IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. RES. 110

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Departments

of the Treasury, Defense, Commerce, and Labor should take steps to

assist in increasing the competitiveness of the United States electronic

interconnection industry.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 10, 1997

Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. MEEHAN, and Ms. ESHOO) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on

Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Commerce, National Security, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of

such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that

the Departments of the Treasury, Defense, Commerce,

and Labor should take steps to assist in increasing the

competitiveness of the United States electronic interconnection industry.

Whereas the electronic interconnection industry, which produces printed wiring boards and printed wiring assemblies, is an important element of the electronics industry;

Whereas the United States electronic interconnection industry, a foundation of the United States electronics indus-
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•HRES 110 IH

try, is vital to United States competitiveness in electronics and critical to national defense;

Whereas the United States electronic interconnection industry employs nearly 250,000 workers in the United States;

Whereas small and mid-sized businesses such as those that

make up the electronic interconnection industry are the

backbone of the United States economy;

Whereas the United States electronic interconnection industry has annual gross sales exceeding $20,000,000,000;

Whereas the United States electronic interconnection industry, while currently a net importer, has the potential to

become a net exporter, which will help reduce the United

States trade deficit;

Whereas growth projections have confirmed the potential for

a competitive printed wiring assembly industry, which is

expected to grow more than 20 percent annually during

the remainder of the 20th century;

Whereas the United States electronic interconnection industry is responding to the challenge of international competition and has reversed a market decline through a concerted effort in managerial excellence, operational efficiency, technological development, improved communications, public policy advocacy, and workforce education

and training;

Whereas the United States electronic interconnection industry struggles with inadequate capital formation in the

United States relative to its international competitors;

Whereas, although the United States electronic interconnection industry has battled back from the brink of extinction, ominous trends (such as declining research and development by major electronics manufacturers, closed for-
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eign markets, and high employee training costs) continue;

and

Whereas actions of the United States Government in the

areas of taxation, capital formation, technology development, workforce development, and trade agreements are

vital to ensuring an internationally competitive United

States electronic interconnection industry well into the

21st century: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep2 resentatives that—

3 (1) to assist in ensuring the financial soundness

4 of the United States electronic interconnection in5 dustry, the Department of the Treasury should de6 velop an accelerated depreciation schedule to accu7 rately reflect the depreciation of equipment used by

8 the industry;

9 (2) the Department of Defense should develop

10 a dual-use technology program with the United

11 States electronic interconnection industry to upgrade

12 the technological capabilities of the industry;

13 (3) the International Trade Administration of

14 the Department of Commerce should develop a joint

15 industry-Government program to expand the export

16 of goods and services of the United States electronic

17 interconnection industry;

18 (4) the Department of Labor should develop a

19 joint program with the United States electronic
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1 interconnection industry to upgrade the training and

2 skill levels of workers in the industry; and

3 (5) within 12 months after the date of the

4 adoption of this resolution, the Secretaries of the

5 Treasury, Defense, Commerce, and Labor should re6 port to the Congress on any actions taken within the

7 jurisdiction of the Secretaries, respectively, to in8 crease the competitiveness of the United States elec9 tronic interconnection industry.

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