Matsui Legislation Would Help American Businesses Produce and Export American-made Clean Energy Technology

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, June 16, 2010

CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163

Today, the House Energy and Commerce Committee held a hearing on Congresswoman Doris Matsui's (D-CA) legislation, the Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act. H.R. 5156 would boost the competiveness of U.S. clean technology industry in the U.S. and international marketplace. The hearing was held in the Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee, and included a witness from the Sacramento-area, Jack Crawford of Jadoo Power, who testified on the benefits of such legislation on small businesses.

The Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Act would create a $15 million Clean Energy Technology Manufacturing and Export Assistance Fund to be administered by International Trade Administration within the Department of Commerce to increase the competitiveness of an American-made clean technology industry. The newly-created Fund would support the development, implementation, and sustainability of a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy, and serve to assist U.S. Clean Tech firms with export assistance in finding and navigating foreign markets to export their goods and services abroad. The Matsui legislation would help also strengthen America's domestic clean tech manufacturing industry by requiring the Fund to promote policies that will reduce production costs and encourage innovation, investment, and productivity in the clean energy technology industry at home.

The bill is co-sponsored by House Commerce Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush (D-IL), Chairman Emeritus John D. Dingell (D-MI), and Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA). Rep. Matsui's opening statement, as prepared for delivery, is below:

I would like to thank our witnesses for being here with us today. I particularly want to welcome our witnesses from the Sacramento area, Jack Crawford, CEO of Jadoo Power. Under Jack's leadership, Jadoo Power is a leader in manufacturing clean energy technologies, and in providing hybrid fuel cell power for military, government, and commercial applications. Jack has a wealth of expertise in the clean energy sector and I look forward to hearing from him today.

As he can attest, the Sacramento region is well-positioned to be a leader in producing clean energy technologies with more than 110 clean tech companies that focus on the production of fuel cell technology, bio-fuels, solar, and wind energy, among others. To continue growth, the U.S. clean energy sector, particularly small and medium sized firms, need manufacturing and export assistance to boost their competitiveness in the international marketplace.

In fact, our nation's clean tech industry is lagging behind many of its competitors in exports, including Germany and China. This is simply unacceptable. The U.S. must be a leader in manufacturing and exporting clean technologies. That is why, I, along with Chairmen Rush and Dingell, and Congresswoman Eshoo introduced, H.R. 5156, a bill to boost the competitiveness of American-made clean tech products both here in the U.S, and around the world.

The bill will create a Fund to develop and sustain a National Clean Energy Technology Export Strategy to provide U.S. Clean Tech firms with export assistance in finding and navigating foreign markets to sell their goods and services to new customers. The President has laid out a laudable goal to double U.S. exports over the next four years. And this legislation will ensure clean energy exports are at the forefront of our national export strategy. The bill will also help strengthen America's domestic clean tech manufacturing industry. Ultimately, H.R. 5156 will enhance our standing in the race to be the global leader in clean energy.

The BP Oil spill only underscores the need for leadership in the clean energy market, and this bill will send a strong message that America is serious about being the leader in producing and exporting these technologies. I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee to achieve this goal.