America Competes Reauthorization Act of 2010

Floor Speech

Mr. MILLER of North Carolina. Madam Chair, if the next generation of Americans is to be as prosperous as ours, we must regain our edge in technology, innovation and education. Even before the Great Recession, the industries that North Carolinians long relied upon--textiles, tobacco, furniture--suffered one loss after another, and most of our lost jobs are not coming back. New jobs will either come from science and research, or they won't come at all.

New technologies create new jobs, and America must lead the way in developing new technologies and in bringing those technologies to the marketplace. This bill will provide loans to help small businesses keep their current employees and hire more. Universities and private companies in my district are already leaders in many emerging technologies, including advanced energy technologies; and we will greatly benefit from the provisions of this bill that will create regional economies around existing areas of expertise for innovation hubs. Finally, this bill's investment in basic research will create jobs that we cannot now even imagine.

On behalf of North Carolinians worried about what the future holds for their children, I urge support of this bill, and I thank Chairman Gordon for his tireless work.

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