[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 202 (Tuesday, December 12, 2017)]
[House]
[Pages H9808-H9809]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
DIRECTING SECRETARY OF ENERGY TO REVIEW AND UPDATE REPORT ON ENERGY AND
ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS OF RE-REFINING OF USED LUBRICATING OIL
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 1733) to direct the Secretary of Energy to review and update a
report on the energy and environmental benefits of the re-refining of
used lubricating oil.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1733
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. ENERGY SAVINGS FROM LUBRICATING OIL.
Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this
Act, the Secretary of Energy, in cooperation with the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, shall--
(1) review and update the report prepared pursuant to
section 1838 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005;
(2) after consultation with relevant Federal, State, and
local agencies and affected industry and stakeholder groups,
update data that was used in preparing that report; and
(3) prepare and submit to Congress a coordinated Federal
strategy to increase the beneficial reuse of used lubricating
oil, that--
(A) is consistent with national policy as established
pursuant to section 2 of the Used Oil Recycling Act of 1980
(Public Law 96-463); and
(B) addresses measures needed to--
(i) increase the responsible collection of used oil;
(ii) disseminate public information concerning sustainable
reuse options for used oil; and
(iii) promote sustainable reuse of used oil by Federal
agencies, recipients of Federal grant funds, entities
contracting with the Federal Government, and the general
public.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Upton) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Rush) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
General Leave
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
insert extraneous material in the Record on the bill.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, this bill, H.R. 1733, was introduced by Energy and
Commerce Committee member Susan Brooks from Indiana on March 27 of this
year. The legislation went through regular order, and it was reported
by the full committee, without amendment, by a voice vote.
This bill, H.R. 1733, requires the Secretary of Energy to review and
update a report on the energy and environmental benefits of re-refining
used lubricating oil. The bill reauthorizes a study that was previously
directed under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
We know that recycling used lubricating oil provides environmental
benefits. It does, in fact, reduce energy consumption, and, yes, it
produces high-quality products for consumers.
H.R. 1733 is a good bipartisan bill. I want to thank Mrs. Brooks for
her hard work on this important issue and the other side of the aisle
for working with us to bring the bill to the floor this afternoon.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 1733,
and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1733, which would
update a 2006 Department of Energy report on the energy and
environmental benefits of re-refining used lubricating oil.
Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1733 represents a commonsense bill aimed at saving
energy and protecting the environment by finding additional ways to
reuse lubricating oil.
Mr. Speaker, these measures may include increasing the collection of
used oil, distributing public information on sustainable reuse, and
encouraging the recycling of used oils.
Mr. Speaker, the U.S. is responsible for almost one-quarter of the
global lubricating oil market; however, unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, we
are currently behind our European counterparts in our ability to
recycle this product.
Mr. Speaker, this bill will help conserve energy and protect the
environment by providing a Federal strategy to re-refine lubricating
oil that can be used in all different types of gas and diesel engines.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleague from the Energy and
Commerce Committee, Mrs. Brooks from Indiana, for sponsoring this
bipartisan bill, and I urge all my colleagues to support this
legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from
Indiana (Mrs. Brooks), who is a member of the committee and the author
of this bill.
{time} 1345
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for
yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in favor of H.R. 1733.
Like many Hoosiers, I believe in the value of recycling and the
benefits it brings to Indiana and our country. This bill would help us
understand how we can better recycle lubricating oil.
H.R. 1733 requires a 2006 study mandated by the Energy Policy Act of
2005 be updated to reflect current information about the benefits or
re-refined lubricating oil and how its production and use could be
increased in the country.
Re-refining removes contaminants from the oil and blends additives to
restore the oil to its original effectiveness. Used oil can be re-
refined infinitely and is suitable for use in many types of gas and
diesel engines. In fact, the Federal Government already requires re-
refined oil to be used within many agencies' vehicle fleets and many
State and local governments require its use as well.
Ensuring that Congress has up-to-date data on the value of recycled
oil will allow legislators to make smarter decisions when developing
environmental and energy policies moving forward. By updating this
study, companies across the country that produce re-refined oil, like
Indiana's own Crystal Clean, will have a better understanding of the
latest trends regarding this product and how they can better anticipate
the needs of the Federal Government.
I am proud to say that Members on both sides of the aisle supported
this bill when it passed through the Energy and Commerce Committee
because it is environmentally conscious and supports an all-of-the-
above energy strategy.
I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Kennedy)
for his continued support on this bill, and the Ranking Member on the
Energy Subcommittee, Mr. Rush, as we introduced this together earlier
this year to move this through committee.
[[Page H9809]]
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I would remind my
colleagues that this is a bipartisan bill. I would like to think we can
pass this on a voice vote. I, again, commend the gentlewoman from
Indiana, our committee, and the staff for getting this done. We hope
that the Senate will take it up soon.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1733.
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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