[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1497 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1497

To promote the energy independence of the United States, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 24, 2007

  Mr. Cardin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
       referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To promote the energy independence of the United States, 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. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Energy Independence Act of 2007''.

SEC. 2. PURPOSE AND GOALS.

    The purpose of this Act is to provide support for projects and 
activities to facilitate the energy independence of the United States 
so as to ensure that--
            (1) all but 10 percent of the energy needs of the United 
        States are supplied by domestic energy sources by calendar year 
        2017; and
            (2) all but 20 percent of the energy needs of the United 
        States are supplied by non-fossil fuel sources by calendar year 
        2037.

SEC. 3. ENERGY POLICY COMMISSION.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--There is established a commission, to be 
        known as the ``National Commission on Energy Independence'' 
        (referred to in this section as the ``Commission'').
            (2) Membership.--The Commission shall be composed of 15 
        members, of whom--
                    (A) 3 shall be appointed by the President;
                    (B) 3 shall be appointed by the majority leader of 
                the Senate;
                    (C) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
                the Senate;
                    (D) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of the 
                House of Representatives; and
                    (E) 3 shall be appointed by the minority leader of 
                the House of Representatives.
            (3) Co-chairpersons.--
                    (A) In general.--The President shall designate 2 
                co-chairpersons from among the members of the 
                Commission appointed.
                    (B) Political affiliation.--The co-chairpersons 
                designated under subparagraph (A) shall not both be 
                affiliated with the same political party.
            (4) Deadline for appointment.--Members of the Commission 
        shall be appointed not later than 90 days after the date of 
        enactment of this Act.
            (5) Term; vacancies.--
                    (A) Term.--A member of the Commission shall be 
                appointed for the life of the Commission.
                    (B) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission--
                            (i) shall not affect the powers of the 
                        Commission; and
                            (ii) shall be filled in the same manner as 
                        the original appointment.
    (b) Purpose.--The Commission shall conduct a comprehensive review 
of the energy policy of the United States by--
            (1) reviewing relevant analyses of the current and long-
        term energy policy of, and conditions in, the United States;
            (2) identifying problems that may threaten the achievement 
        by the United States of long-term energy policy goals, 
        including energy independence;
            (3) analyzing potential solutions to problems that threaten 
        the long-term ability of the United States to achieve those 
        energy policy goals; and
            (4) providing recommendations that will ensure, to the 
        maximum extent practicable, that the energy policy goals of the 
        United States are achieved.
    (c) Report and Recommendations.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than December 31 of each of 
        calendar years 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2015, the Commission shall 
        submit to Congress and the President a report on the progress 
        of United States in meeting the long-term energy policy goal of 
        energy independence, including a detailed statement of the 
        findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Commission.
            (2) Legislative language.--If a recommendation submitted 
        under paragraph (1) involves legislative action, the report 
        shall include proposed legislative language to carry out the 
        action.
    (d) Commission Personnel Matters.--
            (1) Staff and director.--The Commission shall have a staff 
        headed by an Executive Director.
            (2) Staff appointment.--The Executive Director may appoint 
        such personnel as the Executive Director and the Commission 
        determine to be appropriate.
            (3) Experts and consultants.--With the approval of the 
        Commission, the Executive Director may procure temporary and 
        intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United 
        States Code.
            (4) Federal agencies.--
                    (A) Detail of government employees.--
                            (i) In general.--Upon the request of the 
                        Commission, the head of any Federal agency may 
                        detail, without reimbursement, any of the 
                        personnel of the Federal agency to the 
                        Commission to assist in carrying out the duties 
                        of the Commission.
                            (ii) Nature of detail.--Any detail of a 
                        Federal employee under clause (i) shall not 
                        interrupt or otherwise affect the civil service 
                        status or privileges of the Federal employee.
                    (B) Technical assistance.--Upon the request of the 
                Commission, the head of a Federal agency shall provide 
                such technical assistance to the Commission as the 
                Commission determines to be necessary to carry out the 
                duties of the Commission.
    (e) Resources.--
            (1) In general.--The Commission shall have reasonable 
        access to materials, resources, statistical data, and such 
        other information from Executive agencies as the Commission 
        determines to be necessary to carry out the duties of the 
        Commission.
            (2) Form of requests.--The co-chairpersons of the 
        Commission shall make requests for access described in 
        paragraph (1) in writing, as necessary.
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