I 

117TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2780 

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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

APRIL 22, 2021 

Mr. GRIJALVA (for himself, Mr. SABLAN, Mr. SAN NICOLAS, Ms. PLASKETT, 

Mr. SOTO, and Ms. VELA ́ZQUEZ) introduced the following bill; which was 

referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the 

Committees on Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, and Science, Space, and Technology, 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 

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: 


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Sec. 1. Short title. 

Sec. 2. Table of contents. 

Sec. 3. Definitions. 

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. 

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’’ 

14 means the capacity of natural and human systems to 

15 resist, assimilate, and recover from the effects of cli16 mate change in an efficient and timely manner, 

17 maintaining or restoring basic structures and essen18 tial functions. 

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) Temperature increases are likely to further 

8 create and intensify the length of droughts, reduce 

9 water supply, impact public health, and increase de10 mand of freshwater in Insular Areas. In addition, 

11 temperature increases will drive coral reefs to extinc12 tion, eliminating a natural barrier against storm 

13 surge, increasing destruction of infrastructure, and 

14 threatening lives of the inhabitants of the islands. 

15 (5) In 2017, two major storms, Hurricane Irma 

16 and Hurricane Maria, impacted Puerto Rico and the 

17 Virgin Islands of the United States. Hurricane 

18 Maria caused thousands of deaths in Puerto Rico 

19 and the Virgin Islands of the United States and sig20 nificant damage to their infrastructure, including 

21 Puerto Rico’s energy system. Hurricane Maria de22 stroyed millions of trees in Puerto Rico and the Vir23 gin Islands of the United States, which has signifi24 cantly increased erosion and sediment transport. As 


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1 a result, reservoirs have lost significant storage ca2 pacity and coral reefs are severely impacted. 

3 (6) In 2018, Typhoon Yutu impacted the Com4 monwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and 

5 Guam, causing catastrophic destruction in those ter6 ritories. 

7 TITLE I—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

8 SEC. 101. INSULAR AREA CLIMATE CHANGE INTERAGENCY 

9 TASK FORCE. 

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

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

12 the following shall jointly establish the ‘‘Insular Area Cli13 mate Change Interagency Task Force’’ (hereafter in this 

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

15 (1) The Secretary of the Interior. 

16 (2) The Secretary of Energy. 

17 (3) The Secretary of State. 

18 (4) The Secretary of Housing and Urban Devel19 opment. 

20 (5) The Secretary of Agriculture. 

21 (6) The Secretary of Commerce. 

22 (7) The Administrator of the Federal Emer23 gency Management Agency. 

24 (8) The Administrator of the Environmental 

25 Protection Agency. 


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

2 by the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Manage3 ment Agency. 

4 (c) DUTIES.—The Task Force shall— 

5 (1) evaluate all Federal programs regarding 

6 ways to provide greater access to Federal programs 

7 and equitable baseline funding in relation to States, 

8 to territories for climate change planning, mitiga9 tion, adaptation, and resilience; 

10 (2) identify statutory barriers to providing ter11 ritories greater access to Federal programs and eq12 uitable baseline funding; and 

13 (3) provide recommendations related to climate 

14 change in Insular Areas. 

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

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

17 Force, in consultation with Insular Areas governments, 

18 shall issue a comprehensive report that— 

19 (1) identifies Federal programs that have an 

20 impact on climate change planning, mitigation, ad21 aptation, and resilience, but exclude territories in re22 gard to eligibility, funding, and assistance, or do not 

23 provide equitable baseline funding in relation to 

24 States; and 


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1 (2) provides advice and recommendations re2 lated to climate change in Insular Areas, such as 

3 new suggested Federal programs or initiatives. 

4 (e) PUBLICATION; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Ad5 ministrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agen6 cy shall ensure that the report required under subsection 

7 (d) is— 

8 (1) submitted to the Committees on Energy and 

9 Commerce and Natural Resources of the House of 

10 Representatives, and Energy and Natural Resources 

11 of the Senate; 

12 (2) published in the Federal Register for public 

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

14 (3) made available on a public website along 

15 with any comments received during the public com16 ment period required under paragraph (2). 

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

18 Section 501 of the Omnibus Territories Act of 1977 

19 (48 U.S.C. 1469a), is amended by adding at the end the 

20 following: 

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

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

23 shall waive any requirement for non-Federal matching 

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

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


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1 SEC. 103. CORAL REEFS PRIZE COMPETITIONS. 

2 (a) PRIZE COMPETITIONS.—The Director of the Of3 fice of Science and Technology Policy shall work with the 

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

5 Reef Task Force established under Executive Order 13089 

6 (63 Fed. Reg. 32701) to establish prize competitions, in 

7 accordance with section 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Tech8 nology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719), that pro9 mote coral reef research and conservation in the Insular 

10 Areas. 

11 (b) WAIVER OF MATCHING REQUIREMENT.—Section 

12 204(b) of the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000 (16 

13 U.S.C. 6403(b)) is amended— 

14 (1) by striking the enumerator and heading for 

15 paragraph (2) and inserting the following: 

16 ‘‘(2) WAIVERS.— 

17 ‘‘(A) NEED AND BENEFIT.—’’; and 

18 (2) by adding at the end of paragraph (2) the 

19 following: 

20 ‘‘(B) SUSTAINING CORAL REEF MANAGE21 MENT AND MONITORING.—The Secretary shall 

22 waive all of the matching requirement under 

23 paragraph (1) for grants to implement State 

24 and territorial coral reef conservation coopera25 tive agreements to sustain coral reef manage26 ment and monitoring in Florida, Hawaii, AmerVerDate Sep 11 2014 01:22 Jun 08, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2780.IH H2780

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1 ican Samoa, the Commonwealth of the North2 ern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, and 

3 the Virgin Islands of the United States.’’. 

4 TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF THE 

5 INTERIOR 

6 SEC. 201. OFFICE OF INSULAR AFFAIRS TECHNICAL ASSIST7 ANCE PROGRAM. 

8 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Interior, act9 ing through the Office of Insular Affairs Technical Assist10 ance Program, shall provide technical assistance for cli11 mate change planning, mitigation, adaptation, and resil12 ience to Insular Areas under the jurisdiction of such Pro13 gram. 

14 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

15 authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Inte16 rior to carry out this section $5,000,000 for each of the 

17 fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 

18 SEC. 202. RUNIT DOME REPORT AND MONITORING ACTIVI19 TIES. 

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

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

22 shall submit to the Committees on Natural Resources and 

23 Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, 

24 and to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

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


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

2 climate change on the ‘‘Runit Dome’’ nuclear waste dis3 posal site in Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands, and on 

4 other environmental hazards in the vicinity thereof. The 

5 report shall include the following: 

6 (1) A detailed scientific analysis of any threats 

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

8 Enewetak Atoll residents, posed by each of the fol9 lowing: 

10 (A) The ‘‘Runit Dome’’ nuclear waste dis11 posal site. 

12 (B) Crypts used to contain nuclear waste 

13 and other toxins on Enewetak Atoll. 

14 (C) Radionuclides and other toxins present 

15 in the lagoon of Enewetak Atoll, including areas 

16 in the lagoon where nuclear waste was dumped. 

17 (D) Radionuclides and other toxins, includ18 ing beryllium, which may be present on the is19 lands of Enewetak Atoll as a result of nuclear 

20 tests and other activities of the U.S. govern21 ment, including tests of chemical and biological 

22 warfare agents, rocket tests, contaminated air23 craft landing on Enewetak Island, and nuclear 

24 cleanup activities. 


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1 (E) Radionuclides and other toxins that 

2 may be present in the drinking water on 

3 Enewetak Island or in the water source for the 

4 desalination plant. 

5 (F) Radionuclides and other toxins that 

6 may be present in the groundwater under and 

7 in the vicinity of the nuclear waste disposal fa8 cility on Runit Island. 

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

10 which rising sea levels, severe weather events and 

11 other effects of climate change might exacerbate any 

12 of the threats identified above. 

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

14 all of the nuclear waste and other toxic waste con15 tained in— 

16 (A) the ‘‘Runit Dome’’ nuclear waste dis17 posal site; 

18 (B) all of the crypts on Enewetak Atoll 

19 containing such waste; and 

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

21 lagoon to a safe, secure facility to be con22 structed in an uninhabited, unincorporated ter23 ritory of the United States. 

24 (b) MARSHALLESE PARTICIPATION.—The Secretary 

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1 lected by the Republic of the Marshall Islands to partici2 pate in all aspects of the preparation of the report re3 quired by subsection (a), including, without limitation, de4 veloping the work plan, identifying questions, conducting 

5 research, and collecting and interpreting data. 

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

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

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

9 (d) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary of the In10 terior shall publish the study required under subsection 

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

12 website. 

13 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION FOR RE14 PORT.—It is hereby authorized to be appropriated to the 

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

16 fiscal year 2022 such sums as may be necessary to 

17 produce the report required in subsection (a). 

18 (f) INDEFINITE AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION

19 FOR RUNIT DOME MONITORING ACTIVITIES.—It is hereby 

20 authorized to be appropriated to the Department of En21 ergy such sums as may be necessary to comply with the 

22 requirements of 48 U.S.C. 1921b(f)(1)(B). 


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1 TITLE III—NATIONAL OCEANIC 

2 AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINIS3 TRATION 

4 SEC. 301. CLIMATE CHANGE INSULAR RESEARCH GRANT 

5 PROGRAM. 

6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Na7 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall es8 tablish a Climate Change Insular Research Grant Pro9 gram to provide grants to institutions of higher education, 

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

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

12 organizations in Insular Areas for monitoring, collecting, 

13 synthesizing, analyzing, and publishing local climate 

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

15 ocean acidification, and altered ocean currents data. 

16 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 

17 out this section there is authorized to be appropriated to 

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

19 2022 through 2026. 

20 SEC. 302. COASTAL MANAGEMENT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE 

21 AND REPORT. 

22 (a) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 

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

24 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 

25 acting through the Director of the Office for Coastal 


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1 Management, shall provide technical assistance to 

2 Insular Areas to enhance such entities’ coastal man3 agement and climate change programs. 

4 (2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 

5 carry out this subsection there is authorized to be 

6 appropriated to the Administrator of the National 

7 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

8 $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 

9 2026. 

10 (b) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Administrator of the Na11 tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, acting 

12 through the Director of the Office for Coastal Manage13 ment, shall submit an annual report to the Committee on 

14 Natural Resources of the House of Representatives and 

15 the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

16 of the Senate on the status of— 

17 (1) wetland, mangrove, and estuary conditions 

18 in Insular Areas; and 

19 (2) climate change impacts, including ecological, 

20 economic, and cultural impacts, in Insular Areas. 

21 SEC. 303. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TECHNICAL AS22 SISTANCE AND GRANTS. 

23 (a) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 

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

25 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 


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1 acting through the Director of the National Weather 

2 Service, shall provide technical assistance and out3 reach to Insular Areas through the San Juan, 

4 Tiyan, and Pago Pago Weather Forecast Offices of 

5 the National Weather Service. For the purposes of 

6 this section, the Administrator may also employ 

7 other agency entities as the Administrator deems 

8 necessary, in order to improve weather data collec9 tion, produce more accurate tropical weather fore10 casts, and provide science, data, information, and 

11 impact-based decision support services to reduce 

12 hurricane, typhoon, droughts, tsunamis, tides, and 

13 sea level rise impacts in the Insular Areas. 

14 (2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 

15 carry out this subsection there is authorized to be 

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

17 each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 

18 (b) GRANTS.— 

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

20 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

21 may provide grants to academic, nonprofit, and local 

22 entities to conduct climate change research to im23 prove weather data collection, produce more accurate 

24 tropical weather forecasts, and provide science, data, 

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1 ices to reduce hurricane, typhoon, droughts, 

2 tsunamis, tides, and sea level rise impacts in the In3 sular Areas. 

4 (2) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 

5 carry out this subsection there is authorized to be 

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

7 each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 

8 SEC. 304. OCEAN AND COASTAL MAPPING INTEGRATION 

9 ACT. 

10 Section 12204 of the Ocean and Coastal Mapping In11 tegration Act (33 U.S.C. 3503) is amended— 

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

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

14 the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

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

16 ‘‘(14) The study of Insular Areas and the ef17 fects of climate change’’. 

18 TITLE IV—DEPARTMENT OF 

19 ENERGY 

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

21 PROGRAMS. 

22 (a) IN GENERAL.—Title II of the Department of En23 ergy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7131 et seq.) is amend24 ed by adding at the end the following: 


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

2 PROGRAMS. 

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

4 the Department an Office of Insular Area Energy Policy 

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

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

7 appointed by the Secretary and compensated at a rate 

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

9 section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. 

10 ‘‘(b) DUTIES.—The Office shall— 

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

12 energy planning, education, management, conserva13 tion, and delivery programs of the Department to— 

14 ‘‘(A) assist Insular Areas in developing 

15 comprehensive energy plans; 

16 ‘‘(B) expand renewable energy and energy 

17 efficiency in Insular Areas; 

18 ‘‘(C) reduce or stabilize energy costs in In19 sular Areas; 

20 ‘‘(D) enhance and strengthen energy infra21 structure in Insular Areas to withstand natural 

22 disasters; and 

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

24 improved regulatory and oversight conditions; 

25 and 


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1 ‘‘(2) centralize and align all ongoing Depart2 ment of Energy efforts in the Insular Areas. 

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

4 an annual report to the Committee on Natural Resources 

5 and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the 

6 House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 

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

8 projects undertaken and grants approved by the Office. 

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

10 is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 

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

12 2022 through 2026. 

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

14 funding made available to Insular Areas by the Office of 

15 Insular Area Energy Policy and Programs under this or 

16 any other Federal law shall not be subject to a non-Fed17 eral share funding requirement.’’. 

18 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 

19 (1) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of con20 tents of the Department of Energy Organization Act 

21 is amended by inserting after the item relating to 

22 section 217 the following: 

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

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

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

25 after the item related to the Director, Office of 


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1 Science, Department of Energy the following new 

2 item: ‘‘Director, Office of Insular Area Energy Pol3 icy and Programs, Department of Energy.’’. 

4 SEC. 402. COMPREHENSIVE ENERGY PLANS. 

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

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

7 Area Energy Policy and Programs in the Department of 

8 Energy, in consultation with the Office of Insular Affairs 

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

10 Committees on Energy and Commerce and Natural Re11 sources of the House of Representatives and the Com12 mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 

13 a report containing— 

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

15 comprehensive energy plans required by section 9 of 

16 Public Law 113–235 (48 U.S.C. 1492a), includ17 ing— 

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

19 renewable energy; 

20 (B) initial, planned, and current energy 

21 imports; and 

22 (C) projected and actual energy needs dur23 ing calendar year 2020 for each Insular Area; 

24 (2) the lessons learned from the preparation of 

25 these plans; 


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1 (3) the date on which each plan was most re2 cently updated; and 

3 (4) recommendations with respect to each Insu4 lar Area, on the need to update such plans. 

5 (b) PUBLICATION; PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Sec6 retary of Energy shall ensure that— 

7 (1) the report required by subsection (a) is pub8 lished in the Federal Register for public comment 

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

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

11 any comments received under subsection (b) are 

12 made available on a public website. 

13 SEC. 403. ENERGY EFFICIENT PRODUCT REBATE PROGRAM. 

14 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

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

16 territory’’ means a territory that meets the require17 ments of subsection (c). 

18 (2) ENERGY STAR PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘En19 ergy Star program’’ means the program established 

20 by section 324A of the Energy Policy and Conserva21 tion Act (42 U.S.C. 6294a). 

22 (3) RESIDENTIAL ENERGY STAR PRODUCT.— 

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

24 a product for a residence that is rated for energy ef25 ficiency under the Energy Star program. 


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1 (4) ENERGY OFFICE.—The term ‘‘energy of2 fice’’ means the government agency within the terri3 tory responsible for developing an energy conserva4 tion plan under section 362 of the Energy Policy 

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

6 (5) REBATE PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘rebate pro7 gram’’ means an energy efficient product rebate pro8 gram described in subsection (c)(1). 

9 (b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Energy 

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

11 Efficient Product Rebate Program’’, under which the Di12 rector of the Office of Insular Area Energy Policy Pro13 grams shall provide allocations to eligible territories in ac14 cordance with this section. 

15 (c) ELIGIBLE TERRITORIES.—A territory shall be eli16 gible to receive an allocation under subsection (d) if the 

17 territory— 

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

19 efficient product rebate program to provide rebates 

20 to residential consumers for the purchase of residen21 tial Energy Star products to replace used products 

22 of the same type; 

23 (2) establishes clear requirements to prevent il24 legal dumping of old products and the overflow of 

25 landfills, and ensure environmental justice; 


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1 (3) submits an application for the allocation at 

2 such time, in such form, and containing such infor3 mation as the Director of the Office of Insular Area 

4 Energy Policy and Programs may require; and 

5 (4) provides assurances satisfactory to the Di6 rector of the Office of Insular Area Energy Policy 

7 and Programs that the territory will use the alloca8 tion to supplement, but not supplant, funds made 

9 available to carry out the rebate program. 

10 (d) AMOUNT OF ALLOCATIONS.— 

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

12 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026, the Di13 rector of the Office of Insular Area Energy Policy 

14 and Programs shall allocate to the energy office of 

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

16 amount equal to the product obtained by multiplying 

17 the amount made available under subsection (g) for 

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

19 territory in the most recent calendar year for which 

20 data are available bears to the total population of all 

21 eligible territories in that calendar year. 

22 (2) MINIMUM ALLOCATIONS.—For each fiscal 

23 year, the amounts allocated under this subsection 

24 shall be adjusted proportionately so that no eligible 


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1 territory is allocated a sum that is less than an 

2 amount determined by the Director. 

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

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

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

6 carrying out a rebate program. 

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

8 provided under a rebate program shall be determined by 

9 the applicable energy office, taking into consideration— 

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

11 office under subsection (d); 

12 (2) the amount of any tax incentive available 

13 for the purchase of the residential Energy Star 

14 product; and 

15 (3) the difference between the cost of the resi16 dential Energy Star product and the cost of a prod17 uct that is not a residential Energy Star product, 

18 but is of the same type as, and is the nearest capac19 ity, performance, and other relevant characteristics 

20 (as determined by the energy office) to, the residen21 tial Energy Star product. 

22 (g) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

23 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

24 $5,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2022 through 

25 2026. 


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1 SEC. 404. RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT PROGRAM. 

2 (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 

3 (1) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘‘covered en4 tity’’ means a not-for-profit organization determined 

5 eligible by the Secretary for purposes of this section. 

6 (2) DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY NATIONAL LAB7 ORATORIES.—The term ‘‘Department of Energy na8 tional laboratories’’ has the same meaning as the 

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

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

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

12 an electric system— 

13 (A) that serves the local community with a 

14 power generation and distribution system; and 

15 (B) that has the ability— 

16 (i) to disconnect from a traditional 

17 electric grid; and 

18 (ii) to operate autonomously when dis19 connected. 

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

21 the Renewable Energy Grant Program established 

22 under subsection (b). 

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

24 means an intelligent electric grid that uses digital 

25 communications technology, information systems, 


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1 and automation to, while maintaining high system 

2 reliability— 

3 (A) detect and react to local changes in 

4 usage; 

5 (B) improve system operating efficiency; 

6 and 

7 (C) reduce spending costs. 

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

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

10 Office of Insular Area Energy Policy and Programs shall 

11 establish a Renewable Energy Grant Program under 

12 which the Director may award grants to covered entities 

13 to facilitate projects in Insular Areas described in sub14 section (d). 

15 (c) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible for a grant under 

16 the Program, a covered entity shall submit to the Director 

17 an application at such time, in such form, and containing 

18 such information as the Secretary may require. 

19 (d) USE OF FUNDS.— 

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

21 grant under the Program may use grant funds for 

22 a project, in territories of the United States— 

23 (A) to develop or construct a renewable en24 ergy system; 


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1 (B) to carry out an activity to increase en2 ergy efficiency; 

3 (C) to develop or construct an energy stor4 age system or device for— 

5 (i) a system developed or constructed 

6 under subparagraph (A); or 

7 (ii) an activity carried out under sub8 paragraph (B); 

9 (D) to develop or construct— 

10 (i) a smart grid; or 

11 (ii) a microgrid; or 

12 (E) to train residents of territories of the 

13 United States to develop, construct, maintain, 

14 or operate a renewable energy system. 

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

16 grant under the Program may not use grant funds 

17 to develop or construct a facility that generates elec18 tricity using energy derived from— 

19 (A) fossil fuels; or 

20 (B) nuclear power. 

21 (e) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Director shall en22 sure that Department of Energy national laboratories 

23 offer to provide technical assistance to each covered entity 

24 carrying out a project assisted with a grant under the Pro25 gram. 


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1 (f) REPORT.—Not later than two years after the es2 tablishment of the Program, and on an annual basis there3 after, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report con4 taining— 

5 (1) an estimate of the amount of funds dis6 bursed under the Program; 

7 (2) an estimate of the energy conservation 

8 achieved as a result of the Program; 

9 (3) a description of challenges encountered in 

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

11 and 

12 (4) any recommendations as to additional legis13 lative measures to increase the use of renewable en14 ergy in territories of the United States, as appro15 priate. 

16 (g) GAO STUDY AND REPORT.— 

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

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

19 the Comptroller General of the United States shall— 

20 (A) conduct a study regarding renewable 

21 energy and energy efficiency in territories of the 

22 United States; and 

23 (B) submit to Congress a report con24 taining— 

25 (i) the findings of the study; and 


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1 (ii) related recommendations. 

2 (2) COMPONENTS.—The study conducted under 

3 paragraph (1) shall consider, in relation to terri4 tories of the United States, the potential— 

5 (A) to modify existing electric power sys6 tems to use renewable energy sources; 

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

8 (C) to improve energy resiliency. 

9 SEC. 405. OFFSHORE WIND FOR THE TERRITORIES. 

10 (a) APPLICATION OF OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF

11 LANDS ACT WITH RESPECT TO TERRITORIES OF THE

12 UNITED STATES.— 

13 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 2 of the Outer Con14 tinental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331) is 

15 amended— 

16 (A) in subsection (a) by inserting ‘‘or lying 

17 within the exclusive economic zone of the 

18 United States and the Outer Continental Shelf 

19 adjacent to any territory or possession of the 

20 United States, except that such term shall not 

21 include any area conveyed by Congress to a ter22 ritorial government for administration’’ after 

23 ‘‘control’’; 

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

25 after the semicolon at the end; 


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1 (C) in subsection (q), by striking the pe2 riod at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

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

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

5 Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, 

6 the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Common7 wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.’’. 

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

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

10 amended by adding at the end the following: 

11 ‘‘(i) This section shall not apply 

12 to the scheduling of lease sales in the 

13 Outer Continental Shelf adjacent to 

14 the Territories and possessions of the 

15 United States.’’. 

16 (b) WIND LEASE SALES FOR AREAS OF OUTER CON17 TINENTAL SHELF.—The Outer Continental Shelf Lands 

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

19 the end the following: 

20 ‘‘SEC. 33. WIND LEASE SALES FOR AREAS OF OUTER CONTI21 NENTAL SHELF. 

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

23 wind lease sales on the Outer Continental Shelf. 


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

2 lease sale conducted under this section shall be considered 

3 a lease under section 8(p). 

4 ‘‘(c) WIND LEASE SALES OFF COASTS OF TERRI5 TORIES OF THE UNITED STATES.— 

6 ‘‘(1) STUDY ON FEASIBILITY OF CONDUCTING

7 WIND LEASE SALES.— 

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

9 conduct a study on the feasibility, including the 

10 technological and long-term economic feasibility, 

11 and the potential environmental effects of, con12 ducting wind lease sales on an area of the 

13 Outer Continental Shelf within the territorial 

14 jurisdiction of American Samoa, Guam, the 

15 Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is16 lands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands of 

17 the United States. 

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

19 study required in subparagraph (A), the Sec20 retary shall consult— 

21 ‘‘(i) the National Laboratories, that 

22 term is defined in section 2 of the Energy 

23 Policy Act of 2005; 

24 ‘‘(ii) the National Oceanic and Atmos25 pheric Administration, including the Office 


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1 of National Marine Sanctuaries and Na2 tional Marine Fisheries Service; and 

3 ‘‘(iii) the Governor of each of Amer4 ican Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana 

5 Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Is6 lands of the United States. 

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

8 in subparagraph (A) shall be published in the 

9 Federal Register for public comment for a pe10 riod of not fewer than 60 days. 

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

12 than 18 months after the date of the enactment 

13 of this section, the Secretary shall submit the 

14 results of the study conducted under subpara15 graph (A) to— 

16 ‘‘(i) the Committee on Energy and 

17 Natural Resources of the Senate; 

18 ‘‘(ii) the Committee on Natural Re19 sources of the House of Representatives; 

20 and 

21 ‘‘(iii) each Delegate or Resident Com22 missioner to the House of Representatives 

23 from American Samoa, Guam, the North24 ern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the 

25 Virgin Islands of the United States. 


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1 ‘‘(E) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY.—The Sec2 retary shall publish the study required under 

3 subparagraph (A) and results submitted under 

4 subparagraph (D) on a public website. 

5 ‘‘(2) CALL FOR INFORMATION AND NOMINA6 TIONS.—The Secretary shall issue a call for informa7 tion and nominations for proposed wind lease sales 

8 for areas determined to be feasible under the study 

9 conducted under paragraph (1). 

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

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

12 the Secretary shall conduct not less than 1 wind 

13 lease sale on an area of the Outer Continental 

14 Shelf within the territorial jurisdiction of such 

15 territory that meets each of the following cri16 teria: 

17 ‘‘(i) The study required under para18 graph (1)(A) concluded that a wind lease 

19 sale on the area is feasible. 

20 ‘‘(ii) The Secretary has determined 

21 that the call for information has generated 

22 sufficient interest for the area. 

23 ‘‘(iii) The Secretary has consulted 

24 with the Secretary of Defense and other 


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1 relevant Federal agencies regarding such a 

2 sale. 

3 ‘‘(iv) The Secretary has consulted 

4 with the Governor of the territory regard5 ing the suitability of the area for wind en6 ergy development. 

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

8 Continental Shelf within the territorial jurisdic9 tion of a territory meets each of the criteria in 

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

11 the requirement under subparagraph (A) shall 

12 not apply to such territory.’’. 

13 SEC. 406. STATE ENERGY PROGRAM NON-FEDERAL COST14 SHARE WAIVER. 

15 Funding made available to a territory under the De16 partment of Energy’s State Energy Program (42 U.S.C. 

17 6321 et seq.) shall not be subject to a non-Federal share 

18 funding requirement. 

19 TITLE V—ENVIRONMENTAL 

20 PROTECTION AGENCY 

21 SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS. 

22 In this title: 

23 (1) ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Adminis24 trator’’ means the Administrator of the Environ25 mental Protection Agency. 


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

2 the Director of the Insular Area National Program 

3 Office. 

4 (3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘‘eligible enti5 ty’’ means each of the following: 

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

7 instrumentality of a territory. 

8 (B) A private, nonprofit organization or in9 stitution. 

10 (C) An institution of higher education (as 

11 defined in section 101 of the Higher Education 

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

13 term does not include private, nonprofit institu14 tions of higher education). 

15 (D) Any combination of entities described 

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

17 partnerships and consortiums of local govern18 ments. 

19 (4) OFFICE.—The term ‘‘Office’’ means the In20 sular Area National Program Office established by 

21 section 502. 

22 (5) RENEWABLE ENERGY.—The term ‘‘renew23 able energy’’ means energy that has been derived 

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


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1 exhaustible, including solar, wind, hydroelectric, geo2 thermal, ocean (thermal and mechanics). 

3 SEC. 502. INSULAR AREA NATIONAL PROGRAM OFFICE. 

4 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established within 

5 the Environmental Protection Agency an office, to be 

6 known as the Insular Area National Program Office. The 

7 Office shall be headed by a Director, who shall be ap8 pointed by the Administrator and compensated at a rate 

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

10 section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. 

11 (b) DUTIES.—The Director shall— 

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

13 programs of the Environmental Protection Agency 

14 to— 

15 (A) build, enhance, and strengthen infra16 structure in Insular Areas to withstand natural 

17 disasters; 

18 (B) expand renewable energy and energy 

19 efficiency in Insular Areas; and 

20 (C) provide technical assistance in Insular 

21 Areas. 

22 (2) centralize and align all ongoing Environ23 mental Protection Agency efforts in the Insular 

24 Areas. 


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

2 annual report to the Committee on Natural Resources and 

3 the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House 

4 of Representatives, and the Committee on Energy and 

5 Natural Resources of the Senate on the status of all 

6 projects undertaken and grants approved by the Office. 

7 (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For the 

8 Insular Area National Program Office, there is authorized 

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

10 each of the fiscal years 2022 through 2026. 

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

12 funding made available to Insular Areas by the Office 

13 shall not be subject to a non-Federal share funding re14 quirement. 

15 SEC. 503. INSULAR AREA SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE 

16 GRANT PROGRAM. 

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

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

19 Insular Area National Program Office shall establish and 

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

21 Sustainable Infrastructure Grant Program to provide 

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

23 enhance, and strengthen infrastructure systems in Insular 

24 Areas to withstand natural disasters, including drinking 


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1 water systems, septic systems, stormwater systems, and 

2 solid waste systems. 

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

4 a grant for infrastructure system projects under the Insu5 lar Areas Sustainable Infrastructure Grant Program may 

6 use such funds for— 

7 (1) development-phase activities, including plan8 ning, feasibility analysis (including any related anal9 ysis necessary to carry out an eligible project), rev10 enue forecasting, environmental review, permitting, 

11 preliminary engineering and design work, and other 

12 preconstruction activities; 

13 (2) construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation, 

14 and replacement activities; and 

15 (3) the acquisition of real property or an inter16 est in real property (including land relating to the 

17 project, and improvements to land), environmental 

18 mitigation, construction contingencies, and acquisi19 tion of equipment. 

20 (c) APPLICATIONS.— 

21 (1) INCLUSIONS.—An application under this 

22 subsection shall include— 

23 (A) a description of the project proposed 

24 by the eligible entity; 


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1 (B) an evaluation (using methodology ap2 proved by the Director) of the quantifiable and 

3 unquantifiable benefits of the proposed project; 

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

5 project; and 

6 (D) a description of the age and expected 

7 lifetime of the infrastructure system funded by 

8 the project. 

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

10 section, the Director shall give priority to proposed 

11 projects that, as determined by the Director— 

12 (A) maximize public health benefits; 

13 (B) are the most cost effective; 

14 (C) serve areas with environmental justice 

15 communities— 

16 (i) in rural remote areas; or 

17 (ii) that have challenged environ18 mental conditions. 

19 (3) APPLICATION GUIDANCE AND PROCESSES.— 

20 The Director shall provide Insular Areas— 

21 (A) guidance for use in applying for grant 

22 funds under this section, including information 

23 regarding— 

24 (i) the process and forms for applica25 tions; 


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1 (ii) permissible uses of funds received; 

2 and 

3 (iii) an annual deadline for submission 

4 of the applications; 

5 (B) a process by which the Director shall 

6 approve or disapprove each application; and 

7 (C) a streamlined process by which an In8 sular Area may renew an application described 

9 in subparagraph (A) for subsequent fiscal 

10 years. 

11 (d) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.— 

12 (1) OFFICE.—The Director shall use 100 per13 cent of the funds made available to carry out this 

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

15 eligible entities in Insular Areas. 

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

17 use not more than 10 percent of a grant provided 

18 under this section for administrative expenses of an 

19 approved project. 

20 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 

21 out this section there is authorized to be appropriated to 

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

23 2022 through 2026. 


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1 SEC. 504. INSULAR AREA RENEWABLE ENERGY GRANT PRO2 GRAM. 

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

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

5 Insular Area National Program Office shall establish and 

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

7 Renewable Energy Grant Program to provide grants to 

8 eligible entities in the Insular Areas to expand renewable 

9 energy and energy efficiency in the Insular Areas. 

10 (b) ELIGIBILITY.— 

11 (1) PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE.— 

12 The following projects may be carried out with 

13 amounts made available under this section: 

14 (A) Construction of a new renewable en15 ergy system. 

16 (B) A project for energy redundancy and 

17 resilience based on renewable energy and for 

18 hurricane and storm damage reduction on re19 newable energy systems that the Director deter20 mines is technically sound, economically justi21 fied, and environmentally acceptable. 

22 (C) A project for enhanced energy effi23 ciency in the operation of infrastructure that 

24 belongs to an eligible entity. 

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

26 replacement of a renewable energy system. 


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1 (E) A project to prevent, reduce, or miti2 gate the effects of hurricanes or storms, includ3 ing projects that enhance the resilience of re4 newable energy systems. 

5 (F) Acquisition of real property or an in6 terest in real property— 

7 (i) if the acquisition is integral to a 

8 project described in subparagraphs (A) 

9 through (D); or 

10 (ii) pursuant to an existing plan that, 

11 in the judgment of the Director, as appli12 cable, would mitigate the environmental 

13 impacts of renewable energy system infra14 structure projects. 

15 (G) A combination of projects under sub16 paragraphs (A) through (F). 

17 (2) ACTIVITIES ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE.— 

18 An eligible entity may use a grant provided under 

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

20 (A) development-phase activities, including 

21 planning, feasibility analysis (including any re22 lated analysis necessary to carry out an eligible 

23 project), revenue forecasting, environmental re24 view, permitting, preliminary engineering and 


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1 design work, and other preconstruction activi2 ties; 

3 (B) construction, reconstruction, rehabili4 tation, and replacement activities; and 

5 (C) the acquisition of real property or an 

6 interest in real property (including land relating 

7 to the project, and improvements to land), envi8 ronmental mitigation, construction contin9 gencies, and acquisition of equipment. 

10 (c) APPLICATIONS.— 

11 (1) INCLUSIONS.—An application under this 

12 subsection shall include— 

13 (A) a description of the project proposed 

14 by the eligible entity; 

15 (B) an evaluation (using methodology ap16 proved by the Director) of the quantifiable and 

17 unquantifiable benefits of the proposed project; 

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

19 project; and 

20 (D) a description of the age and expected 

21 lifetime of a renewable energy or energy effi22 ciency system funded by the project. 

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

24 section, the Director shall give priority to proposed 

25 projects that, as determined by the Director— 


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1 (A) maximize public health benefits; 

2 (B) are the most cost effective; 

3 (C) serve areas with environmental justice 

4 communities— 

5 (i) in rural remote areas; or 

6 (ii) that are poor air quality areas. 

7 (3) APPLICATION GUIDANCE AND PROCESSES.— 

8 The Director shall provide Insular Areas— 

9 (A) guidance for use in applying for grant 

10 funds under this section, including information 

11 regarding— 

12 (i) the process and forms for applica13 tions; 

14 (ii) permissible uses of funds received; 

15 and 

16 (iii) an annual deadline for submission 

17 of the applications; 

18 (B) a process by which the Director shall 

19 approve or disapprove each application; and 

20 (C) a streamlined process by which an In21 sular Area may renew an application described 

22 in subparagraph (A) for subsequent fiscal 

23 years. 

24 (d) LIMITATION ON USE OF FUNDS.— 


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1 (1) OFFICE.—The Director shall use 100 per2 cent of the funds made available to carry out this 

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

4 eligible entities in Insular Areas. 

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

6 use not more than 10 percent of a grant provided 

7 under this section to fund administrative expenses of 

8 an approved project. 

9 (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To carry 

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

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

12 2022 through 2026. 

13 SEC. 505. INSULAR AREA TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PRO14 GRAM. 

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Insular Area National Pro16 gram Office Director shall establish a program, to be 

17 known as the Insular Area Technical Assistance Program, 

18 to provide technical assistance to Insular Areas relating 

19 to climate change planning, mitigation, adaptation, and 

20 resilience. 

21 (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 

22 authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 

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

24 years 2022 through 2026. 


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1 TITLE VI—EMERGENCY 

2 MANAGEMENT 

3 SEC. 601. COMMUNITY DISASTER LOANS REPAYMENT CAN4 CELLATION. 

5 Notwithstanding any other provision of law, repay6 ment of a loan made to a local government in an Insular 

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

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

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

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

11 WAIVER. 

12 Funding made available to an Insular Area for dis13 aster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastruc14 ture and housing, economic revitalization, and mitigation 

15 pursuant to the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 

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

17 not be subject to a non-Federal share funding require18 ment. 

Æ 


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