Top Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 06/13/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S7625-7626)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, and for other purposes. 1/16/2007--Introduced. Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act - Amends the Clean Air Act to set forth provisions concerning global warming pollution emissions. Directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) set milestones to reduce the aggregate net levels of emissions (authorizes EPA to establish market-based programs to achieve such reduction); (2) require each fleet of automobiles sold by a manufacturer beginning in model year 2016 to meet emission standards; (3) contract with the National Academy of Sciences to study the potential contribution of the non-highway portion of the transportation sector towards meeting the emission reduction goal; (4) require that electric generation units meet an emission standard that is not higher than the emission rate of a new combined cycle natural gas generating unit; and (5) establish a low-carbon generation trading program. [...]

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Latest Action: 01/18/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to promote the national security and stability of the United States economy by reducing the dependence of the United States on oil through the use of alternative fuels and new technology, and for other purposes. 1/18/2007--Introduced. Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy Act or DRIVE Act - Instructs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to publish in the Federal Register an oil savings target and action plan for specified calendar years.Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop: (1) a fuel efficiency consumer education program for motor vehicle tires; (2) a fuel efficiency program for passenger automobile and light truck tires; and (3) a program to designate Transit-Oriented Development Corridors.Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) develop a testing and assessment program to determine heavy duty vehicle fuel economy; (2) establish a task force to develop minimum certification [...]

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Latest Action: 02/01/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to establish an economy-wide global warming pollution emission cap-and-trade program to assist the economy in transitioning to new clean energy technologies, to protect employees and affected communities, to protect companies and consumers from significant increases in energy costs, and for other purposes. 2/1/2007--Introduced. Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act of 2007 - Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) promulgate regulations necessary to reduce the aggregate net level of global warming pollution emissions; and (2) establish a market-based emissions cap and global warming pollutants trading program. Establishes the Climate Reinvestment Fund. Requires EPA to: (1) establish, and revise every five years, standards for passenger vehicle emissions; and (2) research global climate change standards and processes. Sets forth requirements for retail electricity suppliers [...]

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Latest Action: 02/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.

Bill Text
To further inform consumers about the transition to digital television. 1/22/2007--Introduced. Digital Television Consumer Education Act of 2007 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require through December 1, 2009: (1) retail distributors that sell or rent televisions with analog receivers, including distributors that sell by direct mail or electronic means, to prominently display a specified consumer alert respecting digital television transition information; (2) multichannel video programming distributors to include specified transition information in consumer bills; and (3) full-power commercial television broadcast licensees or permittees to report at least quarterly to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) respecting transition education efforts to consumers. Authorizes the FCC to issue civil forfeitures for violations of such requirements. Requires the FCC to establish: (1) a digital television public outreach program, including FCC website [...]

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Latest Action: 02/02/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.

Bill Text
To promote the national security and stability of the United States economy by reducing the dependence of the United States on foreign oil through the use of alternative fuels and new vehicle technologies, and for other purposes. 1/24/2007--Introduced. Dependence Reduction through Innovation in Vehicles and Energy Act or DRIVE Act - Directs the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to publish in the Federal Register an oil savings target and action plan for specified calendar years. Directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a national media campaign to decrease oil consumption in the United States over the next decade. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to develop: (1) a fuel efficiency program for passenger car and light truck tires; (2) a program to designate Transit-Oriented Development Corridors; and (3) pilot projects to save oil by reducing vehicle miles traveled. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) [...]

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Latest Action: 02/27/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2279-2280)

Bill Text
A bill to establish an Advanced Research Projects Administration-Energy to initiate high risk, innovative energy research to improve the energy security of the United States, and for other purposes. 2/27/2007--Introduced. Energy Research Act of 2007 - Establishes the Advanced Research Projects Administration - Energy (ARPA-E) to reduce foreign energy imports and to improve the competitiveness of the U.S. economy by: (1) promoting revolutionary changes in the critical technologies that would promote energy competitiveness; (2) turning cutting-edge science and engineering into technologies for energy and environmental application; and (3) accelerating innovation in energy and the environment for both traditional and alternative energy sources and in energy efficiency mechanisms to reduce energy use.Requires the ARPA-E Director to award competitive grants, cooperative agreements, or contracts to institutions of higher education, companies, or consortia of such entities [...]

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Latest Action: 03/22/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3620-3621)

Bill Text
A bill to establish the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, to provide funding for the support of fundamental agricultural research of the highest quality, and for other purposes. 3/22/2007--Introduced. National Institute of Food and Agriculture Act of 2007 - Establishes within the Department of Agriculture the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, which shall be an agency composed of a Director (who shall be a scientist) and a Standing Council of Advisors. Authorizes the Director to establish standing scientific committees. Requires the Director to establish: (1) an Office of Advanced Science and Application which shall monitor national needs and advances in research to identify problems for which solutions are realistically achievable through research; (2) an Office of Scientific Assessment and Liaison which shall monitor programs and expenditures; (3) an Office of Scientific Personnel which shall assess the number of, and need for additional, agricultural [...]

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Latest Action: 03/28/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4054)

Bill Text
A bill to direct the Secretary of State to work with the Government of Brazil and other foreign governments to develop partnerships that will strengthen diplomatic relations and energy security by accelerating the development of biofuels production, research, and infrastructure to alleviate poverty, create jobs, and increase income, while improving energy security and protecting the environment. 3/28/2007--Introduced. United States-Brazil Energy Cooperation Pact of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of State to establish the Western Hemisphere Energy Cooperation Forum which should seek to: (1) strengthen relationships between the United States and other countries of the Western Hemisphere through cooperation on energy issues; and (2) enhance cooperation between major energy producers and major energy consumers in the Western Hemisphere, particularly among the governments of Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the United States, and Venezuela. Directs the U.S. government to seek to implement: [...]

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Latest Action: 04/19/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4756-4757)

Bill Text
A bill to require Federal buildings to be designed, constructed, and certified to meet, at a minimum, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building rating standard identified as silver by the United States Green Building Council, and for other purposes. 4/19/2007--Introduced. American Green Building Act of 2007 - Requires federal buildings for which the design phase for construction or major renovation is begun after enactment of this Act to be designed, constructed, and certified to meet, at a minimum, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating standard of silver. Exempts buildings if the agency head with jurisdiction determines that compliance would be impracticable based on: (1) the quantity of energy required by each activity carried out in the building; and (2) whether the building is used to carry out activities relating to national security. Requires: (1) federal agencies to report to the Secretary of Energy [...]

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Latest Action: 04/24/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4969)

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce emissions from electric powerplants, and for other purposes. 4/24/2007--Introduced. Clean Power Act of 2007 - Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) promulgate regulations to achieve specified reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, global warming pollutants, and mercury from certain electric generation facilities; and (2) establish an emission allowance tracking and transfer system for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon dioxide.Requires facilities to achieve specified emission standards should emission limitation regulations not be promulgated. Directs the Administrator to study the impact of emission allowance trading. Limits the trading of allowances with facilities other than electricity generating facilities to certain carbon dioxide emission control programs. Sets forth an allocation scheme for emission allowances.[...]

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Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 10/04/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to encourage the development of clean energy technologies for deployment in markets abroad, to assist the Department of Energy's promotion of research and development of clean and efficient energy systems, to encourage the Department of Energy and other Federal agencies to work together to improve the advancement of sustainable energy use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and for other purposes. 10/4/2007--Introduced. International Clean Energy Technologies Deployment and Global Energy Markets Investment Act of 2007 - Amends the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to set forth a program for clean energy assistance to developing countries. Instructs the Secretary of Energy to: (1) establish a pilot program of financial assistance for clean energy projects in developing countries that will result in reduced greenhouse gas emissions; and (2) make a loan or loan guarantee for not more than 50% of project costs for each pilot program [...]

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Latest Action: 12/19/2007 - For Further Action See Public Law 110-140 (H.R. 6).

Bill Text
To promote greater energy efficiency. 8/3/2007--Reported to House without amendment, Part I.    (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2007 - Title I: Promoting Energy Efficiency - Subtitle A: Appliance Efficiency - (Sec. 101) Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) to revise provisions that set energy standards, including standards for specified appliances, boilers, motors, and external power supplies. Provides procedures to amend or make standards. Subtitle B: Lighting Efficiency - (Sec. 121) Instructs the Secretary of Energy to issue regulations prohibiting the sale of: (1) 100 watt general service incandescent lamps after January 1, 2012, unless those lamps emit at least 60 lumens per watt; and (2) general service lamps manufactured after specified [...]

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Latest Action: 08/24/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.

Bill Text
To facilitate the transition to a smart electricity grid. 8/3/2007--Reported to House without amendment, Part I.    (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)Smart Grid Facilitation Act of 2007 - Title I: Smart Grid and Demand Response - Subtitle A: Smart Grid - (Sec. 101) Declares it is the policy of the United States: (1) to support the modernization of the electricity transmission and distribution system to incorporate digital information and controls technology and to share real-time pricing information with electricity customers; and (2) that electricity purchasers are entitled to receive information about the varying value of electricity at different times and places, and that states shall not prohibit nor erect unreasonable barriers to the provision of such information flows to end users.Instructs the Secretary [...]

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Latest Action: 07/13/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.

Bill Text
To authorize the Secretary of Energy to establish a program for making prizes for advanced or transformational technologies for the production, consumption, and distribution of nonpetroleum-based alternative energy and energy efficiency.

6/26/2007--Introduced.

Independence Prize Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish: (1) a program for awarding prizes to U.S. entities for research, development, and commercialization of advanced or transformational technologies for the production, consumption, and distribution of nonpetroleum-based alternative energy and energy efficiency; and (2) an advisory committee.

Latest Action: 05/06/2008 - Hearings Held by Subcommittee on Engergy and Environment Prior to Introduction and Referral (June 14, 2007).

Bill Text
To enhance research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of biofuels related technologies, and for other purposes. 8/3/2007--Reported to House amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Biofuels Research and Development Enhancement Act - (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a technology transfer center to disseminate information on research, development, and commercial application of technologies related to specified biofuels and biorefineries, including: (1) biochemical and thermochemical conversion technologies to make fuels from lignocellulosic feedstocks; (2) biotechnology processes that emphasize enzyme-based processing systems; (3) biogas technologies; and (4) other advances to enable biofuel development. (Sec. 3) Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to instruct the Secretary to implement a biofuels research, development, and demonstration program related to existing transportation fuel distribution infrastructure [...]

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Latest Action: 06/20/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.

Bill Text
To enhance research, development, demonstration, and commercial application of biofuels related technologies, and for other purposes. 6/18/2007--Introduced. Biofuels Research and Development Enhancement Act - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish an information center on research, development, and commercial application of technologies related to biofuels and biorefineries, including: (1) biochemical and thermochemical conversion technologies to make fuels from lignocellulosic feedstocks; (2) biotechnology processes that emphasize enzyme-based processing systems; and (3) other advanced processes and technologies that will enable biofuel development. Amends the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to instruct the Secretary to implement a research, development, and demonstration program relating to: (1) existing transportation fuel distribution infrastructure and new alternative distribution infrastructure, focusing on the physical and chemical properties of biofuels and [...]

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