Department of Defense Security Act of 2011

Floor Speech

Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. Speaker, on behalf of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, I have introduced the Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2011. As many of you know, Congresswoman GIFFORDS has been a staunch advocate of energy alternatives and its impact on national security. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, she has worked on a number of initiatives since she arrived in Congress, and many of those proposals have been included in the committee's annual defense authorization bill. The bill that I am introducing for her today continues this legacy.

The Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2011 is a comprehensive bill that seeks to move the Department forward on energy security. It includes a number of initiatives based on input from various national security and energy organizations, the Department of Defense, and industry.

These include initiatives such as: Joint Contingency Base Resource Security Pilot Project; Tactical Vehicle Efficiency Report; Conversion of Non-Tactical Vehicles; Alternative Fuels Contracting Authority; Designation of an Executive Agent for Alternative Fuel Development; Energy Test Bed Initiative; Energy Conservation Investment Program; Report on ASHRAE Building Standards; Continually-updated List of Energy Technologies for DOD Facilities; Energy Manager Certification; Energy Management Data Needs; Interim Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) Goals; Remove Technology Bias in Permissible Land Use; Strategic Plan for Renewable Energy Development; Report on Cross-Agency Renewable Energy Development Efforts; Elimination of Approval Requirement for Long-Term Contracts for Energy/Fuel at Military Installations; Report on Energy Security and Renewable Energy Development; Report on Installation Energy Security and Societal Impacts.

Several of the provisions proposed in the bill, already have been included H.R. 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012. I am pleased to assist Congresswoman GIFFORDS in her efforts to continue to improve the energy security of the Department of Defense.

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