[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6991 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 6991

To establish an Energy Policy Council to develop a National Energy Plan 
    and monitor the implementation thereof, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 22, 2008

  Mr. Larson of Connecticut introduced the following bill; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish an Energy Policy Council to develop a National Energy Plan 
    and monitor the implementation thereof, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. ESTABLISHMENT OF ENERGY POLICY COUNCIL.

    There is established an Energy Policy Council (in this Act referred 
to as the ``Council'') within the Executive Office of the President, 
which shall consist of--
            (1) the Secretary of Energy, or the Secretary's designee, 
        who shall serve as chairman of the Council;
            (2) the Secretary of Transportation, or the Secretary's 
        designee;
            (3) the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, or the 
        Secretary's designee;
            (4) the Secretary of Defense, or the Secretary's designee;
            (5) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
        Agency, or the Adminstrator's designee;
            (6) the Secretary of Agriculture, or the Secretary's 
        designee; and
            (7) the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary's designee.

SEC. 2. FIRST MEETING.

    The Council shall hold its first meeting not later than 30 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act.

SEC. 3. FUNCTIONS.

    The Council shall, not later than 4 months after the first meeting 
described in section 2, transmit to the Congress--
            (1) a National Energy Plan, developed in consultation with 
        other appropriate Federal agencies, to--
                    (A) guide and ensure the coordinated implementation 
                of United States energy policies; and
                    (B) address--
                            (i) reducing our dependence on foreign oil;
                            (ii) strengthening national security;
                            (iii) lowering energy costs for consumers;
                            (iv) creating markets for clean energy 
                        jobs;
                            (v) reducing global warming;
                            (vi) increasing energy efficiency;
                            (vii) creating new pathways for innovative 
                        energy research and development; and
                            (viii) any other national energy goals the 
                        Council considers appropriate; and
            (2) a plan for comprehensive Federal departmental reform, 
        as necessary and appropriate to--
                    (A) eliminate wasteful spending;
                    (B) eliminate overlapping programs; and
                    (C) establish a consolidated entity, to be known as 
                the Department of Energy Policy, to help carry out the 
                energy plan transmitted under paragraph (1).

SEC. 4. REPORTS.

    Until the establishment of the Department of Energy Policy, the 
Council shall annually, after the transmittal of the plans under 
section 3, transmit to the Congress a report that--
            (1) reviews such plans and recommends appropriate 
        amendments thereto;
            (2) assesses the implementation of such plans by Federal 
        agencies; and
            (3) makes recommendations for any additional improvements 
        to United States energy policies.

SEC. 5. STAFF.

    The Council may hire staff to enable it to preform its functions 
under this Act.
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