U.S. Involvement in Aerospace Research

U. S. INVOLVEMENT IN AEROSPACE RESEARCH
Statement of Senator Chris Dodd

February 27, 2003

Chairman Brownback, Ranking Member Breaux, and members of this Subcommittee, I appreciate the opportunity to make some brief remarks today regarding the importance of U.S. involvement in aerospace research.

Aerospace and aviation are important assets for America and for my home state of Connecticut. In addition to its obvious national security benefits, the aeronautics industry makes a critical contribution to our nation's economic growth and standard of living. As all of you are aware, this year marks the 100th anniversary of Wilbur and Orville Wright's first successful powered flight. Since those humble beginnings, aviation technology in the United States has reached remarkable heights. In the 20th century, the U.S. became the world leader in the aerospace market. Some say that the age of American preeminence in this field is on the wane. They point to the fact that in 1985, the United States controlled more than 73 percent of the commercial aircraft industry-while today we control less than 50 percent of the global market.

Over the last decade, funding for the NASA's Aeronautics Research and Development program has fallen by approximately 50 percent. Recently the Presidential Commission on the Future of the Aerospace Industry confirmed these concerns by concluding that government policies and investments in long-term research have not kept pace with the changing world, and in order to do so, the Federal government must invest in aerospace research. I think the Commission said it well when it stated that "We stand dangerously close to squandering the advantage bequeathed to us by prior generations of aerospace leaders."

In contrast to this disappointing trend in the United States, two years ago, the European Commission and aerospace industry executives unveiled a report entitled "European Aeronautics: A Vision for 2020" which commits more than $93 billion by 2020 and outlines ambitious goals of attaining global leadership in aeronautics and creating a world class air transport system for Europe and ultimately the entire industrialized world. The U.S. is now in a position where it must catch up in an effort not to lose its economic and technological dominance over the international aeronautics market.

It is important to also point out that the declining investment in aviation R&D is causing real economic pain right now to American workers. Right now, in Connecticut and across America, highly trained workers are being laid off. Right now, engineering jobs are being outsourced to other countries where labor costs are lower. I find this to be an unacceptable threat to our nation's long term economic future.

How do we turn this around? Obviously, we cannot order a company to keep people on a payroll, and we would be hard-pressed to try to redirect the flow of intellectual capital into and out of the country. As the Wright Brothers so vividly showed, our country has always had a competitive edge in the world economy: the ingenuity of our people. This ingenuity has been cultivated by two factors above all others: one, the quality and funding of education; two, by investments in research and development. Obviously education is within the jurisdiction of another committee, but R&D is in the control of this committee and specifically this subcommittee. It is critical that we invest in our research and development and technology sectors so that American workers will lead the world in developing and building the technologies of tomorrow. The importance of civil aviation to our economy cannot be underestimated. It generated more than 900 billion dollars and 11 million jobs for the U.S. economy in the year 2000, roughly 9% of the total U.S. gross domestic product. This is not a sector that we can afford to continue to ignore.

Our colleague Senator Allen and I recently reintroduced legislation addressing this very issue. The Aeronautics Research & Development Revitalization Act of 2003, S. 309, establishes a broad-based agenda to reinvigorate America's aeronautics and aviation R&D enterprise and maintain America's competitive leadership in aviation.

Our bill doubles NASA and FAA research and development funding by 2008-to $1.15 billion and $550 million respectively. It sets new research goals for supersonic transport, rotorcraft, high-efficiency and other technologies that the private sector has identified as critical to future success in this industry. In addition, it establishes professional training and scholarship programs to cultivate the talent of tomorrow.

I am pleased that you are holding this hearing, Mr. Chairman, because it is important that all of Congress, the Administration, and America know that these are the facts, and the affects of losing this leadership will be detrimental to this nation as a whole. I hope that members of this Committee will take a look at our bill in the coming weeks. Senator Allen and I believe that this legislation merits the support of our colleagues. I look forward to working with you and other of our colleagues in the future. Thank you.