[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 55 (Thursday, April 14, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2521-S2522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. UDALL of Colorado (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, and Mr. 
        Merkley):
  S. 841. A bill to provide cost-sharing assistance to improve access 
to the markets of foreign countries for energy efficiency products and 
renewable energy products exported by small- and medium-sized 
businesses in the United States, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I rise today to speak about the 
Renewable Energy Market Access Program Act, or REMAP Act, which I am 
re-introducing in the 112th Congress with my colleagues, Senators 
Stabenow and Merkley. This bill is designed to help grow American 
renewable energy and energy efficiency exports abroad by helping small 
and medium sized renewable energy businesses promote, export and 
ultimately penetrate foreign markets. In turn this bill will help grow 
the American economy and create American jobs.
  This effort is a smaller piece of what needs to be a comprehensive 
and cohesive approach to reduce our trade deficit in clean energy goods 
and bolster our economy. Despite efforts to do just that, we still 
struggle to build a manufacturing base that can provide the goods 
necessary to meet the global demand for renewable energy products. It 
is astonishing that increasingly, we import more renewable energy goods 
than we export. A recent Senate report showed that over a 5 year period 
from 2004-2008, our trade deficit in renewable energy goods increased 
350 percent, which is attributed to increased U.S. demand that is met 
largely by imports from Asia and Europe. Not only are we failing to 
meet our own domestic demand, but we are slow to take advantage of 
market opportunities abroad. It is estimated that 90 percent of 
worldwide investments in renewable energy goods occur in G-20 
countries, and the developing world is projected to comprise 80 percent 
of the world's future energy demand, yet the United States is not well 
positioned to capture these growing and burgeoning markets for 
renewable energy goods. If we are truly dedicated to strengthening our 
capability to grow renewable energy manufacturing and to becoming 
energy independent, we need to do more. We need to invest strategically 
at home, and we must also look beyond our shores to build markets for 
domestic manufacturers markets that can translate into sustainable, 
well-paying jobs here at home.
  My legislation would create the Renewable Energy Market Access 
Program to focus on equipping small and medium sized enterprises with 
the tools they need to access foreign markets, thereby strengthening 
our domestic economy and creating jobs. Through REMAP, trade 
associations and state-regional trade groups would apply to the U.S. 
Department of Commerce to enter into cooperative agreements to provide 
marketing and trade assistance to small- and medium-sized companies in 
the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. The assistance 
would help facilitate the export of their goods to existing and new 
foreign markets. The agreements would also offer eligible participants 
an opportunity to share the costs related to innovative marketing and 
promotion activities. The public funding for any one application would 
never exceed 50 percent of the total cost of the proposal, ensuring 
buy-in from the applicant and an ongoing working relationship with the 
Department of Commerce. In sum, this bill will help streamline access 
to the global marketplace for small businesses and help promote 
American renewable energy and energy efficiency products overseas.
  I believe that this legislation takes an important step in the right 
direction to support the growing renewable energy industry. I have been 
encouraged by the efforts of my colleagues here in the U.S. Congress 
and in the Administration to place a strong emphasis on supporting and 
growing all of America's exports but our future will be in solving our 
shared energy challenges.
  While we look at ways to enhance market access to foreign markets, 
Congress must also develop sensible policy mechanisms to address unfair 
trade barriers and other anti-competitive tactics that are used to keep 
our goods from markets in countries with which we have stable 
relations. Such tactics should be addressed, but should not keep us 
from pursuing other opportunities to build foreign markets for American 
businesses. This is why I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting 
this legislation to support our small business community in growing our 
nation's economy.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 841

       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 ``Renewable Energy Market 
     Access Program Act''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Energy efficiency product.--The term ``energy 
     efficiency product'' means any product, technology, or 
     component of a product that--
       (A) as compared with products, technologies, or components 
     of products being deployed at the time for widespread 
     commercial use in the country in which the product, 
     technology, or component will be used--
       (i) substantially increases the energy efficiency of 
     buildings, industrial or agricultural processes, or 
     electricity transmission, distribution, or end-use 
     consumption; or
       (ii) substantially increases the energy efficiency of the 
     transportation system; and
       (B) results in no significant incremental adverse effects 
     on public health or the environment.
       (2) Renewable energy.--The term ``renewable energy'' means 
     energy generated by a renewable energy resource.
       (3) Renewable energy product.--The term ``renewable energy 
     product'' means any product, technology, or component of a 
     product used in the development or production of renewable 
     energy.
       (4) Renewable energy resource.--The term ``renewable energy 
     resource'' means solar, wind, ocean, tidal, or geothermal 
     energy, biofuel, biomass, hydropower, or hydrokinetic energy.
       (5) Small- and medium-sized businesses.--The term ``small- 
     and medium-sized businesses'' means--
       (A) small business concerns (as that term used in section 3 
     of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 632)); and
       (B) businesses the Secretary of Commerce determines to be 
     small- or medium-sized, based on factors that include the 
     structure of the industry, the amount of competition in the 
     industry, the average size of businesses in the industry, and 
     costs and barriers associated with entering the industry.

     SEC. 3. COST-SHARING ASSISTANCE WITH RESPECT TO THE 
                   EXPORTATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY PRODUCTS AND 
                   RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTS.

       (a) In General.--The Under Secretary for International 
     Trade of the Department of Commerce (in this section referred 
     to as the ``Under Secretary'') shall establish and carry out 
     a program to provide cost-sharing assistance to eligible 
     organizations--
       (1) to improve access to the markets of foreign countries 
     for energy efficiency products and renewable energy products 
     exported by small- and medium-sized businesses in the United 
     States; and
       (2) to assist small- and medium-sized businesses in the 
     United States in obtaining services and other assistance with 
     respect to exporting energy efficiency products and renewable 
     energy products, including services and assistance available 
     from the Department of Commerce and other Federal agencies.
       (b) Eligible Organizations.--An eligible organization is a 
     nonprofit trade association in the United States or a State 
     or regional organization that promotes the exportation and 
     sale of energy efficiency products or renewable energy 
     products.
       (c) Application Process.--An eligible organization shall 
     submit an application for cost-sharing assistance under 
     subsection (a)--
       (1) at such time and in such manner as the Under Secretary 
     may require; and
       (2) that contains a plan that describes the activities the 
     organization plans to carry out using the cost-sharing 
     assistance provided under subsection (a).
       (d) Awarding Cost-sharing Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall establish a 
     process for granting applications for cost-sharing assistance 
     under subsection (a) that includes a competitive review 
     process.
       (2) Priority for innovative ideas.--In awarding cost-
     sharing assistance under subsection (a), the Under Secretary 
     shall give priority to an eligible organization that includes 
     in the plan of the organization submitted under subsection 
     (c)(2) innovative ideas for improving access to the markets 
     of foreign countries for energy efficiency products and 
     renewable energy products exported by small- and medium-sized 
     businesses in the United States.
       (e) Level of Cost-sharing Assistance.--
       (1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), the Under 
     Secretary shall determine an appropriate percentage of the 
     cost of carrying out a plan submitted by an eligible 
     organization under subsection (c)(2) to be provided in the 
     form of assistance under this section.

[[Page S2522]]

       (2) Limitation.--Assistance provided under this section may 
     not exceed 50 percent of the cost of carrying out the plan of 
     an eligible organization.

     SEC. 4. REPORT.

       Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
     this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of Energy, shall submit to Congress a report on the 
     export promotion needs of businesses in the United States 
     that export energy efficiency products or renewable energy 
     products.

     SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
     Commerce to carry out this Act--
       (1) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2012;
       (2) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2013;
       (3) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2014;
       (4) $18,000,000 for fiscal year 2015; and
       (5) $19,000,000 for fiscal year 2016.
                                 ______