[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 8, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S4844]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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   SENATE RESOLUTION 217--DESIGNATING OCTOBER 8, 2015, AS ``NATIONAL 
                      HYDROGEN AND FUEL CELL DAY''

  Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself and Mr. Graham) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 217

       Whereas hydrogen, which has an atomic mass of 1.008, is the 
     most abundant chemical substance in the universe;
       Whereas the United States is a world leader in the 
     development and deployment of fuel cell and hydrogen 
     technologies;
       Whereas hydrogen fuel cells played an instrumental role in 
     the United States space program, helping the United States 
     achieve the mission of landing a man on the moon;
       Whereas private industry, Federal and State governments, 
     national laboratories, and universities continue to improve 
     fuel cell and hydrogen technologies to address our most 
     pressing energy, environmental, and economic issues;
       Whereas fuel cells utilizing hydrogen and hydrogen-rich 
     fuels to generate electricity are clean, efficient, resilient 
     technologies being sold for stationary and backup power, 
     zero-emission light duty motor vehicles and buses, industrial 
     vehicles, and portable power;
       Whereas stationary fuel cells are being placed in service 
     for continuous and backup power to provide business and 
     energy consumers with reliable power in the event of grid 
     outages;
       Whereas stationary fuel cells can help reduce water use 
     compared to traditional power generation technologies;
       Whereas fuel cell electric light duty motor vehicles and 
     buses that utilize hydrogen can completely replicate the 
     experience of internal combustion vehicles including 
     comparable range and refueling times;
       Whereas hydrogen fuel cell industrial vehicles are being 
     deployed at logistical hubs and warehouses across the country 
     and are also being exported to facilities in Europe and Asia;
       Whereas hydrogen is a non-toxic gas that can be derived 
     from a variety of domestically-available traditional and 
     renewable resources, including solar, wind, biogas and the 
     abundant supply of natural gas in the United States;
       Whereas hydrogen and fuel cells can store energy to help 
     enhance the grid and maximize opportunities to deploy 
     renewable energy;
       Whereas the United States currently produces and uses more 
     than 11,000,000 metric tons of hydrogen per year; and
       Whereas engineers and safety code and standard 
     professionals have developed consensus-based protocols for 
     safe delivery, handling, and use of hydrogen: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the Senate designates October 8, 2015, as 
     ``National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day''.

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