[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1750 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1750

 To establish a Grand Canyon hydrogen-powered transportation research, 
                development, and demonstration program.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 21, 2005

 Mr. Boehlert introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                          Committee on Science

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a Grand Canyon hydrogen-powered transportation research, 
                development, and demonstration program.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Grand Canyon Hydrogen-Powered 
Transportation Demonstration Act of 2005''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    For purposes of this Act, the term--
            (1) ``Departments'' means the Department of Energy jointly 
        with the Department of the Interior; and
            (2) ``Secretaries'' means the Secretary of Energy jointly 
        with the Secretary of the Interior.

SEC. 3. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds that--
            (1) there is a need for a research and development program 
        to support and foster the development, demonstration, and 
        deployment of emerging hydrogen-based transportation 
        technologies suitable for use in sensitive resource areas;
            (2) partnerships between the Department of Energy, the 
        Department of the Interior, Native American Tribes, and United 
        States industry to develop hydrogen-based energy technologies 
        can provide significant benefits to our Nation, including 
        enhancing our environmental stewardship, reducing our 
        dependence on foreign oil, increasing our energy security, as 
        well as creating jobs for United States workers and improving 
        the competitive position of the United States in the global 
        economy; and
            (3) when technologically and economically feasible, the 
        implementation of clean, silent or nearly silent, hydrogen-
        based transportation technologies would further resource 
        stewardship and experiential goals in sensitive resource areas 
        including units of the National Park System, such as Grand 
        Canyon National Park.

SEC. 4. RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Secretaries shall jointly establish and carry 
out a research and development program, in partnership with the private 
sector, relating to hydrogen-based transportation technologies suitable 
for operations in sensitive resource areas such as national parks. The 
Secretaries, in partnership with the private sector, shall conduct a 
demonstration of hydrogen-based public transportation technology at 
Grand Canyon National Park within three years after the date of 
enactment of this Act. At his discretion, the Secretary of Energy may 
choose to extend existing Department of Energy hydrogen-related vehicle 
research and development programs in order to meet the objectives and 
requirements of this Act. The Secretaries shall provide preference to 
tribal entities in the establishment of the research and development 
program.
    (b) Objective.--The objective of the program shall be to research, 
develop, and demonstrate, in cooperation with affected and related 
industries, a hydrogen-based alternative public transportation system 
suitable for operations within Grand Canyon National Park, that meets 
the following standards:
            (1) Silent or near-silent operation.
            (2) Low, ultra low, or zero emission of pollutants.
            (3) Reliability.
            (4) Safe conveyance of passengers and operator.
    (c) Partnership.--In order to accomplish the objective set forth in 
subsection (b), the Secretaries shall establish a partnership among the 
Departments, manufacturers, other affected or related industries, 
Native American Tribes, and the National Park Service shuttle operators 
and tour operators authorized to provide services in Grand Canyon 
National Park.

SEC. 5. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

    One year after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually 
thereafter for the duration of the program, the Secretaries shall 
submit a report to the Committees on Appropriations, Resources, and 
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committees 
on Appropriations and Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
describing the ongoing activities of the Secretaries and the 
Departments relating to the program authorized under this Act and, to 
the extent practicable, the activities planned for the coming fiscal 
year.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretaries to carry 
out this Act, in addition to any amounts made available for these or 
related purposes under other Acts, $400,000 per year for three 
consecutive fiscal years beginning with the full fiscal year following 
the date of enactment of this Act.
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