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October 24, 2017

Bipartisan ARPA-E Reauthorization Garners Outpouring of Support

In September, Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), introduced H.R. 3681, the ARPA-E Reauthorization Act of 2017. This bipartisan bill authorizes reasonable growth in funding for ARPA-E through 2022. Increased funding for ARPA-E is consistent with the strong and sustained recommendations of many respected industrial and academic institutions and organizations in recent years. The bill also includes a provision that ensures that sensitive proprietary business information collected by ARPA-E remains protected.

Congressman Ryan Costello (R-PA), Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), and Congresswoman Mia Love (R-UT) are original cosponsors of the bill. Current cosponsors also include: Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA), Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO), Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Congressman Mike Quigley (D-IL), Congressman Pat Meehan (R-PA), Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Congressman Mike Gallagher (R-WI), Congressman Dan Lipinski (D-IL), Congressman Bill Foster (D-FL), Congressman Adam Schiff (D-CA), Congressman Darren Soto (D-FL), Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL), Congressman Scott Peters (D-WA), Congressman Peter Welch (D-VT), Congressman Paul Tonko (D-NY), Congressman Marc Veasey (D-TX), and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA).

The bill is supported by: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), the Council on Competitiveness, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC), the American Petroleum Institute (API), the American Gas Association (AGA), the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the Carbon Utilization Research Council (CURC), the American Council for Capital Formation (ACCF), ClearPath Action, the Task Force on American Innovation (TFAI), Third Way, Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), the Gas Technology Institute (GTI), Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), ClearPath Action, and the Energy Sciences Coalition (ESC) – including 48 universities, 28 scientific and professional associations, and 8 private companies (see here for the full list).

“Manufacturers have long supported ARPA-E, which we believe is a valuable program to fund high-risk, transformational energy technologies that the private sector may not yet be ready to invest in…NAM supports legislation to keep ARPA-E funded and operating at a high level.” – the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM)

“ARPA-E is one of the most productive and effective agencies in our great nation’s shared innovation infrastructure – helping to start strategic new companies (over 50 to date) and leveraging significant private sector investment to turbocharge innovation (attracting $1.8 billion in private sector investment to date). These efforts are absolutely crucial for a sector that demands a very different approach to innovation than the ‘app economy’ – one that values long time scales for research and development.” – the Council on Competitiveness

“BPC's American Energy Innovation Council has long supported the program because it focuses on high-risk, high payoff technologies. Importantly, the program establishes rigorous screening and benchmarks for each project to ensure maximum benefit from limited federal dollars.” – the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC)

“ARPA-E is an indispensable part of our innovation ecosystem.” – the Task Force on American Innovation (TFAI)