[House Report 117-227]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


117th Congress }                                          { Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2nd Session   }                                          { 117-227

======================================================================
 
        STEEL UPGRADING PARTNERSHIPS AND EMISSIONS REDUCTION ACT

                                _______
                                

January 18, 2022.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

    Ms. Johnson of Texas, from the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                  Technology, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 4599]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

    The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, to whom 
was referred the bill (H.R. 4599) to strengthen and enhance the 
competitiveness of American manufacturing through the research 
and development of advanced technologies to reduce steelmaking 
emissions, and for other purposes, having considered the same, 
reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that 
the bill as amended do pass.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
   I. Amendment.......................................................2
  II. Purpose of the Bill.............................................4
 III. Background and Need for the Legislation.........................4
  IV. Committee Hearings..............................................5
   V. Committee Consideration and Votes...............................6
  VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill.........................6
 VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (By Title and Section)..............6
VIII. Committee Views.................................................7
  IX. Cost Estimate...................................................7
   X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate.......................8
  XI. Compliance with Public Law 104-4 (Unfunded Mandates)............9
 XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations................9
XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives...........9
 XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement............................9
  XV. Duplication of Federal Programs.................................9
 XVI. Earmark Identification..........................................9
XVII. Applicability to the Legislative Branch.........................9
XVIII.Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law..........9

 XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, As Reported...........9
  XX. Proceedings of Full Committee Markup...........................14

                              I. Amendment

    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``Steel Upgrading Partnerships and 
Emissions Reduction Act'' or the ``SUPER Act of 2021''.

SEC. 2. LOW-EMISSIONS STEEL MANUFACTURING RESEARCH PROGRAM.

  (a) Program.--Subtitle D of title IV of the Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17111 et seq.) is amended by inserting 
after section 454 the following:

``SEC. 454A. LOW-EMISSIONS STEEL MANUFACTURING RESEARCH PROGRAM.

  ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to encourage the 
research and development of innovative technologies aimed at--
          ``(1) increasing the technological and economic 
        competitiveness of industry and manufacturing in the United 
        States; and
          ``(2) achieving significant net nonwater greenhouse emissions 
        reductions in the production processes for iron, steel, and 
        steel mill products.
  ``(b) Definitions.--In this section:
          ``(1) Commercially available steelmaking.--The term 
        `commercially available steelmaking' means the current 
        production method of iron, steel, and steel mill products.
          ``(2) Critical material.--The term `critical material' has 
        the meaning given such term in section 7002 of division Z of 
        the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260).
          ``(3) Critical mineral.--The term `critical mineral' has the 
        meaning given such term in section 7002 of division Z of the 
        Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260).
          ``(4) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means--
                  ``(A) an institution of higher education;
                  ``(B) an appropriate State or Federal entity, 
                including a federally funded research and development 
                center of the Department;
                  ``(C) a nonprofit research institution;
                  ``(D) a private entity;
                  ``(E) any other relevant entity the Secretary 
                determines appropriate; and
                  ``(F) a partnership or consortium of two or more 
                entities described in subparagraphs (A) through (E).
          ``(5) Low-emissions steel manufacturing.--The term `low-
        emissions steel manufacturing' means advanced or commercially 
        available steelmaking with the reduction, to the maximum extent 
        practicable, of net nonwater greenhouse gas emissions to the 
        atmosphere from the production of iron, steel, and steel mill 
        products.
  ``(c) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of the Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions Reduction 
Act, the Secretary shall establish a program of research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application of advanced tools, 
technologies, and methods for low-emissions steel manufacturing.
  ``(d) Requirements.--In carrying out the program under subsection 
(c), the Secretary shall--
          ``(1) coordinate this program with the programs and 
        activities authorized in title VI of division Z of the 
        Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021;
          ``(2) coordinate across all relevant program offices of the 
        Department, including the Office of Science, Office of Energy 
        Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Office of Fossil Energy, 
        and the Office of Nuclear Energy;
          ``(3) leverage, to the extent practicable, the research 
        infrastructure of the Department, including scientific 
        computing user facilities, x-ray light sources, neutron 
        scattering facilities, and nanoscale science research centers; 
        and
          ``(4) conduct research, development, and demonstration of 
        low-emissions steel manufacturing technologies that have the 
        potential to increase domestic production and employment in 
        advanced and commercially available steelmaking.
  ``(e) Strategic Plan.--
          ``(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
        enactment of the Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions 
        Reduction Act, the Secretary shall develop a 5-year strategic 
        plan identifying research, development, demonstration, and 
        commercial application goals for the program established in 
        subsection (c). The Secretary shall submit this plan to the 
        Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
        Resources of the Senate.
          ``(2) Contents.--The strategic plan submitted under paragraph 
        (1) shall--
                  ``(A) identify programs at the Department related to 
                low-emissions steel manufacturing that support the 
                research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
                application activities described in this section, and 
                the demonstration projects under subsection (h);
                  ``(B) establish technological and programmatic goals 
                to achieve the requirements of subsection (d); and
                  ``(C) include timelines for the accomplishment of 
                goals developed under the plan.
          ``(3) Updates to plan.--Not less than once every two years, 
        the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science, Space, 
        and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate an 
        updated version of the plan under paragraph (1).
  ``(f) Focus Areas.--In carrying out the program established in 
subsection (c), the Secretary shall focus on--
          ``(1) medium- and high-temperature heat generation 
        technologies used for low-emissions steel manufacturing, which 
        may include--
                  ``(A) alternative fuels, including hydrogen and 
                biomass;
                  ``(B) alternative reducing agents, including 
                hydrogen;
                  ``(C) renewable heat generation technology, including 
                solar and geothermal;
                  ``(D) electrification of heating processes, including 
                through electrolysis; and
                  ``(E) other heat generation sources;
          ``(2) carbon capture technologies for advanced and 
        commercially available steelmaking processes, which may 
        include--
                  ``(A) combustion and chemical looping technologies;
                  ``(B) use of slag to reduce carbon dioxide emissions;
                  ``(C) pre-combustion technologies; and
                  ``(D) post-combustion technologies;
          ``(3) smart manufacturing technologies and principles, 
        digital manufacturing technologies, and advanced data analytics 
        to develop advanced technologies and practices in information, 
        automation, monitoring, computation, sensing, modeling, and 
        networking to--
                  ``(A) model and simulate manufacturing production 
                lines;
                  ``(B) monitor and communicate production line status; 
                and
                  ``(C) model, simulate, and optimize the energy 
                efficiency of manufacturing processes;
          ``(4) technologies and practices that minimize energy and 
        natural resource consumption, which may include--
                  ``(A) designing products that enable reuse, 
                refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling;
                  ``(B) minimizing waste from advanced and commercially 
                available steelmaking processes, including through the 
                reuse of waste as resources in other industrial 
                processes for mutual benefit;
                  ``(C) increasing resource efficiency; and
                  ``(D) increasing the energy efficiency of advanced 
                and commercially available steelmaking processes;
          ``(5) alternative materials and technologies that produce 
        fewer emissions during production and result in fewer emissions 
        during use, which may include--
                  ``(A) innovative raw materials;
                  ``(B) high-performance lightweight materials;
                  ``(C) substitutions for critical materials and 
                critical minerals; and
                  ``(D) other technologies that achieve significant 
                carbon emission reductions in low-emissions steel 
                manufacturing, as determined by the Secretary; and
          ``(6) high-performance computing to develop advanced 
        materials and manufacturing processes contributing to the focus 
        areas described in paragraphs (1) through (5), including--
                  ``(A) modeling, simulation, and optimization of the 
                design of energy efficient and sustainable products; 
                and
                  ``(B) the use of digital prototyping and additive 
                manufacturing to enhance product design.
  ``(g) Testing and Validation.--The Secretary, in consultation with 
the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
shall support the development of standardized testing and technical 
validation of advanced and commercially available steelmaking and low-
emissions steel manufacturing through collaboration with one or more 
National Laboratories, and one or more eligible entities.
  ``(h) Demonstration.--
          ``(1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of the Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions 
        Reduction Act, the Secretary, in carrying out the program 
        established in subsection (c), and in collaboration with 
        industry partners, institutions of higher education, and the 
        National Laboratories, shall support an initiative for the 
        demonstration of low-emissions steel manufacturing, as 
        identified by the Secretary, that uses either--
                  ``(A) a single technology; or
                  ``(B) a combination of multiple technologies.
          ``(2) Selection requirements.--Under the initiative 
        established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall select 
        eligible entities to carry out demonstration projects and to 
        the maximum extent practicable--
                  ``(A) encourage regional diversity among eligible 
                entities, including participation by rural States;
                  ``(B) encourage technological diversity among 
                eligible entities; and
                  ``(C) ensure that specific projects selected--
                          ``(i) expand on the existing technology 
                        demonstration programs of the Department; and
                          ``(ii) prioritize projects that leverage 
                        matching funds from non-Federal sources.
          ``(3) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
        on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
        Resources of the Senate--
                  ``(A) not less frequently than once every two years 
                for the duration of the demonstration initiative under 
                this subsection, a report describing the performance of 
                the initiative; and
                  ``(B) if the initiative established under this 
                subsection is terminated, an assessment of the success 
                of, and education provided by, the measures carried out 
                by recipients of financial assistance under the 
                initiative.
  ``(i) Additional Coordination.--
          ``(1) Manufacturing u.s.a..--In carrying out this section the 
        Secretary shall consider--
                  ``(A) leveraging the resources of relevant existing 
                Manufacturing USA Institutes described in section 34(d) 
                of the National Institute of Standards and Technology 
                Act (15 U.S.C. 278s(d));
                  ``(B) integrating program activities into a relevant 
                existing Manufacturing USA Institute; or
                  ``(C) establishing a new institute focused on low-
                emissions steel manufacturing.
          ``(2) Other federal agencies.--In carrying out this section, 
        the Secretary shall coordinate with other Federal agencies that 
        are carrying out research and development initiatives to 
        increase industrial competitiveness and achieve significant net 
        nonwater greenhouse emissions reductions through low-emissions 
        steel manufacturing, including the Department of Defense, 
        Department of Transportation, and the National Institute of 
        Standards and Technology.''.
  (b) Clerical Amendment.--Section 1(b) of the Energy Independence and 
Security Act of 2007 (42 U.S.C. 17001 note) is amended in the table of 
contents by inserting after the item relating to section 454 the 
following:

``Sec. 454A. Low-Emissions Steel Manufacturing Research Program.''.

                        II. Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of the bill is to amend the Energy Independence 
and Security Act of 2007 to strengthen and enhance the 
competitiveness of American manufacturing through the research 
and development of advanced technologies to reduce steelmaking 
emissions, and for other purposes. H.R. 4599 is sponsored by 
Mr. Gonzalez and co-sponsored by Mr. Lamb, Mr. McKinley, Ms. 
Wild, Ms. Miller-Meeks, Mr. Mrvan, Mr. Delgado, and Mr. Rogers.

              III. Background and Need for the Legislation

    While recent emphasis has been placed on reducing power 
sector greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the need to 
substantially reduce GHGs in the industrial sector remains a 
challenge.\1\ Steel and steelmaking practices are of particular 
importance to the industrial sector and play a fundamental role 
in supporting U.S. infrastructure, national defense, and 
economic security. The steel industry is also among the three 
largest global producers of carbon dioxide. In 2018, steel 
production alone was responsible for 8 percent of global carbon 
dioxide emissions.\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    \1\https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventory-us-greenhouse-gas-
emissions-and-sinks.
    \2\https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/metals-and-mining/our-
insights/decarbonization-challenge-for-steel.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
    To address this challenge, there is a need for federal 
investment in next-generation steelmaking emission reduction 
technologies. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE or the 
Department) supports the research and development of industrial 
emission reduction technologies primarily through its Office of 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and its Advanced 
Manufacturing Office.
    In conjunction with the cross-cutting Industrial Emissions 
Reduction Technology Development Program established by the 
Energy Act of 2020 (Division Z of the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2021), the Steel Upgrading Partnerships and 
Emissions Reduction Act, or the SUPER Act of 2021, provides DOE 
with specific program direction to ensure the development of 
advanced tools, technologies, and methods for low-emissions 
steel manufacturing using both advanced and commercially 
available steelmaking processes.

                         IV. Committee Hearings

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(6) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee designates the 
following hearings as having been used to develop or consider 
the legislation:
    On March 26, 2019, the Honorable Haley Stevens presiding, 
the Research and Technology Subcommittee and the Energy 
Subcommittee of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology 
held a joint hearing to examine ways to substantially lower 
greenhouse gas emissions in the manufacturing sector through 
both federal investment and public-private partnerships. This 
hearing examined the role of the Manufacturing USA Institutes 
in achieving this goal.
    Witnesses
           Mr. Ryan Myers, Director of Business 
        Development, DoD for Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence 
        (Hexagon MI)
           Mr. Mike Molnar, Director of the Office of 
        Advanced Manufacturing, National Institute of Standards 
        and Technology (NIST)
           Dr. John Hopkins, CEO of the Institute for 
        Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI)
           Ms. Valri Lightner, Acting Director of the 
        Advanced Manufacturing Office, Office of Energy 
        Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy
           Dr. Mitchell Dibbs, Associate R&D Director 
        for External Technology--Government Programs, Dow 
        Chemical Company
    On June 19, 2019, the Honorable Conor Lamb presiding, the 
Energy Subcommittee of the Committee on Science, Space, and 
Technology held a hearing to examine the Department of Energy's 
fossil energy research and development activities. This hearing 
included discussion of the Department's current work on 
developing technologies to help reduce emissions in industrial 
processes.
    Witnesses
           Ms. Shannon Angielski, Executive Director, 
        Carbon Utilization Research Council
           Mr. Elgie Holstein, Senior Director for 
        Strategic Planning, Environmental Defense Fund
           Mr. Jeff Bobeck, Director of Energy Policy 
        Engagement, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
           Ms. Erin Burns, Director of Policy, 
        Carbon180
           Dr. Erik K. Webb, Senior Manager, Geoscience 
        Research and Applications, Sandia National Laboratories

                  V. Committee Consideration and Votes

    The Committee on Science, Space, and Technology met to 
consider H.R. 4599 on July 27, 2021.
    Mr. Gonzalez offered a manager's amendment to make 
technical corrections and conforming changes. The amendment was 
agreed to by a voice vote.
    Chairwoman Johnson moved that the Committee favorably 
report the bill, H.R. 4599, as amended, to the House of 
Representatives with the recommendation that the bill be 
approved. The motion was agreed to by a voice vote.

              VI. Summary of Major Provisions of the Bill

    The Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions Reduction 
Act'' or the ``SUPER Act of 2021'' (H.R. 4599) directs the 
Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to establish a program of 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application of advanced tools, technologies, and methods for 
low-emissions steel manufacturing in order to increase the 
competitiveness of U.S. industry and achieve significant 
reductions in emissions from both advanced and commercially 
available steelmaking processes.
    H.R. 4599 directs the Secretary, in carrying out this 
program, to focus on a range of key technology areas, including 
heat generation, carbon capture, smart manufacturing, resource 
efficiency, alternative materials, and high performance 
computing, and to leverage the research infrastructure of the 
Department as practicable. It requires the Secretary to carry 
out this work in coordination with relevant programs of the 
Department, other federal agencies including NIST, and with 
relevant programs and activities authorized in the Energy Act 
of 2020.

        VII. Section-by-Section Analysis (By Title and Section)


Sec. 1. Short title

    Section 1 establishes that this legislation may be referred 
to as the ``Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions 
Reduction Act'' or the ``SUPER Act of 2021''

Sec. 2. Low-Emissions Steel Manufacturing Research Program

    This section authorizes a DOE research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application program of advanced 
tools, technologies, and methods for low-emissions steel 
manufacturing, in order to increase the technological and 
economic competitiveness of industry and manufacturing in the 
United States and achieve significant greenhouse gas emissions 
reductions in the production processes for iron, steel, and 
steel mill products. The program focuses on several key 
technology areas, including heat generation, carbon capture, 
smart manufacturing, resource efficiency, alternative 
materials, and high performance computing.
    This section directs the Secretary to coordinate this 
program with the programs and activities authorized in title VI 
of division Z of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021; to 
coordinate with relevant federal agencies and across all 
relevant program offices of the Department, including the 
Office of Science, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy, the Office of Fossil Energy, and the Office Nuclear 
Energy; to leverage the research infrastructure of the 
Department as practicable; to conduct activities that have the 
potential to increase domestic production and employment in 
advanced and commercially available steelmaking; to support the 
development of standardized testing and validation practices in 
consultation with NIST; and to develop a 5-year strategic plan 
identifying research, development, demonstration, and 
commercial application goals for the program and provide 
updates to this plan every two years.
    This section also directs the Secretary to support an 
initiative for the demonstration of low-emissions steel 
manufacturing in collaboration with industry partners, 
institutions of higher education, and the National 
Laboratories, and to consider leveraging the resources of the 
Manufacturing USA Institutes.
    Subsection (b) amends the table of contents in the Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007 by inserting the Low-
Emissions Steel Manufacturing Research Program.

                         VIII. Committee Views

    The Committee intends that the research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application program authorized in 
this legislation be cross-cutting in nature, involving all 
relevant program offices at the Department of Energy. The 
Committee also intends for the research, development, 
demonstration, and commercial application program authorized in 
this legislation to build from existing activities at the 
Department and make use of the Department's unique computing 
capabilities and user facilities.

                           IX. Cost Estimate

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee adopts as its own the 
estimate of new budget authority, entitlement authority, or tax 
expenditures or revenues contained in the cost estimate 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
pursuant to section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974.

              X. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                  Washington, DC, January 11, 2022.
Hon. Eddie Bernice Johnson,
Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and Technology,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Madam Chairwoman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 4599, the SUPER 
Act of 2021.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Aaron 
Krupkin.
            Sincerely,
                                           Mark P. Hoeller,
                                 (For Phillip L. Swagel, Director).
    Enclosure.

    
    

    H.R. 4599 would require the Department of Energy (DOE), in 
coordination with other federal agencies, to establish a 
program to encourage the development of technologies that 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions in steel manufacturing. Under 
the program, DOE would develop strategic plans, support testing 
and validation activities, sponsor demonstration projects, and 
report to the Congress on program implementation.
    Under current law, DOE's general authorities allow for the 
activities specified in the bill, and according to the agency, 
the bill's requirements are consistent with its current 
research and development plans. On that basis, CBO estimates 
that the cost to implement H.R. 4599, including any additional 
reporting requirements, would not be significant over the 2022-
2026 period. Any spending would be subject to the availability 
of appropriated funds.
    The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Aaron Krupkin. 
The estimate was reviewed by H. Samuel Papenfuss, Deputy 
Director of Budget Analysis.

                     XI. Federal Mandates Statement

    H.R. 4599 contains no unfunded mandates.

         XII. Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    The Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are 
reflected in the body of this report.

      XIII. Statement on General Performance Goals and Objectives

    Pursuant to clause (3)(c) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the goals of H.R. 4599 are to 
strengthen and enhance the competitiveness of American 
manufacturing through the research and development of advanced 
technologies to reduce steelmaking emission.

               XIV. Federal Advisory Committee Statement

    No Federal Advisory Committees are created by H.R. 4599.

                  XV. Duplication of Federal Programs

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(5) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the Committee finds that no provision 
of H.R. 4599 establishes or reauthorizes a program of the 
federal government known to be duplicative of another federal 
program, including any program that was included in a report to 
Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139 or the 
most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance.

                      XVI. Earmark Identification

    Pursuant to clauses 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI, the 
Committee finds that H.R. 4599 contains no earmarks, limited 
tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits.

             XVII. Applicability to the Legislative Branch

    The Committee finds that H.R. 4599 does not relate to the 
terms and conditions of employment or access to public services 
or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of 
the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-1).

     XVIII. Statement on Preemption of State, Local, or Tribal Law

    This bill is not intended to preempt any state, local, or 
tribal law.

       XIX. Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (new matter is 
printed in italics and existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

              ENERGY INDEPENDENCE AND SECURITY ACT OF 2007


SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

  (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007''.
  (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is 
as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
     * * * * * * *

           TITLE IV--ENERGY SAVINGS IN BUILDINGS AND INDUSTRY

     * * * * * * *

                Subtitle D--Industrial Energy Efficiency

     * * * * * * *
Sec. 454A. Low-Emissions Steel Manufacturing Research Program.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


TITLE IV--ENERGY SAVINGS IN BUILDINGS AND INDUSTRY

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Subtitle D--Industrial Energy Efficiency

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


SEC. 454A. LOW-EMISSIONS STEEL MANUFACTURING RESEARCH PROGRAM.

  (a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to encourage the 
research and development of innovative technologies aimed at--
          (1) increasing the technological and economic 
        competitiveness of industry and manufacturing in the 
        United States; and
          (2) achieving significant net nonwater greenhouse 
        emissions reductions in the production processes for 
        iron, steel, and steel mill products.
  (b) Definitions.--In this section:
          (1) Commercially available steelmaking.--The term 
        ``commercially available steelmaking'' means the 
        current production method of iron, steel, and steel 
        mill products.
          (2) Critical material.--The term ``critical 
        material'' has the meaning given such term in section 
        7002 of division Z of the Consolidated Appropriations 
        Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260).
          (3) Critical mineral.--The term ``critical mineral'' 
        has the meaning given such term in section 7002 of 
        division Z of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 
        (Public Law 116-260).
          (4) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' 
        means--
                  (A) an institution of higher education;
                  (B) an appropriate State or Federal entity, 
                including a federally funded research and 
                development center of the Department;
                  (C) a nonprofit research institution;
                  (D) a private entity;
                  (E) any other relevant entity the Secretary 
                determines appropriate; and
                  (F) a partnership or consortium of two or 
                more entities described in subparagraphs (A) 
                through (E).
          (5) Low-emissions steel manufacturing.--The term 
        ``low-emissions steel manufacturing'' means advanced or 
        commercially available steelmaking with the reduction, 
        to the maximum extent practicable, of net nonwater 
        greenhouse gas emissions to the atmosphere from the 
        production of iron, steel, and steel mill products.
  (c) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of the Steel Upgrading Partnerships and Emissions 
Reduction Act, the Secretary shall establish a program of 
research, development, demonstration, and commercial 
application of advanced tools, technologies, and methods for 
low-emissions steel manufacturing.
  (d) Requirements.--In carrying out the program under 
subsection (c), the Secretary shall--
          (1) coordinate this program with the programs and 
        activities authorized in title VI of division Z of the 
        Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021;
          (2) coordinate across all relevant program offices of 
        the Department, including the Office of Science, Office 
        of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the Office 
        of Fossil Energy, and the Office of Nuclear Energy;
          (3) leverage, to the extent practicable, the research 
        infrastructure of the Department, including scientific 
        computing user facilities, x-ray light sources, neutron 
        scattering facilities, and nanoscale science research 
        centers; and
          (4) conduct research, development, and demonstration 
        of low-emissions steel manufacturing technologies that 
        have the potential to increase domestic production and 
        employment in advanced and commercially available 
        steelmaking.
  (e) Strategic Plan.--
          (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of the Steel Upgrading Partnerships 
        and Emissions Reduction Act, the Secretary shall 
        develop a 5-year strategic plan identifying research, 
        development, demonstration, and commercial application 
        goals for the program established in subsection (c). 
        The Secretary shall submit this plan to the Committee 
        on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
        Resources of the Senate.
          (2) Contents.--The strategic plan submitted under 
        paragraph (1) shall--
                  (A) identify programs at the Department 
                related to low-emissions steel manufacturing 
                that support the research, development, 
                demonstration, and commercial application 
                activities described in this section, and the 
                demonstration projects under subsection (h);
                  (B) establish technological and programmatic 
                goals to achieve the requirements of subsection 
                (d); and
                  (C) include timelines for the accomplishment 
                of goals developed under the plan.
          (3) Updates to plan.--Not less than once every two 
        years, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on 
        Science, Space, and Technology of the House of 
        Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural 
        Resources of the Senate an updated version of the plan 
        under paragraph (1).
  (f) Focus Areas.--In carrying out the program established in 
subsection (c), the Secretary shall focus on--
          (1) medium- and high-temperature heat generation 
        technologies used for low-emissions steel 
        manufacturing, which may include--
                  (A) alternative fuels, including hydrogen and 
                biomass;
                  (B) alternative reducing agents, including 
                hydrogen;
                  (C) renewable heat generation technology, 
                including solar and geothermal;
                  (D) electrification of heating processes, 
                including through electrolysis; and
                  (E) other heat generation sources;
          (2) carbon capture technologies for advanced and 
        commercially available steelmaking processes, which may 
        include--
                  (A) combustion and chemical looping 
                technologies;
                  (B) use of slag to reduce carbon dioxide 
                emissions;
                  (C) pre-combustion technologies; and
                  (D) post-combustion technologies;
          (3) smart manufacturing technologies and principles, 
        digital manufacturing technologies, and advanced data 
        analytics to develop advanced technologies and 
        practices in information, automation, monitoring, 
        computation, sensing, modeling, and networking to--
                  (A) model and simulate manufacturing 
                production lines;
                  (B) monitor and communicate production line 
                status; and
                  (C) model, simulate, and optimize the energy 
                efficiency of manufacturing processes;
          (4) technologies and practices that minimize energy 
        and natural resource consumption, which may include--
                  (A) designing products that enable reuse, 
                refurbishment, remanufacturing, and recycling;
                  (B) minimizing waste from advanced and 
                commercially available steelmaking processes, 
                including through the reuse of waste as 
                resources in other industrial processes for 
                mutual benefit;
                  (C) increasing resource efficiency; and
                  (D) increasing the energy efficiency of 
                advanced and commercially available steelmaking 
                processes;
          (5) alternative materials and technologies that 
        produce fewer emissions during production and result in 
        fewer emissions during use, which may include--
                  (A) innovative raw materials;
                  (B) high-performance lightweight materials;
                  (C) substitutions for critical materials and 
                critical minerals; and
                  (D) other technologies that achieve 
                significant carbon emission reductions in low-
                emissions steel manufacturing, as determined by 
                the Secretary; and
          (6) high-performance computing to develop advanced 
        materials and manufacturing processes contributing to 
        the focus areas described in paragraphs (1) through 
        (5), including--
                  (A) modeling, simulation, and optimization of 
                the design of energy efficient and sustainable 
                products; and
                  (B) the use of digital prototyping and 
                additive manufacturing to enhance product 
                design.
  (g) Testing and Validation.--The Secretary, in consultation 
with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, shall support the development of standardized 
testing and technical validation of advanced and commercially 
available steelmaking and low-emissions steel manufacturing 
through collaboration with one or more National Laboratories, 
and one or more eligible entities.
  (h) Demonstration.--
          (1) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of the Steel Upgrading Partnerships 
        and Emissions Reduction Act, the Secretary, in carrying 
        out the program established in subsection (c), and in 
        collaboration with industry partners, institutions of 
        higher education, and the National Laboratories, shall 
        support an initiative for the demonstration of low-
        emissions steel manufacturing, as identified by the 
        Secretary, that uses either--
                  (A) a single technology; or
                  (B) a combination of multiple technologies.
          (2) Selection requirements.--Under the initiative 
        established under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 
        select eligible entities to carry out demonstration 
        projects and to the maximum extent practicable--
                  (A) encourage regional diversity among 
                eligible entities, including participation by 
                rural States;
                  (B) encourage technological diversity among 
                eligible entities; and
                  (C) ensure that specific projects selected--
                          (i) expand on the existing technology 
                        demonstration programs of the 
                        Department; and
                          (ii) prioritize projects that 
                        leverage matching funds from non-
                        Federal sources.
          (3) Reports.--The Secretary shall submit to the 
        Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
        and Natural Resources of the Senate--
                  (A) not less frequently than once every two 
                years for the duration of the demonstration 
                initiative under this subsection, a report 
                describing the performance of the initiative; 
                and
                  (B) if the initiative established under this 
                subsection is terminated, an assessment of the 
                success of, and education provided by, the 
                measures carried out by recipients of financial 
                assistance under the initiative.
  (i) Additional Coordination.--
          (1) Manufacturing u.s.a.--In carrying out this 
        section the Secretary shall consider--
                  (A) leveraging the resources of relevant 
                existing Manufacturing USA Institutes described 
                in section 34(d) of the National Institute of 
                Standards and Technology Act (15 U.S.C. 
                278s(d));
                  (B) integrating program activities into a 
                relevant existing Manufacturing USA Institute; 
                or
                  (C) establishing a new institute focused on 
                low-emissions steel manufacturing.
          (2) Other federal agencies.--In carrying out this 
        section, the Secretary shall coordinate with other 
        Federal agencies that are carrying out research and 
        development initiatives to increase industrial 
        competitiveness and achieve significant net nonwater 
        greenhouse emissions reductions through low-emissions 
        steel manufacturing, including the Department of 
        Defense, Department of Transportation, and the National 
        Institute of Standards and Technology.

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              XX. Proceedings of the Full Committee Markup

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