[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 49 (Thursday, April 21, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S4100]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HYDROGEN AND FUEL CELL TECHNOLOGY ACT OF 2005

  Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I am pleased to announce my support for an 
important piece of legislation recently introduced by Senator Dorgan 
and Senator Graham, the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Act of 2005.
  This legislation lays out a bold vision for the energy future of our 
Nation. It takes steps to secure the research, development, 
demonstration and market transition necessary to deliver on the 
tremendous promise of a ``hydrogen economy.''
  The economy of this country today depends heavily on oil, much of 
which we must import from countries with hostile and dangerous regimes. 
This dependence on foreign oil threatens our national security, our 
economy and the environment. We must take the steps now to find 
alternative sources of energy and new ways of powering everything from 
cell phones to cars. This bill does exactly that.
  The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Act funds the research and 
demonstration needed to develop key aspects of a reliable, renewable 
hydrogen economy. The bill incorporates language from the Hydrogen 
Passenger Vehicle Act, which I introduced earlier in this Congress to 
provide funding for projects to demonstrate the cost-effective 
production and distribution of hydrogen from renewable sources, such as 
ethanol. The bill also adopts several proposals from my Hydrogen and 
Fuel Cell Energy Act, including support for hydrogen transportation 
corridor demonstrations, such as the Upper Midwest Hydrogen Initiative.
  This legislation will fund development of better fuel cell 
technology, of lighter, more efficient ways to store hydrogen on board 
vehicles, and of less expensive ways of converting renewable energy to 
hydrogen fuel.
  It updates the language and sets clearer priorities for the existing 
hydrogen research program under the Matsunaga Act, and adds important 
demonstration, commercialization, and market driver mechanisms, using 
Federal Government procurement to help drive demand for new technology.
  In order to be most effective, however, we will need to enact the tax 
incentives necessary to encourage widespread investment, production and 
utilization of hydrogen. Tax credits for fuel cell vehicles, for 
hydrogen fueling infrastructure, for hydrogen fuel from renewable 
sources, and for stationary and portable fuel cells should all be 
considered as part of a package of support for the hydrogen economy.
  The measures proposed in this legislation will require a significant 
Federal investment in our energy future, but with these measures, we 
can use hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to realize our vision of 
cars that do not pollute, of power that will not go out, and of true 
energy security. I urge the support of my colleagues for this visionary 
legislation.
  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, Senator Harkin has shown great leadership 
in the effort to create a hydrogen fuel-cell economy and I welcome his 
support and look forward to working with him and other cosponsors as we 
move this legislation forward.

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