[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 62 (Monday, April 27, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E983]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   GREEN ENERGY EDUCATION ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. DAVID WU

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2009

  Mr. WU. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 957, the Green 
Energy Education Act of 2009.
  This bill authorizes the Department of Energy to partner with the 
National Science Foundation to help universities to develop the next 
generation of engineers and architects. These students will be trained 
to work effectively together to produce buildings that incorporate the 
latest in energy efficient technologies.
  Especially in this economy, we need to train our workforce in the 
latest, most relevant technologies in the green energy job sector in 
order to help us realize many of our energy policy goals.
  In the 110th Congress, I was able to add a provision to the Energy 
Independence and Security Act that allows colleges and university to 
research woody biomass, a new form of alternative fuel that shows 
promise in meeting our energy needs.
  We should also continue to support legislation that takes advantage 
of the growing opportunities to educate and train our college and 
university students to develop new technologies and find jobs in the 
green energy economy.
  Along with my place on the House Science and Technology Committee, I 
am also a member of the Education and Labor Committee, and co-chair of 
the Congressional Community College Caucus. I know that good 
sustainability practices are a vital component of the effort to move 
toward a clean, energy independent future. Because community colleges 
and universities are often at the forefront of this movement, they are 
a natural place to focus such efforts.
  By training students in the latest technologies, we are helping 
guarantee that companies will have the educated workforce necessary to 
grow and prosper in coming decades.
  I am happy to support this bill, and I am committed to continuing to 
advocate for policy, partnerships, and projects that will keep 
universities and community colleges at the forefront of our nation's 
burgeoning green energy economy.

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