II 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 2613 

To provide for climate change planning, mitigation, adaptation, and resilience 

in the United States Territories and Freely Associated States, and for 

other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 4, 2021 

Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself and Ms. HIRONO) introduced the following bill; 

which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To provide for climate change planning, mitigation, adaptation, and resilience in the United States Territories and 

Freely Associated States, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Insular Area Climate 

5 Change Act’’. 

6 SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

7 The table of contents for this Act is as follows: 

Sec. 1. Short title. 

Sec. 2. Table of contents. 

Sec. 3. Definitions. 


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Sec. 4. Findings. 

TITLE I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

Sec. 101. Insular Area Climate Change Interagency Task Force. 

Sec. 102. Non-Federal cost-share waiver. 

Sec. 103. Coral reefs prize competitions. 

TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Sec. 201. Office of Insular Affairs Technical Assistance Program. 

Sec. 202. Runit Dome report and monitoring activities. 

TITLE III—NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC 

ADMINISTRATION 

Sec. 301. Climate Change Insular Research Grant Program. 

Sec. 302. Coastal management technical assistance and report. 

Sec. 303. National Weather Service technical assistance and grants. 

Sec. 304. Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act. 

TITLE IV—DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Sec. 401. Office of Insular Area Energy Policy and Programs. 

Sec. 402. Comprehensive energy plans. 

Sec. 403. Energy Efficient Product Rebate Program. 

Sec. 404. Renewable Energy Grant Program. 

Sec. 405. Offshore wind for the territories. 

Sec. 406. State Energy Program non-Federal cost-share waiver. 

TITLE V—ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

Sec. 501. Definitions. 

Sec. 502. Insular Area National Program Office. 

Sec. 503. Insular Area Sustainable Infrastructure Grant Program. 

Sec. 504. Insular Area Renewable Energy Grant Program. 

Sec. 505. Insular Area Technical Assistance Program. 

TITLE VI—EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT 

Sec. 601. Community disaster loans repayment cancellation. 

Sec. 602. Disaster relief non-Federal cost-share waiver. 

TITLE VII—SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE THREAT OF 

CLIMATE CHANGE 

Sec. 701. Sense of Congress regarding the threat of climate change. 

1 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act, the following definitions apply: 

3 (1) ADAPTATION.—The term ‘‘adaptation’’ 

4 means the capacity of natural and human systems to 

5 adjust to climate change or its impacts in a matter 


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1 that will reduce damage or take advantage of any 

2 beneficial aspects. 

3 (2) FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES.—The term 

4 ‘‘Freely Associated States’’ means the Republic of 

5 the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micro6 nesia, and the Republic of Palau. 

7 (3) INSULAR AREAS.—The term ‘‘Insular 

8 Areas’’ means the territories and Freely Associated 

9 States. 

10 (4) MITIGATION.—The term ‘‘mitigation’’ 

11 means measures and initiatives that would limit or 

12 reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

13 (5) RESILIENCE.—The term ‘‘resilience’’ means 

14 the capacity of natural and human systems to resist, 

15 assimilate, and recover from the effects of climate 

16 change in an efficient and timely manner, maintain17 ing or restoring basic structures and essential func18 tions. 

19 (6) RENEWABLE ENERGY.—The term ‘‘renew20 able energy’’ means energy that has been derived 

21 from Earth’s natural resources that are not finite or 

22 exhaustible, including solar, wind, hydroelectric, geo23 thermal, and ocean (thermal and mechanics). 

24 (7) RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEM.—The term 

25 ‘‘renewable energy system’’ includes off-grid or 


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1 stand-alone systems, microgrids, nano grids, and vir2 tual power plants systems based on renewable en3 ergy sources, including storage and other related an4 cillary equipment. These may also be referred to as 

5 ‘‘eligible projects’’. Waste to energy are not consid6 ered as eligible projects. 

7 (8) TERRITORIES.—The term ‘‘territories’’ 

8 means American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the 

9 Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and 

10 the Virgin Islands of the United States. 

11 (9) TERRITORY.—The term ‘‘territory’’ means 

12 American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the North13 ern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the Vir14 gin Islands of the United States. 

15 SEC. 4. FINDINGS. 

16 Congress finds as follows: 

17 (1) The Insular Areas are topographically and 

18 environmentally diverse and treasured by millions of 

19 individuals who call them home. 

20 (2) The territories in the Caribbean (Puerto 

21 Rico and the Virgin Islands of the United States) 

22 and the territories in the Pacific (American Samoa, 

23 the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is24 lands, and Guam) face many of the same climate 


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1 change-related challenges. Freely Associated States 

2 face similar climate change-related vulnerabilities. 

3 (3) Insular Areas are experiencing sea level 

4 rise, coastal erosion, and increasing storm impacts 

5 that threaten lives, critical infrastructure, eco6 systems, and livelihood security. 

7 (4) Sea level rise from climate change poses an 

8 existential threat to low-lying Insular Areas, includ9 ing the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the im10 pacts of which could significantly undermine the 

11 strategic, economic, and defense interests of the 

12 United States. 

13 (5) Temperature increases are likely to further 

14 create and intensify the length of droughts, reduce 

15 water supply, impact public health, and increase de16 mand of freshwater in Insular Areas. In addition, 

17 temperature increases will drive coral reefs to extinc18 tion, eliminating a natural barrier against storm 

19 surge, increasing destruction of infrastructure, and 

20 threatening lives of the inhabitants of the islands. 

21 (6) In 2017, two major storms, Hurricane Irma 

22 and Hurricane Maria, impacted Puerto Rico and the 

23 Virgin Islands of the United States. Hurricane 

24 Maria caused thousands of deaths in Puerto Rico 

25 and the Virgin Islands of the United States and sigVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Aug 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2613.IS S2613

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1 nificant damage to their infrastructure, including 

2 Puerto Rico’s energy system. Hurricane Maria de3 stroyed millions of trees in Puerto Rico and the Vir4 gin Islands of the United States, which has signifi5 cantly increased erosion and sediment transport. As 

6 a result, reservoirs have lost significant storage ca7 pacity and coral reefs are severely impacted. 

8 (7) In 2018, Typhoon Yutu impacted the Com9 monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and 

10 Guam, causing catastrophic destruction in those ter11 ritories. 

12 TITLE I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

13 SEC. 101. INSULAR AREA CLIMATE CHANGE INTERAGENCY 

14 TASK FORCE. 

15 (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF TASK FORCE.—Not later 

16 than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, 

17 the following shall jointly establish the ‘‘Insular Area Cli18 mate Change Interagency Task Force’’ (hereafter in this 

19 section referred to as the ‘‘Task Force’’): 

20 (1) The Secretary of the Interior. 

21 (2) The Secretary of Energy. 

22 (3) The Secretary of State. 

23 (4) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Devel24 opment. 

25 (5) The Secretary of Agriculture. 


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1 (6) The Secretary of Commerce. 

2 (7) The Administrator of the Federal Emer3 gency Management Agency. 

4 (8) The Administrator of the Environmental 

5 Protection Agency. 

6 (b) CHAIRPERSON.—The Task Force shall be chaired 

7 by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage8 ment Agency. 

9 (c) DUTIES.—The Task Force shall— 

10 (1) evaluate all Federal programs regarding 

11 ways to provide greater access to Federal programs 

12 and equitable baseline funding in relation to States, 

13 to territories for climate change planning, mitiga14 tion, adaptation, and resilience; 

15 (2) identify statutory barriers to providing ter16 ritories greater access to Federal programs and eq17 uitable baseline funding; and 

18 (3) provide recommendations related to climate 

19 change in Insular Areas in consultation with local 

20 governments and non-governmental organizations in 

21 Insular Areas with expertise on climate change. 

22 (d) COMPREHENSIVE REPORT.—Not later than 1 

23 year after the establishment of the Task Force, the Task 

24 Force, in consultation with Insular Area governments, 

25 shall issue a comprehensive report that— 


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1 (1) identifies Federal programs that have an 

2 impact on climate change planning, mitigation, ad3 aptation, and resilience, but exclude territories in re4 gard to eligibility, funding, and assistance, or do not 

5 provide equitable baseline funding in relation to 

6 States; and 

7 (2) provides advice and recommendations re8 lated to climate change in Insular Areas, such as 

9 new suggested Federal programs or initiatives. 

10 (e) PUBLICATION; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Ad11 ministrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agen12 cy shall ensure that the report required under subsection 

13 (d) is— 

14 (1) submitted to the Committees on Energy and 

15 Commerce and Natural Resources of the House of 

16 Representatives, and Energy and Natural Resources 

17 of the Senate; 

18 (2) published in the Federal Register for public 

19 comment for a period of at least 60 days; and 

20 (3) made available on a public website along 

21 with any comments received during the public com22 ment period required under paragraph (2). 


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1 SEC. 102. NON-FEDERAL COST-SHARE WAIVER. 

2 Section 501 of Public Law 95–134 (commonly known 

3 as the ‘‘Omnibus Territories Act of 1977’’) (48 U.S.C. 

4 1469a), is amended by adding at the end the following: 

5 ‘‘(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in 

6 the case of the Insular Areas, any department or agency 

7 shall waive any requirement for non-Federal matching 

8 funds under $750,000 (including in-kind contributions) 

9 required by law to be provided by those jurisdictions.’’. 

10 SEC. 103. CORAL REEFS PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 

11 (a) PRIZE COMPETITIONS.—The Director of the Of12 fice of Science and Technology Policy shall work with the 

13 head of each Federal agency represented on the U.S. Coral 

14 Reef Task Force established under Executive Order 13089 

15 (63 Fed. Reg. 32701) to establish prize competitions, in 

16 accordance with section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Tech17 nology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719), that pro18 mote coral reef research and conservation in the Insular 

19 Areas, the State of Hawaii or Florida, or any other area 

20 in the United States or Insular Areas, as determined by 

21 the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Pol22 icy, facing a significant ecological threat due to coral reef 

23 die-offs. 

24 (b) WAIVER OF MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—Section 

25 204(b)(2) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 

26 U.S.C. 6403(b)(2)) is amended— 


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1 (1) by striking the paragraph designation and 

2 all that follows through ‘‘The Administrator’’ and 

3 inserting the following: 

4 ‘‘(2) WAIVERS.— 

5 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator’’; 

6 and 

7 (2) by adding at the end the following: 

8 ‘‘(B) SUSTAINING CORAL REEF MANAGE9 MENT AND MONITORING.—The Administrator 

10 shall waive the matching requirement under 

11 paragraph (1) for grants to implement State 

12 and territorial coral reef conservation coopera13 tive agreements to sustain coral reef manage14 ment and monitoring in the State of Florida or 

15 Hawaii, American Samoa, the Commonwealth 

16 of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the 

17 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or the United 

18 States Virgin Islands.’’. 

19 TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF THE 

20 INTERIOR 

21 SEC. 201. OFFICE OF INSULAR AFFAIRS TECHNICAL ASSIST22 ANCE PROGRAM. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior, act24 ing through the Office of Insular Affairs Technical Assist25 ance Program, shall provide technical assistance for cliVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Aug 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2613.IS S2613

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1 mate change planning, mitigation, adaptation, and resil2 ience to Insular Areas under the jurisdiction of such Pro3 gram. 

4 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

5 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Inte6 rior to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of the 

7 fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 

8 SEC. 202. RUNIT DOME REPORT AND MONITORING ACTIVI9 TIES. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 

11 date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior 

12 shall submit to the Committees on Natural Resources and 

13 Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, 

14 and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

15 of the Senate, a report, prepared by independent experts 

16 not employed by the U.S. government, on the impacts of 

17 climate change on the ‘‘Runit Dome’’ nuclear waste dis18 posal site in Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands, and on 

19 other environmental hazards in the vicinity thereof. The 

20 report shall include the following: 

21 (1) A detailed scientific analysis of any threats 

22 to the environment, and to the health and safety of 

23 Enewetak Atoll residents, posed by each of the fol24 lowing: 


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1 (A) The ‘‘Runit Dome’’ nuclear waste dis2 posal site. 

3 (B) Crypts used to contain nuclear waste 

4 and other toxins on Enewetak Atoll. 

5 (C) Radionuclides and other toxins present 

6 in the lagoon of Enewetak Atoll, including areas 

7 in the lagoon where nuclear waste was dumped. 

8 (D) Radionuclides and other toxins, includ9 ing beryllium, which may be present on the is10 lands of Enewetak Atoll as a result of nuclear 

11 tests and other activities of the U.S. govern12 ment, including tests of chemical and biological 

13 warfare agents, rocket tests, contaminated air14 craft landing on Enewetak Island, and nuclear 

15 cleanup activities. 

16 (E) Radionuclides and other toxins that 

17 may be present in the drinking water on 

18 Enewetak Island or in the water source for the 

19 desalination plant. 

20 (F) Radionuclides and other toxins that 

21 may be present in the groundwater under and 

22 in the vicinity of the nuclear waste disposal fa23 cility on Runit Island. 

24 (2) A detailed scientific analysis of the extent to 

25 which rising sea levels, severe weather events and 


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1 other effects of climate change might exacerbate any 

2 of the threats identified above. 

3 (3) A detailed plan, including costs, to relocate 

4 all of the nuclear waste and other toxic waste con5 tained in— 

6 (A) the ‘‘Runit Dome’’ nuclear waste dis7 posal site; 

8 (B) all of the crypts on Enewetak Atoll 

9 containing such waste; and 

10 (C) the three dumping areas in Enewetak’s 

11 lagoon to a safe, secure facility to be con12 structed in an uninhabited, unincorporated ter13 ritory of the United States. 

14 (b) MARSHALLESE PARTICIPATION.—The Secretary 

15 of the Interior shall allow scientists or other experts se16 lected by the Republic of the Marshall Islands to partici17 pate in all aspects of the preparation of the report re18 quired by subsection (a), including, without limitation, de19 veloping the work plan, identifying questions, conducting 

20 research, and collecting and interpreting data. 

21 (c) PUBLICATION.—The report required in subsection 

22 (a) shall be published in the Federal Register for public 

23 comment for a period of not fewer than 60 days. 

24 (d) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary of the In25 terior shall publish the study required under subsection 


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1 (a) and results submitted under subsection (b) on a public 

2 website. 

3 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION FOR RE4 PORT.—It is hereby authorized to be appropriated to the 

5 Department of the Interior, Office of Insular Affairs, for 

6 fiscal year 2022 such sums as may be necessary to 

7 produce the report required in subsection (a). 

8 (f) INDEFINITE AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION

9 FOR RUNIT DOME MONITORING ACTIVITIES.—It is hereby 

10 authorized to be appropriated to the Department of En11 ergy such sums as may be necessary to comply with the 

12 requirements of section 103(f)(1)(B) of the Compact of 

13 Free Association Amendments Act of 2003 (42 U.S.C. 

14 1921b(f)(1)(B)). 

15 TITLE III—NATIONAL OCEANIC 

16 AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINIS17 TRATION 

18 SEC. 301. CLIMATE CHANGE INSULAR RESEARCH GRANT 

19 PROGRAM. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Na21 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall es22 tablish a Climate Change Insular Research Grant Pro23 gram to provide grants to institutions of higher education, 

24 as such term is defined in section 101(a) of the Higher 

25 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)), and nonprofit 


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1 organizations in Insular Areas for monitoring, collecting, 

2 synthesizing, analyzing, and publishing local climate 

3 change data, including ocean temperature, sea level rise, 

4 ocean acidification, and altered ocean currents data. 

5 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 

6 out this section there is authorized to be appropriated to 

7 the Administrator $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 

8 2022 through 2026. 

9 SEC. 302. COASTAL MANAGEMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 

10 AND REPORT. 

11 (a) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 

13 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

14 acting through the Director of the Office for Coastal 

15 Management, shall provide technical assistance to 

16 Insular Areas to enhance such entities’ coastal man17 agement and climate change programs. 

18 (2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 

19 carry out this subsection there is authorized to be 

20 appropriated to the Administrator of the National 

21 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

22 $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 

23 2026. 

24 (b) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Administrator of the Na25 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, acting 


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1 through the Director of the Office for Coastal Manage2 ment, shall submit an annual report to the Committee on 

3 Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and 

4 the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

5 of the Senate on the status of— 

6 (1) wetland, mangrove, and estuary conditions 

7 in Insular Areas; and 

8 (2) climate change impacts, including ecological, 

9 economic, and cultural impacts, in Insular Areas. 

10 SEC. 303. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TECHNICAL AS11 SISTANCE AND GRANTS. 

12 (a) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 

14 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

15 acting through the Director of the National Weather 

16 Service, shall provide technical assistance and out17 reach to Insular Areas through the San Juan, 

18 Tiyan, and Pago Pago Weather Forecast Offices of 

19 the National Weather Service. For the purposes of 

20 this section, the Administrator may also employ 

21 other agency entities as the Administrator deems 

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1 cane, typhoon, droughts, tsunamis, tides, and sea 

2 level rise impacts in the Insular Areas. 

3 (2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 

4 carry out this subsection there is authorized to be 

5 appropriated to the Administrator $5,000,000 for 

6 each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 

7 (b) GRANTS.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the 

9 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

10 may provide grants to academic, nonprofit, and local 

11 entities to conduct climate change research to im12 prove weather data collection and provide science, 

13 data, information, and impact-based decision sup14 port services to reduce hurricane, typhoon, droughts, 

15 tsunamis, tides, and sea level rise impacts in the In16 sular Areas. 

17 (2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 

18 carry out this subsection there is authorized to be 

19 appropriated to the Administrator $5,000,000 for 

20 each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 

21 SEC. 304. OCEAN AND COASTAL MAPPING INTEGRATION 

22 ACT. 

23 Section 12204 of the Ocean and Coastal Mapping In24 tegration Act (33 U.S.C. 3503) is amended— 

25 (1) in paragraph (12), by striking ‘‘and’’; 


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1 (2) in paragraph (13), by striking the period at 

2 the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

3 (3) by adding at the end the following: 

4 ‘‘(14) the study of Insular Areas and the effects 

5 of climate change’’. 

6 TITLE IV—DEPARTMENT OF 

7 ENERGY 

8 SEC. 401. OFFICE OF INSULAR AREA ENERGY POLICY AND 

9 PROGRAMS. 

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title II of the Department of En11 ergy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7131 et seq.) is amend12 ed by adding at the end the following: 

13 ‘‘SEC. 218. OFFICE OF INSULAR AREA ENERGY POLICY AND 

14 PROGRAMS. 

15 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 

16 the Department an Office of Insular Area Energy Policy 

17 and Programs (referred to in this section as the ‘Office’). 

18 The Office shall be headed by a Director, who shall be 

19 appointed by the Secretary and compensated at a rate 

20 equal to that of level IV of the Executive Schedule under 

21 section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. 

22 ‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Office shall— 

23 ‘‘(1) direct, coordinate, implement, and monitor 

24 energy planning, education, management, conserva25 tion, and delivery programs of the Department to— 


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1 ‘‘(A) assist Insular Areas in developing 

2 comprehensive energy plans; 

3 ‘‘(B) expand renewable energy and energy 

4 efficiency in Insular Areas; 

5 ‘‘(C) reduce or stabilize energy costs in In6 sular Areas; 

7 ‘‘(D) enhance and strengthen energy infra8 structure in Insular Areas to withstand natural 

9 disasters; and 

10 ‘‘(E) work with Insular Areas to develop 

11 improved regulatory and oversight conditions; 

12 and 

13 ‘‘(2) centralize and align all ongoing Depart14 ment of Energy efforts in the Insular Areas. 

15 ‘‘(c) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Director shall submit 

16 an annual report to the Committee on Natural Resources 

17 and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 

18 House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 

19 and Natural Resources of the Senate on the status of all 

20 projects undertaken and grants approved by the Office. 

21 ‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

22 is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 

23 out this section $20,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 

24 2022 through 2026. 


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1 ‘‘(e) NON-FEDERAL COST-SHARE WAIVER.—Any 

2 funding made available to Insular Areas by the Office of 

3 Insular Area Energy Policy and Programs under this or 

4 any other Federal law shall not be subject to a non-Fed5 eral share funding requirement.’’. 

6 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

7 (1) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of con8 tents of the Department of Energy Organization Act 

9 is amended by inserting after the item relating to 

10 section 217 the following: 

‘‘Sec. 218. Office of Insular Area Energy Policy and Programs.’’. 

11 (2) POSITIONS AT LEVEL IV.—Section 5315 of 

12 title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting 

13 after the item related to the Director, Office of 

14 Science, Department of Energy the following new 

15 item: ‘‘Director, Office of Insular Area Energy Pol16 icy and Programs, Department of Energy.’’. 

17 SEC. 402. COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY PLANS. 

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after the 

19 date of the enactment of this Act, the Office of Insular 

20 Area Energy Policy and Programs in the Department of 

21 Energy, in consultation with the Office of Insular Affairs 

22 of the Department of the Interior, shall submit to the 

23 Committees on Energy and Commerce and Natural Re24 sources of the House of Representatives and the ComVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Aug 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2613.IS S2613

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1 mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 

2 a report containing— 

3 (1) the results of a study of the execution of the 

4 comprehensive energy plans required by section 9 of 

5 Public Law 113–235 (48 U.S.C. 1492a), includ6 ing— 

7 (A) initial, planned, and current sources of 

8 renewable energy; 

9 (B) initial, planned, and current energy 

10 imports; and 

11 (C) projected and actual energy needs dur12 ing calendar year 2020 for each Insular Area; 

13 (2) the lessons learned from the preparation of 

14 these plans; 

15 (3) the date on which each plan was most re16 cently updated; and 

17 (4) recommendations with respect to each Insu18 lar Area, on the need to update such plans. 

19 (b) PUBLICATION; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Sec20 retary of Energy shall ensure that— 

21 (1) the report required by subsection (a) is pub22 lished in the Federal Register for public comment 

23 for a period of not fewer than 60 days; and 


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1 (2) the report required by subsection (a) and 

2 any comments received under subsection (b) are 

3 made available on a public website. 

4 SEC. 403. ENERGY EFFICIENT PRODUCT REBATE PROGRAM. 

5 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

6 (1) ELIGIBLE TERRITORY.—The term ‘‘eligible 

7 territory’’ means a territory that meets the require8 ments of subsection (c). 

9 (2) ENERGY STAR PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘En10 ergy Star program’’ means the program established 

11 by section 324A of the Energy Policy and Conserva12 tion Act (42 U.S.C. 6294a). 

13 (3) RESIDENTIAL ENERGY STAR PRODUCT.— 

14 The term ‘‘residential Energy Star product’’ means 

15 a product for a residence that is rated for energy ef16 ficiency under the Energy Star program. 

17 (4) ENERGY OFFICE.—The term ‘‘energy of18 fice’’ means the government agency within the terri19 tory responsible for developing an energy conserva20 tion plan under section 362 of the Energy Policy 

21 and Conservation Act (42 U.S.C. 6322). 

22 (5) REBATE PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘rebate pro23 gram’’ means an energy efficient product rebate pro24 gram described in subsection (c)(1). 


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1 (b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Energy 

2 shall establish a program, to be known as the ‘‘Energy 

3 Efficient Product Rebate Program’’, under which the Di4 rector of the Office of Insular Area Energy Policy and 

5 Programs shall provide allocations to eligible territories in 

6 accordance with this section. 

7 (c) ELIGIBLE TERRITORIES.—A territory shall be eli8 gible to receive an allocation under subsection (d) if the 

9 territory— 

10 (1) establishes (or has established) an energy 

11 efficient product rebate program to provide rebates 

12 to residential consumers for the purchase of residen13 tial Energy Star products to replace used products 

14 of the same type; 

15 (2) establishes clear requirements to prevent il16 legal dumping of old products and the overflow of 

17 landfills, and ensure environmental justice; 

18 (3) submits an application for the allocation at 

19 such time, in such form, and containing such infor20 mation as the Director of the Office of Insular Area 

21 Energy Policy and Programs may require; and 

22 (4) provides assurances satisfactory to the Di23 rector of the Office of Insular Area Energy Policy 

24 and Programs that the territory will use the allocaVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Aug 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S2613.IS S2613

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1 tion to supplement, but not supplant, funds made 

2 available to carry out the rebate program. 

3 (d) AMOUNT OF ALLOCATIONS.— 

4 (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), 

5 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, the Di6 rector of the Office of Insular Area Energy Policy 

7 and Programs shall allocate to the energy office of 

8 each eligible territory to carry out subsection (e) an 

9 amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying 

10 the amount made available under subsection (g) for 

11 the fiscal year by the ratio that the population of the 

12 territory in the most recent calendar year for which 

13 data are available bears to the total population of all 

14 eligible territories in that calendar year. 

15 (2) MINIMUM ALLOCATIONS.—For each fiscal 

16 year, the amounts allocated under this subsection 

17 shall be adjusted proportionately so that no eligible 

18 territory is allocated a sum that is less than an 

19 amount determined by the Director. 

20 (e) USE OF ALLOCATED FUNDS.—An allocation to 

21 an energy office under subsection (d) may be used to pay 

22 not more than 75 percent of the cost of establishing and 

23 carrying out a rebate program. 


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1 (f) ISSUANCE OF REBATES.—The amount of a rebate 

2 provided under a rebate program shall be determined by 

3 the applicable energy office, taking into consideration— 

4 (1) the amount of the allocation to the energy 

5 office under subsection (d); 

6 (2) the amount of any tax incentive available 

7 for the purchase of the residential Energy Star 

8 product; and 

9 (3) the difference between the cost of the resi10 dential Energy Star product and the cost of a prod11 uct that is not a residential Energy Star product, 

12 but is of the same type as, and is the nearest capac13 ity, performance, and other relevant characteristics 

14 (as determined by the energy office) to, the residen15 tial Energy Star product. 

16 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

17 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

18 $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 

19 2026. 

20 SEC. 404. RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT PROGRAM. 

21 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

22 (1) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘‘covered en23 tity’’ means a not-for-profit organization determined 

24 eligible by the Secretary for purposes of this section. 


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1 (2) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL LAB2 ORATORIES.—The term ‘‘Department of Energy na3 tional laboratories’’ has the same meaning as the 

4 term ‘‘National Laboratory’’ under section 2 of the 

5 Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15801). 

6 (3) MICROGRID.—The term ‘‘microgrid’’ means 

7 an electric system— 

8 (A) that serves the local community with a 

9 power generation and distribution system; and 

10 (B) that has the ability— 

11 (i) to disconnect from a traditional 

12 electric grid; and 

13 (ii) to operate autonomously when dis14 connected. 

15 (4) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means 

16 the Renewable Energy Grant Program established 

17 under subsection (b). 

18 (5) SMART GRID.—The term ‘‘smart grid’’ 

19 means an intelligent electric grid that uses digital 

20 communications technology, information systems, 

21 and automation to, while maintaining high system 

22 reliability— 

23 (A) detect and react to local changes in 

24 usage; 


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1 (B) improve system operating efficiency; 

2 and 

3 (C) reduce spending costs. 

4 (b) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 

5 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the 

6 Office of Insular Area Energy Policy and Programs (re7 ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Director’’) shall establish 

8 a Renewable Energy Grant Program under which the Di9 rector may award grants to covered entities to facilitate 

10 projects in Insular Areas described in subsection (d). 

11 (c) APPLICATIONS.— 

12 (1) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible for a grant 

13 under the Program, a covered entity shall submit to 

14 the Director an application at such time, in such 

15 form, and containing such information as the Sec16 retary may require. 

17 (2) PRIORITY.—In providing grants under the 

18 Program, the Director shall give priority to proposed 

19 projects that, as determined by the Director— 

20 (A) maximize public health benefits; 

21 (B) are the most cost-effective; and 

22 (C) serve areas with environmental justice 

23 communities— 

24 (i) in rural areas; or 

25 (ii) that are poor air quality areas. 


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1 (d) USE OF FUNDS.— 

2 (1) IN GENERAL.—A covered entity receiving a 

3 grant under the Program may use grant funds for 

4 a project, in territories of the United States— 

5 (A) to develop or construct a renewable en6 ergy system; 

7 (B) to carry out an activity to increase en8 ergy efficiency; 

9 (C) to develop or construct an energy stor10 age system or device for— 

11 (i) a system developed or constructed 

12 under subparagraph (A); or 

13 (ii) an activity carried out under sub14 paragraph (B); 

15 (D) to develop or construct— 

16 (i) a smart grid; or 

17 (ii) a microgrid; or 

18 (E) to train residents of territories of the 

19 United States to develop, construct, maintain, 

20 or operate a renewable energy system. 

21 (2) LIMITATION.—A covered entity receiving a 

22 grant under the Program may not use grant funds 

23 to develop or construct a facility that generates elec24 tricity using energy derived from— 

25 (A) fossil fuels; or 


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1 (B) nuclear power. 

2 (e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Director shall en3 sure that Department of Energy national laboratories 

4 offer to provide technical assistance to each covered entity 

5 carrying out a project assisted with a grant under the Pro6 gram. 

7 (f) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the es8 tablishment of the Program, and on an annual basis there9 after, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report con10 taining— 

11 (1) an estimate of the amount of funds dis12 bursed under the Program; 

13 (2) an estimate of the energy conservation 

14 achieved as a result of the Program; 

15 (3) a description of challenges encountered in 

16 implementing projects described in subsection (d)(1); 

17 and 

18 (4) any recommendations as to additional legis19 lative measures to increase the use of renewable en20 ergy in territories of the United States, as appro21 priate. 

22 (g) GAO STUDY AND REPORT.— 

23 (1) STUDY AND REPORT.—Not later than 180 

24 days after the date of enactment of this section, the 

25 Comptroller General of the United States shall— 


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1 (A) conduct a study regarding renewable 

2 energy and energy efficiency in territories of the 

3 United States; and 

4 (B) submit to Congress a report con5 taining— 

6 (i) the findings of the study; and 

7 (ii) related recommendations. 

8 (2) COMPONENTS.—The study conducted under 

9 paragraph (1) shall consider, in relation to terri10 tories of the United States, the potential— 

11 (A) to modify existing electric power sys12 tems to use renewable energy sources; 

13 (B) to expand the use of microgrids; and 

14 (C) to improve energy resiliency. 

15 SEC. 405. OFFSHORE WIND FOR THE TERRITORIES. 

16 (a) APPLICATION OF OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF

17 LANDS ACT WITH RESPECT TO TERRITORIES OF THE

18 UNITED STATES.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 2 of the Outer Con20 tinental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331) is 

21 amended— 

22 (A) in subsection (a), by inserting ‘‘or 

23 lying within the exclusive economic zone of the 

24 United States and the Outer Continental Shelf 

25 adjacent to any territory of the United States, 


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1 except that such term shall not include any 

2 area conveyed by Congress to a territorial gov3 ernment for administration’’ after ‘‘control’’; 

4 (B) in subsection (p), by striking ‘‘and’’ 

5 after the semicolon at the end; 

6 (C) in subsection (q), by striking the pe7 riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

8 (D) by adding at the end the following: 

9 ‘‘(r) The term ‘State’ means the several States, the 

10 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, 

11 the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Common12 wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.’’. 

13 (2) EXCLUSIONS.—Section 18 of the Outer 

14 Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) is 

15 amended by adding at the end the following: 

16 ‘‘(i) This section shall not apply to the scheduling of 

17 lease sales in the Outer Continental Shelf adjacent to the 

18 Territories of the United States.’’. 

19 (b) WIND LEASE SALES FOR AREAS OF OUTER CON20 TINENTAL SHELF.—The Outer Continental Shelf Lands 

21 Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) is amended by adding at 

22 the end the following: 


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1 ‘‘SEC. 33. WIND LEASE SALES FOR AREAS OF OUTER CONTI2 NENTAL SHELF. 

3 ‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Secretary may conduct 

4 wind lease sales on the Outer Continental Shelf. 

5 ‘‘(b) WIND LEASE SALE PROCEDURE.—Any wind 

6 lease sale conducted under this section shall be considered 

7 a lease under section 8(p). 

8 ‘‘(c) WIND LEASE SALES OFF COASTS OF TERRI9 TORIES OF THE UNITED STATES.— 

10 ‘‘(1) STUDY ON FEASIBILITY OF CONDUCTING

11 WIND LEASE SALES.— 

12 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 

13 conduct a study on the feasibility, including the 

14 technological and long-term economic feasibility, 

15 and the potential environmental effects of, con16 ducting wind lease sales on an area of the 

17 Outer Continental Shelf within the territorial 

18 jurisdiction of American Samoa, Guam, the 

19 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is20 lands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of 

21 the United States. 

22 ‘‘(B) CONSULTATION.—In conducting the 

23 study required in subparagraph (A), the Sec24 retary shall consult— 


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1 ‘‘(i) the National Laboratories, as 

2 that term is defined in section 2 of the En3 ergy Policy Act of 2005; 

4 ‘‘(ii) the National Oceanic and Atmos5 pheric Administration, including the Office 

6 of National Marine Sanctuaries and Na7 tional Marine Fisheries Service; and 

8 ‘‘(iii) the Governor of each of Amer9 ican Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana 

10 Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Is11 lands of the United States. 

12 ‘‘(C) PUBLICATION.—The study required 

13 in subparagraph (A) shall be published in the 

14 Federal Register for public comment for a pe15 riod of not fewer than 60 days. 

16 ‘‘(D) SUBMISSION OF RESULTS.—Not later 

17 than 18 months after the date of enactment of 

18 this section, the Secretary shall submit the re19 sults of the study conducted under subpara20 graph (A) to— 

21 ‘‘(i) the Committee on Energy and 

22 Natural Resources of the Senate; 

23 ‘‘(ii) the Committee on Natural Re24 sources of the House of Representatives; 

25 and 


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1 ‘‘(iii) each Delegate or Resident Com2 missioner to the House of Representatives 

3 from American Samoa, Guam, the North4 ern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the 

5 Virgin Islands of the United States. 

6 ‘‘(E) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Sec7 retary shall publish the study required under 

8 subparagraph (A) and results submitted under 

9 subparagraph (D) on a public website. 

10 ‘‘(2) CALL FOR INFORMATION AND NOMINA11 TIONS.—The Secretary shall issue a call for informa12 tion and nominations for proposed wind lease sales 

13 for areas determined to be feasible under the study 

14 conducted under paragraph (1). 

15 ‘‘(3) CONDITIONAL WIND LEASE SALES.— 

16 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For each territory, 

17 the Secretary shall conduct not less than 1 wind 

18 lease sale on an area of the Outer Continental 

19 Shelf within the territorial jurisdiction of such 

20 territory that meets each of the following cri21 teria: 

22 ‘‘(i) The study required under para23 graph (1)(A) concluded that a wind lease 

24 sale on the area is feasible. 


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1 ‘‘(ii) The Secretary has determined 

2 that the call for information has generated 

3 sufficient interest for the area. 

4 ‘‘(iii) The Secretary has consulted 

5 with the Secretary of Defense and other 

6 relevant Federal agencies regarding such a 

7 sale. 

8 ‘‘(iv) The Secretary has consulted 

9 with the Governor of the territory regard10 ing the suitability of the area for wind en11 ergy development. 

12 ‘‘(B) EXCEPTION.—If no area of the Outer 

13 Continental Shelf within the territorial jurisdic14 tion of a territory meets each of the criteria in 

15 clauses (i) through (iv) of subparagraph (A), 

16 the requirement under subparagraph (A) shall 

17 not apply to such territory.’’. 

18 SEC. 406. STATE ENERGY PROGRAM NON-FEDERAL COST19 SHARE WAIVER. 

20 Funding made available to a territory under the De21 partment of Energy’s State Energy Program (42 U.S.C. 

22 6321 et seq.) shall not be subject to a non-Federal share 

23 funding requirement. 


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1 TITLE V—ENVIRONMENTAL 

2 PROTECTION AGENCY 

3 SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS. 

4 In this title: 

5 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis6 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ7 mental Protection Agency. 

8 (2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 

9 the Director of the Insular Area National Program 

10 Office. 

11 (3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti12 ty’’ means each of the following: 

13 (A) A government, municipality, agency, or 

14 instrumentality of a territory. 

15 (B) A private, nonprofit organization or in16 stitution. 

17 (C) An institution of higher education (as 

18 defined in section 101 of the Higher Education 

19 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001), except that such 

20 term does not include private, nonprofit institu21 tions of higher education). 

22 (D) Any combination of entities described 

23 in subparagraphs (A) through (C), including 

24 partnerships and consortiums of local govern25 ments. 


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1 (4) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the In2 sular Area National Program Office established by 

3 section 502. 

4 (5) RENEWABLE ENERGY.—The term ‘‘renew5 able energy’’ means energy that has been derived 

6 from Earth’s natural resources that are not finite or 

7 exhaustible, including solar, wind, hydroelectric, geo8 thermal, ocean (thermal and mechanics). 

9 SEC. 502. INSULAR AREA NATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE. 

10 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 

11 the Environmental Protection Agency an office, to be 

12 known as the Insular Area National Program Office. The 

13 Office shall be headed by a Director, who shall be ap14 pointed by the Administrator and compensated at a rate 

15 equal to that of level IV of the Executive Schedule under 

16 section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. 

17 (b) DUTIES.—The Director shall— 

18 (1) direct, coordinate, implement, and monitor 

19 programs of the Environmental Protection Agency 

20 to— 

21 (A) build, enhance, and strengthen infra22 structure in Insular Areas to withstand natural 

23 disasters; 

24 (B) expand renewable energy and energy 

25 efficiency in Insular Areas; and 


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1 (C) provide technical assistance in Insular 

2 Areas; and 

3 (2) centralize and align all ongoing Environ4 mental Protection Agency efforts in the Insular 

5 Areas. 

6 (c) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Director shall submit an 

7 annual report to the Committee on Natural Resources and 

8 the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 

9 of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and 

10 Natural Resources of the Senate on the status of all 

11 projects undertaken and grants approved by the Office. 

12 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 

13 Insular Area National Program Office, there is authorized 

14 to be appropriated to the Administrator $20,000,000 for 

15 each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 

16 (e) NON-FEDERAL COST-SHARE WAIVER.—Any 

17 funding made available to Insular Areas by the Office 

18 shall not be subject to a non-Federal share funding re19 quirement. 

20 SEC. 503. INSULAR AREA SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE 

21 GRANT PROGRAM. 

22 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 

23 the date of the enactment of this Act, the Director of the 

24 Insular Area National Program Office shall establish and 

25 carry out a program, to be known as the Insular Area 


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1 Sustainable Infrastructure Grant Program, to provide 

2 grants to eligible entities in the Insular Areas to build, 

3 enhance, and strengthen infrastructure systems in Insular 

4 Areas to withstand natural disasters, including drinking 

5 water systems, septic systems, stormwater systems, and 

6 solid waste systems. 

7 (b) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that receives 

8 a grant for infrastructure system projects under the Insu9 lar Area Sustainable Infrastructure Grant Program may 

10 use such funds for— 

11 (1) development-phase activities, including plan12 ning, feasibility analysis (including any related anal13 ysis necessary to carry out an eligible project), rev14 enue forecasting, environmental review, permitting, 

15 preliminary engineering and design work, and other 

16 preconstruction activities; 

17 (2) construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, 

18 and replacement activities; and 

19 (3) the acquisition of real property or an inter20 est in real property (including land relating to the 

21 project, and improvements to land), environmental 

22 mitigation, construction contingencies, and acquisi23 tion of equipment. 

24 (c) APPLICATIONS.— 


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1 (1) INCLUSIONS.—An application under this 

2 subsection shall include— 

3 (A) a description of the project proposed 

4 by the eligible entity; 

5 (B) an evaluation (using methodology ap6 proved by the Director) of the quantifiable and 

7 unquantifiable benefits of the proposed project; 

8 (C) an estimate of the cost of the proposed 

9 project; and 

10 (D) a description of the age and expected 

11 lifetime of the infrastructure system funded by 

12 the project. 

13 (2) PRIORITY.—In providing grants under this 

14 section, the Director shall give priority to proposed 

15 projects that, as determined by the Director— 

16 (A) maximize public health benefits; 

17 (B) are the most cost effective; and 

18 (C) serve areas with environmental justice 

19 communities— 

20 (i) in rural remote areas; or 

21 (ii) that have challenged environ22 mental conditions. 

23 (3) APPLICATION GUIDANCE AND PROCESSES.— 

24 The Director shall provide Insular Areas— 


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1 (A) guidance for use in applying for grant 

2 funds under this section, including information 

3 regarding— 

4 (i) the process and forms for applica5 tions; 

6 (ii) permissible uses of funds received; 

7 and 

8 (iii) an annual deadline for submission 

9 of the applications; 

10 (B) a process by which the Director shall 

11 approve or disapprove each application; and 

12 (C) a streamlined process by which an In13 sular Area may renew an application described 

14 in subparagraph (A) for subsequent fiscal 

15 years. 

16 (d) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.— 

17 (1) OFFICE.—The Director shall use 100 per18 cent of the funds made available to carry out this 

19 section to provide grants, on a competitive basis, to 

20 eligible entities in Insular Areas. 

21 (2) GRANT RECIPIENT.—An eligible entity may 

22 use not more than 10 percent of a grant provided 

23 under this section for administrative expenses of an 

24 approved project. 


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1 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 

2 out this section there is authorized to be appropriated to 

3 the Administrator $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 

4 2022 through 2026. 

5 SEC. 504. INSULAR AREA RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT PRO6 GRAM. 

7 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days after 

8 the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Insu9 lar Area National Program Office shall establish and carry 

10 out a program, to be known as the Insular Area Renew11 able Energy Grant Program to provide grants to eligible 

12 entities in the Insular Areas to expand renewable energy 

13 and energy efficiency in the Insular Areas. 

14 (b) ELIGIBILITY.— 

15 (1) PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE.— 

16 The following projects may be carried out with 

17 amounts made available under this section: 

18 (A) Construction of a new renewable en19 ergy system. 

20 (B) A project for energy redundancy and 

21 resilience based on renewable energy and for 

22 hurricane and storm damage reduction on re23 newable energy systems that the Director deter24 mines is technically sound, economically justi25 fied, and environmentally acceptable. 


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1 (C) A project for enhanced energy effi2 ciency in the operation of infrastructure that 

3 belongs to an eligible entity. 

4 (D) A project for repair, rehabilitation, or 

5 replacement of a renewable energy system. 

6 (E) A project to prevent, reduce, or miti7 gate the effects of hurricanes or storms, includ8 ing projects that enhance the resilience of re9 newable energy systems. 

10 (F) Acquisition of real property or an in11 terest in real property— 

12 (i) if the acquisition is integral to a 

13 project described in subparagraphs (A) 

14 through (D); or 

15 (ii) pursuant to an existing plan that, 

16 in the judgment of the Director, as appli17 cable, would mitigate the environmental 

18 impacts of renewable energy system infra19 structure projects. 

20 (G) A combination of projects under sub21 paragraphs (A) through (F). 

22 (2) ACTIVITIES ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE.— 

23 An eligible entity may use a grant provided under 

24 this section for, with respect to an eligible project— 


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1 (A) development-phase activities, including 

2 planning, feasibility analysis (including any re3 lated analysis necessary to carry out an eligible 

4 project), revenue forecasting, environmental re5 view, permitting, preliminary engineering and 

6 design work, and other preconstruction activi7 ties; 

8 (B) construction, reconstruction, rehabili9 tation, and replacement activities; and 

10 (C) the acquisition of real property or an 

11 interest in real property (including land relating 

12 to the project, and improvements to land), envi13 ronmental mitigation, construction contin14 gencies, and acquisition of equipment. 

15 (c) APPLICATIONS.— 

16 (1) INCLUSIONS.—An application under this 

17 subsection shall include— 

18 (A) a description of the project proposed 

19 by the eligible entity; 

20 (B) an evaluation (using methodology ap21 proved by the Director) of the quantifiable and 

22 unquantifiable benefits of the proposed project; 

23 (C) an estimate of the cost of the proposed 

24 project; and 


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1 (D) a description of the age and expected 

2 lifetime of a renewable energy or energy effi3 ciency system funded by the project. 

4 (2) PRIORITY.—In providing grants under this 

5 section, the Director shall give priority to proposed 

6 projects that, as determined by the Director— 

7 (A) maximize public health benefits; 

8 (B) are the most cost effective; and 

9 (C) serve areas with environmental justice 

10 communities— 

11 (i) in rural remote areas; or 

12 (ii) that are poor air quality areas. 

13 (3) APPLICATION GUIDANCE AND PROCESSES.— 

14 The Director shall provide Insular Areas— 

15 (A) guidance for use in applying for grant 

16 funds under this section, including information 

17 regarding— 

18 (i) the process and forms for applica19 tions; 

20 (ii) permissible uses of funds received; 

21 and 

22 (iii) an annual deadline for submission 

23 of the applications; 

24 (B) a process by which the Director shall 

25 approve or disapprove each application; and 


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1 (C) a streamlined process by which an In2 sular Area may renew an application described 

3 in subparagraph (A) for subsequent fiscal 

4 years. 

5 (d) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.— 

6 (1) OFFICE.—The Director shall use 100 per7 cent of the funds made available to carry out this 

8 section to provide grants, on a competitive basis, to 

9 eligible entities in Insular Areas. 

10 (2) GRANT RECIPIENT.—An eligible entity may 

11 use not more than 10 percent of a grant provided 

12 under this section to fund administrative expenses of 

13 an approved project. 

14 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 

15 out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated to 

16 the Administrator $50,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 

17 2022 through 2026. 

18 SEC. 505. INSULAR AREA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PRO19 GRAM. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall establish a pro21 gram, to be known as the Insular Area Technical Assist22 ance Program, to provide technical assistance to Insular 

23 Areas relating to climate change planning, mitigation, ad24 aptation, and resilience. 


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1 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

2 authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 

3 carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal 

4 years 2022 through 2026. 

5 TITLE VI—EMERGENCY 

6 MANAGEMENT 

7 SEC. 601. COMMUNITY DISASTER LOANS REPAYMENT CAN8 CELLATION. 

9 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, repay10 ment of a loan made to a local government in an Insular 

11 Area under section 417 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster 

12 Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5184), 

13 including any interest on such loan, shall be canceled. 

14 SEC. 602. DISASTER RELIEF NON-FEDERAL COST-SHARE 

15 WAIVER. 

16 Funding made available to an Insular Area for dis17 aster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastruc18 ture and housing, economic revitalization, and mitigation 

19 pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 

20 Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) shall 

21 not be subject to a non-Federal share funding require22 ment. 


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1 TITLE VII—SENSE OF CONGRESS 

2 REGARDING THE THREAT OF 

3 CLIMATE CHANGE 

4 SEC. 701. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING THE THREAT 

5 OF CLIMATE CHANGE. 

6 It is the sense of Congress that— 

7 (1) climate change is an existential threat to 

8 the Freely Associated States; and 

9 (2) the United States should examine additional 

10 ways to help the Federated States of Micronesia, the 

11 Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic 

12 of Palau address and mitigate the impacts of climate 

13 change and rising sea level through their respective 

14 Compacts of Free Association. 

Æ 


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