[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6401-6404]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. WYDEN:
  S. 1294. A bill to require the Secretary of Energy and the Secretary 
of Agriculture to collaborate in promoting the development of 
efficient, economical, and environmentally sustainable thermally led 
wood energy systems; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I am proud to introduce the Bioenergy 
Act of 2015.
  Managed in an environmentally responsible way, woody biomass presents 
a carbon-neutral alternative to fossil

[[Page 6402]]

fuels for heating and powering homes, schools and businesses. Much of 
the woody biomass in the U.S. that could be used for energy production 
is either waste from the forest products industry, or small trees that 
contribute to the overcrowding of forests and wildfires. In 2013, 
wildfires burned 4.3 million acres of American forests and rangeland, 
and the Federal Government spent $1.7 billion to fight them. 
Additionally, about 2 billion metric tons, or 30 percent, of U.S. 
carbon dioxide emissions came from fossil fuel use in space heating, 
water heating or electricity generation for American homes and 
businesses. Using woody biomass for heat and power can help fund 
wildfire risk reduction and forest restoration, all while creating low-
carbon energy and a stable source of jobs in rural economies across the 
country.
  Despite this potential, the U.S. Department of Energy, DOE, has not 
invested in biomass heat, bioheat, and power, biopower, projects and 
research. This bill introduces modest steps to develop this resource, 
learn more about its full potential, and improve interagency 
coordination between DOE and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA, 
Forest Service on this topic.
  Specifically, the bill will establish a competitive cost-share grant 
program at the Department of Energy to improve technologies for 
processing woody biomass and bringing down transportation costs, as 
well as innovative technologies for using biomass for heat and power--
from new power plant designs, to neighborhood heating systems called 
``district energy'' systems.
  The bill also creates a cost-share grant program through the U.S. 
Forest Service to support proven biomass technologies, like combined 
heat and power, CHP. To assist with financing, the bill expands a loan 
program run by the USDA Rural Utilities Service to include bioheat and 
biopower, and establishes a new loan program for projects that are not 
located in a rural utility service territory. Finally, the bill would 
support continued research into the environmental sustainability and 
economics of using biomass for heat and power, and would establish a 
collaborative platform for directing this research across the 
Departments of Energy and Agriculture.
  This bill is good for the environment, good for rural jobs, and good 
for stopping wildfires before they start. I encourage my colleagues to 
support it.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 1294

       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 ``Bioenergy Act of 2015''.

     SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

       In this Act:
       (1) Bioheat.--The term ``bioheat'' means the use of woody 
     biomass to generate heat.
       (2) Biopower.--The term ``biopower'' means the use of woody 
     biomass to generate electricity.
       (3) Initiative.--The term ``Initiative'' means the Bioheat 
     and Biopower Initiative established under section 3(a).
       (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Energy.
       (5) State wood energy team.--The term ``State Wood Energy 
     Team'' means a collaborative group of stakeholders that--
       (A) carry out activities within a State to identify 
     sustainable energy applications for woody biomass; and
       (B) has been designated by the State and Private Forestry 
     organization of the Forest Service as a State Wood Energy 
     Team.

     SEC. 3. BIOHEAT AND BIOPOWER INITIATIVE.

       (a) Establishment.--The Secretary, acting jointly with the 
     Secretary of Agriculture, shall establish a collaborative 
     working group, to be known as the ``Bioheat and Biopower 
     Initiative'', to carry out the duties described in subsection 
     (c).
       (b) Board of Directors.--
       (1) In general.--The Initiative shall be led by a Board of 
     Directors.
       (2) Membership.--The Board of Directors shall consist of--
       (A) representatives of the Department of Energy and the 
     Department of Agriculture, who shall serve as cochairpersons 
     of the Board;
       (B) a senior officer or employee, each of whom shall have a 
     rank that is equivalent to the departmental rank of a 
     representative described in subparagraph (A), of each of--
       (i) the Department of the Interior;
       (ii) the Environmental Protection Agency;
       (iii) the National Science Foundation; and
       (iv) the Office of Science and Technology Policy; and
       (C) at the election of the Secretary and the Secretary of 
     Agriculture, such other members as may be appointed by the 
     Secretaries, in consultation with the Board.
       (3) Meetings.--The Board of Directors shall meet not less 
     frequently than once each quarter.
       (c) Duties.--The Initiative shall--
       (1) coordinate research and development activities relating 
     to biopower and bioheat projects--
       (A) between the Department of Agriculture and the 
     Department of Energy; and
       (B) with other Federal departments and agencies;
       (2) provide recommendations to the Department of 
     Agriculture and the Department of Energy concerning the 
     administration of this Act; and
       (3) ensure that--
       (A) solicitations are open and competitive with respect to 
     applicable annual grant awards; and
       (B) objectives and evaluation criteria of solicitations for 
     those awards are clearly stated and minimally prescriptive, 
     with no areas of special interest.

     SEC. 4. GRANT PROGRAMS.

       (a) Demonstration Grants.--
       (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish, within 
     the Bioenergy Technologies Office, a program under which the 
     Secretary shall provide grants to relevant projects to 
     support innovation and market development in bioheat and 
     biopower.
       (2) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     this subsection, the owner or operator of a relevant project 
     shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in 
     such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
     may require.
       (3) Allocation.--Of the amounts made available to carry out 
     this section, the Secretary shall allocate--
       (A) $15,000,000 to projects that develop innovative 
     techniques for preprocessing biomass for heat and electricity 
     generation, with the goals of--
       (i) lowering the costs of--

       (I) distributed preprocessing technologies, including 
     technologies designed to promote densification, torrefaction, 
     and the broader commoditization of bioenergy feedstocks; and
       (II) transportation and logistics costs; and

       (ii) developing technologies and procedures that maximize 
     environmental integrity, such as reducing greenhouse gas 
     emissions and local air pollutants and bolstering the health 
     of forest ecosystems and watersheds; and
       (B) $15,000,000 to innovative bioheat and biopower 
     demonstration projects, including--
       (i) district energy projects;
       (ii) innovation in transportation and logistics; and
       (iii) innovative projects addressing the challenges of 
     retrofitting existing coal-fired electricity generation 
     facilities to use biomass.
       (4) Regional distribution.--In selecting projects to 
     receive grants under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
     ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, diverse 
     geographical distribution among the projects.
       (5) Cost share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project 
     carried out using a grant under this subsection shall be 50 
     percent.
       (6) Duties of recipients.--As a condition of receiving a 
     grant under this subsection, the owner or operator of a 
     project shall--
       (A) participate in the applicable working group under 
     paragraph (7);
       (B) submit to the Secretary a report that includes--
       (i) a description of the project and any relevant findings; 
     and
       (ii) such other information as the Secretary determines to 
     be necessary to complete the report of the Secretary under 
     paragraph (8); and
       (C) carry out such other activities as the Secretary 
     determines to be necessary.
       (7) Working groups.--The Secretary shall establish 2 
     working groups to share best practices and collaborate in 
     project implementation, of which--
       (A) 1 shall be comprised of representatives of feedstock 
     projects that receive grants under paragraph (3)(A); and
       (B) 1 shall comprised of representatives of demand and 
     logistics projects that receive grants under paragraph 
     (3)(B).
       (8) Reports.--Not later than 5 years after the date of 
     enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress 
     a report describing--
       (A) each project for which a grant has been provided under 
     this subsection;
       (B) any findings as a result of those projects; and
       (C) the state of market and technology development, 
     including market barriers and opportunities.
       (b) Thermally Led Wood Energy Grants.--
       (1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture, acting 
     through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall establish a 
     program under which the Secretary of Agriculture shall 
     provide grants to support commercially demonstrated thermally 
     led wood energy

[[Page 6403]]

     technologies, with priority given to projects proposed by 
     State Wood Energy Teams.
       (2) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
     this subsection, the owner or operator of a relevant project 
     shall submit to the Secretary of Agriculture an application 
     at such time, in such manner, and containing such information 
     as the Secretary of Agriculture may require.
       (3) Allocation.--Of the amounts made available to carry out 
     this section, the Secretary of Agriculture shall allocate 
     $10,000,000 for feasibility assessments, engineering designs, 
     and construction of thermally led wood energy systems, 
     including pellet boilers, district energy systems, combined 
     heat and power installations, and other technologies.
       (4) Regional distribution.--In selecting projects to 
     receive grants under this subsection, the Secretary of 
     Agriculture shall ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, 
     diverse geographical distribution among the projects.
       (5) Cost share.--The Federal share of the cost of a project 
     carried out using a grant under this subsection shall be 50 
     percent.
       [(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section--]
       [(1) $30,000,000 to the Secretary to provide grants under 
     subsection (a); and]
       [(2) $10,000,000 to the Secretary of Agriculture to provide 
     grants under subsection (b).]

     SEC. 5. LOAN PROGRAMS; STRATEGIC ANALYSIS AND RESEARCH.

       (a) Low-interest Loans.--
       (1) Establishment.--The Secretary of Agriculture shall 
     establish, within the Rural Development Office, a low-
     interest loan program to support construction of thermally 
     led residential, commercial or institutional, and industrial 
     wood energy systems.
       (2) Requirements.--The program under this subsection shall 
     be carried out in accordance with such requirements as the 
     Secretary of Agriculture may establish, by regulation, in 
     taking into consideration best practices.
       (3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry 
     out this subsection $50,000,000.
       (b) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program.--In 
     addition to loans under subsection (a), thermally led 
     residential, commercial or institutional, and industrial wood 
     energy systems shall be eligible to receive loans under the 
     energy efficiency and conservation loan program of the 
     Department of Agriculture under section 2 of the Rural 
     Electrification Act of 1936 (7 U.S.C. 902).
       (c) Strategic Analysis and Research.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary, acting jointly with the 
     Secretary of Agriculture (acting through the Chief of the 
     Forest Service), shall establish a bioheat and biopower 
     research program--
       (A) the costs of which shall be divided equally between the 
     Department of Energy and the Department of Agriculture;
       (B) to be overseen by the Board of Directors of the 
     Initiative; and
       (C) to carry out projects and activities--
       (i)(I) to advance research and analysis on the 
     environmental, social, and economic costs and benefits of the 
     United States biopower and bioheat industries, including 
     associated lifecycle analysis of greenhouse gas emissions and 
     net energy analysis; and
       (II) to provide recommendations for policy and investment 
     in those areas;
       (ii) to identify and assess, through a joint effort between 
     the Chief of the Forest Service and the regional combined 
     heat and power groups of the Department of Energy, the 
     feasibility of thermally led district wood energy 
     opportunities in all regions of the Forest Service regions, 
     including by conducting broad regional assessments, 
     feasibility studies, and preliminary engineering assessments 
     at individual facilities; and
       (iii)(I) to offer to communities technical assistance to 
     explore thermally led wood energy opportunities; and
       (II) to provide enhanced services to smaller communities 
     that have limited resources and capacity to pursue new 
     thermally led wood energy opportunities.
       (2) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary and the Secretary of 
     Agriculture--
       (A) $2,000,000 to carry out paragraph (1)(C)(i);
       (B) $1,000,000 to carry out paragraph (1)(C)(ii); and
       (C) $1,000,000 to carry out paragraph (1)(C)(iii).
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Udall, Mr. Durbin, 
        Mr. Coons, Ms. Warren, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Donnelly, 
        Ms. Ayotte, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. 
        Tester, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Grassley, Ms. 
        Collins, and Mr. Reid):
  S. 1299. A bill to revise and extend provisions under the Garrett Lee 
Smith Memorial Act; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, I am pleased to be joined by Senators 
Murkowski, Udall, Durbin, Coons, Warren, Schatz, Heinrich, Donnelly, 
Ayotte, Klobuchar, Blumenthal, Stabenow, Tester, Hirono, Merkley, 
Sanders, Grassley, Collins, and Reid in the introduction of the Garrett 
Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization.
  This legislation is named for the son of our former colleague, 
Senator Gordon Smith, who took his own life at the young age of 22. 
After this tragedy, Senator Smith worked to gain the support of members 
across the aisle and in both chambers to prevent other children from 
doing the same with passage of the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act in 
2004.
  Although great strides have been made over the last decade, suicide 
remains the third-leading cause of death for adolescents and young 
adults between the ages of 10 and 24. According to the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, youth suicide results in 
approximately 4,600 lives lost each year. Additionally, the CDC reports 
that 157,000 young adults in this age group are treated for self-
inflicted injuries annually, often as the result of a failed suicide 
attempt.
  More work must be done to address the mental and behavioral health of 
children and young adults before they hurt themselves and others. 
Parents also need help in identifying early warning signs of mental 
illness and accessing the appropriate treatment before it is too late.
  The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act authorizes critical resources for 
schools--elementary schools through college where children and young 
adults spend most of their time--to be able to reach at-risk youth. 
Since 2005, this law has supported 370 youth suicide prevention grants 
in all 50 States, 46 tribes or tribal organizations, and 175 
institutions of higher education.
  The bill my colleagues and I are introducing today, with the support 
of over 40 member organizations of the Mental Health Liaison Group, 
would increase the authorized grant level to States, tribes, and 
college campuses for the implementation of proven programs and 
initiatives designed to address mental illness and reduce youth 
suicide. It will enable more schools to offer critical services to 
students and provide greater flexibility in the use of funds, 
particularly on college campuses. This change to the Campus Suicide 
Prevention Program comes at a vital time.
  Over the last decade, we have seen an increasing trend in the number 
of students seeking help for mental health issues on college campuses. 
Of these students seeking services for mental health issues, over 30 
percent report that they have seriously considered attempting suicide 
at some point in their lives. With more students seeking mental health 
services, we must work to ensure that college and university counseling 
centers are equipped with the necessary tools to meet this demand.
  We can play a role in helping these children and their families. 
Indeed, passing the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act Reauthorization is 
one way we can better address the mental health needs of this 
population. I urge our colleagues to work with us to pass this 
legislation.
                                 ______
                                 
      By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Grassley, Ms. 
        Klobuchar, Mr. McConnell, Mrs. Boxer, and Mr. Corker):
  S. 1300. A bill to amend the section 221 of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act to provide relief for adoptive families from immigrant 
visa fees in certain situations; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise to introduce the Adoptive 
Family Relief Act, which would provide support and relief to American 
families seeking to bring their adoptive children from the Democratic 
Republic of Congo home to the U.S. It would also provide relief to 
similarly situated adoptive families should barriers arise in other 
countries in the future. I

[[Page 6404]]

thank my colleagues, Senators Ron Johnson, Chuck Grassley, Mitch 
McConnell, Amy Klobuchar, Barbara Boxer, and Bob Corker for joining me 
as original cosponsors.
  Within the past few years, over 350 American families have 
successfully adopted children from the Democratic Republic of Congo. 
However, since September 25, 2013, they have not been able to bring 
their adoptive children home to the United States because the 
Democratic Republic of Congo suspended the issuance of ``exit permits'' 
for these children until its parliament passes new laws regarding 
international adoption. These exit permits are necessary for adopted 
children to leave the Democratic Republic of Congo and be united with 
their American families in the U.S. As the permit suspension drags on, 
however, American families are repeatedly paying visa renewal and 
related fees, while also continuing to be separated from their adopted 
kids.
  The Adoptive Families Relief Act would grant flexibility to the 
United States Department of State to waive immigrant visa renewal fees 
for adoptive American parents in extraordinary circumstances like this, 
where the cause of delay is due to factors not in the control of the 
child or parents. The Department of State is fully supportive of this 
legislation and is eager to provide some relief to the many families 
who are affected.
  Under current law, adopted children from abroad must secure U.S. 
immigrant visas in order to travel to the United States to unite with 
their adoptive parents. However, these visas expire after 6 months. 
Ordinarily, such visas are used within the allotted 6 months. However, 
in rare circumstances, such as the suspension of exit permits in the 
Democratic Republic of Congo, adopted children are prohibited from 
leaving their country of birth and cannot use their U.S.-issued visas 
within the prescribed timeframe.
  Adoptive parents consequently pay $325 in visa renewal fees every 6 
months if they want to preserve the validity of their adopted child's 
visa to travel to the U.S. To renew the visa, the child must also 
complete another medical exam, which costs the child's adoptive family 
approximately $200. Many families from across the country have already 
paid for at least three visas, which amounts to $975 per child, plus 
costs for medical exams. Additionally, many families are also paying 
monthly childcare or foster care fees, and some families have adopted 
more than one child. So, in addition to the emotional stress of being 
separated from their adoptive children, American parents face a 
financial burden while the situation goes unresolved.
  This bill would not change any of the substantive requirements for 
issuance of a renewed visa, such as necessary medical exams and 
background checks. It simply allows the Department of State to waive 
the visa renewal fee to alleviate the financial burden imposed on 
American families to renew their child's visa, and reimburses those who 
have already renewed their child's visa since the exit permit 
suspension.
  The Department of State does not anticipate this waiver authority to 
be used broadly based on its past experiences and its other adoption 
programs abroad. The bill would not be a financial burden on the United 
States. According to the State Department, once the initial visa, which 
the parents must pay for, is issued, the subsequent work for consular 
officers involved with renewing a visa is relatively quick and simple. 
The work involved to renew the visa therefore does not amount to the 
full cost of the visa renewal fee, so the State Department maintains it 
would not impact its consular resources.
  This legislation builds on the efforts of other members who have 
tried to resolve the Democratic Republic of Congo's exit permit 
suspension in various ways. Last April, 171 Members of Congress sent a 
letter to Democratic Republic of Congo President Joseph Kabila asking 
for his intervention. In June of 2014, 167 Members of Congress also 
sent a letter to President Obama requesting his outreach to President 
Kabila to resolve this situation. Members of Congress sent a letter to 
the Democratic Republic of Congo Parliament offering technical 
assistance on October 28, 2014, and the Senate passed S. Res. 502 in 
the 113th Congress, concerning the Democratic Republic of Congo's 
suspension of exit permits for Congolese adopted children. This year, 
the Senate passed an amendment to promote the return of legally adopted 
children from the Democratic Republic of Congo. My Senate colleagues 
and our staff have met with our constituents directly affected by the 
Democratic Republic of Congo's exit permit suspension, and heard their 
call for help. Furthermore, I, and other Senators, have also had 
individual meetings with Congolese Ambassador to the U.S., Faida 
Mitifu.
  However, since the exit permit suspension continues despite these 
efforts, it is imperative to bring some relief to our American adoptive 
parents. While we continue to urge the Democratic Republic of Congo to 
lift its exit permit suspension, I urge my colleagues to pass the 
Adoptive Family Relief Act to provide some relief to American families 
caught powerless in this difficult situation. Should other adoptive 
parents face similar obstacles in the future with their adoption 
process in other countries, this bill will also serve as a source of 
relief to them.

                          ____________________