FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                 
Wednesday, July 21, 2010     

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163                                                                                              
 

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed H.R. 5156, the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act, legislation introduced by Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) on April 27, 2010 to boost the competiveness of the U.S. clean technology industry in both domestic and international markets.  The bill passed unanimously out of the Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee on June 30, 2010 and is co-sponsored by Energy and Commerce Members Bobby Rush (D-IL), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Betty Sutton (D-OH), in addition to Energy and Commerce Chairman Emeritus John Dingell (D-MI).  Today’s passage in the Full Committee clears the way for consideration of this legislation on the House floor as early as next week – ahead of the August District Work Period.

H.R. 5156 would create a $15 million Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Fund to support the development, implementation, and sustainability of a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy, and assist U.S. Clean Tech firms with export assistance by finding and navigating foreign markets to export their goods and services abroad.  The Matsui legislation would also strengthen America’s domestic clean tech manufacturing industry by promoting policies that will reduce production costs and encourage innovation, investment, and productivity in the clean energy technology industry here at home.

“Our nation is running a trade deficit in green technologies ranging in the billions and the U.S. clean tech industry is lagging behind many of its competitors in exports, including Germany and China,” Matsui said today in her opening statement before the Committee.  “This is simply unacceptable.  We must not become a nation dependent on foreign clean energy products; we must be the nation that leads the world in manufacturing and exporting clean energy technologies.”

According to the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee, more than 30 percent of non-exporting small and medium sized companies would export if they had more access to market information, export opportunities, and the export process.  H.R. 5156 will provide the assistance many U.S. small businesses are seeking.  H.R. 5156 will also enhance America’s standing in the race to be the global leader in clean energy.

“Clean energy technology will be a critical component of tomorrow’s economy, with the potential to create thousands of jobs and provide domestic energy without harming the environment,” said Rep. Eshoo.  “China and European Union nations realize this potential and are investing heavily in this developing industry.  We have two choices: invest now, make America #1 in the world, and help our companies succeed, or watch other nations corner the global market.  The Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act of 2010 will position our nation to compete and become the world leader in this increasingly competitive global marketplace.

“Providing entrepreneurs with the tools they need to sell their products and create new jobs will have serious multiplier effects in our communities and local economies,” added Congresswoman Matsui.  “It will help put families back to work, and provide our nation a much-needed boost in manufacturing that has severely declined in the last several decades.  Investing in American-made clean technology is a path to economic recovery, renewed financial stability and measurable job growth.”