[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 8 (Friday, January 16, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 35. Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. Warner) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 1, to approve
the Keystone XL Pipeline; which was ordered to lie on the table; as
follows:
After section 2, insert the following:
SEC. __. COORDINATION OF ENERGY RETROFITTING ASSISTANCE FOR
SCHOOLS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) School.--The term ``school'' means--
(A) an elementary school or secondary school (as defined in
section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801));
(B) an institution of higher education (as defined in
section 102(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1002(a));
(C) a school of the defense dependents' education system
under the Defense Dependents' Education Act of 1978 (20
U.S.C. 921 et seq.) or established under section 2164 of
title 10, United States Code;
(D) a school operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs;
(E) a tribally controlled school (as defined in section
5212 of the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 (25
U.S.C. 2511)); and
(F) a Tribal College or University (as defined in section
316(b) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1059c(b))).
(2) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Energy.
(b) Designation of Lead Agency.--The Secretary, acting
through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,
shall act as the lead Federal agency for coordinating and
disseminating information on existing Federal programs and
assistance that may be used to help initiate, develop, and
finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy
retrofitting projects for schools.
(c) Requirements.--In carrying out coordination and
outreach under subsection (b), the Secretary shall--
(1) in consultation and coordination with the appropriate
Federal agencies, carry out a review of existing programs and
financing mechanisms (including revolving loan funds and loan
guarantees) available in or from the Department of
Agriculture, the Department of Energy, the Department of
Education, the Department of the Treasury, the Internal
Revenue Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, and
other appropriate Federal agencies with jurisdiction over
energy financing and facilitation that are currently used or
may be used to help initiate, develop, and finance energy
efficiency, renewable energy, and energy retrofitting
projects for schools;
(2) establish a Federal cross-departmental collaborative
coordination, education, and outreach effort to streamline
communication and promote available Federal opportunities and
assistance described in paragraph (1) for energy efficiency,
renewable energy, and energy retrofitting projects that
enables States, local educational agencies, and schools--
(A) to use existing Federal opportunities more effectively;
and
(B) to form partnerships with Governors, State energy
programs, local educational, financial, and energy officials,
State and local government officials, nonprofit
organizations, and other appropriate entities to support the
initiation of the projects;
(3) provide technical assistance for States, local
educational agencies, and schools to help develop and finance
energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy retrofitting
projects--
(A) to increase the energy efficiency of buildings or
facilities;
(B) to install systems that individually generate energy
from renewable energy resources;
(C) to establish partnerships to leverage economies of
scale and additional financing mechanisms available to larger
clean energy initiatives; or
(D) to promote--
(i) the maintenance of health, environmental quality, and
safety in schools, including the ambient air quality, through
energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy retrofit
projects; and
(ii) the achievement of expected energy savings and
renewable energy production through proper operations and
maintenance practices;
(4) develop and maintain a single online resource website
with contact information for relevant technical assistance
and support staff in the Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy for States, local educational agencies, and
schools to effectively access and use Federal opportunities
and assistance described in paragraph (1) to develop energy
efficiency, renewable energy, and energy retrofitting
projects; and
(5) establish a process for recognition of schools that--
(A) have successfully implemented energy efficiency,
renewable energy, and energy retrofitting projects; and
(B) are willing to serve as resources for other local
educational agencies and schools to assist initiation of
similar efforts.
(d) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress
a report describing the implementation of this section.
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