[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 6, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H6026-H6027]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1140
                   GREEN ENERGY EDUCATION ACT OF 2007

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1716) to authorize higher education curriculum development 
and graduate training in advanced energy and green building 
technologies, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1716

       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 Energy Education Act 
     of 2007''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITION.

       For the purposes of this Act:
       (1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of 
     the National Science Foundation.
       (2) High performance building.--The term ``high performance 
     building'' has the meaning given that term in section 914(a) 
     of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 16194(a)).
       (3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Energy.

     SEC. 3. GRADUATE TRAINING IN ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

       (a) Funding.--In carrying out research, development, 
     demonstration, and commercial application activities 
     authorized for the Department of Energy, the Secretary may 
     contribute funds to the National Science Foundation for the 
     Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship 
     program to support projects that enable graduate education 
     related to such activities.
       (b) Consultation.--The Director shall consult with the 
     Secretary when preparing solicitations and awarding grants 
     for projects described in subsection (a).

     SEC. 4. CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING 
                   DESIGN.

       (a) Funding.--In carrying out advanced energy technology 
     research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
     application activities authorized for the Department of 
     Energy related to high performance buildings, the Secretary 
     may contribute funds to curriculum development activities at 
     the National Science Foundation for the purpose of improving 
     undergraduate or graduate interdisciplinary engineering and 
     architecture education related to the design and construction 
     of high performance buildings, including development of 
     curricula, of laboratory activities, of training practicums, 
     or of design projects. A primary goal of curriculum 
     development activities supported under this section shall be 
     to improve the ability of engineers, architects, landscape 
     architects, and planners to work together on the 
     incorporation of advanced energy technologies during the 
     design and construction of high performance buildings.
       (b) Consultation.--The Director shall consult with the 
     Secretary when preparing solicitations and awarding grants 
     for projects described in subsection (a).
       (c) Priority.--In awarding grants with respect to which the 
     Secretary has contributed funds under this section, the 
     Director shall give priority to applications from 
     departments, programs, or centers of a school of engineering 
     that are partnered with schools, departments, or programs of 
     design, architecture, and city, regional, or urban planning.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Lipinski) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) 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 to 
include extraneous material on H.R. 1716, 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.
  Today, I rise in support of H.R. 1716, the Green Energy Education Act 
of 2007. I'd like to thank Mr. McCaul and Mr. Hill for their leadership 
on this important legislation.
  This bill authorizes the Department of Energy to contribute funds to 
the National Science Foundation's successful Integrative Graduate 
Education and Research Traineeship program, known as IGERT. IGERT 
awards prepare doctoral students by integrating research and education 
in innovative ways that are tailored to the unique requirement of newly 
emerging interdisciplinary fields and new career options.
  Many future green energy technologies, such as thin film solar 
technologies, will require interdisciplinary teams of scientists and 
engineers such as those trained under the IGERT program.
  This bill also authorizes the Department of Energy's high-
performance-building technology programs to contribute to the National 
Science Foundation's ongoing curriculum development activities with the 
goal of improving the ability of engineers and architects to design and 
construct high-performance buildings.
  Innovative technologies, coupled with a whole-buildings approach that 
optimizes interactions among building systems and components, enable 
buildings to use considerably less energy, while also helping to meet 
national goals for sustainable development, environmental protection 
and energy security.
  The high-performance, or green, building movement is growing rapidly, 
but it is still a very small slice of the multibillion dollar building 
industry; and there's a real gap in university level education and 
training for the next generation of green building professionals. This 
bill helps address that gap.
  In summary, this bill addresses a critical need to provide resources 
to universities to update their curricula and research efforts in 
alternative energy and high-performance buildings, and it improves 
coordination between the Department of Energy and the National Science 
Foundation in achieving this goal.
  I'm pleased to support H.R. 1716, the Green Energy Education Act of 
2007. Again, I want to commend Mr. McCaul and Mr. Hill for this 
important legislation; and I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1716.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I 
may consume.
  I want to first thank Mr. Lipinski and my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle for their strong support of this bill, which I introduced in 
the last Congress; and I'm pleased to see it get to the House floor in 
this Congress.
  The National Academies' Rising Above the Gathering Storm report 
echoed the call of many in the academic and business community for 
greater need to recruit and develop scientific and engineering talent 
to work on solving problems of national need.
  Like many Members of Congress, I'm concerned about America's 
dependence on foreign sources of energy. Our reliance on imported 
energy only serves to increase our vulnerability to both external 
events and the actions of regimes that are, in many cases, openly 
hostile to the interests of the United States. One of the ways we can 
reduce the need for energy imports is to use our energy more 
efficiently.
  Buildings consume more energy than any other sector of the economy, 
including industry and transportation. According to the U.S. Department 
of Energy, American buildings consume 39 percent of our Nation's 
primary energy and 70 percent of electricity. However, energy efficient 
building practices are not being fully utilized, in

[[Page H6027]]

part because of a lack of awareness about energy efficient technologies 
and design practices among building professionals.
  That is why I introduced the Green Energy Education Act. This 
legislation authorizes the Department of Energy to partner with the 
National Science Foundation to support graduate education and 
curriculum development to advance DOE's broad energy technology 
development mission. Working through NSF, DOE will help develop the 
next generation of engineers and architects to produce buildings 
incorporating the latest in energy efficient technologies.
  In order to reduce the likelihood of duplicative and wasteful 
programs, this bill also allows the Department of Energy and the 
National Science Foundation to combine their efforts to find workable 
solutions to the issues surrounding building efficiency that then can 
be transferred to the marketplace.
  Specifically, H.R. 1716 will authorize DOE's Office of Science and 
applied energy technology programs to contribute funds to the NSF's 
successful Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship 
program, which is already doing great work in this area.
  This bill also authorizes the DOE to contribute to NSF's curriculum 
development activities in order to improve the ability of engineers and 
architects to design and construct more efficient and durable 
buildings.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important step towards 
increasing America's energy independence.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is another great effort that we are making, another 
important step in helping to reduce our energy consumption in this 
country. It's critical for national security, our economic security and 
to combat global climate change, and certainly energy efficient 
buildings, great work is being done in this, and much more work needs 
to be done.
  I have seen at the Department of Energy lab the work that is being 
done on some of this. I think much more needs to be done. This bill 
will help to provide these opportunities for more students, more people 
to learn about what it takes to make our buildings more energy 
efficient.
  Again, I commend Mr. McCaul and Mr. Hill for this bill, and I urge my 
colleagues to pass this legislation.
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, today the House will consider H.R. 1716, the 
Green Energy Education Act. As the lead Democratic sponsor of this 
bill, I am pleased that it has moved so quickly through committee. I 
believe its rapid movement onto the floor of the House for a vote is 
indicative of the bill's importance and timely subject matter.
  H.R. 1716 promotes the design and construction of energy efficient 
buildings by authorizing the Department of Energy to partner with the 
National Science Foundation (NSF) in support of multidisciplinary 
graduate education and curriculum development activities that will 
enhance the DOE's broad energy technology development mission. By 
working with the NSF, DOE will help develop the next generation of 
engineers and architects to work effectively together to produce 
buildings and incorporating the latest in energy efficient 
technologies.
  Buildings in the U.S. consume a disproportionate share of our energy 
and electricity. We must do something to make our buildings more energy 
efficient and friendly to the environment. In fact, buildings in the 
U.S. consume more energy than any other sector of the country, 
including industry and transportation. According to 2003 U.S. 
Department of Energy (DOE) statistics, U.S. buildings consume 39 
percent of our nation's primary energy and 70 percent of electricity.
  We need to do everything we can to address the harmful things we are 
doing to the environment. This bill is a step in that direction--making 
buildings more energy efficient and less stressful on our energy and 
electrical supplies. And, it will save businesses considerable sums of 
money in the long run.
  I urge all of my colleagues to vote for this important bill and take 
a step forward in easing our dependence on foreign and harmful energy 
sources.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of 
H.R. 1716, the Green Energy Education Act of 2007.
  Mr. Speaker, ``green energy'' is defined as energy that is produced 
and used in ways that lessen air pollution and other environmental 
impacts.
  An investment in green energy education will benefit our Nation in 
important ways. It is good for the environment, because it reduces 
environmental impacts of the production and delivery of energy.
  Green energy also reduces harmful greenhouse emissions.
  H.R. 1716 directs the Department of Energy to contribute funds to the 
National Science Foundation for the Integrative Graduate Education and 
Research Traineeship program. This program is important in supporting 
graduate education related to green energy projects.
  The bill also supports energy technology research and development for 
high tech buildings and for educational activities to teach students 
how to improve building design that is not harmful to the environment.
  Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 1716 and urge my colleagues to support it 
also.
  Mr. LIPINSKI. 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. 1716, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. McCAUL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

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