Democrats Look to Strengthen Green Chemistry R&D
Today, Congress passed H.R. 3970, the Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2004. Ranking Democratic Member Bart Gordon (D-TN) commented, "The bill is a good, but small, first step, to encourage research into chemical products and processes that are less toxic to our environment and less dangerous to public health." The bill adopted today had originally included language that seemed to actually cut the funding of the programs already underway at the National Science Foundation, a signal of Committee will that was contrary to the stated intention of the bill. Democrats worked to get that language clarified so that the programs at NSF receive a modest increase in their authorized funding over the next three years.
In the Full Committee markup of this bill, Democrats offered more than a dozen amendments. Significant amendments that would have strengthened the bill were defeated on party line votes. Noting that the bill failed to address the problem of moving green chemistry products to market, Mr. Gordon offered an amendment at Full Committee that would have encouraged the Federal Government to use green chemistry considerations in its procurements. The Majority also opposed Zoe Lofgren’s (D-CA) amendment charging EPA and the Department of Homeland Security with composing a list of chemicals that would be good candidates for green chemistry substitutes when evaluated from the perspective of national security. That report from EPA would have been used to help guide future research investment decisions by the agencies authorized under this Act.
"I hope to see some of these important changes included in this legislation as it moves through the process. With Senate action uncertain at this point, I think we will have an opportunity to come back and strengthen this bill as it moves through the legislative process - if not in this Congress then in the next one," added Mr. Gordon.
Related Subcommittees
Next Article Previous Article