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“STEEL AND ALUMINUM ENERGY CONSERVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVENESS ACT OF 1988 REAUTHORIZATION” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H5214-H5215 on July 7, 2004.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
STEEL AND ALUMINUM ENERGY CONSERVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVENESS
ACT OF 1988 REAUTHORIZATION
Ms. HART. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 3890) to reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988, as amended.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 3890
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 9 of the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 5108) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act for fiscal year 2005, an amount equal to the amount appropriated for the same purposes for fiscal year 2004, and $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2006 through 2009.''.
(b) Steel Project Priorities.--Section 4(c)(1) of the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 5103(c)(1)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``coatings for sheet steels'' and inserting ``sheet and bar steels''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(K) The development of technologies which reduce greenhouse gas emissions.''.
(c) Conforming Amendments.--The Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988 is further amended--
(1) by striking section 7 (15 U.S.C. 5106); and
(2) in section 4(b)--
(A) in the subsection heading, by inserting ``and Report'' after ``Management Plan'';
(B) by striking ``Within 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Act enacting this sentence'';
(C) by striking ``to expand the steel research and development initiative to include aluminum and''; and
(D) by inserting ``, and shall transmit such plan to Congress'' after ``carry out the purposes of this Act''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart) and the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moore) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart).
General Leave
Ms. HART. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 3890, as amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania?
There was no objection.
Ms. HART. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I would first like to thank the gentlewoman from Illinois (Chairman Biggert) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Larson) of the Subcommittee on Energy of the Committee on Science, and also the gentleman from New York (Chairman Boehlert) and the ranking member, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon) of the full Committee on Science, for working with me on H.R. 3890, a bill which will reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988.
The legislation reauthorizes the Steel and Aluminum Competitiveness Act of 1988, which established a public-private research initiative, with cost sharing from industry, focused on improving industrial energy efficiency in the steel and aluminum smelting and fabrication industries.
The bill would result in improved energy efficiency in the domestic metals industries, thereby improving our international competitiveness in those industries. Improved industrial energy efficiency also offers environmental benefits through reduced emissions per unit of steel or aluminum produced. It can also help reduce the future demand for energy in the industrial sector, which is extremely important as we see rising fuel prices.
The bill authorizes $13.3 million for this program in fiscal year 2005, the same level that was appropriated for fiscal year 2004. For the outyears, that is, fiscal years 2006 through 2009, the bill authorizes $20 million per year, for a total $93.3 million over the 5-year cycle of the legislation.
This bill is right for industry, Mr. Speaker; it is good for our energy security, and it is good for the environment.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart) for her work on H.R. 3890, a bill to reauthorize the steel and aluminum research and development program at the Department of Energy. This energy conservation program is part of the Industries of the Future program in DOE's Office of Industrial Technologies. It is carried out through cost-shared partnerships with industry.
Past research under this program has made such steel mills and aluminum production facilities less polluting, more efficient and more productive.
The budgets for such programs have been cut significantly during the past 3 years, Mr. Speaker. This sends the wrong message to American workers, who are relying on these industries to remain competitive in a global market.
By reauthorizing the metals R&D program at H.R. 3890's authorization funding levels, we can give appropriate support for this research program. Restoring this funding will benefit the domestic steel and aluminum industries, the manufacturers who use American steel and aluminum in their products, and, ultimately, the American consumer.
Mr. Speaker, I recommend support for the bill by my colleagues.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. HART. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Murphy).
Mr. MURPHY. Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania, for her work on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to support the reauthorization of this very worthy program. As we all know, the last few years have been difficult for America's steel industry and continuing the Metals Initiative will go a long way towards easing those burdens.
This Nation's steel industry is second to none, and it is this Congress' responsibility to do everything in its power to enable American-produced steel to compete in a global economy.
The Metals Initiative lends private industry the resources it needs to develop energy-saving technologies that increase productivity and cut pollution. These innovations are a vital component to a strong American steel industry.
I can think of few other programs that offer so much with a prudent investment. Not only does this program create jobs by making the steel industry more competitive and reduce environmental impacts caused by steel production, but any costs incurred are recouped. A portion of all royalties realized by these new technologies are repaid until the full Federal investment has been recovered.
At a recent hearing held by the Subcommittee on Energy of the Committee on Science, U.S. Steel cited just one example of how the company has utilized these moneys. Several projects have been funded through the Metals Initiative to research and develop Advanced High Strength Steels.
This steel allows for the creation of lightweight cars that maintain the same standards of safety currently available to today's drivers. By using Metals Initiative funds, Advanced High Strength Steels production requires 171 million fewer gallons of gasoline, 4 million fewer barrels of oil, and emits 2.1 million fewer tons of carbon dioxide per year.
Such innovation reduces our dependency on both foreign steel and foreign oil, while further contributing to a safer road system and a healthier environment for us all.
This Nation would not be what it is today were it not for the contributions of the American Steel Industry and American steelworkers. Congress should recognize the significant strides the industry has taken to remain competitive despite many obstacles.
I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 3890.
Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. HART. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, this initiative is one that is not as common for government, I think, as the American people would like to see. It is designed to help industry to become more efficient in its processes, but also more efficient in its use of energy. So, in the long run, it helps preserve American jobs.
That is why we are here today, Mr. Speaker. We are working on efficiency in technology and efficiency in energy use and, obviously, better emissions.
{time} 1145
It is important to our industries to be competitive worldwide as we move this legislation forward.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Boozman). The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3890, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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