IB 

Union Calendar No. 755 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5482 

[Report No. 118–923, Part I] 

To prevent energy poverty and ensure that at-risk communities have access 

to affordable energy. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023 

Ms. HAGEMAN (for herself, Mr. NEWHOUSE, Mr. STAUBER, Ms. BOEBERT, 

Mr. GOSAR, Mr. COLE, Mr. WILLIAMS of New York, Mr. GRAVES of Louisiana, Mr. HERN, Mr. DONALDS, Mr. HUNT, Mrs. MILLER of West Virginia, and Mr. ZINKE) introduced the following bill; which was referred 

to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, the Budget, and Rules, for 

a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 

consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

DECEMBER 18, 2024 

Additional sponsors: Mr. BABIN, Mr. LANGWORTHY, Mrs. LESKO, Mr. 

MOYLAN, Mr. FALLON, and Mr. ARMSTRONG

DECEMBER 18, 2024 

Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment 

[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 

DECEMBER 18, 2024 

Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, the Budget, and Rules 

discharged; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State 

of the Union and ordered to be printed 

[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on September 14, 2023] 


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A BILL 

To prevent energy poverty and ensure that at-risk 

communities have access to affordable energy. 


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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 ‘‘Energy Poverty Preven5 tion and Accountability Act of 2024’’. 

6 SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 

7 It is the sense of Congress that— 

8 (1) all Americans should have equal access to af9 fordable and reliable energy to maintain personal 

10 health and economic security; 

11 (2) the United States should mitigate the dis12 parate impact of increases in the cost of energy on at13 risk communities because those communities are more 

14 likely to have a fixed income and spend a higher per15 centage of their income on energy compared to the 

16 general population; and 

17 (3) to prevent energy poverty and ensure that 

18 each at-risk community has access to affordable en19 ergy, the United States should ensure that Federal 

20 policies will not increase the cost of energy for any 

21 at-risk community. 

22 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 

23 In this Act: 


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1 (1) AGENCY.—The term ‘‘agency’’ has the mean2 ing given the term in section 551 of title 5, United 

3 States Code. 

4 (2) AGENCY ACTION.—The term ‘‘agency action’’ 

5 has the meaning given the term in section 551 of title 

6 5, United States Code. 

7 (3) AT-RISK COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘at-risk 

8 community’’ means— 

9 (A) a low-income community; 

10 (B) a minority community; 

11 (C) a rural community; 

12 (D) an elderly community; or 

13 (E) an American Indian, Alaska Native, or 

14 Native Hawaiian community. 

15 (4) ELDERLY COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘elderly 

16 community’’ means a census tract where the majority 

17 of the population consists of elderly persons (as ‘‘el18 derly person’’ is defined in section 891.205 of title 24, 

19 Code of Federal Regulations (as in effect on the date 

20 of the enactment of this Act)). 

21 (5) ENERGY POVERTY.—The term ‘‘energy pov22 erty’’ means a condition in which individuals do not 

23 have access to affordable and reliable energy to main24 tain economic security. 


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1 (6) ENERGY RULE.—The term ‘‘energy rule’’ 

2 means a rule (as such term is defined in section 551 

3 of title 5, United States Code)— 

4 (A) promulgated by— 

5 (i) the Administrator of the Environ6 mental Protection Agency; 

7 (ii) the Secretary of the Interior; 

8 (iii) the Secretary of Agriculture; 

9 (iv) the Secretary of Energy; or 

10 (v) any other agency the actions of 

11 which may affect energy poverty in an at12 risk community; and 

13 (B) that may result in a change to— 

14 (i) electricity prices; 

15 (ii) home heating prices; 

16 (iii) gasoline prices; 

17 (iv) oil prices; 

18 (v) motor vehicle prices; 

19 (vi) natural gas prices; or 

20 (vii) household appliance prices. 

21 (7) FEDERAL LAND.— 

22 (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ 

23 means— 

24 (i) National Forest System land; 


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1 (ii) public lands (as defined in section 

2 103 of the Federal Land Policy and Man3 agement Act of 1976 (43 U.S.C. 1702)); 

4 (iii) the outer Continental Shelf (as de5 fined in section 2 of the Outer Continental 

6 Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331)); and 

7 (iv) land managed by the Department 

8 of Energy. 

9 (B) INCLUSION.—The term ‘‘Federal land’’ 

10 includes land described in subparagraph (A) for 

11 which the rights to the surface estate or sub12 surface estate are owned by a non-Federal entity. 

13 (8) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ 

14 has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the In15 dian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 

16 Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 

17 (9) LOW-INCOME COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘low18 income community’’ means— 

19 (A) a census block group in which the pov20 erty rate for such block group is at least 20 per21 cent; 

22 (B) in the case of a block group not located 

23 within a metropolitan area, the median family 

24 income for such block group does not exceed 80 

25 percent of statewide median family income; or 


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1 (C) in the case of a block group located 

2 within a metropolitan area, the median family 

3 income for such block group does not exceed 80 

4 percent of the greater of statewide median family 

5 income or the metropolitan area median family 

6 income (as defined in section 45D(e) of the Inter7 nal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 45D(e)). 

8 (10) MINORITY COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘minor9 ity community’’ means a census tract where the ma10 jority of the population consists of minority (as de11 fined in section 104A of the Community Development 

12 Banking and Financial Institutions Act of 1994 (12 

13 U.S.C. 4703a)) individuals. 

14 (11) RURAL COMMUNITY.—The term ‘‘rural com15 munity’’ means a community that is located in an 

16 area that is outside of an urbanized area (as defined 

17 in section 5302 of title 49, United States Code). 

18 (12) STATE RENEWABLE PORTFOLIO STAND19 ARD.—The term ‘‘State renewable portfolio standard’’ 

20 means any State regulation that is designed to in21 crease the use of renewable energy sources, including 

22 wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass, to generate elec23 tricity. 

24 (13) TRIBAL LAND.—The term ‘‘Tribal land’’ has 

25 the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian land’’ in section 


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1 2601 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (25 U.S.C. 

2 3501). 

3 SEC. 4. REPORTS ON ACCESS TO RELIABLE AND AFFORD4 ABLE ENERGY. 

5 (a) COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—The Comptroller Gen6 eral of the United States, in consultation with each relevant 

7 agency, shall— 

8 (1) conduct an analysis of Federal energy laws, 

9 energy rules, and State renewable portfolio standards 

10 to determine how those laws, rules, and standards af11 fected at-risk communities during the preceding fiscal 

12 year, and if those laws, rules, and standards created 

13 disproportionate financial impacts on at-risk commu14 nities relative to the general population; 

15 (2) identify barriers to the ability of at-risk com16 munities to access reliable and affordable energy, in17 cluding the manner in which the presence of adequate 

18 energy transmission infrastructure affects that access; 

19 and 

20 (3) develop criteria to determine whether an at21 risk community is experiencing energy poverty. 

22 (b) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date of 

23 enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United 

24 States shall submit to Congress a report that— 


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1 (1) describes the analysis conducted under sub2 section (a)(1) and the barriers identified under sub3 section (a)(2); 

4 (2) identifies the at-risk communities that are 

5 experiencing energy poverty, by location and type; 

6 and 

7 (3) provides recommendations on— 

8 (A) how to reduce energy poverty in at-risk 

9 communities; and 

10 (B) actions each applicable agency may 

11 take to reduce the barriers described in sub12 section (a)(2), including by— 

13 (i) rescinding or modifying energy 

14 rules; 

15 (ii) establishing lower fees or lowering 

16 other costs; 

17 (iii) improving the approval process 

18 for rights-of-way on Federal land and Trib19 al land; 

20 (iv) increasing energy production on 

21 Federal lands; 

22 (v) encouraging private energy sector 

23 investment in Federal land and Tribal 

24 land; and 


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1 (vi) improving grid resilience in re2 mote areas. 

3 SEC. 5. EXECUTIVE ACTIVITIES SUPPORTING AT-RISK COM4 MUNITIES. 

5 (a) CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATES FOR

6 EFFECTS ON ENERGY PRICES.—For purposes of section 402 

7 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act 

8 of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 653), the Director of the Congressional 

9 Budget Office shall include in any bill or resolution that 

10 could result in an agency action affecting energy poverty, 

11 including the proposal of an energy rule, an estimate of 

12 how the bill or resolution will affect the cost of energy for 

13 at-risk communities. 

14 (b) ENERGY POVERTY STUDY REQUIRED FOR CERTAIN

15 EXECUTIVE ACTIVITIES.— 

16 (1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: 

17 (A) ACTIVITY.—The term ‘‘activity’’ 

18 means— 

19 (i) a declaration of a moratorium on 

20 the leasing of Federal land for the drilling, 

21 mining, or collection of oil, gas, or coal, or 

22 related activities unless such moratorium is 

23 authorized by Federal statute; or 

24 (ii) an action (including non-action 

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1 ried out by statute or regulation) that pro2 hibits or delays, with respect to Federal 

3 land— 

4 (I) the issuance of— 

5 (aa) new oil and gas or geo6 thermal lease sales, oil and gas or 

7 geothermal leases, drill permits, or 

8 associated approvals, or author9 izations of any kind associated 

10 with oil and gas or geothermal 

11 leases; 

12 (bb) new coal leases (includ13 ing leases by application in proc14 ess, renewals, modifications, or ex15 pansions of existing leases), per16 mits, approvals, or authoriza17 tions; or 

18 (cc) new mineral patents, 

19 leases, claims, permits, approvals, 

20 or authorizations; or 

21 (II) a withdrawal of Federal land 

22 from— 

23 (aa) forms of entry, appro24 priation, or disposal under the 

25 public land laws; 


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1 (bb) location, entry, and pat2 ent under the mining laws; or 

3 (cc) disposition under laws 

4 pertaining to mineral and geo5 thermal leasing or mineral mate6 rials. 

7 (B) DESIGNEE OF THE PRESIDENT.—The 

8 term ‘‘designee of the President’’ means— 

9 (i) the Secretary of Agriculture; 

10 (ii) the Secretary of Energy; 

11 (iii) the Secretary of the Interior; and 

12 (iv) the Administrator of the Environ13 mental Protection Agency. 

14 (C) MINERAL.—The term ‘‘mineral’’ means 

15 any mineral subject to sections 2319 through 

16 2344 of the Revised Statutes (commonly known 

17 as the ‘‘Mining Law of 1872’’) (30 U.S.C. 22 et 

18 seq.), and minerals located on lands acquired by 

19 the United States (as defined in section 2 of the 

20 Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands (30 

21 U.S.C. 351)). 

22 (2) ACTIVITY TO BE CARRIED OUT.—Notwith23 standing any other provision of law, the President, or 

24 a designee of the President, may carry out an activity 

25 only if the Secretary of the Interior has fulfilled the 


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1 activity requirements described in paragraph (3) for 

2 that activity. 

3 (3) ACTIVITY REQUIREMENTS.—For each activ4 ity, the Secretary of the Interior shall— 

5 (A) conduct a study to determine if the ac6 tivity, relative to the general population, is like7 ly to— 

8 (i) impose disproportionate financial 

9 impacts on at-risk communities; or 

10 (ii) increase the likelihood that at-risk 

11 communities will experience energy poverty 

12 and job losses; 

13 (B) publish the study on a public website of 

14 the Department of the Interior; and 

15 (C) submit to Congress a report on the 

16 study that describes the study findings under 

17 subparagraph (A). 

18 (4) ENERGY POVERTY STUDY.— 

19 (A) IN GENERAL.—On request by an entity 

20 described in subparagraph (B), a lead agency re21 sponsible for leasing or permitting an energy or 

22 mineral development project, pipeline project, or 

23 transmission project on Federal land, in con24 sultation with another agency with jurisdiction 

25 over that project, shall conduct a study relating 


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1 to how the project is likely to alleviate energy 

2 poverty in at-risk communities, including by— 

3 (i) creating jobs; 

4 (ii) reducing energy prices; and 

5 (iii) other relevant measures as deter6 mined by the lead agency, or the entity re7 questing the study. 

8 (B) STUDY REQUEST.—An entity spon9 soring an energy or mineral project, pipeline 

10 project, or transmission project on Federal land 

11 may request a study for that project pursuant to 

12 subparagraph (A). 

13 (5) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.— 

14 (A) IN GENERAL.—The lead agency, with 

15 respect to a project to be studied under para16 graph (4)(A), may not begin the study until the 

17 lead agency has entered into a memorandum of 

18 understanding with the entity that requested the 

19 study. 

20 (B) REQUIREMENTS.—A memorandum of 

21 understanding entered into under this paragraph 

22 shall include— 

23 (i) an agreement regarding a neutral 

24 third party to conduct the study; 


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1 (ii) a determination of which entity, 

2 with the consent of that entity, will bear the 

3 cost of the study, which may include stake4 holders other than the requestor; and 

5 (iii) such other aspects of the study 

6 that the lead agency and the entity that re7 quested the study consider appropriate. 

8 (c) ENERGY POVERTY STATEMENT.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning 30 days after the 

10 date on which the Director of the Office of Manage11 ment and Budget issues guidance under section 6, an 

12 agency promulgating any energy rule (including an 

13 interpretative rule), general statement of policy, devel14 opment or revision of a resource management plan 

15 (or equivalent document), handbook or manual revi16 sion, or guidance document shall— 

17 (A) certify that the agency has determined 

18 the rule, policy, plan, revision, or guidance will 

19 not result in short-term or long-term energy pov20 erty in at-risk communities; and 

21 (B) include an energy poverty statement de22 scribed in paragraph (2). 

23 (2) ENERGY POVERTY STATEMENT.—An energy 

24 poverty statement referred to in paragraph (1) 

25 shall— 


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1 (A) be displayed prominently on the first 

2 page of the rule, policy, plan, revision, or guid3 ance document; and 

4 (B) include a justification for the deter5 mination made under paragraph (1)(A). 

6 SEC. 6. OMB IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE. 

7 Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of 

8 this Act, the Director of the Office of Management and 

9 Budget shall issue guidance to implement this Act. 


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Union Calendar No. 755 

118TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 5482 

[Report No. 118–923, Part I] 

A BILL 

To prevent energy poverty and ensure that at-risk 

communities have access to affordable energy. 

DECEMBER 18, 2024 

Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with 

an amendment 

DECEMBER 18, 2024 

Committees on Energy and Commerce, Agriculture, the 

and ordered to be printed mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union Budget, and Rules discharged; committed to the ComVerDate Sep 11 2014 19:22 Dec 19, 2024 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\H5482.RH H5482

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