[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 3, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1328-S1329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SA 1380. Ms. HASSAN (for herself and Ms. Collins) submitted an
amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 2657, to
support innovation in advanced geothermal research and development, and
for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:
At the appropriate place, insert the following:
SEC. ___. REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS REDUCTION.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
(2) Greenhouse gas.--The term ``greenhouse gas'' means
carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbon,
perfluorocarbon, and sulfur hexafluoride.
(3) Office.--The term ``Office'' means the Office of
Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs established under
subsection (b)(1).
(4) Regional greenhouse gas reduction program.--The term
``regional greenhouse gas reduction program'' means a program
that uses market-based tools to reduce greenhouse gases
across States at the regional level, such as--
(A) the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative organized among,
as of November 14, 2019, the States of Connecticut, Delaware,
Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York,
Rhode Island, and Vermont to cap and reduce carbon dioxide
emissions from the power sector; and
(B) the Western Climate Initiative, a regional carbon
trading system organized between the State of California and
Quebec, Canada.
(5) State.--The term ``State'' means--
(A) a State;
(B) the District of Columbia;
(C) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
(D) the United States Virgin Islands;
(E) Guam;
(F) American Samoa;
(G) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and
(H) the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
(6) Unit of local government.--The term ``unit of local
government'' means--
(A) a city, town, borough, county, parish, district,
association, or other public body created by or pursuant to
State law;
(B) an Indian tribe (as defined in section 4 of the Indian
Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304)); and
(C) a tribal organization (as defined in section 4 of the
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25
U.S.C. 5304)).
(b) Office of Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs.--
(1) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, there shall be established within the
Environmental Protection Agency an office, to be known as the
``Office of Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs''.
(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the Office shall be--
(A) to support, and assist in the expansion of, existing
regional greenhouse gas reduction programs; and
(B) to facilitate the establishment of new regional
greenhouse gas reduction programs.
(3) Director.--The Office shall be headed by a Director,
who shall be appointed by the Administrator--
(A) without regard to political affiliation; and
(B) solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of
the Director described in paragraph (4).
(4) Duties of director.--The Director of the Office shall--
(A) on request by a State or other relevant entity, provide
access to Federal data relevant to regional greenhouse gas
reduction programs;
(B)(i) assist States and other relevant entities with
analysis and modeling of technical, economic, and public
policy issues relating to regional greenhouse gas reduction
programs; and
(ii) provide any other relevant technical support, on
request;
(C) develop and share best practices based on existing
regional greenhouse gas reduction programs;
(D) track and report on greenhouse gas emissions in States
participating in regional greenhouse gas reduction programs
using data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency;
(E) designate a representative in the Office--
(i) to act as a liaison to regional greenhouse gas
reduction programs; and
(ii) to communicate with States and other entities seeking
to establish regional greenhouse gas reduction programs;
(F) facilitate communication among Federal and State
agencies, agencies of units of local government, and
stakeholders to share
[[Page S1329]]
lessons learned about greenhouse gas monitoring and control
programs, through methods such as workshops, conferences,
websites, and newsletters;
(G) administer the grant program established under
subsection (c);
(H) coordinate with the interagency task force established
under subsection (d); and
(I) carry out any other activity relevant to the function
of the Office.
(5) Report.--The Administrator, acting through the Director
of the Office, shall submit a biannual report to Congress
that describes and summarizes the efforts made and technical
assistance provided by the Office to help States improve the
health and environment of communities in those States.
(6) Access to information.--On request of the Director, the
head of each Federal agency shall provide the Director any
information and data necessary for any analyses or reports
required as part of the function of the Office.
(7) No additional reporting requirements.--Nothing in this
subsection authorizes the Administrator or the Director of
the Office to impose an additional reporting requirement on a
State participating in a regional greenhouse gas reduction
program.
(c) Regional Greenhouse Gas Reduction Program Startup
Grants.--
(1) Definition of eligible entity.--In this subsection, the
term ``eligible entity'' means--
(A) a State;
(B) a unit of local government; and
(C) a regional consortium that is a partnership between or
among 1 or more entities described in subparagraphs (A) and
(B).
(2) Establishment.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Director of the Office shall
establish a program within the Office to provide grants to
eligible entities, on a competitive basis, to take active
preliminary steps (including information-gathering) towards
developing or participating in a regional greenhouse gas
reduction program.
(3) Application.--An eligible entity shall submit to the
Director of the Office an application to receive a grant
under paragraph (2) at such time, in such manner, and
containing such information as the Director of the Office may
require.
(4) Minimum grant amount.--A grant awarded under paragraph
(2) shall be in an amount that is not less than $250,000.
(5) Authorization of appropriations.--There are authorized
to be appropriated to the Director of the Office such amounts
as are necessary to carry out this subsection, to remain
available until expended.
(d) Interagency Task Force.--
(1) Establishment.--The Administrator shall establish an
interagency task force (referred to in this subsection as the
``task force'')--
(A) to determine how best to support existing regional
greenhouse gas reduction programs;
(B) to consult with States to determine how best to support
States and other entities that seek to develop regional
greenhouse gas reduction programs or expand existing regional
greenhouse gas reduction programs; and
(C) to analyze existing gaps in Federal data that are
relevant to the formation or analysis of regional greenhouse
gas reduction programs.
(2) Members.--The task force shall--
(A) be headed by a representative from the Office; and
(B) include representatives from--
(i) the Department of Energy;
(ii) the Department of Agriculture;
(iii) the Department of Transportation; and
(iv) the Department of the Interior.
(3) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date on which
the task force is established under paragraph (1), the task
force shall submit to Congress a report that describes a
plan--
(A) to support existing regional greenhouse gas reduction
programs;
(B) to support States and other entities seeking to develop
regional greenhouse gas reduction programs; and
(C) that addresses Federal data gaps with respect to
regional greenhouse gas reduction programs.
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