To authorize the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to make grants to improve the commercial value of forest biomass for electric energy, useful heat, transportation fuels, petroleum-based product substitutes, and other commercial purposes.

Bill: 108-hr-1550
Sponsor: Rep. Rehberg, Dennis R. [R-MT-At Large]
Introduced: 2003-04-01 in the House
Policy area: Energy
Subjects: Animals
Biomass energy
Commerce
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Economic development
Economic impact statements
Economics and Public Finance
Emergency Management
Energy development
Energy facilities
Energy research
Federal aid to Indians
Federal aid to research
Fire prevention
Forest fires
Forest health
Forest management
Grants-in-aid
Housing and Community Development
Insect control
Job creation
Labor and Employment
Minorities
Pests
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Research grants
Rural economic development
Science, Technology, Communications
Small business
Small towns
Tree diseases
Trees
Wood

Summary:
action_date: 2003-04-01
text: Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to make grants: (1) to improve the commercial value of forest biomass to produce electric energy, sensible heat, transportation fuels, or substitutes for petroleum-based products; and (2) to develop or research opportunities to improve the use of, or add value to, biomass, with preference given to preferred communities (as defined by this Act).

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-09-29
text: Committee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: Executive Comment Requested from USDA.
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry.
action_date: 2003-04-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy.
action_date: 2003-04-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health.
action_date: 2003-04-02
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands.
action_date: 2003-04-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Resources, and Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-04-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Resources, and Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-04-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Resources, and Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-04-01
text: Referred to the Committee on Agriculture, and in addition to the Committees on Resources, and Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2003-04-01
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2003-04-01
text: Introduced in House