Recognizing the 40th anniversary of passage of the Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974.

Whereas, on October 26, 1974, the Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act was signed into law in response to the Nation's growing need for additional sources of energy; Whereas the law sponsored by Senator Hubert Humphrey, Jr., from Minnesota authorized a Federal program of research, development, and demonstration to assure the utilization of solar energy as a viable source for our national needs; Whereas the Act established the Solar Energy Research Institute to perform research functions related to— (1) researching and developing a program for resolving the major technical problems inhibiting commercial utilization of solar energy in the United States; (2) implementing a research and development program to demonstrate the technological means for securing and utilizing the solar energy resource base; and (3) initiating a program to design and construct facilities to demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing the various forms of solar energy; Whereas in March 1977, after 2 years of highly competitive bidding, acting Administrator Robert Fri selected Golden, Colorado, as the site for the Solar Energy Research Institute; Whereas the Solar Energy Research Institute officially began operating in July 1977, just a few months before becoming part of the new Department of Energy; Whereas in 1978, President Jimmy Carter was the first United States President to visit the lab; Whereas in 1991, President George H.W. Bush elevated Solar Energy Research Institute to a National Laboratory; Whereas today the National Renewable Energy Laboratory a world-class research facility in Golden, Colorado, is home to prominent scientists, engineers, research technicians, across many fields and disciplines; Whereas the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has won 57 Research & Development 100 Awards Whereas today, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory is a national and international leader in research to develop efficient and economic solar, wind, biomass, and other clean energy technologies: Now, therefore, be it That— (1) the House of Representatives— (A) calls upon the people of the United States to recognize the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974; and (B) recognizes the vital research and work that has been and is currently being done at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to improve renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies across the United States; and (2) it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should make a commitment to provide adequate funding to support the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as it continues to provide important research for new clean energy technologies to benefit the citizens of the United States.

Summary: Urges the people of the United States to recognize the 40th anniversary of the passage of the Solar Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974. Recognizes the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's research and work to improve renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should make a commitment to provide adequate funding to support the Laboratory.