For the sixth consecutive year, the many partners in the development of a technology corridor running through the Tennessee Valley will host a three-day "Summit" on economic development. This year's Summit is called "Tennessee Valley 2000 Regional Economic Summit" and will be held at the Von Braun Civic Center in Huntsville, Ala., May 30-June 1.

From the first summit which I hosted in 1995 in Oak Ridge, this annual event has been hosted in a bipartisan manner by five different members of Congress including this year's host, my very good friend and fellow Appropriations Committee member, Bud Cramer, of Huntsville, Ala.

These conferences have brought together institutions, businesses and leaders from throughout the "Valley" to plan, coordinate and advance the investments of science, space, national security, transportation, manufacturing, information and environmental technologies. The goal has been to enhance the quality of life and create a "generational legacy" of family-wage jobs and economic opportunity in a region that was once known for poverty and illiteracy.

The NASA operations at the Marshall Space Flight Center, The U.S. Army's Red Stone Arsenal and the Boeing Plant in Northeast Alabama are examples of how the federal investment in that part of the Tennessee Valley is similar to undertakings in other areas such as Oak Ridge, Tenn., home of the finest multi-purpose national laboratory in the United States - the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The concept of connecting different communities, institutions and missions within a region without respect to city, county or even state lines is called "regionalism." It is rapidly becoming a trend in how different parts of the country compete for limited federal investment and highly-sought-after private investment. From the Silicon Valley of California to the Research Triangle in North Carolina, areas of high-tech investment are being identified in regions where the quality of life and a skilled and talented workforce can combine to induce new investment.

While successful Summits have been held in Oak Ridge, Chattanooga, Knoxville and the Tri-Cities, this year's Summit in Huntsville is already the biggest and best in terms of participation and sponsorships, even though we "leap frogged" the state line so that we did not just preach regionalism but practiced it as well.

The list of those who will participate include Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman, NASA Administrator Dan Goldin, TVA Chairman Craven Crowell and U.S. Sen. Bill Frist. Also expected to take part are a host of quality speakers from the U.S. Congress and executive branch, the State of Tennessee and the private sector. The Summit has also invited Vice President Al Gore and Secretary of Transportation Rodney Slater.

Congratulations to Congressman Cramer and the many volunteer leaders who have worked for the last 12 months to plan and prepare yet another successful regional economic Summit. I invite you all to visit the Web Page at www.tennesseevalley20000.com, or call my Chattanooga office at (423) 756-2342 for more information to participate.