[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 26, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H2481-H2483]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REAUTHORIZING THE STEEL AND ALUMINUM ENERGY CONSERVATION AND TECHNOLOGY 
                              ACT OF 1988

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1158) to reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy 
Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1158

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. AMENDMENTS.

       (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 9 of the 
     Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology 
     Competitiveness Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 5108) is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary 
     to carry out this Act $12,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
     years 2006 through 2010.''.
       (b) Steel Project Priorities.--Section 4(c)(1) of the Steel 
     and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology 
     Competitiveness Act of 1988 (15 U.S.C. 5103(c)(1)) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (H), by striking ``coatings for sheet 
     steels'' and inserting ``sheet and bar steels''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
       ``(K) The development of technologies which reduce 
     greenhouse gas emissions.''.
       (c) Conforming Amendments.--The Steel and Aluminum Energy 
     Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988 is 
     further amended--
       (1) by striking section 7 (15 U.S.C. 5106); and
       (2) in section 8 (15 U.S.C. 5107), by inserting ``, 
     beginning with fiscal year 2006,'' after ``close of each 
     fiscal year''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).


                             General Leave

  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H.R. 1158, as amended, the bill now under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1158, the Steel and 
Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act. I 
would like to commend my colleague, the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania 
(Ms. Hart), for reintroducing this important legislation which she 
originally introduced and which passed the House in the 108th Congress.
  There are many reasons why we should pass this legislation today.
  First of all, the metals industry is highly energy-intensive. Taken 
together, the steel, aluminum, and copper industries account for more 
than 10 percent of industrial usage in the United States. President 
Bush's national energy plan recognized that improving energy efficiency 
in our most energy-intensive industries could yield large improvements 
in productivity, product quality, safety, and pollution prevention.
  Second, we have a strategic national interest in helping our metals 
industry remain competitive. For any industry, energy efficiency means 
increased production without increased energy consumption or costs. 
Improving energy efficiency helps the bottom line, making American 
metal products more competitive on the global market. That means more 
jobs here at home.
  But energy efficiency is more than that. Reducing energy use means 
reducing our emissions of pollutants and greenhouse gases, and 
increasing our energy security. In this way, energy efficiency just 
makes sense, dollars and cents, for the Nation.
  H.R. 1158 recognizes this fact and puts in place a new requirement 
that program managers consider the potential for technologies to reduce 
greenhouse gas emissions when developing their research plans. In this 
way the bill updates the plan to address current concerns about the 
impact of energy-intensive industries.
  For these reasons, both the Committee on Science and the full House 
passed a similar bill by voice vote in the 108th Congress, and the 
Committee on Science approved H.R. 1158 by voice vote in March.
  I encourage my colleagues to demonstrate support for this bill again 
today.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to join the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. 
Biggert) in support of H.R. 1158, the Steel and Aluminum Energy 
Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act. I commend her for her 
support today, and I also commend the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania 
(Ms. Hart) for taking a leadership role in pursuing this

[[Page H2482]]

legislation dating back to the last Congress.
  This bill will benefit our constituents, Democrat and Republican 
alike. It has been a pleasure to have this opportunity to work in a 
bipartisan effort to bring this measure to the floor today.
  Today, almost one-quarter of the steel production in the United 
States is in the Chicago, northern Indiana region. But, unfortunately, 
our country no longer hails as the world's leading producer. My 
constituents in the Third District of Illinois have been especially 
impacted by the changes that have come from increased foreign 
competition. In my area, families and communities have been badly hurt 
by job losses. But the impact has also been felt in other places around 
the country.
  My father-in-law in Johnstown, Pennsylvania lost his job as a 
steelworker when his plant was forced to close. This bill will help 
prevent further losses of good American jobs by increasing the 
competitiveness of our domestic manufacturing.
  I also strongly believe that the overall prospects for the American 
steel industry have an important bearing on our future economic 
security as well as our national security. For these reasons, I 
strongly support this bill, which has become known as the metals 
initiative.
  This bill, improving upon a program which was originally passed by 
the 108th Congress, authorizes Federal cost-sharing of research. The 
goals of this research are threefold: increased competitiveness for the 
U.S. metals industry, energy efficiency, and a cleaner environment.
  The development of technologies that will increase energy efficiency 
as well as improve our international competitiveness is key to 
maintaining our national security, both from an economic and a military 
perspective. Likewise, the implementation of more environmentally 
friendly technologies that reduce emissions or reduce demand for 
petroleum will result in both a public benefit, a cleaner environment; 
and a private benefit, a cut in the cost of production.
  The metals initiative has three very important provisions that make 
it a commonsense vehicle for pursuing cooperation between government 
and industry. First, there is a payback provision which requires that 
the Federal investment be repaid out of net proceeds of 
commercialization once the technology is developed. This provision 
prevents the program from taking on the negative connotations of a mere 
Federal subsidy. Instead, it provides a framework for these domestic 
companies, their employees, and the communities that rely upon the 
revenue bases to benefit from the new technologies that are made 
possible through this public-private partnership.
  The second provision that makes this partnership work is the 70 
percent/30 percent government-industry cost-share. When industry puts 
their own money at risk, the projects get senior management attention. 
Historically, these types of steel research and development projects 
have yielded results that meet national needs and are highly 
marketable, producing a win-win situation.

                              {time}  1415

  The third provision calls for industry ownership of intellectual 
property produced from the research. Twenty-five years of experience 
under the Bayh-Dole Act has shown that when ownership of patents is 
left with inventors, the likelihood that patents will be put to 
commercial use dramatically increases. This factor creates 
opportunities for economic growth and better job security for hard-
working Americans.
  The Metals Initiative is simply a great example of how public private 
partnerships can benefit both taxpayers and share holders. It will help 
enrich the overall economy, offer much needed stimulation for the 
growth of technology in key industries, and protect the environment. 
With recent changes in trade laws and other international forces at 
work, we owe it especially to the people who work in these industries. 
All Americans benefit from such commonsense programs. I urge my 
colleagues to support H.R. 1158 today and vote ``yes'' on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Hart), who is the sponsor of 
this legislation.
  Ms. HART. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman from Illinois 
(Chairwoman Biggert) and ranking member (Mr. Honda) of the Energy 
Subcommittee for working together to make sure that this bill moved 
forward. I am pleased for their support and also for the support of the 
Science Committee chairman, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), 
and ranking member, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Gordon), for 
moving the bill through committee and also for their support. I 
especially thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Lipinski), who just 
spoke, for working with me on this legislation, H.R. 1158, the bill to 
reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology 
Competitiveness Act.
  The steel industry is one of the most energy-intensive industries 
with energy accounting for a major portion of the cost of production. 
Improvement in energy efficiency is therefore an important component to 
reducing the cost of steel and thereby making us more competitive.
  Recent experiences have shown that energy costs per unit of output of 
steel can be reduced significantly through more intelligent capital-
intensive investments in modifications to existing plants and equipment 
and conversion to more energy-efficient processes.
  Investment made at the government level in partnerships with industry 
to stimulate achievement of this increased energy efficiency has shown 
great results over the years.
  This legislation would reauthorize the steel and aluminum 
competitiveness act, which established a public private partnership, a 
research initiative. It is cost sharing with government and industry, 
focused on improving industrial energy efficiency in the steel and 
aluminum and fabrication industries.
  The bill will result in improved energy efficiency in the domestic 
metals industries, thereby improving our competitiveness and also 
improving the cost and quality of the actual product. This efficiency 
offers environmental benefits through reduced emissions per unit of 
steel and aluminum produced. It can also help reduce the future demand 
for energy in this industrial sector.
  The steel industry and the Department of Energy continue this 
partnership under the Metals Initiative and its predecessor, the Steel 
Initiative, even after the authorization expired; so, therefore, it is 
something that is successful enough to have provided with its funding.
  For fiscal year 2006, the administration has only recommended $6.5 
million. That is $3.8 million for steel and $2.7 million for aluminum, 
which is slightly more than half of the $11.1 million provided in 2004.
  This legislation would reauthorize the 1988 act through 2010. Over 
the years, 58 steel companies and 23 research organizations 
participated in and benefited from this program. Two of those 
companies, INTEG Process Group and U.S. Steel from my area, 
participated in a subcommittee hearing on this bill last year and 
testified regarding the benefits this initiative has produced; the jobs 
it has obviously preserved and provided; the opportunity that it has 
provided in those industries as well.
  The bill authorizes $12 million for this program for fiscal years 
2006 through 2010, for a total of $60 million over 5 years. It is an 
investment that is well worth it to preserve and grow an industry that 
is so important to our country.
  This bill is right for this industry, it is right for energy 
security, and it is right for our competitiveness, and it is good for 
the environment.
  Mr. COSTELLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1158, the 
Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness 
Act. I want to thank my friend and colleague from Illinois, 
Representative Biggert for her leadership, as well as Representative 
Melissa Hart, for her persistence in introducing this legislation in 
the 108th Congress and again in the 109th Congress.
  I am pleased Chairman Boehlert and Ranking Member Gordon acted 
quickly in the House Science Committee to mark-up this bill and bring 
it to the floor today because it helps our steel, aluminum, copper, and 
other metal

[[Page H2483]]

industries stay competitive in today's global marketplace.
  H.R. 1158, the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology 
Competitiveness bill before us today authorizes the Department of 
Energy to develop a public and private partnership to build upon 
important research goals, such as energy efficiency, increasing 
competitiveness of the U.S. metals industries, and improving the 
environment. By working together, both the taxpayers and share holders 
can benefit from this federal cost share between the government and the 
metals industries.
  The domestic steel industry alone has come a long way since the steel 
crisis began in 1988. In my home state of Illinois, the crisis has 
resulted in four steel companies filing for bankruptcy, including 
Laclede Steel and the parent company for Granite City Steel, which are 
in my Congressional District. Approximately 5,000 steel workers lost 
their jobs in Illinois alone.
  Now, prices are stabilizing and the industry is restructuring and 
consolidating. All of this has happened without hampering the 
availability of competitively priced steel products. However, 
aggressive trade laws and other international pressures can damage the 
progress that was made. Therefore, it is important we continue down the 
path of successful recovery because the overall prospects for our steel 
industry can affect our future economic and national security.
  As a member of the Congressional Steel Caucus, I am deeply committed 
to making sure the metals industries stay competitive and for these 
reasons, I support to this bill and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, we have no more speakers. I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Forbes). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1158, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________