II 112th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 2515 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 7, 2012 Ms. Collins (for herself and Mr. Durbin) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations A BILL To promote the use of clean cookstoves and fuels to save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women, and combat harmful pollution by creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient household cooking solutions.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Clean Cookstoves Support Act of 2012.

2.

Findings

Congress makes the following findings: (1)Nearly half the world’s population cooks their food over open fires or inefficient, polluting, and unsafe cookstoves using firewood, dung, or coal. Smoke from the use of these traditional cookstoves and open fires is associated with a number of chronic and acute diseases, including respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, heart disease, and cancer, with women and young children affected disproportionately. (2)It is estimated that smoke from cooking fuels accounts for nearly 2,000,000 deaths annually in the developing world, which is more than the deaths from malaria, tuberculosis, or HIV. Millions more are sickened from the toxic smoke and thousands suffer burns annually from open fires or unsafe cookstoves. (3)The amount of biomass cooking fuel required each year can reach up to 2 tons per family. Where demand for local biomass outstrips the natural regrowth of resources, local environmental problems can result. (4)Tremendous amounts of time—a burden shouldered disproportionately by women and children—is spent collecting and managing biomass cooking fuel resources. (5)As nearby fuel supplies dwindle, women are forced to go farther to find fuel to cook their families’ meals. In some regions, women and girls risk rape and other forms of gender-based violence during the up to 20 hours per week they spend away from their communities gathering firewood. (6)Recent studies show that black carbon created from biomass cookstoves significantly contributes to regional air pollution and climate change. Black carbon emissions from residential cookstoves in developing countries account for an estimated 21 percent of total global inventory, and mitigation in this sector represents a large potential public health benefit. (7)The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves is an innovative public-private partnership led by the United Nations Foundation that was created to enable the adoption of clean and efficient stoves in 100,000,000 homes by 2020. The Alliance intends to work with public, private, and non-profit partners to raise $250,000,000 towards overcoming market barriers that currently impede the production, deployment, and use of clean cookstoves in the developing world. (8)The United States Government has committed a total of up to $105,000,000 over the first five years of the Alliance to help it achieve its goal of spurring the adoption of clean cookstoves in 100,000,000 households by 2020, as follows: (A)The Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development will commit $11,570,000 to promote the adoption of clean cookstoves, encourage foreign government support, and further economic opportunities for women. (B)The Department of Energy will commit $12,500,000 for applied research to advance clean cookstove technologies and designs. (C)The Department of Health and Human Services will commit $24,700,000 through the National Institutes of Health and $2,180,000 through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for health research and implementation evaluation. (D)The Environmental Protection Agency will commit $6,000,000 to enhance stove testing and evaluation, cookstove design innovation, and the assessment of health benefits. (E)The Overseas Private Investment Corporation will commit up to $50,000,000 for debt financing or insurance for projects that provide access to clean, consistent, and affordable energy through the promotion of clean cookstoves.

3.

Advancement of global alliance for clean cookstoves goals

The Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, and in coordination with relevant international nongovernmental organizations and private and governmental entities, shall work to advance the goals and work of the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, including through— (1)applied research and development to improve design, lower costs, promote technology adoption, conduct health research and evaluation, and develop global industry standards and testing protocols for cookstoves; (2)diplomatic engagement to encourage a commercial market for clean stoves and fuels, reduce trade barriers, promote consumer awareness, improve access to large-scale carbon financing, and foster women-owned businesses along the entire business chain; (3)international development projects to help build commercial businesses to manufacture, market, distribute, sell, and service clean stoves and fuels; (4)development efforts related to refugee camps, disaster relief, and long-term programs aimed at assisting women and girls; and (5)financing or insurance to support projects that provide access to clean, affordable energy and energy savings through the manufacture, sale, and purchase of cookstoves.

4.

Authorizations of appropriations

(a)

Department of State and United States Agency for International Development

There is authorized to be appropriated out of funds available to the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development not less than $11,570,000 for fiscal years 2013 through 2017 to work with the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves and foreign governments— (1)to address the harmful effects of smoke exposure from traditional cookstoves; (2)to support applied and operational research into how people use improved stove technology, and how indoor air quality and sanitation interventions can improve household environments and promote economic opportunities for women; and (3)to carry out other activities under this Act. (b)

Department of Energy

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Energy out of available funds not less than $12,500,000 for fiscal years 2013 through 2017 to work with the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves to conduct research aimed at addressing the technical barriers to the development of low-emission, high-efficiency cookstoves through activities in areas such as combustion, heat transfer, and materials development, and to carry out other activities under this Act. (c)

National Institutes of Health

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services out of available funds not less than $24,700,000 for fiscal years 2013 through 2017 for the National Institutes of Health to work with the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves— (1)to support ongoing research and research training projects, including— (A)studies on the cookstove-related effects of cookstoves smoke on pulmonary, cancer, and cardiac diseases; (B)studies on the relationship between indoor air pollution and low-birth weight; and (C)studies on the most effective ways to introduce and educate users on safety and the proper use of cookstoves; (2)to support efforts to develop improved measuring devices, expand epidemiologic studies, and conduct clinical trials; (3)to support training programs designed to help prepare scientists in low- and middle-income countries to engage in related research and evaluation activities; and (4)to carry out other activities under this Act. (d)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Health and Human Services out of available funds not less than $2,180,000 for fiscal years 2013 through 2017 for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to work with the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves— (1)to demonstrate the health benefits of implementing clean cookstove programs; (2)to promote a better understanding of the relationship between human exposures and health outcomes; (3)to integrate clean cookstoves and fuels implementation with other public health programs; (4)to evaluate cookstove program implementation; and (5)to carry out other activities under this Act. (e)

Environmental Protection Agency

There is authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency out of available funds not less than $6,000,000 for fiscal years 2013 through 2017 to work with the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves— (1)to conduct stove testing and evaluation in both the lab and the field; (2)to promote cookstove design innovations, possibly including a design competition and prize; (3)to perform assessments focused on health and exposure benefits of clean cookstoves and fuels; (4)to use the expertise, lessons learned, and network developed in launching and leading the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air to help the Alliance meet its 2020 goal; and (5)to carry out other activities under this Act.