AVAILABLE AND ALL THE
OTHER MANDATES, BUT WE'RE SAYING
WE SHOULDN'T SPEND $6 BILLION OF
TAXPAYER MONEY THAT WE DON'T
HAVE FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE
GOING TO DO ANYWAY.
THE OTHER POINT I'D MAKE IS
WE'RE NOW A NET EXPORTER OF
THAT.
THROUGH NOVEMBER OF 2010 WE EX
POTTED 397 MILLION GALLONS OF
THAT'S ALMOST A BILLION GALLONS
SINCE 2005 AND NOT COUNTING THE
BLENDER'S CREDIT, BUT ALL THE
OTHER CREDITS, WE'RE SUPPORTING
THAT TO THE TUNE OF $20 A
WE'RE SUBSIDIZING ETHANOL IN
GALLON.
THAT MAKES NO SENSE.
WHEN, IN FACT, WE HAVE
SIGNIFICANT ENERGY NEEDS
OURSELVES.
SO MY HOPE IS THAT WE'LL
CONSIDER THIS AMENDMENT, THAT --
THAT WE'LL HAVE A VOTE ON IT.
I RECOGNIZE IT'S GOING TO BE A
CLOSE VOTE.
MY COUNT IS 55.
I KNOW WE'VE GOT TO GET 60.
I WANT THE 45 MEMBERS OF OUR
BODY TO GO HOME AN EXPLAIN TO
OUR CONSTITUENTS WHY WE'RE
ACCEPTING $6 BILLION TO
SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN
IT'S A GIFT.
WE DON'T HAVE $6 BILLION TO
SPEND THAT WAY.
AND THE OTHER POINT I'D MAKE
WITH THE TROUBLE THAT WE'RE IN
WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET OUT OF IT
BY CUTTING $200 BILLION AT A
TIME -- WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT
OF IT $6 BILLION AT A TIME.
SENATOR BEGICH AND I FOUND
FOUND $1 BILLION IN THE F.A.A.
BILL FROM EARMARKS TIED UP, NO
MONEY SPENT ON THEM IN 10 YEARS,
THAT'S A BILLION DOLLAR SAVINGS.
IF WE DO IT $6 BILLION,
IT $6 BILLION, $1 BILLION,
IT $6 BILLION, $1 BILLION, $2 BI
LLION AT A TIME, PRETTY SURE
WE'RE GOING TO ADD UP AND TAKE
SOME PRESSURE OFF OUR COUNTRY IN
TERMS OF FUNDING OUR DEBT.
AND THE ULTIMATE COURSE HAS TO
BE THAT WE'RE CONVINCING THE
WORLD THAT WE GET IT.
THAT WE CAN'T CONTINUE TO SPEND
IN THE WORLD FINANCIAL MARKET
AND EXPECT THEM TO CONTINUE TO
LOAN US MONEY.
IT'S A STRAIGHTFORWARD
AMENDMENT.
MY CORN FARMERS IN OKLAHOMA
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT IT'S ABOUT DOING THE RIGHT
THING FOR OUR COUNTRY AND NOW'S
THE TIME TO DO IT.
AND WITH THAT, I'D YIELD BACK
THE FLOOR.
THANK YOU.
MR. PRESIDENT, I REALLY
APPRECIATE THE COOPERATION OF
THE SENATOR FROM OKLAHOMA.
WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET HIS
AMENDMENT NUMBER 184 PENDING
ADDED TO THE LIST OF SEVEN
PENDING AMENDMENTS.
VOTE.
IF HE WOULD ALLOW ME TO GET BACK
WITH HIM WITHIN THE HOUR ABOUT
WHETHER I'LL BE ABLE TO CLEAR --
SENATOR SNOWE IS NOT ON THE
FLOOR, SO WE NEED TO CONSULT
WITH HER TO CLEAR PENDING THE
NUMBER 220, AND I WILL LET HIM
KNOW WITHIN THE HOUR.
AND SENATOR SHAHEEN HAS COME
DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE, LET ME JUST SAY, I
RECOGNIZED.
BUT I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT SHE
HAS BEEN AN OUTSTANDING MEMBER
OF OUR SMALL BUSINESS COMMITTEE
AND AS A FORMER GOVERNOR OF NEW
HAMPSHIRE, SHE MOST CERTAINLY
WAS THE JOB CREATOR IN CHIEF AND
HAS BROUGHT A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT
OF EXPERTISE HERE TO THE SENATE
AND I'M VERY PLEASED TO HAVE HER
INPUT ON MANY OF THESE BILLS
THAT COME OUT OF THE COMMITTEE
FLOOR.
MR. PRESIDENT?
THE
SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE.
MUCH, MR. PRESIDENT.
AND THANK YOU TO SENATOR
LANDRIEU FOR THOSE NICE WORDS
AND ALSO FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP.
I THINK WE ALL ARE INDEBTED TO
SENATOR LANDRIEU AND RANKING
MEMBER SNOWE FOR THEIR
LEADERSHIP OF THE SMALL BUSINESS
COMMITTEE AND THEIR LEADERSHIP
IN BRINGING FORWARD THIS
LEGISLATION THAT'S BEFORE US,
THE SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION
RESEARCH PROGRAM.
THEY WORKED VERY HARD IN THE
LAST SESSION OF CONGRESS TO GET
THIS BILL THROUGH THE SENATE AND
IT WOULD HAVE GOTTEN PASSED
THEN, EXCEPT THE HOUSE ADJOURNED
BEFORE TAKING IT UP.
SO I'M TRAILED WE'RE GETTING
BACK -- THIS REALLIED THAT
WE'RE -- THRILLED THAT WE'RE
GETTING BACK TO IT IN THIS
SESSION.
I THINK MOST OF US RECOGNIZE
THAT OUR FUTURE ECONOMIC
PROSPERITY DEPENDS ON WHETHER
THIS COUNTRY CONTINUES TO BE A
LEADER IN SCIENCE AND
WE CAN'T COMPETE WITH INDIA AND
CHINA AND OTHER THIRD-WORLD
COUNTRIES FOR LOW-WAGE
MANUFACTURING JOBS.
THAT'S NOT OUR FUTURE.
AMERICA'S FUTURE IS TO BE THE
GLOBAL LEADER IN SCIENCE AND
TECHNOLOGY.
AMERICA MAKES THE BEST MOST
INNOVATED PRODUCTS AND SERVICES.
NOW, AS A FORMER SMALL BUSINESS
OWNER, I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS
THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND BUSINESS
AND NOT GOVERNMENT THAT'S
RESPONSIBLE FOR MOST OF THE JOB
CREATION IN THIS COUNTRY.
BUT I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT
GOVERNMENT HAS A CRITICAL ROLE
TO PLAY IN FOSTERING THE
POSITIVE BUSINESS CLIMATE THAT
WE NEED IN THIS COUNTRY TO
REMAIN COMPETITIVE.
AND I BELIEVE THERE ARE FEW
THINGS THAT WE CAN DO THROUGH
POLICY TO UNLEASH THE INNOVATIVE
SPIRIT THAT IS SO ALIVE AND WELL
THROUGHOUT THIS COUNTRY AND
PARTICULARLY IN MY HOME STATE OF
NEW HAMPSHIRE.
ONE OF THOSE POLICY INITIATIVES
THAT WE CAN DO THAT IS CENTRAL
TO MAINTAINING THE CREATIVE
DOMINANCE THAT'S ALLOWED US TO
LEAD THE WORLD IN INNOVATION IS
TO ENACT A LONG-TERM
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE SMALL
BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH
PROGRAM OR THE SBIR PROGRAM.
SBIR IS NOT JUST A TYPICAL GRANT
PROGRAM.
UNDER THE SBIR PROGRAM, A SMALL
BUSINESS IS ABLE TO COMPETE FOR
RESEARCH THAT FEDERAL AGENCIES
NEED TO ACCOMPLISH THEIR
MISSIONS.
DEFENSE.
SMALL BUSINESSES EMPLOY ABOUT
ONE-THIRD OF AMERICA'S
SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS AN
PRODUCE MORE -- AND PRODUCE MORE
PATENTS THAN LARGE BUSINESSES
AND UNIVERSITIES.
YET, SMALL BUSINESS RECEIVES
ONLY ABOUT 4% OF FEDERAL
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
SBIR ENSURES THAT SMALL BUSINESS
GETS A TINY FRACTION OF THE
EXISTING FEDERAL RESEARCH
DOLLARS.
IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS I VISITED
THREE NEW HAMPSHIRE COMPANIES
THAT ARE DOING CUTTING-EDGE
RESEARCH BECAUSE OF THE SBIR
PROGRAM.
THOSE THREE ARE ERICS IN
SUMMERWORTH, SPY SEMICONDUCTOR
AND ACTIVE SHOCK.
THE RESEARCH THEY HAVE DONE
UNDER THE SBIR PROGRAM HAS
ALLOWED THEM TO DEVELOP NEW
PRODUCTS, TO ADD CUSTOMERS AND
TO HIRE NEW WORKERS.
IN OTHER WORDS, CREATE JOBS.
ALL THREE HAVE DONE ESSENTIAL
RESEARCH FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
DEFENSE.
ARICS, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS
DEVELOPED A STATE OF THE ART
PROGRAM TO MANUFACTURE CRITICAL
COMPONENTS FOR OUR NATION'S
STRATEGIC MISSILES.
THIS SBIR AWARD POSITIONED THEM
PERFECTLY TO COMPETE AND WIN A
CONTRACT TO MANUFACTURE MOTORS
FOR USE IN MILITARY PROGRAMS AND
TO COMMERCIALIZE THEIR RESEARCH.
AND THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND
FROM A WORKFORCE OF 10 TO
CURRENTLY 25 WORKERS SINCE THEY
GOT THAT SBIR AWARD AND THEY'RE
CONTINUING TO GROW.
IN HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE, WE
HAVE A COMPANY CALLED CRIRY,
THAT IS A POSTER CHILD FOR THE
ECONOMIC BENEFITS THAT CAN BE
REAPED THROUGH THE SBIR PROGRAM.
SENATOR LANDRIEU HAS TALKED ON
THE FLOOR ABOUT QUALCOMM IN SAN
DIEGO.
WELL, WE SHOULD PUT CRIARY IN
THE SAME CATEGORY AS QUALCOMM.
THEY CAN TRACE MORE THAN
THAN $670 MILLION IN REVENUES
THAT THEY'VE EARNED THROUGH
THE -- BECAUSE OF THE SBIR
THEY PRODUCED SPINOFFS AND
TECHNOLOGY HISE -- LICENSE ES
FOR THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF THE
SBIR PROJECTS.
MANY NEW HAMPSHIRE SMALL
BUSINESSES HAVE SUCCESSFULLY
COMPETED FOR SBIR FUNDING IN THE
28 YEARS SINCE THE PROGRAM HAS
BEEN IN EXISTENCE.
ALL ACROSS NEW HAMPSHIRE SMALL
BUSINESSES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD
NOT BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR
FEDERAL R&D FUNDING HAVE WON
COMPETITIVE SBIR GRANTS THAT
ADVANCE TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE
AND CREATE GOOD JOBS.
WHAT WE ALL WANT TO HAPPEN RIGHT
NOW IN THIS ECONOMY.
IN JUST THE LAST TWO YEARS NEW
HAMPSHIRE FIRMS HAVE WON 80 SBIR
AWARDS AND, IN FACT, DESPITE ITS
SMALL SIZE, NEW HAMPSHIRE IS
RANKED 22 IN THE COUNTRY FOR THE
TOTAL GRANTS AWARDED THROUGH THE
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE UNDER THE
SBIR PROGRAM.
NOW, AS A SENATOR FROM NEW
HAMPSHIRE, I TAKE PARTICULAR
PRIDE IN THE SBIR PROGRAM
BECAUSE IT WAS NEW HAMPSHIRE
SENATOR WARREN RUDMAN WHO BACK
IN 1982 SPONSORED THE SMALL
BUSINESS INNOVATION DEVELOPMENT
ACT WHICH ESTABLISHED THE SBIR
PROGRAM.
SBIR HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD
AND ITS COST, AS CHAIR LANDRIEU
HAS SAID SO OFTEN ON THE FLOOR,
IS MINIMAL.
C.B.O. ESTIMATES THAT
IMPLEMENTING THIS BILL WOULD
COST ONLY $150 MILLION OVER THE
NEXT FIVE YEARS, AND MOST OF
THAT MINIMAL COST WOULD HAVE
ZERO IMPACT ON THE BUDGET.
THAT'S BECAUSE WHAT THIS BILL
DOES IS ESTABLISH A THREE-YEAR
PILOT PROGRAM THAT AUTHORIZES
PARTICIPATING AGENCIES TO USE
THE SAME DOLLARS THEY SET ASIDE
ANYWAY FOR SBIR RESEARCH TO PAY
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.
THAT MEANS WE WON'T BE USING
GENERAL OPERATING FUNDS TO PAY
FOR ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, AND
THIS BILL IMPOSES NO MANDATES ON
BUSINESS AND IMPOSES NO COSTS ON
STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.
WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE LONG-TERM
DEFICIT AND DEBT IN THIS
COUNTRY.
OUR COLLEAGUE FROM OKLAHOMA JUST
SPOKE VERY ELOQUENTLY TO THE
NEED TO DO THAT AND WHAT IT'S
GOING TO TAKE, AND WE ALL KNOW
THAT, BUT THE BEST WAY WE CAN
START DEALING WITH THE DEBT AND
DEFICIT IS THROUGH MORE ROBUST
ECONOMIC GROWTH.
OBJECTING TO THE SBIR PROGRAM AS
SOME HAVE DONE ON THE GROUNDS
THAT WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON
THE DEFICIT ALONE MAKES NO SENSE
AT ALL BECAUSE THE JOBS CREATED
BY THE SBIR PROGRAM WILL LOWER
THE DEFICIT.
JUST LIKE STOP-GAP BUDGETING IS
BAD FOR BUSINESS, SO ARE
STOP-GAP EXTENSIONS OF THE SBIR
PROGRAM.
UNFORTUNATELY, SBIR HAS BEEN
OPERATING UNDER SHORT-TERM
EXTENSIONS, TEN OF THEM, SINCE
2008.
SHORT-TERM EXTENSIONS ARE A
PROBLEM BECAUSE, AS I HEAR AND I
KNOW WE ALL HEAR REGULARLY FROM
BUSINESSES, THEY NEED CERTAINTY
IN PLANNING.
THIS BILL RE-AUTHORIZES THE SBIR
PROGRAM FOR EIGHT YEARS.
IT'S A REASONABLE PERIOD OF
TIME, AND IT WILL ALLOW SMALL
BUSINESS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES TO
EFFECTIVELY PLAN THEIR RESEARCH.
NOW, MR. PRESIDENT, I KNOW WE'VE
HEARD FROM SOME QUARTERS AND
IT'S BECOME FASHIONABLE ON THE
PART OF SOME PEOPLE TO SAY THAT
THIS COUNTRY'S BEST DAYS ARE
BEHIND US, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE
THAT FOR ONE MOMENT.
AS I HAVE TRAVELED AROUND NEW
HAMPSHIRE, I SEE CUTTING EDGE
INNOVATORS WHO ARE CREATING
JOBS.
WE HERE IN THE SENATE KNOW WHAT
NEEDS TO BE DONE, WE JUST NEED
THE WILL TO DO IT.
SO I URGE ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES
TO JOIN SENATOR LANDRIEU,
RANKING MEMBER SNOWE, THE SMALL
BUSINESS COMMITTEE IN VOTING TO
RE-AUTHORIZE AND STRENGTHEN THE
SBIR PROGRAM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND I YIELD
THE FLOOR.
AND NOTE THE ABSENCE OF A
QUORUM.
THE CLERK
WILL CALL THE ROLL.
QUORUM CALL: