Congressman George Miller began his Washington Update luncheon presentation with hearty praise for the three-county clean technology economic development initiative, the Diablo Innovation Alliance, spearheaded by the Contra Costa Economic Partnership and several partner organizations. Rep. Miller called the effort to audit the region's strong existing base of clean energy and water technology assets, and to encourage the growth of these industries, "a great step forward" in jumpstarting homegrown economic growth and innovation.

In remarks on October 17 to a large Contra Costa Council audience at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Concord, Miller offered an update on the national financial picture. He said that Congress is working on cutting a trillion dollars out of the budget and had created a committee to look at another trillion dollars in savings. "We need to make a serious decision about reforms, but we also need a balance," he said.

"We are entering a time when Congress will start to see that people have more courage than their elected officials. ... There needs to be greater fairness in the tax code, which is going to have to change," he said. "Congress needs to get over its slugfest over power. 'Occupy Wall Street' is actually helping by creating the recognition that we are moving away from a society based on fairness."

Miller urged a new investment in America, both to pay our bills and to generate revenue. "This is about jobs and 14 million people being unemployed. It is about reigniting the American dream with innovation, yet we still see limited opportunities to provide grants to go forward with discoveries."

During the question period, Miller cited the collaboration of federal agencies with the Delta Diablo Sanitation District, which is resulting in energy and water savings, and pointed to a Richmond company that is using nanotechnology to filter and desalinate water. "We are trying to develop these industries right here," he noted.

View photos of the presentation and audience on the Council website.

(Contra Costa Television will air this presentation on Wednesday, November 16, at 8 p.m., on Thursday, November 17, at 1 p.m. and on Tuesday, November 22, at 1 p.m. CCTV is Comcast channel 27, Astound channel 32 and AT&T U-verse channel 99. For additional air dates, visit the CCTV program guide.)