[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 5, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H2328-H2329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STREAMLINING ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR SCHOOLS ACT OF 2019
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill
(H.R. 762) 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. 762
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 2019''.
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))).
``(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 New
York (Mr. Tonko) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Upton) each will
control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and
include extraneous material on H.R. 762.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I want to voice my strong support for H.R. 762
introduced by my good friend and colleague from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Cartwright).
This legislation will provide a coordinating structure for our
Nation's schools to help them better navigate available Federal
programs and financing options.
Across our great 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. By
upgrading these systems, we can increase efficiency and focus school
funding to achieve better educational outcomes.
We have a huge opportunity this Congress to make major investments in
our Nation's infrastructure--including our most essential institutions,
such as schools.
I believe efficiency has to be our fuel of first choice. We can save
local taxpayers money while upgrading and modernizing these facilities.
This legislation has passed the House in each of the last two
Congresses with broad bipartisan support, and I am proud to be an
original cosponsor of this year's iteration.
I commend Representative Cartwright and the bill's bipartisan
cosponsors for their efforts, and I urge my colleagues to join me in
voting for the bill.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I want to
consume.
Mr. Speaker, this bill, H.R. 762, was introduced by Representative
Cartwright on January 24. I would note that it is identical to bills
that passed the House in prior Congresses by a voice vote, unanimous
and bipartisan.
This legislation would require that the Secretary of Energy establish
a clearinghouse to share information regarding available Federal
programs to help schools initiate, develop, and finance energy
efficiency, distributed generation, and energy retrofitting projects.
These types of energy upgrades will help schools stretch their budgets
and reduce their impact on the environment at the same time.
This is a good, bipartisan bill. It is going to help schools take
advantage of existing programs to cut down on their energy use. As I
have said before, we should continue to encourage these innovations in
energy efficiencies to help address climate change, and this bill is a
good step in the right direction.
Mr. Speaker, when I was a student, I never had a legislator come
visit my class. As part of my district operation, I visit a school
literally every week.
So we all have districts that look pretty much the same. I have
probably 100-some school districts, close to 500, 600 school buildings
for sure, and as I have visited these classrooms in the years that I
have served, every school is different. Many of these schools are 40,
50, 60 years old.
This legislation is needed. We want to make sure that the money for
education not only goes to help our students move forward, but, in
fact, that they are in a safe environment. Energy conservation is
something that is needed at almost every one of our schools.
This is a good piece of legislation. I hope that we can pass it again
today by a strong, bipartisan--perhaps, unanimous--vote, and I urge
that the Senate take it up as quickly as they can.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Cartwright). Representative Cartwright
is from Pennsylvania's Eighth Congressional District.
Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the leadership for
bringing this bill up under suspension today, and to Representative
Tonko for yielding time, also, to Republican Leader Upton for his kind
words.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the entire Energy and
Commerce Committee for their long-term support for this bill. And I say
``long-term'' because this bill has passed the House under suspension
under each of the past three Congresses.
Unfortunately, our friends in the Senate--and I use that word
loosely--have yet to bring it to the floor. I am glad the House is
considering this bill early in the session with plenty of time for the
Senate to act.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Congressman Welch of Vermont,
particularly, for his leadership on this bill. It is no secret that he
is one of the great energy efficiency gurus in the House, and it has
been a pleasure for me to work with him.
Mr. Speaker, across the country, school districts spend billions of
dollars on their energy every year. These
[[Page H2329]]
are schools in need of upgrades and improvements to their facilities.
In its most recent Infrastructure Report Card, the American Society
of Civil Engineers gave the condition of our Nation's schools a grade
of D-plus.
Now, what this bill proposes are enhancements that improve the state
of our schools, our economy, and our environment by implementing
economically and environmentally sustainable changes so school
administrators can address short-term and long-term needs. In reducing
their energy bills, schools can put the savings toward other
educational priorities.
Now, according to the EPA and the Department of Energy, K-12 school
districts, nationwide, spend approximately $8 billion on their energy
every year, second only to personnel costs. $8 billion exceeds the
costs of textbooks and supplies. An estimated $2 billion of that cost
could be saved by improving energy efficiency, an amount that can pay
for 40 million textbooks.
Moreover, 43 percent of schools, according to a Department of
Education survey, indicated that the poor condition of their facilities
interferes with the delivery of instruction. In fact, high-performance
schools can lower a school district's operating costs by up to 30
percent.
Now, there are numerous Federal initiatives already available to
schools to help them become more energy efficient, but these programs
are spread across the Federal Government, making it challenging, time
consuming, difficult, and costly for schools to identify and take full
advantage of these programs. We are talking about harried, busy school
administrators that don't have the time to dive in to do that kind of
research.
These programs exist for schools to utilize them. We should make
every effort to assist schools in enacting sensible upgrades that help
our students learn and help our schools run smoothly and efficiently.
This bipartisan Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act aims
to provide a coordinating structure for schools to help schools better
navigate available Federal programs and financing options. Now, this
legislation does not spend any additional money, and it keeps
decisionmaking authority with the States, the school boards, and the
local officials.
The bill establishes a clearinghouse through the Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The clearinghouse 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.
The bill also directs the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy to coordinate with Federal agencies and develop an outreach
program to streamline communications and promote available Federal
programs. For example, outreach may provide a single website where
school officials can learn, with one-stop shopping, about the relevant
programs.
This is commonsense legislation that will ensure that schools can
more easily take advantage of energy efficiency programs. It is a
strategic and cost-saving investment to relieve the fiscal pressure
felt by school districts across the Nation while bringing us closer to
energy security.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers on our side that I
am aware of, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to the
gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch), my colleague and friend.
Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member; the chairman; and
the sponsor of this bill, Mr. Cartwright, in persistent advocacy.
What Mr. Cartwright said really makes sense. It is pretty bad, the
condition of many of our schools throughout the country. About 43
percent are in substandard condition. It has a real impact on learning,
but it also has an impact on expense. It means that kids are in cold
and drafty schools or it is too hot; it is one or the other.
Energy efficiency programs can make a huge difference, and there are
some that are available.
As Mr. Cartwright said, the teachers and the principals want to focus
on instruction and taking care of the kids. They don't have time to
manage and investigate what are all of the programs out there that may
allow them to rehab their schools.
This allows the Secretary to essentially provide a blueprint so that,
whether you are in a small town like Norwich, Vermont, where I am from,
where we have got a population of about 3,000, or you are in an urban
district in the middle of Chicago, you are going to be able to get the
information you need without absorbing a lot of staff time.
And then, by the way, kids are getting involved in this question of
climate change. This is a big deal because, at our schools and our high
schools, there is a lot of leadership that is saying we have got an
obligation to protect our planet. What is going to happen when we
embrace energy efficiency on a large scale but start locally is that it
is going to reduce carbon emissions.
In fact, when we passed the Waxman-Markey bill in the House--it
didn't get through the Senate--where the goal was 80 percent carbon
reductions by 2050, 40 percent of those carbon reductions were coming
from energy efficiency.
It is what Mr. Tonko says. It is our fuel of choice. It is the
cheapest way to reduce carbon emissions.
The other thing is, every time you are doing energy efficiency, it
means local tradesmen and -women are doing the work. So it is those
kids who are going to have a warmer or a cooler school, and it is their
moms and dads who are going to be doing the work to make that happen.
So this really makes a lot of sense.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the sponsor of this legislation and leadership
on the committee for their work in bringing it forward.
Mr. UPTON. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote for this
legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. TONKO. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage our colleagues to support this measure.
Obviously, H.R. 762 enables us to make certain that we target
wastefulness and energy efficiency. It is a good way to make certain
that resources that can be committed to education are not wasted
through inefficient use of energy--a good, strong message for the
development of our children.
So it is a great bill. I applaud Representative Cartwright and his
cosponsors for moving us forward and ask that our colleagues support
this measure.
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 New York (Mr. Tonko) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 762.
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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