[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 160 (Thursday, October 5, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S6368]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





   SENATE RESOLUTION 287--DESIGNATING OCTOBER 8, 2017, AS ``NATIONAL 
                      HYDROGEN AND FUEL CELL DAY''

  Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Coons) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 287

       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 institutions of higher education 
     continue to improve fuel cell and hydrogen technologies to 
     address the most pressing energy, environmental, and economic 
     issues of the United States;
       Whereas fuel cells utilizing hydrogen and hydrogen-rich 
     fuels to generate electricity are clean, efficient, and 
     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, as 
     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 United 
     States and exported to facilities in Europe and Asia;
       Whereas hydrogen is a nontoxic 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 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, 2017, as 
     ``National Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day''.

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