Sherwood Boehlert: “we have in this motion to recommit a textbook example of how the perfect is the enemy of the good. Personally, I support…”

“we have in this motion to recommit a textbook example of how the perfect is the enemy of the good. Personally, I support the Advanced Technology Program, although I know that many of my colleagues on this side of the aisle do not. But I support this bill, and the Members on the other side of the aisle support this bill as well. We all want to demonstrate our support for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership which has served so well and the other programs authorized in this bill so we can facilitate assistance going to American manufacturers who desperately need it. That has been the entire tenor of the debate today. But now, as we are on the verge of accomplishing our mutual goal of helping manufacturers, we have before us a motion that will have the effect of killing the bill. That is not speculation. We know that disputes over ATP are why this bill died in the Senate in the last Congress. We know that the administration adamantly opposes ATP and will block the progress of this bill if ATP is included. A vote for this motion is not a vote for ATP; it is a vote to kill a bill that will help American manufacturers. And killing this bill over ATP would be especially irresponsible because the Congress will have other chances to save the ATP program. For starters, we will vote on appropriations for the program. It is not clear at all how the gamesmanship behind this motion will benefit the ATP program. It just make it more of a political football.…”