Toby Roth: “as we come to final passage, I urge my colleagues to vote for the bill. While some excellent amendments were rejected…”

“as we come to final passage, I urge my colleagues to vote for the bill. While some excellent amendments were rejected, other amendments have strengthened and improved this legislation. I especially commend to my colleagues the amendment that would make it easier for small businesses to utilize our federally paid-for research and development. This amendment will not cost any new Federal money and, if Congress is vigilant, won't create any vast new bureaucracy. We also voted on abolishing both the Economic Development Administration and the Appalachian Regional Commission. The House clearly intends to continue these agencies under the reforms and other provisions of their reauthorization legislation. Nevertheless, Congress must be vigilant in its oversight of the EDA and ARC. We must be sure that reforms in targeting the funds and leveraging them with private, State, and local funds and efforts are, in fact, carried out. Congress must ensure that the EDA defense conversion funds are utilized and expedited to the communities struggling with base closings. The EDA and ARC must be made keenly aware that Congress in watching. On behalf of the minority members of the Banking Committee, I thank my colleagues on the Public Works Committee for their cooperation in bringing this bill before the House. The debate has been wide-ranging and enlightening.”