[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 129 (Tuesday, September 4, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H10023-H10026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
GREEN CHEMISTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2007
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 2850) to provide for the implementation of a Green Chemistry
Research and Development Program, and for other purposes, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2850
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 2007''.
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,
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, 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, 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;
(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
[[Page H10024]]
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 and
Technology 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, increase recycling, 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.
Minority Serving Institutions shall receive due consideration
for such funding. 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 2008,
$7,500,000 for fiscal year 2009, and $8,000,000 for fiscal
year 2010.
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 and Technology 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.--There are authorized to
be appropriated to the National Science Foundation for
carrying out this Act--
(1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(b) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--There
are authorized to be appropriated to the National Institute
of Standards and Technology for carrying out this Act--
(1) $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(c) Department of Energy.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Department of Energy for carrying out
this Act--
(1) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(d) Environmental Protection Agency.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Environmental Protection Agency for
carrying out this Act--
(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
(3) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Washington (Mr. Baird) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hall) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
General Leave
Mr. BAIRD. 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 H.R. 2850, the bill now under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Washington?
There was no objection.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2850, the Green
Chemistry Research and Development Act.
Chemical manufacturing produces great wonders for the world, but at
the same time it can result in harm to health and the environment due
to the use of hazardous materials and the generation of hazardous by-
products. Green chemistry seeks to mitigate such harmful outcomes.
In short, the goal of green chemistry is to minimize or to eliminate
this harm by using safer materials and manufacturing processes. Besides
protecting human health and the environment, green chemistry can offer
economic advantages and improvements to worker safety, public safety,
and our national security.
The bill before us today, H.R. 2850, the Green Chemistry Research and
Development Act, establishes an interagency program to enhance green
chemistry R&D at NSF, EPA, DOE and NIST.
This legislation will provide grants to individual researchers, spur
university/industry partnerships, fund research at Federal
laboratories, and train students in green chemistry science.
H.R. 2850 is the third iteration of a bill that Congressman Gingrey
has introduced addressing this issue in three
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separate Congresses. I want to applaud the gentleman from Georgia for
his steadfast leadership on this, and I fully support the legislation.
Under Chairman Boehlert's leadership in the 108th and 109th
Congresses, Democratic amendments were agreed to, and these amendments
now make up sections of H.R. 2850. This bill is the product of good,
bipartisan cooperation and has the support of our chairman, Mr. Gordon,
from Tennessee.
H.R. 2850 is a good first step, and I urge my colleagues to support
this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume, leaving most of the time for Dr. Gingrey.
Mr. Speaker, I want to just say that the Green Chemistry Research and
Development Act of 2007 offered today by my good friend from Georgia,
Dr. Gingrey, will provide for research and development of chemical
products and processes so as to reduce the use of creation of hazardous
substances. Advances in these areas have the potential of reducing the
creation of substances that are harmful to our environment.
In particular, H.R. 2850 includes a competitive merit-based grant
program to universities to incorporate green chemistry concepts into
the curriculum for chemistry and chemical engineering. This will ensure
that future generations will consider the importance of green chemistry
ideas.
The legislation strives to build a base from which the creation of
hazardous substances may be reduced. I look forward to Dr. Gingrey's
comments on this bill and urge my colleagues to support it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I have no additional speakers, and would
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. HALL of Texas. I yield 6 minutes to Dr. Gingrey.
Mr. GINGREY. Mr. Speaker, as a proud sponsor of this legislation, I
rise to support H.R. 2850, the Green Chemistry Research and Development
Act of 2007.
I want to thank my colleague on the Science Committee, Dr. Baird. I
thank him for his kind comments. And certainly I want to thank our
chairman, Bart Gordon, the ranking member, Mr. Hall of Texas, and all
of the members of the Science Committee and staff. Both majority and
minority have worked hard to bring this important bipartisan
legislation through committee and to the House floor today.
This legislation has passed the House in the 108th and 109th
Congresses, and I hope that the third Congress will truly be the charm
and we will see H.R. 2850 quickly passed by both Chambers and signed by
the President.
Mr. Speaker, chemists can design chemicals to be safe, just as 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 by which chemicals
are produced, but also the environment in which they are created, is
the basic definition of green chemistry. It is the method of designing
chemical products and processes that at the very least reduce, and at
the very best eliminate, the use or generation of hazardous substances.
Mr. Speaker, the basic idea is this: Preventing pollution and
hazardous waste from the start of a design process is far preferable to
cleaning up pollution and waste at a later date. Additionally, the
innovation created by this enhanced research will subsequently spur
economic growth as developing new products and processes is an integral
component of many industries, from fabrics to fuel cells, as an
example.
Green chemistry doesn't just help protect our environment, it also
protects our workers. The conditions under which chemicals are created
and used can present many risks to those who work on their production.
But if companies utilize green chemistry, the materials they use will
be as benign as possible, vastly improving employee conditions.
Unfortunately, despite all of the promise of green chemistry, the
Federal Government invests very little in this area. H.R. 2850 works to
remedy this by promoting greater Federal investment in, and
coordination of, this important research area. It does so by
establishing a program that coordinates Federal green chemistry
research and development activities within the National Science
Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute
of Standards and Technology, NIST, and the Department of Energy.
Make no mistake, greater Federal attention will encourage
universities and academic institutions around this country to train
future workers in this exciting technology. H.R. 2850 will achieve this
by supporting research and development grants to partnerships between
universities, industry and nonprofit organizations. It will also
promote education through curriculum development and fellowships that
will collect and disseminate information about green chemistry.
In past years, many industries, from chemical companies and
pharmaceutical corporations, to carpet manufacturers and biotechnology
businesses, have all endorsed H.R. 2850, showing a broad range of
support for the merits of this legislation.
This bill is nearly identical to the version passed in the 109th
Congress. The companies and corporations that have voiced their strong
support for this bill realize that the advancement of green chemistry
is positive for not only their businesses, but also our country's
environment, our economy and our Nation's citizens.
The American Chemical Society, a nonprofit organization chartered by
Congress, stated in support of H.R. 2850, ``Green chemistry means
continuously improving process safety and resource efficiency leading
to reduced cost, waste and environmental impact. It is the ultimate
proof that environmental and economic benefit in chemistry can be
optimized simultaneously.''
Mr. Speaker, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and
green chemistry promises a ton of pollution prevention. I urge my
colleagues to support this bipartisan legislation.
Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I would just reiterate my commendation to the
gentleman from Georgia, Dr. Gingrey, and Mr. Hall for his leadership,
and urge passage of this legislation.
Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, as chairman of the Technology and Innovation
Subcommittee and a cosponsor of the bill, I rise in support of H.R.
2850, the Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2007. I want
to commend Dr. Gingrey for his work on this bill.
Partnerships with universities, non-profits, industry and the Federal
Government are important for the chemical industry's success. The
transfer of technology from federally funded research to industry helps
promote innovation, which helps the United States remain competitive in
a global economy.
Federal support of green chemistry can produce many benefits. First,
companies will be able to produce more products less harmful to humans
and the environment. Second, businesses will benefit from the
facilitation of green chemistry research by the Federal Government and
the subsequent transfer of technology to the private sector.
This bill presents opportunities to reduce impact on the environment
while assisting our domestic industry to find new products through
innovation.
Recently, Columbia Forest Products, a company in my district,
received an award for an innovation in green chemistry. The company
produces interior plywood products. In collaboration with Oregon State
University, Columbia Forest Products has created a soy-based product to
use for its production of plywood, instead of traditional urea-
formaldehyde resin.
H.R. 2850 will help create more opportunities for universities and
companies to partner in green chemistry innovation.
I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
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 Washington (Mr. Baird) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2850, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
[[Page H10026]]
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________