[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 26, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H7480-H7484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          GREEN CHEMISTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2005

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1215) to provide for the implementation of a Green Chemistry 
Research and Development Program, and for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1215

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Green Chemistry Research and 
     Development Act of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act--
       (1) the term ``green chemistry'' means chemistry and 
     chemical engineering to design chemical products and 
     processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of 
     hazardous substances while producing high quality products 
     through safe and efficient manufacturing processes;
       (2) the term ``Interagency Working Group'' means the 
     interagency working group established under section 3(c); and
       (3) the term ``Program'' means the Green Chemistry Research 
     and Development Program described in section 3.

     SEC. 3. GREEN CHEMISTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--The President shall establish a Green 
     Chemistry Research and Development Program to promote and 
     coordinate Federal green chemistry research, development, 
     demonstration, education, and technology transfer activities.
       (b) Program Activities.--The activities of the Program 
     shall be designed to--
       (1) provide sustained support for green chemistry research, 
     development, demonstration, education, and technology 
     transfer through--
       (A) merit-reviewed competitive grants to individual 
     investigators and teams of investigators, including, to the 
     extent practicable, young investigators, for research and 
     development;
       (B) grants to fund collaborative research and development 
     partnerships among universities, industry, and nonprofit 
     organizations;
       (C) green chemistry research, development, demonstration, 
     and technology transfer conducted at Federal laboratories; 
     and
       (D) to the extent practicable, encouragement of 
     consideration of green chemistry in--
       (i) the conduct of Federal chemical science and engineering 
     research and development; and
       (ii) the solicitation and evaluation of all proposals for 
     chemical science and engineering research and development;
       (2) examine methods by which the Federal Government can 
     create incentives for consideration and use of green 
     chemistry processes and products;
       (3) facilitate the adoption of green chemistry innovations;

[[Page H7481]]

       (4) expand education and training of undergraduate and 
     graduate students, and professional chemists and chemical 
     engineers, including through partnerships with industry, in 
     green chemistry science and engineering;
       (5) collect and disseminate information on green chemistry 
     research, development, and technology transfer, including 
     information on--
       (A) incentives and impediments to development and 
     commercialization;
       (B) accomplishments;
       (C) best practices; and
       (D) costs and benefits;
       (6) provide venues for outreach and dissemination of green 
     chemistry advances such as symposia, forums, conferences, and 
     written materials in collaboration with, as appropriate, 
     industry, academia, scientific and professional societies, 
     and other relevant groups;
       (7) support economic, legal, and other appropriate social 
     science research to identify barriers to commercialization 
     and methods to advance commercialization of green chemistry; 
     and
       (8) provide for public input and outreach to be integrated 
     into the Program by the convening of public discussions, 
     through mechanisms such as citizen panels, consensus 
     conferences, and educational events, as appropriate.
       (c) Interagency Working Group.--The President shall 
     establish an Interagency Working Group, which shall include 
     representatives from the National Science Foundation, the 
     National Institute of Standards and Technology, the 
     Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, 
     and any other agency that the President may designate. The 
     Director of the National Science Foundation and the Assistant 
     Administrator for Research and Development of the 
     Environmental Protection Agency shall serve as co-chairs of 
     the Interagency Working Group. The Interagency Working Group 
     shall oversee the planning, management, and coordination of 
     the Program. The Interagency Working Group shall--
       (1) establish goals and priorities for the Program, to the 
     extent practicable in consultation with green chemistry 
     researchers and potential end-users of green chemistry 
     products and processes; and
       (2) provide for interagency coordination, including budget 
     coordination, of activities under the Program.
       (d) Agency Budget Requests.--Each Federal agency and 
     department participating in the Program shall, as part of its 
     annual request for appropriations to the Office of Management 
     and Budget, submit a report to the Office of Management and 
     Budget which identifies its activities that contribute 
     directly to the Program and states the portion of its request 
     for appropriations that is allocated to those activities. The 
     President shall include in his annual budget request to 
     Congress a statement of the portion of each agency's or 
     department's annual budget request allocated to its 
     activities undertaken pursuant to the Program.
       (e) Report to Congress.--Not later than 2 years after the 
     date of enactment of this Act, the Interagency Working Group 
     shall transmit a report to the Committee on Science of the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, 
     Science, and Transportation of the Senate. This report shall 
     include--
       (1) a summary of federally funded green chemistry research, 
     development, demonstration, education, and technology 
     transfer activities, including the green chemistry budget for 
     each of these activities; and
       (2) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the 
     goals and priorities for the Program, and recommendations for 
     future program activities.

     SEC. 4. MANUFACTURING EXTENSION CENTER GREEN SUPPLIERS 
                   NETWORK GRANT PROGRAM.

       Section 25(a) of the National Institute of Standards and 
     Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 278k(a)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (4);
       (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (5) and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(6) the enabling of supply chain manufacturers to 
     continuously improve products and processes, increase energy 
     efficiency, identify cost-saving opportunities, and optimize 
     resources and technologies with the aim of reducing or 
     eliminating the use or generation of hazardous substances.''.

     SEC. 5. UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION IN CHEMISTRY AND CHEMICAL 
                   ENGINEERING.

       (a) Program Authorized.--(1) As part of the Program 
     activities under section 3(b)(4), the Director of the 
     National Science Foundation shall carry out a program to 
     award grants to institutions of higher education to support 
     efforts by such institutions to revise their undergraduate 
     curriculum in chemistry and chemical engineering to 
     incorporate green chemistry concepts and strategies.
       (2) Grants shall be awarded under this section on a 
     competitive, merit-reviewed basis and shall require cost 
     sharing in cash from non-Federal sources, to match the 
     Federal funding.
       (b) Selection Process.--(1) An institution of higher 
     education seeking funding under this section shall submit an 
     application to the Director at such time, in such manner, and 
     containing such information as the Director may require. The 
     application shall include at a minimum--
       (A) a description of the content and schedule for adoption 
     of the proposed curricular revisions to the courses of study 
     offered by the applicant in chemistry and chemical 
     engineering; and
       (B) a description of the source and amount of cost sharing 
     to be provided.
       (2) In evaluating the applications submitted under 
     paragraph (1), the Director shall consider, at a minimum--
       (A) the level of commitment demonstrated by the applicant 
     in carrying out and sustaining lasting curriculum changes in 
     accordance with subsection (a)(1); and
       (B) the amount of cost sharing to be provided.
       (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to 
     amounts authorized under section 8, from sums otherwise 
     authorized to be appropriated by the National Science 
     Foundation Authorization Act of 2002, there are authorized to 
     be appropriated to the National Science Foundation for 
     carrying out this section $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2006, 
     $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2007, and $8,000,000 for fiscal 
     year 2008.

     SEC. 6. STUDY ON COMMERCIALIZATION OF GREEN CHEMISTRY.

       (a) Study.--The Director of the National Science Foundation 
     shall enter into an arrangement with the National Research 
     Council to conduct a study of the factors that constitute 
     barriers to the successful commercial application of 
     promising results from green chemistry research and 
     development.
       (b) Contents.--The study shall--
       (1) examine successful and unsuccessful attempts at 
     commercialization of green chemistry in the United States and 
     abroad; and
       (2) recommend research areas and priorities and public 
     policy options that would help to overcome identified 
     barriers to commercialization.
       (c) Report.--The Director shall submit a report to the 
     Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
     Senate on the findings and recommendations of the study 
     within 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 7. PARTNERSHIPS IN GREEN CHEMISTRY.

       (a) Program Authorized.--(1) The agencies participating in 
     the Program shall carry out a joint, coordinated program to 
     award grants to institutions of higher education to establish 
     partnerships with companies in the chemical industry to 
     retrain chemists and chemical engineers in the use of green 
     chemistry concepts and strategies.
       (2) Grants shall be awarded under this section on a 
     competitive, merit-reviewed basis and shall require cost 
     sharing from non-Federal sources by members of the 
     partnerships.
       (3) In order to be eligible to receive a grant under this 
     section, an institution of higher education shall enter into 
     a partnership with two or more companies in the chemical 
     industry. Such partnerships may also include other 
     institutions of higher education and professional 
     associations.
       (4) Grants awarded under this section shall be used for 
     activities to provide retraining for chemists or chemical 
     engineers in green chemistry, including--
       (A) the development of curricular materials and the 
     designing of undergraduate and graduate level courses; and
       (B) publicizing the availability of professional 
     development courses of study in green chemistry and 
     recruiting graduate scientists and engineers to pursue such 
     courses.
     Grants may provide stipends for individuals enrolled in 
     courses developed by the partnership.
       (b) Selection Process.--(1) An institution of higher 
     education seeking funding under this section shall submit an 
     application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
     information as shall be specified by the Interagency Working 
     Group and published in a proposal solicitation for the 
     Program. The application shall include at a minimum--
       (A) a description of the partnership and the role each 
     member will play in implementing the proposal;
       (B) a description of the courses of study that will be 
     provided;
       (C) a description of the number and size of stipends, if 
     offered;
       (D) a description of the source and amount of cost sharing 
     to be provided; and
       (E) a description of the manner in which the partnership 
     will be continued after assistance under this section ends.
       (2) The evaluation of the applications submitted under 
     paragraph (1) shall be carried out in accordance with 
     procedures developed by the Interagency Working Group and 
     shall consider, at a minimum--
       (A) the ability of the partnership to carry out effectively 
     the proposed activities;
       (B) the degree to which such activities are likely to 
     prepare chemists and chemical engineers sufficiently to be 
     competent to apply green chemistry concepts and strategies in 
     their work; and
       (C) the amount of cost sharing to be provided.

     SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       (a) National Science Foundation.--(1) From sums otherwise 
     authorized to be appropriated by the National Science 
     Foundation Authorization Act of 2002, there are authorized to 
     be appropriated to the National Science Foundation for 
     carrying out this Act--
       (A) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       (B) $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
       (C) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
       (2) The sums authorized by paragraph (1) are in addition to 
     any funds the National Science Foundation is spending on 
     green chemistry through its ongoing chemistry and chemical 
     engineering programs.
       (b) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--From 
     sums otherwise authorized to be appropriated, there are 
     authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute of 
     Standards and Technology for carrying out this Act--
       (1) $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       (2) $5,500,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
       (3) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
       (c) Department of Energy.--From sums otherwise authorized 
     to be appropriated, there are authorized to be appropriated 
     to the Department of Energy for carrying out this Act--

[[Page H7482]]

       (1) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       (2) $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
       (3) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
       (d) Environmental Protection Agency.--From sums otherwise 
     authorized to be appropriated, there are authorized to be 
     appropriated to the Environmental Protection Agency for 
     carrying out this Act--
       (1) $7,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
       (2) $7,500,000 for fiscal year 2007; and
       (3) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) and the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Wu) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the subject of this bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of H.R. 1215, the Green 
Chemistry Research and Development Act. I would like to thank the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey) for his leadership on this 
important legislation which passed the House in the 108th Congress by 
an overwhelming vote of 402-14. In fact, I appreciate it so much I am 
sorry I didn't think of introducing the bill myself.
  When I was a college student studying science, the only green 
chemistry I ever saw was the mold that grew on the neglected food in 
our dorm refrigerator. Today, we know that green chemistry is about 
doing chemistry cleaner and smarter in an environmentally sound way.
  When businesses innovate by using green chemical processes, they 
cannot only save money, but also avoid the cost of cleaning up toxic 
pollutants, providing a safer work environment for their employees, and 
providing safer products to consumers. Everyone wins.
  However, the adoption of green chemistry by the traditional chemical 
industry has been slow because there are only a few widely accepted 
processes and a shortage of trained experts in green chemistry. And for 
too long, the Federal investments in green chemistry research and 
development have been too small and two unfocused.
  To provide that much-needed focus, H.R. 1215, the Green Chemistry 
Research and Development Act, will establish a research and development 
program to promote and coordinate Federal green chemistry, research, 
development, demonstration, education and technology transfer 
activities within the National Science Foundation, the Environmental 
Protection Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
and the Department of Energy.
  The program will support research and development grants including 
grants for university-industry-nonprofit partnerships, support green 
chemistry research at Federal labs, promote education through curricula 
development and fellowships, and serve as a green chemistry information 
resource.
  H.R. 1215 does not authorize the expenditure of new money. Instead, 
the bill obtains funding for the program from sums already authorized 
to be appropriated at the four agencies involved.
  H.R. 1215 is an important first step in focusing Federal support for 
green chemistry. It expands green chemistry education, develops more 
green chemistry processes, and modestly and responsibly increases the 
Federal investment in green chemistry.
  The emphasis on both training the next generation of chemical 
professionals and retraining conventional chemists and chemical 
engineers is critical to innovation in the traditional chemical 
manufacturing sector.
  I am pleased to support the Green Chemistry Research and Development 
Act. Again, I thank Mr. Gingrey for his hard work on this important 
piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1215.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to support H.R. 1215, the Green Chemistry 
Research and Development Act. This legislation codifies the ongoing 
efforts throughout the Federal Government to encourage the development 
of products and manufacturing processes that are safer, contain fewer 
toxic compounds, and make better use of recycled materials. I am 
especially pleased that the bill includes my amendment to authorize a 
training program at the National Science Foundation. This new program 
creates partnerships between companies in the chemical industry and 
colleges and universities to provide professional development training 
to practicing chemists and chemical engineers in the use of green 
chemistry concepts and strategies.
  During our committee's hearing on last year's version of this bill, 
it became clear that too few professionals in these fields are exposed 
to green chemistry in their undergraduate and graduate courses. This 
lack of training becomes an important barrier to the adoption and use 
of green chemistry in industrial products and processes.
  The partnerships between the academic community and industry that 
this bill promotes will ensure the courses of study that are put in 
place are relevant to industry and are designed to provide practicing 
chemists and chemical engineers with the skills and knowledge they will 
need to employ green chemistry concepts in their work.
  The requirement for cost sharing helps to reinforce the engagement 
and commitment of companies to the program.
  H.R. 1215 provides a good starting point for a Federal effort to 
promote green chemistry. I urge Members to support this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, at this time I am pleased to yield 5 minutes 
to the gentleman from Georgia, the author of the bill, Mr. Gingrey.
  Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 1215, a bill 
that provides for the implementation of a Green Chemistry Research and 
Development program.
  First, I want to take this opportunity to thank Dr. Ehlers, Mr. Wu, 
Chairman Boehlert, Ranking Member Gordon, and all of the Science 
Committee members and staff who worked hard to bring this important 
bipartisan legislation through committee and to the House floor today.
  Mr. Speaker, chemists can design chemicals to be safe just like they 
can design them to have other properties, like color and texture. As 
chemists design products and the processes by which those products are 
manufactured, they can and should factor in the possible creation of 
any hazardous by-products.
  This technique of considering not only the process in which products 
are produced but also the environment in which they are created is the 
basic definition of green chemistry. It is a method of designing 
chemical products and processes that at the very least reduce the use 
or generation of hazardous substances.
  Green chemistry represents an ever-growing field of science that is 
demonstrating much promise. This legislation gives Congress the 
opportunity to support these important efforts by encouraging 
additional research and enhanced collaboration.
  I want to take a moment to outline several reasons why I believe my 
colleagues should support this legislation. The first is the simple 
fact that preventing pollution and waste from the start of a design 
process is often cheaper than cleaning it up later.
  Developing new products and processes are an integral component of a 
variety of industries.

                              {time}  2245

  Industries that span fabrics to fuel cells and the innovation created 
by this enhanced research will subsequently spur economic growth.
  Mr. Speaker, since the heart of green chemistry is design processes 
that utilize as many benign materials as possible as well as designing 
them to be conducted at or near room temperature and pressure, working 
conditions and safety for our employees can be vastly improved.
  Unfortunately, despite all the promise of green chemistry, the 
Federal Government invests very little in this area. This legislation 
allows coordination of Federal green chemistry research and development 
within several

[[Page H7483]]

Federal agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the 
Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of Standards 
and Technology, and the Department of Energy.
  H.R. 1215 will encourage universities and academic institutions, as 
Mr. Wu just mentioned, to train future workers in this exciting 
technology. This coordinated program will support research and 
development grants for partnerships between universities, industry and 
nonprofits. It will also promote education through curriculum 
development and fellowships that will collect and disseminate 
information about green chemistry.
  Finally and most importantly, Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1215 is a fiscally 
responsible piece of legislation in step with the current reality of 
our budgetary constraints. This legislation funds these programs by 
obtaining sums already authorized to the above-mentioned agencies. It 
does not authorize the expenditure of any new money. Let me say that 
again. This legislation does not appropriate new funds but rather 
refocuses the budget of these agencies.
  Chemical companies, pharmaceutical corporations, carpet and rug 
manufacturers and biotechnology businesses have endorsed H.R. 1215, 
showing a broad range of support for the merits of this legislation. 
All of these companies and corporations realize the advancement of 
green chemistry is a positive not only for their businesses but also 
our country's environment, our economy, and our Nation's health.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to vote for this innovative, 
insightful, and responsible piece of legislation that will show the 
American public that Congress and the business community are committed 
to preserving our Nation's environment.
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  I am very proud of our system of free enterprise in America. It has 
led to a considerable amount of innovation in every area. But I find, 
surprisingly, once in a while tradition trumps innovation, and that is 
the situation that we have here with green chemistry.
  I commend the gentleman from Georgia for offering this bill because, 
frankly, we have to wake up the chemical industry to this promising new 
field and overcome the tradition and take up the ideas of green 
chemistry.
  In all the experience I have in viewing the cases where it has been 
used, we have had better products, less pollution, and the 
manufacturers make more money. There is no reason not to do it. It is 
just that we simply have to use innovation to break tradition.
  So, Mr. Speaker, while the full potential of green chemistry has yet 
to be realized, H.R. 1215 will place us on the right path to reaching 
that potential.
  I urge all my colleagues to support the Green Chemistry Research and 
Development Act.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Green Chemistry Research 
and Development Program is intended to promote and coordinate Federal 
green chemistry research, development, demonstration, education, and 
technology transfer activities.
  1. Prevent waste: Design chemical syntheses to prevent waste, leaving 
no waste to treat or clean up.
  2. Design safer chemicals and products: Design chemical products to 
be fully effective, yet have little or no toxicity.
  3. Design less hazardous chemical syntheses: Design syntheses to use 
and generate substances with little or no toxicity to humans and the 
environment.
  4. Use renewable feedstocks: Use raw materials and feedstocks that 
are renewable rather than depleting. Renewable feedstocks are often 
made from agricultural products or are the wastes of other processes; 
depleting feedstocks are made from fossil fuels (petroleum, natural 
gas, or coal) or are mined.
  5. Use catalysts, not stoichiometric reagents: Minimize waste by 
using catalytic reactions. Catalysts are used in small amounts and can 
carry out a single reaction many times. They are preferable to 
stoichiometric reagents, which are used in excess and work only once.
  6. Avoid chemical derivatives: Avoid using blocking or protecting 
groups or any temporary modifications if possible. Derivatives use 
additional reagents and generate waste.
  7. Maximize atom economy: Design syntheses so that the final product 
contains the maximum proportion of the starting materials. There should 
be few, if any, wasted atoms.
  8. Use safer solvents and reaction conditions: Avoid using solvents, 
separation agents, or other auxiliary chemicals. If these chemicals are 
necessary, use innocuous chemicals.
  9. Increase energy efficiency: Run chemical reactions at ambient 
temperature and pressure whenever possible.
  10. Design chemicals and products to degrade after use: Design 
chemical products to break down to innocuous substances after use so 
that they do not accumulate in the environment.
  11. Analyze in real time to prevent pollution: Include in-process 
real-time monitoring and control during syntheses to minimize or 
eliminate the formation of byproducts.
  12. Minimize the potential for accidents: Design chemicals and their 
forms (solid, liquid, or gas) to minimize the potential for chemical 
accidents including explosions, fires, and releases to the environment.
  This bill provides for sustained support for green chemistry 
research, development, demonstration, education, and technology 
transfer through merit-reviewed competitive grants to individual 
investigators and teams of investigators, including young 
investigators.
  The legislation includes grants to fund collaborative research and 
development partnerships among universities, industry, and nonprofit 
organizations. Additionally, provisions provide for green chemistry 
research, development, demonstration, and technology transfer conducted 
at Federal laboratories.
  H.R. 1215 will establish an Interagency Working Group, which will 
include representatives from the National Science Foundation, the 
National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of 
Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and any other agency that 
the President designates. The Director of the National Science 
Foundation and the Assistant Administrator for Research and Development 
of the Environmental Protection Agency will serve as co-chairs of the 
Interagency Working Group. The Interagency Working Group shall oversee 
the planning, management, and coordination of the Program.
  As part of the Program activities under Section 3, the Director of 
the National Science Foundation shall carry out a program to award 
grants to institutions of higher education to support efforts by such 
institutions to revise their undergraduate curriculum in chemistry and 
chemical engineering to incorporate green chemistry concepts and 
strategies.
  It is important to encourage sustainable and environmentally sound 
research goals, and I encourage my colleagues to support this measure.
  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1215, and 
I want to congratulate our colleague, Dr. Gingrey, for having 
introduced it. Dr. Gingrey was one of the most active and effective 
members of the Science Committee during the 108th Congress, and, while 
he is no longer with the committee, we continue to work closely with 
him on a variety of issues, including this green chemistry R&D 
legislation before us today.
  There's really only one unfortunate thing about the green chemistry 
bill--and that is that none of us thought of doing this before. Green 
chemistry is such an obvious area on which to focus that it should be 
clear to anyone--and everyone--that more needs to be done in this 
field.
  The majority of environmental protection laws passed by Congress 
focus on command and control activities--limiting the spread of 
pollutants, cleaning up waste, or assessing fines to polluters. These 
are all necessary approaches to environmental challenges. But I believe 
in the old adage--``an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.'' 
If we reduce to ounces the quantity of toxic chemicals we use and 
produce in the first place, then we won't have to worry as much about 
cleaning up pounds of toxics downstream.
  But while the environmental benefits of applying this approach to our 
industrial processes are clear, green chemistry innovations provide 
more than just environmental benefits--they can save companies money 
and give them a competitive edge as well. With the right ideas applied 
in the right areas, green chemistry is truly a win-win strategy.

  A good example is the work of Pfizer, which won a 2002 Presidential 
Green Chemistry Challenge Award for redesigning the manufacturing 
processes used to produce the anti-depression drug ``Zoloft.'' By 
applying green chemistry principles to the manufacture of Zoloft, 
Pfizer was able to eliminate 730 metric tons of toxic chemicals from 
the production process. The result: improved worker and environmental 
safety, reduced energy and water use, and a doubling of overall product 
yield that contributed significantly to the economic bottom line.
  This is just one example. There are dozens of other creative and 
exciting environmental solutions that are being driven by the 
application of green chemistry principles. Companies like Dow, DuPont, 
and Kodak are leading industry into a new era of the way it thinks 
about chemical and manufacturing processes.

[[Page H7484]]

And with a relatively small amount of Federal effort, we can leverage 
industry efforts and significantly accelerate development and 
application of green chemistry solutions.
  This bill does just that. It takes a sensible, targeted approach to 
putting some Federal dollars behind green chemistry pollution 
prevention efforts. It builds on existing programs at a number of 
Federal agencies to transform those small and scattered efforts into a 
focused, coordinated, and enhanced national program.
  The result of that program should be the generation and dissemination 
of new ideas and new people, leading to the adoption of more green 
chemistry practices and the creation of more green chemistry products, 
by industry.
  Now I know some would like this bill to go further. And there's no 
doubt that there are additional barriers to green chemistry that the 
government action could help attack. But those government actions are 
complex and controversial and should be taken up in other bills.
  For now, let's take care of first things first. Let's make sure that 
the government is doing everything possible to ensure that green 
chemistry research and development is getting the attention it 
deserves, to ensure that education programs are designed to teach more 
students and practicing chemists and chemical engineers about green 
chemistry, and to ensure that new ideas are broadly disseminated.
  This is a thoughtful and effective piece of legislation that takes a 
step we should have taken long ago--making sure that government R&D and 
education programs promote the kind of chemistry that is in the 
national interest.
  I urge everyone to support Dr. Gingrey's bill.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1215, 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.

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