Political Quotes

“the substitute that I propose will also add a new title X to the bill. It is for the purpose of authorizing the Commerce Department manufacturing extension partnership program, managed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology. This program is one which I, and many Members of this body on both sides of the aisle, consider to be not only valuable but essential to our national competitiveness. MEP's State and regional centers provide consultation and guidance to manufacturers, both large and small, in the development and implementation and advanced management techniques designed to enhance efficiency and manufacturing expertise. Mr. Chairman, the substitute that I propose would provide an affirmative authorization only for the manufacturing extension partnership program, and it would allocate to it $10 million more than was appropriated for fiscal year 1996. The amount would be $90 million. This money would provide the funding required for support of the centers that have now been established and also for those that are planned during the period of fiscal year 1997. So that would bring the total number of centers to 75 at the conclusion of fiscal year 1997.”