[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 10, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6329-S6330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
By Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Mr. Wyden, and Ms. Murkowski):
S. 1491. A bill to amend the Energy Independence and Security Act of
2007 to improve United States-Israel energy cooperation, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to speak for a
few minutes about an exciting new area of collaboration between the
United States and Israel, our critical ally and friend in the Middle
East. Especially given the current state of affairs in the Middle East,
the United States' clear and unyielding support for Israel is more
important now than ever before. For the past few years, I have been a
leader in the effort to enhance US-Israel collaboration on energy
development, which is why I am excited today to introduce a bill that
will expand this critical relationship, along with Chairman Wyden and
Ranking Member Murkowski.
In December 2010, Israel made the largest natural gas discovery in
the world in the past decade off its coast in the Mediterranean. The
discovery, known as the Leviathan field, is estimated at 16 trillion
cubic feet of natural gas, bringing Israel's total natural gas reserves
to an estimated 30 trillion cubic feet. This will likely be able to
satisfy Israel's domestic gas demand with enough left over to export
for years to come--in fact, it is estimated that if only half of this
natural gas was produced, Israel would have 100 years of its natural
gas needs met.
Not only is the Leviathan discovery a game changer for Israel, both
economically and geopolitically, but it is also an incredible chance
for the U.S. to share our energy expertise to support a critical ally
while creating economic opportunities here at home. The Gulf Coast,
which provides one third of all domestically produced oil in the
nation, arguably has the most advanced offshore energy industry in the
world; Israel, until very recently has had almost none. With limited
domestic production capacity, a non-existent regulatory framework, and
a lack of related academic programs, Israel can greatly benefit from
collaboration with the U.S., and we are uniquely qualified to lead this
effort to help Israel successfully develop this natural resource. As
Israel is a leader in the research and development, hi-tech and startup
spaces, enhanced collaboration between the two countries can be
mutually beneficial.
The United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Enhancement Bill
recognizes the important relationship and potential for further
collaboration between the United States and Israel on energy
development, including natural gas and alternative fuels, and seeks to
bolster that relationship by encouraging increased cooperation in the
academic, business, governmental, and other sectors.
The bill first recognizes energy collaboration with Israel as a
strategic interest of the United States and officially encourages
collaboration between the U.S. National Science Foundation and the
Israel Science Foundation. It then further encourages cooperation
between both countries' academic communities in energy innovation
technology, technology transfer, and analysis of the geopolitical
implications of new natural resource development. It also urges
business development engagement in the private sectors and regular
engagement between the two countries' relevant agencies, departments
and ministries to share best practices.
Additionally, the United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Enhancement
Bill expands two already existing joint grant making programs, the
Binational Industrial Research and Development Program, BIRD, and the
Binational Science Foundation, BSF. Under the bill, these two programs
would now include projects focused on natural gas, which are expected
given Israel's recent discoveries, as well as entrepreneurial
development and the advanced hi-tech sector. The legislation also
reauthorizes the BIRD and BSF programs through fiscal year 2024.
Finally, the bill allows for the authorization of a United States-
Israel Offshore Technology Center to further academic and technology
research and development collaboration. This is the direct result of
numerous conversations, meetings, and visits I have had over the past
few years, and I am especially excited about the potential of this type
of formal academic collaboration. Israeli universities have some of the
world's leading engineering departments, but have no petroleum
engineering faculty. Imagine the synergy if we could combine Israeli
engineering expertise with our universities, who have the leading
petroleum engineering departments in the world.
This bill builds off of my previous efforts to enhance collaboration
between the United States and Israel on energy development and
exploration. For several years, I have been working to strengthen the
relationship between our two countries and to help our domestic energy
industry. In October 2011, with the help of the Department
[[Page S6330]]
of Commerce and the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance,
I organized the first ever oil and gas trade mission to Israel and
brought 12 Louisiana oil and gas companies to the region. The mission
was such a success that the Department of Commerce and I ran another
trip in October 2012 that brought 15 American companies and
universities. Additionally, in June of 2012, I hosted a delegation of
10 high-ranking Israeli officials in Washington and Louisiana to meet
with US industry experts and federal officials, including then
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. The delegation also attended the
Central Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease sale in New Orleans and
visited Port Fourchon and the Liquified Natural Gas, LNG, facility in
Cameron Parish. By seeing our work first-hand and learning about the US
regulatory framework, they left with a keener understanding of our
industry.
The United States-Israel Energy Cooperation Enhancement Bill will
continue to advance this important goal. Through energy collaboration,
academic cooperation, and continued government dialogue, we will create
jobs for our domestic oil and gas industry and support a critical ally
in the Middle East in its quest for energy independence and security. I
thank my colleagues Chairman Wyden and Ranking Member Murkowski for
their leadership on this issue and for cosponsoring the bill, and I
urge my colleagues to support this important piece of legislation.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 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. 1491
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. UNITED STATES-ISRAEL ENERGY COOPERATION.
(a) Findings.--Section 917(a) of the Energy Independence
and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``renewable'' and
inserting ``covered'';
(2) in paragraph (4)--
(A) by striking ``possible many'' and inserting
``possible--
``(A) many'';
(B) by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon at the end;
and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(B) significant contributions to the development of
renewable energy and energy efficiency through the
established programs of the United States-Israel Binational
Industrial Research and Development Foundation and the United
States-Israel Binational Science Foundation;'';
(3) in paragraph (6)--
(A) by striking ``renewable'' and inserting ``covered'';
and
(B) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon at the end;
(4) in paragraph (7)--
(A) by striking ``renewable'' and inserting ``covered'';
and
(B) by striking the period at the end and inserting a
semicolon; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) United States-Israel energy cooperation, and the
development of natural resources by Israel, are strategic
interests of the United States;
``(9) Israel is a strategic partner of the United States in
water technology;
``(10) the United States can play a role in assisting
Israel with regional safety and security issues;
``(11) the National Science Foundation of the United States
should collaborate with the Israel Science Foundation;
``(12) the United States and Israel should strive to
develop more robust academic cooperation in energy innovation
technology and engineering, water science, technology
transfer, and analysis of geopolitical implications of new
natural resource development and associated areas;
``(13) the United States supports the goals of the
Alternative Fuels Administration of Israel;
``(14) the United States strongly urges open dialogue and
continued mechanisms for regular engagement and encourages
further cooperation between applicable departments, agencies,
ministries, institutions of higher education, and the private
sector of the United States and Israel on energy security
issues, including--
``(A) identifying policy priorities associated with the
development of natural resources of Israel;
``(B) discussing best practices to secure cyber energy
infrastructure;
``(C) best practice sharing;
``(D) leveraging natural gas to positively impact regional
stability;
``(E) improving energy efficiency and the overall
performance of water technologies through research and
development in water desalination, wastewater treatment and
reclamation, and other water treatment refiners;
``(F) technical and environmental management of deep-water
exploration and production;
``(G) coastal protection and restoration;
``(H) academic outreach and engagement;
``(I) private sector and business development engagement;
``(J) regulatory consultations;
``(K) leveraging alternative transportation fuels and
technologies; and
``(L) any other areas determined appropriate by United
States and Israel; and
``(15) the United States acknowledges the achievements and
importance of the Binational Industrial Research and
Development Foundation (BIRD) and the United States-Israel
Binational Science Foundation (BSF) and supports continued
multiyear funding to ensure the continuity of the programs of
the Foundations.''.
(b) Types of Energy.--Section 917(b)(2) of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(b)(2))
is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``and'' after the
semicolon at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (G), by striking the period at the end
and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(H) natural gas energy, including natural gas projects
conducted by or in conjunction with the United States-Israel
Binational Science Foundation;
``(I) improvement of energy efficiency and the overall
performance of water technologies through research and
development in water desalination, wastewater treatment and
reclamation, and other water treatment refiners; and
``(J) conventional and unconventional oil and gas
technologies.''.
(c) Eligible Applicants.--Section 917(b)(3) of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337(b)(3))
is amended by striking ``energy efficiency or renewable'' and
inserting ``covered''.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations; International
Partnerships.--Section 917 of the Energy Independence and
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17337) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (d);
(2) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (e); and
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) International Partnerships.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may, subject to
appropriations, enter into cooperative agreements supporting
and enhancing dialogue and planning involving international
partnerships between the Department, including National
Laboratories of the Department, and the Government of Israel
and its ministries, offices, and institutions.
``(2) Federal share.--The Secretary may not pay more than
50 percent of Federal share of the costs described in
paragraph (1).
``(3) Annual reports.--The Secretary may submit to the
appropriate committees of Congress an annual report that
describes--
``(A) actions taken to carry out this subsection; and
``(B) any projects under this subsection for which the
Secretary requests funding.
``(d) United States-Israel Center.--The Secretary may
establish a joint United States-Israel Center based in an
area of the United States with the experience, knowledge, and
expertise in offshore energy development to further dialogue
and collaboration to develop more robust academic cooperation
in energy innovation technology and engineering, water
science, technology transfer, and analysis of geopolitical
implications of new natural resource development and
associated areas.''.
(e) Termination.--Subsection (e) of section 917 of the
Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C.
17337) (as redesignated by subsection (d)(2)) is amended by
striking ``the date that is 7 years after the date of
enactment of this Act'' and inserting ``September 30, 2024''.
______