Ralph Hall

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert).

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Well, first I appreciate your trip to Texas Monday, up and back. And I appreciate Mr. Broun's position on this. You know, we had amendments, and Mr. Broun's amendment, I believe, was voted down by a party vote when we had the hearing. I may be wrong on that. But he's here to support the position that he's taken. I'd like to have some time for him to at least talk about how the two could fit together when we head to conference or any of the conference committees.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chair, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Souder). (Mr. SOUDER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 3246, the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009. It has the stated objective to develop technologies that improve efficiency and emissions of vehicles, reduces reliance on petroleum, and supports vehicle manufacturing in the United States. Among other things, it develops cost-effective vehicle technologies for wide-scale utilization, enhanced commercial and passenger vehicle performance, allows for greater consumer choice, shortens technology penetration times, ensures balance and diversity in Federal R&D investment, strengthens public-private R&D partnerships, and probably many other things. I would like to thank Congressman Peters for the good job he did working with us and working with the Science Committee on this bill, and for incorporating our suggestions and the suggestions of our chairman into his manager's amendment for ways to improve the bill during the full committee markup, including a provision in Title I that requires the Secretary to ensure that activities do not duplicate those of other programs within the Department of Energy or other relevant research agencies. In our country's tough financial situation, we want to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently and responsibly and not being wasted or mismanaged as well. The manager's amendment, agreed to in the full committee, included bipartisan language supportive of applied and basic research and development of hydrogen and natural gas vehicle technologies. Congressman Teague offered an amendment that seemed to reiterate the spirit of comity, but it was unfortunately not made in order by a party-line vote at the Rules Committee hearing yesterday. As I said during the full committee markup, the cost of the bill gives me some pause; but I understand the costs associated with the level, degree, and scope of the bill that deals with research, development, and commercial application activities on materials, technologies, and processes of not only passenger vehicles, but also medium- to heavy-duty commercial and transit vehicles, including long- haul class 8 truck and trailer platforms. With that said, I plan to vote for an amendment that will be offered by Representative Broun of Georgia to reduce the authorization amount in the bill by $650 million. The transportation sector uses 67.9 percent of the petroleum that is used in our country. If we want to reduce or wean our dependence on foreign sources of oil, we are going to need technological advances in the vehicles that Americans drive to help us reach that goal. The bill before us today will certainly help to achieve these advances. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Broun amendment. This amendment would require the Secretary to report to Congress on a yearly basis on the activities undertaken in the previous year under title I, such as active industry participants, efforts to recruit new participants, progress of the program in meeting goals and timelines, and a strategic plan for the funding of activities across agencies. This amendment allows the Congress and the public to monitor the success of activities in title I and to ensure that the money that is ultimately appropriated is being well spent. Now, while I realize the Gordon amendment added a title I report, as I stated earlier, I would prefer the reporting language that is in Representative Broun's amendment, as it is more comprehensive and mirrors the report language requirement in title II. I would again express my hope that, in conference, the two authors of the reporting amendments could agree to merge their language so that all bases are covered.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I'm glad to yield 3 more minutes to the gentleman, knowing of his interest in the RV industry, and his support.

Mr. HALL of Texas. I yield back the balance of my time. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Mr. HALL of Texas. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Posey amendment. Mr. Posey's goal is to direct the Department of Energy to give the same consideration to demonstrating vehicles using fossil fuels that can achieve 70 miles per gallon or more as they are to alternatively fueled vehicles and hybrids. I support that.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Chairman, though not opposed, I rise to claim the time on the Polis amendment.

Mr. HALL of Texas. I support the Polis amendment. The amendment would enable our constituents to continue driving the vehicles they currently own while taking advantage of technology that would enable them to reduce their petroleum use perhaps faster than if they were to wait for a new vehicle to make its way from concept to showroom.

Mr. HALL of Texas. I would ask unanimous consent that that be granted.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 445, the Heavy Duty Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2009, sponsored by my good friend, Congressman Sensenbrenner. H.R. 445 was originally introduced in the 110th Congress as H.R. 6323, where it passed out of the Committee on Science and Technology with bipartisan support and input from both sides of the aisle and was passed by the House of Representatives under suspension of the rules by voice vote. I'm pleased that Mr. Sensenbrenner reintroduced his bill in this Congress that we're debating on the floor today. While most of the attention on hybrid vehicles has been focused on passenger cars, large, heavy duty hybrid trucks have received limited funds for Federal research and development programs. However, because trucks generally use much more fuel per year than passenger vehicles, the overall potential on satisfaction is very significant. The Environmental Protection Agency establishes that a typical delivery truck using a hydraulic hybrid system could save up to 1,000 gallons of fuel per year. In light of the proposed savings in fuel use and resulting emissions reduction, the Heavy Duty Hybrid Vehicle Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2009 aims to encourage the advancement of the needed technology to bring about these savings. The bill directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a grant program for the development of advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles. These grants are awarded in two phases. In phase one, grant recipients are required to build or retrofit one or more advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles and to collect required data. In phase two, grant recipients are required to produce or retrofit 50 advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles, collect required data, and report on the results. In addition, the bill directs the Secretary to conduct a study of alternative power train designs for use in advanced heavy duty hybrid vehicles and, further, directs the Secretary to establish a pilot program through DOE's national laboratories to research and test the effects on the domestic electric power grid of the widespread use of plug-in hybrid vehicles, including heavy duty plug-in hybrid trucks. Again, I thank Congressman Sensenbrenner for introducing this bill, and Chairman Gordon for helping to advance it. I think it makes good sense and deserves passage. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan, Dr. Ehlers.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Con. Res. 167, supporting the goals and ideals of National Aerospace Day, introduced by my good friend Representative Vern Ehlers and cosponsored by a number of leading Members from both sides of the aisle. Domestic aerospace products, services and technologies underpin the Nation's quality of life, our security and economic vitality. These are fundamental to our ability to travel safely and conveniently throughout this country and the world. This enables our military to reach trouble spots quickly, to monitor those who wish to do us harm, and to accurately defeat imminent threats. Just as importantly, aerospace makes it possible for people and industries all across our country to quickly and inexpensively be part of our economic mainstream. The capabilities made possible by aerospace products in outer space are just as extraordinary. These have enabled safely landing men on the Moon, sending satellites to all the planets in our solar system, landing a satellite on an asteroid, building a permanently inhabited space station, monitoring weather, measuring changes to our planet, and providing instant communications to all parts of the globe. Space applications have enriched our lives and our understanding of the universe. The history of aerospace is long and storied, from the Wright Brothers, to the creation of the Federal National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics and NASA, to the vigorous industrial growth and technological innovation led by the likes of companies such as Rockwell, McDonald Douglas, Grumman, North American, Boeing, Pratt and Whitney, and Beechcraft. That list could go on and on. These companies and many, many others have led the world in innovation and engineering excellence. It is because of their talented researchers, their engineers and machinists that our country leads the world in the production of aerospace products. Before closing, it bears repeating that aerospace products and services are one of the largest sources of export income in our balance of trade. Not only is aerospace a large source of domestic sales to our airplanes and our government, it is also an extraordinarily large source of foreign income. Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 167 designates September 16th as National Aerospace Day to highlight the industry's importance to our economy and our way of life and to remind Americans of the extraordinary achievements it has fostered and continues to provide. I urge all Members to support this very worthwhile bill. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 3165, the Wind Energy Research and Development Act of 2009. Wind energy has been and continues to be a very important part of the electricity-generating portfolio in this country, and in particular in my State of Texas, which I understand is the largest producer of wind energy in our country. However, the technology can be improved upon to make the wind turbines, systems and farms more efficient and more effective at producing energy. Renewable energy from wind currently makes up almost 2 percent of the energy generated in this country, but industry experts believe that number can be as high as 20 percent. H.R. 3165 can help this country reach that goal. The bill addresses the key research areas needed to expand our country's production of wind energy, and I thank Mr. Tonko for his work on this important renewable energy source and for working with both sides of the aisle to move this bill unanimously out of the Science Committee and before the House today. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Smith).

Mr. HALL of Texas

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman).

Mr. HALL of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today, of course, in support of House Resolution 447, recognizing the very remarkable contributions of the American Council of Engineering Companies for its 100 years of service to the engineering industry and to the Nation. ACEC is a large federation of 51 State and regional councils representing the great breadth of America's engineering industry. This includes one of the largest councils serving 325 firms in my home State of Texas. ACEC represents more than 5,000 engineering firms that employ more than 500,000 engineers, architects, land surveyors, scientists and other specialists responsible for more than $100 billion of private and public works annually. It's an effective and growing advocate for advancing the practice of consulting engineering and the promotion of private enterprise, working to further the business interests and opportunities of the world's most respected engineering companies, those that design and build the roads, the bridges, the subways and the airports, industrial facilities and water systems of America. These buildings and infrastructure have truly been the backbone of American commerce and industry during the last 100 years. The ACEC member companies that have helped to construct them will no doubt be on the front lines of the economic recovery that lies ahead of us. I commend ACEC and its member companies and employees for the immeasurable service and contribution to the country. I reserve the balance of my time.