Congress Applauds Automotive X Prize

110THCONGRESS 1STSESSION H. RES. 907 Congratulating the X PRIZE Foundation’s leadership in inspiring a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DECEMBER 19, 2007

Mr. DANIELE. LUNGREN of California submitted the following resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology

RESOLUTION
Congratulating the X PRIZE Foundation’s leadership in inspiring a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles.

Whereas the United States is heavily dependent on foreign sources of oil that are concentrated in tumultuous countries and regions;

Whereas the national security and economic prosperity of the United States demand that we move toward a sustainable energy future;

Whereas the ability of foreign governments to assert great control over oil production allows unfriendly regimes to use energy exports as leverage against the United States and our allies;

Whereas continued reliance on the use of greenhouse gas intensive fuels may impact global climate change;

Whereas the automotive sector is heavily dependent on oil, which makes Americans vulnerable to oil price fluctuation and is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions;

Whereas average fuel economy in the United States has increased slowly during the last 20 years;

Whereas many promising technologies exist that can lead to a breakthrough vehicle that will meet the need for sustainable transportation;

Whereas breakthroughs are often achieved by the free market fueling the entrepreneurial spirit of inventors and investors;

Whereas the Automotive X PRIZE is a private, independent, technology-neutral competition being developed by the X PRIZE Foundation to inspire a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles that help break our addiction to oil and stem the effects of climate change;

Whereas the Automotive X PRIZE will award a multimillion dollar reward to teams that can design, build, and demonstrate production-capable vehicles that achieve 100 MPG or its equivalent; and

Whereas such prize competitions generate involvement and innovation across a broad spectrum of known and untapped talent such as the $25,000 Orteig Prize won by Charles Lindbergh which leveraged $400,000 worth of additional research by teams trying to win the prize and spurred a $250,000,000,000 aviation industry, and the $10,000,000 Ansari X Prize which leveraged $100,000,000 worth of additional research:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

(1) congratulates the X PRIZE Foundation’s leadership for inspiring a new generation of viable, super-efficient vehicles that help break our addiction to oil through the Automotive X PRIZE competition;

(2) congratulates the X PRIZE Foundation on their innovation and vision to bring together some of the finest minds in the public and private sectors, including government, academia, and industry, to advise and participate in the Automotive X PRIZE competition; and

(3) applauds the X PRIZE Foundation’s ongoing commitment to find solutions to some of humanity’s greatest challenges as exemplified in the Automotive X PRIZE.