II 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1497 

To promote the energy independence of the United States, and for other 

purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 24, 2007 

Mr. CARDIN introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

A BILL 

To promote the energy independence of the United 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 ‘‘Energy Independence 

5 Act of 2007’’. 

6 SEC. 2. PURPOSE AND GOALS. 

7 The purpose of this Act is to provide support for 

8 projects and activities to facilitate the energy independ9 ence of the United States so as to ensure that— 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
2 

•S 1497 IS

1 (1) all but 10 percent of the energy needs of 

2 the United States are supplied by domestic energy 

3 sources by calendar year 2017; and 

4 (2) all but 20 percent of the energy needs of 

5 the United States are supplied by non-fossil fuel 

6 sources by calendar year 2037. 

7 SEC. 3. ENERGY POLICY COMMISSION. 

8 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 

9 (1) IN GENERAL.—There is established a com10 mission, to be known as the ‘‘National Commission 

11 on Energy Independence’’ (referred to in this section 

12 as the ‘‘Commission’’). 

13 (2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be 

14 composed of 15 members, of whom— 

15 (A) 3 shall be appointed by the President; 

16 (B) 3 shall be appointed by the majority 

17 leader of the Senate; 

18 (C) 3 shall be appointed by the minority 

19 leader of the Senate; 

20 (D) 3 shall be appointed by the Speaker of 

21 the House of Representatives; and 

22 (E) 3 shall be appointed by the minority 

23 leader of the House of Representatives. 

24 (3) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.— 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
3 

•S 1497 IS

1 (A) IN GENERAL.—The President shall 

2 designate 2 co-chairpersons from among the 

3 members of the Commission appointed. 

4 (B) POLITICAL AFFILIATION.—The co5 chairpersons designated under subparagraph 

6 (A) shall not both be affiliated with the same 

7 political party. 

8 (4) DEADLINE FOR APPOINTMENT.—Members 

9 of the Commission shall be appointed not later than 

10 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. 

11 (5) TERM; VACANCIES.— 

12 (A) TERM.—A member of the Commission 

13 shall be appointed for the life of the Commis14 sion. 

15 (B) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the 

16 Commission— 

17 (i) shall not affect the powers of the 

18 Commission; and 

19 (ii) shall be filled in the same manner 

20 as the original appointment. 

21 (b) PURPOSE.—The Commission shall conduct a 

22 comprehensive review of the energy policy of the United 

23 States by— 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
4 

•S 1497 IS

1 (1) reviewing relevant analyses of the current 

2 and long-term energy policy of, and conditions in, 

3 the United States; 

4 (2) identifying problems that may threaten the 

5 achievement by the United States of long-term en6 ergy policy goals, including energy independence; 

7 (3) analyzing potential solutions to problems 

8 that threaten the long-term ability of the United 

9 States to achieve those energy policy goals; and 

10 (4) providing recommendations that will ensure, 

11 to the maximum extent practicable, that the energy 

12 policy goals of the United States are achieved. 

13 (c) REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS.— 

14 (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 31 

15 of each of calendar years 2009, 2011, 2013, and 

16 2015, the Commission shall submit to Congress and 

17 the President a report on the progress of United 

18 States in meeting the long-term energy policy goal 

19 of energy independence, including a detailed state20 ment of the findings, conclusions, and recommenda21 tions of the Commission. 

22 (2) LEGISLATIVE LANGUAGE.—If a rec23 ommendation submitted under paragraph (1) in24 volves legislative action, the report shall include pro25 posed legislative language to carry out the action. 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
5 

•S 1497 IS

1 (d) COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.— 

2 (1) STAFF AND DIRECTOR.—The Commission 

3 shall have a staff headed by an Executive Director. 

4 (2) STAFF APPOINTMENT.—The Executive Di5 rector may appoint such personnel as the Executive 

6 Director and the Commission determine to be appro7 priate. 

8 (3) EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS.—With the 

9 approval of the Commission, the Executive Director 

10 may procure temporary and intermittent services 

11 under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code. 

12 (4) FEDERAL AGENCIES.— 

13 (A) DETAIL OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOY14 EES.— 

15 (i) IN GENERAL.—Upon the request 

16 of the Commission, the head of any Fed17 eral agency may detail, without reimburse18 ment, any of the personnel of the Federal 

19 agency to the Commission to assist in car20 rying out the duties of the Commission. 

21 (ii) NATURE OF DETAIL.—Any detail 

22 of a Federal employee under clause (i) 

23 shall not interrupt or otherwise affect the 

24 civil service status or privileges of the Fed25 eral employee. 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
6 

•S 1497 IS

1 (B) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Upon the 

2 request of the Commission, the head of a Fed3 eral agency shall provide such technical assist4 ance to the Commission as the Commission de5 termines to be necessary to carry out the duties 

6 of the Commission. 

7 (e) RESOURCES.— 

8 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall have 

9 reasonable access to materials, resources, statistical 

10 data, and such other information from Executive 

11 agencies as the Commission determines to be nec12 essary to carry out the duties of the Commission. 

13 (2) FORM OF REQUESTS.—The co-chairpersons 

14 of the Commission shall make requests for access 

15 described in paragraph (1) in writing, as necessary. 

Æ 


rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS