Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2004

Bill: 108-hr-3970
Sponsor: Rep. Gingrey, Phil [R-GA-11]
Introduced: 2004-03-16 in the House
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Chemical engineering
Chemical research
Chemistry
Chemists
Citizen participation
Commerce
Commercialization
Communication in science
Conferences
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost control
Cost effectiveness
Curricula
Department of Commerce
Department of Energy
Economic research
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Energy
Energy efficiency
Engineering
Engineers
Environmental Protection
Environmental Protection Agency
Executive reorganization
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to research
Finance and Financial Sector
Government Operations and Politics
Government paperwork
Government publicity
Governmental investigations
Graduate education
Green products
Hazardous wastes
Higher education
Industrial costs
Industrial engineering
Industrial pollution
Industry-university relations
Infrastructure
Labor and Employment
Laboratories
Law
Legal research
Manufacturing industries
Minorities
Minority education
Minority employment
National Science Foundation
Nonprofit organizations
Pollution control
Research and development
Research and development facilities
Research grants
Scientific education
Scientists
Social Welfare
Social science research
Technological innovations
Technology transfer
Waste reduction
Women
Women's education

Summary:
action_date: 2004-03-16
text: 
Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2004 - Directs the President to establish a Green Chemistry Research and Development Program to promote and coordinate Federal research, development, demonstration, education, and technology transfer activities related to green chemistry and chemical engineering to design chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances.
 
Requires the President to establish an Interagency Working Group to oversee the planning, management, and coordination of the Program.

action_date: 2004-04-14
text: 
Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2004 - (Sec. 3) Directs the President to establish a Green Chemistry Research and Development Program to promote and coordinate Federal research, development, demonstration, education, and technology transfer activities related to green chemistry. Defines green chemistry as chemistry and and chemical engineering to design chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances.
 
Requires that program activities be designed to: (1) provide, as specified, sustained support for green chemistry research, development, demonstration, education, and technology transfer; (2) examine methods by which the Federal Government can create incentives for use of green chemistry processes and products; (3) facilitate the adoption of green chemistry innovations; (4) expand education and training of undergraduate and graduate students, and professional chemists and chemical engineers in green chemistry science and engineering; and (5) collect and disseminate information on green chemistry research, development, and technology transfer, including incentives and impediments to development and commercialization.
 
Requires the President to establish an Interagency Working Group, which shall include representatives from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and any other agency that the President may designate, to oversee the planning, management, and coordination of the Program. Assigns the Director of the NSF and the Assistant Administrator for R&D of the EPA to serve as co-chairs of the Working Group. Directs the Working Group to: (1) establish goals and priorities for the Program in consultation with green chemistry researchers and potential end-users of green chemistry products and processes; and (2) provide for interagency coordination of activities under the Program. Requires the Working Group to transmit a report to specified congressional committees which includes: (1) a summary of federally funded green chemistry research, development, demonstration, education, and technology transfer activities; and (2) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the Program's goals and priorities, and recommendations for future Program activities.
 
(Sec. 4) Amends the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act to revise the date for the transmission of the biennial report on the participation of women and men in scientific and engineering positions.
 
(Sec. 5) Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to provide for the Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology to enhance productivity and technological performance in U.S. manufacturing through the enabling of supply chain manufacturers to continuously improve products and processes, increase energy efficiency, identify cost-saving opportunities, and optimize resources and technologies with the aim of reducing or eliminating the use or generation of hazardous substances.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations through FY 2007 for the: (1) NSF; (2) NIST; (3) DOE; and (4) EPA.

action_date: 2004-04-21
text: 
Green Chemistry Research and Development Act of 2004 - (Sec. 3) Directs the President to establish a Green Chemistry Research and Development Program to promote and coordinate Federal research, development, demonstration, education, and technology transfer activities related to green chemistry. Defines green chemistry as chemistry and and chemical engineering to design chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances.
 
Requires that program activities be designed to: (1) provide, as specified, sustained support for green chemistry research, development, demonstration, education, and technology transfer; (2) examine methods by which the Federal Government can create incentives for use of green chemistry processes and products; (3) facilitate the adoption of green chemistry innovations; (4) expand education and training of undergraduate and graduate students and professional chemists and chemical engineers in green chemistry science and engineering; (5) collect and disseminate information on green chemistry research, development, and technology transfer, including incentives and impediments to development and commercialization; (6) support economic, legal, and other appropriate social science research to identify barriers to commercialization and methods to advance commercialization of green chemistry; and (7) provide for public input and outreach to be integrated into the Program by the convening of public discussions.
 
Requires the President to establish an Interagency Working Group, which shall include representatives from the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and any other agency that the President may designate, to oversee the planning, management, and coordination of the Program. Assigns the Director of the NSF and the Assistant Administrator for R&D of the EPA to serve as co-chairs of the Working Group. Directs the Working Group to: (1) establish goals and priorities for the Program in consultation with green chemistry researchers and potential end-users of green chemistry products and processes; and (2) provide for interagency coordination of activities under the Program. Directs each Federal agency and department participating in the Program, as part of its annual request for appropriations to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), to submit a report to OMB which identifies its activities that contribute directly to the Program and states the portion of its request that is allocated to those activities. Requires the President to include in his annual budget request to Congress a statement of the portion of each agency's or department's annual budget request allocated to its activities undertaken pursuant to the Program. Requires the Working Group to transmit a report to specified congressional committees which includes: (1) a summary of federally funded green chemistry research, development, demonstration, education, and technology transfer activities; and (2) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the Program's goals and priorities, and recommendations for future Program activities.
 
(Sec. 4) Amends the Science and Engineering Equal Opportunities Act to revise the date for the transmission of the biennial report assessing the participation of women and minorities in scientific and engineering positions and in scientific and engineering education.
 
(Sec. 5) Amends the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act to provide for the Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology to enhance productivity and technological performance in U.S. manufacturing through the enabling of supply chain manufacturers to continuously improve products and processes, increase energy efficiency, identify cost-saving opportunities, and optimize resources and technologies with the aim of reducing or eliminating the use or generation of hazardous substances.
 
(Sec. 6) Requires the Director of the NSF to carry out a program to award grants to institutions of higher education to support their efforts to revise their undergraduate curriculum in chemistry and chemical engineering to incorporate green chemistry concepts and strategies. Requires: (1) such grants to be awarded on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis; and (2) cost-sharing in cash from non-Federal sources, to match the Federal funding. Authorizes appropriations through FY 2007 for carrying out such grant program.
 
(Sec. 7) Requires the Director of the NSF to enter into an arrangement with the National Research Council to conduct a study of the factors that constitute barriers to the successful commercial application of promising results from green chemistry R&D. Requires such study to: (1) examine successful and unsuccessful attempts at commercialization of green chemistry in the United States and abroad; and (2) recommend research areas and priorities and public policy options that would help to overcome identified barriers to commercialization. Requires such Director to submit a report to specified congressional committees on the findings and recommendations of such study.
 
(Sec 8) Authorizes appropriations through FY 2007 for the: (1) NSF; (2) FIST; (3) DOE; and (4) EPA.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2004-04-22
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2004-04-21
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2004-04-21
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 14 (Roll no. 121). (text: CR H2205-2206)
action_date: 2004-04-21
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 - 14 (Roll no. 121).(text: CR H2205-2206)
action_date: 2004-04-21
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2224)
action_date: 2004-04-21
text: At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.
action_date: 2004-04-21
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3970.
action_date: 2004-04-21
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2205-2209)
action_date: 2004-04-21
text: Mr. Gingrey moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2004-04-14
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 266.
action_date: 2004-04-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 108-462.
action_date: 2004-04-14
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 108-462.
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Mr. Boehlert asked unanimous consent that the Committee on Science, Space and Technology have until 5:00 p.m. on April 14 to file a report on H.R. 3970. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2004-04-01
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2004-03-31
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2004-03-17
text: Committee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2004-03-16
text: Referred to the House Committee on Science.
action_date: 2004-03-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E368-369)
action_date: 2004-03-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2004-03-16
text: Introduced in House