Jared Polis RSS Articles

Polis, Yarmuth, Murray Introduce Landmark Federal Literacy Bill

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), and Representatives John Yarmuth (D-KY 3rd) and Jared Polis (D-CO 2nd) announced they would introduce major legislation to fund comprehensive literacy programs in states across the country. The Literacy Education for All, Results for the Nation (LEARN) Act will provide $2.35 billion in grants to fund state and local school-based literacy programs that span from early childhood to grade twelve. The LEARN Act will create the flagship federal literacy program to ensure that students have the literacy skills to succeed in school and their future careers.

The LEARN Act fills a critical void at an important time as states across the nation face budget cutbacks and amid the elimination of federal Reading First grants. The bill would authorize $2.35 billion in much-needed federal support for comprehensive state and locally-led literacy programs to ensure that children from early childhood through twelfth grade have the reading and writing skills necessary for success in school and beyond.

“The LEARN Act is based on the simple fact that literacy is the cornerstone of all learning,” said Congressman Jared Polis. “Unfortunately, too many students cannot read and write at their grade level, which prevents them from realizing their full potential, both in school and in life. This comprehensive legislation supports high-quality literacy instruction to provide each and every child, including English language learners and students with special needs, with the reading and writing skills needed to succeed in college and in the workforce. By supporting effective literacy initiatives from early learning through high school, this legislation will help to create the world class education system that America’s children deserve.”

“Literacy must be education priority number one,” said Senator Murray, a senior member of the Senate Education Committee. “It’s the building block that keeps students engaged in school and on track to college and a successful career. The LEARN Act will provide a new comprehensive and state-wide approach to literacy. It will help ensure that high quality literacy instruction starts early and continues through high school for students who need extra support. The LEARN Act also comes at a critical time for Washington state as budget cutbacks continue to affect the resources available to address literacy.”

“Students who are not proficient in reading and writing are far less likely to succeed in school and in life. But, in Louisville alone, up to 38 percent of high school students are unable to read at their grade level,” said Congressman John Yarmuth. “Our nation and our communities must make literacy education a top priority. By investing in local high-quality literacy programs and expanding literacy instruction for the students who need it most, that’s exactly what the LEARN Act will do.”

“Literacy is the foundation for a world-class education. Our children will not be able to develop the complex skills and knowledge they need to succeed and compete in a global economy if they can’t read or write,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA-7th), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee and a co-sponsor of the House legislation. “This bill asks states to take a more comprehensive approach to literacy that starts with our youngest learners and focuses attention and resources to students at every step along the way.”

The grant funding will be used to provide high-quality professional development that would prepare teachers to improve literacy instruction specific to grade level; analyze data to improve student learning; fund assessments of student progress; and effectively implement literacy intervention strategies. As a result, teachers will be prepared with the tools to provide students, including special education students and English language learners, with excellent instruction in reading and writing.

The LEARN Act incorporates principles from the Striving Readers federal adolescent literacy program, and it makes reforms and improvements to K-3 and early literacy programs, including strong conflict of interest provisions. It also places a greater focus on coordinating literacy instruction across districts and the state, and across grade levels.

Senator Murray will introduce the LEARN Act in the Senate today, while Congressmen Yarmuth and Polis will introduce a version of the LEARN Act in the House in the coming days.

To get more details on the Senate version of this bill visit: http://murray.senate.gov/education/LEARNact.pdf
To get more details on the Senate version of this bill visit: http://polis.house.gov/UploadedFiles/House_LEARN_Act_one_pager.pdf

Remarks on H.R. 2476, the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2009.

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Chairman Grijalva, Congresswoman DeGette and members of this subcommittee, thank you very much for the opportunity to share with you my support for H.R. 2476, the Ski Area Recreational Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2009.

My district in Colorado is an internationally acclaimed playground where the world class resorts of Vail, Keystone, Breckenridge, Copper Mountain, Winter Park and many other community favorites provide a place for individuals of all abilities and fitness levels to get great exercise, experience nature and take in the incredible landscapes that define Colorado’s character.

In my district, skiing isn’t just an activity, it’s a way of life that supports businesses, provides jobs, sustains communities and has created a national industry of related fields. Not only do ski areas and resorts hire employees, but so do nearby hotels, rental shops and equipment retailers, restaurants, equipment manufacturing companies, magazines, nearby airports and every aspect of our local economies, all of which are reliant on the travel and tourism generated by these ski areas. The ability of ski areas to offer these benefits year round means the survival of communities and businesses not just in my district but across the country. It means a more stable economy, better communities and a better quality of life by balancing the influx of winter guests with the void of summer visitors.

Increased summer visitation, done correctly, also has environmental and educational benefits. Our national forests are important reservoirs for our nation’s natural assets, and conservation of these forests must be a top priority. Ski areas are places where people can safely experience these lands and get a taste of nature even if limited by fitness, ability or outdoor know how. Nearly 20% of all national forest visitors are visitors at ski resorts, confining this usage to specific places and leaving other areas less impacted. They provide an important recreational and educational venue in a controlled environment, melding elements of nature with features of modern convenience. This melding should not take place everywhere and ski areas play an important role in confining this practice to specific and small tracks of land allowing a greater number of individuals to gain an introduction to nature. I applaud the current and future work of the Forest Service, National Ski Areas Association, this committee and the environmental community on their current collaborative efforts to ensure that this bill’s excellent goals are carried out in an environmentally friendly manner.

The National Forest Ski Area Permit Act of 1986 once allowed this industry to flourish and has ensured that the needs of a growing industry, local economies, and our national forest ecosystems are simultaneously met. Today however, the Forest Service is dealing with unclear directives from the National Forest Ski Area Permit Act. Things like snowboards and ski bikes were never envisioned when the law was originally written. Today we also face new consequences from climate change and an ever growing popularity in summer recreational activities that the original law does not adequately address. H.R. 2476 is aimed at giving our vitally important ski areas the flexibility they need to provide an economic foundation all year round, in the face of a changing climate and changing ski season, while giving the Forest Service a proper and legal base on which to responsibly manage these areas.

Finally, while I would certainly argue that Colorado’s Second Congressional District is second to none in outdoor recreation, this issue isn’t a Colorado issue it is an issue for every ski area and every ski community in the country from California to New Hampshire. Over 120 resorts, and the businesses and communities they support, across the country would benefit from increased summer activities within current ski areas. Areas in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming, like in my district, are economic foundations of local communities.

This legislation represents a needed change for our federal land managers and an important change and opportunity for the many communities, businesses, employees, and public lands lovers’ throughout the country. Once again I thank Chairman Grijalva, Congresswoman DeGette and this subcommittee for hearing my testimony today.

Floor Speech on Health Care Coverage for Immigrants

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

I would like to thank Mr. Ellison, certainly, for the kind introduction and for sharing very powerful stories.

I have had the opportunity to share a number of stories on the floor of the House of Representatives, and these are all real people who are impacted. I think that, perhaps, my colleagues in the House and those watching us can see in themselves some of the experiences that American families go through.

We're not just talking about the uninsured out there, some mysterious group that you're not a part of because you might have insurance. We're talking about American families, American families who are worrying because one of the parents lost a job; we're talking about soccer moms; we're talking about people with preexisting conditions.

I want to briefly talk about immigration in the context of immigration and health care reform. I received some false information from an anti-immigrant group. The name of this group is the Federation for American Immigration Reform. They're actually a group that fights against immigration reform, but their name says that they're for immigration reform.

They believe—and I believe that similar comments have been echoed on the floor of the House of Representatives—that there is in the health care bill before us something that allows illegal aliens to game the system and to access taxpayer-subsidized health care benefits.

What they're seeking to do—and it would significantly raise the cost of the bill should they succeed—is to prevent our undocumented population, some 12 to 15 million people who reside in our country and who contribute in so many ways, from buying insurance through the exchange.

Now, remember, the "exchange" is something that doesn't exist today. It's set up under law. It is not subsidized health care. It is where small businesses or individuals will go. They, of course, will pay the full market rate. There will be many private companies that will participate in the exchange and that will design products for the exchange. It is not a benefit. It is simply a marketplace. We've never before barred anyone from being able to purchase a product like health insurance at full price because of one's citizenship or immigration status, nor is it good policy.

I think that many of us on both sides of the aisle would agree that we shouldn't have as large an undocumented population as we do. I dare say we shouldn't have an undocumented population at all. There might be different solutions to that. Mine would simply be to normalize the status of those who are here, who work hard and who contribute so much to our country. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle, who also agree we shouldn't have a large undocumented population, might, in fact, have a different solution to that.

Insofar as they are here, we should, all of us, regardless of where we stand ideologically, want them to buy insurance with their own money if they are willing to. They certainly all won't; but to the extent that they do, they are less of a burden on the rest of us. Anybody who would seek to prevent them from accessing the exchange, which will really be "the place"—"the place" for individuals to buy insurance—effectively is saying that taxpayers should subsidize illegal immigrants.

Frankly, I think that there are many across the country who have a problem with that. To prevent undocumented immigrants from being able to buy insurance from the exchange is saying that taxpayers should pay for their health care. They're going to go to the emergency rooms. They won't have insurance. The costs will be shifted to the rest of us and to taxpayers. We should encourage our undocumented population to buy insurance with their own money. Again, I don't think all of them will, but some of them will.

That's a very good thing, and I'm very hopeful that many undocumented immigrants will participate in this exchange.
The exchange makes health care affordable for individuals. Right now, we have an issue where individuals don't have the buying power of big companies. If you have a preexisting condition, which is that scarlet letter that so many residents of our country wear, forget about it. Whether you're a citizen or a noncitizen, if you're an individual, the exchange will allow you to pool your risk. The exchange has the buying power that previously has only been enjoyed by large corporations. It allows one to negotiate the very best rates with insurers. Once again, the exchange is not a benefit. It is not a product.

With Wilderness, Process Matters

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Protecting Colorado's natural treasures means protecting our state's identity and its prosperity. At its heart, our wild places are an investment, a savings account that insulates our most valuable resources from everyday impulses. Our landscapes are treasured, not just for aesthetics, but because scientific study tells us the value of conservation. In providing refuge for nature, we provide ourselves a reservoir of recreation, history, philosophy, science, clean air and water, not to mention amazing landscapes. In seeking these benefits, however, we must ensure we are preserving the right areas through the proper process.

The “Hidden Gems” is a proposal, currently being drafted by the Hidden Gems Coalition, to designate areas within the White River National Forest and the district which I represent as wilderness. I am closely watching this proposal and working with those who have concerns as it continues to be discussed and revised by its supporters and a diversity of local interests. For this proposal to be adopted, it would need to gain Congressional approval, and it is very important to me that it undergoes the proper process here in Colorado to refine it.

Public input is the most important part in this process. Concerned citizens should feel free to reach out to the proposal's supporters directly, as well as to my office. Over the coming weeks, months and beyond, my office will host open houses and listening sessions to garner public opinions, questions, comments and any concerns as we join local stakeholders in examining this proposal.

The Hidden Gems proposal is just that — a proposal — not a final product, not yet a piece of legislation. It is a work in progress, one which the proposal's supporters are continuing to revise as new data and trail information are made available. This is why it is so important that area residents and interested parties express their thoughts now.

Working to address both the needs of users and conservation isn't always easy, but it is possible and in fact has been done many times before. It requires a process focused on the details and the specific merits of each area and trail. The intricacy of these important specifics can be very complex and often lead to confusion. Undoubtedly and unfortunately, extreme points of view will enter this discussion but we must all work together to put passions aside and stick to the facts.

My office has already heard some examples of confusion and misinformation and I hope that I can be helpful in getting to the bottom of any questions and concerns. Individuals have cited old or incorrect maps and trails, have confused the “Hidden Gems” wilderness proposal with other proposals, have heard incorrect timeframes, have assumed that draft proposals are final, or are unaware of solutions that are being worked out between opposing viewpoints. This is exactly why process counts in the question of wilderness designation.

The Wilderness Act of 1964 endowed Congress with the power to conserve special places not just to the benefit of our wildlands, but also for the people who live, love and rely upon them. My goal is to focus the conversation and debate on the true merits or shortcomings of specific areas, not broad generalities or philosophies. I hope everyone will join me in examining this proposal and share with me any thoughts, questions, support or criticisms. I encourage all interested parties to contact my office, either in person at one of our future events, by phone (Frisco office: (970) 668-3240 or Boulder office: (303) 484-9596), or online at www.polis.house.gov, to share their views.

Jared Polis is U.S. Representative from Colorado's 2nd Congressional District, which includes Summit County.

Polis, Titus Pledge Support for Health Care Bill, Praise Surcharge Fix

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Today, two key Democrats on the House Education and Labor Committee—Reps. Dina Titus (D-NV) and Jared Polis (D-CO)—who initially opposed H.R. 3200 when it was before their committee—announced their full support for H.R. 3962, given its lower cost, deficit neutrality, and significant changes made to the surcharge, which improve the bill’s impact on small businesses.

“For more than six months I have discussed the need for health care reform with my constituents, and time and again I heard from small business owners who are struggling to afford health care coverage,” said Titus. “With a large number of small businesses in my suburban Southern Nevada district, it is critical that we do everything we can to strengthen their hand so they can be critical engines of growth in our community. After having serious concerns about the impact the first health care bill would have on small businesses, I am pleased that the new House bill takes important steps to make health insurance more affordable and accessible for the uninsured, employers, and those with preexisting conditions.”

“Although I found enough fault with the initial version to justify a no vote in committee, my strong support for President Obama’s health care reform has never wavered,” said Polis. “I am thrilled to now support a House bill that more closely resembles the President’s plan to ensure health care stability for American families and extend coverage to more Americans. While ideally I would prefer a bill with no tax increases, the threshold for the surcharge has been raised significantly, and I am pleased that this new bill not only reduces the deficit, but also includes no tax increases for most small businesses making less than one million dollars.”

“We both commend House Leadership for addressing and including the concerns we heard from our constituents into the final bill and are proud to join them in support of the fiscally responsible health care reform bill before us today,” concluded Titus and Polis.

Earlier this year, Polis and Titus voted against H.R. 3200 in committee, primarily in opposition to the surcharge’s impact on small businesses. During the summer, Titus and Polis led efforts to adjust the surcharge and find a more equitable funding solution in the House bill.

The new House bill—H.R. 3962—released last week, raised the threshold for the surcharge from $280,000 to $500,000 for individuals and from $350,000 to $1 million for families, significantly reducing any negative impact on small businesses, while meeting President Obama’s goal of deficit neutrality and keeping the price of the bill under $900 billion. Under the higher threshold in the new legislation 98.8% of small business owners will pay no surcharge.

The legislation also includes a Health Insurance Exchange for individuals and small businesses to enter into in order to purchase health insurance at a lower cost. An amendment offered by Titus and supported by Polis has been included in the bill to increase access for small businesses by increasing the size of small businesses that can enter the exchange.

Without reform, many small businesses would face the steepest rise in insurance premiums in years. The House bill will allow 18,900 small businesses in Titus’ district and 23,400 in Polis’ district to obtain affordable health care coverage and will provide tax credits to help reduce health insurance costs for up to 16,700 small businesses in Nevada’s Third District and 22,300 small businesses in Colorado’s Second District.

With two key Democrats who opposed the initial version now supporting health care reform, the bill is gaining momentum toward passage in the House.

Freshman rep: Going rogue on my blog

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

My communications director, Lara Cottingham, gets upset with me regularly about my blogging. (She says every time I "go rogue" it gives her ulcers.) What she fails to understand is that I am a child of the digital era.

For me, blogging is just like talking. I don't check with her every time I say something in public (she wishes I did that, too) and the same should be true for blogging. If I did, I wouldn't feel true to myself or my constituents, and that's one of the reasons that the public is so frustrated with politicians these days.

I enjoy the banter and give and take of an online discussion, and yes an occasional "flame war" (or hostile posting battle). I blogged, tweeted, and Facebooked long before my campaign, during my campaign much to the chagrin of my campaign staff, and, much to the chagrin of my congressional staff, I continue to do so today.

Do I get in trouble occasionally? Sure, but my mistakes are just as likely to happen in the spoken word as in the blogged one. In talking about the rise of new media, I seemed to gloat over the decline of the newspaper industry, I once accidentally said that a law that passed in Colorado had also passed at the national level; and I have recently been accused on a blog of trying to kill the Internet (the exact opposite of my position, ironically).

My constituents want me to be outspoken -- it's part of the reason they elected me -- and the inevitable side effect of being outspoken is that occasionally you put your foot in your mouth. Sure, I could avoid mistakes by sticking tightly to a script, as some politicians do, but I might as well not speak at all. I ran as a different kind of politician and I'll continue to speak and blog off the cuff -- and I'll take the credit and sometimes the blame.

I grew up using electronic bulletin boards (BBSs) beginning at age 10. I remember well my first 300 baud modem, which dialed up and scrolled text at an agonizingly slow speed.

While still in college, I started my first Internet company -- American Information Systems -- a dial-up Internet provider in the Internet's formative years. Since then I've started several Internet companies -- including bluemountainarts.com and proflowers.com -- and continue to be involved in developing the Internet and in mentoring young entrepreneurs and start-ups.

Today, computers and the Internet continue to be an essential part of my life. In our down time, my partner, Marlon, and I play computer games (currently Sins of a Solar Empire and Heroes of Might and Magic V), keep track of friends on Facebook and find out what's going on in the outside world.

Members of Congress have a new world of social media -- Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, MySpace -- at our fingertips. On Facebook, I can tell where someone is from and I only respond if they are from my district. Sometimes, people have entire debates about an issue all played out on my wall! Yes, a member of Congress can provide a public wall for debates of all kinds, and that's exactly what I do on Facebook.

I also tweet regularly (once or twice a day) and have a MySpace page. I try to stay on top of all new and always changing social mediums that can help me maintain my relationship with my district and my constituents.

I find it hard to imagine what it would have been like to serve in Congress early in our nation's history, before phones and before the Internet. No daily access to international newspapers, relying on snail mail or the dreaded fax machine to get input from constituents, no ability to access a world of information at my fingertips during dry committee hearings.

Being in Congress must have been a different job back then, and it is a remarkable testimony to our constitution that our government has stayed strong, given the incredible changes wrought by technology.

Many people wonder whether it is "really me" responding to their letters, e-mails, or blogs. I can't speak for other members of Congress, but if it's a blog post or an e-mail that says it's from me, then I wrote it.

For our constituent mail, I write one response letter for a subject (say health care), and then send it out to anyone who writes in about health care generally. If constituents have a specific question or comment regarding health care, I ask my staff to find and draft a more specific answer to their questions.

So with regard to these CNN articles: yes, it's me, Jared, typing. I'll even respond to any comments or questions down below in the interactive section if anyone cares to post something. Technology is such an important part of my life that I can't imagine what this job or my life would be like without it. Long live innovation! And for those bloggers who think I'm against net neutrality: Long live the Internet!

Remarks about H.R. 3854 Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this rule and the underlying bill H.R. 3854, the Small Business Financing and Investment Act. I would like to thank Chairwoman Velázquez and my colleagues on the Small Business Committee for bringing us a comprehensive well thought-out bill. I would also like to acknowledge and thank my friend from Oregon, Representative Schrader for introducing this legislation and working hard on such an important issue.

Madam Speaker, while there are positive economic indicators and reasons to believe that we are on a path of recovery, this fragile, budding recovery could be stalled if we do not provide our small businesses with the tools to maintain their operations, begin to expand and create new jobs, and restore consumer confidence.

H.R. 3854 will significantly improve access to credit and capital for small businesses at each stage of growth and in any economic climate. An update of the SBA's portfolio of lending and investment programs is 10 years overdue, and the current recession makes the task of helping more small firms, grow, prosper, and save and create jobs even more vital.

As we speak, once frozen credit markets are beginning to thaw, and the Small Business Financing and Investment Act will prove to be a welcome heat gun. This bill will improve credit conditions for small businesses and stabilize small business lending markets, improving the availability of capital for small firms. This includes increasing the guaranty on 7(a) loans to 90 percent, waiving fees on 7(a) and CDC loans, and improving the Business Stabilization Loans by increasing the loan amounts to $50,000.

By raising SBA loan guarantees and reducing risk for lenders, this bill allows banks to make lending more accessible to small firms early next year. By helping small firms purchase new equipment and inventory, the bill will help stimulate the economy and help reduce overall unemployment. As an added benefit, an increase in lending activity will also improve the health of our banking industry.

Through this bill, bankers will be able to recapitalize—through their efforts of supporting business—instead of seeking Federal bailouts. Recognizing the benefit to their industry, H.R. 3854 has received the endorsement of American Bankers Association.

This bill will benefit businesses nationwide. It makes permanent the Rural Lender Outreach Program, Community Express, and Veteran Participation Loan Program. Each of these programs share a common goal of assisting borrowers who have not accessed SBA programs or who have traditionally had limited access to capital.

On behalf of my constituents in Colorado, I would like to particularly thank the Chairwoman and Committee for their work on drafting Subtitle B—expanded investment in small business renewable energy, and title VII (seven)—the small business early-stage investment program. The spirit of entrepreneurship in my district is only matched by our commitment and talent to lead in the renewable energy economy. These programs encourage new businesses to start; encourage all businesses to recognize cost saving through energy conservation; and promote new firms to develop and market renewable energy resources. And they are all strongly supported by the people of Colorado's second Congressional district.

Without discounting the struggles of those who have lost their jobs, it should be noted that Colorado enjoys one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation at seven percent. This, in part, is due to the diversity of my state's economy, the predominance of small businesses, and the efforts by state and local governments to foster entrepreneurship across all industries.

Nationwide, small businesses create 64 percent of new jobs. This bill is expected to support $44 billion in small business lending every year, and will help save or create 1.3 million jobs each year. Small firms comprise 99.7 percent of all employer companies; this bill is more than an investment in small businesses, it is an investment in American job growth.

Madam Speaker, oftentimes, the psychology of recovery is as important as the funds spent to drive it. By passing this legislation, this Congress makes a plain statement that we have great confidence in our fellow Americans to help each other get back to work.

We state that with a little help local bankers and local merchants can come together to stock shelves and pay salaries. We tell our businesses that we will provide the tools to weather the remainder of the storm; we use traditional market mechanisms to do it; and we back our confidence with the full faith and credit of the United States government. This is a powerful message and I am proud to lend my voice to this cause.

Once again I recognize the efforts of Chairwoman Velázquez and the Small Business Committee on job growth and I thank Representative Schrader introducing this legislation that we will have the opportunity to vote on today. I strongly support this rule and ask my colleagues to join me in supporting this rule and the underlying bill.

Polis Provisions Included in Solar Technology Roadmap

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Two amendments authored by Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) that will help set the U.S. on a road to global leadership in the production of solar energy technology were included in H.R. 3585—the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, which passed the House by a vote of 310 - 106 last week.

“Right now, because of the policies we have and have not passed, our country is losing the innovation race in a technology we invented,” said Polis. “Europe, China, and other countries are leapfrogging us in the race to refine the technology that will power our future. This bill is the focus and directive that we as a nation need in order to realize the great potential that solar energy has had for decades. “

The Solar Technology Roadmap, modeled after a government program established to assist the semiconductor industry in the early 1990s when the semiconductor industry, like the solar industry today, had no clear plan for research and development and faced fierce foreign competition. This legislation seeks to enable American solar companies to better compete in a burgeoning worldwide industry by investing in solar energy research and development and by establishing a responsive public-private partnership (called the “Roadmap Committee”) that will guide and direct these investments to better meet the needs of the American industry.

Polis’ first amendment would direct the roadmap committee, made of members from both the Department of Energy and from the Solar Industry, to identify a set of “best practices” for Department of Energy national labs that will improve the ability of solar technology that they develop to make it to the market place. His second amendment directs the roadmap committee to review current financing models that have thus far been successful in spreading the high upfront costs of solar energy over long periods making this technology more affordable.

“Congress’ past attitude toward renewable energy and solar in particular has been simply shameful,” said Polis. “Time after time, we’ve failed to support the small businesses, the technology, and the policies that could have and should have changed our nation’s energy outlook decades ago. We desperately need to focus our research and investments, and this legislation will do just that.”

Polis is Vice Chairman of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition (SEEC), “nicknamed the Green Dogs,” a focused, action-based caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, and co-sponsored the Solar Technology Roadmap Act.

Video and text of Polis’ floor speech are available on his website www.polis.house.gov.

Statement in Support of H.R. 3585—the Solar Technology Roadmap Act

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO)
Statement in Support of H.R. 3585—the Solar Technology Roadmap Act
Thursday, October 22, 2009

M_. Speaker, for the last two weeks, right down the street on the National Mall, twenty teams of university students competed in the bi-annual Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon. These teams competed not just for victory, but for innovation and public awareness as well.

Every two years, teams from all over the globe prove unequivocally that rain or shine or the all too frequently cloudy skies of Washington D.C., solar power is not a dream of the future, but is here and ready to go today. These teams showcase both cutting edge technology and technology that has been around for decades--both of which create jobs, promote energy independence, combat climate change, and just simply aren’t getting the attention they deserve from up here on the hill.

The solar decathalon itself is noticing an interesting trend that speaks to a trend occurring on a larger scale. Teams like the two time winners at the University of Colorado aren’t finding the support that they need and were unable to compete this year, while teams from Europe and elsewhere--thanks to stable, serious financial backing--keep coming back and consistently win.

Right now, because of the policies we have and have not passed, our country is losing the innovation race in a technology we invented. Europe, China, and other countries are leapfrogging us in the race to refine the technology that will power our future.

On Monday, the Wall Street Journal’s “Power Plays,” featured America's downward trend, which has been seen and felt by the many solar and clean tech companies in my district for years. Our technological might draining away to countries who know how to support and foster its growth. The Wall Street Journal highlighted how China is taking the lead in solar energy investment and drastically cutting the prices of the technology it's developing, making it even harder for US companies to compete on a global scale.

M. Speaker, Congress’ attitude toward renewable energy and solar in particular is simply shameful. We’ve failed time after time to support the small businesses, the technology, and the policies that could have and should have changed our nation’s energy outlook decades ago.

American solar energy has had to deal with the uncertainty of not knowing what government policies will be from one year to the next. Production and Investment tax credits have ebbed and flowed, with no real consistency. As someone with a strong background in business, I know that this simply doesn’t work. Whether you’re figuring out your payroll or trying to secure investments, without long term certainty you’ll have a hard time accomplishing either.

Without a clear plan to lead our research or investment, our policies toward solar research could be equally as sporadic. We desperately need to focus our research and focus our investments, and this legislation will do just that.

M. Speaker, simply put, this bill is a game changer. This bill is the focus and directive that we as a nation need in order to realize the great potential that solar energy has had for decades. By creating this roadmap, we will have the foremost experts in the world focusing our research, focusing our policies, and focusing our vision of what is possible. And in so doing we will encourage investment by providing the long-term assurance that the market is so desperately looking for.

By creating a “Solar Technology Roadmap Committee,” made up of experts representing a variety of perspectives--from the solar technology industry, national laboratories, academia, relevant Federal agencies, and State and local governments--this bill will ensure that we have a forward-thinking, strategic plan for using our Federal solar energy research, development and demonstration funds effectively and efficiently.

The roadmap that this bill will create is a model that is tried and true. This bill’s roadmap is modeled on the successful National Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors, which has been instrumental in helping semiconductor technology advance rapidly over the past two decades, making the technology exponentially cost competitive and growing the industry to be an international leader.

Like solar technology today, the semiconductor industry once needed more focus, it needed a roadmap to point it in the right direction and ensure that investments were being used wisely and efficiently, allowing America to compete when other countries were passing us by. This bill will do the same for solar.

M. Speaker, The Solar Technology Roadmap Act has gained a wide variety of support from members on both sides of the isle and organizations from many perspectives of the energy issue. This bill is truly a step forward.

I strongly urge passage of this legislation and I reserve the balance of my time.

…

M__. Speaker, this bill is a responsible and well thought out approach towards moving our nation away from its addiction on fossil fuels and towards energy independence. This is a mission that will help us address some of the largest challenges we face—reducing our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and cutting green house gas emissions.

Time and time again, it has been shown that solar energy is already a win in terms of national security. Whether having emergency response centers powered individually during disasters or having additional solar supplying the grid during blackouts, we are learning that energy security means homegrown renewable energy.

Does it do us any good to be as dependant on Europe or China for our energy in the future as we are on Saudi Arabia for our energy today? I think not—and we can change that here today. Europe and China are winning the renewable energy race, and this becomes exponentially worse with every day we fail to act.

We need to realize that their technological gains are a good thing, but not if they are to the detriment of our own small businesses, investments, and jobs.

There is one factor that every place with a booming clean energy industry has in common—it’s not the sun, it’s not the wind, it’s not the biomass—it’s the POLICIES. You may think that California and Colorado are the number one and three renewable energy states in the country because they are sunny or windy, but in fact they simply have the right policies to attract investors and grow clean energy jobs. To prove this point, coming in at number two isn’t sunny Arizona--it’s actually New Jersey.

In Colorado this fact has been known for years. Our State and my home town of Boulder know the benefits of policies that attract technological advancement, support small businesses, and create jobs—all because they promote investments in renewable energy. In fact, later today the American Solar Energy Society will unveil a new national report that will show the economic and employment boom that clean energy could provide, if we only enact the right policies.

Policies like feed in tariffs, net metering and interconnection standards, Property Assessed Clean Energy Bonds, and the expansion of distributed generation are the next steps of policies that will give our nation the benefits that clean energy has given to places like Colorado.

In passing the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, we are passing on confidence to investors that our support will be around for the long haul, we are saying to small clean energy businesses that you CAN hire more employees, and we’re saying to our researchers that without a doubt you will be inventing the technologies that will make our country cleaner and stronger.

M. Speaker, establishing a research roadmap and prioritizing federal funding for solar energy research will help commercialize new solar technologies and make this clean, renewable energy source more affordable and accessible for all Americans.

Solar technology offers a tremendous opportunity for America, with the potential to help create tens of thousands of clean energy jobs that we are currently losing to overseas companies.

The U.S. has some of the best solar resources of any industrialized nation in the world. Yet while America is currently a leader in solar technology development, other countries like Spain, Germany, and China are devoting much more effort and attention to deployment, putting U.S. competitiveness in jeopardy.

The Solar Technology Roadmap Act has diverse and bipartisan support and has thus far been officially endorsed by the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), BP, IBM, Intel and National Semiconductor.

Thank you.

Polis Legislation Highlights Role of Computer Science Education in a Diverse, American Workforce

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Last night, Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO), an internet entrepreneur, led the U.S. House of Representatives in passing bipartisan legislation recognizing the week of December 7, 2009 as National Computer Science Education Week. The resolution—H.Res. 558—authored by Polis, highlights the importance of computer science education to the growth and diversity of the American workforce.

“In today’s knowledge-based economy, every child needs to learn the key critical thinking and problem solving skills that are the foundation of a rigorous computer science education,” said Polis. “This resolution points out the essential need that our students not only use technology, but that they also learn the computing skills needed to grow our economy and invent the technology of the future.”

A forthcoming report by the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT), based at the University of Colorado in Boulder, clearly demonstrates the ever-growing demand for computer science education:

·         Computing professions rank among the top 10 fastest-growing professions.
·         By 2016, there will be more than 1.5 million computer specialist jobs available.
·         Unfortunately, the talent pool is shrinking fast, as the computer science industry is failing to attract and retain an ample and diverse workforce. If current trends continue, the industry will be able to fill only half of its available jobs.
·         By 2016, U.S. universities will produce only half of the computer science bachelor’s degrees needed.

“Access to computer science is important to all students and especially to women and severely under-represented minorities,” said Lucy Sanders, CEO and Co-founder of NCWIT. “Positioning Computer Science Education Week in the birth week of Rear Admiral Grace Hopper, an early American computer scientist, is testimony to the importance of women's participation in the invention of future technology.”

The text and video of Polis’ remarks are available at www.polis.house.gov.

Congress on Your Corner @ Vic's Coffee

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:03:37 GMT

Friday, August 7th Congress on Your Corner Vic’s Coffee 2680 Broadway Street Boulder, CO 80302 8:00 – 9:30 AM

Congress on Your Corner @ Southern Sun - Boulder

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:15:39 GMT

Monday, August 17th Congress on Your Corner The Southern Sun 627 South Broadway Boulder, CO 80305 5:30 – 7:00 PM

Eagle County Town Hall

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:16:34 GMT

Wednesday, August 19th Eagle County Town Hall Singletree Community Center 1010 Berry Creek Road Edwards, CO 81632 4:30 – 5:30 PM

Congress on Your Corner @ Boulder Whole Foods

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 14:36:05 GMT

Thursday, August 20th Congress on Your Corner Whole Foods Market 2905 Pearl Street Boulder, CO 80301 6:00 – 7:30 PM

Housing Fair

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:23:24 GMT

Congress on Your Corner @ Boulder Farmers Market

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:17:29 GMT

Wednesday, September 2nd Congress on Your Corner Boulder Farmers Market Next to Central Park on 13th Street between Canyon Boulevard and Arapahoe Avenue Boulder, CO 80302 5:30 – 7:00 PM

Congress on Your Corner @ Lafayette VFW Hall

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:18:20 GMT

Thursday, September 3rd Congress on Your Corner VFW HALL 105 West Emma Street Lafayette, CO 80026 5:30 - 7:00 PM

Boulder Town Hall

Tue, 18 Aug 2009 22:47:51 GMT

Friday, September 4th Boulder Town Hall University of Colorado at Boulder University Memorial Center (UMC)Ball Room 7:00 - 8:30 PM

Congress on Your Corner @ Rancho Liborio Grocery Store

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:19:17 GMT

Saturday, September 5th Congress on Your Corner Rancho Liborio Grocery Store 850 East 88th Avenue Thornton, CO 80229 10:00 – 11:30 AM

Adams County Town Hall

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:20:15 GMT

Saturday, September 5th Adams County Town Hall Welby New Technology High School 1200 East 78th Avenue #105 Thornton, CO 80229 1:00 - 3:00 PM