Joseph Knollenberg: “Mr. Chairman, as a strong supporter of MEP, I have come to the floor to urge a vote against this amendment. I am for…”

“Mr. Chairman, as a strong supporter of MEP, I have come to the floor to urge a vote against this amendment. I am for MEP, but I am against this amendment. Let me tell the Members why. I am against it because funding MEP at $106 million, which is the level of funding the program has provided in H.R. 4754, the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2005, is exactly what we want. Just yesterday the House of the Representatives passed the CJS by an overwhelming margin, 397 to 18. The $106 million level is the point at which all MEP centers will continue to provide their valuable service to our Nation's manufacturers. Additionally, the bill before us today already authorizes significantly increased funding for the MEP program. In fact, the legislation already increases MEP funding by more than 200 percent compared to the current fiscal year 2004 level. Furthermore, the amendment offered by the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) would allow the Federal-State-private network match to increase from one-third to one-half. An increase to a one-half match would jeopardize the MEP network and increase its vulnerability.”