39–006 

113TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 113–483 

TO REQUIRE THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR TO ASSEMBLE A TEAM 

OF TECHNICAL, POLICY, AND FINANCIAL EXPERTS TO ADDRESS THE 

ENERGY NEEDS OF THE INSULAR AREAS OF THE UNITED STATES AND 

THE FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES THROUGH THE DEVELOPMENT OF 

ACTION PLANS AIMED AT REDUCING RELIANCE ON IMPORTED FOSSIL 

FUELS AND INCREASING USE OF INDIGENOUS CLEAN-ENERGY RESOURCES, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 

JUNE 19, 2014.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. UPTON, from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 83] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on Energy and Commerce, to whom was referred 

the bill (H.R. 83) to require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the 

energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the 

Freely Associated States through the development of action plans 

aimed at reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and increasing 

use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other purposes, 

having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 3 

Background and Need for Legislation .................................................................... 3 

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 4 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 4 

Committee Votes ...................................................................................................... 4 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 4 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives .................................... 4 

New Budget Authority, Entitlement Authority, and Tax Expenditures ............. 5 

Earmark, Limited Tax Benefits, and Limited Tariff Benefits ............................. 5 

Committee Cost Estimate ....................................................................................... 5 

Congressional Budget Office Estimate ................................................................... 5 

Federal Mandates Statement ................................................................................. 6 

Duplication of Federal Programs ............................................................................ 6 

Disclosure of Directed Rule Makings ..................................................................... 6 

Advisory Committee Statement .............................................................................. 7 


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Applicability to Legislative Branch ........................................................................ 7 

Section-by-Section Analysis of the Legislation ...................................................... 7 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ..................................... 7 

The amendments are as follows: 

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: 

SECTION 1. INSULAR AREAS AND FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES ENERGY DEVELOPMENT. 

(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

(1) COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY PLAN.—The term ‘‘comprehensive energy plan’’ 

means a comprehensive energy plan prepared and updated under subsections 

(c) and (e) of section 604 of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to authorize appropriations 

for certain insular areas of the United States, and for other purposes’’, approved 

December 24, 1980 (48 U.S.C. 1492). 

(2) ENERGY ACTION PLAN.—The term ‘‘energy action plan’’ means the plan required by subsection (d). 

(3) FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES.—The term ‘‘Freely Associated States’’ means 

the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and 

the Republic of Palau. 

(4) INSULAR AREAS.—The term ‘‘insular areas’’ means American Samoa, the 

Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto 

Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. 

(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior. 

(6) TEAM.—The term ‘‘team’’ means the team established by the Secretary 

under subsection (b). 

(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this 

Act, the Secretary shall establish a team of technical, policy, and financial experts— 

(1) to develop energy action plans addressing the immediate, near-term, and 

long-term energy and environmental needs of each of the insular areas and 

Freely Associated States; and 

(2) to assist each of the insular areas and Freely Associated States in implementing an energy action plan. 

(c) PARTICIPATION OF REGIONAL UTILITY ORGANIZATIONS.—In establishing the 

team, the Secretary shall consider including regional utility organizations. 

(d) ENERGY ACTION PLANS.—In accordance with subsection (b), the energy action 

plans shall include— 

(1) recommendations, based on the comprehensive energy plan where applicable, to— 

(A) promote access to affordable, reliable energy; 

(B) develop indigenous, nonfossil fuel energy resources; and 

(C) improve performance of energy infrastructure and overall energy efficiency; 

(2) a schedule for implementation of such recommendations and identification 

and prioritization of specific projects; 

(3) a financial and engineering plan for implementing and sustaining projects; 

and 

(4) benchmarks for measuring progress toward implementation. 

(e) REPORTS TO SECRETARY.—Not later than 1 year after the date on which the 

Secretary establishes the team and annually thereafter, the team shall submit to 

the Secretary a report detailing progress made in fulfilling its charge and in implementing the energy action plans. 

(f) ANNUAL REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 30 days after the date on 

which the Secretary receives a report submitted by the team under subsection (e), 

the Secretary shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a summary 

of the report of the team. 

Amend the title to read: 

A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team 

of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the energy 

needs of the insular areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States through the development of energy action plans 

aimed at promoting access to affordable, reliable energy, including 

increasing use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other 

purposes. 


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PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

H.R. 83, to require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a 

team of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the Freely 

Associated States through the development of energy action plans 

aimed at promoting access to affordable, reliable energy, including 

increasing use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other 

purposes, was introduced by Rep. Donna M. Christensen on January 3, 2013. The legislation will assist the insular areas of the 

United States and the Freely Associated States in addressing their 

energy and environmental needs by directing the Secretary of the 

Interior to establish a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to develop an energy action plan for each of the insular areas 

and Freely Associated States and to assist them in implementing 

those energy action plans. 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The Insular Areas and Freely Associated States (Insular Areas), 

including American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, the 

Virgin Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of 

the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau, generally, have 

few conventional energy resources, and they are dependent upon 

imports to meet a significant portion of their energy needs. As 

noted in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s 2006 United States 

of America Insular Areas Energy Assessment Report, ‘‘[t]he Insular 

Areas have no indigenous fossil fuels, and their near complete reliance on a single, increasingly expensive energy source has created 

fiscal burdens that have hampered economic development.’’ (p. ii) 

In addition, because the Insular Areas are isolated from areas 

that provide their energy fuels, as well as the added cost of transporting those fuels, they face higher energy costs and greater 

threat of supply interruption than areas that are energy independent or have a more convenient source of energy fuels. For example, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found in its 

2011 report on Integrating Renewable Energy into the Transmission 

and Distribution System of the U.S. Virgin Islands that electricity 

costs in the Virgin Islands are more than four times higher than 

the U.S. average due to the territory’s dependence on imported energy to meet nearly all of its energy needs. To address these challenges, the Insular Areas require assistance with their immediate, 

near-term, and long-term energy resource planning and implementation, including the development of local renewable energy and 

improvements in energy efficiency. 

Congress previously addressed the energy issues faced by Insular 

Areas in 1984 with the passage of H.R. 5561 (P.L. 98–454, 48 

U.S.C. 1492), which, in part, required the Secretary of Energy (Secretary) to ‘‘prepare a comprehensive energy plan with emphasis on 

indigenous renewable sources of energy . . . .’’ (48 U.S.C. 1492(c)) 

and authorized the Secretary to: 

grant financial assistance . . . to insular area governments or private sector persons working in cooperation 

with insular area governments to carry out projects to 

evaluate the feasibility of, develop options for, and encourVerDate Mar 15 2010 06:43 Jun 20, 2014 Jkt 039006 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR483.XXX HR483

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age the adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy 

measures which reduce the dependency of the insular 

areas on imported fuels, improve the quality of the environment, and promote development in the insular areas. 

(48 U.S.C. 1492(g)) 

When Congress passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 

2005, P.L. 109–190), it included provisions that expanded the scope 

of the comprehensive energy plan and authorized grants ‘‘to carry 

out projects to protect electric power transmission and distribution 

lines . . . from damage caused by hurricanes and typhoons.’’ (sec. 

251 of EPAct 2005) 

Section 252 of EPAct 2005 also directed the Secretary to ‘‘conduct 

a feasibility study of a project to implement a strategy or project 

identified in the [comprehensive energy] plans . . . .’’ required by 

48 U.S.C. 1492. (42 U.S.C. 15891(a)) In addition, the Secretary was 

authorized to ‘‘provide such technical and financial assistance as 

the Secretary determines is appropriate for the implementation of 

the project.’’ (42 U.S.C. 15891(b)) 

While these previous laws have provided assistance, the Insular 

Areas continue to face significant energy challenges. The Committee has an ongoing interest in the energy needs of the nation, 

and the Insular Areas. Affordable and reliable sources of energy 

are hallmarks of a thriving economy that can improve the quality 

of life for all. 

HEARINGS

The Committee on Energy and Commerce has not held hearings 

on the legislation. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On July 10, 2013, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power met 

in open markup session and approved H.R. 83 for full Committee 

consideration, as amended, by a voice vote. 

On July 17, 2013, the Committee on Energy and Commerce met 

in open markup session, and a motion by Mr. Upton to order H.R. 

83 reported to the House, as amended, was agreed to by unanimous 

consent. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires the Committee to list the record votes on the motion 

to report legislation and amendments thereto. There were no 

record votes taken in connection with ordering H.R. 83 reported. A 

motion by Mr. Upton to order H.R. 83 reported to the House, as 

amended, was agreed to by unanimous consent. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee has not held oversight or legislative hearings on this legislation. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

H.R. 83 assists the insular areas of the United States and the 

Freely Associated States to address their energy needs through the 


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development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to 

affordable and reliable energy, including increasing use of indigenous clean energy resources. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY, ENTITLEMENT AUTHORITY, AND TAX

EXPENDITURES

In compliance with clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee finds that H.R. 83, to require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of technical, 

policy, and financial experts to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States 

through the development of energy action plans aimed at promoting access to affordable, reliable energy, including increasing 

use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other purposes, 

would result in no new or increased budget authority, entitlement 

authority, or tax expenditures or revenues. 

EARMARK, LIMITED TAX BENEFITS, AND LIMITED TARIFF BENEFITS

In compliance with clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the 

Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee finds that 

H.R. 83 contains no earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 

benefits. 

COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE

The Committee adopts as its own the cost estimate prepared by 

the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 

402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following is the cost estimate provided by 

the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 402 of the 

Congressional Budget Act of 1974: 

JULY 29, 2013. 

Hon. FRED UPTON, 

Chairman, Committee on Energy and Commerce, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 83, a bill to require the 

Secretary of the Interior to assemble a team of technical, policy, 

and financial experts to address the energy needs of the insular 

areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States 

through the development of action plans aimed at reducing reliance 

on imported fossil fuels and increasing use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for other purposes. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contacts are Maggie Morrissey and 

Matthew Pickford. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF. 

Enclosure. 


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H.R. 83—A bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to assemble 

a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to address the 

energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the 

Freely Associated States through the development of action 

plans aimed at reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and 

increasing use of indigenous clean-energy resources, and for 

other purposes 

H.R. 83 would require the Department of the Interior (DOI) to 

establish a team of technical, policy, and financial experts to develop action plans aimed at reducing reliance on imported fossil 

fuels and increasing the use of clean-energy sources in the insular 

areas (American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto 

Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands) and the Freely Associated 

States (the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the 

Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau). In establishing the 

team, DOI would be required to consider including regional utility 

organizations. Both the team and DOI would report to the Congress on their findings annually. 

DOI currently spends $1.2 million annually to establish energy 

action plans for insular areas. Based on information from the agency, CBO expects that under H.R. 83, DOI would need to spend 

about $2 million more annually to hire additional staff to handle 

the increased technical support called for under the bill. Thus, CBO 

estimates that implementing the bill would cost about $10 million 

over the 2014–2018 period, assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts. Enacting H.R. 83 would not affect direct spending 

or revenues; therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures do not apply. 

H.R. 83 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would 

not affect the budgets of state, local, or tribal governments. 

The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Maggie Morrissey 

and Matthew Pickford. The estimate was approved by Theresa 

Gullo, Deputy Assistant Director for Budget Analysis. 

FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT

The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 

pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. 

DUPLICATION OF FEDERAL PROGRAMS

No provision of H.R. 83 establishes or reauthorizes a program of 

the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another Federal program, a program that was included in any report from the 

Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 

21 of Public Law 111–139, or a program related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. 

DISCLOSURE OF DIRECTED RULE MAKINGS

The Committee estimates that enacting H.R. 83 directs to be 

completed no specific rule makings within the meaning of 5 U.S.C. 

551. 


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ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT

No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act were created by this legislation. 

APPLICABILITY TO LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the 

terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or 

accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS OF THE LEGISLATION

Section 1(a) defines the terms ‘‘Comprehensive Energy Plan,’’ 

‘‘Energy Action Plan,’’ ‘‘Freely Associated States,’’ ‘‘Insular Areas,’’ 

‘‘Secretary,’’ and ‘‘Team.’’ 

Section 1(b) directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish a 

team of technical, policy and financial experts to (1) develop energy 

action plans addressing the immediate, near-term, and long-term 

energy and environmental needs of each of the insular areas and 

Freely Associated States, and (2) assist them in implementing an 

energy action plan. 

Section 1(c) requires the Secretary of the Interior to consider including regional utility organizations in the team. 

Section 1(d) provides that the energy action plans include (1) recommendations to (a) promote access to affordable, reliable energy, 

(b) develop indigenous, nonfossil fuel energy resources, and (c) improve performance of energy infrastructure and overall energy efficiency; (2) a schedule for implementation of such recommendations 

and identification and prioritization of specific projects; (3) a financial and engineering plan for implementing and sustaining projects; 

and (4) benchmarks for measuring progress toward implementation. 

Section 1(e) directs the team to submit to the Secretary of the Interior a report detailing progress made in fulfilling its charge and 

implementing the energy action plans. The report must be submitted within 1 year of the establishment of the team and annually 

thereafter. 

Section 1(f) directs the Secretary of the Interior to submit to the 

appropriate Congressional committees a summary of the report of 

the team required by section 1(e). The summary must be submitted 

within 30 days of receiving the report required by section 1(e). 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

This legislation does not amend any existing Federal statute. 

Æ 


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