[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 72 (Wednesday, June 5, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5033-S5034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             BROWNBACK-CORZINE AMENDMENT TO THE ENERGY BILL

  Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I want to engage the Senator from New 
Jersey in a colloquy regarding our amendment, Senate amendment number 
3239, which was adopted by the Senate and became Title XI of the final 
Senate energy bill. In particular, I would like to clarify the intended 
role of the Department of Commerce in implementing the greenhouse gas 
reporting system and registry that our amendment would create.
  Mr. CORZINE. I believe the intent of the amendment in this regard is 
that the Department of Commerce would primarily be involved in 
developing measurement standards for monitoring of emissions, as well 
as verification technologies and methods to ensure the maintenance of a 
consistent and technically accurate record or emissions,

[[Page S5034]]

emission reductions and atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases 
for the database. This is clearly stated in Sections 1103(b)(2) and 
1106(a)(2)(D) of the bill. Within the Department of Commerce, it is my 
intent that these functions would primarily be carried out by the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, or NIST. Is this also 
the intent of the Senator from Kansas?
  Mr. BROWNBACK. I concur with my colleague that NIST is the intended 
organization within the Department of Commerce that would primarily be 
responsible for carrying out the Department's role in implementing 
Title XI of the energy bill. I thank the Senator from New Jersey for 
joining me in this colloquy.
  Mr. CORZINE. I thank the Senator from Kansas for his work on this 
important issue.

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