[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 130 (Tuesday, September 15, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S9378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. Snowe, and Mrs. Shaheen):
  S. 1672. A bill to reauthorize the National Oilheat Research Alliance 
Act of 2000; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I introduce, along with Senator Snowe 
and Senator Shaheen, the National Oilheat Research Alliance 
Reauthorization Act of 2009. Since its establishment in 2001, the 
National Oilheat Research Alliance, NORA, has been a helpful entity for 
consumers of home heating fuel.
  As part of the Energy Act of 2000, Congress authorized the heating 
oil industry to conduct a referendum to create NORA and to permit a 
small fraction of the wholesale price of heating oil--2/10 of a cent 
per gallon--to be paid by oilheat wholesale distributors to fund 
industry-led research and development, energy conservation, safety, 
training, and consumer education initiatives.
  Since that time, R&D funded in part by NORA has been responsible for 
gains in efficiency as well as improvement in equipment that run on 
biofuels. In my home state, the next generation of oilheat technicians 
is being taught using classes developed by NORA.
  NORA's current authorization expires in February 2010. The bipartisan 
bill we are introducing today extends the authorization for another 
year to allow NORA to continue operating. This extension will give 
Congress time to complete a longer-term reauthorization that will make 
important reforms to NORA. It is essential that this extension be 
signed into law before the end of this year. Otherwise, NORA will be 
forced to start shutdown procedures in advance of the authorization 
lapsing.
  Currently, the oilheat industry in 23 states and the District of 
Columbia--representing more than 8.5 million homes and businesses--
participates in NORA. It is important that Congress act quickly on this 
bill to ensure that the benefits NORA creates for these families and 
businesses continue uninterrupted.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to have the text of the bill 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1672

       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 ``National Oilheat Research 
     Alliance Reauthorization Act of 2009''.

     SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION.

       Section 713 of the National Oilheat Research Alliance Act 
     of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 6201 note; Public Law 106-469) is amended 
     by striking ``the date that is 9 years after the date on 
     which the Alliance is established'' and inserting ``February 
     6, 2011''.
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