Tom Udall

We do not want to be experimenting with our young people, having them be guinea pigs in this experiment of putting more and more chemicals out into the environment.

Now with this decision, already powerful corporations and unions will be able to further open their bank accounts, further drowning out the voices of everyday Americans in the political process.

It is my hope that the high Court's disappointing decision will provide the push we need to put elections back in the hands of average Americans.

Last month's Supreme Court decision in Citizens United v. FEC was a victory for special interests at the expense of the average American.

The best long-term solution is a constitutional amendment that would prevent the Court from overturning sensible campaign finance regulations.

Campaign finance reform is an issue you and I both care about deeply, and I know we share strong concerns about financing elections in the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision.

Money can have a corrosive effect on the political process.

I believe that a comprehensive overhaul of the campaign finance system is necessary in order to restore public faith in our elections.

I know you have advocated for the Esther Martinez Native Languages Act.

The President has actually called for a renewable electricity standard of 25 percent by 2025, and I have introduced that piece of legislation here in the Senate.

Secretary Salazar, you have done a marvelous job, I think, at targeted with Federal land where you are going to do renewable energy development.

Let me say to my good friend Senator Dorgan, first of all, we all know he has served his State for 40 years. Many of us will be talking about that service and applauding him. It has been a real pleasure to have him chairman of the Senate…

China, in particular, is a leading practitioner of research-park strategy for economic and regional development.

Countries as diverse as China, Singapore, France, and Mexico are undertaking very substantial national efforts to develop research parks of significant scale and significant scientific and innovative potential.

Investing in science parks, investing in wetlabs, investing in incubators, graduation facilities, that's all very critical infrastructure for the 21st century economy.

And I also think, Mr. Chairman, you have a very good bill--S. 583, Building a Stronger America Act--and I'd like to be included as a co-sponsor on your bill, because I think----

I want to thank Chairman Pryor for holding this hearing today and for his leadership in promoting innovation and job growth through stronger science parks.

I think the short answer would be that where we invest millions, our colleagues are investing billions.

The area of technology transfer.

The comparison, I think, is that China and Hong Kong and France and others--and we're going to probably hear from them--are investing a lot more.

Senator Pryor's bill to promote science parks, the 'Building a Stronger America Act,' would help research parks across America by providing grants and loan guarantees.

Only too often in this town, strangely enough, we talk about the global economy, and then we reason, in completely local, often inside-the-Beltway, terms.

I am proud that Sandia Science and Technology Park, located in Albuquerque, was recognized by the Association of University Research Parks (AURP) as the Nation's 'Outstanding Research Park of the Year' in 2008.

New Mexico is home to five science parks that employ more than 4,200 people.

I'm very proud of. Sandia is in Albuquerque, New Mexico. And it's one of these quality institutions that's always out there on the cutting edge.