Helping Earth and the Economy

Press Release

Helping Earth and the Economy

McCaul Holds Earth Day Discussion on Green Technology

Earlier today, Earth Day, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) along with Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), co-founding members of the bi-partisan Congressional High Tech Caucus, held an Earth Day discussion about Green Tech and how Congress can help grow the industry.

Green Technology reaches far beyond hybrid cars and florescent light bulbs. Cost-effective solar panels and wind turbines could one day replace fossil fuels. Semiconductors that use less energy while offering higher performance. There are hardware and software that create a "SmartGrid". And plug-in hybrid cars will lessen our reliance upon foreign oil. Much of this technology is being developed here in America and has the potential to create thousands of "green collar jobs" in our 21st century economy.

"This is exciting potential," said Congressman McCaul. "We have the ability to turn our own American technology into energy. And that could one day help to give us energy independence. In the meantime, it will help spark the economy."

The panel discussion focused upon this exciting potential and what Congress could do to encourage innovative applications of technology to energy. The discussion was moderated by Leon Radomsky, Partner, Foley & Lardner LLP.

Guest Speakers:
Blair Swezey, Senior Director, Solar Markets & Public Policy, Applied Materials
Donna Sadowy, Senior Technical Staff, Global Environmental, Health and Safety, AMD
Harry Wingo, Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs, CURRENT Group, LLC
Dean Taylor, Senior Technical Scientist, Electrical Transportation Division, Southern California Edison
Bill Kingsley, Managing Partner, EnerTech Capital

The United States should be on the forefront of emerging technologies and high tech industries. By promoting dialogue and soliciting briefings on issues of interest, the Caucus strives to strengthen relations between Members of Congress and those involved in the tech industry. Our High Tech Caucus gives industry leaders, university and private researchers and interested groups the ability to share their ideas to improve our high tech sector, expand job growth and improve American competitiveness.

Created at the beginning of the 110th Congress, the Congressional High Tech Caucus is a forum in which Members of Congress address the concerns vital to this important industry. The Caucus solicits briefings from industry leaders and experts as well as educators and government officials working on related issues. The Caucus gives industry leaders, university and private researchers and interested groups the ability to share their ideas, by promoting dialogue, to improve our high tech sector, expand job growth and improve American competitiveness.

The Caucus has previously held roundtable panel events on: the Patent Reform Act, the "White Spaces" issue before the FCC, and Cybersecurity. Future Caucus events may focus on: Fair Use and Health IT.

Current members of the Congressional High Tech Caucus are:
Reps. McCaul, Gillibrand, Bilbray, Issa, Sessions, Carter, Reichert, Wu, E.B. Johnson, Honda, Barton, Hall, Inslee, Kennedy, McCotter, Brady (TX), Kuhl, Mack, Lipinski, G. Davis, Conaway, McHenry, McMorris-Rodgers, Manzullo, Shuster, Dent, Blackburn, Wolf, Cantor, Sullivan, Burgess, Marchant, Camp, Feeney, Rohrabacher, Bono, Kirk, Boren, McNerney, Courtney, Eshoo, Mahoney, Melancon, Shuler, Klein, Yarmuth, Shea-Porter, Matheson, Jackson-Lee, Waxman, Lofgren, Sali, Radonovich, Richardson

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