Mark Hatfield: “in 1988, Congress passed and President Reagan signed in law the CORECT program. This program established a federal…”

“in 1988, Congress passed and President Reagan signed in law the CORECT program. This program established a federal interagency board to coordinate renewable energy exports and has been a very successful example of how a very small program, funded at $2 million per year, can drive the tools of the U.S. Government to assist small businesses in gaining international market share. For example, the U.S. solar industry exports over 85 percent of its product and has now ribbon-cut four new automated manufacturing plants in the United States to meet the growing global markets. I am concerned that the energy and water development appropriations conference report, now before the Senate, could be interpreted as closing down the CORECT program. Let me clarify with my friend from New Mexico, Mr. Domenici, that the pending legislation is not to be interpreted as terminating the CORECT program and that the Department of Energy may utilize other available funds to continue this program, even though Congress has provided no funding for the coming fiscal year.”