A. �Hydrogen Fuel Cells,� excerpts from Judy�s Speech at the Illinois 2H2 Greater Chicagoland Regional Forum Sponsored by The Illinois Coalition Monday, October 6, 2003

��the President�s forward-thinking approach to fuel cells and hydrogen is reflected in comprehensive energy legislation approved by the House and the Senate and now in conference. Just over four weeks ago, I was appointed as a conferee on the bill, specifically the research and development provisions that fall under the jurisdiction of the subcommittee that I chair. Despite a little delay caused by a certain hurricane that shall remain nameless, a lot of progress has been made during the past four weeks. The major issues that remain include ANWR, ethanol, and the tax provisions.

While we haven�t seen the tax provisions, I am hopeful that the final bill we send to the President will include credits for investment in distributed energy technologies like stationary fuel cells and the purchase of fuel cell cars�even though such automobiles are not commercially available and won�t be for quite some time. I don�t think many people realize that fuel cells have numerous applications beyond automobiles, and that we�re likely to see a fuel cell installed in a home or a subdivision long before we find one under the hood of a car.

But that�s exactly what makes the bill�s research and development provisions all the more important. They are designed to tackle numerous technical obstacles, making this cutting edge technology so affordable that tax credits � whether for stationary applications or cars � will one day be unnecessary. That�s why hydrogen and fuel cell research are cornerstones of the policy recommended by President Bush and embraced by Congress in its energy bills. �Hydrogen� even has its own separate title within the bill.

I am happy to say that the draft language on hydrogen and fuel cells that is emerging from conference closely follows the House-passed provisions. As expected, it authorizes the DOE to carry out a research, development, demonstration, and commercial application program for hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles. It supports research aimed at overcoming the technical obstacles associated with hydrogen production, delivery, and storage, as well as the development of fuel cell technologies, not to mention the necessary codes and standards. The bill also directs DOE to undertake a hydrogen demonstration program, specifying even the project selection criteria. Ultimately, the goal of all this research is to make industry commercialization possible by 2015.

It�s true, there remain serious technical obstacles to fuel cell use, not to mention more �local� issues of hydrogen distribution and storage. But there will emerge a number of policy issues as well, and decision-makers will turn for answers to the science and the research, and to men and women in industry.

For instance, the DOE will make a decision in 2004 on whether or not to continue to pursue onboard reformers as a viable technology option. While some see reformers as a transition technology that could speed development of fuel cell technology while significantly improving fuel efficiency in the short term, others see reformers as contributing nothing to the development of hydrogen infrastructure, even delaying its deployment.

Policy decisions may also be called for on another issue that recently popped on the radar screen when an internal EPA study raised questions about the environmental friendliness of the fuel cells themselves. According to EPA, certain fuel cell components could be classified as hazardous waste, and therefore might require special handling and disposal. The study recognizes, however, that near term developments in fuel cell design and fuel storage systems could solve this problem before it becomes a problem.

To accomplish all of this, overcome technical obstacles, and address anticipated and unanticipated policy issues, the energy bill authorizes $273.5 million for hydrogen and fuel cell R and D for fiscal year 2004. This is the first installment of the $1.7 billion � which includes over $700 million in new money � that the President committed to spend over the next five years on research related to hydrogen, fuel cells, and other hybrid and vehicle technologies.

As for appropriations, fiscal year 2004 was supposed to start last week, but didn�t for DOE because its appropriations bill is still in conference. Despite the delay, I think I can safely say that the appropriation for these R and D activities is going to end up somewhere between $240 and $270 million.�

B. Congressional Activity

Recently in Congress

• S. 3 Partial-Birth Abortion Ban of 2003 Conference Report. The conference report to S. 3 bans the partial-birth abortion procedure known as dilation and extraction, unless the pregnant women�s life is endangered by physical illness or physical injury. On October 2, 2003, the conference report was agreed to 281-142 in the House; Biggert vote: yea. The conference report awaits action in the Senate.
• H.R. 1474 Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act Conference Report. This bill allows banks to clear checks electronically instead of transporting the paper checks to get verification of funds without negotiating separate agreements with each financial institution. On October 8, 2003, the conference report was agreed to by voice vote in the House; Biggert vote: yea. The conference report awaits action in the Senate.
• H.R. 3108 Pension Funding Equity Act of 2003 This Act would allow companies to adjust contributions to their pension plans for the next two years by altering the formula used to calculate whether those contributions are enough to cover iabilities. Would use a rate based on a blend of corporate bond index rates instead of the 30-year Treasury bond interest rate. The bill would expire in two years on December 31, 2005. On October 8, 2003, the bill was agreed to 397-2 in the House; Biggert vote: yea. The bill awaits Senate action.
• H.Res. 393 Biggert Bill Commending the Women of Afghanistan (see floor statement below) On October 8, 2003, Judy introduced the bill, which was referred to the Committee on International Relations.

This Week in Congress

Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2004 During the week of October 13th, the House is scheduled to consider the Supplemental Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2004. This bill would allow provide $87 billion for military support in Iraq and Afghanistan. The House may also include funds for Hurricane Isabel damage repair.

C. Judy�s Floor Statement on H.Res. 393, Commending the Women of Afghanistan

Statement by Judy Commending Afghan Women and Reiterating the U.S. Commitment to Human Rights in Afghanistan October 8, 2003

�Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend the women of Afghanistan, and to encourage my colleagues to join me in expressing strong support for their inclusion in the new Afghan Constitution.

Nearly two years after the fall of the Taliban government, Afghan women are reclaiming their rightful place in society, returning to jobs and professions they held before the Taliban. No longer do they live in fear of a brutal regime. Instead they are working to build a new democracy.

Under the Bonn Agreement, the people of Afghanistan will have in place in the coming months a new Constitution. As the drafters continue the hard work of crafting that important document, we must continue to encourage the inclusion of women and the protection of their human rights.

It is for this reason that my friend Carolyn Maloney and I introduce today a resolution commending the participation of women in Afghan government and society and advocating the protection of women�s human rights under the new Constitution. I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. I yield back the balance of my time.�