[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10898]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 H.R. 2174: ROBERT S. WALKER AND GEORGE E. BROWN, JR., HYDROGEN FUTURE 
                              ACT OF 2001

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. KEN CALVERT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 14, 2001

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce H.R. 2174, Robert S. 
Walker and George E. Brown, Jr. Hydrogen Future Act of 2001, a 
reauthorization of the Hydrogen Future Act of 1996.
  I strongly support continued hydrogen research and development. While 
serving as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment of 
the Committee on Science I began consideration of this reauthorization, 
which has come to fruition today.
  The President's National Energy Policy calls for a balanced energy 
supply portfolio--I completely support the President's recommendations. 
America's unprecedented economic growth and prosperity rests on an 
affordable supply of energy. And, we can all agree that reducing 
emissions and conserving resources is a good idea. For this reason, I 
continue to advocate the pursuit of greater efficiencies and reduced 
energy consumption in our industrial processes, in our transportation 
sector and in our communities and homes. The national energy strategy 
that will emerge from Congress and the Bush Administration will include 
all our energy options and hydrogen will have a place in that strategy. 
In fact, I am excited to report that the Bush Administration came out 
in support in my reauthorization bill today at the Science Committee's 
Subcommittee on Energy hearing today on ``Hydrogen and Nuclear Energy 
R&D Legislation.''
  Mr. Speaker, I first became interested in the possibilities that 
hydrogen presents through my work with CE-CERT, an excellent 
engineering center at the University of California, Riverside--located 
within my 43rd Congressional district. CE-CERT is nationally renowned 
for initiating innovative programs to reduce energy demand and improve 
the environment. CE-CERT has successfully demonstrated a hydrogen 
vehicle, which has been well received. Additionally, Riverside County, 
also within my district, participates with a number of other partners 
in Sunline--a highly successful public bus fleet demonstration of 
hydrogen technology, which includes hydrogen infrastructure. Programs 
such as CE-CERT and Sunline show that hydrogen vehicles are not only 
possible but also practical. Programs such as these are critical to 
sustaining my district's growth while continually improving air 
quality.
  For this reason, last year, while Chairman of the Science Committee's 
Energy and Environment Subcommittee, I considered sponsoring the 
reauthorization of the Hydrogen Future Act of 1996. 1 am proud to be 
introducing this legislation today, and I understand that Senator 
Harkin will also be introducing similar legislation in the Senate 
today.
  The bill will reauthorize appropriations for hydrogen R&D at the 
Department of Energy totaling $400 million including an additional $150 
million for demonstration projects. This is a substantial increase in 
authorized levels over previous years. The bill would also sunset the 
Hydrogen Technical Advisory Panel and directs the Secretary of Energy 
to enter into appropriate arrangements with the National Academy of 
Sciences to establish a Hydrogen Advisory Board, thus giving Hydrogen 
R&D the kind of high-level, Federal and nationwide visibility it 
deserves.
  My bill is named after two former colleagues. George E. Brown, Jr., 
who honorably served the district adjacent to mine for many years--he 
was my mentor and good friend. I was proud to serve under Chairman 
Walker on the Science Committee and respected his leadership on this, 
as the author of the previous Hydrogen Future Act, and many other 
issues.
  I am pleased to introduce this bill with 13 original cosponsors and I 
invite more of my colleagues to join me in support of this important, 
forward-looking R&D legislation.

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