[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 13, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H7759-H7760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 BULB REPLACEMENT IMPROVING GOVERNMENT WITH HIGH-EFFICIENCY TECHNOLOGY 
                                  ACT

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (S. 442) to amend title 40, United States Code, to require the 
Administrator of General Services to procure the most lifecycle cost 
effective and energy efficient lighting products and to issue guidance 
on the efficiency, effectiveness, and economy of those products, and 
for other purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                 S. 442

       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 ``Bulb Replacement Improving 
     Government with High-efficiency Technology Act'' or the 
     ``BRIGHT Act''.

     SEC. 2. GUIDANCE.

       Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this 
     Act, the Administrator of General Services shall--
       (1) issue guidance to Federal agencies for the procurement 
     and use of the most life-cycle cost effective and energy 
     efficient lighting systems (as determined in accordance with 
     section 3313 of title 40, United States Code) to increase the 
     efficiency, effectiveness, and economy of the Federal 
     Government; and
       (2) publish on the internet or otherwise make available to 
     State, local, and Tribal entities information on ways to 
     improve efficiency, effectiveness, and economy by procuring 
     and using the most life-cycle cost effective and energy 
     efficient lighting systems (as determined in accordance with 
     section 3313 of title 40, United States Code).

     SEC. 3. PROCUREMENT OF LIFE-CYCLE COST EFFECTIVE AND ENERGY 
                   EFFICIENT LIGHTING SYSTEMS.

       (a) In General.--Section 3313 of title 40, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (h);
       (2) by redesignating subsections (d) through (g) as 
     subsections (f) through (i), respectively;
       (3) by striking the section designation and heading and all 
     that follows through the end of subsection (c) and inserting 
     the following:

     ``Sec. 3313. Procurement of life-cycle cost effective and 
       energy efficient lighting systems

       ``(a) Definitions.--In this section:
       ``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the 
     Administrator of General Services.
       ``(2) Lighting system.--The term `lighting system' means 
     the elements required to maintain a desired light level, 
     including lamps, light fixtures, fixture distribution, 
     sensors and control technologies, interior design elements, 
     and daylighting sources.
       ``(b) Procurement.--

[[Page H7760]]

       ``(1) In general.--To the maximum extent practicable, the 
     Administrator shall--
       ``(A) procure the most life-cycle cost effective and energy 
     efficient lighting systems; and
       ``(B) ensure that procurements after the date of enactment 
     of the BRIGHT Act of lighting systems or the individual 
     components of lighting systems maximize life-cycle cost 
     effectiveness and energy efficiency.
       ``(2) Use.--Each public building constructed, altered, 
     acquired, or leased by the Administrator shall be equipped, 
     to the maximum extent practicable as determined by the 
     Administrator, with the most life-cycle cost effective and 
     energy efficient lighting systems for each application.
       ``(c) Maintenance of Public Buildings.--Each individual 
     component of a lighting system, including a lamp or fixture, 
     that is replaced by the Administrator in the normal course of 
     maintenance of public buildings shall be replaced, to the 
     maximum extent practicable, with the most life-cycle cost 
     effective and energy efficient lighting system possible for 
     the application.
       ``(d) Considerations.--
       ``(1) Contracting options.--In carrying out this section, 
     the Administrator shall consider appropriate contracting 
     options for the procurement of the most life-cycle cost 
     effective and energy efficient lighting systems.
       ``(2) Procurement and use.--In making a determination under 
     this section concerning the practicability of procuring and 
     installing the most life-cycle cost effective and energy 
     efficient lighting system, the Administrator shall consider--
       ``(A) the compatibility of the lighting system with 
     existing equipment, including consideration of a cost 
     effective retrofit;
       ``(B) whether procurement and use of the lighting system 
     could result in interference with productivity;
       ``(C) the aesthetics relating to the use of the lighting 
     system; and
       ``(D) such other factors as the Administrator determines to 
     be appropriate.
       ``(e) Life-Cycle Cost Effective.--The Administrator shall 
     use the procedures and methods established under section 
     544(a) of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 
     U.S.C. 8254(a)) in determining whether a lighting system is 
     life-cycle cost effective.'';
       (4) in subsection (f) (as so redesignated)--
       (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking 
     ``lighting fixture or bulb'' and inserting ``lighting 
     system'';
       (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the fixture or bulb 
     is'' and inserting ``the lighting system or the individual 
     components of the lighting system are''; and
       (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``fixture or bulb'' and 
     inserting ``lighting system'';
       (5) in subsection (g) (as so redesignated), by inserting 
     ``procurement and'' before ``use in public buildings''; and
       (6) in subsection (h) (as so redesignated), by inserting 
     ``procurement and'' before ``use of energy efficient''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The analysis for chapter 33 of 
     title 40, United States Code, is amended by striking the item 
     relating to section 3313 and inserting the following:
``3313. Procurement of life-cycle cost effective and energy efficient 
              lighting systems.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) and the gentleman from Arkansas 
(Mr. Crawford) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the District of Columbia.


                             General Leave

  Ms. NORTON. 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 S. 442.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 442, the BRIGHT Act. The 
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee marked up the companion 
bill, H.R. 7636, introduced by Representative Titus, earlier this 
summer.
  This legislation encourages the General Services Administration to 
use the most up-to-date and efficient lighting for all routine 
maintenance, alterations, and construction and gives GSA the 
flexibility to choose the most efficient option for each installation.
  Additionally, this bill asks that GSA provide guidance to Federal 
agencies and State, local, and Tribal entities on how cost-effective 
and energy-efficient lighting systems can help achieve broader 
efficiency goals.

                              {time}  1545

  While the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 did include 
guidelines for energy-efficient light bulb utilization, GSA managers 
are not incentivized to choose the most energy and cost-efficient 
options in procurements.
  By directing GSA to acquire and use the most cost-and energy-
efficient lighting systems practicable over the life cycles of the 
systems, this legislation aims to maximize resource conservation and 
use of taxpayer dollars in all GSA lighting procurements.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, S. 442, the BRIGHT Act, ensures the General Services 
Administration, GSA, updates building lighting systems with the most 
life cycle cost-effective and energy-efficient options, so long as the 
change does not interfere with productivity and is a cost-effective 
retrofit.
  It also requires GSA to issue guidance to other Federal agencies on 
deploying these lighting systems and make the information available to 
State, local, and Tribal government entities.
  Updating outdated lighting systems with the most cost-effective and 
energy-efficient options will lessen the Federal Government's energy 
bill, saving taxpayers money. Efficient lighting systems tend to be 
lower-cost solutions with higher return on investment. This is 
commonsense legislation that ensures that lighting updates are made 
only if a retrofit is cost-effective.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of the legislation, and I reserve the 
balance of my time.
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the 
gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).
  Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, based on the bipartisan backing in the House and the 
Senate, I think it is appropriate to say we can call this bill a bright 
idea. It will make public buildings more energy efficient and ensure 
that taxpayer dollars are being spent as judiciously as possible.
  Simply put, the BRIGHT Act directs the GSA to procure the most life 
cycle cost-effective and energy-efficient lighting in public buildings 
to the extent practicable.
  Recognizing that each installation is unique, and that technology is 
ever changing, this bill doesn't endorse, nor does it prohibit any 
specific technology, but rather, guides the GSA to purchase and pursue 
the most efficient option which will save millions when fully 
implemented.
  For example, simply replacing compact fluorescent downlight lamps and 
linear fluorescent lamps with LEDs could save taxpayers up to $15.6 
million every year.
  I am proud to sponsor the House companion to this House Resolution 
that is led by Senators Peters and Johnson. It promotes taxpayer 
savings at all levels of government and is good for the planet.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I yield myself 
such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, the BRIGHT Act will implement only cost-
effective retrofits that will save taxpayers money and lower the 
Federal Government's energy bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge support of this legislation, and I yield back the 
balance of my time
  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, in closing, I urge my colleagues to support 
this legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from the District of Columbia (Ms. Norton) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 442.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

                          ____________________