[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 3, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S1337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 1391. Mr. KING (for himself, Mr. Burr, and Mr. Carper) submitted
an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 2657, to
support innovation in advanced geothermal research and development, and
for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place in title I, insert the following:
SEC. 1__. BATTERY AND CRITICAL MINERAL RECYCLING.
(a) Definition of Battery.--In this section, the term
``battery'' means a battery that is--
(1) rechargeable; and
(2) electrochemical, including lithium ion and other
chemistries.
(b) Grants.--
(1) Battery recycling research, development, and
demonstration grants.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall award multiyear grants
to eligible entities for research, development, and
demonstration projects to create innovative and practical
approaches to increase the reuse and recycling of batteries,
including by addressing--
(i) recycling processes;
(ii) the development of methods to promote the design and
production of batteries that take into full account and
facilitate the dismantling, reuse, recovery, and recycling of
battery components and materials;
(iii) strategies to increase consumer acceptance of, and
participation in, the recycling of batteries; and
(iv) the integration of increased quantities of recycled
critical minerals in batteries and other products to develop
markets for recycled battery materials and critical minerals.
(B) Eligible entities.--The Secretary may award a grant
under subparagraph (A) to--
(i) an institution of higher education;
(ii) a National Laboratory;
(iii) a Federal research agency;
(iv) a State research agency;
(v) a nonprofit organization;
(vi) an industrial entity;
(vii) a manufacturing entity;
(viii) a private battery-collection entity;
(ix) a State or municipal government entity;
(x) a battery retailer; or
(xi) a consortium of 2 or more entities described in
clauses (i) through (x).
(C) Applications.--
(i) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant under
subparagraph (A), an eligible entity described in
subparagraph (B) shall submit to the Secretary an application
at such time, in such manner, and containing such information
as the Secretary may require.
(ii) Contents.--An application submitted under clause (i)
shall describe how the project will promote collaboration
among--
(I) vehicle battery manufacturers;
(II) other battery manufacturers;
(III) battery material and equipment manufacturers;
(IV) battery recyclers, collectors, and refiners; and
(V) retailers.
(2) State and local programs.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program
under which the Secretary shall award grants, on a
competitive basis, to States and units of local government to
assist in the establishment or enhancement of State battery
collection, recycling, and reprocessing programs.
(B) Non-federal cost share.--The non-Federal share of the
cost of a project carried out using a grant under this
paragraph shall be 50 percent of the cost of the project.
(C) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary
shall submit to Congress a report that describes the number
of battery collection points established or enhanced, an
estimate of jobs created, and the quantity of material
collected as a result of the grants awarded under
subparagraph (A).
(3) Retailers as collection points.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants, on a
competitive basis, to retailers that sell batteries to
establish and implement a system for the acceptance and
collection of used batteries for reuse, recycling, or proper
disposal.
(B) Collection system.--The system described in
subparagraph (A) shall include take-back of used batteries at
no cost to the consumer.
(c) Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Prize Competition.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall continue to carry out
the existing Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Prize competition
of the Department established under section 24 of the
Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C.
3719).
(2) Additional funding for pilot projects.--In addition to
any other funds made available to the Secretary to carry out
the competition described in paragraph (1), there is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out
Phase III of that competition $10,000,000 for fiscal year
2021, to remain available until expended, which the Secretary
may use--
(A) to increase the number of winners of Phase III of that
competition;
(B) to increase the amount awarded to the winners of Phase
III of that competition; or
(C) to carry out any other activity that is consistent with
the goals of Phase III of that competition, as determined by
the Secretary.
(d) Best Practices for Collection of Batteries.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Environmental
Protection Agency (referred to in this subsection as the
``Administrator'') shall develop best practices for the
collection of batteries that may be cost-effectively
implemented by States and units of local government.
(2) Coordination.--The Administrator shall develop best
practices under paragraph (1) in coordination with State and
local leaders and entities in relevant private sectors.
(3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall submit to
Congress a report describing the best practices developed
under this subsection.
(e) Voluntary Labeling Program.--
(1) In general.--There is established within the Department
and the Environmental Protection Agency a voluntary program
to promote battery recycling and identify collection points
in order to reduce battery waste, improve collection, and
reduce safety concerns through--
(A) voluntary labeling of batteries; or
(B) other forms of communication about the reuse and
recycling of critical materials from batteries.
(2) Division of responsibilities.--Responsibilities under
the program established by paragraph (1) shall be divided
between the Secretary and the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency (referred to in this
subsection as the ``Administrator'') in accordance with the
terms of applicable agreements between the Secretary and the
Administrator.
(f) Task Force on Producer Requirements.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall convene a task force
to develop an extended battery producer responsibility
framework that--
(A) addresses battery recycling goals, cost structures for
mandatory recycling, reporting requirements, product design,
collection models, and transportation of collected materials;
(B) provides sufficient flexibility to allow battery
producers to determine cost-effective strategies for
compliance with the framework; and
(C) outlines regulatory pathways for effective recycling.
(2) Task force participants.--The task force convened under
paragraph (1) shall include--
(A) battery producers, retailers, recyclers, collectors,
and refiners;
(B) States and municipalities; and
(C) other relevant stakeholders, as determined by the
Secretary.
(3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which
the Secretary convenes the task force under paragraph (1),
the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that--
(A) describes the extended producer responsibility
framework developed by the task force;
(B) includes the recommendations of the task force on how
best to implement a mandatory pay-in or other enforcement
mechanism to ensure battery producers and sellers are
contributing to the recycling of batteries; and
(C) suggests regulatory pathways for effective recycling.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025.
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