Committee Considers Networking and Information Technology R&D and Ethanol Bills
(Washington, DC) – Today, the Committee on Science, Space and Technology held a markup of H.R. 3834, Advancing America’s Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2012 and H.R. 3199 to provide a Comprehensive Assessment of the Scientific and Technical Research on the Implications of the Use of Mid-Level Ethanol Blends.
The Networking and Information Technology Research and Development (NITRD) program is a multi-agency research initiative designed to ensure continued U.S. leadership in computing systems, advanced networking, software, and other information technologies. The program has developed the computing and networking infrastructure needed to support leading edge research and to drive technology forward for a range of commercial applications that have the potential to benefit society broadly.
H.R. 3834 is an updated version of the bill H.R. 2020 that the Committee passed in 2009, and reflects changes to the networking and information technology landscape that have occurred since Congress last enacted amendments to the program in 2007. The bill contains provisions that will help facilitate and strengthen public-private partnerships, require federal agencies to come together to examine the R&D and funding policies needed to make cloud computing a viable tool for science and engineering research, and strengthen the NITRD program’s role in NIT education and diversity.
Ranking Member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) said in her opening statement, “H.R. 3834 ensures that the federal government develops a coherent vision and strategy for federal investments in NIT R&D, including all of the applications made possible by NIT… The private sector spends much more overall in NIT R&D than the federal agencies do. But industry research and innovation is built on the foundation of R&D supported by the agencies and largely carried out in our universities and federal laboratories. And industry hires the students trained in our universities under federal research grants. The NITRD program plays a central role in this ecosystem and this bill continues to strengthen the NITRD program and ensure that the federal agencies can respond quickly to emerging R&D and education needs as the industry continues to grow and evolve.”
H.R. 3834 passed the Committee by voice vote and was reported favorably out of Committee.
After the markup, Ms. Johnson said, “This is a constructive piece of bipartisan legislation. I hope it moves quickly through the House and Senate and on to the President’s desk.”
The Committee also considered H.R. 3199 which would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to contract with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to provide a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research on the implications of the use of E15, gasoline blended with up to 15 volume percent ethanol, prior to responding to fuel waiver requests, which is required under the Clean Air Act.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) offered an amendment to strike all language about Clean Air Act waivers, thereby reducing the bill to an NAS study on the implications of the use of E15.
Ms. Lofgren said, “As this Congress has come to understand, ethanol, specifically corn-based ethanol, is a complex and controversial issue. There exists a vast array of interests and opinions regarding the ethanol content of our nation’s fuel supply. I am one of those members that believe that we should be looking closely at the impacts of this fuel. But just because I have concerns about ethanol, does not mean I want to stop the EPA from conducting its required activities under the Clean Air Act. My amendment requires more research to be conducted on the impacts of mid-level blends of ethanol. More research will help guide future decisions of the EPA, not muck up the process that is already underway.”
Ms. Lofgren’s amendment failed by a party-line recorded vote.
Ms. Johnson said, “H.R. 3199 is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. What looks to be an innocent attempt to provide a scientific assessment on mid-level blends of ethanol is nothing more than an effort to obstruct EPA from finishing their activities related to an existing Clean Air Act regulatory process already underway. Nothing about delaying EPA’s regulatory authority is non-controversial.”
She continued, “I am disappointed that we are considering this bill today. I think this bill is less about ethanol and more about attacking the EPA…All we are doing today is engaging in political theater at the expense of the EPA and at the expense of our clean energy future. Such political theater is not the best use of this Committee’s time, and I hope that this will be the last such bill we consider.”
H.R. 3199 passed the Committee by a party-line recorded vote and was reported favorably out of Committee.
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