[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 42 (Monday, March 12, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2411-H2412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


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

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1126) to reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy 
Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1126

       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 2008 through 2012.''.
       (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 2008,'' after ``close of each 
     fiscal year''.

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


                             General Leave

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H.R. 1126, the bill now under 
consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 1126, legislation 
reauthorizing the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology 
Competitiveness Act of 1988, also known as the Metals Initiative.
  Today, the steel industry and other metals industry, including 
aluminum and copper, are important parts of our national economy; and 
they must remain innovative in order to stay competitive in the 
increasingly global economy. It is vital to ensure that these 
industries are fully prepared to confront the challenges they face. 
This bill will help develop the innovative tools needed to grow 
valuable American jobs and businesses, and to protect the environment, 
by tapping into good old-fashioned American ingenuity.
  Originally passed by the 100th Congress, the Metals Initiative 
authorizes Federal cost-sharing of research whose goals are threefold: 
first, enhancing energy efficiency; second, increasing the 
competitiveness of American industries; and, third, improving the 
environment through reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
  More specifically, this legislation promotes collaborative, public-
private cost-shared research between American industry, the Department 
of Energy, and institutions of higher education. The bill would 
reauthorize the Metals Initiative at $12 million per year for fiscal 
year 2008 through fiscal year 2012 to fund advanced metals research.
  The success of the American steel industry has a special personal 
significance to me. My father-in-law was a steelworker at Bethlehem 
Steel in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, until he lost his job when his plant 
closed due to foreign competition. This bill will help prevent further 
loss of good American jobs like his by using American innovation to 
increase the competitiveness of our domestic industry.
  While American industries have significantly modernized, the pace of 
technology and the competition from overseas is relentless. 
Reauthorization of this bill is essential to grow American jobs, keep 
the customers of metal industries strong, and ensure that we have a 
domestic supply of the materials we need for our national defense.
  The results of this program speak for themselves. Since its 
inception, the Metals Initiative has delivered numerous technologies to 
the factory floor, resulting in incredible environmental and energy 
savings while increasing the competitive position of the steel industry 
and the domestic manufacturing sector.
  In the Chicago area, schools such as my alma mater Northwestern 
University have participated in this program, as well as companies such 
as IPSCO. Because of the advances made in steel production, partially 
through the industry's partnership with DOE, the steel industry as a 
whole used 28 percent less energy per ton in 2004 than it did in 1990.
  In addition, this research has produced several successful and 
important technological breakthroughs, including the development of 
advanced high-strength steels and ultra-lightweight steel automobile 
bodies, meaning lighter, safer and more energy-efficient cars.
  Recently, these advanced technologies were applied to a new, 
lightweight military vehicle, yielding performance improvements 
including 25 percent weight savings and 50 percent fuel efficiency 
improvements. Through this partnership program, the U.S. Army now has a 
next generation tactical vehicle that is agile and responsive. These 
advances, applied to the civilian versions of the vehicle, add a 
substantial further positive impact to our Nation's economy.
  It is also important to note that the Federal funds in this program 
are given to the schools to conduct the research. Companies are not the 
recipients of funds, and they must provide a share of the cost of the 
research. But the American company that provides that match has the 
first opportunity to take advantage of the research findings and 
improve their manufacturing operations, benefiting American workers.
  H.R. 1126 is simply a great example of how public-private partnership 
can benefit American workers and taxpayers, while saving energy, 
improving the environment, and accelerating the development and 
implementation of modern technology.
  All Americans can benefit from commonsense programs such as this one, 
and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1126.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1126, 
a bill to reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and 
Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988. This legislation has been 
passed unanimously by this body for the past two Congresses, and I hope 
it will do so again today.
  The Department of Energy's steel-related energy-efficiency research 
and development program was first established in 1986 and was expanded 
to a broader ``metals initiative'' in 1988 when the President signed 
into law the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology 
Competitiveness Act of 1988.
  Reauthorization of appropriations for the program occurred in 1992 
with the passage of the Energy Policy Act, but expired in 1997. The 
steel industry and the Department of Energy continued the partnership 
under the Metals Initiative and its predecessor, the Steel Initiative, 
after the authorization expired. This bill would reauthorize the 
important program through 2012 and expand it slightly by adding 
research on technologies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  The metals industry is one of the most energy-intensive industries, 
with energy accounting for a major portion of the cost of production. 
Improving energy efficiency for this industry will help to reduce the 
cost of steel and keep American steelmakers competitive in the world 
market. Improving efficiency will also help with our country's goal to 
become energy independent and environmentally responsible.
  Investment made at the government level in partnership with industry 
to stimulate achievement of this increased energy efficiency has shown 
great results. Over the years, 58 steel

[[Page H2412]]

companies and 23 research organizations participated in and benefited 
from this program. According to testimony from the United States Steel 
Corporation, through this program they saw a ``set of projects that 
saved nearly a barrel of oil per Federal dollar invested. Or, in terms 
of the environment, a ton of CO2 for every $2 of Federal 
money invested, all the while delivering real technology to the plant 
floor to help maintain a competitive advantage.''
  I ask my colleagues to join me in support of H.R. 1126.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, this bill represents a great example of 
what we can be doing and should be doing in this country. We have 
legislation here that takes advantage of our great American 
universities and all of the knowledge, wisdom that is there, the 
research ability of these institutions, and puts that together with 
American industry to come up with ways that we can both save American 
jobs, grow American jobs, and help to protect the environment.
  As Representative Hall said, a dollar in this program saves a barrel 
of oil. It is a great opportunity and a great example of what we should 
be doing more of here in this Congress.
  I would like to thank Representatives Ehlers and Akin for their 
support also on this legislation. I urge my colleagues to pass this 
legislation.
  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 Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1126.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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