As published in the August 1, 2006 Toledo Business Journal
George V. Voinovich
US Senator
Voinovich seeks regional “white paper”
Toledo Business Journal recently interviewed US Senator, George V. Voinovich. He shared the following thoughts.
TBJ: Can you discuss the issue of clean air as it relates to diesel emissions and your legislative actions in this area?
GVV: Diesel engines are the workhorse of the American economy, but they also account for roughly one half of the nitrogen oxide and particulate matter emissions from mobile sources nationwide. Although the EPA finalized diesel fuel and new engine regulations to cut emissions significantly, the full health and environmental benefits are delayed because there are 11 million existing engines that have long lives.
Working with a diverse and bipartisan group, I introduced the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) to establish voluntary national and state grant and loan programs to retrofit, repower and replace these engines. I proposed it as an amendment to the energy bill; it passed by a vote of 92 to 1 and was included in the final version of the bill.
Following enactment, we started seeking funding for the program. More than 200 environmental, industrial, public and labor groups, and the major state and local organizations sent letters to the President asking him to fund the new initiative in his Fiscal Year 2007 budget request. The President responded by providing $50 million for the program in his FY 2007 budget. I then led a letter with 47 of my Senate colleagues urging that this funding be included in the Interior Appropriations bill. The House recently passed its version of this bill with $28 million for the new diesel program, and the Senate has so far passed $20 million out of committee. While I’m glad this is being funded, I am disappointed that the funding is low, and I will work with the conference committee to fund this program at the same level requested by the president.
TBJ: Can you discuss the issue of the threat to the Great Lakes from the Asian carp and your legislative actions in this area?
GVV: The Asian carp is an aggressive species that could displace native fish and upset the Great Lakes’ ecological balance by quickly consuming large quantities of phytoplankton, which are critical to the stability of the ecosystem and native fish. The carp are threatening to enter the Great Lakes through the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal putting the region’s $4.1 billion sport and commercial fishing industry at great risk.
A demonstration barrier was authorized in 1996 under the National Invasive Species Act to prevent non-native species like the Asian Carp from moving between the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes. I have worked annually to provide funding for the operation and construction of this barrier as well as a second permanent barrier. I also sponsored a provision, included in the FY 2005 District of Columbia Appropriations bill, to allow an additional $1.825 million in federal funds to be spent, along with state and local contributions, on construction of the second permanent barrier. More recently, I included an amendment in the FY 2006 Supplemental Appropriations Bill which included fully offset funds to keep the temporary, demonstration barrier open though the end of this fiscal year while the Army Corps of Engineers completes the permanent barrier. Without this funding, the Army Corps indicated they would be forced to shut down the demonstration barrier.
The permanent barrier is scheduled to be fully operational later this year. In addition, I authored provisions in the Senate Water Resources Development Act of 2005 to upgrade and make permanent the demonstration barrier at full federal cost. It would also make the federal government fully responsible for operation and maintenance of both barriers to ensure there is no disruption to the protection they provide.
TBJ: In the past, you have raised issues about unfair Chinese trading practices that have harmed US manufacturers. Can you discuss the current state of this issue?
GVV: China’s trade practices, particularly with respect to the protection of intellectual property rights and the manipulation of its currency, continue to harm Ohio companies and employees. As a result, I pushed the President to take immediate action which resulted in the appointment of the first ever intellectual property coordinator, Christian Israel, and the introduction of the Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy initiative, which is an interagency process designed to assist small and medium-sized companies to protect their intellectual property rights both domestically and internationally.
Moreover, last November, I introduced the Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Act, a bill that creates a permanent IP coordinator who would continue and expand the interagency process that President Bush has established by executive order. I am working with members of the judiciary committee to pass this important legislation.
Nearly everyday, I hear from Ohio companies and their employees about the unfair manipulation China has undertaken to prevent the appreciation of its currency. China’s currency policy clearly tilts the international playing field against US companies and workers, and this unfair trade advantage must be addressed. As a result, I co-sponsored legislation recently introduced by Senator Grassley (R-IA), the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. This legislation will give the Treasury Department new tools to address this ongoing problem. In addition, I sent a letter to newly appointed Treasury Secretary Paulson expressing my deep concerns about the China currency issue and letting him know that I intend to work with him to address this issue.
TBJ: Ohio has ranked relatively low in terms of federal research and development dollars received in the past several years. Do you see any solutions for the state to obtain these federal research funds that have an important impact on future job creation?
GVV: According to the National Science Foundation’s April 2006 report, federally financed research and development grew by 10.7 percent in Fiscal Year 2004, representing the third consecutive year of double-digit growth (13.7 percent in FY 2002, 13.1 percent in FY 2003). This same report indicates Ohio State University moved into 9th place among public universities in FY 2004 and 15th overall in terms of federal research dollars received.
OSU is only one of Ohio’s highly recognized research institutions adding to the share of federal research dollars it receives. For example, the National Centers for Regenerative Medicine in Cleveland, a collaborative between Case Western Reserve University, the Cleveland Clinic, and University Hospitals of Cleveland, brought more than $37 million in federal research funding to Ohio in 2005.
I am further hopeful that the merger between the University of Toledo and Medical University of Ohio will allow the combined institution to attract additional high-caliber researchers in order to secure additional funding opportunities. Yet, I understand the need to increase the federal government’s commitment to research and development in order to maintain competitiveness in the global economy. I am supportive of the president’s American Competitiveness Initiative that would provide $5.9 billion in FY 2007, much of which would go toward increasing federal investments in research and development.
TBJ: Can you discuss the issue of math and science education in this country as it impacts economic competitiveness and actions that you see to address this issue?
GVV: As the world’s economy becomes more interconnected, our nation’s economic edge will continue to depend on our ability to innovate. We cannot remain competitive without a workforce full of educated and motivated young Americans. Right now, we are not getting the job done.
Globally, the United States ranks 17th in the proportion of the college-age population earning science and engineering degrees, down from third place several decades ago. In fact, countries including England, South Korea, Germany, Australia, Singapore, Japan, and Canada all produce a higher percentage of science and engineering graduates than the United States.
We took a step in the right direction last year when Congress created the new Academic Competitiveness and SMART grants as part of the 2005 Deficit Reduction Act. Specifically, Academic Competitiveness Grants will provide additional aid – up to an additional $750 for first-year students and up to an additional $1,300 for second-year students – to first- and second-year college students. National SMART Grants will provide up to an additional $4,000 to third- and fourth-year Pell Grant-eligible college students who have maintained a 3.0 GPA, are enrolled full-time, and who major in math, science, or critical foreign languages. The administration estimates that 1.9 million students could be eligible for these grants across the US.
Also, I have joined a number of my colleagues as a co-sponsor of the Protecting America’s Competitive Edge Act of 2006(PACE). The legislation is aimed at improving our nation’s competitiveness through advancements in and emphasis on math and science education. This legislation is comprehensive in its aim to increase our nation’s research capacity and emphasize strong science and math education.
TBJ: Can you discuss actions that are needed to reduce this country’s energy dependence on foreign sources?
GVV: I can think of no effort more deserving of that commitment than the pursuit of energy independence. Of our challenges, none is more pressing today and in the near-term than energy. As such, I am calling for a second Declaration of Independence – this time from foreign sources of energy.
We are in the midst of a major energy crisis right now, which is affecting our economy. In the last five years, more than three million manufacturing jobs have been lost, in part because of high-energy costs. As the President said in his State of the Union Address, we are addicted to oil, and we must be more innovative in easing this addiction.
What are some solutions to ease this addiction? First, we must harmonize our environment, energy, and economic policies. Last year, we finally passed an energy bill that I had been working on for several years. The energy bill took some good steps forward. But, we must look to increase our supply from countries that share our values, such as Canada. In addition, we must find other sources of oil such as the Canadian Tar Sands, Fischer-Troupe, and oil shale. We can also decrease our demand for oil by considering alternative sources of energy such as clean diesel and hybrids, ethanol (especially cellulosic ethanol), and coal-to-liquid technology.
TBJ: Are there any other issues you would like to address to owners and professionals at businesses in northwest Ohio and community leaders in our region?
GVV: During my terms as governor of Ohio, I found it very helpful when I was given “white papers” which outlined the most important issues facing a particular region. Knowing the focus of the business professionals and leaders of the communities enabled me to plan long- term strategy for Ohio and the individual regions.
This still holds true today. As your senator now serving you in Washington, the flow of information from the grassroots level to my offices and then on to me helps me measure the pulse of the economy in Ohio. I cannot stress enough how important it is for me to hear from your readers so I can fully understand the situations in our local communities.