CREATE Act of 2023

To establish the Interagency Group on Large-Scale Carbon Management in the National Science and Technology Council and a Federal Carbon Removal Initiative, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise Act of 2023 CREATE Act of 2023 2. Interagency Group on Large-Scale Carbon Management and Federal Carbon Removal Initiative (a) Definition of carbon dioxide removal In this section, the term carbon dioxide removal (1) direct air capture and storage; (2) enhanced carbon mineralization; (3) biomass-based carbon dioxide removal; (4) forest restoration; (5) soil carbon management; (6) ocean-based carbon dioxide removal; and (7) any other approaches or methods identified by the Interagency Group. (b) Interagency Group on Large-Scale Carbon Management (1) Establishment (A) In general There is established in the National Science and Technology Council an interagency group on matters relating to large-scale management of carbon. (B) Designation The interagency group established by subparagraph (A) shall be known as the Interagency Group on Large-Scale Carbon Management Interagency Group (C) Membership (i) Composition The Interagency Group shall be composed of the members of the executive committee established under subsection (c)(1) and such other members as the executive committee considers appropriate. (ii) Cochairpersons The members of the executive committee established by subsection (c)(1) shall be cochairpersons of the Interagency Group. (iii) Evaluation and modification Not less frequently than once every 3 years, the National Science and Technology Council shall— (I) evaluate the composition, executive committee, and cochairpersons of the Interagency Group; and (II) implement such changes regarding such composition, executive committee, and cochairpersons as the Council determines appropriate pursuant to an evaluation under subclause (I). (2) Duties of the Interagency Group The duties of the Interagency Group shall be as follows: (A) Developing a strategic plan for Federal research, development, and demonstration of technological carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and storage. (B) Overseeing working groups established under subsection (d). (C) Coordinating research, project, and budget planning for matters relating to research, development, and demonstration described in subparagraph (A). (D) Identifying cost-effective carbon dioxide removal technologies that are suitable for large-scale demonstration. (E) Identifying accurate monitoring, carbon dioxide data collection, and long-term storage protocols for carbon dioxide removal technologies, and assessing environmental and social impacts as well as co-benefits. (F) Engaging an independent entity to perform periodic evaluations of the working groups established under subsection (d). (c) Executive committee (1) Establishment There is established in the Interagency Group an executive committee. (2) Membership The executive committee established by paragraph (1) shall be composed of the following: (A) A senior official of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy selected by the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy. (B) One senior official of the Department of Energy selected by the Secretary of Energy. (C) One senior official of the Department of Agriculture selected by the Secretary of Agriculture. (D) One senior official of the Department of Defense selected by the Secretary of Defense. (E) One senior official of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration selected by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (F) One senior official of the Environmental Protection Agency selected by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (d) Working groups and Carbon Removal Initiative (1) Establishment (A) In general The Interagency Group shall establish working groups in accordance with paragraph (2) which shall carry out an initiative on technological and detailed research, development, and demonstration of carbon dioxide removal technology. (B) Designation of initiative The initiative carried out under subparagraph (A) shall be known as the Carbon Removal Initiative (2) Working group FOCI The working groups established under paragraph (1) are as follows: (A) Oceans (i) In general One working group to focus on matters relating to carbon dioxide removal from the oceans and coastal regions. (ii) Membership The working group described in clause (i) shall be composed of 7 members as follows: (I) One individual selected by the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from among employees of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (II) One individual selected by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from among employees of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (III) One individual selected by the Secretary of Defense from among employees of the Department of Defense. (IV) One individual selected by the Director of the National Science Foundation from among employees of the National Science Foundation. (V) Two individuals selected by the Secretary of the Interior from among employees of the Department of the Interior. (VI) One individual selected by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from among employees of the Environmental Protection Agency. (iii) Cochairpersons The individuals selected under subclauses (I) and (IV) of clause (ii) shall serve as cochairpersons of the working group established under clause (i). (B) Terrestrial (i) In general One working group to focus on terrestrial and biological matters relating to carbon dioxide removal. (ii) Membership The working group described in clause (i) shall be composed of 6 members as follows: (I) Two individuals, one of whom shall be selected by the Secretary of Agriculture from among employees of the Department of Agriculture and one of whom shall be selected by the Chief of the Forest Service from among employees of the Forest Service. (II) One individual selected by the Secretary of Energy from among employees of the Department of Energy. (III) One individual selected by the Secretary of the Interior from among employees of the Department of the Interior. (IV) One individual selected by the Director of the National Science Foundation from among employees of the National Science Foundation. (V) One individual selected by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from among employees of the Environmental Protection Agency. (iii) Cochairpersons The individuals selected under subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (ii) shall serve as cochairpersons of the working group established under clause (i). (C) Geological (i) In general One working group to focus on geological matters relating to carbon dioxide removal and storage. (ii) Membership The working group described in clause (i) shall be composed of 4 members as follows: (I) One individual selected by the Secretary of Energy from among employees of the Department of Energy. (II) One individual selected by the Secretary of the Interior from among employees of the United States Geological Survey. (III) One individual selected by the Director of the National Science Foundation from among employees of the National Science Foundation. (IV) One individual selected by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from among employees of the Environmental Protection Agency. (iii) Cochairpersons The individuals selected under subclauses (I) and (II) of clause (ii) shall serve as cochairpersons of the working group established under clause (i). (D) Technological (i) In general One working group to focus on technological matters relating to carbon dioxide removal. (ii) Membership The working group described in clause (i) shall be composed of 7 members as follows: (I) One individual selected by the Secretary of Energy from among employees of the Department of Energy. (II) One individual selected by the Secretary of Defense from among employees of the Department of Defense. (III) One individual selected by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from among employees of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (IV) One individual selected by the Director of the National Science Foundation from among employees of the National Science Foundation. (V) One individual selected by the Secretary of Commerce from among employees of the National Institute of Standards and Technology. (VI) One individual selected by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from among employees of the Environmental Protection Agency. (VII) One individual selected by the Secretary of Transportation from among employees of the Department of Transportation. (iii) Cochairpersons The individuals selected under subclauses (I) and (III) of clause (ii) shall serve as cochairpersons of the working group established under clause (i). (3) Evaluation and modification Not less frequently than once every 3 years, the National Science and Technology Council shall— (A) evaluate the working groups established pursuant to paragraph (1); and (B) implement such changes regarding the working groups as the Council determines appropriate pursuant to an evaluation under subparagraph (A). (e) Annual budget crosscut review (1) In general Not less frequently than once each year, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall assist in the coordination of the initiative carried out under subsection (d)(1)(A) by conducting a budget crosscut review— (A) to ensure that budget proposals from members of the working groups established under such subsection are integrated with the overall budget for each Federal department and agency participating in such working groups; and (B) to ensure that the various staff of the Office of Management and Budget review and act on Federal department and agency budget proposals for research, development, and demonstration of carbon dioxide removal technology in a holistic fashion. (2) Submittal to Congress Along with each submission of the President pursuant to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Director shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Director with respect to the most recently completed budget crosscut review under paragraph (1).

Summary: Carbon Removal, Efficient Agencies, Technology Expertise Act of 2023 or the CREATE Act of 2023 This bill establishes the Interagency Group on Large-Scale Carbon Management within the National Science and Technology Council to plan and oversee efforts to (1) remove carbon dioxide from the air, ocean, and land; and (2) store such carbon. The interagency group must develop a strategic plan for federal research, development, and demonstration of technological carbon dioxide removal and storage. In addition, the interagency group must establish working groups to carry out a Carbon Removal Initiative that pursues such research, development, and demonstration across several federal agencies.