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.
“THE HYDROGEN FUTURE ACT OF 1995” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Energy was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E165 on Jan. 24, 1995.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE HYDROGEN FUTURE ACT OF 1995
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HON. ROBERT S. WALKER
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, January 24, 1995
Mr. WALKER. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to authorize and fund the hydrogen research, development, and demonstration programs of the Department of Energy.
Hydrogen holds the greatest promise as an environmentally benign renewable energy source. It is readily available from water and when it combusts it leaves no noxious residues, but again only water. What we have is a replacement fuel for our fossil-based economy, because hydrogen can be used in as many ways, and more, as any available fossil fuel now being used without the environmental cost associated with cleanup. Hydrogen will play a major role in the energy mix of the future and it is up to us to see that we begin this integration wisely, economically, and efficiently.
Hydrogen offers the potential for a limitless supply of clean, efficient energy. However, its use faces large technical hurdles, particularly in production and storage, that must be overcome. The Department of Energy's Hydrogen Program has also been plagued in the past by rather erratic funding profiles, which have limited its effectiveness.
The Hydrogen Future Act of 1995 will focus Federal hydrogen research on the basic scientific fundamentals needed to provide the foundation for private sector investment and development of new and better energy sources and enabling technologies without adding to the budget. The bill, while allowing modest increases in the hydrogen authorization, requires corresponding offsets to pay for this research by freezing the overall Department of Energy research and development account.
The Hydrogen Future Act of 1995, will give added direction and funding stability to a most worthwhile energy research and development program.
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