[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 11, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E856]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       DOMESTIC FUEL FOR ENHANCING NATIONAL SECURITY ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JAY INSLEE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2011

  Mr. INSLEE. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the bipartisan 
Domestic Fuel for Enhancing National Security (D-FENS) Act of 2011, 
which will allow Civilian Agencies and Military Agencies to extend 
multiyear contracts from the current limit of 5 years to up to 15 years 
for the purchase of advanced biofuels. I thank my colleague Mr. Jones 
of North Carolina for working with me on this issue, which will 
increase our national security and help build an American industry.
  Accounting for about 2 percent of U.S. energy consumption, the 
Department of Defense is the largest single consumer of energy in the 
country. According to Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs 
of Staff, ``[the Department of Defense] is using 300,000 barrels of oil 
every day. The energy use per soldier creeps up every year. And our 
number-one import into Afghanistan is fossil fuel.''
  U.S. Navy Secretary Ray Maybus has outlined several goals to lead the 
Navy toward a more energy-secure fleet. By 2015, the Navy will reduce 
petroleum use in the commercial fleet by 50 percent. By 2020, the Navy 
will produce at least 50 percent of shore-based energy requirements 
from alternative sources and 50 percent of total energy consumption 
will come from alternative sources.
  No one knows better than the Department of Defense that energy 
supplies are critical to combat troops and our national security. To 
ultimately realize these goals, we must dramatically scale-up advanced 
biofuel production in the United States. With added Congressional 
authority to purchase longer-term contracts, our defense sector could 
adopt domestically produced sustainable fuels for the security of our 
troops.
  Companies already have developed technologies to produce ``drop-in'' 
ready fuels, meaning our military could use these fuels in existing 
infrastructure, aircraft and ships. The longer-term contracts provided 
by this bill will not only increase our energy security, but can 
ultimately help unlock private investment for construction and 
development of large advanced biofuel refineries in the United States. 
In states like Washington, North Carolina, California, Montana and 
others, interests from the private sector, universities, ports and 
major airports are already working to bring the first generation of 
biofuels to the market, and their efforts can be greatly enhanced by 
this legislation.
  Washington state and the Pacific Northwest are well-positioned to 
commercialize aviation biofuels--all elements of the supply chain are 
feasible, and the region has come together to map out a strategic and 
sustainable path to bring advanced bio-based jet fuels to market. 
Already in the Northwest, 40 public and private stakeholders from 
academic research institutions, environmental advocacy, and government, 
and the aerospace and aviation, biofuels, and agriculture and forestry 
industries have formed the Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest (SAFN) 
initiative. This effort was convened by regional aviation leaders 
Boeing, Alaska Airlines, the region's largest airports--Port of 
Seattle, Port of Portland and Spokane International Airport--as well as 
Washington State University, a center of advanced biofuels research. 
Stakeholders include fuel producers, farm and forest managers, non-
governmental organizations and key government leaders, including 
representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the 
Defense Logistics Agency. This diverse group representing all points 
along the supply chain is working to create a ``flight path'' that will 
overcome challenges to deploying advanced aviation biofuels. This 
legislation will support Washington's effort to make the Northwest 
region a market leader in the advanced biofuel industry.
  With our nation's security and energy independence in mind, I urge my 
colleagues to support the Domestic Fuel for Enhancing National Security 
(D-FENS) Act of 2011.

                          ____________________