[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 196 (Monday, December 9, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H9359-H9362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2019
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 2051) to provide for Federal coordination of
activities supporting sustainable chemistry, and for other purposes, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 2051
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 ``Sustainable Chemistry
Research and Development Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) Congress recognized the importance and value of
sustainable chemistry and the role of the Federal Government
in section 114 of the American Innovation and Competitiveness
Act (Public Law 114-329);
(2) sustainable chemistry and materials transformation is a
key value contributor to business competitiveness across many
industrial and consumer sectors;
(3) companies across hundreds of supply chains critical to
the American economy are seeking to reduce costs and open new
markets through innovations in manufacturing and materials,
and are in need of new innovations in chemistry, including
sustainable chemistry;
(4) sustainable chemistry can improve the efficiency with
which natural resources are used to meet human needs for
chemical products while avoiding environmental harm, reduce
or eliminate the emissions of and exposures to hazardous
substances, minimize the use of resources, and benefit the
economy, people, and the environment; and
(5) a recent report by the Government Accountability Office
(GAO-18-307) found that the Federal Government could play an
important role in helping realize the full innovation and
market potential of sustainable chemistry technologies,
including through a coordinated national effort on
sustainable chemistry and standardized tools and definitions
to support sustainable chemistry research, development,
demonstration, and commercialization.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL COORDINATING ENTITY FOR SUSTAINABLE
CHEMISTRY.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology Policy shall convene an interagency
entity (referred to in this Act as the ``Entity'') under the
National Science and Technology Council with the
responsibility to coordinate Federal programs and activities
in support of sustainable chemistry, including those
described in sections 5 and 6.
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(b) Coordination With Existing Groups.--In convening the
Entity, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology
Policy shall consider overlap and possible coordination with
existing committees, subcommittees, or other groups of the
National Science and Technology Council, such as--
(1) the Committee on Environment;
(2) the Committee on Technology;
(3) the Committee on Science; or
(4) related groups or subcommittees.
(c) Co-chairs.--The Entity shall be co-chaired by the
Office of Science and Technology Policy and a representative
from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science
Foundation, or the Department of Energy, as selected by the
Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy.
(d) Agency Participation.--The Entity shall include
representatives, including subject matter experts, from the
Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of
Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation,
the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, the
Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug
Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, and
other related Federal agencies, as appropriate.
(e) Termination.--The Entity shall terminate on the date
that is 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 4. ROADMAP FOR SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY.
(a) Roadmap.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Entity shall--
(1) consult with relevant stakeholders including
representatives from industry, academia, the Federal
Government, and international entities to develop and update
as needed a consensus definition of ``sustainable chemistry''
to guide the activities under this Act;
(2) develop a working framework of attributes
characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable
chemistry, as described in subsection (b);
(3) assess the state of sustainable chemistry in the United
States as a key benchmark from which progress under the
activities described in this Act can be measured, including
assessing key sectors of the United States economy, key
technology platforms, commercial priorities, and barriers to
innovation;
(4) coordinate and support Federal research, development,
demonstration, technology transfer, commercialization,
education, and training efforts in sustainable chemistry,
including budget coordination and support for public-private
partnerships, as appropriate;
(5) identify methods by which the Federal agencies can
facilitate the development of incentives for development,
consideration and use of sustainable chemistry processes and
products, including innovative financing mechanisms;
(6) identify major scientific challenges, roadblocks, or
hurdles to transformational progress in improving the
sustainability of the chemical sciences; and
(7) identify other opportunities for expanding Federal
efforts in support of sustainable chemistry.
(b) Characterizing and Assessing Sustainable Chemistry.--
The Entity shall develop a working framework of attributes
characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable
chemistry for the purposes of carrying out the Act. In
developing this framework, the Entity shall--
(1) seek advice and input from stakeholders as described in
subsection (c);
(2) consider existing definitions of or frameworks
characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable
chemistry already in use at Federal agencies;
(3) consider existing definitions of or frameworks
characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable
chemistry already in use by international organizations of
which the United States is a member, such as the Organisation
for Economic Co-operation and Development; and
(4) consider any other appropriate existing definitions of
or frameworks characterizing and metrics for assessing
sustainable chemistry.
(c) Consultation.--In carrying out the duties described in
subsections (a) and (b), the Entity shall consult with
stakeholders qualified to provide advice and information to
guide Federal activities related to sustainable chemistry
through workshops, requests for information, and other
mechanisms as necessary. The stakeholders shall include
representatives from--
(1) business and industry (including trade associations and
small- and medium-sized enterprises from across the value
chain);
(2) the scientific community (including the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, scientific
professional societies, and academia);
(3) the defense community;
(4) State, tribal, and local governments, including
nonregulatory State or regional sustainable chemistry
programs, as appropriate;
(5) nongovernmental organizations; and
(6) other appropriate organizations.
(d) Report to Congress.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Entity shall submit a report to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Committee
on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee
on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Energy and
Commerce, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives. In addition to the elements described in
subsections (a) and (b), the report shall include--
(A) a summary of federally funded, sustainable chemistry
research, development, demonstration, technology transfer,
commercialization, education, and training activities;
(B) a summary of the financial resources allocated to
sustainable chemistry initiatives;
(C) an assessment of the current state of sustainable
chemistry in the United States, including the role that
Federal agencies are playing in supporting it;
(D) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the
goals and priorities of this Act, and recommendations for
future program activities;
(E) an assessment of the benefits of expanding existing,
federally supported, regional innovation and manufacturing
hubs, centers, and institutes to include sustainable
chemistry and the value of directing the creation of 1 or
more dedicated sustainable chemistry centers of excellence,
hubs, or institutes; and
(F) an evaluation of steps taken and future strategies to
avoid duplication of efforts, streamline interagency
coordination, facilitate information sharing, and spread best
practices among participating agencies.
(2) Submission to gao.--The Entity shall also submit the
report described in paragraph (1) to the Comptroller General
of the United States for consideration in future
Congressional inquiries.
SEC. 5. AGENCY ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINABLE
CHEMISTRY.
(a) In General.--The agencies participating in the Entity
shall carry out activities in support of sustainable
chemistry, as appropriate to the specific mission and
programs of each agency.
(b) Activities.--The activities described in subsection (a)
shall--
(1) incorporate sustainable chemistry into existing
research, development, demonstration, technology transfer,
commercialization, education, and training programs, that the
agency determines to be relevant, including consideration
of--
(A) merit-based competitive grants to individual
investigators and teams of investigators, including, to the
extent practicable, early career investigators for research
and development;
(B) grants to fund collaborative research and development
partnerships among universities, industry, and nonprofit
organizations;
(C) coordination of sustainable chemistry research,
development, demonstration, and technology transfer conducted
at Federal laboratories and agencies;
(D) incentive prize competitions and challenges in
coordination with such existing Federal agency programs; and
(E) grants, loans, and loan guarantees to aid in the
technology transfer and commercialization of sustainable
chemicals, materials, processes, and products;
(2) collect and disseminate information on sustainable
chemistry research, development, technology transfer, and
commercialization, including information on accomplishments
and best practices;
(3) raise awareness of sustainable chemistry concepts
through public outreach activities;
(4) expand the education and training of students at all
levels of education, professional scientists and engineers,
and other professionals involved in all aspects of
sustainable chemistry and engineering appropriate to that
level of education and training, including through--
(A) partnerships with industry as described in section 6;
(B) support for the integration of sustainable chemistry
principles into elementary, secondary, undergraduate, and
graduate chemistry and chemical engineering curriculum and
research training, as appropriate to that level of education
and training; and
(C) support for integration of sustainable chemistry
principles into existing or new professional development
opportunities for professionals including teachers, faculty,
and individuals involved in laboratory research, (product
development, materials specification and testing, life cycle
analysis, and management);
(5) as relevant to an agency's programs, examine methods by
which the Federal agencies, in collaboration and consultation
with the National Institute of Standards and Technology, may
facilitate the development or recognition of validated,
standardized tools for performing sustainability assessments
of chemistry processes or products;
(6) through programs identified by an agency, support
(including through technical assistance, participation,
financial support, communications tools, awards, or other
forms of support) outreach and dissemination of sustainable
chemistry advances such as non-Federal symposia, forums,
conferences, and publications in collaboration with, as
appropriate, industry, academia, scientific and professional
societies, and other relevant groups;
(7) provide for public input and outreach to be integrated
into the activities described in
[[Page H9361]]
this section by the convening of public discussions, through
mechanisms such as public meetings, consensus conferences,
and educational events, as appropriate;
(8) within each agency, develop metrics to track the
outputs and outcomes of the programs supported by that
agency; and
(9) incentivize or recognize actions that advance
sustainable chemistry products, processes, or initiatives,
including through the establishment of a nationally
recognized awards program through the Environmental
Protection Agency to identify, publicize, and celebrate
innovations in sustainable chemistry and chemical
technologies.
(c) Limitations.--Financial support provided under this
section shall--
(1) be available only for pre-competitive activities; and
(2) not be used to promote the sale of a specific product,
process, or technology, or to disparage a specific product,
process, or technology.
(d) Agency Budget Report.--For each of fiscal years 2021
through 2030, not later than 90 days after submission of the
President's annual budget request, the Entity shall prepare
and submit to the Committee on Environment and Public Works,
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on
Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Appropriations of
the House of Representatives a report that includes a
summarized agency budget in support of the activities under
this Act for the fiscal year to which such budget request
applies, and for the then current fiscal year, including a
breakout of spending for each agency participating in such
activities.
SEC. 6. PARTNERSHIPS IN SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY.
(a) In General.--The agencies participating in the Entity
may facilitate and support, through financial, technical, or
other assistance, the creation of partnerships between
institutions of higher education, nongovernmental
organizations, consortia, or companies across the value chain
in the chemical industry, including small- and medium-sized
enterprises, to--
(1) create collaborative sustainable chemistry research,
development, demonstration, technology transfer, and
commercialization programs; and
(2) train students and retrain professional scientists,
engineers, and others involved in materials specification on
the use of sustainable chemistry concepts and strategies by
methods, including--
(A) developing or recognizing curricular materials and
courses for undergraduate and graduate levels and for the
professional development of scientists, engineers, and others
involved in materials specification; and
(B) publicizing the availability of professional
development courses in sustainable chemistry and recruiting
professionals to pursue such courses.
(b) Private Sector Participation.--To be eligible for
support under this section, a partnership in sustainable
chemistry shall include at least one private sector
organization.
(c) Selection of Partnerships.--In selecting partnerships
for support under this section, the agencies participating in
the Entity shall also consider the extent to which the
applicants are willing and able to demonstrate evidence of
support for, and commitment to, the goals outlined in the
roadmap and report described in section 4.
(d) Prohibited Use of Funds.--Financial support provided
under this section may not be used--
(1) to support or expand a regulatory chemical management
program at an implementing agency under a State law;
(2) to construct or renovate a building or structure; or
(3) to promote the sale of a specific product, process, or
technology, or to disparage a specific product, process, or
technology.
SEC. 7. PRIORITIZATION.
In carrying out this Act, the Entity shall focus its
support for sustainable chemistry activities on those that
achieve, to the highest extent practicable, the goals
outlined in the Act.
SEC. 8. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or amend
any State law or action with regard to sustainable chemistry,
as defined by the State.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from
Texas (Ms. Johnson) and the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
General Leave
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
to include extraneous materials on H.R. 2051, the bill under
consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentlewoman from Texas?
There was no objection.
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 2051, the Sustainable Chemistry Research
and Development Act of 2019.
I want to thank Representatives Lipinski and Moolenaar for
introducing this good, bipartisan bill.
Chemistry touches every aspect of modern society. As the chemical
industry continues to innovate to make our lives easier, we must do
more to minimize the risks to the environment and to public health.
Sustainable chemistry practices and principles, once widely adopted,
will provide the private sector with tools to meet societal needs while
mitigating negative impacts on the health and safety of future
generations.
Unfortunately, progress in adopting this approach has been slow. As
we learned during the Science Committee hearing on this topic earlier
this year, the key challenges include a lack of research, a lack of
Federal coordination, a lack of consensus regarding how sustainability
should be measured and assessed, and a need for improved sustainable
chemistry education.
This legislation establishes the framework for Federal leadership to
advance sustainable chemistry. Specifically, the bill provides for
improved coordination of Federal activities, including research and
development of more sustainable chemicals, processes, and systems.
The bill also supports improved education in sustainable chemistry
and expands opportunities for the Federal Government to partner with
industry to bring innovations to market.
When the Federal science agencies support our Nation's scientists and
engineers to come up with better solutions to real-world problems, our
brightest minds will always rise to the challenge.
I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
I rise in support of H.R. 2051, the Sustainable Chemistry Research
and Development Act of 2019.
H.R. 2051 provides for Federal coordination of research and
development for new innovations in chemistry, manufacturing, and
materials. This bill continues the Science Committee's bipartisan
commitment to prioritizing fundamental research that leads to new
technologies that will drive the American economy into the future.
Chemistry is essential to our economy and plays a vital role in
helping solve the biggest challenges facing the Nation and our world.
From farming to medicine, chemical manufacturing touches our lives
every day.
There is market demand for chemical products that use resources more
efficiently and are safer for both humans and the environment.
Consumers also want these products to be just as effective, or more
effective, than the traditional chemical products. H.R. 2051 will help
support the research, training, and standards needed to meet these
demands.
It is rare that a bill has the fundamental endorsement of both
chemical companies and environmental advocates.
I thank the bill's sponsors, Representative Dan Lipinski and
Representative John Moolenaar, for their leadership on this issue and
for developing a good consensus bill. I encourage my colleagues to
support it.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Moolenaar), who has been a pleasure to work with, both on
scientific matters and on a variety of financial service interests,
too.
Mr. MOOLENAAR. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Dan Lipinski
for his leadership on this legislation. As always, I have enjoyed
working with him and serving with him as the founding co-chair of the
bipartisan Congressional Chemistry Caucus here in the House.
Chemistry has improved the daily lives of every American, and I want
to thank Chairwoman Johnson and Ranking Member Lucas for their
leadership working together to bring the Sustainable Chemistry Research
and Development Act of 2019 to the floor this year. This legislation
will further the incredible progress chemistry has already
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made in the daily lives of people around the world, with new and
exciting products and lifesaving cures and innovations.
Chemistry also employs hundreds of thousands of people in good-paying
jobs and has made the country the world leader in an endless list of
industries and fields. Today's legislation will help that progress
continue by directing the Federal Government to improve its
coordination of sustainable chemistry research.
The Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2019 will
bring together the Federal Government, the private sector, and the
scientific community to support groundbreaking research in chemistry
and keep our Nation at the forefront of innovation.
I thank my colleagues for their support.
{time} 1530
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, to ensure the continued leadership of the United States
in science and technology, we must invest in research that will lead to
the industries of the future. The Sustainable Chemistry Act of 2019
will keep our country at the forefront of chemistry innovation and help
create new products that will benefit all Americans.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 2051, and I yield
back the balance of my time.
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I simply wish to thank our authors
and our staff, and I urge passage of this bill. I yield back the
balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Johnson) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 2051, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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