[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 14 (Tuesday, January 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E165]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     THE HYDROGEN FUTURE ACT OF 1995

                                 ______


                         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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