[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 29, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S972-S975]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL SUSTAINABLE FUELS AND CHEMICALS ACT OF 1999
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now
proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 310, S. 935.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The clerk will state the bill by title.
The senior assistant bill clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 935) to amend the National Agricultural
Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of 1977 to
authorize research to promote the conversion of biomass into
biobased industrial products, and for other purposes.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill,
which had been reported from the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry, with an amendment to strike all after enacting clause and
inserting in lieu thereof the following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Sustainable Fuels
and Chemicals Act of 1999''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) conversion of biomass into biobased industrial products
offers outstanding potential for benefit to the national
interest through improved strategic security and balance of
payments, healthier rural economies, improved environmental
quality, near-zero net greenhouse gas emissions, technology
export, and sustainable resource supply;
(2)(A) biomass is widely available at prices that are
competitive with low cost petroleum; and
(B) the key technical challenges to be overcome in order
for biobased industrial products to be cost competitive are
finding new technology and reducing the cost of technology
for converting biomass into desired biobased industrial
products;
(3) biobased fuels, such as ethanol, have the clear
potential to be sustainable, low cost, and high performance
fuels that are compatible with both current and future
transportation systems and provide near zero net greenhouse
gas emissions;
(4) biobased chemicals--
(A) can provide functional replacements for essentially all
organic chemicals that are currently derived from petroleum;
and
(B) have the clear potential for environmentally benign
product life cycles;
(5) biobased power can provide environmental benefits,
promote rural economic development, and diversify energy
resource options;
(6) many biomass feedstocks suitable for industrial
processing show the clear potential for sustainable
production, in some cases resulting in improved soil
fertility and carbon sequestration;
(7)(A) grain processing mills are biorefineries that
produce a diversity of useful food, chemical, feed, and fuel
products; and
(B) technologies that result in further diversification of
the range of value-added biobased industrial products can
meet a key need for the grain processing industry;
(8)(A) cellulosic feedstocks are attractive because of
their low cost and widespread availability; and
(B) research resulting in cost-effective technology to
overcome the recalcitrance of cellulosic biomass would allow
biorefineries to produce fuels and bulk chemicals on a very
large scale, with a commensurately large realization of the
benefit described in paragraph (1);
(9) research into the fundamentals to understand important
mechanisms of biomass conversion can be expected to
accelerate the application and advancement of biomass
processing technology by--
(A) increasing the confidence and speed with which new
technologies can be scaled up; and
(B) giving rise to processing innovations based on new
knowledge;
(10) the added utility of biobased industrial products
developed through improvements in processing technology would
encourage the design of feedstocks that would meet future
needs more effectively;
(11) the creation of value-added biobased industrial
products would create new jobs in construction,
manufacturing, and distribution, as well as new higher-valued
exports of products and technology;
(12)(A) because of the relatively short-term time horizon
characteristic of private sector investments, and because
many benefits of biomass processing are in the national
interest, it is appropriate for the Federal Government to
provide precommercial investment in fundamental research and
research-driven innovation in the biomass processing area;
and
(B) such an investment would provide a valuable complement
to ongoing and past governmental support in the biomass
processing area; and
(13) several prominent studies, including studies by the
President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and
the National Research Council--
(A) support the potential for large research-driven
advances in technologies for production of biobased
industrial products as well as associated benefits; and
(B) document the need for a focused, integrated, and
innovation-driven research effort to provide the appropriate
progress in a timely manner.
SEC. 3. CONVERSION OF BIOMASS INTO BIOBASED INDUSTRIAL
PRODUCTS.
The National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3101 et seq.) is amended by
adding at the end the following:
``Subtitle N--Conversion of Biomass Into Biobased Industrial Products
``SEC. 1490. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subtitle:
``(1) Advisory committee.--The term `Advisory Committee'
means the Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals Technical Advisory
Committee established by section 1490C.
``(2) Biobased industrial product.--The term `biobased
industrial product' means any power, fuel, feed, chemical
product, or other consumer good derived from biomass.
``(3) Biomass.--The term `biomass' means any organic matter
that is available on a renewable or recurring basis
(excluding old growth timber), including dedicated energy
crops and trees, wood and wood residues, plants (including
aquatic plants), grasses, agricultural crops, residues,
fibers, and animal wastes and other waste materials.
``(4) Board.--The term `Board' means the Sustainable Fuels
and Chemicals Board established by section 1490B.
``(5) Initiative.--The term `Initiative' means the
Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals Research Initiative
established under section 1490D.
``(6) Point of contact.--The term `point of contact' means
a point of contact designated under section 1490A(d).
``(7) Processing.--The term `processing' means the
derivation of biobased industrial products from biomass,
including--
``(A) feedstock production;
``(B) harvest and handling;
[[Page S973]]
``(C) pretreatment or thermochemical processing;
``(D) fermentation;
``(E) catalytic processing;
``(F) product recovery; and
``(G) coproduct production.
``SEC. 1490A. COOPERATION AND COORDINATION IN SUSTAINABLE
FUELS AND CHEMICALS RESEARCH.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of Energy shall cooperate with respect to, and
coordinate, policies and procedures that promote research and
development leading to the production of biobased industrial
products.
``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the cooperation and
coordination shall be to--
``(1) understand the key mechanisms underlying the
recalcitrance of biomass for conversion into biobased
industrial products;
``(2) develop new and cost-effective technologies that
would result in large-scale commercial production of low cost
and sustainable biobased industrial products;
``(3) ensure that biobased industrial products are
developed in a manner that enhances their economic, energy
security, and environmental benefits; and
``(4) promote the development and use of agricultural and
energy crops for conversion into biobased industrial
products.
``(c) Areas.--In carrying out this subtitle, the Secretary
of Agriculture and the Secretary of Energy, in consultation
with heads of appropriate departments and agencies, shall
promote research and development to--
``(1) advance the availability and widespread use of energy
efficient, economically competitive, and environmentally
sound biobased industrial products in a manner that is
consistent with the goals of the United States relating to
sustainable and secure supplies of food, chemicals, and fuel;
``(2) ensure full consideration of Federal land and land
management programs as potential feedstock resources for
biobased industrial products; and
``(3) assess the environmental, economic, and social impact
of production of biobased industrial products from biomass on
a large scale.
``(d) Points of Contact.--
``(1) In general.--To coordinate research and development
programs and activities relating to biobased industrial
products that are carried out by their respective
Departments--
``(A) the Secretary of Agriculture shall designate, as the
point of contact for the Department of Agriculture, an
officer of the Department of Agriculture appointed by the
President to a position in the Department before the date of
the designation, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate; and
``(B) the Secretary of Energy shall designate, as the point
of contact for the Department of Energy, an officer of the
Department of Energy appointed by the President to a position
in the Department before the date of the designation, by and
with the advice and consent of the Senate.
``(2) Duties.--The points of contact shall jointly--
``(A) assist in arranging interlaboratory and site-specific
supplemental agreements for research, development, and
demonstration projects relating to biobased industrial
products;
``(B) serve as cochairpersons of the Board;
``(C) administer the Initiative; and
``(D) respond in writing to each recommendation of the
Advisory Committee made under section 1490C(c)(2).
``SEC. 1490B. SUSTAINABLE FUELS AND CHEMICALS BOARD.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established the Sustainable
Fuels and Chemicals Board to coordinate programs within and
among departments and agencies of the Federal Government for
the purpose of promoting the use of biobased industrial
products by--
``(1) maximizing the benefits deriving from Federal grants
and assistance; and
``(2) bringing coherence to Federal strategic planning.
``(b) Membership.--The Board shall consist of:
``(1) The point of contact of the Department of Agriculture
designated under section 1490A(d)(1)(A), who shall serve as
cochairperson of the Board.
``(2) The point of contact of the Department of Energy
designated under section 1490A(d)(1)(B), who shall serve as
cochairperson of the Board.
``(3) A senior officer of each of the following agencies
who is appointed by the head of the agency and who has a rank
that is equivalent to the points of contact:
``(A) The Department of the Interior.
``(B) The Environmental Protection Agency.
``(C) The National Science Foundation.
``(D) The Office of Science and Technology Policy.
``(4) At the option of the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of Energy, other members appointed by the
Secretaries (after consultation with members described in
paragraphs (1) through (3)).
``(c) Duties.--The Board shall--
``(1) coordinate research, development, and demonstration
activities relating to biobased industrial products--
``(A) between the Department of Agriculture and the
Department of Energy; and
``(B) with other departments and agencies of the Federal
Government; and
``(2) provide recommendations to the points of contact
concerning administration of this subtitle.
``(d) Funding.--Each agency represented on the Board is
encouraged to provide funds for any purpose under this
subtitle.
``(e) Meetings.--The Board shall meet at least quarterly to
enable the Board to carry out the duties of the Board under
subsection (c).
``SEC. 1490C. SUSTAINABLE FUELS AND CHEMICALS TECHNICAL
ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established the Sustainable
Fuels and Chemicals Technical Advisory Committee to--
``(1) advise the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of
Energy, and the points of contact concerning--
``(A) the technical focus and direction of requests for
proposals issued under the Initiative; and
``(B) procedures for reviewing and evaluating the
proposals;
``(2) facilitate consultations and partnerships among
Federal and State agencies, agricultural producers, industry,
consumers, the research community, and other interested
groups to carry out program activities relating to the
Initiative; and
``(3) evaluate and perform strategic planning on program
activities relating to the Initiative.
``(b) Membership.--The Committee shall consist of the
following members appointed by the points of contact:
``(1) An individual affiliated with the biobased industrial
products industry.
``(2) An individual affiliated with a college or university
who has expertise in biobased industrial products.
``(3) 2 prominent engineers or scientists from government
or academia who have expertise in biobased industrial
products.
``(4) An individual affiliated with a commodity trade
association.
``(5) An individual affiliated with an environmental or
conservation organization.
``(6) An individual associated with State government who
has expertise in biobased industrial products.
``(7) At the option of the points of contact, other
members.
``(c) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall--
``(1) advise the points of contact with respect to the
Initiative; and
``(2) evaluate whether, and make recommendations in writing
to the Board to ensure that--
``(A) funds authorized for the Initiative are distributed
and used in a manner that is consistent with the goals of the
Initiative;
``(B) the points of contact are funding proposals under
this subtitle that are selected on the basis of merit, as
determined by an independent panel of scientific and
technical peers; and
``(C) activities under this subtitle are carried out in
accordance with this subtitle.
``(d) Meetings.--The Advisory Committee shall meet at least
quarterly to enable the Advisory Committee to carry out the
duties of the Advisory Committee under subsection (c).
``SEC. 1490D. SUSTAINABLE FUELS AND CHEMICALS RESEARCH
INITIATIVE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of Energy, acting through their respective points
of contact and in consultation with the Board, shall
establish and carry out a Sustainable Fuels and Chemicals
Research Initiative under which competitively-awarded grants,
contracts, and financial assistance are provided to, or
entered into with, eligible entities to carry out research on
biobased industrial products.
``(b) Purposes.--The purposes of grants, contracts, and
assistance under this section shall be to--
``(1) stimulate collaborative activities by a diverse range
of experts in all aspects of biomass processing for the
purpose of conducting fundamental and innovation-targeted
research and technology development;
``(2) enhance creative and imaginative approaches toward
biomass processing that will serve to develop the next
generation of advanced technologies making possible low cost
and sustainable biobased industrial products;
``(3) strengthen the intellectual resources of the United
States through the training and education of future
scientists, engineers, managers, and business leaders in the
field of biomass processing; and
``(4) promote integrated research partnerships among
colleges, universities, national laboratories, Federal and
State research agencies, and the private sector as the best
means of overcoming technical challenges that span multiple
research and engineering disciplines and of gaining better
leverage from limited Federal research funds.
``(c) Eligible Entities.--
``(1) In general.--To be eligible for a grant, contract, or
assistance under this section, an applicant shall be--
``(A) a college or university;
``(B) a national laboratory;
``(C) a Federal research agency;
``(D) a State research agency;
``(E) a private sector entity;
``(F) a nonprofit organization; or
``(G) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in
subparagraphs (A) through (E).
``(2) Administration.--After consultation with the Board,
the points of contact, on behalf of the Board, shall--
``(A) publish annually 1 or more joint requests for
proposals for grants, contracts, and assistance under this
section;
``(B) establish a priority in grants, contracts, and
assistance under this section for research that--
``(i) demonstrates potential for significant advances in
biomass processing;
``(ii) demonstrates potential to substantially impact
scale-sensitive national objectives such as sustainable
resource supply, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, healthier
rural economies, and improved strategic security and trade
balances; and
``(iii) would improve knowledge of important biomass
processing systems that demonstrate potential for commercial
applications;
[[Page S974]]
``(C) require that grants, contracts, and assistance under
this section be awarded competitively, on the basis of merit,
after the establishment of procedures that provide for
scientific peer review by an independent panel of scientific
and technical peers; and
``(D) give preference to applications that--
``(i) involve a consortia of experts from multiple
institutions; and
``(ii) encourage the integration of disciplines and
application of the best technical resources.
``(d) Uses of Grants, Contracts, and Assistance.--A grant,
contract, or assistance under this section shall be used to
conduct--
``(1) research on process technology for overcoming the
recalcitrance of biomass, including research on key
mechanisms, advanced technologies, and demonstration test
beds for--
``(A) feedstock pretreatment and hydrolysis of cellulose
and hemicellulose, including new technologies for--
``(i) enhanced sugar yields;
``(ii) lower overall chemical use;
``(iii) less costly materials; and
``(iv) cost reduction;
``(B) development of novel organisms and other approaches
to substantially lower the cost of cellulase enzymes and
enzymatic hydrolysis, including dedicated cellulase
production and consolidated bioprocessing strategies; and
``(C) approaches other than enzymatic hydrolysis for
overcoming the recalcitrance of cellulosic biomass;
``(2) research on technologies for diversifying the range
of products that can be efficiently and cost-competitively
produced from biomass, including research on--
``(A) metabolic engineering of biological systems
(including the safe use of genetically modified crops) to
produce novel products, especially commodity products, or to
increase product selectivity and tolerance, with a research
priority on the development of biobased products that can
compete in performance and cost with fossil-based products;
``(B) catalytic processing to convert intermediates of
biomass processing into products of interest;
``(C) separation technologies for cost-effective product
recovery and purification;
``(D) approaches other than metabolic engineering and
catalytic conversion of intermediates of biomass processing;
``(E) advanced biomass gasification technologies, including
coproduction of power and heat as an integrated component of
biomass processing, with the possibility of generating excess
electricity for sale; and
``(F) related research in advanced turbine and stationary
fuel cell technology for production of electricity from
biomass; and
``(3) research aimed at ensuring the environmental
performance and economic viability of biobased industrial
products and their raw material input of biomass when
considered as an integrated system, including research on--
``(A) the analysis of, and strategies to enhance, the
environmental performance and sustainability of biobased
industrial products, including research on--
``(i) accurate measurement and analysis of greenhouse gas
emissions, carbon sequestration, and carbon cycling in
relation to the life cycle of biobased industrial products
and feedstocks with respect to other alternatives;
``(ii) evaluation of current and future biomass resource
availability;
``(iii) development and analysis of land management
practices and alternative biomass cropping systems that
ensure the environmental performance and sustainability of
biomass production and harvesting;
``(iv) land, air, water, and biodiversity impacts of large-
scale biomass production, processing, and use of biobased
industrial products relative to other alternatives; and
``(v) biomass gasification and combustion to produce
electricity;
``(B) the analysis of, and strategies to enhance, the
economic viability of biobased industrial products, including
research on--
``(i) the cost of the required process technology;
``(ii) the impact of coproducts, including power and heat
generation, on biobased industrial product price and large-
scale economic viability; and
``(iii) interactions between an emergent biomass refining
industry and the petrochemical refining infrastructure; and
``(C) the field and laboratory research related to
feedstock production with the interrelated goals of enhancing
the sustainability, increasing productivity, and decreasing
the cost of biomass processing, including research on--
``(i) altering biomass to make biomass easier and less
expensive to process;
``(ii) existing and new agricultural and energy crops that
provide a sustainable resource for conversion to biobased
industrial products while simultaneously serving as a source
for coproducts such as food, animal feed, and fiber;
``(iii) improved technologies for harvest, collection,
transport, storage, and handling of crop and residue
feedstocks; and
``(iv) development of economically viable cropping systems
that improve the conservation and restoration of marginal
land.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to any
other amounts that are authorized to be appropriated, there
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section
$49,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 2005.
``SEC. 1490E. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT AND FUNDS.
``(a) In General.--To the extent administrative support and
funds are not provided by other agencies under subsection
(b), the Secretary of Energy shall provide such
administrative support and funds of the Department of Energy
to the Board and the Advisory Committee as are necessary to
enable the Board and the Advisory Committee to carry out this
subtitle.
``(b) Other Agencies.--The Secretary of Agriculture and the
heads of the agencies referred to, or appointed under,
paragraphs (3) and (4) of section 1490B(a) may, and are
encouraged to, provide administrative support and funds of
their respective agencies to the Board and the Advisory
Committee.
``SEC. 1490F. REPORTS.
``For each fiscal year that funds are made available to
carry out this subtitle, the Secretary of Agriculture and the
Secretary of Energy shall jointly transmit to Congress a
detailed report on--
``(1) the status and progress of the Initiative, including
a certification from the Board that funds authorized for the
Initiative are distributed and used in a manner that is
consistent with the goals of the Initiative; and
``(2) the general status of cooperation and research
efforts carried out by each Secretary with respect to
sustainable fuels, chemicals, and electricity derived from
biomass, including a certification from the Board that the
points of contact are funding proposals that are selected on
the basis of merit, as determined by an independent panel of
scientific and technical peers.
``SEC. 1490G. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR ETHANOL
RESEARCH PILOT PLANT.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to construct a
Department of Agriculture corn-based ethanol research pilot
plant a total of $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2000 and
subsequent fiscal years.''.
SEC. 4. USE OF CONSERVATION RESERVE LAND FOR RECOVERY OF
BIOMASS USED IN ENERGY PRODUCTION.
Section 1232(a)(7) of the Food Security Act of 1985 (16
U.S.C. 3832(a)(7)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``except that the Secretary may permit
harvesting'' and inserting ``except that the Secretary--
``(A) may permit--
``(i) harvesting'';
(2) by striking ``emergency, and the Secretary may permit
limited'' and inserting ``emergency; and
``(ii) limited'';
(3) by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon at the end;
and
(4) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) shall approve not more than 18 projects under which
crops on land subject to the contract may be harvested for
recovery of biomass used in energy production if--
``(i) no acreage subject to the contract is harvested more
than once every other year;
``(ii) not more than 25 percent of the total acreage
enrolled in the program under this subchapter in any crop
reporting district (as designated by the Secretary), is
harvested in any 1 year;
``(iii) no portion of the crop is used for any commercial
purpose other than energy production from biomass;
``(iv) no wetland, or acreage of any type enrolled in a
partial field conservation practice (including riparian
forest buffers, filter strips, and buffer strips), is
harvested;
``(v) the owner or operator agrees to a payment reduction
under this section in an amount determined by the Secretary;
``(vi) the owner or operator agrees to commission and
submit to the Secretary a study and report, to be conducted
and written by a third party approved by the Secretary, on
the impact of the biomass production and harvesting on
wildlife; and
``(vii) the owner or operator agrees to such other terms
and conditions as the Secretary, in consultation with the
State technical committee for the State and appropriate
conservation and wildlife advocates, may establish to ensure
that the production and harvesting of biomass crops minimize
disturbance of wildlife habitat and are otherwise consistent
with the purposes of the program established under this
subchapter, with any biomass harvesting project permitted to
harvest at least 50,000 acres per year.''.
Amendment No. 2862
(Purpose: To provide a substitute)
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk and ask for
its immediate consideration.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Idaho [Mr. Crapo], for Mr. Murkowski,
proposes an amendment numbered 2862.
(The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under
``Amendments Submitted.'')
Mr. LUGAR. Mr. President, I rise to recommend that the Senate pass S.
935.
At a time when American farmers and rural communities are having a
difficult time making ends meet, it is appropriate for the Senate to
support this initiative that holds great promise for agriculture,
strengthens America's energy security and helps clean America's air and
water while dramatically reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Early civilizations relied on plants and trees for all their energy
and food needs. With the passage of time and technological advancement,
however, an increasing share of the world's energy demands shifted from
plants and trees toward fossil fuels. Time and technology march on, and
today we witness the beginning of a revolution from non-renewable
fossil fuels toward
[[Page S975]]
renewable resources that can help meet the energy demands of a world
now numbering six billion people. Ironically, plants and trees are once
again being valued as raw material for energy production because they
contain an enormous store of energy freely delivered by the sun.
Using nature's renewable raw material for production of needed fuels,
chemicals and energy is not a new idea. What is new, however, is a
better understanding of chemistry and molecular biology which has led
to the development of advanced biotechnologies and processing
techniques for efficiently converting plants to energy. With these
advances, it is now possible to envisage a future where the world's
thirst for additional sources of energy is fueled by biomass.
Biobased fuels are our best means of reducing American dependence on
imported oil. Reliance on the unstable states of the Middle East
adversely impacts American strategic security, and massive oil imports
skew our balance of payments. Fuels and chemicals derived from biomass
will reduce our dependence on Middle Eastern oil without necessitating
a rebuilding of the existing gasoline infrastructure. With the need for
affordable energy rising as population grows, the Middle East will
control nearly three-quarters of the world's oil this century. We have
stark options: submit to increased influence of foreign oil cartels;
wrangle over pipeline routes to new oil supplies at the ends of the
Earth, such as the Caspian region; or, support research that could lead
to a revolution in the way we produce energy.
In addition to fuels, biobased chemicals have the potential to
replace essentially all chemicals currently derived from petroleum, and
they are often endowed with superior performance characteristics. The
manufacturing of biobased products is generally more environmentally
friendly than analogue petrochemical processes.
Fuels, cloth fibers, plastics and adhesives are already produced from
corn; the new genetic engineering techniques will make it possible to
use entire plants, rather than just the tiny portion of edible grains.
With sound land use policies, local crops that enrich the soil, prevent
erosion and improve local environmental conditions can be planted and
then harvested for co-production of food, fuel, chemicals, electricity
and materials. Rural communities will be strengthened through the
diversification of marketable agricultural products and farmers will
have expanded sources of income.
Before we are able to reap the outstanding benefits offered through
utilization of America's sustainable biomass resource, costs of the new
conversion technology must be significantly reduced. Research offers
the only systematic means for creating the innovations and technical
improvements that will lower the costs of biomass processing. Given the
relatively short-term horizon characteristic of private sector
investments, and because many benefits of biomass processing are in the
public interest, the Federal government has a compelling mandate to
fund the necessary innovation-driven research that will result in cost
effective technologies for biomass conversion.
Although government sponsored research programs have been largely
responsible for demonstrating the potential of biomass conversion
technology, coordination among key Federal agencies is disjointed and
funding levels are declining. The Biomass Research and Development Act
is designed to address these shortcomings. America's leading technical
experts from universities, national laboratories and the private sector
will be brought together in a dynamic research initiative with the
purpose of overcoming technical barriers to low cost biomass
conversion.
At a time when political compromise seems elusive and progress on
environmental and energy issues often seems slow, I am convinced that
the idea of encouraging human ingenuity to create a sustainable
resource for clean fuels and chemicals represents a remarkable
opportunity for consensus. Working together we can promote research
that will improve our national security and balance of payments, reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen rural economies.
Mr. President, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dr.
Joseph Michels, my science policy adviser, for the excellent advice he
has provided me on this issue. Dr. Michels is leaving my staff to
assume an important post at Princeton University. I shall miss him.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
jurisdictional clarification
Mr. LUGAR. I would like to enter into a colloquy with my
distinguished colleague, Senator Murkowski, Chairman of the Energy and
Natural Resources Committee. I want to inform my colleague that any
action taken by the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
in relation to S. 935 is not an attempt to encroach on the jurisdiction
of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Further, the fact
that S. 935 was reported from the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition,
and Forestry does not affect the jurisdiction of the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources over energy matters, including biofuels
and bioenergy. Specifically, USDA biomass research and development
programs remain within the jurisdiction of the Committee on
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and DOE biomass research and
development programs remain within the jurisdiction of the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources.
Mr. MURKOWSKI. I thank my colleague, the Chairman of the Agriculture,
Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, for addressing this matter and
clarifying our understanding that this legislation does not alter the
jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
I would also like to note that the authorization of appropriations
contained in section 3 of S. 935 clarifies that money may be
appropriated for the biomass research and development activities
described in the bill pursuant to the existing general authority of the
Secretary of Energy to fund biomass research and development, and does
not create a new specific level of authorization for this program.
Mr. LUGAR. I agree and thank the Senator from Alaska.
Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment
be agreed to, the committee substitute, as amended, be agreed to, the
bill be read the third time and passed, the amendment to the title be
agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that
any statements relating to the bill appear at this point in the Record.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment (No. 2862) was agreed to.
The committee amendment, as amended, was agreed to.
The bill (S. 935), as amended, was read the third time and passed.
The title was amended so as to read:
To authorize research to promote the conversion of biomass
into biobased industrial products, and for other purposes.
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