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Latest Action: 04/12/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to improve energy standards for home appliances, and for other purposes.

4/12/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to direct the Secretary of Energy to publish a final rule not later than December 31, 2010, determining whether to amend the standards in effect for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers manufactured on or after January 1, 2014.

Prescribes specified energy and water factors for: (1) residential clothes washers manufactured on or after January 1, 2011; and (2) dishwashers manufactured on or after January 2, 2010.

Requires dehumidifiers manufactured on or after October 1, 2012, to meet or exceed specified energy factor values.

Moves up from January 1, 2010, to January 1, 2009, the effective date for new qualifying levels for clothes washers the Secretary is required to establish.

Latest Action: 05/16/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to temporarily provide a shorter recovery period for the depreciation of certain systems installed in nonresidential and residential rental buildings.

5/16/2007--Introduced.

Smart Buildings Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a 20-year depreciation recovery period, calculated on a straight line basis, for property that is part of a heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or refrigeration system, or which replaces one or more components of such a system, if such system or such replacement component: (1) exceeds by at least 10 percent the applicable minimum performance standard under the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act of 1987, the Energy Policy Act of 2005, or the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Standard 90.1; (2) is placed in service before January 1, 2012; and (3) is installed in nonresidential or residential rental buildings.

Latest Action: 05/24/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the energy efficient appliance credit for appliances produced after 2007.

5/24/2007--Introduced.

Super-Efficient Appliance Incentives and Market Transformation Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to modify the applicable amount of the tax credit for energy efficient appliances (i.e., dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators, and dehumidifiers that restrict water and energy consumption) produced after 2007.

Latest Action: 04/17/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a shorter recovery period for the depreciation of certain systems installed in nonresidential buildings.

4/17/2007--Introduced.

Cool and Efficient Buildings Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a 20-year depreciation recovery period, calculated on a straight line basis, for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or commercial refrigeration systems installed in nonresidential buildings.

Latest Action: 05/01/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality.

Bill Text
To amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to improve energy standards for home appliances, and for other purposes.

5/1/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to direct the Secretary of Energy to publish a final rule not later than December 31, 2010, determining whether to amend the standards in effect for refrigerators, refrigerator-freezers, and freezers manufactured on or after January 1, 2014.

Prescribes specified energy and water factors for: (1) residential clothes washers manufactured on or after January 1, 2011; and (2) dishwashers manufactured on or after January 1, 2010.

Requires dehumidifiers manufactured on or after October 1, 2012, to meet or exceed specified energy factor values.

Moves up from January 1, 2010, to January 1, 2009, the effective date for new qualifying levels for clothes washers the Secretary is required to establish.

Latest Action: 05/08/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation.

Bill Text
To provide support for small business concerns, and for other purposes. 5/3/2007--Introduced. Small Business Investment and Promotion Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to: (1) provide to small business owners and operators of farming or commercial fishing businesses a temporary credit for excessive fuel costs paid or incurred in the operation of such business; (2) make permanent the credit for increasing research activities; and (3) treat as 15-year property for purposes of the depreciation deduction qualified restaurant property, qualified retail improvement property, and certain systems installed in nonresidential buildings. Authorizes appropriations for FY2008-FY2009 for: (1) the Advanced Technology Program; (2) the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE); (3) small business development centers; (4) the Manufacturing Extension Partnership program; and (5) the Women's Business Centers program. Expresses the sense of Congress calling for appropriate [...]

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Latest Action: 09/19/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Competitiveness.

Bill Text
Moving the United States toward greater energy independence and security, developing innovative new technologies, reducing carbon emissions, creating green jobs, protecting consumers, increasing clean renewable energy production, and modernizing our energy infrastructure. 7/30/2007--Introduced. New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act - Incorporates various legislative initiatives for energy conservation, independence, and security.Green Jobs Act of 2007 - Amends the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 to direct the Secretary of Labor to: (1) establish an energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training program; (2) collect and analyze labor market data to track workforce trends resulting from energy-related initiatives under this Act; and (3) award National Energy Training Partnerships Grants to community based nonprofit organizations to carry out training programs that lead to economic self-sufficiency and develop an [...]

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Latest Action: 09/27/2008 - Hearings Held by Subcommittee on Energy and Environment Prior to Introduction and Referral (05/15/2007)..

Bill Text
A bill to provide needed housing reform and for other purposes. 7/30/2008--Public Law.    (There are 4 other summaries) Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 - Division A: Housing Finance Reform - Federal Housing Finance Regulatory Reform Act of 2008 - Title I: Reform of Regulation of Enterprises - Subtitle A: Improvement of Safety and Soundness Supervision - (Sec. 1101) Amends the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992 to replace the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (Agency), headed by a Director with regulatory authority over: (1) the Office of Finance; (2) the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs); (3) the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae); and (4) the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac). (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are referred to jointly as the enterprises.) [...]

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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: 01/09/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to temporarily provide a shorter recovery period for the depreciation of certain systems installed in nonresidential buildings.

1/9/2007--Introduced.

Cool and Efficient Buildings Investment Act - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a 20-year depreciation recovery period, calculated on a straight line basis, for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or commercial refrigeration systems installed in nonresidential buildings and placed in service between December 31, 2006, and January 1, 2009.

Latest Legislation - View All

Latest Action: 06/09/2008 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 771.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend certain expiring provisions, and for other purposes. 6/6/2008--Introduced. Alternative Minimum Tax and Extenders Tax Relief Act of 2008 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend expiring provisions relating to the alternative minimum tax, individual and business taxpayers, energy conservation, and tax administration. Extends through 2008 for individual taxpayers: (1) the offset of nonrefundable personal tax credits against regular and alternative minimum tax (AMT) liabilities; and (2) the increased AMT exemption amounts. Extends through 2009: (1) the election to deduct state and local sales taxes in lieu of state and local income taxes; (2) the tax deductions for qualified tuition and related expenses and for certain expenses of elementary and secondary school teachers; (3) tax-free distributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) for charitable purposes; and (4) tax rules for treatment of [...]

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Latest Action: 12/13/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a shorter recovery period for the depreciation of certain systems installed in nonresidential real property or residential rental property.

12/13/2007--Introduced.

Amends the Internal Revenue Code to provide for accelerated depreciation of certain energy-efficient heating, ventilation, air conditioning, or commercial refrigeration property installed in nonresidential real property or residential rental property and placed in service before January 1, 2012.

Latest Action: 10/12/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow individuals a credit against income tax for the purchase of Energy Star compliant refrigerators and freezers.

10/12/2007--Introduced.

Energy Efficient Appliance Tax Credit for Refrigerators and Freezers Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to allow a tax credit for 25% of the cost (up to $500) of refrigerators or freezers which meet requirements for the Energy Star program. Terminates such credit after 2016.

Latest Action: 09/19/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Bill Text
To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to make permanent law the credit for nonbusiness energy property, the credit for gas produced from biomass and for synthetic fuels produced from coal, and the credit for energy efficient appliances.

9/19/2007--Introduced.

Smart Energy Tax Relief Act of 2007 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent the tax credits for: (1) nonbusiness energy property expenditures; (2) gas produced from biomass and for synthetic fuels produced from coal; and (3) energy efficient household appliances (i.e., dishwashers, clothes washers, refrigerators).

Latest Action: 08/03/2007 - Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. (text of measure as introduced: CR S8046)

Bill Text
To reduce emissions of ozone depleting substances in order to protect the climate and stratospheric ozone layer, and for other purposes. 8/3/2007--Introduced. Global Climate and Ozone Layer Protection Act of 2007 - Expresses the sense of Congress that the United States should negotiate with the other parties to the Montreal Protocol concerning mitigating global warming impacts and accelerating the phaseout of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) for developed and developing countries.Amends the Clean Air Act to allow the production and consumption of class II substances that are used as fire suppression agents for military, commercial aviation, industrial, space, or national security applications and that reduce overall risk to human health and the environment compared to alternatives.Bans the importation of any product manufactured after January 1, 2010, that contains any class II substance that has been phased out of production and consumption for any purpose other [...]

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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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