PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Congressional Research Service
Version 36 · Passed House amended · May 10, 2006
H-Prize Act of 2006 - (Sec. 3) Directs the Secretary of Energy to award competitive cash prizes biennially to advance the research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of hydrogen energy technologies.
Instructs the Secretary to widely advertise prize competitions to encourage broad participation, including by individuals, universities (including historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions), and large and small businesses (including businesses owned or controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged persons).
Directs the Secretary enter into an agreement with a private, nonprofit entity to administer the prize competitions.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
States that funding sources for such cash prizes shall consist of federal appropriated funds and funds provided by the administering entity.
Terminates the authority to announce the prize competitions on September 30, 2017.
(Sec. 4) Designates prize-eligible categories, including: (1) advancements in certain hydrogen components or systems; (2) prototypes of hydrogen-powered vehicles or other hydrogen-based products that meet or exceed certain performance criteria; and (3) transformational changes in technologies for hydrogen distribution or production that meet or exceed far-reaching criteria, including minimal carbon emissions, and which may include cost criteria designed to facilitate the eventual market success of a winning technology.
Prescribes guidelines for implementation and eligibility.
(Sec. 6) Declares that the federal government shall not, by virtue of offering or awarding a prize under this Act, be entitled to any intellectual property rights derived as a consequence of, or direct relation to, the participation by a registered participant in a competition authorized by this Act.
(Sec. 7) Prescribes guidelines for waiver of liability by registered participants.
(Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations for FY2007-FY2016. Prescribes award allocation guidelines.
(Sec. 9) States that the programs created under this Act shall not be considered a substitute for federal research and development programs.
People & committees
Rep. Inglis, Bob [R-SC-4] · R–SC
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 416 - 6, 1 Present (Roll no. 131). (text: CR H2346-2347)
House roll call 131 · Individual votesPassed/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): 416 - 6, 1 Present (Roll no. 131).(text: CR H2346-2347)
House roll call 131 · Individual votesConsidered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H2366-2367)
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.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5143.
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2346-2354)
Mr. Inglis (SC) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 254.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 109-456.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Science. H. Rept. 109-456.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Committee Hearings Held.
Referred to the House Committee on Science.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze H.R.5143 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine H.R.5143 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine H.R.5143 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine H.R.5143 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.