[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 125 (Monday, September 30, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S9596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. DASCHLE:
  S. 3016. A bill to amend the Farm Security and Rural Investment act 
of 2002 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish research, 
extension, and educational programs to implement biobased energy 
technologies, products, and economic diversification in rural areas of 
the United States; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry.
  Mr. DASHCLE. Mr. President, today, I am introducing the Sun Grant 
Initiative for Renewable Energy and Biobased Products Act. The Sun 
Grant Initiative, or SGI, reflects a dynamic vision for the future of 
agriculture and rural America--a vision that can reduce our dependence 
on foreign energy, provide environmentally-friendly biobased 
alternative products, and infuse needed economic development for our 
nation's rural communities. SGI will build upon what our nation does 
best by using the power of innovation to open up new avenues of 
opportunity.
  Specifically, SGI would identify new methods of converting various 
crop varieties and biobased natural resources into energy and other 
value-added products and provide a technology transfer of those 
products by:
  Establishing a national consortium of land-grant universities to lead 
the SGI effort in coordination with the U.S. Departments of Agriculture 
and Energy.
  The mission of the consortium would be to make significant advances--
not only in technological developments, but also in making sure those 
new technologies make it to market, therefore providing income 
alternatives to farmers and ranchers and providing opportunities for 
economic diversification to rural communities.
  Increasing our nation's investment in renewable fuels and other 
products like pharmaculticals, building materials including bio-
plastics, textiles, lubricants, solvents, and adhesives.
  Providing a framework for new investments in necessary research, and 
for ensuring that producers, communities, and our nation as a whole 
benefit from the results of that research.
  I am hopeful that Senators will review the legislation and consider 
cosponsoring this exciting effort to help build a biobased economy that 
can assist our nation in so many important ways.
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