The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“REAUTHORIZING THE STEEL AND ALUMINUM ENERGY CONSERVATION AND TECHNOLOGY COMPETITIVENESS ACT OF 1988” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H2411-H2412 on March 12, 2007.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
REAUTHORIZING THE STEEL AND ALUMINUM ENERGY CONSERVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
COMPETITIVENESS ACT OF 1988
Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1126) to reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988.
The Clerk read as follows:
H.R. 1126
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 $12,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.''.
(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 8 (15 U.S.C. 5107), by inserting ``, beginning with fiscal year 2008,'' after ``close of each fiscal year''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
General Leave
Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1126, the bill now under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from Illinois?
There was no objection.
Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 1126, legislation reauthorizing the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988, also known as the Metals Initiative.
Today, the steel industry and other metals industry, including aluminum and copper, are important parts of our national economy; and they must remain innovative in order to stay competitive in the increasingly global economy. It is vital to ensure that these industries are fully prepared to confront the challenges they face. This bill will help develop the innovative tools needed to grow valuable American jobs and businesses, and to protect the environment, by tapping into good old-fashioned American ingenuity.
Originally passed by the 100th Congress, the Metals Initiative authorizes Federal cost-sharing of research whose goals are threefold: first, enhancing energy efficiency; second, increasing the competitiveness of American industries; and, third, improving the environment through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
More specifically, this legislation promotes collaborative, public-
private cost-shared research between American industry, the Department of Energy, and institutions of higher education. The bill would reauthorize the Metals Initiative at $12 million per year for fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2012 to fund advanced metals research.
The success of the American steel industry has a special personal significance to me. My father-in-law was a steelworker at Bethlehem Steel in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, until he lost his job when his plant closed due to foreign competition. This bill will help prevent further loss of good American jobs like his by using American innovation to increase the competitiveness of our domestic industry.
While American industries have significantly modernized, the pace of technology and the competition from overseas is relentless. Reauthorization of this bill is essential to grow American jobs, keep the customers of metal industries strong, and ensure that we have a domestic supply of the materials we need for our national defense.
The results of this program speak for themselves. Since its inception, the Metals Initiative has delivered numerous technologies to the factory floor, resulting in incredible environmental and energy savings while increasing the competitive position of the steel industry and the domestic manufacturing sector.
In the Chicago area, schools such as my alma mater Northwestern University have participated in this program, as well as companies such as IPSCO. Because of the advances made in steel production, partially through the industry's partnership with DOE, the steel industry as a whole used 28 percent less energy per ton in 2004 than it did in 1990.
In addition, this research has produced several successful and important technological breakthroughs, including the development of advanced high-strength steels and ultra-lightweight steel automobile bodies, meaning lighter, safer and more energy-efficient cars.
Recently, these advanced technologies were applied to a new, lightweight military vehicle, yielding performance improvements including 25 percent weight savings and 50 percent fuel efficiency improvements. Through this partnership program, the U.S. Army now has a next generation tactical vehicle that is agile and responsive. These advances, applied to the civilian versions of the vehicle, add a substantial further positive impact to our Nation's economy.
It is also important to note that the Federal funds in this program are given to the schools to conduct the research. Companies are not the recipients of funds, and they must provide a share of the cost of the research. But the American company that provides that match has the first opportunity to take advantage of the research findings and improve their manufacturing operations, benefiting American workers.
H.R. 1126 is simply a great example of how public-private partnership can benefit American workers and taxpayers, while saving energy, improving the environment, and accelerating the development and implementation of modern technology.
All Americans can benefit from commonsense programs such as this one, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1126.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1126, a bill to reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988. This legislation has been passed unanimously by this body for the past two Congresses, and I hope it will do so again today.
The Department of Energy's steel-related energy-efficiency research and development program was first established in 1986 and was expanded to a broader ``metals initiative'' in 1988 when the President signed into law the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988.
Reauthorization of appropriations for the program occurred in 1992 with the passage of the Energy Policy Act, but expired in 1997. The steel industry and the Department of Energy continued the partnership under the Metals Initiative and its predecessor, the Steel Initiative, after the authorization expired. This bill would reauthorize the important program through 2012 and expand it slightly by adding research on technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The metals industry is one of the most energy-intensive industries, with energy accounting for a major portion of the cost of production. Improving energy efficiency for this industry will help to reduce the cost of steel and keep American steelmakers competitive in the world market. Improving efficiency will also help with our country's goal to become energy independent and environmentally responsible.
Investment made at the government level in partnership with industry to stimulate achievement of this increased energy efficiency has shown great results. Over the years, 58 steel companies and 23 research organizations participated in and benefited from this program. According to testimony from the United States Steel Corporation, through this program they saw a ``set of projects that saved nearly a barrel of oil per Federal dollar invested. Or, in terms of the environment, a ton of CO2 for every $2 of Federal money invested, all the while delivering real technology to the plant floor to help maintain a competitive advantage.''
I ask my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 1126.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, this bill represents a great example of what we can be doing and should be doing in this country. We have legislation here that takes advantage of our great American universities and all of the knowledge, wisdom that is there, the research ability of these institutions, and puts that together with American industry to come up with ways that we can both save American jobs, grow American jobs, and help to protect the environment.
As Representative Hall said, a dollar in this program saves a barrel of oil. It is a great opportunity and a great example of what we should be doing more of here in this Congress.
I would like to thank Representatives Ehlers and Akin for their support also on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to pass this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1126.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________
