[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 101 (Tuesday, September 5, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8027-S8028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                SCHUMER (AND COLLINS) AMENDMENT NO. 4033

  Mr. SCHUMER (for himself and Ms. Collins) proposed an amendment to 
the bill, H.R. 4733, supra; as follows:

       On page 93, between lines 7 and 8, insert the following:

                GENERAL PROVISIONS--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES

     SEC. 4____. PRESIDENTIAL ENERGY COMMISSION.

       (a) Findings.--Congress finds that--
       (1) crude oil and natural gas account for two-thirds of 
     America's energy consumption;
       (2) in May 2000, United States natural gas stocks totaled 
     1,450 billion cubic feet, 36 percent below the normal natural 
     gas inventory of 2,281 billion cubic feet;
       (3) in July 2000, United States crude oil inventories 
     totaled 298,000,000 barrels, 11 percent below the 24-year 
     average of 334,000,000 barrels;
       (4) in June 2000, distillate fuel (heating oil and diesel 
     fuel) inventories totaled 103,700,000 barrels, 26 percent 
     below the 24-year average of 140,000,000 barrels;
       (5) combined shortages in inventories of natural gas, crude 
     oil, and distillate stocks, coupled with steady or increased 
     demand, could cause supply and price shocks that would likely 
     have a severe impact on consumers and the economy; and
       (6) energy supply is a critical national security issue.
       (b) Presidential Energy Commission.--
       (1) Establishment.--
       (A) In general.--The President shall establish, from among 
     a group of not fewer than 30 persons recommended jointly by 
     the Speaker and Minority Leader of the House of 
     Representatives and the Majority Leader and Minority Leader 
     of the Senate, a Presidential Energy Commission (referred to 
     in this section as the ``Commission''), which shall consist 
     of between 15 and 21 representatives from among the following 
     categories:
       (i) Oil and natural gas producing States.
       (ii) States with no oil or natural gas production.
       (iii) Oil and natural gas industries.
       (iv) Consumer groups focused on energy issues.
       (v) Environmental groups.
       (vi) Experts and analysts familiar with the supply and 
     demand characteristics of all energy sectors.
       (vii) The Energy Information Administration.
       (B) Timing.--The appointments of the members of the 
     Commission shall be made not later than 30 days after the 
     date of enactment of this Act.
       (C) Period of appointment.--Members shall be appointed for 
     the life of the Commission. Any vacancy in the Commission 
     shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same 
     manner as the original appointment.
       (D) Chairperson.--The members of the Commission shall 
     appoint 1 of the members to serve as Chairperson of the 
     Commission.
       (E)  Initial meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the 
     date on which all members of the Commission have been 
     appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting.
       (F) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the 
     Chairperson.
       (2) Duties.--
       (A) In general.--The Commission shall--
       (i) conduct a study, focusing primarily on the oil and 
     natural gas industries, of--

       (I) the status of inventories of natural gas, crude oil, 
     and distillate fuel in the United States, including trends 
     and projections for those inventories;
       (II) the causes for and consequences of energy supply 
     disruptions and energy product shortages nationwide and in 
     particular regions;
       (III) ways in which the United States can become less 
     dependent on foreign oil supplies;
       (IV) ways in which the United States can better manage and 
     utilize its domestic energy resources;
       (V) ways in which alternative energy supplies can be used 
     to reduce demand on traditional energy sectors;
       (VI) ways in which the United States can reduce energy 
     consumption;
       (VII) the status of, problems with, and ways to improve--

       (aa) transportation and delivery systems of energy 
     resources to locations throughout the United States;
       (bb) refinery capacity and utilization in the United 
     States; and
       (cc) natural gas, crude oil, distillate fuel, and other 
     energy-related petroleum product storage in the United 
     States; and

       (VIII) any other energy-related topic that the Commission 
     considers pertinent; and

       (ii) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of 
     this Act, submit to the President and Congress a report that 
     contains--

       (I) a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of 
     the Commission; and
       (II) the recommendations of the Commission for such 
     legislation and administrative actions as the Commission 
     considers appropriate.

       (B) Time period.--The findings made, analyses conducted, 
     conclusions reached, and recommendations developed by the 
     Commission in connection with the study under subparagraph 
     (A) shall cover a period extending 10 years beyond the date 
     of the report.
       (c) Use of Funds.--The Secretary of Energy shall use 
     $500,000 of funds appropriated to the Department of Energy to 
     fund the Commission.
       (d) Termination of Commission.--The Commission shall 
     terminate on the date that is 90 days after the date on which 
     the Commission submits its report under subsection 
     (b)(2)(A)(ii).
                                 ______
                                 

                       DeWINE AMENDMENT NO. 4034

  (Ordered to lie on the table.)
  Mr. DeWINE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to 
the bill, H.R. 4733, supra; as follows:

       On page 90, between lines 6 and 7, insert the following:
       Sec. 320. (a) Findings.--The Senate makes the following 
     findings:
       (1) The closure or downsizing of a Department of Energy 
     facility can have serious economic impacts on communities 
     that have been built around and in support of the facility.
       (2) To mitigate the devastating impacts of the closure of 
     Department of Energy facilities on surrounding communities, 
     section 3161 of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
     Fiscal Year 1993 (42 U.S.C. 7274h) provides a mechanism for 
     the provision of financial assistance to such communities for 
     redevelopment and to assist employees of such facilities in 
     transferring to other employment.
       (3) It is difficult to forecast necessary changes in the 
     workforce at Department of Energy facilities in advance of 
     the preparation of the budget for the Department of Energy 
     given uncertainties regarding future budges, project 
     schedules, and other factors.
       (4) Limitations on the capacity of the Department of Energy 
     to seek reprogramming of funds for worker and community 
     assistance programs in response to the closure or downsizing 
     of Department facilities undermines the capability of the 
     Department to respond appropriately to unforeseen 
     contingencies.
       (b) Sense of Senate.--It is the sense of the Senate that, 
     in agreeing to the conference report to accompany the bill 
     H.R.4733 of the 106th Congress, the conferees on the part of 
     the Senate should not recede to provisions or language 
     proposed by the House of Representatives that would limit the 
     capacity of the Department of Energy to augment funds 
     available for worker and community assistance grants under 
     section 3161 of the National Defense Authorization for Fiscal 
     Year 1993 or under the provisions of the USEC Privatization 
     Act (subchapter A of chapter 1 of title III of Public Law 
     104-134; 42 U.S.C. 2297h et seq.).

[[Page S8028]]

                                 ______
                                 

                 DeWINE (AND LEVIN) AMENDMENT NO. 4035

  (Ordered to lie on the table.)
  Mr. DeWINE (for himself and Mr. Levin) submitted an amendment 
intended to be proposed by them to the bill, H.R. 4733, supra; as 
follows:

       On page 47, strike line 18 and insert the following: 
     $139,219,000, to remain available until expended, of which 
     $1,500,000 shall be made available to carry out activities 
     under the John Glenn Great Lakes Basin Program established 
     under section 455 of the Water Resources Development Act of 
     1999 (42 U.S.C. 1962d-21).

                          ____________________