[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 73 (Monday, April 29, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H2654-H2656]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CARBON SEQUESTRATION COLLABORATION ACT

  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 4824) to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the 
Secretary of Energy to carry out terrestrial carbon sequestration 
research and development activities, and for other purposes, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 4824

       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 ``Carbon Sequestration 
     Collaboration Act''.

     SEC. 2. CARBON SEQUESTRATION RESEARCH INITIATIVE.

       Section 963 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
     16293) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs 
     (2) and (3), respectively;
       (B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, 
     the following new paragraph:
       ``(1) Carbon sequestration in geologic formations.--The 
     term `carbon sequestration in geologic formations' means 
     carbon sequestration methods or technologies utilizing 
     existing permeable or porous formations in geologic settings, 
     such as basins or aquifers.''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(4) Terrestrial carbon sequestration.--The term 
     `terrestrial carbon sequestration' means carbon sequestration 
     methods or technologies engineered by humans and targeted at 
     rangelands, agricultural lands, fallow lands, or forest 
     stands to increase soil organic carbon levels or sequester 
     carbon through transport processes via plant and root 
     biomass, including through soil additives, geochemical 
     approaches, and other engineered solutions that can increase 
     the storage of produced carbon in inorganic or mineral forms, 
     such as biochar and carbon mineralization utilizing mine 
     tailings.''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) by striking ``shall establish'' and inserting ``, in 
     coordination with the heads of relevant Federal agencies, 
     carry out''; and
       (ii) by inserting ``, including through terrestrial carbon 
     sequestration and carbon sequestration in geologic 
     formations'' before the period;

[[Page H2655]]

       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) in subparagraph (A)--

       (I) by striking ``in coordination with relevant Federal 
     agencies,''; and
       (II) by striking ``assess the capacity of geologic storage 
     formation'' and inserting ``evaluate terrestrial carbon 
     sequestration and carbon sequestration in geologic 
     formations'';

       (ii) in subparagraph (B)--

       (I) in the matter preceding clause (i), by inserting ``and 
     terrestrial carbon storage sites'' after ``geologic 
     formations''; and
       (II) in clause (ii), by striking ``geologic storage'' and 
     inserting ``across a variety of ecosystems'';

       (iii) in subparagraph (D)--

       (I) by striking ``formation''; and
       (II) by inserting ``, and determining the fate of carbon 
     dioxide concurrent with and after injection into geologic 
     formations'' before the semicolon;

       (iv) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``geologic 
     sequestration of carbon dioxide'' and inserting ``terrestrial 
     carbon sequestration and carbon sequestration in geologic 
     formations'';
       (v) by striking subparagraphs (F) and (G);
       (vi) by redesignating subparagraphs (H) and (I) as 
     subparagraphs (F) and (G), respectively;
       (vii) in subparagraph (F), as so resesignated, by striking 
     ``and'' after the semicolon;
       (viii) in subparagraph (G), as so redesignated, by striking 
     the period and inserting a semicolon; and
       (ix) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
       ``(H) enhancing the scientific understanding of, and 
     reducing uncertainties associated with, the cycling of carbon 
     in agriculture lands, forests, and geologic formations, 
     including long- and short-term behavior and potential 
     environmental effects of sequestered carbon;
       ``(I) identifying scientific barriers and pursuing research 
     solutions to challenges preventing terrestrial carbon 
     sequestration and carbon sequestration in geologic 
     formations, including supporting cost and business model 
     assessments to examine the economic viability of technologies 
     and systems developed under the program;
       ``(J) collecting, identifying, standardizing, and utilizing 
     data and data sharing practices needed to--
       ``(i) increase the understanding of terrestrial carbon 
     sequestration, in particular carbon sequestered through 
     agricultural practices and conservation agriculture, such as 
     rangeland and grazing management, soil cover, and crop 
     rotations; and
       ``(ii) support the development and demonstration of new 
     carbon sequestration tools and technologies; and
       ``(K) coordinating across Federal agencies research efforts 
     regarding terrestrial carbon sequestration and carbon 
     sequestration in geologic formations.'';
       (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (5);
       (D) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new 
     paragraphs:
       ``(3) Leveraging.--In carrying out activities under the 
     program, the Secretary shall leverage for the advancement of 
     monitoring, reporting, and verification, including tools, 
     modeling, and analysis, the collective body of knowledge and 
     data, including experience and resources from existing carbon 
     utilization and sequestration research, entities, and 
     demonstrations, from the following:
       ``(A) The United States Geological Survey, the Agricultural 
     Research Service, and the national Carbon Utilization 
     Research Center.
       ``(B) The Department of Energy, including the Office of 
     Science, the Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, 
     and the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations.
       ``(C) Interagency research and development initiatives and 
     data collection activities.
       ``(D) Other Federal agencies, research communities, and 
     users of the data referred to in subparagraph (J) of 
     paragraph (2), including the Farm Service Agency, the 
     National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the Forest 
     Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
       ``(4) Coordination.--The Secretary of Energy shall carry 
     out the program in coordination with, and avoid unnecessary 
     duplication of, the following:
       ``(A) Other research entities of the Department of Energy, 
     including the National Laboratories and the Advanced Research 
     Projects Agency-Energy.
       ``(B) Research entities, services, and partnerships of the 
     Department of Agriculture, including the Agricultural 
     Research Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, 
     the Farm Service Agency, and the Forest Service.
       ``(C) Research entities of the Department of the Interior.
       ``(D) Other entities within Federal agencies that conduct 
     research, development, or demonstration on terrestrial carbon 
     sequestration and carbon sequestration in geologic 
     formations.''; and
       (E) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
       ``(6) Research plan.--Not later than two years after the 
     date of the enactment of this paragraph and annually 
     thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
     Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Natural 
     Resources, and the Committee on Agriculture of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
     Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
     Forestry of the Senate the long-term strategic and 
     prioritized research agenda to identify and address 
     scientific challenges for widespread adoption of terrestrial 
     carbon sequestration and carbon sequestration in geological 
     formations, including in shallow formations and sites not 
     used for enhanced oil recovery.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) and the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Lee) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on H.R. 4824, the bill now under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4824, the Carbon Sequestration 
Collaboration Act.
  Mr. Speaker, this commonsense legislation increases the coordination 
among Federal research entities that are focused on the topic of carbon 
sequestration.
  Specifically, this bill improves the capacity to sequester carbon 
through land use activities by authorizing a coordinated research 
effort across the Department of Energy, the Department of the Interior, 
and the Department of Agriculture.
  To date, most Federal research has been focused on large-scale carbon 
sequestration in geologic formations. That entails finding a specific 
spot deep in the Earth to trap carbon generated by large sources, like 
multiple power plants that supply an entire region.
  This leaves a significant knowledge gap related to carbon storage 
potential at small-scale and everyday sites, like soils, rangelands, 
biochar, mine tailings, and forests. The USDA has already started to 
explore programs for farmers, ranchers, and landowners to generate 
carbon credits by adopting practices to reduce emissions or sequester 
carbon on their land.
  Yet, I will be the first to admit that USDA is by no means an expert 
on quantifying amounts of carbon sequestered or tracking how it behaves 
over time. Therefore, we need to ensure that we have scientific support 
to develop tools that are needed to quantify, track, and verify carbon 
sequestration changes over time, especially in the short term.
  By combining DOE expertise in fundamental research and carbon 
storage, DOI capacities in geologic mapping, and USDA knowledge in 
plant and crop interactions, we can rapidly develop the research to 
mature technologies and ensure scientific transparency.
  Mr. Speaker, I introduced a similar bill in the last Congress to 
address these activities. I am very pleased with my colleague from 
Indiana (Mr. Baird), who has worked so hard on championing this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. LEE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Carbon Sequestration 
Collaboration Act. The bill amends the carbon storage provisions of the 
bipartisan Energy Act of 2020 to support research and development on 
ways to sequester carbon in terrestrial ecosystems, agriculture, and 
forestry.
  Recent academic research has found that agricultural approaches that 
enhance the carbon uptake of soils have many potential benefits, 
including increased productivity and improvements in the stability of 
yields.
  Mr. Speaker, this bill will help us better understand the potential 
short-term or long-term behavior of sequestered carbon and help 
identify any scientific barriers to the widespread deployment of these 
technologies.
  This is not to mention the added benefit of removing carbon from the 
atmosphere, making this one of many solutions we need to advance if we 
are to slow down or even reverse the effects of climate change.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4824, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.

[[Page H2656]]

  

  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Baird) to speak on his bill.
  Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. 
Lucas) for yielding and for all the work done in committee to get this 
important piece of legislation to the floor.
  Mr. Speaker, I also thank the gentlewoman from California (Ms. 
Lofgren), the ranking member of the Science, Space, and Technology 
Committee, for her leadership and support on this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, there are a lot of misconceptions about what this bill 
does, and, unfortunately, there are some who are intentionally 
spreading misinformation about this bill for political gain. Before I 
continue any further, let's put these rumors to rest by telling the 
American people what this bill does not do.
  This bill does not give Federal agencies any authority to seize 
private property. I am a farmer and a private landowner, and I would 
never sponsor or support a bill that would give the Federal Government 
more power to seize private land.
  This bill does not specify any land for carbon capture projects or 
undermine the property rights of American citizens.
  This bill does not directly benefit or impact private companies with 
an interest in carbon sequestration.
  The United States has been using carbon sequestration methods to 
store excess carbon emissions underground for over 50 years, and 
President Biden's Department of Energy is currently studying large-
scale carbon sequestration at the Federal level. The problem is that 
our Federal agencies are not communicating properly about this 
technology, leaving a knowledge gap that wastes taxpayer dollars and 
could result in important findings falling through the cracks.
  H.R. 4824 will force the executive branch to submit a plan to 
Congress and require Federal agencies to share research, data, and 
current sequestration technologies. Simply put, this bill puts 
guardrails on the administration's national energy plan by adding a 
reporting requirement to Congress and requires Federal agencies to talk 
to one another and share research in the most efficient way.

  Mr. Speaker, I am sponsoring this legislation because I believe every 
Hoosier and every American, for that matter, should have the best 
information that is available when making informed decisions about 
their land and their community.
  That is why, Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  Ms. LEE of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote 
``yes'' on H.R. 4824, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to 
close.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 4824 is a practical bill that lets Federal agencies 
collaborate on this important issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I would note that before my father's family lived in 
Oklahoma, we lived in Indiana. I would also note to my colleague on the 
other side of the aisle that before they lived in Indiana, they lived 
in Pennsylvania.
  Nonetheless, this is an important piece of legislation, and we need 
to pass this.
  Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to adopt it, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 4824, as amended.
  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. LUCAS. 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.

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