[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 185 (Friday, December 18, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8861-S8865]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ELECTRIFY AFRICA ACT OF 2015

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 291, S. 2152.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2152) to establish a comprehensive United States 
     Government policy to encourage the efforts of countries in 
     sub-Saharan Africa to develop an appropriate mix of power 
     solutions, including renewable energy, for more broadly 
     distributed electricity access in order to support poverty 
     reduction, promote development outcomes, and drive economic 
     growth, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill, 
which had been reported from the Committee on Foreign Relations, with 
amendments.
  (Omit the parts in boldface brackets and insert the parts printed in 
italic.)

                                S. 2152

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

[[Page S8862]]

  


     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Electrify Africa Act of 
     2015''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this Act is to encourage the efforts of 
     countries in sub-Saharan Africa to improve access to 
     affordable and reliable electricity in Africa in order to 
     unlock the potential for inclusive economic growth, job 
     creation, food security, improved health, education, and 
     environmental outcomes, and poverty reduction.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to partner, consult, 
     and coordinate with the governments of sub-Saharan African 
     countries, international financial institutions, and African 
     regional economic communities, cooperatives, and the private 
     sector, in a concerted effort to--
       (1) promote first-time access to power and power services 
     for at least 50,000,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2020 
     in both urban and rural areas;
       (2) encourage the installation of at least 20,000 
     additional megawatts of electrical power in sub-Saharan 
     Africa by 2020 using a broad mix of energy options to help 
     reduce poverty, promote sustainable development, and drive 
     inclusive economic growth;
       (3) promote non-discriminatory reliable, affordable, and 
     sustainable power in urban areas (including small urban 
     areas) to promote economic growth and job creation;
       (4) promote policies to facilitate public-private 
     partnerships to provide non-discriminatory reliable, 
     sustainable, and affordable electrical service to rural and 
     underserved populations;
       (5) encourage the necessary in-country reforms, including 
     facilitating public-private partnerships specifically to 
     support electricity access projects to make such expansion of 
     power access possible;
       (6) promote reforms of power production, delivery, and 
     pricing, as well as regulatory reforms and transparency, to 
     support long-term, market-based power generation and 
     distribution;
       (7) promote policies to displace kerosene lighting with 
     other technologies; and
       (8) promote an all-of-the-above energy development strategy 
     for sub-Saharan Africa that includes the use of oil, natural 
     gas, coal, hydroelectric, wind, solar, and geothermal power, 
     and other sources of energy.

     SEC. 4. DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE, MULTIYEAR STRATEGY.

       (a) Strategy Required.--
       (1) In general.--The President shall establish a 
     comprehensive, integrated, multiyear strategy to encourage 
     the efforts of countries in sub-Saharan Africa to implement 
     national power strategies and develop an appropriate mix of 
     power solutions to provide access to sufficient reliable, 
     affordable, and sustainable power in order to reduce poverty 
     and drive economic growth and job creation consistent with 
     the policy stated in section 3.
       (2) Flexibility and responsiveness.--The President shall 
     ensure that the strategy required under paragraph (1) 
     maintains sufficient flexibility for and remains responsive 
     to concerns and interests of affected local communities and 
     technological innovation in the power sector.
       (b) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 
     transmit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
     and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report that contains the strategy required 
     under subsection (a) and includes a discussion of the 
     following elements:
       (1) The objectives of the strategy and the criteria for 
     determining the success of the strategy.
       (2) A general description of efforts in sub-Saharan Africa 
     to--
       (A) increase power production;
       (B) strengthen electrical transmission and distribution 
     infrastructure;
       (C) provide for regulatory reform and transparent and 
     accountable governance and oversight;
       (D) improve the reliability of power;
       (E) maintain the affordability of power;
       (F) maximize the financial sustainability of the power 
     sector; and
       (G) improve [access to power] non-discriminatory access to 
     power that is done in consultation with affected communities.
       (3) A description of plans to support efforts of countries 
     in sub-Saharan Africa to increase access to power in urban 
     and rural areas, including a description of plans designed to 
     address commercial, industrial, and residential needs.
       (4) A description of plans to support efforts to reduce 
     waste and corruption, ensure local community consultation, 
     and improve existing power generation through the use of a 
     broad power mix, including fossil fuel and renewable energy, 
     distributed generation models, energy efficiency, and other 
     technological innovations, as appropriate.
       (5) An analysis of existing mechanisms for ensuring, and 
     recommendations to promote--
       (A) commercial cost recovery;
       (B) commercialization of electric service through 
     distribution service providers, including cooperatives, to 
     consumers;
       (C) improvements in revenue cycle management, power 
     pricing, and fees assessed for service contracts and 
     connections;
       (D) reductions in technical losses and commercial losses; 
     and
       (E) non-discriminatory access to power, including 
     recommendations on the creation of new service provider 
     models that mobilize community participation in the provision 
     of power services.
       (6) A description of the reforms being undertaken or 
     planned by countries in sub-Saharan Africa to ensure the 
     long-term economic viability of power projects and to 
     increase access to power, including--
       (A) reforms designed to allow third parties to connect 
     power generation to the grid;
       (B) policies to ensure there is a viable and independent 
     utility regulator;
       (C) strategies to ensure utilities become or remain 
     creditworthy;
       (D) regulations that permit the participation of 
     independent power producers and private-public partnerships;
       (E) policies that encourage private sector and cooperative 
     investment in power generation;
       (F) policies that ensure compensation for power provided to 
     the electrical grid by on-site producers;
       (G) policies to unbundle power services;
       (H) regulations to eliminate conflicts of interest in the 
     utility sector;
       (I) efforts to develop standardized power purchase 
     agreements and other contracts to streamline project 
     development; [and]
       (J) efforts to negotiate and monitor compliance with power 
     purchase agreements and other contracts entered into with the 
     private [sector.] sector; and
       (K) policies that promote local community consultation with 
     respect to the development of power generation and 
     transmission projects.
       (7) A description of plans to ensure meaningful local 
     consultation, as appropriate, in the planning, long-term 
     maintenance, and management of investments designed to 
     increase access to power in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (8) A description of the mechanisms to be established for--
       (A) selection of partner countries for focused engagement 
     on the power sector;
       (B) monitoring and evaluating increased access to, and 
     reliability and affordability of, power in sub-Saharan 
     Africa;
       (C) maximizing the financial sustainability of power 
     generation, transmission, and distribution in sub-Saharan 
     Africa;
       (D) establishing metrics to demonstrate progress on meeting 
     goals relating to access to power, power generation, and 
     distribution in sub-Saharan Africa; and
       (E) terminating unsuccessful programs.
       (9) A description of how the President intends to promote 
     trade in electrical equipment with countries in sub-Saharan 
     Africa, including a description of how the government of each 
     country receiving assistance pursuant to the strategy--
       (A) plans to lower or eliminate import tariffs or other 
     taxes for energy and other power production and distribution 
     technologies destined for sub-Saharan Africa, including 
     equipment used to provide energy access, including solar 
     lanterns, solar home systems, and micro and mini grids; and
       (B) plans to protect the intellectual property of companies 
     designing and manufacturing products that can be used to 
     provide energy access in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (10) A description of how the President intends to 
     encourage the growth of distributed renewable energy markets 
     in sub-Saharan Africa, including off-grid lighting and power, 
     that includes--
       (A) an analysis of the state of distributed renewable 
     energy in sub-Saharan Africa;
       (B) a description of market barriers to the deployment of 
     distributed renewable energy technologies both on- and off-
     grid in sub-Saharan Africa;
       (C) an analysis of the efficacy of efforts by the Overseas 
     Private Investment Corporation and the United States Agency 
     for International Development to facilitate the financing of 
     the importation, distribution, sale, leasing, or marketing of 
     distributed renewable energy technologies; and
       (D) a description of how bolstering distributed renewable 
     energy can enhance the overall effort to increase power 
     access in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (11) A description of plans to ensure that small and medium 
     enterprises based in sub-Saharan Africa can fairly compete 
     for energy development and energy access opportunities 
     associated with this Act.
       (c) Interagency Working Group.--
       (1) In general.--The President may, as appropriate, 
     establish an Interagency Working Group to coordinate the 
     activities of relevant United States Government departments 
     and agencies involved in carrying out the strategy required 
     under this section.
       (2) Functions.--The Interagency Working Group may, among 
     other things--
       (A) seek to coordinate the activities of the United States 
     Government departments and agencies involved in implementing 
     the strategy required under this section;
       (B) ensure efficient and effective coordination between 
     participating departments and agencies; and
       (C) facilitate information sharing, and coordinate 
     partnerships between the United States Government, the 
     private sector, and other development partners to achieve the 
     goals of the strategy.

     SEC. 5. PRIORITIZATION OF EFFORTS AND ASSISTANCE FOR POWER 
                   PROJECTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA BY KEY UNITED 
                   STATES INSTITUTIONS.

       (a) In General.--In pursuing the policy goals described in 
     section 3, the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development, the Director of the

[[Page S8863]]

     Trade and Development Agency, the Overseas Private Investment 
     Corporation, and the Chief Executive Officer and Board of 
     Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation should, as 
     appropriate, prioritize and expedite institutional efforts 
     and assistance to facilitate the involvement of such 
     institutions in power projects and markets, both on- and off-
     grid, in sub-Saharan Africa and partner with other investors 
     and local institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, including 
     private sector actors, to specifically increase access to 
     reliable, affordable, and sustainable power in sub-Saharan 
     Africa, including through--
       (1) maximizing the number of people with new access to 
     power and power services;
       (2) improving and expanding the generation, transmission 
     and distribution of power;
       (3) providing reliable power to people and businesses in 
     urban and rural communities;
       (4) addressing the energy needs of marginalized people 
     living in areas where there is little or no access to a power 
     grid and developing plans to systematically increase coverage 
     in rural areas;
       (5) reducing transmission and distribution losses and 
     improving end-use efficiency and demand-side management;
       (6) reducing energy-related impediments to business 
     productivity and investment; and
       (7) building the capacity of countries in sub-Saharan 
     Africa to monitor and appropriately and transparently 
     regulate the power sector and encourage private investment in 
     power production and distribution.
       (b) Effectiveness Measurement.--In prioritizing and 
     expediting institutional efforts and assistance pursuant to 
     this section, as appropriate, such institutions shall use 
     clear, accountable, and metric-based targets to measure the 
     effectiveness of such guarantees and assistance in achieving 
     the goals described in section 3.
       (c) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
     construed to authorize modifying or limiting the portfolio of 
     the institutions covered by subsection (a) in other 
     developing regions.

     SEC. 6. LEVERAGING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT.

       In implementing the strategy described in section 4, the 
     President should direct the United States representatives to 
     appropriate international bodies to use the influence of the 
     United States, consistent with the broad development goals of 
     the United States, to advocate that each such body--
       (1) commit to significantly increase efforts to promote 
     investment in well-designed power sector and electrification 
     projects in sub-Saharan Africa that increase energy access, 
     in partnership with the private sector and consistent with 
     the host countries' absorptive capacity;
       (2) address energy needs of individuals and communities 
     where access to an electricity grid is impractical or cost-
     prohibitive;
       (3) enhance coordination with the private sector in sub-
     Saharan Africa to increase access to electricity;
       (4) provide technical assistance to the regulatory 
     authorities of sub-Saharan African governments to remove 
     unnecessary barriers to investment in otherwise commercially 
     viable projects; and
       (5) utilize clear, accountable, and metric-based targets to 
     measure the effectiveness of such projects.

     SEC. 7. PROGRESS REPORT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than three years after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to 
     the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate a report on progress made toward achieving the 
     strategy described in section 4 that includes the following:
       (1) A report on United States programs supporting 
     implementation of policy and legislative changes leading to 
     increased power generation and access in sub-Saharan Africa, 
     including a description of the number, type, and status of 
     policy, regulatory, and legislative changes initiated or 
     implemented as a result of programs funded or supported by 
     the United States in countries in sub-Saharan Africa to 
     support increased power generation and access after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) A description of power projects receiving United States 
     Government support and how such projects, including off-grid 
     efforts, are intended to achieve the strategy described in 
     section 4.
       (3) For each project described in paragraph (2)--
       (A) a description of how the project fits into, or 
     encourages modifications of, the national energy plan of the 
     country in which the project will be carried out, including 
     encouraging regulatory reform in that county;
       (B) an estimate of the total cost of the project to the 
     consumer, the country in which the project will be carried 
     out, and other investors;
       (C) the amount of financing provided or guaranteed by the 
     United States Government for the project;
       (D) an estimate of United States Government resources for 
     the project, itemized by funding source, including from the 
     Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the United States 
     Agency for International Development, the Department of the 
     Treasury, and other appropriate United States Government 
     departments and agencies;
       (E) an estimate of the number and regional locations of 
     individuals, communities, businesses, schools, and health 
     facilities that have gained power connections as a result of 
     the project, with a description of how the reliability, 
     affordability, and sustainability of power has been improved 
     as of the date of the report;
       (F) an assessment of the increase in the number of people 
     and businesses with access to power, and in the operating 
     electrical power capacity in megawatts as a result of the 
     project between the date of the enactment of this Act and the 
     date of the report;
       (G) a description of efforts to gain meaningful local 
     consultation for projects associated with this Act and any 
     significant estimated noneconomic effects of the efforts 
     carried out pursuant to this Act; and
       (H) a description of the participation by small and medium 
     enterprises based in sub-Saharan Africa on projects 
     associated with this Act.

  Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported 
amendments be agreed to; the Corker amendment at the desk be agreed to; 
the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, and the motion 
to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The committee-reported amendments were agreed to.
  The amendment (No. 2939) was agreed to, as follows:

                     (Purpose: To improve the bill)

       On page 3, line 21, strike ``technologies; and'' and insert 
     ``technologies;''.
       On page 4, line 2, strike ``energy.'' and insert the 
     following: ``energy; and
       (9) promote and increase the use of private financing and 
     seek ways to remove barriers to private financing and 
     assistance for projects, including through charitable 
     organizations.
       On page 10, between lines 17 and 18, insert the following:
       (12) A description of how United States investments to 
     increase access to energy in sub-Saharan Africa may reduce 
     the need for foreign aid and development assistance in the 
     future.
       (13) A description of policies or regulations, both 
     domestically and internationally, that create barriers to 
     private financing of the projects undertaken in this Act.
       (14) A description of the specific national security 
     benefits to the United States that will be derived from 
     increased energy access in sub-Saharan Africa.
       On page 13, between lines 8 and 9, insert the following:
       (c) Promotion of Use of Private Financing and Assistance.--
     In carrying out policies under this section, such 
     institutions shall promote the use of private financing and 
     assistance and seek ways to remove barriers to private 
     financing for projects and programs under this Act, including 
     through charitable organizations.
       On page 13, line 9, strike ``(c)'' and insert ``(d)''.

  The bill (S. 2152), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 2152

       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 ``Electrify Africa Act of 
     2015''.

     SEC. 2. PURPOSE.

       The purpose of this Act is to encourage the efforts of 
     countries in sub-Saharan Africa to improve access to 
     affordable and reliable electricity in Africa in order to 
     unlock the potential for inclusive economic growth, job 
     creation, food security, improved health, education, and 
     environmental outcomes, and poverty reduction.

     SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.

       It is the policy of the United States to partner, consult, 
     and coordinate with the governments of sub-Saharan African 
     countries, international financial institutions, and African 
     regional economic communities, cooperatives, and the private 
     sector, in a concerted effort to--
       (1) promote first-time access to power and power services 
     for at least 50,000,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa by 2020 
     in both urban and rural areas;
       (2) encourage the installation of at least 20,000 
     additional megawatts of electrical power in sub-Saharan 
     Africa by 2020 using a broad mix of energy options to help 
     reduce poverty, promote sustainable development, and drive 
     inclusive economic growth;
       (3) promote non-discriminatory reliable, affordable, and 
     sustainable power in urban areas (including small urban 
     areas) to promote economic growth and job creation;
       (4) promote policies to facilitate public-private 
     partnerships to provide non-discriminatory reliable, 
     sustainable, and affordable electrical service to rural and 
     underserved populations;
       (5) encourage the necessary in-country reforms, including 
     facilitating public-private partnerships specifically to 
     support electricity access projects to make such expansion of 
     power access possible;
       (6) promote reforms of power production, delivery, and 
     pricing, as well as regulatory reforms and transparency, to 
     support long-term, market-based power generation and 
     distribution;
       (7) promote policies to displace kerosene lighting with 
     other technologies;

[[Page S8864]]

       (8) promote an all-of-the-above energy development strategy 
     for sub-Saharan Africa that includes the use of oil, natural 
     gas, coal, hydroelectric, wind, solar, and geothermal power, 
     and other sources of energy; and
       (9) promote and increase the use of private financing and 
     seek ways to remove barriers to private financing and 
     assistance for projects, including through charitable 
     organizations.

     SEC. 4. DEVELOPMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE, MULTIYEAR STRATEGY.

       (a) Strategy Required.--
       (1) In general.--The President shall establish a 
     comprehensive, integrated, multiyear strategy to encourage 
     the efforts of countries in sub-Saharan Africa to implement 
     national power strategies and develop an appropriate mix of 
     power solutions to provide access to sufficient reliable, 
     affordable, and sustainable power in order to reduce poverty 
     and drive economic growth and job creation consistent with 
     the policy stated in section 3.
       (2) Flexibility and responsiveness.--The President shall 
     ensure that the strategy required under paragraph (1) 
     maintains sufficient flexibility for and remains responsive 
     to concerns and interests of affected local communities and 
     technological innovation in the power sector.
       (b) Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
     date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall 
     transmit to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate 
     and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives a report that contains the strategy required 
     under subsection (a) and includes a discussion of the 
     following elements:
       (1) The objectives of the strategy and the criteria for 
     determining the success of the strategy.
       (2) A general description of efforts in sub-Saharan Africa 
     to--
       (A) increase power production;
       (B) strengthen electrical transmission and distribution 
     infrastructure;
       (C) provide for regulatory reform and transparent and 
     accountable governance and oversight;
       (D) improve the reliability of power;
       (E) maintain the affordability of power;
       (F) maximize the financial sustainability of the power 
     sector; and
       (G) improve non-discriminatory access to power that is done 
     in consultation with affected communities.
       (3) A description of plans to support efforts of countries 
     in sub-Saharan Africa to increase access to power in urban 
     and rural areas, including a description of plans designed to 
     address commercial, industrial, and residential needs.
       (4) A description of plans to support efforts to reduce 
     waste and corruption, ensure local community consultation, 
     and improve existing power generation through the use of a 
     broad power mix, including fossil fuel and renewable energy, 
     distributed generation models, energy efficiency, and other 
     technological innovations, as appropriate.
       (5) An analysis of existing mechanisms for ensuring, and 
     recommendations to promote--
       (A) commercial cost recovery;
       (B) commercialization of electric service through 
     distribution service providers, including cooperatives, to 
     consumers;
       (C) improvements in revenue cycle management, power 
     pricing, and fees assessed for service contracts and 
     connections;
       (D) reductions in technical losses and commercial losses; 
     and
       (E) non-discriminatory access to power, including 
     recommendations on the creation of new service provider 
     models that mobilize community participation in the provision 
     of power services.
       (6) A description of the reforms being undertaken or 
     planned by countries in sub-Saharan Africa to ensure the 
     long-term economic viability of power projects and to 
     increase access to power, including--
       (A) reforms designed to allow third parties to connect 
     power generation to the grid;
       (B) policies to ensure there is a viable and independent 
     utility regulator;
       (C) strategies to ensure utilities become or remain 
     creditworthy;
       (D) regulations that permit the participation of 
     independent power producers and private-public partnerships;
       (E) policies that encourage private sector and cooperative 
     investment in power generation;
       (F) policies that ensure compensation for power provided to 
     the electrical grid by on-site producers;
       (G) policies to unbundle power services;
       (H) regulations to eliminate conflicts of interest in the 
     utility sector;
       (I) efforts to develop standardized power purchase 
     agreements and other contracts to streamline project 
     development;
       (J) efforts to negotiate and monitor compliance with power 
     purchase agreements and other contracts entered into with the 
     private sector; and
       (K) policies that promote local community consultation with 
     respect to the development of power generation and 
     transmission projects.
       (7) A description of plans to ensure meaningful local 
     consultation, as appropriate, in the planning, long-term 
     maintenance, and management of investments designed to 
     increase access to power in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (8) A description of the mechanisms to be established for--
       (A) selection of partner countries for focused engagement 
     on the power sector;
       (B) monitoring and evaluating increased access to, and 
     reliability and affordability of, power in sub-Saharan 
     Africa;
       (C) maximizing the financial sustainability of power 
     generation, transmission, and distribution in sub-Saharan 
     Africa;
       (D) establishing metrics to demonstrate progress on meeting 
     goals relating to access to power, power generation, and 
     distribution in sub-Saharan Africa; and
       (E) terminating unsuccessful programs.
       (9) A description of how the President intends to promote 
     trade in electrical equipment with countries in sub-Saharan 
     Africa, including a description of how the government of each 
     country receiving assistance pursuant to the strategy--
       (A) plans to lower or eliminate import tariffs or other 
     taxes for energy and other power production and distribution 
     technologies destined for sub-Saharan Africa, including 
     equipment used to provide energy access, including solar 
     lanterns, solar home systems, and micro and mini grids; and
       (B) plans to protect the intellectual property of companies 
     designing and manufacturing products that can be used to 
     provide energy access in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (10) A description of how the President intends to 
     encourage the growth of distributed renewable energy markets 
     in sub-Saharan Africa, including off-grid lighting and power, 
     that includes--
       (A) an analysis of the state of distributed renewable 
     energy in sub-Saharan Africa;
       (B) a description of market barriers to the deployment of 
     distributed renewable energy technologies both on- and off-
     grid in sub-Saharan Africa;
       (C) an analysis of the efficacy of efforts by the Overseas 
     Private Investment Corporation and the United States Agency 
     for International Development to facilitate the financing of 
     the importation, distribution, sale, leasing, or marketing of 
     distributed renewable energy technologies; and
       (D) a description of how bolstering distributed renewable 
     energy can enhance the overall effort to increase power 
     access in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (11) A description of plans to ensure that small and medium 
     enterprises based in sub-Saharan Africa can fairly compete 
     for energy development and energy access opportunities 
     associated with this Act.
       (12) A description of how United States investments to 
     increase access to energy in sub-Saharan Africa may reduce 
     the need for foreign aid and development assistance in the 
     future.
       (13) A description of policies or regulations, both 
     domestically and internationally, that create barriers to 
     private financing of the projects undertaken in this Act.
       (14) A description of the specific national security 
     benefits to the United States that will be derived from 
     increased energy access in sub-Saharan Africa.
       (c) Interagency Working Group.--
       (1) In general.--The President may, as appropriate, 
     establish an Interagency Working Group to coordinate the 
     activities of relevant United States Government departments 
     and agencies involved in carrying out the strategy required 
     under this section.
       (2) Functions.--The Interagency Working Group may, among 
     other things--
       (A) seek to coordinate the activities of the United States 
     Government departments and agencies involved in implementing 
     the strategy required under this section;
       (B) ensure efficient and effective coordination between 
     participating departments and agencies; and
       (C) facilitate information sharing, and coordinate 
     partnerships between the United States Government, the 
     private sector, and other development partners to achieve the 
     goals of the strategy.

     SEC. 5. PRIORITIZATION OF EFFORTS AND ASSISTANCE FOR POWER 
                   PROJECTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA BY KEY UNITED 
                   STATES INSTITUTIONS.

       (a) In General.--In pursuing the policy goals described in 
     section 3, the Administrator of the United States Agency for 
     International Development, the Director of the Trade and 
     Development Agency, the Overseas Private Investment 
     Corporation, and the Chief Executive Officer and Board of 
     Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation should, as 
     appropriate, prioritize and expedite institutional efforts 
     and assistance to facilitate the involvement of such 
     institutions in power projects and markets, both on- and off-
     grid, in sub-Saharan Africa and partner with other investors 
     and local institutions in sub-Saharan Africa, including 
     private sector actors, to specifically increase access to 
     reliable, affordable, and sustainable power in sub-Saharan 
     Africa, including through--
       (1) maximizing the number of people with new access to 
     power and power services;
       (2) improving and expanding the generation, transmission 
     and distribution of power;
       (3) providing reliable power to people and businesses in 
     urban and rural communities;
       (4) addressing the energy needs of marginalized people 
     living in areas where there is little or no access to a power 
     grid and developing plans to systematically increase coverage 
     in rural areas;
       (5) reducing transmission and distribution losses and 
     improving end-use efficiency and demand-side management;
       (6) reducing energy-related impediments to business 
     productivity and investment; and

[[Page S8865]]

       (7) building the capacity of countries in sub-Saharan 
     Africa to monitor and appropriately and transparently 
     regulate the power sector and encourage private investment in 
     power production and distribution.
       (b) Effectiveness Measurement.--In prioritizing and 
     expediting institutional efforts and assistance pursuant to 
     this section, as appropriate, such institutions shall use 
     clear, accountable, and metric-based targets to measure the 
     effectiveness of such guarantees and assistance in achieving 
     the goals described in section 3.
       (c) Promotion of Use of Private Financing and Assistance.--
     In carrying out policies under this section, such 
     institutions shall promote the use of private financing and 
     assistance and seek ways to remove barriers to private 
     financing for projects and programs under this Act, including 
     through charitable organizations.
       (d) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be 
     construed to authorize modifying or limiting the portfolio of 
     the institutions covered by subsection (a) in other 
     developing regions.

     SEC. 6. LEVERAGING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT.

       In implementing the strategy described in section 4, the 
     President should direct the United States representatives to 
     appropriate international bodies to use the influence of the 
     United States, consistent with the broad development goals of 
     the United States, to advocate that each such body--
       (1) commit to significantly increase efforts to promote 
     investment in well-designed power sector and electrification 
     projects in sub-Saharan Africa that increase energy access, 
     in partnership with the private sector and consistent with 
     the host countries' absorptive capacity;
       (2) address energy needs of individuals and communities 
     where access to an electricity grid is impractical or cost-
     prohibitive;
       (3) enhance coordination with the private sector in sub-
     Saharan Africa to increase access to electricity;
       (4) provide technical assistance to the regulatory 
     authorities of sub-Saharan African governments to remove 
     unnecessary barriers to investment in otherwise commercially 
     viable projects; and
       (5) utilize clear, accountable, and metric-based targets to 
     measure the effectiveness of such projects.

     SEC. 7. PROGRESS REPORT.

       (a) In General.--Not later than three years after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to 
     the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the 
     Senate a report on progress made toward achieving the 
     strategy described in section 4 that includes the following:
       (1) A report on United States programs supporting 
     implementation of policy and legislative changes leading to 
     increased power generation and access in sub-Saharan Africa, 
     including a description of the number, type, and status of 
     policy, regulatory, and legislative changes initiated or 
     implemented as a result of programs funded or supported by 
     the United States in countries in sub-Saharan Africa to 
     support increased power generation and access after the date 
     of the enactment of this Act.
       (2) A description of power projects receiving United States 
     Government support and how such projects, including off-grid 
     efforts, are intended to achieve the strategy described in 
     section 4.
       (3) For each project described in paragraph (2)--
       (A) a description of how the project fits into, or 
     encourages modifications of, the national energy plan of the 
     country in which the project will be carried out, including 
     encouraging regulatory reform in that county;
       (B) an estimate of the total cost of the project to the 
     consumer, the country in which the project will be carried 
     out, and other investors;
       (C) the amount of financing provided or guaranteed by the 
     United States Government for the project;
       (D) an estimate of United States Government resources for 
     the project, itemized by funding source, including from the 
     Overseas Private Investment Corporation, the United States 
     Agency for International Development, the Department of the 
     Treasury, and other appropriate United States Government 
     departments and agencies;
       (E) an estimate of the number and regional locations of 
     individuals, communities, businesses, schools, and health 
     facilities that have gained power connections as a result of 
     the project, with a description of how the reliability, 
     affordability, and sustainability of power has been improved 
     as of the date of the report;
       (F) an assessment of the increase in the number of people 
     and businesses with access to power, and in the operating 
     electrical power capacity in megawatts as a result of the 
     project between the date of the enactment of this Act and the 
     date of the report;
       (G) a description of efforts to gain meaningful local 
     consultation for projects associated with this Act and any 
     significant estimated noneconomic effects of the efforts 
     carried out pursuant to this Act; and
       (H) a description of the participation by small and medium 
     enterprises based in sub-Saharan Africa on projects 
     associated with this Act.

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