3.0.0 2508 2023-01-11T13:25:48Z 2023-01-11T13:25:48Z Senate S S 2014-06-19 113 ssfr00 Foreign Relations Committee Senate Standing Reported by 2014-07-24T20:41:57Z Markup by 2014-06-24T18:15:00Z Referred to 2014-06-19T21:29:19Z S. Rept. 113-219 2014-07-24 Senate Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 489. Calendars 2014-07-24 ssfr00 Foreign Relations Committee Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with amendments and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 113-219. Committee 2014-07-24 Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Menendez with amendments and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 113-219. Committee 14000 9 Library of Congress ssfr00 Foreign Relations Committee 2014-06-24 ssfr00 Foreign Relations Committee Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably. Committee 2014-06-19 ssfr00 Foreign Relations Committee Senate Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. IntroReferral 2014-06-19 Introduced in Senate IntroReferral 10000 9 Library of Congress M000639 Sen. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ] Robert Menendez D NJ N C001071 Sen. Corker, Bob [R-TN] Bob Corker R TN 2014-06-19 True C001088 Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] Christopher Coons D DE A. 2014-06-19 True I000055 Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA] Johnny Isakson R GA 2014-06-19 True M000133 Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] Edward Markey D MA J. 2014-06-19 True J000291 Sen. Johanns, Mike [R-NE] Mike Johanns R NE 2014-06-19 True C000141 Sen. Cardin, Benjamin L. [D-MD] Ben Cardin D MD 2014-06-24 False S001181 Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH] Jeanne Shaheen D NH 2014-06-24 False F000457 Sen. Franken, Al [D-MN] Al Franken D MN 2014-06-25 False D000563 Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL] Richard Durbin D IL J. 2014-06-25 False K000367 Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] Amy Klobuchar D MN 2014-07-08 False G000359 Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC] Lindsey Graham R SC 2014-07-08 False B000575 Sen. Blunt, Roy [R-MO] Roy Blunt R MO 2014-07-08 False S000770 Sen. Stabenow, Debbie [D-MI] Debbie Stabenow D MI 2014-07-21 False U000038 Sen. Udall, Mark [D-CO] MARK UDALL D CO 2014-07-22 False C000127 Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA] Maria Cantwell D WA 2014-07-23 False G000555 Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] Kirsten Gillibrand D NY E. 2014-07-31 False M001111 Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] Patty Murray D WA 2014-07-31 False C001035 Sen. Collins, Susan M. [R-ME] Susan Collins R ME M. 2014-09-08 False S000148 Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY] Charles Schumer D NY E. 2014-09-17 False H001046 Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM] Martin Heinrich D NM T. 2014-09-17 False M001169 Sen. Murphy, Christopher [D-CT] Christopher Murphy D CT S. 2014-09-18 False C001070 Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] Bob Casey D PA 2014-11-12 False B000944 Sen. Brown, Sherrod [D-OH] Sherrod Brown D OH 2014-11-13 False International Affairs Advisory bodies Africa Alternative and renewable resources Appropriations Congressional oversight Electric power generation and transmission Energy efficiency and conservation Energy storage, supplies, demand Foreign aid and international relief Government lending and loan guarantees Lighting, heating, cooling Multilateral development programs Public utilities and utility rates Rule of law and government transparency U.S. and foreign investments International Affairs 00 2014-06-19 Introduced in Senate 2014-12-18T16:28:16Z Energize Africa Act of 2014 - Directs the President to establish: (1) a multiyear strategy to assist countries in sub-Saharan Africa implement national power strategies and develop an appropriate mix of power solutions, including renewable energy, to provide access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power in order to reduce poverty and drive economic growth; and (2) an African Power Advisory Group.

Expresses the sense of Congress that:

  • as the United States deepens its engagement with countries in sub-Saharan Africa priority should be given to countries with credibility in energy sector governance and management, and to private sector and investment climate reforms; and
  • the United States should consider U.S. government and private sector opportunities to contribute to such countries' energy sectors and facilitate regional power trade and access.

Requires the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to prioritize assistance to sub-Saharan Africa for national, regional, and local energy and economically sustainable power policy plans, and to expand power access.

Urges, with respect to power projects in sub-Saharan Africa, that:

  • USAID prioritize loan guarantees to local financial institutions to facilitate their involvement in power projects and markets, and to fund plans to increase distribution coverage;
  • the Trade and Development Agency promote U.S. private sector participation in energy sector development projects through project preparation activities;
  • the Secretary of the Treasury use U.S. influence in the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank to encourage power sector and electrification investments;
  • the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) prioritize support for private sector investments that will maximize the number of people with new access to power services and expand power transmission and distribution; and
  • the United States African Development Foundation make grants and provide technical support to businesses and organizations that are developing on- and off-grid solutions to meet the power needs of underserved rural communities.

Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize OPIC to make direct loans and issue investment insurance and investment loan guarantees through September 30, 2019.

Urges OPIC, with respect to sub-Saharan Africa, to:

  • streamline the application, approval, and post-approval processes for insuring, financing, or investing in projects, including off-grid efforts, for which OPIC support is less than $20 million; and
  • prioritize OPIC loan, guarantee, and insurance programs for power generation, distribution, and off-grid power and lighting.

Requires OPIC to establish five-year pilot programs under which:

  • certain entities that are substantially owned by U.S. citizens shall be eligible investors for receiving OPIC assistance for power projects in sub-Saharan Africa; and
  • OPIC shall make loans to eligible investors for power projects in sub-Saharan Africa for which OPIC support does not exceed $50 million, or issue local currency guarantees to African subsidiaries of foreign financial institutions to facilitate lending for power projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

Authorizes OPIC to insure, guarantee, or reinsure an equity investment in a renewable energy project in sub-Saharan Africa for up to 30 years.

Requires OPIC to conduct an annual customer satisfaction survey.

Authorizes OPIC to employ up to 20 individuals on a limited-appointment basis in support of power production and distribution efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.

Expresses the sense of Congress that appropriations for certain OPIC administrative expenses and activities for FY2015-FY2019 should be adjusted to reflect the resources needed to carry out the purposes ofthis Act.

]]> 01 2014-07-24 Reported to Senate with amendment(s) 2014-12-18T16:27:59Z Energize Africa Act of 2014 - Title I: Policies to Improve Access to Power in Sub-Saharan Africa - (Sec. 103) Directs the President to establish: (1) a multiyear strategy to encourage the efforts of countries in sub-Saharan Africa to implement national power strategies and develop an appropriate mix of power solutions, including renewable energy, to provide access to reliable, affordable, and sustainable power in order to reduce poverty and drive economic growth; and (2) an African Power Advisory Group.

Authorizes the President to establish an Interagency Working Group to coordinate the activities of relevant federal departments and agencies involved in carrying out the strategy.

(Sec. 104) Expresses the sense of Congress that:

  • as the United States deepens its engagement with countries in sub-Saharan Africa priority should be given to countries committed to specified activities in energy sector governance and management, and to private sector and investment climate reforms; and
  • the United States should consider, in prioritizing efforts, U.S. government and private sector opportunities to contribute to those countries' energy sectors and facilitate regional power trade and access.

(Sec. 105) Urges the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to prioritize loan guarantees to local financial institutions in sub-Saharan Africa to: (1) facilitate their involvement in power projects and markets, and (2) fund plans to increase distribution coverage.

(Sec. 106) Urges the Trade and Development Agency to prioritize: (1) promotion of U.S. private sector participation in energy sector development projects through project preparation activities; and (2) funding of such activities for sub-Saharan Africa projects involving increased access to power, including power generation and trade capacity building.

(Sec. 107) Urges the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) to prioritize support for private sector investments in the sub-Saharan Africa power sector, including renewable energy, that will maximize the number of people with new access to power services and expand power transmission and distribution.

(Sec. 108) Urges the Secretary of the Treasury to direct the U.S. Executive Directors of the World Bank Group and the African Development Bank to use U.S. the voice, vote, and influence to help ensure the Banks prioritize sub-Sahara Africa power sector and electrification investments.

(Sec. 109) Urges the United States African Development Foundation to seek opportunities to make grants and provide technical support to sub-Sahara Africa businesses and organizations that are developing on- and off-grid solutions to meet the power needs of underserved rural communities.

(Sec. 110) Urges the Millennium Challenge Corporation to prioritize: (1) assistance to support private and public sector efforts to increase access to and the reliability of electricity in such countries, including through on- and off-grid generation and electrical transmission and distribution projects; and (2) engagement with governments of those countries to assist in establishing legal, regulatory, policy, and institutional reforms related to power sector investments.

Title II: Overseas Private Investment Corporation - (Sec. 201) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize OPIC to make direct loans and issue investment insurance and investment loan guarantees through September 30, 2019.

(Sec. 202) Urges OPIC, with respect to sub-Saharan Africa, to:

  • streamline the application, approval, and post-approval processes for insuring, financing, or investing in projects, including off-grid efforts, for which OPIC support is less than $20 million; and
  • prioritize OPIC loan, guarantee, and insurance programs for power generation, distribution, and off-grid power and lighting.

(Sec. 204) Requires OPIC to establish five-year pilot programs under which:

  • certain foreign corporations, partnerships, or other associations that are substantially owned by U.S. citizens shall be eligible investors for receiving OPIC assistance for power projects in sub-Saharan Africa; and
  • OPIC shall make loans to eligible investors for power projects for which OPIC support does not exceed $50 million, or issue local currency guarantees to African subsidiaries of foreign financial institutions to facilitate lending for power projects in sub-Saharan Africa.

(Sec. 206) Authorizes OPIC to insure, guarantee, or reinsure an equity investment in a renewable energy project in sub-Saharan Africa for up to 30 years.

(Sec. 207) Amends the Inspector General Act of 1978 to require OPIC to establish an Inspector General.

(Sec. 208) Requires OPIC to conduct an annual customer satisfaction survey, with particular attention to OPIC customers that are small businesses and cooperatives.

(Sec. 209) Authorizes OPIC to employ up to 20 individuals on a limited-appointment basis in support of power production and distribution efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.

(Sec. 210)Expresses the sense of Congress that appropriations for certain OPIC administrative expenses and activities for FY2015-FY2019 should be adjusted to reflect the resources needed to carry out the purposes of this Act.

(Sec. 211) Requires the OPIC Inspector General to report to Congress on the equity authority of OPIC to meet its statutory objectives effectively.

]]> Energize Africa Act of 2014 Display Title Energize Africa Act of 2014 Official Title as Introduced A bill to establish a comprehensive United States Government policy to assist countries in sub-Saharan Africa to improve access to and the affordability, reliability, and sustainability of power, and for other purposes. Introduced in Senate IS Short Titles as Introduced Energize Africa Act of 2014 Short Titles as Reported to Senate Energize Africa Act of 2014 S Senate Reported to Senate 2014-07-24T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-113s2508rs/xml/BILLS-113s2508rs.xml Introduced in Senate 2014-06-19T04:00:00Z https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-113s2508is/xml/BILLS-113s2508is.xml 2014-07-24 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 489. text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress This file contains bill summaries and statuses for federal legislation. A bill summary describes the most significant provisions of a piece of legislation and details the effects the legislative text may have on current law and federal programs. Bill summaries are authored by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) of the Library of Congress. As stated in Public Law 91-510 (2 USC 166 (d)(6)), one of the duties of CRS is "to prepare summaries and digests of bills and resolutions of a public general nature introduced in the Senate or House of Representatives". For more information, refer to the User Guide that accompanies this file.