Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following remarks during the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection markup of H.R. 4678, the Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act, and H.R. 5156, the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I commend you for your ongoing work to protect American consumers and promote the growth of domestic business and job creation.  To that end, I am gratified to see that the Subcommittee today will mark up H.R. 4678, the Foreign Manufacturers Legal Accountability Act, and H.R. 5156, the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act.  The former will help ensure foreign manufacturers and held accountable for injuries their products may cause to American public health and safety, and the latter will bolster the Nation’s exports in the growing sector of green technology.  I support efforts such as these and welcome the input of our witnesses.

“Before concluding my remarks, I wish to say a few words in support of H.R. 5156, of which Chairman Rush, Congresswoman Matsui, Congresswoman Eshoo and I are original co-sponsors.  I am delighted that you, Mr. Chairman, will offer an amendment to clarify the definition of “clean energy technology,” which will permit the nuclear energy industry to qualify for assistance under this bill.  As I have said in the past, nuclear energy must be a key component in domestic and international attempts to reduce carbon emissions.  Moreover, the tangible economic benefits, in terms of both direct and indirect employment, of supporting this industry are of considerable value in efforts to help the Nation become a clean energy technology powerhouse, as well as recover from the ongoing recession.

“In closing, I urge my colleagues to vote in support of Chairman Rush’s amendment to H.R. 5156 and the underlying bill.

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I yield back the balance of my time.”