II 110th CONGRESS 2d Session S. 3240 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 10 (legislative day, July 9), 2008 Mr. Sessions (for himself, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Allard, Mr. Barrasso, and Mr. Cochran) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources A BILL To promote energy production and security in the United States, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Better Energy Strategy for Tomorrow Act of 2008 or the BEST Act of 2008.

2.

Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Air pollutant

The term air pollutant has the meaning given the term in section 302 of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7602). (2)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Energy.

3.

Federal energy policies

Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall— (1)conduct an analysis of all policies of the Federal Government (including mandates, subsidies, tariffs, and tax policy) that encourage, or have the potential to encourage, energy production in the United States; and (2)submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that contains recommendations for the adjustment of the policies described in paragraph (1) to reduce— (A)the dependence of the United States on foreign sources of energy; (B)the quantity of air pollutants in the environment; (C)greenhouse gas emissions; and (D)the cost of energy.

4.

Energy security strategy

(a)

In general

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and every 4 years thereafter, the President shall develop an energy security strategy that proposes comprehensive and long-range energy policies for the United States to reduce— (1)the dependence of the United States on foreign sources of energy; (2)the quantity of air pollutants in the environment; (3)greenhouse gas emissions; and (4)the cost of energy. (b)

Report

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act and every 4 years year thereafter, the President shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that describes the latest energy security strategy developed under subsection (a), including— (1)an estimate of the domestic and foreign energy supplies needed to meet the projected energy demand of the United States consistent with the strategy developed under subsection (a); and (2)a summary of research and development efforts funded by the Federal Government to achieve the strategy developed under subsection (a).

5.

Administration

(a)

Comments

In preparing each report required under sections 3(2) and 4(b) (referred to in this section as each report), the Secretary and the President, respectively, shall seek the comments of State and local agencies and the private sector to ensure, to the maximum extent practicable, that the views and proposals of all segments of the economy are taken into account in preparing each report. (b)

Data and analysis

The Secretary and the President shall include in each report such data and analyses as are necessary to support the objectives, resource needs, and policy recommendations of each report. (c)

Review

The Secretary and the President shall enter into an arrangement with the National Academy of Sciences under which the Academy shall— (1)conduct a review of each report; and (2)submit to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Secretary a report that describes the results of each review.