[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7101 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7101

To establish a task force to lower energy costs for the forest product 
 industry and similar manufacturing operations, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 25, 2008

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To establish a task force to lower energy costs for the forest product 
 industry and similar manufacturing operations, 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. PULP AND PAPER ENERGY SECURITY TASK FORCE.

    (a) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) The terms ``Department'' and ``Secretary'' mean the 
        Department of Energy and the Secretary thereof, respectively.
            (2) The term ``task force'' means the task force 
        established under subsection (b).
    (b) Energy Task Force.--
            (1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a task 
        force, to be known as the Pulp and Paper Energy Security Task 
        Force, to address the energy needs of the forest product 
        industry and similar manufacturing operations.
            (2) Duties.--The task force shall--
                    (A) identify--
                            (i) the energy needs of the forest product 
                        industry and similar manufacturing operations;
                            (ii) the programs and services provided by 
                        the Federal Government, State governments, and 
                        nongovernment organizations that may serve to 
                        lower energy costs, including through the 
                        introduction or increased use of renewable 
                        fuels in papermaking operations and allied 
                        industries;
                    (B) assess the extent to which the programs and 
                services identified under subparagraph (A)(ii) serve 
                the needs identified under subparagraph (A)(i);
                    (C) make recommendations to the Secretary on how to 
                more effectively serve the needs identified under 
                subparagraph (A)(i) through--
                            (i) programs and services identified under 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii);
                            (ii) new programs and services promoted by 
                        the task force; and
                            (iii) statutory changes.
                    (D) make recommendations on how the Secretary may 
                promote--
                            (i) new programs and services that the task 
                        force recommends under subparagraph (C)(ii); 
                        and
                            (ii) programs and services identified under 
                        subparagraph (A)(ii);
                    (E) make recommendations on how the Secretary may 
                inform and educate with respect to--
                            (i) the needs identified under subparagraph 
                        (A)(i);
                            (ii) new programs and services that the 
                        task force recommends under subparagraph 
                        (C)(ii); and
                            (iii) programs and services identified 
                        under subparagraph (A)(ii);
                    (F) make recommendations on how the Secretary may 
                more effectively work with public and private interests 
                to address the energy needs of the forest product 
                industry and similar manufacturing operations; and
                    (G) make recommendations on the creation of a 
                permanent advisory board that would make 
                recommendations to the Secretary on how to address the 
                energy needs of the forest product industry and similar 
                manufacturing operations.
            (3) Internet website recommendations.--The task force shall 
        make recommendations to the Secretary relating to the 
        establishment of an Internet website to be used by the 
        Department to receive and dispense information and resources 
        with respect to the needs identified under paragraph (2)(A)(i) 
        and the programs and services identified under paragraph 
        (2)(A)(ii). As part of the recommendations, the task force 
        shall identify the Internet sites of appropriate programs, 
        services, and organizations, both public and private, to which 
        the Internet website should link.
            (4) Education programs.--The task force shall make 
        recommendations to the Secretary relating to developing 
        additional education materials and programs with respect to the 
        needs identified under paragraph (2)(A)(i).
            (5) Existing materials-.--The task force shall organize and 
        distribute existing materials that inform and educate with 
        respect to the needs identified under paragraph (2)(A)(i) and 
        the programs and services identified under paragraph 
        (2)(A)(ii).
            (6) Coordination with public and private sector.--In 
        carrying out its responsibilities under this section, the task 
        force shall coordinate with, and may accept materials and 
        assistance as it determines appropriate from--
                    (A) any subordinate officer of the Secretary;
                    (B) other Federal agencies, their officers, or 
                employees; and
                    (C) any other organization, entity, or person not 
                described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
            (7) Chair and vice-chair.--The task force shall have--
                    (A) a Chair, appointed by the Secretary; and
                    (B) a Vice-Chair, appointed by the Secretary, in 
                consultation with appropriate nongovernmental 
                organizations, entities, or persons.
            (8) Members.--
                    (A) Chair and vice-chair.--The Chair and the Vice-
                Chair shall serve as members of the task force.
                    (B) Additional members.--
                            (i) In general.--The task force shall have 
                        additional members, each of whom shall be 
                        appointed by the Chair, with the approval of 
                        the Secretary.
                            (ii) Number of members.--The number of 
                        additional members shall be determined by the 
                        Chair, in consultation with the Secretary, 
                        except that--
                                    (I) the additional members shall 
                                include, for each of the groups 
                                specified in subparagraph (C), at least 
                                1 member appointed from within that 
                                group; and
                                    (II) the number of additional 
                                members shall not exceed 13.
                    (C) Groups represented.--The groups specified in 
                this subparagraph are--
                            (i) subject matter experts;
                            (ii) labor unions representing employees of 
                        the forest product industry and similar 
                        manufacturing operations;
                            (iii) vendors of energy technologies to the 
                        forest product industry and similar 
                        manufacturing operations;
                            (iv) academics with expertise in the use of 
                        energy technologies within the forest product 
                        industry and similar manufacturing operations;
                            (v) the forest product industry and similar 
                        manufacturing operations trade associations;
                            (vi) Federal, State, or local agencies 
                        engaged in energy improvements and cost 
                        reductions at within the forest product 
                        industry and similar manufacturing operations.
            (9) Meetings.--
                    (A) Frequency.--The task force shall meet at least 
                2 times per year, and more frequently if necessary to 
                perform its duties.
                    (B) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the task 
                force shall constitute a quorum.
                    (C) Location.--The Secretary shall designate, and 
                make available to the task force, a location at a 
                facility under the control of the Secretary for use by 
                the task force for its meetings.
                    (D) Minutes.--
                            (i) In general.--Not later than 90 days 
                        after each meeting, the task force shall 
                        publish the minutes of the meeting and shall 
                        submit to Secretary any findings or 
                        recommendations approved at the meeting.
                            (ii) Submission to congress.--Not later 
                        than 60 days after the date that the Secretary 
                        receives minutes under clause (i) the Secretary 
                        shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 
                        Natural Resources and the Committee on Small 
                        Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate and 
                        the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the 
                        Committee on Small Business of the House of 
                        Representatives such minutes, together with any 
                        comments the Secretary considers appropriate.
                    (E) Findings.--
                            (i) In general.--Not later than the date 
                        that the task force terminates under paragraph 
                        (13) the task force shall submit to the 
                        Secretary a final report on any findings and 
                        recommendations of the task force approved at a 
                        meeting of the task force.
                            (ii) Submission to congress.--Not later 
                        than 90 days after the date that the 
                        Administrator receives the report under clause 
                        (i), the Secretary shall submit to the 
                        Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and 
                        the Committee on Small Business and 
                        Entrepreneurship of the Senate and the 
                        Committee on Energy and Commerce and the 
                        Committee on Small Business of the House of 
                        Representatives the full text of the report 
                        submitted under clause (i), together with any 
                        comments the Secretary considers appropriate.
            (10) Personnel matters.--
                    (A) Compensation of members.--Each member of the 
                task force shall serve without pay for their service on 
                the task force.
                    (B) Travel expenses.--Each member of the task force 
                shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in 
                lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable 
                provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, 
                United States Code.
                    (C) Detail of department of energy employees.--The 
                Secretary may detail, without reimbursement, any of the 
                personnel of the Department to the task force to assist 
                it in carrying out its duties. Such a detail shall be 
                without interruption or loss of civil status or 
                privilege.
                    (D) Department of energy support of the task 
                force.--Upon the request of the task force, the 
                Secretary shall provide to the task force the 
                administrative support services that the Secretary and 
                the Chair jointly determine to be necessary for the 
                task force to carry out its duties.
            (11) Federal advisory committee act.--The Federal Advisory 
        Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the task 
        force.
            (12) Startup.--The initial appointment of the members of 
        the task force shall be completed not later than 90 days after 
        the date of enactment of this section and the first meeting of 
        the task force shall be not later than 180 days after the date 
        of enactment of this section.
            (13) Termination.--
                    (A) In general.--Except as provided in subparagraph 
                (B), the task force shall terminate at the end of 
                fiscal year 2012.
                    (B) Exception.--If, as of the termination date 
                under subparagraph (A), the task force has not complied 
                with paragraph (9)(D) with respect to 1 or more 
                meetings, then the task force shall continue after the 
                termination date for the sole purpose of achieving 
                compliance with paragraph (9)(D) with respect to those 
                meetings.
            (14) Authorization of funding.--There are authorized to be 
        appropriated to carry out this section $200,000 for each of 
        fiscal years 2009 through 2012.
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