Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I thank Ms. Johnson for yielding. I am proud to rise in support of Ms. Johnson's amendment in the nature of a substitute, and I am also proud to cosponsor H.R. 1898, which contains the same language, because this alternative is much more in keeping with the principles of the original America COMPETES Act. Mr. Chairman, in 2007, I served on the conference committee that worked out the House-Senate compromise on the original COMPETES bill. In 2010, I wrote the NSF title on the reauthorization. These are two of my proudest moments in Congress because those were bipartisan bills that set us on a path to continue leading the world in scientific research and innovation for the next generation. Sadly, in recent years, we have let that progress stall. Make no mistake, other nations are continuing to invest and are continuing to innovate. If we don't come together to send a strong message and provide strong support for scientific research, America will no longer be able to compete. The COMPETES bill is an investment bill. I understand the threat of our enormous Federal debt; but, without the types of investments that are made in the COMPETES bill, we will not promote the economic growth that we need to end our deficits and pay down our debt. Ranking Member Johnson's alternative makes those investments.…”