Floor SpeechNeutral2019-12-09

SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2019

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Context

On 2019-12-09, Representative John R. Moolenaar (R-MI-2) delivered a floor speech titled "SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2019" in the House.

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SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2019

Congressional Record, Volume 165 Issue 196 (Monday, December 9, 2019) [Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 196 (Monday, December 9, 2019)] [House] [Pages H9359-H9362] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2019 Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2051) to provide for Federal coordination of activities supporting sustainable chemistry, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2051 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 ``Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2019''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that-- (1) Congress recognized the importance and value of sustainable chemistry and the role of the Federal Government in section 114 of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (Public Law 114-329); (2) sustainable chemistry and materials transformation is a key value contributor to business competitiveness across many industrial and consumer sectors; (3) companies across hundreds of supply chains critical to the American economy are seeking to reduce costs and open new markets through innovations in manufacturing and materials, and are in need of new innovations in chemistry, including sustainable chemistry; (4) sustainable chemistry can improve the efficiency with which natural resources are used to meet human needs for chemical products while avoiding environmental harm, reduce or eliminate the emissions of and exposures to hazardous substances, minimize the use of resources, and benefit the economy, people, and the environment; and (5) a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO-18-307) found that the Federal Government could play an important role in helping realize the full innovation and market potential of sustainable chemistry technologies, including through a coordinated national effort on sustainable chemistry and standardized tools and definitions to support sustainable chemistry research, development, demonstration, and commercialization. SEC. 3. NATIONAL COORDINATING ENTITY FOR SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY. (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall convene an interagency entity (referred to in this Act as the ``Entity'') under the National Science and Technology Council with the responsibility to coordinate Federal programs and activities in support of sustainable chemistry, including those described in sections 5 and 6. [[Page H9360]] (b) Coordination With Existing Groups.--In convening the Entity, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall consider overlap and possible coordination with existing committees, subcommittees, or other groups of the National Science and Technology Council, such as-- (1) the Committee on Environment; (2) the Committee on Technology; (3) the Committee on Science; or (4) related groups or subcommittees. (c) Co-chairs.--The Entity shall be co-chaired by the Office of Science and Technology Policy and a representative from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation, or the Department of Energy, as selected by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. (d) Agency Participation.--The Entity shall include representatives, including subject matter experts, from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, and other related Federal agencies, as appropriate. (e) Termination.--The Entity shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. ROADMAP FOR SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY. (a) Roadmap.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Entity shall-- (1) consult with relevant stakeholders including representatives from industry, academia, the Federal Government, and international entities to develop and update as needed a consensus definition of ``sustainable chemistry'' to guide the activities under this Act; (2) develop a working framework of attributes characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable chemistry, as described in subsection (b); (3) assess the state of sustainable chemistry in the United States as a key benchmark from which progress under the activities described in this Act can be measured, including assessing key sectors of the United States economy, key technology platforms, commercial priorities, and barriers to innovation; (4) coordinate and support Federal research, development, demonstration, technology transfer, commercialization, education, and training efforts in sustainable chemistry, including budget coordination and support for public-private partnerships, as appropriate; (5) identify methods by which the Federal agencies can facilitate the development of incentives for development, consideration and use of sustainable chemistry processes and products, including innovative financing mechanisms; (6) identify major scientific challenges, roadblocks, or hurdles to transformational progress in improving the sustainability of the chemical sciences; and (7) identify other opportunities for expanding Federal efforts in support of sustainable chemistry. (b) Characterizing and Assessing Sustainable Chemistry.-- The Entity shall develop a working framework of attributes characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable chemistry for the purposes of carrying out the Act. In developing this framework, the Entity shall-- (1) seek advice and input from stakeholders as described in subsection (c); (2) consider existing definitions of or frameworks characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable chemistry already in use at Federal agencies; (3) consider existing definitions of or frameworks characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable chemistry already in use by international organizations of which the United States is a member, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and (4) consider any other appropriate existing definitions of or frameworks characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable chemistry. (c) Consultation.--In carrying out the duties described in subsections (a) and (b), the Entity shall consult with stakeholders qualified to provide advice and information to guide Federal activities related to sustainable chemistry through workshops, requests for information, and other mechanisms as necessary. The stakeholders shall include representatives from-- (1) business and industry (including trade associations and small- and medium-sized enterprises from across the value chain); (2) the scientific community (including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, scientific professional societies, and academia); (3) the defense community; (4) State, tribal, and local governments, including nonregulatory State or regional sustainable chemistry programs, as appropriate; (5) nongovernmental organizations; and (6) other appropriate organizations. (d) Report to Congress.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Entity shall submit a report to the Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. In addition to the elements described in subsections (a) and (b), the report shall include-- (A) a summary of federally funded, sustainable chemistry research, development, demonstration, technology transfer, commercialization, education, and training activities; (B) a summary of the financial resources allocated to sustainable chemistry initiatives; (C) an assessment of the current state of sustainable chemistry in the United States, including the role that Federal agencies are playing in supporting it; (D) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the goals and priorities of this Act, and recommendations for future program activities; (E) an assessment of the benefits of expanding existing, federally supported, regional innovation and manufacturing hubs, centers, and institutes to include sustainable chemistry and the value of directing the creation of 1 or more dedicated sustainable chemistry centers of excellence, hubs, or institutes; and (F) an evaluation of steps taken and future strategies to avoid duplication of efforts, streamline interagency coordination, facilitate information sharing, and spread best practices among participating agencies. (2) Submission to gao.--The Entity shall also submit the report described in paragraph (1) to the Comptroller General of the United States for consideration in future Congressional inquiries. SEC. 5. AGENCY ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY. (a) In General.--The agencies participating in the Entity shall carry out activities in support of sustainable chemistry, as appropriate to the specific mission and programs of each agency. (b) Activities.--The activities described in subsection (a) shall-- (1) incorporate sustainable chemistry into existing research, development, demonstration, technology transfer, commercialization, education, and training programs, that the agency determines to be relevant, including consideration of-- (A) merit-based competitive grants

Referenced legislation: HR2051, HR2051

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SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2019 Congressional Record, Volume 165 Issue 196 (Monday, December 9, 2019) [Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 196 (Monday, December 9, 2019)] [House] [Pages H9359-H9362] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2019 Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2051) to provide for Federal coordination of activities supporting sustainable chemistry, and for other purposes, as amended. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: H.R. 2051 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 ``Sustainable Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2019''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds that-- (1) Congress recognized the importance and value of sustainable chemistry and the role of the Federal Government in section 114 of the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act (Public Law 114-329); (2) sustainable chemistry and materials transformation is a key value contributor to business competitiveness across many industrial and consumer sectors; (3) companies across hundreds of supply chains critical to the American economy are seeking to reduce costs and open new markets through innovations in manufacturing and materials, and are in need of new innovations in chemistry, including sustainable chemistry; (4) sustainable chemistry can improve the efficiency with which natural resources are used to meet human needs for chemical products while avoiding environmental harm, reduce or eliminate the emissions of and exposures to hazardous substances, minimize the use of resources, and benefit the economy, people, and the environment; and (5) a recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO-18-307) found that the Federal Government could play an important role in helping realize the full innovation and market potential of sustainable chemistry technologies, including through a coordinated national effort on sustainable chemistry and standardized tools and definitions to support sustainable chemistry research, development, demonstration, and commercialization. SEC. 3. NATIONAL COORDINATING ENTITY FOR SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY. (a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall convene an interagency entity (referred to in this Act as the ``Entity'') under the National Science and Technology Council with the responsibility to coordinate Federal programs and activities in support of sustainable chemistry, including those described in sections 5 and 6. [[Page H9360]] (b) Coordination With Existing Groups.--In convening the Entity, the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall consider overlap and possible coordination with existing committees, subcommittees, or other groups of the National Science and Technology Council, such as-- (1) the Committee on Environment; (2) the Committee on Technology; (3) the Committee on Science; or (4) related groups or subcommittees. (c) Co-chairs.--The Entity shall be co-chaired by the Office of Science and Technology Policy and a representative from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation, or the Department of Energy, as selected by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. (d) Agency Participation.--The Entity shall include representatives, including subject matter experts, from the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, and other related Federal agencies, as appropriate. (e) Termination.--The Entity shall terminate on the date that is 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act. SEC. 4. ROADMAP FOR SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY. (a) Roadmap.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Entity shall-- (1) consult with relevant stakeholders including representatives from industry, academia, the Federal Government, and international entities to develop and update as needed a consensus definition of ``sustainable chemistry'' to guide the activities under this Act; (2) develop a working framework of attributes characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable chemistry, as described in subsection (b); (3) assess the state of sustainable chemistry in the United States as a key benchmark from which progress under the activities described in this Act can be measured, including assessing key sectors of the United States economy, key technology platforms, commercial priorities, and barriers to innovation; (4) coordinate and support Federal research, development, demonstration, technology transfer, commercialization, education, and training efforts in sustainable chemistry, including budget coordination and support for public-private partnerships, as appropriate; (5) identify methods by which the Federal agencies can facilitate the development of incentives for development, consideration and use of sustainable chemistry processes and products, including innovative financing mechanisms; (6) identify major scientific challenges, roadblocks, or hurdles to transformational progress in improving the sustainability of the chemical sciences; and (7) identify other opportunities for expanding Federal efforts in support of sustainable chemistry. (b) Characterizing and Assessing Sustainable Chemistry.-- The Entity shall develop a working framework of attributes characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable chemistry for the purposes of carrying out the Act. In developing this framework, the Entity shall-- (1) seek advice and input from stakeholders as described in subsection (c); (2) consider existing definitions of or frameworks characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable chemistry already in use at Federal agencies; (3) consider existing definitions of or frameworks characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable chemistry already in use by international organizations of which the United States is a member, such as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and (4) consider any other appropriate existing definitions of or frameworks characterizing and metrics for assessing sustainable chemistry. (c) Consultation.--In carrying out the duties described in subsections (a) and (b), the Entity shall consult with stakeholders qualified to provide advice and information to guide Federal activities related to sustainable chemistry through workshops, requests for information, and other mechanisms as necessary. The stakeholders shall include representatives from-- (1) business and industry (including trade associations and small- and medium-sized enterprises from across the value chain); (2) the scientific community (including the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, scientific professional societies, and academia); (3) the defense community; (4) State, tribal, and local governments, including nonregulatory State or regional sustainable chemistry programs, as appropriate; (5) nongovernmental organizations; and (6) other appropriate organizations. (d) Report to Congress.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Entity shall submit a report to the Committee on Environment and Public Works, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. In addition to the elements described in subsections (a) and (b), the report shall include-- (A) a summary of federally funded, sustainable chemistry research, development, demonstration, technology transfer, commercialization, education, and training activities; (B) a summary of the financial resources allocated to sustainable chemistry initiatives; (C) an assessment of the current state of sustainable chemistry in the United States, including the role that Federal agencies are playing in supporting it; (D) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the goals and priorities of this Act, and recommendations for future program activities; (E) an assessment of the benefits of expanding existing, federally supported, regional innovation and manufacturing hubs, centers, and institutes to include sustainable chemistry and the value of directing the creation of 1 or more dedicated sustainable chemistry centers of excellence, hubs, or institutes; and (F) an evaluation of steps taken and future strategies to avoid duplication of efforts, streamline interagency coordination, facilitate information sharing, and spread best practices among participating agencies. (2) Submission to gao.--The Entity shall also submit the report described in paragraph (1) to the Comptroller General of the United States for consideration in future Congressional inquiries. SEC. 5. AGENCY ACTIVITIES IN SUPPORT OF SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY. (a) In General.--The agencies participating in the Entity shall carry out activities in support of sustainable chemistry, as appropriate to the specific mission and programs of each agency. (b) Activities.--The activities described in subsection (a) shall-- (1) incorporate sustainable chemistry into existing research, development, demonstration, technology transfer, commercialization, education, and training programs, that the agency determines to be relevant, including consideration of-- (A) merit-based competitive grants Referenced legislation: HR2051, HR2051