[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 175 (Tuesday, December 6, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H7190-H7192]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STREAMLINING ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR SCHOOLS ACT OF 2015
Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 756) to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to provide
for the dissemination of information regarding available Federal
programs relating to energy efficiency projects for schools, and for
other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 756
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 ``Streamlining Energy
Efficiency for Schools Act of 2015''.
SEC. 2. COORDINATION OF ENERGY RETROFITTING ASSISTANCE FOR
SCHOOLS.
Section 392 of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (42
U.S.C. 6371a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(e) Coordination of Energy Retrofitting Assistance for
Schools.--
``(1) Definition of school.--Notwithstanding section
391(6), for the purposes of this subsection, the term
`school' means--
``(A) an elementary school or secondary school (as defined
in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801));
``(B) an institution of higher education (as defined in
section 102(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1002(a)));
``(C) a school of the defense dependents' education system
under the Defense Dependents' Education Act of 1978 (20
U.S.C. 921 et seq.) or established under section 2164 of
title 10, United States Code;
``(D) a school operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
``(E) a tribally controlled school (as defined in section
5212 of the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25
U.S.C. 2511)); and
``(F) a Tribal College or University (as defined in section
316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1059c(b))).
[[Page H7191]]
``(2) Establishment of clearinghouse.--The Secretary,
acting through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy, shall establish a clearinghouse to disseminate
information regarding available Federal programs and
financing mechanisms that may be used to help initiate,
develop, and finance energy efficiency, distributed
generation, and energy retrofitting projects for schools.
``(3) Requirements.--In carrying out paragraph (2), the
Secretary shall--
``(A) consult with appropriate Federal agencies to develop
a list of Federal programs and financing mechanisms that are,
or may be, used for the purposes described in paragraph (2);
and
``(B) coordinate with appropriate Federal agencies to
develop a collaborative education and outreach effort to
streamline communications and promote available Federal
programs and financing mechanisms described in subparagraph
(A), which may include the development and maintenance of a
single online resource that includes contact information for
relevant technical assistance in the Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy that States, local education
agencies, and schools may use to effectively access and use
such Federal programs and financing mechanisms.''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Texas (Mr. Olson) and the gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
General Leave
Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
to insert extraneous materials in the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
H.R. 756, the Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act, is an
important bill that would help the Nation's schools make use of
existing Federal programs to reduce their energy use.
There are currently a number of such programs that help schools
undertake projects that improve energy efficiency. Unfortunately,
school districts don't always have the know-how to navigate the
complexities of the Federal system and take full advantage of these
programs. This bill creates a simple, one-stop shop to get all the
needed information and help the school districts participate more fully
in these programs. The bottom line is that the Nation's schools will
reduce their energy costs.
As it is, energy use in American K-12 schools totals $6 billion a
year, and reducing this figure can save taxpayer dollars or free up
funds that schools can use on things other than on energy bills. H.R.
756 has no cost since it merely sets up a system under which existing
school energy efficiency programs can work better.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 756.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I thank my colleague from Texas.
This bill is important. I am here with my colleague Mr. Cartwright,
who will be speaking on this in a few minutes and who played a major
role in the passage of this legislation. Even though he is not a member
of the Energy and Commerce Committee, he is very much concerned about
the opportunities that occur when we make our energy use more
efficient.
Across the country, K-12 school districts spend literally billions of
dollars on their energy bills each year while an estimated 14 million
American children attend deteriorating public schools. According to a
Department of Education survey, 43 percent of schools indicated that
the poor condition of their facilities interferes with the delivery of
instruction, and those are probably schools in my district and in all
of our colleagues'. By upgrading these systems, we can increase
efficiency and get better educational outcomes.
It is not good for kids to be cold or too hot when they are trying to
study and learn. There are numbers of Federal initiatives already
available to schools to help them become more energy efficient, but the
problem is these programs are spread across the entire Federal
Government, making it difficult for a small school, particularly in a
rural district, to know where to look and how to take full advantage of
these programs.
That is where this legislation comes in. As I mentioned, introduced
by Congressman Cartwright and with my strong support, this Streamlining
Energy Efficiency for Schools Act will provide a coordinating structure
for schools to help them better navigate available Federal programs and
financing options.
At this point, Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright).
Mr. CARTWRIGHT. I thank the gentleman from Vermont.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the leadership for taking this bill up under
suspension today.
I remain hopeful that a compromise energy package can still be agreed
upon this Congress, and I am glad this bill was included in both the
House and Senate versions of that energy package. Nonetheless, I am
pleased that commonsense ideas, such as this one, may still become law
even if the larger package proves too large a lift in the last days of
this Congress.
I thank Congressman Peter Welch for his leadership on this bill. It
is no secret that he is one of the great champions in the House of
Representatives on the issue of energy efficiency, and it has been my
pleasure to work with him on this bill.
Mr. Speaker, so many schools across the country are in need of
upgrades and improvements to their facilities. In its last Report Card
for America's Infrastructure, the American Society of Civil Engineers
gave the condition of our Nation's schools a grade of D. As school
administrators undertake badly needed improvements, they have an
opportunity here to substantially increase their facilities' energy
efficiency, producing benefits for both the environment and the
economy. In reducing their energy bills, schools can put the savings to
use in other educational priorities.
K-12 school districts currently spend billions on their energy bills
every year--in fact, according to ENERGY STAR, approximately $6 billion
every year--second only to personnel costs and way ahead of the costs
of textbooks and supplies and things like that. Energy expenses are one
of the few costs that can be reduced while, at the same time, improving
classroom instruction. In fact, high-performance schools can lower a
school district's operating costs by up to 30 percent.
There are numerous Federal initiatives already available to schools
to help them become more energy efficient. As the gentleman from
Vermont just mentioned, the problem is that these programs are spread
across the Federal Government, making it challenging, time consuming,
and costly for schools to identify and take full advantage of these
programs.
Introduced in the Senate as S. 523, by Senator Susan Collins, this
bipartisan Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act aims to
provide a coordinating structure for schools to help them better
navigate available Federal programs and financing options.
This legislation does not spend an additional dime of taxpayer money,
and it keeps decisionmaking authority with the States, the school
boards, and local officials.
It is a bill that establishes a clearinghouse through the Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which will disseminate
information on Federal programs and financing mechanisms that may be
used to develop energy efficiency, distributed generation, and energy
retrofitting projects for schools.
{time} 1230
This bill also directs the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy to coordinate with Federal agencies and develop an outreach
effort to streamline communications and promote available Federal
programs. This kind of outreach may include a single Web site that
school officials can go to for one-stop shopping and learn about
relevant energy efficiency programs.
Overburdened school administrators shouldn't have to spend hours and
hours wading through the Federal bureaucracy as they look for ways to
make energy efficiency improvements. This commonsense legislation will
ensure that schools can more easily take advantage of already existing
energy efficiency programs. It is a strategic
[[Page H7192]]
and cost-saving investment to relieve the fiscal pressure felt by
school districts across the Nation while bringing us closer to American
energy security.
So for all of these reasons, Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to
pass this bill.
Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Georgia, the Peach State (Mr. Carter).
Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R.
756, the Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act of 2015.
Efficient use of energy can help reduce consumption, lower energy
bills, and may also help the environment as well. The benefits of
energy efficiency can extend to our homes, businesses, and public
institutions, including schools. There is a multitude of programs and
finance mechanisms available for schools to use to further their energy
efficiency goals. However, information on these resources is hard to
find; and, as a result, schools may be missing out on opportunities to
make their facilities more energy efficient.
H.R. 756 would direct the Department of Energy to create a
clearinghouse in order to disseminate information on energy efficiency
programs and grants for schools. This bill would also help facilitate
coordination between Federal agencies so that they may develop a
collaborative effort to help schools meet their energy efficiency
needs.
I urge my colleagues to support our schools in their efforts to
become more energy efficient by supporting H.R. 756.
Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, everything that needs to be said has been
said.
I appreciate the work of my colleague from Texas (Mr. Olson), and I
really do appreciate as well the leadership of the gentleman from
Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright), who has been very, very active on
anything related to making better use of our energy.
I urge passage of this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, this is a commonsense bill that helps schools
all across America. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 756.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Olson) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 756.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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