Alan B. Mollohan: “Mr. Chairman, last night we had a similar debate on the ATP program. During that debate, those who spoke in opposition…”

“Mr. Chairman, last night we had a similar debate on the ATP program. During that debate, those who spoke in opposition to the ATP cuts amendment refuted most of the points made by the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Hostettler], who is offering this amendment. Let me simply say, and a lot of it is in repetition, that the ATP program is not a partisan program. It was initiated under the Bush administration, and it has continued as a centerpiece of President Clinton's competitiveness program to this day. One can have a philosophical difference and take the position that ATP, the Advanced Technology Program, is corporate welfare, whatever that means. In fact, it is the core of the country's competitiveness program as we move into an era of increasingly internationalization of our economy and in real competition with particularly the developed nations around the world. These countries recognize the importance of collaborative relationships between their country, between the academic community, and between private industry in order to be strategic in developing not product but developing pre-commercial research and development discoveries that lead to advancements that allow industry to pick up and be on the cutting edge. We are into a high technology era, and these strategic relationships are recognized as being instrumental in making us competitive.”